when a second reply brought him to the sight of fairer particulars and that he saw the smoake though it was but a smother came from some fire he quickly recollected his spirits and with these verses of Euripides set himselfe downe at the table of preuention and reposednesse Ex amicis autem alios quidem non certos video amicos Qui vero sunt rectè impotentès sunt vt iuuent Talis res est hominibus ipsa infoelicitas Quā nullus vnquam quicunque vel mediocriter amicus mini Assequatur amicorum examen certissimum The same night vpon better consideration my Lord Chamberlaine was restrained from his liberty within the quadrant Tower and confined to his owne Chamber for a season but when the crime was openly prooued and the Councell had as it were with a charming hand of Hecate turned his inside outward and found all his excuses to consist in distinctions and his reasons of defence manifest astipulations of the matter he grew out of all patience and knew not what to say or to doe For one way like an Noble Prince commiserating his subiects he feared lest his brother Lord Thomas Stanley the life of his first roialty as a man should say take it grieuously Another way he misdoubted lest in remitting the fault some other might abuse his lenity and mercy and be the bolder to runne forward in the dangerous courses of further treasons At last by the aduise of his Councell and generall vouge of the Court seuerity considering the perill of those daies tooke place and mercy was put backe so that after a solemne arraignment he had iudgement to dye and accordingly was brought on the 16. of February to Tower-hill and had his head struck off The principall point of his enditement consisted in this that Sir William Stanley sware and affirmed that he would neuer fight nor beare Armor against the yong man Peter Warbeck if he knew of a truth that he was the indubitate sonne of Edward the fourth whereupon arose a coniecturall proofe that he bare no good will to King Henry Again the principall motiue of his distasting and murmuring at the King was for being denied the Earledome of Chester when his brother Lord Thomas was inuested with the sword of Derby yet the King besides many rewards other great offices made him his chiefe Chamberlaine what should I say it should seem ambition had blinded his eies peruerted his iudgement For he still thought on the benefits which the King receiued from the loue and seruice of his family neuer remembring the compensation and gratuities returned back againe to him selfe supposing that his vessell of oile should still be filled to the brims or else he harped on a Machiuilian position thankfulnesse is a burthen but reuenge is sweete and reckned as gaine But it should seeme that in possessing King Richards treasure at the conquest of Bosworth field which King Henry franckly bestowed vpon him and the command ouer the people in the Country he grew proud and elated and so vilepended the King or from a continual melancholy reuerberating mislike and hate vpon his staggering conceits he more and more ouer burthened his heart with rage and despight which as you haue heard vnpurged vented out those words of disloialtie to the losse of his life or in a word according to that of our old Tragedian Animorum Iupiter vindex est minis superborum the searcher of heart◠was weary of his tumors and ingratitude and so tooke the Kings cause in hand and vpon good inforcement thrust him into the house of destruction Otherwise he could not choose but remember how not twentie yeare before the Law had interpreted the profuse and lauish speeches of a Grocer named Waker dwelling at the signe of the Crowne in Cheapside who bad his sonne learne apace and he would make him heire of the Crowne meaning his house he dwelt in for which he was adiudged to die nor forget the Story of Burdet the Esquier within whose Parke King Edward hunting a white tame Hart was kild by chance which he had brought vp by hand which when Burdet heard of he wished the hornes in his belly that had moued the king to come first thither for which he was drawne hanged and quartered Thus you see there is no iesting with Princes nor distasting them in troublesome times nor presuming in such cases on their clemency For our Ouid tels vs Non ideo debet pelago se credere si qua audet in exiguo ludere cimba lacu After this many rumors and libels yea defamatory speeches both concerning the landing of the new Duke of Yorke proclaimed all ready in Ireland Richard the fourth and the Kings present feare and proceedings were spread abroad which compelled as strange prohibitions yea punishments and reuenges according to the example of that iudgement that hanged Collingbroke for a rime against the vsurper The Rat the Cat and Louel the Dog Rules all England vnder a Hog so that he was farther enforced to haue many politike searches through the whole Realme for such offenders and as many strong Guards and Watches for the defence of the whole Kingdome by which when he perceiued the care vigilancie and good will of the Subiect he entertained a greater fulnesse of contentment and shewed a better alacrity of spirit then