THE TRUE AND WONDERFUL HISTORY OF Perkin Warbeck, PROCLAIMING himself RICHARD the fourth.  Eurip. Iphig. in Tauris. Nullus sibi similis in periculis homo, quoties ad audaciam ex metu venerit. 
LONDON, Printed by E. G. for NATHANIEL BUTTER, and are to be sold at his shop in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Pied-bull. 1618.   


Historia est  
Testis temporum.  
Lux veritatis.  
Vita memoriae.  
Magistra vitae.  
Nuntia vetustatis.    
Cicero de Orat. Lib. 2. Historia nihil aliud est nisi annalium confectio, cuius rei memoriaeque publicae retinendae causa, ab initio res omnes singulorum annorum mandabat literis Pontifex maximus, efferebatque in album, & proponebat tabulam domi, etc.  

TO THE RIGHT HOnourable THOMAS Earl of Arundel, primer Earl of England, and one of his majesties most honourable Council, etc.  
RIGHT HONOURABLE:  
Such as my poor self, that am only a looker on of your virtues, as a Passenger in a street beholding the Frontispiece of some delicate Edifice, but debarred the entrance and search into the inward rooms, must be contented, or if you please indebted to the opinion and report of others; which I have found so ample and enlarged concerning your great Honour, and greater worthiness, that I will forbear any further insinuation, lest I step into a kind of flattery, a vice incident to most men, refused of none, yet in all fortunes to be disclaimed of a Gentleman: only I must add this, that I am proud of mine own assurance, that you are borne to adorn our Country, and illustrate our Court, wherein your industry, loyalty, and immaculate truth shall make your virtues complete and triumphant. Therefore great Lord have I chosen out this History, merely for the strangeness, and charactered you the Patron of my endeavours for the observations, that the remarkable passages herein proposed, of which even Scotland had a part, may serve for all persons in such dignity and eminent places, both for precept, and caution.  
For Precept, to flourish in their own honours, and move in their own orbs, sticking close to the glory of their Country, and clinging to the sides of Majesty, that the King may ask, what shall be done to the man, whom he would honour, and the Commonwealth follow them with panegyrical applauses, who preserve her peace from the ravishing, and deforming of strangers, be the hopes to the contrary never so probable, or inductive.  
For Caution, not once to put any confidence in deceivers, nor believe the Devil himself, though he promise to give the Kingdoms of the World, which are none of his: yet, I confess him Prince of the same, that is, of the abuses and impieties therein both raging, and reigning: and the rather, because the end hath ever been perdition of body, soul, honour, estates and posterity: nor can the pleading of simplicity in the seduction, or ignorance in the credulity serve the turn: For though Princes ma●y times have been drawn to pardon the offences of Subjects, and refractory delinquents, wallowing or rather sunk over head & ears in the mierie bogs of such convulsions: yet are they not always to be presumed upon, nor will the Commonwealth endure the indignity, or give way to any person whatsoever in vilipending the government.  
I humbly therefore request your Honour to read over this true and strange Story, and take in worth my good meaning, which presenteth the same unto you I protest without any other motive, then to see you flourish, as a supportation of our Commonwealth, and jewel of our kingdom. As for the faults and my presumption, I expect, that that virtue and goodness, which must make you famous in this world, and happy in the world to come, will extend but her own properties to my pardon and admission, knowing that if I have done ill; wisdom is not bought in the market, and yet God bids us come without money; if well, it is in your honourable favour, and noble acceptation.  
Your Honour's humble observant THOMAS GAINS●ORDE.   
Lucan lib. 8. DEstruit ingentes a●imos, & vita superstes Imperio, nisi summa dies cum fine bonum Affuit, & celeri praevertit tristia letho, Dedecori est fortuna prior, quisquam ne secundis Tradere se fatis audet, nisi morte parata?  

A PREFACE.  
Nec adulatori, Neque detractori,  
TO speak of the commendation of history is not my meaning; nor of the necessity my purpose: For besides the definition, and explanation of Tully himself, you have at least forty several books, which begin (as I do) with a preface, as a preparative to the Reader, to take their books within their gentle embraces, merely upon the commendation of history. I leave all unnamed, except Sr. Henry Savill for Tacitus, Sr. Walter Raleigh for his history of the world, Dr. Haward for the three Norman Kings, and Henry the fourth. In whose writings, let us write, what we can, as much is written, as either delight, profit, or private respect can extend unto: so that I say I desist from that general insinuation concerning the credit, or particular satisfaction of history, and come to more familiar opening the carpet of the business proposed. Only this I will add, that I had rather read one true story handsomely set upon the frame of Precept and Caution, 
True Histories to be preferred before all profane and devised relations.  than a thousand fictions diverting my imaginary conceits to think upon, and (as we say) spend themselves on impossibilities, and corrupt my meditation with vain, foolish, beastly, and trivial devices, which are the more ridiculous, because there is substance, and matter enough in verity, to set on work any humour and invention whatsoever, & satisfy apprehensions even in their wanton, and exotic wanderings.  
For in this house of repast, which my juy-bush invites you to, wouldst thou be made partaker of the attributes appropriate to the Divine Majesty? here are manifested his providence, wisdom, mightiness, power, justice, mercy, prevention, love, goodness, majesty, etc., Wouldst thou be made acquainted with the secrets of Religion? here are demonstrated the vanities of ceremonies, the necessity of adoration, the encumbrances of superstition, the simplicity of times, the darkness of Popery, the fear of excommunication, the reverence of Priesthood, and the folly of devices? Wouldst thou know the policies of government, and dignity of a King? here you shall see, what the desire of sovereignty can do, the jealousy of a Prince's estate, the revenge of wrongs, the fear of troubles and innovation, the inconstancy of the people; the danger of factions, und the senerall passages of a prosperous, or declining estate? Wouldst thou be quickened with the remembrance of pleasure, here are particulars of delight, court of Ladies, amorous encounters, triumphant shows, deceitful vanities, and some idle relations? Wouldst thou see virtue mounted on a pinnacle of her palace? here are wisdom, gravity, constancy, magnanimity, endurances of misfortune, and moderation of power and greatness. Wouldst thou behold vice in her deformity? here are envy, hatred, malice, pride, ambition, desire of revenge, rebellion, contumacy, stubbornness, and such like. Wouldst thou be acquainted with passions? here are joy, fear, sorrow, gladness, jealousy, mistrust, & all of that sort. Wouldst thou see other varieties? here are Princes deceived, hopers abused, liars execrated, traitors punished, and the Devil himself confounded. In a word, wouldst thou hear of strange adventures? painful endeavours? heroik actions? dangerous attempts? military proceedings? here is Fortune, as we profanely run away with the Emblem, set upon a wheel, and turned round about by the hand of an invisible, and invincible Deity. here is the stage of variety, and table of wonders? So that I am sure, from the conquest to this hour, there is no story so remarkable, and so full of observation, either for the ridiculous beginning, dangerous continuance, or lamentable effects?  
For although the first contentions between the houses of York and Lancaster began questionless from the wrong intrusiou of Henry the fourth, 
The house of Lancaster began the first wrong.  when the right of the crown was in Mortimer, and his line by the daughter of Clarence, King Edward the thirds third son, and elder brother to john of Gaunt: yet there was some probability and inducement to the revengers, either mighty armies, strong factions, many confederates, the next of blood powerful in his own possession and friends, with such like. But here; besides the fanatical invention, men were transported against their own conscience and knowledge, and assumed arms to do they knew not what, only because they would be counted factious, stirring, and resembling the fish Saepia, which cast into any water befroths the same, and in the conclusion, the end as the beginning, and both like a paper castle quickly set on fire, or if you will, a confection of spicery, which after it is carried round about the house, is placed upon the table with great wonder, amazement and delight both at the stuff, and contriving: but what is the issue? the lookers on at last fall to, and pull even the guns and houses a pieces, and eat them.  
In Ireland, 
Rebellion in Ireland natural.  I remember, they lay an imputation of baseness and cowardice on any man, that hath not been in action, as they term it, or hath not had his pardon and protection: so that custom makes them Traitors, and the vainglory of reputation many times brings their necks to the halter: yet it is somewhat tolerable for the generality of the fault, and enforcement of the motive, being Bards, Rhymers, Harpers, Priests, whom the very women ●ug in their bosoms, for seducing their Noblemen, and Gentlemen, and enciting them to revenge. Upon this ground, they must prosecute, first some things worthy the honour of their ancestors, and next remember the deploration of Religion, Liberty, and the usurpation of their Country, all which the English have from time to time intruded upon, and are not to be endured in their tyranny, as they make them believe. But in this our story, there is nothing savouring true heroiknesse, nor worthy the name of commiseration and assistance. For the best excuse ariseth from shadows, smoke, vapours, foolish enterprises, and unjustifiable actions, wherein only the power of God is manifested and made apparent, that from so small beginnings, and slender a fountain, such turbulent streams and raging rivers should arise, even to endanger one of the flourishingst Kingdoms in the world: yea, my heart trembles to imagine, that so great a Prince, in the unity of a right, by an unpreventable marriage, should be heaved at in so formidable a manner by an upstart, and (as I may say) puppet stuffed with straw, to scare away crows.  
I have read of one Spartago 
Spar●ago.  a Fencer, that taking upon him the person of Scribonianus, drew a great party together: which as Nero laughed to scorn, so indeed the Common wealth quickly put to flight. Likewise, the other day in Venice, Florence, and many principalities of Italy, a strange Impostor after 30. years or thereabouts, made them believe he was Sebastian King of Portugal, 
Sebastian.  slain in Barbary at the battle of Alcazar, as was supposed, but in truth recovered, & obscured for a time etc. I might also add the cunning of Richard Duke of York, who being in Ireland, animated the Kentish rebel jack Cade to personate the name of Mortimer, 
Mortimer.  for a trial how the people would affect that Title: But these flourishes were only the rash burnings of a bavin, as soon extinguished as on a flame, and quickly overthrown, upon the first discovery: Only this story for the variety, the continuance, the manner, and all other circumstances, hath made me (as I said before) amazed, and may in the reading produce the same effects in others: Yet again, when I consider the estate of man's frailty, mutable, troublesome, and full of encumbrances, and overlook the condition of mortality, which in Princes themselves is subject to inconveniences, and many times fearful convulsions, I wonder the less, because God will be known unto them, and they have for the most part prevailed in their rights, and justifiable endeavours. For which I also pray, that they may still hold up the heads of triumphant & unchangeable greatness, wherein (no doubt) the same divine arm of potency which hath protected others, will also support them from all dangerous enterprises and fearful treasons, either of Foreign or Domestic adversaries.  
But amongst other remarkable accidents, this is not the least, that so many examples, so many heads cut off, so many Armies overthrown, 
Treason did never long prosper.  so many honourable families consumed, so much blood spilled, so great revenges taken (as if all such enterprises were cursed in the womb, and brought forth like an untimely embryon) could never affright others, nor be a sufficient warning to succeeding times, but every occasion of innovation, were it never so foolish or exorbitant, still excited one or other to parts taking, and brought them to untimely overthrows, either by their Armies, and confederates discomfited, or by their inditements, and accusations enlarged in judicial trial against them: but this is the cunning of the Devil, who to fill up the vast dungeon of Hell, make men so prodigal of their lives and honours, or so covetous of revenge, and vainglory, that so they may have a name with Herostratus, who burned the the Temple of Diana; they care not for the reproach, supposing that as many will extol them for brave stirring spirits, as condemn them for Traitors and disobedient Subjects. O ridiculous and abominable conceits! O hateful and filthy imaginations! O deceivable and imposturing impiety: Nay, in a word, O horrible and flagitious madness! without reason, likelihood or inference of any probable, or persuasive circumstance.  
But lest my Preface extend beyond the bounds of my heart's commission, I will attend the particulars of my Story, with this expostulation to all noble and generous spirits; yea, I will kneel on my knees and hold up my hands unto them, that they give no way to any deceivable seduction of Pope, jesuit, Priest, Faction, Innovation, Repining at the State, Private ambition, Corrupted malice, and such like, against the current of government, or the ebbings and flow of the world and times. For the Majesty of Kings will not be tied up with the slender bindings of rebellion, nor taught any lesson against their wills either of favouring, or disfavouring, whom they please. As for personal faults; Alas, Princes, Prelates, Officers, Magistrates, and all sorts of men will run the race of mortality; and if it were possible to remove offenders at pleasure, the persons may be changed, but the imperfections continue. Let them therefore alone a God's name; for they must stand or fall to the estate of their lives, which he hath appointed: only this I will be bold to say, I would have no man for any private respect run in the outrageous races of sins himself, or defend any wickedness in others, bear with great men in their vices, flatter or temporize for profit or preferment, yield unto base or degenerating actions either for fear or favour; or in a word, do any thing contrary to God's word, wherein as in a glass men may perspicuously behold the way of life and death, and the infallible positions, which in the affirmative and negative conclude all things either by precept, or interdiction.   
Eurip. Orest. parvis enim res magnas quomodò caperet quis laboribus? stultum etiam velle & conarihaec: quando enim excanduerit populus, ad iram prolapsus, similis est igni ad extinguendum vehementi: si vero pedetentim quis ei concitato quidem cedens obsecundârit, tempus cautè obseruans, cum autem emiserit flatus, forsan exhalaverit.  

THE TRUE AND wonderful History of PERKIN WARBECK.  
THE contentions between the houses of York and Lancaster, are the subjects of many discourses, and therefore I will insist the less either upon Genealogies, Titles, Usurpations, Wars, Factions, Encounters, Revenges, Battles, Slaughters, or other accidental outrages, which for 90. years filled the wrinkles of the face of our Commonwealth of England, with the blood and sweat of ten Kings and Princes of the race royal: 60 Dukes and Earls: 1000 Lords and Knights: and 150000 Soldiers and people. Only I must make a little commorance and abiding in the wretched and ragged house of envy and malice, governed and overseen by a woman, who was so opposite and adverse to the Lancastrian family, that for all King Henry the seventh had obtained the Crown by a strong hand; and as we say, divinitùs praemunitus: yea, debarred all Titles, or fuming shadows of Titles, by consummating that marriage with the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter of Edward the fourth: she yet contrived all the ways of his overthrow, and invit â fortunâ entertained every occasion, which might add fuel to the fire of her inveterate hate, and blood-thirsty humour of revenge, as if she had been borne like certain Antipathies in nature, which cannot endure any neighbourhood or commixture: such as the Yew and Palm: the Fig and Vine: the strings of Wolves and Sheep, which makes me remember the story of Eteocles and Pollinices the sons of Oedipus, whose hate was so great in their lives, that after death, the bones being burnt together, the flame of the sacrifice divided asunder.  
This was Margaret Duchess of Burgundy, 
Margaret Duchess of Burgundy chiefest enemy of Henry the seventh.  sister of Edward the fourth, and a sworn adversary to cast the red Rose of England, into the black pit of confusion; who perceiving her first hopes frustrated, and annihilated concerning the progression of Lambert's enterprises, studied night and day upon further and further instigations; yea, hovered over opportunity like a hawk for her pray, to torment and trouble the peace of England: embracing every strange and prestigious illusion, and not caring with what pulleys of ridiculous and impossible actions her malice and revenges were wound up, so they might be hurried down again upon the head of the King, whom she cursed on her knees, and hated, even beyond the tenderness of her sex, many of her own friends for his sake. Therefore to weary his patience a little more, she set up another puppet like the former, one Peter Warbeck a Fleming, to act a part of wonder on the Stage of dangerous Innovation, and take upon him the Title of Richard the fourth Prince of England, and white Rose of the same: But before I play the Midwife, or (if you will) Physician with her, to deliver her womb of this monstrous birth of Peter Warbeck, whom she taught the cunning and audacious impudence of personating Richard Duke of York murdered with his brother in the Tower by Richard the third some eight year before. I think it not impertinent to our purpose in hand, to tell you, what this Lambert was, and wherein he seemed cozened with the whorish smiles of an adulterate fortune by the only means, and coadiutement of this Duchess of Burgundy.  
The first and second years of Henry the seventh swollen to so great a height of joy, blessedness, and contentment from the rivulets of King Richard's slaughter, the corroboration of his estate, the amity of the Nobles, the marriage with the eldest daughter of York, the birth of Prince Arthur, the league and amity of foreign Princes, and the applause of all his subjects, that the divine providence thought it meet to temper and allay the excess of the same with some mixtures of fears and displeasure, lest mortality might presume too far, and man triumph, that his own arm of flesh had contrived his establishment. So that the Lord Lovel; 
The Lord Lovel and Stafford rebel against Henry the seventh.  Humphrey, and Thomas Stafford, with Sir Thomas Broughton and divers others, attempted a dangerous rebellion, and drew into the field a great Army against the King; whom to prevent, the Duke of Bedford with such forces as could be raised on a soddain, made haste to an encounter; but his fortune was so good, that with a successful Oratory, not striking a stroke, he prevailed to dissipate those threatening and thickening clouds of disturbance. For after he had intimated the heinousness of their transgression, & nature of their offences, which were capital Treasons, & with all inferred the King's great mercy, which was willing to pardon their rashness and pitiful oversights, so they would desist, and retire peaceably into their Countries: the whole company surceased, and quietly deposed their Arms; whereupon, the Lord Lovel fled, and the Staffords took Sanctuary in a Village called Culnaham two miles from Abington: but because the judges of the law alleged that the Towns of refuge among the jews were ordained for other purposes; 
No Sanctuary for Traitors.  and that joab was killed holding by the horns of the Altar, and the places of privileges in England were never meant to suborn Traitors: Humphrey Stafford was taken by force from the Town and sent to the Tower, from whence they brought him to Tyburn, and there put him to execution: His younger Brother Thomas was notwithstanding remitted, as a man, whom consanguinity and brotherhood had rather deceived, than wilfulness and malice against the King abused. O blessed wisdom! that can so temper justice with the consideration of men's frailties, and other malevolent circumstances to keep her a while from contracting a brow of revenge upon every offender, and had rather draw some men to a sweet obedience from their penetencie and newness of life, then cut off othersome by the strong hand of execution: and thus in other cases of State it many times chanceth, that even accessaries are condemned, when the principals go free; yea, in the highest degree of Treason, which is displaying of colours, and taking up Arms against a Prince; it is sometimes better taken in action, then in consultation: yet is there no presuming on favour in any of these cases, nor taking hands with example to trace in the by paths of any indirect courses.  
But as mischiefs according to Euripides seldom come alone, and vnd● undam sequitur: so presently upon the neck of this followed a strange and wonderful trouble, through the insurrection of one Lambert Siminel taking upon him the person of Edward Earl of Warwick, 
● new Earl of Warwick.  son of George Duke of Clarence, newly come into the hands of the King, and committed to the Tower. This Lambert was induced (or if ye will seduced) to this enterprise by the devil himpostures of Richard Simond a Priest, who was so hasty in his accounts, and forward in his reckonings, that he presently projected, that if Lambert could be King, he should be an Archbishop at least: O manifest a phrenesis! whereby the way you may observe, that never enterprise was achieved to the dissipation of Monarchies and translation of Kingdoms; never mischief set on foot, nor wickedness put on the wings of prevailing: but from the contrivance and coadiutement of a Priest, & such men as professed the Religion of tho●e times, as in Histories may appear. But if you descend into Europe, and come lower amongst ourselves, I dare say, that from the conquest to this hour, all exorbitant actions, dangerous attempts, terrible enforcements, never heard of Projects, and monstrous commotions to the effusion of Christian blood, and weakening the glory of our kingdom, have been achieved, and furthered by the means of Popish Priests and Jesuits, and the damnable Doctrines and instructions of their associates, mere hypocrites both in life and Doctrine: yea, that monstrous terror of Christendom, the family of Ottoman, and religion of Mahomet was blown so big, as you see it in the furnace of Sergius a counterfeit Monk, and now set on the Throne of imperiousness through his supportation and assistance in composing the Koran.  
When this our Priest Richard Simond, or Versepelles Sinon, well perceived and understood the gentle condition and pregnancy of this Lambert, he wrought most cunningly upon him, and thought him a fit instrument to hammer out the devilish plots he projected, whereby questionless you may apprehend the cunning and malice of Satan who can entangle men with such strange illusions, 
The end of devilish devices our destruction.  and all in the end to destroy them, and bring them to confusion: How else can any reasonable man apprehend, that a Scholar and Priest should be so infatuated as to make a silly fellow take upon him the person of a Prince, laid long before in his grave, and murdered by the tyranny of an unnatural Uncle. Yet did this novice go forward with these strange disguises, like a ceiled dove flying into the hawks feisure by her own wilfulness and blindness, and as if the Poet should cry out, Medeae faciunt ad scelus omne manus: So was he led by the hands of this Priest, who was now set upon nothing but wickedness, and at the last plunged into the Sea of turmoils.  
But the chief original of this disturbance arose from a certain fame, and report, that King Edward's children were not dead, but secretly conveyed into some other Country, as Edward surnamed the Outlaw had in former times been into Hungary, and that Edward Earl of Warwick's should be shortly put to death: O simple men! and oh vain multitude! that are carried away with every wind, believe unconstant reports, rely on foolish prophecies, and run along with uncertain rumours, which makes me remember one of and so changed Lambert's name into Edward Earl of Warwick, 
Lambert Earl of W●rwicke saileth into Ireland.  all things serving as well to this as the other: the joy whereof brought him into such an ecstasy, that he quite forgot the union of the houses, and how the King had married the eldest brothers daughter, which must needs be a bar to Warwick's claim, when wise men came to discuss of the matter: but resolved in the error of his illusion, he strongly conjectured, that any of the house of York were of sufficiency to pull down the strength of the Lancastrian Family. Besides, he knew that actio nulla laudata nisi peracta, and therefore some thing must be done to set the people on work, though it were with throwing firebrands of division and falsity amongst them, even to the dazzling of their eyes with smoke, and casting the sparks about their ears: whereupon both craftily and audaciously he put his business to the trial and sailed with his pupil over into Ireland, where his Grandfather and Ancestors had gotten such love and respect, that even the name of Mortimer and York was sanctified and religious amongst them: For barbarous nations are strong observers of ceremonies & customs, and whatsoever hath taken root and impression amongst them, will hardly be removed or extinguished, as it is too lamentably apparent at this hour, where the imposturing of Priests hath got the upper hand of all religion and piety, and to swear by oneale's hand, is of more efficacy, then to call God and Heaven to witness.  
here he smoothly made relation of his own, and the Prince's fortunes, and escape to certain of the Nobility, especially of Geraldines, whom he knew every way transported against the present government, enlarging his discourse with his miraculous preservation, when without law, or other enforcement, he should have been cruelly put to death by the Usurper, and brought in question for neuer-●eard-of treason, all which, by God's providence and his assistance, was judiciously prevented, and he had from a mere commiseration of a Prince's estate, adventured himself in that manner, and to such a place, where he supposed truehearted honour was resident, and care of religion and humanity maintained.  
