to leuie the Subsidie whereof he did not remit a Denier About the same time that the King lost so good a Seruant as the Earle of Northumberland hee lost likewise a faithfull friend and Allie of IAMES the third King of Scotland by a miserable disaster For this vnfortunate Prince after a long smother of discontent and hatred of many of his Nobilitie and People breaking forth at times into seditions and alterations of Court was at last distressed by them hauing taken Armes and surprised the person of Prince IAMES his sonne partly by force partly by threats that they would otherwise deliuer vp the Kingdome to the King of England to shadow their Rebellion and to bee the titular and painted Head of those Armes Whereupon the King finding himselfe too weake sought vnto King HENRY as also vnto the Pope and the King of France to compose those troubles betweene him and his Subiects The Kings accordingly interposed their Mediation in a round and Princely manner Not only by way of request and perswasion but also by way of protestation of menace declaring that they thought it to be the common Cause of all Kings If Subiects should be suffered to giue Lawes vnto their Soueraigne and that they would accordingly resent it and reuenge it But the Rebels that had shaken off the greater Yoke of Obedience had likewise cast away the lesser Tye of Respect And Furie preuailing aboue Feare made answer That there was no talking of Peace except the King would resignehis Crowne Whereupon Treatie of Accord taking no place it came vp to a Battaile at Bannocks Bourne by Striuelin In which Battaile the King transported with wrath and iust indignation inconsideratly fighting and precipitating the charge before his whole numbers came vp to him was notwithstanding the contrarie expresse and straight commandement of the Prince his sonne slaine in the Pursuit being fled to a Mill scituate in the field where the Battaile was fought As for the Popes Ambassie which was sent by ADRIAN DE CASTELLO an Italian Legate and perhaps as those times were might haue preuailed more it came too late for the Ambassie but not for the Ambassador For passing through England and being honourably entertained and dreceiued of King HENRY who euer applied himselfe with much respect to the See of Rome hee fell into great grace with the King and great familiaritie and friendship with MORTON the Chancellor In so much as the King taking a liking to him and finding him to his minde preferred him to the Bishopricke of Hereford and afterwards to that of Bath and Wells and imployed him in many of his affaires of State that had relation to Rome Hee was a man of great learning wisedome and dexteritle in businesse of State and hauing not long after ascended to the degree of Cardinall payd the King large tribute of his gratitude in diligent and iudicious aduertisement of the occurrents of Italie Neuerthelesse in the end of his time hee was partaker of the conspiracie which Cardinall ALPHONSO PETRVCCI and some other Cardinalls had plotted against the life of Pope LEO. And this offence in it selfe so hainous was yet in him aggrauared by the motiue therof which was not malice or discontent but an aspiring minde to the Papacie And in this height of impietie there wanted not an intermixture of leuitie and follie for that as was generally belieued hee was animated to expect the Papacie by a fatall Mockerie the prediction of a Southsaier which was That one should succeed Pope LEO whose name should bee ADRIAN an aged man of meane birth and of great learning and wisdome By which Character and figure hee tooke himselfe to bee described though it were fulfilled of ADRIAN the Flemming sonne of a Dutch Brewer Cardinall of Tortosa and Preceptor vnto CHARLES the Fift the same that not changing his Christen-name was afterwards called ADRIAN the Sixt. But these things happened in the yeare following which was the fift of this King But in the end of the fourth yeare the King had called againe his Parliament not as it seemeth for any particular occasion of State But the former Parliament being ended somewhat sodainly in regard of the preparation for Britaine the King thought hee had not remunerated his people sufficiently with good Lawes which euermore was his Retribution for Treasure And finding by the Insurrection in the North there was discontentment abroad in respect of the Subsidie hee thought it good to giue his Subiects yet further contentment and comfort in that kind Certainly his times for good Common-wealths Lawes did excell So as he may iustly be celebrated for the best Law giuer to this Nation after King EDWARD the first For his Lawes who so markes them well are deepe and not vulgar not made vpon the Spurre of a particular Occasion for the Present but out of Prouidence of the Future to make the Estate of his People still more and more happie after the manner of the Legislators in ancient and Heroicall Times First therfore he made a Law sutable to his owne Acts and Times For as himselfe had in his Person and Marriage made a finall Concord in the great Suit and Title for the Crowne so by this Law hee setled the like Peace and Quiet in the priuate Possessions of the Subjects Ordaining That Fines thence-forth should bee finall to conclude all Strangers Rights and that vpon Fines leuied and solemnely proclaimed the Subiect should haue his time of Watch for fiue yeares after his Title accrued which if hee fore-passed his Right should be bound for euer after with some exception neuerthelesse of Minors Married-Women and such incompetent Persons This Statute did in effect but restore an ancient Statute of the Realme which was it selfe also made but in affirmance of the Common-Law The alteration had beene by a Statute commonly called the Statute of Non-claime made in the time of EDWARD the Third And surely this Law was a kind of Prognostick of the good Peace which since his time hath for the most part continued in this Kingdome vntill this day For Statutes of Non-Claime are fit for times of Warre when mens heads are troubled that they cannot intend their Estate But Statutes that quiet Possessions are fittest for Times of Peace to extinguish Suits and Contentions which is one of the Banes of Peace Another Statute was made of singular Policie for the Population apparantly and if it bee throughly considered for the Souldiery and Militar Forces of the Realme Inclosures at that time began to be more frequent whereby Arrable Land which could not be manured without people and Families was turned into Pasture which was easily rid by a few Heards men and Tenancies for Yeares Liues and At Will whereupon much of the Yeomanrie liued were turned into Demesnes This bred a decay of People and by consequence a decay of Townes Churches Tithes and the like The King likewise knew full well and in no wise forgot that there ensued with all vpon this a decay
in this sort MY Lords Ambassadours I shall make answer by the Kings Commandement vnto the eloquent Declaration of you my Lord Prior in a briefe and plaine manner The King forgetteth not his former loue and acquaintance with the King your Master But of this there needeth no repetition For if it bee betweene them as it was it is well if there bee any alteration it is not words that will make it vp For the Businesse of Britaine the King findeth it a little strange that the French King maketh mention of it as matter of well deseruing at his hand For that Deseruing was no more but to make him his Instrument to surprize one of his best Confederates And for the Marriage the King would not meddle in it if your Master would marry by the Book and not by the Sword For that of Flanders if the Subiects of Burgundie had appealed to your King as their Chiefe Lord at first by way of Supplication it might haue had a shew of Justice But it was a new forme of Processe for Subiects to imprison their Prince first and to slay his Officers and then to be Complainants The King saith That sure he is when the French King and himselfe sent to the Subiects of Scotland that had taken Armes against their King they both spake in another Stile and did in princely manner signifie their detestation of Popular Attentates vpon the Person or Authoritie of Princes But my Lords Ambassadors the King leaueth these two actions thus That on the one side hee hath not receiued any manner of satisfaction from you concerning them and on the other that he doth not apprehend them so deepely as in respect of them