Earle of Lincolne that being brought vnto him hee might discouer the secrets of this mischeefe and the viperous brood of false-hearted subiects but the souldiers would not permit it lest the sauing of his life might by such detection endanger diuers others as good as himselfe and so killed him by way of anticipation After this victory the King would needes solemnize a thanksgiuing to God in the open field as well to aâ—cyd ingratitude as to giue good example and when it was vrged he might better defer it till he came to some religious place or house of deuotion he more religious assured them that God was euery where and neither the place nor the manner graced the sacrifice and the intentiuenesse of the heart and true meaning of the soule which he had learned of the Poet and so alledged these verses out of Lucan Estque Deisedes vbiterra pontus aer Et coelum virtus superos quid quaerimus vltra Iupiter est quodcunque vides quodcunque moueris This the Bishops present durst neither deny nor would willingly approoue for feare of any diminution in their settled ceremonies and glorious Cathedralls but at this time the Kings ardency preuailed and he kneeled downe on the bare ground in the open fields and rendred thankes and praises to God Afterward hee gaue order for the funeralls of the dead shedding teares himselfe in commiseration of so many worthy men slaine for such an vniustifiable businesse the people yet vnmooued and the souldiers not so much as daunted though they saw the bleeding carkasses and wounded bodies according to the saying Exemploque carens nulli cognitus aeuo Luctus erat mortem populos deflere potentis Then he proceeded to the casting vp a new accounts of mercy and forgiuenesse proclaiming pardon to all that would penitently admit of the same and to his eternall fame not onely gaue Lambert and the Priest their liues but commanded that no man should abuse them with contumely and reproach as perceiuing the one for his yeeres vncapable of the apprehension of treason or flagicious circumstances concerning the same the other for his orders profession to be a priuiledged person yet most heroikly and wisely he told him that he which rolleth a stone vp a hill may peraduenture haue it fall vpon his own head and he that looketh too high in a dangerous entrenched ground may fall into the ditch Notwithstanding for his pennance he was committed to perpetuall imprisonment but Lambert admitted into the palace and from place to place came at last to bee one of his Maiesties Faulkoners Last of all he looked ioyfully on his owne company and in remuneration of their loyalty and noble seruices spred the mantle of honour ouer diuers and imparted seuerall rewards to the rest according to their places of eminency This battell was fought on a Saturday the sixteenth of Iune 1489. and in the end of the second yeere of Henry the seuenth And thus was all this high enterprize of Lady Margaret represented to a ball blown out of a box of sope and water which when it comes to a swelling fulnesse at last hursts in peeces of it selfe of which when she was aduertized and had cause sufficient of exclamation and repining against her misfortune and disastrous preuention of her malice yet was she so farre from relaxation or pacifying her hate that it rather exasperated the same and made her more forward to contriue more â—ellish proiects as we shall see by and by so that I may well exclaime Orabiosamulier Quà m sit manisesta phrenesis Yea she set vp such a loome out of her pestilent inuention that a man would thinke it impossible for a woman to contriue or prosecute but that the old Poet hath so long agoe told vs Praeterea nos sumus mulieres Ad bona quidem ineptissimae Malorum vero omnium effectrices sapientissâ—mae Yet for the time she deplored the miscarrying of the matter but was not ashamed to confesse that she cared not by what meanes King Henry might be debased After this great mischeefe like a peece of Ordnance ouercharged was thus broken in the fulnesse and that with little trouble tumult and expences compared to many other warres The King as you heard returned thankes to the Decider of all controuersies and presently sent word to London of his prosperity and aduenture seeming sorry for nothing but the death of the Earle of Lincolne assuring the Duke of Bedford and Earle of Shrewsbury that he delighted in his humours and had a determination to haue saued his life adding yet this by the way that hee was amazed at nothing more then the audaciousnes of the man that durst so meanly accompanied set vpon such a great puissâ—nt an army Therfore it must needs be that he presumed on further suppliment or some breakings out amongst themselues But seeing it hath pleased God that we haue not onely escaped this threatning storme of