a spredding tree of royalty and therefore hee requested their loyalty and resolued courages to take his part that the right heire of the crowne might bee restored to England and themselues eternized to heereafter memory for so meritorious a worke Little needed a spur saith our Prouerb to a forward horse all that saw him beleeued it and such as heard onely the report according to the Poet errorem vocis vt omen amo Clapt their hands for ioy that they should bee employed in an enterprize of such wonder and important greatnesse whereupon money horse armour men and all things else were promised which might be aduantagious to such a businesse But alas Ireland was too weake and of themselues they did onely discouer their malice curbed yet with insufficiency giuing the King notice how their wills exceeded their power and that they were ready to entertaine euerie opportunitie to doe any mischeefe Therefore they sent ouer into England acquainting many discontented persons with the businesse but most principally as to the life of their actions they submitted to Margaret Duches of Burgundy sister of King Edward the fourth for her directions This was a woman of a wonderfull composure so adorned with princely qualities and setled in Maiesticall authoritie as you shall heare heereafter that she was admired of all Europe and beloued in her owne countrey Onely as stinking flies lying secretly in boxes of sweet oyntments putrifie the same did an innated malice and virulent hatred to the Lancastrian Family corrupt her other vertues and as it were thrust vp her princely enduments into a meere bog poole of dirt and filthinesse For although shee knew the bloud of Yorke extinguished and that the Earle of Warwicke was in King Henries possession as taken forth together with the Lady Elizabeth now his wife out of the castle of Sherrington in Yorke-shire vnder the custodie of Sr. Robert Willoughby Yet insatiate in her hate and so consequently in her reuenge Nam ingentes parturit ira minas She admitted of euerie motion of disturbance and inuented meanes of her owne to set in combustion the whole sâ—ate of England vnder a hopefull pretence to see the King ouerthrowne and supplanted Thus did she pile vp together the fire of this disturbance and countenanced the matter more with her greatnesse and power then all the other complices besides but if you aske me how she continued in this authority being a widow amongst strangers and enemie to so great a Prince as the King of England I will answer in a word and measure out the cheefe and principall cord that bound her royaltie together Charles Duke of Burgoine hauing married this Lady Margaret daughter to Richard Duke of Yorke and sister to Edward the fourth had yet no issue by her but left one sole daughter behinde him named Mary which hee had by his first wife the daughter of the Duke of Bourbon this was married to Maximilian sonne to Frederick the Emperour by whom he had two Princes Philip and Margaret which children after the death of the Lady Mary their mother this Lady Margaret Duches Dowager so entirely beloued so tenderly brought vp so motherly nourished and so carefully preserued that she was highly reputed of and esteemed for the same To which when she added a politique ordring her affaires both for the maintenance of their honour and administration of Iustice in the Common-wealth so that I may say with the ancient Poet Saepenumero iam per subtiliores sermones iui ad contentiones veni maiores quam conueniat genus foemineum perscrutari c. The whole bodie of the gouerment willingly consented to be apparrelled and adorned after her fashion so that like an absolute Prince indeed she proceeded both in the gouernment for their benefit and the illustration of her owne greatnesse In this Orb of reputation thus moouing herselfe she still shined like a full planet from whose influence could proceede nothing but sweet presages till stepping aside into a contrary motion of despight and rankor against the King as an enemie to knowledge and her owne conscience she countenanced this ridiculous yet vnhappy coniuration which by her meanes grew apace like broad and stinking burs vnprofitable in themselues and spoiling all the grasse about them vntill at last they were by a politique hand of preuention pull'd vp by the roots and cast vnder foot into the dirt For when King Henry was certefied of all these tumults and comminations and knew the deepnesse and fulnesse of the channell in which the tottered barke of this rebellion steered he verily supposed the best point of wisdome was principiâ—s obstare and so attempted with all care and vigilancy to turne the rage of those troubles another way or else to preuent them from flowing ouer the banks of his enclosures and although the collusion fraud of the inuention vexed him more then the matter or substance of such a rebellion yet hee moderated his anger and with Ianus looked both waies smiling with one face at the ridiculousnesse and deceit of the proiect and marking warily with another all the meanes to redact the confused Chaos of this molestation to better order and vniformity desiring onely at Gods hands to preuent effusion of bloud which must needes bee spilt in any settled warre and contracted army Besides in well ordred battells the euent was disputable and many times punishments were ordained as well to reduce good men ad correctionem and amendment as to bring bad men to ruinam and destruction And therfore if it were possible he would rebate the insolency by other meanes and diuert it from handy blowes and bloudy contentions whereupon he called his Councell together at the Charter-house besides his royal mannour of Richmond and there consulted how to pacifie this sudden tumult and conspiracy without any further disturbance or open defiance This motion of the Kings so tempered with grauity mercy and commiseration was so well accepted of the whole company that they presently applauded his high wisdome and religious care and put in practise whatsoeuer seemed conuenient for their intended affaires They first began with a generall pardon published to all offenders that were content to receiue the same and remain obedient to the Maiestie of England For although at this very instant Sr. Th. Broughton who had obscured the Lord Louell a great season from the King was in a manner ready to giue him battell with many friendly coadiutors and a well-settled army yet did the King thinke it policie to desist from a forcible ouerrunning them because as desperate of life or pardon considering their former treasons and abuses they would hardly be reclaimed in their rages but now fight for their liues and liberties Againe in shewing exemplarie Iustice vpon them once subiect to accusation or condemnation he must needes proceed against many yea such whose offences in standing out could admit of no pardon and therefore as I sayd he gently proclaimed the
of burs and nettles which soughtly handled sting the more violently but hardly crushed together lose their force and energie Of this sort was the Earle of Lincolne sonne to Iohn de la Poole Duke of Suffolke and Elizabeth another sister to Edward the fourth who much maligning the aduancement of this Earle of Richmond farre his inferiour as he supposed tooke hold of this open Rebellion as a meet opportunitie to beate out his own ends on such a pestilent anuile and therefore determined to vphold fortifie support this Irish expedition and take part with his new cozen who as he made him selfe belieue was escaped indeed for all the prety conueiances of the State This Earle of Lincolne besides his blood experience wisedome in great important affaireâ— had a priuacy of humor which many men excepted against as fantasticall and precise For he was so cautelous in his words and singular in his phrases and actions that he would neither sweare nor tell a lie by reason his communication was still seasoned with sauorie Parenthesis and breakings off or if you will Aposâ—opesis As I will not confidently auerre it but it is so and so if men may be credited in their mortalitie The number amounts to so many if men faile not in their computations I dare not iustifie it further then one my credit another with such like Yea in his enterprises he was both curious and Roman like for stricknesse of discipline yet valiant enough To conclude in a word had not the mantle of greatnesse ouer-couered his gesture and actions the same garbe and fashion in an inferior might haue beene thought ridiculous but to our purpose in hanâ— When he apprehended a kind of feare and iealosie in King Henry through this false rumor he determined with the same water that draue the Mil to drowne it and out of this fiction to raise a matter of consequence whereupon he presently repaired to Sir Thomas Broughton and others who like the Theeues of Aegypt lying in the reedes by the Riuer Nilus breaking out vpon any hope of aduantage vpon the silly passengers watched all occasions to be reuenged on the King and yet could render no iust account of their discontentments and after diuers consultations concluded to saile into Flaeunders to his Aunt the Duches being his Mothers owne sister and so without further commorance after the King had dissolued the Parliament at London put the same in practise whither he was well commed with all worthy and kind embraces Not long after Francis Lord Louel repaired vnto him