two Sonnes EDWARD and RICHARD Duke of Yorke both very young EDWARD the eldest succeeded their Father in the Crowne by the name of King EDWARD the Fift But RICHARD Duke of Glocester their vnnaturall Vnckle first thirsting after the Kingdome through Ambition and afterwards thirsting for their Bloud out of desire to secure himselfe imployed an Instrument of his confident to him as hee thought to murther them both But this Man that was imployed to execute that execrable Tragedie hauing cruelly slaine King EDWARD the eldest of the two was mooued partly hy Remorse and partly by some other meane to saue RICHARD his Brother making a Report neuerthelesse to the Tyrant that hee had performed his Commandement for both Brethren This Report was accordingly beleeued and published generally So that the World hath beene possessed of an Opinion that they both were barbarously made away though euer Truth hath some sparkes that flye abroade vntill it appeare in due time as this hath had But Almighty GOD that stopped the Mouth of the Lion and saued little JOAS from the Tyrannie of ATHALIAH when shee massacred the Kings Children and did saue ISAACK when the hand was stretched forth to sacrifice him preserued the second Brother For I my selfe that stand heere in your presence am that very RICHARD Duke of Yorke Brother of that infortunate Prince King EDWARD the Fift now the most rightfull suruiuing Heire-Male to that Uictorious and most Noble EDWARD of that Name the Fourth late King of England For the manner of my Escape it is fit it should passe in silence or at least in a more secret Relation for that it may concerne some aliue and the memorie of some that are dead Let it suffice to thinke I had then a Mother liuing a Queene and one that expected dayly such a Commandement from the Tyrant for the murthering of her Children Thus in my tender age escaping by GODS Mercie out of London I was secretly conueyed ouer Sea Where after a time the Partie that had mee in Charge vpon what new Feares change of Minde or Practice GOD knoweth suddenly forsooke mee Whereby I was forced to wander abroade and to seeke meane Conditions for the sustaining of my Life Wherefore distracted betweene seuerall Passions the one of Feare to bee knowne lest the Tyrant should haue a new Attempt vpon mee the other of Griefe and Disdaine to bee vnknowne and to liue in that base and seruile manner that I did I resolued with my selfe to expect the Tyrants Death and then to put my selfe into my Sisters hands who was next Heire to the Crowne But in this Season it happened one HENRIE TIDDER sonne to EDMOND TIDDER Earle of Richmond to come from France and enter into the Realme and by subtile and foule meanes to obtaine the Crowne of the same which to mee rightfully appertained So that it was but a Change from Tyrant to Tyrant This HENRIE my extreame and mortall Enemie so soone as hee had knowledge of my beeing aliue imagined and wrought all the subtill waies and meanes hee could to procure my finall Destruction For my mortall Enemie hath not onely falsly surmised mee to bee a fayned Person giuing mee Nick-names so abusing the World but also to deferre and put mee from entrie into England hath offered large Summes of Money to corrupt the Princes and their Ministers with whom I haue beene retayned and made importune Labours to certaine Seruants about my Person to murther or poyson mee and others to forsake and leaue my Righteous Quarrell and to depart from my Seruice as Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD and others So that euery Man of Reason may well perceiue that HENRIE calling himselfe King of England needed not to haue bestowed such great Summes of Treasure nor so to haue busied himselfe with importune and incessant Labour and Industrie to compasse my Death and Ruine if I had beene such a fained Person But the truth of my Cause beeing so manifest moued the most Christian King CHARLES and the Lady Duchesse Dowager of Burgundie my most Deare Aunt not onely to acknowledge the truth thereof but louingly to assist mee But it seemeth that GOD aboue for the good of this whole Island and the knitting of these two Kingdomes of England and Scotland in a strait Concord and Amitie by so great an Obligation had reserued the placing of mee in the Imperiall Throne of England for the Armes and Succours of your Grace Neither is it the first time that a King of Scotland hath supported them that were bereft and spoyled of the Kingdome of England as of late in fresh memorie it was done in the Person of HENRY the Sixth Wherefore for that your Grace hath giuen cleare Signes that you are in no Noble qualitie inferiour to your Royall Ancestours I so distressed a Prince was hereby mooued to come and put my Selfe into your Royall Hands desiring your Assistance to recouer my Kingdome of England promising faithfully to beare my Selfe towards your Grace no otherwise than If I were your owne Naturall Brother and will vpon the Recouerie of mine Inheritance gratefully doe you all the Pleasure that is in my vtmost Power AFter PERKIN had told his Tale King IAMES answered brauely and wisely That whatsoeuer hee were hee should not repent him of putting himselfe into his hands And from that time forth though there wanted not some about him that would haue perswaded him that all was but an Illusion yet notwithstanding either taken by PERKINS amiable and alluring behauiour or inclining to the recommendation of the great Princes abroade or willing to take an occasion of a Warre against King HENRY hee entertained him in all things as became the person of RICHARD Duke of Yorke embraced his Quarrell and the more to put it out of doubt that hee tooke him to bee a great Prince and not a Representation onely hee gaue consent that this Duke should take to wife the Lady KATHERINE GORDON daughter to the Earle Huntley beeing a neare Kinswoman to the King himselfe and a young Uirgin of excellent beautie and vertue Not long after the King of Scots in person with PERKIN in his company entred with a great Armie though it consisted chiefly of Borderers beeing raysed somewhat suddenly into Northumberland And PERKIN for a Perfume before him as hee went caused to be published a Proclamation of this tenor following in the name of RICHARD Duke of Yorke true inheritor of the Crowne of England IT hath pleased GOD Who putteth downe the Mightie from their Seate and exalteth the Humble and suffereth not the Hopes of the Iust to perish in the end to giue Us meanes at the length to shew Our Selues armed vnto Our Leiges and People of England But far bee it from Us to intend their hurt and dammage or to make Warre vpon them otherwise than to deliuer Our Selfe and them from Tyrannie and Oppression For our mortall Enemie HENRY TIDDER a false Vsurper of the Crowne of England which to Vs by Naturall and Lineall Right
