The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 329
that he could dissemble at home, the more he did belief, as an ill measuring of the forces of the
urge the prosecution of the war, the more he did, other party.
at the same time, urge the solicitation of the For, as was partly touched before, the king
peace. Insomuch as during the siege of Nantz, had cast the business thus with himself. He took
after many letters and particular messages, the it for granted, in his own judgment, that the wai
better to maintain his dissimulation, and to refresh of Britain, in respect of the strength of the towns
the treaty, he sent Barnard D'Aubigney, a person and of the party, could not speedily come to a peof good quality, to the king, earnestly to desire riod. For he conceived, that the counsels of a
him to make an end of the business how- war, that was undertaken by the French king,
soever. then childless, against an heir apparent of France,
The king was no less ready to revive and would be very faint and slow; and, besides, that
quicken the treaty; and thereupon sent three it was not possible, but that the state of France
commissioners, the abbot of Abingdon, Sir should be embroiled with some troubles and alRichard Tunstal, and chaplain Urswick formerly terations in favour of the Duke of Orleans. IIe
employed, to do their utmost endeavours to man- conceived likewise, that Maximilian, King of the
age the treaty roundly and strongly. Romans, was a prince, warlike and potent; who,
About this time the Lord Woodville, uncle to he made account, would give succours to the Brithe queen, a valiant gentleman, and desirous of tains roundly. So then judging it would be a
honour, sued to the king that he might raise some work of time, he laid his plot how he might best
power of voluntaries underhand, and without li- make use of thattime for his own affairs. Wherecense or passport (wherein the king might any in first he thought to make his vantage upon his
ways appear) go to the aid of the Duke of Britain. parliament; knowing that they being affectionate
The king denied his request, or at least seemed unto the quarrel of Britain, would give treasure
so to do, and laid strait commandment upon him largely; which treasure, as a noise of war might
that he should not stir, for that the king thought draw forth, so a peace succeeding might coffer up.
his honour would suffer therein, during a treaty, to And because he knew his people were hot upon
better a party. Nevertheless this lord, either being the business, he chose rather to seem to be deceivunruly, or out of conceit that the king would not ed and lulled asleep by the French than to be backinwardly dislike that, which he would not openly ward in himself; considering his subjects were not
avow, sailed directly over to the Isle of Wight, so fully capable of the reasons of state, which
-whereof he was governor, and levied a fair troop made him hold back. Wherefore to all these
of four hundred men, and with them passed over purposes he saw no other expedient, than to set
into Britain, and joined himself with the duke's and keep on foot a continual treaty of peace, layforces. The news whereof, when it came to the ing down, and takingit up again, as the occurrence
French court, put divers youngbloods into such a required. Besides, he had in consideration the
fury, as the English ambassadors were not with- point of honour, in bearing the blessed person of
out peril to be outraged. But the French king, a pacificator. He thought likewise to make use
both to preserve the privilege of ambassadors, and of the envy that the French king met with by ocbeing conscious m himself that in the business of casion of this war of Britain, in strengthening
peace he himself was the greater dissembler of the himself with new alliances; as, namely, that of
two, forbad all injuries of fact or word against their Ferdinando of Spain, with whom he had ever a
persons or followers. And presently came an consent even in nature and customs; and likewise
agent from the king, to purge himself touching with Maximilian, who was particularly interestthe Lord Woodville's going over; using for a ed. So that in substance he promised himself
principal argument, to demonstrate that it was money, honour, friends, and peace in the end. But
without his privity, for that the troops were so those things were too fine to be fortunate and sucsmall, as neither had the face of a succour by au- ceed in all parts; for that great affairs are comthority, nor could much advance the Britain af- monly too rough and stubborn to be wrought upon
fairs. To which message, although the French by the finer edges or points of wit. The king was
king gave no full credit, yet he made fair weather likewise deceived in his two main grounds. For
with the king, and seemed satisfied. Soon after although he had reason to conceive that the counthe English ambassadors returned, having two of cil of France would be wary to put the king into
them been likewise with the Duke of Britain, and a war against the heir apparent of France; yet he
found things in no other terms than they were be- did not consider that Charles was not guided by
fore. Upon their return, they informed the king any of the principal of the blood or nobility, but
of the state of the affairs, and how far the French by mean men, who would make it their masterkingo was from any true meaning of peace; and piece of credit and favour, to give venturous countherefore he was now to advise of some other sels which no great or wise man durst or would.
course; neither was the king himself led all this And for Maximilian, he was thought then a greatwhile with credulity merely, as was generally er matter than he was; his unstable and necess,
supposed; but his error was not so much facility of tous courses being not then known.
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