his former griefes would remit Then he aduanced Giles Lord Dawbuy a man of wisedome experience and fidelitie to be the Chamberlaine of his house and haue the Guard of his person Afterwards he tooke order with the Citie and Merchants of the same and had thei◠faithfull Oath and protestation to looke to it and all the places of their traffique abroad concerning such things as might be offensiue and preiudiciall to the Kingdome The next thing hee tooke care for was the manning of the Cinqueports and fortifying diuers hauens with a stict commanding the Lieutenants Iustices of each Shire to repaire into their Countries by which good order obserued he grew somewhat secure and bolder to shew himselfe in publique assemblies vndaunted or any way discomfited But this was yet farre from the fulnesse of his establishment as long as Ireland remained corrupted and swelled againe in euery place with the ouerblowen reports and rumours of Perkins royalty to which each trayterous eare lay open and abused heart went quite away with the nouelty Whereupon hee resolued on the necessity of purging and cleansing the same and determined to performe it by new Officers and honest Surueyors So hee sent thither with powerfull authority Henry Deane late Abbot of Langhton to be his Chancellour and Sr. Ed. Poinings with a sufficient preparation to bee Lord Generall of his army These had a large Commission vnder his Deputy the Earle of Kildare to suppresse all innouations and spare no offenders For it was such a time that mercy and fauour would rather embolden men to abuses then lustice offend with extremity Besides the Maiesty of
Therefore I will say the lesse in this point vnto you because you haue euer beene faithful to my progenitors and willing to be counted a Nation for the defence of vertue and propulsing of iniuries As for the ill successe of Lambert in personating my cozen the Earle of Warwicke and setting a foot that title whereby you may be terrified in heereafter prosecutions Alas I confesse it was for my sake and a meere deuise to sound the foord of the troublesome streames of those times proceedings wherein if my Vncle of Lincolne had any way thriued you must be assured thogh they would not hazzard my person so yong yet it was only to make way to my fortunes For smal recompeÌ„ce should haue stopped his mouth vt maior â—nx extinguit minorem my presence quickly haue turned the streame and with the sonne exhaled the strength of his meâ—eor This tricke my Grand-father put vpon the State when he was Gouernor amongst you by lack Cade of Kent who proclaimed himselfe Mortimer to see how the people affected the Title or could remember the Genealogie in the truth of his precedencie as marrying the daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence third son of our great Edward the third of England and Heroos of his time so that I hope this shall be no barre or interception either to my interest or your good will considering I am now come in person to offer vp my selfe a sacrifice if need be for you all and promise you by the secrets of my birth-right to make you a glorious and free Nation vnder me if I preuaile by your meanes These words were vttered so audaciously and yet with simulatory maiesty that they conceiued euery thing in his be halfe and not once disputed on the craft or cunning conueiance of the businesse but exalted and applauded him with all reuerence and due honor combining themselues with affectionate obedience to his aide and assistance wherein â—hat they might be the better induced iust at the same instant as if honour made hast to welcome him according to our Poet Nunc festmatos nimium sibi sâ—nsit honores and fortune determined to smile on them all Charles the French King in some diâ—pleasure with King Henry of England sent for Perkin out of Ireland with resolution to make him the roiall head of an Army against England which although it much animared the Irish to belieue the former seduction yet it was but a deuise of the French Kings to diâ—ert the warre which the King of England pretended out of France and so to enforce him backe againe to looke home to his owne affaires Howsoeuer this our Counterfet was not a little reuiued with such a message and supposed himselfe exalted to heauen in being thus called to the familiarity and acquaintance of Kings and Princes so that comming into France accordingly he was roially accepted and after a Princely manner entertained hauing a guard assigned him whereof the Lord of Congreshall was gouernour Hither also repaired vnto him especially while he lay in Paris Sir George Neuil the Bastard Sir Iohn Tailer Rowland Robinson and a hundred English Rebels But alas all these were but smoaking illusions For on a soddain Ingemâ—it rector sensitque deorum Esse dolos fata suae contraria menti And when a peace was to be determined and concluded betweene England and France the French King quickly dismissed the yong man and all his associats vnder colour of excuse that he durst no longer protect him against his new confederat and brother of England but some others attending vpon him yeelded a more forcible reason