THE HISTORIE Of the REIGNE of KING HENRY THE SEVENTH Written by the Right Hon FRANCIS LO Virulam Viscount S. ALBAN Whereunto is now added a very vsefull and necessary TABLE London printed by I. H. and R. Y. and are to be sold by Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith At the Signe of the Golden Lyon in Pauls-Church-yard 1629. TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE CHARLES Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earle of Chester c. It may Please Your Highnesse In part of my acknowledgment to Your Highnesse I haue endeuoured to doe Honour to the Memory of the last King of ENGLAND that was Ancestour to the King your Father and Your selfe and was that King to whom both Unions may in a sort referre That of the Roses beeing in him Consummate and that of the Kingdomes by him begunne Besides his Times deserue it For hee was a Wise Man and an Excellent King and yet the Times were rough and full of Mutations and rare Accidents And it is with Times as it is with Wayes Some are more Vp-hill and Downe-hill and some are more Flat and Plaine and the One is better for the Liuer and the Other for the Writer I haue not flattered him but took him to life as well as I could sitting so farre off and hauing no better light It is true Your Highnesse hath a Liuing Patterne Incomparable of the King your Father But it is not amisse for You also to see one of these Ancient Peeces GOD preserue Your Highnesse Your Highnesses most humble and deuoted Seruant Francis St. Alban THE HISTORIE OF THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Seuenth AFter that RICHARD the third of that name King in fact onely but Tyrant both in Title and Regiment and so commonly termed and reputed in all times since was by the Diuine Reuenge fauouring the designe of an Exilde man ouerthrowne and slaine at Bosworth-field There succeeded in the Kingdome the Earle of Richmond thence-forth stiled HENRY the Seuenth The King immediately after the Victorie as one that had beene bred vnder a deuout Mother and was in his nature a great Obseruer of religious formes caused Te Deum Laudamus to be solemnely sung in the presence of the whole Armie vpon the place and was himselfe with generall applause and great Cries of Ioy in a kind of Militar Election or Recognition saluted King Meane-while the body of RICHARD after many indignities and reproches the Dirigies and Obsequies of the common people towards Tyrants was obscurely buried For though the King of his noblenesse gaue charge vnto the Friers of Leicester to see an honourable interrment to be giuen to it yet the Religious People themselues being not free from the humors of the Vulgar neglected it wherein neuerthelesse they did not then incurre any mans blame or censure No man thinking any ignominie or contumely vnworthy of him that had beene the Executioner of King HENRY the Sixth that innocent Prince with his owne hands the Contriuer of the death of the Duke of Clarence his Brother the Murderer of his two Nephewes one of them his lawfull King in the Present and the other in the Future fayling of him and vehemently suspected to haue beene the Impoisoner of his wife thereby to make vacant his Bed for a Marriage within the Degrees forbidden And although he were a Prince in Militar vertue approued iealous of the honour of the English Nation and likewise a good Law-maker for the ease and solace of the common people yet his Cruelties and Parricides in the opinion of all men weighed downe his Vertues and merits and in the opinion of wise men euen those Vertues themselues were conceiued to bee rather fained and Affected things to serue his Ambition then true Qualities ingenerate in his Iudgement or Nature And therfore it was noted by men of great vnderstanding who seeing his after Acts looked backe vpon his former Proceedings that euen in the time of King EDWARD his Brother he was not without secret Traines and Mines to turne Enuie and Hatred vpon his Brothers Gouernement as hauing an Expectation and a kind of Diuination that the King by reason of his many disorders could not be of long life but was like to leaue his Sonnes of tender yeares and then hee knew well how easie a step it was from the place of a Protector and first Prince of the Bloud to the Crowne And that out of this deepe root of Ambition it sprang that aswell at the Treatie of peace that pussed betweene EDWARD the Fourth and LEWIS the Eleuenth of France concluded by Enteruiew of both Kings at Piqueny as vpon all other Occasions RICHARD then Duke of Glocester stood euer vpon the side of Honour raising his owne Reputation to the disaduantage of the King his Brother and drawing the eyes of all especially of the Nobles and Souldiours vpon himselfe as if the King by his voluptuous life and meane marriage were become effeminate and lesse sensible of honour and Reason of State then was fit for a King Andras for the Politique and wholesome Lawes which were enacted in his time they were interpreted to be but the Brocage of an Vsurper therby to wooe and winne the hearts of the people as being conscious to himselfe that the true obligations of Soueraigntie in him failed and were wanting But King HENRY in the very entrance of his Reigne and the instant of time when the Kingdome was cast into his Armes met with a Point of great difficultie and knotty to solue able to trouble and confound the wisest King in the newnesse of his Estate and so much the more because it could not endure a Deliberation but must be at once deliberated and determined There were fallen to his lot and concurrent in his person three seuerall Titles to the Imperiall Crowne The first the title of the Lady Elizabeth with whom by precedent Pact with the Partie that brought him in he was to marry The second the ancient and long disputed Title both by Plea and Armes of the House of Lancaster to which he was Inheritour in his owne Person The third the Title of the Sword or Conquest for that he came in by victorie of Battaile and that the King in possession was slaine in the field The first of these was fairest and most like to giue contentment to the people who by two and twentie yeares Reigne of King EDWARD the Fourth had beene fully made capable of the clearnesse of the Title of the White-Rose or House of Yorke and by the milde and plausible Reigue of the same king toward his Latter time were become affectionate to that Line But then it lay plaine before his Eyes that if he relied vpon that Title he could be but a King at Curtesie and haue rather a Matrimoniall then a Regall power the right remaining in his Queene vpon whose decease either with Issue or without Issue he was to giue place and bee remoued And though he should obtaine by Parliament to bee continued
the King might appoint him Keepers to looke to him in Sanctuarie The King also for the better securing of his estate against mutinous and malecontented Subiects wherof He saw the Realme was full who might haue their refuge into Scotland which was not vnder Key as the Ports were For that cause rather then for any doubt of Hostilitie from those parts before his comming to London when he was at Newcastle had sent a solemne Ambassage vnto IAMES the third King of Scotland to treate and conclude a peace with him The Ambassadors were RICHARD FOXE Bishop of Excester and Sir RICHARD EDGCOMBE Comptroller of the Kings House who were honourably receiued and entertained there But the King of Scotland labouring of the same disease that King HENRY did though more mortall as afterwards appeared that is Discontented Subiects apt to rise and raise Tumuh although in his owne affection hee did much desire to make a Peace with the King Yet finding his Nobles auerse and not daring to displease them concluded onely a Truce for seuen yeeres giuing neuerthelesse promise in priuate that it should bee renewed from time to time during the two Kings liues HItherto the King had beene exercised in setling his affaires at home But about this time brake forth an occasion that drew him to looke abroad and to hearken to forraine businesse CHARLES the eight the French King by the vertue and good fortune of his two immediate Predecessors CHARLES the seuenth his Grand-father and LEWES the eleuenth his Father receiued the Kingdome of France in more flourishing and spread Estate than it had beene of many yeares before being redintegrate in those principall Members which anciently had beene portions of the Crowne of France and were after disseuered so as they remained onely in Homage and not in Soueraigntie being gouerned by absolute Princes of their owne Angeou Normandy Prouence and Burgundie There remained only Brittaine to be revnited and so the Monarchie of France to be reduced to the ancient Termes and Bounds King CHARLES was not a little inflamed with an ambition to repurchase and reannex that Duchie Which his ambition was a wise and well weighed Ambition not like vnto the ambitions of his succeeding enterprizes of Italie For at that time being newly come to the Crowne he was somewhat guided by his Fathers Counsels Counsels not Counsellors for his Father was his owne Counsell and had few able men about him And that King be knew well had euer distasted the designes of Italie and in particular had an eye vpon Brittaine There were many circumstances that did feed the ambition of CHARLES with pregnant and apparant hopes of Successe The Duke of Britaine old and entred into a Lethargie and serued with Mercenarie Counsellors father of two only daughters the one sickly and not like to continue King CHARLES himselfe in the flower of his age and the Subiects of France at that time well trayned for Warre both for Leaders and Souldiers men of seruice being not yet worne out since the warres of LEWIS against Burgundie Hee found himselfe also in peace with all his neighbour-Neighbour-Princes As for those that might oppose to his enterprise MAXIMILIAN King of Romans his Riuall in the same desires as well for the Duchy as the Daughter feeble in meanes and King HENRY of England aswell somwhat obnoxious to him for his fauours and benefits as busied in his particular noubles at home There was also a faire and specious occasion offered him to hide his ambition and to