to gain Sisenna a Centurian in the Syrian Army and sent part of that Army to Rome to make a Treaty of Union with the Pretorian Cohorts or Regiment of the Guards carrying with them for the Symbole of that Unity they desired the Figure of Right Hands joyn'd together This Captain he try'd so many ways to make of his Party as obliged him to steal privately out of the Island for avoiding the Violence and Danger that threatned him These Proceedings carried the Terrour and Fear of the supposed Nero very far many unquiet Minds taking this occasion of disturbance some through the desire of Novelty others in dislike of the present Government dispersing the News of Nero's Return The Emperour Galba had given the Government of Galatia and Pamphilia to Calpurnius Asprenas and two Gallies were ordered to conduct him These casting Anchornear this Island the Impostor much desired to be Master of which not being able to effect openly he try'd to accomplish by Art and putting himself into a small Vessel not knowing any thing of a Roman Governour desired he might come on Board and transport himself into Syria or Egypt Standing on the Prow of his Ship looking sad and disconsolate he admonished the Souldiers to think of the Oath of Fidelity they had sworn to him heretofore Then directing himself to the Pilots they made some difficulty to receive him saying They were not Masters but would ask their Commander doing this for an Amusement that they might the better surprize him They informed Asprenas of what had past who considering the Vessel the Impostor was in not to be of any great Force immediately commanded to attack her but he took her not without a smart dispute the false Nero Valiantly fighting till he dyed His Body remarkable for his fine Hair and great Eyes but above all for the Fierceness of his Countenance was carried to Asia and Rome where it lay expos'd to every ones Admiration and to consider his Insolence that durst attempt to usurp the greatest Emprire of the World CHAP. III. THE False MESSIAS CALLED Benchochab Head of the Revolted Jews ADrian having succeeded Trajan the Emperour in the 4080th Year of the World and of Jesus Christ the 118th found the same Dispositions of Revolting in the minds of the Jews that his Predecessors had done So he recall'd Jul. Severus from Britain who was reputed one of the Wisest and most Valiant Captains of his time in the Roman Empire and him the Emperor sent into Syria to quell the Mutineers But he found them so well on their Guards and so strongly fortified as made him avoid coming to a Battle or hazarding his Troops unequally against such desperate Vagabonds Therefore spent time and prolonged the War which gave the Jews opportunity to augment their Strength The better to increase their Army and heighten their Courage they took Religion for a pretence the Head of the Seditious calling himself the Messiah and to make the nearer Allusion to the Prophecy in the 24th of Numbers where the great Legislator Moses says A Star shall come out of Jacob he took the Name of Benchochab Son of the Star or as some will Barcochab but 't is all one for Ben and Bar both signifie a Son This Impostor possest for six years together fifty Castles besides four hundred and eighty Towns and Villages He fortified so strongly the Castle of Bethoron seituated by the Tribes of Benjamin and Ephraim which Castle Solomon chose to make a strong Fortress that it held a Siege of three years and a half The Emperour Adrian coming in person against it 't is hardly to be believed what Resistance the Besieged made how many Sallies and what Blood was spilt We find written that three hundred thousand Jews were slain besides vast numbers who perisht by Plague and Hunger 'T is said to the number of 500000 Men if we may believe Carion's Chronicle Bencochab was kill'd in a Salley after whose Death Bethoron was taken The Jews instead of Bencochab call him Benscosba or the Son of Deceit having falsly call'd himself the Messiah The Emperour writ excellent Letters on this occasion of his Victory as equal with the greatest had ever been obtained since it gave Peace to all the East This Impostor had such an inveterate hatred to the Christians that all those who fell under his power he put to cruel Deaths The Emperour Adrian having razed the City of Jerusalem resolved to rebuild it calling it Elia Adriana he forbad entrance into it or habitation there to the Jews but allowed both to the Christians Thus ended this Impostor who did just contrary to the true Messiah whose Name he usurpt viz. Led the people into Servitude and Misery CHAP. IV. THE Counterfeit MOSES IN the time of Theodosius the Emperour who Reigned from the year 412 until 454 a wicked Jewish Impostor appeared in Candia calling himself Moses promising the Jews who were in great numbers in that Insulary Kingdom he would lead them through the Sea on foot without the help of Ships into their old Country Judea as he had formerly done their Fathers in the time of Pharaoh King of Aegypt and by the same means deliver them from Servitude that he had already done it in the year of the World 2454 being 2050 years before this Counterfeit appeared the present Story happening in the 4420th year of the World He further perswaded them he was the same Prophet Moses whom God had sent from Heaven to be their Guide He went about the Island for a year together inculcating these Perswasions into the People and assign'd them a certain Day to begin their Journey He pretended to prophecy and gathered Money on all hands and at the day appointed led Multitudes of People to the Sea-side where commanding several to leap in their Folly and Blindness was so great to obey him many of them being swallowed by the Waters and if some Fisher-men had not been near and charitably saved several with their Barques calling to those on the Shore not to venture they had many of them perisht who by their means were saved The Impostor escapt and I find not what became of him but his Villany opened the Eyes of many of those poor People who embraced the Christian Religion Socrates a Greek Author writes this History CHAP. V. John Bulchold KING of the Anabaptists THE Conformity of this Impostor with those two preceding perswades me to break the Order of Time I had prescribed my self This Wretch of whom the last Age talkt so much was a Hollander born at Leyden a Taylor by his Profession He appear'd at Munster in the year 1534. and took the Name of King of the Anabaptists saying He was sent by God to Extirpate all other Princes and Potentates of the Earth John Sleidan in his Tenth Book of his History touching the State of Religion declares the Excess Extravagance and Cruelty of this Impostor He caused two Crowns to be made of massive Gold a Sword a Chain and