for his departure that he himselfe suspected how King Charles would deliuer him into the hands of the King of England and therefore he beguiled the Lord Congreshall and fled from Paris by night But howsoeuer this may be disputed and whether he departed without the Kings consent or no he was questionlesse deceiued in his expectation and in a manneâ— desperate of successe so that loth to remaine amongst such distrustfull enemies hee quietly returned to his most assured friend the Lady Margaret of Flanders the master builder of this worke The Duches before he came thought euery hower from his departure a whole yeare till his retorne For to heare how he proceeded was a quiet to her thoughts and to know how fortune would deale with him a ioy to her heart but to see him a very rauishment Yet when she vnderstood how he was abiected and repudiated in the French Court it could not choose but be a great agony and amasement vnto her Notwithstanding to preuent all suspition she seemed at his arriuall no lesse reuiued then a mother is glad for the retourne of her long absented sonne or a person condemned for a pardon and restauration to his life and dignity At his first approach she receiued him with large embraces and hanging ouer his neck seeming to shed teares of ioy and comfort for his escape from many dangers and aduentures O dissembling and deceiuable hypocrisie that euer a woman should be the author of such diuellish deuises and hellish proiects and yet ouer-daube her mischieuous imaginations with the sugred showes of loue and regard of pitty toward a Prince in distresse but this made Hippolitus long a goe cry out O Iupiter quodnam adulterinum hominibus malum Mulieres ad solis lucem habit are fecâ—sti c. and this she had learned of her owne Phisitians who in administring of bitter pils had shewed her to roule them ouer in some candide powder and this we haue taught our selues out of Gods one mouth who in seuerall places of Scripture hath puplished wherein a bad woman doth exceed all the creatures of the World After this extacy was past she proceeded with a cunning desire to haue him relate his first miraculous preseruation his after trauails and exploration of Countries his next entertainement in Ireland and France and finally his resolution to goe forward in his noble and necessary intendment for his inheritance and recouery of the Crowne of England wherein he proceeded so effectually and orderly without stammering or stuttering that the whole company verily belieued it and such as were not present the rather induced by the report of others sorrowing for nothing but that they heard him not Vina Voce and endeauouring what they could to present their personall obedience vnto him Whereupon when she perceiued how euery thing consorted to her owne wishes she assigned him a Guard of 50 persons in Murry and Blue and honoured him with a cloth of Estate and denomination of the White Rose and Prince of England From thence forward the Nobilitie of Flaunders and diuers of England with all obsequious diligence attended him and from a reuerent estimation of his auncestors performed all the good offices which belonged to the exornation of his maiestie and extention of their owne loues and dutâ—es so that in a word this Sinons horse entred the broken
Embassadour from King Iames likewise repaired Heere were many matters disputed vpon many conditions layd open many difficultâ—es raised many greeuances vrged and many conclusions argued but because they failed in the maine poynt nothing was determined For the King of England required Perkin Warbeck to bee deliuered into his hands as the principall fountaine of this venomous streame the cheefe â—ccasion of his vnquietnesse the perturber of his Realme the seducer of his subiects and the author of many rebeilions But the King of Scots like a Prince indeed would not buy his peace with the bloud of Innocents especially a man comming to him for succour shewing all the markes of a distressed and abused Prince allied vnto him by marriage commended by the Emperor assisted by the Duches of Burgundy in himselfe of faire demeanour sweet behauiour and of a most royall and well esteemed spirit Therefore I say he would by no meanes betray him into the hands of his enemies that was so long admitted into the bosome of his friends nor should it bee sayd that in any such degree for any wordly respect whatsoeuer King Iames of Scotland would bee base or perfidious which he had learned from the example and punishment of Prusias King of Bithynia whom the Romans deposed for consenting to betray Hanibal into their hands though they had promised large rewards and threatned seuere vengeance The Commissioners answered directly that they intended not by way of defamation or contumelious discouery of the vanity of the man or impossibility of his businesse to make him odious or corroborate their owne purposes by the destruction of so silly a creature or discrediting so poore a businesse but meerely to shew the truth and vnfold the secrets of the deceit that such a Prince as King Iames might not be colluded with shadowes and apparitions but