Whereupon Th. Geral●ine Lord Chancellor of the Kingdom defrauded by this illusion, 
The Earl of Kildare a savourer of this counterfeit.  under colour of succouring the distressed, and performing a work of charity, received him into his castle, and adding all the ceremonies of reverence and honour to his very person, assured him of aid, comfort, and supportation. To this you must suppose was an answer ready, and such an one delivered with so smooth and attractive a demeanour, that though he had not been such as he protested: yet he would have sworn him of ●igh birth and extraordinary bringing up, which caused him to assemble together all his affinity, and friends, to whom he related the matter, as it chanced, with intimation of the glory of the enterprise, and the good service to God and the Church, for establishing a Prince dejected in his throne, who was the ●rue and only Plantagenet, left to spring up into a spreading tree of royalty, and therefore he requested their loyalty and resolved courages to take his part, that the right heir of the crown might be restored to England, and themselves eternised to hereafter memory, for so meritorious a work. Little needed a spur (saith our Proverb) to a forward horse, all that saw him believed it, and such as heard only the report, according to the Poet, — & errorem vocis, ut omen, amo, Clapped their hands for joy, that they should be employed in an enterprise of such wonder and important greatness: whereupon money, horse, armour, men, and all things else were promised, which might be advantageous to such a business. But alas, Ireland was too weak, and of themselves they did only discover their malice, kerbed yet with insufficiency, giving the King notice, how their wills exceeded their power, and that they were ready to entertain every opportunity to do any mischief. Therefore they sent over into England, acquainting many discontented persons with the business: but most principally, as to the life of their actions, they submitted to Margaret Duchess of Burgundy, sister of King Edward the fourth, for her directions. This was a woman of a wonderful composure, so adorned with princely qualities, 
Margaret Duchess of Burgundy entertaineth this quarrel.  and settled in Majestical authority, as you shall hear hereafter, that she was admired of all Europe, and beloved in her own country. Only as stinking flies lying secretly in boxes of sweet ointments, putrefy the same, did an innated malice, and virulent hatred to the Lancastrian Family, corrupt her other virtues, and (as it were) thrust up her princely enduments into a mere bog & pool of dirt and filthiness: For although she knew the blood of York extinguished, and that the Earl of Warwick was in King Henry's possession, as taken forth together with the Lady Elizabeth now his wife, out of the castle of Sherrington in Yorkshire, under the custody of Sr. Robert Willoughby: Yet insatiate in her hate and so consequently in her revenge: Nam ingentes parturit ira minas: She admitted of every motion of disturbance, and invented means of her own, to set in combustion the whole s●ate of England, under a hopeful pretence to see the King overthrown and supplanted.  
Thus did she pile up together the fire of this disturbance, and countenanced the matter more with her greatness and power, than all the other complices beside: but if you ask me, how she continued in this authority, being a widow, amongst strangers, and enemy to so great a Prince as the King of England: I will answer in a word, and measure out the chief and principal cord that bound her royalty together. Charles Duke of Burgoine, having married this Lady Margaret, daughter to Richard Duke of York, and sister to Edward the fourth, had yet no issue by her, but left one sole daughter behind him named Mary, which he had by his first wife the daughter of the Duke of Bourbon: this was married to Maximilian son to Frederick the Emperor, by whom he had two Princes, Philip and Margaret, which children after the death of the Lady Mary their mother, this Lady Margaret Duchess Dowager so entirely beloved, so tenderly brought up, so motherly nourished, and so carefully preserved, that she was highly reputed of, and esteemed for the same: To which, when she added a politic ordering her affairs, both for the maintenance of their honour, and administration of justice in the Commonwealth: so that I may say with the ancient Poet, 
Eurip. M●d●●.  Saepenumero iam per subtiliores sermones ivi, & ad contentiones veni maiores, quam conveniat genus foemineum perscrutari, etc. The whole body of the government willingly consented to be appareled and adorned after her fashion, so that like an absolute Prince indeed, she proceeded both in the government for their benefit, and the illustration of her own greatness.  
In this Orb of reputation thus moving herself, she still shined like a full planet, from whose influence could proceed nothing but sweet presages, till stepping aside into a contrary motion of despite and rancour against the King, as an enemy to knowledge and her own conscience, she countenanced this ridiculous & yet unhappy conjuration, which by her means grew apace, like broad and stinking burrs, unprofitable in themselves, and spoiling all the grass about them, until at last they were by a politic hand of prevention pulled up by the roots, and cast under foot into the dirt. For when King Henry was certified of all these tumults and comminations, and knew the deepness and fullness of the channel, in which the tottered bark of this rebellion steered, he verily supposed the best point of wisdom was principi●s obstare, and so attempted with all care and vigilancy to turn the rage of those troubles another way, or else to prevent them from flowing over the banks of his enclosures, and although the collusion & fraud of the invention, vexed him more than the matter or substance of such a rebellion: yet he moderated his anger, and with janus looked both ways, smiling with one face at the ridiculousness and deceit of the project: and marking warily with another, all the means to redact the confused Chaos of this molestation to better order and uniformity, desiring only at God's hands to prevent effusion of blood, which must needs be spilled in any settled war and contracted army. Besides, in well ordered battles, the event was disputable, and many times punishments were ordained, as well to reduce good men ad correctionem and amendment, as to bring bad men to ruinam and destruction. And therefore if it were possible, he would rebate the insolency by other means, and divert it from handy blows and bloody contentions: whereupon he called his Council together at the Charter-house besides his royal manor of Richmond and there consulted, how to pacify this sudden tumult and conspiracy, without any further disturbance or open defiance. This motion of the Kings so tempered with gravity, mercy, and commiseration, was so well accepted of the whole company, that they presently applauded his high wisdom, and religious care, and put in practice, whatsoever seemed convenient for their intended affairs.  
They first began with a general pardon, published to all offenders that were content to receive the same, 
Articles agreed upon by the Council, to prevent the war.  and remain obedient to the Majesty of England. For although at this very instant Sr. Th. Broughton, who had obscured the Lord Lovel a great season from the King, was in a manner ready to give him battle, with many friendly coadjutors and a well-settled army: yet did the King think it policy to desist from a forcible overrunning them; because, as desperate of life or pardon, considering their former treasons and abuses, they would hardly be reclaimed in their rages, but now fight for their lives and liberties. Again, in showing exemplary justice upon them, once subject to accusation or condemnation, he must needs proceed against many, yea such whose offences in standing out, could admit of no pardon: and therefore (as I said) he gently proclaimed the same, which was much available to his purpose. For even those, which favoured the Lord Lovel most, began to stagger in their resolutions, when they perceived the King's benignity, and knew with what lenity and commiseration he was willing to proceed.  
Secondly, they thought it necessary and pertinent to their peace, to show the son of Clarence personally abroad in the City, and other public places, whereby the rumour might be dashed out of countenance, and the purblind eyes of false opinion extinguished. For such an impression this fictive relation of his escape had made, that though they beheld him present, yet durst some of them swear, it was but a devise of the Kings: whereby you may observe the danger and inconveniences of idle reports, which if they be not strangled in the cradle with Hercules Serpents, and smothered betimes, ere they come to stronger growth and life, will viper like after they have received warmth in ones bosom, fly in his face: Nay, such is the nature of devices in a tottering Commonwealth, that prohibitions to restrain them, augment them the more, and they who would have spoken nothing but truth, left to their own liberty; being prohibited, divulge more than they meant.  
Thirdly, It was determined, that Queen Elizabeth wife to Edward the fourth should lose her lands, and be deposed from all manner of sway in the government, because she had voluntarily submitted herself and daughters to the hands of King Richard, whereby all former contracts and pretences of establishment might have been frustrated, through the inconstancy of a woman: or as the State pretended a private ambition, or covetousness to set any loom on work to weave the web of her own pleasure and contentment, which although was a heinous crime, and very dangerous to the present King's peace and tranquillity: yet, questionless the doom and judgement seemed over rigorous: Durus fuit hic sermo, and if ever 〈◊〉 ius proved summa iniuria, it was verified in this verdict. For questionless they forgot the turbulence of those times, the rage of the tyrant, the fearfulness of many accidents, the seducing● of a King, and the flattering promises of a whole Commonwealth, wherein stronger judgements might have falled then a woman's: But it should seem that God hath a special hand in the punishment of sins, and disposing of Kingdoms. For without controversy, if she consented to the murdering of King Richard's wife for her own ease and emolument, if she seemed an adversary to the good pretended, to England by uniting the familys: or if she projected her own advancement in the present glory of the Kingdom, forgetting the loss of her husband, the murder of her kindred, the slaughter of her children, the odiousness of the incest, and the curse of Heaven upon crying sins: God would never suffer such horrible faults unrevenged, but as you hear inflicted her wavering and inconsiderate timorousness with this punishment: For, she was presently confined to the Abbey of Barmondsey in Southwark, and there deceased after she had lived a while in some calamitous distress, and excruciation both of soul and body: such are all human instabilities, worldly chances, and the condition of Princes themselves. Otherwise, she that being a poor widow had resisted the King's importunity, & by her chaste and modest behaviour attracted his good will to marry her: she that had founded a College in Cambridge, bearing her name at this hour of Queen's College, for the propagation of learning, and education of Children and Students: she, that had loved her husband, and the glory of England, endeavouring all things to the augmentation of the honour of them both: she, that seemed proud in works of charity, and to help forward the petitions of honest complainants and distressed suitors: she, that kneeled on her knees for Clarence's liberty, and importuned the King to remember his brother, by the example of Richard the first, who remitted his brother john a far greater delinquent; had never fallen so low into the dangerous pit of a son in laws displeasure, and seen herself generally maligned through the kingdom: or else, as I said, the revealed things belong to us, the secret to God, who questionless blew the coals of this displeasure, to purge the contagion and infection of hi● heart, which was only known to himself.  
Fourthly, because they knew that reward and hope of gain might do much with corrupted persons, and irresolute men (as all Rebels were) they proclaimed a gratuity of a●housand pounds sterling to any one which would present the State with the body of this counterfeit Lambert, to which they were the rather induced, because not long before, the Tyrant Richard the third had prevailed with the like against the Duke of Buckingham, whom his own servant Banister betrayed in hope of recompense from the State, which is also a custom in Italy, where the heads of the Banditi are valued at so many checkinos or pieces of gold, and so the Zaffi, or other desperate Ruffiani obtain many preys and booties.  
Last of all, it was concluded to have forces in readiness, and an Army prepared, whatsoever should chance, with all provision and furniture belonging to the setting forth of the same, and honour of such a Kingdom, that neither security or presumption one way of their own greatness and establishment, might make them too confident of themselves, nor vilipending and slight regard of the contrary, another way too negligent against their enemies.  
When all things were thus befitted to the disposing and ordering their affairs: On a Sunday ensuing, Edward the young Earl of Warwick was brought from the Tower through the public streets of London to the Cathedral Church of Paul's, 
The Earl of Warwick shown in public.  where he remained all Procession time and high Mass, having open conference with many of the Nobility, especially such, whom the King suspected might have been induced to the commotion upon the full assurance of his escape. But if he had asked them why he was imprisoned, or what transgression the King could impute unto him, to detain him in dures in that manner, and after put him to death being an infant innocent, without law or reason, I marvel what they would have answered, or how the Council themselves would have satisfied a judicious questioner in that kind: yet by this occasion the imaginations of divers were settled, and the better sort believed, that these Irish news were simulatory, and represented Ixion's boasting that he had lain with juno, when it was but a cloud, as by the monstrous birth of the Centaurs did appear.  
But it was not so with all: For, as it often happens in the stopping of a violent inundation of water, that it causeth it the more to rage and make a terrible noise, whereas running in a deep channel it would go quietly away: So fell it out in the suppressing of these rumours, and men's hatred and malice: many were the more exasperated, and by this gentle and saire course to reduce them, thought all but tricks of policy to deceive them; proving like certain kinds of burrs and nettles, which soughtly handled sting the more violently, but hardly crushed together lose their force and energy. Of this sort was the Earl of Lincoln, 
john de la Pools son Duke of Sus● folk by a sister of Edward the fourth.  son to john de la Poole Duke of Suffolk; 
Now Earl of Lincoln taketh part with Lambert.  and Elizabeth another sister to Edward the fourth: who much maligning the advancement of this Earl of Richmond far his inferior (as he supposed) took hold of this open Rebellion as a meet opportunity to beat out his own ends on such a pestilent anvil, and therefore determined to uphold, fortify, & support this Irish expedition, and take part with his new cousin, who as he made himself believe, was escaped indeed, for all the pretty conveyances of the State. This Earl of Lincoln besides his blood, experience, & wisdom in & great important affairs, had a privacy of humour, which many men excepted against, as fantastical, and precise: For he was so cautelous in his words, and singular in his phrases and actions, that he would neither swear nor tell a lie, by reason his communication was still seasoned with savoury Parenthesis and break off, or if you will Apos●opesis: As I will not confidently aver it, but it is so, and so, if men may be credited in their mortality.  
The number amounts to so many, if men fail not in their computations: I dare not justify it further than one my credit another, with such like. Yea, in his enterprises he was both curious and Roman like for strictness of discipline, yet valiant enough: To conclude in a word, had not the mantle of greatness over-covered his gesture and actions, the same garb and fashion in an inferior might have been thought ridiculous: but to our purpose in han●.  
When he apprehended a kind of fear and jealousy in King Henry through this false rumour, he determined with the same water that drove the Mil to drown it, and out of this fiction to raise a matter of consequence, whereupon he presently repaired to Sir Thomas Broughton and others, who like the thieves of Egypt lying in the reeds by the River Nilus, breaking out upon any hope of advantage upon the silly passengers, watched all occasions to be revenged on the King, and yet could render no just account of their discontentments, and after divers consultations, concluded to sail into Flaeunders to his Aunt the Duchess, being his Mothers own sister, and so without further commorance, after the King had dissolved the Parliament at London, put the same in practice, whither he was well comed with all worthy and kind embraces. Not long after Francis Lord Lovel repaired unto him well accompanied, where for the time secured, and assembling themselves with this Position, that omnia efficit consilium, quod & ferrum hostile efficere potest, lest the World should laugh them to scorn, for prosecuting idle and vain attempts, 
The Earl of Lincol●e and Lord Lovel go into Ireland to Lambert.  they resolve, that the Earl of Liucolne and Lord Lovel should repair into Ireland, and add a better countenance to the business by their presence, in attending and honouring their new King with all graceful ceremonies and marks of majesty: Then, with the power of the Irishmen to bring him into England, by which time the Duchess forces would be ready to join with them. Last of all to give King 〈◊〉 battle wheresoever: in which if they prevailed, they might at their pleasures depose this counterfeit Lambert, and deliver the true Earl of Warwick out of prison, in all which they proceeded accordingly and with expedition.  
But King Henry supposing he had settled and appeased the minds and unstable humours of his Nobility, by the personal presence of Edward Earl of Warwick, began to be less moved and disturbed, yea, as it were secure and careless of any further malice and dangerous attempt against his estate and dignity, mistrusting nothing less, than any man to be so foolish and mad, as to believe that Lambert could be the Earl: so that he conjectured nothing, but the suppressing of those barbarous Irish, and the sedation of that trouble, until he heard how the Earl of Lincoln was fled out of the Realm, until he heard how the Lord Lovel was confederate with him, until he heard how divers were united unto them, until he heard how the Duchess of Burgoine coadiuted the enterprise, until he heard they had raised a strong party, and were resolved to give him battle; this somewhat moved him, and exasperated his displeasure: For when he saw no other cataplasm could serve the turn, but that he must cauterize the sore, and sere and cut away the putrefied flesh of this corrupted and rebellious body, he determined with strong hand and martial power to do the same.  
Whereupon he commanded his Musters to go forward, 
The King rai●eth an Army.  and appointed the several Captains a Rendezvous, where the whole Army might meet, as occasion and his adversaries should incite him, and lest others might pretend discontentments, wants, debts, devotion, pilgrimages, and such like, and so go out of the Realm after the rest, he gave order to all Lieutenants of Shires, Sheriffs, Majors, bailiffs, and officers, to search and watch the Ports & Havens for the going out, and recourse of strangers, or passengers unlicensed and unlimitited.  
Thus what he could not with the Foxes, he was fain to compass with the Lion's skin, & yet knowing, that Victoria est tota ●ita in bona consultation●, he did not cast away the other, but when he saw no Council nor policy could either l●niat their obdurateness, nor divert their inficious intents against him, he resolved with an equal strength, to remove the blocks of his peace and quietness, cast thus in his way by flagitious contumacy and ridiculous innovation. But some fires are not so easily quenched, as raised or maintained: for though all his advises, and good order consorted with success, yet were they not sufficient to stop the mouth, or hinder the passage of the present disturbance with deputies or Commissioners: therefore he set forward in person, supposing they would arrive from Flanders side on some of those Coasts, and so came to Saint edmond's Bury: where he was certified, that the Lord Thomas marquess Dorcet was coming to him to excuse and purge himself of those crimes enforced against him, or at least such oversights, in which he perfunctorily performed his duty while he was in France. To him was sent the Earl of Oxford by way of anticipation to intercept at this time his journey: For the King was too full of troubles and cogitations about the suppressing his enemies and new raised tumults, and so could not attend his business: 
The Lord marquess Dorce● sent to the Tower.  The Earl had only Commission to convey him to the Tower, which when some of the Council supposed a hard doom, he answered them plainly, What need further words? If he be my friend, as I am confident thereof, he will be contented a while to suffer a little reproach and rebuke for my sake: yea, peradventure pleasure, and contentment. If he be otherwise, it is a place of security, and would I had my adversaries as safe there, as they would me in the like either mislike, or contention.  
From thence the King went to Norwich, where he solemnized the feast of Christmas, and so departed to Walsingham under pretence of devotion, as the superstition of those times coacted. For according to that ancient Poet: Ritus ver● extra justiciam sunt, 
Eurip. Bacch●.  reijcientes cultus deorum: It was an instinct of Nature to confess a Deity, and maintain the Sacrifices and offerings to the same. Now, because the most part of the World knew not the true God, they invented several Idols to represent their several Deities, to whom they brought their prayers and oblations, nor durst they enterprise any business without offertories and devotion, that their true intents might be acceptable to the God which commanded them: yea, such as professed Religion, and abused their knowledge, invented Images & devices to please the natural man; because, with the reason of Idolater, they would not kneel to the air in va●ne, which was, and is the errors of Christians both of the Greek and Latin Church. Now because our Lady was in these times the mediator of the Papists, and the Lady of Walsingham the most famous shrine of our Country, as that of Loretto is at this hour for Italy. The King went thither for the impetration of prosperity, in his affairs, and overthrow and dissipation of his enemies: which finished, he returned to Cambridge, and so to London.  
In the mean while, the firebrand and fuel of this contention, Lady Margaret Duchess of Burgundy, had blown the coals to such a heat, that there were two thousand Almains in a readiness, 
M●rtinus Swart.  under the conduct of Martin Swart a noble man of Germany, and a martial man by profession, bold, expert, and daring, whom after great rewards, and secret directions from a well contracted Oratory, she sent into Ireland with all his company, where they arrived a● Dublin, and were joyfully welcomed by the Prince and the other Lords the coufederates, especially the Earl of Lincoln, who well knew, that no enterprise was to be entertained without men and money, and good beginnings were the drawers on of success in the end. Thus they made no more ado, but in the pride and strength of their conspiracy, they proclaimed young Lambert King of England, withal the glorious titles, and glorious manner appropriate, as the time and Country afforded, which ended, with other ceremonies and some circumstances, to set as upright their business as they could, they protracted no time, but knowing the secret of expedition, which as their case stood, must be their best friend, prepared for England: the Army consisting (as yet principally) of high Almains, and a multitude of beggarly Irish, which according to the Roman saying, were many men, and few Soldiers. For their best defences were Scains and Mantles, and here and there a slender dart, more fitter for a may game and to move wonderment, then to oppose against good defences, and well ordered troops. 
Lambert with his Army cometh into England.  Of these the Lord Thomas Gerardine was Captain, and with these and the rest, they landed for a special purpose (or if you will to unite themselves with Sir Thomas Broughton, one of the chief commanders in this unhappy conspiracy) at the Pile of Foudray within a little of Lancaster.  
These affairs so notorious, and so public, could not have so secret a passage and contrivance, but the worthy and wise King must needs be made acquainted with the same: whereupon he dispatched certain horse and scout-masters, through the West parts of the Realm, to attend the arrival of his enemies abroad: yea, peradventure to overwatch the actions of his friends at home, as much troubled with the unconstancy of these, as perturbed with the rebellion of them. Presently after he raised a sufficient Army, over which the Duke of Bedford, and Earl of Oxford were principal commanders, whom he sent forward before him, than he came in person to Coventrey, where the principal rendezvous was appointed, and where he first heard of the landing of his enemies. Within a while he could fill up a schedule with the chief Traitors names, and the manner of their troops and proceedings: Last of all, he called a Council, proposing only two principal matters unto them: First, whether it were better to encounter with his enemies out of hand, as Achitophel persuaded Absalon to do against David, and so to dissipate them by main force and expedition, according to the Poet: Tolle moras: 
Lucan. lib. 1.  semper nocuit differre paratis. Secondly, or weary them out by delays and detracting of time, as Quintus Fabius surnamed after Maximus did by Hannibal, and so sent him far enough from Rome into Brutia and Apuleia, whereupon he was eternised with, unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem.  
The conclusion was, that though many times great Armies, whose fury at the first rushes could not be rebated, were at last spent with time, expectation, and many inconveniences; as want of pay, commotions, mutinies, encumbrances in a strange Country, fear of foreign people, mortality, famine, and such like: yet as the affairs of the Kingdom stood, all speed and an orderly festination was to be put in practice, lest (like a ball of snow in a moist, cold, and misty Country, which by often rolling groweth greater and greater) they might augment their numbers with their rage and madness, being so near the Scots open enemies, and in the north parts dissembling friends: Whereupon the King removed to Nottingham, and took a field near unto a wood called Bowers, whither came unto him the Lord George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, 
The King with his army is ready to the encounter.  the Lord S●range, Sr. john Cheny, and many other Commanders, with sufficient forces and furniture, to encounter better men then heavy Almains and unarmed Irish, and so the King's army wonderfully increased, & had the fullness of his subjects obedience, to his great satisfaction, and the comfort of all the rest. For a Prince can in nothing be so well pleased, as in the loyalty, love, and observation of the subject: nor the soldier contented, as in the amity and full assurance of one another, especially being all of a nation and language, to understand the wants of such as would be supplied, and be relieved with the willingness of those which are ready to perform the same.  
In this space, the Earl of Lincoln entered Yorkshire by easy journeys, for not overwearying his princely Nephew unaccustomed to travel, and after his precise manner, he both commanded, that no violence should be offered to any of the Inhabitants, & commended all those, which repaired unto him, using such humility and affable demeanour, that it won the hearts of many as yet unsettled, unto him, and strengthened the love of such, as had already submitted themselves. Notwithstanding, being much frustrated in his expectation of many coadjutors, and failing in that sufficiency which he presumed upon, he began a little to entertain an ill companion to all noble designs, fear and mistrust; casting up an untoward reckoning of his proceedings in this manner: To retire back again, were to meet death and destruction by a way which he looked not for: To go forward, he was yet too weak, the King being so strong and enabled, which irresolution made the Poet cry out: 
Non satis est muris latebras quaesisse pavori? 
Lucan lib. 2.   
And again:— facilis sed vertere mentes  
Terror erat, dubiamque fidem fortuna ferebat:  At last remembering, that audaces fortun● juuat, and the adventures of war are not always bound to numbers and multitude. For King Henry himself had, not two years before (with a small power) vanquished King Richard and his mighty army, he absolutely determined to try the fortune of a battle, 
The Earl of Lincoln cometh forward to Newarck to meet the King.  and encounter with his adversaries, who not only expected the like, as being in the same forwardness and resolution, but determined to rou●e them, in despite of any protraction, in what den or place soever, they meant to obscure themselves: whereupon he marched from York to Newarck upon Trent, presuming the King to be two or three days journey from him, and so he was sure not to lose by the bargain. But before he came thither, King Henry was in his bosom, as understanding his egress, regress, and progresses, which he undertook, and when he came there, was ready to fly in his face. For he settled himself the night before the battle, approaching within three miles of the contrary.  
The valiant and over-hardy Earl of Lincoln, nothing terrified at the matter, but rather — duro ad●isit gaudia v●ltu, And came forward apace: yet not in any overdaring manner; but unstartled in his resolutions, retained his accustomed gravity, and very near the King's army, at a village called Stoke, quartered his forces, and took up the field, with resolution the next day, 
Stoke field.  to call Fortune to the deciding of the controversy. The King likewise prepared himself, and only acquainting the company with matters of necessity, in an equal and plain field divided the troops, and darraigned the battalions.  