to refuse to treat of Peace if other things may goe hand in hand As for the Warre of Naples and the Designe against the Turke the King hath commanded me expressely to say That hee doth wish with all his heart to his good Brother the French King that his Fortunes may succeede according to his Hopes and honourable intentions And whensoeuer he shall heare that he is prepared for Grecia as your Master is pleased now to say that he beggeth a Peace of the King so the King will then begge of him a part in that Warre But now my Lords Ambassadours I am to propound vnto you somewhat on the Kings part The King your Master hath taught our King what to say and demand You say my Lord Prior that your King is resolued to recouer his right to Naples wrongfully detained from him And that if hee should not thus doe he could not acquite his Honour nor answere it to his People Thinke my Lords that the King our Master saith the same thing ouer againe to you touching Normandie Guien Angeou yea and the Kingdome of France it selfe I cannot expresse it better then in your owne words If therefore the French King shall consent that the King our Masters Title to France at least Tribute for the same be handled in the Treatie the King is content to goe on with the rest otherwise he refuseth to Treat THe Ambassadors being somwhat abashed with this demand answered in some heat That they doubted not but the King their Soueraignes sword would be able to maintaine his Scepter And they assured themselues he neither could nor would yeeld to any diminution of the Crowne of France either in Territory or Regalitie But howsoeuer they were too great matters for them to speake of hauing no Commission It was replied that the King looked for no other answer from them but would forth-with send his own Ambassadors to the French King There was a question also asked at the Table Whether the French King would agree to haue the disposing of the Marriage of Britaine with an exception exclusion that he should not marry her himselfe To which the Ambassadors answered That it was so farre out of their Kings thoughts as they had receiued no Instructions touching the same Thus were the Ambassadors dismissed all saue the Prior and were followed immediatly by THOMAS Earle of Ormond and THOMAS GOLDENSTON Prior of Christ-Church in Canterbury who were presently sent ouer into France In the meane space LIONELL Bishop of Concordia was sent as Nuntio from Pope ALEXANDER the sixth to both Kings to mooue a Peace betweene them For Pope ALEXANDER finding himselfe pent and lockt vp by a League and Association of the Principall States of Italie that hee could not make his way for the aduancement of his owne House which he immoderatly thirsted after was desirous to trouble the waters in Italie that hee might fish the better casting the Net not out of Saint PETERS but out of BORGIA'S Barke And doubting lest the feares fom England might stay the French Kings voyage into Italie dispatched this Bishop to compose all matters betweene the two Kings if he could Who first repaired to the French King and finding him well inclined as he conceiued tooke on his Iourney towards England and found the English Ambassadors at Calice on their way towards the French King After some conference with them he was in Honourable manner transported ouer into England where he had audience of the King But notwithstanding hee had a good Ominous name to haue made a Peace nothing followed For in the meane time the purpose of the French King to marry the Duchesse could be no longer dissembled Wherefore the English Ambassadors finding how things went took their leaue and returned And the Prior also was warned from hence to depart out of England Who when he turned his backe more like a Pedant then an Ambassadour dispersed a bitter Libell in Latine Verse against the King vnto which the King though hee had nothing of a Pedant yet was content to cause an answer to bee made in like Verse and that as speaking in his owne Person but in a style of Scorne and Sport About this time also was borne the Kings second Son HENRY who afterward reigned And soone after followed the solemnization of the marriagee between CHARLES and ANNE Duchesse of Britaine with whom he receiued the Duchie of Britaine as her Dowry the Daughter of MAXIMILIAN being a little before sent home Which when it came to the Eares of MAXIMILIAN who would neuer beleeue it till it was done being euer the Principall in deceiuing himselfe though in this the French King did very handsomely second it and tumbling it ouer and ouer in his thoughts that he should at one blowe with such a double scorne be defeated both of the marriage of his daughter and his owne vpon both which hee had fixed high imaginations he lost all patience and casting of the Respects fit to be continued betweene great Kings euen when their bloud is hottest and most risen fell to bitter Inuectiues against the person and Actions of the French King And by how much he was the lesse able to do talking so much the more spake all the Iniuries he could deuise of CHARLES saying That he was the most
perfidious man vpon the Earth and that he had made a marriage compounded between an Aduoutry and a Rape which was done he said by the iust iudgement of God to the end that the Nullitie thereof being so appparant to all the World the Race of so vnworthy a person might not reigne in France And forthwith he sent Ambassadors as well to the King of England as to the King of Spaine to incite them to Warre and to treat a League offensiue against France promising to concurre with great Forces of his owne Hereupon the King of England going neuerthelesse his owne way called a Parliament it being the seuenth yeere of his Reigne and the first day of opening thereof sitting vnder his Cloth of Estate spake himselfe vnto his Lords and Commons in this manner MY Lords and you the Commons When I purposed to make a Warre in Britaine by my Lieutenant I made declaration thereof to you by my Chancellor But now that I meane to make a Warre vpon France in Person I will declare it to you my Selfe That Warre was to desend another mans Right but this is to recouer our owne And that ended by Accident but we hope this shall end in Victory The French King troubles the Christian World That which he hath is not his owne and yet he seeketh more He hath inuested himselfe of Britaine Hee maintaineth the Rebels in Flanders and he threatneth Italy For Our Selues he hath proceeded from Dissimulation to Neglect and from Neglect to Contumely He hath assayled our Confederates He denieth our Tribute In a word he seekes Warre So did not his Father but sought Peace at Our Hands and so perhaps will hee when good Counsell or Time shall make him see as much as his Father did Meane while let Us make his Ambition our Aduantage and let vs not stand vpon a few Crownes of Tribute or Acknowledgement but by the fauour of Almighty GOD try Our Right for the Crowne of France it selfe remembring that there hath beene A French King Prisoner in England and a King of England Crowned in France Our Confederates are not diminished Burgundie is in a mightier Hand then euer and neuer more prouoked Britaine cannot helpe vs but it may hurt them New Acquests are more Burthen then Strength The Male-contents of his owne Kingdome haue not beene Base Popular nor Titularie Impostors but of an higher Nature The King of Spaine doubt yee not will ioyne with vs not knowing where the French Kings Ambition will stay Our Holy Father the Pope likes no Tramontanes in Italie But howsoeuer it bee this Matter of Confederates is rather to bee thought on then reckoned on For GOD forbid but England should bee able to get Reason of France without a Second At the Battailes of Cressy Poictiers Agent-Court wee were of our selues France hath much people and few Souldiours They haue no stable Bands of Foot Some good Horse they haue but those are Forces which are least fit for a Defensiue Warre where the Actions are in the Assailants choice It was our Discords onely that lost France and by the Power of GOD it is the good Peace which wee now enioy that will recouer it GOD hath hitherto blessed my Sword I haue in this time that I haue Reigned weeded out my bad Subiects and tryed my good My People and I know one another which breeds Confidence And if there should bee any bad Bloud left in the Kingdome an Honourable Forrain Warre will vent it or purifie it In this great Businesse let me haue your Aduice and