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
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
wals of Troy and feined inuention shadowed with the pretence of verity and truth preuailed with their credulitie that they adhibited the more faith and indubitate trust vnto it supposing verily he had been preserued by the wil and prouidence of God and so committed to the trust and custody of some faithfull friend either by King Edward or his mother when she was in Sanctuary relying also on this impossibility that any Tyrant would so rebell against God as infring the orders of holy Church and take him perforce from thence as yet the story manifesteth was to be done euen by the Cardinall himselfe By this time the same of this iuggled miracle was not only blowne ouer Flanders and the Territories adiacent but so rumored in England by reason the present gouernment suppressed all publique reports libels and writings that in the very whispering Nam fraudibus euentum deder at fortuna It was more forcible then if it had been published by lâ—cence and authority Thus haue I seene a fire smoothered and enclosed in some secret place neâ—er to bee quiet till it were vented out and when it came to eruption made the more forcible and outragious noyse For it was heere receiued as an infallible truth and not onely beleeued of the better sort but entertained of the common people who being more liberall of audacious behauiour and lesse fearefull to offend God began to confirme it with oathes as a matter of truth which others but barely affirmed as a report of vncertainty Thus began trouble vpon trouble and as the Spring putteth forth the buds and blossomes like the messenger of Summer and pleasant times to ensue So did this fantasticall fable thus diuulged prognosticate following calamity â—nd consequent desolation For after it was knowne with what honour he had beene entertained in Flanders and reuerenced in other places of Europe there began sedition on euery side in England and no man was sure of his friend the times grew to such distraction Some that were fled to Sanctuaries for great and hainous offences perpetrated discharged themselues and went beyond the seas vnto him Some that had confined themselues to priuiledged places for debts and accounts began to shew themselues vnder his support and combination then being safest when the State is vnsafest Some euen of the better sort through rashnesse and â—emerity because they would bee counted factious and stirring drew apace vnto him Some out of the nature of inconstancy or rather impression of melancholy neuer to be remooued from the opinion they haue once entertained beleeued verily that this Perkin was the indubitate sonne of Edward the fourth Some through simplicity and easinesse of apprehension without examining the probability and likelihood of the matter yeelded to any thing which was told them Some temporizers to curry fauor in the change of Princes perswaded and solicited other to their opinions that so bringing many coadiutors they might not onely be reputed of strength and reputation in their countries but the better welcommed and entertained with the preuailer Some through indignation and enuy murmuring at their slender aduancement or grudging they were not more condignely rewarded for their former paines and aduentures in his Maiesties businesse resorted to this new Prince in hope of better acceptation And some ouerwearied with eâ—se and placability of idlenesse greeuing to see the world stand at a stay with desire of change ran headlong into this fury madnesseâ— and seditious conspiracy O tempora ô mores ô flagitiosa voluntas But for all this rumour of this twice borne Duke Richard of Yorke and that England was diuided and drawne into parts taking and seuerall factions so that the minds of men were vexed either with the hope of gaine or preferment or feare of losse and confusion Yet was the King and his Councell not much disturbed or affrighted more then their maruell and modest anger at so many persons seeming in their right wits to be seduced either in the contriuing such a manifest and notorious lie or assenting and preparing themselues to countenance the same without feare of God or men not once forecasting the dangerous penalty of treasons contempts conspiracies and practises against their naturall Prince and so sufficient a Gouernour For it was not onely a pernicious fable and fiction strange and maruellous but prodigious and vnnaturall to resussitate a maâ— from the dead and with impudent asseueration to set it forth and palliate it with the vesture and garment of a professed verity But in such cases be Kings ueuer so wise nor matters so triuiall and vnlikely there is no sitting still nor giuing way to the businesse especially there is no rebating an enemy with proclamations writings and prohibitions who commeth forward with the clamors of war well settled prepâ—ration of offence Therfore his Maiesty thought it the best course to looke about him and both by force and policy to preuent the mischeefe impending and threatned For hee perceiued how already the fire of rebellion had taken hold of some of the principall houses of England whom hee knew had vnderhand already sent messengers vnto Lady Margaret to vnderstand