of the world and times For the Maiestie of Kings will not be tied vp with the slender bindings of rebellion nor taught any lesson against their wils either of fauouring or disfauouring whom they please As for personall faults Alas Princes Prelates Officers Maiestrates and all sorts of men will runne the race of mortality and if it were possible to remoue offenders at pleasure the persons may be changed but the imperfections continue Let them therefore alone a Gods name for they must stand or fall to the estate of their liues which he hath appointed only this I will be bold to say I would haue no man for any priuate respect runne in the outragious races of sinnes himselfe or defend any wickednesse in others beare with great men in their vices flatter or temporize for profit or preferment yeeld vnto base or degenerating actions either for feare or fauour or in a word doe any thing contrary to Gods word wherein as in a glasse men may perspicuously behold the way of life and death and the infallible positions which in the affirmatiue and negatiue conclude all things either by precept or interdiction Eurip. Orest. Paruis enim res magnas quomodò caperet quis laboribus stultum etiam velle conarihaec quando enim excanduerit populus ad iram prolapsus similis est igni ad extinguendum vehementi si vero pedetentim quis ei concitato quidem cedens obsecundârit tempus cautè obseruans cum autem emiserit flatus forsan exhalauerit THE TRVE AND wonderfull History of PERKIN VVARBECK THE contentions betweene the houses of Yorke and Lancaster are the subiects of many discourses and therefore I will insist the lesse either vpon Genealogies Titles Vsurpations Warres Factions Encounters Reuenges Battails Slaughters or other accidentall outrages which for 90. yeares filled the wrinckles of the face of our Common-wealth of England with the blood and sweat of tenne Kings and Princes of the race roiall 60 Dukes and Earles 1000 Lords and Knights and 150000 Soldiers and people Only I must make a little commorance and abiding in the wretched and ragged house of enuie and malice gouerned and ouerseene by a woman who was so opposite and aduerse to the Lancastrian family that for all King Henry the seuenth had obtained the Crowne by a strong hand and as we say diuinitùs praemunitus yea debarred all Titles or fuming shadowes of Titles by consummating that mariage with the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter of Edward the fourth she yet contriued all the waies of his ouerthrow and inuit â fortunâ entertained euery occasion which might adde fuell to the fier of her inueterate hate and blood-thirstie humor of reuenge as if she had beene borne like certaine Antipathies in nature which cannot endure any neighbour-hood or commixture such as the Eugh and Palme the Figge and Vine the strings of Wolues and Sheep which makes me remember the story of Eteocles and Pollinices the sonnes of Oedipus whose hate was so great in their liues that after death the bones being burnt togeather the flame of the sacrifice deuided asunder This was Margaret Dutches of Burgundy sister of Edward the fourth and a sworne aduersary to cast the red Rose of England into the black pit of confusion who perceiuing her first hopes frustrated and annihilated concerning the progression of Lamberts enterprises studied night and day vpon further and further instigations yea houered ouer opportunitie like a hawke for her pray to torment and trouble the peace of England embracing euery strange and prestigious illusion and not caring with what pullies of ridiculous and impossible actions her malice and reuenges were woond vp so they might be hurried downe againe vpon the head of the King whom she cursed on her knees and hated euen beyond the tendernesse of her sex many of her owne friends for his sake Therefore to weary his patience a little more she set vp another puppet like the former one Peter Warbeck a Fleming to act a part of wonder on the Stage of dangerous Innouation and take vpon him the Title of Richard the fourth Prince of England and white Rose of the same But before I play the Midwife or if you will Phisitian with her to deliuer her wombe of this monstrous birth of Peter Warbeck whom she taught the cunning and audacious impudency of personating Richard Duke of Yorke murthered with his brother in the Tower by Richard the third some eight yeare before I thinke it not impertinent to our purpose in hand to tell you what this Lambert was and wherein he seemed cosened with the whorish smiles of an adulterate fortune by the only meanes and coadiutement of this Dutches of Burgundy The first and second yeares of Henry the seuenth swelled to so great a height of ioy blessednesse and contentment from the rivulets of King Richards slaughter the corroboration of his estate the amity of the Nobles the mariage with the eldest daughter of Yorke the birth of Prince Arthur the league and amitie of forraine Princes and the applause of all his subiects that the diuine prouidence thought it meet to temper and allay the excesse of the same with some mixtures of feares and displeasure lest mortalitie might presume too farre and man triumph that his owne arme of flesh had contriued his establishment So that the Lord Louel Humphrey and Thomas Stafford with Sir Thomas Broughton and diuers others