Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/462

 334 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. partly also by the instigation of some factious malcontents, that bare principal stroke amongst them. Hereupon the commissioners being some what astonished, deferred the matter unto the Earl of Northumberland, who was the principal man of authority in those parts. The earl forth with wrote unto the court, signifying to the king plainly enough in what flame he found the people of those countries, and praying the king s direc tion. The king wrote back peremptorily, that he would not have one penny abated of that which had been granted to him by parliament; both be cause it might encourage other countries to pray the like release or mitigation; and chiefly because he would never endure that the base multitude should frustrate the authority of the parliament, wherein their votes and consents were concluded. Upon this despatch from court, the earl assembled the principal justices and freeholders of the coun try; and speaking to them in that imperious lan guage, wherein the king had written to him, which needed not, save that a harsh business was un fortunately fallen into the hands of a harsh man, did not only irritate the people, but make them conceive, by the stoutness and haughtiness of de livery of the king s errand, that himself was the author or principal persuader of that counsel ; whereupon the meaner sort routed together, and suddenly assailing the earl in his house, slew him, and divers of his servants : and rested not there, but creating for their leader Sir John Egre- mont, a factious person, and one that had of a long time born an ill talent towards the king: and being animated also by a base fellow, called John a Chamber, a very &quot;boutefeu,&quot; who bare much sway amongst the vulgar and popular, en tered into open rebellion ; and gave out in flat terms that they would go against King Henry, and fight with him for the maintenance of their liberties. When the king was advertised of this new in surrection, being almost a fever that took him every year, after his manner little troubled there with, he sent Thomas, Earl of Surrey, whom he had a little before not only released out of the Tower, and pardoned, bat also received to special favour, with a competent power against the rebels, who fought with the principal band of them, and defeated them, and took alive John a Chamber their firebrand. As for Sir John Egremont, he fled into Flanders to the Lady Margaret of Bur gundy, whose palace was the sanctuary and recep tacle of all traitors against the king. John a Chamber was executed at York in great state; for he was hanged upon a gibbet raised a stage higher in the midst of a square gallows, as a traitor paramount; and a number of his men that where his chief complices were hanged upon the lower story round about him ; and the rest were generally pardoned. Neither did the king him- selt omit his custom, to be first or second in all his warlike exploits, making good his word, which was usual with him when he heard of rebels, that he desired but to see them. For im mediately after he had sent down the Earl of Sur rey, he marched towards them himself in person. And although in his journey he heard news of the victory, yet he went on as far as York, to pacify and settle those countries; and that done, return ed to London, leaving the Earl of Surrey for his lieutenant in the northern parts, and.Sir Richard Tunstal for his principal commissioner, to levy the subsidy, whereof he did not remit a denier. About the same time that the king lost so good a servant as the Earl of Northumberland, he lost likewise a faithful friend and ally of James the Third, King of Scotland, by a miserable disaster. For this unfortunate prince, after a long smother of discontent, and hatred of many of his nobility and people, breaking forth at times into seditions and alterations of court, was at last distressed by them, having taken arms, and surprised the per son of Prince James, his son, partly by force, partly by threats, that they would otherwise de liver up the kingdom to the King of England, to shadow their rebellion, and to be the titular and painted head of those arms. Whereupon the king, finding himself too weak, sought unto King Henry, as also unto the Pope, and the King of France, to compose those troubles between him and his subjects. The kings accordingly inter posed their mediation in a round and princely manner; not only by way of request and persua sion, but also by way of protestation and menace ; declaring, that they thought it to be the common cause of all kings, if subjects should be suffered to give laws unto their sovereign, and that they would accordingly resent it and revenge it. But the rebels, that had shaken off the greater yoke of obedience, had likewise cast away the lesser tie of respect. And fury prevailing above fear, made answer : That there was no talking of peace except the king would resign his crown. Where upon, treaty of accord taking no place, it came to a battle at Bannockshourn byStrivelin: in which battle the king, transported with wrath and just indignation, inconsiderately fighting and precipi tating the charge, before his whole numbers came up to him, was, notwithstanding the contrary ex press and strait commandment of the prince, his son, slain in the pursuit, being fled to a mill, situate in a field, where the battle was fought As for the Pope s embassy, which was sent by Adrian deCastello, an Italian legate, and perhaps as those times were, might have prevailed more, it came too late for the embassy, but not for the ambassador. For passing through England, and being honourably entertained, and received of King Henry, who ever applied himself with much respect to the See of Rome, he fell into great grace with the king, and great familiarity and friend ship with Morton the Chancellor ; insomuch