of these hurliburlies came ouer Embassadours from the French King who must be answered he grew somewhat perplexed againe till shaking off all the hindrances of his amasement he fell to practise and orderly performances Whereupon he called his Councel together they without any great difficulty determined the busines in this manner To attend vpon the Scots Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey a puissant and politike Captain prisoner at the ouerthrow of King Rich. the 3. and within two yeares set at liberty and after Iohn Lord Dinham made high treasurer of England was appointed to muster the forces of the Countie Palatine of Durham the borders round about so atteÌ„d that seruice To represse the Western Rebels the Lord Dawbney with his whole power prepared for Scotland was recalled to march against theÌ„ wheresoeuer they encamped to look vnto France Calice and Guisnes with the Garisons were much augmented and prouided for To preuent Flaunders the Nauy was prepared the Staples for the Merchants setled To keep Warbeck from comming into England ioining with the Rebels the whole nobility combined themselues especially the earle of Essex Lord Montioy who came of purpose to London to offer their seruice to his Maiesty so all places were looked vntâ— with a vigilant eye manned with strength of soldiers and to answere the Embassadors of Charles the French King he sent honourable persons to receiue them and conueigh them to Douer and there a while to detaine them till some of these tumults and rebellions were extinguished and suppressed which indeed was so wisely and politikely handled that none of the Embassadors were troubled so much as with the rumors of these commotions But see the horror of despight and with what a contracted brow misfortune can looke vpon Kings themselues so that a man may well say to this Rebellion as Ouid did to Cupido in his first booke of Elegies Sunt tibi magna puer nimiumque potentia regna Cur opus affectas ambitiose nouum For as these Rebels and Cornish men departed from Wels they entertained for their chiefe Captaine Iames Twichet Lord Audley whose countenance and authoritie in the Countrie strengthened them much For by this occasion they went without intermission to Salsbury and so to Winchester and from thence into Kent hoping for further and further assistance but they were deceiued in their expectation For the Earle of Kent George Lord Aburgaueâ—y Iohn Brooke Lord Cobham Sir Edward Poinings Sir Richard Guilford Sir Thomas Burchier Sir Iohn Pechy William Scot and many others with a well mustred army were not only ready to defend their Countrie from al mischiefe and destruction but determined to offend them in their facinorous attempts and preiudiciall intrusion which loialtie somewhat rebated the forwardnesse of the Cornish-men and they began to suspect themselues being so farre from their Countrie and remote from any supply Notwithstanding loth to disâ—earten their spirits with any depressing humor they cast away all doubts and presuming on their owne strength and forces as also animated by their leaders and conductors they were now asmuch exasperated against the Kentish-men for deceiuing their assistance as against the King for vsurping their liberty swearing reuenge against both In which â—age and heat of repining they came as farre as Black-Heath within foure mile of London and tooke a field in an arrogant ouer-daring manner on the top of an hill supposing all things consortable to their arrogancy and deceiuable hopes because as yet they passed and repassed without fighting or strong encounters But alas Blanditiae Comites tibi erunt terrórque furorque and they were abused with a vale of ignorance and couering of obstinacy For the King disposed of his affaires with great policie and circumspection not determining to giue them battaile or exagitate them at all till he had them farre from their proper dwellings and flattering friends till they were in despaire of reliefe and wearied with long and tedious iournies till their treasure was spent their vitaile consumed and prouision failing till their company dropped from them like rotten hangings on a moistned wall and their whole designes and expectation quite disanulled and then when he imagined their soules vexed with the terror of a guiltie conscience their fury asswaged with compunction and penitency their spirits daunted with repentance and remorse and all their army affrighted with madnesse and doubtfull extacies would he set vpon them and in some conuenient place circumuent and inuiron them to his owne best aduantage and their irrecouerable damage and destruction As for the Citie of London I cannot but remember and compare it vnto Rome both when Hannibal passed the Alpes to threaten the Monarchy being yet farre off himselfe and also Marius and Silla couered her fields with armed men and trampled on the bosome of their Countrie with ambitious steps and cruell feet of vsurpation then spake the Poet in this manner Quoties Romam fortuna lacessit Hâ—c iter est bellis gomitu â—ic quisque latenti Non aufuâ—timuisse palam Vox nulla dolori Credita There was chaining the streetes shutting vp the shops making