THE CHRONICLE HISTORIE OF PERKIN WARBECK A Strange Truth Acted some-times by the Queenes MAIESTIES Servants at the Phaenix in Drurie lane Fide Honor LONDON Printed by T. P. for Hugh Beeston and are to be sold at his Shop neere the Castle in Cornehill 1634 The Scene The Continent of Great Britayne The Persons presented Henry the seaventh Dawbney Sir William Stanly Oxford Surrey Bishop of Durham Vrswicke Chaplaine to King Henry Sir Robert Clifford Lambert Simnell Hialas a Spanish Agent Constable Officers Servingmen and Souldiers Iames the 4th King of Scotl Earle of Huntley Earle of Crawford Lord Daliell Marchmount a Herauld Perkin Warbeck Frion his Secretarie Mayor of Cork Heron a Mercer Sketon a Taylor Astly a Scrivener Women Ladie Katherine Gourdon wife to Perkin Countesse of Crawford Iane Douglas Lady Kath: mayd TO THE RIGHTLY HONOVRABLE VVILLIAM CAVENDISH Earle of New-Castle Viscount Mansfield Lord Boulfouer and Ogle MY LORD Out of the darknesse of a former Age enlighten'd by a late both learned and an honourable pen I haue endevoured to personate a great Attempt and in It a greater Daunger In other Labour's you may reade Actions of Antiquitie discourst In This Abridgement finde the Actors themselues discoursing in some kinde practiz'd as well What to speake as speaking Why to doe Your Lop. is a most competent Iudge in expressions of such credit commissioned by your knowne Abilitie in examining and enabled by your knowledge in determining the monuments of Time Eminent Titles may indeed informe who their owners are not often what To your's the addition of that information in BOTH cannot in any application be observ'd flattery the Authoritie being established by TRVTH I can onely acknowledge the errours in writing mine owne the worthinesse of the Subject written being a perfection in the Story and of It. The custome of your ps entertainements even to Strangers is rather an Example than a Fashion in which consideration I dare not professe a curiositie but am onely studious that your p will please amongst such as best honour your Goodnesse to admit into your noble construction IOHN FORD To my owne friend Master Iohn Ford on his Iustifiable Poem of Perkin Warbeck This Ode THey who doe know mee know that I Vnskil'd to flatter Dare speake This Piece in words in matter A WORKE without the daunger of the Lye Beleeue mee friend the name of This and Thee Will liue your Storie Bookes may want Faith or merit glorie THIS neither without Iudgement 's Lethargie When the Arts doate then some sicke Poet may Hope that his penne In new-staind-paper can finde men To roare HE is THE WIT'S His NOYSE doth sway But such an Age cannot be know'n for All E're that Time bee Must proue such Truth mortalitie So friend thy honour stand's too fixt to fall George Donne To his worthy friend Master Iohn Ford vpon his Perkin Warbeck LEt men who are writt Poets lay a claime To the Phebean Hill I haue no name Nor art in Verse True I haue heard some tell Of Aganippe but ne're knew the Well Therefore haue no ambition with the Times To be in Print for making of ill Rimes But loue of Thee and Iustice to thy Penne Hath drawne mee to this Barre with other men To justifie though against double Lawes Waving the subtill bus'nesse of his cause The GLORIOVS PERKIN and thy Poet 's Art Equall with His in playing the KINGS PART Ra E'ure Baronis Primogen To my faithfull no lesse deserving friend the Authour This indebted Oblation PERKIN is redivin'd by thy strong hand And crownd' a King of new the vengefull wand Of Greatnesse is forgot HIS Execution May rest vn-mention'd and HIS birth 's Collusion Lye buried in the Storie But HIS fame Thou has't eterniz'd made a Crowne HIS Game HIS loftie spirit soares yet Had HE been Base in his enterprise as was his sinne Conceiv'd HIS TITLE doubtlesse prou'd vnjust Had but for Thee been silenc't in his dust George Crymes miles To the Authour his friend vpon his Chronicle Historie THese are not to expresse thy witt But to pronounce thy Iudgement fitt In full-fil'd phrase those Times to rayse When PERKIN ran his wilie wayes Still let the methode of thy brayne From Errours touch and Envy's stayne Preserue Thee free that eu'r thy quill Fayre Truth may wett and Fancy fill Thus Graces are with Muses mett And practick Critick's on may frett For heere Thou hast produc't A Storie Which shall ecclipse Their future Glorie Iohn Brograue To my friend and kinsman Master Iohn Ford the Authour DRammatick Poets as the Times goe now Can hardly write what others will allow The Cynick snarl's the Critick howles and barkes And Ravens croake to drowne the voyce of Larkes Scorne those STAGE-HARPYES This I 'le boldly say Many may imitate few match thy Play Iohn Ford Graiensis PROLOGVE STudyes haue of this Nature been of late So out of fashion so vnfollow'd that It is become more Iustice to reviue The antick follyes of the Times then striue To countenance wise Industrie no want Of Art doth render witt or lame or scant Or slothfull in the purchase of fresh bayes But want of Truth in Them who giue the