Quote:The accession of Henry VII (reigned 1485-1509) to the throne of England, leading to the end of the Wars of the Roses, opened the door to Tudor rule, setting a different character to the monarchy. In Volume 3 of The History of England, Hume traces the story through turbulent and unpredictable times, the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, the brief period of Jane Grey; and concluding with the brutal religious persecutions of Mary I. Initially, Henry VII had to establish royal control and legitimacy. With his customary clarity and natural story-telling style, Hume tells how Henry established his authority with a firm, ruthless but sure hand. He suppressed insurrections, faced French incursions into Brittany, instability in Scotland, and other fractious relationships with Spain and Flanders. Just as important was his commitment to improving the monetary state of the country after the turmoil of the Wars of the Roses. As a result, he was able to pass on a wealthier England to his successor.