strong the gates doubling the watches hiding their treasure cries feares terrors and euery one more disturbed for the losse of his priuat goods then the encuÌ„brances of the Common-wealth Here was mustering of soldiers watching all day in armor staccadoing the riuer filling the streets with companies of horse and foot cutting down the Bridge locking vp their dores shutting the Gates and what else named before to be put in practise with aduantage of many peeces of ordnance both in Southwarke and the Suburbs and the strength of the Tower which they knew was reserued for the King himselfe Notwithstanding such was the instabilitie of the Citizens being a little disturbed from their quietnesse and rest their dainties and ease their banquetings and meetings their feasts and sumptuousnesse their pastimes and pleasures that they rather complained on the King and his Councell for the first occasion of these tumults then exprobrated the rebell for ingratitude and disobedience But the King without further disputing against their peeuishnesse or laying open the abuses of such refractary people deliuered them of this feare For he presently sent Iohn Earle of Oxford Henry Burchier Earle of Essex Edmond de la Poole Earle of Suffolke Sir Rice ap Thomas Humphrey Stanley and other worthy martiall men with a company of Archers and horsemen to enuiron the Hill where the Rebels were encamped round about Him-selfe with the maine battaile and forces of the Citie much ordnance and great prouision tooke St. Georges field where on a Friday at night he quartred himselfe and on the Saterday very early in the morning he poasted Lord Dawbney to Dertford who by breake of day gat the bridge of the Strand in despight of resisters which manfully defended it a while shooting arrowes a full yard long and demeaning themselues like scholerly and eloquent
marches to the ioy and fulnesse of contertment both of the towne and Countrey But when the King was aduâ—rtized of their returning to Taunton he hasted thither But first he welcommed Edward Duke of Buckingham a young noble and well regarded Prince in whose company came along an hundred Knights and Esquires of speciall name and credit in their countries amongst whom Sir Alexander Bainham Sir Mâ—urice Barckley Sir Robert Fame Sir Iohn Gmise Sir Robert Points Sir Henry Vernon Sir Iohn Mortymer Sir Thomas Tremaile Sir Edward Sutton Sir Amias Paulet Sir Iohn Bickwell Sir Iohn Sapcotes Sir Hugh Lutterâ—l and Sir Francis Cheny were principall O what a glorious thing it is to see a Noble man either stand by the chaire of thâ— Prince as a Court starre and Supportation that at last the King may aske what shall be done to the man hee meanes to honor or mooue in his own orb that is the loue and credit of his Country firme to the State and gracefull in all his actions and proceedings still hauing a care to the gouernment of the people and an eye to the dignity of the Common-wealth so shall his fame be extended abroad and his renowne enlarged at home which makes me remember the description of Capaneus in that ancient Euripides who may be a President to all young Noblemen yeal wish with mine heart that such as are not too presumptuous on their owne gifts of nature and education would take the booke in hand and make vse both of precept and example for the illustration of their Honours and administration of their liues the Poet is somewhat large and more pleasant in the Greeke then the Latine He thus beginneth Cappaneus hic est cui facult as viuendi erat abundans Minimè verò diuitijs insolens erat magnitudineÌ„ verò animi Non maiorem habebat quam pauper vir Fugiens splendido victu quicunque intumesceret minis Sufficientia vili pendens Non enim in pastu ventris Virtutem esse mediocria verò sufficere dicebat c. But to our story againe When the King approached the towne of Tawnton whether out of policie not to hazard the whole army at once or out of suspicion of some reuolters in his company or humbly considering there might be a turning of Fortunes wheele as still Rota fortunae in Gyro in the encounters of a battell or harping vpon some stratagem and enterprize as prouidently forecasting both the worst and best which might chance Hee sent before him Robert Lord Brooke the Steward of his house Giles Lord Daubney and Sr. Rice app Thomas to giue the onset and beginne the battell that hee with the rest as a strong Ambuscado and releefe might come to the reskue if they were wearied and deâ—atigated But little needed this policy or procrastination For poore Perkin desperate of his fortunes and quite exanimated to encounter with the Kingsforces in so warlike a manner and fearefull a preparation contrary to all the motiues of a true Roman Honour and without knowledge of his army about midnight accompanied with sixty horse departed in wonderfull celerity to a Sanctuary towne besides Southampton called Beâ—dly where he Iohn Heron Thomas a Water and others registred themselues as persons priuiledged O what a God art thou that canst one way humble settled Princes with the very shadowes of perill and danger making them confesse their frailty and ticklish estate of mortality by the seuerall encumbrances and