wn ruin had made way for that great
event. Chandos of Brittany was created earl of Bath, Sir Giles Daubeny,
Lord Daubeny, and Sir Robert Willoughby, Lord Broke. These were all
the titles of nobility conferred by the king during this session of
parliament.[*]

* Polyd. Virg. p. 566

But the ministers whom Henry most trusted and favored were not chosen
from among the nobility, or even from among the laity. John Morton and
Richard Fox, two clergymen persons of industry, vigilance, and capacity,
were the men to whom he chiefly confided his affairs and secret
counsels. They had shared with him all his former dangers and
distresses; and he now took care to make them participate in his good
fortune. They were both called to the privy council; Morton was restored
to the bishopric of Ely, Fox was created bishop of Exeter. The former,
soon after, upon the death of Bourchier, was raised to the see of
Canterbury. The latter was made privy seal; and successively bishop
of Bath and Wells, Durham, and Winchester. For Henry, as Lord Bacon
observes, loved to employ and advance prelates; because, having rich
bishoprics to bestow, it was easy for him to reward their services: and
it was his maxim to raise them by slow steps, and make them first pass
through the interior sees.[*] He probably expected that, as they were
naturally more dependent on him than the nobility, who during that age
enjoyed possessions and jurisdictions dangerous to royal authority, so
the prospect of further elevation would render them still more active in
his service, and more obsequious to his commands.

* Bacon, p. 582.

{1486.} In presenting the bill of tonnage and poundage, the parliament,
anxious to preserve the legal, undisputed succession to the crown, had
petitioned Henry, with demonstrations of the greatest zeal, to espouse
the princess Elizabeth; but they covered their true reason under the
dutiful pretence of their desire to have heirs of his body. He now
thought in earnest of satisfying the minds of his people in that
particular. His marriage was celebrated at London; and that with
greater appearance of universal joy than either his first entry or his
coronation. Henry remarked with much displeasure this general favor
borne to the house of York. The suspicions which arose from it not only
disturbed his tranquillity during his whole reign, but bred disgust
towards his consort herself, and poisoned all his domestic enjoyments.
Though virtuo