well accompanied where for the time secured and assembling themselues with this Position that omnia efficit consilium quod ferrum hostile efficere potest lest the World should laugh them to scorne for prosecuting idle and vaine attempts they resolue that the Earle of Liucolne and Lord Louel should repaire into Ireland and adde a better countenance to the businesse by their presence in attending and honouring their new King with all gracefull ceremonies and markes of maiestie Then with the power of the Irish-men to bring him into England by which time the Duches forces would be ready to ioine with them Last of all to giue King 〈◊〉 battaile wheresoeuer in which if they preuailed they might at their pleasures depose this counterfeit Lambert and deliuer the true Earle of Warwicke out of prison in all which they proceeded accordingly and with expedition But King Henry supposing he had setled and appeased the minds and vnstable humours of his Nobilitie by the personall presence of Edward Earle of Warwicke began to be lesse moued and disturbed yea as it were secure and carelesse of any further malice and dangerous attempt against his estate and dignitie mistrusting nothing lesse then any man to be so foolish and mad as to belieue that Lambert could be the Earle so that he coniectured nothing but the suppressing of those barbarous Irish and the sedation of that trouble vntill he heard how the Earle of Lincolne was fled out of the Realme vntill he heard how the Lord Louel was confederate with him vntil he heard how diuers were vnited vnto them vntill he heard how the Duches of Burgoine coadiuted the enterprise vntill he heard they had raised a strong party and were resolued to giue him battaile this somewhat moued him and exasperated his displeasure For when he saw no other cataplasme could serue the turne but that he must cauterise the sore and sere and cut away the putrified flesh of this corrupted and rebellious body he determined with strong hand and martiall power to doe the same Whereupon he commanded his Musters to goe forward and appointed the seuerall Captaines a Rendezvous where the whole Armie might meet as occasion and his aduersaries should incite him and lest others might pretend discontentments wants debts deuotion pilgrimages and such like and so goe out of the Realme after the rest he gaue order to all Lieutenants of Shires Sherifes Maiors Bailifes and officers to search and watch the Ports Hauens for the going out and recourse of strangers or passengers vnlicensed and vnlimitited Thus what he could not with the Foxes he was faine to compas with the Lions skin yet knowing that Victoria est tota â—ita in bona consultationâ— he did not cast away the other but when he saw no Councell nor policie could either lâ—niat their obduratnesse nor diuert their inficious intents against him he resolued with an equall strength to remoue the blocks of his peace and quietnesse cast thus in his way by flagitious contumacy and ridiculous innouation But some fires are not so easily quenched as raised or maintained for though all his aduises and good order consorted with successe yet were they not sufficient to stop the mouth or hinder the passage of the present disturbance with deputies or Commissioners therefore he set forward in person supposing they would arriue from Flanders side on some of those Coasts and so came to Saint Edmonds Bury where he was certified that the Lord Thomas Marquesse Dorcet was comming to him to excuse and purge himselfe of those crimes enforced against him or at least such ouersights in which he perfunctorily performed his duty while he was in France To him was sent the Earle of Oxford by way of anticipation to intercept at this time his iourney For the King was too full of troubles and cogitations about the suppressing his enemies and new raised tumults and so could not attend his businesse The Earle had only Commission to conuey him to the Tower which when some of the Councell supposed a hard doome he answered them plainly What need further words If he be my friend as I am confident thereof he will be contented a while to suffer a little reproach and rebuke for my sake yea peraduenture pleasure and contentment If he be otherwise it is a place of security and would I had my aduersaries as safe there as they would me
Therefore I will say the lesse in this point vnto you because you haue euer beene faithful to my progenitors and willing to be counted a Nation for the defence of vertue and propulsing of iniuries As for the ill successe of Lambert in personating my cozen the Earle of Warwicke and setting a foot that title whereby you may be terrified in heereafter prosecutions Alas I confesse it was for my sake and a meere deuise to sound the foord of the troublesome streames of those times proceedings wherein if my Vncle of Lincolne had any way thriued you must be assured thogh they would not hazzard my person so yong yet it was only to make way to my fortunes For smal recompeÌ„ce should haue stopped his mouth vt maior â—nx extinguit minorem my presence quickly haue turned the streame and with the sonne exhaled the strength of his meâ—eor This tricke my Grand-father put vpon the State when he was Gouernor amongst you by lack Cade of Kent who proclaimed himselfe Mortimer to see how the people affected the Title or could remember the Genealogie in the truth of his precedencie as marrying the daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence third son of our great Edward the third of England and Heroos of his time so that I hope this shall be no barre or interception either to my interest or your good will considering I am now come in person to offer vp my selfe a sacrifice if need be for you all and promise you by the secrets of my birth-right to make you a glorious and free Nation vnder me if I preuaile by your meanes These words were vttered so audaciously and yet with simulatory maiesty that they conceiued euery thing in his be halfe and not once disputed on the craft or cunning conueiance of the businesse but exalted and applauded him with all reuerence and due honor combining themselues with affectionate obedience to his aide and assistance wherein â—hat they might be the better induced iust at the same instant as if honour made hast to welcome him according to our Poet Nunc festmatos nimium sibi sâ—nsit honores and fortune determined to smile on them all Charles the French King in some diâ—pleasure with King Henry of England sent for Perkin out of Ireland with resolution to make him the roiall head of an Army against England which although it much animared the Irish to belieue the former seduction yet it was but a deuise of the French Kings to diâ—ert the warre which the King of England pretended out of France and so to enforce him backe againe to looke home to his owne affaires Howsoeuer this our Counterfet was not a little reuiued with such a message and supposed himselfe exalted to heauen in being thus called to the familiarity and acquaintance of Kings and Princes so that comming into France accordingly he was roially accepted and after a Princely manner entertained hauing a guard assigned him whereof the Lord of Congreshall was gouernour Hither also repaired vnto him especially while he lay in Paris Sir George Neuil the Bastard Sir Iohn Tailer Rowland Robinson and a hundred English Rebels But alas all these were but smoaking illusions For on a soddain Ingemâ—it rector sensitque deorum Esse dolos fata suae contraria menti And when a peace was to be determined and concluded betweene England and France the French King quickly dismissed the yong man and all his associats vnder colour of excuse that he durst no longer protect him against his new confederat and brother of England but some others attending vpon him yeelded a more forcible reason for his departure that he himselfe suspected how King Charles would deliuer him into the hands of the King of England and therefore he beguiled the Lord Congreshall and fled from Paris by night But howsoeuer this may be disputed and whether he departed without the Kings consent or no he was questionlesse deceiued in his expectation and in a manneâ— desperate of successe so that loth to remaine amongst such distrustfull enemies hee quietly returned to his most assured friend the Lady Margaret of Flanders the master builder of this worke The Duches before he came thought euery hower from his departure a whole yeare till his retorne For to heare how he proceeded was a quiet to her thoughts and to know how fortune would deale with him a ioy to her heart but to see him a very rauishment Yet when she vnderstood how he was abiected and repudiated in the French Court it could not choose but be a great agony and amasement vnto her Notwithstanding to preuent all suspition she seemed at his arriuall no lesse reuiued then a mother is glad for the retourne of her long absented sonne or a person condemned for a pardon and restauration to his life and dignity At his first approach she receiued him with large embraces and hanging ouer his neck seeming to shed teares of ioy and comfort for his escape from many dangers and aduentures O dissembling and deceiuable hypocrisie that euer a woman should be the author of such diuellish deuises and hellish proiects and yet ouer-daube her mischieuous imaginations with the sugred showes of loue and regard of pitty toward a Prince in distresse