when Richard Duke of Yorke would come conueniently into England that they might be ready to help and succour him euen at his first arriuall This businesse encreased to a fulnesse and ripenesse about the eighth yeere of his Maiesties raigne insomuch that the confederates by common assent agreement posted ouer Sr. Robert Clifford Knight and William Barley into Flanders to be the better assured of all particulars who were not only gladly accepted and louingly welcommed of the Duches with full intimation of the truth and wonderfull deliuery of strangenesse of the story Nec grauide lachrymas continuere genae But brought to the sight and sweet entertainment of Perkin who played the counterfet so exactly that his words resembled for cible incantations according to that of the Poet Vna per at hereos exit voxilla recelsus Vâ—rbaque ad inuâ—tum praefert cogentia numen â— For all men praised his vertues and qualities with a resolued beleeâ—e of his princelinesse and Sr. Robert Clifford swore directly that he was extracted of the bloud royall and the very sonne of King Edward the fourth Whereupon hee wrote letters of confidence credit to his associates in England that as the Queene of Saba told Salomon she did not beleeue the halfe of that which was reported till shee had seene it with her eyes So he could not bee perswaded to so much as rumour had preferred till he had ouerveiwed him in person But when these letters were receiued in England the conspiratours caused them to be openly published and diuulged in many places with full credence that it was true and not fained which was spoken by the Duke of Yorke and therefore they neede not be afraid to be drawne to such a commotion and parts taking all yet was carried so orderly and couertly that the King more then vncertaine
the present and so diuers were appointed to discouer the secrets of the contrary by feigned dissimulation Of these were two sorts one to feigne themselues Yorkists and so learne out what they could preiudiciall to King Heâ—ry another to tamper with Sir Robert Clifford and William Burley for their returne to the obedience of the King and concerning the Plot it selfe he reputed it iustifiable as authorised by all Authors ages and Common-wealthes who set downe in their politique discourses that Fraus est concessarepellere fraudem Armaque in armatos sumere iurâ— finunt These cunning enformers so demeaned themselues and imploied theirâ—time with such sedâ—lity and care that they perswaded though with much adoe Sir Robert Clifford to desist from this foolish and dangerous collusion which had neither sure ground nor foundation to stay it selfe vpon but Master Barley could not be diuerted at this instant till within two yeares after almost tired out with expectation after Pâ—ter Warbecks fortunes and successe he returned of himselfe to the King and had pardon both for life and liberty The others likewise proceeded so effectuaily that they had sure notice of especiall persons confederate and adiured to this blinde and foolish proiect of which they presently enformed the King who by that means could not only personally name his home enemies but to preuent the worst did as personally attach the most principall that is to say Sir Iohn Ratcliffe the Lord Fitzwater Sir Simon Mountford Sir Thomas Thwaits William Dawbney Robert Clifford Thomas Cressenor and Thomas Astwood with these were diuers religious persons imprisoned as William Rochford Doctor of Diuiuitie and Thomas Poines both Friers Dominicks Doctor William Sutton William Worsley Deane of Paules Robert Laiborn and Richard Lâ—ssly with diuers others vnapprehended of whom some tooke Sanctuarie and some fled into Flaunders to Perkin But of those whose liberties were constrained Sir Simon Mouâ—â—ford Sir Robert Ratcliffe and William Dawbney were beheaded as powerfull factious and chiefe authors of the conspiracie the rest were pardoned especially the Priests who were in those times for their orders sake sequestred from publique executions what offences soeuer they perpetrated which made them so forward in all facinorous actions and others so superstitious as to beleeue any thing they either proiected or attempted from which hypocriticall and deceiuable manner of life all Poets and Philosophers themselues haue had both generall and particular inuectiues against Priests augures soothsaâ—ers figure casters and religious persons both for their prophane liues and seducing vanities so that Euripides amongst many other places concludes in his Ephigenia Vatiduûm omne genus ambitiosum malum est and all the Kingdomes and times of the World hauâ— smarted through the pride couetousnesse and malicious wickednesse of Priests and Fryars and lastly Iesuites as I said before But to our Story Although the Lord Fâ—â—zwater was pardoned his life for the present yet comming after to Calice he was beheaded for attempting to escape by corrupting his keepers and so to goe to Perkin whereby this strange and intricate worke so busied his Maiesty that he would often compare it to the conquering of Hydra a beast so priuiledged by nature that as one head was struck off seuen others grew in the place For his turmoiles both at home and abroad encreased and he seemed as much tormented with the suspition