to seruice for to learne the language, whose name was Iohn Strew,
with whome I dwelt from Christmasse to Easter, and then I went into
Portingall in companie of sir Edward Bramptons wife, in a ship which
was called the quéens ship. And when I was come thither, then was I
put in seruice to a knight that dwelled in Lushborne, which was called
Peter Vacz de Cogna, with whome I dwelled an whole yeare, which said
knight had but one eie. And bicause I desired to sée other countries, I
tooke licence of him, and then I put my selfe in seruice with a Briton,
called Pregent Meno, which brought me with him into Ireland. Now when
we were there arriued in the towne of Corke, they of the towne (bicause
I was arraied with some cloths of silke of my said maisters) came vnto
me, & threatned vpon me that I should be the duke of Clarences sonne,
that was before time at Dublin.
[Sidenote: The Irish would haue Perkin take vpon him to be the duke of
Clarences sonne.]
[Sidenote: They beare Perkin downe with oths that he is king Richards
bastard.]
But forsomuch as I denied it, there was brought vnto me the holie
euangelists, and the crosse, by the maior of the towne, which was
called Iohn Leweline, and there in the duke the presence of him and
others, I tooke mine oth (as the truth was) that I was not the foresaid
dukes sonne, nor none of his bloud. And after this came vnto me an
Englishman, whose name was Stephan Poitron, and one Iohn Water, and
laid to me in swearing great oths, that they knew well that I was king
Richards bastard sonne: whome I answered with like oths, that I was
not. Then they aduised me not to be afeard, but that I should take it
vpon me boldlie: and if I would so doo, they would aid and assist me
with all their power against the king of England; & not onelie they,
but they were well assured, that the earle of Desmond & Kildare should
doo the same.
[Sidenote: They call him duke of Yorke.]
For they forced not what part they tooke, so that they might be
reuenged on the king of England: and so against my will made me to
learne English, and taught me what I should doo and saie. And after
this they called me duke of Yorke, second sonne to king Edward the
fourth, bicause king Richards bastard sonne was in the hands of the
king of England. And vpon this the said Water, Stephan Poitron, Iohn
Tiler, Hughbert Burgh, with manie others, as the foresaid carles,
entered into this false quarell, and within short time others. The
French K. sent an ambassador into Ireland, whose name was Loit Lucas,
and maister Stephan Friham, to aduertise me to come into France. And
thense I went into France, and from thense into Flanders, & from
Flanders into Ireland, and from Ireland into Scotland, & so into
England.
* * * * *
When the night of the same daie (being the fiftéenth of Iune) was
come, after he had stood all that daie in the face of the citie, he
was committed to the Tower, there to remaine vnder safe kéeping, least
happilie he might eftsoones run awaie, and escape out of the land, to
put the king and realme to some new trouble. For he had a woonderfull
dexteritie and readinesse to circumuent, a heart full of ouerreaching
imaginations, an aspiring mind, a head more wilie (I wisse) than
wittie; bold he was and presumptuous in his behauiour, as forward to
be the instrument of a mischéefe, as anie deuiser of wickednesse would
wish; a féend of the diuels owne forging, nursed and trained vp in the
studie of commotions, making offer to reach as high as he could looke;
such was his inordinate ambition, wherewith he did swell as coueting
to be a princes péere: much like the tode that would match the bull in
drinking, but in the end she burst in péeces and neuer dranke more; as
the poet telleth the tale (by the imitation of the fabler) saieng;
[Sidenote: _M. Pal. in Virg._]
----cupiens æquare bibendo
Rana bouem, rupta nunquam bibit ampliùs aluo.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15.]
[Sidenote: Patrike an Augustine Frier.]
[Sidenote: Rafe Wilford the counterfeit earle of Warwike]
In this yeare was an Augustine frier called Patrike in the parties of
Suffolke, the which hauing a scholer named Rafe Wilford (a shoomakers
sonne of London as Stow noteth) had so framed him to his purpose, that
in hope to worke some great enterprise, as to disappoint the king of
his crowne and seat roiall, tooke vpon him to be the earle of Warwike,
insomuch that both the maister and scholer hauing counselled betwéene
themselves of their enterprise, they went into Kent, & there began
the yoong mawmet to tell priuilie to manie, that he was the verie
earle of Warwike, and latelie gotten out of the Tower, by the helpe
of this frier Patrike. To which saiengs when the frier perceiued some
light credence to be giuen, he declared it openlie in the pulpit, and
desired all men of helpe. But the danger of this seditious attempt was
shortlie remooued and taken awaie, the maister and scholer being both
apprehended and cast into prison and atteinted.
