The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

362 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII.
And lastly, both reason of estate and war seemed fall upon spoil in the end. Wherefore there was
to agree with this course: for that insurrections 1 great running to and fro of people, some to the
of base people are commonly more furious in gates, some to the walls, some to the water-side;
their beginnings. And by this means also he giving themselves alarms and panic fears conhad them the more at vantage, being tired and tinually. Nevertheless, both Tate, the lord
harassed with a long march; and more at mercy, mayor, and Shaw and Haddon the shelifts, did
being cut off far from their country, and therefore their parts, stoutly and well, in arming and ordernot able by any sudden flight to get to retreat, and ing the people. And the king likewise did adjoin
to renew the troubles. some captains of experience in the wars, to advise
When therefore the rebels were encamped on and assist the citizens. But soon after, when
Blackheath, upon the hill, whence they might they understood that the king had so ordered the
behold the city of London, and the fair valley i matter, that the rebels must win three battles,
about it; the king, knowing well that it stood before they could approach the city, and that he
him upon, by how much the more he had hitherto E had put his own person between the rebels and
protracted the time in not encountering them, by so them, and that the great care was, rather how to
nluch the sooner to despatch with them, that it might impound the rebels that none of them might
appear to have been no coldness in fore-slowing, escape, than that any doubt was made to vanquish
hut wisdom in choosing his time; resolved with them; they grew to be quiet and out of fear; the
all speed to assail them, and yet with that provi- rather, for the confidence they reposed, which
dence and surety, as should leave little to venture was not small, in the three leaders, Oxford,
or fortune. And having very great and puissant Essex, and D'Aubigny; all men well famed and
forces about him, the better to master all events loved amongst the people. As for Jasper, Duke
and accidents, he divided them into three parts; of Bedford, whom the king used to employ with
the first was led by the Earl of Oxford in chief, the first in his wars, he was then sick, and died
assisted by the Earls of Essex and Suffolk. soon after.
These noblemen were appointed, with some cor- It was the two-and-twentieth of June, and a
nets of horse and bands of foot, and good store Saturday, which was the day of the week the
of artillery, wheeling about to put themselves king fancied, when the battle was fought: though
beyond the hill where the rebels were encamped; the king had, by all the art he could devise, given
and to beset all the skirts and descents thereof, out a false day, as if he prepared to give the
except those that lay towards London; thereby rebels battle on the Monday following, the better
to have these wild beasts, as it were, in a toil. to find them unprovided, and in disarray. The
The second part of his forces, which were those lords that were appointed to circle the hill, had
that were to be most in action, and upon which some days before planted themselves, as at tne
he relied most for the fortune of the day, he did receipt, in places convenient. In the afternoon,
assign to be led by the lord chamberlain, who towards the decline of the day, which was done,
was appointed to set upon the rebels in front, the better to keep the rebels in opinion that they
from that side which is towards London. The should not fight that day, the Lord D'Aubigny
third part of his forces, being likewise great and marched on towards them, and first beat some
brave forces, he retained about himself, to be troops of them from Deptford-bridge, where they
ready upon all events to restore the fight, or con- fought manfully; but, being in no great number,
summate the victory; and meanwhile to secure were soon driven back, and fled up to their main
the city. And for that purpose he encamped in army upon the hill. The army at that time,
person in St. George's Fields, putting himself be- hearing of the approach of the king's forces,
tween the city and the rebels. But the city of were putting themselves in array, not without
London, especially at the first, upon the near en- much confusion. But neither had they placed,
camping of the rebels, was in great tumult: as upon the first high _ground towards the bridge,
it useth to be with wealthy and populous cities, any forces to second the troops below, that kept
especially those which being for greatness and the bridge; neither had they brought forwards
fortune queens of their regions, who seldom see their main battle, which stood in array far into
out of their windows, or from their towers, an the heath, near to the ascent of the hill. So that
army of enemies. But that which troubled them the earl with his forCes mounted the hill, and remost, was the conceit that they dealt with a rout covered the plain without resistance. The Lord
of people, with whom there was no composition D'Aubigny charged them with great fury; insoor condition, or orderly treating, if need were; much as it had like, by accident, to have brandled
but likely to be bent altogether upon rapine and the fortune of the day: for, by inconsiderate forspoil. And although they had heard that the wardness in fighting at the head of his troops,
rebels had behaved themselves quietly and he was taken by the rebels, but immediately
modestly by the way as they went; yet they rescued and delivered. The rebels maintained
doubted much that would not last, but rather the fight for a small time, and for their persons
make them more hungry, and more in appetite to showed no want of courage; but being ill armed,
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