one nor the other; fearing to cope with the English nation in anie
condition; and so therevpon fled in the night season with all his
puissance. When the earle knew that the king was reculed, and had béene
in Scotland six or seuen daies, being dailie and nightlie vexed with
continuall wind and raine, vpon good and deliberate aduise returned
backe to the towne of Berwike, and there dissolued his armie, tarieng
there himselfe, till he might vnderstand further of the kings pleasure.
In the meane time there came an ambassadour to the K. of Scots from the
K. of Spaine, one Peter Hialas, a man of no lesse learning than wit &
policie, to mooue and intret a peace betwéene the two kings of England
& Scotland [that their people might fall to their necessarie trades of
aduantage with quietnesse, and friend with friend, husband with wife,
father with children, and maisters with seruants dwell and accompanie:
a dissolution and separation of whom one from another is procured by
bloudie warre, wherein as there is no pitie, so is there is no pietie,
as one saith full trulie:
[Sidenote: _Luc. Lib. 10._]
Nulla fides pietásque viris qui castra sequuntur,
Nulla salus bello.]
This Spanish ambassadour so earnestlie trauelled in his message vnto
the king of Scots, that at length he found him conformable to his
purpose: and therefore wrote to the king of England, that it would
please him to send one of his nobilitie or councell, to be associat
with him in concluding of peace with the Scotish king. The king of
England was neuer dangerous to agrée to anie reasonable peace, so
it might stand with his honour; and therefore appointed the bishop
of Durham doctor Fox, to go into Scotland about that treatie which
Peter Hialas had begun. The bishop (according to his commission) went
honorablie into Scotland, where he and Peter Hialas at the towne of
Iedworth, after long arguing and debating of matters with the Scotish
commissioners, in stéed of peace concluded a truce for certeine yeares;
vpon condition, that Iames king of Scots should conueie Perkin Warbecke
out of his realme, seigniories, and dominions.
[Sidenote: The English merchants receiued into Antwerpe with generall
procession.]
[Sidenote: Perkin is faine to packe out of Scotland.]
About the same time, king Henrie receiued the ambassadors that were
sent to him from the French king, and had béene staied at Douer, till
the Cornish rebels were vanquished and subdued. Also the lord of
Camphire, and other oratours of Philip archduke of Austrich, and duke
of Burgognie came to him for the conclusion of amitie, and to haue the
English merchants to resort againe to their countrie. Which request
being verie agréeable to the quietnesse and wealth of his realme, and
especiallie at that time, he did fauorablie grant and agrée vnto. And
so did the Englishmen resort againe into the archdukes dominions, and
were receiued into Antwerpe with generall procession: so glad was that
towne of their returne. Shortlie after the concluding of the truce
betwéene England and Scotland, Perkin Warbecke being willed of the king
of Scots to depart out of the Scotish dominions, sailed with his wife
and familie into Ireland, there determining with himselfe either to
repaire into Flanders to his first setter vp the duches of Burgognie,
or else ioine and take part with the Cornishmen.
[Sidenote: Perkin Warbecke arriueth in Cornewall.]
[Sidenote: Another rebellion by the Cornishmen.]
[Sidenote: Perkins thrée councellors.]
But howsoeuer it came to passe, whilest he laie in Ireland, he had
knowledge from the Cornishmen, that they were readie to renew the warre
againe. Wherevpon he minding not to let passe so faire an occasion,
hauing with him foure small ships, and not aboue six score men, sailed
into Cornewall; and there landed in the moneth of September, and came
to a towne called Bodman, and there did so prouoke the wauering
people, what with faire words and large promises, that he gathered to
him aboue thrée thousand persons, which immediatlie called him their
capteine, promising to take his part, and follow him to the death. Then
Perkin well incouraged, made proclamations in the name of king Richard
the fourth, as sonne to king Edward the fourth. And by the aduise of
his thrée councellors, Iohn Heron mercer a bankrupt, Richard Skelton a
tailor, and Iohn Astelie a scriuener determined first of all to assaie
the winning of Excester.
[Sidenote: Excester assaulted by Perkin & the Cornishmen.]
[Sidenote: The citie of Excester preserued from fire by fire.]
