HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 209 



other out of dissimulation, about the negociation 

 of peace. The French king mean while invaded 

 Britain with great forces, and distressed the city of 

 Nantz with a strait siege, and, as one, who though 

 he had no great judgement, yet had that, that he 

 could dissemble at home, the more he did urge the 

 prosecution of the war, the more he did, at the same 

 time, urge the solicitation of the peace. Insomuch 

 as during the seige of Nantz, after many letters and 

 particular messages, the better to maintain his dis 

 simulation, and to refresh the treaty, he sent Barnard 

 D Aubigney, a person of good quality, to the king, 

 earnestly to desire him to make an end of the busi 

 ness howsoever. 



The king was no less ready to revive and quicken 

 the treaty ; and thereupon sent three commissioners, 

 the abbot of Abingdon, Sir Richard Tunstal, and 

 chaplain Urswick formerly employed, to do their 

 utmost endeavours to manage the treaty roundly 

 and strongly. 



About this time the Lord Woodvile, uncle to the 

 queen, a valiant gentleman, and desirous of honour, 

 sued to the king that he might raise some power 

 of voluntaries underhand, and without licence or 

 passport (wherein the king might any ways appear) 

 go to the aid of the Duke of Britain. The king de 

 nied his request, or at least seemed so to do, and 

 laid strait commandment upon him, that he should 

 not stir, for that the king thought his honour would 

 suffer therein, during a treaty, to better a party. 

 Nevertheless this lord, either being unruly, or out of 



