the hope of victorie consisted not in the Irish nation, being naked
people, without furniture of armour or weapon, he tooke the sea againe
at Corffe, and sailed into Scotland; where comming to the presence of
king Iames, he forged such a painted processe to mooue him to beléeue
that he was the verie sonne of king Edward: that the Scotish king,
whether blinded with errour, or vsing dissimulation, that he might
vnder a colourable pretext make war against England, began to haue
Perkin in great honour, and caused him openlie to be called duke of
Yorke. And to persuade the world that so he was indéed, he caused
the ladie Catharine, daughter to Alexander earle of Huntleie, his
nigh kinsman, to be espoused to him. [But yer we passe anie further,
you shall sée and peruse (if you will) the said painted processe of
Perkin, as it is left in record by Edward Hall for an example what
working force is in words (speciallie where the hearers are easie to
be seduced) and not to be ouer hastie to giue them too quicke & hastie
credit. For the poet saith of gaie words void of truth:
[Sidenote: _M. Pal. in Virg._]
Verba nitent phaleris, at nullas verba medullis
Intus habent.
The colourable oration or counterfeit tale that Perkin told the king of
Scots to iustifie his false title.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem. ex Edw. Hall, fol._ xxxviij, xxxix.]
[Sidenote: Perkin saith that he is Edward the fourths lawfull sonne.]
[Sidenote: Perkin telleth the king how he was preserued and kept alive.]
I thinke it is not vnknowne vnto you (most noble king and puissant
prince) into what ruine the stocke house, and familie of Edward the
fourth, of that name king of England, is now of late brought to and
fallen in, either by Gods permission, or by diuine punishment; whose
indubitate sonne (if you know not alreadie) I am, and by the power of
almightie God, preserued aliue to this houre from the mightie hand of a
tyrant. For my father king Edward (when he died) appointed his brother
Richard duke of Glocester to be our gouernour, protector, and defendor;
whome the more that he loued & studied to aduance and promote, the
better he thought that he would loue, fauour, and tender his children.
But alas my vnfortunate chance I may say! how hath his trust béene
turned into treason, and his hope into hinderance, all men know and
I féele. Our vncle was not the tutor and preseruer of our stocke and
linage, but the confounder & destroier of our bloud and progenie.
For that tyrant, blinded and glutted with the desire of ruling and
souereigntie, commanded Edward my brother & me to be sklaine and
dispatched out of this mortall life. Wherevpon that person, to whome
the weightie and cruell charge was commited and giuen to oppresse and
destroie vs poore innocent infants, and giltlesse babes, the more that
he abhorred this heinous and butcherlie offense, the more he feared to
commit it.
[Sidenote: Perkin calleth the ladie Margaret duchesse of Burgognie his
owne aunt.]
And so wauering in mind and doubtfull what to doo, at the length
willing in part to stanch the bloudie thirst of the vnnaturall tyrant,
and in part to absteine from so heinous & detestable homicide, he
destroied my brother and preserued me; like the good préest Ioiada,
who saued little Ioas, when all the children of the bloud roiall were
commanded by Athalia the quéene to be slaine and vtterlie destroied.
And further, to the intent that my life might be in suertie, he
appointed one to conueie me into some strange countrie; where when I
was furthest off, and had most néed of comfort he forsooke me suddenlie
(I thinke he was so appointed to doo) and left me desolate alone
without fréend or knowlege of anie reléefe or refuge. And so king
Richard did obteine the crowne as a preie mischéefouslie gotten by the
dispatching awaie of my brother and me. So that I thus escaping, by
reason of my tender infancie, forgat almost my selfe, and knew not well
what I was. But after long wandering from countrie to countrie, and
from citie to citie, I perceiued and learned by little and little what
was my estate & degrée; and so in conclusion came to mine owne aunt the
ladie Margaret lieng in Flanders, which was sometime married to Charles
duke of Burgognie, which as ioifullie receiued and welcomed me, as if
I had come out of hell into heauen, as the onelie type and garland of
hir noble stirpe and linage. But forsomuch as she being onelie Dowager
of the duchie of Burgognie, and hauing nothing but hir dowrie proper
to hir selfe, was not of power to helpe me with men and munitions of
warre, as she would gladlie haue doone for the recouerie of my fathers
relme & rightfull inheritance: I therefore am driuen to séeke further
aid and succour.