prayse To their selfe-loue presuming to out-doe The Writer or for need the Actor's too But such THIS AVTHOVR'S silence best befitt's Who bidd's Them be in loue with their owne witt's From Him to cleerer Iudgement 's wee can say Hee shew's a Historie couch't in a Play A Historie of noble mention knowne Famous and true most noble 'cause our owne Not forg'd from Italie from Fraunce from Spaine But Chronicled at Home as rich in strayne Of braue Attempts as ever fertile Rage In Action could beget to grace the Stage Wee cannot limitt Scenes for the whole Land It selfe appeard too narrow to with-stand Competitors for Kingdomes nor is heere Vnnecessary mirth forc't to indeere A multitude on these two rest's the Fate Of worthy expectation TRUTH and STATE THE CHRONICLE HISTORIE OF PERKIN WARBECK Actus primus Scaena prima Enter King Henry Durham Oxford Surrey Sir William Stanly Lord Chamberlaine Lord Dawbny The King supported to his Throne by Stanly and Durham A Guard King Still to be haunted still to be pursued Still to be frighted with false apparitions Of pageant Majestie and new-coynd greatnesse As if wee were a mockery King in state Onely ordaind to lauish sweat and bloud In scorne and laughter to the ghosts of Yorke Is all below our merits yet my Lords My friends and Counsailers yet we sit fast In our owne royall birth-right the rent face And bleeding wounds of England's slaughterd people Haue beene by vs as by the best Physitian At last both throughly Cur'd and set in safetie And yet for all this glorious worke of peace Our selfe is scarce secure Dur: The rage of malice Conjures fresh spirits with the spells of Yorke For ninetie yeares ten English Kings and Princes Threescore great Dukes and Earles a thousand Lords And valiant Knights two hundred
returnes A sensible Devotion from his heart His very soule to this vnfellowed grace For let the King know gentle Haralds truely How his descent from his great throne to honor A stranger subject with so high a title As his Compeere in Armes hath conquered more Then any sword could doe for which my loyaltie Respected I will serue his vertues ever In all humilitie but Barwicke say Is none of mine to part with In affayres Of Princes Subjects cannot trafficke rights Inherent to the Crowne My life is mine That I dare freely hazard and with pardon To some vnbrib'd vaine-glorie if his Majestie Shall taste a chaunge of fate his libertie Shall meete no Articles If I fall falling So brauely I referre me to his pleasure Without condition and for this deare favour Say if not countermaunded I will cease Hostilitie vnlesse provokt March: This answere Wee shall relate impartially Durh: With favour Pray haue a little patience Sir you finde By these gay-flourishes how wearied travayle Inclines to willing rest heere 's but a Prologue However confidently vtterd meant For some ensuing Acts of peace consider The time of yeare vnseasonablenesse of weather Charge barrennesse of profite and occasion Presents it selfe for honorable treatie Which wee may make good vse of I will backe As sent from you in poynt of noble gratitude Vnto King Iames with these his Heralds you Shall shortlie heare from me my Lord for order Of breathing or proceeding and King Henrie Doubt not will thanke the service Surr: To your wisedome Lord Bishop I referre it Durh: Be it so then Surr: Haralds accept this chaine and these few Crownes March: Our Dutie Noble Generall Dur. In part Of retribution for such Princely loue My Lord the Generall is pleasd to shew The King your Maister his sincerest zeale By further treatie by no common man I will my selfe returne with you Sur: Y'obliege My faithfullest affections t' ee Lord Bishop March: All happinesse attend your Lordship Surr: Come friends And fellow-Souldiers wee l doubt shall meete No enemies but woods and hills to fight with Then t were as good to feede and sleepe at home Wee may be free from daunger not secure Exeunt omnes Enter Warbeck and Frion Warb: Frion ô Frion all my hopes of glorie Are at a stand the Scottish King growes dull Frostie and wayward since this Spanish Agent Hath mixt Discourses with him they are private I am not cald to counsaile now confusion On all his craftie shrugges I feele the fabricke Of my designes are tottering Frion Henries pollicies Stirre with too many engins Warb: Let his mines Shapt in the bowells of the earth blow vp Workes raisd for my defence yet can they never Tosse into ayre the freedome of my birth Or disavow my bloud Plantaginetts I am my Fathers sonne still but ô Frion When I bring into count with my Disasters My Wifes compartnership my Kates my lifes Then then my frailtie feeles an earth-quake mischiefe Damb Henries plotts I will be Englands King Or let my Aunt of Burgundie report My fall in the attempt deserv'd our Auncestors Frion You grow too wilde in passion if you will Appeare a Prince indeede confine your will To moderation Warb: What a saucie rudenesse Prompts this distrust If if I will appeare Appeare a Prince Death throttle such deceites Even in their birth of vtterance cursed