orderly drawen into this holy and generall league wherein both Emperour France and Spaine desireth a combination of amity with England onely there wanted himselfe to make the number compleat that the horne of Achelous might bee sent from nation to nation from kingdom to kingdom For I can assure you the Marchants of England haue been receiued into Antwerp with generall procession the Emperor is pleased with this combination the King of Spaine pretendeth a marriage the King of France endeauoureth a league and all the Princes of Europe seeke after a true confirmation of quietnesse Therefore once againe be not an enemy to the good of all Christendome nor so aduerse to this holy combination that the world shall rather esteeme you wilfull and preiudicate then wise and considerate Notwithstanding all this forcible and effectuall intimation the King of Scots would not consent to deliuer Perkin vpon any condition but as hee came to him for refuge hee should depart vntouched and not by his occasion bee in worse case then the bruit beasts or vildest condition of men as he had learned long since out of that ancient Tragedian Habet confugium bâ—llua quidem petram Seruiverò ar as deorum ciuit as verò ad ciuitatem Fugit calamitatem passa Rerum enim humanarum Non est quicquam perpetuò beatum Yet with much adoe hee was brought to a truce for certaine yeeres and condescended to this that Perkin should bee no longer succoured harboured or maintained by him or in his territories and dominions with which answer and orderly ratification of the same the Embassadours departed the Armies retired the Souldiers discharged the King of England satisfied the Orators of France who from Doâ—er had audience at London about the same purpose rewarded and of all others the worthy Peter Hialos as principall worke-man in this intricate businesse liberally and bountifully recompenced Only poore Perkin whose glorious meteor began now to bee exhaled seemed disconsolate and examinated at this newes and determination especially when King Iames began to expostulate and reason the matter with him First from a repetition of the benefits and fauours receiued by his Princely liberality and gentlenesse Secondly from his consanguinity in marrying his kinswoman vpon dangerous hopes and triuiall aduentures Thirdly from his many trialls of sundry conflicts in England proouing all his promiseâ—winde and smoke and his best enterprizes triuiall fanaâ—icall Fourthly vpon the now combination of amity with all the Princes of Europe which could not be done without the King of Englands consent and agreement Fiftly vpon the fatherly regard of his Countrey which had neede haue some breathing time of ease and rest and must questionlesse take a loue day of consolation and desisting from turmoiles Last of al from the care of the Religion Mother-Church vnto whose obedience and regard hee was now absolutely sworne Therfore he desired him to take some other course and depart out of his Realme For as hee heard hee was now interessed in the confederacy of the peace of Christendome and vnlesse hee should bee a periured and perfiâ—ious Prince hee could in no sort infringe the conditions nor breake the truce combined by a firme and vnseparable adiuration When Perkin had heard him out although euery word was worse then the croking of some night-rauen or scrich-owle and the amazement for the time might haue much disabled him yet loth to discredit his cause by any demisnesse or pusillanimity and seeing all answers were superfluous and the very messengers of despaire and disconsolation he raised himselfe with some outward cheerefulnesse and as well to auoyd ingratitude toward so great a Benefactour as to countenance himselfe and his businesse he thus casting away all feare and abashing timidity replied Most worthy Prince Mortale est quod quaeris opus mihi fama perennis And therefore God forbid that my commorance in your Court and Kingdome or the weakned cause of my attempts should prooue disaduantagious oâ— ominous vnto you both in regard of the many fauours your Princelinesse hath heaped vpon me vndeserued and mine owne willingnesse not to bee too too troublesome or offensiue vnto so benigne a Maiesty which rather then it should bee hazarded for my sake without a cheerfull and liberall willingnesse the fame and glory of the enterprize shall be sufficient for mee and I will not onely disclaime my right and interest in the Kingdome of England my lawfull inheritance by descent but poure out my selfe and spend my life most profusely for your sake Onely this I must entreat at your hands to giue me leaue to rigg and calcke vp my ships and gather together that dispersed company I haue or such as would willingly and voluntarily attend me Which seeming but reasonable and no way repugning the former agreement with the Embassadours was quickly condescended vnto so with many gifts and royall furniture for his wife and family he tooke his leaue sailed backe the same way he came into Ireland determining as the last anchor-hold of his fortunes either to vnite himselfe with the Cornish-men whom he knew not fully appeased or to retire to