but this made Hippolitus long a goe cry out O Iupiter quodnam adulterinum hominibus malum Mulieres ad solis lucem habit are fecâ—sti c. and this she had learned of her owne Phisitians who in administring of bitter pils had shewed her to roule them ouer in some candide powder and this we haue taught our selues out of Gods one mouth who in seuerall places of Scripture hath puplished wherein a bad woman doth exceed all the creatures of the World After this extacy was past she proceeded with a cunning desire to haue him relate his first miraculous preseruation his after trauails and exploration of Countries his next entertainement in Ireland and France and finally his resolution to goe forward in his noble and necessary intendment for his inheritance and recouery of the Crowne of England wherein he proceeded so effectually and orderly without stammering or stuttering that the whole company verily belieued it and such as were not present the rather induced by the report of others sorrowing for nothing but that they heard him not Vina Voce and endeauouring what they could to present their personall obedience vnto him Whereupon when she perceiued how euery thing consorted to her owne wishes she assigned him a Guard of 50 persons in Murry and Blue and honoured him with a cloth of Estate and denomination of the White Rose and Prince of England From thence forward the Nobilitie of Flaunders and diuers of England with all obsequious diligence attended him and from a reuerent estimation of his auncestors performed all the good offices which belonged to the exornation of his maiestie and extention of their owne loues and dutâ—es so that in a word this Sinons horse entred the broken
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
when a second reply brought him to the sight of fairer particulars and that he saw the smoake though it was but a smother came from some fire he quickly recollected his spirits and with these verses of Euripides set himselfe downe at the table of preuention and reposednesse Ex amicis autem alios quidem non certos video amicos Qui vero sunt rectè impotentès sunt vt iuuent Talis res est hominibus ipsa infoelicitas Quā nullus vnquam quicunque vel mediocriter amicus mini Assequatur amicorum examen certissimum The same night vpon better consideration my Lord Chamberlaine was restrained from his liberty within the quadrant Tower and confined to his owne Chamber for a season but when the crime was openly prooued and the Councell had as it were with a charming hand of Hecate turned his inside outward and found all his excuses to consist in distinctions and his reasons of defence manifest astipulations of the matter he grew out of all patience and knew not what to say or to doe For one way like an Noble Prince commiserating his subiects he feared lest his brother Lord Thomas Stanley the life of his first roialty as a man should say take it grieuously Another way he misdoubted lest in remitting the fault some other might abuse his lenity and mercy and be the bolder to runne forward in the dangerous courses of further treasons At last by the aduise of his Councell and generall vouge of the Court seuerity considering the perill of those daies tooke place and mercy was put backe so that after a solemne arraignment he had iudgement to dye and accordingly was brought on the 16. of February to Tower-hill and had his head struck off The principall point of his enditement consisted in this that Sir William Stanley sware and affirmed that he would neuer fight nor beare Armor against the yong man Peter Warbeck if he knew of a truth that he was the indubitate sonne of Edward the fourth whereupon arose a coniecturall proofe that he bare no good will to King Henry Again the principall motiue of his distasting and murmuring at the King was for being denied the Earledome of Chester when his brother Lord Thomas was inuested with the sword of Derby yet the King besides many rewards other great offices made him his chiefe Chamberlaine what should I say it should seem ambition had blinded his eies peruerted his iudgement For he still thought on the benefits which the King receiued from the loue and seruice of his family neuer remembring the compensation and gratuities returned back againe to him selfe supposing that his vessell of oile should still be filled to the brims or else he harped on a Machiuilian position thankfulnesse is a burthen but reuenge is sweete and reckned as gaine But it should seeme that in possessing King Richards treasure at the conquest of Bosworth field which King Henry franckly bestowed vpon him and the command ouer the people in the Country he grew proud and elated and so vilepended the King or from a continual melancholy reuerberating mislike and hate vpon his staggering conceits he more and more ouer burthened his heart with rage and despight which as you haue heard vnpurged vented out those words of disloialtie to the losse of his life or in a word according to that of our old Tragedian Animorum Iupiter vindex est minis superborum the searcher of heart◠was weary of his tumors and ingratitude and so tooke the Kings cause in hand and vpon good inforcement thrust him into the house of destruction Otherwise he could not choose but remember how not twentie yeare before the Law had interpreted the profuse and lauish speeches of a Grocer named Waker dwelling at the signe of the Crowne in Cheapside who bad his sonne learne apace and he would make him heire of the Crowne meaning his house he dwelt in for which he was adiudged to die nor forget the Story of Burdet the Esquier within whose Parke King Edward hunting a white tame Hart was kild by chance which he had brought vp by hand which when Burdet heard of he wished the hornes in his belly that had moued the king to come first thither for which he was drawne hanged and quartered Thus you see there is no iesting with Princes nor distasting them in troublesome times nor presuming in such cases on their clemency For our Ouid tels vs Non ideo debet pelago se credere si qua audet in exiguo ludere cimba lacu After this many rumors and libels yea defamatory speeches both concerning the landing of the new Duke of Yorke proclaimed all ready in Ireland Richard the fourth and the Kings present feare and proceedings were spread abroad which compelled as strange prohibitions yea punishments and reuenges according to the example of that iudgement that hanged Collingbroke for a rime against the vsurper The Rat the Cat and Louel the Dog Rules all England vnder a Hog so that he was farther enforced to haue many politike searches through the whole Realme for such offenders and as many strong Guards and Watches for the defence of the whole Kingdome by which when he perceiued the care vigilancie and good will of the Subiect he entertained a greater fulnesse of contentment and shewed a better alacrity of spirit then his former griefes would remit Then he aduanced Giles Lord Dawbuy a man of wisedome experience and fidelitie to be the Chamberlaine of his house and haue the Guard of his person Afterwards he tooke order with the Citie and Merchants of the same and had thei◠faithfull Oath and protestation to looke to it and all the places of their traffique abroad concerning such things as might be offensiue and preiudiciall to the Kingdome The next thing hee tooke care for was the manning of the Cinqueports and fortifying diuers hauens with a stict commanding the Lieutenants Iustices of each Shire to repaire into their Countries by which good order obserued he grew somewhat secure and bolder to shew himselfe in publique assemblies vndaunted or any way discomfited But this was yet farre from the fulnesse of his establishment as long as Ireland remained corrupted and swelled againe in euery place with the ouerblowen reports and rumours of Perkins royalty to which each trayterous eare lay open and abused heart went quite away with the nouelty Whereupon hee resolued on the necessity of purging and cleansing the same and determined to performe it by new Officers and honest Surueyors So hee sent thither with powerfull authority Henry Deane late Abbot of Langhton to be his Chancellour and Sr. Ed. Poinings with a sufficient preparation to bee Lord Generall of his army These had a large Commission vnder his Deputy the Earle of Kildare to suppresse all innouations and spare no offenders For it was such a time that mercy and fauour would rather embolden men to abuses then lustice offend with extremity Besides the Maiesty of