commotion and disturbance but also choaked with the dust of their owne dissention the interiour diuisions and conspiracies of the Kingdome Let vs my Lords I pray you be somewhat considerate touching tumultuous and discontented persons that they may be orderly satisfied in their honest demands and discreâ—tly preuented from vnlawfull â—onuenticles or associated asâ—emblies of vnquiemesse and murmuring against our gouernment vnder colour of hunting faires markets horâ—â—-races weddings and such like Let vs also haue a care of our ports harbours and hauens to preuent wanderers and trauellers who from the excuses of deuotion to visit Rome and curiosity to explore forren countries doe many time deceiue our trust with indirect and preposterous businesse In this triumphant prosperity he returned to London and was as well welcommed to the people as contented in himselfe and so ran forward in the race of all mundane felicitie and maiesticall happinesse But neither his owne wisdome the vigilancy of the Officers the fidelity of his Nobles the policy of his Councellours the loyalty of his subiects nor the whole regard of the Common wealth could turne the frame of heauen about nor preuent his destiny concerning following mischeefes Nam fato prudentia minor That is to say could put a scarlet cloth ouer the sting of that serpent Enuy to pull it out of the heart no not out of the mouth no not out of the hands of the Duches of Burgundy but she must be tampering with the edge tooles of diuellish despight and beating on the annile of malicious calumniation or if you will conspiracy hoping at one time or other to hammer out such a worke of disturbance that neither the King should be able to quench the flames nor the Subiect daring to disable the enterprize Whereupon to preuent all claimes exceptions and meanes of distrust Some foure yeeres after she set vp another I doll of defiance personating Richard Plantaginet second sonne to King Edward the fourth and Duke of Yorke supposed to be murthered with his
brother Prince Edward in the Tower who as it were resuscitated from death to life or rather reserued by miracle must be at last a scourge to the vsurping house of Lanâ—aster which as it began with the bloud of that innocent Richard the second must now bee reuenged with the destruction of the Conqueror himselfe Nor was this barely alledged to her friends and followers but exornated with certaine illustrations of example and precept First concerniug the wonder and deliuerance of the Prince shee alledged the example of Ioas kept from the rage of Athalia and after aduanced to the throne of Iudâ— Then for the businesse of the warre and reueng shee proclaimed her selfe another Tomyris who ouercame the Persians and in recompence of her sonnes death and crafâ—ie in education pregnant in languages skilfull of behauiour extraordinary and of manners audatious called Peter Warbeck a Fleming and yet in scorne nicknamed both by his Country men and English Perkin according to the Dutch phrase who character cowardly and timerous yonglings in that manner His linnage and bringing vp he shall show you heereafter in his publike confession His actions and proceedings till then or if you will fatall ruine I will vndertake and as farre as my abilitie may extend or the dangerous businesse in hand requier delineat vnto you desiring all estates whatsoeuer to behold the attributes of God in this History as his power wisedome prouidence iustice mercy and what else belongeth to the humbling of mortall men or pulling on their knees the proudest presumption and security but especially confounding the inuentions of men and pollicies of Sathan as laughing all to scorne that submit not to his greatnesse and vnmatchable power according to our Lucan lib. 2 Iamque irae patuere dâ—ûm manifestaque bellâ— Signa dedit mundus legesque fadera rerum Praescia monstrifero vertit natura tumultu Indixitque nefas First a mighty Prince was not only terrified with an Idol and puppet as it were made of straw and painted cloth but threatned to be shouldred aside out of his firmnesse and throne of Maiestie secondly when the wheele was â—urned about God derided the Deuill and brought this mountaine of pride downe with a vengeance seeing the noble Kings innocency patience and humility Thirdly he taught all abominable and diabolicall practises a new lesson condemning both the actors and contriuers as freneticall and foolish Fourthly he enstructed the best of men to consider they were but men subiect to the inconueniences of life mutabilitie of the World counterchangeablenesse of times and inconstancy of people Last of all to make vs know that all actions grounded on irreligious foundationâ— and wicked conuentions must needs faile in the end for rather then punishments shall not