of bosome friends as affrightings of forraine enemies which so exasperated him that as he supposed to preuent the worst considering Maximilian King of the Romans had ieofaild with him in his wars against France and that Lady Margaret with the Flemings had supported Perkin Warbeck against him he in a kind of reâ—â—nge banished all Low-Countrie men and their commodities out of the Realme with restraining the Merchant from hauing accesse into any of their Cities But alas this was to no purpose and in truth rather a custome of anger then secret of policie as if a man because his finger torments him should cut off his hand to ease himselfe for they did the like by vs whereby the Mart being kept at Calice and no vent else-where for our Marchandize many poore house-keepers complained for want of worke many rich men murmured and were compelled to lessen their families and abate their retinue many Merchants felt the losse and the Trades-man cried out-right because the Esterlings brought all manner of manuall worke ready made into the Land and tooke from them both their labour and customers whereby a riot was made vpon them at the Stilyard and the Maior of London with the principall Officers had much adoe to appease the tumult and this was the ninth yeares disturbance The King thus turmoiled euery way repaired for diuers reasons to the Tower of London whither shortly after came Sir Robert Clifford vnto him partly trusting to the Kings promise partly mistrusting his owne company and Perkins weakenesse But the chiefest polecie of his resiance in the Tower was to secure himselfe and lay hold of all others suspected or accused in this conspiracy who thither resorting to the Councell might with ease and without any tumult be committed to prison as it presently fell out For after the King had admitted Sir Robert and insinuated with him in excellent positions of Diuinity and morality by way of disceptation vrging the loue and fauour of his Prince in his true obedience and reconciliation he not only related the manner of Perkins proceedings but on his knees with teareâ— in his eies discouered the matter to be weake and impossible if it had not factious supportation from some of powerfull houses of England and very neere his Maiesties person whereof though many were punished and the rest dissipated and diuided Yet Sir William Stanley remained vnsuspected and his heart trembled to accuse him But when the King heard Sir William Stanley named he started back amazed and in a manner confounded that Sir Robert was affraid he had done him more harme in the relation then good in the detection At last he burst out what my bosome friend my Councellor my Chamberlaine then I see there is no trust in men nor as the Psalmist saith confidence in Princes For as we shal not want instruments to goe forward with what enterprise we please as Dauid had his Ioab so shall we not lack enemies let them be neuer so carefull and desirous to fauour the least deseruer but I may well now cry out Heu cadit in quâ—nquam tantum scelus and with the kingly Prophet exclaime It was not mine enemies abroad but my companions and such as eate at my table betraied me What Sir William Stanley he hath the gouernment of my Chamber the charge and controlment of all that are next my person the loue and fauour of our Court and the very keyes of our treasurie He made me a conquerour in the field and by his hand I scourged tyrannie out of his Throne therefore it is impossible and I cannot belieue it But
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
Embassadour from King Iames likewise repaired Heere were many matters disputed vpon many conditions layd open many difficultâ—es raised many greeuances vrged and many conclusions argued but because they failed in the maine poynt nothing was determined For the King of England required Perkin Warbeck to bee deliuered into his hands as the principall fountaine of this venomous streame the cheefe â—ccasion of his vnquietnesse the perturber of his Realme the seducer of his subiects and the author of many rebeilions But the King of Scots like a Prince indeed would not buy his peace with the bloud of Innocents especially a man comming to him for succour shewing all the markes of a distressed and abused Prince allied vnto him by marriage commended by the Emperor assisted by the Duches of Burgundy in himselfe of faire demeanour sweet behauiour and of a most royall and well esteemed spirit Therefore I say he would by no meanes betray him into the hands of his enemies that was so long admitted into the bosome of his friends nor should it bee sayd that in any such degree for any wordly respect whatsoeuer King Iames of Scotland would bee base or perfidious which he had learned from the example and punishment of Prusias King of Bithynia whom the Romans deposed for consenting to betray Hanibal into their hands though they had promised large rewards and threatned seuere vengeance The Commissioners answered directly that they intended not by way of defamation or contumelious discouery of the vanity of the man or impossibility of his businesse to make him odious or corroborate their owne purposes by the destruction of so silly a creature or discrediting so poore a businesse but meerely to shew the truth