iustifie his warring vpon Britaine for that the Duke had receiued and succoured LEWIS Duke of Orleance and other of the French Nobilitie which had taken Armes against their King Wherfore King CHARLES being resolued vpon that Warre knew well he could not receiue any opposition so potent as if King HENRY should either vpon Policie of State in preuenting the growing greatnesse of France or vpon gratitude vnto the Duke of Britaine for his former fauours in the time of his distresse espouse that quarrell and declare himselfe in aide of the Duke Therfore hee no sooner heard that King HENRY was setled by his victorie but forth with he sent Ambassadours vnto him to pray his assistance or at the least that hee would stand neutrall Which Ambassadours found the King at Leicester and deliuered their Ambassage to this effect They first imparted vnto the King the successe that their Master had had a little before against MAXIMILIAN in recouerie of certaine Townes from him which was done in a kind of priuacie and inwardnesse towards the King as if the French-king did not esteeme him for an outward or formall Confederate but as one that had part in his affections and fortunes and with whom he tooke pleasure to communicate his businesse After this Complement and some gratulation for the Kings victorie they fell to their errand declaring to the King that their Master was enforced to enter into a iust and necessarie Warre with the Duke of Britaine for that hee had receiued and succoured those that were Traitors and Declared Enemies vnto his Person and State That they were no meane distressed and calamitous Persons that fled to him for refuge but of so great qualitie as it was apparant that they came not thither to protect their owne fortune but to infest and inuade his the Head of them being the Duke of Orleance the first Prince of the bloud and the second Person of France That therfore rightly to vnderstand it it was rather on their Masters part a Defensiue Warre then an Offensiue as that that could not bee omitted or forborne if he tendred the conseruation of his owne Estate and that it was not the first Blow that made the Warre inuasiue for that no wise Prince would stay for but the first Prouocation or at least the first Preparation Nay that this Warre was rather a Suppression of Rebels then a Warre with a iust Enemie where the case is That his Subiects Traitors are receiued by the Duke of Britaine his Homager That King HENRY knew well what went vpon it in example if neighbour-Neighbour-Princes should patronize and comfort Rebels against the Law of Nations and of Leagues Neuerthelesse that their Master was not ignorant that the King had beene beholding to the Duke of Britaine in his aduersitie as on the other side they knew he would not forget also the readinesse of their King in ayding him when the Duke of Britaine or his mercenary Councellors failed him and would haue betrayed him And that there was a great difference betweene the courtesies receiued from their Master and the Duke of Britaine for that the Dukes might haue ends of vtilitie and Bargaine whereas their Masters could not haue proceeded but out of entire Affection For that if it had beene measured by a politicke line it had beene better for his affaires that a Tyrant should haue reigned in England troubled and hated then such a Prince whose vertues could not saile to make him great and potent whensoeuer he
memorie and all things were directed by the Duke of Orleance who gaue audience to the Chaplaine VRSWICK and vpon his Ambassage deliuered made answer in somewhat high termes That the Duke of Britaine hauing beene an Host and a kind of Parent or Foster-father to the King in his tendernesse of age and weaknesse of fortune did looke for at this time from King HENRY the renowned King of England rather braue Troupes for his Succours then a vaine Treatie of Peace And if the King could forget the good Offices of the Duke done vnto him aforetime yet he knew well he would in his wisdome consider of the future how much it imported his owne safetie and reputation both in forraine parts and with his owne people not to suffer Britaine the old Confederates of England to be swallowed vp by France and so many good Ports and strong Townes vpon the Coast be in the command of so potent a Neighbour-King and so ancient an Enemie And therefore humbly desired the King to thinke of this businesse as his owne and therewith brake off and denied any further conference for Treatie VRSWICK returned first to the French King and related to him what had passed Who finding things to sort to his desire tooke hold of them and said That the Ambassadour might perceiue now that which he for his part partly imagined before That considering in what hands the Duke of Britaine was there would be no Peace but by a mixt Treatie of force and perswasion And therfore he would goe on with the one and desired the King not to desist from the other But for his owne part he did faithfully promise to bee still in the Kings power to rule him in the matter of Peace This was accordingly represented vnto the King by VRSWICK at his returne and in such a fashion as if the Treatie were in no sort desperate but rather stayed for a better houre till the Hammer had wrought and beat the Partie of Britaine more pliant Whereupon there passed continually Packets and Dispatches betweene the two Kings from the One out of desire and from the other out of dissimulation about the negotiation of Peace The French King meane while inuaded Britaine with great forces and distressed the Citie of Nantes with a strait siege and as one who though hee had no great Iudgement yet had that that hee could dissemble home the more he did vrge the prosecution of the Warre the more he did at the same time vrge the solicitation of the Peace Insomuch as during the siege of Nantes after many Letters and particular messages the better to maintaine his dissimulation and to refresh the Treatie he sent BERNARD DAVBIGNEY a person of good qualitie to the King earnestly to desire him to make an end of the businesse howsoeuer The King was no lesse readie to reuiue and quicken the Treatie And therupon sent three Commissioners the Abbot of Abington Sir RICHARD TVNSTAL and CHAPLEINE VRSWICK formerly imployed to doe their vtmost endeuours to manage the Treatie roundly and strongly About this time the Lord WOODVILE Vncle to the Queene a valiant gentleman desirous of honor sued to the King that he might raise some Power of Voluntaries vnder-hand and without licence or pasport wherein the King might any wayes appeare goe to the aide of the Duke of Britaine The King denied his request or at least seemed so to doe and layed strait commandement vpon him that hee should not stirre for that the King thought his honour would suffer therein during a Treatie to better a Partie Neuerthelesse this Lord either being vnruly or out of conceipt that the King would not inwardly dislike that which he would not openly auow sailed secretly ouer into the Isle of Wight whereof hee was Gouernour and leuied a faire Troupe of foure hundred men and with them passed ouer into Brittaine and ioyned himselfe with the Dukes Forces The Newes whereof when it came to the French Court put diuers Young Bloods into such a furie as the English Ambassadors were not without perill to bee outraged But the French King both to preserue the Priuiledge of Ambassadors and being conscious to himselfe that in the businesse of Peace hee himselfe was the greater dissembler of the two forbade all iniuries of fact or word against their persons or Followers And presently came an Agent from the King to purge himselfe touching the Lord WOODVILES going ouer vsing for a principall argument to demonstrate that it was without his priuitie for that the Troupes were so small as neither had the Face of a succour by authoritie nor could much aduance the Brittaine affaires To which message although the French King gaue no full credit yet he made faire weather with the King and seemed satisfied Soone after the English Ambassadors returned hauing two of them beene likewise with the Duke of Britaine and found things in no other termes then they were before Vpon their returne they informed the King of the state of the affaires and how farre the French King was from any true meaning of Peace and therefore he was now to aduise of some other course Neither was the King himselfe lead all this while with credulity meerely as was generally supposed But his Error was not so much facility of beleefe as an ill measuring of the forces of the other Partie For as was partly touched before the King had cast the businesse thus with himselfe He tooke it for granted in his owne iudgement that the Warre of Britaine in respect of the strength of the Townes and of the Partie could not speedily come to a Period For he conceiued that the Counsels of a Warre that was vndertaken by the French King then childlesse against an Heire-apparant of France would be very faint and slow And besides that it was not possible but that the state of France should be imbroiled with some troubles and alterations in fauour of the Duke of Orleance Hee conceiued likewise that MAXIMILIAN King of the Romans was a Prince warlike and potent who he made account would giue succours to the Britaine 's roundly So then iudging it would be a worke of Time hee laide his plot how hee might best make vse of that Time for his owne affaires Wherein first hee thought to make his vantage vpon his Parliament knowing that they being affectionate vnto the quarrell of Britaine would giue treasure largely Which treasure as a noise of Warre might draw forth so a peace succeeding might cofer vp And because hee knew his people were hot vpon the businesse hee chose rather to seeme to bee deceiued and lulled asleepe by the French then to be backward in himselfe considering his Subiects were not so fully capable of the reasons of State which made him hold backe Wherefore to all these purposes hee saw no other expedient then to set and keepe on foot a continuall Treatie of Peace laying it downe and taking it vp againe as the occurrence required Besides he had in consideration the point