Emperour of Greece Whose Death I have lamented when I was in my Youth When first the unhappy News arrived his Son Henry a Valiant Prince succeeded him in the Empire and his Eldest Daughter Jane in his Earldom of Flanders Their Country holds of me and is a Feudatory of my Crown as the Earl is a Peer of my Kingdom I wish I could alter the Course of Nature and that what has happened had not been that my dear Vncle the Father of my Cousin-German whose Name and Memory is of admirable Veneration in Greece could return to Life But I cannot lightly be perswaded from the belief I have of his death and the report which hath been confirmed through the course of so many Years Most humane things especially Empires subsist by the Testimony of men Tell me then for whom you would be received If for my Vncle shew it us by some authentick proof and because the thing is unexpected it will be so much the more agreeable and give me transports of joy and satisfaction when I am convinced I have wept for my Vncle without cause and for a false Opinion whilst he that I should Reverence like a Father is restor'd to me I am glad that a few short questions will make your self judge and witness in your own Cause which the World must needs know is of the greatest Importance I ask you then If my Father King Philip treated you as his Homager and whether he gave you the Investiture of the Earldom of Flanders In what place at what time in what manner and before what Witnesses did he gird on your Sword and made you a Knight And of what Order was it Who was the Wife you Married in France Who treated the Match In what place and with what Ceremonies did you Marry her for the true Baldwyn cannot be ignorant of these matters I have exactly made a Recital of all the Questions from Paulus Aemilius that admirable Historian It is very strange that he who had so well studied the Genealogies of the Flemish Lords could not tell what Wife he Married which was Margaret Daughter to the Earl of Champagne The Annals of Flanders say it was the Bishop of Beauvais President of the Kings Counsel that askt him all these questions which may be reduced to three 1. In what place he did Homage for his Earldom of Flanders 2. By whom and in what Place he was made a Knight 3. In what Place and on what Day he Married Margaret of Champagne But this Impostor as surprized with all these Questions askt three days to answer them Perhaps one might excuse a Man for not remembring several Circumstances of the principal Actions of his Life Besides such an August Assembly before so Great a King and Magnificent a Court a Subject of such consequence before an Audience no ways favourable with the Apprehension of the Danger might distract him and hinder his answering pertinently Guaguin says That speaking Haughtily to the Points in question without sufficient Proofs of what he pretended to be the King commanded him to go out of his Realm in three days but doing him no hurt because he had given him his safe Conduct This Impostor being thus shamefully Driven away retir'd to Valenciennes in Haynault where being abandon'd by those whose hopes of advantage by this Novelty had made them promise him great assistance he disguis'd himself like a Trades-man intending to have past into Burgundy hoping to find countenance and support there but he was watcht and taken on his way by a Burgundian Gentleman Erard Castenac who sold him to the Countess Jane for four hundred Marks She put him to the torture and forc'd him by his torments to Confess his Imposture He said he was Born in Champagne and his name was Bertrand de Rayns he was led through all the Cities of Flanders and Haynault where after having been shew'd to the People he was publickly hang'd at Lisle in Flanders Famâ ancipiti jurene an injuriâ The greatest part of Europe was in doubt whether the Countess justly put this Impostor to Death The example of Peter Courtney Successor of the true Baldwyn and Henry in right of his Wife Yolante persuaded the possibility of so straight a Prison as might not give him Opportunity to inform his Subjects and Friends what misfortune had befallen him The Catastrophe of this false Baldwyn happen'd in the year of Christ 1225. and of the World 5186. CHAP. VIII Perkin Warbeck OR THE COUNTERFEIT Duke of York Son of Edward the Fourth King of England THis Impostor continued longer than any of the rest and had more Chances and happy Hours The Cruelty of Richard Duke of Glocester Son of Richard Duke of York and Brother of Edward the Fourth King of England gave Henry Earl of Richmond Grand-son of Owen Tudor and Catharine of France a Pretension to Arm against him for the Recovery of the Kingdom of England which Edward the Fourth before Duke of York and Head of the Red-Rose had usurp't from Henry the Sixth Richard Duke of Glocester had also usurp't the Crown from Edward the Fifth a young Prince of Twelve years old Eldest Son and Successor to King Edward the Fourth as likewise from his Brother Richard Duke of York his two Nephews whom he unnaturally and cruelly murthered in the Tower of London in the year 1483. It was the Person of this last Richard Duke of York and only Brother of King Edward the Fifth that this Impostor Peter Warbeck commonly called Perkin Warbeck so artfully imitated for Five or Six Years time from 1494 untill 1499 putting all England into combustion and perplexity on that Subject and giving much trouble to the new Conqueror Henry the Seventh who was before Earl of Richmond Margaret Sister to King Edward the Fourth Widow of Charles the Hardy Duke of Burgundy and Soveraign of the Seventeen Provinces of the Lower Germany produced and instructed this Counterfeit to take the Crown of England if she could have effected what she had often endeavoured from Henry the Seventh Chief of the House of Lancaster or the White-Rose whom she mortally hated This is the Truth of the Story as Polydore Virgil Historiographer to Henry the Eighth relates it in the Twenty-sixth Book of his History of England This Princess a Woman of an Ambitious and Intriguing humour had conceived a great Aversion to Henry the Seventh Exterminator of the Usurper Richard Duke of Glocester The principal cause of her Hatred proceeded from the long Enmity between his Family of Lancaster and her 's of the House of York which made her continually endeavour by all means imaginable his extirpation with the satisfaction of her own Revenge in the removal of the Crown to One of her own Party But finding all her endeavours miscarried and those of John Earl of Lincoln were come to nothing her old Inveterate temper prompted her with new Expedients more difficult for Henry to prevent She met a young man at Tourney who was handsom
