but having that noble vigour of mind, which, instead of bending to oppofition, rifes against it, and feems to have a power of controlling and commanding Fortune herself. Nor was he lefs fuperior to pleasure than to fear: no luxury foftened him, no riot difordered, no floth relaxed. It helped not a little to maintain the high refpect his fubjects had for him, that the majefty of his character was never let down by any incontinence or indecent excefs. His temperance and his chaftity were conftant guards, that fecured his mind from all weakness, fupported its dignity, and kept it always as it were on the throne. Through his whole life he had no partner of his bed but his queen; a molt extraordinary virtue in one who had lived, even from his earliest youth, amidst all the licence of camps, the allurements of a court, and the feductions of fovereign power! Had he kept his oaths to his people as well as he did his marriage vow, he would have been the best of kings; but he indulged other paffions of a worfe nature, and infinitely more detrimental to the public than thofe he refrained. A luft of power, which no regard to juftice could limit, the most unrelenting cruelty, and the most infatiable avarice, poffeffed his foul. It is true, indeed, that among many acts of extreme inhumanity, fome fhining intances of great clemency may be produced, that were either effects of his policy, which taught him this method of acquiring friends, or of his magnanimity, which made him flight a weak and fubdued enemy, fuch as was Edgar Atheling, in whom he found neither fpirit nor talents able to contend with him for the crown. But where he had no advantage nor pride in forgiving, his nature difcovered itself to be utterly void of all fenfe of compaffion; and fome barbarities which he committed exceeded the bounds that even tyrants and conquerors prefcribe to them felves. Most of our ancient hiftorians give him the character of a very religious prince; but his religion was after the fathion of thofe times, belief without examination, and devotion without piety. It was a religion that prompted him to endow monafteries, and at the fame time allowed him to pillage kingdoms; that threw him on his knees before a relic or crofs, but fuffered him unrestrained to trample upon the liberties and rights of mankind. As to his wifdom in government, of which fome modern writers have spoken very highly, he was indeed fo far wife that, through a long unquiet reign, he knew how to fupport oppreffion by terror, and employ the propereft means for the carrying on a very iniquitous and violent adminiftration. But that which alone deferves the name of wifdom in the character of a king, the maintaining of authority by the exercife of thofe virtues which make the happinefs of his peopie, was what, with all his abilities, he does not appear to have poffeffed. Nor did he excel in thofe foothing and popular arts, which fometimes change the complexion of a tyranny, and give it a fallacious appear. ance of freedom. His government was harsh and defpotic, violating even the principles of that conftitution which he himself had eftablished. Yet fo far he performed the duty of a fovereign, that he took care to maintain a good police in his realm; curbing licentioufnets with a strong hand, which, in the tumultuous ftate of his government, was a great and difficult work. How well he performed it we may learn even from. the teftimony of a contemporary Saxon hiftorian, who fays, that during his reign, a man might have travelled in perfect fecurity all over the kingdom with his bofom full of gold, nor durft any kill another in revenge of the greatest offences, nor offer violence to the chaftity of a woman. But it was a poor compenfation, that the highways were fafe, when the courts of justice were dens of thieves, and when almost every man in authority, or in office, ufed his power to opprefs and pillage the people. The king himfelf did not only tolerate, but encourage, fupport, and even fhare thefe extortions. Though the greatnefs of the ancient landed eftate of the crown, and the feudal profits to which he legally was entitled, rendered him one of the richest monarchs in Europe, he was not content with all that M m 4 op: lence, opulence, but by authorizing the fhetiffs, who collected his revenues in the feveral counties, to practife the moft grievous vexations and abufes, for the raifing of them higher, by a perpetual auction of the crown lands, fo that none of his tenants could be fecure of poffeffion, if any other would come and offer more; by various iniquities in the court of exchequer, which was entire ly Norman; by forfeitures wrongfully taken; and, laftly, by arbitrary and illegal taxations, he drew into his treafury much too great a proportion of the wealth of his kingdom. It must however be owned, that if his avarice was infatiably and unjustly rapacious, it was not meanly parfimonious, hor of that fordid kind which brings on a prince difhonour and contempt. He fupported the dignity of his crown with a decent magnificence, and though he never was lavish, he fometimes was liberal, more especially to his foldiers and to the