attempted a dangerous rebellion and drew into the field a great Army against the King whom to preuent the Duke of Bedford with such forces as could be raised on a soddain made hast to an encounter but his fortune was so good that with a successefull Oratory not striking a stroake he preuailed to dissipate those threatning and thickning clouds of disturbance For after he had intimated the hainousnes of their transgression nature of their offences which were capital Treasons with al inferred the Kings great mercy which was willing to pardon their rashnesse and pitiful ouersights so they would desist and retire peaceably into their Countries the whole company surceased and quietly deposed their Armes whereupon the Lord Louel fled and the Staffords tooke Sanctuary in a Village called Culnaham two miles from Abington but because the Iudges of the law alledged that the Townes of refuge among the Iewes were ordained for other purposes and that Ioab was killed holding by the hornes of the Altar and the places of priuiledges in England were neuer meant to suborne Traitors Humphrey Stafford was taken by force from the Towne and sent to the Tower from whence they brought him to Tyborne and there put him to execution His yonger Brother Thomas was notwithstanding remitted as a man whom consanguinitie and brother-hood had rather deceiued then wilfulnesse and malice against the King abused O blessed wisedome that can so temper Iustice with the consideration of mens frailties and other maleuolent circumstances to keep her a while from contracting a brow of reuenge
Orators pleading for the time in a bad cause with good words and handling an ill matter too-too well From thence he went couragiously against the whole company and what with the former Earles assaulting them on the one side and his owne charges on the other side as knowing how the Kings businesse stood to make an end of the warre the battaile began apace and not a man but prepared himselfe to fight it out till at last the Lord Dawbney engaged himselfe so farre that he was taken prisoner but whether for feare or through his owne wit and pollicie they quickly released him and he as quickly dispatched the matter and made an end of the warre For he put them all to flight so that a man may well say vnto them Via nulla saâ—utis Non fuga non virtus vix spes quoque mortis honestae and I may truely report of the contrary neuer was a battaile so well fought and so quickly determined For before the King was ready to goe to dinner there were slaine two thousand Rebels and many more taken prisoners the rest hardly escaped home who for all their defeature and vncomfortable newes to the people were rather accelerated to reuenge their companions wrongs then exanimated from further attempts or seemed grieued at the King and Countries molestation shewing sad lookes but stomachous hearts and so remained intoxicated in their braines and ready vpon euery occasion to a new rebellion as you shall heare hereafter When this battaile was ended and so delicately contriued for the King lost not aboue foure hundred men some imputed it to the Kings policy who appointing the same on Monday by way of anticipation fell vpon them on Saterday and so taking them somewhat vnprouided had the fortune to preuaile and thriue in his aduantage Such as were taken and apprehended had their pardon except the principall and fire-brands of the mischiefe For the Lord Audeley was drawne from Newgate to the Tower-Hill in a Coat of his owne armes painted vpon paper reuersed and all to torne and there beheaded the 28. of Iune Thomas Flamoch and Michael Ioseph were executed after the order of Traitors and their quarters sent into Cornwall for the terrifying of the people some were dispatched at sundry Townes as they deserued amongst whom the Smith and diuers others of his immodest friends had no excuse to make for this rebellion but whether they preuailed or no they were sure to be registred to eternity for daring to doe somewhat in behalfe of their Countries liberty and bidding battaile to Kings and Princes at their Pallace Gates and before the Citie Wals euen London it selfe that great Citie the Chamber for their treasury and strength of their roialtie which makes me remember a saying of Lucan Sed me velsola tueri Fama potest rerum toto quas gessimus orbe Et nomen quod mundus amat And in another place Quid plura feram tum nomina tanto Inuenies operi vel famam consule mundi and this was the end of the twelfth yeare In this time you must know that the King of Scots lay not idle but meerely vpon supposition of what would follow prepareth himselfe nor was so ill befriended but he had secret intelligences of all King Henries purposes and intendments whereupon he enlarged his Army barracadoed his passages entrenched and fortified the holds kept good Watch and Ward and stood on the pinacles of a high presumption to encounter with the proudest forces of England yea to giue defiance if need were to the King himselfe Notwithstanding he now lay a while only at defence watching with what warde the English would breake vpon him and wondring at my Lord Dawbneis retraction and why he came not forward as his espials had aduertised but when he vnderstood of the Westerne rebellion he then coniectured the truth and a while reposed himselfe till a Messenger of