going out of the Kingdom except with good Passes and to hinder all great Assemblies For the better disabusing the English from their false opinions he sent his subtlest Spies through all the Towns of Flanders to understand the Birth and Original of this Counterfeit promising large Recompence to those that could discover it Writing to his Friends on the same Subject These Emissaries exactly obeyed their Orders some of them coming to Tournay found the false Richard was Born there of the Meanest of the People his name being Peter Warbeck of which they brought very authentick Attestations Upon this the King sent a solemn Embassy to young Earl Philip in Flanders of which Sir Edward Poinings and William Warham Dr. of Laws were chief The latter of these was also a Church-man of extraordinary Parts and Modesty He made a Speech to the Lords of the Young Princes Counsel who was not of Age yet to take the Government upon himself He laid the impiousness of the Impostor before them putting them in mind of the like happening in their Country about 250 years before in the time of their Countess Jane Likewise telling them that the Effects of the King his Masters Friendship to Maximilian Father of the Prince in the War of France should not be so quickly blotted out of their memory sharply reflecting on the Conduct of the Dutchess Margaret who brought forth in her elder Years not a Child at nine Months but a Prodigy of nine score Months old The Councel after a long Debate reply'd That to gratifie the King their Earl would give no assistance to Perkin But for the Dutchess Dowager She was Mistress of her Joynture and her Actions and they would neither prescribe nor forbid her any thing The Ambassadors being return'd Henry sent divers Emissaries some to discover the Names of the Conspirators by feigning to enter into the design others to endeavour the persuading Sir Robert Clifford and William Barklay to return with the assurance of their Pardon Clifford was prevailed on but Barklay continued obstinate not returning till two Years after and till he was certain of the Kings Mercy Some of the Kings Messengers came back after having discovered many of the Conspirators Others staid longer to accompany Clifford whose coming home so much discountenanced the Plotters that they knew not whom to trust The King being informed who several of the Conspirators were caused them to be Seized and Committed to Prison in London the Chief were John Ratclif Lord Fitz-Walter Sir Simon Montfort and Sir Thomas Thwaites Knights William Dawbeney Robert Ratclif Richard Lacy with divers others Some Priests William Richeford and Thomas Ponys Dominican Fryers William Sutton Robert Laybourn and William Worsley Dean of St. Pauls The rest finding their practises were discovered fled to several places of Refuge They were all Condemned as Traytors but only these Principal were Beheaded Robert Ratclif William Dawbeney and Simon Montfort John Ratclif Lord Fitzwalter was carried to Calais where for endeavouring to make his Escape he lost his Head likewise The rest the King Pardoned Not long after Sir Robert Clifford Arrived and the King chose to speak with him in the Tower that in case he accused any Great Men about his Person he might secure them there Much discourse there was touching Cliffords Conduct some thought him all along to have been imploy'd by the King to discover the rest This was occasioned by the ready obtaining his Pardon and his Return made him equally decry'd by both Parties his Friends believing him a Cheat but the small consideration the King had of him generally convinced People he acted as he thought through his Inclination to the House of York being deceived into the persuasion it was the true Prince He threw himself at the Kings Feet giving an account what passed in Flanders and naming amongst his Accomplices Sir William Stanley It much astonished the King he being his Lord Chamberlain to whom he trusted his most Important Affairs and who had gain'd him the Crown which was wore by his assistance in the Battel against Rich. the Third the Usurper Clifford pretending to know his ill will to the King from the beginning he having declared He would never bear Arms against that Young Man if he were convinced he was the Son of King Edward Polydore Virgil says his Resentment proceeded from his not being rewarded as he thought he had deserved to be Benesicium post hominum memoriam Maximum per quod Henricus a periculo vitaeliberatus conservatusque Regnum sibi quaesivit For when the King was over-power'd at the Battel of Bosworth and like to be torn in pieces by that Squadron where his Enemy Richard was Sir William Stanly by order of his Brother Thomas who Commanded the Reserve effectually helping where he found most need charging Richard he disingaged the King and gave him the Victory These Considerations made him in some suspence but the consequence of the Example prevail'd and he was Beheaded as the rest were The King was under a necessity to use that Rigour for hindring the Insolent discourses of the common People who talkt Maliciously and Cursed him at their little Meetings saying aloud They expected every day the Duke of York and to see him on the Throne But these Executions and the Method he used in his Affairs extinguished great part of those Heats and restored many People to their Duty Giles Lord Dawbeney whose Prudence and Fidelity the King was well assured of possest the Place of Lord Chamberlain Vacant by the Death of Sir William Stanley The Irish more than ever persisting in their rash unadvisedness it was resolved to endeavour to crush those Seeds of Sedition Perkin had sown amongst them the precedent Years For which Intent the King sent Henry Denny Abbot of Langton a Wise and Contriving Man whom he designed to make Chancellor of that Kingdom making Sir Edward Poynings his Colleague who was to command the Army These two Persons representing the two Arms of Justice one holding the Scales the other the Sword shewing above the Cheats of an Impostor the Majesty of a Lawful King Non solum Armis decoratam sed Legibus armatam They had order to go where he had been and take an exact account who they were that resolved to assist him and to Arm all they could to pursue the Accomplices Ireland was divided into two sorts of Inhabitants the one Civilized through the converse with other Nations but especially the English The others Wild and Savage as any upon Earth living by Theft enclin'd to Rebellion and Novely destroying one another according to the Inclinations and Avarice of those they follow Perkin knowing the Genius and Turbulent Spirits of the latter addressed himself to them These Sir Edward Poynings attackt chiefly knowing them most Guilty but they would never stand the shock always flying to their Boggs and Mountains The other Irish did not obey his Orders nor send him Succours as they promised which made him give over