and vnfold the secrets of the deceit that such a Prince as King Iames might not be colluded with shadowes and apparitions but orderly drawen into this holy and generall league wherein both Emperour France and Spaine desireth a combination of amity with England onely there wanted himselfe to make the number compleat that the horne of Achelous might bee sent from nation to nation from kingdom to kingdom For I can assure you the Marchants of England haue been receiued into Antwerp with generall procession the Emperor is pleased with this combination the King of Spaine pretendeth a marriage the King of France endeauoureth a league and all the Princes of Europe seeke after a true confirmation of quietnesse Therefore once againe be not an enemy to the good of all Christendome nor so aduerse to this holy combination that the world shall rather esteeme you wilfull and preiudicate then wise and considerate Notwithstanding all this forcible and effectuall intimation the King of Scots would not consent to deliuer Perkin vpon any condition but as hee came to him for refuge hee should depart vntouched and not by his occasion bee in worse case then the bruit beasts or vildest condition of men as he had learned long since out of that ancient Tragedian Habet confugium bâ—llua quidem petram Seruiverò ar as deorum ciuit as verò ad ciuitatem Fugit calamitatem passa Rerum enim humanarum Non est quicquam perpetuò beatum Yet with much adoe hee was brought to a truce for certaine yeeres and condescended to this that Perkin should bee no longer succoured harboured or maintained by him or in his territories and dominions with which answer and orderly ratification of the same the Embassadours departed the Armies retired the Souldiers discharged the King of England satisfied the Orators of France who from Doâ—er had audience at London about the same purpose rewarded and of all others the worthy Peter Hialos as principall worke-man in this intricate businesse liberally and bountifully recompenced Only poore Perkin whose glorious meteor began now to bee exhaled seemed disconsolate and examinated at this newes and determination especially when King Iames began to expostulate and reason the matter with him First from a repetition of the benefits and fauours receiued by his Princely liberality and gentlenesse Secondly from his consanguinity in marrying his kinswoman vpon dangerous hopes and triuiall aduentures Thirdly from his many trialls of sundry conflicts in England proouing all his promiseâ—winde and smoke and his best enterprizes triuiall fanaâ—icall Fourthly vpon the now combination of amity with all the Princes of Europe which could not be done without the King of Englands consent and agreement Fiftly vpon the fatherly regard of his Countrey which had neede haue some breathing time of ease and rest and must questionlesse take a loue day of consolation and desisting from turmoiles Last of al from the care of the Religion Mother-Church vnto whose obedience and regard hee was now absolutely sworne Therfore he desired him to take some other course and depart out of his Realme For as hee heard hee was now interessed in the confederacy of the peace of Christendome and vnlesse hee should bee a periured and perfiâ—ious Prince hee could in no sort infringe the conditions nor breake the truce combined by a firme and vnseparable adiuration When Perkin had heard him out although euery word was worse then the croking of some night-rauen or scrich-owle and the amazement for the time might haue much disabled him yet loth to discredit his cause by any demisnesse or pusillanimity and seeing all answers were superfluous and the very messengers of despaire and disconsolation he raised himselfe with some outward cheerefulnesse and as well to auoyd ingratitude toward so great a Benefactour as to countenance himselfe and his businesse he thus casting away all feare and abashing timidity replied Most worthy Prince Mortale est quod quaeris opus mihi fama perennis And therefore God forbid that my commorance in your Court and Kingdome or the weakned cause of my attempts should prooue disaduantagious oâ— ominous vnto you both in regard of the many fauours your Princelinesse hath heaped vpon me vndeserued and mine owne willingnesse not to bee too too troublesome or offensiue vnto so benigne a Maiesty which rather then it should bee hazarded for my sake without a cheerfull and liberall willingnesse the fame and glory of the enterprize shall be sufficient for mee and I will not onely disclaime my right and interest in the Kingdome of England my lawfull inheritance by descent but poure out my selfe and spend my life most profusely for your sake Onely this I must entreat at your hands to giue me leaue to rigg and calcke vp my ships and gather together that dispersed company I haue or such as would willingly and voluntarily attend me Which seeming but reasonable and no way repugning the former agreement with the Embassadours was quickly condescended vnto so with many gifts and royall furniture for his wife and family he tooke his leaue sailed backe the same way he came into Ireland determining as the last anchor-hold of his fortunes either to vnite himselfe with the Cornish-men whom he knew not fully appeased or to retire to