The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 361
counsel; to make others beware how they did For as it did somewhat appal them, that the peothe like in time to come. And said, for his part ple came not in to them, so it did no less encouhe did not see how they could do the duty of true rage them, that the king's forces had not set upon
Englishmen, and good liege-men, except they did thenl lavying marched from the west unto tihe
deliver the king from such wicked ones, that east of England. Wherefore they kept on their
would destroy both him and the country. Their way, and encamped upon Blackheath, between
aim was at Archbishop Morton and Sir Reginald Greenwich and Eltham, threatening either to bid
Bray, who were the king's screens in this envy. ibattle to the king, for now the seas went higher
After that these two, Flammock and the blak.- than to Morton and Bray, or to take London
smith, had by joint and several pratings fonlr d within his view; imagining with themselves,
tokens of consent in the multitude, they offered there to find no less fear than wealth.
themselves to lead them, until they sl-oldli hear But to return to the king. When first he heard
of better men to be their leaders, which they said of this commotion of the Cornishmen, occasioned
would be ere long: telling them fither that they by the subsidy, he was much troubled therewith;
would be but their servants, a-id first in every not for itself, but in regard of the concurrence of
danger; but doubted not bhlt to make both the other dangers that did hang over him at that time.
west-end and the east-end of England to meet in For he doubted lest a war from Scotland, a reso goodlaquarrel; apdfh-t lt,, rightly understood, bellion from Cornwall, and the practices and
was but for the kingr's service. The peopleupon conspiracies of Perkin and his partakers, would
these seditious irstig-,tioas, did arm, most of come upon him at once: knowing well, that it
them with bows n4d arrows, and bills, and such was a dangerous triplicity to a monarchy, to have
o)ther wep.pohs or rude and country people, and the arms of a foreigner, the discontents of sub-'orthwTi.hl iud.r the command of their leaders, jects, and the title of a pretender to meet.
w-hich in such cases is ever at pleasure, marched Nevertheless the occasion took him in some part
-ut of Cornwall through Devonshire unto Taun- well provided. For as soon as the parliament
ten in Sornersetshire, without any slaughter, vio- had broken up, the king had presently raised a
iencoe, or spoil of the country. At Taunton they puissant army to war upon Scotland. And King
milled in fury an officious and eager commissioner James of Scotland likewise, on his part, had
Cor the subsidy, whom they called the Provost of made great preparations, either for defence, or
Perin. Thence they marched to Wells, where for new assailing of England. But as for the
the Lord Audley, with whom their leaders had king's forces, they were not only in preparation,
oefore some secret intelligence, a nobleman of an but in readiness presently to set forth, under the
ancient family, but unquiet and popular, and as- conduct of D'Aubigny, the lord chamberlain.
piring to ruin, came in to them, and was by them But as soon as the king understood of the
with great gladness and cries of joy accepted as rebellion of Cornwall, he stayed those forces,
their general; they being now proud that they retaining them for his own service and safety.
were led by a nobleman. The Lord Audley led But therewithal he despatched the Earl of Surrey
them on from Wells to Salisbury, and from Salis- into the north, for the defence and strength of
bury to WVinchester. Thence the foolish people, those parts, in case the Scots should stir. But
who, in effect, lead their leaders, had a mind to for the course he held towards the rebels, it was
be led into Kent, fancying that the people there utterly differing from his former custom and pracwould join with them; contrary to all reason or tice: which was ever full of forwardness and
judgment, considering the Kentish men had celerity to make head against them, or to set upon
showed great loyalty and affection to the king so them as soon as ever they were in action. This he
lately before. But the rude people had heard was wont to do. But now, besides that he was
Flammock say, that Kent was never conquered, attempered by years, and less in love with danand that they were the freest people of England. gers, by the continued fruition of a crown; it
And upon these vain noises, they looked for great was a time when the various appearance to his
matters at their hands, in a cause which they con- thoughts of perils of several natures, and from
ceited to be for the liberty of the subject. But divers parts, did make him judge it his best and
when they were come into Kent, the country was surest way, to keep his strength together in the
so well settled, and both by the king's late kind seat and centre of his kingdom: according to the
usage towards them, and by the credit and power ancient Indian emblem, in such a swelling season,
of the Earl of Kent, the Lord Abergavenny, and to hold the hand upon the middle of theobladder,
the Lord Cobham, as neither gentleman nor yeo- that no side might rise. Besides, there was no
man came in to their aid, which did much damp necessity put upon him to alter his counsel. For
and dismay many of the simpler sort; insomuch neither did the rebels spoil the country, in which
as divers of them did secretly fly from the army, case it had been dishonour to abandon his people;
and went home: but the sturdier sort, and those neither on the other side did their forces gather
that were most engaged, stood by it, and rather or increase, which might hasten hinm to precipitate
Nwaxed proud, than failed in hopes and courage. and assail them before they grew too strong
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