Earle of Surrey was so enraged at the bragging and ouer-daring Prince that he followed him at the heeles and in reuenge of many mischiefes perpetrated by him in such audacious manner he entred Scotland defaced the Castle of Cundrestins deuasted the Tower Hedonhaâ—â— vndermined the Tower of Edington ouerthrew the Pile of Fulden and sent Norey King of Armes to the Captaine of Haiton Castle the strongest fortification betweene Barwick and Edinborough to deliuer the same which he absolutely denied vntill the worthy Generall set himselfe downe before it made his approches and cast vp a strong rampart or battery for the expugnation preuailing so farre that at last it was surrendred their liues onely saued who were no soooner departed according to the conditions but our Generall quite ouerthrew and demolished the same The King of Scots was within a mile of the siedge and yet durst not reskue the same only by way of ostentation he sent Marchemount and another Herrald to the Earle of Surrey with a kind of defiance and challenge either to encounter with him Army to Army or body to body conditionally that if the victory fall to his maiesty the Earle should deliuer and surrender for his ransome the Townâ— of Barwicke with the fish-garthes of the same if the Earle againe were Victor the King would pay 1000. pound sterling for his redemption The noble Generall welcommed these Herralds and like a couragious yet vnderstanding Captaine quickly answered all the points of their commission First he was ready to abide the battaile in the plaine field and would if he pleased for the same purpose lay open the trenches and make the passages so easie that victory should haue comfort of comming amongst them Secondly he thought himselfe much honoured that so noble a Prince and great a King would vouchsafe to descend to so low a dregree of contention as a priuate duello with him for which he would not onely repute him heroike and magnanimous but setting his loyalty to his Prince aside performe all good offices which belonged to the sweet contract of a perpetuall amity if it were possible betweene them Thirdly for the towne of Barwicke it was none of his but the King his masters which hee would not so much as coniâ—cture vpon without his consent and aduice as he himselfe might well iudge in the affaires of Princes what was to bee done Fourthly hee thought his owne life worth all the townes of the world and so would gladly hazard himselfe yea was proud as hee said before that so great a Maiesty would parallel him in such a kinde onely he desired pardon for a little vaine-glory that if hee conquered the King hee would release him freely if the King vanquished him hee would either yeeld him his life or pay such a tribute and competency as is befitting the state and degree of an Earle to all which he was the rather induced because he was confident that Causa iubet melior superos sperare secundos But it should seeme these affronts were meere flourishes For neither battell nor combat nor any enterprize worth the recording was put in practise although the English forces had layen long in the Countrey to the same purpose wherupon the Lord Generall loth to spend his time so inconsiderately and somewhat wearied with the distemperature of the Climate and vnseasonablenesse of 〈◊〉 weather the Countrey affoording nothing but mists and foggs at this time of the yeere raised his camp and retired to Barwicke But when the truth was further enlarged the King commauded him so to doe by his letters of priuate intelligence For now came a time in which the windowes of heauen seemed to open and the God of mercy thought to recompence his patience and goodnesse with a quiet end of his troubles and happy successe in his enterprizes which fell out vpon this occasion Ferdinando King of Spaine and Elizabeth his wife hauing a purpose to marry their daughter Lady Katherine to Arthur Prince of Wales and very loth that any content on betweene the King of Scots whom he much fauoured and the King of England whom he highly respected should be as it were a wall of partition betweene their proiected amity and royall affinity especially that either probability of an interest or counterfet deuice of the issue-male from the house of Yorke should cast any blockes or hinderances in the way of these pretences he most prouidently sent one Peter Hialos a man of great learning experience and prudency as an Embassadour to Iames King of Scots by way of mediation to contract a league of peace and absolute amity betweene the King of England and him who proceeded with such faire conditions and preuailed so well in his proposed message that hee perceiued a glimmering sun-shine of this peace a farre off but that there were certaine thickning clowds of mischeefe and disturbance which by some effectuall heat from the King of Englands breath must bee remooued and dissipated and therefore hee wrote to King Henry that if it would please him to send some worthy man to be his associate in this enterprize he perswaded himselfe that an honest oratory would quickly conclude the profitable articles of amity For the Poet had assured him and hee found by some experience that