cozenage Of trust Y'ee make me mad t were best it seemes That I should turne Imposter to my selfe Be mine owne counterfeite belie the truth Of my deare mothers wombe the sacred bed Of a Prince murthered and a living baffeld Frion Nay if you haue no eares to heare I haue No breath to spend in vaine Warb. Sir sir take heede Golde and the promise of promotion rarely Fayle in temptation Frion Why to me this Warb. Nothing Speake what you will wee are not suncke so low But your advise may peece againe the heart Which many cares haue broken you were wont In all extremities to talke of comfort Haue yee' none left now I le not interrupt yee' Good beare with my distractions if King Iames Denie vs dwelling here next whither must I I preethee' be not angrie Frion Sir I tolde yee' Of Letters come from Ireland how the Cornish Stomacke their last defeate and humblie sue That with such forces as you could partake You would in person land in Cornwall where Thousands will entertaine your title gladly Warb: Let me embrace thee hugge thee th' ast reviud My comforts if my cosen King will fayle Our cause will never welcome my tride friends Enter Major Heron Astley Sketon You keepe your braines awake in our defence Frion advise with them of these affaires In which be wondrous secret I will listen What else concernes vs here be quicke and warie Exit Warbeck Astl: Ah sweet young Prince Secretarie my fellow Counsellers and I haue consulted and jumpe all in one opinion directly that if this Scotch garboyles doe not fadge to our mindes wee will pell mell runne amongst the Cornish Chaughes presently and in a trice Sket: 'T is but going to Sea and leaping ashore cut tenne or twelue thousand vnnecessary throats fire seaven or eight townes take halfe a dozen Cities get into the Market place crowne him RICHARD THE FOVRTH and the businesse is finisht Major I graunt yee quoth I so farre forth as men may doe no more then men may doe for it is good to consider when consideration may be to the purpose otherwise still you shall pardon me Little sayd is soone amended Frion Then you conclude the Cornish Action surest Heron. Wee doe so And doubt not but to thriue abundantly Ho my Masters had wee knowne of the Commotion when wee set sayle out of Ireland the Land had beene ours ere this time Sket: Pish pish 't is but forbearing being an Earle or a Duke a moneth or two longer I say and say it agen if the worke goe not on apace let me never see new fashion more I warrant yee' I warrant yee wee will haue it so and so it shall be Ast: This is but a cold phlegmaticke Countrie not stirring enough for men of spirit giue mee the heart of England for my money Ske: A man may batten there in a weeke onely with hot loaues and butter and a lustie cup of Muscadine and Sugar at breakfast though he make never a meale all the moneth after Major Surely when I bore office I found by experience that to be much troublesome was to be much wise and busie I haue observed how filching and bragging has beene the best service in these last warres and therefore conclude peremptorily on the Designe in England If things and things may fall out as who can tell what or how but the end will shew it Frion Resolv'd like men of judgement here to linger More time is but to loose it cheare the Prince And hast him on to this on this depends Fame in successe or glorie in our ends Exeunt omnes Enter King Iames
mine Shee s all yours now good Sir oh poore lost creature Heaven guard thee with much patience is thou canst Forget thy title to olde Huntleyes familie As much of peace will settle in thy minde As thou canst wish to taste but in thy graue Accept my teares yet preethee they are tokens Of charitie as true as of affection Kath: This is the cruelst farewell Hunt: Loue young Gentleman This modell of my griefes shee calls you husband Then be not jealous of a parting kisse It is a Fathers not a Lovers offring Take it may last I am too much a childe Exchange of passion is to little vse So I should grow to foolish goodnes guide thee Exit Hunt Kath: Most miserable Daughter haue you ought To adde Sir to our sorrowes Daliell I resolue Fayre Ladie with your leaue to waite on all Your fortunes in my person if your Lord Vouchsafe me entertainement Warb: Wee will be bosome friends most noble Daliell For I accept this tender of your loue Beyond abilitie of thankes to speake it Cleere thy drownd eyes my fayrest time and industrie Will shew vs better dayes or end the worst Exeunt omnes Enter Oxford and Dawbney Oxf: No newes from Scotland yet my Lord Daw: Not any But what King Henrie knowes himselfe I thought Our Armies should haue marcht that way his minde It seemes is altered Oxf. Victorie attends His Standard every where Dawb: Wise Princes Oxford Fight not alone with forces Providence Directs and tutors strength else Elephants And barbed Horses might as well prevaile As the most subtile stratagems of warre Oxf: The Scottish King shew'd more then common braverie In proffer of a Combatt hand to hand With Surrey Dawb: And but shew'd it Northern blouds Are gallant