circuit of patience but answered this our Captaine somewhat like himselfe that he was as loyall to the King as he as seruiceable as he as louing to his countrey and crowne of England as hee and so defied him to his face which added only fuell to the former fire that the vndaunted Souldier apprehended and attached him of high treason which seemed an vnsufferable peece of businesse and had it not beene within Dublin or some principall place vnder the English command an Herculean and intricate Labour But thus is this great Earle vnder arrest and without any more adoe carried into England to answer the matter But when he came before the King and Councell to bee examined of treason and matters laid to his charge eyther his innocencie was a Perseus shield against this Gorgons head of calumniation or his wit and delicate iudgement brought him out of the labyrinth of those troubles or the times affordâ—d not such seueritie and proceedings or the King had other matters to thinke vpon or indeed it was no pollecie to rub these new soares with rude hands according to the rule Horrent admotas vulnera cruda manus For hee was quietly dismissed thanked rewarded and of Deputie made Lieutenant and so sent backe againe vpon the engaging of his hononr to withstand the landing of Perkin if euer he came into Ireland By this occasion the King was without feare of battaile and determined his progresse about Midsommer to visit his mother lying at Latham in Lancashire still wife to the earle of Derbie But as he was preparing his iourney newes came of Perkins landing in England which a while diuerted him and enforced his retardance from his first determination For in truth when the Duches of Burgundie had notice of all the Kings proceedings both in England and Ireland and that the principall offenders were condemned and executed and confederats dissipated and ouerwatched shee found too late her owne slacknesse and the first misfortune of the King of France his retractions from assisting the Prince For whether I name Peter or Perkin or Warbeck or Prince or Richard Duke of Yorke or Richard the fourth all is one man and all had one end And questionlesse if at his first repairing into Ireland hee had made for England while that rumour had possessed the people and the looking after nouelty busied them with strange and impossible hope while euery one stood amazed to gaze after wonders while the conspiracy was in growth and had diuers factious Nobles to forme it to a larger birth while the souldiers desired to bee doing and men grew weary of ease and quietnesse The businesse might haue plunged the Kingdome and successe tooke a flight with strong wings indeede whereby you may perceiue the sweetnesse and benefit of expedition in all dangerous businesse and resemble vniustifiable actions to theeuish bargaines which either must bee made away in the darke or hastned apace in the proudest market place according to the saying Praceps facit omne timendum Victor in nulla non creditur esse Carina Notwithstanding our great Duches remained vndaunted and in a manner of scorne to depend vpon others promises she aduentured on her owne power and determined to put him vnder the wings of Fortune let her ouershade him as she pleased so gathering his forces together and furnishing her ships with a sufficient company and some valiant Captaines shee sent him to sea and onely prayed to the wrathfull Nemesis as authour of her reuenge for successe and thriuing in so glorious an attempt Heere were of all nations and conditions of men Bankrupts Sanctuary-men Theeues Robbers Vagabonds and diuers others who affecting liberty rapine and spoile desisted from honest labor to be the seruants of dishonest rebellion His fortune as we now prophanely abuse that terme draue him on the coast of Kent before Deale-Castle where being becalmed he cast anchour sending diuers on shore to certifie the Inhabitants of this arriuall preparation purposes and well â— furnished army and to put them in minde of their ancient liberties priuiledges and vndaunted courages which haue giuen battell to Kings and made their owne peace with Conquerors But alas this oratory flew like a shaft without a head and they had learnt other lessons of stability and loyalty as finding the sweetnesse of peace and happinesse of gouernment Notwithwanding they called a Councell and I beleeue if they had beene fully resolued that hee was the true Prince indeed they would haue entertained the motion For some of their fingers itched to be doing but suspicious of his originall and former weaknesse and wisely apprehending how shame and reuenge dogged treason and rebellion at the heeles they concluded to continue firme and faithfull to the State and so with a kinde of policy to allure them to land they sent diuers to Perkin with flattering hopes of their assistance while they were indeede mustering of forces to surprize them as fast as they should land which when Perkin perceiued he imagined that all could not be well or consorting to his expectation For in this point his wit and experience serued him to vnderstand thus much that common people and multitudes stirred to sedition vse no solid councells or settled discourses but come flocking with their fulnesse and forwardnesse to assist their friends and follow their pretences according to Euripides description of a confused company and rebellious army In infinito enim exercitâ— Incoercita turba nauticaque licentia Violentior igne malus vero qui mali nihil agit Whereupon hee durst not land himselfe and was sorry so many of his company were on shore but seeing there was no remedy he sent others if neede were to releue them or bring them backe againe to his ships When the Kentishmen beheld such a rabble of strangers and dissolute persons and wisely foresaw that there was no no man of honor or eminence to giue credit to the attempt they presently coniectured that they came rather to spoile and forage the coasts then to releeue a distressed Prince in his right and so running the right way indeed stood firmly for their Countrey and set vpon them as they were stragling vp and downe in the villages enforcing the better sort and better armed backe againe to their boats and surprizing such as could not maiutaine the quarrell and had presumed too farre from the maine battell of whom they tooke 160. prisoners yea the principall Captaines themselues while they laboured to perswade the retreat and to gather them together after some martiall forme of resistance viz. Moumford Corbet Whight Bets Quintine or Geuge who were all brought to Sr. Iohn Pechy high Sheriffe and so raled in ropes like horses drawing in a cart sent vp to London and there executed in diuers places adioyning to the City whereby Perkin had matter of disconsolation for the time and time enough to saile backe againe into Flanders to entertaine better aduice and more company The King as
Orators pleading for the time in a bad cause with good words and handling an ill matter too-too well From thence he went couragiously against the whole company and what with the former Earles assaulting them on the one side and his owne charges on the other side as knowing how the Kings businesse stood to make an end of the warre the battaile began apace and not a man but prepared himselfe to fight it out till at last the Lord Dawbney engaged himselfe so farre that he was taken prisoner but whether for feare or through his owne wit and pollicie they quickly released him and he as quickly dispatched the matter and made an end of the warre For he put them all to flight so that a man may well say vnto them Via nulla saâ—utis Non fuga non virtus vix spes quoque mortis honestae and I may truely report of the contrary neuer was a battaile so well fought and so quickly determined For before the King was ready to goe to dinner there were slaine two thousand Rebels and many more taken prisoners the rest hardly escaped home who for all their defeature and vncomfortable newes to the people were rather accelerated to reuenge their companions wrongs then exanimated from further attempts or seemed grieued at the King and Countries molestation shewing sad lookes but stomachous hearts and so remained intoxicated in their braines and ready vpon euery occasion to a new rebellion as you shall heare hereafter When this battaile was ended and so delicately contriued for the King lost not aboue foure hundred men some imputed it to the Kings policy who appointing the same on Monday by way of anticipation fell vpon them on Saterday and so taking them somewhat vnprouided had the fortune to preuaile and thriue in his aduantage Such as were taken and apprehended had their pardon except the principall and fire-brands of the mischiefe For the Lord Audeley was drawne from Newgate to the Tower-Hill in a Coat of his owne armes painted vpon paper reuersed and all to torne and there beheaded the 28. of Iune Thomas Flamoch and Michael Ioseph were executed after the order of Traitors and their quarters sent into Cornwall for the terrifying of the people some were dispatched at sundry Townes as they deserued amongst whom the Smith and diuers others of his immodest friends had no excuse to make for this rebellion but whether they preuailed or no they were sure to be registred to eternity for daring to doe somewhat in behalfe of their Countries liberty and bidding battaile to Kings and Princes at their Pallace Gates and before the Citie Wals euen London it selfe that great Citie the Chamber for their treasury and strength of their roialtie which makes me remember a saying of Lucan Sed me velsola tueri Fama potest rerum toto quas gessimus orbe Et nomen quod mundus amat And in another place Quid plura feram tum nomina tanto Inuenies operi vel famam consule mundi and this was the end of the twelfth yeare In this time you must know that the King of Scots lay not idle but meerely vpon supposition of what would follow prepareth himselfe nor was so ill befriended but he had secret intelligences of all King Henries purposes and intendments whereupon he enlarged his Army barracadoed his passages entrenched and fortified the holds kept good Watch and Ward and stood on the pinacles of a high presumption to encounter with the proudest forces of England yea to giue defiance if need were to the King