Characters of the Kings and Queens of England: Selected from Different Histories : with Observations and Reflections, Chiefly Adapted to Common Life : and Particularly Intended for the Instruction of Youth : to which are Added Notes Historical, Volumes 1-2G.G.J. and J. Robinson, Pater-noster-row, 1786 - Great Britain |
Contents
74 | |
80 | |
89 | |
95 | |
103 | |
106 | |
116 | |
122 | |
128 | |
138 | |
144 | |
152 | |
163 | |
169 | |
44 | |
50 | |
56 | |
57 | |
79 | |
85 | |
92 | |
176 | |
182 | |
190 | |
196 | |
202 | |
208 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accompliſhed againſt alfo alſo becauſe beſt CHARACTER OF EDWARD CHARACTER OF HENRY CHARACTER OF RICHARD city of London cloth coins conduct confequence confiderable crown cuſtoms defire difpofition Edward III Edward IV England Engliſh eſtabliſhed exerciſe expence faid fame fays feems fent fervants feveral fhall fhillings fhould filk filver fince firft firſt Flanders fmall fome fpirit ftate ftill fubjects fuch fupply gold Henry VI hiftorians hiftory himſelf honour horſe houſe HUME increaſe Jack Straw king king's kingdom knights laft land laſt leaſt lefs London meaſures ment minifters moft moſt muſt nature neceffary neral NOTES HISTORICAL notwithſtanding obferve occafion paffed paffion parliament perfon pleaſure poffeffed pound weight prefent prifoner prince purchaſe purpoſe racter reafon refpect reign Richard II rience ſaid ſeveral ſhall ſmall SMOLLETT ſtate ſtill thefe themſelves theſe thofe thoſe thouſand throne tion uſeful whofe William the Conqueror wine
Popular passages
Page 1 - The merit of this prince, both in private and public life, may, with advantage, be set in opposition to that of any monarch or citizen, which the annals of any age, or any nation, can present to us. He seems, indee"d, to be the complete model of that perfect character, which, under the denomination of a sage or wise man, the philosophers have, been fond of delineating...
Page 57 - Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more. Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again. Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.
Page 82 - What have you done to me?" replied coolly the prisoner: "you killed with your own hands my father, and my two brothers; and you intended to have hanged...
Page 26 - Engliih, though he owed his crown to their valour and fidelity, when 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...
Page 165 - ... of his country. And nothing could have induced or enabled his people to bear the load of taxes with which they were encumbered in his reign, but the love and admiration of his person, the fame of his victories, and the excellent laws and regulations which the parliament enacted with his advice and concurrence.
Page 2 - His civil and his military virtues are almost equally the objects of our admiration ; excepting only, that the former, being more rare among princes, as well as more useful, seem chiefly to challenge our applause. Nature also, as if desirous that so bright a production of her skill should be set in the fairest light, had bestowed on him every bodily accomplishment, vigour of limbs, dignity of shape and air, with a pleasing, engaging, and open countenance.
Page 14 - Few princes have been more fortunate than this great monarch, or were better entitled to grandeur and prosperity, from the abilities and the vigour of mind which he displayed in all his conduct. His spirit was bold and enterprising, yet guided by prudence: his ambition, which was exorbitant, and lay little under the restraints of justice, still less under those of humanity, ever submitted...
Page 4 - ... but no regulation redounded more to his honour and the advantage of his kingdom, than the meafures he took to prevent rapine, murder, and other outrages, which had fo long been committed with impunity. His attention ftooped even to the meaneft circumftance of his people's conveniency.
Page 106 - The only favor which the king granted his brother after his condemnation, was to leave him the choice of his death ; and he was privately drowned in a butt of malmsey in the Tower ; a whimsical choice, which implies that he had an extraordinary passion for that liquor.
Page 99 - Runnemede, between Windsor and Staines ; a place which has ever since been extremely celebrated, on account of this great event. The two parties encamped apart, like open enemies ; and after a debate of a few days, the king, with a facility somewhat suspicious, signed and sealed the charter which was required of him. This famous deed, commonly called the Great Charter, either granted or secured very important liberties and privileges to every order of men in the kingdom ; to the clergy, to the barons,...