ButtheKinghimselfwasleftfordeathbyaGreaterKing,andtheearthwastoberidofhimatlast.Hewasnowaswollen,hideousspectacle,withagreatholeinhisleg,andsoodioustoeverysensethatitwasdreadfultoapproachhim.Whenhewasfoundtobedying,CranmerwassentforfromhispalaceatCroydon,andcamewithallspeed,butfoundhimspeechless.Happily,inthathourheperished.Hewasinthefifty-sixthyearofhisage,andthethirty-eighthofhisreign.
HenrytheEighthhasbeenfavouredbysomeProtestantwriters,becausetheReformationwasachievedinhistime.Butthemightymeritofitlieswithothermenandnotwithhim;anditcanberenderednonetheworsebythismonster\'scrimes,andnonethebetterbyanydefenceofthem.Theplaintruthis,thathewasamostintolerableruffian,adisgracetohumannature,andablotofbloodandgreaseupontheHistoryofEngland.
CHAPTERXXIX-ENGLANDUNDEREDWARDTHESIXTH
HENRYTHEEIGHTHhadmadeawill,appointingacouncilofsixteentogovernthekingdomforhissonwhilehewasunderagehewasnowonlytenyearsold,andanothercounciloftwelvetohelpthem.ThemostpowerfulofthefirstcouncilwastheEARLOF
HERTFORD,theyoungKing\'suncle,wholostnotimeinbringinghisnephewwithgreatstateuptoEnfield,andthencetotheTower.ItwasconsideredatthetimeastrikingproofofvirtueintheyoungKingthathewassorryforhisfather\'sdeath;but,ascommonsubjectshavethatvirtuetoo,sometimes,wewillsaynomoreaboutit.