these Westerne men came vnto Perkin and profered their obedience and endeuours if he would come and ioine his Army with theirs and so as their Prince and Captaine reuenge there wrongs this was motioned to King Ieames who for all he confessed that if they would ioine with the Cornish men there might be a gate open indeed to preuaile and walke in the fields of Victorie yet he would by no meanes aduenture his people so farre and confessed plainly he wanted ships for transporting so great an Army into those parts Only because he would be doing to please the supposed Prince he meant to take this opportunitie of the King of Englands disturbance and once againe aduenture into his territories and so with a sufficient preparation he attempted the Castle of Norrham standing vpon the Riuer of Twede deuiding Scotland and England But Richard Fox Bishop of Durham a man of great learning courage experience and fidelitie suspecting as much had well stored and fortified the same and was in it with such power munition and prouision as he was able to raise sending the King word of the siedge and inuiting the Earle of Surrey to come to his reskue with all expedition The Earle was mustering of men in Yorke-shire when this newes extended it selfe and like a worthy seruitor hastned his iourney the rather and so with twelue Earles and Barons of the North Countrie one hundred Knights and Gentlemen of name and twentie thousand Soldiers well ordered and armed he came to raise the siedge in which this braue Prelate was so engaged Besides he furnished a hansome Nauy at Sea whereof the Lord Brooke was Admirall to giue their attendance whatsoeuer should chance But when the King of Scots and his counterfet Duke of Yorke had full and certaine notice of the Earle of Surreis approach and that the Lord Dawbenies army was also integrat and vnbroken yea ready to march forward as a second to the former they thought it better to retire with securitie then to tarry the aduenture with certeinty of losse if not hazzard both of life and honour and so by a voluntary consent they raised their campe and returned vnder colour of commiseration of the people whom they knew in the best war must be subiected to slaughter or captiuitie and to this purpose they could yield a reason out of our Poet to certain spirits that wondred at their affrightings and drawings back seeing no perill apparant nor hearing of any stedfast reports concerning a more forcible enemie and so calling for a book reading to them this leâ—â—on of satisfaction Potuit tibi Vulnere nullo Stare labor belli potuit fine caede subactum Captiuumque ducem violatae tradere paci Quiâ— furor â— Coeci scelerum Ciuilia bella Gesturimetuunt ne non cum sanguine vincant This answere of the Kings did rather harme then good to poore Perkin For they perceiued the King was weary of this warre and loth to take his part any longer and so they rested a while displeasingly pleased But the truth was the
Lady Margaret his most worthy aunt and faithfull coadiutrix He had not beene long in Ireland but his false fortune began once againe to play with him as flattering him with assured confidence and warrantize that the Westerne men would welcome and entertaine him from whom he had this notice that they could not forget their former iniuries and slaughters nor determined a setled and true obedience to the Lancastrian family whereupon because something must be done or else he should be for euer discredited or that God in his Iustice derided all suâ—h enterprises to scorne or else in his mercy would giue King Henry a breathing time to set his other Princely qualities of wisedome magnificence quietnesse religion charitie gouernment and polâ—ecy on worke he sailed out of Ireland with fiue small Ships and two hundred men his wife and attendants his substance and wealth and in a word all that he had But when he was to conferre about his landing and setting forward his designes he had such poore Councellors as a man would smile at for pity rather then laugh at for scorne For his principall friends were now Iohn Heron a mercer and banquerout Iohn of Water sometimes Maior of Cork Richard Sketon a Tailer and Iohn Astley a Scriuener men in generall defame for dishonest actions and in particular reproach for vnderstanding nothing but what consorted to their own wilfulnesse and outragious appetites of whom I may say as Ouid complaines in another case in his Elegies Non bene conducti vendunt periuria testes Non bene sâ—lecti Iudicis arca patet With this crue about the month of September he landed at a place called Bodnam and there so sollicited and excited the multitude and wauâ—ing people that when they heard him proclaimed Richard the fourth as the indubitat sonne of Edward the fourth whom the Duke of Glocester or if you will Richard the Tyrant determined to murther but that he escaped by the prouidence of God they flocked vnto him to the number of 4000. and according to the nature of children running after newfangled toies or painted pictures submitted to his princelines and sware with all allegeance to maintaine his dignity royaltie with which confidence company after they had taken the musters of his Army and concluded to get some strong Townes into their possession that so they might not only augment their forces but still haue places of supportation