Aid If any of you were to make his Sonne Knight you might haue aid of your Tenants by Law This concernes the Knighthood and Spurres of the Kingdome whereof I am Father and bound not only to seeke to maintaine it but to aduance it But for Matter of Treasure let it not be taken from the Poorest Sort but from those to whom the Benefit of the Warre may redound France is no Wildernesse and I that professe Good Husbandrie hope to make the Warre after the Beginnings to pay it selfe Goe together in GODS Name and loose no time for I haue called this Parliament wholly for this Cause THus spake the King But for all this though hee shewed great forwardnesse for a Warre not onely to his Parliament and Court but to his Priuie-Councell likewise except the two Bishops and a few more yet neuerthelesse in his secret intentions hee had no purpose to goe through with any Warre vpon France But the truth was that hee did but traffique with that Warre to make his Returne in money Hee knew well that France was now entire and at vnitie with it selfe and neuer so mightie many yeares before Hee saw by the taste that he had of his Forces sent into Britaine that the French knew well enough how to make warre with the English by not putting things to the hazard of a Battaile but wearing them by long Sieges of Townes and strong fortified Encampings IAMES the Third of Scotland his true friend and Confederate gone and IAMES the Fourth that had succeeded wholly at the deuotion of France and ill affected towards him As for the Coniunctions of FERDINANDO of Spaine and MAXIMILIAN hee could make no foundation vpon them For the One had Power and not Will and the Other hath Will and not Power Besides that FERDINANDO had but newly taken breath from the Warre with the Moores and merchanded at this time with France for the restoring of the Counties of Russignon and Perpignian oppignorated to the French Neither was hee out of feare of the Discontents and ill bloud within the Realme which hauing vsed alwaies to represse and appease in person hee was loth they should find him at a distance beyond Sea and engaged in warre Finding therfore the Inconueniences and Difficulties in the prosecution of a Warre hee cast with himselfe how to compasse two things The one how by the declaration and inchoation of a warre to make his Profit The other how to come off from the warre with sauing of his Honour For Profit it was to bee made two wayes vpon his Subiects for the Warre and vpon his Enemies for the Peace like a good Merchant that maketh his gaine both vpon the Commodities Exported and Imported backe againe For the point of Honour wherein hee might suffer for giuing ouer the Warre hee considered well that as hee could not trust vpon the aides of FERDINANDO and MAXIMILIAN for supports of Warre so the impuissance of the one and the double proceeding of the other lay faire for him for occasions to accept of Peace These things hee did wisely fore-see and did as artificially conduct wherby all things fell into his lappe as hee desired For as for the Parliament it presently tooke fire being affectionate of old the Warre of France and desirous afresh to repaire the dishonour they thought the King sustained by the losse of Britaine Therfore they aduised the King with great alacritie to vndertake the Warre of
escape shee knew they were things that a verie few could controll And therfore she taught him onely to tell a smooth and likely Tale of those matters warning him not to vary from it It was agreed likewise betweene them what account he should giue of his Peregrination abroad intermixing many things which were true and such as they knew others could testifie for the credit of the rest but still making them to hang together with the Part hee was to play Shee taught him likewise how to auoid sundry captious and tempting questions which were like to bee asked of him But in this shee found him of himselfe so nimble and shifting as shee trusted much to his owne wit and readinesse and therefore laboured the lesse in it Lastly shee raysed his thoughts with some present rewards and further promises setting before him chiefly the glorie and fortune of a Crowne if things went well and a sure refuge to her Court if the worst should fall After such time as shee thought hee was perfect in his Lesson shee began to cast with herselfe from what coast this Blazing-starre should first appeare and at what time it must bee vpon the Horizon of Ireland for there had the like Meteor strong influence before The time of the Apparition to bee when the King should bee engaged into a Warre with France But well she knew that whatsoeuer should come from her would bee held suspected And therfore if hee should goe out of Flanders immediately into Ireland shee might bee thought to haue some hand in it And besides the time was not yet ripe for that the two Kings were then vpon tearmes of Peace Therefore shee wheel'd about and to put all suspicion a far off and loth to keepe him any longer by her for that shee knew Secrets are not long liued shee sent him vnknowne into Portugall with the Lady BRAMPTON an English Ladie that embarqued for Portugall at that time with some Priuado of her owne to haue an eye vpon him and there hee was to remaine and to expect her further directions In the meane time shee omitted not to prepare things for his better welcome and accepting not onely in the Kingdome of Ireland but in the Court of France Hee continued in Portugall about a yeare and by that time the King of England called his Parliament as hath beene said and declared open Warre against France Now did the Signe reigne and the Constellation was come vnder which PERKIN should appeare And therefore hee was straight sent vnto by the Duchesse to goe for Ireland according to the first designement In Ireland hee did arriue at the Towne of Corke When hee was thither come his owne Tale was when hee made his Confession afterwards That the Irish-men finding him in some good Clothes came flocking about him and bare him downe that he was the Duke of Clarence that had beene there before And after that hee was RICHARD the Thirds base sonne And lastly that he was RICHARD Duke of Yorke second sonne to EDWARD the Fourth But that hee for his part renounced all these things and offered to sweare vpon the holy Euangelists that hee was no such man till at last thy forced it vpon him and bade him feare nothing and so forth But the truth is that immediately vpon his comming into Ireland hee tooke vpon him the said Person of the Duke of York and drew vnto him Complices and Partakers by all the meanes hee could deuise Insomuch as hee wrote his Letters vnto the Earles of Desmond and Kildare to come in to his Aide and bee of his Partie the Originalls of which Letters are yet extant Somewhat before this time the Duchesse had also gayned vnto her a neare seruant of King HENRY's owne one STEPHEN FRION his Secretarie for the French Tongue an actiue man but turbulent and discontented This FRION had fled ouer to CHARLES the French King and put himselfe into his seruice at such time as hee began to bee in open enmitie with the King Now King CHARLES when he vnderstood of the Person and Attempts of PERKIN readie of himselfe to embrace all aduantages against the King of England instigated by FRION and formerly prepared by the Ladie MARGARET forthwith dispatched one LVCAS and this FRION in the nature of Ambassadors to PERKIN to aduertise him of the Kings good inclination to him and that hee was resolued to aide him to recouer his right against King HENRY an Vsurper of England and an Enemie of France and wished him to come ouer vnto him at Paris PERKIN thought himselfe in heauen now that hee was inuited by so great a King in so honourable a manner And imparting vnto his Friends in Ireland for their incouragement how Fortune called him and what great hopes hee had sayled presently into France When hee was come to the Court of France the King receiued him with great honour saluted and stiled him by the name of the Duke of Yorke lodged him and accommodated him in great State And the better to giue him the representation and the countenance of a Prince assigned him a Guard for his Person whereof the Lord CONGRESALL was Captaine The Courtiers likewise though it bee ill mocking with the French applyed themselues to their Kings Bent seeing there was reason of State for it At the same time there repaired vnto PERKIN diuers Englishmen of Qualitie Sir GEORGE