That he was fond of sports, strong and in early life physically attractive, is well attested.

The principal evidences of his learning are the fulsome testimony of Erasmus and his work against Luther.

But it has been lately shown that Erasmus was capable of passing off, as the work of a powerful patron, compositions which he knew to be written by Latin secretaries; and the royal author of the _Defence of the Seven Sacraments_, which evinces but mediocre talent, received much unacknowledged assistance.
If judged by his foreign relations Henry's statesmanship was unsuccessful.

His insincerity and perfidy often overreached themselves, and he was often {278} deceived.

Moreover, he was inconstant, pursuing no worthy end whatever.