To tell you of any signs, wonders, prodigies, prophecies, dreams, devices, forewarnings, or portentous accidents, making sometimes a cause either good or bad, would spend time to lose time, and procure small thanks in the pains: For the superstitious and ignorant would be angry, at the opposition and repugnancy: and the truly religious offended at the vanity and superfluity, as abhorring the participation of divine power to Men, Devils, or Angels. To enlarge my discourse concerning military proceedings, of entrenching, fortifications, encounters, divisions of squadrons, ordering the companies, & setting forward the forces, would prevent me from a fitter and more opportune occasion hereafter. To discourse of the Captains, the soldiers encouragements, the Earl of Lincoln's orations, the King's forcible and gracious speech, the intimation of the imposture, and discovery of the treasons at large, were to prolong the history without further profit, than a poor invention, which would questionless extenuate the worthiness of the business: therefore I desist from all extraneall and superfluous discourses, and apply myself to a more succinct enarration of the matter.  
When the field was fully and orderly agreed upon, 
The armies join.  the precise Earl, as if he would amate the King with a kind of precedency, set forth the Vanguard of his army, and with a manly courage, only animated the Soldiers, that day to remember his honour, the King's safety, and their own lives and liberties, and so gave a sign to the battle, whereat the Irish began their accustomed cry, or if you will Lullal lullo, which neither affrighted nor troubled the English on the contrary side, but ministered occasion rather to laugh at. The Germans perceiving the skirmishes and violent meetings of these warlike bodies, contrary to their usual keeping of their stands and close fights, set upon the King's Vanguard, and as they were approved and expert men in many encounters, so did they for the time in all things, as well as strength and policy could execute, equalling and answering the English man to man, or battle to battle and for the Generals, had the Earl of Lincoln been as nimble and deliver, as he was vigilant, valiant, and wary, he might well have paralleled the best of his adversaries. But to decipher, and truly to speak of Martin Swart, I shall much disable his worthiness and merit. For he was heroic in spirit, strong in heart, and of great ability in body, expert, experienced, and failing in nothing but his fortune: Eor when the Irish, being most of them (as I said) unarmed, were put by their light manner of skirmishing a far off, and charged with strong horses on the Flanks, and as strong bodies of pikes in the Front, to which you may add the cunning of the King's artillery, and violence of the arrows, which fell down like hail upon these poor and naked souls, they knew no way of resisting or retiring, but were subject to a terrible encounter and slaughter. And although they held out a while, as long as an equal met manhood protracted the victory: yet were they so pressed and oppressed, that they quickly yielded, and shrunk under the strokes of a mightier arm. Again, the Kings Forward being full of company and well furnished, continually supplied with Wings and Archers, & wonderfully encouraged with the high deserving of the Commanders, at last broke the body of the Almains, and scattered their company with a lamentable discomfiture: yet I must needs say, they were first more terrified to see the Irish killed so confusedly, then exanimated with their own disasters. 
The King obtaineth the victory against the Rebels.  What should I report? it is with staggering troops and dispersed companies, as with a man falling down a pair of stairs, who never leaves tumbling till he come to the bottom: so these yielded to the fortune of a defeat without recovery, and only met honour in the way to a glorious death. Therefore I will stand the less on descriptions. For never was a victory so soon gotten, nor a business more quickly ended, many being slain, many taken prisoners, many hurt, and few or none escaped: the chiefest reason because the Lord Lovel, the Earl of Lincoln, & other Commanders, desperate of mercy or reconciliation, & wondering at the valiant Germans manhood and exploits, joined with him in a new adventure, & cried aloud, We will die with thee noble heart, for thou art worthy to live with Kings & die with Princes, yea to be buried in the fields of everlasting renown, & so they were as good as their words. For after men and manhood had acted their parts on this bloody stage of fury and slaughter, they were all found dead in the field, that is to say, the Lord Martin Swart, or if you will Sward, the Earl of Lincoln, the Lord Geraldi●e, the Lord Lovel, Sr. Th: Broughton, with the most part of the Commanders, and five thousand Soldiers.  
The report was, that the Lord Lovel took his horse, and would have fled over Trent, but not able to recover the highness o● the banks, he was drowned in the river: some also maintain, that the King out of the generosity of his spirit commanded, that none should kill or hurt the Earl of Lincoln, that being brought unto him, he might discover the secrets of this mischief, and the viperous brood of falsehearted subjects: but the soldiers would not permit it, lest the saving of his life might, by such detection endanger divers others, as good as himself, and so killed him by way of anticipation.  
After this victory, the King would needs solemnize a thanksgiving to God in the open field, as well to a●cyd ingratitude, as to give good example, and when it was urged, he might better defer it till he came to some religious place, or house of devotion, he more religious assured them, that God was every where, and neither the place, nor the manner graced the sacrifice, and the intentivenesse of the heart, and true meaning of the soul, which he had learned of the Poet, and so alleged these verses out of Lucan: 
Estque Deisedes, ubiterra, 
Lucan lib. 9  & pontus, & aer,  
Et coelum, & virtus: superos quid quaerimus ultra,  
jupiter est, quodcunque vides, quodcunque moveris?  This the Bishop's present durst neither deny, nor would willingly approve for fear of any diminution in their settled ceremonies and glorious cathedrals: but at this time the King's ardency prevailed, and he kneeled down on the bare ground in the open fields, and rendered thanks and praises to God. Afterward, he gave order for the funerals of the dead, shedding tears himself in commiseration of so many worthy men slain for such an unjustifiable business, the people yet unmoved, and the soldiers not so much as daunted, though they saw the bleeding carcases and wounded bodies, according to the saying, 
Exemploque carens, & nulli cognitus aevo  
Luctus erat, mortem populos deflere potentis.  Then he proceeded to the casting up a new accounts of mercy and forgiveness, proclaiming pardon to all, that would penitently admit of the same, and to his eternal fame, not only gave Lambert and the Priest their lives, but commanded, that no man should abuse them with contumely and reproach, as perceiving the one (for his years) uncapable of the apprehension of treason, or flagitious circumstances concerning the same: the other (for his orders & profession) to be a privileged person: yet most heroikly and wisely he told him, that he which rolleth a stone up a hill, may peradventure have it fall upon his own head, and he that looketh too high in a dangerous entrenched ground, may fall into the ditch. Notwithstanding, for his penance he was committed to perpetual imprisonment: but Lambert admitted into the palace, and from place to place, came at last to be one of his majesties Faulkoners. Last of all, he looked joyfully on his own company, and in remuneration of their loyalty and noble services, spread the mantle of honour over divers, and imparted several rewards to the rest, according to their places of eminency.  
This battle was fought on a Saturday the sixteenth of june, 1489. and in the end of the second year of Henry the seventh. And thus was all this high enterprise of Lady Margaret, 
The Duchess of Burgundy is rather enraged, then daunted with the news.  represented to a ball blown out of a box of soap and water, which when it comes to a swelling fullness, at last hursts in pieces of itself, of which when she was advertised, and had cause sufficient of exclamation and repining against her misfortune and disastrous prevention of her malice: yet was she so far from relaxation or pacifying her hate, that it rather exasperated the same and made her more forward to contrive more ●ellish projects, as we shall see by and by: so that I may well exclaim 
— Orabiosamulier!  
quam sit manisesta phrenesis!—  Yea, she set up such a loom out of her pestilent invention, that a man would think it impossible for a woman to contrive, or prosecute: but that the old Poet hath so long ago told us, 
Praeterea nos sumus mulieres, 
Every. Medea.   
Ad bona quidem ineptissimae,  
Malorum vero omnium effectrices sapientiss●mae.  Yet for the time she deplored the miscarrying of the matter, but was not ashamed to confess, that she cared not by what means King Henry might be debased.  
After this great mischief (like a piece of Ordnance overcharged) was thus broken in the fullness, and that with little trouble, tumult, and expenses, compared to many other wars. The King (as you heard) returned thanks to the Decider of all controversies, and presently sent word to London of his prosperity and adventure, seeming sorry for nothing, but the death of the Earl of Lincoln, assuring the Duke of Bedford and Earl of Shrewsbury, that he delighted in his humours, and had a determination to have saved his life, adding yet this by the way, that he was amazed at nothing more, than the audaciousness of the man, that durst (so meanly accompanied) set upon such a great & puissant an army. Therefore it must needs be, that he presumed on further supplement, or some break out amongst themselves. But seeing it hath pleased God, that we have not only escaped this threatening storm of commotion and disturbance, but also choked with the dust of their own dissension, the interior divisions and conspiracies of the Kingdom: Let us (my Lords) I pray you, be somewhat considerate, touching tumultuous and discontented persons, that they may be orderly satisfied in their honest demands, and discreetly prevented from unlawful conventicles, or associated assemblies of unquiemesse, and murmuring against our government, under colour of hunting fairs, markets, horseraces, weddings, and such like. Let us also have a care of our ports, harbours, and havens, to prevent wanderers and travelers, who from the excuses of devotion to visit Rome, and curiosity to explore foreign countries, do many time deceive our trust with indirect and preposterous business.  
In this triumphant prosperity he returned to London, and was as well welcomed to the people, as contented in himself, and so ran forward in the race of all mundane felicity and majestical happiness. But neither his own wisdom, the vigilancy of the Officers, the fidelity of his Nobles, the policy of his councillors, the loyalty of his subjects, nor the whole regard of the Common wealth, could turn the frame of heaven about, nor prevent his destiny, concerning following mischiefs: Nam fato prudentia minor: That is to say, could put a scarlet cloth over the sting of that serpent Envy, to pull it out of the heart, no not out of the mouth, 
The Duchess of Burgundy raiseth new troubles.  no not out of the hands of the Duchess of Burgundy: but she must be tampering with the edge tools of devilish despite, and beating on the annile of malicious calumniation, or (if you will) conspiracy, hoping at one time or other, to hammer out such a work of disturbance, that neither the King should be able to quench the flames, nor the Subject daring to disable the enterprise. Whereupon to prevent all claims, exceptions, and means of distrust, Some four years after, she set up another I doll of defiance, personating Richard Plantagenet second son to King Edward the fourth and Duke of York, 
Another Richard the fourth  supposed to be murdered with his brother Prince Edward in the Tower, who (as it were) resuscitated from death to life, or rather reserved by miracle, must be at last a scourge to the usurping house of Lan●aster, which as it began with the blood of that innocent Richard the second, must now be revenged with the destruction of the Conqueror himself. Nor was this barely alleged to her friends and followers, but exornated with certain illustrations of example and precept. First, concerniug the wonder and deliverance of the Prince, she alleged the example of joas, kept from the rage of Athalia, and after advanced to the throne of Iud●. Then for the business of the war and revenge, she proclaimed herself another Tomyris, who overcame the Persians, and in recompense of her sons death, and crafty: in education pregnant, in languages skilful: of behaviour extraordinary, and of manners audacious, called Peter Warbeck a Fleming, and yet in scorn nicknamed both by his Country men, and English Perkin, according to the Dutch phrase, who character cowardly and timorous younglings in that manner. His lineage and bringing up, he shall show you hereafter in his public confession. His actions and proceedings till then, or if you will, fatal ruin, I will undertake, and (as far as my ability may extend, or the dangerous business in hand require) delineate unto you: desiring all estates whatsoever to behold the attributes of God in this History, as his power, wisdom, providence, justice, mercy, and what else belongeth to the humbling of mortal men, or pulling on their knees the proudest presumption, and security: but especially confounding the inventions of men, and policies of Satan, as laughing all to scorn, that submit not to his greatness and unmatchable power, according to our Lucan lib. 2 
jamque irae patuere d●ûm, manifestaque bell●  
Signa dedit mundus: legesque & fadera rerum  
Praescia monstrifero vertit natura tumultu,  
Indixitque nefas:—   
First, a mighty Prince was not only terrified with an Idol and puppet, as it were, made of straw and painted cloth: but threatened to be shouldered aside, out of his firmness and throne of Majesty; secondly, when the wheel was ●urned about, God derided the Devil, and brought this mountain of pride down with a vengeance, seeing the noble King's innocency, patience and humility: Thirdly, he taught all abominable and diabolical practices a new lesson, condemning both the actors and contrivers, as frenetical, and foolish: Fourthly, he instructed the best of men, to consider they were but men subject to the inconveniences of life, mutability of the World, counterchangeablenesse of times, and inconstancy of people: Last of all, to make us know that all actions grounded on irreligious foundations, and wicked conventions must needs fail in the end; for, rather than punishments shall not follow sins, God will scourge one wicked man with another, as you saw, how all the monarchs of the Earth were dissolved, and the Kingdoms of the Gentiles brought to ruin and desolation. But now to our Story.  
After the Duchess of Burgundy had fastened on this Anchor hold for her revenges, 
Peter Warb●ck instructed by the Duchess h●w to demean himself.  she caused the young man to travel into many Countries to learn as many languages, whereby he was so perfect in the English, that she rejoiced to think in what a well manured ground she had sowed the feeds of her hopes: by which occasion the baseness of his stock and birth was so obscured, that few or none discove. red the same, or durst detect the secrecy: Thus she kept him a certain space privily with herself, and used such diligency and instruction concerning the house of York, the affairs of England, and the lineage, descent, and order of her family, that by that time he came to repeat his lesson, she verily believed he was the same she had supposedly contrived: & he quite forgot, that ever his first original came out of the Dunghill: For without any difficulty, or sign of subornation (such a forcible impression ha●h the hope of honour and preferment, according to that common, Honours' mutant moves) he kept such a princely countenance, and counterfeited a majestical royalty, that all others firmly approved he was extracted out of the blood of Plantagenet, and observed him accordingly: she again grew proud of nothing so much, as the wonderment of her own handiwork, and that out of so little ● cloud, she should raise such a tempest of trouble, and distraction? but ou● Ovid endoctrined her, Flumina magna vides parvis de fontibu● orta, and she knew she was a woman fit to be such a workemistris.  
Whereupon taking an opportunity of the King's wars 〈◊〉 France, she sent for her youngling out of Portugal and privately conveyed him into Ireland with sure and forcible instructions how to inveigle and incite this rustical people to admit of him, who besides their natural inclination to rebellion, and disorder, would now be glad of this new occasion and business to revenge the slaughter of their Countrymen: And although it might seem to reasonable men, and understanding apprehensions, that the unhappy proceedings of Lambert and his counterfeit assoicat (the Priest I mean) might have been a sufficient warning unto them for ever being taken again in the net of such abuses, or entangled with the snare of collusion: yet did he so demean himself, that he made these doubts the very ground of his acceptation: For once again insinuating with the houses of the Geraldines and Butlers, he played the Orator with them, and as we say, captare benevolentiam, thus persuaded them to give credit and affiance to his false and wonderful demonstrations, as though he had been the very son of King Edward indeed.  
MY worthy Lords, 
Perkins Oration to the Irish Lords.  and gracious friends (said he) For the generality of my business, I hope you are not unacquainted with many instances of distressed Princes, flying to one another for refuge and succour, when an over-daring hand of a more mightier enemy hath suppressed them, or cunning insinnuation spread abroad a mantel of more forcible reasons to admit of his title in prevailing, rather than to look after the weakened estate of his wronged, and abused Competitor. For so jeroboam, and Hadad the Edomite were entertained in the Court of Pharaoh, merely from charitable commiseration against Solomon, who had yet formerly married a daughter of Pharaoh: and amongst ourselves the sons of that valiant Edmond Ironside, fled from 〈◊〉 into Hungary, and were there protected, yea, advanced in marriage for the further and better recovering their inheritances: But what need I go further, than the usurper now regnant, who in despite of my Father and Uncle of Gloucester, was entertained by the Duke of Britain, and the French King, and as it were secured from all Treasons and corruption or (if you will) policy of searchers to bring him to destruction: wherein questionless those Princes, as they obtained a perpetual renown, for so noble and glorious a charity: so did they repute nothing so meritorious, 〈◊〉 the extension of favour, and a helping-hand to the perfecting such a work from princely compassion: Therefore I will say the less in this point unto you, because you have ever been faithful to my progenitors, and willing to be counted a Nation for the defence of virtue, and propulsing of injuries. As for the ill success of Lambert in personating my cousin the Earl of Warwick, and setting a foot that title, whereby you may be terrified in hereafter prosecutions: Alas, I confess it was for my sake, and a mere devise to sound the ford of the troublesome streams of those times & proceedings: wherein, if my Uncle of Lincoln had any way thrived; you must be assured, though they would not hazard my person so young; yet it was only to make way to my fortunes. For small recompense should have stopped his mouth, & ut maior ●nx extinguit minorem, my presence quickly have turned the stream, and with the son exhaled the strength of his meteor. This trick my Grandfather put upon the State when he was Governor amongst you, by lack Cade of Kent, who proclaimed himself Mortimer, to see how the people affected the Title, or could remember the Genealogy in the truth of his precedency, as marrying the daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence third son of our great Edward the third of England and Heroos of his time: so that I hope this shall be no bar or interception either to my interest, or your good will, considering I am now come in person to offer up myself a sacrifice if need be for you all, and promise you by the secrets of my birthright to make you a glorious and free Nation under me, if I prevail by your means.  
These words were uttered so audaciously, and yet with simulatory majesty, that they conceived every thing in his be half, and not once disputed on the craft or cunning conveyance of the business: but exalted and applauded him with all reverence and due honour combining themselves with affectionate obedience to his aid and assistance: wherein ●hat they might be the better induced just at the same instant, as if honour made haste to welcome him, according to our Poet: Nunc festmatos nimium sibi s●nsit honores. and fortune determined to smile on them all. Charles the French King in some displeasure with King Henry of England, 
The French King sendeth for Perkin.  sent for Perkin out of Ireland, with resolution to make him the royal head of an Army against England: which although it much animared the Irish to believe the former seduction: yet it was but a devise of the French Kings to di●ert the war, which the King of England pretended out of France, and so to enforce him back again to look home to his own affairs, Howsoever, this our Counterfeit was not a little revived with such a message, and supposed himself exalted to heaven in being thus called to the familiarity and acquaintance of Kings and Princes: so that coming into France accordingly, he was royally accepted, and after a Princely manner entertained, having a guard assigned him, whereof the Lord of Congreshall was governor. Hither also repaired unto him, especially while he lay in Paris Sir George Nevil the Bastard: Sir john Tailer: Rowland Robinson, and a hundred English Rebels: But alas all these were but smoking illusions: For on a soddain, 
— Ingem●it rector, 
Lucan. Lib. 7.  sensitque deorum  
Esse dolos, & fata suae contraria menti:  And when a peace was to be determined and concluded between England and France, the French King quickly dismissed the young man and all his associates, under colour of excuse, that he durst no longer protect him against his new confederate and brother of England; but some others attending upon him, yielded a more forcible reason for his departure, that he himself suspected how King Charles would deliver him into the hands of the King of England: and therefore he beguiled the Lord Congreshall, and fled from Paris by night. But howsoever this may be disputed, and whether he departed without the King's consent, or no; he was questionless deceived in his expectation, and in a manne● desperate of success: so that loath to remain amongst such distrustful enemies, he quietly returned to his most assured friend the Lady Margaret of Flanders, the master builder of this work.  
The Duchess before he came, 
Perkin welcomed to Lady Margaret.  thought every hour from his departure, a whole year, till his return: For to hear how he proceeded, was a quiet to her thoughts, and to know how fortune would deal with him a joy to her heart, but to see him a very ravishment: Yet when she understood how he was abjected and repudiated in the French Court, it could not choose but be a great agony and amazement unto her. Notwithstanding, to prevent all suspicion, she seemed at his arrival no less revived, than a mother is glad for the return of her long absented son, or a person condemned, for a pardon and restoration to his life and dignity: At his first approach she received him with large embraces, and hanging over his neck, seeming to shed tears of joy and comfort for his escape from many dangers and adventures: O dissembling and deceivable hypocrisy! that ever a woman should be the author of such devilish devices and hellish projects, and yet over-daube her mischievous imaginations with the sugared shows of love, and regard of pity toward a Prince in distress: but this made Hippolytus long a go cry out, 
O jupiter! quodnam adulterinum hominibus malum  
Mulieres, ad solis lucem habit are fec●sti, etc.  and this she had learned of her own Physicians, 
Eurip. Hippolytus Coronatus.  who in administering of bitter pills, had showed her to roll them over in some candid powder: and this we have taught ourselves out of God's one mouth, who in several places of Scripture hath published wherein a bad woman doth exceed all the creatures of the World.  
After this ecstasy was past, she proceeded with a cunning desire to have him relate his first miraculous preservation, his after travails and exploration of Countries, his next entertainment in Ireland and France, and finally his resolution to go forward in his noble and necessary intendment for his inheritance, and recovery of the Crown of England: wherein he proceeded so effectually, and orderly without stammering or stuttering, that the whole company verily believed it, and such as were not present, the rather, induced by the report of others, sorrowing for nothing, but that they heard him not Vina Voce, and endeavouring what they could to present their personal obedience unto him: Whereupon when she perceived, how every thing consorted to her own wishes, she assigned him a Guard of 50 persons in Murry and Blue, and honoured him with a cloth of Estate, and denomination of the White Rose and Prince of England.  
From thence forward the Nobility of Flaunders, and divers of England with all obsequious diligence attended him, and from a reverent estimation of his ancestors, performed all the good offices, which belonged to the exornation of his majesty, and extension of their own loves and duties: so that in a word, this Sinon's horse entered the broken walls of Troy, and feigned invention shadowed with the pretence of verity and truth, prevailed with their credulity, that they adhibited the more faith and indubitate trust unto it, supposing verily he had been preserved by the will and providence of God, and so committed to the trust and custody of some faithful friend, either by King Edward or his mother, when she was in Sanctuary: relying also on this impossibility, that any Tyrant would so rebel against God, as infringe the orders of holy Church, and take him perforce from thence, as yet the story manifesteth was to be done even by the Cardinal himself.  
By this time the same of this juggled miracle was not only blown over Flanders and the Territories adjacent, but so rumoured in England, 
England strangely possessed with the humour of Perkin.  by reason the present government suppressed all public reports, libels, and writings, that in the very whispering Nam fraudibus eventum deder at fortuna. It was more forcible, then if it had been published by l●cence and authority. Thus have I seen a fire smothered, and enclosed in some secret place ne●er to be quiet, till it were vented out, and when it came to eruption, made the more forcible and outrageous noise. For it was here received, as an infallible truth, and not only believed of the better sort, but entertained of the common people, who being more liberal of audacious behaviour, and less fearful to offend God, began to confirm it with oaths, as a matter of truth, which others but barely affirmed, as a report of uncertainty.  
Thus began trouble upon trouble, and as the Spring putteth forth the buds and blossoms like the messenger of Summer, and pleasant times to ensue: So did this fantastical fable thus divulged, prognosticate following calamity ●nd consequent desolation. For after it was known, with what honour he had been entertained in Flanders, and reverenced in other places of Europe: there began sedition on every side in England, and no man was sure of his friend, the times grew to such distraction. Some, that were fled to Sanctuaries for great and heinous offences perpetrated, discharged themselves, and went beyond the seas unto him. Some, that had confined themselves to privileged places for debts and accounts, began to show themselves under his support and combination, then being safest, when the State is unsafest. Some, even of the better sort, through rashness and temerity, because they would be counted factious and stirring, drew apace unto him. Some out of the nature of inconstancy, or rather impression of melancholy, never to be removed from the opinion they have once entertained, believed verily, that this Perkin was the indubitate son of Edward the fourth. Some, through simplicity and easiness of apprehension, without examining the probability and likelihood of the matter, yielded to any thing which was told them. Some temporizers, to curry favour in the change of Princes, persuaded and solicited other to their opinions, that so bringing many coadjutors, they might not only be reputed of strength and reputation in their countries, but the better welcomed and entertained with the prevailer. Some, through indignation and envy, murmuring at their slender advancement, or grudging they were not more condignly rewarded, for their former pains and adventures in his majesties business, resorted to this new Prince, in hope of better acceptation. And some overwearied with e●se and placability of idleness, grieving to see the world stand at a stay, with desire of change, ran headlong into this fury, madnesse● and seditious conspiracy: O tempora! o mores! o flagitiosa voluntas!  
