"Fine healthy years in the main, for all their fighting," notes Carlyle.

"See the Paston Letters, for one proof." Some of his recommendations are racily colloquial.

"Give us time of day" is his mode of asking for more dates.

Henry's instructions to his Secretary or Ambassador at Rome he pronounces "very rough matter to set upon the table uncooked," and recommends an Appendix, unluckily without avail.

"Abridge, redact," he exclaims towards the end, but there was no abridgment and no redaction.