he rebellions against him, and made the executions, though not
remarkably severe, which he found necessary for the maintenance of
his authority, appear cruel as well as iniquitous to the people. Yet,
without pretending to apologize for these crimes, which must ever be
held in detestation, it may be remarked, that he was insensibly led
into this blamable conduct by a train of incidents which few men possess
virtue enough to withstand. The injustice with which his predecessor had
treated him, in first condemning him to banishment, then despoiling him
of his patrimony, made him naturally think of revenge, and of recovering
his lost rights; the headlong zeal of the people hurried him into the
throne; the care of his own security, as well as his ambition, made him
a usurper; and the steps have always been so few between the prisons of
princes and their graves, that we need not wonder that Richard's fate
was no exception to the general rule. All these considerations make
Henry's situation, if he retained any sense of virtue, much to be
lamented; and the inquietude with which he possessed his envied
greatness, and the remorses by which, it is said, he was continually
haunted, render him an object of our pity, even when seated upon the
throne. But it must be owned, that his prudence, and vigilance, and
foresight, in maintaining his power, were admirable; his command of
temper remarkable; his courage, both military and political, without
blemish; and he possessed many qualities which fitted him for his high
station, and which rendered his usurpation of it, though pernicious
in after times, rather salutary, during his own reign, to the English
nation.

Henry was twice married: by his first wife, Mary deBohun, daughter and
coheir of the earl of Hereford, he had four sons, Henry, his successor
in the throne, Thomas, duke of Clarence, John, duke of Bedford, and
Humphrey, duke of Glocester: and two daughters, Blanche and Philippa;
the former married to the duke of Bavaria, the latter to the king of
Denmark. His second wife, Jane, whom he married after he was king,
and who was daughter of the king of Navarre, and widow of the duke of
Brittany, brought him no issue.

By an act of the fifth of this reign, it is made felony to cut out any
person's tongue, or put out his eyes; crimes which, the act says, were
very frequent. This savage spirit of revenge denotes a barbarous people;
though, perhaps, it was increased by the prevailing facti