But for all this rumour of this twice borne Duke Richard of York, and that England was divided, and drawn into parts taking, and several factions: so that the minds of men were vexed, either with the hope of gain, or preferment: or fear of loss and confusion: Yet was the King and his Council not much disturbed or affrighted, more than their marvel and modest anger at so many persons, seeming in their right wits to be seduced, either in the contriving such a manifest and notorious lie, or assenting and preparing themselves to countenance the same without fear of God or men, not once forecasting the dangerous penalty of treasons, contempts, conspiracies, and practices against their natural Prince, and so sufficient a Governor. For it was not only a pernicious fable and fiction, strange and marvelous; but prodigious and unnatural to resussitate a ma● from the dead, and with impudent asseveration to set it forth, and palliate it with the vesture and garment of a professed verity. But in such cases, be Kings never so wise, nor matters so trivial and unlikely, there is no sitting still, nor giving way to the business, especially there is no rebating an enemy with proclamations, writings, and prohibitions, who cometh forward with the clamours of war, & well settled preparation of offence. Therefore his Majesty thought it the best course, to look about him, and both by force and policy to prevent the mischief impending and threatened. For he perceived, how already the fire of rebellion had taken hold of some of the principal houses of England, whom he knew had underhand already sent messengers unto Lady Margaret, to understand when Richard Duke of York would come conveniently into England, that they might be ready to help and succour him, even at his first arrival.  
This business increased to a fullness and ripeness, 
Sr. Robert Clifford sent to Perkin.  about the eighth year of his majesties reign, insomuch that the confederates (by common assent & agreement) posted over Sr. Robert Clifford Knight, and William Barley into Flanders, to be the better assured of all particulars: who were not only gladly accepted, and lovingly welcomed of the Duchess, with full intimation of the truth, and wonderful delivery of strangeness of the story. Nec gravide lachrymas continuere genae: But brought to the sight, and sweet, entertainment of Perkin, who played the counterfeit so exactly, that his words resembled for cible incantations according to that of the Poet: 
una per at hereos exit voxilla recelsus,  
V●rbaque ad inu●tum praefert cogentia numen. ●  For all men praised his virtues and qualities, 
Lucan lib 6.  with a resolved believe of his princeliness, and Sr. Robert Clifford swore directly that he was extracted of the blood royal, and the very son of King Edward the fourth. Whereupon he wrote letters of confidence & credit to his associates in England, that as the Queen of Saba told Solomon, she did not believe the half of that which was reported, till she had seen it with her eyes: So he could not be persuaded to so much, as rumour had preferred, till he had overveiwed him in person: But when these letters were received in England, the conspirators caused them to be openly published and divulged in many places, with full credence, that it was true and not feigned, which was spoken by the Duke of York, and therefore they need not be afraid to be drawn to such a commotion, and parts taking: all yet was carried so orderly and covertly, that the King more than uncertain suspicion, could not as yet detect any person of name or quality, which troubled him so much the more.  
But when he perceived indeed, that this misty vapour was not qui●e vanished, nor the impression put out of the mad brains of the common people; and understood, how Sr. Robert Cl●fford was privily fled into Flanders, he resolved on a conspiracy against him, and thought it expedient, both for the saveguard of himself and his Realm, whose reciprocal good or hurt were dependents one upon another, 
The King prepareth for Pe●kin.  to provide some remedy for the repressing of this abusing fraud and deceit, and suppressing the insolency, if it should extend to force and rebellion. Wherefore he dispersed several companies both of horse and foot to defend the sea coasts, that no man might pass or repass unapprehended, who had not licence or safe conduct for his journey, business, and affairs: Then he sent down the Lieutenants and lustices into their several countries to detain the people in obedience, and muster the forces of the same, as occasion should serve. Which order observed, he underhand authorized wise and discreet Espials into all the cities of the Low-Countries, to discover of what Province, progeny, parentage and estate, this misnamed Richard was descended and propagated, promising princely rewards to such persons, as could relate the truth, and (as a man may say) enucleate the secret. Besides, he wrote loving letters to certain trusty friends, concerning the same; who to do their Prince and Country service, dispersed themselves into several towns and cities both of France and Burgundy, where they were certified and assured by the testimony of many honest persons (amongst whom some of especial wit and behaviour repaired to the town of Tourney) that this feigned Duke was of mean parentage, and truly named Peter Warbeck, which was principally confirmed by one Nathani●l Osbeck of his own kindred, who as it should seem in hope of reward, took upon him more than the rest, and exprobrated him for so countersetting, with this taunt out of the Poet: 
Sed malè dissimulat, 
Pa●●● Hel●●●.  quis enim celaverit ignem  
Lumine qui semper proditur ipse suo?  And alas, however he is now transhaped into a princely garb and fashion, we of Peter named him Perkin, for his effeminateness and childisnnesse.  
With this news and man, the inquisitors returned into England, and made a true report unto his Majesty of all that ever they knew and heard, both concerning the assumpted presumption and impudence of the counterfeit, as also the proceedings and purposes of all the conspirators, which was seconded by the faithful letters of especial persons, who had larger commission to make their commorance the longer out of England: when the King was thus satisfied, and (as he supposed) to all seeming reasonable understanding, had openly and apparently manifested it, he resolued to have it further published and declared, by open proclamations and sound of trumpet, both in the Realms of England and Ireland, and in the courts of foreign Princes: for which purpose he sent over divers Ambassadors to many Countries, especially to Philip Archduke of Burgoine, 
Embassy to the Archduke.  and his councillors, as a place which nearest concerned him. This Embassy was the charge and commission of Sr. Ed. Poinings, a most valiant Gentleman; and William Warrham Doctor of the laws, a man of great modesty, learning and gravity. The general points of their commission had large fields to walk in, but the principal matters to be enforced had these limitations.  
FIrst, to declare that the young man resident amongst them with the Lady Margaret, was descended of a base and obscure parentage, having falsely and untruly usurped the name of Richard Duke of York, who long before was murdered in the Tower with his brother the Prince, by the commandment of King Richard their uncle, as many men living can testify.  
Secondly, that from the probability of the matter and enforcement of reason, there was no likelihood, that King Richard dispossessing the Prince both of his life and Kingdom, would leave the other brother still to affright him, and trouble him in his government.  
Thirdly, that Queen Elizabeth their mother, was therefore attainted in Parliament, for surrendering her daughters into the Tyrant's custody, and committing them into his hands, who, she knew, had already murdered their brethren.  
Fourthly, to desire the Archduke, and the principal Lords of his Council, not to give any credit to such illusions, nor suffer themselves to be any more blinded or seduced with impostures, or shadowing appearances of truth.  
Last of all, to remember how King Henry had (some few years since) succoured and relieved Maximilian their principal Lord, almost oppressed and overcome with the foreign hostility of the French King, and intestine rebellion of his own subjects, and therefore it must be unprincely, and a point of great ingratitude, either directly or indirectly, to abet or maintain any traitor, or traitorous practices against him, or the peace and tranquillity of his Kingdom.  
With these instructions the Ambassadors failed into Flanders, and were gently received, and honourably welcomed by the Archduke and his Council, as appeared by the solemnity of their audience, and quick dispatch of their business: wherein Doctor William Warrham in a well penned oration declared the King's mind, as before you heard, and by the way touched the malice of Lady Margaret, saying with the Poet, — Tantaenè animis coele stibus irae: And under a kind of reprehension, rebuked her inficious disposition against a Prince of so great worth and deserving, that never wronged her, nor entertained a prejudicial motive, to inflict either her or hers with any malignant injury; wherein she only might be compared to a weak breath, which spitting against a forcible wind, had it returned b●cke again into her face, adding withal somewhat vehemently, that in her old age, contrary to the nature of all births, she had brought forth two such detestable monsters, that is to say, Lambert before disputed upon, and now this Peter, that the like was never heard of. And whereas, in the conception of children, women were commonly delivered in eight or nine months, as nature did require, she could not be released in eight or nine years; nay, the youngest was fifteen years old, before her threnes were passed, and they justified to be showed openly, and this was not sufficient neither, but they must be at least extracted of Princes, and able to give King's battle in the open field: whereupon he might well conclude with that ancient Poet: 
Sedres excellens est, 
Eurip. Andromache.  contra reptiles bestias  
Remedia mortalibus deorum prebuisse aliquem,  
Quae viperas & ignem superant:  
Sed nullus contra mulierem remedia invenit adhuc  
Malam: huiusmodi sumus hominibus malum.   
This oration so effectually delivered, and in the public assembly audaciously maintained, did not so much trouble and vex the Duchess, as aff●ight and dishearten poor Perkin, who in a manner exanimated, lest his fraud and pestilential enterprises should not only be discovered, but discouraged, began to be somewhat appalled, and by a fearful countenance seemed to discountenance both his honour and the action, had not the Duchess taken the cause in hand with a more undaunted courage, and like a true Virago raised her spirits to a higher pitch of revenge, thus resuscitating her darling, and answering the Doctor.  
MY Lords Ambassadors of England: 
The Duchess answer to Doctor Warrham oration.  For the dignity of princeliness commandeth no less, & awful regard of Majesty combineth me to such observation: Besides, I am no way offended with your persons, but your message, wherein I know the Orator hath much transcended his bounds, but speaking for his fee, and doing another man's errand, he is the more pardonable, and therefore as near as I can remember, I will answer succinctly to every point delivered.  
First, whereas you impeach the miraculous and wonderful preservation of this Prince. In which yet my credit and knowledge of the truth, shall be of sufficiency to answer all other objections and interceding, I cannot blame you, nor him that set you on work; For he well knows that sons ●re to be preferred before daughters, and ashamed of the treachery of his ancestors, he would put off the blame by a trick of policy in laying as great faults on the shoulders of his adversary, I mean my brother Richard, whose tyranny and obdurate heart hath only wrought this relenting in me, that say & do what England can, I will be now the Protectrix of this every way distressed Prince, and so to conclude this point, assure your King, Permanet in voto mens mea firma suo.  
Secondly, whereas you infer the improbability and unlikelihood of saving the Prince, being in a Tyrant's custody, and determining to murder the King himself, I answer in a word: I am of your mind, if ever he had come into his hands: But it is well known, that the Cardinal himself was deceived, and the child conveyed away, in despite of the malevolent practices of so cruel an Homicide. Yet say it had not been so, I hope eldest brothers daughters are preferred before a younger brothers claim; and he had five Princesses, besides my Nephew Warwick, to wrestle wi●hall, before he could go out of the lists with his own triumphs. Therefore it was not the fear of him, that did accelerate his murder, as you suppose; but his resolution to be King, in despite of Heaven and Hell.  
Thirdly, concerning the dispossessing of the Queen their mother by your Parliament, I am ashamed of your asseveration, that ever man, and such a man, whom (as you say) the Heavens protected, should be attainted of inhumanity, to think a woman might not be affrighted with a Tyrant, when he himself ran into every corner from his reaches. But say there had been a fault perpetrated (through the timidity of her sex and tenderness of her widowhood) would any man marry the daughter, and hate or distress the poor mother, in whose behalf I may well say with Ariadne to Theseus, 
— Sinon ego causasalutis: 
O●id. Epist.   
No● tamen est, cur tu fis mihi causa necis?  And therefore if there were no more than to revenge her quarrel, I will be an enemy to Lancaster, while I live, and am no further moved with your unseasonable oratory then afraid of his menaces.  
Fourthly, whereas you would insinuate with our Nobles and trusty friends to desist from my allegiance, and agasting my Nephew in his lawful claim: you think belike we are as perfidious as yourselves, that seem glad of Treason and turmoils upon the very sound of innovation: yea, the least advantage or disadvantage will cause you leave your Prince in the midst of his enemies.  
Fiftly, concerning your exprobration of Maximilian for ingratitude, and not coadiuting your King in his petty revenges upon France: First, his great designs are not to be compared to your trivial business, and having matters of high consequence elsewhere, he could not leave them to attend your weaker importunities: Secondly, he well knew it was but a folly to assist you in any business of France; for as fas● as you got it one way, you would lose it another, so that you cannot now show any Town or Fort, either of King Edward's conquests, or Henry the fifts enterprises except Calais, which lying so near you, you cannot for shame but defend: And thirdly, in my conscience he took pity of you, knowing you had a war at home to attend, and so were not able to prosecute both encounters at once: go back therefore and tell your politic Prince, that whereas words are but women's weapons to his imagination, we determine to arm ourselves, and this Prince by God's assistance: and my power shall bid him base in his own Kingdom with spear and shield, and make an equal combat the decider of both their Titles.  
Last of all concerning your invective against women; alas, I smile at your scholarship, and am ashamed at your poor discretion in adapting some poetical invention out of fury or despite, to your present purposes, when both the same man, and all others of the same condition are as forward to commend as dispraise us: For to answer your worn out and thread bare Tragedian, hark what our Divine Petrarch affirmeth:  
Huius mens terrenar●m nescia curarum: 
Petr●rck d● contemptu mu ndi dial. 3.  Coelestibus desider●s ardet: in cuius aspectu si quid unquam veri est divini spec●●en decoris effulget: cuius mores consummata honestatis exemp●●● sunt: cuius nec vox, necoculorum vigor mortale aliquid: nec incessu●●●minem represent at.  
With which words she arose, and carried away Perkin with such state and majesty, that Sir Edward Poinings, though he were every way invincible for his courage, and a known man for wonderful and several exploits, yet seemed amazed at her Heroical speech, and delicate manner of obstinacy.  
Notwithstanding, the Ambassadors and Council of Estate often met, and after long debating the matter, somewhat to pacify the King of England for many reciprocal gratuities and benefits received, they concluded, that the Archduke should neither aid nor assist Perkin nor his complices in any cause, or quarrel whatsoever against the majesty of England. Only, if the Duchess continued in her obdurateness, and would not desist from her feminine rages, and terrible prosecutions, they were not to oppose against her, nor was it in their power to let or withstand it: For, she was an absolute governor in her own territories, and the signories and lands assigned for her dower, were of sufficiency to suffulciat her enterprises without their contradiction or restraint.  
When this answer was given, 
The Ambassador return into England.  they returned again into England with a true relation of all occurrences as they chanced, and circumstances impending: whereupon King Henry both politic and charitable (for of all other things he desired, if it were possible, to avoid effusion of blood and hazardous danger of battle, supposing that was the last remedy of curing diseased Commonwealths, as Surgeons do to festered sores) contrived another work, which although it was branded by some with the character of traitorous intelligences, yet it served his turn for the present: and so divers were appointed to discover the secrets of the contrary by feigned dissimulation. Of these were two sorts, one to feign themselves Yorkists, and so learn out what they could prejudicial to King He●ry: another, to tamper with Sir Robert Clifford and William Burley for their return to the obedience of the King: and concerning the Plot itself, he reputed it justifiable as authorized by all Authors, ages, and commonwealths, who set down in their politic discourses, that 
— Fraus est concessarepellere fraudem,  
Armaque in armatos sumere iur● finunt.   
These cunning informers so demeaned themselves, and employed their●time with such sedulity and care, 
Quid. de arte amandi. lib. 3.  that they persuaded (though with much ado) Sir Robert Clifford to desist from this foolish and dangerous collusion, which had neither sure ground nor foundation to stay itself upon: but Master Barley could not be diverted at this instant, till within two years after almost tired out with expectation after P●ter warbeck's fortunes and success, he returned of himself to the King, and had pardon both for life and liberty. The others likewise proceeded so effectuaily, that they had sure notice of especial persons confederate, and adjured to this blind and foolish project; of which they presently informed the King, who by that means could not only personally name his home enemies, but to prevent the worst, did as personally attach the most principal: that is to say, Sir john Ratcliff, the Lord Fitzwater, Sir Simon Mountford, Sir Thomas Thwaits, William Dawbney, Robert Clifford, Thomas Cressenor, and Thomas Astwood: with these were divers religious persons imprisoned, as William Rochfort Doctor of Divinity, and Thomas Poines both friars Dominicks, Doctor William Sutton, William Worsley Deane of Paul's, Robert Laiborn, and Richard L●ssly, with divers others unapprehended; of whom, some took Sanctuary, and some fled into Flaunders to Perkin: But of those whose liberties were constrained, Sir Simon Mou●●ford, Sir Robert Ratcliff, and William Dawbney were beheaded, as powerful, factious, and chief authors of the conspiracy: the rest were pardoned, especially the Priests, who were in those times for their order's sake sequestered from public executions, what offences soever they perpetrated, which made them so forward in all facinorous actions; and others so superstitious, as to believe any thing they either projected, or attempted, from which hypocritical and deceivable manner of life, all Poets and Philosophers themselves have had both general and particular invectives against Priests, augurs, soothsayers, figure casters, and religious persons, both for their profane lives and seducing vanities: so that Euripides amongst many other places concludes in his Ephigenia, Vatiduûm omne genus ambitiosum malum est: and all the Kingdoms, and times of the World, 
Eurip. Iphigenia in aulide.  hau● smarted through the pride, covetousness and malicious wickedness of Priests and Friars, and lastly Jesuits, as I said before: But to our Story.  
Although the Lord F●●zwater was pardoned his life for the present: yet coming after to Calais he was beheaded for attempting to escape by corrupting his keepers, and so to go to Perkin: whereby this strange and intricate work so busied his Majesty, that he would often compare it to the conquering of Hydra, a beast so privileged by nature, that as one head was struck off, seven others grew in the place. For his turmoils both at home and abroad increased, and he seemed as much tormented with the suspicion of bosom friends, as affrightings of foreign enemies, which so exasperated him, that as he supposed to prevent the worst, considering Maximilian King of the Romans had ieofaild with him in his wars against France and that Lady Margaret with the Flemings had supported Perkin Warbeck against him, he in a kind of revenge banished all low-country men, and their commodities out of the Realm, with restraining the Merchant from having access into any of their Cities: But alas this was to no purpose, and in truth rather a custom of anger, then secret of policy, as if a man because his finger torments him, should cut off his hand to ease himself: for they did the like by us, whereby the Mart being kept at Calais, and no vent elsewhere for our Merchandise, many poor housekeepers complained for want of work, many rich men murmured and were compelled to lessen their families, and abate their retinue, many Merchants felt the loss, and the Tradesman cried outright, because the Esterlings brought all manner of manual work ready made into the Land, 
A riot 〈◊〉 the Esterlings.  and took from them both their labour and customers, whereby a riot was made upon them at the Stilyard, and the Mayor of London with the principal Officers had much ado to appease the tumult, and this was the ninth years disturbance.  
The King thus turmoiled every way, repaired for divers reasons to the Tower of London, whither shortly after came Sir Robert Clifford unto him, partly trusting to the King's promise, partly mistrusting his own company and Perkins weakness: But the chiefest policy of his resiance in the Tower was to secure himself, and lay hold of all others suspected, or accused in this conspiracy, who thither resorting to the Council, might with ease and without any tumult be committed to prison, as it presently fell out: For after the King had admitted Sir Robert, and insinuated with him in excellent positions of Divinity, and morality by way of disceptation, urging the love and favour of his Prince in his true obedience and reconciliation, he not only related the manner of Perkins proceedings, but on his knees with teare● in his eyes discovered the matter to be weak and impossible, if it had not factious supportation from some of powerful houses of England, and very near his majesties person, whereof though many were punished, and the rest dissipated and divided: Yet Sir William Stanley remained unsuspected, and his heart trembled to accuse him: But when the King heard Sir William Stanley named, 
Sir William Stanley accused.  he started back amazed and in a manner confounded, that Sir Robert was afraid he had done him more harm in the relation, then good in the detection.  
At last he burst out, what my bosom friend? my Councillor? my Chamberlain? then I see there is no trust in men, nor as the Psalmist saith confidence in Princes: For as we shall not want instruments to go forward with what enterprise we please, as David had his joab: so shall we not lack enemies let them be never so careful and desirous to favour the least deserver, but I may well now cry out, Heu cadit in qu●nquam tantum scelus! and with the kingly Prophet exclaim, It was not mine enemies abroad, but my companions, and such as eat at my table betrayed me: What Sir William Stanley? he hath the government of my Chamber, the charge and controlment of all that are next my person, the love and favour of our Court, and the very keys of our treasury. He made me a conqueror in the field, and by his hand I scourged tyranny out of his Throne, therefore it is impossible, and I cannot believe it. But when a second reply brought him to the sight of fairer particulars, and that he saw the smoke, though it was but a smother, came from some fire, he quickly recollected his spirits, and with these verses of Euripides, set himself down at the table of prevention and reposedness: 
Ex amicis autem alios quidem non certos video amicos  
Qui vero sunt rectè, 
Eurip. Herefu●●●●.  impotentès sunt ut iwent:  
Talis res est hominibus ipsa infoelicitas,  
Quam nullus unquam (quicunque vel mediocriter amicus mini)  
Assequatur amicorum examen certissimum,—  The same night upon better consideration my Lord Chamberlain was restrained from his liberty within the quadrant Tower, and confined to his own Chamber for a season: but when the crime was openly proved, and the Council had as it were with a charming hand of Hecate turned his inside outward, and found all his excuses to consist in distinctions, and his reasons of defence manifest astipulations of the matter, he grew out of all patience, and knew not what to say, or to do: For one way like an Noble Prince commiserating his subjects, he feared lest his brother Lord Thomas Stanley the life of his first royalty, as a man should say take it grievously. Another way he misdoubted, lest in remitting the fault, some other might abuse his lenity and mercy, and be the bolder to run forward in the dangerous courses of further treasons: At last by the advise of his Council, and general vouge of the Court, severity (considering the peril of those days) took place, 
Sir William Stanley beheaded.  and mercy was put back: so that after a solemn arraignment, he had judgement to die, and accordingly was brought on the 16. of February to Tower-hill, and had his head struck off.  
The principal point of his inditement consisted in this, that Sir William Stanley swore and affirmed, that he would never fight nor bear Armour against the young man Peter Warbeck, if he knew of a truth that he was the indubitate son of Edward the fourth, whereupon arose a conjectural proof, that he bore no good will to King Henry. Again, the principal motive of his distasting and murmuring at the King, was for being denied the Earldom of Chester, when his brother Lord Thomas was invested with the sword of Derby: yet the King besides many rewards, & other great offices made him his chief Chamberlain; what should I say? it should seem ambition had blinded his eyes, & perverted his judgement. For he still thought on the benefits which the King received from the love and service of his family, never remembering the compensation and gratuities returned back again to himself, supposing that his vessel of oil should still be filled to the brims, or else he harped on a Machiavellian position, thankfulness is a burden, but revenge is sweet and reckoned as gain. But it should seem, that in possessing King Richard's treasure at the conquest of Bosworth field, which King Henry frankly bestowed upon him, and the command over the people in the Country, he grew proud and elated, and so vilepended the King: or from a continual melancholy reverberating mislike and hate upon his staggering conceits, he more and more over burdened his heart with rage and despite, which as you have heard unpurged, vented out those words of disloyalty to the loss of his life; or in a word according to that of our old Tragedian: Animorum jupiter vindex est minis superborum, 
Eurip, Heraclida.  the searcher of heart● was weary of his tumours and ingratitude, and so took the King's cause in hand and upon good enforcement thrust him into the house of destruction. Otherwise, he could not choose but remember, how not twenty year before the Law had interpreted the profuse and lavish speeches of a Grocer named Waker, dwelling at the sign of the Crown in Cheapside, who bade his son learn apace, and he would make him heir of the Crown, meaning his house he dwelled in, for which he was adjudged to die: nor forget the Story of Burdet the Esquire, within whose Park King Edward hunting, a white tame Hart was killed by chance, which he had brought up by hand, which when Burdet heard of, he wished the horns in his belly that had moved the king to come first thither, for which he was drawn, hanged and quartered. Thus you see there is no jesting with Princes, nor distasting them in troublesome times, nor presuming in such cases on their clemency: For our Ovid tells us: 
Non ideo debet pelago se credere, si qua  
audet in exiguo ludere cimba lacu:   
After this, many rumours and libels, yea defamatory speeches both concerning the landing of the new Duke of York proclaimed all ready in Ireland, Richard the fourth: and the King's present fear and proceedings, were spread abroad, which compelled as strange prohibitions, yea, punishments and revenges, according to the example of that judgement, 
Libel. ●rs hanged.  that hanged Collingbroke for a rhyme against the usurper: 
The Rat, the Cat, and Lovel the Dog,  
Rules all England under a Hog:  so that he was farther enforced to have many politic searches through the whole Realm for such offenders, and as many strong Guards and Watches for the defence of the whole Kingdom, by which when he perceived the care, vigilancy and good will of the Subject, he entertained a greater fullness of contentment, and showed a better alacrity of spirit then his former griefs would remit: Then he advanced Giles Lord Dawbuy a man of wisdom, experience and fidelity, to be the Chamberlain of his house, and have the Guard of his person. Afterwards he took order with the City and Merchants of the same, and had thei● faithful Oath and protestation to look to it, and all the places of their traffic abroad, concerning such things as might be offensive and prejudicial to the Kingdom. The next thing he took care for, was the manning of the Cinqueports, and fortifying divers havens, with a stict commanding the Lieutenants & justices of each Shire, to repair into their Countries, by which good order observed, he grew somewhat secure and bolder, to show himself in public assemblies undaunted, or any way discomfited.  
