The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 365
hold in any long discontent; and therefore requir- taken them, for twelve pence and two shillings a
ed him to think of his own fortunes, and to choose piece, were come down into their country, had
out some fitter place for his exile: telling him rather emboldened them than reclaimed them;
withal, that he could not say, but the English had insomuch as they stuck not to say to their neighforsaken him before the Scottish, for that, upon bours and countrymen, that the king did well to
two several trials, none had declared themselves pardon them, for that he knew he should leave
on his side; but nevertheless he would make few subjects in England, if he hanged all that
good what he said to him at his first receiving, were of their mind; and began whetting and inwhich was that he should not repent him for put- citing one another to renew the commotion. Some
ting himself into his hands; for that he would of the subtilest of them, hearing of Perkin's benot cast hin off, but help him with shipping and ing in Ireland, found means to send to him to let;
means to transport him where he should desire. him know, that if he would come over to themn
Perkin, not descending at all from his stagelike they would serve him.,
greatness, answered the king in few words, that When Perkin heard this news, he began to
he saw his time was not yet come; but whatso- take heart again, and advised upon it with his
ever his fortunes were, he should both think and council, which were principally three: Herne, a
speak honour of the king. Taking his leave, he mercer, that had fled for debt; Skelton, a tailor;
would not think on Flanders, doubting it was but and Astley, a scrivener; for Secretary Frion was
hollow ground for him since the treaty of the arch- gone. These told him. that he was mightily overduke, concluded the year before; but took his seen, both when he went into Kent, and when he
lady, and such followers as would not leave him, went into Scotland; the one being a place so near
and sailed over into Ireland. London, and under the king's nose; and the
This twelfth year of the king, a little before this other a nation so distasted with the people of
time, Pope Alexander, who loved best those England, that if they had loved him never so well,
princes that were furthest off, and with whom he yet they would never have taken his part in tha'
had least to do, taking very thankfully the king's company. But if he had been so happy as to
late entrance into league for the defence of Italy, have been in Cornwall at the first, when the peodid remunerate him with a hallowed sword and ple began to take arms there, he had been crowncap of maintenance, sent by his nuncio. Pope ed at WVestminister before this time. For these
Innocent had done the like, but it was not received kings, as he had now experience, would sell
in that glory: for the king appointed the mayor poor princes for shoes. But he must rely wholly
and his brethren to meet the pope's orator at Lon- upon people; and therefore advised him to sail
don-bridge, and all the streets between the bridge- over with all possible speed into Cornwall;
foot and the palace of Paul's, where the king then which accordingly he did, having in his company
lay, were garnished with the citizens, standing four small barks, with some sixscore or sevenin their liveries. And the morrow after, being score fighting men. He arrived in September at
All-hallows-day, the king, attended with many of WVhitsand-Bay, and forthwith came to Bodmain,
his prelates, nobles, and principal courtiers, went the blacksmith's town; where there assembled
in procession to Paul's, and the cap and sword unto him to the number of three thousand men of
were borne before him. And after the procession, the rude people. There he set forth a new prothe king himself remaining seated in the quire, clamation, stroking the people with fair promises,
the lord archbishop, upon the greece of the quire, and humouring them with invectives against the
made a long oration; setting forth the greatness king and his government. And as it fareth with
and eminency of that honour which the pope, in smoke, that never loseth itself till it be at the
these ornaments and ensigns of benediction, had highest; he did now before his end raise his
done the king; and how rarely, and upon what style, entitling himself no more Richard, Duke of
high deserts they used to be bestowed: and then York, but Richard the Fourth, King of England.
recited the king's principal acts and merits,which His council advised him by all means to make
had made him appear worthy in the eyes of his himself master of some good walled town: as
holiness of this great honour. well to make his men find the sweetness of rich
All this while the rebellion of Cornwall, where- spoils, and to allure to him all loose and lost peoof we have spoken, seemed to have no relation to ple, by like hopes of booty; as to be a sure rePerkin; save that perhaps Perkin's proclamation treat to his forces, in case they should have any
had stricken upon the right vein, in promising to ill day, or unlucky chance in the field. Wherelay down exactions and payments, and so had fore they took heart to them, and went on, and
made them now and then have a kind thought on besieged the city of Exeter, the principal town fol
Perkin. But now these bubbles by much stirring strength and wealth in those parts.
began to meet, as they use to do upon the top of When they were come before Exeter, they foiwater. The king's lenity, by that time the Corn- bare to use any force at the first, but made conish rebels, who were taken and pardoned, and, as tinual shouts and outcries to terrify the inhabitants.
it was said, many of them sold by them that had They did likewise in divers places call and tall,
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