[Born 1456. Died 1509. Aged 53.]
A monarch whose greatest vice was avarice. He was inordinately fond of
money. He had 14,000_l._ a-year allowed him by his first Parliament for
his Household expenses, and 2000_l._ a-year for his wardrobe; yet he
left behind him a sum equivalent to 16,000,000_l._ at the present day.
With no worse quality than avarice, he had no quality that can be called
great. He was brave, politic, attentive to business, reserved,
suspicious. His chief merit consisted in closing the civil wars, and
securing peace and order in the country. He died at Richmond, and was
buried in the magnificent chapel at Westminster, erected by himself. He
also built “The Great Harry,” the first ship in the English Navy, ships
before this time having been hired or pressed from merchants. It cost
14,000_l._ The King seems to have had remorse for his rapacity on his
death-bed. He issued a general pardon for all offences, released all
debtors, himself paying the debts of many; converted the Palace of the
Savoy into an hospital; built several religious houses; and ordered
restitution to be made to all men whom he had wronged by his extortions.
It is unnecessary to state that his successor being his son, Henry
VIII., not the slightest effect followed from the “restitution” clause.