But this was yet far from the fullness of his establishment, as long as Ireland remained corrupted, and swollen again in every place, 
Special Commissioners sent into Ireland.  with the overblown reports and rumours of Perkins royalty, to which each traitorous ear lay open, and abused heart went quite away with the novelty. Whereupon he resolved on the necessity of purging and cleansing the same, and determined to perform it by new Officers and honest Surveyors: So he sent thither with powerful authority, Henry Deane late Abbot of Langhton to be his Chancellor, and Sr. Ed. Poinings (with a sufficient preparation) to be Lord General of his army. These had a large Commission, under his Deputy the Earl of Kildare, to suppress all innovations, and spare no offenders: For it was such a time, that mercy and favour would rather embolden men to abuses, than justice offend with extremity. Besides, the Majesty of Kings was not to be controlled, either in their favour or revenges, but they would simply command, and have the subject honestly to obey, with which instructions and the doctrine of Probity out of our ancient author, 
Probi enim viri officium est, & justitiae i●seruire,  
Et maleficos punire ubique semper:  They arrived in Ireland, and disposed of themselves accordingly.  
Now because the country was already infected with a superstitious credulity of the preservation of one of the sons of Edward the fourth, and that the barbarous Irish once believing a thing, would never be diverted by reason or persuasion, they proceeded the more cautelously and circumspectly in their business. First, assembling the Nobility and better sort before the new Chancellor, who with all attractive demeanour and elocution, persuaded them not only to persist in obedience to the King, and loyalty to the government, but to aid and assist his majesties forces under Sr. Ed. Poinings, with their power, strength, and ability, especially against such rebels, as rather through factious malice and wilful revolts, than blindness of error or folly had adhered unto Perkin, or any of his associates, in which they knew there was reason and sufficiency of enforcement. For amongst themselves, the petty Lords would endure no competition of sovereignty, and their Law-Tanist established him, that for his heroic actions deserved to be honoured, and by his worthy endeavours obtained the jurisdiction and inheritance. So that their own Priests could tell them, Ex parvis magna comparantur, and if it were so in petty governments, what was it in mighty Monarchies and with regardable Kings, amongst whom: 
Nulla fides regni socijs, omnisque potestas:  
Impatiens consortis erat:—  Therefore to avoid the imputation of treason, and the fearfulness of revenge, from a Prince's incensed indignation, he advised them to a tenacity and strong continuance in their loyalty.  
To this their answer was, as soldiers in a camp after a mutiny, sad looks and small repentance: fair words, but little performance. For they all promised assurance off aith, but no man determined the due performance, only the better sort, or (if you will) such as dwelled within the English pale, or had been ennobled or enabled by the Prince, to live in richer form and eminence then others: answered directly, they would acknowledge no King but Henry, nor supreme Lord, but such as should be extracted from the union of the marriage between the two Roses, and to this they were the rather emboldened, because the Earl of Kildire being Deputy, seemed to maintain their submission, and justify their intents: so that Sr. Ed. Poinings had little to say at that time, more than he hoped in the confidence of their promises, and relied on their worthy integrity: yet I dare swear, if he had been examined on his conscience, and brought to the bar of discovery for his thoughts, he would have cried out with the Poet: 
At paucos, 
Lucan lib. 5.  quibus haec rabies aucthoribus arsit,  
Non Caesar, sed Poena tenet: &c.—   
Whereupon he prepared all his forces against the wild Irish, to whom, as he was informed, divers of the rest had fled for succour. I could here enlarge this discourse with a topographical description of the country, and conditions of the people, because I have personally overlooked their actions, and been a passenger even from one side of the country to the other, but the times are full of the experience of many men, and divers explorations have discovered the unswept corners of this savage and superstitious people, whom never man shall see civil or once affecting the handsomeness and wealth of the other parts of Europe, till either it grow more populous, or the King be as willing as he is able, to extirpate (as it were by the roots) the Bards, Rhymers, Harpers and Priests, that hang upon them, and stick close unto them, as some deformed wen in a strait growing tree, or (if you will) venomous cankour, which will in time either eat out root and rind, or (for the time) disfigure and disproportion the proudest comeliness of the best Cedars in the forest. But to our story.  
Sr. Edward Poinings, 
The North of Ireland.  according to his commission, marched into the North: But alas, he neither found France to travel in, nor Frenchmen to fight withal? here were no glorious towns to load the soldiers home with spoils, nor pleasant vineyards to refresh them with wine. here were no plentiful markets to supply the salary of the army, if they wanted or stood in need, here were no cities of refuge, nor places of garrison to retire unto in the times of danger and extremity of weather. here were no musters ordered, nor Lieutenants of shires to raise new armies: here was no supplement either of men or provisions, especially of Irish against the Irish, nor any one promise kept according to his expectation. here was (in plain terms) bogs and woods to lie in, fogs and mists to trouble you, grass and fern to welcome your horses, and corrupt and putrefy your bodies: here was killing of kine, and eating fresh beef to breed diseases: here was oats without bread, and fire without wood: here were smoking cabins, and nasty holes: here were bogs on the tops of mountains, and few passages, but over marshes, or through strange paces: here was retiring into fastness and glins, and no fight but when they pleased themselves: here was ground enough to bury your people in being dead, but no place to please them while they were alive: here you might spend what you brought with you, but be assured th●re was no hope of relief: here was room for all your losses, but scarce a castle to reserve your spoils and treasure. To conclude, here was all glory & virtue buried in obscurity & oblivion, & not so much as a glimmering of hope, that how valiantly soever a man demeaned himself, it should be registered and remembered: which makes me consider, what that worthy Politician writes of the Swevians and Heluetians in those days, and apply them to these times and people: 
Heluetij, 
Suevorum mor●scu Politian●.  Vsipetesque atque effera corda Sueui,  
Queis unum praedaestudium, ac durare subipsis  
Corpora fluminibus, telque assuscere dextram:  
Non urbis, non cura domus, agriuè colendi,  
Venatu ducunt vitam, atque è lact liquente,  
Et quod mart sibispoliat● ex hoste parari●t:  
Bella placent, fususque hostili è corpore sanguis.   
Whereupon the worthy General, with his other Captains, began to complain, but knew no way of redress, his men died, the Soldiers were slain, the army decayed, the Irish insulted, the auxiliaries failed, and not a man which promised assistance, came in to help him: so that he was enraged at the perfidiousness, and compelled to retire to Dublin, all exasperated to despite, by which he aimeth at the highest in his displeasure, laying the fault and blame of his preposterous proceedings on Gerald Earl of Kildare, 
The Earl of Kildare accused by Sr. Edward Poinings.  his majesties principal Deputy, who remembering his own greatness, could not confine it within a little circuit of patience; but answered this our Captain somewhat like himself, that he was as loyal to the King as he, as serviceable as he, as loving to his country and crown of England as he, and so defied him to his face, which added only fuel to the former fire, that the undaunted Soldier apprehended and attached him of high treason, which seemed an unsufferable piece of business, and had it not been within Dublin, or some principal place under the English command, an Herculean and intricate Labour. But thus is this great Earl under arrest, and without any more ado carried into England to answer the matter.  
But when he came before the King and Council to be examined of treason, and matters laid to his charge, either his innocency was a Perseus shield against this Gorgon's head of calumniation, or his wit and delicate judgement brought him out of the labyrinth of those troubles, or the times afforded not such severity, and proceedings, or the King had other matters to think upon, or indeed it was no policy to rub these new sores with rude hands, according to the rule Horrent admotas vulnera cruda manus: For he was quietly dismissed, thanked, rewarded, and of Deputy made Lieutenant, and so sent back again, upon the engaging of his hononr to withstand the landing of Perkin, if ever he came into Ireland.  
By this occasion the King was without fear of battle, and determined his progress about Midsummer to visit his mother, lying at Latham in Lancashire, still wife to the earl of Derbie: But as he was preparing his journey, 
The King progress intercepted upon report of Perkins lan●ding.  news came of Perkins landing in England, which a while diverted him, and enforced his retardance from his first determination: For in truth, when the Duchess of Burgundy had notice of all the Kings proceedings both in England and Ireland, and that the principal offenders were condemned, and executed, and confederates dissipated, and overwatched: she found too late her own slackness, and the first misfortune of the King of France his retractions, from assisting the Prince: For whether I name Peter, or Perkin▪ or Warbeck, or Prince, or Richard Duke of York, or Richard the fourth, all is one man, and all had one end. And questionless, if at his first repairing into Ireland, he had made for England, while that rumour had possessed the people, and the looking after novelty busied them with strange and impossible hope, while every one stood amazed to gaze after wonders, while the conspiracy was in growth, and had divers factious Nobles to form it to a larger birth, while the soldiers desired to be doing, and men grew weary of ease and quietness: The business might have plunged the Kingdom, and success took a flight with strong wings indeed, whereby you may perceive the sweetness and benefit of expedition in all dangerous business, and resemble unjustifiable actions to thievish bargains, which either must be made away in the dark, or hastened apace in the proudest market place according to the saying: 
— Praceps facit omne timendum  
Victor, 
〈◊〉. lib. 9  & in nulla non creditur esse Carina.   
Notwithstanding, our great Duchess remained undaunted, and in a manner of scorn to depend upon others promises, she adventured on her own power, and determined to put him under the wings of Fortune, let her overshade him as she pleased: so gathering his forces together, and furnishing her ships with a sufficient company, and some valiant Captains, she sent him to sea, and only prayed to the wrathful Nemesis, as author of her revenge, for success and thriving in so glorious an attempt. here were of all nations and conditions of men, Bankrupts, Sanctuary-men, thieves, Robbers, Vagabonds, and divers others, who affecting liberty, rapine and spoil, desisted from honest labour, to be the servants of dishonest rebellion. His fortune (as we now profanely abuse that term) drove him on the coast of Kent before Deale-Castle, 
Perkin cometh to Kent.  where being becalmed, he cast anchor, sending divers on shore, to certify the Inhabitants of this arrival, preparation, purposes, and well ● furnished army, and to put them in mind of their ancient liberties, privileges, and undaunted courages, which have given battle to Kings, and made their own peace with Conquerors. But alas, this oratory flew like a shaft without a head; and they had learned other lessons of stability and loyalty, as finding the sweetness of peace, and happiness of government. Notwithwanding, they called a Council, and I believe, if they had been fully resolved, that he was the true Prince indeed, they would have entertained the motion. For some of their fingers itched to be doing, but suspicious of his original and former weakness, and wisely apprehending, how shame and revenge dogged treason and rebellion at the heels, they concluded to continue firm and faithful to the State, and so with a kind of policy to allure them to land, they sent divers to Perkin, with flattering hopes of their assistance, while they were indeed mustering of forces to surprise them as fast as they should land: which when Perkin perceived, he imagined that all could not be well, or consorting to his expectation. For in this point, his wit and experience served him to understand thus much, that common people and multitudes stirred to sedition, use no solid councils or settled discourses: but come flocking with their fullness and forwardness to assist their friends, and follow their pretences, according to Euripides description of a confused company and rebellious army: 
— In infinito enim exercit●  
Incoercita turba, 
Eurip. Hecuba.  nauticaque licentia  
Violentior igne: malus vero, qui mali nihil agit:  Whereupon he durst not land himself, and was sorry so many of his company were on shore, but seeing there was no remedy, he sent others, if need were, to relieve them, or bring them back again to his ships.  
When the Kentishmen beheld such a rabble of strangers and dissolute persons, and wisely foresaw that there was no no man of honour or eminence to give credit to the attempt, they presently conjectured, that they came rather to spoil and forage the coasts, then to relieve a distressed Prince in his right: and so running the right way indeed, stood firmly for their Country, and set upon them as they were straggling up and down in the villages, enforcing the better sort and better armed back again to their boats, and surprising such, as could not maiutaine the quarrel, and had presumed too far from the main battle, 
Perkins company defeated, & he driven back to se●.  of whom they took 160. prisoners, yea, the principal Captains themselves, while they laboured to persuade the retreat, and to gather them together after some martial form of resistance: viz. Moumford, Corbet, Whight, Bets, Quintine, or Geuge: who were all brought to Sr. john Pechy high Sheriff, and so railed in ropes, like horses drawing in a cart, sent up to London, and there executed in divers places adjoining to the City, whereby Perkin had matter of disconsolation for the time, and time enough to sail back again into Flanders, to entertain better advice and more company.  
The King (as you heard) understanding of this attempt, left his progress and came to London, where assured of this good success, he sent Sr. Richard Guildford into Kent to thank the Sheriff and the people, for their loyalty, obedience, and valiant circumspection, which had so quickly dissipated his enemies, and quieted the Country, giving present order to his Navy to scour the narrow seas, to the Province to keep the coasts, to the Watches to fire the Beacons, to the Captains to prepare their Soldiers, and to all sorts to attend their several charges, according to the ancient and laudable custom of the Kingdom.  
When Perkin and his Captains were arrived in Flanders, and found, how their former delays had been a great obstacle, and hindrance to their proceedings, they resolved to remedy the same in their following courses, and by the contrary celerity and speediness to wipe away the blots of their weakness, and faint proceedings, as if they had learned of our Poet: 
Sic agitur censura, 
ovid. 6 6. ●a●torum.  & sic exempla parantur,  
Cum ludex, alios quod monet, ipse facit:  Notwithstanding, because they were now resolved, that the King taking notice of this onset and attempt, would fortify the Coasts, and be in a readiness with well prepared forces: they determined to sail into Ireland, 
Perkin resolveth for Ireland, and so into Scotland.  there to augment their company, and corroborate their pretences, which accordingly was effected, and the entertainment yielded him a little comfort and satisfaction: but because he well knew the Irish were weak and unarmed, and so unable to prevail against the strength of England, and still out of countenance, and quickly daunted, when they were drawn from their bogs, and woods to solid battles and strong charges, contrary to their flight, skirmishes, and running encounters, they thought it more meet and expedient to pass into Scotland: Gens semper invisa Britannis, and there make trial of a new friendship, casting up a forward account of their happiness, in this manner: First they were assured of the natural and general hatred between the Nations, which upon very small occasions and probable opportunity, would burst out into flames of despite. Next, they projected, that the nature of the business would allure them to his assistance, upon hope of vainglory, and a reputation of so charitable a work, as to help a Prince in distress. Thirdly, they relied on this hope, that if no other cause would be inductive to his supportation, yet the desire of spoil would quickly incite them to war against so plentiful a Country. Fourthly, they persuaded themselves, that the Scots had a good opinion of the house of York ever since the cruelty of the Lord Clifford against Rutland, for which they utterly abandoned Henry the sixth and the Queen. And last of all, they concluded to promise them the surrendering of Barwick, and to enlarge their territories if he prevailed by their assistance, which was a sure motive to draw them into any action whatsoever: whereupon he departed from Corck and landed on the West of Scotland, from whence he prepared himself to go to the King with some solemnity, wherein his instructions prevailed with his fortune, because for the most part the mass of people are guided by shows and ceremonies, rather than matter of substance and truth, and so he traveled to Edinbourgh, whose Citizens unaccustomed to such glorious shows, began already to commiserate his fortune and distress: yea, the King himself assembled his Lords and Courtiers, as their manner then was to entertain him and give him audience; which when Perkin perceived to fall out to his good liking and hearts desire, he thus framed his speech unto him, or if you will reduced his instructions to a manner of attracting Oratory.  
MOst mighty and renowned King: 
Perkins Oration to the King of Scots.  judicis officium est ut res, ita tempora rerum quaerere— and therefore I come not to you altogether like a cast away or bankrupt, to recover my estate by a cozening agreement with my creditors for a trifle, when there may be sufficient to pay the principal: nor like a runaway from a hard-hearted Master: or if you will, to take my liberty the better, to cast of the yoke of honest and civil obedience, where there is a duty and necessity of service imposed: but as a stranger subject to shipwreck, and the hassardous endurances of a tempest, I am enforced to your refuge, as much induced with your Princely delight in deeds of charity and hospitality, as my own wants or recovery: I might add your famous actions, renown, and heroic commiseration of a disesteemed Prince, but Pudor est ulteriora loqui: And although I may confess myself to resemble the man in the Gospel that fell amongst thieves, whom divers looking upon passed by without relief: yet, at last he found one Samaritan to pay the cost and defray the charges of the Surgery: so have I done a worthy aunt, friend, and noble kinswoman to acknowledge her afflicted Nephew, who hath helped me accordingly: so that I make no question, that from the example of a woman your Princely commiseration and powerful coadiutement shall open their larger embraces, considering that you above all other Princes have been made acquainted with the distractions of our family, and from time to time know how the house of York hath been dilacerated, and torn in pieces by the cruel hand of Tyrants and homebred Wolves, which whether it were the permission of God or the secrets of his divine justice; I will not now dispute upon: Only, I must be bold to say, that when my father obtained the Crown, and revenged his father's wrongs and death, there were signs of God's favour and assistance in the fair issue prepared, and sweet fruit of such a flourishing tree, namely two sons and five daughters, who were simply committed to the tutelage and protectorship of an unnatural Uncle, who proved a tyrant and destroyer of our blood and progeny, so that I may well cry out as Ariadne to Theseus: Mitius inveni, quam te, genus omne serarum: Notwithstanding, Most mighty King, how ever my Princely Brother miscarried, as swallowed up in the jaws of cruelty and slaughter, It should seem the murderers were affrighted at that they had done already, and desisted from a full prosecution of the Tyrant's command, or confounded with compunction of spirit spared me, and secretly conveyed me out of the hands of such an homicide and blood sucker (for so I hope without offence I may rightly term him) and although by this means and the supportation of high borne Buckingham he obtained the Diadem: yet did God follow him with the swiftest pace of wrath and anger, and at last I must needs say, scourged him with rods of vengeance indeed; for he presently lost his son, and his friend and coadjutor lost himself: what afterwards chanced unto me, as my strange deliverance, my bringing up in Tornay under certain supposed parents of honest reputation, my travails into foreign Countries, my adventures abroad, my endurances at home, with such like; it would be to tedious to relate, and therefore I desist to put you now to further wonder and amazement at the same, because I have them as it were registered in a schedule, which at your Princely pleasure you may overlook, with the Duchess and Counsels of Burgundy's hands to confirm the same: so that I confess when the King of France sent for me out of Ireland, I was in a manner secure of my estate, and thought upon no further assurance, than his gracious apprehension of my indubitate claim. But it should seem (most gracious King) that you are reserved for the glory of this business, and everlasting memory of so remarkable an action, wherein I submit myself, ships, and people to your guidance and direction, Oh do not then annihilate my confidence, nor reject my demands. For next to the high controller of men's actions, I have put myself under the shadow of your supportation, and altogether rely on the unity of your willingness and power, to bear me through the difficulties of this passage.  
When he had made an end and given them cause of some amazement at his years and tenderness of experience to deliver yet his mind so freely, 
The King of Scots resolveth to assist Perkin.  and with some illustration of words and readiness of gesture, the King without any further scruple or diffidence cheered him, telling him plainly he would assist him, and whatever he was, or intended to be, he should not repent him of his coming thither, & so concluding with a speech of Medea's to jason: Hinc amor, hinc timor est, ipsum tim●r auget amorem: he gave order for his entertainment accordingly, whereby he had time with his wearied people to repose himself, and the King, occasion to think of many matters: yet rather for custom then to be diverted from his resolutions, he called his Council and disputed the matter with them; they again, (as it happened to Rheoboam, and shall be withal the Princes in the World) grew to contradiction, and divided themseelues, some standing for their Country, some for their private affection, some to please the Prince, and some to enjoy a good opinion of policy, and wisdom. The graver sort and of greatest experience disannulled all the former intimation of the Prince, with the impossibility of the business, as if he were but a bare assumer of titles indeed. The quieter sort and such as had smarted with the dissensions between England and Scotland disclaimed any further warr●, and were weary with that which had passed. The younger sort apprehended it, as a worthy enterprise, and though it had but colour of commiseration, yet considering he was befriended from the Emperor, King of the Romans, and the whole state of the Low-Countries, it could not choose but help them with many friends. There was another sort, who confessing the poverty of their Country, concluded, that by this means by foraging, spoiling a●d getting good booties in England, much wealth might enrich them without loss or hindrance of their own, and so cared not how the war began, nor how long it continued. The last sort consisted of such, who because they would have their credit enlarged from an opinion of Statesmen, and high reaching capacities, argued (as we say) on both sides, pro & contra, and from a kind of Enthymema raised profit and emolument to the Kingdom out of their sophistry: That if the Duke were assisted and prevailed, Scotland was sure to confirm their own conditions: If he were countenanced, though not prevailing, the King of England would accord to any offers or demands, rather than King Ieames should take part with his adversary and so strange a competitor.  
Whereupon it was resolved, that without further diffidence, or drawing the Duchess of Burgundy's business in question, the King should entertain the Prince, who presently honoured him accordingly, and caused him to be proclaimed the Duke of York, showing him all the favours the Country could afford, and affording him such entertainment, as they imagined was both befitting his person and condition: He again, as if that spes bona dat vires cheered himself, and assumed a new kind of behaviour, both tempered with gravity, and yet commended for cheerful and well becoming: so that by the way of solace and invitation to pleasure and delight, he hauked and▪ hunted, yea, the Ladies of the Country graced the Court, and came with all conveniency and befitting their estates to the City. For understanding so great a Prince; in possibility to be one of the mightiest Kings of Europe; not full eighteen years of age, young, wise, and in the complete strength of beauty, was resident amongst them, they conceived matters beyond the Moon, and thought themselves happy if he would fancy or fasten upon any of them. What should I say, although with the Poet: Tarda solet magnis rebus inesse fides: 
ovid. Epist. Helena Paridi.   
Yet here was no mistrust, nor any way given to fear and displeasure, but as the time, business, and place afforded, shows, masks, and sundry devices invited him to his contentment, and the present overcoming all pensiveness: so he courted with some, danced with others, 
The King of Scoss provideth Perkin of a wife.  jested with the rest, and was acceptable to all, till at last (the King giving way to the motion) he fancied the Lady Katherine Gourdon daughter to Alexander Earl of Huntle nigh kinswoman to the Crown: and because she should not think him barren of education, nor heart bound to his ambitious designs, he took an opportunity thus to discover his love unto her, and good opinion of her.  
Lady (said he) and the first of Ladies, that ever usurped my liberty, or taught my tongue to pronounce the accent of affection or liking, If I proceed not so passionate as your sex expects, or you may imagine is the custom of Courtiers, I pray you impute it to the multiplicity of my business and greatness of my affairs: beside, it is not seemly with Princes to betray their high spirits into the hands of deceit and overworking fancy; yea, foppishnes either of words, or gesture: yet, concerning your person, I can say with Paris to Helena. 
Si tu Venisses pariter certamen in illud,  
in dubium Veneris Palma futura fuit:  and touching my good will; If I live, I will make you as great in the World as myself, and desire no more but that you keep you within the limits of love and obedience, that our children may be our own, and the Commonwealth rejoice they be not mocked or deceived with extra●eall enheritors: What I am, you now see, and their is no boasting in distress: what I may be, I must put it to the trial, and submit to the divine providence: If you dare now adventure on the adversity, I swear to make you partaker of the prosperity; yea, lay my Crown at your feet, that you shall play with me as Apame did with Darius, to command and I obey: Take me now then into your embraces, and I will adore and reverence your virtues, as you commiserate my misfortunes: Oh give me leave to say no more, lest I be transported to undecencies; be now conformable, and let me be the servant of your desires, and you shall be hereafter the Mistress of my performances; If I prevail, let this kiss seal up the contract, and this kiss be a witness to the indentures, and this kiss, because one witness is not sufficient, consummate the assurance, and so with a kind of reverence, and fashionable gesture, after he had kissed her thrice, he took her in both his hands crosswise, & gazed upon her with a kind of putting her from him and pulling her to him, and so again and again rekissed her, and set her in her place with a pretty manner of enforcement.  
