The historical and romantic elements in John Ford's Perkin Warbeck

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Authors Provence, Jean, 1905-

Publisher The University of Arizona.

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Download date 05/10/2021 08:09:04

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/553111 The Historical and Romantic Elements in

John Ford,s Perkin Warbeck

sy Jean Provence

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of

Master of Arts in the College of letters,Arts, and Sciences ,of the

University of Arizona

1931

£?7f/ 1131

c o p. X.

Outline

1. Introduction,

a. Background.

b. The Problem: Bid John Ford Romantlcloe the

Character of Perkin Warbeck in his "Chronicle

History of Perkin Warbeck,A Strange Truth”?

2. Concepts of Perkin Warbeck.

a. Historical,

b. John Ford's.

c. Raphael Holinshed's.

d. Thomas Gainsford's,

e. Francis Bacon's.

f. Composite.

3. Discussion of Results.

4. Summary and Conclusions.

5. Bibliography.

79857 THE HISTORICAL AND ROMANTIC XL81CENTS IN

JOHN FORD'S PERKIN WARBECK

U ) Introduction, Background. During the. lifetime of Shakeapear, when the hoards of the London theatres were being trodden by actors reciting the lines of the disappointed old King Lear and the reckless Henry V, the English Chronicle play was in full vogue; but with the retirement of Shakespear to Stratford, and his death in 1616, the sensational and spectacular tragi-comedies of Beau­ mont and Fletcher made it almost impossible for the old historical plays, with their weak thrills, to thrive, and they soon dis­ appeared from the lists of the theatres. In 1624 Robert Daven­ port made an attempt to revive the out of fashion chronicle play with his King John and Matilda, but he met with so little suc­ cess and such great discouragement that there was not another attempt to revive the chronicle play for nine years, John Ford was fairly successful in producing The Chronicle History of

Perkin Warbeck at the Phoenix in 1633, where it was acted by the Queen's Men, and on February 24, cf the following year the play was licenced for printing by Hugh Beesten,1

The times were most opportune for just such a play as

Ford gave the publie in hie Perkin Warbeck. Since his ascension

1 F. 9. Ussy, Biographical Chronicle of Elizabethan Drama, pp, 230 and 234. (2) to the throne in 1625, Charles I, of England had been constant­ ly in conflict with the leaders of the people, and by 1633 the opposition to him was beginning to crystallize. Such a state of public affairs was certain to increase the average English­ man’s interest in the conditions of his country, and to occupy his mind with questions related to and revolving around hie king. Where historical plays would have been passed up a few years before the public was now ready to witness any exhibition of history which might throw light upon the crisis toward which

England was pressing.

The subject matter of John Ford's Perkin Warbeok was not unknown to the average reader of the day, since Thomas Gains-

ford’s True aid Wonderful History of Perkin Warhcck had been

printed in 1618, and Francis Bacon*s History of Henry the Sev­

enth had been presented to Prince Charles in March, 1622, Both

chronicles give lengthy and detailed accounts of Perkin Warbeck’s

adventures, and his attempt to wrest the crown of England from

the head of Henry VII, by pretending to be the Duke of York, the

younger of the two princes murdered in the Tower by their uncle,

Richard Crookback, Perkin Warbeek and Henry VII were both, how­

ever, far enough in the background to give the dramatist suffic­

ient freedom in handling the material to make it interesting as

a play, m d not merely a work written by a politician for polit­

icians, as Bacon*s Henry VII had been.1,

1 A. W. Ward, English Dramatic Literature, p. 84. (3)

The play see likewise an extravagant and spectacular chronicle easily brought Into harmony with the tastes of the day, which demanded unusual and melodramatic plays with as much action as possible.

From,the number of commendatory verses which were written in praise of John Ford's PerJcin warbeck soon after it was produced at the Phoenix, and affixed to the first edition of the play printed in 1654, one would conclude that the play was a success. There is a legend in dramatic tradition that

Ben Jenson accused Ford of stealing The Lover's Melancholy from the papers of Shakespear, when his The Few Inn failed about the seme time Ford's play succeeded in 1628,' If this is true, then what Charles Dibdin has to say about the plays of

Ford, BBti^especially Perkin Varbeek, can be accepted as am Inc­ ulcation of their success on the stage, Dibdin does net assert

anything definite; but he suggests much in the few notes which

he makes on Ford,

Love's Sacrifice, The Broken Heart. Perkin Warbeek, The Fancies Chaste and Noble. and The Lady's Trial are spoken of as having been successes. They were well patronised, and highly commended by different poets, who were, perhep s, as happy to see the en­ vious Jenson net tied. as the modest end unassuming Ford car­ essed, 2

Jenson in his last years was certainly Jealous of

hi s fellow playwrights, and especially of the younger men with

whom he worked. It is certain that he quarreled with Shirley 12

1 A. W. Ward, English Dramatic Literature. Ycl. III. p, 76. . ^ ...... 2 Charles Dibdin, History of the London Theatres. Vol. III. p. 281. (4) and Inigo Jem##* who sere as active as himself in. the production ■ s. ■ ' ■ ' ' ' - ■ ' " • 1 of the court masquese If the play was of sufficient merit to

irritate Ben Jenson, who was the leader ©f English dramatists

at the time of the production of Perkin Warbeck. then we can

assert that the play succeeded*

The production of Perkin Varheck has not been limit­

ed to the lifetime of Ford, hut the costemt of the pluy makes

it exceedingly valuable as political propaganda, and appealing

during times of national unrest, %hem George I came to the

throne of England in 1714, there was an attempt on the part of

the weakened Tories to restore the crown to the Stuarts; aid

James Stuart appeared in Scotland at Perth with the Earl of Mar . ' ' ' - ' : and six thousand men, Dreading a Catholic king the republicans .

remained loyal to George, and the cry" was “liberty. Prosperity,

and no Pretenders** 1

While the country was in the midst of this civil

strife a new edition of ?ord*o Perkin Warbeck was printed; but

the play was not acted* In 1744 another attempt to regain the

throne was made by Charles Edward, the oldest son of the un­

successful James Stuart* Outfitted and equipped by the French

monarch he was sent with an expedition towards Scotland, but

was forced back by a storm. A year later, near the close of

July, he succeeded in landing on the coast of Scotland, where

the highlanders rallied around him, and proclaimed him James

"Till in Edinburgh* While this short lived success was at its

1 J* R* Green, A Short History of the English People. P* 697* (5) height Perkin Marbeck was written by Charles mcklin, and pro­ duced without success at Drury Lane on January 18, and a third was written by; Joseph Elderton for Covent Garden, hut not fin­ ished until after the civil rebellion had hecn quelled, so that it was no longer opportune to produce it,'

Ford's play opens with a scene in which Henry VII give# vent te his fears, and discloses t© the eudienee the state of affairs in England due to the prctenSisa# of Perkin

Y/arheck and Margaret of Burgundy'# untiring intrigues against him. Strange new# is brought by Urswick, and the King orders ‘ s all to retire to the Tower, The next scene is laid in Scot# land where Huntley and Dalyell are trying to induce Lady Kath­ erine to accept Dalyell, and are interrupted by Crawford, who brings news that the Duke of York is coining to court. The third scene ends the first act when Henry learns from Clifford that

Sir William Stanley, his lord chamberlain, is the leader of warbeck's conspiracy, and that ten thousand Corn!shnen arc marching toward London*

Perkin Warbeck is received by James of Scotland in

the first scene of the next act, and in the second, Henry sends

Stanley off to the executioner as a traitor. Gracious James

in the last scene gives his cousin Katherine Gordon to Perkin 1

1 A good account of the revival of Ford's Perkin War- beck, and the production of Hacklin's play is given by Charles Plbdin in his account of The English Stage beginning on page 179 of volume four. (6) V w&rbeck, in spite ®f the eppoaitien of Huntley, her father, to the marriage. ' . ,

• In the first scene of the third act Henry learns of. the defeat @£ the CcmlshaeBt while the second scone is given o orer to a fete for the newly wedded Perkin Warbeck and Lady

Katherine, and' it ends when Warheck announces he must go to battle, A short scene between King Henry and.Hialas, a Spanish ambassador| follows, and it is agreed that Hialas will act as arbitrator between Henry and James in an effort to dislodge

Warbeok from Scotland. Scene four depicts the unsuccessful attempt of the Scottish war party to storm the castle of Hor- haa, and Perkin W&rbeck laments the pillaging of his country, much to the disgust of - the bellicose King James.

A parley is sounded at the opening of the fourth act, sued King James offers to challenge the Earl of Surrey in a single fight; but he is refused, and Surrey withdraws with M s men. In the second scene Prion and W&rbeck discuss James1 wan­ ing interest In the cause, and th advisability of retiring to

Cornwall, where the Cornish had stomached their defeat. In the next scene Hislate induces James to dismiss Perkin Warbeek. As the scene closes all are prepared to embark for Cornwall, and

Dalyell declares he will follow with Lady Katherine as her body­ guard. The fourth scene is a short one, and reveals the con­ tempt of King Henry and hie court for Perkin Warbeek. They feel safe when they learn Prion has been taken. The act ends in the (7) next seen* when the small party of Warbcckfs, on the coast of i ' . ■ • Cornwall, lesrne that the CoralsMen have pToelalmed- him Rich­ ard the Fourth.

lady leather in e falls into the h m do of Oxford in the opening a cine of the last act; m d in the next Perkin

Warheok himself, is brought before King Henry. ' In the last

scene of the play Perkin Warbeek asserts himself to be the true Duke of York, then in spite of the tsmto of Lambert

Sianol and King Henry# he refuses to confess and goes, to the gallows, •

Many of the ablest critics of drama have placed

Perkin Warbeek at the head of all of John Ford’s works; and

Ward goes so far as to say, ‘

ITo plays except lfe.rlowe*s Edward II. the anonymous Edward III, and this isolated effort by Ford, can prefer any claim to notice by the side of Shakespear’a national historis dramas,1

Courthope is equally gracious with the honors he be­

stows upon Perkin Warbeck when he says, % The whole constitutes a great drama, deserving of standing in the same rank as the chronicle histories of Shake- spear, «

Sullen is not so generous with his praise of the

play; but he gives it a high place among the works of its

author, and says,

It is the meat faultless, but net the greatest, well

'•A. W, Ward, English Dramatic Literature, Vo 1. III. p, 84, %W, J. Courthope, A History of English Poetry. Vol, IV. p. 384. planned, .and equally well written, a mcrltcriouD, and dignified coapesition« , * On the whole the play, without doubt, is one of

Ford* *e heat, and it givea the critic a different view of the dramatist * b abilities, from that presented in hie other plays,

When John Ford set about to write hie Perkin W&rbeek f "nTr...... “..:[r".TrT"n.'...... he intended truthfully to drazaatiise the episode of Perkin i'ar- beck as presented in Bacon*e History of Henry VII» and when he had finished the drama he called it on the title page of the old quarto The Chronicle History of Perkin Warbeck. A Strange

Truth. Ford further bears out hia intention in the dedieatioa of Perkin Warbeok to the Bari of Hewcastle when he begins:

\ - - Out of the darkness of a former age - en­ lightened by a late both learned and honourable pen,- I have.endeavoured to personate a great attempt, and in in it a^great danger. In other labours you may read actions of antiquity discoursing, in some kind pract­ ised as well what to speak as speaking what to do.2-

Then in, the prologue of the play he gives further hints of wanting to present the truth rather than countenance wise in­ dustry when "he mays:

Studies have of this nature been of late So out of fashion, so unfollow*d, that • It is become more justice to revive The antic follies of the times than strive To countenance wise industry: no want • Of art doth render wit or lame or scant Or slothful in the purchase of fresh bays; But want of truth in them who give them praise.3

/H. A. Sullen. Dictionary of National Biography. Tol. XIX. p. 420. * John Ford, The Chronicle History of Perkin Warbeok (9)

In the last few lines of the above Ford clearly indicates that chronicle plays were not only cut of fashion, hut they were out of the public taste, which did not d e m m d truth* He clearly realises that they clamor for the unusual; but in the following lines of the prologue he indicates that he thinks he has found a story which is both true and suited to the tastes of the days

He (the author) shows a history couch’d in a play; A history of noble mention, known. Famous and true; most noble, ’cause our own; Hot forg’d from Italy, from France, from Spain, But chronicled at home; as rich in strain Of brave attempts as ever fertile rage In action could beget to grace the stage,

Although Ford apparently fully realized the dramatic appeal of the subject matter, and the spectacular nature of

Perkin Warbeck’s adventures, he does not depend on it to carry his play, but contends in the last two lines of the prologue that i

on these two rests the fate of worthy expectation, - truth and state* 2.

Ford, then, in writing his Perkin Warbeek had in mind to write an account of the Pretender which was closer to the truth and actual history than to the prevailing mode of tragi­ comedy which was holding the stage in 1633.

Once Ford gets into the play he soon forgets the truth and the state before him, and after the first act gives the play almost entirely over to the development of the ohar- 1

1 Ford, op, cit;. Prologue. -

: Ibid. (10) aoter of Perkin War beck into a romantic youth who firmly be- liovos in hie own pretentions. Ward singles out this trait in the eharaoter of Perkin Warbook as the keynote of the whole play; and eays.

While no doubts are anywhere hinted as to the fact of his having been an imposter, he never betrays himself, and the key to the secret of both the man and his career is to be sought, not in King Henry1 s indignant remark that Perkin 'does but act*, but in his subsequent suggestion that

•’The oust ora, sure of being styl'd a king , % t h fasten'd in hie thought that he is eueh#”

This is also the observation of Hellson who points out that:

The hero derives dignity from the carefully preserved assumption that he believed in his own olairase &

Courthope is likewise of the same opinion, and*In discussing

Perkin Warbeok. ho says.

His representation of Warbeok is truly poet­ ical* Dupe of others, the pretender Is represen­ ted believing firmly in himself and in his right, and however fortune may fail him, hie noble car­ riage and kingly eloquence sustain him without faltering to the gallows* --- And not less excel­ lent are the meaner characters intended to bring into relief the magnanimous character of Warbeok - the boorish counsellors who attend him; the knavish Prion who knows him to be an imposter, and the grovelling Simnsl, his brother pretender, who is unable to understand how Warbeok should prefer hie honor to his life*J

This question arising out of Perkin Warbeck's char­ acter has been discussed to some extent by sshelling, Who ob­ serves:

1 A. W e Ward, op. pit.. Vile III, p. 88. 2 W. A. Heilson.Cambridge History of English Lit­ erature v&l VI, p. 818. 3 W. J. Courthope, op. pit.» Vol IV, p. 385. (11)

Unreality was a necessary element in the dramatist's problem, whieh demanded that he pro­ duce in the spectator some doubt as to the truth of the pretentions of Warbeck which rendered ex­ plainable his temporary success. — - In the end the tragic fortitude of Perkin, who accepts death rather than aeknowledge himself an imposter, is artfully contrived to leave us alike uneonvlnoed of his genuine royalty, and yet , compassionate of an imposture which from inveter­ acy has become a delusion./

This was no new trick for Ford, as Neilson observes that the dramatist in his three earlier tragedies frequently created strong sympathy fcq? the tempted and the sinner, and left the guilt open.2. During the entire course of the five acts of the play Perkin Warbeck is consistent in his character, and never even so much as hints that he is not the true Duke of

York. Ford's presentation of Perkin Warbeck is that of a hopeless dreamer chasing after a wlll-o-the-wisp in the worst peat bogs of Ireland and England, always within grasp of his prize, hut novor catching it, and so well drawn that the spectators cannot but wish that he might somehow defeat the cold and scheming Henry VII, and run away with the crown.

After the execution of Sir William Stanley the play ceases to be merely a chronicle play, and becomes something infinitely more alive than mere history, as has been pointed out by Brawley, who states,

— -Perkin Warbeck. which seems to be a belated chronicle play, but which is really more of a problem play. ?

F. E. Sehelling Mish Chronicle Play, p. 262. IT/. A. Neileon, < Brawley, Benj., History of 5nr;llsir~Drama. p. 119. Havoloek Bills soec tho problem In the peyohoXogtoal attitude uhl oh ?or& takes t o m r d Perkin Warbeek In rendering his impartial, even sympathetic, treatment of Warbeok, 1 Ere-' viouo to writing Perkin V?arbook Ford had shown hia interest in peyohology In hia paeudd-peyeholegioal treatment of hie eharaoters in The lorer'a Melancholy, which is an attempt to dramatise tho disastrous effects of Lover1 s Melancholy as suggested by Hebert Burton In hia Anatomy of Melancholy.