himselfe Notwithstanding he now lay a while only at defence watching with what warde the English would breake vpon him and wondring at my Lord Dawbneis retraction and why he came not forward as his espials had aduertised but when he vnderstood of the Westerne rebellion he then coniectured the truth and a while reposed himselfe till a Messenger of these Westerne men came vnto Perkin and profered their obedience and endeuours if he would come and ioine his Army with theirs and so as their Prince and Captaine reuenge there wrongs this was motioned to King Ieames who for all he confessed that if they would ioine with the Cornish men there might be a gate open indeed to preuaile and walke in the fields of Victorie yet he would by no meanes aduenture his people so farre and confessed plainly he wanted ships for transporting so great an Army into those parts Only because he would be doing to please the supposed Prince he meant to take this opportunitie of the King of Englands disturbance and once againe aduenture into his territories and so with a sufficient preparation he attempted the Castle of Norrham standing vpon the Riuer of Twede deuiding Scotland and England But Richard Fox Bishop of Durham a man of great learning courage experience and fidelitie suspecting as much had well stored and fortified the same and was in it with such power munition and prouision as he was able to raise sending the King word of the siedge and inuiting the Earle of Surrey to come to his reskue with all expedition The Earle was mustering of men in Yorke-shire when this newes extended it selfe and like a worthy seruitor hastned his iourney the rather and so with twelue Earles and Barons of the North Countrie one hundred Knights and Gentlemen of name and twentie thousand Soldiers well ordered and armed he came to raise the siedge in which this braue Prelate was so engaged Besides he furnished a hansome Nauy at Sea whereof the Lord Brooke was Admirall to giue their attendance whatsoeuer should chance But when the King of Scots and his counterfet Duke of Yorke had full and certaine notice of the Earle of Surreis approach and that the Lord Dawbenies army was also integrat and vnbroken yea ready to march forward as a second to the former they thought it better to retire with securitie then to tarry the aduenture with certeinty of losse if not hazzard both of life and honour and so by a voluntary consent they raised their campe and returned vnder colour of commiseration of the people whom they knew in the best war must be subiected to slaughter or captiuitie and to this purpose they could yield a reason out of our Poet to certain spirits that wondred at their affrightings and drawings back seeing no perill apparant nor hearing of any stedfast reports concerning a more forcible enemie and so calling for a book reading to them this leâ—â—on of satisfaction Potuit tibi Vulnere nullo Stare labor belli potuit fine caede subactum Captiuumque ducem violatae tradere paci Quiâ— furor â— Coeci scelerum Ciuilia bella Gesturimetuunt ne non cum sanguine vincant This answere of the Kings did rather harme then good to poore Perkin For they perceiued the King was weary of this warre and loth to take his part any longer and so they rested a while displeasingly pleased But the truth was the
in the like either mislike or contention From thence the King went to Norwich where he solemnised the feast of Christmas and so departed to Walsingham vnder pretence of deuotion as the superstition of those times coacted For according to that ancient Poet Ritus verâ— extra Iusticiam sunt reijcientes cultus deorum It was an instinct of Nature to confesse a Deity and maintaine the Sacrifices and offrings to the same Now because the most part of the World knew not the true God they inuented seuerall Idols to represent their seuerall Deities to whom they brought their praiers and oblations nor durst they enterprise any businesse without offertories and deuotion that their true intents might be acceptable to the God which commanded them yea such as professed Religion and abused their knowledge inuented Images deuises to please the naturall man because with the reason of Idolater they would not kneele to the aire in vaâ—ne which was and is the errors of Christians both of the Greeke and Latine Church Now because our Lady was in these times the mediator of the Papists and the Lady of Walsingham the most famous shrine of our Country as that of Loretto is at this hower for Italy The King went thither for the impetration of prosperity in his affaires and ouerthrow and dissipation of his enemies which finished he retourned to Cambridge and so to London In the meane while the fire-brand and fuell of this contention Lady Margaret Duches of Burgundy had blowne the coales to such a heat that there were two thousand Almaines in a readinesse vnder the conduct of Martin Swart a noble man of Germanie and a martiall man by profession bold expert and daring whom after great rewards and secret directions from a well contracted Oratory she sent into Ireland with al his company where they ariued aâ— Dublin and were ioyfully welcomed by the Prince and the other Lords the coufederates especially the Earle of Lincolne who well knew that no enterprise was to be entertained without men and money and good beginnings were the drawers on of successe in the end Thus they made no more adoe but in the pride and strength of their conspiracy they proclaimed yong Lambert King of England withall the glorious titles and glorious manner appropriat as the time and Countrie afforded which ended with other ceremonies and some circumstances to set as vpright their businesse as they could they protracted no time but knowing the secret of expedition which as their case stood must be their best friend prepared for England the Army consisting as yet principally of high Almaines and a multitude of beggerly Irish which according to the Roman saying were many men and few Soldiers For their best defences were Scains and Mantles and heere and there a slender dart more fitter for a maigame and to moue wonderment then to oppose against good defences and well ordred troopes Of these the Lord Thomas Gerardine was Captaine and with these and the rest they landed for a speciall purpose or if you will to vniâ—e themselues with Sir Thomas Broughton one of the chiefe commanders in this vnhappy conspiracy at the Pile of Foudray within a little of Lancaster These affaires so notorious and so publike could not haue so secret a passage and contriuance but the worthy and wise King must needes be made acquainted with the same whereupon he dispatched certaine horse and scout-masters through the West parts of the Realme to attend the arriuall of his enemies abroad yea peraduenture to ouerwatch the actions of his friends at home as much troubled with the vnconstancy of these as perturbed with the rebellion of them Presently after he raised a sufficient Armie ouer which the Duke of Bedford and Earle of Oxford were principall commanders whom he sent forward before him then he came in person to Couentrey where the principall rendezuous was appointed and where he first heard of the landing of his enemies Within a while he could fill vp a scedule with the chiefe Traitors names and the manner of their troopes and proceedings Last of all he called a Councell proposing only two principall matters vnto them First whether it were better to encounter with his enemies out of hand as Achitophel perswaded Absalom to do against Dauid and so to dissipate them by maine force and expedition according to the Poet Tolle moras semper nocuit differre paratis Secondly or weary them out by delaies and detracting of time as Quintus Fabius surnamed after Maximus did by Hannibal and so sent him far enough from Rome into Brutia and Apuleia whereupon he was eternized with Vnus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem The conclusion was that though many times great Armies whose fury at the first rushes could not be rebated were at last spent with time expectation and many inconueniences as want of pay commotions mutinies encombrances in a strange Country feare of forraine people mortalitie famine and such like yet as the affaires of the Kingdome stood all speed and an orderly festination was to be put in practise lest like a ball of snow in a moist cold and misty Country which by often rowling groweth greater and greater they might augment their numbers with their rage and madnesse being so neere the Scots open enemies and in the north parts dissembling friends Whereupon the King remooued to Nottingham and tooke a field neere vnto a wood called Bowers whither came vnto him the Lord George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury the Lord Sâ—range Sr. Iohn Cheny and many other Commanders with sufficient forces and furniture to encounter better men then heauy Almaines and vnarmed Irish and so the Kings army wonderfully encreased had the fulnesse of his subiects obedience to his great satisfaction and the comfort of all the rest For a Prince can in nothing bee so well pleased as in the loyalty loue and obseruation of the subiect nor the souldier contented as in the amity and full assurance of one another especially being all of a nation and language to vnderstand the wants of such as would be supplied and be releeued with the willingnesse of those which are ready to performe the same In this space the Earle of Lincolne entred Yorke-shire by easie iournies for not ouerwearying his princely Nephew vnaccustomed to trauell and after his precize manner hee both commanded that no violence should be offered to any of the Inhabitants commended all those which repaired vnto him vsing such humility and affable demeanour that it wan the hearts of many as yet vnsettled vnto him and strengthened the loue of such as had already submitted themselues Notwithstanding being much frustrated in his expectation of many coadiutors and failing in that sufficiency which hee presumed vpon hee began a little to entertaine an ill companion to all noble designes feare and mistrust casting vp an vntoward reckoning of his proceedings in this manner To retire backe againe were to meet death and destruction by a