the Pursuit believing the old Governour Gerald Earl of Kildare favoured them underhand wherefore he cunningly seized his Person and brought him to the King before whom this Earl so pleaded his Cause that he was sent back and restored to his Government being thought the most prudent way in that Conjuncture because of his great Interest and Authority with the Irish While these things were transacting in England Warbeck was extreamly grieved his Conspiracy was discovered and many of his chiefest Friends Executed Yet he notwithstanding resolved to cross the Sea accompanied by a great number of Vagabonds such Fugitives as would follow him 'T is true he had some Lords and good Captains in his Train to strengthen his hopes of the Crown His Fleet came upon the Coast of Kent where the weather being calm he Landed some of his Men for the better securing or persuading the Country People to his Party But the Impostor was already known every where and they had suffered much Misery and Desolation in the late Wars They knew the Soldiers of this false Richard were all Strangers who would make no distinction of Friends or Enemies where they were strong enough to Plunder and Pillage nor have respect to Churches or Places Sacred believing God had left them since several of their Party had been put to shameful deaths as a punishment of their Guilt Wherefore these Inhabitants endeavoured to destroy this Counterfeit by persuading him to Land all his Men promising to give notice to their Neighbours and make a considerable body while he prepared for his March Perkin distrusted their Intentions knowing the common People use no Ceremony in their Emotions but run on without Reason or Deliberation Therefore he resolved not to Land himself but to venture part of his Men who were no sooner out of sight when the Country People Charged them driving them back to the Sea so that only the most Nimble and most Cowardly escaped the Stoutest and Robust were killed or wounded The latter were not treated as Prisoners of War but like Pirats and Thieves 150 being Hanged along the Shore The King himself was on his March from London against these Vagabonds till meeting the news of their Defeat he returned sending only Sir Richard Guilford to thank the Kentishmen for their Loyalty and assure them of his Grace and Favour incouraging them to persist in the same Fidelity and Zeal for his Interest Though this ill success troubled Warbeck and his Friends who returned to Flanders they gave not over for it taking new Resolutions of Landing in Ireland and Levying Men there for the Invading the Western parts of England And if that failed to go for Scotland which Nation had never Peace long with the English His Aunt giving him Money for the equipping a Fleet and making some Levies He Sayled with good Weather to the Irish Coasts where he soon found the inequality between those unarmed unexperienced People and the English Forces yet not daring to expose his Men to the Slaughter he rather chose the other Project of passing into Scotland where James the Fourth was not displeased at the Arrival of a Person so much discours'd of through all Europe out of the Aversion his People had for the English giving him Access to his Royal Person where Polydore Virgil says he made this Speech I know Great Prince you cannot be Ignorant what Calamities have late befallen the Family of Edward the Fourth King of England whose Son I assure your Majesty I am having by a Miracle escaped Death My Father e're he dyed made Richard Duke of Glocester my Uncle Guardian to Edward my Elder Brother and my self hoping the great kindness he always favoured him with would oblige him to more tenderness of us But alas how was he deceived for our Guardian became our Murderer Transported by his Ambition of Reigning he gave his positive Commands for our Destruction The Person he instructed with his Orders frighted with the horror of the Crime obey'd but half his Instructions For after he had taken away my Brother's sparing my life he suffered a faithful Servant to convey me out of the Kingdom who left me not till I was past all danger By these Methods my Vncle Richard seized the Crown as if it had been the Reward of his Crimes whilst I after this Deliverance wandring about the World almost forgot who I was At last coming to my Aunt Margaret Widow of that most excellent Prince Charles late Duke of Burgundy she received me with unspeakable joy as risen from the dead But that Princess having only her Joynture in Flanders and not able to assist me with Force enough for the recovery of my Kingdom I have been constrained to have Recourse to other Princes And by her advice I am come to Your Majesty though slenderly accompanyed Yet knowing your Princely Generosity which has filled the World with your Glory particularly for your Inclination to protect the Vnhappy Dispossessed of their Rights who becoming Objects of the Cruelty of wicked Men are so much the greater of Your Royal Clemency This encourages me to implore Your Majesty's Assistance for this Vnhappy Prince here before You for the Recovery of his antient Kingdom And I assure you I and my Successors will so acknowledge Your Majesty's Grace and Favour that this Crown will not repent the Kindness though to say truly it is above all we can do to express our Gratitude as we ought King James answer'd his Speech very civilly exhorting him to take Courage and assure himself he should not repent his coming thither He Assembled his Council who were much divided in their Opinions some taking him for an Impostor others whose Advice prevailed affirming that if he were the true Duke of York both He and all his Posterity must acknowledge this Favour and for it be obliged to Scotland Or although he should prove a Counterfeit this Pretence of War would make the English treat with more inclination to grant what they desired for the dis-engaging the Scots from his Interest This last Advice was followed by the King who shewed Perkin extraordinary Respects stiling him Highness and Duke of York And to advance his Credit he married him to his Kinswoman Katharine Daughter of Alexander Earl of Huntley a Lady of incomparable Beauty and Vertue whose Obedience to the King rather than the Ambition of having her Head Crowned one day with a Royal Diadem o're-came the Repugnance she had in her Heart to marry a Man so unknown whom many called an Impostor The Motives which perswaded the King to this Match were for a specious Pretext of War and breaking the Truce with the English He being by this obliged to protect his new Kinsman and Ally without being accounted rash in his Assistance if the Deceit should be discovered for this Marriage must needs perswade the World he thought him the true Duke of York King James raised Men and formed an Army which you will suppose gave the Impostor great