Ford's tgja a Pity She's a Whore. She Broken Heart, And Love's

Sacrifice. all printed the year Perkin Warbeek was acted* show a decided tendency to treat the characters as pathological cases, and are interesting psychological studies* The prob­ lem of the play is in the workings of Perkin Warbeek's mind, and in the general impression that the play creates as to the reality of Perkin Warbeek's claims*

Such a treatment of the character of Warbeek is en­ tirely in keeping with Ford's accepted style, as it was his tendency to romanticise all of his characters after the fash­ ion set by Beaumont and Fletcher, and even at times to go be­ yond their standards. It was Hazlitt's observation that an artificial elaborateness is the general characteristic of

Ford's style.2 Similar views were held by Lowell, who remark*

ed that Ford's plays arc chiefly remarkable for that filigree- work of sentiment, which we call sentimentality, and they abpunOioiapk pathos,3 John Ford had been severely bitten 1 Havelock Ellis, John Ford. Works. Introduction. p*XIII* 4 William Hazlitt. Literature of the Age of Elizabeth, p. is?. , : ~ 1 3 J* R* Lowell, "Ford and Massinger", Harper.Vol.85.p.942 (13) by the tragi-comedy technic In hoTor’a Ifelaneholy, end "in;his three tragedies, so that it was difficult for Ford at any time to stick to the truth of history.

The Problem. With John Ford's style naturally tend­

ing toward the romantic, and with all of hio plays showing iirfL-

ioatione of the prevailing deoadenoe of his age, one immediat­

ely beoomee euepioioTto that M s play, The Chronicle History

of Perkin Warbeck. A Strange Truth, is not as truthful as

Ford's title asserts• In Henry V Shakespear depicts a roman­

tic king who is romantic * but, on the whole, is essentially

true to the historical essence of tho actual king, who in real

life was an active and adventurous nan# Before this can be

said of Ford's play it will be necessary to compare M e con­

ception of Perkin Warbeck with tho historical presentation

of tho pretender, and discover if Perkin Warbeck was in life

a romantic character, or if John Ford romanticised the youth

and created a new character# It is tho problem of this paper

to compare the characterisation of Perkin Warbeck which John

Ford presents with the sources from which he drew his mater­

ial, and discover the similarities and differences of the

two* From such a comparison one should be able to discover if

Ford exaggerates the character of Perkin Warbeck, and creates a

pretender who is not historically true. Specifically, the prob­

lem of the paper is to answer the question. Bid John Ford Ro­

manticise the Character of Perkin Warbeck in His "Chronicle

History of Perkin Warbeck. A Strange Truth?” 12* ghe Coaoopta of Perkin Earhook

Historical* Tha honorable pen will oh ?ord montiono

in the a@ai

of %oon, and tho ”other labours" Baoonfd History of Henry Til*1

fo this eouroe of the play Boeppel add® another, elnee he find® that several passages in the indicate that ford drew some

of his material from .Thomas Galneford/s grne and Wonderful His­

tory of Perkin Warbeok.Ao.^ In writing the play Ford may have

gone to HolinshecVs Chronicles, as Bhakespear 2iad done, since

the Chronicles vrore. easily obtained, and had been widely read

since their publication in 1S87. Later historians in giving

aeoonnte of Perkin Warbeek have resorted to older sources such

as Polydoro Virgil’s Angelica Elstoria. printed in Latin at

Basle in 1554, and Edward Hall’s Tlio Union of the Noble and

Illustrious Jflamilles of Lancaster and York, but it is not lik­

ely that Ford had access to either,because of the obscurity of

Polydore Virgil, and an edict of Mary’s banning Hall’s works^

which forced them out of circulation. Riehard Graftin’s,

Pabyan’s, Cotton* g and Holinehed's ohronielos as well as all

of the state papers of the period of Henry VII wore digested

into flaoon’e History of Henry VII at the request of King James. *i

1 Victor Gehler, Las Vorhaltnis von fords Perkin War- beok gu moons Henry VII. i l^ail Koeppei. Quellenstudlen %u den Lramon George Chapman’s, Philip I'ansinger’s. and John Ifortl*e. p.' sogo. (15)

Hum® In M e Hlatory of England drawl heavily on him for ao- oounte of Henry VII and Perkin Tarbeck, and suggests that Has on gives the most unbiased aeeount of the period*1 The most recent historian to investigate the history of Perkin Karbeck, James

Gairdner, has found some disorepaneies in the earlier aeeounte, hut since they were unknown to J’ord it is best that they be disregarded, and the paper bo limited to those sources which were use^/or most readily accessible to John Ford* Thus the comparison of Ford's Perkin Warbeck will bo limited to Bacon's

History of Henry VII and Gainsford's True and Wonderful His­ tory of Perkin Warbeok. which aro proven courses of the play, and to Hoilushed*s Chronicles, which was the most accessible history of the day* By these comparisons the answer to the question "Bid John Ford romanticise the character of Perkin

Warbeok?" should bo answered* , .

Since tills paper will deal only with those parte of the original sources of Perkin Warbeok which throw light upon the Mstorieal character of the pretender, or are used In the drama, it is wall to give a short emmaary of the actual events which have been thoroughly investigated for aoouraey by Mr* Gairdner, in the life of Porkin Warbeek* He was born at Tournay in 1474, the son of John Osboek and Ihtherin# de

Faro* Early in his lifo ho wont to Antwerp, and stayed with . his uncle, John Steinbeck, until 1482, Soon after his return

1 David Hume, History of England. Vol* II, p* 627* (16) to Souroay ho foil ill, sn& tyag oick for oorno five months; hut as ooon as ho was strong again went to Hiddelbnrg Where he was plasod under John Strewe, 'for to learn ^nglieh,* and remained with, him from Christinas to Faster* I’rora there he went into Portugal with. Sir Edvard Brampton's wife, a strong adherent to the House of York; and there ho served for about a year under a knight, rained Peter faces do Cogna* His next service was with n Breston merchant. Progent Mono, Who car­ ried him to Cork in 1491. While in Cork he was persuaded to take on the character of the Bake of York, and seek the throne

of England* The following year ho was called to France by

Zing Charles, but when the conflict with England ended, Per­

kin m e dismissed, and ho want into Flanders to I'argaret of

Burgundy* In 1493 Henry sent Sir Edward Beings and Dr. Wo.

Uarhnm to Flanders to induce the Duke to force Margaret to give up Perkin Warbeek, but the relations terminated in the

discontinuance of trade between the two countries* In Nov­

ember of the same year Perkin was at the court of Emperor

Maximilian in Vienna, and the following year he came back to the lowlands with the Homan Emperor. It was during the

year 1494 that Sir Robert Clifford and William Barley rev­

ealed the conspiracy of Perkin Warbook to Henry VII, and

furnished evidence for the execution of Sir William Stanley,

and many others* On December 10 of the seme year Perkin War­

beek deeded to Margaret of Burgundy extensive holdings in

England on the strength that he should be king, and signed (17) papers to Maximilian which would make the Roman emperor clai­ mant to the English crown, should Perkin he killed in battle.

Maximilian then fitted Warhack with a small fleet, and he at­ tempted to land off Deal in Kent on July 5, 1495; but his small landing party was out to pieces, and Warbeck was forced to turn toward Ireland, where he made an attempt to capture Waterford.

In November he went to Scotland to be received at Sterling by

James IV, who married him to M s cousin Katherine Gordon. Be­ ginning September, 1496, Perkin Warbeck made a three days raid into England with a small Scottish war party, but at no time was he menaced by the English forces, who were then actively engaged in repressing an uprising in Cornwall. Difficulties were smoothed over between King James and King Henry, so that

Perkin was outfitted, and sent to sea in July 1497. He first visited Cork, but in September, on the 7th, he landed at

Whitensand Bay, where he joined 5000 Cornlahmen, who had asked him to join their forces in another rebellion, and besieged

Exeter, on the 17th, but without success. He withdrew to

Taunton, where on the 20th he had mustered about 8000 men, but as the Duke of Buckingham drew near with a strong force,

Perkin deserted his force, and sought refuge in the Sanctu­ ary of Beauliew in Hampshire. On the promise of his life he gave himself up, and returned to Taunton on October 5, and was paraded through the streets on November 28. The following year on June 9, 1498 he escaped his easy eon- (18)

5lno.ment; but he *.7as brought back, and placed In the Berner, vhcre ha ronalned. until he attempted to corrupt M o keepers a year later. On November 16, 1499, he war. brought to trial, for conspiring with the Earl of Warwick, a real contender, to break prison; and the two with -John a Water were executed at

Westminster on TToveiaber 23.1

Sue to inadequate information, unauthentlc aooounte, and personal interpretations the various accounts of Perkin differ widely from the one given above, but l!r. Gairdner has taken great pains to discover the actual facts of Warbeck’a life, and his account can be accepted as authentic.

Pordhs. Tli® picture that Ford’s Chroniole History of Perkin Warbock, A Strange Truth gives of Perkin Warbook in that of an over-ambitione youth with more ambition than will; and ao sympathetically drawn that one is apt to re­ mark as did the Countess of Crawford, *’Twero pity now if he should prove a counterfeit*"^Sho and Lady fathering, who discuss hin briefly before hia entry into tho Hoothh court, introduce him as a noble character, and give him the benefit of the doubt an to hie being an imposter. When Perkin him­ self enters ho waxes eloquent in a speech appealing to James for aid, and the king remakka, "He must be morq th&n subject Who can utter the language of a king." ^

James Gairdner, Richard the Third 263, soqq. ^ Zord, op. oit.. lot il, so. 1. Ibid, lot II, sc. 1. m )

When tho court followers withdrow with Jozen, the Countens of

Crnwford and Bitherino remin behind and give a good account of Warbock1 o iiaprnosion on the Court of jQmo : IV.

Craw. I have not s@on a gentleman Of a more brave aspect or goodlier carriages Hie fortune moves not him. -Ea&sm, you’re paoeiomte. Bath, Beehrow me, but his words have touch’d me home, As if hie cause concern*d me: I should pity him. If he should prove another than he seems• 1

The two give an impression of Perkin which makes him a gal­ lant youth, with whom one could easily share and follow for­ tune . It even suggests an air of hopelessness, which would lead one to affection rather than acclaim#

Perkin is as gallant with the ladies as he is elo­

quent with the ling, and Dalyell remarks.

He courts the ladies. As if his strength of language chained attention By power of prerogative.‘i

Old Huntley opposes James when he desires to marry

Lady Catherine, Huntley’s daughter, to Perkin, and King James

does much to establish the impression that Perkin Warbeck is

not an imposter when he says to Huntley: /

Kings are counterfeits In your repute, grave oracle, not presently Set on their thrones with sceptres in their fists.3

And a little later on he says.

The Welsh Harry henceforth

i?ord. op, cit.. Act II, So. 1. Ibid. let II, Sc. 3. TEId. Act II, SO. 5m fro)

Shall therefore know, and tremble to eeknowledge, Shat not tho painted idol of hi# policy Shall frighten the lawful owner from ti kingdom.

This ie finite a contrast to thn attitude whl nh Henry VII tobk^ toward Perkin when he remarked, "That James of Scotland let® hath entertained Perkin the. counterfeit."^Vfarbeck and Cath­ erine enter, and James then point# out,

How like a king he looks! Lord# but observe The confidence of his aspect* dross cannot Clove to so pure a metal - royal youth| Elantagenet undoubted! 3 All this set® Warbeok on the stage as a handsome and well man­ nered youth, with a good assurance that he ia not a mere pre­ tender. At least the scales era balanced* fh# court of Henry

VII disclaims him, but with equal fervor he is acclaimed in

Scotland at the court of James IV.

The faith that lady Catherine puts in Perkin Warbeok

sets hie ambitions soaring, and his tender affection for hie

newly wedded wife makes up for all the suspicion that the

rest of the world may hold in regard to hi® position* He

shows himself a capable lover as well as a dreamer of fine

dreams in the scene where he takes leave of I&therine on the

eve of hie raid into England*

War. How. dearest, ere sweet sleep shall seal .thoso-eyec. Love’s precious tapers, give me leave to use A parting ceremony; for to-morrow It would bo.sacrilege t’ intrude upon The temple of thy peace; swift as the morning Must I break from the down of thy embraces, To put on steel, and trace the paths which I q M

' Ford, on* eit Act II, SO® Se f>C. 2. So • 5e Through furious haserAe to a careful throne. m t h . 1L. lord, I*d fain go wiT yo; there’s small fortune In staying here behind. War. The ehnrlish brow Of war, fair dearest, is a sight of horror For ladies?^entertainment: if thou hearest A truth of my aad ending by the hand Of some unnatural subject, thou withal Shalt hear how I died worthy of my right, Bv »alling like a king; and in the ©lose, ^ i e h W last breath shall sound, thy name, thou fairest. Shall sing a requiem to my soul, unwilling . Only of greater glory, ’cause divided From such a Hpaven on earth as life with thee. But these are chimes for funerals: ray business Attends on fortune of a sprightlier triumph; For love and majesty are roeonoiled, A M vow to erown thee empress of the west# Bath. You have a noble language, sir; your right 1% me is without question, and however Events of time may shorten my deserts In others’ pity, yet it shall not stagger Or constancy or duty in a wife. You must be king of me; and my poor heart Is all I can call mine. War. But wo will live, live, bequteoue virtue, by the lively test Of our own blood, to let the counterfeit Be known the world’s contempt. Bithe Bray, do not use That word; it carries fate in't. The first suit I ever made, I trust your love will grant. War. Without denial, dearest. Bath. That hereafter. If you return with safety, no adventure May sever us in tasting any fortune: I ne’er can stay behind again# War. You’re lady Of your desires, and shall command your will; Yet ’tie too hard to promise# Bath# What our destinies Have ruled-out in their books we must not search But kneel to. War. Then to fear when hope is fruitless, Were to be desperately miserable; Which poverty our greatness dares not dream of. And much more ■oerns to stoop to: some few minutes Remain yet; let*s be thrifty in our hopes.'

Such a scene reveals Perkin’s faith in himself, and it would be very difficult for anyone seeing it well acted not to fall in with the spirit of it, and catch up iterbeok’s banners He is so sure of himself that should he fall in bat­ tle he would die like a king, and then Ehdy Katherine would be queen in all eternity# This is decidedly a pleasant thought he suggests, and is an indication of the unbounded fancy which raises his mean condition to one of stupendous brilliance in his own mind# His kingdom is clearly an imaginary one, but nevertheless it is as real to him as if he were securely seat­ ed on the throne# At this point of the play his faith In him­ self seems rather sound, and there is little to suggest the later morbid tendencies whieh overshadow Perkin Warbeok* s hopes and ambitions.

At the siege of the castle of Horham, warbeok further illustrates his gentle nature when he turns to King James af­ ter the Bishop of Durham has defamed him, and exclaims:

0, sir, then give mo leave to yield to nature; I am most miserable: had I been B o m that this clergyman would by defame Baffle belief with, I bust never sought The truth of mine inheritance with rapes of Women or of infants murder’d; virgins 3>qflowered, old men butcher’*, dwellings fired, Hy land depopulated, and my people

/Ford, op. cits, Act III, Scene II, From middle of page 426 to end of scene# Afflicted with, a kingdom' o devastation: Show more remorso, great king, or I shall never Endure to seo such .havoc with dry oyosj Spare, spare, my dear, dear England. 1

He is much more a man of dreams and one to talk of war than to act, pillage a country, execute his enemies, murder the innocent, and win the crown of a kingdom. James IT immediately reprimands him for his foolish pity, and interest in another man's possessions. T© this Warbeek s h o w himself humble by answering:

The experience In former trials, sir, both of mine own Or other princes cast out of their thrones, H a w so acquainted me how misery Is destitute of friends or of relief, That I can easily submit to taste Lower reproof without contempt or words.

He reveals his true nature as a woaiding, and with no will to oppose the mind of James IT, even when he would defend his own rights and kingdom against ruthless and unnecessary pillage.

But yet on the news of Surrey's approach with twenty thousand men he shows himself faithful to his own cause, and opposes Frion's word that they corns to raise the siege. "'Tls false they come to side with us!**^

King James, rather than meet the bold Surrey, calls a retreat, and plans to avoid bloodshed by offering a single conflict with him. Perkin still pleads:

Ford. op. cit.. Act III. So. 4. fIbid. Act III. Sc. 4. ? Ibid. Act III. So. 4. 0, rather* gracious sir. Create me to this glory, since my cause Doth interest this fair quarrel; valu'd least, I am his equal,z

2&is scone gives the first inkling of a .fickleness in

Perkin Warbeck's character* How Perkin's sensitive nature is seen revolting against the ruthless bloodshed of king James; and then giving in coriiplotely to the king, whon reprimanded for his weak stomach for the conflict. Shore is something strong about M s objecting to the unnecessary destruction; but Mien he offers no resistance to the King's rebuke, he shews the lack of a decisive will. The final lines of the scene to some extent redeem Perkin in that ho reveals h* is still thoroughly confident In M s powers. In offering to fight the single Sonfliot Perkin Warbeok is playing for the spectacular, Shioh would make M m a hero before the armies.