and refuge to retire vnto they went directly to Excester and besiedged it But because they wanted ordnance to make a battery and other prouision to raise their trenches and approches or indeed if you will were ignorant of martiall discipline and the secrets of a true Soldiers profession they spent the more time against the Gates and endeauoured nothing but a forcible entrance assaulting the same with great peeces of timber like the Roman rammes crowes of yron fire-brands and impetuous violence of great stones cast at therâ— and amongst them But the Citizens manfully defended themselues and held it out to their perpetuall fame letting ouer the walls in secret places diuers in baskets with strong cords to post to the king acquaint him with their distresse In a mean while seeing a fire made vnder their Gates and that the enemies fury encreased they suspected themselues had no other shift but to put force to force with one fire extinguish or if you will deuoure another and so they caused great store of faggots timber combustible to be brought close to the posternes and greater gates where the mischieâ—e began and set the same on fire which encreased with a filthy smoake and smother and at last burst out into a flame and blazes so that neither the enemies could come in nor Citizens goe out but all were compelled to desist from that worke and apply themselues to more new and necessary labours For the Rebels assaulted the most weake and broken places of the Wall and the Citizens ranne to the expulsions and repaired the breaches as fast as they were made besides they had leasure to cast vp great trenches vnder their Gates and by strong barkes rampering the same made them more difficult passages then before The wals were mightely and impetuously assaulted but the worthy Citizens defended them with that courage and countermanding that they slew aboue two hundred Soldiers in that fury and behaued themselues as if they determined to obtaine a perpetuall name of renowne and vnmatchable Trophe of honor so that I may well and briefely say of them Serpens sitis ardor arenae Dulcia virtuti gaudet patientia duris When Perkin and his associats saw so strong and strange opposition they seemed both amased and defatigated at the same whereupon betweene rage and despaire he retired his lowsie and distressed Armie to the next great Towne called Taunton where he mustred them a new but found a great want of his company For many of his desperate followers were slaine and cut off many of the honester and ciuiler sort seeing the Towne of Excester so well maintained and that very few resorted vnto him contrarie to his former flourishes and ostentation fell from him and retired themselues home many wery of the wars and coniecturing an impossibility to remoue a king so firmely established or terrifyed with the punishment impending on Treason and presumptuous rebellion left him to his fortunes and many politikely forecasting for the worst seeing not one of the nobility or better sort to afford a helping hand to the lifting vp of this frame were contented to dispence with former protestations and so prouided for themselues whereby as I said as if the prouerb were verified Non habet euentus sordid a praeda bonos he came short of his reckning and the Items of his accounts went much curtailed of their former length and computation But in truth the posts of the Country brought comfortable tidings of the Kings Army approaching of which the Lord Daubney a fortunate and successefull man in all his enterprizes was Generall yet in the meane while had Lord Edward Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Lord William his son Sir Edmund Carey Sir Thomas Trenchard Sir William Courtney Sir Thomas Fulford Sir Iohn Hatwell Sir Iohn Croker Walter Courtney Peter Egecomb William Sentnaure and diuers others brought forward the forces of the countrey to raise the siege of Exester which not onely animated and encouraged the Citizens but rebated the fury of the contrary and diuerted them from that sore and outragious manner of assaulting the walls where in the last onset the noble Earle with diuers others were hurt with arrowes he wounded in the arme and the rest in seuerall parts of their bodies but very few slaine And so with much adoe this famous and honour-thirsting City with the honest Inhabitants of the same were deliuered and releeued By this time the royall standards of King Henry were aduanced in sight of the City and the dâ—ums beat vp their accustomed
restraint of his liberty and stomaching his former disgraces indignities would endure no longer but studied euery hower how to escape not yet knowing what to do when he did escape to which purpose by faire promises and false perswasions he corrupted his keepers Strangwaies Blewet Astwood and long Roger seruants of Sir Iohn Digby Lieutenant of the Tower to slay their said Master and set both Perkin and the true Earle of Warwicke at large and so to make their fortunes as they could either by domestike or forraine friends to which when the innocent Prince condiscended as glad any way to enioy his libertie and to be freed of his imprisonment for you see birds kept in golden cages beat and flutter vp and downe as scorning their enclosure to get out into their natiue Country the region of the aire mischiefe and