you heard vnderstanding of this attempt left his progresse and came to London where assured of this good successe he sent Sr. Richard Guilford into Kent to thank the Sheriffe and the people for their loyalty obedience and valiant circumspection which had so quickly dissipated his enemies and quieted the Countrey giuing present order to his Nauy to scowre the narrow seas to the Prouince to keep the coasts to the Watches to fire the Beacons to the Captaines to prepare their Souldiers and to all sorts to attend their seuerall charges according to the ancient and laudable custome of the Kingdome When Perkin and his Captaines were arriued in Flanders and found how their former delaies had beene a great obstacle and hindrance to their proceedings they resolued to remedy the same in their following courses and by the contrary celerity and speedinesse to wipe away the blots of their weaknesse and faint proceedings as if they had learned of our Poet Sic agitur censura sic exempla parantur Cum ludex alios quod monet ipse facit Notwithstanding because they were now resolued that the King taking notice of this on-set and attempt would fortifie the Coasts and be in a readinesse with well prepared forces they determined to saile into Ireland there to augment their company and corroborate their pretences which accordingly was effected and the entertainment yeilded him a little comfort and satisfaction but because he well knew the Irish were weake and vnarmed and so vnable to preuaile against the strength of England and still out of countenance and quickly daunted when they were drawne from their bogs and woods to solid battailes and strong charges contrary to their flight skirmishes and running encounters they thought it more meete and expedient to passe into Scotland Gens semper inuisa Britannis and there make triall of a new friendship casting vp a forward account of their happinesse in this manner First they were assured of the naturall and generall hatred betweene the Nations which vpon very small occasions and probable opportunite would burst out into flames of despight Next they proiected that the nature of the businesse would allure them to his assistance vpon hope of vaine-glory and a reputation of so charitable a worke as to help a Prince in distresse Thirdly they relied on this hope that if no other cause would be inductiue to his supportation yet the desire of spoile would quickly incite them to warre against so plentifull a Country Fourthly they perswaded themselues that the Scots had a good opinion of the house of Yorke euer since the cruelty of the Lord Clifford against Rutland for which they vtterly abandoned Henry the sixt and the Queene And last of all they concluded to promise them the surrendring of Barwick and to enlarge their territories if he preuailed by their assistance which was a sure motiue to draw them into any action whatsoeuer whereupon he departed from Corck and landed on the West of Scotland from whence he prepared himselfe to go to the King with some solemnitie wherein his instructions preuailed with his fortune because for the most part the masse of people are guided by showes and ceremonies rather then matter of substance and truth and so he trauelled to Edinbourgh whose Citizens vnaccustomed to such glorious showes began already to commiserate his fortune and distresse yea the King himselfe assembled his Lords and Courtiers as their manner then was to entertaine him and giue him audience which when Perkin perceiued to fall out to his good liking and hearts desire he thus framed his speech vnto him or if you will reduced his instructions to a manner of attracting Oratory MOst mighty and renouned King Iudicis officium est vt res ita tempora rerum quaerere and therefore I come not to you altogether like a cast away or banquerout to recouer my estate by a cosening agreement with my creditours for a trifle when there may be sufficient to pay the principall nor like a run-away from a hard-hearted Master or if you will to take my liberty the better to cast of the yoake of honest and ciuill obedience where there is a duty and necessity of seruice imposed but as a stranger subiect to shipwrack and the hassardous endurances of a tempest I am enforced to your refuge as much enduced with your Princely delight in deeds of charitie and hospitality as my owne wants or recouery I might adde your famous actions renowne and heroicke commiseration of a dis-esteemed Prince but Pudor est vlteriora loqui And although I may confesse my selfe to resemble the man in the Gospell that fell amongst theeues whom diuers looking vpon passed by without reliefe yet at last he found one Samaritan to pay the cost and defray the charges of the Surgerie so haue I done a worthy aunt friend and noble kinswoman to acknowledge her afflicted Nephew who hath helped me accordingly so that I make no question that from the example of a woman your Princely commiseration and powerfull coadiutement shall open their larger embraces considering that you aboue all other Princes haue beene made acquainted with the distractions of our family and from time to time know how the house of Yorke hath beene dilacerated and torne in peeces by the cruell hand of Tyrants and home-bred Wolues which whether it were the permission of God or the secrets of his diuine Iustice I will not now dispute vpon Only I must be bold to say that when my father obtained the Crowne and reuenged his fathers wrongs and death there were signes of Gods fauour and assistance in the faire issue prepared and sweet fruit of such a flourishing tree namely two sonnes and fiue daughters who were simply committed to the tutelage and protectorship of an vnnaturall Vncle who proued a tyrant and destroier of our blood and progeny so that I may well cry out as Ariadne to Theseus Mitius inueni quam te genus omne serarum Notwithstanding Most mighty King how euer my Princely Brother miscarried as swallowed vp in the iawes of cruelty and slaughter It should seeme the murtherers were affrighted at that they had done already and desisted from a full prosecution of the Tyrants command or confounded with compunction of spirit spared me and secretly conueied me out of the hands of such an homicide and blood sucker for so I hope without offence I may rightly tearme him and although by this meanes and the supportation of high borne Buckingham he obtained the Diadem yet did God follow him with the swiftest pace of wrath and anger and at last I must needs say scourged him with rods of vengeance indeed for he presently lost his sonne and his friend and coadiutor lost himselfe what afterwards chanced vnto me as my strange deliuerance my bringing vp in Tornay vnder certaine supposed parents of honest reputation my trauailes into forraine Countries my aduentures abroad my endurances at home with such like it would be to tedious to
of these hurliburlies came ouer Embassadours from the French King who must be answered he grew somewhat perplexed againe till shaking off all the hindrances of his amasement he fell to practise and orderly performances Whereupon he called his Councel together they without any great difficulty determined the busines in this manner To attend vpon the Scots Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey a puissant and politike Captain prisoner at the ouerthrow of King Rich. the 3. and within two yeares set at liberty and after Iohn Lord Dinham made high treasurer of England was appointed to muster the forces of the Countie Palatine of Durham the borders round about so atteÌ„d that seruice To represse the Western Rebels the Lord Dawbney with his whole power prepared for Scotland was recalled to march against theÌ„ wheresoeuer they encamped to look vnto France Calice and Guisnes with the Garisons were much augmented and prouided for To preuent Flaunders the Nauy was prepared the Staples for the Merchants setled To keep Warbeck from comming into England ioining with the Rebels the whole nobility combined themselues especially the earle of Essex Lord Montioy who came of purpose to London to offer their seruice to his Maiesty so all places were looked vntâ— with a vigilant eye manned with strength of soldiers and to answere the Embassadors of Charles the French King he sent honourable persons to receiue them and conueigh them to Douer and there a while to detaine them till some of these tumults and rebellions were extinguished and suppressed which indeed was so wisely and politikely handled that none of the Embassadors were troubled so much as with the rumors of these commotions But see the