and Daintiest Monuments of Europe both for the Chappell and for the Sepulchre So that hee dwelleth more richly Dead in the Monument of his Tombe than hee did Aliue in Richmond or any of his Palaces I could wish he did the like in this Monument of his Fame FINIS An Index Alphabeticall directing to the most obserueable passages in the foregoing Historie A AN Accident in it selfe triuiall great in effect pag. 189 Aduice desired from the Parliament 53. 57. 98 A Emulation of the English to the French with the reasons of it 61 Affabilitie of the King to the Citie of London 198 Affection of k. Henry to the king of Spaine 105 Affection of the king to his children 241 Aide desired by the Duke of Brittaine 53 Aide sent to Brittaine 62 Aiders of rebels punished 37 Almes deeds of the king 229 Ambassadors to the Pope 38 into Scotland 39 Ambassadours from the French King 41 Ambassadors in danger in France 49 Ambassadors into France 94 Ambition exorbitant in Sir William Stanley 135 Answer of the Archduke to the kings Ambassadors 129 Appeach of Sir William Stanley 132 Armes of king Henries still victorious 234 Arrows of the Cornishmen the length of them 171 Articles betweene the King and the Archduke 162 Arthur Prince married to the Ladie Katherine 203 Arthur Prince dyes at Ludlow 218 Aton Castle in Scotland taken by the Earle of Surrey 174 Attainted persons in Parliament excepted against 12 Attaindor and corruption of bloud reacheth not to the Crown 13. 24 Auarice of king Henry 236 Audley Generall of the Cornish rebels 165 B BAnishment of Flemings out of the kingdome 130 Battaile at Bosworth field 1 at Stokefield 35 at S. Albans in Brittain 62 Bannocks bourne in Scotland 70 at Blacke Heath 168 Behauiour of king Henry towards his children 205 Beneuolence to the king for his warres 100 Beneuolence who the first author ibid. Beneuolence abolished by Act of Parliament ibid. Beneuolence reuiued by Act of Parliament 100 A Beneuolence generall to the king 216 Birth of Hen. 8. 95 Bishops why imployed by the king 16 Bloud not vnreuenged 196. 213 Brittain Duchie distressed 62 Three causes of the losse of the Duchie of Brittaine 63 Brittaine vnited to France by marriage 95 Brackenbury refused to murder king Edw. 2. sonnes 123 Broughton Sir Thomas ioyned with the rebels 32 A Bull procured from the Pope by the king for what causes 39 Bulloigne besieged by king Henry 110 C CArdinall Morton dyeth 198 Capel Sir William fined 139. 229 Capp of maintenance from the Pope 178 Ceremony of Marriage new in these parts 80 Chauncery power and description of that Court. 64 Clifford Sir Robert flyes to Perkin 122 Reuolts to the king 125 Clergie priuiledges abridged 66 Christendome enlarged 106 Columbus Christopher Bartholomeus inuite the king to a discouery of the West Indies 189 Confiscation aymed a by the king 133 Conference betweene king Henry and the king of Castile by casualtie landing at Waymouth 223 Conquest the Title vnpleasing to the people declined by William the Conq. 5. and by the king 7 Conspirators for Perkin 121 Contraction of Prince Hen. and Lady Katherine 207 Conditionell speech doth not qualifie words of Treason 134 Commissioners into Ireland 138 Commissioners about trading 161 Coronation of king Henry 10 Coronation of the Queene 38 Counsell the benefite of good 40 Counsell of what sort the French king vsed 51 Counsell of meane men what and how different from that of Nobles ibidem Lord Cordes enuie to England 79 Cottagers but housed Beggars Counterfeits 74 Lambert proclaimed in Ireland 24 Crowned at Dublin 31 Taken in battell 35 Put into the Kings Kitchin 36 Made the Kings Fawlconer ibid. Duke of Yorke counterfeit See Perkin Wilford another counterfeit Earle of Warwick 194 Courage of the English when 62 Court what pleas belong to euerie Court 64 Court of Starre-chamber confirmed ibid. Creations 10 Crowne confirmed to king Henry by Parliament 11 Cursing of the kings enemies at Pauls Crosse a custome of those times 125. 213 D DAm a towne in Flanders taken by a slight 103 Lord Dawbeny 170 Deuices at Prince Arthurs marriage 203 Deuice of the King to diuert enuie 111 Decay of trade doth punish merchants 161 Decay of people how it comes to passe 73 Declaration by Perkin to the Scottish King 148 Desires intemperate of Sir William Stanley 136 Dighton a murderer of K. Edw. 2. children 124 Dilemma a pleasant one of Bishop Morton 101 Diligence of the King to heap Treasures 211 Displacing of no Councellers nor Seruants in all K. Henries Reigne saue of one 242 Dissimulation of the French King 46. 48. 81 Dissimulation of k. Henrie in pretending warre 99 A Doubt long kept open and diuersly determined according to the diuersitie of the times 206 Dowry of L. Katherine how much 204 Dowrie of Lady Margaret into Scotland how much 208 Drapery maintained how 76 Dudley one of the kings horseleeches 209 Duke of Yorke counterfet See Perkin E EArle of Suffolke flyes into Flanders 212. Returnes 225 Earle of Northumberland slaine by the people in collecting the Subsidie somewhat harshly 68 Earle of Warwick executed 195 Earle of Warw. counterfeit 21. 194 Earle of Surrey enters Scotland 174 Edmund a third sonne borne to king Henry but died 191 Edward the fift murthered 149 Enuie towards the king vnquenchable the cause of it 196 Enuie of Lord Cordes to England 79 Enteruiew between the king Arch-Duke with the respectiue carriage of the Arch-Duke to the king 197 Enteruiew betweene the king and the king of Castile 223 Embleme 167 Empson one of the kings horseleeches 209 Errors of the French king in his businesse for the kingdome of Naples 143 Errors of king Henry occasioning his many troubles 264 Escuage seruice 164 Espials in the Rebels campe 33 Espousals of Iames king of Scotland and Lady Margaret 207 Exchanges vnlawfull prohibited 66 Exeter besieged by Perkin 181 The loyaltie of the Towne ibid The Towne rewarded with the kings owne sword 184 Execution of Humphrey Stafford 18 Iohna Chamber and his fellow rebels at Yorke 68 Sir Iames Tyrril murderer of king Edw. 2. sonnes 124 Of diuers others 131 Sir William Stanley 134 For Rebels 138 Perkins companie 141 Audley and Cornish Rebels 171 Another counterfeit Earle of Warw. 194 Perkin Warbeck ibid The Mayor of Corke and his son 195 Earle of Warwick 195 F FAme ill affected 172 Fame entertained by diuers the reasons of it 121 Fame neglected by Empson Dudley 209 Feare not safe to the king 137 Fines 72 Without Fines Statute to sell land 101 Flammock a Lawyer a rebell 164 Flemmings banished 130 Flight of king Henry out of Brittaine into France wherefore 55 Forfeitures and confiscations furnish the kings wants 14. 27 Forfeitures aimed at 75. 133 Forfeitures vpon penall lawes taken by the king which was the blot of his times 139 Fortune various 26. 36 Forwardnesse inconsiderate 170 Foxe made priuie Counsellor 16 Made L. Keeper of the priuie Seal
set on fire by the English hco despairing to hold the Towne yeelded at the last the Castles to the English and the Towne to the Duke of Saxonie by composition Which done the Duke of Saxonie and Sir EDWARD POYNINGS treated with them of Bruges to submit themselues to MAXIMILIAN their Lord which after some time they did paying in some good part the Charge of the Warre whereby the Almaines and forraigne Succours were dismissed The example of Bruges other of the Reuolted Townes followed so that MAXIMILIAN grew to be out of danger but as his manner was to handle matters neuer out of necessitie And Sir EDWARD POYNINGS after he had continued at Sluice some good while till all things were setled returned vnto the King being then before Bulleigne Somewhat about this time came Letters from FERDINANDO and ISABELLA King and Queene of Spaino signifying the finall conquest of Granada from the Moores which action in it selfe so worthie King FERDINANDO whose manner was neuer to lose any vertue for the shewing had expressed and displayed in his letters at large with all the particularities and religious Punctoes and Ceremonies that were obserued in the reception of that Citie and Kingdome Shewing amongst other things That the King would not by any meanes in person enter the Citie vntill hee had first aloofe seene the Crosse set vp vpon the greater Tower of Granada whereby it became Christian ground That likewise before hee would enter he did Homage to God aboue pronouncing by an Herauld from the Height of that Tower that hee did acknowledge to haue recouered that Kingdome by the helpe of GOD Almightie and the glorious Virgin