Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n
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A01405
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The true and vvonderfull history of Perkin VVarbeck, proclaiming himselfe Richard the fourth
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Gainsford, Thomas, d. 1624?
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1618
(1618)
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STC 11525; ESTC S102839
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82,337
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124
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same which was much auailable to his purpose For euen those which fauoured the Lord Louell most began to stagger in their resolutions when they perceiued the Kings benignitie and knew with what lenitie and commiseration he was willing to proceede Secondly they thought it necessary and pertinent to their peace to shew the sonne of Clarence personally abroad in the Citie and other publike places whereby the rumor might be dashed out of countenance and the purblinde eies of false opinion extinguished For such an impression this â—ictiue relation of his escape had made that though they beheld him present yet durst some of them sweare it was but a deuise of the Kings whereby you may obserue the danger and inconueniences of idle reports which if they be not strangled in the cradle with Hercules Serpents and smothered betimes ere they come to stronger groth and life will viper like after they haue receiued warmth in ones bosome fly in his face Nay such is the nature of deuices in a tottering Common-wealth that prohibitions to restraine them augment them the more and they who would haue spoken nothing but truth left to their owne liberty being prohibiâ—ed diuulge more then they meant Thirdly It was determined that Queene Elizabeth wife to Edward the fourth should loose her lands and be deposed from all manner of sway in the gouernment because she had voluntarily submitted her selfe and daughters to the hands of King Richard whereby all former contractâ— and pretences of establishment might haue beene frustrated through the inconstancie of a woman or as the State pretended a priuate ambition or couetousnesse to set any loome on worke to weaue the web of her owne pleasure and contentment which although was a heinous crime and very dangerous to the present Kings peace and tranquillitie yet questionlesse the doome and iudgement seemed ouer rigorous Durus fuit hic sermo and if euer 〈◊〉 ius proued summa iniuria it was verified in this verdict For questionlesse they forgot the turbulency of those times the rage of the tyrant the fearefulnesse of many accidents the seducingâ— of a King and the flattering promises of a whole Common-wealth wherein stronger iudgements might haue falled then a womans But it should seeme that God hath a speciall hand in the punishment of sinnes and disposing of Kingdomes For without controuersie if she consented to the murthering of King Richards wife for her owne ease and emolument if she seemed an aduersary to the good pretended to England by vniting the â—amilies or if she proiected her owne aduancement in the present glory of the Kingdome forgetting the losse of her husband the murther of her kindred the slaughter of her children the odiousnesse of the incest and the curse of Heauen vpon crying sins God would neuer suffer such horrible faults vnreuenged but as you heare inflicted her wauering and inconsiderate timerousnesse with this punishment For she was presently confined to the Abbey of Barmondsey in Southwarke and there deceased after she had liued a while in some calamitous distresse and excruciation both of soule and body such are all humane instabilities wordly chances and the condition of Princes themselues Otherwise she that being a poore widow had resisted the Kings importunity by her chast and modest behauiour attracted his good will to marry her she that had founded a Colledge in Cambridge bearing her name at this hower of Queenes Colledge for the propagation of learning and education of Children and Students she that had loued her husband and the glory of England endeauouring all things to the augmentation of the honor of them both she that seemed proud in workes of charity and to help forward the petitions of honest complainants and distressed suiters she that kneeled on her knees for Clarences liberty and importuned the King to remember his brother by the example of Richard the first who remitted his brother Iohn a farre greater delinquent had neuer fallen so low into the dangerous pit of a sonne in lawes displeasure and seene her selfe generally maligned through the kingdome or else as I said the reuealed things belong to vs the secret to God who questionlesse blew the coales of this displeasure to purge the contagion and infection of hiâ— heart which was only knowne to himselfe Fourthly because they knew that reward and hope of gaine might doe much with corrupted persons and irresolute men as all Rebels were they proclaimed a gratuity of aâ—housand pounds sterling to any one which would present the State with the body of this counterfeit Lambert to which they were the rather induced because not long before the Tyrant Richard the third had preuailed with the like against the Duke of Buckingham whom his owne seruant Banister betraied in hope of recompence from the State which is also a custome in Italy where the heads of the Banditi are vallued at so many checkinos or peeces of gold and so the Zaffi or other desperate Ruffiani obtaine many preies and booties Last of all it was concluded to haue forces in readinesse and an Army prepared whatsoeuer should chance with all prouision and furniture belonging to the setting forth of the same and honour of such a Kingdome that neither security or presumption one way of their owne greatnesse and establishment might make them too confident of themselues nor vilipending and slight regard of the contrary another way too negligent against their enemies When all things were thus befitted to the disposing and ordering their affaires On a Sunday ensuing Edward the yong Earle of Warwick was brought froÌ„ the Tower through the publike streetes of London to the Cathedrall Church of Pauls where he remained all Procession time and high Masse hauing open conference with many of the Nobilitie especially such whom the King suspected might haue been induced to the commotion vpon the full assurance of his escape But if he had asked them why he was imprisoned or what transgression the King could impute vnto him to detaine him in dures in that manner and after put him to death being an infant innocent without law or reason I meruaill what they would haue answered or how the Councell themselues would haue satisfied a iudicious questioner in that kinde yet by this occasion the imaginations of diuers were setled and the better sort belieued that these Irish newes were simulatory and represented Ixions boasting that he had laien with Iuno when it was but a cloude as by the monstrous birth of the Centaures did appeare But it was not so with all For as it often happens in the stopping of a violent inundation of water that it causeth it the more to rage and make a terrible noice whereas running in a deep channell it would goe quietly away So fell it out in the suppressing of these rumors and mens hatred and malice many were the more exasperated and by this gentle and saire course to reduce them thought all but trickes of policie to deceiue them proouing like certaine kinds