NEVILE Sir IOHN TAYLOR and about one hundred more and amongst the rest this STEPHEN FRION of whom wee spake who followed his fortune both then and for a long time after and was indeed his principall Counsellor and Instrument in all his Proceedings But all this on the French Kings part was but a Tricke the better to bow King HENRY to Peace And therefore vpon the first Graine of Incense that was sacrificed vpon the Altar of Peace at Bulloigne PERKIN was smoked away Yet would not the French King deliuer him vp to King HENRY as hee was laboured to doe for his Honors sake but warned him away and dismissed him And PERKIN on his part was as readie to bee gone doubting hee might bee caught vp vnder hand Hee therefore tooke his way into Flanders vnto the Duchesse of Burgundie pretending that hauing beene variously tossed by Fortune hee directed his course thither as to a safe Harbour No wayes taking knowledge that he had euer beene there before but as if that had beene his first addresse The Duchesse on the other part made it as new and strange to see him pretending at the first that she was taught and made wise by the example of LAMBERT SIMNELL how shee did admit of any Counterfeit Stuffe though euen in that she said she was not fully satisfied Shee pretended at the first and that was euer in the presence of others to pose him and sift him thereby to trie whether hee were indeed the very Duke of Yorke or no. But seeming to receiue full satisfaction by his answers shee then fained her selfe to be transported with a
bodies were remoued by the Priest of the Tower and buried by him in some place which by meanes of the Priests death soone after could not be knowne Thus much was then deliuered abroad to be the effect of those Examinations But the King neuerthelesse made no vse of them in any of his Declarations whereby as it seemes those Examinations left the businesse somewhat perplexed And a for Sir IAMES TIRREL hee was soone after beheaded in the Tower-yard for other matters of Treason But IOHN DIGHTON who it seemeth spake best for the King was forthwith set at libertie and was the principall meanes of diuulging this Tradition Therefore this kind of Proofe being left so naked the King vsed the more diligence in the latter for the tracing of PERKIN To this purpose hee sent abroad into seuerall parts and especially into Flanders diuers secret and nimble Scouts and Spies some faining themselues to flie ouer vnto PERKIN and to adhere vnto him and some vnder other pretences to learne search and discouer all the circumstances and particulars of PERKINS Parents Birth Person Trauailes vp and downe and in briefe to haue a Iournall as it were of his life and doings Hee furnished these his imployed-men liberally with Money to draw on and reward Intelligences giuing them also in charge to aduertise continually what they found and neuerthelesse still to goe on And euer as one Aduertisement and Discouerie called vp another hee employed other new Men where the Businesse did require it Others hee employed in a more speciall nature and trust to be his Pioners in the maine Counter-mine These were directed to insinuate themselues into the familiaritie and confidence of the principall Persons of the Partie in Flanders and so to learne what Associates they had and Correspondents either heere in England or abroad and how farre euery one ingaged and what new ones they meant afterwards to trie or board And as this for the Persons so for the Actions themselues to discouer to the Bottome as they could the vtmost of PERKINS and the Conspiratours their Intentions Hopes and Practices These latter Best-be-trust-Spies had some of them further instructions to practise and draw off the best Friends and Seruants of PERKIN by making remonstrance to them how weakly his Enterprize and Hopes were built and with how prudent and potent a King they had to deale and to reconcile them to the King with promise of Pardon and good Conditions of Reward And aboue the rest to assayle sappe and worke into the constancie of Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD and to winne him if they could being the man that knew most of their secrets and who being wonne away would most appall and discourage the rest and in a manner breake the Knot There is a strange Tradition That the King being lost in a Wood of Suspicions and not knowing whom to trust had both intelligence with the Confessors and Chaplaines of diuers great men and for the better Credit of his Espialls abroad with the contrarie side did vse to haue them cursed at PAVLS by Name amongst the Bead-roll of the Kings Enemies according to the Custome of those Times These Espials plyed their Charge so roundly as the King had an Anatomie of PERKIN aliue and waslikewise well informed of the particular correspondent Conspiratours in England and many other Mysteries were reuealed and Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD in especiall wonne to bee assured to the King and industrious and officious for his seruice The King therfore receiuing a rich Returne of his diligence and great satisfaction touching a number of Particulars first diuulged and spred abroad the Imposture and iuggling of PERKINS Person and Trauailes with the Circumstances therof throughout the Realme Not by Proclamation because things were yet in Examination and so might receiue the more or the lesse but by Court-fames which commonly print better than printed Proclamations Then thought hee it also time to send an Ambassage vnto Archduke PHILIP into Flanders for the abandoning and dismissing of PERKIN Heerein hee employed Sir EDWARD POYNINGS and Sir WILLIAM WARHAM Doctor of the Canon Law The Archduke was then young and gouerned by his Councell before whom the Ambassadours had audience and Doctor WARHAM spake in this manner MY Lords the King our Master is very sorie that England and your Countrey here of Flanders hauing beene counted as Man and Wife for so long time now this Countrey of all others should be the Stage where a base Counterfeit should play the part of a King of England not onely to his Graces disquiet and dishonour but to the scorne and reproach of all Soueraigne Princes To counterfeit the dead Image of a King in his Coyne is an high Offence by all Lawes But to counterfeit the liuing Image of a King in his Person exceedeth all Falsifications except it should bee that of a MAHOMET or an Anti-Christ that counterfeit Diuine Honour The King hath too great an Opinion of this sage Counsell to thinke that any of you is caught with this Fable though way may be giuen by you to the passion of some the thing in it selfe is so improbable To set Testimonies aside of the Death of Duke RICHARD which the King hath vpon Record plaine and infallible because they may bee thought to bee in the Kings owne Power let the thing testifie for it selfe Sense and Reason no Power can command Is it possible trow you that King RICHARD should damne his soule and foule his Name with so abominable a Murther and yet not mend his Case Or doe you thinke that Men of Bloud that were his Instruments did turne to Pitty in the middest of their Execution Whereas in cruell and sauage Beasts and Men also the first Draught of Bloud doth yet make them more fierce and enraged Doe you not know that the Bloudie Executioners of Tyrants doe goe to such Errands with an Halter about their necke So that if they performe not they are sure to die for it And doe you thinke that these men would hazard their owne liues for sparing anothers Admit they should haue saued him What should they haue done with him Turne him into London Streets that the Watch-men or any Passenger that should light vpon him might carry him before a Iustice and so all come to light Or should they haue kept him by them secretly That surely would haue required a great deale of Care Charge and continuall Feares But my Lords I labour too much in a cleare Businesse The King is so wise and hath so good Friends abroad as now hee knoweth Duke PERKIN from his Cradle And because hee is a great Prince if you haue any good Poet here hee can helpe him with Notes to write his Life and to parallel him with LAMBERT SIMNELL now the Kings Faulconer And therefore to speake plainely to your Lordships it is the strangest thing in the World that the Lady MARGARET excuse vs if wee name her whose Malice to the King is both causelesse and endlesse should now when she is