horror of despight and with what a contracted brow misfortune can looke vpon Kings themselues so that a man may well say to this Rebellion as Ouid did to Cupido in his first booke of Elegies Sunt tibi magna puer nimiumque potentia regna Cur opus affectas ambitiose nouum For as these Rebels and Cornish men departed from Wels they entertained for their chiefe Captaine Iames Twichet Lord Audley whose countenance and authoritie in the Countrie strengthened them much For by this occasion they went without intermission to Salsbury and so to Winchester and from thence into Kent hoping for further and further assistance but they were deceiued in their expectation For the Earle of Kent George Lord Aburgaueâ—y Iohn Brooke Lord Cobham Sir Edward Poinings Sir Richard Guilford Sir Thomas Burchier Sir Iohn Pechy William Scot and many others with a well mustred army were not only ready to defend their Countrie from al mischiefe and destruction but determined to offend them in their facinorous attempts and preiudiciall intrusion which loialtie somewhat rebated the forwardnesse of the Cornish-men and they began to suspect themselues being so farre from their Countrie and remote from any supply Notwithstanding loth to disâ—earten their spirits with any depressing humor they cast away all doubts and presuming on their owne strength and forces as also animated by their leaders and conductors they were now asmuch exasperated against the Kentish-men for deceiuing their assistance as against the King for vsurping their liberty swearing reuenge against both In which â—age and heat of repining they came as farre as Black-Heath within foure mile of London and tooke a field in an arrogant ouer-daring manner on the top of an hill supposing all things consortable to their arrogancy and deceiuable hopes because as yet they passed and repassed without fighting or strong encounters But alas Blanditiae Comites tibi erunt terrórque furorque and they were abused with a vale of ignorance and couering of obstinacy For the King disposed of his affaires with great policie and circumspection not determining to giue them battaile or exagitate them at all till he had them farre from their proper dwellings and flattering friends till they were in despaire of reliefe and wearied with long and tedious iournies till their treasure was spent their vitaile consumed and prouision failing till their company dropped from them like rotten hangings on a moistned wall and their whole designes and expectation quite disanulled and then when he imagined their soules vexed with the terror of a guiltie conscience their fury asswaged with compunction and penitency their spirits daunted with repentance and remorse and all their army affrighted with madnesse and doubtfull extacies would he set vpon them and in some conuenient place circumuent and inuiron them to his owne best aduantage and their irrecouerable damage and destruction As for the Citie of London I cannot but remember and compare it vnto Rome both when Hannibal passed the Alpes to threaten the Monarchy being yet farre off himselfe and also Marius and Silla couered her fields with armed men and trampled on the bosome of their Countrie with ambitious steps and cruell feet of vsurpation then spake the Poet in this manner Quoties Romam fortuna lacessit Hâ—c iter est bellis gomitu â—ic quisque latenti Non aufuâ—timuisse palam Vox nulla dolori Credita There was chaining the streetes shutting vp the shops making strong the gates doubling the watches hiding their treasure cries feares terrors and euery one more disturbed for the losse of his priuat goods then the encuÌ„brances of the Common-wealth Here was mustering of soldiers watching all day in armor staccadoing the riuer filling the streets with companies of horse and foot cutting down the Bridge locking vp their dores shutting the Gates and what else named before to be put in practise with aduantage of many peeces of ordnance both in Southwarke and the Suburbs and the strength of the Tower which they knew was reserued for the King himselfe Notwithstanding such was the instabilitie of the Citizens being a little disturbed from their quietnesse and rest their dainties and ease their banquetings and meetings their feasts and sumptuousnesse their pastimes and pleasures that they rather complained on the King and his Councell for the first occasion of these tumults then exprobrated the rebell for ingratitude and disobedience But the King without further disputing against their peeuishnesse or laying open the abuses of such refractary people deliuered them of this feare For he presently sent Iohn Earle of Oxford Henry Burchier Earle of Essex Edmond de la Poole Earle of Suffolke Sir Rice ap Thomas Humphrey Stanley and other worthy martiall men with a company of Archers and horsemen to enuiron the Hill where the Rebels were encamped round about Him-selfe with the maine battaile and forces of the Citie much ordnance and great prouision tooke St. Georges field where on a Friday at night he quartred himselfe and on the Saterday very early in the morning he poasted Lord Dawbney to Dertford who by breake of day gat the bridge of the Strand in despight of resisters which manfully defended it a while shooting arrowes a full yard long and demeaning themselues like scholerly and eloquent
Lady Margaret his most worthy aunt and faithfull coadiutrix He had not beene long in Ireland but his false fortune began once againe to play with him as flattering him with assured confidence and warrantize that the Westerne men would welcome and entertaine him from whom he had this notice that they could not forget their former iniuries and slaughters nor determined a setled and true obedience to the Lancastrian family whereupon because something must be done or else he should be for euer discredited or that God in his Iustice derided all suâ—h enterprises to scorne or else in his mercy would giue King Henry a breathing time to set his other Princely qualities of wisedome magnificence quietnesse religion charitie gouernment and polâ—ecy on worke he sailed out of Ireland with fiue small Ships and two hundred men his wife and attendants his substance and wealth and in a word all that he had But when he was to conferre about his landing and setting forward his designes he had such poore Councellors as a man would smile at for pity rather then laugh at for scorne For his principall friends were now Iohn Heron a mercer and banquerout Iohn of Water sometimes Maior of Cork Richard Sketon a Tailer and Iohn Astley a Scriuener men in generall defame for dishonest actions and in particular reproach for vnderstanding nothing but what consorted to their own wilfulnesse and outragious appetites of whom I may say as Ouid complaines in another case in his Elegies Non bene conducti vendunt periuria testes Non bene sâ—lecti Iudicis arca patet With this crue about the month of September he landed at a place called Bodnam and there so sollicited and excited the multitude and wauâ—ing people that when they heard him proclaimed Richard the fourth as the indubitat sonne of Edward the fourth whom the Duke of Glocester or if you will Richard the Tyrant determined to murther but that he escaped by the prouidence of God they flocked vnto him to the number of 4000. and according to the nature of children running after newfangled toies or painted pictures submitted to his princelines and sware with all allegeance to maintaine his dignity royaltie with which confidence company after they had taken the musters of his Army and concluded to get some strong Townes into their possession that so they might not only augment their forces but still haue places of supportation and refuge to retire vnto they went directly to Excester and besiedged it But because they wanted ordnance to make a battery and other prouision to raise their trenches and approches or indeed if you will were ignorant of martiall discipline and the secrets of a true Soldiers profession they spent the more time against the Gates and endeauoured nothing but a forcible entrance assaulting the same with great peeces of timber like the Roman rammes crowes of yron fire-brands and impetuous violence of great stones cast at therâ— and amongst them But the Citizens manfully defended themselues and held it out to their perpetuall fame letting ouer the walls in secret places diuers in baskets with strong cords to post to the king acquaint him with their distresse In a mean while seeing a fire made vnder their Gates and that the enemies fury encreased they suspected themselues had no other shift but to put force to force with one fire extinguish or if you will deuoure another and so they caused great store of faggots timber combustible to be brought close to the posternes and greater gates where the mischieâ—e began and set the same on fire which encreased with a filthy smoake and smother and at last burst out into a flame and blazes so that neither the enemies could come in nor Citizens goe out but all were compelled to desist from that worke and apply themselues to more new and necessary labours For the Rebels assaulted the most weake and broken places of the Wall and the Citizens ranne to the expulsions and repaired the breaches as fast as they were made besides they had leasure to cast vp great trenches vnder their Gates and by strong barkes rampering the same made them more difficult passages