of Honour in bearing the blessed person of a Pacificator Hee thought likewise to make vse of the Enuie that the French King met with by occasion of this Warre of Britaine in strengthening himselfe with new alliances as namely that of FERDINANDO of Spaine with whom he had euer a consent euen in nature and customes and likewise with MAXIMILIAN who was particularly interessed So that in substance hee promised himselfe Money Honour Friends and Peace in the end But those things were too fine to be fortunate and succeed in all parts for that great affaires are commonly too rough and stubborne to be wrought vpon by the finer edges or points of wit The King was likewise deceiued in his two main grounds For although he had reason to conceiue that the Councel of France wold be wary to put the King into a Warre against the Heire-apparant of France yet hee did not consider that CHARLES was not guided by any of the principall of the Bloud or Nobilitie but by meane Men who would make it their Master-peece of Credit and fauour to giue venturous Counsels which no great or wise Man durst or would And for MAXIMILIAN he was thought then a Greater-matter then he was his vnstable and necessitous Courses being not then knowne After Consultation with the Ambassadors who brought him no other newes then he expected before though he would not seeme to know it till then he presently summoned his Parliament and in open Parliament propounded the cause of Britaine to both Houses by his Chancellor MORTON Arch-Bishop of Canterburie who spake to this effect MY Lords and Masters The Kings Grace our Soueraigne Lord hath commanded me to declare vnto you the causes that haue moued him at this time to summon this his Parliament which I shall doe in few words crauing pardon of his Grace and you all if I performe it not as I would His Grace doth first of all let you know that he retaineth in thankefull memorie the loue and loyaltie shewed to him by you at your last Meeting in establishment of his royaltie freeing and discharging of his partakers and confiscation of his Traytors and Rebels more then which could not come from Subiects to their Soueraigne in one action This he taketh so well at your hands as he hath made it a Resolution to himselfe to communicate with so louing and well approued Subiects in all Affaires that are of publike nature at home or abroad Two therefore are the causes of your present assembling the one a forraigne Businesse the other matter of gouernment at home The French King as no doubt yee haue heard maketh at this present hot warre vpon the Duke of Britaine His Armie is now before Nantes and holdeth it straitly besieged being the principall Citie if not in Ceremonte and Preheminence yet in Strength and Wealth of that Duchie Yee may guesse at his Hopes by his attempting of the hardest part of the Warre first The cause of this Warre he knoweth best Hee alleageth the entertaining and succouring of the Duke of Orleance and some other French Lords whom the King taketh for his Enemies Others diuine of other Matters Both parts haue by their Ambassadours diuers times prayed the Kings Aids The French King Aides or Neutralitie the Britons Aides simply for so their case requireth The King as a Christian Prince and blessed Sonne of the Holy Church hath offered himselfe as a Mediator to treat a Peace betweene them The French King yeeldeth to treat but will not stay the prosecution of the Warre The Britons that desire Peace most hearken to it least not vpon confidence or stiffenesse but vpon distrust of true meaning seeing the Warre goes on So as the King after as much paines and care to effect a Peace as euer he tooke in any Businesse not being able to remoue the Prosecution on the one side nor the Distrust on the other caused by that Prosecution hath let fall the Treatie not repenting of it but desparing of it now as not likely to succeed Therefore by this Narratiue you now vnderstand the state of the Question whereupon the King prayeth your aduice which is no other but whether hee shall enter into an auxiliarie and defensiue Warre for the Britons against France 〈◊〉 the better to open your vnderstandings in this Affaire the King hath commanded mee to say somewhat to you from him of the Persons that doe interuene in this Businesse and somewhat of the Consequence thereof as it hath relation to this Kingdome and somewhat of the Example of it in generall making neuerthelesse no Conclusion or Judgement of any Point vntill his Grace hath receiued your faithfull and politique aduices First for the King our Soueraigne himselfe who is the principall Person you are to eye in this Businesse his Grace doth professe that he truly and constantly desireth to reigne in Peace But his Grace saith he will neither buy Peace with Dishonour nor take it vp at interest of Danger to ensue but shall thinke it a good Change if it please God to change the inward Troubles and Seditions wherewith he hath beene hitherto exercised into an honourable Forraigne Warre And for the other two Persons in this Action the French King and the Duke of Britaine his Grace doth declare vnto you that they be the Men vnto whom be is of all other Friends and Allies most bounden the one hauing held ouer him his hand of Protection from the Tyrant the Other hauing reacht forth vnto him his hand of helpe for the recouerie of his Kingdome So that his affection toward them in his naturall Person is vpon equall tearmes And whereas you may haue heard that his Grace was enforced to flie out of Britaine into France for doubts of being betrayed his Grace would not in any sort haue that reflect vpon the Duke of Britaine in defacement of his former benefits for that hee is throughly informed that it was but the practice of some corrupt Persons about him during the time of his sicknesse altogether without his consent or priuitie But howsoeuer these things doe interesse his Grace in his particular yet hee knoweth well that the higher Bond that tieth him to procure by all meanes the safetie and welfare of his louing Subiects doth dis-interesse him of these Obligations of Gratitude otherwise then thus that if his Grace be forced to make a Warre he doe it without passion or ambition For the consequence of this Action towards this Kingdome it is much as the French Kings intention is For if it be no more but to range his Subiects to reason who beare themselues stout vpon the strength of the Duke of Britaine it is nothing to vs. But if it be in the French Kings purpose or if it should not be in his purpose yet if it shall follow all one as if it were sought that the French King shall make a Prouince of Britaine and ioyne it to the Crowne of France then it is worthy the consideration how this may
the Order of the Garter to ALPHONSO Duke of Calabria eldest sonne to FERDINANDO King of Naples An honour sought by that Prince to hold him vp in the eyes of the Italians Who expecting the Armes of CHARLES made great account of the Amitie of England for a Bridle to France It was receiued by ALPHONSO with all the Ceremonie and Pomp that could bee deuised as things vse to be carried that are intended for Opinion It was sent by VRSWICK vpon whom the King bestowed this Ambassage to helpe him after many drie Employments AT this time the King began againe to be haunted with Sprites by the Magicke and curious Arts of the Lady MARGARET Who raysed vp the Ghost of RICHARD Duke of Yorke second Sonne to King EDWARD the Fourth to walke and vex the King This was a finer Counterfeit Stone than LAMBERT SYMNELL better done and worne vpon greater hands being graced after with the wearing of a King of France and a King of Scotland not of a Duchesse of Burgundie onely And for SIMNELL there was not much in him more than that hee was a handsome Boy and did not shame his Robes But this Youth of whom wee are now to speake was such a Mercuriall as the like hath seldome beene knowne and could make his owne Part if at any time hee chanced to bee out Wherefore this being one of the strangest Examples of a Personation that euer was in Elder or Later Times it deserueth to bee discouered and related at the full Although the Kings manner of shewing things by Peeces and by Darke Lights hath so muffled it that it hath left it almost as a Mysterie to this day The Lady MARGARET whom the Kings Friends called IVNO because shee was to him as IVNO was to AENEAS stirring both Heauen and Hell to doe him mischiefe for a foundation of her particular Practices against him did continually by all meanes possible nourish maintaine and divulge the flying Opinion That RICHARD Duke of Yorke second Sonne to EDWARD the Fourth was not murthered in the Tower as was giuen out but saued aliue For that those who were imployed in that barbarous Fact hauing destroyed the elder Brother were stricken with remorse and compassion towards the younger and set him priuily at libertie to seeke his Fortune This Lure shee cast abroad thinking that this Fame and Beleefe together with the fresh Example of LAMBERT SIMNELL would draw at one time or other some Birds to strike vpon it Shee vsed likewise a further diligence not committing all to Chance For she had some secret Espials like to the Turks Commissioners for Children of Tribute to looke abroad for handsome and gracefull Youths to make PLANTAGENETS and Dukes of Yorke At the last she did light on one in whom all things met as one would wish to serue her turne for a Counterfeit of RICHARD Duke of York This was PERKIN WARBECK whose Aduentures wee shall now describe For first the yeares agreed well Secondly hee was a Youth of fine fauour and shape But more than that hee had such a craftie and bewitching fashion both to mooue Pitie and to induce Beleefe as was like a kind of Fascination and Inchantment to those that saw him or heard him Thirdly he had beene from his Child-hood such a Wanderer or as the King called him such a Land-loper as it was extreme hard to hunt out his Nest and Parents Neither againe could any man by companie or conuersing with him be able to say or detect well what hee was he did so flit from place to place Lastly there was a Circumstance which is mentioned by one that wrote in the same time that is very likely to haue made somewhat to the matter which