Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/457

 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. that ho could dissemble at home, the more he did helief, 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. !Let,,,,k alter many letters and particular messages, the it for granted, in his own judgment, that the war In Hi T tn maintain his dissimulation, ami to refresh of Britain, in respect of the strength &amp;lt;,f the towns the treaty. In- sent Harnard D Aubigncy,a person and of the party, could not speedily come to a pe- of good quality, to the king, earnestly to desire riod. For he conceived, that the conns-Is ..t a hiui t) make an end of the business how- war, that was undertaken by the French king, soevi-r. 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 a 1 - Richard Tunstal, and chaplain Urswick formerly terations in favour of the Duke of Orleans. He 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 Woodvllle, uncle to he made account, would give succours to the Bri- the queen, a valiant gentleman, and desirous of j tains roundly. So then judging it would be a honour, sued to the king that he might raise some power of voluntaries underhand, and without li cense or passport (wherein the king might any work of time, he laid his plot how he might best make use of that time for his own affairs. Where 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 j 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, s&amp;lt; his honour would suffer therein, during a treaty, to better a party. Nevertheless this lord, either being unruly, or out of conceit that the king would riot inwardly dislike that, which he would not openly avow, sailed directly over to the Isle of Wight, whereof he was governor, and levied a fair troop of four hundred men, and with them passed over into Britain, and joined himself with the duke s forces. The news whereof, when it came to the French court, put divers young bloods into such a fury, as the English ambassadors were not with out peril to be outraged. But the French king, both to preserve the privilege of ambassadors, arid being conscious to himself that in the business of peace he himself was the greater dissembler of the two, forbad all injuries of factor word against their persons or followers. And presently came an agent from the king, to purge himself touching the Lord Woodville s going over ; using for a principal argument, to demonstrate that it was without his privity, for that the troops were so small, as neither had the face of a succour by au thority, nor could much advance the Britain af fairs. To which message, although the French king gave no full credit, yet he made fair weather with the king, and seemed satisfied. Soon after the English ambassadors returned, having two of them been likewise with the Duke of Britain, and found things in no other terms than they were be fore. Upon their return, they informed the king of the state of the affairs, and how far the French king was from any true meaning of peace; and , so a peace succeeding might coffer up. And because he knew his people were hot upon the business, he chose rather to seem to be deceiv ed and lulled asleep by the French than to be back ward in himself; considering his subjects were not so fully capable of the reasons of state, which made him hold back. Wherefore to all these purposes he saw no other expedient, than to set and keep on foot a continual treaty of peace, lay ing down, and takingit up again, as the occurrence required. Besides, he had in consideration the point of honour, in bearing the blessed person of a pacificator. He thought likewise to make use of the envy that the French king met with by oc casion of this war of Britain, in strengthening himself with new alliances ; as, namely, that of Ferdinando of Spain, with whom he had ever a consent even in nature and customs ; and likewise with Maximilian, who was particularly interest ed. So that in substance he promised himself money, honour, friends, and peace in the end. But those things were too fine to be fortunate and suc ceed in all parts ; for that great affairs are com monly too rough and stubborn to be wrought upon by the finer edges or points of wit. The king was likewise deceived in his two main grounds. For although he had reason to conceive that the coun cil of France would be wary to put the king into a war against the heir apparent of France ; yet he did not consider that Charles was not guided by any of the principal of the blood or nobility, but by mean men, who would make it their master piece of credit and favour, to give venturous conn- therefore he was now to advise of some other j 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 great- while with credulity merely, as was generally er matter than he was ; his unstable and neceasi- Bupposed ; but his error was not so much facility of i tous courses being not then known. VOL. I. 42 2r2