being fir'd but the cold climate Without good store of fuell quickly freeseth The glowing flames Oxf: Surrey vpon my life Would not haue shrunke an hayres breadth Dawb: May a' forfeite The honor of an English name and nature Who would not haue embrac't it with a greedinesse As violent as hunger runnes to foode 'T was an addition any worthie Spirit Would covet next to immortalitie Aboue all joyes of life wee all mist shares In that great opportunitie Enter King Henrie and Vrswicke whispering Oxf: The King see a' comes smiling Dawb: O the game runnes smooth On his side then beleeue it Cards well shuffeld And dealt with cunning bring some gamester thrift But others must rise loosers K: H the trayne takes Vrsw: Most prosperously K. H. I knew it should not misse He fondly angles who will hurle his bayte Into the water 'cause the Fish at first Playes round about the line and dares not bite Lords wee may reigne your King yet Dawbney Oxford Vrwicke must Perkin weare the Crowne Dawb: A Slaue Oxf: A Vagabond Vrsw: A Glow-worme K: H Now if Frion His practisd politician weare a brayne Of proofe King Perkin will in progresse ride Through all his large Dominions let vs meete him And tender homage Ha Sirs Liegmen ought To pay their fealtie Dawb: Would the Rascall were With all his rabble within twentie miles Of London K: H Farther off is neere enough To lodge him in his home he wager odds Surrey and all his men are either idle Or hasting backe they haue not worke I doubt To keepe them busie Dawb 'T is a strange conceite Sir K: H Such voluntarie favours as our people In dutie ayde vs with wee never scatter'd On Cobweb Parasites or lavish't out In ryot or a needlesse hospitalitie No vndeserving favourite doth boast His issues from our treasury our charge Flowes through all Europe prooving vs but steward Of every contribution which provides Against the creeping Cankar of Disturbance Is it not rare then in this toyle of State Wherein wee are imbarkt with breach of sleepe Cares and the noyse of trouble that our mercy Returnes nor thankes nor comfort Still the West Murmure and threaten innovation Whisper our government tyrannicall Denie vs what is ours nay spurne their liues Of which they are but owners by our guift It must not be Oxf: It must not should not K: H So then To whom Enter a Post Post This packett to your sacred Majestie K: H Sirra attend without Oxf: Newes from the North vpon my life Daw. Wise Henry Devines aforehand of events with him Attempts and execution are one act K: H Vrswicke thine eare Frion is caught the man Of cunning is out-reacht wee must be safe Should reverend Morton our Arch-bishop moue To a translation higher yet I tell thee My Durham ownes a brayne deserues that See Hee s nimble in his industrie and mounting Thou hear'st me Vrsw: And conceiue your Highnesse fitly K. H. Dawbney and Oxford since our Armie stands Entire it were a weakenesse to admit The rust of lazinesse to eate amongst them Set forward toward Salisburie the playnes Are most commodious for their exercise Our selfe will take a Muster of them there And or disband them with reward or else Dispose as best concernes vs Dawb: Salisburie Sir all is peace at Salisburie K: H Deare friend The charge must be our owne we would a little Pertake the pleasure with our Subjects ease Shall I entreat your Loues Oxf: command our Liues K: H Y' are men know how to doe not to forethinke My Bishop is a jewell try'd and perfect A jewell Lords the Post who brought these Letters Must speed another to the Mayor of Exceter Vrswicke dismisse him not Vrs: He waites your pleasure K: H Perkin a King a King Vrs: My gracious Lord K: H Thoughts busied in the spheare of Royaltie Fixe not on creeping wormes without their stings Meere excrements of earth The vse of time Is thriving safetie and a wise prevention Of ills expected W' are resolv'd for Salisburie Exe omnes A generall shout within Enter Warbeck Daliell Katherine and Iane Warb: After so many stormes as winde and Seas Haue threatned to our weather-beaten Shippes At last sweet fayrest wee are safe arriv'd On our deare mother earth ingratefull onely To heaven and vs in yeelding sustenance To slie Vsurpers of our throne and right These generall acclamations are an OMEN Of happie processe to their welcome Lord They flocke in troopes and from all parts with wings Of dutie flie to lay their hearts before vs Vnequal'd patterne of a matchlesse wife How fares my dearest yet Kath: Confirm'd in health By which I may the better vndergoe The roughest face of change but I shall learne Patience to hope since silence courts affliction For comforts to this truely noble Gentleman Rare vnexampled patterne of a friend And my beloved Iane the willing follower Of all misfortunes Dal: Ladie I returne But barren cropps of early protestations Frost-bitten in the spring of fruitlesse hopes Iane I waite but as the shaddow to the bodie For Madam without you let me be nothing Warb: None talke of sadnesse wee are on the way Which leades to Victorie keepe cowards thoughts With desperate sullennesse