Father-in-law who in respect of their iealous hatred against the French King did alwayes aduise the Arch-Duke to anchor himselfe vpon the Amitie of King HENRY of England was glad vpon this occasion to put in vre and practice their precepts calling the King Patron and Father and Protector These very words the King repeates when he certified of the louing behauiour of the Arch-Duke to the Citie and what else hee could deuise to expresse his loue and obseruance to the King There came also to the King the Gouernour of Picardie and the Bailiffe of Amiens sent from Lewis the French King to doe him honour and to giue him knowledge of his victorie and winning of the Duchie of Millan It seemeth the king was well pleased with the honours hee receiued from those parts while hee was at Calice For hee did himselfe certifie all the Newes and Occurrents of them in euerie particular from Calice to the Maior and Aldermen of London which no doubt made no small talke in the Citie For the King though hee could not entertaine the good will of the Citizens as EDVVARD the fourth did yet by affabilitie and other Princely Graces did euer make very much of them and apply himselfe to them This yeare also did IOHN MORTON Arch-Bishop of Canterburie Chancellor of England and Cardinall He was a Wise man and an Eloquent but in his nature harsh and haughtie much accepted by the King but enuied by the Nobilitie and hated of the People Neither was his name left out of PERKINS Proclamation for any good will but they would not bring him in amongst the Kings Casting-Counters because hee had the Image and Superscription vpon him of the Pope in his Honour of Cardinall Hee wanne the King with Secrecie and Diligence but chiefly because hee was his olde Seruant in his lesse Fortunes And also for that in his affections hee was not without an inueterate malice against the House of YORKE vnder whom hee had beene in trouble He was willing also to take Enuie from the King more than the King was willing to put vpon him For the King cared not for Subterfuges but would stand Enuy and appeare in any thing that was to his mind which made Enuie still grow vpon him more vniuersall but lesse daring But in the matter of Exactions time did after shew that the Bishop in feeding the Kings humour did rather temper it He had beene by RICHARD the third committed as in Custody to the Duke of Buckingham whom hee did secretly incite to reuolt from King RICHARD But after the Duke was engaged and thought the Bishop should haue beene his chiefe Pilot in the Tempest the Bishop was gotten into the Cocke-boat and fled ouer beyond Seas But whatsoeuer else was in the Man hee deserueth a most happie Memorie in that hee was the principall Meane of ioyning the two Roses Hee died of great yeares but of strong health and Powers The next yeare which was the Sixteenth yeare of the King and the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred was the yeare of Iubile at Rome But Pope ALEXANDER to saue the Hazzard and Charges of mens Iourneys to Rome thought good to make ouer those Graces by Exchange to such as would pay a conuenient Rate seeing they could not come to fetch them For which purpose was sent into England IASPER PONS a Spaniard the Popes Commissioner better chosen than were the Commissioners of Pope LEO afterwards imployed for Germanie for hee carried the Businesse with great wisedome and semblance of Holinesse In so much as hee leuied great summes of Money within this Land to the Popes vse with little or no Scandall It was thought the King shared in the Money But it appeareth by a Letter which Cardinall ADRIAN the Kings Pensioner wrote to the King from Rome some few yeares after that this was not so For this Cardinall beeing to perswade Pope IVLIVS on the Kings behalfe to expedite the Bull of Dispensation for the Marriage betweene Prince HENRIE and the Ladie KATHERINE finding the Pope difficile in granting thereof doth vse it as a principall Argument concerning the Kings merit towards that Sea that hee had touched none of those Deniers which had beene leuied by PONS in England But that it might the better appeare for the satisfaction of the Common people that this was Consecrate Money the same Nuntio brought vnto the King a Briefe from the Pope wherein the King was exhorted and summoned to come in Person against the Turke For that the Pope out of the care of an Uniuersall Father seeing almost vnder his eyes the Successes and Progresses of that great Enemie of the Faith had had in the Conclane and with the Assistance of the Ambassadours of forraine Princes diuers Consultations about an Holy Warre and a Generall Expedition of Christian Princes against the Turke Wherein it was agreed and thought fit that the Hungarians Polonians and â—â—â—â—nians should make a Warre vpon Thracid The French and Spaniards vpon Grecia and that the Pope willing to sacrifice himselfe in so good a Cause in Person and in Companie of the King of England the Venetians and such other States as were great in maritime Power would saile with a puissant Nauie through the Mediterrane vnto Constantinople And that to this end his Holinesse had sent Nuncio's to all Christian Princes Aswell for a Cessation of all Quarrels and Differences amongst themselues as for speedie Preparations and Contributions of Forces and Treasure for this Sacred Enterprize To this the King who vnderstood well the Court of Rome made an Answer rather Solemne than Serious Signifying THat no Prince on Earth should bee more forward and obedient both by his Person and by all his possible Forces and Fortunes to enter into this sacred VVarre than himselfe But that the distance of Place was such as no Forces that hee should raise for the Seas could be leuied or prepared but with double the charge and double the time at the least that they might be from the other Princes that had their Territories nearer adioyning Besides that neither the manner of his Ships hauing no Gallies nor the Experience of his Pilots and Mariners could bee so apt for those Seas as theirs And therefore that his Holinesse might doe well to mooue one of those other Kings who lay fitter for the purpose to accompany him by Sea Whereby both all things would be sooner put in readinesse and with lesse Charge and the Emulation and Diuision of Command which might growe betweene those Kings of France and Spaine if they should both ioyne in the VVarre by Land vpon Grecia might bee wisely auoyded And that for his part hee would not bee wanting in Aydes and Contribution Yet notwithstanding if both these Kings should refuse rather than his Holinesse should goe alone hee would waite vpon him as soone as hee could bee readie Alwaies prouided that hee might first see all Differences of the Christian Princes amongst themselues fully laide downe and appeased as
ibid. His prouidence 173 Free fishing of the Dutch 225 Title to France renewed by the king in Parliament 98 Frion ioynes with Perkin 118 First fruits 16 In forma pauperis a law enacted for it 146 G GAbato Sebastian makes a voyage for discouerie 187 Gordon Lady Katherine wife to Perkin 153 Granado vindicated from the Moores 105 Guard Yeomen first instituted 10 Gifts of the French king to king Hen. Counsellors and Souldiers 111 Gratitude of the Popes Legat to king Henry 70 H HAllowed sword from the Pope 178 Hatred of the people to the king with the maine reason of it 19 Heartie acclamations of the people to the king 7 K. Henry his description 233. c. His pietie 1. 105 Hee hath three titles to the kingdome 3 Heretickes prouided against a rare thing in those times 202 Herne a Counsellor to Perkin 179 Hialas otherwise Elias to England how 174 Holy warre 200 Hopes of gaine by warre 111 Hostages redeemed by the King 15 Houses of husbandry to be maintained to preuent the decay of people 75 Histories defects in them what 76 I IAmes the third king of Scotland his distresse and death 70 Idols vexe God and king H. 185 Iohn Egremond leader of the rebels 68 Inclosures their manifest inconueniencies and how remedied 73 Ingratitude of women punished 146 Innouation desired 20 Incense of the people what 207 Instructions of Lady Margaretto Perkin 115 Intercursus Magnus 162 Intercursus Malus ib 225 Inuectiues of Maximilian against the French king 95 Inuectiues against the king and Counsell 137 Improuidence of k. Henry to preuent his troubles 20. 