misfortune which plaies the tyrant with many men all their liues long neuer affordeth one day or breathing time to giue them a taste of any pleasure or contentment discouered the whole conspiracy to the King and his Councell not leauing out any circumstance which might either exasperate his rage or pull forward death and destruction to the delinquents Whereupon without further disputing the matter Perkin Warbeck Iohn a Water sometimes Maior of Corck and his sonne were the 16. of Nouember arraigned and condemned at Westminster of high Treason and the 23. hanged at Tyburn Perkin mounted on a scaffold reading his confession and contrary to all expectation aâ—king the King and Country forgiuenesse and dying penitently with great remorce of conscience and compunction of spirit Et sic â—inis Priami Not long after Edward Earle of Warwick who had beene the 21. of Nouember arraigned at Westminster before the Earle of Oxford high Constable of England for the present was vpon the 28. 1429. beheaded at the Tower Hill For he quietly confessed the enditement concerning his consent and willingnesse to obtaine his libertie though it were by violating the law in that kinde and breaking of prison whose simplicity I rather lament then condemne the offence For it was a dangerous time for any Plantaginet to liue in and I may well cry out Omne tulit secum Caesaris ira malum But the King was indeed glad of this occasion and fortune gaue vertue the check because as he had imprisoned him without a cause he knew not what to doe with him without a fault yet some report that the principall reason of accelerating his death was a speech of Ferdinando's king of Spaine who should sweare that the mariage betweene Lady Katherine his daughter and Prince Arthur of Wales should neuer be consummated as long as any Earle of Warwick liued For the very name and title was not only formidable to other Nations but superstitions to the wauâ—ring and vnconstant English whereupon the King was the gladder to take hold of this opportunitie where in the conuiction of Law had cast this stumbling-block of treason in his walke and race to a longer life and yet was there nothing done but by orderly proceedings and iustifiable courses more then when the silly Prince submitted to his mercy he thought it the greatest point of mercy to looke to himselfe and so for the benefit of his posteritie and the sedation of all troubles both present and to come struck off his head and with him the head of all diuision and dissention FINIS True Histories to be preferred before all prophane and deuised relâ—tions The house of Lancaster began the first wrong Rebellion in Ireland naturall Sparâ—ago Sebastian Mortimer Treason did neuer long prosper Margaret Duches of Burgundy chiefest enemy of Henry the seuenth The Lord Louel and Stafford rebell against Henry the seuenth No Saâ—ctâ—ary for Traitors â— new Earle of Warwick The end of diuelish deuices our destruction Lambert Earle of Wâ—rwicke saâ—â—eth into Ireland The Earle of Kildare a sauorer of this counterfet Margaret Duches of Burgundy entertaineth this quarrell Eurip. Mâ—dâ—â— Articles agreed vpon by the Councell to prâ—uent the warre The Earle of Warwicke shewne in publike Iohn de la Pooles sonne Duke of Susâ— folke by a sister of Edward the fourth Now Earle of Lincolne taketh part with Lambert The Earle of Lincolâ—e and Lord Louel goe into Ireland to Lambert The King raiâ—eth an Armie The Lord Marâ— quesse Dorceâ— sent to the Tower Eurip. Bacchâ— Mâ—rtinus Swart Lambert with his Armie commeth into England Lucan lib. 1. The King with his army is ready to the encounter Lucan lib. 2. The Earle of Lincolne commeth forward to Newarck to meet the King Stoke field The armies ioyne The King obtaineth the victory against the Rebells Lucan lib. 9. The Duches of Burgundy is rather enraged then daâ—nâ—ed with the newes Euriâ— Medea The Duches of Burgundy raiseth new troubles Another Richard the fourth Peter Warbâ—ck instructed by the Duches hâ—w to demeane himselfe Perkins Oration to the Irish Lords The French King sendeth for Perkin Lucan Lib. 7. Perkin welcommed to Lady Margaret Eurip. Hippolitus Coronatus England strangely possessed with the humor of Perkin Sr. Robert Clifford sent to Perkin Lucan lib 6. The King prepareth for Peâ—kin Paâ—â—â— Helâ—â—â— Embasie to the Arch-Duke Eurip. Andromache The Duches answer to Doctor Warrham oranâ—tion Oâ—id Epist. Petrâ—rck dâ— contemptu mu ndi dial 3. The Embassador returne into England Quid. de arte amandi lib. 3. Eurip. Iphigenia in aulide A riot 〈◊〉 the Esterlings Sir William Stanley accused Eurip. Herefuâ—â—â—â— Sir William Stanley beheaded Eurip Heraclida Libel â—rs hanged Speciall Commissioners sent into Ireland Lucan lib. 5. The North of Ireland Sueuorum morâ—scu Politianâ— The Earle of Kildare accused by Sr. Edward Poinings The King progresse intercepted vpon report of Perkins lanâ—ding 〈◊〉 lib. 9. Perkin commeth to Kent Eurip. Hecuba Perkins company defeated he driuen backe to seâ— Ouid. 6 6. â—aâ—torum Perkin resolueth for Ireland and so into Scotland Perkins Oration to the King of Scots The King of Scots resolueth to assist Perkin Ouid. Epist. Helena Paridi The King of Scoss prouideth Perkin of a wife The Ladies answer Perkin marieth the Ladie Katherin Gourdon daughter to the Earle Huntley The Scots inuade