church. But looking on money as a neceffary means of maintaining and increafing power, he defired to accufulate as much as he could, rather, perhaps, from an ambitious than a coVetous nature; at leaft his avarice was fubfervient to his ambition, and he laid up wealth in his coffers, as he did arms in his magazines, to be drawn out, when any proper occafion required it, for the defence and enlargement of his do minions. Upon the whole, he had many great qualities, but few virtues; and if thofe actions that most particularly diftinguish the man or the king are impartially confidered, we fhall find that in his character there is much to admire, but ftill more to abhor. Lyttelton. $36. The Character of WILLIAM RUFUS. The memory of this monarch is tranf mitted to us with little advantage by the churchmen, whom he had offended; and though we may fufpect in general that their account of his vices is fomewhat exaggerated, his conduct affords little reafon for contradicting the character which they have affigned him, or for attributing to him any very eftimable qualities: he feems to have been a violent and tyrannical prince; a pers fidious, encroaching, and dangerous neighbour; an unkind and ungenerous relation. He was equally prodigal and rapacious in the management of the treasury; and, if he poffeffed abilities, he lay fo much under the government of impetuous paffions, that he made little ufe of them in his administration; and he indulged entirely the domineering policy which fuited his temper, and which, if supported, as it was in him, with courage and vigour, proves often more fuccefsful in diforderly times, than artifice. The monuments which remain the deepest forefight and most refined of this prince in England are, the Tower, Westminster Hall, and London Bridge, which he built. Died Auguft 2, 1100, aged 40. Hume. $37. Another Character of WILLIAM RUFUS. fus, from his red hair and florid comThus fell William *, furnamed Ruplexion, after he had lived four and forty years, and reigned near thirteen ; during which time he oppreffed his people in every form of tyranny and ing, principle, and honour; haughty, infult. He was equally void of learnpaffionate, and ungrateful; a fcoffer at religion, a fcourge to the clergy; vainglorious, talkative, rapacious, lavish, and diffolute; and an inveterate enemy crown to their valour and fidelity, when to the English, though he owed his the Norman lords intended to expel him from the throne. In return for this inftance of their loyalty, he took all opportunities to fleece and enflave them; and at one time imprisoned fifty of the beft families in the kingdom, on pretence of killing his deer; fo that they were compelled to purchase their liberty at the expence of their wealth, though not before they had undergone the fiery ordeal. He lived in a fcandalous com remarkable for his addrefs in archery, attending By the hand of Tyrrel, a French gentleman, him in the recreation of hunting, as William had difmounted after a chace. Tyrrel, impatient denly started before him; the arrow glancing to fhew his dexterity, let fly at a stag which fudfrom a tree truck the king in his breaft, and inftantly flew him, merce merce with prostitutes, profeffing his contempt for marriage; and, having no legitimate iffue, the crown devolved to his brother Henry, who was fo intent upon the fucceffion, that he paid very little regard to the funeral of the de ceafed king. Smollett $38. Character of HENRY I. This prince was one of the moft accomplished that has filled the English throne; and poffeffed all the qualities both of body and mind, natural and acquired, which could fit him for the high ftation to which he attained: his perfon was manly; his countenance engaging; his eyes clear, ferene, and penetrating. The affability of his addrefs encouraged those who might be overawed by the fenfe of his dignity or his wifdom; and though he often indulged his facetious humour, he knew how to temper it with difcretion, and ever kept at a distance from all indecent familia rities with his courtiers. His fuperior eloquence and judgment would have given him an afcendant, even if he had been born in a private ftation; and his perfonal bravery would have procured him refpect, even though it had been lefs fupported by art and policy. By his great progrefs in literature, he acquired the name of Beau Clerc, or the Scholar; but his application to fedentary purfuits abated nothing of the activity and vigilance of his government: and though the learning of that age was better fit ted to corrupt than improve the underftanding; his natural good fenfe preferved itfelf untainted both from the pedantry and fuperftition which were then fo prevalent among men of letters. His temper was very fufceptible of the fentiments as well of friendship as refentment; and his ambition, though high, might be esteemed moderate, had not his conduct towards his brother fhewed, that he was too much difpof. ed to facrifice to it all the maxims of justice and equity. Died December 1, 1135, aged 67, having reigned 35 years. Hume. § 39. Another Character of HENRY I. Henry was of a middle ftature and robuft make, with