He shows himself a true lily-livered hero in that he is both gentle and courageous at the some time.

After the foray into England James* interest in

Warbeok1® cause wanes, and we find Yfarbeok revealing a sense of despair to Prion.

Prion, 0, Prion* all my hopes of glory Are at a stand: the Scottish King grows dull. Frosty, and wayward, since t M s Spanish agent Hath mix'd discourse with him; they are private, I am not called to oeuneil now:- eenfuelon All hie crafty shrugs! I feel the fabric Of all my designs are tottering.

Fora. op. oit.. Act III * Sc. 4. Ibid. Act IV, So. 2. Prion euffers none of the Illusions uhioh abound with Warbeok, and in him there is the oool scheming match for the knifing of

Henry 711* The scene goes on* Prion* Henry’s policies Stir with too many engines. War. Let his mines. Shaped"in the bowels of the earth, blow up Works raised for my defence, yet can they never T o m into air the freedom of ray birth. Or disavow my blood Plantagenot’s: I am my father’s son still* But, 0, Prion, When I bring into count with my disasters Hy wife’s compartnership, my Bite’s, my life’s. Then, then my frailty feels an earthquake. His chief Damn Henry*s plots! I will bo England’s king. Or let my aunt of Burgundy report My fall in the attempt deserved our ancestors! Pri. You grow too wild in passion: if you will Appear a prince indeed, confine your will To moderation* War. What a saucy rudeness Prompts this distrust 2 If? If I will appear* Appear a prince! death throttle such deceits Even in their birth of utterance! cursed cozenage Of trust! Ye make me mad: * tv/ero best, it seems, That I should turn imposter to myself. Be mine own counterfeit, belie the truth Of my dear mother’s womb, the saorod bed Of a prinoe murdered and a living baffled! Pri. Hay, if you have no ears to hear, I have Ho broath to spend in vain* War. Sir, sir, take heed! Gold and the promise of promotion rarely Pail in temptation* Pri* Why to me this? Igr. lething* Speak what you will; we are not sunk so low But your advice may piooo again tho heart Which many cares have broken: you were wont In all extremities to talk of comfort; Have ye none left now? I’ll net interrupt ye. Good, boar with my distractions! If Zing James Deny us dwelling hero, next whither must I? I prithee, be not angry. Pri. Sir, I told ye Of letters come from Ireland; how the Cornish Stomach their last defeat, and humbly sue That with such forces as you could partake You would in person land in Cornwall, where Thousands will entertain your title gladly. War*, let me embrace thee, hug thee; thou'st revived My comforts; if my cousin-king will fail, Our Cause will never.'

This scene clearly reveals the emotional nature of

John Ford’s Perkin Warbeok, and he is successfully contrasted against the cool scheming will of the crafty Frion, who is another Henry VII* Perkin, to a limited extent, realizes that his case is in bad repute, but his hopes and ambition know no repression; and immediately he would rise up, and damn Henry* s plots, or “fall in an attempt deserv'd our ancestors." Per­ kin has no will for scheming, and cannot lay the plans for the campaign, which is another indication of a will too weak to put itself to the bare facts and drudgery of carrying on a ' . i •••'' conflict to the finish* His methods are entirely emotional; ■ ‘ . . . • • ' and he would rather achieve quickly in a blaze of glory, than to succeed slowly by outwitting the crafty Henry VII, as Prion would do* Warbeok's attitude toward Prion when Prion suggests moderation reveals the intense emotional nature of Warbeck# and his sudden .'warmness toward him, when Frion suggests that they

go to Cornwall, is an equal indication of an emotional nature

. ' ■ ' ■ ’ ’ which forgives as quickly as it censures* Running likewise through

''Ford, Act IV, Scene 2. pp* 438, 439* the whole scene is Perkin Warbeclp's constant assort ion of

M s royal blood, and his true rights to the crown* It clearly

reveals the emotional instability of the eharmeter of Warbeok,

and gives a suggestion of the background of emotions upon

which his imagination plays. Smeh an emotional character could

: . easily imagine almost anything, but the direction taken is gov­

erned by external events, and the environment into which the

imagination passes*

This is the second suggestion of the instability

which is behind the fine imagination of Perkin Warbeok. Pre­

viously it was observed that the pretender lacked the will to

back up his objections to the wasting of northern England,

but immediately he had courage to offer to fight a single com­

bat before the troops. Here we find him boldly asserting his

emuse, but unable to make a decision as to his next move. He

is angry with Prion for doubting his pretensions, and immed­

iately embraces his secretary when Prion shows the adrissfcil-

'Sty 1 of ,j£ going to Cornwall. This indicates that Pord's Per­

kin War beck lacks a stable will, and this lack makes him in­

capable of meeting the facts before him. He abounds in cour­

age, but it is all of tho lily-livered variety, which meets

only imaginary situations, and fights fanciful battles.

Wfcrbeck shows no want of hopes when B.ng James

decides to send him out of Scotland, for already he has made

plans to go to Cornwall; and ho says. o IL cc UNtV. OF MIZOM UBRW TVC80H, AiKZOW 86721 o ITRIRR LOAN INTERLIBRARY To: DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DURHAM, DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY DUKE a b oee o otl inspection. postal for opened be May LIBRARY MATERIALS LIBRARY eun postageguaranteed. Return Insured Value $ Value Insured _____ 27706

: . . , ; ! I : Host glorious prince, 9ho fame of my designs Soars higher than report of oaso or sloth, /

There i® but one request he asks of King James, and it is that he may keep as his wife lady Bather in® • When she reveals her­ self a true wife, and James sanctions their love with due res­ pect, Perkin reashes higher hopes* In a blase of theatrical glory he shouts.

We’re all resolv’d For the west parts of England? All. Cornwall, Cornwall! ffrion. Th* inhabitants expect you daily, W a E T Cheerfully Draw alT our ships out of the harbor, friends g Our time of stay doth seem too long, we must Prevent intelligence about it suddenly. All, A prince, a prince, a prince!

Thue with gusto his followers leave the scene to prepare for the departure, leaving Warbeck and Lady Katherine to send

Prion.to IJargaret of Burgundy with news of their plane, War- beok la hopeful and certain, for he tells Prion,

Fly to the archduke’s court; say to the dutehees. Her nephew, with fair Katherine his wife. Are on their expedition to begin The raising of an empire: if they fail. Yet the report will never. Farewell, Prion.3•

There is a state of chaos suggested by the last lines

• k ' ' ' % which Reveals that all is not so certain in the mind of Per­ kin, but nevertheless he will permit nothing to overshadow hie hopes, •

When Perkin narbeok lands on the coast of Cornwall

Ford. op. clt.. Act IV, So. S. f Ibid, lot IV, Sc. S* J TEH. Act IV, So. S. (89) hie first speech; reveals him in a state of pathetic hopeful­ ness when he says;

After so many storms as wind and sons Have threaten'd to our weather-beaten ships, At last, sweet fairest, wo are safe arrived On our dear mother earth, ingrateful only To heaven and to us in yielding sustenance To sly usurpers of our throne and right* These general acclamations are an omen Of happy process to their welcome lord: They floek in troops, and from all the parts with wings Of duty fly to lay their hearts before us. /

And a little later ho says: Mono talk of sadness; we are on the way; Which leads to victory; keep coward's thoughts With desperate Sullcnness2 The lion faints not . Look'd in a grate, but loose disdains all force Which bars his prey, - and wo are lion-hearted,- Or else no king of boasts.z-

He then reaches a higher pitch of eloquence in his speech which ends the fourth act; and excuses some of his frailties.

War. A thousand blessings guard our lawful arms l A thousand horrors pierce our enemies' souls! And when they draw their arrows to the head. Numbness shall strike their sinews! Such advantage Hath Majesty in its pursuit of justice. That on the proppere-up of Truth's old throne If both enlightens counsol and givfis heart To execution; whiles the throats of traitors Lie bare before our meroy* 0, divinity Of royal birth! how it strikes dumb the tongues Whose prodigality of breath is bribed By trains to greatness! Princes are but men Distinguished in the fineness of their frailty. Yet not so gross in beauty.of the mind; For there's a firo more sacred purifies the Dross of mixture. Herein stands the odds. Subjects are men on earth, kings men and gods.

v Ford, o . 2 Ibid. 5sHetctt1"1 s-5* (30)

Tbie soeno further develops the melancholy side of

Pericin Worbeck’a character. Directly from the hardship® of the sea voyage, he lands on the soil of England, and is grate­ ful to the earth for all but giving sustenance to Henry VII and hi® brood* There is hanging over him a shadow of fear, and lest it overcome his hopes, ho fights against it with a lion*a heart, which knows no fear. When hi® followers pro­ claim him King Richard IV, his hopes are at their height, his illusion is complete, and he assure® himself that his men will succeed because of his divine right as a king, which makes them also God’s men*. Such an assertion is a definite attempt at rationalisation, and clearly indicates the great struggle he is having with the fear which rules behind hi® hopes.

Warbeek*e desertion of his men without offering to give battle to the king’s forces is the greatest blot on Per- klin Warbeek*® character, but Ford gives it so little space in the lines of Dalyell, who delivers the news to Lady Katherine, that it could bo passed over without being noticed.

But the night before The battles were to join, your husband privately, Accompanied with some few horse, departed- From out the camp, and posted none idmows, titiitimr, Katherine. Fled without battle given? '

This is all in keeping with Ford’s characterization of Per­ kin Warbeek since it has already boon seen that Warbeek dis­ liked to enter into any conflicts resulting in the spilling of blood* More recently it was sensed that Perkin was struggling with fear, vdien he landed on

/ Ford. on. cit.. Act V. Sc. 1. , the coast of Oormnll* This sense of fear he apparently over- oame with rationalisation, ant assured himself that he could not possibly be defeated, since ho m s following out hie di­ vine right a# the true ruler of the country* Compensation for his fears apparently doterioriated, and left him on the eve of the battle without euffieient eeurage to see the thing through* Soon after deserting his forces, Warbeok is captured and brought into the presence of Eing Henry by Lord Lawbeney, ... . • who observes. Wsrboek1 s condition ^ion he ushers him in. Life to the king, and safety fixed his throne! I here, present you, royal sir, a shadow Of majesty, but in effect a substance Of pity; a young man, in nothing grown To ripeness hut the ambition of your morey, - Perkin, the Christian world1a strange wonder.

Indeed, ho is a pathetic being, standing on the stage in irons ' . • and bowed by force to Henry 711 who f taunts him;

: Turn now thine eyes. Young mam, upon thyself and thy past actions; What revels in combustion through our kingdom . A frenzy of aspiring youth hath danc'd. Til; wanting broath, thy feet of pride have slipped To break thy neekl lUrbeck. But not ray heart, ray heart Will mount till every drop of blood be frozen By death* s perpetual winter; if tho sun Of majesty be darkened, let tho sun Of life be hid from me in eclipse Lasting and universal, <=-

Perkin's actions perplex the king and he remarks;

0, let him rage: The player's on the stage still, 'tie his part; He does but act. s

"fora, op, cit*. Act V, So. 8. Ibid, let V. So. 8. 3 Ibid. Aot Y. So« 8. t m

Warbeok raaohes a high emotional pitch to coiaparo his state with that of Elng Henry, when es plain Riohaoni came to England to overthrow Riohard at Boswprth Field, end laments that he has not fate on his side, as had been the case with King Henry* Courage * at least insensibility to danger, has come to him and.ho refuses to plead charity from the hands of the king for himself, but his followers instead*

I expect Ho less than what severity calls justice. And politicians safety; lot such beg As feed on alms; but if there can be mercy In a protested onomy, then may it Descend to these poor creatures, whose engagements, To the bettering,of their fortunes, have incurred A lose of all; to them it may be charity - Flow from some noble orator, in death 7 I owe the fee of thankfulness* / . * Such a plea reveals the charitable nature of tfarbock’s char­ acter* but yet it reveals his stubbornness in clinging.to :his ideals and ambition to be the true Duke of York. There is no getting Perkin to make a confession that he is an impostor, and as he is sent off to the Towor, King Honry remarks,

Tine may restore their wits, whom vain ambition Rath many years distracted* War. noble thought® Meet froodom in captivity: the Tower, - Our childhood*e dreadful nursery. '

Warbeok is then led off the stage and the king continues:

Was ever so much impudence in forgery? The custom, suro, of being styl’d a king Bath fastn’d in his thoughts that he is such*

/ Ford, op. olt.. Aot V. So. 2. ^Ibid. Act V. So. 2. (55)

In this scene Perkin T7arheck*s struggle with his ever increasing fears has taken a turn for the strengthening of his will to act, and indicates that the field was not lost, though King Hoary Til has come out the physical victor in the struggle for the orowa* When it came time to meet the king’s forces in the field Warheek haft not the strength of will and courage to meet them in combat, but he proves that he has will to stand by M s belief in his pretensions to the throne as a true Plantagenet*

If the of Jeetive success of Perkin Yvarbeck’s attempt to gain the throne is taken as the basis of Ford's play, the climax comes at the end of the third act when Warbeok pleads with King James not to despoil his country, and shows his sub- missiveneee. This is the attitude which Is taken by Schelling when he states that the "effeminate dolent" against the King's devastating England is the turning point of the whole play«/

Previously Warbeok had mot with rising success, and his hopes were well on the way to materialising; he had been received by the King of Scotland, the king had espoused his cause, he had gained a beautiful wife, and he had entered England with a war party; but finally he only succeeded in laying waste the countryside and losing the favor of the king. From thence his fortunes fell; Warbeok soon went to the coast of Cornwall, and there fell into the hands of Henry 711. Even though this is the accepted basis of the play, it is not necessary that the mate-

/F. E. Schelling, on. cit.. p. 268. rial side of the play he taken as the absolute criterion for the movements and motives haek of the action* If the develop­ ment of Perkin Warbeck’s character is taken as the basis of the play, the climax is shifted to the last scene of the play.

Slowly, through the last few pages it has been shown that Perkin Warbeok's character, as drawn by John Ford, is fundamentally based on a high emotional trait, which makes

Warbeok keenly sensitive to the world about him, and his imag­ ined throne, occupied by King Henry. Early it was noticed that he was firmly convinced he was the real heir to the throne, and that he had a tendency to imagine himself much greater than he really was. In another eeene with Frion Perkin Warbock illus­ trated he was not very stable emotionally, and could go to either extreme affection or violent censure with slight stimu­ lus. V/hen Perkin Warbeok landed in Cornwall there was evidence of a deterioration of his will, which was checked by rationali­ zation, through which Warbeok assured himself he would be aided by God in securing his birthright, the crown* The rationalisa­ tion was not suffielent to overcome his fears, and he deserted his followers to seek the protection of the church. After that he was brought to the court of Henry VII, where he showed he had regained some strength, and overcame his fear by refus­ ing to plead for clemency and admit he was not Richard, Duke of York. Thus has Perkin Warbeok*s character developed through several trials; each time he had shown himself incapable of (86) them, and each time except the last he has fallen hack a moral failure.

There are so many tell-tale speeches revealing the true character of Perkin Warbeck in the last scene of the play, and so much significant action that the scene must be given entire to get the full impression of the climax in the development of his character, and Warbeck1s last determination to be king.