England in the behalfe of Perkin â—ucan lib. 2. Perkin lamenteth the English slaughters The Kings aâ—â—â—swer Lucan lib. 3. Perkins answer Eurip. Helena They prepare in England against Perkin Arebellionin the west diuerteth the army out of Scotland â—â—mock and Ioseph Captains of the Rebâ—lls Men in authority Eurip. Hâ—raâ—lida The Armies in England raised Lord Audley Captaine of the Rebels Black-Heathâ—ield London Lucan lib. 1. The Rebels â—uercome Lord Audeley executed Lib. 8. Lib. 9. The King of Scots prepareth against England King of Scots besiegeth Norham Castle The Earle of Surrey raiseth the siege Lucan lib. 7. The Earle of Surrey entreth Scotland The King of Scots offreth a priuate combate to the Earle of Surrey The King of Spaine would marry his daughter to Prince Arthur An Embassador to the King of Scots from Spaine Lucan lib. 7. An Embâ—ssador from Englâ—nd to Scotland The King of Scots will not deliuer Perkin Eurip suppliceâ— Perkin discharged out of Scotland Perkin retorneâ—h into Ireland Perkin ecâ—meth into England Perkin besiedgeth Excester Perkin discomfited leaueth Excester and departeth to Taunton The Lord Dawbney generall of the Kings forceâ— The King commeth forward with his Army The Duke of Buckingham Eurip. supplâ—ce◠〈…〉 Perkin desperat of all reliefe taketh Sauctuary Eurip. suppliceâ— The Lord Daubney sent after Perkin The Army of Perkin submitteth to the King without fighting The King râ—turneth to Exâ—ester Perkins Wife taken Eurip. Hecuba Perkin submittet to the King Lady Margaret much troubled with this discomfortable newes Perkin deceiueth his keepers anâ—â— escapeth Perkin commeth to the Prior of Shene Perkin once againe 〈◊〉 but ignominiously vsed 〈◊〉 lib. 5. Perkins confession Lib. 3. de pontâ— Perkin committed to the Tower Li. 4. de 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Perkin corrupting his keepers to escape out of the Tower is takâ—n and hanged at Tiburn The Earle of Warwicke beheaded
the present and so diuers were appointed to discouer the secrets of the contrary by feigned dissimulation Of these were two sorts one to feigne themselues Yorkists and so learne out what they could preiudiciall to King Heâ—ry another to tamper with Sir Robert Clifford and William Burley for their returne to the obedience of the King and concerning the Plot it selfe he reputed it iustifiable as authorised by all Authors ages and Common-wealthes who set downe in their politique discourses that Fraus est concessarepellere fraudem Armaque in armatos sumere iurâ— finunt These cunning enformers so demeaned themselues and imploied theirâ—time with such sedâ—lity and care that they perswaded though with much adoe Sir Robert Clifford to desist from this foolish and dangerous collusion which had neither sure ground nor foundation to stay it selfe vpon but Master Barley could not be diuerted at this instant till within two yeares after almost tired out with expectation after Pâ—ter Warbecks fortunes and successe he returned of himselfe to the King and had pardon both for life and liberty The others likewise proceeded so effectuaily that they had sure notice of especiall persons confederate and adiured to this blinde and foolish proiect of which they presently enformed the King who by that means could not only personally name his home enemies but to preuent the worst did as personally attach the most principall that is to say Sir Iohn Ratcliffe the Lord Fitzwater Sir Simon Mountford Sir Thomas Thwaits William Dawbney Robert Clifford Thomas Cressenor and Thomas Astwood with these were diuers religious persons imprisoned as William Rochford Doctor of Diuiuitie and Thomas Poines both Friers Dominicks Doctor William Sutton William Worsley Deane of Paules Robert Laiborn and Richard Lâ—ssly with diuers others vnapprehended of whom some tooke Sanctuarie and some fled into Flaunders to Perkin But of those whose liberties were constrained Sir Simon Mouâ—â—ford Sir Robert Ratcliffe and William Dawbney were beheaded as powerfull factious and chiefe authors of the conspiracie the rest were pardoned especially the Priests who were in those times for their orders sake sequestred from publique executions what offences soeuer they perpetrated which made them so forward in all facinorous actions and others so superstitious as to beleeue any thing they either proiected or attempted from which hypocriticall and deceiuable manner of life all Poets and Philosophers themselues haue had both generall and particular inuectiues against Priests augures soothsaâ—ers figure casters and religious persons both for their prophane liues and seducing vanities so that Euripides amongst many other places concludes in his Ephigenia Vatiduûm omne genus ambitiosum malum est and all the Kingdomes and times of the World hauâ— smarted through the pride couetousnesse and malicious wickednesse of Priests and Fryars and lastly Iesuites as I said before But to our Story Although the Lord Fâ—â—zwater was pardoned his life for the present yet comming after to Calice he was beheaded for attempting to escape by corrupting his keepers and so to goe to Perkin whereby this strange and intricate worke so busied his Maiesty that he would often compare it to the conquering of Hydra a beast so priuiledged by nature that as one head was struck off seuen others grew