302 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



effect that the title of York was better than the title 

 of Lancaster ; which was the case almost of every 

 man, at the least in opinion, was matter of great 

 terror amongst all the king s servants and subjects ; 

 insomuch as no man almost thought himself secure, 

 and men durst scarce commune or talk one with 

 another, but there was a general diffidence every 

 where : which nevertheless made the king rather 

 more absolute than more safe. For &quot; bleeding in- 

 &quot; wards, and shut vapours, strangle soonest, and 

 &quot; oppress most.&quot; 



Hereupon presently came forth sw r arms and vol- 

 lies of libels, which are the gusts of liberty of speech 

 restrained, and the females of sedition, containing 

 bitter invectives and slanders against the king and 

 some of the council: for the contriving and dispers 

 ing whereof, after great diligence of inquiry, five 

 mean persons were caught up and executed. 



Mean while the king did not neglect Ireland, 

 being the soil where these mushrooms and upstart 

 weeds, that spring up in a night, did chiefly pros 

 per. He sent therefore from hence, for the better 

 settling of his affairs there, commissioners of both 

 robes, the Prior of Lanthony, to be his chancellor in 

 that kingdom ; and Sir Edward Poynings, with a 

 power of men, and a martial commission, together 

 with a civil power of his lieutenant, with a clause, 

 that the Earl of Kildare, then deputy., should obey 

 him. But the wild Irish, who were the principal 

 offenders, fled into the woods and bogs, after their 

 manner ; and those that knew themselves guilty in 