follow sinnes God will scourge one wicked man with another as you saw how all the Monarches of the Earth were dissolued and the Kingdomes of the Gentiles brought to ruine and desolation But now to our Story After the Duches of Burgundy had fastned on this Anâ—hor hold for her reuenges she caused the yong man to trauell into many Countries to learne as many languages whereby he was so perfect in the English that she reioiced to thinke in what a well manured ground she had sowed the feeds of her hopes by which occasion the basenesse of his stock and birth was so obscured that few or none discoue red the same or durst detect the secrecie Thus she kept him a certaine space priuily with her selfe and vsed such diligencie and instruction concerning the house of Yorke the affaires of England and the lignage descent and order of her family that by that time he came to repeat his lesson she veâ—ily belieued he was the same she had supposedly contriued he quite forgot that euer his first originall came out of the Dâ—nghill For without any difficulty or signe of subornation such a â—orcible impression haâ—h the hope of honour and preferment according to that common Honores mutant moves he kept such a princely countenance and counterfeted a maiesticall roialty that all others firmely approued he was extracted out of the blood of Plantaginet and obserued him accordingly she againe grew proud of nothing so much as the wonderment of her owne handyworke and that out of so little â— cloud she should raise such a tempest of trouble and distraction but ouâ— Ouid endoctrined her Flumina magna vides paruis de fontibuâ— orta and she knew she was a woman fit to be such a workemistris Whereupon taking an opportunity of the Kings warres 〈◊〉 France she sent for her yongling out of Portugall and priuatly conueid him into Ireland with sure and forcible instructions how to inueigle and incite this rusticall people to admit of him who besides their naturall inclination to rebellion and disorder would now be glad of this new occasion and businesse to reuenge the slaughter of their Countrymen And although it might seeme to reasonable men and vnderstanding apprehensions that the vnhappy proceedings of Lambert and his counterfet assoicat the Priest I meane might haue beene a sufficient warning vnto them for euer being taken againe in the net of such abuses or entangled with the snare of collusion yet did he so demeane himselfe that he made these doubts the very ground of his acceptation For once againe insinuating with the houses of the Geraldines and Butlers he plaied the Orator with them and as we say captare beneuolentiam thus perswaded them to giue credit and affiance to his false and wonderfull demonstrations as though he had beene the very sonne of King Edward indeed MY worthy Lords and gratious freends said he For the generality of my businesse I hope you are not vnacquainted with many instances of distressed Princes flying to one another for refuge and succor when an ouerdaring hand of a more mightier enemy hath suppressed them or cunning insinnuation spred abroad a mantell of more forcible reasons to admit of his title in preuailing rather then to looke after the weakned estate of his wronged and abused Competitor For so Ieroboam and Hadad the Edomite were entertained in the Court of Pharao meerely from charitable commiseration against Salomon who had yet formerly married a daughter of Pharao and amongst our selues the sonnes of that valiant Edmond Ironside fled from 〈◊〉 into Hungary and were there protected yea aduanced in marriage for the further and better recouering their inheriâ—ances But what need I goe further then the vsurper now regnant who in despight of my Father and Vncle of Glocester was entertained by the Duke of Brittaine and the French King and as it were secured from all Treasons and corruption or if you will pollecy of searchers to bring him to destruction wherein questionlesse those Princes as they obtained a perpetuall renowne for so noble and glorious a charity so did they repute nothing so meritoriou◠〈◊〉 the extention of fauor and a helping-hand to the perfecting such a worke from princely compassion
