The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

344 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII.
a brother of the Earl of Oxford's, and some fifty one king can affect another, partly for his virtues,
more. and partly for a counterpoise to France; upon the
But the siege still continuing more and more receipt of these letters sent all his nobles and prestrait, and both the castles, which were the prin- lates that were about the court, together with the
cipal strength of the town, being distressed, the mayor and aldermen of London, in great solemnione by the Duke of Saxony, and the other by the ty to the church of Paul; there to hear a declaraEnglish; and abridge of boats, which the Lord tion from the lord chancellor, now cardinal.
Ravenstein had made between both castles, where- When they were assembled, the cardinal standing
by succours and relief might pass from the upon the uppermost step or half-pace, before the
one to the other, being on a night set on fire by quire, and all the nobles, prelates, and governors
the English, he despairing to hold the town, yield- of the city at the foot of the stairs, made a speech
ed, at the last, the castles to the English, and the to them; letting them know, that they were astown to the Duke of Saxony, by composition. sembled in that consecrate place to sing unto God
Which done, the Duke of Saxony and Sir Edward a new song. For that, said he, these many years
Poynings treated with them of Bruges, to submit the Christians have not gained new ground or
themselves to Maximilian their lord; which after territory upon the Infidels, nor enlarged and set
some time they did, paying, in some good part, further the bounds of the Christian world. But
the charge of the war, whereby the Almains and. this is now done by the prowess and devotion of
foreign succours were dismissed. The example Ferdinando and Isabella, Kings of Spain; who
of Bruges other of the revolted towns followed; have, to their immortal honour, recovered the
so that Maximilian grew to be out of danger, but, great and rich kingdom of Grenada, and the popuas his manner was to handle matters, never out lous and mighty city of the same name, from the
of necessity. And Sir Edward Poynings, after Moors, having been in possession thereof by the
he had continued at Sluice some good while till space of seven hundred years and more: for which
all things were settled, returned unto the king, this assembly and all Christians are to render
being then before Boloign. laud and thanks unto God, and to celebrate this
Somewhat about this time came letters from noble act of the King of Spain; who in this is
Ferdinando and Isabella, King and Queen of not only victorious but apostolical, in the gaining
Spain; signifying the final conquest of Grenada of new provinces to the Christian faith. And
from the Moors; which action, in itself so worthy, the rather, for that this victory and conquest is
King Ferdinando, whose manner was never to obtained withoutmuch effusion ofblood. Wherelose any virtue for the showing, had expressed and by it is to be hoped that there shall be gained not
displayed in his letters at large, with all particu- only new territory, but infinite souls to the Church
larities and religious punctos and ceremonies, of Christ, whom the Almighty, as it seems, would
that were observed in the reception of that city have live to be converted. Herewithal he did reand kingdom: showing, amongst other things, late some of the most memorable particulars of
that the king would not by any means in person the war and victory. And after his speech ended,
enter the city, until he had first aloof seen the the whole assembly went solemnly in procession,
cross set up upon the greater tower of Granada, and,; Te Deum " was sung.
whereby it became Christian ground. Thatlike- Immediately after the solemnity, the king kept
wise, before he would enter, he did homage to his May-day at his palace of Sheen, now RichGod above, pronouncing by a herald from the mond. Where, to warm the blood of his nobility
height of that tower, that he did acknowledge to and gallants against the war, he kept great trihave recovered that kingdom by the help of God umphs of justing and tourney during all that
Almighty, and the glorious Virgin, and the vir- month. In which space it so fell out, that Sir
tuous Apostle Saint James, and the holy father James Parker, and Hugh Vaughan, one of the
Innocent the Eighth, together with the aids and king's gentlemen ushers, having had a controverservices of his prelates, nobles, and commons. sy touching certain arms that the king-at-arms
That yet he stirred not from his camp till he had had given Vaughan, were appointed to run some
seen a little army of martyrs, to the number of courses one against another. And by accident
seven hundred and more Christians that had lived of a faulty helmet that Parker had on, he was
in bonds and servitude, as slaves to the Moors, stricken into the mouth at the first course, so that
pass before his eyes, singing a psalm for their re- his tongue was borne unto the hinder part of his
demption; and that he had given tribute unto head, in such sort that he died presently upon the
God, by alms and relief extended to them all for place. Which, because of the controversy prehis admission into the city. These things were cedent, and the death that followed, was accountin the letters, with many more ceremonies of a ed amongst the vulgar as a combat or trial of
kind of holy ostentation. right. The king towards the end of this summer,
The king, ever willing to put himself into the having put his forces, wherewith he meant to inconsort or quire of all religious actions, and natu- vade France, in readiness, but so as they were
i ally affecting much the King of Spain, as far as not yet met or mustered together, sent Urswicli.