[Sidenote: Perkin craueth aid of the Scotish king toward the recouerie
of the crowne of England from king Henrie the seuenth.]
And therefore by hir counsell and aduertisement, with this small
handfull of men of warre and souldiers, I am repaired to your presence
for succours; of whome (as the publike fame is spred ouer the whole
world) there was neuer man by wrong or iniurie chased or driuen out of
his couutrie, region, or inheritance, or by extort power and tyrannie
kept out of the same (as I my selfe from mine infancie haue béene)
whose request was frustrate and denied at your hand. Therefore, by the
maiestie of your realme & countrie I desire, & heartilie with praier
as I can, I beséech and exhort you to helpe and reléeue me now in my
extreame necessitie. And if it chance me by your aid and succour to
recouer & possesse my father's realme and dignitie; not onelie I, but
all the kings of our linage, which hereafter shall obteine the same,
shall be so much obliged and bound vnto to you; that they must néeds
thinke, that dooing to you all the pleasure and benefits that they can,
yet with all thanks that can be giuen your great kindnesse can neuer in
full measure be recompensed.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1496.]
[Sidenote: The Scotish king inuadeth Engl[=a]d with a great armie in
Perkin his behalfe.]
When he had thus said, the king bad him be of good comfort, and
promised him that whatsoeuer he were, it should neuer repent of
his comming to him.] Shortlie after, hauing this Perkin with him
in companie, he entered into England with a puissant armie, and
caused proclamation to be made, to spare all those that would submit
themselues vnto Richard duke of Yorke. Herewith they began the warre in
most cruell maner, with slaughter of men, burning of townes, spoiling
of houses, and committing of all other detestable enormities; so that
all the countrie of Northumberland was by them in maner wasted, and
destroied. At length, when the souldiers were laden with spoiles, and
saciate with bloud, perceiuing that no succoures came out of England
vnto the new inuented duke, contrarie to that which he had made them
to beléeue would come to passe; they determined to retire rather
with assured gaine, than to tarrie the vncertaine victorie of that
counterfeit duke, and so therevpon they withdrew backe into Scotland
inriched with preies and booties.
[Sidenote: The counterfeit compassion of Perkin.]
It is said, that Perkin Warbecke, being returned into Scotland with the
king of Scots, vnder a cloked pretense should sore lament the great
slaughter, spoile, and damage, which had béene doone at this last
roade made into England; and therefore as one that bare a naturall
loue toward his natiue countrie, besought the king of Scots, that
from thensefoorth, he would no more so deface his naturall relme, and
destroie his subiects with such terrible fire, flame and hauocke; as
who should saie, he being ouercome now with compassion, did bewaile the
cruell destruction of his natural countrie of England. But the Scotish
K. told him, that he séemed to take thought for that which appeared to
be none of his, sith that not so much as one gentleman or yeoman (for
ought he could sée) would once shew themselues readie to aid him in the
warre begun for his cause, and in his name, within that realme which he
pretended so cléerelie to apperteine to him.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12.]
[Sidenote: A parlement of the thrée estates of the realme.]
[Sidenote: A subsidie.]
The king of England being certified of this inuasion, prepared an armie
with all diligence to have resisted the Scots: but they were returned
yer the English power could assemble togither. Now when the king was
truelie certified that the Scotish king was returned home, he staied
all the preparations made at that time to go against him. But yet
meaning to be reuenged of the wrongs doone to him by king Iames and his
people; he first called a parlement, and in that assemblie of thrée
estates of the realme, he declared the cause of the instant warre, and
how necessarie it should be for the suertie and wealth of the realme
of England to haue that warre, pursued against those enimies that
had begun it. To this motion all the nobilitie wholie agréed. And to
the maintenance of that warre, a subsidie was by whole assent of the
parlement fréelie giuen and granted. Which paiment though it was not
great, yet manie of the common people sore grudged to pay the same, as
they that euer abhorre such taxes and exactions. At the same parlement
were diuerse acts and statutes made, necessarie & expedient (as was
thought) for the publike weale of the realme.
[Sidenote: 1497.]
[Sidenote: The king of England and Scotl[=a]d prepare for mutuall
warre.]
In the meane season the king of Scots, perceiuing that the Englishmen
would shortlie go about to reuenge the injuries doone to them by him
and his people, assembled eftsoones a puissant armie, that he might
either defend his realme against the English power, attempting to
inuade his countrie, or else afresh to enter into the English borders.