Enter Constable and Officers, Perkin Warbeck, Urs- wiok, and Lambert Simnel as a Falconer, fol­ lowed by the rabble. Const. Make room there! keep off, I require ye; and none come within twelve foot of his majesty^ new stocks, upon pain of displeasure. - Bring for­ ward the malefactors. - Friend, you must to this gear, no remedy. - Open the hole, and in with his legs, just in the middle hole; there, that hole. (Warbeck is put in the stocks.) - Keep off, or IT11 commit you all: shall not a man in authority be obeyedI - So, so, there; 1tis as it should be: put on the padlock, and give me the key. - Off, I say, keep offI TJrs. Yet, Warbeck, clear thy conscience: thous hast tasted King Henry*2 mercy liberally; the law Has forfeited thy life; an equal jury : Have doomed thee to the gallows; twice most wickedly, Host desperately, hast thou escaped the Tower, Inveigling to thy party with thy witchcraft Young Edward Sari of Warwick, son to Clarence, Whose head must pay the price of that attempt; Poor gentleman, unhappy in his fate. And ruined by thy cunning! so a mongrel Hay pluck the true stag down. Yet, yet, confess Thy parentage; for yet the king has mercy. Sim. You would be Dick the Fourth; very likely! Your pedigree is published:'you are known For Osbeok*s son of Tournay, a loose runagate, A landloper; your father was a Jew, Turned Christian merely to repair his miseries: Where1s now your kingship? War. Baited to my death? Intolerable crueltyI I laugh at The Dnlro of HletoBond’-s practice on my fortunes: Posaeaaion of a orovm ne'er -wanted heralds* Sin. You will not Jgiow who I am? Urs. ' lambert Simiiel, Your pSedeeeesor in a dangerous uproar $ But, on submlGslon, not alono received to Grace, but by the king vouchsafed his service# $iron#I would be Yard of Warwick, tolled and mfflel ■ Against my master, leaped to eateh the moon, Vfirrated my name Plantagauet, as you do$ Ah oarl, forsooth! Whonae in truth I was# Aa you ore, a mora rascal: yot his majesty, A prince composed of sweetness, - Heaven protect himl- Forgavo mo all my villianios, reprieved The sentence of a shameful end, admitted My surety of obedience to his service. And I am now his falconer; live plenteously* Hat from the kl%*e puree, and enjoy the sweetness Of liberty and favour; sloop securely: And Is not this, now, bettor than to buffet Tho hangman’s olutehos, or to brave the cordage Of a tough halter Which will break your neck? So, then, tho gallant totters! - prithee, Porldn, Lot my oxomplo load thee; bo no longer A coxmteffeit; confess, and hope for pardon. War* For pardon! hold, my heart-strings, whiles contempt Of injuries. In scorn, may bid defiance To this baso man's language! - Thou poor vermin. How dar*st thou creep so near me? thou an earl! Why, thou enjoy1rt as much of happiness As all tho swing of slight ambition flew at. A dunghill was thy cradle* so a puddle. By virtue of the sunbeams, breathes a vapour T* infect the purer air, which drops again . Into the muddy womb that first exhaled it. Bread and a slavish case, with some assurance From the base boadle’s whip, crowned all thy hopes But, sirrah, ran there in thy veins one drop Of such a royal blood ns flows in min®. Thou wouldst not change condition, to be second In England’s state, without the crown Itself. Coarso creatures aro Incapable of excellence: But let the world, os all to whom I am This day a spectacle, to time deliver. And by tradition fix posterity without another chronicle than truth. (57)

How constantly my resolution suffered A martyrdom of majesty. Simn. He’s pact Beeovcry; a Bedlam cannot cure him. Urs. Away, inform the king of his behaviour# Bimn. Porkin, beware the rope! the hangman’s coming. fBxit. Urs. If yot thou hast no pity of thy body. Pity tliy soul#

Enter Lady Catherine, Jane, lord Talyell, and Earl of Oxford#

Jane. Boar lady! Oxf. Whither will ye, Without respoct of shams? khth# ' Forbear mo, sir, And trouble not the current of ray duty.- 0, my loved lord! can any scorn he yours In which I have no interest - Pome kind hand Land no coeietanoe, that I may partake The infliction of this penance. - !.Ty life’s dearest, Forgive me; I have stayed too long from tendering Attendance on reproach; yet bid me welcome. War. Great miracle of constancy! my miseries Were never bankrupt of their eonfidenoe In worst afflictions, till this; now I feel them. Report and thy deserts, thou best of creatures, Eight to eternity have stood a pattern For every virtuous wife without this conquest. Thou hast outdone belief; yot may their ruin . In after-marriagee be never pitied. To whom thy story shall appear a fable! Why wouldst thou prove so much unkind to greatness To glorify thy vows by such a servitude? I cannot weep; but trust me, dear, my heart Is liberal of passion, - Harry Richmond, A woman’s faith hath robbed thy femo of triumph}. Oxf. Sirrah, leave-off your juggling, and tie up The devil that ranges in your tongue. Urs. Thus witches. Possessed, even to their deaths deluded, say They have been wolves and $egs, and sailed in egg­ shells . . Over the see, end rid on fiery dragons. Passed in the air more then a thousand miles. All in a night: - the enemy of mankind Is powerful, but false, and falsehood confident. Oxf. Remember, lady, who you are; come from That impudent imposter# Bath. You abuse us*. for v/hon the holy ohurohmn joined our hands. Our vov/s were real them; the ceremony Was not in apparition, but in act. - Be what these people term thee, I am certain Thou art my his band, no divorce in Heaven Has been aued-out between us; 'tis injustice For any earthly power to divide ust Or we will live or let us die together. There is a cruel mercy. War. Spite of tyranny We reign in our affections, blessed v/omanl • Bead in my destiny tho'wreck.of honour; Point out, in my contempt of death, to memory Some miserable happiness; since herein. Even when I fell, 1 stood enthroned a monarch Of one chaste wife's troth pure and unoorropted# Fair angel of perfection, immortality Shall raiso thy name up to an adoration. Court every rich opinion of true merit, And saint it in the calendar of Virtue, When I am turned into tho self-same dust f Of which I was first formed. Oxf. The lord ambassador, Huntley, your father, madam, should he look on Your strange subjection in a gaze so public. Would blush on your behalf, and wish his country Unleft for entertainment to such sorrow. Bath. Why art thou angry, Oxford? I must be More peremptory in my duty.- Sir, Impute it not unto immodesty That I presume to press you to a legacy Before we part for over. War. 0, with that I wish to breathe my lastl upon thy lips, Those equal twins of comeliness, I seal The testament of honourable vows; fKisses her Whoever be that man that shall unkiss This sacred print nest, may he prove more thrifty In this world's just applause, not more desert full Bath. By this sweet pledge of both our souls,

To die a faithful widow to thy bed; Hot to be forced or won: 0, never, neverI

Enter Earls of Surrey, Huntley, and Crawford, and Lord Dawbeney.

Lew. Free the eondemned person; quick free hlml What has" he yet confessed? fPerkin Worbeok is taken out of the stools Ura. nothing t© purpose; But s H T l he will be king* • • 3*T. Prepare your journey To a now kingdom, than, unhappy madman, Wilfully foolishl - See, my lord ambassador, Ybur lady daughter will not leive the eounterfeit In this disgrace of fate. Bunt. I never pointed Thy marriage, girl; but yet, being married. Bnjoy thy duty to a husband freely. The griefs are mine, I glory in thy constancy; And must not say I wished that I had mleeed Some portage in these trials of a patience. You will forgive me, noble sir? ____ Tee, yes; In every duty, of a wife and daughter I dare not disavow thee» To thy husband, > For such you are, sir, * I impart a farewell ; Of manly pity; what your life has passed through The dangers of your end will make apparent; And I oan add, for comfort to your sufferance, Ho.cordial, but the wonder.of your frailty. Which keeps so firm a station. We are parted. War. We are. A crown of peace roney^thy age, Most Honourable Huntley! - Worthy Cr&wferlf We may embrace; I never thought thee injury. Craw. Her was I ever guilty of neglect Which might procure such thought* I take my leave sir War. To you* Lord Dalyell, - what? accept a sigh, 'Tie Hearty and in earnest. Dal. I want utterance; silence is my farewell. 0,01 Sweet madam, What do you mean? - Uy lord, your hand. (To Dalyell. Dal. Dear lady. Be pleased that I may wait ye to your lodging. (Exeunt Lord Dalyell and Jane, supporting Lady Catherine.

Enter Sheriff and Officers with Skelton, Aatley, Heron, and John A-Water, with halters about their necks.

Ozf. Look ye; beheld your followers, appointed To wait on ye in death! ' War. Why peers of England, We'll load 'em on courageouslyt I read A triumph over tyranny upon Their several foreheads,- for we are prologue But to his tragey, - oonelude the wonder Of Henry's fears; and then the glorious race Of fourteen kings, Plantagenets, determines (40)

In this last issue male; Heaven be obeyed! ; Impoverished time of its amazement, friends. And vo will prove as trusty in our payments' As prodigal to nature in our debts* Death? pishl H i s but a sound; a name of air; A minute*s storm, or not so much: to tumble From bed to bed, bo massacred alive By some physicians, for a month or two. In hope of freedom from a fever’s torments, Might stagger manhood; here the pain is "past Ere sensibly H i s felt. Be men of spiritl Spurn o omrd passion*so illustrious mention Shall blase our names, and style us kings o ’er Death# • Daw* Away, imposter beyond precedent I (Ezrount Sheriff and Officers with the 1 Prisoners#''-v ■ Ho chronicle records his fellow, ,Hant* I have * Hot thoughts left: H i s sufficient in each cases Just lass ought to proceed.

Enter Zing Henry, the Bishop of Durham, and Hi alas.

Km Hen. Ue arc resolved Tour business, noble lords, shall find success Sueh as your king importunes# . Your are gracious, Perkin. informed, is armed to die; In that we'll honour him* Our lords shall follow To see the execution; and from hence We gather this fit use, - that public states, As our particular bodies, taste most good In health when purged of corrupted blood# (Exeunt#

When the curtain is raised the beholders are rudely awakened to the situation by the gruff and robust•proclamation

of the burly constable. Who brings in Wftrbeck and safely leeks f' him in the stocks. While the rabble of London gather about to see the great pretender*

He is no sooner in the stocks then Urswiok begins

/ Ford, o p . olt#. Act V* Re# 8# to grill Warbeok, to induce him to oonfeee to tho graoioue ling Henry:

Yet, Warbeek, clear thy consoienoe — Yet, yet, confess Thy parentage; for yet tho king has mercy. '

He is seconded by Lambert Simnel, Perkin^ predecessor in the dangerous game of trying to be a king, Who taunts thd dishon­ ored War be ok as he sits in tlie stocks. Lambert Simnol is an excellent dramatio device which increases the brilliance of larbeok1 s oharaoter, by contrast with M s own low mien. He is a living example of the weak, false pretender, who would be king in safety, but soon forgets his pretensions to king- ship and royal blood When hie neck is in jeopardy. While

Warbeek staunchly asserts hi# true Plantagenet blood, and exclaims, ..

But, sirrah, ran there in thy veins one drop Of such royal blood as flows in mine, Thou wouldet not change condition, to be second In England's state, without the crown itself. z_

•' t Thus, Perkin Warbeek reveals clearly that he would rather die . • ■ than give up hie ambitions* The situation ie intensely drama­

tio and Perkin's being in the stocks adds a distinct reality

to the whole incident, which draws heavily on the sympathy of

the audience. It is direct appeal to the innate love of

sportsmanship in every man, vfoloh makes him applaud anyone

Who will not quit the game with a loss until it is over.

Perkin is rising to meet tho situation, which he had failed

to meet when he faced the army of the king at Taunton.

/fora, op. clt.. Apt V. So. 5. Z" Ibid. Aot V. So. S. Prom this situation the scene moves into another between Warbeok and Lady Katherine which develops a sense of . injustice toward the pretender, and increases the sympathy for his cause. The Intense passion existing between the two is debased and roughly treated by Oxford, Who remarks;

Remember, lady, who you are; come from that f . ' impudent impostor." 'Yet all (hior abuse is not sufficient to dampen the ardor of Lady Katherine1 s love, who proclaims that no earthly injustice can divide them; and in turn Warbeok shows his great affection for his noble wife, when he asserts that he has not lost all when he still has her faithful devotion.

As the climax of the incident Warbeok kisses Lady Katherine and the.pathos is brought to its height.

Immediately the English and Scottish lords enter, and the audience ia reminded again that PPorkin Warbeok re­ fuses to confess, and Lady Katherine remains loyal to him.

Huntley is brought into this situation, to further the sympa- . thy;/ for Perkin. Although he has shown no sympathy for War­ beok, he approves of his daughter's devotion, and forgives her for her great affection for him. Then, as Huntley turns away, he extends his sympathy to Perkin Warbeok, wondering at his frailty, which keeps so firm a station. Both Crawford and Lalyell sadly take leave of him, as Lady Katherine is led away from the scene. Huntley has always objected to the youth, and has indicated that he believed him counterfeit, so When such a persecutor of Warbeok extends hie sympathy and approval to him, there is little to hinder this sympathy from catching

/ Ford, Act V. Sc. 5. (43) holt on tbs audience.

The final situations of the play now evolve as Perkin

Warhieok's humble followers are brought Into the s e e m with hal­ ters about their ne@kat ant their faces turned towards the king*a aoaffold on Tower El11. Oxford gives Perkin a last ohanoe to confess, and the final test of hi# character is made.

Before him, immediately in the foreground, stands the scaffold, and while beside him stands Oxford waiting for a last confes­ sion, that ho is a pretender and not of royal Plsntagenet blood, which will, gain him tho king's pardon. It is a test of character which, requires a strong man to answer, and above it all rises a Perkin Warbock who can stand the test, in choos­ ing the gallons.• This is the highest point in the develop­ ment of the character. of Ford's Perkin War beck, and it makes him a strong character who is able to fail, regain himself, and stand the greatest tost of all - to give up hie life for hie ideals and convictions.

. ' • ‘ In the last soon® Perkin Warbeck*s decision to cling to hie ideas and his ambitions gives bis character a rather romantic twist, and completes its development* Early in the play it was clearly seen that Warbeck was then convinced he was the rightful heir to the throne occupied by Henry of

England, and suffering from illusion# of grandeur, but lack­ ing sufficient will to support them, Asr.the playiproppressed the :, -■ ■■ ■ ■ / ■■■■■ " lines revealed the pretender was struggling with himself to m e t e r him fears, and finally after a temporary submission, to them, he rises to a resolute will, ?/hioh sends hi* to the . gallows with'his Illusions firmly set before him* This gives hie oharaoter a definite development upward from a peevish, irresolute youth, who is dependent upon others to make all hie deoieions and promote hie emus#* to a man of resolute will, who is oapable of making a decision between hie life and his ambitions* It is the metamorphosing of a weak youth into a seal-aesthetic valiant which makoo tho dupe•of others the hero of John Ford's Perkin \7arbeok*

Ford's ohara oter development of Warbeok is thorough­ ly consistent with Morgan's explanation of delusions of gran­ deur, and it is interesting to compare what he has to say about eueh delusions with Warbeok1 s character*

Delusions of noble aneestry are also common* Those are built upon tho dream of childhood - the wish that one had been born of noble parents* A careful * study shows that a rather large number of persons have at one time or another had a feeling that per- ' bap® their parents are not their real ones. If this is so perhaps they came from nobler stock* perhaps from a royal family. Wouldn't it be great if that were the ease! Then they begin to look for evi­ dence and all too often seem to find it. Their dispositions, appearances, tastes are so different from their parents* They must come from different stock! Finally they convince themselves that they do* Onoe started on this line, to be descended from ordinary mortals does not satisfy, they are . of divine origin, they are sons of God, Almost every hospital has its group of Messiahs, napoleons, linoolns, and prophets* An Interesting feature of these delusions Is that these noble personages will scrub tho floor or do any other menial work to which they aro assigned with very little protest. Ask them how it can be that Ifapoleon is scrubbing tho floor and they will reply with an ifldifforent shrug (4&)

' that the poor benighted souls about them do not recognise their greatness. Strangely enough every­ body sees through the delusion but the patient him- . self. Today snob delusions are quite commonly as­ cribed to an over-eonpensatlon for a growing weak­ ness, usually of mental powers. Where mental weakness sets in with an individual who has been .very efficient and capable, especially Where the deterioration has gone so far that he fails to see things in their true proportions, the patient finds . it a most satisfying procedure to assume that he is a groat individual. The pyramiding of delusions of the most absurd sort is built up to compensate for the increasing spread of the destructive process. z

This note to some extent explains the forces at work behind the development of Ford's character of Perkin

Wnrbeok, and the mental struggle through which the pretender

passed to reach his Ultimate height. The original pretensions,

, which were without doubt false, grew to be such real illusions

with Warbeek that ho thoroughly believed them; but the weak

state of his mind did.not give him sufficient courage and will

actively to attempt to make them materialize. For a j;Me the

progress of deterioration, against which he struggled, pre­ vailed until he proved hiuseif a coward before the advance of

King Eenry* s army;'but in the end it is a case of abnormal

tendencies creating a will to support the confirmed conviel- tlons which Earhook hold concerning hie pretensions.

In order tb compare John Ford’s characterisation of

Perkin tfarbeek in his Chronicle History of Perkin Warbeek.