mischeefes to which they are subiect and another way confound the mightiest proiects and annihilate their enterprizes turning all actions and mountaines of pride sedition conspiracies and ambition to powder and dust and then blowing it away like smoake and vapour and another way protect the right of the innocent and distressed sending remedy and comfort when they least thinke of it or know to helpe and aduance themselues and another way whip with the rods of vengeance the freneticall and vaine multitude who know nothing but rudenesse and clamorous outcries nor practize any thing but vndecencies and outragiousness so that we may well say O Iupiter cur nam miserâ—s sapere dicunt Homines ex te enim pendemus Agimvsque ea qua tu volueris O nihili homines Qui arcum extendentes tanquam vltra articulum Et iure vitque mala patientes multa Amicis non quidem creditis sed ipsis rerum euentibus c. When King Henry knew that Perkin was fled and departed from his camp he sent the Lord Daubney with fiue hundred horse to intercept him but he was lodged before they came although most of his company were surprized and taken who as miserable caitiffs and poore wretched delinquents were presented to his Maiesty But when the residue of this fearefull and staggering army could neither vnderstand what was become of their Generall nor see their accustomed Penons and Ancients nor their quarters so well ordred as was the manner of Souldiers nor their companies so cheerefull and well heartned they knew not what to say or to doe some supposing he was fraudulently slaine some suspecting he was traiterously fled some reporting the manifestation of his deceit some wondering at the strangenesse of his proceedings in that he had so myraculously begun and presumptuously prosecuted such a dangerous worke some exclaiming vpon the simplicity of the matter that built vpon no better grounds then vaine hopes and presumptuous titles some cursing themselues that they had so farre engaged their loialties against their Soueraigne Lord and King some continuing in their rancorous malice sware nothing but reuenge and obstinacy and some neuer to be reclaimed euen when their forces failed cried out to goe forward rayling at the misfortune of their businesse that they must now faile when they were ready to pull downe the Towne wals with their hands Yet when they were assured of his cowardly flight and base pusillanimity the common feare common mischiefe and common danger made them cast away their armour and submit to the King to whom though they came with affrighted countenances and venemous hearts sad lookes and little repentance curses in their soules and promises of faith loyaltie and obedience out of their mouthes yet did the King entertaine them with all cheerefulnesse and acceptable comfort as the greatest benefit which God could at that time bestow vpon him nor disputing of their hypocrisie nor determining by more narrow searches or artificiall incantations to try out the depth and search the bottome of their resolutions Thus as a conquerour without manslaughter and effusion of blood he roade triumphantly into the Citie of Excester and knowing Praemium and Poena to be the mastering curbes of all the things in the World not only praised and applauded the Citizens but opened the Treasure house of reward and honour amongst them giuing some presents aduancing others to the order of knighthood granting many petitions according to the worthy condition of a Prince and the full corroboration
Lady Margaret his most worthy aunt and faithfull coadiutrix He had not beene long in Ireland but his false fortune began once againe to play with him as flattering him with assured confidence and warrantize that the Westerne men would welcome and entertaine him from whom he had this notice that they could not forget their former iniuries and slaughters nor determined a setled and true obedience to the Lancastrian family whereupon because something must be done or else he should be for euer discredited or that God in his Iustice derided all suâ—h enterprises to scorne or else in his mercy would giue King Henry a breathing time to set his other Princely qualities of wisedome magnificence quietnesse religion charitie gouernment and polâ—ecy on worke he sailed out of Ireland with fiue small Ships and two hundred men his wife and attendants his substance and wealth and in a word all that he had But when he was to conferre about his landing and setting forward his designes he had such poore Councellors as a man would smile at for pity rather then laugh at for scorne For his principall friends were now Iohn Heron a mercer and banquerout Iohn of Water sometimes Maior of Cork Richard Sketon a Tailer and Iohn Astley a Scriuener men in generall defame for dishonest actions and in particular reproach for vnderstanding nothing but what consorted to their own wilfulnesse and outragious appetites of whom I may say as Ouid complaines in another case in his Elegies Non bene conducti vendunt periuria testes Non bene sâ—lecti Iudicis arca patet With this crue about the month of September he landed at a place called Bodnam and there so sollicited and excited the multitude and wauâ—ing