and the vertuous Apostle Saint IAMES and the holy Father INNOCENT the Eight together with the aides and seruices of his Prelates Nobles and Commons That yet he stirred not from his Campe till hee had seene a little Armie of Martyrs to the number of seuen hundred and more Christians that had liued in bonds and seruitude as Slaues to the Moores passe before his Eyes singing a Psalme for their redemption and that he had giuen Tribute vnto GOD by Almes and releefe extended to them all for his admission into the Citie These things were in the Letters with many more Ceremonies of a kind of Holy Ostentation The King euer willing to put himselfe into the Consort or Quire of all religious Actions and naturally affecting much the King of Spaine as farre as one King can affect another partly for his vertues and partly for a counterpoise to France vpon the receipt of these Letters sent all his Nobles and Prelates that were about the Court together with the Maior and Aldermen of London in great solemnitie to the Church of Pauls there to heare a Declaration from the Lord Chancellor now Cardinall When they were assembled the Cardinall standing vpon the vppermost step or Halfe-pase before the Quire and all the Nobles Prelates and Gouernours of the Citie at the foot of the Staires made a Speech to them letting them know that they were assembled in that Consecrate place to sing vnto God a New-song For that said he these many yeares the Christians haue not gayned new ground or Territorie vpon the Infidels nor enlarged and set further the Bounds of the Christian-world But this is now done by the prowesse and deuotion of FERDINANDO and ISABELLA Kings of Spaine Who haue to their immortall Honour recouered the great and rich Kingdome of Granada and the populous and mightie Citie of the same name from the Moores hauing beene in possession thereof by the space of seuen hundred yeares and more For which this Assembly and all Christians are to render laud and thankes vnto God and to celebrate this noble Act of the King of Spaine who in this is not only Victorious but Apostolicall in the gaining of new Prouinces to the Christian Faith And the rather for that this Victorie and Conquest is obtained without much effusion of bloud Whereby it is to bee hoped that there shall bee gained not only new Territorie but infinite soules to the Church of Christ whom the Almightie as it seemes would haue liue to bee conuerted Herewithall hee did relate some of the most memorable Particulars of the Warre and Victorie And after his Speech ended the whole assemblie went solemnely in Procession and Te Deum was sung Immediately after the Solemnitie the King kept his May Day at his Palace of Sheine now Richmond Where to warme the blood of his Nobilitie and Gallants against the warre hee kept great Triumphs of Iusting and Tourney during all that Moneth In which space it so fell our that Sir IAMES PARKER and HVGH VAVGHAH one of the Kings Gentlemen-Vshers hauing had a Controuersie touching certaine Armes that the King at Armes had giuen VAVGHAN were appointed to runne some Courses one against an other And by accident of a faultie Helmet that PARKER had on he was stricken into the mouth at the first course so that his tongue was borne vnto the hinder part of his head in such sort that hee died presently vpon the Place Which because of the Controuersie precedent and the Death that followed was accounted amongst the Vulgar as a Combate or Tryall of Right The King towards the end of this Summer hauing put his Forces where with hee meant to inuade France in readinesse but so as they were not yet met or mustered together sent VRSWICK now made his Almoner and Sir IOHN RISLEY to MAXIMILIAN to let him know that hee was in Armes ready to passe the Seas into France and did but expect to heare from him when and where he did appoint to ioyne with him according to his promise made vnto him by COVNTEBALT his Ambassador The English Ambassadors hauing repaired to MAXIMILIAN did finde his power and promise at a very great distance hee being vtterly vnprouided of Men Money and Armes for any such enterprize For MAXIMILIAN hauing neither Wing to flie on for that his Patrimony of Austria was not in his hands his Father beeing then liuing And on the other side his Matrimonial Territories of Flanders being partly in Dowre to his Mother-in-law and partly not seruiceable in respect of the late Rebellions was thereby destitute of meanes to enter into Warre The Ambassadors saw this well but wisely thought fit to aduertise the King thereof rather than to returne themselues till the Kings further pleasure were knowne The rather for that MAXIMILIAN himselfe spake as great as euer hee did before and entertained them with dilatory Answers so as the formall part of their Ambassage might well warrant and require their further stay The King hereupon who doubted as much before and saw through his businesse from the beginning wrote backe to the Ambassadors commending their discretion in not returning and willing them to keepe the State wherein they found MAXIMILIAN as a Secret till they heard further from him And meane while went on with his Voyage Royall for France suppressing for a time this
appertaineth knowing in his owne Heart Our vndoubted Right Wee being the very RICHARD Duke of Yorke younger Sonne and now suruiuing Heire-male of the Noble and Uictorious EDWARD the Fourth late King of England hath not onely depriued Us of Our Kingdome but likewise by all foule and wicked meanes sought to betray Us and bereaue Us of Our Life Yet if his Tyrannie onely extended it selfe to Our Person although Our Royall Bloud teacheth Us to bee sensible of Iniuries it should bee lesse to Our Griefe But this TIDDER who boasteth himselfe to haue ouerthrown a Tyrant hath euer since his first entrance into his Vsurped Reigne put little in practice but Tyrannie and the feats thereof For King RICHARD our Vnnaturall Uncle although desire of Rule did blinde him yet in his other actions like a true PLANTAGENET was Noble and loued the Honour of the Realme and the Contentment and Comfort of his Nobles and People But this our Mortall Enemie agreeable to the meanesse of his Birth hath troden under foote the honour of this Nation selling our best Confederates for Money and making Merchandize of the Bloud Estates and Fortunes of our Peeres and Subiects by fained Warres and dishonourable Peace onely to enrich his Coffers Nor vnlike hath beene his hatefull Mis-gouernement and euill Deportments at home First hee hath to fortifie his false Quarrell caused diuers Nobles of this our Realme whom hee held Suspect stood in dread of to be cruelly murthred as our Cousin Sir VVILLIAM STANLEY Lord Chamberlain Sir SIMON MOVNTFORT Sir ROBERT RATCLIFFE WILLIAM DAWBENEY HVMPHREY STAFFORD and many others besides such as haue dearely bought their liues with intolerable Ransomes Some of which Nobles are now in the Sanctuary Also hee hath long kept and yet keepeth in Prison our right entirely welbeloued Cosen EDWARD Sonne and Heire to our Unckle Duke of Clarence and others with-holding from them their rightfull Inheritance to the intent they should neuer be of might and power to aide and assist vs at our neede after the dutie of their Liegeances Hee also married by Compulsion certaine of our Sisters and also the Sister of our said Cosen the Earle of VVarwicke and diuers other Ladies of the Royall Bloud vnto certaine of his Kinsmen and Friends of simple and low Degree and putting apart all Well-disposed Nobles he hath none in fauour and trust about his Person but Bishop FOX SMITH BRAY LOVEL OLIVER KING DAVID OWEN RISELEY TVRBERVILE TILER CHOLMLEY EMPSON