is That King EDWARD the Fourth was his God-father Which as it is somewhat suspicious for a wanton Prince to become Gossip in so meane a House and might make a man thinke that hee might indeed haue in him some base Bloud of the House of YORKE so at the least though that were not it might giue the occasion to the Boy in being called King EDWARDS God-sonne or perhaps in sport King EDWARDS Sonne to entertaine such Thoughts into his Head For Tutor hee had none for ought that appeares as LAMBERT SIMNELL had vntill hee came vnto the Lady MARGARET who instructed him Thus therefore it came to passe There was a Townes-man of Tourney that had borne office in that Towne whose name was IOHN OSBECKE a Convert-Iew married to CATHERINE DE FARO whose businesse drew him to liue for a time with his wife at London in King EDWARD the fourths daies During which time hee had a sonne by her and being knowne in Court the King either out of a religious Noblenesse because hee was a Conuert or vpon some priuate acquaintance did him the Honour as to bee Godfather to his child and named him PETER But afterwards proouing a dainty and effeminate Youth hee was commonly called by the Diminutiue of his name PETER-KIN or PERKIN For as for the name of WARBECKE it was giuen him when they did but guesse at it before examinations had been taken But yet hee had been so much talked on by that name as it stucke by him after his true name of OSBECKE was knowne While hee was a young child his Parents returned with him to Tourney Then was hee placed in a house of a kinsman of his called IOHN STENBECK at Antwerpe and so roued vp and down betweene Antwerp and Tourney and other Townes of Flanders for a good time liuing much in English Companie and hauing the English Tongue perfect In which time beeing growne a comely Youth hee was brought by some of the espialls of the Lady MARGARET vnto her Presence Who viewing him well and seeing that hee had a Face and personage that would beare a noble fortune And finding him otherwise of a fine spirit and winning behauiour thought she had now found a curious Peece of Marble to carue out an Image of a Duke of Yorke Shee kept him by her a great while but with extreme secrecy The while shee instructed him by many Cabinet-Conferences First in Princely behauiour and gesture teaching him how hee should keepe State and yet with a modest sense of his misfortunes Then shee informed him of all the circumstances and particulars that concerned the Person of RICHARD Duke of Yorke which hee was to act Describing vnto him the Personages Lineaments and Features of the King and Queen his pretended Parents and of his Brother and Sisters and diuers others that were neerest him in his Childhood together with all passages some secret some common that were fit for a Childs memorie vntill the death of King EDWARD Then she added the particulars of the time from the Kings death vntill hee and his brother were committed to the Tower aswell during the time hee was abroad as while he was in Sanctuarie As for the times while hee was in the Tower and the manner of his Brothers death and his owne
escape shee knew they were things that a verie few could controll And therfore she taught him onely to tell a smooth and likely Tale of those matters warning him not to vary from it It was agreed likewise betweene them what account he should giue of his Peregrination abroad intermixing many things which were true and such as they knew others could testifie for the credit of the rest but still making them to hang together with the Part hee was to play Shee taught him likewise how to auoid sundry captious and tempting questions which were like to bee asked of him But in this shee found him of himselfe so nimble and shifting as shee trusted much to his owne wit and readinesse and therefore laboured the lesse in it Lastly shee raysed his thoughts with some present rewards and further promises setting before him chiefly the glorie and fortune of a Crowne if things went well and a sure refuge to her Court if the worst should fall After such time as shee thought hee was perfect in his Lesson shee began to cast with herselfe from what coast this Blazing-starre should first appeare and at what time it must bee vpon the Horizon of Ireland for there had the like Meteor strong influence before The time of the Apparition to bee when the King should bee engaged into a Warre with France But well she knew that whatsoeuer should come from her would bee held suspected And therfore if hee should goe out of Flanders immediately into Ireland shee might bee thought to haue some hand in it And besides the time was not yet ripe for that the two Kings were then vpon tearmes of Peace Therefore shee wheel'd about and to put all suspicion a far off and loth to keepe him any longer by her for that shee knew Secrets are not long liued shee sent him vnknowne into Portugall with the Lady BRAMPTON an English Ladie that embarqued for Portugall at that time with some Priuado of her owne to haue an eye vpon him and there hee was to remaine and to expect her further directions In the meane time shee omitted not to prepare things for his better welcome and accepting not onely in the Kingdome of Ireland but in the Court of France Hee continued in Portugall about a yeare and by that time the King of England called his Parliament as hath beene said and declared open Warre against France Now did the Signe reigne and the Constellation was come vnder which PERKIN should appeare And therefore hee was straight sent vnto by the Duchesse to goe for Ireland according to the first designement In Ireland hee did arriue at the Towne of Corke When hee was thither come his owne Tale was when hee made his Confession afterwards That the Irish-men finding him in some good Clothes came flocking about him and bare him downe that he was the Duke of Clarence that had beene there before And after that hee was RICHARD the Thirds base sonne And lastly that he was RICHARD Duke of Yorke second sonne to EDWARD the Fourth But that hee for his part renounced all these things and offered to sweare vpon the holy Euangelists that hee was no such man till at last thy forced it vpon him and bade him feare nothing and so forth But the truth is that immediately vpon his comming into Ireland hee tooke vpon him the said Person of the Duke of York and drew vnto him Complices and Partakers by all the meanes hee could deuise Insomuch as hee wrote his Letters vnto the Earles of Desmond and Kildare to come in to his Aide and bee of his Partie the Originalls of which Letters are yet extant Somewhat before this time the Duchesse had also gayned vnto her a neare seruant of King HENRY's owne one STEPHEN FRION his Secretarie for the French Tongue an actiue man but turbulent and discontented This FRION had fled ouer to CHARLES the French King and put himselfe into his seruice at such time as hee began to bee in open enmitie with the King Now King CHARLES when he vnderstood of the Person and Attempts of PERKIN readie of himselfe to embrace all aduantages against the King of England instigated by FRION and formerly prepared by the Ladie MARGARET forthwith dispatched one LVCAS and this FRION in the nature of Ambassadors to PERKIN to aduertise him of the Kings good inclination to him and that hee was resolued to aide him to recouer his right against King HENRY an Vsurper of England and an Enemie of France and wished him to come ouer vnto him at Paris PERKIN thought himselfe in heauen now that hee was inuited by so great a King in so honourable a manner And imparting vnto his Friends in Ireland for their incouragement how Fortune called him and what great hopes hee had sayled presently into France When hee was come to the Court of France the King receiued him with great honour saluted and stiled him by the name of the Duke of Yorke lodged him and accommodated him in great State And the better to giue him the representation and the countenance of a Prince assigned him a Guard for his Person whereof the Lord CONGRESALL was Captaine The Courtiers likewise though it bee ill mocking with the French applyed themselues to their Kings Bent seeing there was reason of State for it At the same time there repaired vnto PERKIN diuers Englishmen of Qualitie Sir GEORGE NEVILE Sir IOHN TAYLOR and about one hundred more and amongst the rest this STEPHEN FRION of whom wee spake who followed his fortune both then and for a long time after and was indeed his principall Counsellor and Instrument in all his Proceedings But all this on the French Kings part was but a Tricke the better to bow King HENRY to Peace And therefore vpon the first Graine of Incense that was sacrificed vpon the Altar of Peace at Bulloigne PERKIN was smoked away Yet would not the French King deliuer him vp to King HENRY as hee was laboured to doe for his Honors sake but warned him away and dismissed him And PERKIN on his part was as readie to bee gone doubting hee might bee caught vp vnder hand Hee therefore tooke his way into Flanders vnto the Duchesse of Burgundie pretending that hauing beene variously tossed by Fortune hee directed his course thither as to a safe Harbour No wayes taking knowledge that he had euer beene there before but as if that had beene his first addresse The Duchesse on the other part made it as new and strange to see him pretending at the first that she was taught and made wise by the example of LAMBERT SIMNELL how shee did admit of any Counterfeit Stuffe though euen in that she said she was not fully satisfied Shee pretended at the first and that was euer in the presence of others to pose him and sift him thereby to trie whether hee were indeed the very Duke of Yorke or no. But seeming to receiue full satisfaction by his answers shee then fained her selfe to be transported with a