Occasion of so many Rebellions The King of Scotland could not in Honour yeild to deliver up a Man to Death whom he had raised and made his Kinsman So at last it was agreed that he should quit his Interest and command him out of his Dominions These Articles were agreed on and a Peace was made between them in the Year 1498. Henry King of England sent home this Spanish Ambassador Loaden with Presents and with great Thanks to his King and Queen Then was the Marriage projected of Prince Arthur the Kings Eldest Son and Katharine the Infanta afterwards Marryed to Henry the VIII his Second Son whose Famous Divorce caused so many Revolutions in the Kingdom About the same time King Henry Received two other Embassies One from the King of France the Other from Prince Philip Earl of Flanders Son to the Emperour Maximilan who renewed his Alliance with Him The King of Scotland exactly observed the Articles of Peace touching Perkin Warbeck being wholly disabused concerning him He sent for him and told him in short what he had done in his Favour but he found himself obliged to conclude a Peace with England and now was no longer in Circumstances to give him assistance or allow him his Court for a Retreat Therefore advised him to retire and hope a better Fortune Though this was a Fatal Blow to Warbeck it came not unforeseen by him who wanted not Understanding but extreamly thanked the King assuring him he could never acknowledge his Favours as he ought and desired acquiescing in his Orders After this with his Wife he went for Ireland with Intention either to go for Flanders to his Aunt or head the Cornish Malecontents But resolving on the latter he found the Minds of those People irritated by their Losses and easily engaged them to Mutiny He then gave out his Commissions and Formed his Army with Design to surprize some considerable Towns which might serve for a Refuge in case of ill Success With this intent he Besieged Exeter using all Endeavours to carry it by Assault and trying to seize the Gates for Petards nor Rams were not then in Use he brought Great Stones and Axes instead of those Engins which not taking effect he employ'd Fire and heaping Wood against the Gates indeavoured to burn them The Besieged used the same Expedient Fireing great quantity of Wood within their Gates by Flames preventing their Danger by Fire He then raised his Scaling Ladders and commanded the Attack to be made which was better repulsed many of his Men being left dead under the Walls the very Women throwing Stones and Scalding Water on the Besiegers King Henry being Informed what Danger the Besieged were in advanced with great Marches to their Assistance sending Detached Partys to declare His Coming In the mean time several Men of Quality got into the City with supplyes Amongst whom was Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire and several of his Family Peter Edgcomb and William St. Maure and other Men of Noto This extreamly perplexed Perkin he could not cover his Men in any strong Place who for the most part of them were ill provided of Armes as well Offensive as Defensive and considering he was not able to resist so Powerful Enemies as were advancing towards him he raised the Siege and Marched to Taunton where he Muster'd his Men and drew them up in Battalia of which the King hearing directed his March that way many Lords Joyning Him and giving Demonstrations of their Zeal to express and Signalize their Loyalty on that Occasion The King Commanded my Lord Brook my Lord Dawbeney and Sir Richard Thomas with a Party of chosen detached Men to begin the Charge but both his Orders and their Resolutions were needless For Warbeck through his own Natural Cowardize or believing himself betray'd ran away and left his Army flying into the Monastery of Beaulieu His Officers seeing themselves abandonned lost their Resolution and tryed to save themselves by Flight The wretched Multitude being left without a Head knew not what to do whether to resolve to dye Fighting or to Implore the Kings Mercy But choosing the latter they threw down their Armes and on their Knees begged Pardon which the King granted them For certainly if their Officers had not left them it would have cost him very dear they being resolved to overcome or dye Partyes of Light-Horse were sent every way for the Apprehension of Warbeck and the Chief of his Gang But though they missed him they took most of the others his Accomplices Some of the Searchers found Katharine Huntley Wife of Perkin with her Women Her they brought to the King who was much furprized to see so Beautiful a Lady extreamly pittying her Misfortune And considering such a Noble Prize was not fit to be the Souldiers Prey but worthy an Emperor He sent her to London where he presented to the Queen this unfortunate Lady so unhappily Sacrificed to the Humour or Interests of the King her Uncle Match't to a Villain and Impostor instead of a Legitimate Prince whom she justly Merited and not the extream Grief of seeing this Counterfeit her Husband suffer the deserved Reproaches and Calumny of the Basest Profligates The King Encompast the Monastery of Beaulieu with his Army for the better securing Perkin Not being willing to Violate the Sanctuary he himself having been protected the same manner in Bretagn when Richard the Usurper demanded him Besides such was the Custome of those days Wherefore he sent him word by the Religious Men of the Monastery that he would spare his Life assuring him of his Clemency yet nevertheless at Exeter he beheaded several of the Principal Rebels punishing many of the rest which were taken in their Flight thanking that City for their Zeal and Fidelity With Warbeck in his Power he return'd for London where the People in Multitudes Flock't to see Perkin with astonishment admiring that a Forreigner of so mean Birth should undertake by his Impostures the Overthrow of so great a Kingdome and perswade so many Princes Lords and People to the Destruction of many of the Truth of those Falsehoods he till then spread abroad both of his Person and Birth There is no doubt but that the King kept him close Prisoner and justly punish't those remarkable Rebels of Cornwall Devon and Sommersetshire for which Service he sent Thomas Lord Darcy Sir Anyas Pawlet and Robert Sherburn Dean of St. Pauls with his Commission into the West where they soundly Fined Amerced every one that had Assisted or Favoured the Rebels before or after their Defeat at Black-heath But yet with consideration of such Persons who either through Fear or by Force were compell'd to do it There happened about this time a Quarrel between the English and Scotch that had like to have renewed the War Some Scotch were observed to walk under the Walls of Norham which a little before they had Besieged and the next day doing it again the English Garrison fearing they had some Design sent