23 Improuidence of the French 142 Ioynture of La. Katherine how much 204 Ioynture of Lady Margaret in Scotlland how much 208 Ioseph a rebell 164 Ireland fauoureth Yorke Title 23 Ireland receiueth Simon the Priest of Oxford with his counterfeit 23 Irish adhere to Perkin 117 Iubile at Rome 199 Iuno i. e. the Lady Margaret so called by the kings friends 113 K KAtherine Gordon Perkins wife royally entertained by k. Henry 184 Kent loyall to the King 141. 166 The king the publick Steward 60 Kings their miseries 83 King of Rakehels Perkin so called by king Henry 181 The kings skreene who 164 King of France protector of k. Henry in his trouble 54 Kingdome of France restored to its integritie 40 King of France buyes his peace of K. Henry 111 King of Scots enters England 153. Againe 173 Knights of the Bath 132 Knights of Rhodes elect king Henry Protector of the Order 202 L LAncaster Title condemned by Parliament 4 Lancaster house in possession of the Crowne for three descents together 6 Lambert Simnel 20. See Counterfeit Lawes enacted in Parliament 63 Diuers Lawes enacted 215 Law charitable enacted 146 A good Law enacted 145 A Law of a strange nature 144 A Law against carrying away of women by violence the reasons of it 65 Law of Poynings 138 Lawes penall put in execution 139 A Legate from the Pope 70 Preferred to be Bishop in England by king Henry ibid. His gratitude to K. H. 70 Lenitie of the K. abused 179 Letters from the king out of France to the Mayor of London 112 A Libell 94 Libels the causes of them 137 Libels the femals of sedition ibid Libels the authors executed 138 A Loane from the Citie to the king repaid 76 London entred by king Hen. in a close chariot wherefore 8 London in a tumult because of the rebels 169 London purchase confirmation of their liberties 216 M MAle Contents their effects 67 Margaret of Burgundy the fountaine of all the mischiefe to k Henry 29 Shee entertains the rebels 68. 119 Shee a Iuno to the king 113 Shee instructs Perkin 115 Lady Margaret desired in marriage by the Scottish king 191 Manufacture forraine how to bee kept out 60. 215 Marriage of king Henry with Ladie Elizabeth 16 Of the French king with the Duchesse of Brittaine 95 Of Prince Arthur 203 Mart translated to Calice the reasons of it 130 Maintenance prohibited by law 64 Merchants of England receiued at Antwerpe with procession great ioy 162 A memorable Memorandum of the King 212 Military power of the kingdome aduanced how 73 Mills of Empson and Dudley what and the gains they brought in 216 Mitigations 209 Money bastard imployments thereof repressed 59 Money left at the kings death how much 230 Morton made priuie Councellor 16 Made Archbish. of Canterbury ib. His speech to the Parliament 57 Mortons Forke 101 Morton authour of the vnion of the two Roses 199 Moores expelled Granado 106 Murmuring 22 Murmurs of the people against the K. 121 Murther manslaughter a law concerning it in amendment of the common Law 65 Murther of king Edw. 5. 149 Murther of a Commissioner for the Subsidie 165 N NAuigation of the kingdome how aduanced 75 Neighbour ouerpotent dangerous 56 57 Bad Newes the effect thereof in souldiers 109 Nobilitie neglected in counsell the ill effects of it 51 Nobilitie few of them put to death in king Henries time 235 North the kings iourney thither for what reasons 17 O OAth of Allegeance taken 14 Oath enforced vpon Maximilian by his subiects 77 Oath kept ibid. Obedience neglected what followes 70 First occasion of a happy vnion 191 Obsequies for the French King performed in England 192 Obsequies to Tyrants what 2 An ominous answer of the king 208 An ominous prognostick 226 Opinions diuerse what was to be done with Perkin 184 Orator from the Pope met at London bridge by the Mayor 178 Order of the Garter sent to Alphonso 112 Ostentation of Religion by the king of Spaine 105 Ouer merit preiudicial to Sir William Stanley 133 Outlawrics how punished 210 Oxford Earle fined for breach of the law 211 P PAcificator K Henry betweene the French king Duke of Brittaine 50 Pardon proclaimed by the king 14. 18. 25 A Parliament called speedily 11 A Parliament called for two reasons 52 Another 16. 214 Parliaments aduice desired by the K. 53. 57. 98 Passions contrary in K. Henry ioy and sorrow with the reasons of both 58 Peace pretended by the French king 47 Peace to be desired but with two conditions 54 Peace concluded betweene England and France 111 People how brought to decay the redresse of it by the king 73 Pensions giuen by the king of France 111 A Personation somewhat strange 113 A great plague 196 Edw. Plantagenet sonne and heire of George Duke of Clarence 6 Edw. Plantagenet shewed to the people 27 Plantagenets race ended 195 Perkin Warbeck History of him 112 His parentage 114 Godsonne to king Edw. 4. 115 His crafty behauiour 114. 120 Fauoured by the French king 118 By him discarded 119 Fauoured by the Scottish King 47 He yeeldeth and is brought to the Court 186 Set in the stockes 192 Executed at Tiburne 194 A pleasant passage of Prince Arthur 206 Policie to preuent warre 42 A point of policie to defend the Duchie of Brittaine against the French 47. 56 Policie of State 41 Pope sowes seeds
memorie and all things were directed by the Duke of Orleance who gaue audience to the Chaplaine VRSWICK and vpon his Ambassage deliuered made answer in somewhat high termes That the Duke of Britaine hauing beene an Host and a kind of Parent or Foster-father to the King in his tendernesse of age and weaknesse of fortune did looke for at this time from King HENRY the renowned King of England rather braue Troupes for his Succours then a vaine Treatie of Peace And if the King could forget the good Offices of the Duke done vnto him aforetime yet he knew well he would in his wisdome consider of the future how much it imported his owne safetie and reputation both in forraine parts and with his owne people not to suffer Britaine the old Confederates of England to be swallowed vp by France and so many good Ports and strong Townes vpon the Coast be in the command of so potent a Neighbour-King and so ancient an Enemie And therefore humbly desired the King to thinke of this businesse as his owne and therewith brake off and denied any further conference for Treatie VRSWICK returned first to the French King and related to him what had passed Who finding things to sort to his desire tooke hold of them and said That the Ambassadour might perceiue now that which he for his part partly imagined before That considering in what hands the Duke of Britaine was there would be no Peace but by a mixt Treatie of force and perswasion And therfore he would goe on with the one and desired the King not to desist from the other But for his owne part he did faithfully promise to bee still in the Kings power to rule him in the matter of Peace This was accordingly represented vnto the King by VRSWICK at his returne and in such a fashion as if the Treatie were in no sort desperate but rather stayed for a better houre till the Hammer had wrought and beat the Partie of Britaine more pliant Whereupon there passed continually Packets and Dispatches betweene the two Kings from the One out of desire and from the other out of dissimulation about the negotiation of Peace The French King meane while inuaded Britaine with great forces and distressed the Citie of Nantes with a strait siege and as one who though hee had no great Iudgement yet had that that hee could dissemble home the more he did vrge the prosecution of the Warre the more he did at the same time vrge the solicitation of the Peace Insomuch as during the siege of Nantes after many Letters and particular messages the better to maintaine his dissimulation and to refresh the Treatie he sent BERNARD DAVBIGNEY a person of good qualitie to the King earnestly to desire him to make an end of the businesse howsoeuer The King was no lesse readie to reuiue and quicken the Treatie And therupon sent three Commissioners the Abbot of Abington Sir RICHARD TVNSTAL and CHAPLEINE VRSWICK formerly imployed to doe their vtmost endeuours to manage the Treatie roundly and strongly About this time the Lord WOODVILE Vncle to the Queene a valiant gentleman desirous of honor sued to the King that he might raise some Power of Voluntaries vnder-hand and without licence or pasport wherein the King might any wayes appeare goe to the aide of the Duke of Britaine The King denied his request or at least seemed so to doe and layed strait commandement vpon him that hee should not stirre for that the King thought his honour would suffer therein during a Treatie to better a Partie Neuerthelesse this Lord either being