you heard vnderstanding of this attempt left his progresse and came to London where assured of this good successe he sent Sr. Richard Guilford into Kent to thank the Sheriffe and the people for their loyalty obedience and valiant circumspection which had so quickly dissipated his enemies and quieted the Countrey giuing present order to his Nauy to scowre the narrow seas to the Prouince to keep the coasts to the Watches to fire the Beacons to the Captaines to prepare their Souldiers and to all sorts to attend their seuerall charges according to the ancient and laudable custome of the Kingdome When Perkin and his Captaines were arriued in Flanders and found how their former delaies had beene a great obstacle and hindrance to their proceedings they resolued to remedy the same in their following courses and by the contrary celerity and speedinesse to wipe away the blots of their weaknesse and faint proceedings as if they had learned of our Poet Sic agitur censura sic exempla parantur Cum ludex alios quod monet ipse facit Notwithstanding because they were now resolued that the King taking notice of this on-set and attempt would fortifie the Coasts and be in a readinesse with well prepared forces they determined to saile into Ireland there to augment their company and corroborate their pretences which accordingly was effected and the entertainment yeilded him a little comfort and satisfaction but because he well knew the Irish were weake and vnarmed and so vnable to preuaile against the strength of England and still out of countenance and quickly daunted when they were drawne from their bogs and woods to solid battailes and strong charges contrary to their flight skirmishes and running encounters they thought it more meete and expedient to passe into Scotland Gens semper inuisa Britannis and there make triall of a new friendship casting vp a forward account of their happinesse in this manner First they were assured of the naturall and generall hatred betweene the Nations which vpon very small occasions and probable opportunite would burst out into flames of despight Next they proiected that the nature of the businesse would allure them to his assistance vpon hope of vaine-glory and a reputation of so charitable a worke as to help a Prince in distresse Thirdly they relied on this hope that if no other cause would be inductiue to his supportation yet the desire of spoile would quickly incite them to warre against so plentifull a Country Fourthly they perswaded themselues that the Scots had a good opinion of the house of Yorke euer since the cruelty of the Lord Clifford against Rutland for which they vtterly abandoned Henry the sixt and the Queene And last of all they concluded to promise them the surrendring of Barwick and to enlarge their territories if he preuailed by their assistance which was a sure motiue to draw them into any action whatsoeuer whereupon he departed from Corck and landed on the West of Scotland from whence he prepared himselfe to go to the King with some solemnitie wherein his instructions preuailed with his fortune because for the most part the masse of people are guided by showes and ceremonies rather then matter of substance and truth and so he trauelled to Edinbourgh whose Citizens vnaccustomed to such glorious showes began already to commiserate his fortune and distresse yea the King himselfe assembled his Lords and Courtiers as their manner then was to entertaine him and giue him audience which when Perkin perceiued to fall out to his good liking and hearts desire he thus framed his speech vnto him or if you will reduced his instructions to a manner of attracting Oratory MOst mighty and renouned King Iudicis officium est vt res ita tempora rerum quaerere and therefore I come not to you altogether like a cast away or banquerout to recouer my estate by a cosening agreement with my creditours for a trifle when there may be sufficient to pay the principall nor like a run-away from a hard-hearted Master or if you will to take my liberty the better to cast of the yoake of honest and ciuill obedience where there is a duty and necessity of seruice imposed but as a stranger subiect to shipwrack and the hassardous endurances of a tempest I am enforced to your refuge as much enduced with your Princely delight in deeds of charitie and hospitality as my owne wants or recouery I might adde your famous actions renowne and heroicke commiseration of a dis-esteemed Prince but Pudor est vlteriora loqui And although I may confesse my selfe to resemble the man in the Gospell that fell amongst theeues whom diuers looking vpon passed by without reliefe yet at last he found one Samaritan to pay the cost and defray the charges of the Surgerie so haue I done a worthy aunt friend and noble kinswoman to acknowledge her afflicted Nephew who hath helped me accordingly so that I make no question that from the example of a woman your Princely commiseration and powerfull coadiutement shall open their larger embraces considering that you aboue all other Princes haue beene made acquainted with the distractions of our family and from time to time know how the house of Yorke hath beene dilacerated and torne in peeces by the cruell hand of Tyrants and home-bred Wolues which whether it were the permission of God or the secrets of his diuine Iustice I will not now dispute vpon Only I must be bold to say that when my father