ABSTRACT
ThiswasthelastActhavingreferencetothepoor1509. d.H'.Hd"dfifDeathorpassemenrysrmgn.e1e,veyearsater-HenryVII.
wards,onthe21stofApril1509,inhis53rdyear.It hasbeensaidofhimthathelovedpeacewithout fearingwar,andthathewasfreefromtimidityeither intheconductofhisaffairsorinthedayofbattle. Throughoutthewholeofhisreignhewasstrenuous inhiseffortstopreventthegreatlordsandlanded gentryfromengagingretainers,andgivingbadges andliveries,apracticebywhichtheyenlistedpeople toassisttheminriotsandviolences,andevenin bearingevidenceforthemincourtsofjustice.Inhis generalsummaryattheendofHenry'sreign,Hume says:"Theartofprinting,inventedaboutthistime,2 extremelyfacilitatedtheprogressofimprovement. Theinventionofgunpowderchangedthewholeart ofwar.Mightyinnovationsweresoonaftermadein religion,suchasnotonlyaffectedthosestatesthat embracedthem,buteventhosethatadheredtothe ancientfaithandworship.Andthusageneralrevo-
lution was made in human affairs throughout this part of the world, and men gradually attained that situation with regard to commerce, arts, science, government, police, and cultivation in which they haye ever since persevered."
