348 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



pivision amongst them, but all prepared themselves 

 for a valiant defence, and making good the town. 

 For well they saw, that the rebels were of no such 

 number or power, that they needed to fear them as 

 yet ; and well they hoped, that before their num 

 bers increased, the king s succours would come in. 

 And, howsoever, they thought it the extremest of 

 evils, to put themselves at the mercy of those hun 

 gry and disorderly people. Wherefore setting all 

 things in good order within the town, they never 

 theless let down with cords, from several parts of the 

 walls, privily, several messengers, that if one came to 

 mischance, another might pass on, which should ad 

 vertise the king of the state of the town, and implore 

 his aid. Perkin also doubted, that succours would 

 come ere long ; and therefore resolved to use his 

 utmost force to assault the town. And for that pur 

 pose having mounted scaling ladders in divers places 

 upon the walls, made at the same instant an attempt 

 to force one of the gates. But having no artillery 

 nor engines, and finding that he could do no good by 

 ramming with logs of timber, nor by the use of iron 

 bars and iron crows, and such other means at hand, 

 he had no way left him but to set one of the gates on 

 fire which he did. But the citizens well perceiving 

 the danger, before the gate could be fully consumed, 

 blocked up the gate, and some space about it on the 

 inside, with faggots and other fuel, which they like 

 wise set on fire, and so repulsed fire with fire ; and 

 in the mean time raised up rampiers of earth, and 

 cast up deep trenches, to serve instead of wall and 