vnruly or out of conceipt that the King would not inwardly dislike that which he would not openly auow sailed secretly ouer into the Isle of Wight whereof hee was Gouernour and leuied a faire Troupe of foure hundred men and with them passed ouer into Brittaine and ioyned himselfe with the Dukes Forces The Newes whereof when it came to the French Court put diuers Young Bloods into such a furie as the English Ambassadors were not without perill to bee outraged But the French King both to preserue the Priuiledge of Ambassadors and being conscious to himselfe that in the businesse of Peace hee himselfe was the greater dissembler of the two forbade all iniuries of fact or word against their persons or Followers And presently came an Agent from the King to purge himselfe touching the Lord WOODVILES going ouer vsing for a principall argument to demonstrate that it was without his priuitie for that the Troupes were so small as neither had the Face of a succour by authoritie nor could much aduance the Brittaine affaires To which message although the French King gaue no full credit yet he made faire weather with the King and seemed satisfied Soone after the English Ambassadors returned hauing two of them beene likewise with the Duke of Britaine and found things in no other termes then they were before Vpon their returne they informed the King of the state of the affaires and how farre the French King was from any true meaning of Peace and therefore he was now to aduise of some other course Neither was the King himselfe lead all this while with credulity meerely as was generally supposed But his Error was not so much facility of beleefe as an ill measuring of the forces of the other Partie For as was partly touched before the King had cast the businesse thus with himselfe He tooke it for granted in his owne iudgement that the Warre of Britaine in respect of the strength of the Townes and of the Partie could not speedily come to a Period For he conceiued that the Counsels of a Warre that was vndertaken by the French King then childlesse against an Heire-apparant of France would be very faint and slow And besides that it was not possible but that the state of France should be imbroiled with some troubles and alterations in fauour of the Duke of Orleance Hee conceiued likewise that MAXIMILIAN King of the Romans was a Prince warlike and potent who he made account would giue succours to the Britaine 's roundly So then iudging it would be a worke of Time hee laide his plot how hee might best make vse of that Time for his owne affaires Wherein first hee thought to make his vantage vpon his Parliament knowing that they being affectionate vnto the quarrell of Britaine would giue treasure largely Which treasure as a noise of Warre might draw forth so a peace succeeding might cofer vp And because hee knew his people were hot vpon the businesse hee chose rather to seeme to bee deceiued and lulled asleepe by the French then to be backward in himselfe considering his Subiects were not so fully capable of the reasons of State which made him hold backe Wherefore to all these purposes hee saw no other expedient then to set and keepe on foot a continuall Treatie of Peace laying it downe and taking it vp againe as the occurrence required Besides he had in consideration the point
vpon whom the surest Aime that could bee taken was that hee would not be long as hee had beene last before would all three being potent Princes enter into some strait League and Confederation amongst themselues Whereby though hee should not be endangered yet hee should be left to the poore Amitie of Arragon And whereas he had beene heretofore a kind of Arbiter of Europe he should now goe lesse and bee ouer-topped by so great a Coniunction Hee had also as it seemes an inclination to marrie and bethought himselfe of some fit Conditions abroad And amongst others hee had heard of the Beautie and vertuous Behauiour of the young Queene of Naples the Widdow of FERDINANDO the younger being then of Matronall yeares of seuen and twentie By whose Marriage he thought that the Kingdome of Naples hauing beene a Gole for a time betweene the king of Arragon and the French King and being but newly setled might in some part be Deposited in his hands who was so able to keepe the Stakes Therefore hee sent in Ambassage or Message three Confident Persons FRANCIS MARSIN IAMES BRAY-BROOKE and IOHN STILE vpon two seuerall Inquisitions rather than Negotiations The One touching the Person and Condition of the young Queene of Naples The Other touching all particulars of Estate that concerned the Fortunes and Intentions of FERDINANDO And because they may obserue best who themselues are obserued least hee sent them vnder Colourable Pretexts giuing them Letters of Kindnesse and Complement from KATHERINE the Princesse to her Aunt and Neece the Olde and Young Queene of Naples and deliuering to them also a Booke of new Articles of Peace which notwithstanding it had beene deliuered vnto Doctor de PVEBLA the Leigier Ambassadour of Spaine here in England to be sent yet for that the King had beene long without hearing from Spaine hee thought good those Messengers when they had beene with the two Queenes should likewise passe on to the Court of FERDINANDO and take a Copie of the Booke with them The Instructions touching the Queene of Naples were so curious and exquisite beeing as Articles whereby to direct a Suruey or framing a Particular of her Person for Complexion Fauour Feature Stature Health Age Customes Behauiour Conditions and Estate as if the King had beene young a Man would haue iudged him to bee Amorous but being ancient it ought to be interpreted that sure he was verie Chaste for that hee meant to finde all things in one Woman and so to settle his Affections without ranging But in this Match hee was soone cooled when hee heard from his Ambassadors that this young Queene had had a goodly Ioynture in the Realme of Naples well answered during the time of her Vnckle FREDERICKE yea and during the time of LEVVIS the French King in whose Diuision her Reuenue fell But since the time that the Kingdome was in FERDINANDO'S hands all was assigned to the Armie and Garrisons there and shee receiued only a Pension or Exhibition out of his Coffers The other part of the Inquirie had a graue and diligent Returne informing the King at full of the present State of King FERDINANDO By this report it appeared to the King that FERDINANDO did continue the Gouernment of Castile as Administrator vnto his Daughter IOAN by the Title of Queene ISABELLA'S Will and partly by the Custome of the Kingdome as he pretended And that all Mandates and Grants were expedited in the name of IOAN his Daughter and himselfe as Administrator without mention of PHILIP her Husband And that king FERDINANDO howsoeuer hee did dismisse himselfe of the Name of King of Castile yet meant to hold the Kingdome without Accompt and in absolute Command It appeareth also that hee flattered himselfe with hopes that king PHILIP would permit vnto him the Gouernement of Castile during his life which hee had layed his plot to worke him vnto both by some Councellors of his about him which FERDINANDO had at his deuotion and chiefly by Promise that in case PHILIP gaue not way vnto it hee would marrie some young Ladie whereby to put him by the Succession of Arragon and Granada in case hee should haue a Sonne And lastly by representing vnto him that the Gouernement of the Burgundians till PHILIP were by continuance in Spaine made as Naturall of Spaine would not bee indured by the Spaniards But in all those things though wisely layed downe and considered FERDINANDO failed But that PLVTO was better to him than PALLAS In the same Report also the Ambassadours beeing meane men and therefore the more free did strike vpon a String which was somewhat dangerous For they declared plainely that the People of Spaine both Nobles and Commons were better affected vnto the part of PHILIP so hee brought his wife with him than to FERDINANDO And expressed the reason to bee because hee had imposed vpon them many Taxes and Tallages whith was the Kings owne Case betweene him and his Sonne There was also in this Report a Declaration of an Ouerture of Marriage which AMASON the Secretarie of FERDINANDO had made vnto the Ambassadours in great secret betweene CHARLES Prince of Castile and MARIE the Kings second Daughter assuring the king that the Treatie of Marriage then on foot for