The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 353
seem calm, yet it was a plain and direct over- with his consent and privity. But this is not
ruling of the king's title, either by the line of probable; both because he never recovered that
Lancaster, or by act of parliament; which, no degree of grace which he had with the king be-.
doubt, pierced the king more than if Stanley had fore his going over; and chiefly, for that the discharged his lance upon him in the field. For if covery which he had made touching the lord
Stanley would hold that opinion, that a son of chamberlain, which was his great service, grew
King Edward had still the better right, he being not from any thing he learned abroad, for that he
so principal. a person of authority and favour knew it well before he went.
about the king, it was to teach all England to These executions, and especially that of the lord
say as much. And therefore, as those times chamberlain's, which was the chief strength of
were, that speech touched the quick. But some the party, and by means of Sir Robert Clifford,
writers do put this out of doubt; for they say, who was the most inward man of trust amongst
that Stanley did expressly promise to aid Perkin, them, did extremely quail the design of Perkin
and sent him some help of treasure. and his complices, as well through discourageNow for the motive of his falling off from the ment as distrust. So that they -were now, like
king; it is true, that at Bosworth-field the king sand without lime, ill bound together; especially
was beset, and in a manner enclosed round about as many as were English, who were at a gaze,
by the troops of King Richard, and in manifest looking strange one upon another, not knowing
danger of his life; when this Stanley was sent who was faithful to their side; but thinking that
by his brother, with three thousand men to his the king, what with his baits, and what with his
rescue, which he performed so, that King Richard nets, would draw them all unto him that were
was slain upon the place. So as the condition any thing worth. And indeed it came to pass,
of mortal men is not capable of a greater benefit that divers came away by the thread, sometimes
than the king received by the hands of Stanley; one and sometimes another. Barley, that was
being, like the benefit of Christ, at once to save joint commissioner with Clifford, did hold out
and crown. For which service the king gave one of the longest, till Perkin was far worn; yet
him great gifts, made him his counsellor and made his peace at the length. But the fall of
chamberlain: and, somewhat contrary to his na- this great man, being in so high authority and
ture, had winked at the great spoils of Bosworth- favour, as was thought, with the king; and the
field, which came almost wholly to this man's manner of carriage of the business, as if there
hands, to his infinite enriching. Yet, neverthe- had been secret inquisition upon him for a great
less, blown up with the conceit of his merit, he time before; and the cause for which he suffered,
did not think he had received good measure from which was little more than for saying in effect
the king, at least not pressing down and running that the title of York was better than the title of
over, as he expected. And his ambition was so Lancaster; which was the case almost of every
exorbitant and unbounded, as he became suitor to man, at the least in opinion, was matter of great
the king for the earldom of Chester; which ever terror amongst all the king's servants and subbeing a kind of appanage to the principality of jects: insomuch as no man almost thought himWales, and using to go to the king's son, his suit self secure, and men durst scarce commune or
did not only end in a denial but in a distaste: the talk one with another, but there was a general
king perceiving thereby, that his desires were in- diffidence everywhere: which nevertheless made
temperate, and his cogitations vast and irregular, the Iking rather more absolute than more safe.
and that his former benefits were but cheap, and For "bleeding inwards, and shut vapours, strangle
lightly regarded by him. Wherefore the king soonest, and oppress most."
began not to brook him well. And as a little Hereupon presently came forth swarms and
leaven of new distaste doth commonly sour the vollies of libels, which are the gusts of liberty
whole lump of former merits, the king's wit of speech restrained, and the females of sedition,
began now to suggest unto his passion, that containing bitter invectives and slanders against
Stanley, at Bosworth-field, though he came time the king and some of the council: for the conenough to save his life, yet he stayed long enough triving and dispersing whereof, after great dilito endanger it. But yet, having no matter against gence of inquiry, five mean persons were caught
him, he continued him in his places until this his up and executed.
fall. Meanwhile the king did not neglect Ireland,
After him was made lord chamberlain, Giles, being the soil where these mushrooms and upstart
Lord D'Aubigny, a man of great sufficiency and weeds, that spring up in a night, did chiefly
valour; the more because he was gentle and prosper. He sent therefore from hence, for the
moderate. better settling of his affairs there, commissioners
There was a common opinion, that Sir Robert of both robes, the Prior of LTanthony, to be his
Clifford, who now was become the state informer, chancellor in that kingdom; and Sir Edward
was from the beginning an emissary and spy of Poynings, with a power of men, and a martial
the king's; and that he fled over into Flanders commission, together with a civil power of x.is
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