John J* B. Morgan. The Psychology of Abnormal People, p. 164, ------Pavia Hume, History of England. Vol, II, p. 627. A Strange Truth wit|t the historical conooption of Warbeok with which Ford had to work, it is oonvonicnt to recapitulate What has just been said by breaking up the present conception of the pretender into as many traits as possible. First he was represented by Ford as a handsome well proportioned youth with a princely appearance. Which was in keeping with all he pre­ tended to be; and second he was an eloquent speaker, able to expound his cause with conviction# As a third point there was an air of the pathetic about his state of hopeless pur­ suit of the impossible that aroused definite sympathy toward him. As a tender and able lover he established the fourth point of his character, and the fifth in the display of a fine, highly developed imagination# The sixth point is li hie thorough belief in hie pretensions, and the seventh is in his emotional instability, ^he eighth and most important point by which Fold, makes his play is the development during the action of the play of a weak will into a strong on®, which changes Warbeok from the dupe of others, in the first scenes, to the romantic hero of the piece, in the last.

Rollnshod's. Many of Ohakespear's historical char­ acters were drawn directly from Holinshed1a Chronicles, and it is probable that Ford drew some of his material from this source since Holinshed anticipates to a small extent the later inter­ pretation which Ford gives the character of Perkin Warbeok in. his play.

Almost the first words which Holinshed has to say about Perkin Warbeck nro:

This youths name v b s Peter Warbeoko, one fer M s faintnoes of stomach of the English In derlelon ealled Perkin WarbecjkB, according to the dutch phrase, which change the name of Peter to Perkin, of yoang­ lings and little boles, which for want of age, lacke of strength, and man like courage, aro not thought wort hie of the name of n man. z >;

This Is precisely the suggestion of cowardice which waa obser­ ved to be dominant in the character of Warbeok in the first scenoe of Ford’s Play.

In the next paragraph Holineheft further suggests the Warbeok of the first acts of Ford’s play when he says:

like a good seholer, not forgetting his lesson, he could toll all that was taught him prompt!!# with­ out anle etaokering or stale in his words. And be­ sides that, he kept such a prinoelie eountenanoe, and so counterfeit a maiestie roiall that all men in manner did firmelio beleeuo, that ho wan extract­ ed of the noble house and faolile of the dukes of York#, z-

Thie is the Warbeok who came to the court of ELng Jams, de­ livered an eloouent oration, and gained the support of the

Scottish lord®.

Skipping over several pages of the Chronicles deal­

ing with the incidents in the life of Perkin Warbeok which are

not included in tho play by 'Ford, and coming to the reference

to Warbeok’s entering Scotland one roads;

And sailed into Scotland; where coming to tho presence of Ting James, ho forged such a painted processe to mooue him to beleeue that he was the verle sonne of Zing Edward: that the Scottish king.

/ Raphael Hollnshed. Chronicle®. Vol. III. v* 504. ^ Ibid. Til III. p. 5 0 1 : (48)

whether blinded, with errcrar, or volng disslmlstien, that he might vndor a colourable pretext make war against England, began to hane Perkin in great hon­ our, end oausod him openllo to bo called duke of York, And to persuade tho world that so h® was in­ deed, he caused the ladio Cathorino, daughter to Alexander carlo of Huntley, his nigh kinswoman, to bo osponaed to him. /

Immediately following h# quotes from Edward Hall

"the colourable oration or counterfeit tale that Perkin told the king of Betts to justify his false title," and indicates that EerkLn was a countorfoit, Zing Jamas makes an advance into England in behalf of Perkin, but as soon as the;army, is laden with booty frames* forsaksy.the uncertain cause of the counterfeit j and returns home.

In oonneetion with this foray into England Holt- shed makes a definite comment on the character of Warbeok when ho says, ,

It is said, that Perkin Harbeeka being re­ turned into Scotland with the king of Boots, under a oloked pretense should sore lament the great slaughter, spolio, and damage, which had been doone at this last ronde made into Englandj . ant therefore as one that hero a natural! relme, and destrole his subjects with such terrible fire, flame and hauook; as who should sale, he being oueroome now with compassion, did bewail® the oruell destruction of™his natural oountrie of England. But the Sootteh K. told him, that ho seemed to take thought for that which to be none of hie, sith that not so much as one gentleman or yeoman f for ought ho could see) would once shew themselves roadie to aid him in the wnrre begun for his cause, and In hie name, within that realms vfcioh he pretended so oleorolio to appertain® to him* «l.

TWlinshed. op. ait,, m III. p. 511. ^ Ibid. Vol Iff, pT 61S. The objective insilent hero is closely paralleled by Ford, bat the interpretation placed on it is entirely different• Holin-

■bed takes the attitude that the whole incident was a piece of theatrics on the part of Perkin Vfarbeok, and that he was in­ sincere when ho made the lament to Zing James. These lines suggest that Warbook was a schemer, and acted in accordance with good histrionics, and gave the public a good show, in­ stead of doing things because he sincerely believed that they wore the proper things to do* The material used in Ford’s seen## which deal with

Perkin Warbeck's leaving Scotland and arriving in Cornwall is only scantily suggested in Holinshed*

Perkin Warbecke being willed of tho king of Soots to depart out of Seottish dominions, sailed with hie wife and familie into Ireland, there deter­ mining with himself either to repalre into Flanders to his first setter rp the daohee of Bargognie, or else ioine and take part with the Cornishmen* f # ? - # f # — — sailed into Cornowallk and there landed in the moneth of September, and cams to a towns call­ ed Bodman, and there did so prouoke the wauoring people, with fairs words and large promises, that he gathered to him abouc thi*oe thousand persons, which Immediatlio called him their oaptein# promis­ ing to take his part, and follow him to death* Then Perkin well inoeuragod, made proclamations in tho name of Zing Richard the fourth, as eozme to king Edward the fourth* /

Perkin Warbeck in these lines is acting on his own initiative

in going into Ireland, and thence into Cornwall to join the rebels, so that there is no indication of a lack of will to set* There is none of tho pathos which is in Ford’s treatment

Z Holinshed, on. cit*. Vol III, pp« 617-518* (50)

Of this incident* Hollnehed treats Perkin1s flight in a like manner when he says:

But aa soone as Perkin nas informed that hie enlmies were roadie to guie him hattell, he that nothing lease minded than to fight in open field with the king1e ppiosnnoe, dissembled all the dale with his oompanie, as though nothing eeuld mate him afraid: and about midnight, aeanpBnied with three aeore horesomen departed from Taunton in post to a sanotuarie towns besile Southampton called Beaudlie, and there he and Then Heron with other reglstred themselves as persons priuileged.'

This gives Warbeok oraft enough to perceive that his case was

completely hopeless, and guile enough to successfully reach the

protection of a sanctuary where he was sure of safety.

On the promise of a pardon Warbeck is induced by

King Henry to come from out the sanctuary, and then is taken

to London where he is placed under observation, but a little

further on the Chronicles state t

In this moans time Perkin Warboote, disappoint­ ed in all hope to escape out of the Englishmens hands (which was the onlie thing that he moot de­ sired) found meanea yet at length to doceiue his keepers, and took himself to his heels*,2-

Warbedk is still the sly careful and consistent schemer that

Holinshed suggested in the earlier portions of his account of

Perkin Warbecko, and as yet there is no indication that he

was weak willed. His escape is unsuccessful since he has no

means to escape from the country, and it is necessary that he

agalnnseek pardon through the church* This is done, but not

' kollnshed. op. oit*. Vol. III. p* 519. ibid, voi iif ,.pT mi. without some dishonor and making a eonfeeslon of the falsity of his pretension*.

And the next daie he m s carted through London, and eet rpon a like scaffold in Cheapside by the standard, with like ginnoo and stocks as he occup­ ied the dale before, and there stood all daie, and read openlio his ovme confession, written v/ith his owne hand. /

Another indication of Perkin Uarbeck’s crafty na­ ture is suggested in the lines which read:

After ho had stood all the dale in the face of the eitie, he was committed to the Tower, there to remain voder safe keeping, lest happilie he might eftsoones run axmie, and escape out of the land, to put the king and the realm® to some new trouble. ?or he had a woonderful dewterltie and readiness to cirouaraent, a heart full of ouerreeeh- ing imaginations, an aspiring mind, a head more will® fl wisse) than wittie; bold he was and pre­ sumptuous in his behauiour, as forward to be the instrument of n miseheofo, as ante deniser of wicked­ ness® would wish; a feend of the diuels own® forging, nursed and trained vp in the studie of commotions, making offer to reach the light as he could looks; such was his Inordlste ambition, wherewith he did swell as a coueting to be a princes poor; much like the tode that would match the bull in drinking, but in the end she burst in peeces and neuer drank more. *-

Ho better description of a oharaotor oould be asked than this summary Holinshed makes of Perkin Warbook's historical char­ acter. He views him from the eyes of an English chronicler, and sets off Warbook as a crafty beguller, superior to the wily Prion of Ford's play. He describes Harbock as a pretender,

%dio was capable of making hie own decisions, and promoting his ambitions. •

zHolinshed. op. oit.. Vol III. p. B22. ^ Ibid. Vol n f r p T B l s . be made next* On the contrary, Warbeek, by M s conotant es­

capes, shows ho is able to look after his cause* He gives no

indication that ho might at any time prefer to stand by hie

claims to the throne, sinoo he confessed no less than two

times. In other respects he is an eloquent speaker, and a

handsome youth with a princely appearance. It was. not difr- fioult for him to incite admiration and confidence in those

with whom he came in contact. This handsome youth is phy­

sically the same Perkin Warbeek which Ford pictures in • hie

play, but his mental and emotional make up is entirely d i f ­ ferent,

Galnsford's. The sodond historical account of

Perkin Warbeek with which John Ford's characterisation of the

pretender can bo compared is Thomas Gainsford's True and

Wonderful History of Perkin Warbeek. which was printed in

quarto in 1518 by -5, G. for ITathaniol Sutler, St* Paul's

Churchyard at the sign of the Pyed Bull, and has been proven

by Zoeppel to be one of the direct sources of Ford's Perkin j Warbeek* Gaineford was an officer in the army of James I,

and it is definitely known that he served in Ireland when the

Spanish were dislodged from Zlnsale on December S4, 1601,

which accounts for his distinctly antagonistic attitude to­

ward the pretensions of Perkin Warbeek,

;Emil Zooppel, on* pit*, pp* 187, eeqq. (54)

The first words which Gains ford has to say in the dedication to Thomas Marl of Arundel, first Bari of England, sound his prevailing note of antagonism to the pretender, and M e purpose in writing the piece*

Therefore, great lord, have I chosen out this history, merely for the strangeness, and character­ ed you the patron of my endeavors for the obser­ vations, that the remarkable passages herein pro­ posed, of which even Scotland had. a part, may serve for all persons in suoh dignity and eminent places, both for precept and caution*'

* # e ? #- * * Bor caution, not onoe to put any confidence in deceivers, nor believe the devil himself, though he promise to give kingdoms of the world, which are none of his: Yet, I confess him prince of the same, that is, of the abuses and impieties therein both raging, and reigning: and the rather, because the end has ever been perdition of body, soul, honor, estates, and posterity* !?or can the pleading of simplicity in the seduction, or ignorance in the credulity, serve the turn: Bor though princes many times have been drawn to pardon the offenses of subjects and refractory delinquents, wallowing or rather sunk over head and ears in the miry bogy of such convulsion®: Yet are they not always presumed upon, nor will the commonwealth endure the indig­ nity, or give way to any person whatsoever in vili­ pending the government* 2-

■'o ;■;.!> Gainsford recognises the theatrical possibil­

ities of the history in tho preface when he says ?Perkin war-

beck possesses all the glory and glamour of the stories,

knights, kings, conflicting wars, oto*n Throughout the account

of Warbook1 s escapades Gainsford bears this in mind, and has

a tendency to exaggerate the spectacular nature of tho preten-

Thomas Gainsford;"The True and Wonderful History of Perkin Warbook*" Earlian iiiso. vol XI. t>. S68. ^ tbld,p. "569% dor's career*

As fpr Perkin vTarbeok's Xinoago and. claims to the throne Oain*ford definitely states early in the narrative that they are false, when after telling of King Henry's in­ vestigation of Perkin Wnrbock, he relates,

That thin fiondod dukn was of mean parentage, and truly named Peter War be ok; which m s principally confirmed by one Hathaninl Oobeok, of his m n kind­ red, who, as it should seem, in hope of reward, took upon himself more than the root, and ezprobreted him, for so counterfeiting* And alas he is now tranehaped into princely garb and fashion, we of Peter named him Perkin, for his effemlnatenes® and ehildishnee* With this news and man, the inquisitors re­ turned into England, and made a true report unto his magesty of all they knew and hoard, both con­ cerning the assumed presumption and impudence of the counterfeit* /

Such a statement should establish in the minds of the readers

Gainsford’s views in regard to Warbeok, and destroy any chance of sympathy for Warbeck’s claims to the throne,

A few pages after this Gainsford gives a suggestion of ford’s interpretation of Warbeok, when he tells of Poying’a and Warham’s visit to the court of the Archduke of Burgundy in protest to Warbeok1 s being harbored by the archduke’s mother, the dowager dutohesa Margaret. He quotes Warham’s speech which has been directly adapted, and reworded in ford’s play to describe the dutches* as delivering up younglings, who are able immediately to give battle to kings.

/ Gaineford, op* pit*. p. 399. (66)

This oration? b o effectually dolivered,*and in publiok assembly, audaciously maintained, did not so much vex and trouble the dutchess, as affrighten- and dishearten poor Perkin, who, in a manner, exan­ imat od, lest his fraud and pestilential enterprise® should not only be discovered, but discouraged, began to be somewhat appaled, and, by a fearful . countenance, seemed to discountenance both hi® honor and the notion, had the dutches® not taken the cause in hand with more undaunted courage, and, like a true Virago, raised her spirits to a higher pitch of revenge, thus resuscitating her darling and answered the doctor*' Perkin Warbeok* • fear here is not the fear prevailing through­ out Ford's interpretation, which was a moral fear through the lack of will, but a fear which anticipates discovery,.and the frustration of the physical success of all the pretender's plana.

The glamor of Perkin Y/arbeok*s'tactics, and his show­ manship is Illustrated by Calnoford's account of his entry into

Scotland, and M s reception at the court of James IV. Gains- ford also gives a good account of Warbeok's or&toi^kl ability, and reprints several of the proclamations, which the pretender had printed and distributed at opportune times.

Whereupon, he departed from Ireland and landed on the west of Scotland, from whence he prepared himself to go to the king with some solemnity, where­ in his instructions prevailed with M s fortune, be­ cause for t ho most part the mass of the people were gulled by shows and ooromonies, rather than matter of substance and truth; and so he traveled to M i n - burgh's citizens, unaccustomed to such glorious shows, began already to commiserate M s fortunes and distress; yeah the ELng himself assembled his lords and courtiers, and as their manner then was, to entertain him and give him audience; which when

/ Gainsford, op, olt.. p. 401. (57)

Porkin poroGived to fall out to hie good liking and heart18 desire, ho thus framed his speech unto him, or, if you will reduce his instructions to a manner of attracting oratory. z .

Immediately following this quotation Osinaford reprint# one of these declamatory proclamations reviewing Perkin Warbeok's olaim and his progress toward the throne, which he had made through the help and assistance of Margaret of Burgundy,

Charles of Pranoo, and Ifnximilian of the Holy R

Warbeok also tells of his escape from the Tower, when his supposed older brother m s murdered by the order of their un­ natural uncle, Richard III*

This interpretation of Warbeok is farther bora out by Gainsford*s account of the comment of the Scottish lords on the appearance and person of the young pretender.

When he had made an end and given them cause of some amazement, at hio years and tenderness of experience, to deliver yet his mind so freely, and with some illustration of words and readiness of gesture, tho Zing, without any further scruple or diffidence, cheered him, telling him plainly he would assist him, and whatever he was, or Intended to be, he should not repent him of M s coming thi­ ther, and so concluding with a speech of Medea to Jasons Hlnc amor, M n o timer mot, ipsum tlmor anget amorem. tie gave order for M s entertainnent accordingly, whereby he had time with M s wearied people to repose himself, and tho Zing occasionL to think of many matters: yet, rather for custom than to bo diverted from his resolutions, ho called M s council, and disputed the matter with them* Whereupon it was resolved, that, without fur­ ther diffidence, or drawing tho Duchess of Burgundy's business in question, the King should entertain the prince, who presently honoured M m accordingly, and t

/ . Gainsford, op. pit., p. 414* oaused him tg be proclaimed the Duke of York, shew­ ing him all the favours the country could afford; and affording him such entertainment, as, they imag­ ined, m s both befitting his person and condition: he again, as if that apes b o m dat vires. sheared himself, and assumed a new kind"o7 behaviour, both tempered with gravity, and yet commended for cheer­ ful and well becoming: so that, by the way of solaoe and invitation to pleasure and delight, he hawked *nd hunted; yea, the ladies of the country graced the court, and came with all oozrrenienoy.and befit­ ting their estates, to the city* ?or understand­ ing so great a prince, in possibility to be one of the mightiest Zings of Europe, not full eighteen years of age, young, wise, and in the complete strength of beauty, was resident amongst them; they conceived matters beyond the moon, and thought them­ selves happy, if ho would fancy or fasten upon any of them.'