[Sidenote: The counterfeit earle is executed.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex. Edw. Hall in Hen. 7 fol._ lj.]
[Sidenote: The cause why the clergie neuer so heinouslie offending was
so fauoured.]
The scholer was hanged, on Shrouetuesdaie at saint Thomas Waterings,
and the frier condemned to perpetuall prison. For at that time so
much reuerence was attributed to the holie orders, that to a préest
(although he had committed high treason against his souereigne lord)
his life was spared, in like case as to anie other offender in murther,
rape, or theft, that had receiued anie of the thrée higher holie
orders. [The chéefe cause (saith Edward Hall) of this fauour was this,
bicause bishops of a long time and season did not take knowledge,
nor intermix themselues with the search & punishment of such heinous
and detestable offenses: by reason whereof they did not disgrade and
depriue from the holie orders such malefactors and wicked persons,
which without that ceremonie by the canon lawes could not be put to
death.
[Sidenote: Burning in the hand when enacted.]
Furthermore, what should a man saie, it was also vsed, that he that
could but onelie read (yea although he vnderstood not what he read)
how heinous or detestable a crime so euer he had committed (treason
onelie excepted) should likewise as affines & alies to the holie orders
be saued, and committed to the bishops prison. And to the intent that
if they should escape, and be againe taken, committing like offense,
that their liues be no more to them pardoned: it was ordeined that
murtherers should be burnt on the brawne of the left hand with an hot
iron signed with this letter M. and théeues in the same place with
this letter T. So that if they, which were once signed with anie of
these markes or tokens did reiterate like crime & offense againe,
should suffer the paines and punishments which they had both merited
and deserued. Which decrée was enacted and established in a session
of parlement kept in the time of this kings reigne, and taken (as I
coniecture) of the French nation, which are woont, if they take anie
such offender, to cut off one of his eares, as a sure token and marke
hereafter of his euill dooing.]
[Sidenote: Perkin corrupted his kéepers.]
[Sidenote: Edward Plantagenet earle of Warwike a verie innocent.]
Perkin Warbecke (as before ye haue heard) being now in hold, by false
persuasions and great promises corrupted his kéepers, Stranguish,
Blewet, Astwood, and long Roger, seruants to sir Iohn Digbie lieutenant
of the Tower. Insomuch that they (as it was at their arreignment
openlie prooued) intended to haue slaine their maister, and to haue set
Perkin and the earle of Warwike at large. Which earle of Warwike had
béene kept in prison within the Tower almost from his tender yeares,
that is to saie, from the first yeare of the king, to this fiftéenth
yeare, out of all companie of men & sight of beasts, insomuch that
he could not discerne a goose from a capon, and therefore by common
reason and open apparance could not of himselfe séeke his owne death
and destruction. But yet by the drift and offense of an other he was
brought to his death and confusion.
[Sidenote: Perkin and Iohn Awater executed at Tiburne.]
For being made priuie of this enterprise deuised by Perkin and his
complices, therevnto (as all naturall creatures loue libertie) he
assented and agréed. But this craftie deuise and subtill imagination
being reuealed, sorted to none effect, so that Perkin and Iohn Awater
sometime maior of Corke in Ireland, one of his chéefe founders, and his
sonne, were on the sixtéenth daie of Nouember arreigned and condemned
at Westminster. And on the thrée and twentith daie of the same moneth,
Perkin and Iohn Awater were drawne to Tiburne, where Perkin standing
on a little scaffold, read his confession (as before he had doone in
Cheape side) taking it on his death to be true. And so he and Iohn
Awater asked the king forgiuenesse, and died patientlie.
[Sidenote: Edward Plantagenet the yoong earle of Warwike beheaded.]
This was the reward of the feined glose and counterfeit comment of
Perkin Warbecke, the which as by his false surmises in his life time
had brought manie honourable personages to their deaths, and vndoone
manie an honest man: so now at his death he brought other of the same
sort to their not altogither vndeserued punishment. And amongest others
Edward Plantagenet the forenamed erle of Warwike, which (as the fame
went) consented to breake prison, and to depart out of the realme with
Perkin (which in prisoners is high treason) was the one and twentith
daie of the said moneth arreigned at Westminster before the earle
of Oxenford then high steward of England of the said treason, which
(whether it were by intisement and persuasion of other, or of his owne
frée will manie doubted, bicause of his innocencie) confessed the fact,
and submitted himselfe to the kings mercie; and vpon his confession had
his iudgement, and according thervnto the eight and twentith daie of
Nouember in the yeare 1499, was brought to the scaffold on the Tower
hill, and there beheaded.
