Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/472

344 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. a brother of the Earl of Oxford s, and some fift more. But the siege still continuing more and more (strait, and both the castles, which were the prin cipal strength of the town, being distressed, the one by the Duke of Saxony, and the other by the English; and abridge of boats, which the Lord Ravenstein had made between both castles, where by succours and relief might pass from the one to the other, being on a night set on fire by the English, he despairing to hold the town, yield ed, at the last, the castles to the English, and the town to the Duke of Saxony, by composition. Which done, the Duke of Saxony and Sir Edward Poynings treated with them of Bruges, to submit themselves to Maximilian their lord ; which after some time they did, paying, in some good part, the charge of the war, whereby the Almains and foreign succours were dismissed. The example of Bruges other of the revolted towns followed ; so that Maximilian grew to be out of danger, but, as his manner was to handle matters, never out of necessity. And Sir Edward Poynings, after he had continued at Sluice some good while till all things were settled, returned unto the king, being then before Boloign. Somewhat about this time came letters from Ferdinando and Isabella, King and Queen of Spain ; signifying the final conquest of Grenada from the Moors ; which action, in itself so worthy, King Ferdinando, whose manner was never to lose any virtue for the showing, had expressed and displayed in his letters at large, with all particu larities and religious punctos and ceremonies, that were observed in the reception of that city and kingdom : showing, amongst other things, that the king would not by any means in person enter the city, until he had first aloof seen the cross set up upon the greater tower of Granada, whereby it became Christian ground. That like wise, hefore he would enter, he did homage to God above, pronouncing by a herald from the height of that tower, that he did acknowledge to have recovered that kingdom by the help of God Almighty, and the glorious Virgin, and the vir tuous Apostk Saint James, and the holy father Innocent the fiighth, together with the aids and services of his prelates, nobles,- and commons. That yet he stirred not from his camp till he had seen a little army of martyrs, to the number of seven hundred and more Christians that had lived in bonds and servitude, as slaves to the Moors, pass before his eyes, singing a psalm for their re demption ; and that he had given tribute unto God, by alms and relief extended to them all for his admission into the city. These things were in the letters, with many more ceremonies of a kind of holy ostentation. The king, ever willing to put himself into the consort or quire of all religious actions, and natu rally affecting much the King of Spain, as far as one king can affect another, partly for his virtues, and partly for a counterpoise to France; upon tlu receipt of these letters sent all his nobles and pre lates that were about the court, together with the mayor and aldermen of London, in great solemni ty to the church of Paul ; there to hear a declara tion from the lord chancellor, now cardinal. When they were assembled, Dhe cardinal standing upon the uppermost step or half-pace, before the quire, and all the nobles, prelates, and governors of the city at the foot of the stairs, made a speech to them letting them know, that they were as sembled in that consecrate place to sing unto God a new song. For that, said he, these many years the Christians have not gained new ground or territory upon the Infidels, nor enlarged and set further the bounds of the Christian world. But this is now done by the prowess and devotion of Ferdinando and Isabella, Kings of Spain; who have, to their immortal honour, recovered the great and rich kingdom of Grenada, and the popu lous and mighty city of the same name, from the Moors, having been in possession thereof by the space of seven hundred years and more : for which this assembly and all Christians are to render laud and thanks unto God, and to celebrate this noble act of the King of Spain; who in this is not only victorious but apostolical, in the gaining of new provinces to the Christian faith. And the rather, for that this victory and conquest is obtained without much effusion of blood. Where- sy it is to be hoped that there shall be gained not ly new territory, but infinite souls to the Church of Christ, whom the Almighty, as it seems, would lave live to be converted. Herewithal he did re- ate some of the most memorable particulars of the war and victory. And after his speech ended, he whole assembly went solemnly in procession, md " Te Deum " was sung. Immediately after the solemnity, the king kept lis May-day at his palace of Sheen, now Rich mond. Where, to warm the blood of his nobility and gallants against the war, he kept great tri umphs of justing and tourney during all that month. In which space it so fell out, that Sir ames Parker, and Hugh Vaughan, one of the ving s gentlemen ushers, having had a controver- y .touching certain arms that the king-at-arms lad given Vaughan, were appointed to run some ourses one against another. And by accident )f a faulty helmet that Parker had on, he was stricken into the mouth at the first course, so that lis tongue was borne unto the hinder part of his lead, in such sort that he died presently upon the ilace. Which, because of the controversy pre- edent, and the death that followed, was account- d amongst the vulgar as a combat or trial of ight. The king towards the end of this summer, aving put his forces, wherewith he meant to in- ade France, in readiness, but so as they were lot yet met or mustered together, sent Urswiek.