thing which concerns their Relations He came to Parma where he sent the Dutchess word that a Gentleman of Portugal had something to tell her which he could declare to none but herself The Dutchess had lately received an account by a Courrier from Lisbone of the Death of the Cardinal Don Henry who last filled that Throne which she now demanded for her Son Rainuccio she being the Daughter of Edward one of the Sons of King Don Emanuel There were also other Pretenders to this Crown of Portugal such was Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy by his Mother Beatrix a Daughter of King Don Emanuel Katharine the Sister of Mary joyned her Right with that of the Duke of Braganza a Prince of the Blood Royal of Portugal for her Son Theodosio and who indeed by the Law of Lamega which as they affirm excludes a Forreigner from the Throne of Portugal had the most just Pretence to it Catharine de Medicis Queen of France claimed it though at greater distance And Pope Paul the Fourth came in with his Title saying That Crown was a Fief of the Holy-See and therefore at his Disposal Philip the Second King of Spain was Son of Isabel Daughter of the same King Don Emanuel and Mary his Wife was yet nearer being Daughter of Don John the Third Son and Successor to Don Emanuel He was the nearest in Blood the nighest Neighbour and the most Potent so got Possession of the Crown but not without fighting for it by Sea and Land The Naval-Fight which his Admiral the Marquis de Santa Cruz obtained of Peter Strozzi a Florentine and Marshal of France who undertook by Force to dispute the Title of Catharine de Medicis his Mistress and kinswoman was no small Part of Philip's good Fortune The Three Estates of the Kingdom of Portugal were Assembled to determine this great Controversy when Don Sebastian appeared in Italy The Dutchess of Parma had also her mind filled with these things but when she perceived Him she gave a shrieck and ran to the Other end of her Closet much astonished I bring you Madam said he approaching her Extraordinary news which will much surprize you the King Don Sebastian is alive and not far from hence not much distant from you for he now speaks to you What Madam continued he without hesitating does then Don Sebastian Fright you He hoped that a better Reception would have been the reward of those pains he has endured to find you At the tone of his Voice the Dutchesses trouble was so great she could neither speak nor move out of her place Recollect your self my dear Cozen said he with a Passionate Air I am no Phantasme but the same Don Sebastian you once honoured with your Favour and now returned as full of your Idea as I was before I went to Affrica With these Discourses the Dutchess came to her self and suffer'd the False Don Sebastian to approach nearer giving him her hand and when she was assured that this pretended Monarch was a Man and no Ghost Ah my Lord said she Whence are you come where have you been so long hid And by what Miracle are you among the Living When you are in a Condition to hear me replyed Don Sebastian I will answer you all this But first be not so disturbed and believe that I am really the King of Portugal and if neither my Stature nor my Face assure it let the Passion of my Eyes convince you I have now recovered my Spirits said the Princess sitting down by him and confess your Sight did affright me above my Power of commanding my Disturbance But Sir all is now dissipated Therefore pray tell me to what Wonder we owe your Life and return to Love Madam answered Sebastian a Passion that had once made me touch your Heart must needs defend me from all Accidents Then he told her how Xerine found him among the Dead his getting into the Isle of Mucazen and his Living at Hoscore but carefully concealed how Don Sebastian had Loved Xerine before that Action and more his Marriage to her in Affrica Though that Princess used her utmost Power with Muley Boabdelin her Cozen and a Prince of the Blood Royal to oblige him to it by assuring him the Princess Mary was Married to the Duke of Parma But said that sometime after being informed she was a Widow He escaped as he pretended with difficulty out of Prison and came to lay himself at her Feet so full of Love that he had Lived on the very Thoughts of being esteemed by her Why then said the Dutchess did you not Write to me That I did many times reply'd he and doubtless Xerine who hoped that from my Misfortunes which she could not expect from my Re-establishment gave such Orders as prevented their coming to your hand My Restraint was very severe I was treated like a Valued Lover and had no Opportunity or Liberty to deliver my self from that Title The Dutchess must needs be Transported at the Recital of a Constancy so well invented She Ordered an Apartment for him whom she thought the King her Cousin together with an Equipage in all respects sutable and sent for the most Intelligent Persons to depute to the Estates of Portugal on his behalf which Deputation extreamly surprized them They sent Six of the Chief in their Assembly of whom some had been Ministers to Don Sebastian to see their Monarch Their Eyes assured them he was the same they ask't him several Questions which they thought Don Sebastian only could Answer But he was so well instructed by Xerine as convinced the Ambassadors that none but He in the World could so reply Insomuch that they assured the Estates he was really their King Those who were interested against him accused him of being a Counterfeit and Practizer of Deceit requiring this Sebastian to go and be present in Person at the General-Assembly of Estates to be Interrogated there in Form concerning his Pretentions While those who were affectionate to the Memory and Person of Don Sebastian thought there was no Security in that Demand The Kingdom was hereupon divided Those were called Royalists who adhered to the King and Those who declared for the several Princes pretending to the Crown Leaguers During these Disorders he that caused them lived at Parma expecting an Army should take the Field for his Interest At the Head of which he intended to demand what he said was his Right This supposed Prince after some time fell into disgrace with the Dutchess of Parma I know not whither or no by the Accident which Mademoiselle des Jardins relates on this manner That one Day walking with her by the side of that Canal which is one of the most Beautiful Things belonging to the Palace of Farnese she observed the Ribbon of a Letter-Case hanging out of his Pocket which she softly pulled out wherein she found Letters and Verses that discovered his Love some of them having the Greatest Liberties of his Marriage with Xerine for