[Sidenote: 1500.]
[Sidenote: A great plague.]
[Sidenote: Edward the kings third sonne christened.]
[Sidenote: The manour of Shéene burnt & Richmond built in place
thereof.]
[Sidenote: _I. S. pag. 874._]
The fame after his death sprang abroad, that Ferdinando king of Spaine
would make no full conclusion of the matrimonie to be had betwéene
prince Arthur and the ladie Katharine daughter to the said Ferdinando,
nor send hir into England as long as this earle liued. For he imagined
that so long as anie earle of Warwike liued, England should neuer be
purged of ciuill warre and priuie sedition; so much was the name of
Warwike in other regions had in feare and gealousie. The next yeare
after there was a great plague, whereof men died in manie places verie
sore; but speciallie and most of all in the citie of London, where died
in that yeare thirtie thousand. The foure and twentith of Februarie in
this fiftéenth yeare of this kings reigne his third son was christened
and was named Edward. Also in this yeare was burned a place of the
kings, called the manour of Shéene situate nigh the Thames side, which
he after builded againe sumptuouslie, and changed the name of Shéene,
and called it Richmond; bicause his father and he were earles of
Richmond: or (as some note) for that so manie notable and rich iewels
were there burnt. He also new builded Bainards castell in London, and
repaired Gréenewich.
[Sidenote: King Henrie the seuenth saileth to Calis.]
The king, whether to auoid the danger of so great and perilous
sickenesse, then raging, or to take occasion to commen with the duke of
Burgognie, did personallie take his ship at Douer in the beginning of
Maie, and sailed to Calis, whither the duke of Burgognie sent to him
honourable personages in ambassage to welcome him into those parties,
and to declare that the said duke would gladlie repaire personallie to
his presence with such a number as the king should appoint, so that it
were within no walled towne nor fortresse. For hauing denied the French
king to enter into anie of his fortresses to talke with him, he would
be loth now to giue a president to him to desire the like méeting.
The king interteining the ambassadours, and thanking the duke of his
courteous offer, appointed the place at saint Peters church without
Calis.
[Sidenote: The king of England and the duke of Burgognie méet at saint
Peters church without Calis.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hall, in Hen. 7. fol._ lij.]
Vpon tuesdaie in Whitsunwéeke the archduke Philip came thither with a
conuenient companie. The king and the quéene with manie a lustie lord
and ladie rode thither to welcome him. [And when the king approched,
the duke at his lighting offered to hold his stirrupe, which the king
in no wise would suffer to be doone. When the king was descended from
his horsse, he and the archduke imbraced each other with most princelie
familiaritie, and then the quéene and all the nobles saluted him.]
And after most louing interteinments, bankettings, mirth, and pastime
shewed amongest them, there was communication of marriages, treating of
further strengthening of leagues, requests of tolles in Flanders to be
minished: with manie other things touching the commoditie and traffike
of both their countries. And when all things were set in order, the two
princes tooke their leaue, and departed; the king to Calis, and the
archduke to S. Omers. After his departing, there came as ambassadors
from the French king, the lord Gronthouse gouernour of Picardie, and
the lord Meruelliers bailiffe of Amiens, which declared to the king the
getting of Millaine and taking of the duke. The king highlie feasted
them, and rewarded them princelie at their departing.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16.]
[Sidenote: A yeare of Iubile.]
[Sidenote: Pope Alexander maketh profit of his great pardon or
heauenlie grace, as he termeth it.]
Soone after, when the death was slaked, the king returned againe into
England about the end of Iune. Shortlie after there came to him one
Gasper Pons a Spaniard, a man of excellent learning and most ciuill
behauiour, sent from Alexander the bishop of Rome to distribute the
heauenlie grace (as he termed it) to all such as (letted by anie
forceable impediment) could not come to Rome that yeare to the Iubile,
which was there celebrate, being the yeare after the birth of our
Sauiour, 1500. This beneuolent liberalitie was not altogither fréelie
giuen. For Alexander looking to the health of mens soules, thought
to doo somewhat for his owne priuat commoditie, & therefore he set a
certeine price of that his grace and pardon. And to the end that the
king should not hinder his purpose, he offered part of his gaines to
the king.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]
And to colour the matter with some fauourable pretext, and to make men
the better willing, & more readie to giue franklie, he promised with
that monie to make warre against the Turke. By this meanes the pope got
a great masse of monie, which he had conueied ouer vnto him by such
trustie messengers (doubt you not) as he had appointed; and yet nothing
doone against the Turks, which in the meane season did much hurt to the
christians. [For it was no part of his meaning (what colourable shew
soeuer he made of tendering the succourlesse people) to impart anie
portion thereof to so good a vse; but rather for the supportation of
him and his swarme, who before they will bate an ace of their gorgeous
gallantnesse, the whole world shall be cousened. Such is the collusion
of the pope, such be the shamelesse shifts of him and his cleargie
for the maintenance of their owne courtlie brauerie, which is wicked
vanitie; farre passing the pompe of anie prince, were the same of
neuer so rare magnificence; as he well noteth that said full trulie:
[Sidenote: _Antith. Christ. &. pape. pag. 38. 40._]
------immenso princeps non visus in orbe est,
Cui tanti fastus tantáue pompa fuit.