IAMES HOBART IOHN CVT GARTH HENRY WYAT and such other Caitifes and Uillaines of Birth which by subtile inuentions and Pilling of the People haue beene the principall Finders Occasioners and Counsellors of the Mis-rule and Mischiefe now reigning in England Wee remembring these Premisses with the great and execrable Offences daily committed and done by our foresaid great Enemie and his Adherents in breaking the Liberties and Franchises of our Mother the Holy Church vpon pretences of Wicked and Heathenish Policie to the high displeasure of Almightie GOD besides the manifold Treasons abominable Murthers Man-slaughters Robberies Extortions the dayly Pilling of the People by Dismes Taxes Tallages Beneuolences and other vnlawfull Impositions and grieuous Exactions with many other haynous Effects to the likely destruction and desolation of the whole Realme shall by Gods Grace and the helpe and assistance of the great Lords of our Bloud with the Counsell of other sad Persons see that the Commodities of our Realme bee imployed to the most aduantage of the same the entercouse of Merchandise betwixt Realme and Realme to bee ministred and handled as shall more bee to the Common weale and prosperity of our Subiects and all such Dismes Taxes Tallages Beneuolences vnlawfull Impositions and grieuous Exactions as bee aboue rehearsed to bee fore-done and layd apart and neuer from henceforth to bee called vpon but in such cases as our noble Progenitors Kings of England haue of old time bin accustomed to haue the Ayde Succour and helpe of their Subiects and true Liege-men And further wee doe out of our Grace and Clemencie hereby as well publish and promise to all our Subiects Remission and free Pardon of all By-past Offences whatsoeuer against our Person or Estate in adhering to our said Enemie by whom wee know well they haue beene mis-led if they shall within time conuenient submit themselues vnto Us. And for such as shall come with the foremost to assist our Righteous Quarrell wee shall make them so farre partakers of our Princely Fauour and Bountie as shall bee highly for the Comfort of them and theirs both during their Life and after their Death As also wee shall by all meanes which GOD shall put into our hands demeane our selues to giue Royall contentment to all Degrees and Estates of our People maintaining the Liberties of Holy Church in their Entire preseruing the Honours Priuiledges and Preheminences of our Nobles from Contempt or disparagement according to the Dignitie of their Bloud Wee shall also vnyoake our People from all heauie Burthens and Endurances and confirme our Cities Boroughes and Townes in their Charters Freedoms with inlargement where it shal be deserued and in all points giue our Subiects cause to thinke that the blessed and debonaire Gouernment of our Noble Father King EDWARD in his last times is in vs reuiued And for as much as the putting to death or taking aliue of our said Mortall Enemie may bee a meane to stay much effusion of Blood which otherwise may ensue if by Compulsion or faire Promises hee shall draw after him any number of our Subiects to resist vs which wee desire to auoyd though wee bee certainely informed that our said Enemie is purposed and prepared to flye the Land hauing already made ouer great Masses of the Treasure of our Crowne the better to support him in Forraine Parts Wee doe hereby declare That whosoeuer shall take or distresse our said Enemie though the Party bee of neuer so meane a Condition hee shall bee by Us rewarded with a Thousand Pound in Money forthwith to bee laid downe to him and an Hundred Markes by the yeare of Inheritance besides that hee may otherwise merit both toward God and all good People for the destruction of such a Tyrant Lastly wee doe all men to wit and herein wee take also God to witnesse That whereas GOD hath mooued the Heart of our Dearest Cousin the King of Scotland to aide vs in Person in this our righteous Quarrell it is altogether without any Pact or Promise or so much as demaund of any thing that may preiudice our Crowne or Subiects But contrariwise with promise on our said Cousins part that whensoeuer hee shall finde vs in sufficient strength to get the vpper hand of our Enemie which wee hope will bee very suddenly hee will forthwith peaceably returne into his owne Kingdome contenting himselfe onely with the glorie of so Honourable an Enterprise and our true and faithfull Loue and Amitie Which wee shall euer by the Grace of Almightie GOD
so order as shall bee to the great comfort of both Kingdomes BVt PERKINS Proclamation did little edifie with the people of England neither was hee the better welcome for the company hee came in Wherefore the King of Scotland seeing none came in to PERKIN nor none stirred any where in his fauour turned his enterprise into a Rode and wasted and destroyed the Countrie of Northumberland with fire and sword But hearing that there were Forces comming against him and not willing that they should finde his Men heauie and laden with bootie hee returned into Scotland with great Spoyles deferring further prosecution till another time It is said that PERKIN acting the part of a Prince handsomely when hee saw the Scottish fell to waste the Countrey came to the King in a passionate manner making great lamentation and desired That that might not bee the manner of making the Warre for that no Crowne was so deare to his minde as that hee desired to purchase it with the bloude and ruine of his Countrey Whereunto the King answered halfe in sport that hee doubted much hee was carefull for that that was none of his and that hee should bee too good a Steward for his Enemie to saue the Countrie to his vse By this time beeing the Eleuenth yeare of the King the Interruption of Trade betweene the English and the Flemmish beganne to pinch the Merchants of both Nations very sore Which mooued them by all meanes they could deuise to affect and dispose their Soueraignes respectiuely to open the Entercourse againe Wherein time fauoured them For the Arch-Duke and his Councell beganne to see that PERKIN would prooue but a Runnagate and Citizen of the World and that it was the part of children to fall out about Babies And the King on his part after the Attempts vpon Kent and Northumberland beganne to haue the businesse of PERKIN in lesse estimation so as hee did not put it to accompt in any Consultation of State But that that mooued him most was that beeing a King that loued Wealth and Treasure hee could not endure to haue Trade sicke nor any Obstruction to continue in the Gate-veine which disperseth that bloud And yet he kept State so farre as first to bee sought vnto Wherein the Merchant-Aduenturers likewise beeing a strong Companie at that time and well vnderset with rich Men and good order did hold out brauely taking off the Commodities of the Kingdome though they lay dead vpon their hands for want of Vent At the last Commissioners met at London to Treate On the Kings part Bishop FOXE Lord Priuy Seale Viscount Wells KENDAL Prior of Saint IOHNS WARHAM Master of the Rolles who beganne to gaine much vpon the Kings opinion VRSWICK who was almost euer one and RISELY On the Arch-Dukes part the Lord BEVERS his Admirall the Lord VERVNSEL President of Flanders and others These concluded a perfect Treatie both of Amitie and Intercourse betweene the King and the Arch-Duke Contayning Articles both of State Commerce and Free-Fishing This is that Treatie which the Flemmings call at this day Intercursus Magnus both because it is more compleat than the precedent Treaties of the Third and Fourth yeares of the King and chiefly to giue it a difference from the Treatie