suspition could not as yet detect any person of name or quality which troubled him so much the more But when hee perceiued indeede that this misty vapour was not quiâ—e vaniâ—hed nor the impression put out of the mad braines of the common people and vnderstood how Sr. Robert Clâ—fford was priuily fled into Flanders he resolued on a conspiracy against him and thought it expedient both for the saueguard of himselfe and his Realme whose reciprocall good or hurt were dependants one vpon another to prouide some remedy for the repressing of this abusing fraud and deceit and suppressing the insolency if it should extend to force and rebellion Wherefore hee disperâ—ed seuerall companies both of horse and foot to defend the sea coasts that no man might passe or repasse vnapprehended who had not license or safe conduct for his iourny busines and affaires Then hee sent downe the Lieutenants and lustices into their seuerall countries to detaine the people in obedience and muster the forces of the same as occasion should serue Which order obserued he vnderhand authorized wise and discreet Espiâ—lls into all the cities of the Low-Countries to discouer of what Prouince progeny parentage and estate this misnamed Richard was descended and propagated promising princely rewards to such persons as could relate the truth and as a man may say enucleate the secret Besides hee wrote louing letters to certaine trusty friends concerning the same who to doe their Prince and Countrey seruice dispersed themselues into seuerall townes and cities both of France and Burgundy where they were certified and assured by the testimony of many honest persons amongst whom some of especiall wit and behauiour repaired to the towne of Tourney that this fained Duke was of meane parentage and truly named Peter Warbeck which was principally confirmed by one Nathaniâ—l Osbeck of his owne kinred who as it should seeme in hope of reward tooke vpon him more then the rest and exprobrated him for so countersetting with this taunt out of the Poet Sed malè dissimulat quis enim celauerit ignem Lumine qui semper proditur ipse suo And alas howeuer he is now transhaped into a princely garb and fashion we of Peter named him Perkin for his effeminatenesse and childisnnesse With this newes and man the inquisitours returned into England and made a true report vnto his Maiesty of all that euer they knew and heard both concerning the assumpted presumption and impudency of the counterfet as also the proceedings and purposes of all the conspiratours which was seconded by the faithful letters of especial persons who had larger commission to make their commorance the longer out of England when the King was thus satisfied and as he supposed to all seeming reasonable vnderstanding had openly and apparantly manifested it heresolued to haue it further published and declared by open proclamations and sound of trumpet both in the Realmes of England and Ireland and in the courts of forraine Princes for which purpose he sent ouer diuers Embassadours to many Countries especially to Philip Arch-Duke of Burgoine and his Councellours as a place which neerest concerned him This Embasie was the charge and commission of Sr. Ed. Poinings a most valiant Gentleman and William Warrham Doctor of the lawes a man of great modesty learning and grauity The generall poynts of their commission had large fields to walke in but the principall matters to be enforced had these limitations FIrst to declare that the young man resident amongst them with the Lady Margaret was descended of a base and obscure parentage hauing falsly and vntruly vsurped the name of Richard Duke of Yorke who long before was murthered in the Tower with his brother the Prince by the commandement of King Richard their vncle as many men liuing can testifie Secondly that from the probability of the matter and enforcement of reason there was no likelihood that King Richard dispossessing the Prince both of his life and Kingdom would leaue the other brother stil to affright him and trouble him in his gouernment Thirdly that Queene Elizabeth their mother was therefore attainted in Parliament for surrendring her daughters into the Tyrants custody and committing them into his hands who she knew had already murthered their brethren Fourthly to desire the Arch-Duke and the principall Lords of his Councell not to giue any credit to such illusions nor suffer themselues to bee any more blinded or seduced with impostures or shadowing appearances of truth Last of all to remember how King Henry had some few yeeres since succoured and releeued Maximilian their principall Lord almost oppressed and ouercome with the forraine hostility of the French King and intestine rebellion of his owne subiects and therefore it must be vnprincely and a poynt of great ingratitude either directly or indirectly to abett or maintaine any traytour or trayterous practises against him or the peace and tranquility of his Kingdome With these instructions the Embassadours failed into Flanders and were gently receiued and honourably welcommed by the Arch-Duke and his Councell as appeared by the solemnity of their audience and quicke dispatch of their businesse wherein Doctor William Warrham in a well penned oration declared the Kings minde as before you heard and by the way touched the malice of Lady Margaret saying with the Poet Tantaenè animis coele stibus irae And vnder a kinde of reprehension rebuked her inficious disposition against a Prince of so great worth and deseruing that neuer wronged her nor entertained a preiudiciall motiue to inflict either her or hers with any malignant iniury wherin she only might be compared to a weak breath which spitting against a forcible winde had it returned bâ—cke againe into her face adding withall somewhat vehemently that in her olde age contrary to the nature of all births shee had brought forth two such detestable monsters that is to say Lambert before disputed vpon and now this Peter that the like was neuer heard of And whereas in the conception of children women were commonly deliuered in eight or nine moneths as nature did require she could not be released in eight or nine yeeres nay the youngest was fifteen yeeres old before her threnes were passed and they iustified to be shewed openly and this was not sufficient neither but they must bee at least extracted of Princes and able to giue Kings battell in the open field whereupon hee might well conclude with that ancient Poet Sedres excellens est contra reptiles bestias Remedia mortalibus deorum prebuisse aliquem Quae viperas ignem superant Sed nullus contra mulierem remedia inuenit adhuc Malam huiusmodi sumus hominibus malum This oration so effectually deliuered and in the publique assembly audaciously maintained did not so much trouble and vex the Duches as affâ—ight and dishearten poore Perkin who in a manner exanimated lest his fraud and pestilentiall enterprizes should not onely bee discouered but discouraged began to be somewhat appaled and by