Ingreditur quando miseræ Babylonis in vrbes,
Cernitur hîc plusquam regia pompa comes.
Huic equus est spumans ostróq; insignis & auro,
Altisono cuius sub pede terra fremit, &c.]
[Sidenote: Thrée bishops dead in one yeare.]
[Sidenote: Two notable mariages.]
[Sidenote: 1501.]
[Sidenote: Katharine daughter to Ferdinando K. of Spaine affied to
Arthur prince of Wales.]
About this time died thrée bishops in England, Iohn Morton archbishop
of Canturburie, Thomas Langton bishop of Winchester, and Thomas
Rotheram archbishop of Yorke. After him succéeded Thomas Sauage bishop
of London, a man of great honour and worthinesse: in whose place
succéeded William Worham, of whome before is made mention. And Henrie
Deane bisbop of Salisburie, was made archbishop of Canturburie, and
Richard Fox was remooued from Durham to the sée of Winchester. Also
this yeare two notable mariages were concluded, but not consummate till
afterwards, as you shall heare in place conuenient. For king Henrie
granted his daughter ladie Margaret to Iames the fourth king of Scots.
And Ferdinando king of Spaine gaue his daughter ladie Katharine to
Arthur prince of Wales, sonne and heire apparant to the king of England.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17.]
[Sidenote: The fourth of October as _Stow_ hath noted.]
Among other articles of the mariage concluded with the Scotish king
this was one, that no English men should be receiued into Scotland
without letters commendatorie of their souereigne lord, or safe conduct
of his warden of the marches; and the same prohibition was in like
maner giuen to the Scots. This yeare the ladie Katharine of Spaine was
sent by hir father king Ferdinando with a puissant nauie of ships into
England, where she arriued in the hauen of Plimmouth the second daie
of October then being saturdaie. Vpon the twelft of Nouember she was
conueied from Lambeth through London with all triumph and honour that
might be deuised to the bishops palace, the stréets being hanged, and
pageants erected after the maner as is vsed at a coronation: which
solemnitie Edward Hall describeth with the sumptuous shewes then
glistering in the beholders eies.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem. ex. Edw. Hall. fol._ lij.]
¶ I passe ouer (saith he) the wise deuises, the prudent spéeches,
the costlie works, the cunning portratures, practised and set foorth
in seuen goodlie beautifull pageants, erected and set vp in diuerse
places of the citie. I leaue also the goodlie ballades, the swéet
harmonie, the musicall instruments, which sounded with heauenlie noise
on euerie side of the stréets. I omit further, the costlie apparell
both of goldsmiths worke and imbroderie, the rich iewels, the massie
chaines, the stirring horsses, the beautifull bards and the glittering
trappers, both with belles and spangels of gold. I pretermit also the
rich apparell of the princesse, the strange fashion of the Spanish
nation, the beautie of the English ladies, the goodlie demeanure of
the yoong damosels, the amorous countenance of the lustie bachelers.
I passe ouer also the fine ingrained clothes, the costlie furs of the
citizens, standing on scaffolds, raised from Gracechurch to Paules.
What should I speake of the oderiferous scarlets, the fine veluets, the
pleasant furres, the massie chaines, which the maior of London with
the senat, sitting on horssebacke at the little conduit in Cheape,
ware on their bodies and about their necks? I will not speake of the
rich arras, the costlie tapestrie, the fine clothes both of gold and
siluer, the curious veluets, the beautifull sattens, nor the pleasant
silkes which did hang in euerie stréet where she passed, the wine that
ran continuallie out of the conduits, and the graueling of the stréets
néedeth not to be remembred.