that followed in the One and twentieth yeare of the King which they call Intercursus Malus In this Treatie there was an expresse Article against the Reception of the Rebels of either Prince by other purporting that if any such Rebell should bee required by the Prince whose Rebell hee was of the Prince Confederate that forthwith the Prince Confederate should by Proclamation command him to auoyde the Countrey Which if hee did not within fifteene daies the Rebell was to stand proscribed and put out of Protection But neuerthelesse in this Article PERKIN was not named neither perhaps contained because hee was no Rebell But by this meanes his wings were clipt of his Followers that were English And it was expresly comprised in the Treatie that it should extend to the Territories of the Duchesse Dowager After the Intercourse thus restored The English Merchants came againe to their Mansion at Antwerpe where they were receiued with Procession and great Ioy. The Winter following beeing the Twelfth yeare of his reigne The King called againe his Parliament where hee did much exaggerate both the Malice and the cruell Predatory Warre lately made by the King of Scotland That that King being in Amitie with him and no wayes prouoked should so burne in hatred towards him as to drinke of the Lees and Dreggs of PERKINS Intoxication who was euery where else detected and discarded And that when hee perceiued it was out of his reach to doe the King any hurt hee had turned his Armes vpon vnarmed and vnprouided People to spoyle onely and depopulate contrary to the Lawes both of Warre and Peace Concluding that hee could neither with Honour nor with the safety of his People to whom he did owe Protection let passe these wrongs vnreuenged The Parliament vnderstood him well and gaue him a Subsidie limited to the summe of one hundred and twentie thousand Pounds besides two Fifteenes For his Warres were alwaies to him as a Mine of Treasure of a strange kind of Ore Iron at the top and Gold and Siluer at the bottome At this Parliament for that there had beene so much time spent in making Lawes the yeare before and for that it was called purposely in respect of the Scottish Warre there were no Lawes made to bee remembred Onely there passed a Law at the Sute of the Merchant-Aduenturers of England against the Merchant-Aduenturers of London for Monopolizing and exacting vpon the Trade Which it seemeth they did a little to saue themselues after the hard time they had sustained by want of Trade But those Innouations were taken away by Parliament But it was fatall to the King to fight for his money And though hee auoyded to fight with Enemies abroad yet hee was still enforced to fight for it with Rebels at home For no sooner beganne the Subsidie to bee leuied in Corne-wall but the People there began to grudge and murmure The Cornish being a Race of Men stout of stomacke mighty of Bodie and Limme and that liued hardly in a barren Countrey and many of them could for a neede liue vnder ground that were Tinners they muttered extreamely that it was a thing not to be suffered that for a little stirre of the Scots soone blowne ouer they should be thus grinded to Powder with Payments And said it was for them to pay that had too much and liued idly But they would eate the bread they got with the sweat of their browes and no man should take it from them And as in the Tides of People once vp there want not commonly stirring Windes to make them more rough So this People did light vpon two Ring-leaders or Captaines of the Rout. The one was one MICHAEL IOSEPH a Black-smith or Farrier of Bodmin anotable
submisse and eloquent Letters wrote back vnto him That though he were in part moued by his Letters yet he should not bee fully satisfied except hee spake with him as well about the compounding of the present differences as about other matters that might concerne the good of both Kingdomes The Bishop aduising first with the king tooke his Iourney for Scotland The meeting was at Melrosse an Abbey of the Cestersians where the king then abode The king first roundly vttered vnto the Bishop his offence conceiued for the insolent Breach of Truce by his men of Norham Castle Whereunto Bishop FOX made such an humble and smooth answer as it was like Oyle into the wound whereby it began to heale And this was done in the presence of the King and his Councell After the King spake with the Bishop apart and opened himselfe vnto him saying That these temporarie Truces and Peaces were soone made and soone broken But that hee desired a straiter Amitie with the King of England discouering his mind that if the King would giue him in Mariage the Ladie MARGARET his eldest Daughter That indeede might bee a Knot indissoluble That hee knew well what Place and Authoritie the Bishop deseruedly had with his Master Therefore if hee would take the businesse to heart and deale in it effectually hee doubted not but it would succeed well The Bishop answered soberly that hee thought himselfe rather happie than worthy to bee an Instrument in such a matter but would doe his best endeauour Wherefore the Bishop returning to the King and giuing account what had passed and finding the King more than well disposed in it gaue the King aduice first to proceed to a Conclusion of Peace and then to goe on with the Treatie of Marriage by degrees Hereupon a Peace was concluded which was published a little before Christmasse in the Fourteenth yeare of the Kings Raigne to continue for both the Kings liues and the ouer-liuer of them and a yeare after In this Peace there was an Article contained that no English-man should enter into Scotland and no Scottish-man into England without Letters Commendatorie from the Kings of eyther Nation This at the first sight might seeme a meanes to continue a strangenesse betweene the Nations but it was done to locke in the Borderers This yeare there was also borne to the King a third Sonne who was christned by the name of EDMVND and shortly after dyed And much about the same time came newes of the death of Charles the French-King For whom there were celebrated Solemne and Princely Obsequies It was not long but PERKIN who was made of Quick-siluer which is hard to hold or imprison began to stirre For deceiuing his Keepers hee tooke him to his heeles and made speede to the Sea-coasts But presently all Corners were laid for him and such diligent pursuit and search made as hee was faine to turne backe and get him to the House of Bethleem called the Priorie of Shyne which had the priuiledge of Sanctuarie and put himselfe into the hands of the Prior of that Monasterie The Prior was thought an Holy Man and much reuerenced in those dayes Hee came to the King and besought the King for PERKINS life only leauing him otherwise to the Kings discretion Many about the King were againe more hot than euer to haue the King to take him forth and hang him But the King that had an high stomacke and could not hato any that hee despised bid Take him forth and set the Knaue in the Sockes And so promising the Prior his life hee caused him to bee brought forth And within two or three daies after vpon a Scaffold set vp in the Palace-Court at Westminster he was fettered and set in the Stockes for the whole day And the next day after the like was done by him at the Crosse in Cheape-side and in both places he read his Confession of which we made mention before and was from Cheap-side conueighed and layed vp in the Tower Notwithstanding all this the King was as was partly touched before growne to be such a Partner with Fortune as no body could tell what Actions the One and what the Other owned For it was beleeued generally