h, which would be corrected when time had
brought him to greater moderation and maturity. And as the contending
titles of York and Lancaster were now at last fully united in his
person, men justly expected, from a prince obnoxious to no party, that
impartiality of administration which had long been unknown in England.

* T. Mori. Lucubr. p. 182.

** Father Paul, lib. i.

These favorable prepossessions of the public were encouraged by the
measures which Henry embraced in the commencement of his reign. His
grandmother, the countess of Richmond and Derby, was still alive; and
as she was a woman much celebrated for prudence and virtue, he wisely
showed great deference to her opinion in the establishment of his
new council. The members were, Warham, archbishop of Canterbury and
chancellor; the earl of Shrewsbury, steward; Lord Herbert, chamberlain;
Sir Thomas Lovel, master of the wards and constable of the Tower; Sir
Edward Poynings, comptroller; Sir Henry Marney, afterwards Lord Marney;
Sir Thomas Darcy, afterwards Lord Darcy; Thomas Ruthal, doctor of laws;
and Sir Henry Wyat.[*] These men had long been accustomed to business
under the late king, and were the least unpopular of all the ministers
employed by that monarch. But the chief competitors for favor and
authority, under the new king, were the earl of Surrey, treasurer, and
Fox, bishop of Winchester, secretary and privy seal. This prelate, who
enjoyed great credit during all the former reign, had acquired such
habits of caution and frugality as he could not easily lay aside; and
he still opposed, by his remonstrances, those schemes of dissipation
and expense, which the youth and passions of Henry rendered agreeable to
him. But Surrey was a more dexterous courtier; and though few had borne
a greater share in the frugal politics of the late king, he knew how
to conform himself to the humor of his new master; and no one was so
forward in promoting that liberality, pleasure, and magnificence,
which began to prevail under the young monarch.[**] By this policy, he
ingratiated himself with Henry; he made advantage, as well as the other
courtiers, of the lavish disposition of his master; and he engaged
him in such a course of play and idleness as rendered him negligent of
affairs, and willing to intrust the government of the state entirely
into the hands of his ministers. The great treasures amassed by the late
king were gradually dissipated in the giddy expenses