his warrant for the putting of them to death to Brackenbury, the lieutenant of the Tower, was by him refused. Whereupon the King directed his warrant to Sir James Tirrel, to receive the keys of the Tower from the lieutenant, for the space of a night, for the King's special service. That Sir James Tirrel accordingly repaired to the Tower by night, attended by his two servants afore-named, whom he had chosen for that purpose. That himself stood at the stair-foot, and sent these two villains to execute the murder. That they smothered them in their bed; and, that done, called up their master to see their naked dead bodies, which they had laid forth. That they were buried under the stairs, and some stones cast upon them. That when the report was made to King Richard, that his will was done, he gave Sir James Tirrel great thanks, but took exception to the place of their burial, being too base for them that were King's children. Whereupon, another night, by the King's warrant renewed, their bodies were removed by the priest of the Tower, and buried by him in some place, which, by means of the priest's death soon after, could not be known. Thus much was then delivered abroad, to be the effect of those examinations: but the King, nevertheless, made no use of them in any of his declarations; whereby, as it seems, those examinations left the business somewhat perplexed. And as for Sir James Tirrel, he was soon after beheaded in the Tower-yard for other matters of treason. But John Dighton, who, it seemeth, spake best for the King, was forthwith set at liberty, and was the principal means of divulging this tradition. Therefore this kind of proof being left so naked, the King used the more diligence in the latter, for the tracing of Perkin. To this purpose he sent abroad into several parts, and especially into Flanders, divers secret and nimble scouts and spies, some feigning themselves to fly over unto Perkin, and to adhere unto him; and some under other pretences, to learn, search, and discover all the circumstances and particulars of Perkin's parents, birth, person, travels up and down; and in brief, to

have a journal, as it were, of his life and doings. He' furnished these his employed men liberally with money, to draw on and reward intelligences; giving them also in charge, to advertise continually what they found, and nevertheless still to go on. And ever as one advertisement and discovery called up another, he employed other new men, where the business did require it. Others he employed in a more special nature and trust, to be his pioneers in the main countermine. These were directed to insinuate themselves into the fami-" liarity and confidence of the principal persons of the party in Flanders, and so to learn what associates they had, and correspondents, either here in England, or abroad; and how far every one engaged, and what new ones they meant afterwards to try or board. And as this for the persons, so for the actions themselves, to discover to the bottom, as they could, the utmost of Perkin's and the conspirators, their intentions, hopes, and practices. These latter best-be-trust spies had some of them farther instructions, to practise and draw off the best friends and servants of Perkin, by making remonstrance to them, how weakly his enterprise and hopes were built, and with how prudent and potent a King they had to deal; and to reconcile them to the King, with promise of pardon and good conditions of reward. And, above the rest, to assail, sap, and work into the constancy of Sir Robert Clifford; and to win him, if they could, being the man that knew most of their secrets, and who being won away, would most appall and discourage the rest, and in a manner break the' knot.

There is a strange tradition; that the King being lost in a wood of suspicions, and not knowing whom to trust, had both intelligence with the confessors and chaplains of divers great men; and for the better credit of his espials abroad with the contrary side, did use to have them cursed at Paul's, by name, amongst the bead-roll of the King's enemies, according to the custom of those times. These espials plied their charge so roundly, as the King had an anatomy of Perkin alive; and was likewise well informed of the particular correspondent conspirators in England, and many other

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mysteries were revealed; and Sir Robert Clifford in especial won to be assured to the King, and industrious and officious for his service. The King therefore, receiving a rich return of his diligence, and great satisfaction touching a number of particulars, first divulged and spread abroad the imposture and juggling of Perkin's person and travels, with the circumstances thereof, throughout the realm; not by proclamation, because things were yet in examination, and so might receive the more or the less, but by court-fames, which commonly print better than printed proclamations. Then thought he it also time to send an ambassage unto archduke Philip into Flanders, for the abandoning and dismissing of Perkin. Herein he employed Sir Edward Poynings, and Sir William Warham doctor of the canon law. The archduke was then young, and governed by his council; before whom the ambassadors had audience and Dr. Warham spake in this manner:

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My lords, the King our master is very sorry, that England and your country here of Flanders, having "been counted as man and wife for so long time; now, "this country of all others should be the stage, where "a base counterfeit should play the part of a King of England; not only to his grace's disquiet and dis"honour, but to the scorn and reproach of all sovereign Princes. To counterfeit the dead image of "a King in his coin is an high offence by all laws, "but to counterfeit the living image of a King in his

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person, exceedeth all falsifications, except it should "be that of a Mahomet, or an Antichrist, that coun"terfeit divine honour. The King hath too great "an opinion of this sage council, to think that any of you is caught with this fable, though way may be "given by you to the passion of some, the thing in "itself is so improbable. To set testimonies aside of "the death of duke Richard, which the King hath "upon record, plain and infallible, because they may "be thought to be in the King's own power, let the "thing testify for itself. Sense and reason no power

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can command. Is it possible, trow you, that King "Richard should damn his soul, and foul his name "with so abominable a murder, and yet not mend his

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"case? Or do you, think, that men of blood, that were his instruments, did turn to pity in the midst "of their execution? Whereas in cruel and savage "beasts, and men also, the first draught of blood doth yet make them more fierce and enraged. Do you "not know, that the bloody executioners of tyrants "do go to such errands with an halter about their "neck; so that if they perform not, they are sure to "die for it? And do you think that these men would "hazard their own lives, for sparing another's? Ad"mit they should have saved him; what should they "have done with him? Turn him into London "streets, that the watchmen, or any passenger that "should light upon him, might carry him before a justice, and so all come to light? Or should they "have kept him by them secretly? That surely "would have required a great deal of care, charge, "and continual fears. But, my lords, I labour too "much in a clear business. The King is so wise, and "hath so good friends abroad, as now he knoweth duke "Perkin from his cradle. And because he is a great "Prince, if you have any good poet here, he can help "him with notes to write his life; and to parallel him "with Lambert Simnel, now the King's falconer. And therefore, to speak plainly to your lordships, it is the strangest thing in the world, that the lady Margaret, "excuse us if we name her, whose malice to the King " is both causeless and endless, should now when she "is old, at the time when other women give over "child-bearing, bring forth two such monsters; being "not the births of nine or ten months, but of many 66 years. And whereas other natural mothers bring "forth children weak, and not able to help themselves; "she bringeth forth tall striplings, able soon after "their coming into the world to bid battle to mighty

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Kings. My lords, we stay unwillingly upon this "part. We would to God, that lady would once taste "the joys which God Almighty doth serve up unto "her, in beholding her niece to reign in such honour, " and with so much. royal issue, which she might be pleased to account as her own. The King's request "unto the archduke, and your lordships, might bes

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" that according to the example of King Charles, who "hath already discarded him, you would banish this "unworthy fellow out of your dominions. But because "the King may justly expect more from an ancient "confederate, than from a new reconciled enemy, he "maketh his request unto you to deliver him up into "his hands: pirates, and impostors of this sort, being "fit to be accounted the common enemies of man"kind, and no ways to be protected by the law of

“nations.

After some time of deliberation, the ambassadors received this short answer:

"That the archduke, for the love of King Henry, "would in no sort aid or assist the pretended duke, "but in all things conserve the amity he had with the "King: But for the duchess dowager, she was abso"lute in the lands of her dowry, and that he could "not her let to dispose of her own."

The King, upon the return of the ambassadors, was nothing satisfied with this answer. For well he knew, that a patrimonial dowry carried no part of sovereignty or command of forces. Besides, the ambassadors told him plainly, that they saw the duchess had a great party in the archduke's council; and that howsoever it was carried in a course of connivance, yet the archduke underhand gave aid and furtherance to Perkin. Wherefore, partly out of courage, and partly out of policy, the King forthwith banished all Flemings, as well their persons as their wares, out of his kingdom; commanding his subjects likewise, and by name his merchants adventurers, which had a resiance at Antwerp, to return; translating the mart, which commonly followed the English cloth, unto Calais; and embarred also all farther trade for the future. This the King did, being sensible in point of honour, not to suffer a pretender to the crown of England to affront him so near at hand, and he to keep terms of friendship with the country where he did set up. But he had also a farther reach; for that he knew well, that the subjects of Flanders drew so great commodity from the trade of England, as' by this embargo they would soon wax weary of Perkin; and that the tumults of Flanders had been so