that PERKIN was betrayed and that this Escape was not without the Kings priuitie who had him all the time of his Flight in a Line and that the King did this to picke a Quarrell to him to put him to death and to be ridde of him at once But this is not probable For that the same Instruments who obserued him in his Flight might haue kept him from getting into Sanctuary But it was ordained that this Winding-Iuie of a PLANTAGENET should kill the true Tree it selfe For PERKIN after hee had beene a while in the Tower began to insinuate himselfe into the fauour and kindnesse of his Keepers Seruants to the Lieutenant of the Tower Sir IOHN DIGBIE being foure in number STRANGVVAIES BLEVVET ASTVVOOD and LONG-ROGER These Varlets with mountaines of promises hee sought to corrupt to obtaine his Escape But knowing well that his owne Fortunes were made so contemptible as hee could feede no mans Hopes and by Hopes hee must worke for Rewards he had none he had contriued with himselfe a vast and tragicall Plot which was to draw into his Companie EDVVARD PLANTAGENET Earle of Warwicke then Prisoner in the Tower whom the wearie life of a long Imprisonment and the often and renewing Feares of being put to Death had softned to take any impression of Councell for his Libertie This young Prince hee thought these Seruants would looke vpon though not vpon himselfe And therefore after that by some Message by one or two of them hee had tasted of the Earles Consent it was agreed that these foure should murder their Master the Lieutenant secretly in the night and make their best of such Money and portable Goods of his as they should finde readie at hand and get the Keyes of the Tower and presently let forth PERKIN and the Earle But this Conspiracie was reuealed in time before it could bee executed And in this againe the Opinion of the Kings great Wisedome did surcharge him with a sinister Fame that PERKIN was but his Bait to entrap the Earle of Warwicke And in the very Instant while this Conspiracy was in working as if that also had been the Kings industrie it was fatall that there should breake forth a Connuerfeit Earle of Warwicke a Cordwainers Sonne whose name was RALPH WILFORD a young man taught and set on by an Augustine Friar called PATRICKE They both from the parts of Suffolke came forwards into Kent where they did not onely priuily and vnderhand giue out that this WILFORD was the true Earle of Warwicke but also the Friar finding some light Credence in the People tooke the boldnesse in the Pulpit to declare as much and to incite the People to come in to his Aide Whereupon they were both presently apprehended and the young Fellow executed and the
much there remayneth in Memorie that it was halfe a yeares time betweene the Creation of HENRY Prince of Wales and Prince ARTHVRS death which was construed to bee for to expect a full time whereby it might appeare whether the Ladie KATHERINE were with Child by Prince ARTHVR or no. Againe the Ladie her selfe procured a Bull for the better Corroboration of the Marriage with a Clause of vel forsan cognitam which was not in the first Bull. There was giuen in Euidence also when the cause of the Diuorce was handled a pleasant passage which was That in a Morning Prince ARTHVR vpon his vp-rising from Bed with her called for drinke which hee was not accustomed to doe and finding the Gentleman of his Chamber that brought him the drinke to smile at it and to note it hee said merrily to him That hee had been in the middest of Spaine which was an hot Region and his Iourney had made him drie and that if the other had beene in so hot a Clime hee would haue been drier than hee Besides the Prince was vpon the point of Sixteene yeares of Age when hee died and forward and able in Bodie The Februarie following HENRY Duke of Yorke was created Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester and Flint For the Dukedome of Cornewall deuolued to him by Statute The King also beeing fast handed and loath to part with a second Dowrie but chiefly being affectionate both by his Nature and out of Politicke Considerations to continue the Alliance with Spaine preuailed with the Prince though not without some Reluctation such as could bee in those yeares for hee was not twelue yeares of Age to bee contracted with the Princesse KATHERINE The secret Prouidence of GOD ordaining that Marriage to bee the Occasion of great Euents and Changes The same yeare were the Espousals of IAMES King of Scotland with the Ladie MARGARET the Kings eldest Daughter which was done by Proxie and published at PAVLES Crosse the fiue and twentieth of Ianuarie and Te Deum solemnly sung But certaine it is that the Ioy of the Citie thereupon shewed by Ringing of Bells and Bon-fires and such other Incence of the People was more than could be expected in a Case of so great and fresh Enmitie betweene the Nations especially in London which was farre enough off from feeling any of the former calamities of the Warre And therefore might bee truely attributed to a Secret Instinct and Inspiring which many times runneth not onely in the Hearts of Princes but in the Pulse and Veines of People touching the happinesse thereby to ensue in time to come This Marriage was in August following consummate at Edenborough The King bringing his Daughter as farre as Colli-Weston on the way and then consigning her to the Attendance of the Earle of Northumberland who with a great Troupe of Lords and Ladies of Honour brought her into Scotland to the King her Husband This Marriage had beene in Treatie by the space of almost three yeares from the time that the King of Scotland did first open his mind to Bishop FOX The Summe giuen in Marriage by the King was ten Thousand pounds And the Iointure and Aduancement assured by the King of Scotland was two Thousand pounds a yeare after King IAMES his Death and one Thousand pounds a yeare in present for the Ladies Allowance or Maintenance This to be set forth in Lands of the best and most certaine Reuenue During the Treatie it is reported that the King remitted the matter to his Counsell And that some of the Table in the Freedome of Counsellors the King beeing present did put the Case that if GOD should take the Kings two Sonnes without Issue that then the Kingdome of England would fall to the King of Scotland which might preiudice the Monarchie of England Whereunto the King himselfe replied That if that should bee Scotland would bee but an Accession to England and not England to Scotland for that the Greater would draw the lesse And that it was a safer Vnion for England than that of France This passed as an Oracle and silenced those that moued the Question The same yeare was fatall as well for Deaths as Marriages and that with equall temper For the Ioyes and Feasts of the two Marriages were compensed with the Mournings and Funerals of Prince ARTHVR of whom wee haue spoken and of Queene ELIZABETH who died in Child-bed in the Tower and the Child liued not long after There dyed also that yeare Sir REGINOLD BRAY who was noted to haue had with the King the greatest Freedome of any Counsellor but it was but a Freedome the better to set off Flatterie Yet hee bare more than his iust part of Enuie for the Exactions At this time the Kings Estate was verie prosperous Secured by the Amitie of Scotland strengthened by that of Spaine cherished by that of Burgundie all Domesticke Troubles quenched and all Noyse of Warre like a Thunder afarre off going vpon Italie Wherefore Nature which many times is happily contayned and refrained by some Bands of Fortune beganne to take place in the King carrying as with a strong Tide his affections and Thoughts vnto the