And thus these two mightie princes minded nothing more than the one
to indamage the other. But the king of England would not deferre one
houre by (his good will) till he were reuenged, and therefore prepared
a mightie armie to inuade Scotland, and ordeined for chéefteine thereof
the lord Daubeneie. But as this armie was assembled, and that the lord
Daubenie was forward on his iournie towards Scotland, he was suddenlie
staid and called backe againe, by reason of a new commotion begun by
the Cornishmen for the paiment of the subsidie which was granted at the
last parlement.
[Sidenote: A rebellion in Cornewall for the paiment of a subsidie.]
[Sidenote: The two capteins in this commotion.]
These vnrulie people the Cornishmen, inhabiting in a barren countrie
and vnfruitfull, at the first sore repined that they should be so
gréeuouslie taxed, and burdened the kings councell as the onelie cause
of such polling and pilling: and so being in their rage, menaced the
chéefe authors with death and present destruction. And thus being in a
rore, two persons of the affinitie, the one called Thomas Flammocke, a
gentleman, learned in the lawes of the realme; and the other Michael
Ioseph, a smith, men of stout stomachs and high courages, tooke vpon
them to be capteins of this seditious companie. They laid the fault and
cause of this exaction vnto Iohn Morton, archbishop of Canturburie, and
to sir Reginald Braie; bicause they were chéefe of the kings councell.
Such rewards haue they commonlie that be in great authoritie with kings
and princes.
[Sidenote: The prouost of Perin slaine by the rebels.]
The capteins Flammocke and Ioseph exhorted the common people to put
on harnesse, and not to be afeard to follow them in that quarrell,
promising not to hurt anie creature, but onelie to sée them punished
that procured such exactions to be laid on the people, without anie
reasonable cause, as vnder the colour of a little trouble with the
Scots, which (sith they were withdrawne home) they tooke to be well
quieted and appeased. So these capteins bent on mischéefe, (were their
outward pretense neuer so finelie coloured) yet persuaded a great
number of people to assemble togither, and condescended to do as
their capteins would agrée and appoint. Then these capteins praising
much the hardines of the people, when all things were readie for
their infortunate iournie, set forward with their armie, and came to
Taunton, where they slue the prouost of Perin, which was one of the
commissioners of the subsidie, and from thence came to Welles, so
intending to go to London, where the king then soiourned.
[Sidenote: Thomas Howard earle of Surrie high treasuror of England.]
When the king was aduertised of these dooings, he was somewhat
astonied, and not without cause; being thus troubled with the warre
against the Scots, and this ciuill commotion of his subiects at one
instant. But first meaning to subdue his rebellious subiects; and after
to procéed against the Scots, as occasion should serue, he reuoked the
lord Daubenie which (as you haue heard) was going against the Scots,
and increased his armie with manie chosen and piked warriors. Also
mistrusting that the Scots might now (hauing such opportunitie) inuade
the relme againe; he appointed the lord Th. Howard erle of Surrie
(which after the death of the lord Dinham was made high treasuror of
England) to gather a band of men in the countie Palatine of Durham,
that they with the aid of the inhabitants adioining, and the borderers,
might kéepe backe the Scots if they chanced to make anie inuasion. The
nobles of the realme hearing of the rebellion of the Cornishmen, came
to London, euerie man with as manie men of warre as they could put in a
readinesse, to aid the king if néed should be. In the which number were
the earle of Essex, and the lord Montioy, with diuerse other.
[Sidenote: Iames Twichet lord Audelie chéefe capteine of the Cornish
rebels.]
In the meane time, Iames Twichet lord Audeleie being confederate with
the rebels of Cornewall ioined with them, being come to Welles, and
tooke vpon him as their chéefe capteine to lead them against their
naturall lord and king. From Welles they went to Salisburie, and from
thence to Winchester, and so to Kent, where they hoped to haue had
great aid, but they were deceiued in that their expectation. For the
erle of Kent, George lord of Aburgauenie, Iohn Brooke, lord Cobham, sir
Edward Poinings, sir Richard Gilford, sir Thomas Bourchier, Iohn Peche,
William Scot, and a great number of people, were not onelie prest and
readie to defend the countrie, to kéepe the people in due obedience,
but bent to fight with such as would lift vp sword, or other weapon
against their souereigne lord: insomuch that the Kentishmen would not
once come néere the Cornishmen, to aid or assist them in anie maner of
wise.
[Sidenote: Manie of the Cornishmen take their héels by night.]
