The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 349
persons as amongst the vulgar, that he was in- of Sir Robert Clifford, being a gentleman of fame
deed Duke Richard. Nay, himself, with long and family, was extremely welcome to the Lady
and continual counterfeiting, and with oft telling Margaret. Who after she had conference with
a lie, was turned by habit almost into the thing him, brought him to the sight of Perkin, with
hle seemed to be; and from a liar to a believer. whom he had often speech and discourse. So
The duchess therefore, as in a case out of doubt, that in the end, won either by the duchess to afdid him all princely honour, calling him always feet, or by Perkin to believe, he wrote back into
by the name of her nephew, and giving him the England, that he knew the person of Richard
delicate title of the white rose of England; and Duke of York, as well as he knew his own, and
appointed him a guard of thirty persons, halber- that this young man was undoubtedly he. By
diers, clad in a party-coloured livery of murrey this means all things grew prepared to revolt and
and blue, to attend his person. Hercourt, likewise, sedition here, and the conspiracy came to have a
and generally the Dutch and strangers, in their correspondence between Flanders and England.
usage towards him, expressed no less respect. The king on his part was not asleep; but to
The news hereof came blazing and thundering arm or levy forces yet, he thought would but
over into England, that the Duke of York was show fear, and do this idol too much worship.
sure alive. As for the name of Perkin Warbeck, Nevertheless the ports he did shut up, or at least
it was not at that time come to light, but all the kept a watch on them, that none should pass to
news ran upon the Duke of York; that he had or fro that was suspected: but for the rest, he
been entertained in Ireland, bought and sold in choose to work by countermine. His purposes
France, and was now plainly avowed, and in great were two; the one to lay open the abuse, the
honour in Flanders. These fames took hold of other to break theoknot of the conspirators. To
divers; in some upon discontent, in some upon detect the abuse, there were but two ways; the
ambition, in some upon levity and desire of first, to make it manifest to the world that the
change, and in some few upon conscience and be- Duke of York was indeed murdered; the other,
lief, but in most upon simplicity; and in divers to prove that were he dead or alive, yet Perkin
out of dependence upon some of the better sort, was a counterfeit. For the first, thus it stood.
who did in secret favour and nourish these bruits. There were but four persons that could speak
bnd it was not long ere these rumours of novelty upon knowledge to the murder of the Duke of
had begotten others of scandal and murmur against York; Sir James Tirrel, the employed man from
the king and his government, taxing him for a King Richard, John Dighton and Miles Forrest
great taxer of his people, and discountenancer of his servants, the two butchers or tormentors, and
his nobility. The loss of Britain and the peace the priest of the Tower that buried them. Of
with France were not forgotten. But chiefly which four, Miles Forrest and the priest were
they fell upon the wrong that he did his queen, in dead, and there remained alive only Sir James
that hedidnotreigninherright. Wherefore, they Tirrel and John Dighton. These two the king
said, that God had now brought to light a mascu- caused to be committed to the Tower, and examinline branch of the house of York, that would not ed touching the manner of the death of the two
be at his courtesy, howsoever he did depress his innocent princes. They agreed both in a tale, as
poor lady. And yet, as it fareth in things which the king gave out to this effect: That King
are current with the multitude, and which they Richard having directed his warrant for the putaffect, these fames grew so general as the authors ting of them to death to Brackenbury, the iieutewere lost in the generality of speakers. They nant of the Tower, was by him refused. Wherebeing like running weeds that have no certain upon the king directed his warrant to Sir James
root; or like footings up and down impossible to Tirrel, to receive the keys of the Tower from the
be traced; but after a while these ill humours lieutenant, for the space of a night, for the king's
drew to a head, and settled secretly in some emi- special service. That Sir James Tirrel accordingnent persons; which were, Sir William Stanley, ly repaired to the Tower by night, attended by his
lord chamberlain of the king's household, the two servants afore-named, whom he had chosen
Lord Fitzwater, Sir Simon Mountfort, and Sir for that purpose. That himself stood at the stair
Thomas Thwaites. These entered into a secret foot, and sent these two villains to execute the
conspiracy to favour Duke Richard's title. Never- murder. That they smothered them in their bed;
theless none engaged their fortunes in this busi- and, that done, called up their master to see their
ness openly but two: Sir Robert Clifford, and naked dead bodies, which they had laid forth.
Master William Barley, who sailed over into That they were buried under the stairs, and some
Flanders, sent indeed from the party of the con- stones cast upon them. That when the ieport
spirators here, to understand the truth of those was made to King Richard, that his will was
things that passed there, and not without some done, he gave Sir James Tirrel great thanks, out
help of monies from hence; provisionally to be took exception to the place of their burial, being
delivered, if they found and were satisfied that too base for them that were king's children.
there was truth in these pretences. The person Whereupon, another night, by the king's warrant
2G