Addidit inualidae rebus facundia causae And for an entrance into 〈◊〉 same he assured the King that there was gâ—â—at likelihood to lay downe the bloudy colours of defiance and flourish the pleasant ensignes of tranquility For the King of Scots had already protested hee was onely emulous of King Henries vertues and not maligned or despighted his person and for Perkins title he made it a matter of conscience and charity For he knewe him the right heire if he were the right creature and the Cleargy warranted the actions as meritorious The better sort disclaimed all tyrannous prosecutions For except their obedience to the King they spent and consumed their estates and onely returned with teares and lamentations for the loâ—se of 〈◊〉 friends The inferiour sort imputed all to the superiour commands and as for the formidable effects and bloudy issue of warre it was only the chance and fortune of encounters the action of fury and the vengeance or curse appropriate to dissentions according to that worthy author of excellent sentences and proprositions Sed mentibus vnum Hoc solamen erat quod votiturba nefandi Conscia quae patrum iâ—gulos quae pector a fratrum Sperabat gaudet monstris mentisque tumustu Atque omen scelerum subitos putat esse furores Whereupon King Henry boasting of the character of Prince of peace so that he might not be branded with ignominy of basenesse pusillanimity and dishonour quickly consented to such agreement and for the same purpose sent Richard Fox Bishop of Durrham who stilllay in the baÌ„ttered Castle of Norrham as his cheefe Commissioner who accordingly associated himselfe with Peter Hialos at the towne of Iedworth in Scotland whither the
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
a fearefull countenance seemed to discountenance both his honor and the action had not the Duches taken the cause in hand with a more vndaunted courage and like a true Virago raised her spirits to a higher pitch of reuenge thus resuscitating her darling and answering the Doctor MY Lords Embassadors of England For the dignity of princelines commandeth no lesse awfull regard of Maiesty combineth me to such obseruation Besides I am no way offended with your persons but your message wherin I know the Oratour hath much transcended his bounds but speaking for his fee and doing another mans errand he is the more pardonable and therefore as neere as I can reâ—ember I will answer succinctly to euery point deliuered First whereas you impeach the miraculous and wonderfull preseruation of this Prince In which yet my credit and knowledge of the truth shall be of sufficiency to answer all other obiections and intercedings I cannot blame you nor him that set you on worke For he well knowes that sonnes â—re to bee preferred before daughters and ashamed of the â—reachery of his ancestours he would put off the blame by a tricke of policy in laying as great faults on the shoulders of his aduersary I meane my brother Richard whose tyranny and obdurate heart hath onely wrought this relenting in me that say do what England can I will be now the Protectrix of this euery way distressed Prince and so to conclude this poynt assure your King Permanet in voto mens mea firma suo Secondly whereas you inferre the improbability and vnlikelihood of sauing the Prince being in a Tyrants custody and determining to murther the King himselfe I answer in a word I am of your minde if euer he had come into his hands But it is well knowne that the Cardinall himselfe was deceiued and the childe conuayed away in despight of the maleuolent practises of so cruell an Homicide Yet say it had not beene so I hope eldest brothers daughters are preferred before a yonger brothers claime and hee had fiue Princesses besides my Nephew Warwicke to wrastle wiâ—hall before he could goe out of the lists with his owne triumphs Therefore it was not the feare of him that did accelerate his murther as you suppose but his resolution to bee King in despight of Heauen and Hell Thirdly concerning the dispossessing of the Queene their mother by your Parliament I am ashamed of your asseueration that euer man and such a man whom as you say the Heauens protected should bee attainted of inhumanity to thinke a woman might not bee affrighted with a Tyrant when hee himselfe ranne into euery corner from his reaches But say there had beene a fault perpetrated through the timidity of her sex and tendernesse of her widdow-hood would any man marry the daughter and hate or distresse the poore mother in whose behalfe I may well say with Ariadne to Theseus Sinon ego causasalutis Noâ— tamen est cur tu fis mihi causa necis And therefore if there were no more then to reuenge her quarrell I will bee an enemy to Lancaster while I liue and am no further mooued with your vnseasonable oratory then afraid of his menaces Fourthly whereas you would insinuate with our Nobles and trusty friends to desist from my allegiance and aâ—â—sting my Nephew in his lawfull claime you thinke belike we are as perfidious as your selues that seeme glad of Treason and turmoiles vpon the very sound of innouation yea the least aduantage or disaduantage will cause you leaue your Prince in the