City, it was ordered, 'That all future Mayors should have their Scarlet Gowns and Cloaks lined with Sarfenet, and every Receiver-general to have his of 'Crimfon in Grain, and every one of the four and twenty to have their Gowns of Violet or Murrey 'Colour in Grain.' These were not the only Favours he granted them; for he regulated the Method of Electing the Mayor and Officers of the City, and delivered the fame engroffed on Parchment under his Privy-feal, which hath ever fince been duly observed.

During his Majefty's Stay there, he advifed with his Council what fhould be done with Warbeck, who was ftill in Sanctuary: Some were for forcing him thence, and punishing him with Death; but others were of Opinion, that the King ought carefully to avoid being deemed a Violator of Sanctuaries. One of the Council in particular telling him That he would never fatisfy the People that Perkin was a 'Counterfeit, except he freely undeceived thofe who were feduced by his Artifices; that the beft Method to engage the Impoftor to make an open Confeffion, was to grant him a Pardon.' This Advice he followed, and it had the defired Effect.

On his Enlargement he was ftrictly examined, when he made an ample Confeffion both of his being an Impoftor, and of his Aiders and Abettors: By which Means his Majefty became fully acquainted with the Steps taken by the Dutchess of Burgundy to impofe this Pretender on the Nation, feveral Particulars of which till then he was a Stranger to.

The King ordered Perkin to be brought to Court, then kept at Exeter, as if intirely at Liberty, but was clofely attended by feveral Perfons, commanded to guard him, left he fhould efcape. During the Time he was there, every Body was permitted to talk with him. He earnestly begged the King's Leave, that he might throw himself at his Majefty's Feet,

which

which was denied; tho' Henry, to fatisfy his own Curiofity, faw him, without being feen.

From Exeter he was conducted to London in fafe Cuftody, fuffering, by the Way, all kind of opprobrious Language, which he bore with great Refolution and Magnanimity; nor did he ever act the Prince better than on this Occafion, neither affecting too much Infenfibility, nor fhewing too great a Dejection.

Being come to London, he was made to ride twice thro' the City, that People might have Time and Opportunity to view him well, accompanied by one of his chief Confidants, that had been Farrier to the King's Stables, (who, rather than take Sanctuary with him in Bewley, had chofe to wander about in a Hermit's Drefs; but, for all his Difguife, was taken) and, after the difgraceful Proceffion, was bound Hand and Foot, carried directly to Tyburn, and there hanged and quartered.

When Perkin had undergone different Examinations, the King ordered him to be fet in the Stocks, on Scaffolds built for that Purpose in different Parts of the City, where he read his Confeffion, and then was fent Prifoner to the Tower, where the Earl of Warwick ftill remained.

This Rebellion, tho' fuppreffed with fome Difficulty, answered the End of Henry's Avarice; for, as foon as Perkin and his Adherents were defeated, he appointed Commiffioners to make ftrict Enquiry after the Offenders, raifing Money out of their Eftates by Fines. Thefe Commiffioners were Sir Amias Pawlet, and Robert Sherbon, Dean of St. Paul's; who acted with fo much Severity, that it became a Saying, They obfcured the King's Mercy, tho' the Blood of his Subjects was spared.

Whilft Warbeck was Prifoner in the Tower, his Confeffion as well as private Examinations were printed

and

1499.

and published; but this ferved the King's Purpose but little, it being only a laboured Account of Perkin's Father, Mother, and Kindred; but not a Word mentioned of the fecret Practices of the Dutchess of Burgundy on his Behalf; tho' all the World knew who was the Perfon that gave Life and Motion to the whole Intrigue ; fo that People miffing what they principally looked for, were in more Doubt than before; but Henry did not matter that, he chufing rather to let them remain diffatisfied than embroil his Government, by kindling Coals that would not be easily extinguished. This Year opened with an Event that at first feemed very inconfiderable, but produced a great and happy Effect. As there was a Truce between England and Scotland, fome Scotch young Gentlemen came to Norham to divert themselves with the People of the Town, and, having little else to do, went feveral times to view the Caftle; on which the Garrifon fufpected they came with an ill Design, and, taking them for Spies, defired them to depart; but, the Gentlemen not regarding the Soldiers, a Quarrel enfued; from Words they fell to Blows, and in the Skirmish fome of the Scotch were killed. This fo incenfed James, that he fent a Herald into England to demand Satisfaction for the Injury done his Subjects. Bishop Fox, being informed of this Matter, was much troubled that the Caufe of Complaint arose from the Misconduct of his Men, and wrote feveral fubmiffive Letters to the Scotch King in their Behalf. These Letters were well received; he was defired by James to come to him in Perfon, not doubting but they fhould put a final End to that Affair, which might be the Means of bringing other Matters about for the Welfare of both Kingdoms.