kind of astonishment mixt of Ioy and Wonder at his miraculous deliuerance receiuing him as if hee were risen from Death to Life and inferring that GOD who had in such wonderfull manner preserued him from Death did likewise reserue him for some great and prosperous Fortune As for his dismission out of France they interpreted it not as if hee were detected or neglected for a Counterfeit Deceiuer but contrariwise that it did shew manifestly vnto the World that hee was some Great matter for that it was his abandoning that in effect made the Peace being no more but the sacrificing of a poore distressed Prince vnto the vtilitie and Ambition of two Mightie Monarchs Neither was PERKIN for his part wanting to himselfe either in gracious and princely behauiour or in ready and apposite answers or in contenting and caressing those that did applie themselues vnto him or in prettie scorne and disdaine to those that seemed to doubt of him but in all things did notably acquite himselfe Insomuch as it was generally beleeued aswell amongst great Persons as amongst the Vulgar that he was indeed Duke RICHARD Nay himselfe with long and continuall counterfeiting and with oft telling a Lye was turned by habit almost into the thing heesee med to bee and from a Lyer to a Beleeuer The Duchesse therefore as in a case out of doubt did him all princely honour calling him alwaies by the name of her Nephew and giuing him the Delicate Title of the White-rose of England and appointed him a Guard of thirtie Persons Halberdiers clad in a Party-coloured Liuerie of Murrey and Blue to attend his Person Her Court likewise and generally the Dutch and Strangers in their vsage towards him expressed no lesse respect The Newes hereof came blazing and thundering ouer into England that the Duke of Yorke was sure aliue As for the name of PERKIN WARBECK it was not at that time come to light but all the newes ranne vpon the Duke of Yorke that hee had beene entertayned in Ireland bought and sold in France and was now plainly auowed and in great honour in Flanders These Fames tooke hold of diuers In some vpon discontent in some vpon ambition in some vpon leuitie and desire of change and in some few vpon conscience and beleefe but in most vpon simplicitie and in diuers out of dependance vpon some of the better sort who did in secret fauour and nourish these bruits And it was not long ere these rumours of Noueltie had begotten others of Scandall and Murmur against the King and his gouernment taxing him for a great Taxer of his People and discountenancer of his Nobilitie The losse of Britaine and the Peace with France were not forgotten But chiefly they fell vpon the wrong that hee did his Queene in that hee did not reigne in her Right Wherefore they said that GOD had now brought to light a Masculine-Branch of the House of YORKE that would not bee at his Curtesie howsoeuer hee did depresse his poore Ladie And yet as it fareth in things which are currant with the Multitude and which they affect these Fames grew so generall as the Authors were lost in the generalitie of Speakers They being like running Weedes that haue no certaine root or like Footings vp and downe impossible to be traced But after a while these ill Humours drew to an head and setled secretly in some eminent Persons which were Sir WILLIAM STANLEY Lord Chamberlaine of the Kings Houshold The Lord FITZ-WATER Sir SIMON MOVNTFORT Sir THOMAS THWAITES These entred into a secret Conspiracie to fauour Duke RICHARDS Title Neuerthelesse none engaged their fortunes in this businesse openly but two Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD and Master WILLIAM BARLEY who sailed ouer into Flanders sent indeed from the Partie of the Conspiratours here to vnderstand the truth of those things that passed there and not without some helpe of monies from hence Prouisionally to bee deliuered if they found and were satisfied that there was truth in these pretences The person of Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD being a Gentleman of Fame and Familie was extremely welcome to the Ladie MARGARET Who after shee had conference with him brought him to the sight of PERKIN with whom hee had often speech and discourse So that in the end wonne either by the Duchesse to affect or by PERKIN to beleeue hee wrote backe into England that he knew the Person of RICHARD Duke of Yorke as well as hee knew his owne and that this Young-man was vndoubtedly hee By this meanes all things grew prepared to Reuolt and Sedition here and the Conspiracie came to haue a Correspondence betweene Flanders and England The King on his part was not asleepe but to Arme or leuie Forces yet he thought would but shew feare and doe this Idoll too much worship Neuerthelesse the Ports hee did shut vp or at least kept a Watch on them that none should passe to or fro that was suspected But for the rest hee choose to worke by Countermine His purposes were two the one to lay open the Abuse The other to breake the knot of the Conspirators To detect the Abuse there were but two wayes The first to make it manifest to the world that the Duke of Yorke was indeed murthered The other to prooue that were he dead or aliue yet PERKIN was a Counterfeit For the first thus it stood There were but foure Persons that could speake vpon knowledge to the murther of the Duke of Yorke Sir IAMES TIRREL the employed-man from King RICHARD IOHN DIGHTON and MILES FORREST his seruants the two Butchers or Tormentors and the Priest of the Tower that buried them Of which foure MILES FOREST and the Priest were dead and there remained aliue onely Sir IAMES TIRREL and IOHN DIGHTON These two the King caused to bee committed to the Tower and examined touching the manner of the death of the two innocent Princes They agreed both in a Tale as the King gaue out to this effect That King RICHARD hauing directed his warrant for the putting of them to death to BRACKENBVRIE the Lieutenant of the Tower was by him refused Whereupon the King directed his Warrant to Sir IAMES TIRREL to receiue the keyes of the Tower from the Lieutenant for the space of a night for the Kings speciall seruice That Sir IAMES TIRREL accordingly repaired to the Tower by night attended by his two Seruants afore-named whom hee had chosen for that purpose That himselfe stood at the staire-foot and sent these two Villaines to execute the murther That they smothered them in their bed that done called vp their Master to see their naked dead bodies which they had laid forth That they were buried vnder the Staires and some stones cast vpon them That when the report was made to King RICHARD that his will was done hee gaue Sir IAMES TIRREL great thankes but tooke exception to the place of their buriall being too base for them that were Kings children Whereupon another night by the Kings warrant renued their
bodies were remoued by the Priest of the Tower and buried by him in some place which by meanes of the Priests death soone after could not be knowne Thus much was then deliuered abroad to be the effect of those Examinations But the King neuerthelesse made no vse of them in any of his Declarations whereby as it seemes those Examinations left the businesse somewhat perplexed And a for Sir IAMES TIRREL hee was soone after beheaded in the Tower-yard for other matters of Treason But IOHN DIGHTON who it seemeth spake best for the King was forthwith set at libertie and was the principall meanes of diuulging this Tradition Therefore this kind of Proofe being left so naked the King vsed the more diligence in the latter for the tracing of PERKIN To this purpose hee sent abroad into seuerall parts and especially into Flanders diuers secret and nimble Scouts and Spies some faining themselues to flie ouer vnto PERKIN and to adhere vnto him and some vnder other pretences to learne search and discouer all the circumstances and particulars of PERKINS Parents Birth Person Trauailes vp and downe and in briefe to haue a Iournall as it were of his life and doings Hee furnished these his imployed-men liberally with Money to draw on and reward Intelligences giuing them also in charge to aduertise continually what they found and neuerthelesse still to goe on And euer as one Aduertisement and Discouerie called vp another hee employed other new Men where the Businesse did require it Others hee employed in a more speciall nature and trust to be his Pioners in the maine Counter-mine These were directed to insinuate themselues into the familiaritie and confidence of the principall Persons of the Partie in Flanders and so to learne what Associates they had and Correspondents either heere in England or abroad and how farre euery one ingaged and what new ones they meant afterwards to trie or board And as this for the Persons so for the Actions themselues to discouer to the Bottome as they could the vtmost of PERKINS and the Conspiratours their Intentions Hopes and Practices These latter Best-be-trust-Spies had some of them further instructions to practise and draw off the best Friends and Seruants of PERKIN by making remonstrance to them how weakly his Enterprize and Hopes were built and with how prudent and potent a King they had to deale and to reconcile them to the King with promise of Pardon and good Conditions of Reward And aboue the rest to assayle sappe and worke into the constancie of Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD and to winne him if they could being the man that knew most of their secrets and who being wonne away would most appall and discourage the rest and in a manner breake the Knot There is a strange Tradition That the King being lost in a Wood of Suspicions and not knowing whom to trust had both intelligence with the Confessors and Chaplaines of diuers great men and for the better Credit of his Espialls abroad with the contrarie side did vse to haue them cursed at PAVLS by Name amongst the Bead-roll of the Kings Enemies according to the Custome of those Times These Espials plyed their Charge so roundly as the King had an Anatomie of PERKIN aliue and waslikewise well informed of the particular correspondent Conspiratours in England and many other Mysteries were reuealed and Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD in especiall wonne to bee assured to the King and industrious and officious for his seruice The King therfore receiuing a rich Returne of his diligence and great satisfaction touching a number of Particulars first diuulged and spred abroad the Imposture and iuggling of PERKINS Person and Trauailes with the Circumstances therof throughout the Realme Not by Proclamation because things were yet in Examination