Then hasting thither, he laid siege to it, and wanting ordinance to
make batterie, studied all waies possible how to breake the gates, and
what with casting of stones, heauing with iron barres, and kindling of
fire vnder the gates, he omitted nothing that could be deuised for the
furtherance of his purpose. The citizens, perceiuing in what danger
they stood, first let certeine messengers downe by cords ouer the
wall, that might certifie the king of their necessitie & trouble. And
herewith taking vnto them boldnenesse of courage, determined to repell
fire with fire, and caused fagots to be brought and laied to the inward
parts of the gates, and set them all on fire; to the intent that the
fire being inflamed on both sides the gates, might as well kéepe out
their enimies from entring, as shut in the citizens from fléeing out,
and that they in the meane season might make trenches and rampiers to
defend their enimies in stéed of gates and bulworks. Thus by fire was
the citie preserued from fire.
[Sidenote: The king maketh out his power against Perkin.]
Then Perkin of verie necessitie compelled to forsake the gates,
assaulted the towne in diuerse weake and vnfortified places, and
set vp ladders to take the citie. But the citizens, with helpe of
such as were come foorth of the countrie adioining to their aid, so
valiantlie defended the walles, that they slue aboue two hundred of
Perkins souldiers at that assault. The king hauing aduertisement of
this siege of Excester, hasted foorth with his host, in as much spéed
as was possible, and sent the lord Daubeneie with certeine bands of
light horssemen before, to aduertise all men of his comming at hand.
But in the meane season, the lord Edward Courtneie earle of Deuonshire,
and the valiant lord William his sonne, accompanied with sir Edmund
Carew, sir Thomas Trenchard, sir William Courtneie, sir Thomas Fulford,
sir Iohn Halewell, sir Iohn Croker, Water Courtnie, Peter Edgecombe,
William saint Maure, with all spéed came into the citie of Excester,
and holpe the citizens, and at the last assault was the earle hurt in
the arme with an arrow, and so were manie of his companie, but verie
few slaine.
[Sidenote: Edward the yoong duke of Buckingham and his companie ioine
with the king.]
When Perkin saw that he could not win the citie of Excester, sith
he sawe it was so well fortified both with men and munitions, he
departed from thence, and went vnto Taunton, and there the twentith
day of September he mustered his men; as though he were readie to
giue battell: but perceiuing his number to be minished, by the secret
withdrawing of sundrie companies from him, he began to put mistrust in
all the remnant. In déed when the people that followed him, in hope
that no small number of the nobilitie would ioine with him, saw no such
matter come to passe, they stale awaie from him by secret companies.
When the king heard that he was gone to Taunton, he followed after
him with all spéed. And by the way there came to him Edward duke of
Buckingham, a yoong prince of great towardnesse; and him followed a
great companie of noble men, knights and esquiers, as sir Alexander
Bainam, sir Maurice Barkleie, sir Robert Tame, sir Iohn Guise, sir
Robert Pointz, sir Henrie Vernon, sir Iohn Mortimer, sir Thomas
Tremaile, sir Edward Sutton, sir Amise Paulet, sir Iohn Birkneill, sir
Iohn Sapcotes, sir Hugh Lutterell, sir Francis Cheinie, and diuerse
other.
[Sidenote: Perkin fléeth and taketh Beaudlie sanctuarie.]
At the kings approching to the towne of Taunton, he set before him
Robert lord Brooke lord steward of his house, Giles lord Daubeneie his
chiefe chamberleine, and sir Rice ap Thomas. But as soone as Perkin
was informed that his enimies were readie to giue him battell, he
that nothing lesse minded than to fight in open field with the kings
puissance, dissembled all the daie time with his companie, as though
nothing could make him afraid: and about midnight, accompanied with
thrée score horssemen, he departed from Taunton in post to a sanctuarie
towne beside Southampton, called Beaudlie, & there he and Iohn Heron
with other registred themselues as persons priuileged. When as king
Henrie knew that Perkin was thus fled, he sent after him the lord
Daubeneie with fiue hundred horssemen toward the sea side, to apprehend
him before he should get away. Although Perkin escaped (as I haue
said) vnto sanctuarie, yet manie of his chiefe capteins were taken and
presented to the king.
[Sidenote: The beautifull ladie Katharine (Perkins wife) presented to
the king.]
Also the horssemen that were sent, without anie stop or staie came
to saint Michaels mount, and there (as chance was) found the ladie
Katharine Gordon wife to Perkin, and brought hir streight to the king.
