hanged me whole art of war: mighty
innovations were soon after made in religion, such as not only affected
those states that embraced them, but even those that adhered to the
ancient faith and worship; and thus a general revolution was made in
human affairs throughout this part of the world; and men gradually
attained that situation, with regard to commerce, arts, science,
government, police, and cultivation, in which they have ever since
persevered. Here, therefore, commences the useful, as well as the
more agreeable part of modern annals; certainty has place in all the
considerable, and even most of the minute parts of historical narration;
a great variety of events, preserved by printing, give the author the
power of selecting, as well as adorning, the facts which he relates; and
as each incident has a reference to our present manners and situation,
instructive lessons occur every moment during the course of the
narration. Whoever carries his anxious researches into preceding
periods, is moved by a curiosity, liberal indeed and commendable; not by
any necessity for acquiring knowledge of public affairs, or the arts of
civil government.

CHAPTER XXVII.

HENRY VIII.

{1509.} THE death of Henry VII. had been attended with as open and
visible a joy among the people as decency would permit; and the
accession and coronation of his son, Henry VIII., spread universally
a declared and unfeigned satisfaction. Instead of a monarch jealous,
severe, and avaricious, who, in proportion as he advanced in years,
was sinking still deeper in those unpopular vices, a young prince of
eighteen had succeeded to the throne, who, even in the eyes of men of
sense, gave promising hopes of his future conduct, much more in those of
the people, always enchanted with novelty, youth, and royal dignity.
The beauty and vigor of his person, accompanied with dexterity in
every manly exercise, was further adorned with a blooming and ruddy
countenance, with a lively air, with the appearance of spirit and
activity in all his demeanor.[*] His father, in order to remove him from
the knowledge of public business, had hitherto occupied him entirely in
the pursuits of literature; and the proficiency which he made gave
no bad prognostic of his parts and capacity.[**] Even the vices of
vehemence, ardor, and impatience, to which he was subject, and which
afterwards degenerated into tyranny, were considered only as faults
incident to unguarded yout