midst of his enemies Fiftly concerning your exprobration of Maximilian for ingratitude and not coadiuting your King in his petty reuenges vpon France First his great dessignes are not to be compared to your triuiall businesse and hauing matters of high consequence else-where he could not leaue them to attend your weaker importunities Secondly he well knew it was but a folly to assist you in any businesse of France for as fasâ— as you got it one way you would loose it another so that you cannot now show any Town or Fort either of King Edwards conquests or Henry the fifts enterprises except Calice which lying so neere you you cannot for shame but defend And thirdly in my conscience he tooke pitty of you knowing you had a warre at home to attend and so were not able to prosecute both encounters at once goe back therefore and tell your politike Prince that whereas words are but womens weapons to his imagination we determine to arme our selues and this Prince by Gods assistance and my power shall bid him base in his owne Kingdome with speare and shield and make an equall combat the decider of both their Titles Last of all concerning your inuectiue against women alas I smile at your schollership and am ashamed at your poore discretion in adapting some poeticall inuention out of fury or despight to your present purposes when both the same man and all others of the same condition are as forward to commend as dispraise vs For to answere your worne out and threed bare Tragedian hearke what our Diuine Petrarch affirmeth Huius mens terrenarâ—m nescia curarum Coelestibus desiderâ—s ardet in cuius aspectu si quid vnquam veri est diuini specâ—â—en decoris effulget cuius mores consummata honestatis exempâ—â—â— sunt cuius nec vox necoculorum vigor mortale aliquid nec incessuâ—â—â—minem represent at With which words she arose and carried away Perkin with such state and maiestie that Sir Edward Poinings though he were euery way inuincible for his courage and a knowne man for wonderfull and seuerall exploits yet seemed amazed at her Heroicall speech and delicat manner of obstinacy Notwithstanding the Embâ—ssadors and Councell of Estate often met and after long debating the matter somewhat to pacifie the King of England for many reciprocall gratuities and benefits receiued they concluded that the Arch-duke should neither aide nor assist Perkin nor his complices in any cause or quarrell whatsoeuer against the maiesty of England Only if the Duches continued in her obduratnesse and would not desist from her feminine rages and terrible prosecutions they were not to oppose against her nor was it in their power to let or withstand it For she was an absolute gouernour in her owne territories and the seignories and lands assigned for her dower were of sufficiency to suffulciat her enterprises without their contradiction or restraint When this answere was giuen they returned againe into England with a true relation of all occurrences as they chanced and circumstances impending whereupon King Henry both politike and charitable for of all other things he desired if it were possible to auoid effusion of blood and hazzardous danger of battaile supposing that was the last remedy of curing diseased Common-wealths as Surgeons doe to festered sores contriued another worke which although it was branded by some with the character of traiterous intelligences yet it serued his turne for
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
of the world and times For the Maiestie of Kings will not be tied vp with the slender bindings of rebellion nor taught any lesson against their wils either of fauouring or disfauouring whom they please As for personall faults Alas Princes Prelates Officers Maiestrates and all sorts of men will runne the race of mortality and if it were possible to remoue offenders at pleasure the persons may be changed but the imperfections continue Let them therefore alone a Gods name for they must stand or fall to the estate of their liues which he hath appointed only this I will be bold to say I would haue no man for any priuate respect runne in the outragious races of sinnes himselfe or defend any wickednesse in others beare with great men in their vices flatter or temporize for profit or preferment yeeld vnto base or degenerating actions either for feare or fauour or in a word doe any thing contrary to Gods word wherein as in a glasse men may perspicuously behold the way of life and death and the infallible positions which in the affirmatiue and negatiue conclude all things either by precept or interdiction Eurip. Orest. Paruis enim res magnas quomodò caperet quis laboribus stultum etiam velle conarihaec quando enim excanduerit populus ad iram prolapsus similis est igni ad extinguendum vehementi si vero pedetentim quis ei concitato quidem cedens obsecundârit tempus cautè obseruans cum autem emiserit flatus forsan exhalauerit THE TRVE AND wonderfull History of PERKIN VVARBECK THE contentions betweene the houses of Yorke and Lancaster are the subiects of many discourses and therefore I will insist the lesse either vpon Genealogies Titles Vsurpations Warres Factions Encounters Reuenges Battails Slaughters