The young Lady pleased as well with the complement of his behaviour, as the matter in hand (which was the hope of one of the greatest Diadems in the World) whether as lovers, who in a sympathy of liking, applauding any thing from their amorosoes, seemed pleased with the very accent of his voice, and variety of the Courtship: or unaccustomed to such wooers, she remained glad of the opportunity: or taught beforehand what to do, she resolved to cast away all peevishness and nicety: or indeed ravished with the thing proposed, she was loath to be silent, considering she was pleased, and could not be displeased, considering he had begun so kindly with her, and therefore answered him with a pretty blushing modesty, to this effect.  
My Lord, If I should act a true woman's part, 
The Lady's answer.  I might play the hypocrite in standing a loof off from that I most desire, and cry out with Ariadne against Theseus: Non ego sum titulis surripienda tuis: whereupon some resemble us to lapwings, that make a great ciulation farthest from their nests: But I mean not to deal so with you, but come as near as I can in my answer to that which consorteth with reason and probability: If I were then absolutely at my own disposing, I would thank you more than I do, and think you for your gentleness and fair demeanour worthy of any creature, or thing you could desire. As for your disclaiming deceitful words and flattering Oratory concerning our beauty, comeliness, virtues, and such like baits to draw us into the net of self-love, and amazement: I like it the better, and wish that all women were of my mind to marry upon fair and reasonable conditions, and not be hurried away sometimes to their overthrows with the violence of passion and affection, which is the best excuse they can make for their folly, yea many times simplicity. But you see I am the Father's daughter, and the King's cousin, so that I will in no sort prefer my own will before their directions, and disposing of me: If then it pleaseth them to hazard me, or (as you please) to bestow me in this sort, I shall be proud to call you mine, and glad if you vouchsafe to esteem me yours: Lay then your foundation on them, and you shall see the frame of the building erected to your own liking: For believe it, such Wards as myself, may well be resembled to delicate plant● in rich grounds which either grow too rank and out of order for want of pruning and looking to: or thrive not in their situation for lack of refreshing and manuring, all which is reform by the discretion of a skilful gardener and advised overseer: Therefore noble Sir repair I say to the Master of the family, leave is light & know their pleasures for your admission into this Nursery, and then shall I be glad to be a flower of your own choice, whether it be for profit, pleasure, or exornation.  
What need more words? the marriage was consummated, 
Perkin marrieth the Lady Katherine Gourdon daughter to the Earl Huntley.  and poor Perkin transported in his own contemplation for joy, that if he proceeded no further, his fortune had conduced him to such a harbour, kissing the ground, which he trod upon, and swearing, the very place was the seat of his Genius: Ipse locus misero ferre volebat opem: But when he more and more perceived, that the Scots (like a piece of wax) were rolled together by his warming hand, and fashioned to what form he pleased, he then made no question to hammer out his designs on the anvil of prevailing, to their everlasting glory, and his establishment: yet herein he went beyond himself, and deceived both them and himself, by warranting powerful aids in his assistanc●, from all the parts of the Realm, as soon as he should set footing in England: notwithstanding, they prepared all things for an invasion, and every man was ready to please the King and pleasure the Prince: yea, they were so forward, that in hope of gain, spoil, victory, renown, and revenge, they cared not whether the Duke's title were good or no, and so with a well appointed army and sufficient forces, they marched towards the confines and borders of the North. 
The Scots invade England in the behalf of Perkin.  But the King (out of discretion) loath to make more haste then good speed, and understanding policy, conjecturing that the English, by reason of Perkins being in Scotland, might always have an army in readiness, or raise sudden troops to lie in Ambuscado in the borders, by way of prevention: sent forth divers Stradiots and Scowtmasters, to discover the Country, and the behaviour of the English, who returned with full assurance of the coasts clearness, and (for any thing they saw) they might make both incursions and excursions at their pleasure: which although in some cases made the King the rather to wonder, as if England were secure from any idle project, or indeed scorned Perkins title and claim: yet because it was generally accepted for good news, he would not be a contrary amongst so many: but made the more haste, and so with fire and sword, as if he did arma vir●mque canere, entered Northumberland, proclaiming the title of the Duke of York, by the name of Richard the fourth, and promising both pardon and preferment to all such, as would submit themselves to the yoke of his obedience: the denial whereof was accompanied with such spoil, cruelty, and insulting, that never before or since did they ever triumph over us, or proved so tyrannous: so that I may well cry out, as the Poet doth against Scylla. 
Intrepidus tanti sedit securus ab alto  
Spectator sceleris: 
●ucan. lib. 2.  miseri tot millia Vulgi  
Non piguit iussisse mori: congesta recepit  
Omnia Tyrrhenus Sillana cadavera gurges.  Wherein questionless they had gone forward, but that they perceived no aid or succour to come from any parts of England to restore this titular Duke. Besides, the soldiers (full of spoil and blood) would go no further, till they had sent their presents to their wives and children, or returned themselves to gratify one another, after such a victory: but in truth the King resolving it would be revenged, determined rather to retire with this assured victory, then to tarry the nuncupative Duke's unsure and uncertain proceedings, and so recoiled into Scotland again.  
Some remember, 
Perkin lamenteth the English slaughters.  that at this time (though it was but a very simple policy) Perkin used a certain kind of ridiculous mercy and foolish compassion toward the English people, as though that rather moved the Scots to the retreat, than any thing else: whereupon, lest his cozening and illusion should be discovered, by reason so few resorted unto him, he thus complained to the Scottish King, and (as it were) exclaimed of himself. O wretch and hard-hearted man that I am, thus remorseless to forage my native country, and purchase mine inheritance with such effusion of blood, cruelty and slaughter. For now I see, ere this businrsse can be brought to any good pass, houses must be fired, countries depopulated, women ravished, virgins deflowered, infants slain, the aged murdered, the goods rifled; and the whole Kingdom subject to devastation, which (to my grief of soul) I must needs deplore. Therefore, great King, I request you from henceforth, do not afflict my people, nor deform my country, in such a lamentable and remorseless a manner. For questionless, I shall never endure it with a peaceable soul and conscience, and had (in a manuer) rather lose my part and interest therein, then purchase it with such loss and excruciation of mind, especially effusion of blood and barbarous enforcement.  
Surely, 
The King's a●●●swer.  replied the King of Scots half angry, and more than half mistrusting his dissembling, yea fully resolved on his weakness and pusillanimity: 
— fletus quid fundis inanes? 
Lucan. lib. 3.   
Nec te sponte tua sceleriparere fateris?  
Vsque adeo ne times, quem tu facis ipse timendum?  Me thinks your care is rather ridiculous than supper fluous, to be thus dolent for another man's possessions: yea, I see not, but your claim is so remote and disannulled, that it must be an Herculean labour to settle you in any of their cities and petty provinces. But for calling England your land and Realm, and the Inhabitants your people and subjects, it is as wonderful to me, as displeasing to yourself, that in all this time, neither Gentleman, nor man of worth hath extended a daring hand, or (if you will) commisserable arm of assistance toward you: nay, though the war was begun in your name, for your sake, and within your Realm, of which you say you are the indubitate heir, and invited to the same by your own people and faction.  
Alas, 
Perkins answer  replied the Prince, I confess as much as you say: but if it will please you to acknowledge the truth, the falling back of the King of France, yea, when I was in the speed of my journey, the failing of many promises to mine aunt the Duchess of Burgundy, and the defect and protraction of my business, by the loss of an hundred Lords & Knights, some in their liberties, some in their lives, some from their own good motives and intents, and all from their true hearts and endeavours, by the King's forces and vigilant eye over them, hath not only deceived my expectation; but (in a manner) perverted my fortune Besides, you know with what difficulty the nature of adversity and men in distress, attain unto any credit and estimation: so that we and you both have had woeful experience of many great Princes deposed from their thrones▪ and left friendless, succourless, and quite destitute of relief in the hands of their enemies: and therefore, as mischief and misery are of mine old acquaintance, so am I not now unprepared to entertain the same, but must submit to the calamity, and attend the appointment of the highest God, concerning my lowest dejection, and so I conclude with an ancient saying of Euripides: 
— Turbam enim recipere me puduit, 
Eurip. Helena.   
Vt oculis viderent hunc meum turpem habitum  
Occultans praepudore meum infortunium: quando enim vir  
Habuerit malè magnus, in ineptias  
Caedit deteriores, eo qui fuit dudum infoelix.   
Although this came roundly of, and savoured some what better than the former: yet the King replied not at all, but was content with his first reproof, being more fearful every day than other, that this intricate business would be a work of wonder, and to fashion the lump of such deformity, to any handsome or substantial proportion, must be dangerous and prejudicial for ever to the Scottish crown.  
After the Nobles had been thus startled in Northumland with the clamours of the people, and saw the Inhabitants fly every way from the fury of the Scots, they fortified their holds, 
They prepare in England against Perkin.  mustered their forces, followed the enemies, and certified the King of all this enterprise and invasion, who not a little abashed at the same, as more fearing the natural subject for starting out of the sphere of his allegiance, than any foreign comet in the greatest radiance, and presages, he presently took order for the repressing of each tumults and insurrections: but assured of the Scots retreat, and that they were returned laden with spoils and great riches, he resolved upon another course, having in the mean while so great occasions of displeasure against Scotland, that all men either to please themselves, or animate the King in his willing revenges, cried out to arms, to arms, and this was the eleventh years work.  
The twelfth year began with a Parliament, both for the settling the uncertain affairs of the Kingdom, and the obtaining a subsidy, or other disbursements of money for the furnishing an army into Scotland, to which all the Nobility and Gentry opened willingly their coffers, and cheerfully their hearts, exclaiming against their immanity, and proclaiming their loyalty and endeavours, to prosecute them with all revenge, that durst so affright the Kingdom, and affront the peace and tranquillity of the Commonwealth. Of this army, was Giles Lord Dawbney, the King's Chamberlain, made Lieutenant General, a man of no less wit than experience, of no less experience than hardiness, of no less hardiness than moderation and government. But see the changes of human life, and the mischiefs to which the best men and greatest Princes are subject, as if the Poet were again to cry out: Heu non est quic quam fidum: neque certa faelicit as: As he was marching forward with his forces, 
Arebellionin the west diverteth the army out of Scotland.  a strange innovation called him back again. For, as if Fortune meant to play the wanton with Perkin on the one side, and bring him (as weesay) into a fools paradise, and misfortune on the other side try the King's patience: A new rebellion in the West, had like to have been as a heavy burden on his shoulders, and set in combustion the whole Commonwealth. For when the Parliament was dissolved, and that Commissioners were speedily sent to gather in the money, this excande scens populus, to whom such taxes and impositions was a kind of drawing blood from their very life veins, began to rebel, especially the Cornish men, inhabiting the remotest parts of the Kingdom westward, who not only complained on their own penury and wants, as living in a barren and sterile soil, overcome with labour, watches and toils in the minerals, and getting a poor maintenance out of the caverns of the earth, with fearful endurances: but threatened the officers, denying the taxes, and began temeriously to speak of the King himself: yea, when there seemed by the justices & others in authority, a dam to be cast up against this fearful inundation, they desisted from womanish exclaims, lament, and ejulations, and fall inconsiderately to malicious calumniation, threatening the Council, and naming Thomas Morton Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sr. Reinold Brey, as principal directors & setters forward of these impositions against them, saying plainly, it was a shame, that a small incursion of the Scots, which was not only customary, but as soon extinguished as kindled, should raise such exactions, and incite the Kingdom to unsufferable turmoils, with a general war and tumultuous hurly burly: to which things, when the Commissioners would have gently answered, and honestly maintained the King's purposes and prarogatives, Thomas Flamock a Gentleman learned in the Laws, and Michael joseph a Blacksmith, took upon them the defence of the Commons, threatening without further reasoning the matter, both the receivers, and all such, whom they employed as inferior officers under them.  
By which occasion, according to that saying, Res vehemens multitudo, improbos cum habuerit praefectos: he became a monstrous head to these unruly bodies, exhorting the people to arm themselves, and not be afraid to follow them in this quarrel. For they intended neither hurt to any creature, 
●●mock and joseph Captains of the Rebels.  nor spoil to any place, but merely a reformation of the disorder, and correction on such persons, as were the authors of their grief and vexation, and when any seemed to impugn and reprove these seditious and unreasonable courses, affirming plainly, that (from all examples and times) treasons and commotions have ended with lamentable effusion of blood, both of the authors themselves, and many innocents made accessaries, through constrant and wicked instigation, they were called base dastards, cowards, fools, and lovers of ease and surquedry, more than renown, and their country's honour and liberty: so that what with shame of taunts and rebukes, and what with fear of the loss of their lives and goods, they united themselves to this outrageous company, and made up a strong party well armed, and too well instructed: for the Captains not only praised and extolled the hardiness of the people, but rewarded such as assisted and relieved the soldiers, whereby (after a general muster of 40000.) they came forward to Taunton, where they slew the Provost of Perin, principal Commissioner for the subsidy in those parts, and from thence to Wells, intending to go forward to London, where the King was resident, and such councillors as they maligned.  
O rabbiss inaudita! O wretched and abused people! that think of nothing but present rages, nor once admit of any providence, to consider of following punishments, what ever sudden events contrive, but in their disobedience against God▪ their Prince and Country, resemble a violent sea, a burning torrent, a tempestuous wind, all which (with extremity and impetuous force) spoil the trees, overrun and swallow up the lower ground, consume all things, and in the end leave the mischief to the wring of hands, crying of the people, & deprecations of the better sort, who impute such vengeance to the power and justice of God, that punisheth sins, & will not suffer disobedience & horrible villainies unrewarded. For never rebellion prevailed in their greatest forwardness, nor ended without unsufferable damages wrought by their unruliness, which rather tended to thefts, robberies, spoils and slaughters, than reformation or honest coercion of disorders. 
Men in authority.  As for their motives and excuses for such facinorous attempts, breaking out to find fault with men in authority, and audacious invections against the government: Alas, neither can they tell, what to demand, or what to redress, when it shall come to true deciding indeed. For a very confusion will hinder their resolutions, and not knowing wherein to proceed directly, ask indirectly that which may not be granted. As for the Governors themselves, let them be never so good, they shall be sure of enuyers, and finders of faults, let them be never so bad, they shall have flatterers and supporters; let them be indifferent, and the good which they do shall not be so well accepted, as the ●ad they procure maliciously taken: yea, remove whom you will, the persons may be changed, but the faults will remain, and so the Prince be pleased, and men's private humours satisfied, who regarded the Commonwealth, or helped a poor man for charity's sake: yet I must needs say, that many times honest Governors, instead of obedience have good will, and whosoever loveth his Country without collateral respects, may sit down with a safe conscience, but not unscandalized or maligned of some of his own rank. Therefore I would have all generous spirits, either to love virtue for virtues sake, once placed in authority, and (in despite of the world) stick close to the sides of religion and equity, though persecution and troubles do follow: or disclaim the affecting such transcendent places, allaying the thirst of ambition with a quiet potion of reposedness and contentment, and leaving the vanity of foppish observation to vain glorious fools, who are not only called so by God himself, but peradventure reputed so even by such as do them reverence, and fat themselves in the well soiled pastures of their government.  
But to our story.  
When the King was advertised of these troubles and exorbitant attempts, which gathered like a cloud, threa●ning a tempest round about him, and saw into what perplexity he was now detruded, having war on every side, he compared himself to a man rising in a dark night, and going into an●vndrest room, hitting his head against that post, running against that table, meeting with his shins such a stool or form, and staggering up and down against one block or another: and so stood (for the time) amazed, not knowing what to say, what to do, or with whom to find fault, till with a kind of sigh he vented out this saying of Euripides. 
— Similes sumus nautis, 
Eurip. H●ra●lida.  qui  
Tempestatis cum effugerint saevam vim,  
Prope terram appulerunt, deinde à terra  
Flaminibus pelluntur in pontum iterum.  But to complain of God or men, would rather aggravate his grief, then procure his redress, and therefore although he well knew that Princes were the tennis-bals of fortune, and subjects of mutability and alteration, whereas he must submit to the divine providence: yet, he also understood there was no iying still in this deploration without the ordinary practice of such remedies as God had appointed in their several workings, and therefore prepared his Armies either to bring this disturbance to a quiet atonement, or whip the Rebellion with the scourges of fire and sword: But when again he considered the Scots were his enemies, and must be suppressed; the Western Rebels were at his doors and must be repugned: France was wavering, and must be looked unto: Flaunders threatening, and must be appeased: Perkin Warbeck lay at advantage, and must be watched; yea, over-watched as indeed the principal firebrand, that set all this on a blaze, and in the midst of these hurly-burlies came over Ambassadors from the French King, who must be answered; he grew somewhat perplexed again, till shaking off all the hindrances of his amazement, he fell to practise and orderly performances.  
Whereupon he called his Council together, & they without any great difficulty determined the business in this manner: To attend upon the Scots, 
The Armies in England raised.  Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey, a puissant and politic Captain, prisoner at the overthrow of King Rich. the 3. and within two years set at liberty, and after john Lord Dinham made high treasurer of England, was appointed to muster the forces of the County Palatine of Durham, & the borders round about, & so attend that service. To repress the Western Rebels, the Lord Dawbney with his whole power prepared for Scotland, was recalled to march against them wheresoever they encamped; to look unto France; Calais and Guisnes with the Garrisons were much augmented, and provided for. To prevent Flaunders, the Navy was prepared, & the Staples for the Merchants settled: To keep Warbeck from coming into England & joining with the Rebels, the whole nobility combined themselves, especially the earl of Essex, & Lord Montioy; who came of purpose to London to offer their service to his Majesty, & so all places were looked vnt● with a vigilant eye, & manned with strength of soldiers: and to answer the Ambassadors of Charles the French King, he sent honourable persons to receive them and convey them to Dover, and there a while to detain them, till some of these tumults and rebellions were extinguished and suppressed, which indeed was so wisely and politicly handled, that none of the Ambassadors were troubled so much as with the rumours of these commotions.  
But see the horror of despite, and with what a contracted brow misfortune can look upon Kings themselves: so that a man may well say to this Rebellion, as Ovid did to Cupid in his first book of Elegies: 
Sunt tibi magna puer, nimiumque potentia regna:  
Cur opus affectas ambitiose nowm:   
For, as these Rebels and Cornish men departed from Wells, they entertained for their chief Captain james Twichet Lord Audley, 
Lord Audley Captain of the Rebels.  whose countenance and authority in the Country strengthened them much. For, by this occasion they went without intermission to Salisbury, and so to Winchester, and from thence into Kent, hoping for further and further assistance; but they were deceived in their expectation: For the Earl of Kent, George Lord Aburgaue●y, john Brooke Lord Cobham, Sir Edward Poinings, Sir Richard Guildford, Sir Thomas Burchier, Sir john Pechy, William Scot, and many others with a well mustered army were not only ready to defend their Country from all mischief and destruction: but determined to offend them in their facinorous attempts, and prejudicial intrusion, which loyalty somewhat rebated the forwardness of the Cornish-men, and they began to suspect themselves, being so far from their Country, and remote from any supply. Notwithstanding, loath to dishearten their spirits with any depressing humour, they cast away all doubts, and presuming on their own strength and forces, as also animated by their leaders and conductors, they were now as much exasperated against the Kentish-men for deceiving their assistance, 
Black-Heath●ield.  as against the King for usurping their liberty: swearing revenge against both: In which ●age and heat of repining, they came as far as Blackheath within four mile of London, and took a field in an arrogant overdaring manner on the top of an hill, supposing all things consortable to their arrogancy and deceivable hopes, because as yet they passed and repassed without fight, or strong encounters: But alas, Blanditiae Comites tibi erunt terrórque furorque and they were abused with a vale of ignorance and covering of obstinacy: For the King disposed of his affairs with great policy and circumspection, not determining to give them battle, or exagitate them at all till he had them far from their proper dwellings and flattering friends, till they were in despair of relief and wearied with long and tedious journeys, till their treasure was spent, their victual consumed and provision failing, till their company dropped from them like rotten hangings on a moistened wall, and their whole designs and expectation quite disannulled; and then, when he imagined their souls vexed with the terror of a guilty conscience, their fury assuaged with compunction and penitency, their spirits daunted with repentance and remorse, and all their army affrighted with madness and doubtful extacies, would he set upon them, and in some convenient place cirumvent and environ them to his own best advantage, and their irrecoverable damage and destruction.  
As for the City of London: 
London.  I cannot but remember and compare it unto Rome, both when Hannibal passed the Alps to threaten the Monarchy being yet far off himself, and also Marius and Silla covered her fields with armed men, and trampled on the bosom of their Country with ambitious steps, and cruel feet of usurpation: then spoke the Poet in this manner, 
— Quoties Romam fortuna lacessit, 
Lucan. lib. 1.   
H●c iter est bellis, gomitu ●ic quisque latenti,  
Non aufu●timuisse palam: Vox nulla dolori  
Credita:—  There was chaining the streets, shutting up the shops, making strong the gates, doubling the watches, hiding their treasure, cries, fears, terrors, and every one more disturbed for the loss of his private goods, than the encumbrances of the Commonwealth. Here was mustering of soldiers, watching all day in armour, staccadoing the river, filling the streets with companies of horse and foot, cutting down the Bridge, locking up their doors, shutting the Gates, and what else named before, to be put in practice with advantage of many pieces of ordnance both in Southwark and the Suburbs, and the strength of the Tower which they knew was reserved for the King himself. Notwithstanding, such was the instability of the Citizens being a little disturbed from their quietness and rest, their dainties and ease, their banquet and meetings, their feasts and sumptuousness, their pastimes and pleasures, that they rather complained on the King and his Council for the first occasion of these tumults, than exprobrated the rebel for ingratitude and disobedience: But the King without further disputing against their peevishness, or laying open the abuses of such refractory people, delivered them of this fear: For he presently sent john Earl of Oxford, Henry Burchier Earl of Essex, Edmond de la Poole Earl of Suffolk, Sir Rice ap Thomas, Humphrey Stanley, and other worthy martial men, with a company of Archers and horsemen to environ the Hill where the Rebels were encamped round about: Himself with the main battle and forces of the City, much ordnance and great provision took St. George's field; where, on a Friday at night he quartered himself, and on the Saturday very early in the morning he posted Lord Dawbney to Dertford, who by break of day got the bridge of the Strand in despite of resisters, which manfully defended it a while, shooting arrows a full yard long, and demeaning themselves like scholarly and eloquent Orators, pleading for the time in a bad cause with good words, and handling an ill matter tootoo well. From thence he went courageously against the whole company, and what with the former Earls assaulting them on the one side▪ and his own charges on the other side, as knowing how the King's business stood to make an end of the war, the battle began apace, and not a man but prepared himself to fight it out, till at last the Lord Dawbney engaged himself so far, that he was taken prisoner: but whether for fear, or through his own wit and policy, 
The Rebels overcome.  they quickly released him, and he as quickly dispatched the matter, and made an end of the war: For he put them all to flight, so that a man may well say unto them: 
— Via nulla sa●utis,  
Non fuga, non virtus, vix spes quoque mortis honestae:  and I may truly report of the contrary: never was a battle so well fought and so quickly determined. For before the King was ready to go to dinner, there were slain two thousand Rebels, and many more taken prisoners, the rest hardly escaped home; who for all their defeature, and uncomfortable news to the people, were rather accelerated to revenge their companions wrongs, then exanimated from further attempts, or seemed grieved at the King and Country's molestation, showing sad looks, but stomachous hearts, and so remained intoxicated in their brains, and ready upon every occasion to a new rebellion, as you shall hear hereafter.  
