The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

352 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII.:voming over; signifying only to the king in the wherewith he was charged, nor endeavoured much
mean time, that he doubted there were some to excuse or extenuate his fault: so that, not very
greater ones in the business, whereof he would wisely, thinking to make his offence less by congive the king further account when he came to his fession, he made it enough for condemnation. It
presence. was conceived, that he trusted much to his former
Upon Allihallows-day-even, being now the merits, and the interest that his brother had in
tenth year of the king's reign, the king's second the king. But those helps were over-weighed by
son Henry was created Duke of York; and as divers things that made against him, and were
well the duke, as divers others, noblemen, knights predominant in the king's nature and mind.
bachelors, and gentlemen of quality, were made First, an over-merit: for convenient merit, unto
knights of the Bath according to the ceremony. which reward may easily reach, doth best with
Upon the morrow after twelfth-day, the king re- kings. Next the sense of his power; for the
moved from Westminster, where he had kept his king thought, that he that could set him up, was
Christmas, to the Tower of London. This he the more dangerous to pull him down. Thirdly,
did as soon as he had advertisement that Sir the glimmering of a confiscation; for he was the
Robert Clifford, in whose bosom or budget richest subject for valuein the kingdom; therebemost of Perkin's secret were laid up, was come ing found in his castle of Holt forty thousand
into England. And the place of the Tower was marks in ready money and plate, besides jewels,
chosen to that end, that if Clifford should accuse household-stuff, stocks upon his grounds, and
any of the great ones, they might, without suspi- other personal estate, exceeding great. And for
cion or noise, or sending abroad of warrants, be his revenue in land and fee, it was three thousand
presently attached; the court and prison being pounds a year of old rent, a great matter in those
within the cincture of one wall. After a day or times. Lastly, the nature of the time; for if the
two, the king drew unto him a selected council, king had been out of fear of his own estate, it was
and admitted Clifford to his presence; who first not unlike he would have spared his life. But
fell down at his feet, and in all humble manner the cloud of so great a rebellion hanging over his
craved the king's pardon; which the king then head, made him work sure. Wherefore after
granted, though he were indeed secretly assured some six weeks' distance of time, which the king
of his life before. Then commanded to tell his did honourably interpose, both to give space to
knowledge, he did amongst many others, of him- his brother's intercession, and to show to the
self not interrogated, appeach Sir William Stan- world that he had a conflict with himself what he
ley, the lord chamberlain of the king's household. should do; he was arraigned of high treason, and
The king seemed to be much amazed at the condemned, and presently after beheaded.
naming of this lord, as if he had heard the news Yet is it to this day left but in dark memory,
of some strange and fearful prodigy. To hear a both what the case of this noble person was, for
man that had done him service of so high a na- which he suffered; and what likewise was the
tare, as to save his life, and set the crown upon ground and cause of his defection, and the alienahis head; a man, that enjoyed, by his favour and tion of his heart from the king. His case was
advancement, so great a fortune both in honour said to be this: That in discourse between Sir
and riches; a man, that was tied unto him in so Robert Clifford and him he had said, "6 That if he
near a band of alliance, his brother having married were sure that that young man were King Edthe king's mother; and lastly, a man, to whom ward's son, he would never bear arms against
he had committed the trust of his person, in mak- him." This case seems somewhat a. hard case,
ing him his chamberlain; that this man, noways both in respect of the conditional, and in respect
disgraced, noways discontent, noways put in of the other words. But for the conditional, it
fear, should be false unto him. Clifford was re- seemeth the judges of that time, who were learned
quired to say over again and again the particulars men, and the three chief of them of the privy counof his accusation; being warned, that in a matter cil, thought it was a dangerous thing to admit ifs
so unlikely, and that concerned so great a servant and ands, to qualify words of treason; whereby
of the king's, he should not in any wise go too every man might express his malice, and blanch
far. But the king finding that he did sadly and his danger. And it was like to the case, in the
constantly, without hesitation or varying, and following times, of Elizabeth Barton, the holy
with those civil protestations that were fit, stand maid of Kent; who had said, "cThat if King
to that he had said, offering to justify it upon his Henry the Eigh!.did not take Catherine his wife
soul and life; he caused him to be removed. again, he should be deprived of his crown, and
And after he had not a little bemoaned himself die the death of a dog." And infinite cases may
unto his council there present, gave order that Sir be put of like nature; which, it seemeth, the
William Stanley should be restrained in his own grave judges taking into consideration, would not
cnamber where he lay before, in the square tower: admit of treasons upon condition. And as for the
and the next day he was examined by the lords. positive words, ", That he would not bear arms
Il:,on his examination he denied little of that against King Edward's son;" though the words