obtained the Crowne and reuenged his fathers wrongs and death there were signes of Gods fauour and assistance in the faire issue prepared and sweet fruit of such a flourishing tree namely two sonnes and fiue daughters who were simply committed to the tutelage and protectorship of an vnnaturall Vncle who proued a tyrant and destroier of our blood and progeny so that I may well cry out as Ariadne to Theseus Mitius inueni quam te genus omne serarum Notwithstanding Most mighty King how euer my Princely Brother miscarried as swallowed vp in the iawes of cruelty and slaughter It should seeme the murtherers were affrighted at that they had done already and desisted from a full prosecution of the Tyrants command or confounded with compunction of spirit spared me and secretly conueied me out of the hands of such an homicide and blood sucker for so I hope without offence I may rightly tearme him and although by this meanes and the supportation of high borne Buckingham he obtained the Diadem yet did God follow him with the swiftest pace of wrath and anger and at last I must needs say scourged him with rods of vengeance indeed for he presently lost his sonne and his friend and coadiutor lost himselfe what afterwards chanced vnto me as my strange deliuerance my bringing vp in Tornay vnder certaine supposed parents of honest reputation my trauailes into forraine Countries my aduentures abroad my endurances at home with such like it would be to tedious to
restraint of his liberty and stomaching his former disgraces indignities would endure no longer but studied euery hower how to escape not yet knowing what to do when he did escape to which purpose by faire promises and false perswasions he corrupted his keepers Strangwaies Blewet Astwood and long Roger seruants of Sir Iohn Digby Lieutenant of the Tower to slay their said Master and set both Perkin and the true Earle of Warwicke at large and so to make their fortunes as they could either by domestike or forraine friends to which when the innocent Prince condiscended as glad any way to enioy his libertie and to be freed of his imprisonment for you see birds kept in golden cages beat and flutter vp and downe as scorning their enclosure to get out into their natiue Country the region of the aire mischiefe and misfortune which plaies the tyrant with many men all their liues long neuer affordeth one day or breathing time to giue them a taste of any pleasure or contentment discouered the whole conspiracy to the King and his Councell not leauing out any circumstance which might either exasperate his rage or pull forward death and destruction to the delinquents Whereupon without further disputing the matter Perkin Warbeck Iohn a Water sometimes Maior of Corck and his sonne were the 16. of Nouember arraigned and condemned at Westminster of high Treason and the 23. hanged at Tyburn Perkin mounted on a scaffold reading his confession and contrary to all expectation aâ—king the King and Country forgiuenesse and dying penitently with great remorce of conscience and compunction of spirit Et sic â—inis Priami Not long after Edward Earle of Warwick who had beene the 21. of Nouember arraigned at Westminster before the Earle of Oxford high Constable of England for the present was vpon the 28. 1429. beheaded at the Tower Hill For he quietly confessed the enditement concerning his consent and willingnesse to obtaine his libertie though it were by violating the law in that kinde and breaking of prison whose simplicity I rather lament then condemne the offence For it was a dangerous time for any Plantaginet to liue in and I may well cry out Omne tulit secum Caesaris ira malum But the King was indeed glad of this occasion and fortune gaue vertue the check because as he had imprisoned him without a cause he knew not what to doe with him without a fault yet some report that the principall reason of accelerating his death was a speech of Ferdinando's king of Spaine who should sweare that the mariage betweene Lady Katherine his daughter and Prince Arthur of Wales should neuer be consummated as long as any Earle of Warwick liued For the very name and title was not only formidable to other Nations but superstitions to the wauâ—ring and vnconstant English whereupon the King was the gladder to take hold of this opportunitie where in the conuiction of Law had cast this stumbling-block of treason in his walke and race to a longer life and yet was there nothing done but by orderly proceedings and iustifiable courses more then when the silly Prince submitted to his mercy he thought it the greatest point of mercy to looke to himselfe and so for the benefit of his posteritie and the sedation of all troubles both present and to come struck off his head and with him the head of all diuision and dissention