228 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



would pay the subsidy. This, no doubt, proceeded 

 not simply of any present necessity, but much by 

 reason of the old humour of those countries, where 

 the memory of King Richard was so strong, that it 

 lay like lees in the bottom of men s hearts ; and if 

 the vessel was but stirred it would come up. And, 

 no doubt, it was partly also by the instigation of some 

 factious malcontents, that bare principal stroke 

 amongst them. Hereupon the commissioners being 

 somewhat astonished, deferred the matter unto the 

 Earl of Northumberland, who was the principal man 

 of authority in those parts. The earl forthwith 

 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 direction. The 

 king wrote back peremptorily, that he would not 

 have one penny abated of that which had been 

 granted to him by parliament ; both because it might 

 encourage other^coun tries to pray the like release or 

 mitigation ; and chiefly because he would never en 

 dure that the base multitude should frustrate the 

 authority of the parliament, wherein their votes and 

 consents were concluded. Upon this dispatch from 

 court, the earl assembled the principal justices and 

 freeholders of the country ; and speaking to them in 

 that imperious language, wherein the king had 

 written to him, which needed not, save that an 

 harsh business was unfortunately fallen into the 

 hands of a harsh man, did not only irritate the people, 

 but make them conceive, by the stoutness and 

 haughtiness of delivery of the king s errand, that 

 himself was the author or principal persuader of that 