in the place For his turmoiles both at home and abroad encreased and he seemed as much tormented with the suspition of bosome friends as affrightings of forraine enemies which so exasperated him that as he supposed to preuent the worst considering Maximilian King of the Romans had ieofaild with him in his wars against France and that Lady Margaret with the Flemings had supported Perkin Warbeck against him he in a kind of reâ—â—nge banished all Low-Countrie men and their commodities out of the Realme with restraining the Merchant from hauing accesse into any of their Cities But alas this was to no purpose and in truth rather a custome of anger then secret of policie as if a man because his finger torments him should cut off his hand to ease himselfe for they did the like by vs whereby the Mart being kept at Calice and no vent else-where for our Marchandize many poore house-keepers complained for want of worke many rich men murmured and were compelled to lessen their families and abate their retinue many Merchants felt the losse and the Trades-man cried out-right because the Esterlings brought all manner of manuall worke ready made into the Land and tooke from them both their labour and customers whereby a riot was made vpon them at the Stilyard and the Maior of London with the principall Officers had much adoe to appease the tumult and this was the ninth yeares disturbance The King thus turmoiled euery way repaired for diuers reasons to the Tower of London whither shortly after came Sir Robert Clifford vnto him partly trusting to the Kings promise partly mistrusting his owne company and Perkins weakenesse But the chiefest polecie of his resiance in the Tower was to secure himselfe and lay hold of all others suspected or accused in this conspiracy who thither resorting to the Councell might with ease and without any tumult be committed to prison as it presently fell out For after the King had admitted Sir Robert and insinuated with him in excellent positions of Diuinity and morality by way of disceptation vrging the loue and fauour of his Prince in his true obedience and reconciliation he not only related the manner of Perkins proceedings but on his knees with teareâ— in his eies discouered the matter to be weake and impossible if it had not factious supportation from some of powerfull houses of England and very neere his Maiesties person whereof though many were punished and the rest dissipated and diuided Yet Sir William Stanley remained vnsuspected and his heart trembled to accuse him But when the King heard Sir William Stanley named he started back amazed and in a manner confounded that Sir Robert was affraid he had done him more harme in the relation then good in the detection At last he burst out what my bosome friend my Councellor my Chamberlaine then I see there is no trust in men nor as the Psalmist saith confidence in Princes For as we shal not want instruments to goe forward with what enterprise we please as Dauid had his Ioab so shall we not lack enemies let them be neuer so carefull and desirous to fauour the least deseruer but I may well now cry out Heu cadit in quâ—nquam tantum scelus and with the kingly Prophet exclaime It was not mine enemies abroad but my companions and such as eate at my table betraied me What Sir William Stanley he hath the gouernment of my Chamber the charge and controlment of all that are next my person the loue and fauour of our Court and the very keyes of our treasurie He made me a conquerour in the field and by his hand I scourged tyrannie out of his Throne therefore it is impossible and I cannot belieue it But
of these hurliburlies came ouer Embassadours from the French King who must be answered he grew somewhat perplexed againe till shaking off all the hindrances of his amasement he fell to practise and orderly performances Whereupon he called his Councel together they without any great difficulty determined the busines in this manner To attend vpon the Scots Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey a puissant and politike Captain prisoner at the ouerthrow of King Rich. the 3. and within two yeares set at liberty and after Iohn Lord Dinham made high treasurer of England was appointed to muster the forces of the Countie Palatine of Durham the borders round about so atteÌ„d that seruice To represse the Western Rebels the Lord Dawbney with his whole power prepared for Scotland was recalled to march against theÌ„ wheresoeuer they encamped to look vnto France Calice and Guisnes with the Garisons were much augmented and prouided for To preuent Flaunders the Nauy was prepared the Staples for the Merchants setled To keep Warbeck from comming into England ioining with the Rebels the whole nobility combined themselues especially the earle of Essex Lord Montioy who came of purpose to London to offer their seruice to his Maiesty so all places were looked vntâ— with a vigilant eye manned with strength of soldiers and to answere the Embassadors of Charles the French King he sent honourable persons to receiue them and conueigh them to Douer and there a while to detaine them till some of these tumults and rebellions were extinguished and suppressed which indeed was so wisely and politikely handled that none of the Embassadors were troubled so much as with the rumors of these commotions