gathering and heaping vp of Treasure And as Kings doe more easily find Instruments for their Will and Humour than for their Seruice and Honour Hee had gotten for his purpose or beyond his purpose two Instruments EMPSON and DVDLEY whom the people esteemed as his Horse-Leeches and Shearers bold men and carelesse of Fame and that tooke Toll of their Masters Grist DVDLEY was of a good Family Eloquent and one that could put Hatefull Businesse into good Language But EMPSON that was the Sonne of a Sieue-maker triumphed alwayes vpon the Deede done putting off all other respects whatsoeuer These two Persons beeing Lawyers in Science and Priuie Councellors in Authoritie as the Corruption of the best things is the worst turned Law and Iustice into Worme-wood and Rapine For first their manner was to cause diuers Subiects to bee indicted of sundrie Crimes and so farre forth to proceed in forme of Law But when the Bils were found then presently to commit them And neuerthelesse not to produce them to any reasonable time to their Answer but to suffer them to languish long in Prison and by sundrie artificiall Deuices and Terrours to extort from them great Fines and Ransomes which they termed Compositions and Mitigations Neither did they towards the end obserue so much as the Halfe-face of Iustice in proceeding by Indictment but sent forth their Precepts to attache men and conuent them before themselues and some others at their priuate Houses in a Court of Commission and there vsed to shuffle vp a Summarie Proceeding by Examination without Tryall of Iurie assuming to themselues there to deale both in Pleas of the Crowne and Controuersies Ciuill Then did they also vse to enthrall and charge the Subiects Lands with Tenures in Capite by finding False Offices and thereby to worke vpon them for Ward-ships Liueries Primier
KNESVVORTH likewise that had beene lately Maior of London and both his Sheriffes were for Abuses in their Offices questioned and imprisoned and deliuered vpon one Thousand foure hundred pounds payed HAVVIS an Alderman of London was put in Trouble and died with Thought and Anguish before his Businesse came to an end Sir LAVVRENCE AILMER who had likewise beene Maior of London and his two Sheriffes were put to the Fine of one Thousand Pounds And Sir LAVVRENCE for refusing to make payment was committed to Prison where hee stayed till EMPSON himselfe was committed in his place It is no marueile if the Faults were so light and the Rates so heauie that the Kings Treasure of store that hee left at his death most of it in secret places vnder his owne Key and keeping at Richmond amounted as by Tradition it is reported to haue done vnto the Summe of neare Eighteene hundred thousand pounds Sterling a huge Masse of Money euen for these times The last Act of State that concluded this kings Temporall Felicitie was the Conclusion of a Glorious Match betweene his Daughter MARIE and CHARLES Prince of Castile afterwards the great Emperour both beeing of tender yeares Which Treatie was perfected by Bishop FOXE and other his Commissioners at Calice the yeare before the Kings Death In which Alliance it seemeth hee himselfe tooke so high Contentment as in a Letter which hee wrote thereupon to the Citie of London commaunding all possible demonstrations of ioy to bee made for the same hee expresseth himselfe as if hee thought hee had built a Wall of Brasse about his Kingdome When hee had for his Sonnes-in-law a King of Scotland and a Prince of Castile and Burgundie So as now there was nothing to bee added to this great Kings Felicitie beeing at the top of all worldly Blisse in regard of the high Marriages of his Children his great Renowne throughout Europe and his scarce credible Riches and the perpetuall Constancie of his prosperous Successes but an opportune Death to withdraw him from any future blowe of Fortune Which certainely in regard of the great Hatred of his People and the Title of his Sonne being then come to Eighteene yeares of age and being a bold Prince and liberall and that gained vpon the People by his very Aspect and Presence had not beene impossible to haue come vpon him To crowne also the last yeare of his Raigne as well as his first hee did an Act of Pietie rare and worthy to bee taken into Imitation For hee granted forth a Generall Pardon as expecting a second Coronation in a better Kingdome Hee did also declare in his Will that his minde was that Restitution should bee made of those Summes which had beene vniustly taken by his Officers And thus this SALOMON of England for SALOMON also was too heauie vpon his People in Exactions hauing liued two and fiftie yeares and thereof Raigned three and twentie yeares and eight Moneths beeing in perfect Memorie and in a most Blessed Minde in a great Calme of a Consuming Sickenesse passed to a better World the two and twentieth of Aprill 1508. at his Palace of Richmond which himselfe had built THis King to speake of him in Tearmes equall to his Deseruing was one of the best sort of VVonders a Wonder for VVisemen Hee had parts both in his Vertues and his Fortune not so fit for a Common-place as for Obseruation Certainly hee was Religious both in his Affection and Obseruance But as hee could see cleare for those times through Superstition so he would be blinded now and then by Humane Policie Hee aduanced Church-men hee was tender in the Priuiledge of Sanctuaries though they wrought him much mischiefe Hee built and endowed many Religious Foundations besides his Memorable Hospitall of the Sauoy And yet was hee a great Almes-giuer in secret which shewed that his VVorkes in publique were dedicated rather to GODS Glorie than his owne Hee professed alwaies to loue and seeke Peace and it was his vsuall Preface in his Treaties That when CHRIST came into the World Peace was sung and when HEE went out of the World Peace was bequeathed And this Vertue could not proceede out of Feare or Softnesse for he was Valiant and Actiue and therefore no doubt it was truely Christian and Morall Yet hee knew the way to Peace was not to seeme to bee desirous to auoyde Warres Therefore would be make Cffers and Fames of Warres till hee had mended the Conditions of Peace It was also much that one that was so great a Louer of Peace should be so happie in VVarre For his Armes eyther in Forraine or Ciuill VVarres were neuer Infortunate neyther did be know what a Disaster meant The VVarre of his Comming in and the Rebellions of the Earle of Lincolne and the Lord AWDLEY were ended by Victorie The VVarres of France and Scotland by Peaces sought at his hands That of Brittaine by accident of the Dukes death The Insurrection of the Lord LOVEL and that of PERKIN at Excester and in Kent by flight of the Rebells before they came to Blowes So that his Fortune of Armes was still Inuiolate The rather sure for that in the quenching of the Commotions of his Subiects hee euer went in Person Sometimes reseruing himselfe to backe and second his Lieutenants but euer in Action and yet that was not meerely Forwardnesse but partly Distrust of others Hee did much maintaine and countenance his Lawes Which neuerthelesse was no Impediment to him to worke his VVill. For it was so handled that neyther Prerogatiue nor Profit went to Diminution And yet as hee would sometimes straine vp his Lawes to his Prerogatiue so would hee also let downe his Prerogatiue to his Parliament For Minte and Warres and Marshall Discipline things of Absolute Power hee would neuerthelesse bring to Parliament Iustice was well administred in his time saue where the King was Partie Saue also that the Councell-Table intermedled too much with Meum and Tuum For it was a very Court of Iustice during his time especially in the Beginning But in that part both of Iustice and Policie which is the Durable Part and cut as it were in Brasse or Marble which is The making of good Lawes he did excell And with his Iustice hee was also a Mercifull Prince As in whose time there were but three of the Nobilitie that suffered the Earle of Warwicke the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord AWDLEY Though the first two were in stead of Numbers in the Dislike and Obloquie of the People But there were neuer so great Rebellions expiated with so little Bloud drawne by the hand of Iustice as the two Rebellions of Black-heath and Excester As for the Seueritie vsed vpon those which were taken in Kent it was but vpon a Scumme of People His Pardons went euer both before and after his Sword But then hee had withall a strange kinde of Interchanging of large and inexpected Pardons which seuere Executions Which his Wisedome considered could not bee imputed to any
