Writings historical. Letters

the minority of a King, should bind him or his successors, except it were confirmed by the King under his great seal at his full age. But the first act that passed in King Edward the sixth's time, was an act of repeal of that former act; at which time nevertheless the King was minor. But things that do not bind, may satisfy for the time.

There was also made a shoaring or under-propping act for the benevolence: to make the sums which any person had agreed to pay, and nevertheless were not brought in, to be leviable by course of law. Which act did not only bring in the arrears, but did indeed countenance the whole business, and was pretended to be made at the desire of those that had been forward to pay.

This parliament also was made that good law, which gave the attaint upon a false verdict between party and party, which before was a kind of evangile, irremediable. It extends not to causes capital, as well because they are for the most part at the King's suit; as because in them, if they be followed in course of indictment, there passeth a double jury, the indictors, and the triers; and so not twelve men, but four and twenty. But it seemeth that was not the only reason; for this reason holdeth not in the appeal. But the great reason was, lest it should tend to the discouragement of jurors in cases of life and death; if they should be subject to suit and penalty, where the favour of life maketh against them. It extendeth not also to any suit, where the demand is under the value of forty pounds; for that in such cases of petty value it would not quit the charge, to go about again.

There was another law made against a branch of ingratitude in women, who having been advanced by their husbands, or their husbands ancestors, should alien, and thereby seek to defeat the heirs, or those in remainder, of the lands, whereunto they had been so advanced. The remedy was, by giving power to the next, to enter for a forfeiture.

There was also enacted that charitable law, for the admission of poor suitors in forma pauperis, without fee to counsellor, attorney, or clerk, whereby poor men

became rather able to vex than unable to sue. There were divers other good laws made that parliament, as we said before, but we still observe our manner, in selecting out those, that are not of a vulgar nature. -The King this while, though he sat in parliament, as in full peace, and seemed to account of the designs of Perkin, who was now returned into Flanders, but as a may-game; yet having the composition of a wise King, stout without, and apprehensive within, had given order for the watching of beacons upon the coasts, and erecting more where they stood too thin, and had a careful eye where this wandering cloud would break. But Perkin, advised to keep his fire, which hitherto burned as it were upon green wood, alive with continual blowing; sailed again into Ireland, whence he had formerly departed, rather upon the hopes of France, than upon any unreadiness or discouragement he found in that people. But in the space of time between, the King's diligence and Poyning's commission had so settled things there, as there was nothing left for Perkin, but the blustering affection of wild and naked people. Wherefore he was advised by his council, to seek aid of the King of Scotland, a Prince young and valorous," and in good terms with his nobles and people, and ill affected to King Henry. At this time also both Maximilian and Charles of France began to bear no good will to the King: the one being displeased with the King's prohibition of commerce with Flanders; the other holding the King for suspect, in regard of his late entry into league with the Italians. Wherefore, besides the open aids of the duchess of Burgundy, which did with sails and oars put on and advance Perkin's designs, there wanted not some secret tides from Maximilian and Charles, which did further his fortunes: insomuch as they, both by their secret letters and messages, recommended him to the King of Scotland.

Perkin therefore coming into Scotland upon those hopes, with a well-appointed company, was by the King of Scots, being formerly well prepared, honourably welcomed, and soon after his arrival admitted to his presence, in a solemn manner: for the King re

ceived him in state in his chamber of presence, accompanied with divers of his nobles. And Perkin well attended, as well with those that the King had sent before him, as with his own train, entered the room where the King was, and coming near to the King, and bowing a little to embrace him, he retired some paces back, and with a loud voice, that all that were present might hear him, made his declaration in this manner: High and mighty King, your grace, and these your nobles here present, may be pleased benignly "to bow your ears, to hear the tragedy of a young man, that by right ought to hold in his hand the "ball of a kingdom; but by fortune is made himself "a ball, tossed from misery to misery, and from place "to place. You see here before you the spectacle of "a Plantagenet, who hath been carried from the nur

sery to the sanctuary; from the sanctuary to the "direful prison; from the prison to the hand of the "cruel tormentor; and from that hand to the wide "wilderness, as I may truly call it, for so the world "hath been to me. So that he that is born to a great kingdom, hath not ground to set his foot upon, more than this where he now standeth by your princely favour. Edward the fourth, late King of England, as your grace cannot but have heard, left "two sons, Edward, and Richard duke of York, both

very young. Edward the eldest succeeded their fa"ther in the crown, by the name of king Edward the "fifth but Richard duke of Glocester, their unna"tural uncle, first thirsting after the kingdom, through " ambition, and afterwards thirsting for their blood, out "of desire to secure himself, employed an instrument

of his, confident to him, as he thought, to murder "them both. But this man that was employed to "execute that execrable tragedy, having cruelly slain