Which thing maruelouslie dismaid the hearts of the Cornishmen, when
they saw themselues thus deceiued of the succours which they most
trusted vpon, so that manie of them (fearing the euill chance that
might happen) fled in the night from their companie, and left them, in
hope so to saue themselues. The capteines of the rebels, perceiuing
they could haue no helpe of the Kentishmen, putting their onelie hope
in their owne puissance, brought their people to Blacke heath, a foure
miles distant from London, and there in a plaine on the top of an hill,
they ordered their battels, either readie to fight with the king if
he would assail them, or else assault the citie of London: for they
thought the king durst not have encountered with them in battell. But
they were deceiued: for the king although he had power inough about to
haue fought with them before their comming so néere to the citie; yet
he thought it best to suffer them to come forward, till he had them
farre off from their natiue countrie, and then to set vpon them being
destitute of aid in some place of aduantage.
[Sidenote: The citie of London sore afraid of the rebels.]
The citie was in a great feare at the first knowledge giuen, how the
rebels were so néere incamped to the citie, euerie man getting himselfe
to harnesse, and placing themselues, some at the gates, some on the
walles, so that no part was vndefended. But the king deliuered the
citie of that feare: for after that he perceiued how the Cornishmen
were all daie readie to fight, and that on the hill; he sent straight
Iohn Earle of Oxenford, Henrie Bourchier, earle of Essex, Edmund de
la Poole, earle of Suffolke, sir Rise ap Thomas, and sir Humfreie
Stanleie, noble warriors, with a great companie of archers and
horssemen, to enuiron the hill on the right side, and on the left, to
the intent that all bywaies being stopped and foreclosed, all hope of
flight should be taken from them. And incontinentlie he himselfe, being
as well incouraged with manlie stomachs as furnished with a populous
armie and plentie of artillerie, set forward out of the citie, and
incamped himselfe in saint Georges field, where he on the fridaie at
night then lodged.
[Sidenote: Blackheath field.]
[Sidenote: Thrée hundred slaine, & a thousand fiue hundred taken
prisoners, as Iohn Stow saith.]
On the saturdaie in the morning, he sent the lord Daubeneie with a
great companie to set on them earlie in the morning, which first
got the bridge at Dertford Strand, which was manfullie defended by
certeine archers of the rebels, whose arrows (as is reported) were in
length a full cloth yard. While the earles set on them on euerie side,
the lord Daubenie came into the field with his companie, and without
long fighting, the Cornishmen were ouercome; and first they tooke the
lord Daubenie prisoner: but whether it were for feare, or for hope of
fauour, they let him go at libertie, without hurt or detriment. There
were slaine of the rebels which fought and resisted, aboue two thousand
men (as Edward Hall noteth) and taken prisoners an infinite number, &
amongst them the blacke smith, and other the chéefe capteins, which
were shortlie after put to death. When this battel was ended, the king
wanted of all his numbers but thrée hundred, which were slaine at that
conflict.
[Sidenote: Iames lord Audelie ignominiouslie drawne to execution and
beheaded.]
Some affirme, that the king appointed to haue fought with them not
till the mondaie, and preuenting the time set on them on the saturdaie
before, taking them vnprouided, and in no arraie of battell; and so by
that policie obteined the field and victorie. The prisoners as well
capteins as other, were pardoned, sauing the chéefe capteins and first
beginners, to whome he shewed no mercie at all. The lord Audeleie was
drawne from Newgate to the Tower-hill in a coate of his own armes,
painted vpon paper reuersed and all torne, and there was beheaded the
foure and twentith of Iune. Thomas Flammocke & Michael Ioseph were
hanged, drawne, and quartered after the maner of traitors, & their
heads and quarters were pitched vpon stakes, and set vp in London, and
in other places: although at the first, the king meant to haue sent
them into Cornewall, to haue béene set vp there for a terror to all
others. But hearing that the Cornishmen at home were readie to begin
a new conspiracie, least he should the more irritate and prouoke them
by that displeasant sight, he changed his purpose, for doubt to wrap
himselfe in more trouble than néeded.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13.]
[Sidenote: The Scots invade the English borders.]
[Sidenote: Fox bishop of Durham owner of Norham castell.]