and so might receiue the more or the lesse but by Court-fames which commonly print better than printed Proclamations Then thought hee it also time to send an Ambassage vnto Archduke PHILIP into Flanders for the abandoning and dismissing of PERKIN Heerein hee employed Sir EDWARD POYNINGS and Sir WILLIAM WARHAM Doctor of the Canon Law The Archduke was then young and gouerned by his Councell before whom the Ambassadours had audience and Doctor WARHAM spake in this manner MY Lords the King our Master is very sorie that England and your Countrey here of Flanders hauing beene counted as Man and Wife for so long time now this Countrey of all others should be the Stage where a base Counterfeit should play the part of a King of England not onely to his Graces disquiet and dishonour but to the scorne and reproach of all Soueraigne Princes To counterfeit the dead Image of a King in his Coyne is an high Offence by all Lawes But to counterfeit the liuing Image of a King in his Person exceedeth all Falsifications except it should bee that of a MAHOMET or an Anti-Christ that counterfeit Diuine Honour The King hath too great an Opinion of this sage Counsell to thinke that any of you is caught with this Fable though way may be giuen by you to the passion of some the thing in it selfe is so improbable To set Testimonies aside of the Death of Duke RICHARD which the King hath vpon Record plaine and infallible because they may bee thought to bee in the Kings owne Power let the thing testifie for it selfe Sense and Reason no Power can command Is it possible trow you that King RICHARD should damne his soule and foule his Name with so abominable a Murther and yet not mend his Case Or doe you thinke that Men of Bloud that were his Instruments did turne to Pitty in the middest of their Execution Whereas in cruell and sauage Beasts and Men also the first Draught of Bloud doth yet make them more fierce and enraged Doe you not know that the Bloudie Executioners of Tyrants doe goe to such Errands with an Halter about their necke So that if they performe not they are sure to die for it And doe you thinke that these men would hazard their owne liues for sparing anothers Admit they should haue saued him What should they haue done with him Turne him into London Streets that the Watch-men or any Passenger that should light vpon him might carry him before a Iustice and so all come to light Or should they haue kept him by them secretly That surely would haue required a great deale of Care Charge and continuall Feares But my Lords I labour too much in a cleare Businesse The King is so wise and hath so good Friends abroad as now hee knoweth Duke PERKIN from his Cradle And because hee is a great Prince if you haue any good Poet here hee can helpe him with Notes to write his Life and to parallel him with LAMBERT SIMNELL now the Kings Faulconer And therefore to speake plainely to your Lordships it is the strangest thing in the World that the Lady MARGARET excuse vs if wee name her whose Malice to the King is both causelesse and endlesse should now when she is
consisted but of strangers borne and most of them base People and Free-booters fitter to spoile a Coast than to recouer a Kingdome resorting vnto the principall Gentlemen of the Countrie professed their loyaltie to the King and desired to bee directed and commanded for the best of the Kings seruice The Gentlemen entring into Consultation directed some forces in good number to shew themselues vpon the Coast and some of them to make signes to entice PERKINS Souldiers to land as if they would ioyne with them and some others to appeare from some other Places and to make semblance as if they fledde from them the better to encourage them to land But PERKIN who by playing the Prince or else taught by Secretarie FRION had learned thus much That People vnder Command doe vse to consult and after to march in order and Rebells contrariwise runne vpon an Head together in confusion considering the delay of time and obseruing their orderly and not tumultuary Arming doubted the worst And therefore the wily Youth would not set one foote out of his Ship till hee might see things were sure Wherefore the Kings Forces perceiuing that they could draw on no more than those that were formerly landed set vpon them and cut them in pieces ere they could fly backe to their ships In which Skirmish besides those that fledde and were slaine there were taken about an hundred and fifty persons Which for that the King thought that to punish a few for example was Gentlemans-play but for Rascall-People they were to bee cut off euery man especially in the beginning of an Enterprize and likewise for that hee saw that PERKINS Forces would now consist chiefly of such Rabble and scumme of desperate People hee therefore hanged them all for the greater terrour They were brought to London all rayl'd in Ropes like a Teame of Horses in a Cart and were executed some of them at London and Wapping and the rest at diuers places vpon the Sea-Coast of Kent Sussex and Norfolke for Sea-markes or Light-houses to teach PERKINS People to auoyd the Coast. The King being aduertised of the landing of the Rebels thought to leaue his Progresse But being certified the next day that they were partly defeated and partly fled hee continued his Progresse and sent Sir RICHARD GVILFORD into Kent in message Who calling the Countrie together did much commend from the King their fidelitie manhood and well handling of that seruice and gaue them all thankes and in priuate promised Reward to some particulars Vpon the sixteenth of Nouember this beeing the eleuenth yeare of the King was holden the Serieants-Feast at Elie-Place there being nine Serieants of that Call The King to honour the Feast was present with his Queene at the Dinner being a Prince that was euer ready to grace and countenance the Professors of the Law hauing a little of that That as he gouerned his Subiects by his Lawes so he gouerned his Lawes by his Lawyers This yeare also the King entred into League with the Italian Potentates for the defence of Italie against France For King CHARLES had conquered the Realme of Naples and lost it againe in a kinde of Felicitie of a Dreame Hee passed the whole length of Italie without resistance so that it was true which Pope ALEXANDER was wont to say That the Frenchmen came into Italie with Chalke in their hands to marke up their lodgings rather than with swords to fight Hee likewise entred and wonne in effect the whole Kingdome of Naples it selfe without striking stroke But presently thereupon he did commit and multiply so many Errours as was too great a taske for the best fortune to ouercome Hee gaue no contentment to the Barons of Naples of the Faction of the Angeouines but scattered his rewards according to the mercenarie appetites of some about him He put all Italie vpon their Guard by the seizing and holding of Ostia and the protecting of the Libertie of Pisa which made all men suspect that his purposes looked further than his title of Naples He fell too soone at difference with LVDOVICO SFORTIA who was the Man that carried the Keyes which brought him in and shut him out Hee neglected to extinguish some reliques of the Warre And lastly in regard of his easie passage through Italie without resistance hee entred into an ouermuch despising of the Armes of the Italians Whereby he left the Realme of Naples at his departure so much the lesse prouided So that not long after his returne the whole Kingdome reuolted to FERDINANDO the younger and the French were quite driuen out Neuerthelesse CHARLES did make both great threats and great preparations to re-enter Italie once againe Wherfore at the instance of diuers of the States of Italie and especially of Pope ALEXANDER there was a League concluded betweene the said Pope MAXIMILIAN King of Romanes HENRY King of England FERDINANDO and ISABELLA King and Queen of Spaine for so they are constantly placed in the originall Treaty throughout AVGVSTISSIMO BARBADICO Duke of Venice and LVDOVICO SFORTIA Duke of Millan for the common defence of their estates Wherein though FERDINANDO of Naples was not named as principall yet no doubt the Kingdome of Naples was tacitly included as a Fee of the Church There dyed also this yeare CECILE Duchesse of Yorke mother to King EDWARD the Fourth at her Castle of Barkhamsted beeing of extreame yeares and who had liued to see three Princes of her bodie crowned and foure murthered Shee was buried at Foderingham by her husband This yeare also the King called his Parliament where many Lawes were made of a more priuate and vulgar nature than ought to detaine the Reader of an Historie And it may bee iustly suspected by the proceedings following that as the King did excell in good Common-wealth Lawes so neuerthelesse hee had in secret a designe to make vse of them as well for collecting of Treasure as for correcting of Manners and so meaning thereby to harrow his People did accumulate them the rather The principall Law that was made this Parliament was a Law of a strange nature rather Iust than Legall and more magnanimous than prouident This Law did ordaine That no person that did assist in Armes or otherwise the King for the time beeing should after bee impeached therefore or attainted either by the course of the Law or by Act of Parliament But if any such Act of Attainder did happen to bee made it should bee voyde and of none effect For that it was agreeable to reason of Estate that the Subiect should not enquire of the iustnesse of the Kings Title or Quarrell and it was agreeable to good Conscience that whatsoeuer the fortune of the Warre were the Subiect should not suffer for his Obedience The spirit of this Law was wonderfull Pious and Noble beeing like in matter of Warre vnto the spirit of DAVID in matter of Plague who said If I haue sinned strike mee but what haue these sheepe done Neither wanted this Law parts of prudent
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
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
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