King Edward, the eldest of the two, was moved

partly by remorse, and partly by some other means, "to save Richard his brother; making a report never"theless to the tyrant, that he had performed his com"mandment to both brethren. This report was accordingly believed, and published generally: so that

"the world hath been possessed of an opinion, that they both were barbarously made away; though ever truth hath some sparks that fly abroad, until it appear in due time, as this hath had. But Almighty God, that stopped the mouth of the lion, and saved "little Joash from the tyranny of Athaliah, when she "massacred the King's children; and did save Isaac, "when the hand was stretched forth to sacrifice him;

preserved the second brother. For I myself, that "stand here in your presence, am that very Richard, "Duke of York, brother of that unfortunate Prince, King Edward the fifth, now the most rightful surviving heir male to that victorious and most noble Edward, of that name the fourth, late King of Eng"land. For the manner of my escape, it is fit it "should pass in silence, or, at least, in a more secret relation; for that it may concern some alive, and the memory of some that are dead. Let it suffice to think, that I had then a mother living, a Queen, " and one that expected daily such a commandment "from the tyrant, for the murdering of her children. "Thus in my tender age escaping by God's mercy "out of London, I was secretly conveyed over sea: "where after a time the party that had me in charge, upon what new fears, change of mind, or practice, "God knoweth, suddenly forsook me. Whereby I

was forced to wander abroad, and to seek mean con"ditions for the sustaining of my life. Wherefore "distracted between several passions, the one of fear "to be known, lest the tyrant should have a new at"tempt upon me; the other of grief and disdain to "be unknown, and to live in that base and servile man"ner that I did; I resolved with myself to expect the

tyrant's death, and then to put myself into my sis"ter's hands, who was next heir to the crown. But in "this season it happened one Henry Tudor, son to "Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond, to come from "France and enter into the realm, and by subtile and "foul means to obtain the crown of the same, which "to me rightfully appertained: so that it was but a

change from tyrant to tyrant. This Henry, my ex

"treme and mortal enemy, so soon as he had knowledge of my being alive, imagined and wrought all "the subtile ways and means he could, to procure my "final destruction; for my mortal enemy hath not only falsly surmised me to be a feigned person, giving me nick-names, so abusing the world; but " also, to defer and put me from entry into England, "hath offered large sums of money to corrupt the "Princes and their ministers, with whom I have been "retained; and made importune labours to certain "servants about my person, to murder or poison me, "and others to forsake and leave my righteous quarrel, "and to depart from my service, as Sir Robert Clif"ford, and others. So that every man of reason may "well perceive, that Henry, calling himself King of England, needed not to have bestowed such great sums "of treasure, nor so to have busied himself with impor"tune and incessant labour and industry, to compass "my death and ruin, if I had been such a feigned person. "But the truth of my cause being so manifest, moved "the most Christian King Charles, and the lady " duchess dowager of Burgundy, my most dear aunt, "not only to acknowledge the truth thereof, but "lovingly to assist me. But it seemeth that God "above, for the good of this whole island, and the "knitting of these two kingdoms of England and Scot"land in a strait concord and amity, by so great an "obligation, hath reserved the placing of me in the imperial throne of England for the arms and suc"cours of your grace. Neither is it the first time that "a King of Scotland hath supported them that were be"reft and spoiled of the kingdom of England, as of "late, in fresh memory, it was done in the person of "Henry the sixth. Wherefore, for that your grace hath "given clear signs, that you are in no noble quality "inferior to your royal ancestors; I, so distressed a "Prince, was hereby moved to come and put myself " into your royal hands, desiring your assistance to re"cover my kingdom of England; promising faithfully "to bear myself towards your grace no otherwise, than "if I were your own natural brother; and will, upon

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