While these things were adooing in England, the king of Scots being
aduertised of the whole matter and rebellion of the Cornishmen, thought
not to let passe that occasion: and therefore he eftsoones inuaded
the frontiers of England, wasting the countrie, burning townes, and
murthering the people, spareing neither place nor person: and while his
light horsmen were riding to forraie and destroie the bishoprike of
Durham, and there burned all about, he with an other part of his armie
did besiege the castell of Norham. The bishop of Durham Richard Fox,
being owner of that castell, had well furnished it both with men and
munitions aforehand, doubting least that would follow which came now to
passe. The bishop, after that the Scots made this inuasion, aduertised
the king (as then being at London) of all things that chanced in the
North parts; and sent in all post hast to the earle of Surrie, to come
to the rescue. The earle being then in Yorkeshire, and hauing gathered
an armie, vpon knowledge giuen to him from the bishop, with all
diligence marched forward, and after him followed other noble men out
of all the quarters of the North, euerie of them bringing as manie men
as they could gather, for defense of their countrie.
[Sidenote: What lords & knights with their companies went to the rescue
of the castell against the Scots.]
Amongst these, the chéefe leaders were, Rafe earle of Westmerland,
Thomas lord Dacres, Rafe lord Neuill, George lord Strange, Richard lord
Latimer, George lord Lumleie, Iohn lord Scroope, Henrie lord Clifford,
George lord Ogle, William lord Coniers, Thomas lord Darcie. Of knights,
Thomas baron of Hilton, sir William Persie, sir William Bulmer, sir
William Gascoigne, sir Rafe Bigod, sir Rafe Bowes, sir Thomas a Parre,
sir Rafe Ellecker, sir Iohn Constable, sir Iohn Ratcliffe, sir Iohn
Sauill, sir Thomas Strangweis, and a great number of other knights
and esquiers besides. The whole armie was little lesse than twentie
thousand men, beside the nauie, whereof the lord Brooke was admerall.
[Sidenote: The earle of Surreie entreth Scotland defacing castels and
towers.]
When the Scots had diuerse waies assaulted and beaten the castell of
Norham, but could make no batterie to enter the same, they determined
of their owne accord to raise the siege, and returne; and that so
much the sooner in verie déed, bicause they heard that the earle of
Surrie was within two daies iournie of them, with a great puissance.
Wherefore king Iames raised his siege, and returned home into his owne
realme. When the earle knew of the kings returne, he followed him with
all hast possible, trusting suerlie to ouertake him, and to giue him
battell. When the earle was entred Scotland, he ouerthrew and defaced
the castell of Cawdestreimes, the tower of Hetenhall, the tower of
Edington, the tower of Fulden: and he sent Norreie king at armes to
the capteine of Haiton castell, which was one of the strongest places
betwixt Berwike and Edenburgh, to deliuer him the castell. Which he
denied to doo, affirming that he was sure of spéedie succours.
The earle héerevpon laid his ordinance to the castell, and continuallie
beat it, from two of the clocke till fiue at night, in such wise, that
they within rendered vp the place, their liues onelie saued. The earle
caused his minors to raise & ouerthrow the fortresse to the plaine
ground. The Scotish king was within a mile of the siege, and both
knew it, and saw the smoke, but would not set one foot forward to the
rescue. While the erle laie at Haiton, the king of Scots sent to him
Machemont, and an other herald, desiring him at his election, either to
fight with whole puissance against puissance, or else they two to fight
person to person; requiring that if the victorie fell to the Scotish
king, that then the earle should deliuer for his ransome, the towne of
Berwike, with the fishgarths of the same.
[Sidenote: The valiant hart of the erle of Surrie reioising at his hap
likelie to fight hand to hand with the K. of Scots.]
The earle made answer hereto, that the towne of Berwike was the king
his maisters, and not his, the which he neither ought nor would laie
to pledge, without the king of Englands assent; but he would gage his
bodie, which was more pretious to him than all the townes of the world,
promising on his honour, that if he tooke the king prisoner in that
singular combat, he would release to him all his part of the fine and
ransome; and if it chanced the king to vanquish him, he would gladlie
paie such ransome as was conuenient for the degrée of an earle, and
thanked him greatlie for the offer: for suerlie he thought himselfe
much honored, that so noble a prince would vouchsafe to admit so poore
an earle to fight with him bodie to bodie. When he had rewarded and
dismissed the heralds, he set his armie in a readinesse, to abide the
comming of the king of Scots, and so stood all daie.
[Sidenote: An ambassadour from the K. of Spaine to treat a peace
betwixt England and Scotland.]