same which was much auailable to his purpose For euen those which fauoured the Lord Louell most began to stagger in their resolutions when they perceiued the Kings benignitie and knew with what lenitie and commiseration he was willing to proceede Secondly they thought it necessary and pertinent to their peace to shew the sonne of Clarence personally abroad in the Citie and other publike places whereby the rumor might be dashed out of countenance and the purblinde eies of false opinion extinguished For such an impression this â—ictiue relation of his escape had made that though they beheld him present yet durst some of them sweare it was but a deuise of the Kings whereby you may obserue the danger and inconueniences of idle reports which if they be not strangled in the cradle with Hercules Serpents and smothered betimes ere they come to stronger groth and life will viper like after they haue receiued warmth in ones bosome fly in his face Nay such is the nature of deuices in a tottering Common-wealth that prohibitions to restraine them augment them the more and they who would haue spoken nothing but truth left to their owne liberty being prohibiâ—ed diuulge more then they meant Thirdly It was determined that Queene Elizabeth wife to Edward the fourth should loose her lands and be deposed from all manner of sway in the gouernment because she had voluntarily submitted her selfe and daughters to the hands of King Richard whereby all former contractâ— and pretences of establishment might haue beene frustrated through the inconstancie of a woman or as the State pretended a priuate ambition or couetousnesse to set any loome on worke to weaue the web of her owne pleasure and contentment which although was a heinous crime and very dangerous to the present Kings peace and tranquillitie yet questionlesse the doome and iudgement seemed ouer rigorous Durus fuit hic sermo and if euer 〈◊〉 ius proued summa iniuria it was verified in this verdict For questionlesse they forgot the turbulency of those times the rage of the tyrant the fearefulnesse of many accidents the seducingâ— of a King and the flattering promises of a whole Common-wealth wherein stronger iudgements might haue falled then a womans But it should seeme that God hath a speciall hand in the punishment of sinnes and disposing of Kingdomes For without controuersie if she consented to the murthering of King Richards wife for her owne ease and emolument if she seemed an aduersary to the good pretended to England by vniting the â—amilies or if she proiected her owne aduancement in the present glory of the Kingdome forgetting the losse of her husband the murther of her kindred the slaughter of her children the odiousnesse of the incest and the curse of Heauen vpon crying sins God would neuer suffer such horrible faults vnreuenged but as you heare inflicted her wauering and inconsiderate timerousnesse with this punishment For she was presently confined to the Abbey of Barmondsey in Southwarke and there deceased after she had liued a while in some calamitous distresse and excruciation both of soule and body such are all humane instabilities wordly chances and the condition of Princes themselues Otherwise she that being a poore widow had resisted the Kings importunity by her chast and modest behauiour attracted his good will to marry her she that had founded a Colledge in Cambridge bearing her name at this hower of Queenes Colledge for the propagation of learning and education of Children and Students she that had loued her husband and the glory of England endeauouring all things to the augmentation of the honor of them both she that seemed proud in workes of charity and to help forward the petitions of honest complainants and distressed suiters she that kneeled on her knees for Clarences liberty and importuned the King to remember his brother by the example of Richard the first who remitted his brother Iohn a farre greater delinquent had neuer fallen so low into the dangerous pit of a sonne in lawes displeasure and seene her selfe generally maligned through the kingdome or else as I said the reuealed things belong to vs the secret to God who questionlesse blew the coales of this displeasure to purge the contagion and infection of hiâ— heart which was only knowne to himselfe Fourthly because they knew that reward and hope of gaine might doe much with corrupted persons and irresolute men as all Rebels were they proclaimed a gratuity of aâ—housand pounds sterling to any one which would present the State with the body of this counterfeit Lambert to which they were the rather induced because not long before the Tyrant Richard the third had preuailed with the like against the Duke of Buckingham whom his owne seruant Banister betraied in hope of recompence from the State which is also a custome in Italy where the heads of the Banditi are vallued at so many checkinos or peeces of gold and so the Zaffi or other desperate Ruffiani obtaine many preies and booties Last of all it was concluded to haue forces in readinesse and an Army prepared whatsoeuer should chance with all prouision and furniture