At whose beautie and amiable countenance the king much maruelled,
and thought hir a preie more méet for a prince, than for the meane
souldiers, and sent hir incontinentlie vnto London to the quéene,
accompanied with a sort of sage matrones and gentlewomen, bicause she
was but yoong. The common people that had followed Perkin, after that
their chéefeteine was fled, threw awaie their armour as people amazed,
and submitted themselues to the king, humblie beséeching him of mercie,
which he most gentlie granted, and receiued them to his fauour. After
this the king road to Excester, and there not onelie commended the
citizens, but also hartilie thanked them for dooing so well their
duties in defending their citie from their enimies. He also put there
to execution diuerse Cornishmen, which were the authors and principall
beginners of this new conspiracie and insurrection. Neuerthelesse,
he vsed maruellous clemencie also in pardoning a great number of the
rebels.
[Sidenote: _Iohn Hooker, alias Vowell._]
[Sidenote: All Perkins partakers in their shirts with halters about
their necks appeare before the king.]
¶ For when king Henrie was come to Excester with a great armie, mooued
therevnto (as you haue heard) by reason of the rebellion of Perkin
Warbecke, who was fled before the kings comming, he staied a few daies
about the examination of the said rebellion, and the executing of
the chiefe and principall capteins. In the end, the multitude of the
offendors being great, and most humblie crauiug for pardon, the king
caused them all to be assembled in the churchyard of saint Peters,
where they all appeared bare headed, in their shirts, and with halters
about their necks. His grace was then lodged in the treasurors house,
lieng fast vpon the churchyard, and out of a faire and large window
(made for the purpose) he tooke the view of them, who shouted and
cried out for pardon. At length, when the king had paused, hée made a
speach vnto them, exhorting them to obedience, and in hope he should
thencefoorth find them dutifull, he pardoned them all: whereat they
all made a great shout, gaue the king thanks, and hurled awaie their
halters. Yet neuerthelesse, some returned againe, and ioined themselues
with the Cornish people, which had not all submitted themselues, nor
sought for pardon.
[Sidenote: Perkin in sanctuarie assaulted.]
[Sidenote: Perkin submitteth himselfe to the king, and is streictlie
séene to.]
Now while he remained at Excester, he considered with himselfe, that
he had doone nothing, if he could not get into his hands the chiefe
head of this trouble and seditious businesse. Wherefore he caused the
sanctuarie wherein Perkin was inclosed, to be inuironed with two bands
of light horssemen, to watch diligentlie, that Perkin should not escape
by anie meanes foorth of that place vntaken: and withall attempted
by faire promises of pardon and forgiuenes, if Perkin would submit
himselfe to him and become his man. Perkin perceiuing himselfe so shut
vp, that he could no waie escape, of his owne frée will came out of the
sanctuarie, and committed himselfe to the kings pleasure. When the king
had thus atchiued his purpose, he returned to London, and appointed
certeine kéepers to attend on Perkin, which should not (the bredth of
a maile) go from his person; least he should conueie himselfe by anie
meanes out of the land [and set new troubles abroch by such practises
as he had to fore vsed, for the aduancement of himselfe to the estate
of a king, by assuming vnto himselfe the name of a kings sonne, when in
déed hée was come of base parentage. But Iacke will bée a gentleman,
the long eared asse will be taken for a leopard, & the pelting pismire
for a lion, as one saith:
[Sidenote: _M. Pal. in Virg._]
Nunc se asinus pardum vocat & formica leonem.]
[Sidenote: C[=o]missioners appointed for assessing of their fines that
fauoured the Cornish rebels.]
[Sidenote: 1498]
After this, the king caused inquiries to be made, of all such as
had aided with men or monie the Cornish rebels, so that diuerse
persons as well in Summersetshire as Deuonshire were detected of that
offense, which he minded for example sake should tast some part of due
punishments for their crimes, according to the qualitie thereof. And
therefore he appointed Thomas lord Darcie, Amise Paulet knight, and
Robert Sherborne deane of Poules (that was after bishop of Chichester)
to be commissioners for assessing of their fines that were found
culpable. These commissioners so bestirred themselues, in tossing the
coffers and substance of all the inhabitants of both those shires,
that there was not one person imbrued or spotted with the filth of
that abhominable crime, that escaped the paine which he had deserued:
but to such yet as offended rather by constreint than of malice, they
were gentle and fauourable, so that equitie therein was verie well and
iustlie executed.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex. I. S. pag. 872._]
[Sidenote: Gardens in Moore field laid wast to make archers game.]