When this battle was ended, and so delicately contrived (for the King lost not above four hundred men) some imputed it to the King's policy, who appointing the same on Monday, by way of anticipation fell upon them on Saturday, and so taking them somewhat unprovided, had the fortune to prevail and thrive in his advantage: Such as were taken and apprehended had their pardon, except the principal and firebrands of the mischief: For the Lord Audeley was drawn from Newgate to the Tower-Hill in a Coat of his own arms painted upon paper reversed and all to torn, 
Lord Audeley executed.  and there beheaded the 28. of june. Thomas Flamoch and Michael joseph were executed after the order of Traitors, and their quarters sent into Cornwall for the terrifying of the people, some were dispatched at sundry Towns as they deserved: amongst whom the Smith, and divers others of his immodest friends had no excuse to make for this rebellion, but whether they prevailed or no, they were sure to be registered to eternity for daring to do somewhat in behalf of their Country's liberty, and bidding battle to Kings and Princes at their Palace Gates, and before the City Walls, even London itself, that great City, the Chamber for their treasury, and strength of their royalty: which makes me remember a saying of Lucan: 
— Said me velsola tueri  
Fama potest rerum, 
Lib. 8.  toto quas gessimus orb,  
Et nomen, quod mundus amat:—  
And in another place:  
— Quid plura feram? 
Lib. 9  tum nomina tanto  
invenies operi, vel famam consule mundi:  and this was the end of the twelfth year.  
In this time you must know, that the King of Scots lay not idle, but merely upon supposition of what would follow, 
The King of Scots prepareth against England.  prepareth himself, nor was so ill befriended, but he had secret intelligences of all King Henry's purposes, and intendments, whereupon he enlarged his Army, barricadoed his passages, entrenched and fortified the holds, kept good Watch and Ward, and stood on the pinnacles of a high presumption to encounter with the proudest forces of England; yea, to give defiance if need were to the King himself. Notwithstanding, he now lay a while only at defence, watching with what ward the English would break upon him, and wondering at my Lord Dawbneis' retraction, and why he came not forward as his espials had advertised: but when he understood of the Western rebellion, he then conjectured the truth, and a while reposed himself, till a Messenger of these Western men came unto Perkin and proffered their obedience and endeavours, if he would come and join his Army with theirs, and so as their Prince and Captain, revenge there wrongs: this was motioned to King Ieames, who for all he confessed, that if they would join with the Cornish men, there might be a gate open indeed to prevail, and walk in the fields of Victory: yet he would by no means adventure his people so far, and confessed plainly he wanted ships for transporting so great an Army into those parts: Only, because he would be doing to please the supposed Prince, he meant to take this opportunity of the King of England's disturbance, and once again adventure into his territories, 
King of Scots besiegeth Norham Castle.  and so with a sufficient preparation he attempted the Castle of Norrham standing upon the River of Twede, dividing Scotland and England. But Richard Fox Bishop of Durham, a man of great learning, courage, experience and fidelity, suspecting as much, had well stored and fortified the same, and was in it with such power, munition and provision as he was able to raise, sending the King word of the siege, and inviting the Earl of Surrey to come to his rescue with all expedition: The Earl was mustering of men in Yorkshire, when this news extended itself, and like a worthy servitor hastened his journey the rather, and so with twelve Earls and Barons of the North Country, 
The Earl of Surrey raiseth the siege.  one hundred Knights and Gentlemen of name, and twenty thousand Soldiers well ordered, and armed he came to raise the siege, in which this brave Prelate was so engaged: Besides, he furnished a handsome Navy at Sea, whereof the Lord Brooke was Admiral to give their attendance whatsoever should chance: But when the King of Scots and his counterfeit Duke of York had full and certain notice of the Earl of Surreis approach, and that the Lord Dawbenies army was also integrat and unbroken, yea, ready to march forward as a second to the former, they thought it better to retire with security, then to tarry the adventure with certainty of loss, if not hazard both of life and honour, and so by a voluntary consent they raised their camp and returned under colour of commiseration of the people whom they knew in the best war, must be subjecteth to slaughter or captivity: and to this purpose they could yield a reason out of our Poet to certain spirits, that wondered at their affrightings and drawings back, seeing no peril apparent, nor hearing of any steadfast reports, concerning a more forcible enemy, and so calling for a book reading to them this le●●on of satisfaction. 
— 
Lucan. lib. 7.  Potuit tibi Vulnere nullo  
Stare labour belli, potuit fine caede subactum,  
Captiwmque ducem violatae tradere paci?  
Qui● furor ● Coeci scelerum, Civilia bella  
Gesturimetuunt, ne non cum sanguine vincant?   
This answer of the Kings did rather harm then good to poor Perkin. For, they perceived the King was weary of this war, and loath to take his part any longer, and so they rested a while displeasingly pleased.  
But the truth was the Earl of Surrey was so enraged at the bragging and overdaring Prince, that he followed him at the heels, and in revenge of many mischiefs perpetrated by him in such audacious manner, 
The Earl of Surrey entereth Scotland.  he entered Scotland, defaced the Castle of Cundrestins, devasted the Tower Hedonha●●, undermined the Tower of Edington, overthrew the Pile of Fulden, and sent Norey King of Arms to the Captain of Haiton Castle, the strongest fortification between Barwick and Edinborough to deliver the same, which he absolutely denied, until the worthy General set himself down before it, made his approaches, and cast up a strong rampart or battery for the expugnation, prevailing so far, that at last it was surrendered, their lives only saved: who were no soooner departed according to the conditions, but our General quite overthrew and demolished the same.  
The King of Scots was within a mile of the siege, and yet durst not rescue the same, only by way of ostentation, he sent Marchemount and another Herald to the Earl of Surrey with a kind of defiance, and challenge either to encounter with him Army to Army, or body to body; conditionally, that if the victory fall to his majesty, the Earl should deliver and surrender for his ransom the Town● of Berwick with the fish-garthes of the same, if the Earl again were Victor, the King would pay 1000 pound sterling for his redemption. 
The King of Scots offereth a private combat to the Earl of Surrey.  The noble General welcomed these Heralds, and like a courageous, yet understanding Captain: quickly answered all the points of their commission: First, he was ready to abide the battle in the plain field, and would if he pleased for the same purpose lay open the trenches, and make the passages so easy, that victory should have comfort of coming amongst them. Secondly, he thought himself much honoured, that so noble a Prince and great a King, would vouchsafe to descend to so low a dregree of contention, as a private duello with him, for which he would not only repute him heroic and magnanimous: but setting his loyalty to his Prince aside, perform all good offices, which belonged to the sweet contract of a perpetual amity, if it were possible, between them. Thirdly, for the town of Berwick, it was none of his, but the King his masters, which he would not so much as conjecture upon without his consent and advice, as he himself might well judge in the affairs of Princes, what was to be done. Fourthly, he thought his own life worth all the towns of the world, and so would gladly hazard himself; yea, was proud (as he said before) that so great a Majesty would parallel him in such a kind, only he desired pardon for a little vainglory, that if he conquered the King, he would release him freely; if the King vanquished him, he would either yield him his life, or pay such a tribute and competency, as is befitting the state and degree of an Earl, to all which he was the rather induced, because he was confident, that Causa jubet melior superos sperare secundos:  
But it should seem, these affronts were mere flourishes: For neither battle, nor combat, nor any enterprise worth the recording was put in practice, although the English forces had lain long in the Country to the same purpose: whereupon the Lord General, loath to spend his time so inconsiderately, and somewhat wearied with the distemperature of the Climate, and unseasonableness of 〈◊〉 weather, the Country affording nothing but mists and fogs at this time of the year, raised his camp, and retired to Berwick. But when the truth was further enlarged, the King commauded him so to do by his letters of private intelligence. For now came a time, in which the windows of heaven seemed to open, and the God of mercy thought to recompense his patience and goodness, with a quiet end of his troubles, and happy success in his enterprises, which fell out upon this occasion.  
Ferdinando King of Spain, 
The King of Spain would marry his daughter to Prince Arthur.  and Elizabeth his wife, having a purpose to marry their daughter Lady Katherine, to Arthur Prince of Wales, and very loath that any content on between the King of Scots, whom he much favoured, and the King of England, whom he highly respected, should be (as it were) a wall of partition between their projected amity and royal affinity, especially that either probability of an interest, or counterfeit device of the issue-male from the house of York, should cast any blocks or hindrances in the way of these pretences, he most providently sent one Peter Hialos a man of great learning, experience, and prudency, as an Ambassador to james King of Scots by way of mediation to contract a league of peace and absolute amity between the King of England and him, 
An Ambassador to the King of Scots from Spain.  who proceeded with such fair conditions, and prevailed so well in his proposed message, that he perceived a glimmering sunshine of this peace a far off, but that there were certain thickening clouds of mischief and disturbance, which by some effectual heat from the King of England's breath must be removed and dissipated, and therefore he wrote to King Henry, that if it would please him to send some worthy man to be his associate in this enterprise, he persuaded himself, that an honest oratory would quickly conclude the profitable articles of amity. For the Poet had assured him, and he found by some experience, that Addidit invalidae rebus facundia causae, And for an entrance into 〈◊〉 same, he assured the King, that there was g●●at likelihood to lay down the bloody colours of defiance, and flourish the pleasant ensigns of tranquillity. For the King of Scots had already protested, he was only emulous of King Henry's virtues, and not maligned or despited his person, and for Perkins title he made it a matter of conscience and charity. For he knew him the right heir, if he were the right creature, and the Clergy warranted the actions as meritorious. The better sort disclaimed all tyrannous prosecutions: For except their obedience to the King, they spent and consumed their estates, and only returned with tears and lamentations for the lo●se of 〈◊〉 friends. The inferior sort imputed all to the superior commands, and as for the formidable effects and bloody issue of war, it was only the chance and fortune of encounters, the action of fury, and the vengeance or curse appropriate to dissensions, according to that worthy author of excellent sentences and proprositions.  
— 
Lucan lib. 7.  Sed mentibus unum  
Hoc solamen erat, quod votiturba nefandi  
Conscia, quae patrum i●gulos, quae pector a fratrum  
Sperabat, gaudet monstris, mentisque tumustu,  
Atque omen scelerum subitos putat esse furores.  
Whereupon King Henry boasting of the character of Prince of peace, so that he might not be branded with ignominy of baseness, pusillanimity and dishonour, quickly consented to such agreement, and for the same purpose sent Richard Fox Bishop of Durrham, who stilllay in the banttered Castle of Norrham, as his chief Commissioner, 
An Ambassador from Engl●nd to Scotland.  who accordingly associated himself with Peter Hialos, at the town of jedworth in Scotland, whither the Ambassador from King james likewise repaired. here were many matters disputed upon, many conditions laid open, many difficulties raised, many grievances urged, and many conclusions argued: but because they failed in the main point, nothing was determined. For the King of England required Perkin Warbeck to be delivered into his hands, as the principal fountain of this venomous stream, the chief ●ccasion of his unquietness, the perturber of his Realm, the seducer of his subjects, and the author of many rebeilions. But the King of Scots (like a Prince indeed) would not buy his peace with the blood of Innocents', especially a man coming to him for succour, showing all the marks of a distressed and abused Prince, allied unto him by marriage, commended by the Emperor, assisted by the Duchess of Burgundy, & in himself of fair demeanour, sweet behaviour, and of a most royal and well esteemed spirit. Therefore (I say) he would by no means betray him into the hands of his enemies, that was so long admitted into the bosom of his friends, nor should it be said, that in any such degree, for any worldly respect whatsoever, King james of Scotland would be base or perfidious, which he had learned from the example and punishment of Prusias King of Bythinia, whom the Romans deposed, for consenting to betray Hannibal into their hands, though they had promised large rewards, and threatened severe vengeance.  
The Commissioners answered directly, that they intended not by way of defamation, or contumelious discovery of the vanity of the man, or impossibility of his business to make him odious or corroborate their own purposes, by the destruction of so silly a creature, or discrediting so poor a business: but merely to show the truth, and unfold the secrets of the deceit, that such a Prince as King james, might not be colluded with shadows and apparitions, but orderly drawn into this holy and general league, wherein both Emperor, France and Spain desireth a combination of amity with England, only there wanted himself to make the number complete, that the horn of Achelous might be sent from nation to nation, from kingdom to kingdom. For I can assure you, the Merchants of England have been received into Antwerp with general procession, the Emperor is pleased with this combination, the King of Spain pretendeth a marriage, the King of France endeavoureth a league, and all the Princes of Europe seek after a true confirmation of quietness. Therefore once again, be not an enemy to the good of all Christendom, nor so adverse to this holy combination, that the world shall rather esteem you wilful and prejudicate, then wise and considerate.  
Notwithstanding all this forcible and effectual intimation, the King of Scots would not consent to deliver Perkin 
The King of Scots will not deliver Perkin.  upon any condition, but as he came to him for refuge, he should depart untouched, and not by his occasion be in worse case than the bruit beasts, or vildest condition of men, as he had learned long since out of that ancient Tragedian: 
Habet confugium b●llua quidem petram, 
Eurip supplice●.   
Seruiverò are as deorum: civit as verò ad civitatem  
Fugit, calamitatem passa: Rerum enim humanarum  
Non est quicquam perpetuò beatum.  Yet with much ado he was brought to a truce for certain years, and condescended to this, that Perkin should be no longer succoured, harboured, or maintained by him, or in his territories and dominions: with which answer, and orderly ratification of the same, the Ambassadors departed, the Armies retired, the Soldiers discharged, the King of England satisfied, the Orators of France (who from Do●er had audience at London about the same purpose) rewarded, and of all others the worthy Peter Hialos, as principal workman in this intricate business, liberally and bountifully recompensed.  
Only poor Perkin, whose glorious meteor began now to be exhaled, seemed disconsolate and examinated at this news and determination, especially when King james began to expostulate and reason the matter with him. First, from a repetition of the benefits and favours received by his Princely liberality and gentleness. Secondly, from his consanguinity, in marrying his kinswoman upon dangerous hopes and trivial adventures. Thirdly, from his many trials of sundry conflicts in England, proving all his promise●winde and smoke, and his best enterprises trivial & fanatical. Fourthly, upon the now combination of amity with all the Princes of Europe, which could not be done without the King of England's consent and agreement. Fiftly, upon the fatherly regard of his Country, which had need have some breathing time of ease and rest, and must questionless take a love day of consolation and desisting from turmoils. Last of all, from the care of the Religion & Mother-Church, unto whose obedience and regard he was now absolutely sworn: Therefore he desired him to take some other course, and depart out of his Realm. For (as he heard) he was now interessed in the confederacy of the peace of Christendom, 
Perkin discharged out of Scotland.  and unless he should be a perjured and perfidious Prince, he could in no sort infringe the conditions, nor break the truce combined by a firm and unseparable adjuration.  
When Perkin had heard him out, although every word was worse than the croaking of some night-raven or screech-owl, and the amazement (for the time) might have much disabled him: yet loath to discredit his cause by any demisnesse or pusillanimity, and seeing all answers were superfluous, and the very messengers of despair and disconsolation, he raised himself with some outward cheerfulness, and as well to avoid ingratitude toward so great a Benefactor, as to countenance himself and his business, he thus casting away all fear and abashing timidity, replied.  
Most worthy Prince: Mortal est quod quaeris opus: mihi fama perennis. And therefore God forbid, that my commorance in your Court and Kingdom, or the weakened cause of my attempts should prove disaduantagious o● ominous unto you, both in regard of the many favours your princeliness hath heaped upon me undeserved, and mine own willingness not to be too too troublesome or offensive unto so benign a Majesty, which rather than it should be hazarded for my sake without a cheerful and liberal willingness, the fame and glory of the enterprise shall be sufficient for me, and I will not only disclaim my right and interest in the Kingdom of England, my lawful inheritance by descent: but pour out myself, and spend my life most profusely for your sake. Only this I must entreat at your hands, to give me leave to rig and calcke up my ships, and gather together that dispersed company I have, or such as would willingly and voluntarily attend me. Which seeming but reasonable, and no way repugning the former agreement with the Ambassadors, was quickly condescended unto: so with many gifts, 
Perkin retorne●h into Ireland.  and royal furniture for his wife and family, he took his leave & sailed back the same way he came into Ireland, determining (as the last anchor-hold of his fortunes) either to unite himself with the Cornish-men, whom he knew not fully appeased, or to retire to Lady Margaret his most worthy aunt and faithful coadiutrix.  
He had not been long in Ireland, but his false fortune began once again to play with him, as flattering him with assured confidence and warrantise, that the Western men would welcome and entertain him, from whom he had this notice: that they could not forget their former injuries and slaughters, nor determined a settled and true obedience to the Lancastrian family: whereupon because something must be done, or else he should be for ever discredited: or that God in his justice derided all su●h enterprises to scorn: or else in his mercy would give King Henry a breathing time to set his other Princely qualities of wisdom, magnificence, quietness, religion, charity, government and policy on work: he sailed out of Ireland with five small Ships, and two hundred men, his wife and attendants, his substance and wealth, and in a word all that he had.  
But when he was to confer about his landing and setting forward his designs, 
Perkin ec●meth into England.  he had such poor Councillors, as a man would smile at for pity, rather than laugh at for scorn. For his principal friends were now john Heron a mercer, and bankrupt. john of Water sometimes Mayor of Cork: Richard Sketon a Tailor: and john Astley a Scrivener: men in general defame for dishonest actions, and in particular reproach, for understanding nothing but what consorted to their own wilfulness, and outrageous appetites; of whom I may say, as Ovid complains in another case in his Elegies: 
Non bene conducti vendunt periuria testes,  
Non bene s●lecti judicis arca patet:  With this crew about the month of September he landed at a place called Bodnam, and there so solicited, and excited the multitude and wau●ing people, that when they heard him proclaimed Richard the fourth, as the indubitat son of Edward the fourth, whom the Duke of Gloucester, or if you will, Richard the Tyrant determined to murder, but that he escaped by the providence of God, they flocked unto him to the number of 4000 and according to the nature of children running after new-fangled toys or painted pictures: submitted to his princeliness, and swore with all allegiance to maintain his dignity & royalty: with which confidence & company after they had taken the musters of his Army, and concluded to get some strong Towns into their possession, that so they might not only augment their forces, but still have places of supportation and refuge to retire unto, they went directly to Excester, 
Perkin besiegeth Excester.  and besieged it. But because they wanted ordnance to make a battery, and other provision to raise their trenches, and approaches, or indeed if you will, were ignorant of martial discipline, and the secrets of a true Soldiers profession, they spent the more time against the Gates, and endeavoured nothing but a forcible entrance, assaulting the same with great pieces of timber like the Roman rams, crows of iron, firebrands, and impetuous violence of great stones cast at ther●, and amongst them. But the Citizens manfully defended themselves, and held it out to their perpetual fame, letting over the walls in secret places divers in baskets with strong cords to post to the king & acquaint him with their distress. In a mean while seeing a fire made under their Gates, and that the enemy's fury increased, they suspected themselves, & had no other shift but to put force to force, & with one fire extinguish, or if you will devour another, and so they caused great store of faggots & timber combustible to be brought close to the posterns and greater gates, where the mischief began, and set the same on fire, which increased with a filthy smoke, and smother, and at last burst out into a flame and blazes, so that neither the enemies could come in, nor Citizens go out: but all were compelled to desist from that work, and apply themselves to more new and necessary labours. For the Rebels assaulted the most weak and broken places of the Wall, and the Citizens ran to the expulsions, and repaired the breaches as fast as they were made; beside, they had leisure to cast up great trenches under their Gates, and by strong barks rampering the same made them more difficult passages then before: The walls were mightily and impetuously assaulted, but the worthy Citizens defended them with that courage, and countermanding: that they slew above two hundred Soldiers in that fury, and behaved themselves as if they determined to obtain a perpetual name of renown, and unmatchable Trophy of honour: so that I may well and briefly say of them: 
— Serpens, sitis, ardour, arenae  
Dulcia virtuti: gaudet patientia duris.   
When Perkin and his associates saw so strong and strange opposition, 
Perkin discomfited leaveth Excester and departeth to Taunton.  they seemed both amazed and defatigated at the same, whereupon between rage and despair, he retired his lousy and distressed Army to the next great Town called Taunton, where he mustered them a new, but found a great want of his company: For many of his desperate followers were slain and cut off: many of the honester and civiler sort, seeing the Town of Excester so well maintained, and that very few resorted unto him, contrary to his former flourishes, and ostentation; fell from him, and retired themselves home: many weary of the wars, and conjecturing an impossibility, to remove a king so firmly established, or terrified with the punishment impending on Treason, and presumptuous rebellion, left him to his fortunes, and many politicly forecasting for the worst, seeing not one of the nobility or better sort to afford a helping hand to the lifting up of this frame, were contented to dispense with former protestations, and so provided for themselves, whereby (as I said) as if the proverb were verified: Non habet eventus sordid a praeda bonos. he came short of his reckoning, and the Items of his accounts went much curtailed of their former length and computation.  
But in truth the posts of the Country brought comfortable tidings of the King's Army approaching, of which the Lord Daubney, 
The Lord Dawbney general of the King's force●.  a fortunate and successful man in all his enterprises, was General: yet in the mean while had Lord Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire, Lord William his son, Sir Edmund Carey, Sir Thomas Trenchard, Sir William Courtney, Sir Thomas Fulford, Sir john Hatwell, Sir john Croker, Walter Courtney, Peter Egecomb, William Sentnaure, and divers others, brought forward the forces of the country, to raise the siege of Exester, which not only animated and encouraged the Citizens, but rebated the fury of the contrary, and diverted them from that sore and outrageous manner of assaulting the walls, where in the last onset, the noble Earl, with divers others, were hurt with arrows; he wounded in the arm, and the rest in several parts of their bodies, but very few slain: And so with much ado, this famous and honour-thirsting City, with the honest Inhabitants of the same, were delivered and relieved.  
By this time, the royal standards of King Henry were advanced in sight of the City, 
The King cometh forward with his Army.  and the d●ums beat up their accustomed marches, to the joy and fullness of contertment, both of the town and Country: But when the King was adu●rtized of their returning to Taunton, he hasted thither: But first he welcomed Edward Duke of Buckingham, a young, noble, and well regarded Prince, in whose company came along an hundred Knights and Esquires of special name and credit in their countries, amongst whom Sir Alexander Bainham, Sir M●urice Barckley, Sir Robert Fame, Sir john Gmise, Sir Robert Points, Sir Henry Vernon, Sir john mortimer, Sir Thomas Tremaile, Sir Edward Sutton, Sir Amias Paulet, Sir john Bickwell, Sir john Sapcotes, Sir Hugh Lutter●l, and Sir Francis Cheny were principal. O what a glorious thing it is, 
The Duke of Buckingham.  to see a Noble man either stand by the chair of th● Prince, as a Court star and Supportation: that (at last) the King may ask, what shall be done to the man he means to honour: or move in his own orb, that is the love and credit of his Country, firm to the State, and graceful in all his actions and proceedings, still having a care to the government of the people, and an eye to the dignity of the Commonwealth: so shall his fame be extended abroad, and his renown enlarged at home, which makes me remember the description of Capaneus in that ancient Euripides, 
Eurip. suppl●ce●.  who may be a Precedent to all young Noblemen, yeal wish with mine heart, that such as are not too presumptuous on their own gifts of nature and education, would take the book in hand, and make use both of precept and example, for the illustration of their Honours, and administration of their lives: the Poet is somewhat large and more pleasant in the Greek then the Latin. He thus beginneth.  
Cappaneus hic est, cui facultas vivendi erat abundans, 
〈…〉   
Minimè verò divitijs insolens erat: magnitudinem verò animi  
Non maiorem habebat, quam pauper vir,  
Fugiens splendido victu, quicunque intumesceret minis,  
Sufficientia vili pendens: Non enim in pastu ventris  
Virtutem esse, mediocria verò sufficere dicebat: etc.  