then before The wals were mightely and impetuously assaulted but the worthy Citizens defended them with that courage and countermanding that they slew aboue two hundred Soldiers in that fury and behaued themselues as if they determined to obtaine a perpetuall name of renowne and vnmatchable Trophe of honor so that I may well and briefely say of them Serpens sitis ardor arenae Dulcia virtuti gaudet patientia duris When Perkin and his associats saw so strong and strange opposition they seemed both amased and defatigated at the same whereupon betweene rage and despaire he retired his lowsie and distressed Armie to the next great Towne called Taunton where he mustred them a new but found a great want of his company For many of his desperate followers were slaine and cut off many of the honester and ciuiler sort seeing the Towne of Excester so well maintained and that very few resorted vnto him contrarie to his former flourishes and ostentation fell from him and retired themselues home many wery of the wars and coniecturing an impossibility to remoue a king so firmely established or terrifyed with the punishment impending on Treason and presumptuous rebellion left him to his fortunes and many politikely forecasting for the worst seeing not one of the nobility or better sort to afford a helping hand to the lifting vp of this frame were contented to dispence with former protestations and so prouided for themselues whereby as I said as if the prouerb were verified Non habet euentus sordid a praeda bonos he came short of his reckning and the Items of his accounts went much curtailed of their former length and computation But in truth the posts of the Country brought comfortable tidings of the Kings Army approaching of which the Lord Daubney a fortunate and successefull man in all his enterprizes was Generall yet in the meane while had Lord Edward Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Lord William his son Sir Edmund Carey Sir Thomas Trenchard Sir William Courtney Sir Thomas Fulford Sir Iohn Hatwell Sir Iohn Croker Walter Courtney Peter Egecomb William Sentnaure and diuers others brought forward the forces of the countrey to raise the siege of Exester which not onely animated and encouraged the Citizens but rebated the fury of the contrary and diuerted them from that sore and outragious manner of assaulting the walls where in the last onset the noble Earle with diuers others were hurt with arrowes he wounded in the arme and the rest in seuerall parts of their bodies but very few slaine And so with much adoe this famous and honour-thirsting City with the honest Inhabitants of the same were deliuered and releeued By this time the royall standards of King Henry were aduanced in sight of the City and the dâ—ums beat vp their accustomed
my grand-father Direck Orsbeck after whose decease my grand-mother married Peter Flamine Receiuer of Tourney Deane of the boat-men ouer Lescheld my mothers father was called Peter De Faro which kept the keyes of St. Thomas gate within the said towne I had also an vnckle Mr. Iohn Statime of St. Pias Parish with whom I dwelled very young hee married mine aunt Iane and brought me vp very well yet my mother not contented as being very chary of mee had mee to Antwerp to leaâ—â—e Flemish more exactly to a kinsman of my fathers Iohn Steinbeck with whom I remained a full halfe yeare but by reason of the wars I returned to Tourney where I was placed with Mr. Barlo who within another yeere carried me to the mart at Antwerp where I fell sicke awhile and so was boorded in a Skinners house much conuersant with the English nation whereby I learnt the language as you see From thence I went to Barrow mart lodged at the old man Afterward Mr. Barlo left me at Middle-borough with Iohn Strew a Merchant who first made me beleeue I was better then I was From Antwerp I sailed into Portugall with my Lady Brampton in a ship called the Queenes ship serued a Knight in Lichborne called Don Peter Las de Cogna who had but one eye yet the manner of his behauiour and order of his house made mee tarry a yeere Then Pregent Meno a Brittaine carried mee into Ireland and either commanded so by my Lady Margaret who as shee said was my aunt or proiecting something for his own priuate would needs perswade me I was a Plantaginet of the house of Yorke For when I arriued in Corck because I was somwhat haÌ„dsomly apparrelled they would needs bestow vpon me the title of the E. of Warwick sonne to George Duke of Clarence formerly in Ireland which Iohn Le Wellin the Maior maintained and for as much as my deniall was contrary to their expectation they brought me to the crosse and made me sweare which I did disclaiming him or any of his kinred vntill Stephen Poitron with Iohn a Water came vnto me as resolued I was King Richards bastard-sonne then in the hands of the King of England perswading mee not to bee afraid or daunted at any thing For they would ayd me assist me euen to the obtaining the crowne of England yea they knew of their owne knowledge the Earles of Desmond and Kildare were ready to aduenture their liues and estates for my sake After this they carried mee into Flanders to Lady Margaret Regent and Duches of Burgundy who preuailed so far with me that I took vpon me the person of Richard Duke of Yorke second sonne of King Edward the fourth and so with reasonable preparation I returned backe againe into Ireland where the sayd Iohn a Water Stephen Poinings Iohn Tiler Hubert de Brough the foresayd Earles and many others entred with mee into a dangerous rebellion and I was proclaimed by them Richard the fourth From hence the King of France sent for me by Loyte Lucas and Stophen Frian but making peace with England he left me to my fortunes Then I sayled into Flanders where my supposed Aunt made more of me then before so I attempted England but was driuen backe againe into Flanders from whence I went into Scotland and from thence againe into Ireland and so into England When the people had heard him out they wondred both wayes at the matter and stood as it were confounded betwixt shame and indignation If it were a coâ—lusion to thinke how grossely the Kingdome and some of the best therein yea many Kingdomes had beene abused with such an imposture to the prosecuting seuerall â—acinorous actions and disturbance of the peace and tranquility of the Common-wealth If it were not so and that for feare of life hee confessed the contrary being the true Plantaginet and a Prince borne to so great a fortune then they wondred if any man could bee so base as to deiect himselfe to such ignominy and opprobrious disgraces when to die had been honorable to sell ones life in the field far better then to plead on a scaffold where the many changes must needs distract him and make a poore soule neither fit for life nor death But whatsoeuer he was they could not chuse but deplore his estate and misfortune as naturally and ordinarily all men are bemoaned in aduersity especially such an one that was so forward in the race and iourney to Maiesty and pulled backe so often by the sleeue and turned with a fury into the house of desolation and dungeon of disconsolate wretchednesse when to haue perished at once had beene a fauour of death and fortune indeede according to our Poet Mitins ille perit subita qui mergitur vnda Quam sua qui liquidis brachia lassat aquis When the King had this way satisfied himselfe and pleased the people as he thought hee made no more adoe but to preuent inconueniences clapt him in the Tower from whence he escaped not vntill hee was carried to Tiborne and there swallowed vp by the neuer satisfied paunch of Hell for his former abuses and intolerable wickednesse which hapned very shortly after For iust at this instant a roguish Augustane Frier called Patricke on the borders of Suffolke after Peter Warbecks example taught a poore scholler one Ralph Wilford to take vpon him the title of the Earle of Warwicke as yet in the Tower of London but supposed to escape as corrupting his keepers intimating the glory of the action and the brauery of such an enterprize wherein who would be so base and cowardly as not aduenture his life and put in practise any designe to attaine to a Diadem especially by so easie meanes as personating a Prince and assuming the title of the next heire to the crowne And when some of his better vnderstanding friends laid open the danger impossibility of the attempt with the odiousnes perfâ—diousnes of the Treason he answered the first with one Poet Faâ—naque post Cineres maior venit mihi nomen Tum quoque cum vinis annumerarer erat And the latter with another Si enimiiniustè facere opportet potissimumpropter Imperium ius violandum est alias pium esse conuenit But although this mischiefe was quietly blowne ouer like a weake and thin cloud suddenly dispeirced by a forcible winde For both Master and Scholer were quickly apprehended the one hanged on Shrouetuesday at Saint Tho. Watrings and the Fryar condemned to perpetuall imprisonment yet it left such an impression behinde to the troubâ—â—â—g as a man may say the whole Region of the aire that the King would dally no longer but like the Sunne in his full strength at the next incensing of his maiesty dissolued all such vapours and gaue the law leaue to play her part to the finall extirpation of the very roots of sedition which presently was thus set on worke Peter Warbeck impatient at this