Grey-Friers Church. The Stone Cheft wherein his Corps lay, was at length made a Drinking-trough for Horfes at a common Inn. His Body, if you will credit Tradition herein, was born out of the City, and contemptuoufly beftowed under Bow-Bridge. His Wife was Anne the Daughter of Richard Nevile Earl of Warwick and Salisbury (furnamed the Make King) who was firft married to Ed ward Prince of Wales, 1483, Son to King Henry VI. and after his Death to this Ufurper, 1472. His Iffue was Edward Earl of Salisbury created Prince of Wales, 1483, the Crown being alfo intailed to him by Parliament, but died before his Father. He founded a College at Med dleham beyond York, and a Collegiate Chantry in London, called our Lady of Barking. He endowed Queen's College in Cambridge with 500 Marks of yearly Revenue. He disforefted the great Field of Which wood, that King Edward his Brother had inclofed for his Game, and The Cat and Rat were meant of The Ufurper borrow'd great Sums of Money of the City of London, but was cut off before the Pay-day came. It may be more of his Quality have died in the City's Debt. 1485. A. D. 1485. Families of Lancaster and York United. H HENRY VII. JENRY Earl of Richmond was Son to Margaret Countess of Rich mond and Derby, Daughter to John Duke of Somerfet, Son of John Earl of Somerfet, Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lançafter, fourth Son of Edward III. October the 30th, A. D. 1485, was Henry crowned at Westminster. Then the better to fecure his Eftate he fhut up the Earl of Warwick, the only Son and Heir of George Duke of Clarence, in the Tower of London. Then inftituted a Guard for his Perfon, confifting of a Number of choice Archers, with Allotment of was 1486. was established upon the King and his Heirs for ever. John Next the King affumed into his Council thofe two Morton, renowned Agents in advancing his A. B. of Fortunes, John Morton and Richard Cant. Fox. A. D. 1486, and January the eighteenth, he married the Lady Elizabeth, eldest Daughter of King Edward IV. to the utter Abolish ment of all Hoftilities between the two Houfes of York and Lancaster. But there wanted not fome Malecontents, who efflay'd to disturb thefe ferene Days; for the Lord Lovell, one of the late Ufurper's Creatures, with Sir Humphry Stafford and his Brother, affembled Forces against the King; which,, upon but the News of an Army coming against them, difperfed themfelves.. Humphry was taken out of Sanctuary, and executed at Tyburn. Sir When this Storm was over, the White-Rofe or York Faction raised another, procuring one Lambert Symnel to perfonate one of King Edward's Sons. Which Puppet Lambert they conveyed into Ireland, where the Irish adhered to him, and in Chrift-Church in Dublin crowned him King of England. And into Ireland the Dutchefs Dowager of Burgundy, Sifter to Edward the Fourth, fend this Impoftor Two Thoufand Soldiers under the Conduct of Colonel Swart. Thefe, with Irish and fome English joined to them, landed in Lancashire at the Pile of Fowdray; thence they took their March through Yorkshire, fo towards Newark, every where as they came proclaiming their new King. Not far from Newark, and near to a little Village called Stoke, the King with his Army encountred them, where the Fight continued doubtful for about Three Hours, but at laft the Victory fell to King Henry On Lambert's Part were flain, the Earl of Lincoln, the Lord Lovell, Sir Thomas Broughton, Colonel Swart, and Maurice Fitz-Themas, with Four Thousand Soldiers. On the King's fide fell not any Man guard was flain, fo that the Garof Honour, but almoft half his Vanland was dip'd in Blood. Amorgft the Prifoners that were taken, was the counterfeit King, who had been a Scholar in Oxford, and his Tutor, Richard Simon, a Prieft. Lambert confeffed his Parents to be mean Perfons, and of a mean Calling. Him the King condemned to his Kitchin or Scullery, at length promoted him to be one of his Falconers; in which Eftate he continued till his Death. Richard Simon, was condemned to Simon Subtle, or a Dungeon and perpetual Shackies. Staken-Field Battle was fought day, a Day of the Week obferved A. D. 1487, June 10, being SaturHenry; who fent his Royal Stanto have been lucky to this Prince dard to our Lady's Church of Walfingham in Norfolk, there to remain as a Monument of this his Victory, and Gratitude for it. King difpatcheth his Agent into And now the Scotland, there to fettle Amity with James the Third, and to prevent the Retreat and Protection that his Enemies had found therein. Shortly after which, fome discontented Perfons in Yorkshire rofe in Arms, under Pretence that they were oppreffed in their Tax or Subfidy; but fome of thefe Rebels were routed by the Earl of Surrey, who took their Leader John