people that when they heard him proclaimed Richard the fourth as the indubitat sonne of Edward the fourth whom the Duke of Glocester or if you will Richard the Tyrant determined to murther but that he escaped by the prouidence of God they flocked vnto him to the number of 4000. and according to the nature of children running after newfangled toies or painted pictures submitted to his princelines and sware with all allegeance to maintaine his dignity royaltie with which confidence company after they had taken the musters of his Army and concluded to get some strong Townes into their possession that so they might not only augment their forces but still haue places of supportation and refuge to retire vnto they went directly to Excester and besiedged it But because they wanted ordnance to make a battery and other prouision to raise their trenches and approches or indeed if you will were ignorant of martiall discipline and the secrets of a true Soldiers profession they spent the more time against the Gates and endeauoured nothing but a forcible entrance assaulting the same with great peeces of timber like the Roman rammes crowes of yron fire-brands and impetuous violence of great stones cast at therâ— and amongst them But the Citizens manfully defended themselues and held it out to their perpetuall fame letting ouer the walls in secret places diuers in baskets with strong cords to post to the king acquaint him with their distresse In a mean while seeing a fire made vnder their Gates and that the enemies fury encreased they suspected themselues had no other shift but to put force to force with one fire extinguish or if you will deuoure another and so they caused great store of faggots timber combustible to be brought close to the posternes and greater gates where the mischieâ—e began and set the same on fire which encreased with a filthy smoake and smother and at last burst out into a flame and blazes so that neither the enemies could come in nor Citizens goe out but all were compelled to desist from that worke and apply themselues to more new and necessary labours For the Rebels assaulted the most weake and broken places of the Wall and the Citizens ranne to the expulsions and repaired the breaches as fast as they were made besides they had leasure to cast vp great trenches vnder their Gates and by strong barkes rampering the same made them more difficult passages then before The wals were mightely and impetuously assaulted but the worthy Citizens defended them with that courage and countermanding that they slew aboue two hundred Soldiers in that fury and behaued themselues as if they determined to obtaine a perpetuall name of renowne and vnmatchable Trophe of honor so that I may well and briefely say of them Serpens sitis ardor arenae Dulcia virtuti gaudet patientia duris When Perkin and his associats saw so strong and strange opposition they seemed both amased and defatigated at the same whereupon betweene rage and despaire he retired his lowsie and distressed Armie to the next great Towne called Taunton where he mustred them a new but found a great want of his company For many of his desperate followers were slaine and cut off many of the honester and ciuiler sort seeing the Towne of Excester so well maintained and that very few resorted vnto him contrarie to his former flourishes and ostentation fell from him and retired themselues home many wery of the wars and coniecturing an impossibility to remoue a king so firmely established or terrifyed with the punishment impending on Treason and presumptuous rebellion left him to his fortunes and many politikely forecasting for the worst seeing not one of the nobility or better sort to afford a helping hand to the lifting vp of this frame were contented to dispence with former protestations and so prouided for themselues whereby as I said as if the prouerb were verified Non habet euentus sordid a praeda bonos he came short of his reckning and the Items of his accounts went much curtailed of their former length and computation But in truth the posts of the Country brought comfortable tidings of the Kings Army approaching of which the Lord Daubney a fortunate and successefull man in all his enterprizes was Generall yet in the meane while had Lord Edward Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Lord William his son Sir Edmund Carey Sir Thomas Trenchard Sir William Courtney Sir Thomas Fulford Sir Iohn Hatwell Sir Iohn Croker Walter Courtney Peter Egecomb William Sentnaure and diuers others brought forward the forces of the countrey to raise the siege of Exester which not onely animated and encouraged the Citizens but rebated the fury of the contrary and diuerted them from that sore and outragious manner of assaulting the walls where in the last onset the noble Earle with diuers others were hurt with arrowes he wounded in the arme and the rest in seuerall parts of their bodies but very few slaine And so with much adoe this famous and honour-thirsting City with the honest Inhabitants of the same were deliuered and releeued By this time the royall standards of King Henry were aduanced in sight of the City and the dâ—ums beat vp their accustomed