832 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



was utterly differing from his former custom and 

 practice : which was ever full of forwardness and 

 celerity to make head against them, or to set upon 

 them as soon as ever they were in action. This he 

 was wont to do. But now, besides that he was at 

 tempered by years, and less in love with dangers, by 

 the continued fruition of a crown ; it was a time 

 when the various appearance to his thoughts of 

 perils of several natures, and from divers parts, did 

 make him judge it his best and surest way, to keep 

 his strength together in the seat and centre of his 

 kingdom : according to the ancient Indian emblem, 

 in such a swelling season, to hold the hand upon the 

 middle of the bladder, that no side might rise. 

 Besides, there was no necessity put upon him to 

 alter his counsel. For neither did the rebels spoil 

 the country, in which case it had been dishonour to 

 abandon his people ; neither on the other side did 

 their forces gather or increase, which might hasten 

 him to precipitate and assail them before they grew 

 00 strong. And lastly, both reason of estate and 

 war seemed to agree with this course : for that in 

 surrections of base people are commonly more 

 furious in their beginnings. And by this means also 

 he had them the more at vantage, being tired and 

 harassed with a long march; and more at mercy, 

 being cut off far from their country, and therefore 

 not able by any sudden flight to get to retreat, and 

 to renew the troubles. 



When therefore the rebels were encamped on 

 Biackheath, upon the hill, whence they might behold 