a-Chamber, Prifoner, and proach, the rest of them under the upon the hearing of the King's ApLeading of Sir John Egremond, difperfed themselves. ber, with fome others of the chief John a-ChamRebels, were executed at York. The King's Affairs being fettled in a prefent peaceable Estate at Home, he was was next engaged in a War with France; for the carrying on of which, his Subjects did largely contribute, chiefly the City of London, out of which he received for his Furniture in that Voyage almoft Ten Thoufand Pounds from the Commoners, and Two Hundred Pounds befides from every Alderman. And this wife King, knowing how great a Strength that rich Ci ty was to him, humoured the Citizens exceedingly. Himself did not only become one amongst them, caufing himself to be entred a Brother of the Merchant-Taylors Company, but also wore the Habit at a publick Feaft, and fat as Mafter of the Company, A. D. 1492, October the Sixth, King Henry with his Hoft landed at Calais, from whence with his whole Forces he marched toward Boloigne, which when he had befieged, Articles of Peace were concluded betwixt him and the King of France. For King Henry, before his going out of England, had been dealt with on the French King's Behalf to accept of Conditions, but would not enter into any Treaty with him till he was in the Field, and that with fuch a Puiffance as was likely enough to force his own Conditions. When Henry had to his Advantage fettled his Tranfmarine Affairs, he returned for England, where he was not to remain long in Quiet; for the Dutchefs of Burgundy had provided another counterfeit King, a Youth of Princely Perfonage, called Peter Warbeck, the Son of a converted Jew. This her Creature Peter, or as fome called him Perkin and Peterkin, under the Name and Title of Richard Plantagenet, fecond Son of King Edward the Fourth, had great Honour given him by the King of France, and divers Perfons of Eminency in England were fo deluded, that they believed him to be the true Richard, and thereupon fought to advance him to the Crown; which coft fome of them the Price of their Heads, as the Lord Fitz-Walter, Sir Simon Montford, Sir William Stanley, Lord Chamberlain, that gained the Victory for King Henry at Bosworthfield. Thefe, with more, were put to Death for favouring of Perkin. The King alfo, for the farther Prevention of Dangers, caufed the Coafts of England to be strongly guarded; fent a new Lord Chancellor into Ireland, Henry Denny, a Monk of Langton Abby, and Sir Edward Poynings with fome Forces, whofe greatest Care and Diligence was to punih fuch as before-time had given any Affiftance to the MockKing, and to reftrain fuch as were likely to do fo in Time to come. The Earl of Kildare falling under Sufpicion, Poynings fent Prifoner into England, where the King did graciously hear and admit his Defences, and returned him with Honour and Continuation of Authority. The I had formerly exhibited many Articles against this Earl; the laft of which was, Finally, all Ireland cannot rule this Earl: Then, quoth the King, Shall this Earl rule all Ireland, conftituting him Lord Deputy thereof. But Perkin having gained private Affiftance from the French King, and Maximilian, to firengthen yet his Enterprize, he repairs into Scotland, unto James the Fourth (having fpecial Recommendations from the King of France, and Dutchefs of Burgundy) who gave him moft courteous Entertainment. The rare Impudence of the Youth, and that Connexion which his Darings had with other Princes, drew this King into an Error concerning him. When he was first brought to the Prefence of the King of : 1492. of Scots, with a right Princely Grace fulness he declared to the faid King, That Edward the IVth leaving two Sons, Edward and Richard, both very young, their unnatural Uncle Richard, to obtain the Crown, purpofed the murther of them both; but the Inftruments of his Cruelty having murthered his eldest Brother the young King, were moved with pity to fpare his Life, and that thus faved by the Mercy of God, he was privately conveyed beyond the Seas (the World fuppofing that himself alfo had been murthered) and that Henry Tudor Earl of Richmond, after he had by fubtile and foul Means ob. tained the Crown, he then wrought all means and ways to obtain the final Deftruction of him the rightful Heir to the English Diadem. That his faid mortal Enemy Henry hath not only falfly furmifed him to be a feigned Perfon, giving him Nicknames, fo abufing the World; but that alfo, to deprive him of his Right, he had offered large Sums of Money to corrupt the Princes with whom he had been retained, and had employed his Servants to murther him. That every Man of Reafon might well understand that the faid Henry needed not to have taken thefe Courfes against him, had