their Subject This so possest the Dutchess with Rage and Jealousy that she destroy'd all she had before done for him and declared him an Impostor Xerine came soon after into Portugal to sollicite the Establishment of her Husband purely moved by her own Conjugal Affection notwithstanding his Ingratitude and had she come before he had left the Dutchess her Resentment might have been more Fatal Mademoiselle des Jardins contrary to the Idea that Strada gives of her says Her anger was the more Justifyable having granted this Counterfeit Sebastian many innocent Favours which this Accident made her think Criminal Her Aversion bearing a Proportion to her Former Kindness made her fly from one Extream to another She sent and declared to the Estates That he was a Counterfeit which she had discovered by the many Contradictions and different Stories she found him in Making a Voyage into Portugal more to raise him Enemies for his Perfidiousness than for the obtaining her Son Rainuccio that Crown And as her Anger saw plainer than her Love so it was more Active The Circumstances of the true Sebastians Death were examined by the Assembly of the Estates His defeat at Tamista was not so general but that several Persons of Note could give an Account of their Princes Fate They all affirmed They had followed him to the Side of the River Mucazen Some added They saw him drowned there And others said They had like to have perish't by endeavouring to Save him This Story no way agreed with what Xerine affirmed of finding him in the middle of the Battle But that which made most against him was the Account she gave of the Cloths he was wounded in The King's Officers affirming that they were no way like those he had on that Day But Nature had made the Subject so like the Prince and he so supported the Resemblance by his Wit and Courage that they knew not what to resolve The more they examined the greater Difficulties arose It was a horrid Crime to refuse their Lawful Prince his Crown And it could be no less to give it to an Impostor But the Death of the Counterfeit determined the Matter The Politicians look't on this Union of Don Sebastian with the Moors as very dangerous to Portugal He had Married Xerine by a most Signal Infidelity charmed with her Beauty before he came to Affrica She drew him from among the Dead and was Married to him before the Old Prince Boabdelin at Hoscore and it was impossible to bring any Obstacle by reason of the Difference of Religion she having promised to become a Christian and kept her word as soon as she Landed in Portugal Mademoiselle des Jardins says The Pretended Sebastian was with an Army raised in his Favour upon the Frontiers of Portugal where it is separated from the Kingdom of Oviedo and that being obliged to Fight his Ambition made his Courage so rash that he was made a Prisoner and carried to Lisbon where his Adversaries talked of no less than punishing his Insolence by a shameful Death But this supposed King died in Prison leaving great Suspicions that his Death was hastened He desired to see Xerine before he dyed and the last Breath being a Touch-Stone to the Artinces of Life he confest to this Princess of Morocco That he was not the King of Portugal and Conjured her not to disturb the Election after his Death This Declaration he found necessary for the Peace of his Conscience Xerine having had a Son by him who might have caused much disturbance He could not make such a Confession without great Signes of Remorse Crying Ah Madam I have deceived you more ways than one yet I can but weakly reproach my self for the Deceit which made me your Husband I should do it more not to have used it when in my Power than I can think my self Guilty for the accepting so great a Glory But Madam That which makes me Dye in Despair is That once I ceased to Love you for the hopes of a Crown which I obtained not and which a Thousand Accidents might take from me if I had gained it I was on the point of Renouncing a Heart that all the Diadems upon Earth could not justly Meritâ—â— Afflict not your self said the Generous Princess with 〈◊〉 too late and unuseful Repentance I Loved the Person of Don Sebastian more than the Splendour of his Condition I thought I had met that Person in you Those charmes which first touch't me have lost none of their Priviledge because they were not placed in a Monarch though I confess I should never have observed them in an Ordinary Man Neither my Spirit nor my Birth would have permitted me to Consider whom I had not thought a Prince but my Error became dear to me and is so still for all it is Fatal to my Peace The Name of Husband is so sacred to a Woman truely Vertuous that it wipes out any Stain which accompanies it Therefore try to overcome your Illness my dear Prince pardon that Name Fortune said she lifting her Eyes to Heaven might have given it where she gave me Rescue your self from the Arms of Death if it be possible it may be we may find you a Happiness more serene and easy than that which is denied you in Portugal He was so moved with this Excess of Generosity that he could no longer suffer the Transports of it But expired in the Arms of the Passionate Xerine whose Soul with much difficulty staid behind This Man had in the highest Degree abused the Princesses mistakes and the unconstancy which followed the first Fault was more Injurious than the Crime it self But Xerine truely Loved the Counterfeit Don Sebastian and religiously fulfilled his Desire as soon as her Grief permitted retiring into Affrica without giving the least Disturbance to the Competitors of the Crown I acknowledge to have borrowed the most agreeable Part of this Relation from Mademoiselle des Jardins her Annales Gallantes P. Mathieu in his History of Henry the Great says That Sebastian wandred through many of the Courts of Italy till he fell into the hands of the Viceroy of Naples who sent him to Philip the Second King of Spain By an Effect of whose Policy he dyed in Prison out of the sight of the World and without Witnesses He passed through all Christendom except in Portugal since the late Revolutions in 1639. for an Impostor CHAP. X. THE LIFE OF THE COUNTERFEIT Voldemar Elector and Marquis of Brandenbourg THis Man has past for an Impostor in the Opinion of most Historians as Hen. the Monk of Rebdorff in his Chronicle John Cuspinian in his Lives of the Emperors Nicholas Lutinger in his Life of Frederic the First of that Name Elector of Brandenburg and John Leunclavius in his Pandects of the Turkish History c. For my own Part after examining the Circumstances of his Story I am apt to conclude in his Favour and pity this Princes Disafter in losing his Country and being decryed by
