XV. CHAP. cheere, as it is said. The towne was spoiled by the soldiers, because Maximilian was behinde with them for certaine moneths paie. "Saint Omer was also taken at the same time, though some refer it to another time; but whensoever it was taken, this is most certaine, that the negligence of the watch was the losse thereof. For the enimies being led by George Dabecsin, made shew at their first comming before the towne as though they would have scaled it, at which time the French soldiers were ready to withstand them upon the walls, being strong and very defensible both by nature and by arte: whereupon the enimies, under pretence of feare, retired into their campe; yea and further, when the French issued foorthe to skirmish with them, they ever retired, faining the like feare, which dissimulation they used for the space of eight daies, and by this their pollicie caused the French to remit much of their accustomed industry and diligence; which when the Burgundians and Almains perceived, they with great expedition reared ladders against the walls and bulwarks of the towne, which they easily entered, the watch being fast asleepe, and in some places no watch at all. Then brake they open the gates, slew the French soldiers and the citizens, and made themselves masters of the town. "At the same time was Amiens also attempted by the Burgundians in the night, and like to have been surprised by the like negligence of the watch: but Katherine de Lignes (a woman of a manlike courage) awaked the watch out of their dead sleepe, by means whereof the alarme was sounded, and all XV.. the towne arose in arms, and part went to defend CHAP. the walls, and the rest issued foorth and skirmished, and put to flight Maximilian's bands, who plainly confessed that the diligence and industry of one woman had wrung the victory out of their hands." CHAP. XVI. CHAPTER XVI. New Scheme of Henry's Enemies-Alleged Escape of the Duke of York-Perkin Warbeck's Reception in Ireland-Policy of Charles VIII.-Favour shewn to the Impostor by Margaret of BurgundyDisaffection in England-Inquiries concerning Perkin's BirthConduct of the Duke of Burgundy-Examination of Tyrrel and Dighton-Arrest of Perkin's Friends-Panic of others-Charge against Sir William Stanley-his Confession-Henry's apparent Clemency-Condemnation and Execution of Stanley-his vast Riches-Supposition concerning Stanley's Fall-Government of Poynings in Ireland-Feud between Poynings and Kildare-Favour extended to Kildare and Desmond-Discontent of the Flemings -Warbeck appears off the Coast of Kent-is compelled to retireThe King visits the Earl of Derby-Sanguinary Execution in Kent— Treaty with Burgundy-Exile of Warbeck-is repulsed in Ireland— his Reception at the Scottish Court—Marriage with Lady Katherine Gordon-he crosses the Border-Imposition of New Taxes-Insurrection in Cornwall-March of the Rebels to Blackheath-Defeat of Audley-Execution of Audley and his Confederates--Decline of Warbeck's Favour in Scotland-he joins the Cornish Rebels-Siege of Exeter-Warbeck's Discomfiture before the Walls-is forced to retreat-flies to Sanctuary-Henry's Courtesy-Henry's Visit to Exeter-Surrender of Warbeck—his Treatment at Westminster—he effects his Escape—is retaken—his Punishment—his Confession-is lodged in the Tower-A new Impostor-Execution of Ralph Wilford-Sentence of the Priest-Attempt of Warbeck in the Tower -Implication of the Earl of Warwick-Warbeck's Trial and Death -Unjust Condemnation of the Earl of Warwick-Death of the last of the Plantagenets—Indignation of the English People-Henry attempts to palliate his Conduct. THE English nation, already displeased by the tame surrender of Bretagne to Charles VIII., were goaded into louder discontent by the return of the army from an inglorious yet costly expedition; and Henry had most unwisely exasperated the people at a moment in which a new competitor for the throne had suddenly emerged from obscurity and assumed the cherished name of Plantagenet. The opinions of the learned world have been so much divided on the subject of Perkin Warbeck's identity with Richard Duke of York, that to pronounce a decided judgment upon the claims of this mysterious personage would perhaps be deemed too presumptuous; yet however ably tutored, the very circumstance that the true heir of the throne should have been kept in the back ground for so many years, would almost carry conviction to every mind unbiassed by the subtle disquisitions of accomplished casuists. A young man, apparently about twenty years of age, landing at Cork from a merchant's vessel which had sailed from the port of Lisbon, attracted universal attention by the beauty of his countenance and the superior elegance of his deportment. While all eyes were fixed upon the stranger, a deeper interest was excited in his favour by a whisper which informed the admiring spectators that they beheld Richard Plantagenet, the youngest son of Edward IV., who, providentially saved from death by the relenting clemency of one of the assassins suborned to murder him, had flown for security to a foreign land. This statement, so far from throwing discredit upon Sir Thomas More's narrative respecting the fate of the young princes, tends to establish its CHAP. XVI. CHAP XVI. truth. If the death of Edward V. had been ascribed to natural causes, and the escape of the Duke of York attributed to a less doubtful medium than the sudden remorse of the ruffian who had slain his brother, Richard III. might have been exonerated from the charge of having made away with his nephews, but such a version of the melancholy history of Edward's children was not attempted at the time. Richard himself evaded, but did not deny the accusation of their murder; and the fact appears to have been too notorious and indisputable for Perkin Warbeck to venture upon so material an alteration in a tale universally believed. The history of the adventurer, from the period of his alleged escape to the continent, was studiously involved in impenetrable mystery. None of the great Yorkist lords had been previously made acquainted with the secret of his existence, and suffered to peril their lives in the cause of a false Warwick many were miserably slain; nor was the conduct of the friends of the pretended Duke of York less unaccountable in permitting Henry to establish himself upon the throne before they proclaimed the rights of the true heir. The Irish, though eagerly crediting Perkin's marvellous story, were not able to afford him any essential aid. The two great Earls of Kildare and Desmond were deterred from an open espousal of his cause by the failure and disgrace which had attended Lambert Simnel's enterprize; the former hesitated even to acknowledge the new claimant. But while his prospects were thus gloomy in Ireland, he received an invitation from the court of France, and instantly repairing to Charles VIII. was received |