Warbeok would then seem to tie a sort of joyous and pompous youth of a splendid and well rounded appearance, with a grace­ ful nature to boar it all out# Such a youth would have no difficulty in oonrinoing the Scottish lords of his genuine birth, and easily inolte sympathy for his cause and recruit followers. In this account the prevailing note in Warbeok’s character is one of ease and security, which finds expression in a love of pleasure and amusement#

John Ford's splendid scene between Perkin Warbeok and Lady Catherine Gordon is inherent in Gaineford1s narrative as he gives a long account of WarbeokTs proposal to Lady

Catherine, but it is under a slightly different situation and less beautifully handled.

Yet here was no mistrust, nor any way given to fear and displeasure, but as the time, business, and plaos afforded, shows, masks, and sundry devices

/ Gains ford, op. pit#, pp. 415, 416 Invited him to hie c ontentment, and the present over­ coming all pensivenessj eo, he courted with some, danced with others, jested with the rest, and was acceptable to all, till, at last, the King giving way to the motion, he fancied the lady Catharine Gordon, daughter to Alexander, Pari of Huntley, nigh kinswoman to the crown; and, because she should not think him barren of education, nor heart-bound to his ambitious designs, he took an opportunity, thus to discover his love unto her, and good opinion of her: Lady, said he, and the first of ladies, that ever usurped my liberty, or taught my tongue to pronounce, the accent of affectation or likings if I proceed not eo passionate, as your sex expects, or you may imagine, is the custom of courtiers, I pray you im­ pute it to the multiplicity of my business, and greatness of my affairs; besides, it is not seemly with princes to betray their high spirits, into the hands of deceit and overworking fancy; yea, foppish­ ness either of words, or gesture: yot, concerning your person, I can say with Paris to Helena; Si tu Tenlseos uariter certamen In illud. Tn lublum Veneris palraafuturafuTt> And touching my good will, if 1 live, f 'will make you as great in the world, as myself, and desire no more, but that youjkeep you within the limits of love and obedience, that our children may be our own, and the commonwealth rejoice, they be not mock­ ed or deceived with extranoal Inheritors. VHiat I am, you now soe, and there is no boasting in distress; what. I may be, I must put it to the 1 trial, and submit to tho cLLvino providence. If you dnro now adventure on the adversity, I swear to make you par­ taker of the prosperity; yea, lay my crown at your feet, that you shall play with mo, as Spamo did with Darius, to command, and I obey. Tala me now then into your embraces, and I will adoro and reverence your virtues, as you commiserate my misfortunes; 0! give me leave to say no more, lest I be transported to indecencies; be now conformable, and lot me be the servant of your desires, and you shall be here­ after the mistress of ray performances. If I pre­ vail, let this kies seal up the contract, and this kiss be a witness to the indentures, and this kiss, .because one witness is not sufficient,consummate the assurance; and so with a king of reverence, and fashionable gesture, after he had kissed her thrice, he took her in both hie hands cross-wise, ah# gazed upon her, with a kind of putting her from him and palling her to hias and so again and again relcicsGd her, and set her in her place with a pretty manner of inforoement.z

This reveals Warheclc as somewhat the gentle and graceful lover whom Ford portrayed; "but M s imagination is much cruder, and he lacks the vividness of imagination, which characterized

Ford's pretender. More of Gainsford's W&rbeok never reaches the height of Ford's Warheek's imagination, and there is non© of the fine imagery which fascinates those who meet the pre­ tender Ford sent after the English crown;

Gainsford does not portray Perkin Warbeek as the dupe of others, as he is found in John Ford's play, but on the contrary he makes dupes of others, and very carefully uses them to promote his own ends*

Tiliat needs more words? The marriage was con­ summated, and poor Perkin transported in his own contemplation for joy, that, if ho proceeded no further, his fortune had conducted him to such a harbour, kissing the ground, xhioh he trod upon, and swearing the very place was the seat of his genius: Ipse locus nisero ferre volebat open. But, when he more and more perceived that the Scots, like a piece of war, were rolled together by his wanning hand, and fashioned to what form he pleased; he than made no question to hammer out his designs, on the anvil of prevailing, to their ever­ lasting glory, and his establishment. Yet herein he went beyond himself, and deceived both them, and himself, by warranting powerful aids in his assist­ ance, from all the parts of the realm, as soon as he should set footing in England. 2-

j Gainsford, op. cit., pp- 416, 43.7. ^Ibid, p. 4157 : • (61)

Suoh an account gives Perkin Yearbook full credit for liaving the ability to vnrp the designs of the Scottish lords to fit his own ends, and makes him a capable politician, who can manage his own campaign*

The incident of Perkin Warbeck's complaining to

ELng James of the ruthless ravaging of the country during their foray into England la giten in full by Oaineford, bet he indicates by what;he says that the wholo incident was a bit

of clover showmanship on the part of the pretender. He por­

trays Warbock as being insincere in the matter, and acting

to incite sympathy for himself as a lover of his supposed subjects.

Wherein, doubtless, they had gone forward, but that they perceived no aid or succour to come from any parts of England to restore this titular duke. Besides, the soldiers, full of spoil and blood, would go no further, till they had sent their pre­ sents to their wives and children, or returned themselves to gratify one another, after such a victory; but, in truth, the Zing, foreseeing it would be revenged, determined rather to retire with this assured victory, than to tarry the nuncupative dukes unsure and uncertain proceedings, and so re­ treated into Scotland again* Somo remember, that, at this time, though it was a but very simple policy, Perkin used certain kind of ridiculous moroy and foolish compassion towards the English people, as-chough that rather moved the Boots to tho retreat, than any thing else: whereupon, lost his eosening and illusion should be discovered, by reason so few resorted unto M m , he thus complained to the Scottish Zing, and, as it wore, ezed^imed of himself: 05 wretch and hard-hearted man that I am, thus remorseloes, to forago my native country, and purchase my inherit­ ance with such effusion of blood, cruelty, and•slaugh­ ter. Por now I see, before this business ©an be brought to any good pass, houses mast be fired. oountrlee dopopointed, women ravished, virgins do- floured, •infants slain, the aged murthered, the goods rifled, and the whole kingdom subject to de­ vastation which, to my grief of soul I must need® deplore, Therefore, groat Zing, I request you from henceforth, do not afflict my people, nor deform ray country, in such a lamentable and remorseless manner; for, doubtless, I shall never endure it with a peaceable soul and conscience, and had. In » manner, rather lose my part and interest therein, than purchase it with such loss and excruciation of mind, especially effusion of blood and barbaroue enforcement, Surely, replied the ling of Scots half angry, and more than half mistrusting hi® dissembling, yea, fully resolved on his weakness and pusillan­ imity; — — Fletue quid fundis inane®? £eo to spoilt o tua soelerl pardro fat oris? , Usque adeo no times, quern tu facie ipse timendua?

luoan. Lib, 111, Methinka your care is rather ridiculous than .... superfluous, to be thus doleot for another man’s possessions: yoa, X see not, but your claim is so remote and disannulled, that it must be an Hercul­ ean labour to settle you in any of their cities and petty provinces. But, for calling England your land and realm, and the Inhabitants your people and sub­ jects, it is as wonderful me, as deapleasing to yourself, tiiat, in all this time, neither gentleman, nor man of worth, hath, extended a daring hand, or, if you will, commiserable arm of assistance towards you; nay, though the war was begun in your name, for- your sake, and within your realm, of which, you say, you are the undoubted heir, and invited to the sane by your own people and faction, Alas | replied, the prince, I confess as much as you say; but, if it will please you to acknowl­ edge the truth, tho falling back of the Zing of France, yoa, when I was in speed of my journey, the failing of many promises to my aunt the Duchess of Burgundy, and the defect and protraction oC my bus­ iness, by the loss of an hundred lords and knights, some in their liberties, some In their live®, some from their own good motives and intents, and all, from their true hearts and endeavours, by the ling’s forces, and vigilant eye over them, hath not only deceived my expectation, but, in a manner, pervert­ ed ray fortune. Besides, you know with what diffi­ culty the nature of adversity, and men in distress, attain auto any credit and estimation; so that wo and you both hate had woeful experience of many ; great princes deposed from their thronoe, and loft friendless, anooourloea, and quite destitute of relief in the hands of their enemies; and therefore, ae mischief and alecry aro of my old acquaintance, so am I not now unprepared to entertain the same, but must submit to the calamitysand attend the appointment of thti highest nod, concerning my lowest dejection, and so I conclude with nn ancient saying of Euripides: — — . Turbam enim reoipore mo nuduit. Ut ocuTIs vidoront hunc "meivra turpem habitum, Ccoultaui praa pu&ore meum infortunium: quando enim H r - ■ Habuerit tralo magnum. in inapt las Cad It detoribrog, co cui ‘fuit dudurn infaelis. Eurip, Helena# Although this came roundly off, and savoured somewhat better than the former; yet the H n g re­ plied not at all, hut was content with his first reproof, being more foarful every day than other, that this intricate business would bo a work of wonder, and to fashion the lump of such deformity, to any handsome or substantial proportion, must bo dangerous and prejudicial for over to the Scottish crown* t This picture of Perkin Warbock is in great contrast with the sincere, but weak protender of Ford's play; and draws him as a showman, giving the world a spectacular performance worthy of a king. Warbeek is not a dupe,nor does ho lack the will to stand back of his protest; but merely stages such a pro­ test for tho effect it should have on the people of England#

A few pagiB further on Galnsford tells of Warbock'o exit from the waning favor of Hing Jams, but he pictures

Warbeok as being able to do it gracefully, and save himself in spit© of all the contriving and diplomacy of King Henry#

y Gainsfordf op. eit#» pp. 419-421# For the King of England required Perkin tfarbeok to be delivered into his hands, as the prineipal fountain of this venomous stream, the chief occasion of his unquietness, the perturber of his realm, the seducer of his subjects, and the author of many re­ bellions, But the King of Boots, like a prince in­ deed, would not buy his peace with the blood of innocents, especially a man coming to him for suc­ cour, shewing all the marks of a distressed and a- bused prince, allied unto him by marriage, and him­ self of fair demeanour* sweet behaviour, and of a most royal and wall-esteemed spirit: therefore, T say, ho would by no moans betray him into the hands of hio enemies, # # # # # # Only poor Perkin, whose glorious meteor began now to be exhale-d, seemed disconsolate and exani- matod at this nows and determination, especially when King James began to expostulate and reason the matter with him*1

War beck oamiily listens, and thon in part answers th® King*

And therefore God forbid, that my continuance in your court and kingdom, or the weakened cause of my attempts, should prove disadvantageous or ominous unto you, both in regard of the many favours, your prinoelinees hath heaped upon me undeserved, and my own willingness to not bo too troublesome or offensive unto so benigh a Majesty; which rather than it should be hazarded for my sake, without a ohearful and liberal willingness, the fame and glory of the enterprise shall be sufficient for mo; and I will not only disclaim my right and interest in the kingdom of England, my lawful inheritance, by descent, but pour out myself, and spend my life, most profusely for your sake. Only this I must intreat at your hands; to give me leave to rig and caulk up my ships, and gather together that dis­ persed company I have, or ouch as would willingly and voluntarily attend mo. 2-

Bueh a Warbeok gives no indication of a frightened youthjp

who needs others to decide his moves, but more clearly sug­

gests a capable adventurer, who has a dozen plane for every

/Gainsford, on. cit., pp* 431. #38* ^Ibld. pp. #5'. (65) situation, and discovers all the exits before he enters a building* Y/arfceek here does not falter, but prepares himself immediately to leave Scotland #h#n he realizes that there is nothing more to be gained in that country.

Showmanship is the dominant passion of Perkin War- book, according to Gainsford, When the pretender lands In

Cornwall to try his luck with the disgruntled minors of that section of England.

With this crew, about the month of September, ho landed at a place culled Bodnara, and there so sollloited and excited the aultltu.de, and wavering people, that, when they heard him proclaimed Rich­ ard the Pourth, whom the Duke of Gloucester, or, if you will. Bichard the Tyrant determined to nor­ ther, but that he escaped by the providence of God, they flocked unto him to the number of four-thou­ sand, and, according to the nature of children run­ ning after newfangled toys and painted pictures, submitted to M s highness, and swore, with all allegiance, to maintain his dignity and royalty; with which oonfidency and company, — /

The only inference, which can be drawn from this, is that

Warbeck was always capable of attracting attention to his person and his cause*

Gainsford*e contempt for the character of Perkin

Warbeek, reaches the state of disgust when he comes to the part of the narrative dealing with the pretender* s desertion

of his following, and his flight to the sanctuary*

But little needed this policy or procrastination: for poor Perkin (desperate of his fortunes, and quite exanlmatod to encounter with the king’s forces, in so warlike a manner and fearful a preparation.

/ Gainsford, op* oiti» * p. 435* (66)

contrary to all the motives of a true Eoman hon­ our t and without knowledge of hie army) about aid- night, accompanied with sixty horse, departed in wonderful celebrity to a sanctuary-town besides Southampton, called Bewdley, where he, John Heron, Thomas a Water, and others, registered themselves as persons priviledged. (

After recounting the capture of Lady Catherine and the sur­ rounding of the eanetuary by the forces of King Henry, he goes on to say.

When Perkin saw to what straights his barque was driven, and that he must either split on the rocks of despair, or retire back again into the troublesome ocean of deeplght, according to the nature of cowardly and irresolute mem, he chose the worst part, to save his life and submit to the King's acceptation: not remembering, because he was never acquainted with the secrets of Majesty, that he, which hath been once a prince, must neves look for a settled quietness in a private estate (because he is still subject to the conqueror's pleasure) but an ignoainiuas life, than which an honourable death is ten thousand times better, ■2-.

Such a disgust with the cowardice of Perkin Warbeek, cannot leave the pretender much that is noble, and worthy of a prince, Gainsford'o criticism at this point is entirely of the physical cowardice of Warbeek, and there is little sugges­ tion of anything other than that Warbeek, fully realising he

had no chance to win over the forces of the King of England,

fled to save his own life, without considering the disgrace.

The conception of Perkin Warbeek as a crafty adven­

turer is further advanced several pages later on after Geine-

/ Gainaford. op. oit., p. 456. Ibid, p. 45S; f&rd gives an aeeomit of the pretender18 surrender to Henry VSIU

To conclude, the King brought him quietly to tendon; and, though he had given him life, and afforded him a kind of liberty, yet did he set a guard over him, that he could neither have free conference, nor do what he wantonly listed without them. In this while, Perkin, having two years liber­ ty to ruminate on M s business, and swell up his vexed soul with uncomfortable commemoration of preceding misfortunes, would many times cast out abrupt and uncertain speeches coneeming his dis­ tress, and the malevolent aspect of M s fate, cur­ sing his miserable life, and complaining of his unprofitable genius, that had stood him in no bet­ ter stead,wishing he had been born to any meohan- ioal drudgery, rather than from the royal blood of Plantagenet: insomuch that his keepers mistrusted him in these extasies, and the King was still troub­ led, that he oould neither make him confess the truth, nor disclaim this M g h assumption of another's dignity and royalty. But at last, as all such dis­ contentments and eruptions must have a vent, and so a determination, whether the scandal of this kind of imprisonment grieved M m , or the unquiet­ ness of hist-thoughts vexed him, or the baseness of submission abused M m , or the loss of his sweet wife confounded him, or the instigations of others disturbed him; or, indeed, because the last act of his tragedy and catastrophe was now in hand, he not only studied w M o h way to escape, but put the same in practice, in apight of hie own knowledge, that the King was acquainted with all his discont­ entments. For, alas! princes have longhands and prying looks, to roach into the furthest parts of their kingdom, and search into the seeretest clo­ sets of their palaces, yea, other men’s houses, and so are made to understand the affairs of the re­ motest regions. But, concerning himself, his vain suppositions, as in his former interprises, still flattered M m , that he should once again find fuel enough, to set another rebellion and commotion on fire: and his vexation to be bereaved of so dollcate a creature, ns M s lady, made him desperate of all, and set M s wits on the tenter-hooks, to put some­ thing in practice to his further contentment. So that one day reading the story of Mortimer's escape out of the Tower, by giving his keepers a sleepy drink; he, in such a manner deceiveth his guard, (68)

and betook him to a resolution of escaping and fly­ ing out of the lend; wherein he proved only like the silly bird, that with striving, in the net, en­ tangles herself the more: or, as deer that are hunt­ ed, betray themeelves to well-scented hounds, by thely faster running away, whereby they make the deeper impression in .their steps: so fell it out with him. '

This long quotation gives an aeeount of tfarbeok's persistent nature, and his constant struggle to get himself out of a tight place. Ho had deserted his army, when he saw that the day was lost before the battlo m s fought, and now he per­ sists in not giving in to the king until he is certain that there is no further chance to gain a new success for his pre­ tensions. Ke Is constantly alert, and always ready to make • a break for liberty. V'ith a nimble mind ho seised upon the suggestion of Mortimer’s escape, and repeated it. A mind which is capable of acting on more suggestions, as Warbeek*s did, shows a highly developed sense of balance and proportion.