The Bishop foon obtained the King's Leave to go into Scotland; and on his Arrival he was introduced to King James, who at firft fharply reprimanded him for the Offence of the Soldiers: To which he made

fuch

fuch a smooth, humble, and pacifick Answer, that both the King and his Council readily accepted of his Apology, and difmiffed the Complaint. His Majefty afterwards conferred with him in private, to whom he difcovered his Mind, telling him, that, if King Henry would give him the Lady Margaret, his eldeft Daughter, in Marriage, he thought it would make an indiffolvable Union and Friendfhip between the two Crowns; the Management of which he would leave to his Prudence and Fidelity: And the Bishop replied, That he thought himfelf rather happy than worthy to be employed in an Affair of 'fuch Confequence, and would ufe his beft Endeavours to give him Satisfaction.'

At his Return to England, he repaired to Court, opened the Matter to his Mafter, and, finding him ready to close with the Propofition, he advifed him firft to turn the Truce into a Treaty of Peace, and then proceed to the Marriage. His Advice was approved of, and foon after a Treaty was concluded, whereby both Princes agreed Peace fhould continue between the two Kingdoms during their Lives. In this Treaty there was an Article, that no Englishman fhould enter into Scotland, nor no Scatchman into England, without Letters Commendatory from their refpective Kings.

Warbeck was now confined in the Tower, and little Mention made of him; but, as he had been accuftomed to live like a Prince, his Confinement became very irksome to him, which put him on endeavouring to escape, and, with fome Difficulty, he found Means fo to do; and immediately took the Kentish Road with a Defign to quit the Kingdom: But hearing by the way, that Orders were fent out to apprehend him, he took Refuge in the Monaftery of Bethlehem, where he difcovered himfelf to the Prior, and begged him to intercede for him. It was difficult for the Prior

to

to protect fuch a Perfon; yet he did not care to let him go elsewhere, or violate the Privilege of the Houfe, in delivering him up. The Prior waited on the King, and acquainted him that Perkin was in his Hands, and petitioned for his Life.

Many advised his Majefty to take him out by Force, and put him to Death; but the King, who had too great a Spirit to hate any that he defpifed, only faid, Take out the Knave, and fet him in the Stocks.

In fhort, Henry granted Perkin his Life, whereupon he was inftantly delivered up. Two Days after his coming to London, he was fet upon a Scaffold, ere&ted in the Palace-court at Westminster, where he was fettered, and put in the Stocks for the whole Day; the following Day he was served in the fame Manner at the Cross in Cheapfide; and then a fecond Time puť into the Tower; where he had not been long, before he again began to plot Mischief. In a fhort time he grew intimate with four of his Keepers, who were Servants to Sir John Digby, Lieutenant of the Tower, and, making them believe he was the true Duke of York, he fo far prevailed with them, that they promised to affist him in his Efcape; and at the fame time perfuaded the Earl of Warwick to fly with him. But this Confpiracy was revealed before it was executed, which gave Countenance to the King's fending both Perkin and the true Earl of Warwick out of the World. *

Perkin was tried by a fpecial Commiffion, and condemned to die with John a Waters, fome time Mayor of Cork, one of Perkin's chief Advifers; and accordingly

U

The Author concludes his Account of Perkin with the two following Scenes:

Enter Conftable and Officers, Warbeck, Urfwick, and Lambert Simnell, like a Falconer. A Pair of Stocks

Conft. Make Room there! Keep off, I require thee; and none come within twelve Foot of his Majesty's new Stocks, upon Pain of Difpleature.