[Sidenote: Price of haie doubled.]
[Sidenote: Sebastian Gabato his discouerie of an Iland of rich
commodities.]
¶ In this yeare all the gardens which had béene continued time out
of mind, without Moore gate of London, were destroied, and of them
was made a plaine field for archers to shoot in. Also this yéere was
a great drought, by reason whereof a load of haie, which was before
sold at London at fiue shillings, was this yeare sold for ten or
twelue more. Also this yeare, one Sebastian Gabato, a Genoas sonne,
borne in Bristow, professing himselfe to be expert in knowledge of the
circuit of the world, and Islands of the same, as by his charts and
other reasonable demonstrations he shewed, caused the king to man and
vittell a ship at Bristow, to search for an Iland which he knew to be
replenished with rich commodites. In the ship diuerse merchants of
London aduentured small stocks, and in the companie of this ship sailed
also out of Bristow thrée or foure small ships fraight with slight and
grosse wares, as course cloath, caps, lases, points, and such other.
Sir Humfrie Gilbert knight, in his booke intituled, A discouerie
for a new passage to Cataia, writeth thus; "Sebastian Gabato, by
his personall experience and trauell, hath described and set foorth
this passage in his charts, which are yet to be séene in the quéenes
maiesties priuie gallerie at White hall, who was sent to make this
discouerie by king Henrie the seuenth, and entered the same fret,
affirming that hée sailed verie farre westward, with a quarter of the
north, on the north side of terra de Labrador, the eleuenth of Iune,
vntill he came to the septentrionall latitude of 67-1/2 degrées, and
finding the seas still open, said, that he might & would haue gon to
Cataia, if the emnitie of the maister and mariners had not béene."
Neuerthelesse, he went verie farre, euen to a nation inhabited with
people more like beasts than men, as appeareth in the yeare 1502, and
the seuentéenth of this kings reigne, when the said traueller was
returned, and presented himselfe to the kings maiestie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 14.]
[Sidenote: England and Scotland liklie to go togither by the eares
afresh.]
In this yeare the warre had like to haue béene reuiued betwixt the
realmes of England and Scotland by a small occasion, as thus. Certeine
yongmen of the Scots came arriued before Norham castell, & beheld it
woonderous circumspectlie, as though they would faine haue béene of
counsell to know what was doone therein. The kéepers not perceiuing
anie damage attempted against them for the first time, determined not
to mooue anie question to them, or once to stirre out. But when they
came againe the next day, and viewed it likewise, the kéepers of the
castell suspecting some euill meaning, demanded of them what their
intent was, and why they viewed and aduised so the castell. The Scots
answered them roughlie with disdainfull words, so that the Englishmen
fell to and replied with strokes; and after manie blowes giuen and
receiued, diuerse Scots were wounded, and some slaine; and the residue
ouermatched with multitude of the Englishmen, fled as fast as their
horsses could carie them.
The Scotish king hereof aduertised, was highlie displeased, and in all
hast signified to king Henrie by his herald Marchemont, in what sort
his people (to the breach of the truce) were abused and handled. King
Henrie being not in will to breake with anie of his neighbours, excused
the matter, affirming that he was not of knowledge to the misdemeanor
of those that had the castell in kéeping; requiring the king of Scots
not to thinke the truce broken for anie thing doone without his
consent; promising in the word of a king to inquire of the truth, and
if the offense were found to be begun on the partie of the kéepers of
the castell, he assured him that they should for no méed nor fauour
escape due correction and punishment.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham aswageth the kings displeasure by
letters.]
This answer (though it was more than reasonable) could not pacifie the
king of Scots, till the bishop of Durham (that was owner of the castell
of Norham) who sore lamented, that by such as he appointed kéepers
there, the warre should be renewed with sundrie letters written to the
Scotish king, at length asswaged his displeasure, so that the said king
wrote courteouslie to the bishop againe, signifieng that bicause he had
manie secret things in his mind, which he would communicate onelie with
him touching this matter now in variance; therefore he required him
to take the paine to come into his countrie, trusting that he should
thinke his labor well bestowed. The bishop was glad, and sent word
hereof to the king his master, who willed him to accomplish the desire
of the Scotish king, which he tooke to bée reasonable.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham goeth into Scotland.]
[Sidenote: The Scotish king desireth the ladie Margaret eldest daughter
of K. Henrie the seuenth to be his wife.]