But to our story again:  
When the King approached the town of Tawnton, whether out of policy not to hazard the whole army at once, or out of suspicion of some revolters in his company, or humbly considering there might be a turning of Fortune's wheel, as still Rota fortunae in Gyro in the encounters of a battle, or harping upon some stratagem and enterprise, as providently forecasting both the worst and best, which might chance: He sent before him Robert Lord Brooke the Steward of his house, Giles Lord Daubney, and Sr. Rice app Thomas to give the onset and begin the battle, that he with the rest, as a strong Ambuscado and relief, might come to the rescue, if they were wearied and de●atigated. But little needed this policy, or procrastination: For poor Perkin (desperate of his fortunes, and quite exanimated to encounter with the Kingsforces, in so warlike a manner and fearful a preparation, contrary to all the motives of a true Roman Honour, and without knowledge of his army) about midnight, 
Perkin desperate of all relief taketh Sauctuary.  accompanied with sixty horse, departed in wonderful celerity to a Sanctuary town besides Southampton called Be●dly, where he, john Heron, Thomas a Water, and others, registered themselves as persons privileged.  
O what a God art thou! that canst one way humble settled Princes, with the very shadows of peril and danger, making them confess their frailty and ticklish estate of mortality, by the several encumbrances and mischiefs, to which they are subject: and another way confound the mightiest projects, and annihilate their enterprises, turning all actions and mountains of pride, sedition, conspiracies and ambition, to powder and dust, and then blowing it away like smoke and vapour: and another way protect the right of the innocent and distressed, sending remedy and comfort, when they least think of it, or know to help and advance themselves: and another way whip with the rods of vengeance, the frenetical and vain multitude, who know nothing, but rudeness and clamorous outcries, nor practise any thing but undecencies and outragiousness: so that we may well say: 
O jupiter, cur name miser's sapere dicunt  
Homines! ex te enim pendemus, 
Eurip. supplice●.   
Agimusque ea, qua tu volveris.  
O nihili homines!  
Qui arcum extendentes tanquam ultra articulum,  
Et iure vitque mala patientes multa,  
Amicis non quidem creditis sed ipsis rerum eventibus▪ etc.   
When King Henry knew that Perkin was fled, and departed from his camp, 
The Lord Daubney sent after Perkin.  he sent the Lord Daubney with five hundred horse, to intercept him: but he was lodged before they came, although most of his company were surprised and taken, who as miserable caitiffs and poor wretched delinquents were presented to his Majesty: But when the residue of this fearful and staggering army, could neither understand what was become of their General, nor see their accustomed Pennons and Ancients, nor their quarters so well ordered, as was the manner of Soldiers, nor their companies so cheerful and well heartened, they knew not what to say, or to do, some supposing he was fraudulently slain, some suspecting he was traitorously fled, some reporting the manifestation of his deceit, some wondering at the strangeness of his proceedings, in that he had so miraculously begun, and presumptuously prosecuted such a dangerous work: some exclaiming upon the simplicity of the matter, that built upon no better grounds then vain hopes and presumptuous titles: some cursing themselves, that they had so far engaged their loyalties against their Sovereign Lord and King: some continuing in their rancorous malice, swore nothing but revenge, and obstinacy: and some never to be reclaimed, even when their forces failed, cried out to go forward, railing at the misfortune of their business, that they must now fail, when they were ready to pull down the Town walls with their hands: Yet when they were assured of his cowardly flight and base pusillanimity, the common fear, common mischief, and common danger, 
The Army of Perkin submitteth to the King without fight.  made them cast away their armour, and submit to the King, to whom though they came with affrighted countenances, and venomous hearts, sad looks and little repentance, curses in their souls, and promises of faith, loyalty and obedience, out of their mouths: yet did the King entertain them with all cheerfulness, and acceptable comfort, as the greatest benefit which God could at that time bestow upon him, nor disputing of their hypocrisy, nor determining by more narrow searches, or artificial incantations to try out the depth, and search the bottom of their resolutions.  
Thus as a conqueror without manslaughter and effusion of blood, 
The King returns to Ex●ester.  he road triumphantly into the City of Excester, and knowing Praemium and Poena to be the mastering curbs of all the things in the World, not only praised and applauded the Citizens: but opened the Treasure house of reward, and honour amongst them, giving some presents, advancing others to the order of knighthood, granting many petitions, according to the worthy condition of a Prince, and the full corroboration of their obedience: Then proceeded he to some exemplary punishment of divers refractory Cornish-men, whom their own companies accused, as Delinquents, and the Majesty of the government would not endure without correction.  
But all this was nothing in comparison of that which followed: For his horsemen prosecuted the chase so diligently and honestly, that they pursued the Lady Katherine Gourden wife to this Perkin, 
Perkins Wife taken.  even to Michael's Mount; who, notwithstanding, had she not been betrayed by some of her own followers, might have escaped: For transhaping herself into one of her servants habits, she had gone quite away to her ships: But that some pitying the distress of the King, and turmoils of the Kingdom; and perceiving the end of the war and pacification of these troubles to depend upon her surprising, would by no means give way unto new disturbances, but took her and presented her to the King's Commissioners: what should I say, when she herself said nothing, but perceiving them Gentlemen of worth with Hipsiphile to jason, she cried out. Sieves nobilitas, generosaque nominatangunt. I know you will use me like yourselves, and understand I am a Prince every way, so they gave her leave to adorn herself, and brought her like a bondswoman and captive to the King, who wondering at her beauty and attractive behaviour, lifted up his hands to Heaven in her behalf to see so great a worth betrayed to fanatical hopes, and frenetical deceit, thanking God for himself, that he had such a Trophy of his endurances and victories in his hands, nor was the Emperor Aurelius more proud of Zenobia, than he rejoiced in this adventure: some say he fantasied her Person himself, and kept her near unto him, as his choicest delight; yea, so doted on her perfections, that he forgot all other things, than the contentment, which he received by her, insomuch that many dared to libel against him with that saying of Deianira to Hercules. Quem nunquam juno, seriesque immensa laborum fregerit, huic Iolen imposuisse jugum: Some report, he durst not let her marry for fear of ambitious tumours in such, as could attain to such a fortune: Some confirm, that she was of that greatness of spirit, that she scorned all others in regard of herself, both by the privilege of her birthright, and the possibility of her greatness. Howsoever, he entreated her most honourably and amiably (such a power hath beauty and comeliness ever in distress) and sent her to the Queen so majestically attended, as if she had been a Queen indeed.  
In the mean while my Lord Dawbney employed himself and his company so effectually, that environing the sanctuary wherein Perkin was with two companies of light horse, who were vigilant, cautelous, strong and courageous, and so lay in the advantage ●f watching the place, that Perkin could no way escape: but the King was not satisfied with thi● protraction, and therefore loath to lose him, or give him liberty to run with the blind mole into further caverns of the earth to cast up heaps and little hills of commotion and affrighting his estate and yet daring not to infringe the privilege of these holy places (such a hand had superstition, and the Pope's fulmination got over all the Princes of Europe) he went more politicly to work, and sent divers persons of account to persuade his submission, and render himself wholly into the King's hands, who not only promised him pardon of life, but comfort of liberty, yea, honourable maintenance upon the easy conditions of desisting to perturb the Commonwealth any further, and disclaiming so injuriously to pretend any title to the Diadem.  
When Perkin saw to what straits his Bark was driven, and that he must either split on the rocks of despair, or retire back again into the troublesome Ocean of despite, according to the nature of cowardly and irresolute men, he chose the worst part to save his life, and submit to the King's acceptation, not remembering, because he was never acquainted with the secrets of majesty, that he, which hath been once a Prince, must never look for a settled quietness in a private estate (because he is still subject to the Conqueror's pleasure) but an ignominious life, than which, an honourable death is ten thousand times better, which made the noble Hecuba, as a worthy pattern to all unfortunate Princes, thus answer the proudest conquerors themselves. 
Porrigam collum cordatè intrepidè, 
Eurip. Hecuba.   
Liberam vero me, ut libera moriar,  
Per deos queso dimittentes occidite: Apud manes enim  
Serua vocari: Regina cum sim, pudet me:  But as I said he now only recounted the difficult passages of his former travails, the dangers escaped, the deceit pretended, the peril imminent, and the misfortune tootoo apparent, as being in no security in the place, he was fled unto, nor having any confidence in the persons, he had chosen: For though he knew there was a reverence appropriate to sanctuaries; yet kings, if they pleased, will be tied neither to law nor Religion, but perform what they list, or under colour of their own security, say they are compelled unto: Therefore without any further aggravation, 
Perkin submittet, to the King.  relying on the King's Pardon, and those honourable conditions propounded, he voluntarily resigned himself, and came to his majesty, as a messenger of glad tidings, that now all wars, troubles, and commotions were by this means ended and determined.  
The King not much wondered at him: for he only found him superficially instructed of a natural wit, of reasonable qualities, well languaged and indifferent apprehension, but far from that highness of spirit, or heroic disposition to deserve the character of a Prince, or lay claim to a Diadem: yet loath with any boisterous strength to handle a bruised arm, or draw the feltow into a new self-love, or good opinion of himself, he passed over his examination the slightlier, and brought him immediately to London, being met all the way with great co●courses of people, who both came to gratify him and his auspicious success, and to see Perkin like some strange meteor or monster: or, if you will, because we will deal more cleanlier with him, like a triumphant spectacle, to move amazement, delight and contentment, according to that saying of our Poet: Nocte pluit tota, redeunt spectacula manè:  
But when they began to capitulate, that being a stranger and an alien borne, he durst not only abuse so many Princes and Commonwealths with lies, fictions, and abominable deceit: but even bid battle to Kings and Princes: yea, bring Kings and Princes into the field for his assistance, they fell from wondering at him, to rail and abuse him, both with checks and opprobrious taunts: yea, divers dared to put in practise many undecencies, both of rage and indignation, had not the reverence of his majesties presence diverted their inconsideration, and commanded no further rumour, gazing upon him, or violent threatenings against him. To conclude, the King brought him quietly to London, and for all he had given him life, and afforded him a kind of liberty: yet did he set a guard over him, that he could neither have free conference, nor do what he wanton listed without them.  
By this time you must consider, that Lady Margaret in Flanders, Duchess Dowager of Burgundy, was not so ill befriended, or negligent in her own affairs, but she had both intelligence from England, and espials of her own, to acquaint her with all occurrences and adventures, 
Lady Margaret much troubled with this uncomfortable news.  as they chanced. But whether it was a news to her of bitterness, and tormenting despite, or no; let them judge, that make their stomachs and inward faculties a storehouse of rancour and malice, and cry out with Seneca, Foelix jacet quicunqu● quos odit, Premit: yet was she not tormented so much with the loss, expenses, or disaster of the business, which might be the chance of war, as in that she could not prevail in her malignant courses, against her enemy the house of Lancaster: So that she bemoaned the lamentable success of her unfortunate darling, and (as many did testify) even shed tears again; but they were so far from compunction, or penitency, that they seemed rather signs of rage, frenzy, and intolerable madness, in which she cried out on nothing, but revenge: and repeated an exclamation of Hermiones against Orestes: 
Quae mea Coelestes iniuria fecit iniquos!  
Quodue mihi miserae ●idus obesse querar!  So that if she had had power to her implacable hatred, K. Henry should have felt the scourges of her wrathful hand, even to the lowest dejection, and she had questionless showed him a trick of a woman's will, or (if I might speak without offence) wickedness.  
In this while Perkin having two years liberty to ruminate on his business, and swell up his vexed soul with uncomfortable commemoration of precedent misfortunes, would many times cast out abrupt and uncertain speeches, concerning his distress, and the malevolent aspect of his fate, cursing his miserable life, and complaining on his unprofitable Genius, that had stood him in no better steed, wishing he had been borne to any mechanical drudgery, rather than from the royal blood of Plantagenet: Insomuch, that his keepers mistrusted him in these ecstasies, and the King was still troubled, that he could neither make him confess the truth, nor disclaim this high assumption of another dignity and royalty. But at last, as all such discontentments and eruptions must have avent, and so a determination, whether the opprobry of this kind of imprisonment grieved him, or the unquietness of his thoughts vexed him, or the baseness of his submission abused him, or the loss of his sweet wife confounded him, or the instigations of others disturbed him: or indeed, because the last act of his Tragedy and Catastrophe was now in hand, he not only studied which way to escape; but put the same in practice in despite of his own knowledge, that the King was acquainted with all his discontentments. For alas; Princes have long hands and prying looks, to reach into the furthest parts of their Kingdom, and search into the secretest closets of their palaces, yea, other men's houses, 
Perkin deceiveth his keepers, an●● escapeth.  and so are made to understand the affairs of the remo●est regions. But concerning himself, his vain suppositions, as in his former enterprises, still flattered him, that he should once again find fuel enough, to set another rebellion and commotion on fire: and his vexation to be bereaved of so delicate a creature as his Lady, made him desperate of all, and set his wits on the tenterhookss, to put something in practice to his further contentment. So that one day reading the story of Mortymers escape out of the Tower, by giving his keepers a sleepy drink, he in such a manner deceiveth his guard, and betook him to a resolution of escaping and flying out of the land, wherein he proved only like the silly bird, that with striving in the net, entangles herself the more: or, as Dear that are hunted, betray themselves to well-sented hounds, by their faster running away, whereby they make the deeper impression in their steps: So fell it out with him, Incidit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim: And by seeking after liberty, he brought himself to a more straighter and unkindlier endurance. For when he had gone to the sea-coasts, and heard the exclamations of the people against him, saw all places debarred, knew great searches made for him, understood what an indignation the Country had conceived of his mockeries and illusions, and found the whole Kingdom up in his search, and posting after him, he was quite exanimated, and (like a man distracted) knew not what to do. At last, unstable in his former wilfulness, he once again altered his pretended journey, and came to the house of Bethelem, called the Priory of Shene, 
Perkin cometh to the Prior of Shene.  beside Richmond in Surrey, and committed himself to the Prior, with a long and secret conference, concluding with an impetration of his charity, that being a man of God, he would not think it strange to see Princes subject to disasters and fatal conclusions of misfortune. For he well knew the story, both of the Abbot of Westminster and the Bishop of Carlisle, who in despite of King Henry's usurpation, who had not only projected the delivery of Richard of Bordeaux; but opposed the King in his strength of sovereignty, against his wilfulness to destroy the other deposed: and therefore he desired him to obtain his pardon of the King, yielding forcible intimation for the same purpose.  
The Prior (glad to have interest in such a meritorious work, and proud to be serviceable to his Prince and Country) came with convenient speed to the Court, and acquainted his Maiewy with the accident, leaving no circumstance of any validity unrecounted, which ended to the King's wonderful content, and the whole Courts disdain and amazement. But all times are not alike, and Princes (in their mercies & pardons) are not so flexible, as presumption buildeth upon: Yet to please the Prior, he gave him his life, which to a generous and free borne spirit was more irksome than death. For he was first taken and brought to Westminster with all scorn and reproach, 
Perkin once again 〈◊〉, but ignominiously used.  then set in a pair off stocks with contumelious derision, then carried through all the streets of London like a prodigious spectacle, then put to the rack, which made him not only confess his pedigree and original, but write it with his own hands: Last of all, mounted on divers scaffolds he read it in public, and that so disgraciously, as in the commemoration was able to torment a looker on so that he might well cry out 
— Vitamque per omnem 
〈◊〉. lib. 5.   
Nulla fuit tam moesta dies: nam caeter a damna  
Durataiamment malis, firmaque, tulerunt:  In some of your Chronicles you have this confession at large, as in Grafton, which to make the story complete, I have a little contracted, and thus expose the same.  
BE it known unto all men, 
Perkins confession.  that I was borne in the town of Tourney in Flanders, my father john O●beck Controller of the said town, and my mother Katherine Haro, my grandfather Direck Orsbeck, after whose decease my grandmother married Peter Flamine Receiver of Tourney, & Deane of the boat-men over Lescheld, my mother's father was called Peter De Faro, which kept the keys of St. Thomas gate within the said town. I had also an uncle Mr. john Statime of St. Pias Parish, with whom I dwelled very young, he married mine aunt jane, and brought me up very well; yet my mother not contented, as being very chary of me, had me to Antwerp to lea●●e Flemish more exactly to a kinsman of my father's john Steinbeck, with whom I remained a full half year, but by reason of the wars I returned to Tourney, where I was placed with Mr. Barlo, who within another year carried me to the mart at Antwerp, where I fell sick awhile, and so was boarded in a Skinner's house much conversant with the English nation, whereby I learned the language, as you see. From thence I went to Barrow mart, & lodged at the old man: Afterward, Mr. Barlo, left me at Middle-borough with john Strew a Merchant, who first made me believe, I was better than I was. From Antwerp I sailed into Portugal with my Lady Brampton in a ship called the Queen's ship, & served a Knight in Lichborne called Don Peter Las de Cogna, who had but one eye; yet the manner of his behaviour and order of his house, made me tarry a year. Then Pregent Meno a Britain carried me into Ireland, and either commanded so by my Lady Margaret, who (as she said) was my aunt, or projecting something for his own private, would needs persuade me I was a Plantagenet of the house of York. For when I arrived in Corck, because I was somewhat handsomely appareled, they would needs bestow upon me the title of the E. of Warwick son to George Duke of Clarence formerly in Ireland, which john Le Wellin the Mayor maintained, and for as much as my denial was contrary to their expectation, they brought me to the cross, and made me swear: which I did, disclaiming him, or any of his kindred, until Stephen Poitron, with john a Water came unto me, as resolved I was King Richard's bastard-sonne (than in the hands of the King of England) persuading me not to be afraid or daunted at any thing: For they would aid me & assist me, even to the obtaining the crown of England; yea, they knew of their own knowledge, the Earls of Desmond and Kildare were ready to adventure their lives and estates for my sake: After this they carried me into Flanders, to Lady Margaret Regent and Duchess of Burgundy, who prevailed so far with me, that I took upon me the person of Richard Duke of York, second son of King Edward the fourth, and so with reasonable preparation, I returned back again into Ireland, where the said john a Water, Stephen Poinings, john Tiler, Hubert de Brough, the foresaid Earls, and many others entered with me into a dangerous rebellion, and I was proclaimed by them Richard the fourth. From hence the King of France sent for me by Loyte Lucas and Stophen Frian, but making peace with England, he left me to my fortunes: Then I sailed into Flanders, where my supposed Aunt made more of me then before, so I attempted England, but was driven back again into Flanders, from whence I went into Scotland, and from thence again into Ireland, and so into England.  
When the people had heard him out, they wondered both ways at the matter, and stood (as it were) confounded betwixt shame and indignation. If it were a collusion, to think how grossly the Kingdom, and some of the best therein, yea many Kingdoms had been abused with such an imposture, to the prosecuting several facinorous actions, and disturbance of the peace and tranquillity of the Commonwealth: If it were not so, and that for fear of life he confessed the contrary, being the true Plantagenet, and a Prince borne to so great a fortune: then they wondered if any man could be so base, as to deject himself to such ignominy and opprobrious disgraces, when to die had been honourable, & to sell one's life in the field, far better than to plead on a scaffold, where the many changes must needs distract him, and make a poor soul neither fit for life nor death: But whatsoever he was, they could not choose but deplore his estate and misfortune, as naturally and ordinarily all men are bemoaned in adversity, especially such an one, that was so forward in the race and journey to Majesty, and pulled back so often by the sleeve, and turned with a fury into the house of desolation, and dungeon of disconsolate wretchedness when to have perished at once, had been a favour of death and fortune indeed, according to our Poet: 
Mitins ille perit subita qui mergitur unda, 
Lib. 3. de pont●.   
Quam sua qui liquidis brachia lassat aquis.   
When the King had this way satisfied himself, and pleased the people, 
Perkin committed to the Tower.  as he thought: he made no more ado, but to prevent inconveniences, clapped him in the Tower, from whence he escaped not, until he was carried to Tyburn, and there swallowed up by the never satisfied paunch of Hell, for his former abuses and intolerable wickedness, which happened very shortly after. For just at this instant, a roguish Augustane Friar called Patrick, on the borders of Suffolk, after Peter warbeck's example, taught a poor scholar one Ralph Wilford to take upon him the title of the Earl of Warwick, as yet in the Tower of London: but supposed to escape, as corrupting his keepers, intimating the glory of the action, and the bravery of such an enterprise, wherein who would be so base and cowardly, as not adventure his life, and put in practise any design to attain to a Diadem, especially by so easy means, as personating a Prince, and assuming the title of the next heir to the crown: And when some of his better understanding friends laid open the danger & impossibility of the attempt, with the odiousness & perf●diousnes of the Treason, he answered the first with one Poet: 
Fa●naque post Cineres maior venit, 
Li. 4. de 〈◊〉  & mihi nomen  
Tum quoque cum vinis annumerarer, erat  
And the latter with another:  
Si enimiiniustè facere opportet, potissimumpropter  
Imperium ius violandum est: 
〈…〉  alias pium esse convenit▪  But although this mischief was quietly blown over like a weak and thin cloud suddenly dispeirced by a forcible wind (For both Master and Scholar were quickly apprehended: the one hanged on Shrove-tuesday at Saint Tho. Watering, and the Friar condemned to perpetual imprisonment) yet it left such an impression behind, to the troubling, as a man may say the whole Region of the air, that the King would dally no longer, but like the Sun in his full strength at the next incensing of his majesty, dissolved all such vapours, and gave the law leave to play her part to the final extirpation of the very roots of sedition, which presently was thus set on work.  
Peter Warbeck impatient at this restraint of his liberty, and stomaching his former disgraces & indignities, would endure no longer, but studied every hour how to escape, not yet knowing what to do, when he did escape, to which purpose by fair promises and false persuasions, he corrupted his keepers: Strangwaies, Blewet, Astwood, and long Roger servants of Sir john Digby Lieutenant of the Tower to slay their said Master: and set both Perkin and the true Earl of Warwick at large, and so to make their fortunes, as they could either by domestic or foreign friends: to which, when the innocent Prince condescended, as glad any way to enjoy his liberty, and to be freed of his imprisonment (for you see birds kept in golden cages beat and flutter up and down as scorning their enclosure, 
Perkin corrupting his keepers to escape out of the Tower is tak●n and hanged at Tyburn.  to get out into their native Country the region of the air) mischief and misfortune, which plays the tyrant with many men all their lives long, & never affordeth one day, or breathing time to give them a taste of any pleasure, or contentment, discovered the whole conspiracy to the King and his Council, not leaving out any circumstance which might either exasperate his rage, or pull forward death and destruction to the delinquents. Whereupon, without further disputing the matter Perkin Warbeck, john a Water sometimes Mayor of Corck, and his son were the 16. of November arraigned and condemned at Westminster of high Treason, and the 23. hanged at Tyburn: Perkin mounted on a scaffold reading his confession, and contrary to all expectation, a●king the King and Country forgiveness, and dying penitently with great remorse of conscience, and compunction of spirit: Et sic ●inis Priami—  
Not long after Edward Earl of Warwick, who had been the 21. of November arraigned at Westminster before the Earl of Oxford high Constable of England for the present, 
The Earl of Warwick beheaded.  was upon the 28. 1429. beheaded at the Tower Hill: For he quietly confessed the inditement, concerning his consent and willingness to obtain his liberty, though it were by violating the law in that kind, and breaking of prison, whose simplicity I rather lament, then condemn the offence. For it was a dangerous time for any Plantagenet to live in, and I may well cry out: Omne tulit secum Caesaris ira malum: But the King was indeed glad of this occasion, and fortune gave virtue the check, because as he had imprisoned him without a cause, he knew not what to do with him without a fault: yet some report that the principal reason of accelerating his death was a speech of Ferdinando's king of Spain, who should swear, that the marriage between Lady Katherine his daughter, and Prince Arthur of Wales should never be consummated, as long, as any Earl of Warwick lived. For the very name and title was not only formidable to other Nations, but superstitions to the wau●ring, and unconstant English: whereupon the King was the gladder to take hold of this opportunity, where in the conviction of Law had cast this stumbling-block of treason in his walk and race to a longer life, and yet was there nothing done, but by orderly proceedings, and justifiable courses: more than when the silly Prince submitted to his mercy, he thought it the greatest point of mercy to look to himself, and so for the benefit of his posterity, and the sedation of all troubles both present and to come, struck off his head, and with him the head of all division and dissension.  
FINIS.