although the French seemed to speake reason yet Arguments are euer with multitudes too weake for Suspitions Wherefore they did aduise the King roundly to embrace the Britons quarrell and to send them speedy aides and with much alacritie and forwardnesse granted to the King a great rate of Subsidie in contemplation of these aides But the King both to keepe a decencie towards the French King to whom he profest himselfe to be obliged and indeed desirous rather to shew Warre then to make it sent new solemne Ambassadors to intimate vnto him the Decree of his Estates and to iterate his motion that the French would desist from Hostilitie or if Warre must follow to desire him to take it in good part if at the motion of his people who were sensible of the cause of the Britons as their ancient Friends and Confederates hee did send them succours with protestation neuerthelesse that to saue all Treaties and Lawes of Friendship hee had limited his Force to proceed in aide of the Britons but in no wise to warre vpon the French otherwise then as they maintained the possession of Britaine But before this formall Ambassage arriued the Partie of the Duke had receiued a great blow and grew to manifest declination For neere the Towne of Saint Alban in Britaine a Battaile had beene giuen where the Britons were ouerthrowne and the Duke of Orleance and the Prince of Orange taken Prisoners there being slaine on the Britons part six thousand Men and amongst them the Lord WOODVILE and almost all his Souldiers valiantly fighting And of the French part one thousand two hundred with their Leader IAMES GALEOT a great Commander When the newes of this Battaile came ouer into England it was time for the King who now had no subrerfuge to continue further Treatie and saw before his Eyes that Britaine went so speedily for lost contrarie to his hopes knowing also that with his People and Forreiners both he sustained no small Enuie and disreputation for his former delayes to dispatch with all possible speed his succours into Britaine which hee did vnder the conduct of ROBERT Lord BROOKE to the number of eight thousand choise Men and well armed who hauing a faire wind in few houres landed in Britaine and ioyned themselues forthwith to those Briton-Forces that remained after the Defeat and marched straight on to find the Enemie and incamped fast by them The French wisely husbanding the possession of a Victorie and well acquainted with the courage of the English especially when they are fresh kept themselues within their Trenches being strongly lodged and resolued not to giue battaile But meane while to harrasse and wearie the English they did vpon all aduantages set vpon them with their Light-Horse wherein neuerthelesse they receiued commonly losse especially by meanes of the English-Archers But vpon these atchieuements FRANCIS Duke of Britaine deceased an accident that the King might easily haue foreseene and ought to haue reckoned vpon and prouided for but that the Point of Reputation when newes first came of the Battaile lost that somewhat must bee done did ouerbeare the Reason of Warre After the Dukes decease the principall persons of Britaine partly bought partly through faction put all things into confusion so as the English not finding Head or Bodie with whom to ioyne their Forces and being in iealousie of Friends as well as in danger of Enemies and the Winter begun returned home fiue moneths after their landing So the Battaile of Saint Alban the death of the Duke and the retire of the English succours were after some time the causes of the losse of that Duchie which action some accounted as a blemish of the Kings Iudgement but most but as the misfortune of his times But howsoeuer the temporarie Fruit of the Parliament in their aid and aduice giuen for Britaine tooke not nor prospered not yet the lasting Fruit of Parliament which is good and wholsome Lawes did prosper and doth yet continue to this day For according to the Lord Chancellours admonition there were that Parliament diuers excellent Lawes ordained concerning the Points which the King recommended First the authoritie of the Star-chamber which before subsisted by the ancient Common-Lawes of the Realme was confirmed in certaine Cases by Act of Parliament This Court is one of the sagest and noblest Institutions of this Kingdome For in the distribution of Courts of Ordinarie Iustice besides the High-Court of Parliament in which distribution the Kings-Bench holdeth the Pleas of the Crowne the Common-Place Pleas Ciuill the Exchequer Pleas concerning the Kings Reuenue and the Chancery the Pretorian power for mitigating the Rigour of Law in case of extremitie by the conscience of a good man there was neuerthelesse alwaies reserued a high and preheminent power to the Kings Counsell in Causes that might in example or consequence concerne the state of the Common-wealth which if they were Criminall the Counsell vsed to sit in the Chamber called the Star-Chamber if Ciuill in the White-Chamber or White-hall And as the Chancery had the Pretorian power for Equitie so the Star-chamber had the Censorian power for Offences vnder the degree of Capitall This Court of Star-chamber is compounded of good Elements for it consisteth of foure kindes of Persons Councellors Peeres Prelates and Chief-Iudges It discerneth also principally of foure kinds of Causes Forces Frauds Crimes various of Stellionate and the Inchoations or middle acts towards Crimes Capitall or hainous not actually committed or perpetrated But that which was principally aimed at by this Act was Force and the two chiefe Supports of Force Combination of multitudes and Maintenance or Headship of great Persons From the generall peace of the Countrie the Kings care went on to the peace of the Kings House and the securitie of his great Officers and Counsellors But this Law was somwhat of a strange composition and temper That if any of the Kings seruants vnder the degree of a Lord doe conspire the death of any of the Kings Counsell or Lord of the Realme it is made Capitall This Law was thought to bee procured by the Lord Chancellor who being a sterne and haughtie man and finding he had some mortall Enemies in Court prouided for his owne safetie drowning the enuie of it in a generall Law by communicating the priuiledge with all other Councellors and Peeres and yet not daring to extend it further then to the Kings seruants in Check-rowle lest it should haue beene too harsh to the Gentlemen and other Commons of the Kingdome who might haue thought their ancient Libertie and the clemencie of the Lawes of England inuaded If the will in any case of Felonie should be made the deed And yet the reason which the Act yeeldeth that is to say That hee that conspireth the death of Councellors may be thought indirectly and by a meane to conspire the death of the King himselfe is indifferent to all Subiects as well as to Seruants in Court But it seemeth this sufficed to serue the Lord
for his owne part hee was in none And that hee might haue some good Townes vpon the Coast in Italie put into his hands for the Retrait and safeguard of his Men. With this Answer IASPER PONS returned nothing at all discontented And yet this Declaration of the King as superficiall as it was gaue him that Reputation abroad as hee was not long after elected by the Knights of the Rhodes Protector of their Order All things multiplying to Honour in a Prince that had gotten such high Estimation for his Wisedome and Sufficiencie There were these two last yeares some proceedings against Her etiques which was rare in this Kings Reigne and rather by Penances than by Fire The King had though hee were no good Schooleman the Honour to conuert one of them by Dispute at Canterburie This yeare also though the king were no more haunted with Sprites for that by the Sprinckling partly of Bloud and partly of Water hee had chased them away yet neuerthelesse hee had certaine Apparitions that troubled him still shewing themselues from one Region which was the house of Yorke It came so to passe that the Earle of Suffolke Sonne to ELIZABETH eldest Sister to king EDVVARD the fourth by IOHN Duke of Suffolke her second Husband and Brother to IOHN Earle of Lincolne that was slaine at Stocke-field being of an hastie and Cholericke Disposition had killed a man in his furie whereupon the king gaue him his Pardon But either willing to leaue a Cloud vpon him or the better to make him feele his Grace produced him openly to plead his Pardon This wrought in the Earle as in a haughtie stomacke it vseth to doe for the Ignominie printed deeper than the Grace Wherefore hee beeing discontent fled secretly into Flanders vnto his Aunt the Duchesse of Burgundie The king startled at it But being taught by Troubles to vse fare and timely Remedies wrought so with him by Messages The Ladie MARGARET also growing by often failing in her Alchymie wearie of her Experiments and partly being a little sweetned for that the king had not touched her name in the Confession of PERKIN that hee came ouer againe vpon good termes and was reconciled to the king In the beginning of the next yeare beeing the seuenteenth of the king the Ladie KATHERINE fourth Daughter of FERDINANDO and ISABELLA King and Queene of Spaine arriued in England at Plimouth the second of October and was married to Prince ARTHVR in PAVLES the foureteenth of Nouember following The Prince being then about fifteene yeares of age and the Ladie about eighteene The manner of her receiuing the manner of her Entrie into London and the Celebritie of the Marriage were performed with great and true Magnificence in regard of Cost Shew and Order The chiefe man that tooke the care was Bishop Fox who was not onely a graue Councellor for Warre or Peace but also a good Surueyour of Workes and a good Master of Ceremonies and any thing else that was fit for the Actiue part belonging to the seruice of Court or State of a great King This Marriage was almost seuen yeares in Treatie which was in part caused by the tender yeares of the Marriage-couple especially of the Prince But the true reason was that these two Princes being Princes of great Policie and profound Iudgement stood a great time looking one vpon anothers Fortunes how they would goe knowing well that in the meane time the verie Treatie it selfe gaue abroad in the World a Reputation