Satisfaction And now his Senses were charmed with the Sound of War-like Musick as well as with the softer Concerts of his Wedding Courriers were sent into England to observe what Preparations were making for Resistance But all being quiet the Scotch Army with their King at the Head entred Northumberland where they pillaged burnt ravished and killed sparing neither Age nor Sex behaving themselves without Humanity Till the Soldiers laden with Plunder refused to March further pretending no English joyned them The Counterfeit Richard one day hearing the Crys of the poor plunder'd English seemed much afflicted saying Oh! how wretched am I and my Heart as hard as Steel not to be troubled at the Misery of my People Intreating the King to prevent the Cruelty of the Soldiers and not suffer them to destroy his unhappy Country feigning great Commiseration and Tenderness Who answered him very coldly He might concern himself with his own Affairs and not with other Mens calling England his Country and People where none came to his Assistance though a War was undertaken for his Cause So chiding this Mock-King's Dissimulation and changing from that time his Respect to him Neglecting and contemning him when he found neither his Actions nor the Event of things correspond with his former Promises King Henry prepared to meet and repell the Scotch-Men at the News of this their Cruelty and Infidelity when the Lords on the Marches informed him of their Retreat They having done the best they could by Intrenching Fortifying themselves with an Intent as they did by their frequent Allarms and Skirmishes to wast and tire out the Enemy Just before this Advice he Summons a Parliament at London where several good Laws were made for the Publick Safety But Money being the Sinews of War they concluded on the Methods of raising it Giles Lord Dawbeney who was General of the Army had Orders to begin his March for the Frontiers of Scotland But he had scarce set forward when the Cornish Men took up Arms alledging for their Pretence great Taxes laid on them as they said for an Inconsiderable Scotch-War which was ended already when indeed it was but just begun And then their Barren Land and hard Labour of Mineing making them Incapable to pay them Thomas Flammock a Country-Lawyer and Michael Joseph a Farrier two bold Fellows being at the Head of the Rebels they Marched toward London and demanded the Heads of John Morton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Sir Reynald Bray both Privy-Counsellors And at Wells they were Joyned by James Twichet Lord Awdley and some other Gentlemen King Henry considering these Troubles should be first appeased recalled the Lord Dawbency with his Army sending Thomas Howard Earl of Surry in his stead a most experienced Souldier To whom he had given his Life and Liberty after the Famous Battle of Bosworth-Field which he had won of Richard the Usurper afterwards honouring him with the Office of Lord High Treasurer of England upon the Death of John Lord Dinham This Earls Commands were to raise what Men he could about the County of Durham and oppose the Incursions of the Scots till Giles Lord Dawbeney should have Dissipated and Chastized the Rebels of Cornwall and Joyn'd him with his Army Polydore Virgil Names the Lords and the Gentlemen who met the Royal Army commanded by Dawbeney increasing it with their Tennants About this time Charles the 8 th of France sent an Ambassador to give the King an Account of his Conquering the Kingdom of Naples and to renew his Allyance with England Henry sent some Lords to meet them so soon as he knew they were arrived at Calais and also to amuse them at Dover that they might not understand the Revolt in the West till it was supprest in which he was exactly obey'd In the mean time the Rebels decamped from Wells Marched to Salisbury and so to Canterbury hoping those People would Joyn with them but they were much deceived for they found them Armed and ready to oppose them being Commanded by George Earl of Kent and John Lord Brook with Fifteen or Sixteen other Lords The Resolution and Fidelity of these Men so astonisht the Rebels Army that many abandoned them Running from their Camp in the Night But they were too far advanced for a Retreat so continued their March to Black-Heath near London where they drew up themselves in Order to a Battle upon the Hill Thither the King sent Henry Bourcheir Earl of Essex Edmund dela Pool Earl of Suffolk Sir Richard Thomas and Sir Humphrey Stanly all Great Souldiers with detached Parties to encompass them and hinder their Flight whilst he March't streight to charge them with Dawbeney followed by the best Men of his Army Commanding Sir Richard Thomas to attack them at the same time from his Post which was so vigourously executed that notwithstanding all their resistance the Rebels were broken and lost Two Thousand Men besides vast Numbers of Prisoners the King missing but Three Hundred He pardon'd those wretched People only making their Chiefs Examples among whom was the Lord Audley who was drawn from Newgate to Tower-Hill and there beheaded Thomas Flammock and Michael Joseph were Hanged and Quarter'd and their Heads and Limbs set up in London and several places of Cornwall for the Terror and Example of others They admired the Constancy of Michael the Smith who contented himself that he should always be talked of A Deo says Polydore Medios ac insimos viros perinde ut Summos Gloriae cupiditas incendit The Scotch King taking Advantage by these Disorders entred the County of Durham giving his Men all manner of Licence With some of his Troops he Besieged Norham a Castle of Great Importance on those Frontiers into which Richard Fox the Vigilant Bishop of Durham had put a strong Garrison and well fortified the Place having foreseen the Siege He then advertised Thomas Earl of Surry who had already raised a considerable Army in Yorkshire and hearing the distress that Norham was in he Marched with all speed having a Great number of Gentlemen and Knights with him and a Body of near Twenty Thousand Men besides a considerable Fleet at Sea King James informed of his Advancing being within Two Days March Hastily raised his Siege and retired into Scotland where he was followed by the Earl who being in the Enemies Country plundred all he could and took several Towns But having no opportunity to furnish himself with Provisions he returned into the County of Durham During the War about this time Peter Hyalas a wise and prudent Man came Ambassador and Mediator from Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain a most Incomparable Princess King Henry appointed for his Ambassador Richard Bishop of Durham who was near the Place of Treaty where they met the King of Scotlands Privy Counsellors and treated of the Conditions of Peace The greatest difficulty arose concerning Perkin Warbeck Henry Positively persisting to have him delivered up as being the Disturber of his Kingdoms Peace and the