His persistence, and ultimate devising of a means to escape suggests rather conclusively that Gainsford*e Warbock lacked no will to succeed.

rinding all egress to freedom from England blocked by the everpresent eye of Zing Henry, Per kin Warbeok, again sought the security of a sanctuary, and prayed that the Prior might intercede with the king.

The prior (glad to have interest in such a meritorious work, and proud to be serviceable to his prince and country) came with convenient speed to the court, and acquainted his Majesty with the

Gainsford, op. oit.. p. 440. (6*)

Beel4ontt leaving no circumstance of any validity umreoounted; which ended to the King’s wonderful content, and the whole court’s disdain and amaze­ ment* But all times are not alike, and princes. In,their mercies and pardons, are not so flexible, as presumption bulldeth upon: yet, to please the prior, he gave him his life, which, to a generous ant free-born spirit, was more irksome than death* for he was first taken and brought to Weetmlneter, with all scorn and roproach; then set in a pair of stocks, with contumelious derision; then carried through all the streets of London, like a prodig­ ious apeotaolo; then put to the rack, which made him not only confess his pedigree and original, but write it with his own hands. last of all, mounted on divers scaffolds, he read it in publick, and that so disgraciously, as in the commemoration was able to torment a looker-on. z

The free bora spirit of Perkin rfarbeok seems to be too fragile for the raok, so that, in order to save himself from further bodily punishment, he was content to confess to whatever Brory

VII desired. After this encounter he Was no longer the Perkin

Warbeok of the blood of the Plantagenetm, but a fretful youth fighting to esoapo an inevitable meeting with Zing Henry’s hangman.

With hie confession vanished all hopes of further in-etending royal birth, and claiming the orown of England, but Perkin Warbeok was not xvilling to give up without a final

* , \ struggle.

Peter Warbeck, impatient at this restraint of his liberty, and stomaching his former disgraces and indignities, would.endure no longer, but studied every hour how to escape, not yet knowing Shat to do, when he did escape; to which purpose, by fair premises and fnlsd persuasions, he corrupted his

/ Galnsford, op. clt*. p. 441. keepers, Strangtsay, Blewot, Aetwood, and long Roger, servants of air John Blgby, lioutenant of the Tower, to slay their said master; and set both Parkin and the true % r l of Warwick, at largo, and so to make their fortunes, as they oould, either by domestick or foreign friends; to whloh, when the innooent prinee oondeeoendod, as glad any way to enjoy M s liberty, and to be freed of his imprisonment (for you see birds kept in golden cages beat and flutter up and down, as scorning their inolosure* to got out Into their native country, the region of the air) mischief and misfortune, which plays the tyrant with many men all their lives long, and never nffordeth one day, or breathing-time, to give them a taste of any pleasure or contentment, discovered the whole eons piracy to the King and hiseounell, not leaving out any circumstance which might either exasperate his rage, or pull forward death and destruction to the delinquents. Whereupon, without further dis­ puting the matter, Perkin Warbeck, John A Water, sometime mayor of Cork, and his son were, the six­ teenth of ITovember, arraigned and condemned at West­ minster of high treason, and the twenty-third hanged at Tyburn: Perkin mounted on a scaffold, reading his confession, and, contrary to all expectation, asking the King and country forgiveness, and dying penitently, with great remorse of conscience, and compunction of spirit: Et sic finis Prlami— — - '

This marks the final exit from the scene of life by the Perl- kin Warbeok who is portrayed in Gainsford1s True and Wonderful

History of Perkin Warbock* The pretender fully confesses at

the pleasure of the king, and pleads M s f orgiveness. War­

beok shows himself broken by the craft and racks of King

Henry’s policies, and is a rather disgraceful sight during

M s last, few moments* There le none of the glamor which he

had about him while he was in Scotland, and with hie fine

robes t o m from him he seems to have boon a small man hidden

beMnd a great cloak of ermine.

7Bainsford. op. clt.. p. 444. Prom this aoeonat of Perkin War be ok by Thomas Gains-

ford on® would oenolnde that War be ok m s essentially a schem­

ing. adventurer, who realised the possibilities of playing the

part of the dead Duke of York, and claiming the throne of

England. He was an eloquent orator, and fully understood how

to attract people to his cause through the use of tho best

showmanship of the day. Wherever he went there was a great

commotion, for he looked the part of a prime, and played it

well, except at times when he must suffer physical insecurity.

First he deserted his army When it appeared that thoro was

no chance to win the field, and that he would likely fall if

he attempted to enter it; second, he confessed the first time

he was put on the -vraok that he was not a prime but a low­

born youth; and third, When he mounted the soaffold he turned i a m y from the hangman and the noose to plead with the king to

give him grace. This does not make him essentially a romantic

character, but a lad who looked the part of a prince* while

at heart he was no more than a crafty and scheming adventurer,

who loved hie life better than his ambition or honor.

Bacon*s. The historical account of Perkin Warbeck

which is most frequently.linked with Ford's Chronicle History

of Perkin Warbeck. A Strange Truth is Bacon's History of

Henry VII* from Which it is traditionally said Ford directly

drow his material for the chronicle play/ That Ford used

Bacon1e history as a source of his play has been established

■--- — --- T" Charles Dibain, op, pit.. Yol IY, p. 180. (72) as a fact by the studies of Oehler, who investigated the matter rather thoroughly, and points out the direst influence of Ba­ con's aocount of Warbeok in his History of Henry the Seventh.

/ on the general procedure and tone of Ford's play*

Bacon is very fair to Perkin Yfarbeek, and in the

first ao count he gives of the young pretender he praises him highly for his guile and craft in handling himself and advanc­

ing his hoax* He likewise indicates that Henry VII had been

careful to color and discredit the accounts of the youth which had been handed down; and that he hoped to recount the whole of the story, so that the readers might at last got a

true, authentic, and unbiased account of the youthful pre­ tender.

This was a finer counterfeit stone than Lambert Simnel, better done and worn upon greater hands, being graced after with the wearing of a king of France and a king of Scotland, not of a duchess of Burgundy only. And for Simnel there was not much in him, more tbaii that he was a handsome boy, and did not shame M s robes. But this youth, of whom we are now to speak, was such a mercurial, as the like hath seldom been known, and could make his own part if at any time he ohaneed to be out. Where­ fore this being one of the strangest examples of a personation that ever was in elder or later times, it deserveth to be discovered and related at the full; although the king's manner of showing things by pieces, and by dark lights, hath so muffled it, that it hath left it almost as a mystery to this day. 2-

This account, showing Bacon's attitude in part.

/ Victor Gehler, z. W Francis Moon, %fenry the Seventh # in Historical Works. P* 387. bears out the same general description of Perkin Warbeok as a handsome youth, who carried himself in a princely manner.

The gift of a silver tongue, and great oratorical strength is mentioned, as well as his craft at deception.

This was Perkin Warbeck whose adventures we shall now describe. For first, the years agreed well. Secondly, ho was a youth of fine favor and shape. But more than that, he had such a crafty and bewitching fashion, both to move pity, and to in­ duce belief, as was like a kind of fascination and enchantment to those that saw him or heard him. Thirdly, he had been from his childhood such a wand­ erer, or, as the king called him, such a landloper, as it was extreme hard to hunt out his nest and parents. Neither again could any man, by company or conversing with him, be able to say or detect well what he was, he did so flit from place to place Lastly, there was a circumstance, which is mentioned by one that wrote in the same time, that is very likely to have made somewhat to the matter— which is that King Edward the Fourth was his god-father. Which as it is somewhat suspicious for a wanton prince to become gossip in so mean a house, and might make a man think that he might indeed have in him some base blood of the house of York; so at the least, though that were not, it might give the occasion to the boy, in being called King Edward’s godson, or perhaps in pport King Edward’s son, to entertain such thoughts into his head.'

The last lines of this note have caused much discussion, and even led Hugh Walpole to express several doubts concerning

Perkin Warbeck in which he quotes these lines as evidencing a possibility that Warbeck was a bastard son of King Edward 17; but Gairdner clearly shows the fallacy of such an assertion.2-

They, however, furnish a background for the confirmed eon

Bacon, op. clt.. pp, 386, 387. Gairdner. op. cit.. p. 268. (74) rietlon of Ford1e Sarbeok, that his pretensions are genuine.

Perkin Warbeck was a clever youth, in Bacon*s opin­ ion., r, for ho gives two incidents in which the pretender shows himself capable of forecasting the movements of his adversaries t and outwitting them* The first is is connection with 7/arbeok* a flight from Paris, when he learned that truce

had been declared between England and France.

And therefore upon the first grain of incense that waa sacrificed upon the altar of peace at Boloign, Perkin was smoked away. Yet would not the French king deliver him up to King Henry, as he m s lab- < cured to do, forlihis honour*s sake, but warned him away and dismissed him* And Perkin, on his part, was as ready to be gone, doubting he might be caught up under-hand* /

The second account of Warbeck* s guile which places him on the

level of the crafty neorotary Frion is in relation to hie

attempt to land on the coast of Kent*

But Perkin, who by playing the prise®, or else taught by Secretary Prion, had learned thus much, that people under oomnend do use to consult, and after to march in order, and rebels contrariwise run upon a head together in confusion, considering the delay of time, and observing their orderly and not tumultuary arming, doubted the worst. And therefore the wily youth would not set one foot out of his ship till he might see things were sure. z~

Bacon Soos not devote nearly so much space to the

telling of Perkin Warbeck*s advent "into Scotland as Geineford,

but he established Warbeck as essentially the same oratorical

and glamorous youth who won the support of the Scottish nobles

^Baeon, op. cit*, pp. 390, 391* z Ibid. p‘. 406. .. . (76) an& King James*

Perktn therefore, oomlng into Scotland upon those hopes, with a well-appointed company, was by tho king of Scots, being formerly well prepared* honourably welcomed, and aeon after hie arrival admitted to hi® presence, in a solemn manner* for the king received him in state in hie chamber of presence* accompanied with diver® of hie nobles* v And Perkin well attended, as well with those that the king had sent before him, no with hie own train,- entered tho room where the king was, and coining near . to the king, and bowing a little to embrace him, he retired some paces baefc, and with a loud voice, that all that wore present might hear him, made hie declaration in this manners — ' the same long oration which Gainsford reprinted in his account of Perkin larbeck is again given, and Bacon goes on to sketch the reaction of the Scottish courtto the young pretender.

After Perkin had told his tale. Zing James answered bravely and wisely: "That whatsoever he were, he should not repent him of putting him­ self into hie hands*" And from that time forth, though there wanted not some about him that would have persuaded him that all was but an illusion; yet notwithstanding, either taken by Perkin*s amiable and alluring behaviour, or inclining to the recom­ mendation of the great princed abroad, or willing to take on o ocas ion of a war against King Henry, he entertained him in all things, as became the person of Hiohard, daks Of York; embraced hie quarrel; and, the more to put it out of doubt, that he took him to be a great prince, and not a pepresentation only, he gave consent that this duke should take to wife the lady Catharine Gordon, daughter to the earl of Huntley, being a near kinswoman to the king himself, and a young virgin of excellent beauty and virtue, z.

In this account of Warbeck1 a Stay at the court of James IT - - " there is almost no suggestion of Warbeck’ e relations to lady

Ehtherine, other than that he was married to her*

^/ Bacon,ibid.p,-m%r op* oit*. p, 411* Gainsford1s account of the Insincerity of Perkin War- beck in complaining against Zing James1 destruction of the countryside during their foray into England is seconded by

Paeon, who likewise holds that the pretender did it more for the show of it, than for any sincere feeling and compassion for the English people.

It Is said, that Perkin, noting the part of a prince handsomely, when he caw the Scottish fell to waste the country, came to the Zing in a passionate manner, making great lamentation, and desired, that that might not be the manner of ranking the war; for that no crown was so dear to his mind, as that he desired to purchase It with the blood and ruin of his count­ ry, ^hereunto the king answered half in sport, that he doubted much he was careful for that that was Dono of bis. and that ho should be too good a steward for his enemy, to save the country to hie • use, /

This is In direct contrast to the pathetic tone of sincerity ; with which Ford acts this incident in his play. Zing James in Bacon responds to the jest in the same manner as It was made, and lackd the flare of contempt with which both Gainsford and

Ford ting® their Zing's attitude toward the protest,

Perkin War beck shows himself complete master of the situation and conducts.himself with good;grace when he is definitely abandoned by the Zing of Scotland, H® had so well impressed the king that it was difficult for James to be convinced that Warbeok was a false pretender, and as a result the king refuses to betray him into the hands of Henry Til*

Bacon, op, pit., p, 418, (77)

But the king of Root land, though ho rroulA not for­ mally retract hia judgmont of Perldn. wherein he h M engaged himself go far; yet in hia private op* inion, upon often speech with the Englishmen, enA divers other advert is omenta, began to. euepeot M m for a counterfeit. Wherefore in a noble fashion he ' called him unto him, and recounted the benefits and favours that he had done him in making him his ally, and in provoking a mighty opulent king by an offen­ sive war in his quarrel, for the space of two years together; nay more, that he had refused an honour­ able peace, whereof he had a fair offer, if he would have delivered him; and that, to keep hie promise with him, he bad deeply offended both hie nobles and people, whom he might not hold in any long dis­ content : and therefore required him to think of his own fortunes, and to choose out eomo fitter place for M s exile* # # # # # # : '* Perkin not descending at all from hi® stage-like greatness, answered the king in few words, that he saw his time, was not yet come: but whatsoever M s fortunes wore ho should both think and speak honour of the king. v.

In this recounting of the incident there is nothing to suggest that Warbsck was nervous * and knew not which way to turn; but on the contrary it dlearly pictures him as meeting the crisis with a cool head, and a mind full of plane*

The pretender continues to conduct himself with the stage-like grantness with which he made his exit from the

Scottish king’s court, so when he lands in Cornwall he sets up his allow in an even greater glamor, and dazzles the Cor- niehmen with the title of Richard IT, Zing of England,

^He arrived in September at Whitsand-Bay, and forth­ with oamo to Bodmin, and tho blacksmith’s tom; where there assembled unto him to the number of three thou­ sand men of the rude people. There he sot forth a

Bacon, op* olt*. pp, 430, 431, new proclamation, stroking the people with fair promises, and humouring them with invectives ag­ ainst the king and his government. And as it fare til with smoko, that never lose tit itself till it he at the highest, h® did not before his end raise his style, entitling himself no more Richard, duke of York, but Rishard the Fourth, king of England.'

Warbeok in full possession of himself, advances his standard carefully. He attempts to gain Ere ter, a walled town, without success; but continues to prepare to give open battle to the king*s forces# He does not disclose his plans to his men, but as a crafty schemer Perkin 7/arbeck wastes the day planning an attack, then in the safe concealment of the night flees to

the safety of a sanctuary.

When he was come near Taunton, he dissembled all fear and seemed all the day to use diligence in preparing all things ready to fight. But about midnight, he fled with three-score horse to Bewdley in the Hew Forest, where he and divers of his company registered themselves sanctuary men, leaving his Cornishmen to the four winds. z

To Bacon Warbeek did not disgrace himself as a coward, but made a good move, which in itself was clever diplomacy, and

in accord with Bacon’s standard of political ethics.

Warbeok did not stay long in the sanctuary, but soon

gave himself up to King Henry, and sought the king's clemency,

by confessing whatever the king demanded.