or other accidentall outrages which for 90. yeares filled the wrinckles of the face of our Common-wealth of England with the blood and sweat of tenne Kings and Princes of the race roiall 60 Dukes and Earles 1000 Lords and Knights and 150000 Soldiers and people Only I must make a little commorance and abiding in the wretched and ragged house of enuie and malice gouerned and ouerseene by a woman who was so opposite and aduerse to the Lancastrian family that for all King Henry the seuenth had obtained the Crowne by a strong hand and as we say diuinitùs praemunitus yea debarred all Titles or fuming shadowes of Titles by consummating that mariage with the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter of Edward the fourth she yet contriued all the waies of his ouerthrow and inuit â fortunâ entertained euery occasion which might adde fuell to the fier of her inueterate hate and blood-thirstie humor of reuenge as if she had beene borne like certaine Antipathies in nature which cannot endure any neighbour-hood or commixture such as the Eugh and Palme the Figge and Vine the strings of Wolues and Sheep which makes me remember the story of Eteocles and Pollinices the sonnes of Oedipus whose hate was so great in their liues that after death the bones being burnt togeather the flame of the sacrifice deuided asunder This was Margaret Dutches of Burgundy sister of Edward the fourth and a sworne aduersary to cast the red Rose of England into the black pit of confusion who perceiuing her first hopes frustrated and annihilated concerning the progression of Lamberts enterprises studied night and day vpon further and further instigations yea houered ouer opportunitie like a hawke for her pray to torment and trouble the peace of England embracing euery strange and prestigious illusion and not caring with what pullies of ridiculous and impossible actions her malice and reuenges were woond vp so they might be hurried downe againe vpon the head of the King whom she cursed on her knees and hated euen beyond the tendernesse of her sex many of her owne friends for his sake Therefore to weary his patience a little more she set vp another puppet like the former one Peter Warbeck a Fleming to act a part of wonder on the Stage of dangerous Innouation and take vpon him the Title of Richard the fourth Prince of England and white Rose of the same But before I play the Midwife or if you will Phisitian with her to deliuer her wombe of this monstrous birth of Peter Warbeck whom she taught the cunning and audacious impudency of personating Richard Duke of Yorke murthered with his brother in the Tower by Richard the third some eight yeare before I thinke it not impertinent to our purpose in hand to tell you what this Lambert was and wherein he seemed cosened with the whorish smiles of an adulterate fortune by the only meanes and coadiutement of this Dutches of Burgundy The first and second yeares of Henry the seuenth swelled to so great a height of ioy blessednesse and contentment from the rivulets of King Richards slaughter the corroboration of his estate the amity of the Nobles the mariage with the eldest daughter of Yorke the birth of Prince Arthur the league and amitie of forraine Princes and the applause of all his subiects that the diuine prouidence thought it meet to temper and allay the excesse of the same with some mixtures of feares and displeasure lest mortalitie might presume too farre and man triumph that his owne arme of flesh had contriued his establishment So that the Lord Louel Humphrey and Thomas Stafford with Sir Thomas Broughton and diuers others attempted a dangerous rebellion and drew into the field a great Army against the King whom to preuent the Duke of Bedford with such forces as could be raised on a soddain made hast to an encounter but his fortune was so good that with a successefull Oratory not striking a stroake he preuailed to dissipate those threatning and thickning clouds of disturbance For after he had intimated the hainousnes of their transgression nature of their offences which were capital Treasons with al inferred the Kings great mercy which was willing to pardon their rashnesse and pitiful ouersights so they would desist and retire peaceably into their Countries the whole company surceased and quietly deposed their Armes whereupon the Lord Louel fled and the Staffords tooke Sanctuary in a Village called Culnaham two miles from Abington but because the Iudges of the law alledged that the Townes of refuge among the Iewes were ordained for other purposes and that Ioab was killed holding by the hornes of the Altar and the places of priuiledges in England were neuer meant to suborne Traitors Humphrey Stafford was taken by force from the Towne and sent to the Tower from whence they brought him to Tyborne and there put him to execution His yonger Brother Thomas was notwithstanding remitted as a man whom consanguinitie and brother-hood had rather deceiued then wilfulnesse and malice against the King abused O blessed wisedome that can so temper Iustice with the consideration of mens frailties and other maleuolent circumstances to keep her a while from contracting a brow of reuenge