HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 189 



Henry had to overthrow King Richard : and that if 

 there were not a sword drawn against them in Ire 

 land, it was a sign the swords in England would be 

 soon sheathed or beaten down. And first, for a 

 bravery upon this accession of power, they crowned 

 their new king in the cathedral church of Dublin ; 

 who formerly had been but proclaimed only ; and 

 then sat in council what should farther be done. At 

 which council, though it were propounded by some, 

 that it were the best way to establish themselves 

 first in Ireland, and to make that the seat of the war, 

 and to draw King Henry thither in person, by whose 

 absence they thought there would be great altera 

 tions and commotions in England ; yet because the 

 kingdom there was poor, and they should not be 

 able to keep their army together, nor pay their Ger 

 man soldiers ; and for that also the sway of the Irish 

 men, and generally of the men of war, which, as in 

 such cases of popular tumults is usual, did in effect 

 govern their leaders, was eager, and in affection to 

 make their fortunes upon England ; it was concluded 

 with all possible speed to transport their forces into 

 England. The king in the mean time, who at first 

 when he heard what was done in Ireland, though it 

 troubled him, yet thought he should be well enough 

 able to scatter the Irish as a flight of birds, and rat 

 tle away this swarm of bees with their king ; when 

 he heard afterwards that the Earl of Lincoln was 

 embarked in the action, and that the Lady Margaret 

 was declared for it; he apprehended the danger in 

 a true degree as it was, and saw plainly that his 