belonging to the setting forth of the same and honour of such a Kingdome that neither security or presumption one way of their owne greatnesse and establishment might make them too confident of themselues nor vilipending and slight regard of the contrary another way too negligent against their enemies When all things were thus befitted to the disposing and ordering their affaires On a Sunday ensuing Edward the yong Earle of Warwick was brought froÌ„ the Tower through the publike streetes of London to the Cathedrall Church of Pauls where he remained all Procession time and high Masse hauing open conference with many of the Nobilitie especially such whom the King suspected might haue been induced to the commotion vpon the full assurance of his escape But if he had asked them why he was imprisoned or what transgression the King could impute vnto him to detaine him in dures in that manner and after put him to death being an infant innocent without law or reason I meruaill what they would haue answered or how the Councell themselues would haue satisfied a iudicious questioner in that kinde yet by this occasion the imaginations of diuers were setled and the better sort belieued that these Irish newes were simulatory and represented Ixions boasting that he had laien with Iuno when it was but a cloude as by the monstrous birth of the Centaures did appeare But it was not so with all For as it often happens in the stopping of a violent inundation of water that it causeth it the more to rage and make a terrible noice whereas running in a deep channell it would goe quietly away So fell it out in the suppressing of these rumors and mens hatred and malice many were the more exasperated and by this gentle and saire course to reduce them thought all but trickes of policie to deceiue them proouing like certaine kinds
in the like either mislike or contention From thence the King went to Norwich where he solemnised the feast of Christmas and so departed to Walsingham vnder pretence of deuotion as the superstition of those times coacted For according to that ancient Poet Ritus verâ— extra Iusticiam sunt reijcientes cultus deorum It was an instinct of Nature to confesse a Deity and maintaine the Sacrifices and offrings to the same Now because the most part of the World knew not the true God they inuented seuerall Idols to represent their seuerall Deities to whom they brought their praiers and oblations nor durst they enterprise any businesse without offertories and deuotion that their true intents might be acceptable to the God which commanded them yea such as professed Religion and abused their knowledge inuented Images deuises to please the naturall man because with the reason of Idolater they would not kneele to the aire in vaâ—ne which was and is the errors of Christians both of the Greeke and Latine Church Now because our Lady was in these times the mediator of the Papists and the Lady of Walsingham the most famous shrine of our Country as that of Loretto is at this hower for Italy The King went thither for the impetration of prosperity in his affaires and ouerthrow and dissipation of his enemies which finished he retourned to Cambridge and so to London In the meane while the fire-brand and fuell of this contention Lady Margaret Duches of Burgundy had blowne the coales to such a heat that there were two thousand Almaines in a readinesse vnder the conduct of Martin Swart a noble man of Germanie and a martiall man by profession bold expert and daring whom after great rewards and secret directions from a well contracted Oratory she sent into Ireland with al his company where they ariued aâ— Dublin and were ioyfully welcomed by the Prince and the other Lords the coufederates especially the Earle of Lincolne who well knew that no enterprise was to be entertained without men and money and good beginnings were the drawers on of successe in the end Thus they made no more adoe but in the pride and strength of their conspiracy they proclaimed yong Lambert King of England withall the glorious titles and glorious manner appropriat as the time and Countrie afforded which ended with other ceremonies and some circumstances to set as vpright their businesse as they could they protracted no time but knowing the secret of expedition which as their case stood must be their best friend prepared for England the Army consisting as yet principally of high Almaines and a multitude of beggerly Irish which according to the Roman saying were many men and few Soldiers For their best defences were Scains and Mantles and heere and there a slender dart more fitter for a maigame and to moue wonderment then to oppose against good defences and well ordred troopes Of these the Lord Thomas Gerardine was Captaine and with these and the rest they landed for a speciall purpose or if you will to vniâ—e themselues with Sir Thomas Broughton one of the chiefe commanders in this vnhappy conspiracy at the Pile of Foudray within a little of Lancaster These affaires so notorious and so publike could not haue so secret a passage and contriuance but the worthy and wise King must needes be made acquainted