dark brown hair, and blue ferene eyes. He was facetious, fluent, and affable to his favourites. His capacity, naturally good, was improved and cultivated in such a manner, that he acquired the name of Beau Clerc by his learning. He was cool, cautious, politic, and penetrating; his courage was unquestioned, and his fortitude invincible. He was vindictive, cruel, and implacable, inexorable to offenders, rigid and fevere in the execution of justice; and, though temperate in his diet, a voluptuary in his amours, which produced a numerous family of illegiti mate iffue. His Norman defcent and connections with the continent inspired him with a contempt for the English, whom he oppreffed in the most tyrannical manner. Smollett. $40. Character of STEPHEN. England fuffered great miferies during the reign of this prince: but his perfonal character, allowing for the temerity and injuftice of his ufurpation, appears not liable to any great exception; and he feems to have been well qualified, had he fucceeded by a juft title, to have promoted the happiness and profperity of his fubjects. He was poffeffed of industry, activity, and courage, to a great degree; was not deficient in ability, had the talent of gaining mens affections; and, notwithstanding his precarious fituation, never indulged himself in the exercise of any cruelty or revenge. His advancement to the throne procured him neither tranquillity nor happinefs. Died 1154. Hume. $41. Another Character of STEPHEN. Stephen was a prince of great courage, fortitude, and activity, and might have reigned with the approbation of his people, had he not been harraffed by the efforts of a powerful competitor, which obliged him to take fuch meafures for his fafety as were inconfiftent with the dictates of honour, which indeed his ambition prompted him to forego, in his first endeavours to afcend the throne. His neceffities afterwards compelled him to infringe the charter of privileges he granted at his acceffion; and he was inftigated by his jea loufy loufy and resentment to commit the most flagrant outrages against gratitude and found policy. His vices, as a king, feem to have been the effect of troubles in which he was involved; for, as a man, he was brave, open, and liberal; and, during the fhort calm that fucceeded the tempeft of his reign, he made a progrefs through his kingdom, published an edict to restrain all råpine and violence, and difbanded the foreign mercenaries who had preyed so long on his people. Smollett. $42. Character of HENRY II. Thus died, in the 58th year of his age, and thirty-fifth of his reign, the greatest prince of his time for wifdom, virtue, and ability, and the most powerful in extent of dominion, of all thofe that had ever filled the throne of England. His character, both in public and private life, is almost without a ble mish; and he seems to have poffeffed every accomplishment, both of body and mind, which makes a man eftimable or amiable. He was of a middle ftature, ftrong, and well proportioned; his countenance was lively and engag. ing; his conversation affable and entertaining; his elocution eafy, perfuafive, and ever at command. He loved peace, but poffeffed both conduct and bravery in war; was provident without timidity; fevere in the execution of justice without rigour; and temperate without aufterity. He preferved health, and kept himself from corpulency, to which he was fomewhat inclined, by an abftemious diet, and by frequent exercife, particularly by hunting. When he could enjoy leifure, he recreated himself in learned converfation, or in reading; and he cultivated his natural talents by ftudy, above any prince of his time. His affections, as well as his enmities, were warm and durable; and his long experience of ingratitude and infidelity of men never deftroyed the natural fenfibility of his temper, which difpofed him to friend fhip and fociety. His character has been tranfmitted to us by many writers who were his contemporaries; and it refembles extremely, in its most remarkable ftrokes, that of his maternal grandfather, Henry I. excepting only that ambition, which was a ruling paffion in both, found not in the firft Henry fuch unexceptionable means of exerting itself, and pushed that prince into measures which were both criminal in themfelves, and were the caufe of further crimes, from which his grandfon's conduct was happily exempted. Died 1189. Hume. § 43. Another Character of HENRY II. Thus died Henry in the fifty-feventh year of his age (Hume fays 58), and thirty-fifth of his reign, in the course of which he had, on fundry occafions, difplayed all the abilities of a politician, all the fagacity of a legiflator, and all the magnanimity of a hero. He lived revered above all the princes of his time; and his death was deeply lamented by his fubjects, whofe happiness feems to have been the chief aim of all his endeavours. He not only enacted wholefome laws, but faw them executed with great punctuality. He was generous, even to admiration, with regard to thofe who committed offences against his own perfon; but he never forgave the injuries that were offered to his people, for atrocious crimes were