titude: his magnificence and
personal bravery rendered him illustrious in vulgar eyes; and it may
be said with truth, that the English in that age were so thoroughly
subdued, that, like Eastern slaves, they were inclined to admire those
acts of violence and tyranny which were exercised over themselves, and
at their own expense.

* Strype, vol. i. p. 389.

With regard to foreign states, Henry appears long to have supported an
intercourse of friendship with Francis, more sincere and disinterested
than usually takes place between neighboring princes. Their common
jealousy of the emperor Charles, and some resemblance in their
characters, (though the comparison sets the French monarch in a very
superior and advantageous light,) served as the cement of their mutual
amity. Francis is said to have been affected with the king's death,
and to have expressed much regret for the loss. His own health began to
decline: he foretold that he should not long survive his friend;[*] and
he died in about two months after him.

There were ten parliaments summoned by Henry VIII., and twenty-three
sessions held. The whole time in which these parliaments sat during this
long reign, exceeded not three years and a half. It amounted not to a
twelvemonth during the first twenty years. The innovations in religion
obliged the king afterwards to call these assemblies more frequently;
but though these were the most important transactions that ever fell
under the cognizance of parliament, their devoted submission to Henry's
will, added to their earnest desire of soon returning to their country
seats, produced a quick despatch of the bills, and made the sessions
of short duration. All the king's caprices were indeed blindly complied
with, and no regard was paid to the safety or liberty of the subject.
Besides the violent prosecution of whatever he was pleased to term
heresy, the laws of treason were multiplied beyond all former precedent.
Even words to the disparagement of the king, queen, or royal issue, were
subjected to that penalty; and so little care was taken in framing these
rigorous statutes, that they contain obvious contradictions; insomuch
that, had they been strictly executed, every man, without exception,
must have fallen under the penalty of treason. By one statute,[**] for
instance, it was declared treason to assert the validity of the
king's marriage, either with Catharine of Arragon or Anne Boleyn; by
another,[***] it was treason