he been a feigned Perfon. That the Truth, his manifeft Cause, had moved the King of France, and Dutchess of Burgundy, his most dear Aunt, to yield him their Affiftance. That now, because the Kings of Scotland were wont to fupport them who were fpoiled and bereft of the faid Kingdom of England, and for that he the faid King James had given clear Signs that he was of the like noble Quality and Temper with his Anceflors, he fo diftreffed a Prince came to put himself into his Hands, defiring his Aid to recover his Realms, promifing faithfully, that when his Kingdoms were regained, he would gratefully do him all the Pleasure that fhould lie in his utmoft Power. The King of Scots was fo influenced with this Impoftor's Words, amiable Perfon, princely Deport ment, Recommendations of Princes, his Aids from the Irish, and affured Hope of Aid in England, that he honourably received him, as if he had been the very Richard Duke of York, and gave his Confent that this pretended Duke fhould marry the Lady Catharine Gordon, Daughter to the Earl of Huntley, which accordingly he did, and alfo prepa red to invade England in his Quarrel, altho' there wanted not them who with many Arguments advised this King to repute him for no other than a Cheat. King Henry, that he might be prepared for the Scots, called a Parliament, which granted a Tax to be gathered of Sixfcore Thousand Pounds, the Levy of which Money kindled a dangerous Fire in England; for when the King's Collectors came amongst the Cornish Men to receive their proportion of the Tax, they tumultuoufly affembled under the leading of one Thomas Flammeck, a Lawyer, and Michael Jofeph, a Blacksmith of Bodmin; which Captains led their Rout towards Kent; and at Wells, James Tuchett, Lord Audley, joined with them. From Wells they proceeded to Blackheath, where the King's Forces defeated them without much Labour; Fifteen Hundred of the Rebels were taken, and the Takers had the Prifoners Goods granted them. James Lord Audley was led from Nervgate to Tower hill, in a Coat of his own Armories, painted on a Paper revers'd and torn, where he was executed. Flammock and the Smith were quartered. Memorably strange was the Comfort that the the Smith cheared himself withal, as he was drawing to his Execution, to wit, That yet he hoped that by these Means his Name and Memory fhould be everlasting. The King's Care was now to order the War against Scotland, whither he fent the Earl of Surrey with an Army, to invade the Scotch Borders, as they had lately done the Englib. The Earl purfued the Revenge with great Vehemency; but in fhort time, by the King of Spain's Mediation, a Truce was concluded betwixt the two Nations. Politick King Henry, uneasy in these Scottish Wars, meditated the Means of putting a determinate End to them. He wifely forefaw that the Marri age of his elder Daughter with that King would produce a perpetual Peace; but the bringing that about fo as that it might be the Scots Requeft, was the Difficulty. It hap pen'd, that an Ambaffador (Peter Hyalas by Name) came lately from Ferdinand and Isabella, King and Queen of Spain, to treat of the Marriage between Catharine their fecond Daughter, and Prince Arthur the King's Son. The Friendhip which Ferninand exprefs'd, induced Henry to make Ufe of his Ambailador, who was a very able Man, o ferve his Purpofe with Scotland; and having open'd his Mind to him, e willingly undertook the Mediaion of a Peace, and immediately made a Journey to Scotland, where e brought King James to fuch a Temper, that Fox, Bishop of Duram, a Man of Wisdom alfo, beng fent by Henry to back it, made The Truce, as we have faid. It appen'd not long after, that fome Scotti Gentlemen being at Noram, in the Bishoprick of Durham, ame divers times out of the Town o take a View of the Castle, which The Guards obferving, challenged them as Spies. This occafioned 1492. But to return; one Article of the Truce with Scotland was, That Perkin fhould be no longer fottered in Scotland: Whereupon he withdraws into Ireland, whither the Cornish Men fent to him, inviting him amongst them; promifing, that at his Arrival they would venture their Lives and Fortunes for him, as hoping that under his Government they fhould be eased of their Taxes. Perkin accepting their Invitation, landed at Whitsand-Bay in Cornwall; after whofe Arrival, fome Thousands of People reforted to him. When King Henry heard of his Landing, and making Head against him, he fmiled; laying, Loe we are again provoked by this Prince of Rake Hells; but left my People should, through Ignorance, be drawn into Deftruction, let us seek to take this Perkin by the cafieft Way we can. He therefore affembled his Forces, and fent out his Spies to obferve the Track and Hopes of Prince L Peter |