350 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



to be the first that should succour the city of Exeter, 

 and prevent the king s succours. The Duke of Buck 

 ingham likewise, with many brave gentlemen, put 

 themselves in arms, not staying either the king s or 

 the Lord Chamberlain s coming on, but making abody 

 of forces of themselves, the more to endear their 

 merit ; signifying to the king their readiness, and 

 desiring to know his pleasure. So that according to 

 the proverb, in the coming down, every saint did help. 

 Perkin, hearing this thunder of arms, and prepa 

 rations against him from so many parts, raised his 

 siege, and marched to Taunton ; beginning already 

 to squint one eye upon the crown and another upon 

 .the sanctuary; though the Cornish men were become 

 like metal often fired and quenched, churlish, and 

 that would sooner break than bow ; swearing and 

 vowing not to leave him, till the uttermost drop of 

 their blood were spilt. He was at his rising from 

 Exeter between six and seven thousand strong, 

 many having come unto him after he was set before 

 Exeter, upon fame of so great an enterprize, and to 

 partake of the spoil; though upon the raising of his 

 siege some did slip away. When he was come near 

 Taunton, he dissembled all fear, and seemed all the 

 day to use diligence in preparing all things ready to 

 fight. But about midnight he fled with threescore 

 horse to Bewdley in the New Forest, where he and 

 divers of his company registered themselves sanc 

 tuary men, leaving his Cornish men to the four winds ; 

 but yet thereby easing them of their vow, and using 

 his wonted compassion, not to be by when his sub- 