punifhed feverely without refpect of perfons. He was of a middle ftature, and the most exact proportion; his countenance was round, fair and ruddy; his blue eyes were mild and engaging, except in a tranfport of paffion, when they fparkled like lightning, to the terror of the beholders. He was broad-chefted, ftrong, mufcular, and inclined to be corpulent, though he prevented the bad effects of this difpofition by hard exercife and continual fatigue; he was tem perate in his meals, even to a degree of abftinence, and feldom or ever fat down, except at fupper: he was eloquent, agreeable, and facetious; remarkably courteous and polite; compaffionate to all in diftrefs; fo charitable, that he conftantly allotted one tenth of his houfhold provifions to the poor, and in time of dearth he maintained ten thou fand indigent perfons, from the beginning of fpring till the end of autumn. His talents, naturally good, he had cultivated with great affiduity, and delighted in the converfation of learned men, men, to whom he was a generous benefactor. His memory was fo fuprizing ly tenacious, that he never forgot a face nor a circumftance that was worth remembering. Though fuperior to his contemporaries in ftrength, riches, true courage, and military skill; he never engaged in war without reluctance, and was fo averfe to blood fhed, that he expreffed an uncommon grief at the lofs of every private foldier: yet he was not exempt from human frailties; his paffions, naturally violent, often hurried him to excefs; he was prone to anger, transported with the luft of power, and particularly accufed of incontinence, not only in the affair of Rofamond, whom he is faid to have concealed in a labyrinth at Woodstock, from the jealous enquiry of his wife, but also in a fuppofed commerce with the French princefs Adalais, who was bred in England as the future wife of his fon Richard. This infamous breach of honour and hofpitality, if he was actually guilty, is the fouleft ftain upon his character; though the fact is doubtful, and we hope the charge untrue. Smollett. § 44. Character of RICHARD I. The most fhining part of this prince's character was his military talents; no man ever in that romantic age carried courage and intrepidity to a greater height; and this quality gained him the appellation of the lion-hearted, cœur de lion. He paffionately loved glory; and as his conduct in the field was not inferior to his valour, he feems to have poffeffed every talent neceffary for acquiring it: his refentments alfo were high, his pride unconquerable, and his fubjects, as well as his neighbours, had therefore reafon to apprehend, from the continuance of his reign, a perpetual fcene of blood and violence. Of an impetuous and vehement fpirit, he was diftinguished by all the good as well as the bad qualities which are incident to that character. He was open, frank, generous, fincere, and brave; he was revengeful, domineering, ambitious, haughty, and cruel, and was thus better calculated to dazzle men by the fplendour of his enterprizes, than either to promote their happiness or his own grandeur by a found and well-regulated policy. As military talents make great impreffion on the people, he feems to have been much beloved by his English fubjects; and he is remarked to have been the first prince of the Norman line who bore a fincere affection and regard for them. He paffed, however, only four months of his reign in that kingdom: the crufade employed him near three years: he was detained about four months in captivity; the reft of his reign was spent either in war, or preparations for war againft France; and he was so pleased with the fame which he had acquired in the Eaft, that he feemed determined, notwithstanding all his paft misfortunes, to have further exhaufted his kingdom, and to have expofed himself to new hazards by conducting another expedition against the infidels. Died April 6, 1199, aged 42. Reigned ten years. Hume. $45. Another Character of RICHARD I. This renowned prince was tall, ftrong, ftraight, and well-proportioned. His arms were remarkably long, his eyes blue, and full of vivacity; his hair was of a yellowish colour; his countenance fair and comely, and his air majestic. He was endowed with good natural underftanding; his penetration was uncommon; he poffeffed a fund of manly eloquence; his converfation was fpirited, and he was admired for his talents of repartee; as for his courage and ability in war, both Europe and Afia refound with his praife. The Saracens ftilled their children with the terror of his name; and Saladine, who was an accomplished prince, admired his valour to fuch a degree of enthufiafm, that immediately after Richard had defeated him on the plains of Joppa, he fent him a couple of fine Arabian horses, in token of his efteem; a polite compliment, which Richard returned with magnificent prefents. These are the fhining parts of his character, which, however, cannot dazzle the judicious obferver fo much, but that he may perceive a number of blemishes, which no hiftorian has been able to efface from the memory of this celebrated monarch. His ingratitude and want of filial af fection |