At his comming into Scotland, he was courteouslie receiued of the king
himselfe at the abbeie of Melrosse. And there, after the king had (for
a countenance) complained much of the vniust slaughter of his men late
committed at Norham: vpon the bishops gentle answers thervnto, he
forgaue the same, and after began to talke secretlie without witnesses
alone with the bishop. And first he declared what iust causes mooued
him in times past to séeke amitie with the king of England: which now
he desired much more to haue confirmed, for further maintenance &
increase thereof. Which he doubted not but should sort to a fortunate
conclusion, if the king of England would vouchsafe to giue to him in
matrimonie his first begotten daughter the ladie Margaret, vpon which
point he purposed latelie to haue sent his ambassadors into England,
which thing he would the sooner doo if he knew the bishops mind therein
to bée readie to further his sute. The bishop answered but few words
sauing that when he were returned to the king his maister, he would doo
the best in the matter that he could.
[Sidenote: 1499.]
[Sidenote: Perkin Warbecke escapeth from his kéepers.]
When the bishop was returned into England, and come to the king, he
declared to him all the communication had betwéene king Iames and him,
from point to point in order. The king liked well thereof as he to
whome peace was euer a souereigne solace and comfort. In this meane
time Perkin Warbecke, disappointed of all hope to escape out of the
Englishmens hands (which was the onelie thing that he most desired)
found meanes yet at length to deceiue his kéepers, & took him to his
héels. But when he came to the sea coasts, and could not passe, he was
in a maruellous perplexitie: for euerie by way, lane, and corner was
laid for him, and such search made, that being brought to his wits
end, and cut short of his pretensed iournie, he came to the house of
Bethlem, called the priorie of Shéene beside Richmond in Southerie, and
betooke himselfe to the prior of that monasterie, requiring him for the
honour of God, to beg his pardon of life of the kings maiestie.
The prior, which for the opinion that men had conceiued of his vertue,
was had in great estimation, pitieng the wretched state of that
caitife, came to the king, and shewed him of this Perkin, whose pardon
he humblie craued, and had it as fréelie granted. Incontinentlie after
was Perkin brought to the court againe at Westminster, and was one day
set fettered in a paire of stocks, before the doore of Westminster
hall, and there stood a whole day, not without innumerable reproches,
mocks and scornings. And the next daie he was caried through London,
and set vpon a like scaffold in Cheape by the standard, with like
ginnes and stocks as he occupied the daie before, and there stood all
daie, and read operilie his owne confession, written with his owne
hand, the verie copie whereof here insueth.
The confession of Perkin as it was written with his owne hand, which he
read openlie vpon a scaffold by the standard in Cheape.
[Sidenote: Perkin maketh an anatomie of his descent or linage.]
It is first to be knowne, that I was borne in the towne of Turneie in
Flanders, and my fathers name is Iohn Osbecke, which said Iohn Osbecke
was controller of the said towne of Turneie, and my moothers name is
Katharine de Faro. And one of my grandsires vpoa my fathers side was
named Diricke Osbeck, which died. After whose death my grandmoother was
married vnto Peter Flamin, that was receiuer of the forenamed towne of
Turneie, & deane of the botemen that row vpon the water or riuer called
le Scheld. And my grandsire vpon my moothers side was Peter de Faro,
which had in his kéeping the keies of the gate of S. Iohns within the
same towne of Turneie. Also I had an vncle called maister Iohn Stalin,
dwelling in the parish of S. Pias, within the same towne, which had
maried my fathers sister, whose name was Ione or Iane, with whome I
dwelt a certeine season.
[Sidenote: Perkins education or bringing vp.]
And after I was led by my moother to Antwerpe for to learne Flemish,
in a house of a cousine of mine, an officer of the said towne, called
Iohn Stienbecke, with whome I was the space of halfe a yeare. And after
that I returned againe to Turneie, by reason of warres that were in
Flanders. And within a yeare following I was sent with a merchant of
the said towne of Turneie, named Berlo, to the mart of Antwerpe, where
I fell sicke, which sickenesse continued vpon me fiue moneths. And the
said Berlo set me to boord in a skinners house, that dwelled beside the
house of the English nation. And by him I was from thense caried to
Barow mart; and I lodged at the signe of the old man, where I abode for
the space of two moneths.
[Sidenote: Perkin a notable landloper.]