with the same whereupon he dispatched certaine horse and scout-masters through the West parts of the Realme to attend the arriuall of his enemies abroad yea peraduenture to ouerwatch the actions of his friends at home as much troubled with the vnconstancy of these as perturbed with the rebellion of them Presently after he raised a sufficient Armie ouer which the Duke of Bedford and Earle of Oxford were principall commanders whom he sent forward before him then he came in person to Couentrey where the principall rendezuous was appointed and where he first heard of the landing of his enemies Within a while he could fill vp a scedule with the chiefe Traitors names and the manner of their troopes and proceedings Last of all he called a Councell proposing only two principall matters vnto them First whether it were better to encounter with his enemies out of hand as Achitophel perswaded Absalom to do against Dauid and so to dissipate them by maine force and expedition according to the Poet Tolle moras semper nocuit differre paratis Secondly or weary them out by delaies and detracting of time as Quintus Fabius surnamed after Maximus did by Hannibal and so sent him far enough from Rome into Brutia and Apuleia whereupon he was eternized with Vnus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem The conclusion was that though many times great Armies whose fury at the first rushes could not be rebated were at last spent with time expectation and many inconueniences as want of pay commotions mutinies encombrances in a strange Country feare of forraine people mortalitie famine and such like yet as the affaires of the Kingdome stood all speed and an orderly festination was to be put in practise lest like a ball of snow in a moist cold and misty Country which by often rowling groweth greater and greater they might augment their numbers with their rage and madnesse being so neere the Scots open enemies and in the north parts dissembling friends Whereupon the King remooued to Nottingham and tooke a field neere vnto a wood called Bowers whither came vnto him the Lord George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury the Lord Sâ—range Sr. Iohn Cheny and many other Commanders with sufficient forces and furniture to encounter better men then heauy Almaines and vnarmed Irish and so the Kings army wonderfully encreased had the fulnesse of his subiects obedience to his great satisfaction and the comfort of all the rest For a Prince can in nothing bee so well pleased as in the loyalty loue and obseruation of the subiect nor the souldier contented as in the amity and full assurance of one another especially being all of a nation and language to vnderstand the wants of such as would be supplied and be releeued with the willingnesse of those which are ready to performe the same In this space the Earle of Lincolne entred Yorke-shire by easie iournies for not ouerwearying his princely Nephew vnaccustomed to trauell and after his precize manner hee both commanded that no violence should be offered to any of the Inhabitants commended all those which repaired vnto him vsing such humility and affable demeanour that it wan the hearts of many as yet vnsettled vnto him and strengthened the loue of such as had already submitted themselues Notwithstanding being much frustrated in his expectation of many coadiutors and failing in that sufficiency which hee presumed vpon hee began a little to entertaine an ill companion to all noble designes feare and mistrust casting vp an vntoward reckoning of his proceedings in this manner To retire backe againe were to meet death and destruction by a
my grand-father Direck Orsbeck after whose decease my grand-mother married Peter Flamine Receiuer of Tourney Deane of the boat-men ouer Lescheld my mothers father was called Peter De Faro which kept the keyes of St. Thomas gate within the said towne I had also an vnckle Mr. Iohn Statime of St. Pias Parish with whom I dwelled very young hee married mine aunt Iane and brought me vp very well yet my mother not contented as being very chary of mee had mee to Antwerp to leaâ—â—e Flemish more exactly to a kinsman of my fathers Iohn Steinbeck with whom I remained a full halfe yeare but by reason of the wars I returned to Tourney where I was placed with Mr. Barlo who within another yeere carried me to the mart at Antwerp where I fell sicke awhile and so was boorded in a Skinners house much conuersant with the English nation whereby I learnt the language as you see From thence I went to Barrow mart lodged at the old man Afterward Mr. Barlo left me at Middle-borough with Iohn Strew a Merchant who first made me beleeue I was better then I was From Antwerp I sailed into Portugall with my Lady Brampton in a ship called the Queenes ship serued a Knight in Lichborne called Don Peter Las de Cogna who had but one eye yet the manner of his behauiour and order of his house made mee tarry a yeere Then Pregent Meno a Brittaine carried mee into Ireland and either commanded so by my Lady Margaret who as shee said was my aunt or proiecting something for his own priuate would needs perswade me