the said Prince and the Daughter of France would breake and that shee the said Daughter of France should bee married to ANGOLESME that was the Heire apparant of France There was a touch also of a speech of Marriage betweene FERDINANDO and Madame de FOIS a Ladie of the Bloud of France which afterwards indeed succeeded But this was reported as learned in France and silenced in Spaine The King by the returne of this Ambassage which gaue great light vnto his Affaires was well instructed and prepared how to carrie himselfe betweene FERDINANDO King of Arragon and PHILIP his Sonne-in-law King of Castile resoluing with himselfe to doe all that in him lay to keepe them at one within themselues But howsoeuer that succeeded by a moderate Carriage and bearing the Person of a Common-friend to loose neither of their Friendships but yet to runne a Course more entire with the King of Arragon but more laboured and officious with the King of Castile But hee was much taken with the Ouerture of Marriage with his Daughter MARIE Both because it was the greatest Marriage of Christendome and for that it tooke hold of both Allies But to corroborate his Alliance with PHILIP the Windes gaue him an Enter-view For PHILIP choosing the Winter-Season the better to surprise the King of Arragon set forth with a great Nauie out of Flanders for Spaine in the Moneth of Ianuarie the one and Twentieth yeare of the Kings Raigne But himselfe was surprised with a cruell Tempest that scattered his Ships vpon the seuerall Coasts of England And the Ship wherein the King and Queene were with two other small Barkes onely torne and in great perill to escape the Furie of the weather thrust into Waymouth King PHILIP himselfe hauing
was come to be Master of his affaires But howsoeuer it stood for the point of obligation which the King might owe to the Duke of Britaine yet their Master was well assured it would not diuert King HENRY of England from doing that that was iust nor euer embarke him in so ill grounded a quarrell Therefore since this Warre which their Master was now to make was but to deliuer himselfe from imminent dangers their King hoped the King would shew the like affection to the conseruation of their Masters estate as their Master had when time was shewed to the Kings acquisition of his Kingdome At the least that according to the inclination which the King had euer professed of peace he would looke on and stand Neutrall for that their Master could not with reason presse him to vndertake part in the Warre being so newly setled and recouered from intestine seditions But touching the Mysterie of reannexing of the Duchy of Britaine to the Crowne of France either by Warre or by marriage with the Daughter of Britaine the Ambassadors bare aloofe from it as from a Rocke knowing that it made most against them And therefore by all meanes declined any mention thereof but contrariwise interlaced in their conference with the King the assured purpose of their Master to match with the Daughter of MAXIMILIAN And entertained the King also with some wandring Discourses of their Kings purpose to recouer by Armes his right to the Kingdome of Naples by an expedition in Person All to remoue the King from all iealousie of any Designe in these hither Parts vpon Britaine otherwise then for quenching of the fire which hee feared might bee kindled in his owne estate The King after aduice taken with his Coùncell made answer to the Ambassadors And first returned their Complement shewing hee was right glad of the French Kings reception of those Townes from MAXIMILIAN Then hee familiarly related some particular passages of his owne aduentures and victorie passed As to the businesse of Britaine the King answered in few words That the French King and the Duke of Britaine were the two persons to whom hee was most obliged of all men and that hee should thinke himselfe very vnhappie if things should goe so betweene them as he should not be able to acquite himselfe in gratitude towards them both and that there was no meanes for him as a Christian King and a Common friend to them to satisfie all obligations both to God and Man but to offer himselfe for a Mediator of an Accord and Peace betweene them by which course he doubted not but their Kings estate and honour both would be preserued with more Safetie and lesse Enuis then by a Warre and that hee would spare no cost or paines no if it were To goe on Pilgrimage for so good an effect And concluded that in this great Affaire which he tooke so much to heart hee would expresse himselfe more fully by an Ambassage which he would speedily dispatch vnto the French King for that purpose And in this sort the French Ambassadors were dismissed The King auoiding to vnderstand any thing touching the re-annexing of Britaine as the Ambassadors had auoided to mention it saue that hee gaue a little touch of it in the word Enuie And so it was that the King was neither so shallow nor so ill aduertised as not to perceiue the intention of the French for the inuesting himselfe of Britaine But first he was vtterly vnwilling howsoeuer hee gaue out to enter into Warre with France A Fame of a Warre he liked well but not an Atchieuement for the one hee thought would make him Richer and the other Poorer and hee was possessed with many secret feares touching his owne people which hee was therfore loth to arme and put weapons into their hands Yet notwithstanding as a prudent and couragious Prince he was not so auerse from a Warre but that he was resolued to choose it rather then to haue Britaine carried by France being so great and opulent a Duchy and situate so opportunely to annoy England either for Coast or Trade But the Kings hopes were that partly by negligence commonly imputed to the French especially in the Court of a young King and partly by the natiue power of Britaine it selfe which was not small but chiefely in respect of the great Partie that the Duke of Orleance had in the Kingdome of France and therby meanes to stirre vp Ciuill troubles to diuert the French-king from the enterprise of Britaine And lastly in regard of the power of MAXIMILIAN who was Corriuall to the French King in that Pursuit the Enterprize would eyther bow to a pace or breake in it selfe In all which the King measured and valued things amisse as afterwards appeared He sent therefore forth with to the French King CHRISTOPHER VRSWICKE his Chaplaine a person by him much trusted and imployed choosing him the rather because he was a Church-man as best sorting with an Ambassie of Pacification and giuing him also a Commission That if the French King consented to treat hee should thence repaire to the Duke of Britaine and ripen the Treatie on both parts VRSWICK made declaration to the French King much to the purpose of the Kings answer to the French Ambassadours here instilling also tenderly some ouerture of receiuing to grace the Duke of Orleance and some taste of Conditions of Accord But the French King on the other side proceeded not sincerely but with a great deale of art and dissimulation in this Treatie hauing for his end to gaine time and so put off the English-Succors vnder hope of Peace till he had got good footing in Britaine by force of Armes Wherefore he answered the Ambassadour That hee would put himselfe into the Kings hands and make him Arbiter of the Peace and willingly consented that the Ambassadour should straight wayes passe into Britaine to signifie this his consent and to know the Dukes minde likewise well fore-seeing that the Duke of Orleance by whom the Duke of Britaine was wholly led taking himselfe to be vpon termes irreconcileable with him would admit of no Treatie of Peace Whereby hee should in one both generally abroad veyle ouer his Ambition and winne the reputation of iust and moderate proceedings and should withall endeare himselfe in the Affections of the King of England as one that had committed all to his Will Nay and which was yet more fine make Faith in him That although he went on with the Warre yet it should be but with his Sword in his hand to bend the stiffenesse of the other party to accept of Peace and so the King should take no vmbrage of his arming and prosecution but the Treatie to be kept on foot to the very last instant till hee were Master of the Field Which grounds being by the French King wisely laid all things fell out as he expected For when the English Ambassadour came to the Court of Britaine the Duke was then scarcely perfect in his