of a straite Coniunction and Amitie betweene them which serued on both sides to many purposes that their seuerall Affaires required and yet they continued still free But in the end when the Fortunes of both the Princes did grow euerie day more and more prosperous and assured and that looking all about them they saw no better Conditions they shut it vp The Marriage Monie the Princesse brought which was turned ouer to the King by Act of Renunciation was two hundred thousand Ducats Whereof one hundred thousand were payable ten dayes after the Solemnization and the other hundred thousand at two payments Annuall but part of it to bee in Iewels and Plate and a due course set downe to haue them iustly and indifferently prized The Ioynture or Aduancement of the Lady was the third part of the Principality of Wales and of the Dukedome of Cornewall and of the Earledome of Chester to be after set forth in seueraltie And in case shee came to bee Queeene of England her Aduancement was left indefinite but thus That it should bee as great as euer any former Queene of England had In all the Deuises and Conceits of the Triumphs of this Marriage there was a great deale of Astronomie The Ladie beeing resembled to HESPERVS and the Prince to ARCTVRVS and the old King ALPHONSVS that was the greatest Astronomer of Kings and was Ancestor to the Ladie was brought in to bee the Fortune-teller of the Match And whosoeuer had those Toyes in Compiling they were not altogether Pedanticall But you may bee sure that King ARTHVR the Britton and the descent of the Ladie KATHERINE from the House of LANCASTER was in no wise forgotten But as it should seem it is not good to fetch Fortunes from the Starres For this young Prince that drew vpon him at that time not onely the Hopes and Affections of his Countrie but the Eyes and Expectation of Forreiners after a few Moneths in the beginning of Aprill deceased at Ludlow Castle where he was sent to keepe his Resiance and Court as Prince of Wales Of this Prince in respect hee died so young and by reason of his Fathers manner of Education that did cast no great Lustre vpon his Children there is little particular Memorie Onely thus much remaineth that hee was very studious and learned beyond his yeares and beyond the Custome of great Princes There was a Doubt ripped vp in the times following when the Diuorce of King HENRIE the Eighth from the Ladie KATHERINE did so much busie the world whether ARTHVR was bedded with his Ladie or no whereby that matter in fact of Carnall Knowledge might bee made part of the Case And it is true that the Ladie her selfe denied it or atleast her Counsell stood vpon it and would not blaunch that Aduantage although the Plenitude of the Popes power of Dispensing was the maine Question And this Doubt was kept long open in respect of the two Queenes that succeeded MARIE and ELIZABETH whose Legitimations were incompatible one with another though their Succession was settled by Act of Parliament And the times that fauoured Queene MARIES Legitimation would haue it beleeued that there was no Carnall Knowledge betweene ARTHVR and KATHERINE Not that they would seeme to derogate from the Popes absolute power to dispence euen in that Case but onely in point of honour and to make the Case more fauourable and smooth And the Times that fauoured Queene ELIZABETHS Legitimation which were the longer and the latter maintained the contrarie So
Aduertisement touching MAXIMILIAN'S pouertie and disabilitie By this time was drawne together a great and puissant Armie into the Citie of London In which were THOMAS Marquesse Dorset THOMAS Earle of Arundell THOMAS Earle of Derby GEORGE Earle of Shrewsbury EDMOND Earle of Suffolke EDWARD Earle of Deuonshire GEORGE Earle of Kent the Earle of Essex THOMAS Earle of Ormond with a great number of Barons Knights and Principall Gentlemen and amongst them RICHARD THOMAS much noted for the braue Troupes that hee brought out of Wales The Armie rising in the whole to the number of fiue and twenty thousand Foot and sixteene hundred Horse Ouer which the King constant in his accustomed trust and imployment made IASPER Duke of Bedford and IOHN Earle of Oxford Generals vnder his owne Person The ninth of September in the eighth yeere of his Reigne he departed from Greenwich towards the Sea all men wondring that hee tooke that Season beeing so neare winter to begin the Warre and some thereupon gathering it was a Signe that the Warre would not beelong Neuerthelesse the King gaue out the contrarie thus That he intending not to make a Summer businesse of it but a resolute Warre without terme prefixed vntill bee recouered France it skilled not much when bee began it especially hauing Calice at his backe where he might winter if the reason of the Warre so required The sixt of October hee imbarqued at Sandwich and the same day tooke land at Calice which was the Rendezvous where all his Forces were assigned to meet But in this his Iourney towards the Sea side wherein for the cause that we shall now speake of he houered so much the longer hee had receiued Letters from the Lord CORDES who the hotter he was against the English in time of Warre had the more credit in a Negociation of Peace and besides was held a man open and of good faith In which Letters there was made an Ouerture of Peace from the French King with such Conditions as were somewhat to the Kings Taste but this was carried at the first with wonderfull secrecie The King was no sooner come to Calice but the calme windes of Peace began to blow For first the English Ambassadors returned out of Flanders from MAXIMILIAN and certified the King that he was not to hope for any aide from MAXIMILIAN for that he was altogether improuided His will was good but he lacked mony And this was made knowne and spread through the Army And although the English were therewithall nothing dismaied and that it bee the manner of Souldiers vpon bad newes to speake the more brauely yet neuerthelesse it was a kind of Preparatiue to a Peace Instantly in the neck of this as the King had laid it came newes that FERDINANDO and ISABELLA Kings of Spaine had concluded a Peace with King CHARLES and that CHARLES had restored vnto them the Counties of Russignon and Perpignian which formerly were Morgaged by IOHN King of Arragon FERDINANDOES Father vnto France for three hundred thousand Crownes which debt was also vpon this Peace by CHARLES clearely released This came also handsomely to put on the Peace both because so potent a Confederate was fallen off and because it was a faire example of a Peace bought so as the King should not bee the sole Merchant in this Peace Vpon these Aires of Peace the King was content that the Bishop of Excester and the Lord DAVBIGNEY Gouernour of Calice should giue a meeting vnto the Lord CORDES for the Treatie of a Peace But himselfe neuerthelesse and his Armie the fifteenth of October remooued from Calice and in foure dayes march sate him downe before Bulloigne During this Siege of Bulloigne which continued neare a Moneth there passed no memorable Action noâ— Accident of Warre onely Sir IOHN SAVAGE a valiant Captaine was slaine riding about the Walls of the Towne to take a View The Towne was both well fortified and well manned yet it was distressed and ready for an Assault Which if it had beene giuen as was thought would haue cost much Bloud but yet the Towne would haue beene carried in the end Meane while a Peace was concluded by the Commissioners to continue for both the Kings Liues Where there was no Article of importance being in effect rather a Bargaine than a Treatie For all things remayned as they were saue that there should bee payed to the King seuen hundred fortie fiue thousand Duckats in present for his Charges in that Iourney and fiue and twentie thousand Crownes yearely for his Charges sustained in the Aides of the Britons For wich Annuall though he had MAXIMILIAN bound before for those Charges yet hee counted the alteration of the Hand as much as the principall Debt And besides it was left somewhat indefinitely when it should determine or expire which made the English esteeme it as a Tribute carried vnder faire Tearmes And the truth is it was paid both to the King and to his Sonne King HENRY the Eight longer than it could continue vpon any computation of Charges There were also assigned by the French King vnto al the King 's principal Counsellors great Pensions besides rich Gifts for the present Which whether the King did permit to saue his owne Purse from Rewards or to communicate the Enuie of a Businesse that was displeasing to his People was diuersly interpreted For certainly the King had no great fancie to owne this Peace And therefore a little before it was concluded he had vnder-hand procured some of his best Captaines and Men of Warre to aduise him to a Peace vnder their Hands in an earnest manner in the Nature of a Supplication But the truth is this Peace was welcome to both Kings To CHARLES for that it assured vnto him the possession of Britaine and freed the enterprise of Naples To HENRY for that it filled his Coffers and that hee foresaw at that time a storme of inward troubles comming vpon him which presently after brake forth But it gaue no lesse discontent to the Nobilitie and principall persons of the Armie who had many of them sold or engaged their estates vpon the hopes of the Warre They stucke not to say That the King cared not to plume his Nobilitie and People to feather himselfe And some made themselues merrie with that the King had said in Parliament That after the Warre was once begun he doubted not but to make it pay it selfe saying hee had kept promise Hauing risen from Bulloigne hee went to Calice where hee stayed some time From whence also hee wrote Letters which was a Courtesie that hee sometimes vsed to the Maior of London and Aldermen his brethren halfe bragging what great summes hee had obtayned for the Peace knowing well that full Cofers of the King is euer good Newes to London And better Newes it would haue beene if their Beneuolence had beene but a Loane And vpon the seuenteenth of December following hee returned to Westminster where he kept his Christmasse Soone after the Kings returne he sent