The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

320 HISTORY OF KING HIENRY VII.
ner and circumstances of it, especially in the be- such an abject fellow to enterprise so great a matginnings. Therefore we shall make our judgment ter; for high conceits do sometimes come streamupon the things themselves, as they give light ing into the minds and imaginations of base perone to another, and as we can dig truth out of the sons, especially when they are drunk with news
mine. The king was green in his estate; and, and talk of the people. But here is that which
contrary to his own opinion and desert both, was hath no appearance: that this priest, being utterly
not without much hatred throughout the realm. unacquainted with the true person, according to
The root of all was the discountenancing of the whose pattern he should shape his counterfeit,
house of York, which the general body of the should think it possible for him to instruct his
realm still affected. This did alienate the hearts player, either in gesture and fashions, or in reof the subjects from him daily more and more, counting past matters of his life and education;
especially when they saw, that after his marriage, or in fit answers to questions, or the like, any
and after a son born, the king did nevertheless ways to come near the resemblance of him whom
not so much as proceed to the coronation of the he was to represent. For this lad was not to perqueen, not vouchsafing her the honour of a matri- sonate one that had been long before taken out
monial crown; for the coronation of her was not of his cradle, or conveyed away in his infancy,
till almost two years after, when danger had known to few; but a youth, that till the age
taught him what to do. But much more when it almost of ten years had been brought up in a
was spread abroad, whether by error, or the cun- court where infinite eyes had been upon him. For
ning of malcontents, that the king had a purpose King Edward, touched with remorse of his brother
to put to death Edward Plantagenet closely in the the Duke of Clarence's death, would not, indeed,
Tower: whose case was so nearly paralleled with restore his son, of whom we speak, to be Duke
that of Edward the Fourth's children, in respect of Clarence, but yet created him Earl of Warwick,
of the blood, like age, and the very place of the reviving his honour on the mother's side; and'rower, as it did refresh and reflect upon the king used him honourably during his time, though
a most odious resemblance, as if he would be an- Richard the Third afterwards confined him. So
other King Richard. And all this time it was that it cannot be, but that some great person that
still whispered everywhere, that at least one of knew particularly and familiarly Edward Plantathe children of Edward the Fourth was living: genet, had a hand in the business, from whom
which bruit was cunningly fomented by such as the priest might take his aim. That which is
desired innovation. Neither was the king's na- most probable, out of the precedent and subseture and customs greatly fit to disperse these quent acts is, that it was the queen-dowager from
mists, but contrariwise, he had a fashion rather whom this action had the principal source and
to create doubts than assurance. Thus was fuel motion. For certain it is, she was a busy negoprepared for the spark: the spark, that afterwards tiating woman, and in her withdrawing-chamber
kindled such a fire and combustion, was at first had the fortunate conspiracy for the king against
contemptible. King Richard the Third been hatched; which the
There was a subtile priest called Richard Si- king knew, and remembered perhaps but too well;
mon," that lived in Oxford, and had to his pupil and was at this time extremely discontent with
a baker's son, named Lambert Simnell, of the the king, thinking her daughter, as the king hanage of some fifteen years, a comely youth, and dled the matter, not advanced but depressed: and
rwell favoured, not without some extraordinary none could hold the book so well to prompt and
dignity and grace of aspect. It came into this instruct this stage-play as she could. Neverthepriest's fancy, hearing what men talked, and in less it was not her meaning, nor no more was it
hope to raise himself to some great bishoprick, to the meaning of any of the better and sager sort
cause this lad to counterfeit and personate the that favoured this enterprise, and knew the secret,
second son of Edward the Fourth, supposed to that this disguised idol should possess the crown;
be murdered; and afterward, for he changed his but at his peril to make way to the overthrow of
intention in the manage, the Lord Edward Plan- the king; and that done they had their several
tagenet, then prisoner in the Tower, and accord- hopes and ways. That which doth chiefly fortify
ingly to frame him and instruct him in the part this conjecture is, that as soon as the matter brake
he was to play. This is that which, as was forth in any strength, it was one of the king's first
touched before, seemeth scarcely credible; not acts to cloister the queen-dowager in the nunnery
that a false person should be assumed to gain a of Bermondsey, and to take away all her lands
kingdom, for it hath been seen in ancient and late and estate; and this by a close council, without
times; nor that it should come into the mind of any legal proceeding, upon far-fetched pretences
that she had delivered her two daughters out of
* The priest's name was William Simonds; and the youth sanctuary to King Richard, contrary to promise.
was the son of —, an organ-maker, in Oxford, as the Which proceeding being even at that time taxed
priest declared before the whole convocation of the clergy, for rigorous and undue, both in matter and man-;.t Lanibeth, Feb. 17, 1486.-Vide Reg. Morton f. 34. MS.;andcroft. —Note from a former but not the original edition. ner, makes it very probable there was some greater