I was a Plantaginet of the house of Yorke For when I arriued in Corck because I was somwhat haÌ„dsomly apparrelled they would needs bestow vpon me the title of the E. of Warwick sonne to George Duke of Clarence formerly in Ireland which Iohn Le Wellin the Maior maintained and for as much as my deniall was contrary to their expectation they brought me to the crosse and made me sweare which I did disclaiming him or any of his kinred vntill Stephen Poitron with Iohn a Water came vnto me as resolued I was King Richards bastard-sonne then in the hands of the King of England perswading mee not to bee afraid or daunted at any thing For they would ayd me assist me euen to the obtaining the crowne of England yea they knew of their owne knowledge the Earles of Desmond and Kildare were ready to aduenture their liues and estates for my sake After this they carried mee into Flanders to Lady Margaret Regent and Duches of Burgundy who preuailed so far with me that I took vpon me the person of Richard Duke of Yorke second sonne of King Edward the fourth and so with reasonable preparation I returned backe againe into Ireland where the sayd Iohn a Water Stephen Poinings Iohn Tiler Hubert de Brough the foresayd Earles and many others entred with mee into a dangerous rebellion and I was proclaimed by them Richard the fourth From hence the King of France sent for me by Loyte Lucas and Stophen Frian but making peace with England he left me to my fortunes Then I sayled into Flanders where my supposed Aunt made more of me then before so I attempted England but was driuen backe againe into Flanders from whence I went into Scotland and from thence againe into Ireland and so into England When the people had heard him out they wondred both wayes at the matter and stood as it were confounded betwixt shame and indignation If it were a coâ—lusion to thinke how grossely the Kingdome and some of the best therein yea many Kingdomes had beene abused with such an imposture to the prosecuting seuerall â—acinorous actions and disturbance of the peace and tranquility of the Common-wealth If it were not so and that for feare of life hee confessed the contrary being the true Plantaginet and a Prince borne to so great a fortune then they wondred if any man could bee so base as to deiect himselfe to such ignominy and opprobrious disgraces when to die had been honorable to sell ones life in the field far better then to plead on a scaffold where the many changes must needs distract him and make a poore soule neither fit for life nor death But whatsoeuer he was they could not chuse but deplore his estate and misfortune as naturally and ordinarily all men are bemoaned in aduersity especially such an one that was so forward in the race and iourney to Maiesty and pulled backe so often by the sleeue and turned with a fury into the house of desolation and dungeon of disconsolate wretchednesse when to haue perished at once had beene a fauour of death and fortune indeede according to our Poet Mitins ille perit subita qui mergitur vnda Quam sua qui liquidis brachia lassat aquis When the King had this way satisfied himselfe and pleased the people as he thought hee made no more adoe but to preuent inconueniences clapt him in the Tower from whence he escaped not vntill hee was carried to Tiborne and there swallowed vp by the neuer satisfied paunch of Hell for his former abuses and intolerable wickednesse which hapned very shortly after For iust at this instant a roguish Augustane Frier called Patricke on the borders of Suffolke after Peter Warbecks example taught a poore scholler one Ralph Wilford to take vpon him the title of the Earle of Warwicke as yet in the Tower of London but supposed to escape as corrupting his keepers intimating the glory of the action and the brauery of such an enterprize wherein who would be so base and cowardly as not aduenture his life and put in practise any designe to attaine to a Diadem especially by so easie meanes as personating a Prince and assuming the title of the next heire to the crowne And when some of his better vnderstanding friends laid open the danger impossibility of the attempt with the odiousnes perfâ—diousnes of the Treason he answered the first with one Poet Faâ—naque post Cineres maior venit mihi nomen Tum quoque cum vinis annumerarer erat And the latter with another Si enimiiniustè facere opportet potissimumpropter Imperium ius violandum est alias pium esse conuenit But although this mischiefe was quietly blowne ouer like a weake and thin cloud suddenly dispeirced by a forcible winde For both Master and Scholer were quickly apprehended the one hanged on Shrouetuesday at Saint Tho. Watrings and the Fryar condemned to perpetuall imprisonment yet it left such an impression behinde to the troubâ—â—â—g as a man may say the whole Region of the aire that the King would dally no longer but like the Sunne in his full strength at the next incensing of his maiesty dissolued all such vapours and gaue the law leaue to play her part to the finall extirpation of the very roots of sedition which presently was thus set on worke Peter Warbeck impatient at this