and deepe fore-sight For it did the better take away occasion for the people to busie themselues to prie into the Kings Title for that howsoeuer it fell their safety was alreadie prouided for Besides it could not but greatly draw vnto him the loue and hearts of the people because hee seemed more carefull for them than for himselfe But yet neuerthelesse it did take off from his Partie that great Tie and Spurre of necessity to fight and goe Victors out of the fielde considering their liues and fortunes were put in safety and protected whether they stood to it or ranne away But the force and obligation of this Law was in it selfe Illusorie as to the latter part of it by a precedent Act of Parliament to binde or frustrate a future For a supreme and absolute Power cannot conclude it selfe neither can that which is in nature reuocable bee made fixed no more than if a man should appoint or declare by his Will that if hee made any Latter will it should bee voyde And for the Case of the Act of Parliament there is a notable President of it in King HENRIE the Eight's time Who doubting hee might dye in the minoritie of his Sonne procured an Act to passe That no Statute made during the minoritie of the King should binde him or his Successours except it were confirmed by the King vnder his great Seale at his full age But the first Act that passed in King EDWARD the Sixth his time was an Act of Repeale of that former Act at which time neuerthelesse the King was Minor But things that doe not binde may satisfie for the time There was also made a shoaring or vnderpropping Act for the Beneuolence to make the summes which any person had agreed to pay and neuerthelesse were not brought in to bee leuiable by course of Law Which Act did not only bring in the Areres but did indeed countenance the whole businesse and was pretended to bee made at the desire of those that had beene forward to pay This Parliament also was made that good Law which gaue the Attaint vpon a false Uerdict betweene Partie and Partie which before was a kinde of Euangile irremediable It extends not to causes Capitall as well because they are for the most part at the Kings Suite as because in them if they bee followed in Course of Indictment there passeth a double Iurie the Indictors and the Triers and so not Twelue Men but Foure and twentie But it seemeth that was not the onely reason for this reason holdeth not in the Appeale But the great reason was lest it should tend to the discouragement of Iurors in Cases of Life and Death if they should bee subiect to Suite and Penaltie where the fauour of Life maketh against them It extendeth not also to any Suite where the Demand is vnder the value of fortie pounds for that in such Cases of pettie value it would not quite the Charge to goe about againe There was another Law made against a branch of Ingratitude in Women who hauing beene aduanced by their Husbands or their Husbands Ancestors should alien and thereby seeke to defeate the Heires or those in Remainder of the Lands whereunto they had bin so aduanced The remedie was by giuing power to the next to enter for a forfeiture There was also enacted that Charitable Law for the admission of poore Suiters In Forma Pauperis without Fee to Counsellor Atturney or Clerke whereby poore men became rather able to vexe than vnable to sue There were diuers other good Lawes made that Parliament as we said before but we still obserue our manner in selecting out those that are not of a Vulgar nature The King this while though hee sate in Parliament as in full Peace and seemed to account of the designes of PERKIN who was now returned into Flanders but as a May game yet hauing the composition of a wise King Stout without and apprehensiue within had giuen order for the watching of Beacons vpon the Coasts and erecting more where they stood too thin and had a carefull eye where this wandering Cloude would breake But PERKIN aduised to keepe his fire which hitherto burned as it were vpon greene Wood aliue with continuall blowing Sailed againe into Ireland whence he had formerly departed rather vpon the hopes of France than vpon any vnreadinesse or discouragement hee found in that People But in the space of time betweene the Kings Diligence and POYNINGS Commission had so settled things there as there was nothing left for PERKIN but the blustring affection of wilde and naked people Wherefore hee was aduised by his Councell to seeke aide of the King of Scotland a Prince yong and valourous and in good termes with his Nobles and People and ill affected to King HENRY At this time also both MAXIMILIAN and CHARLES of France began to beare no good will to the King The one beeing displeased with the Kings Prohibition of Commerce with Flanders The Other holding the King for suspect in regard of his late entrie into league with the Italians Wherefore besides the open Aides of the Duchesse of Burgundy which did with Sayles and Oares put on and aduance PERKINS designes there wanted not some secret Tides from MAXIMILIAN and CHARLES which did further his fortunes In so much as they both by their secret Letters and Messages recommended him to the King of Scotland PERKIN therefore comming into Scotland vpon those hopes with a well appointed company was by the King of Scots beeing formerly well prepared honourably welcommed and soone after his arriuall admitted to his Presence in a solemne manner For the King receiued him in State in his Chamber of Presence accompanied with diuers of his Nobles And PERKIN well attended as well with those that the King had sent before him as with his owne Traine entered the roome where the King was and comming neare to the King and bowing a little to embrace him hee retired some paces backe and with a loud voyce that all that were present might heare him made his Declaration in this manner HIgh and Mighty King your Grace and these your Nobles here present may be pleased benignely to bow your Eares to heare the Tragedie of a young Man that by Right ought to hold in his hand the Ball of a Kingdome but by Fortune is made Himselfe a Ball tossed from Miserie to Miserie and from Place to Place You see here before you the Spectacle of a PLANTAGENET who hath beene carried from the Nurserie to the Sanctuarie from the Sanctuarie to the direfull Prison from the Prison to the Hand of the cruell Tormentor and from that Hand to the wide Wildernesse as I may truely call it for so the World hath beene to mee So that hee that is borne to a great Kingdome hath not Ground to set his foote vpon more than this where hee now standeth by your Princely Fauour EDWARD the Fourth late King of England as your Grace cannot but haue heard left