FINIS True Histories to be preferred before all prophane and deuised relâ—tions The house of Lancaster began the first wrong Rebellion in Ireland naturall Sparâ—ago Sebastian Mortimer Treason did neuer long prosper Margaret Duches of Burgundy chiefest enemy of Henry the seuenth The Lord Louel and Stafford rebell against Henry the seuenth No Saâ—ctâ—ary for Traitors â— new Earle of Warwick The end of diuelish deuices our destruction Lambert Earle of Wâ—rwicke saâ—â—eth into Ireland The Earle of Kildare a sauorer of this counterfet Margaret Duches of Burgundy entertaineth this quarrell Eurip. Mâ—dâ—â— Articles agreed vpon by the Councell to prâ—uent the warre The Earle of Warwicke shewne in publike Iohn de la Pooles sonne Duke of Susâ— folke by a sister of Edward the fourth Now Earle of Lincolne taketh part with Lambert The Earle of Lincolâ—e and Lord Louel goe into Ireland to Lambert The King raiâ—eth an Armie The Lord Marâ— quesse Dorceâ— sent to the Tower Eurip. Bacchâ— Mâ—rtinus Swart Lambert with his Armie commeth into England Lucan lib. 1. The King with his army is ready to the encounter Lucan lib. 2. The Earle of Lincolne commeth forward to Newarck to meet the King Stoke field The armies ioyne The King obtaineth the victory against the Rebells Lucan lib. 9. The Duches of Burgundy is rather enraged then daâ—nâ—ed with the newes Euriâ— Medea The Duches of Burgundy raiseth new troubles Another Richard the fourth Peter Warbâ—ck instructed by the Duches hâ—w to demeane himselfe Perkins Oration to the Irish Lords The French King sendeth for Perkin Lucan Lib. 7. Perkin welcommed to Lady Margaret Eurip. Hippolitus Coronatus England strangely possessed with the humor of Perkin Sr. Robert Clifford sent to Perkin Lucan lib 6. The King prepareth for Peâ—kin Paâ—â—â— Helâ—â—â— Embasie to the Arch-Duke Eurip. Andromache The Duches answer to Doctor Warrham oranâ—tion Oâ—id Epist. Petrâ—rck dâ— contemptu mu ndi dial 3. The Embassador returne into England Quid. de arte amandi lib. 3. Eurip. Iphigenia in aulide A riot 〈◊〉 the Esterlings Sir William Stanley accused Eurip. Herefuâ—â—â—â— Sir William Stanley beheaded Eurip Heraclida Libel â—rs hanged Speciall Commissioners sent into Ireland Lucan lib. 5. The North of Ireland Sueuorum morâ—scu Politianâ— The Earle of Kildare accused by Sr. Edward Poinings The King progresse intercepted vpon report of Perkins lanâ—ding 〈◊〉 lib. 9. Perkin commeth to Kent Eurip. Hecuba Perkins company defeated he driuen backe to seâ— Ouid. 6 6. â—aâ—torum Perkin resolueth for Ireland and so into Scotland Perkins Oration to the King of Scots The King of Scots resolueth to assist Perkin Ouid. Epist. Helena Paridi The King of Scoss prouideth Perkin of a wife The Ladies answer Perkin marieth the Ladie Katherin Gourdon daughter to the Earle Huntley The Scots inuade England in the behalfe of Perkin â—ucan lib. 2. Perkin lamenteth the English slaughters The Kings aâ—â—â—swer Lucan lib. 3. Perkins answer Eurip. Helena They prepare in England against Perkin Arebellionin the west diuerteth the army out of Scotland â—â—mock and Ioseph Captains of the Rebâ—lls Men in authority Eurip. Hâ—raâ—lida The Armies in England raised Lord Audley Captaine of the Rebels Black-Heathâ—ield London Lucan lib. 1. The Rebels â—uercome Lord Audeley executed Lib. 8. Lib. 9. The King of Scots prepareth against England King of Scots besiegeth Norham Castle The Earle of Surrey raiseth the siege Lucan lib. 7. The Earle of Surrey entreth Scotland The King of Scots offreth a priuate combate to the Earle of Surrey The King of Spaine would marry his daughter to Prince Arthur An Embassador to the King of Scots from Spaine Lucan lib. 7. An Embâ—ssador from Englâ—nd to Scotland The King of Scots will not deliuer Perkin Eurip suppliceâ— Perkin discharged out of Scotland Perkin retorneâ—h into Ireland Perkin ecâ—meth into England Perkin besiedgeth Excester Perkin discomfited leaueth Excester and departeth to Taunton The Lord Dawbney generall of the Kings forceâ— The King commeth forward with his Army The Duke of Buckingham Eurip. supplâ—ce◠〈…〉 Perkin desperat of all reliefe taketh Sauctuary Eurip. suppliceâ— The Lord Daubney sent after Perkin The Army of Perkin submitteth to the King without fighting The King râ—turneth to Exâ—ester Perkins Wife taken Eurip. Hecuba Perkin submittet to the King Lady Margaret much troubled with this discomfortable newes Perkin deceiueth his keepers anâ—â— escapeth Perkin commeth to the Prior of Shene Perkin once againe 〈◊〉 but ignominiously vsed 〈◊〉 lib. 5. Perkins confession Lib. 3. de pontâ— Perkin committed to the Tower Li. 4. de 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Perkin corrupting his keepers to escape out of the Tower is takâ—n and hanged at Tiburn The Earle of Warwicke beheaded