HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 211 



was generally supposed ; but his error was not so 

 much facility of belief, as an ill measuring of the 

 forces of the other party. 



For, as was partly touched before, the king had 

 cast the business thus with himself. He took it for 

 granted in his own judgement, that the war of Bri 

 tain, in respect of the strength of the towns and of 

 the party, could not speedily come to a period. 

 For he conceived, that the counsels of a war, that 

 was undertaken by the French king, then childless, 

 against an heir apparent of France, would be very 

 faint and slow ; and, besides, that it was not possible, 

 but that the state of France should be embroiled 

 with some troubles and alterations in favour of the 

 Duke of Orleans. He conceived likewise, that Maxi 

 milian, king of the Romans, was a prince, warlike and 

 potent ; who, he made account, would give succours 

 to the Britains roundly. So then judging it would 

 be a work of time, he laid his plot how he might 

 best make use of that time for his own affairs. 

 Wherein first he thought to make his vantage upon 

 his parliament ; knowing that they being affectionate 

 unto the quarrel of Britain, would give treasure 

 largely; which treasure, as a noise of war might 

 draw forth, 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 deceived, 

 and lulled asleep by the French, than to be backward 

 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 