Whilest this ladie soiourned for hir recreation in the bishops palace
of London, being in the meane time visited of the king, the quéene, and
the kings mother, there was erected in the bodie of S. Paules church
a long bridge made of timber, extending from the west doore of the
church to the step at the entring into the quéere, which was six foot
from the ground. On the said bridge or stage, euen directlie before the
consistorie of the church, was a place raised like a mount for eight
persons to stand vpon, compassed round about with steps to ascend and
descend, which was couered with fine red worsted, and in likewise were
all the railes of the said stage. On the north side of this mount was
a place decked and trimmed for the king and quéene, and such other as
they appointed to haue. On the south side of the same mount stood the
maior and the magistrates of the citie.
[Sidenote: The solemnisation of the mariage betwéene Arthur prince of
Wales & Katharine daughter to the king of Spaine.]
When all things were prepared and set in order, vpon the fouretéenth
of Nouember then being sundaie, the foresaid ladie was led to the said
mount, and there prince Arthur openlie espoused hir, both being clad
in white, both lustie and amorous, he of the age of fiftéene and more,
and she of the age of eightéene or thereabouts, the king and quéene
standing priuily on their stage. After the matrimonie celebrated,
the prince and his wife went vp into the quéere, and there heard a
solemne masse soong by the archbishop of Canturburie, associat with
ninetéene prelats mitred. And after the masse finished, the bride was
led homewards to the bishops palace by the duke of Yorke, being then a
goodlie yoong prince, and the legat of Spaine. Next after followed the
ladie Cicilie sister to the quéene, supporting the traine of the spouse.
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall fol._ liij.]
But to speake of all the solemne pompe, noble companie of lords and
ladies, and what a sumptuous feast and plentifull was kept, with
dansing and disguisings, words might sooner faile than matter worthie
of rehearsall. Howbeit euerie daie endeth and night insueth, and so
when night was come, the prince and his beautifull bride were brought
and ioined togither in one bed, where they laie as man and wife all
that night. ¶ Now when the morning appéered, the prince (as his
familiar seruitors, which had then neither cause nor reward to lie or
fame, openlie told the tale) called for drinke, which he before times
was not accustomed to doo. At which thing one of his chamberleins
maruelling, asked the cause of his drouth. To whome the prince answered
merilie, saieng; I haue this night béene in the middest of Spaine,
which is a hot region, and that iournie maketh me so drie: and if thou
haddest béene vnder that hot climat, thou wouldest haue béene drier
than I.
[Sidenote: Margaret eldest daughter to king Henrie affied to Iames king
of Scots.]
Shortlie after the king and the quéene, with the new wedded spouses
went from Bainards castell by water to Westminster, on whom the maior
and communaltie of London in barges gorgeouslie trimmed gaue their
attendance. And there in the palace were such martiall feats, valiant
iusts, vigorous turneis, and such fierce fight at the barriers, as
before that time was of no man had in remembrance. Of this roiall
triumph lord Edward duke of Buckingham was chiefe chalenger, and
lord Thomas Greie marquesse Dorset chiefe defender, which with their
aids and companions bare themselues so valiantlie, that they got
great praise and honour, both of the Spaniards, and of their owne
countriemen. During the time of these iusts and triumphs, were receiued
into London, an earle, a bishop, and diuerse noble personages sent from
the king of Scots into England, for conclusion of the mariage betwéene
the ladie Margaret and him; which earle by proxie, in the name of king
Iames his maister, affied and contracted the said ladie. Which affiance
was published at Paules crosse, the daie of the conuersion of saint
Paule: in reioising whereof Te Deum was soong, and great fiers made
through the citie of London.
[Sidenote: 1502.]
[Sidenote: Prince Arthur is sent into Wales.]
These things being accomplished, the ambassadors as well of Spaine as
Scotland tooke their leaue of the king, & not without great rewards
returned into their countries. When the ambassadors were departed, he
sent his sonne prince Arthur againe into Wales, to kéepe that countrie
in good order; appointing to him wise and expert councellors, as sir
Richard Poole his kinsman, which was his chiefe chamberleine, also
sir Henrie Vernon, sir Richard Crofts, sir Dauid Philip, sir William
Wall, sir Thomas Englefield, sir Peter Newton knights; Iohn Walleston,
Henrie Marton, & doctor William Smith, president of his councell, and
doctor Charles; of the which two doctors, the one was after bishop of
Lincolne, and the other bishop of Hereford.
[Sidenote: _Iohn Stow, pag. 874, 875._]
[Sidenote: The maiors feast first kept at Guildhall.]
[Sidenote: Woollen cloth of two shillings the brode yard.]
[Sidenote: Dikes of L[=o]don clensed.]
[Sidenote: Men brought from the new found islands.]