But see the horror of despight and with what a contracted brow misfortune can looke vpon Kings themselues so that a man may well say to this Rebellion as Ouid did to Cupido in his first booke of Elegies Sunt tibi magna puer nimiumque potentia regna Cur opus affectas ambitiose nouum For as these Rebels and Cornish men departed from Wels they entertained for their chiefe Captaine Iames Twichet Lord Audley whose countenance and authoritie in the Countrie strengthened them much For by this occasion they went without intermission to Salsbury and so to Winchester and from thence into Kent hoping for further and further assistance but they were deceiued in their expectation For the Earle of Kent George Lord Aburgaueâ—y Iohn Brooke Lord Cobham Sir Edward Poinings Sir Richard Guilford Sir Thomas Burchier Sir Iohn Pechy William Scot and many others with a well mustred army were not only ready to defend their Countrie from al mischiefe and destruction but determined to offend them in their facinorous attempts and preiudiciall intrusion which loialtie somewhat rebated the forwardnesse of the Cornish-men and they began to suspect themselues being so farre from their Countrie and remote from any supply Notwithstanding loth to disâ—earten their spirits with any depressing humor they cast away all doubts and presuming on their owne strength and forces as also animated by their leaders and conductors they were now asmuch exasperated against the Kentish-men for deceiuing their assistance as against the King for vsurping their liberty swearing reuenge against both In which â—age and heat of repining they came as farre as Black-Heath within foure mile of London and tooke a field in an arrogant ouer-daring manner on the top of an hill supposing all things consortable to their arrogancy and deceiuable hopes because as yet they passed and repassed without fighting or strong encounters But alas Blanditiae Comites tibi erunt terrórque furorque and they were abused with a vale of ignorance and couering of obstinacy For the King disposed of his affaires with great policie and circumspection not determining to giue them battaile or exagitate them at all till he had them farre from their proper dwellings and flattering friends till they were in despaire of reliefe and wearied with long and tedious iournies till their treasure was spent their vitaile consumed and prouision failing till their company dropped from them like rotten hangings on a moistned wall and their whole designes and expectation quite disanulled and then when he imagined their soules vexed with the terror of a guiltie conscience their fury asswaged with compunction and penitency their spirits daunted with repentance and remorse and all their army affrighted with madnesse and doubtfull extacies would he set vpon them and in some conuenient place circumuent and inuiron them to his owne best aduantage and their irrecouerable damage and destruction As for the Citie of London I cannot but remember and compare it vnto Rome both when Hannibal passed the Alpes to threaten the Monarchy being yet farre off himselfe and also Marius and Silla couered her fields with armed men and trampled on the bosome of their Countrie with ambitious steps and cruell feet of vsurpation then spake the Poet in this manner Quoties Romam fortuna lacessit Hâ—c iter est bellis gomitu â—ic quisque latenti Non aufuâ—timuisse palam Vox nulla dolori Credita There was chaining the streetes shutting vp the shops making strong the gates doubling the watches hiding their treasure cries feares terrors and euery one more disturbed for the losse of his priuat goods then the encuÌ„brances of the Common-wealth Here was mustering of soldiers watching all day in armor staccadoing the riuer filling the streets with companies of horse and foot cutting down the Bridge locking vp their dores shutting the Gates and what else named before to be put in practise with aduantage of many peeces of ordnance both in Southwarke and the Suburbs and the strength of the Tower which they knew was reserued for the King himselfe Notwithstanding such was the instabilitie of the Citizens being a little disturbed from their quietnesse and rest their dainties and ease their banquetings and meetings their feasts and sumptuousnesse their pastimes and pleasures that they rather complained on the King and his Councell for the first occasion of these tumults then exprobrated the rebell for ingratitude and disobedience But the King without further disputing against their peeuishnesse or laying open the abuses of such refractary people deliuered them of this feare For he presently sent Iohn Earle of Oxford Henry Burchier Earle of Essex Edmond de la Poole Earle of Suffolke Sir Rice ap Thomas Humphrey Stanley and other worthy martiall men with a company of Archers and horsemen to enuiron the Hill where the Rebels were encamped round about Him-selfe with the maine battaile and forces of the Citie much ordnance and great prouision tooke St. Georges field where on a Friday at night he quartred himselfe and on the Saterday very early in the morning he poasted Lord Dawbney to Dertford who by breake of day gat the bridge of the Strand in despight of resisters which manfully defended it a while shooting arrowes a full yard long and demeaning themselues like scholerly and eloquent