to  aflcmble  them,  wherefoever  he  was  in  the^  '^
kingdom,  ct  Chriftmas,  Eafter,  and  Whit-
•  funtide;  he  confulted  with  them  on  all  his
greateft  affairs  5  he  converfed  with  them  often,
rather  as  a  friend  than  a  mafter ;  Ibme  of  the
higheft  (as  the  earls  of  Leicefter  and  Arundel,,
at  one  period  of  time,  and  thq  earl  of  Eflex,
at  anodier)  he  employed,  with  fpecial  truft,
in  the  adminiflration  of  his  moll  important
bufinefs.  To  the  laft,  by  the  marriage  of  a
ward  of  the  crown  in  his  cuftodyt  he  gave  a
fecond  great  earldom >  that  of  Albemarle.  Other
inftances  might  be  mentioned  of  his  favour
to  the  nobles,  which  Ihew  that  he  thought
the  due  fupport  of  their  dignity  eflential  to
monarchy,  and  their  luftre  an  addition  to  the  '
fplendor  of  the  crown.  Yet,  at  the  fame  tini^
he  made  his  power  a  (hield  to  the  loweft  of
his  fubjefts  againft  any  oppreffion  from  them,
and  took  all  the  care,  the  moft  aftive  mfpec-
tion  couid  take,  that  by  him  /i&^ /^'ze^  fhould
reign,  with  equal  authority,  over  all.  The  feudal
ideas  fuppofed,  that  every  lord  was,  by  office,
the  patron  of  his  vaflals,  and  the  king  of  every
lord ;  but  he  extended  that  patronage  to  every
member  of  the  whole  commonwealth,  as  their
common  lord  and  father.  The  fame  conduct
had  endeared  Henry  the  F^irft  to  the  people :  but
he  rather  was  refpe^ed  than  loved  by  the  nobles:
ivhereas  his  grandfon  poife^ed  the  hearts  of
both,  except  mch  hearts  as  werb  fieeled  againft
my  proper  fenfe  of  affef^n  or  gratitude  by

3  *  ^^^


A.  •  •

352  HISTORY  OF  THE  LIFE

BOOKV.  the  fjige  oF  ambition,  or  hated  his  pcrfbn  be-
caufe  they  dreaded  his  juftice.