Soon after, now that Perkin could tell better what himself was, he was diligently examined, and after his confession taken, an extract was made of such parts of them, as were thought fit to be divulged,

/Bacon, on, cit.. pp. 452, 453. f zIbid. op. bit., p . 435. (79)

nhioh m s printed and die parsed abroad?" /

Henry VII was lenient with Perkin War be ok, and eenflned him to the eourt with a "watohfal guard, whioh granted him a cor- tain degree of liberty, but close confinement* His body might be confined, but W r b e e k 1 e crafty mind m s ever at work, contriving plans for escape, and another try at the crown*

It m s not long but Perkin, who was made of quicksilver, which is hard to hold or imprison, began to stirs for, deceiving his keepers, he took him to his heels, and made speed to the sea- coast* But presently ell comers were laid for him, and such diligent pursuit and search made, as he was fain to turn back, and get him to the house of Bethlehem, called the Priory of Shene (whioh had the privilege of sanctuary), and put himself Into the hands of the prior of that monastery* %_ Even though Perkin Warbeok m s somewhat a match for

King Henry, he lacked the resources of the king, and m s forced to seek the protection of a sanctuary for the second time.

Ho m s brought back to London, put on the rack and forced to confess, and then displayed in stocks in the prominent squares of the city. And the next day after, the like was done by him at the Cross in Cheapside, and in both places he read his confession, of which we made mention before$ and was from Cheapside conveyed and laid up in the Tower. ? This was the greatest defeat which Harbeok had so far met, but it m s not sufficient to destroy his will and stop hie ever-rising schemes* Once in the Tower he contrived with the

/Bacon, op. pit*, p. 438* zIbia.p* #8. /Tblit.p. 442. (80) keepers to free him and the true Plantagenet pretender, the

Earl of Warwick, and set them free to raise their fortunes*

But it m s ordained that this winding-ivy of a Plnntagenet should kill the true tree itself; for Perkin, after he had been a while in the Tower, began to Insinuate himself into the favour and kindness of his keepers, servants to the lieute­ nant of the Tower, Sir John Dlgby, being four in number - Strangawayo, Blowet, Astwood, a M long Soger# These varlete, with mountains of promises, he sought to eorrupt, to obtain his eooapo; but knowing well that M s own fortunes were made so eonteeptible, as he could feed no man’s hopes, and by hopes he must work, for rewards he had none, ho had contrived with himself a vast and tragical plot, which was to draw into hie ecmpany Edward Flantagenot, earl of Warwick, them prisoner in the Tower, whom tho weary life of a long imprisonment, and the often and renewing fears of being put to death, had softened to take any impression of counsel for M s liberty. /

Many of the king's immediate counolllors would have done away with Perkin Warbeok long before this last attempt to escape, but the king bad remained lenient, for,being so con­ temptuous of the pretender, he could not send him to the gallows*

After this he wasted no time in hastening VArbOek to the hangman for there was an opportunity to send the Earl of Warwick along with him, and forever end any possibility of a Plantagenet claimant to the throne*

But howsoever it were, hereupon Perkin, that had offended against grace now the third time, was at the last proceeded with, and by commissioner® of oyer and-terminer, arraigned at Westminster, upon divers treaedpa committed and perpetrated after his coming

/Baeon» op. cit.. pp* 448, 44S. aohemer who never .plays all his cards or quit sr'the game : until his entire re#ourcos are exhausted* He does not at any time show hleeelf a. coward or suffering from nervous fear; but * . • in his movement# which appear to Gelneford. the results of oowardloe he acts, with eool deliberation* and turns back be- cause it is fruitless to oppose blindly the inevitable. The dominant note Bacon gives hi# characterisation of Perkin War- beck is a stage-like dignity* Which is maintained by a stro% will and by a cool intellectual balance. Warbeok is not a frightened youth and dupe of others, but a olevor, cool head­ ed* erafty, and capable adventurer, who fully realises his situation, and knows the game h6 is playing sufficiently to carry it within sight of success• The only obstacle Which proves too great for him to surmount is the mind of Henry Til* which is craftier and more far-sighted than his own.

Composite* There are four different conceptions

of Perkin Warbeok: John;lord's Chronicle History of. Perkin

Warbeok, A Strange Truth. Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles/

Thomas Gainsford’s True and Wonderful History of Perkin Warbeok. and Sfy Francis Bacon1s History of Henry 71X.

fundamentally they all agree as to Perkin warbeok* s peroonal

appearance as, a handsome youth, who bore hirasolf mil, and

looked the part of a prinoe. likewise* they a^ree that ho

was very clever with the use of his tongue, and could incite

sympathy for his cause in the hearts of the most suspicious (85) of those with whom ho came in contact. In other rogpoctc they radically differ In their attitudes toward the pretender, end' strike different notes as to the essential trait dominating his oharaeter. ■ ‘ : \ • : . • / '

• Holinehed. pictures Perkin T/arbeck as a capable and . crafty eountorfoit, who fully realises that his claims to

, - • ‘ * •" the English throhe are groundless, but is adwsturer and showman enough to carry the pretensions through for the personal gain that, he can mild: from them. He has a clover mind, lacks no will to do his own bidding, and holds hie : personal safety above his claims to the throne. M e honor, an^. the rights of others. When the time comes for ilarbeck to oonfess that ho is a oounterfoit, lie does not hesitate, but confesses freely.

Cainsford takes a slightly different attitude, in - that he holds Perkin Warbeck in much contempt and dishonor,

Warbeok is a clever schemer, who knows he is meounterfeit, . and makes the beat of the situation, by acting as a parasite and duping others into supporting M s pretensions. He is

pictured by Gainsford as being without scruples, andfiavoid

of any honor, which would cause M m to remain loyal to his

pretensions and refuse to confess them false» life to Warbeck

is more precious than success at a great risk, and he ©lings

to it to the very last, where contrary to expectations, at

the scaffold he humbles himself by begging clemency from Henry VII* : (84)

As Gaiasford io biased against Perkin YZarbaok, Bm «b

is sympathetic, and attempts to give \7arbook full credit, for

the success which ho gained. Warbeok is a strong minded

craftsman of men, mho g&iiys his game with the best, and is able to win from those who possess equal minds and. resources,

but is beaten by a master at statecraft. He is capable of attending to his own affairs, and allows no obstacle® before

him to destroy hi® hopes. However, when ho is confronted by

the impossible he is willing to make a rotroat* Ideas are .

subordinated to his personal safety, and ho does not hesitate

to eonfiss ho is a counterfeit, when it will save him from

certain physical torture. It is impossible to defeat him,"

and' although his hand is filled with small, cards, he "will attempt to bluff it out,

Prom these three historical sources which were

available to John Ford and the ago within which he lived

when he wrote his Chronicle History of Perkin flarbock. A .

i Strange Truth, must be drawn a fourth conception of FerM.ii

Warbeok which is a composite of all three. By doing this

the probable historical conception of Perkin Warbeok with

which John Ford worked can be deduced.

This composite conception of Perkin Warbeok pre­

sents him as a capable and clever youth who was able to give

Henry 711 much trouble. To enumerate his qualities, I, He

was a handsome youth who wore hi® robes well* and bore out

M b pretensions, 2, He was an eloquent orator, and easily (96) indaoed beliof in his claims in the most skeptical. 5. He m e

> ■ * gentle by nature, loved M s wife tenderly, and enjoyed plea­ sure of every sort* 4* He m s a cool headed, crafty, and far­ sighted sohemor, who was an able pupil of Secretary Prion, and M s equal# 6* Ho had a restless disposition, which made in . it impossible to pin him down, keep hi^one place, or break his spirite 6. He m a timid W t not essentially a coward* for he preferred hie personal safety to physical discomfort, and would not gamble with the^inevitable. 7. He was a capable shoman, Who fully realised his claims were counterfeit: and made the mqet of his pretensions to gain the maximum material returns♦ 8, He had no great sense of honor, for when it came time to confess his claims wore counterfeit, he did so.

Fundamentally, the historical conception of

Warbeck is that he was & scheming youth, who fully realized the material gain which could b# [got n fromppretending to be tho murdered Duke of York, and pushed the spectacle to the limit. : (86)

fg) Dlsongalon of ResxAtB. Early in this essay the question vnxs brought up of whether or not is vans possible for John Ford to stlek to the truth, and ohar&oteriae Perkin Warbeok in his Chronicle

History of Perkin Warbook. A Strange Truth as he m s pictured by the historical sources of the play, or whether Ford would ’ . ' ■ ■ ■ . ' ' . . be influenced by his prevailing style and the popular tragi­ comedy of the day to romanticise the character of the preten­ der. To make the problem more tangible the verb "romanticise" is to be taken as meaning to exaggerate the truth and present-

a : characterisation w M o k approaches an ideal conception of the character not fundamentally true to the historical essence of it. Before the question. Did John Ford Romanticise the Character of Perkin Warbeok? can be answered the histor­ ical Warbeok must be compared directly with the pretender of

Ford's play.

% paralleling the two conceptions of Warbeok one can quickly grasp the fundamental similarities and differences between the historical conception and John Ford's character-

? iBatten of the pretender*

HISTORICAL JOHN FORD'S v ■ ■ ...... • : 1* He was a handsome youth 1. He was a handsome youth who appeared a prince. Who appeared a prince, bat

had a pathetic air of hope­

lessness about him. (87) HISTORICAL .JOHN FORD’S '

8$ H© m © an eloquent ora- 2,j He was an eloquent _ ora- tor Who influenced all whom tor who influenced all whom he met. he met.

3* He was a gentle lover* 3. He m s a gentle lover and treated his wife very and treated his wife very tenderly. Very worldly. tenderly. Highly imag­

inative*

4# He was a oool headed 4* He was the dupe of and erafty eohemer. others, and depended on

He liad a restless dis­ others to make M s deci­ position, and it was im­ sions. possible to break his He constantly struggled spirit. with hie fears, and possess

Emotionally stable. ed little or no will.

Emotionally unstable.

•

5. He was timid, but not 5. He was timid, and oss- essentially a coward, since sentially a coward, since he prefered physical safe­ he was unable to overcome ty, and would not gamble the emotional fears which against impossible odds. • constantly kept him from

action. (89)

HISTORICAL ______■ JOIffl PORB * S

W&rbeek btiging with a narheck "begins with no will high degree of eueeeee vhieh and develops character enough constantly diminishes. to choose death and honor,

The pretender slowly sinks The pretender slowly rises into dishcnertand dies dis­ to honor and dies nobly. gracefully.

Warhock is not a hero* Y/arbeek is a hero.

His character tends to de­ His character definitely cay* / develops.

The historical is spec- The play ia romantic and taoultir*and ohjeetive* subjective in treatment»

Perkin Tarheck is not Perkin Warbeek becomes a

essentially romantic. romantic-hero.

,///v v :la. this' direct' oom$iari»6ii of :JOhn'' Pord,s charaetsr- isation of .parkin Warbeck im ]his yghronicle HiAtory of Perkin Warbeck, A Strange Truth, with the historical essence of the

character of the pretender, as drawn from the three most pro- bable sources from which Ford got the material for his play, certain similarities have been observed, and several radical

difference# have been revealed. ( 9 0 )

Historically War bo ok waa a cool lioadod and crafty - ■' v •• : ' ■ . *•. ehowman, who set; out to gain dll the material wealth he could from playlk^ with the TorMota, who wished to oppoe® the sue- . : "' : • - •: -..y* ", - ' * eoss of King H@nty$ but Ford ipioturea him ao a dupo of others

' • " • '.>• . who does ac ho io biadens. a^l eiincoroly bolievea in M s pro- tensions. If %rd*G obamotdr over knew that bia claims wore false, hia imagination eo

The historical accounts give Warbeok credit for being an honorless Individual, who was coolly able to desert his army in the faoo of defeat, and floo for his own safety#

The character which Ford presents could not'have left Taunton * under any other stimulus than genuine emotional instability and fear, since Immediately before in the preceding seen® he was seen struggling with a weak heart, and. rationalising his assurance of success.

This look of honor did not prevent the real Perkin War** beck from confessing all his.claims were counterfeit, since :-y. ' he knew they vrore false, qind..he'.was using them only for. per- s o m l gain. When they moimccd his personal safety they were quickly abandoned, and freely confessed. On-the other hand

John Ford*8 Perkin Warbeok is repreoented as firmly believ­ ing in his claims to Eing Henry* e throne t and refuses to oon~ f - . . . . - fees afqrthing that ^dlll Alooredlt hi® protonsioas* While the Metorioal chaimeter pleads for olemeno^r en the eeaffold, the dramatic Warbdok sponds his time insulting Henry VII,

The two oharaoterisations are almost opposite. The Metor* leal Warbeek is insincere and without honor, while Ford*s eheraeter is most sincere and possesses Unlimited honor*

When it comas to the fundamental problem back 8f tie character of Perkin Warbeok, Ford goes a long way from

■ihm historical noeeunte* Instead of presenting him as k cool-headed eehemer who resembles both Seoretary Priori arid

King Henry, and acts on his own initiative to promote himself,

Ford pictures Warbeok as a helpless dreamer, who is dependent upon King James and Prion to do his thinking* Instead of plunging into action with carefully laid plan® and a thousand escapes, Warbeok hopelessly loses himelf in a world of vague but beautiful dreams, and ever increasing fear. The first oharaeterination is entirely objective, while Pord’s is dis­ tinctly subjeetive. In life W r b e o k wns probably timid in the same degree as was Henry vii, but it is oertaln that . neither of thorn lacked a decisive will. Warbeek was canny enough to save his own life under normal difficulties, and to do that he must have been level headed and in full com­ mand of M s faculties. Ford’s character fights all M s battles with the fears which overshadow Mm , and he loses most of (92) thorn before they ever materialize• The historical account by Bacon 4® finitely compares Perkin War beck with Henry VII for craft and ability, while John Ford develops the two in

contrast, with the king the careful and decisive character*

While Warbeok is the emotional and indecisive on®• In mak­

ing Perkin Warbeok a subjective character. Ford goes a long way from the truth, and presents an entirely new and indi­ vidual pretender, who is not true to the historical concep­ tion#

In the light of the historical accounts there was

little In Warbeek* e character which would lead him to stay

by hie standard when once it had been set up. lot believing

in his claims to the English throne he did not hesitate in

confessias them counterfeit; but John Ford stabilises the

weak Perkin Warbeek of his play,' Who has been struggling with

fear throughout the larger part of the play, and in the last ' . scene makes him stand by his claims and overcome the greatest

of all hi® fears, the fear of death. In doing this John

Ford changes the established foots of the.historical accounts

of the pretender’s life, and makes him a hero# This is a

literary sin against the facts. The historical Perkin Warbeek

of HoUnshed, Galneford, and Bacon could not, and would not

have refrained from confessing himself a counterfeit, when

he was put to physical torture and confronted by death. War-

beok, in life, was not a hero, and cared little for anything

other than material comforts. Ford makes him a frightened (93)

dreamer, ^ho beeawa tb® ^enquerer of himself and dies rather

than dishonor himself and the traditions of the Plantagonets.

In oonelndlng the historical aoooxmt the reader admires Yfar-

beok for his eleverneae and M s persleteney$ but when the onr-< tain drops oYl lord’s play the an&ienee applauds the hero War-

beok for winning his struggle, and dying like a true romantic

knight of the beet tragi-eomidios of Beaumont and Fletoher* (94) (4) Summary and Conclusions, The oomparison of John Pord'a characterisation of

P o r M n Warbeok, In hie Chronicle Hiatory of ?orkln Warbeok.

A Strange Truth, with a composite obamoterleatlon drawn from hie -sources of the play reveal several differences which make

Ford's character distinctly different from the historical con­ ception of the pretender. The first difference lies in Ford's making Perkin Warbeok believe firmly in his own pretensions, which belief tends to create a parallel belief in the audience.

This loads to the second difference arising when Ford makes the problem of the play one of the developments of a subjective will in the character of Warbeok. The historical pretender ap­ pears to have been an objective individual and extrovert. Ford pictures Perkin Warbeok as the dupe of others and unable to act on his own initiative when it is clear that he was fully capable of making hie own plans and putting them into action.

The third change, whioh is directly contradictory to the his­ torical fact, sends Perkin Warbeok to sublime heights by,re­

fusing to confess he is a counterfeit. These alterations which ford makes are sufficient to alter the whole character

of Perkin Warbeok, and change him from a clover adventurer to

a romantic hero.

After getting into the play Ford seems not to have

found the historical Warbeok sufficiently dramatic to make a

stage character who would appeal to the audience for which

it was being written. The first act, and part of the second. present the historical incidents in an authentic manner, hut seen after the whole of the action is given over to the devel­ opment of the pretender he begins to deviate from the histor­ ical truth, i’ord v/as confronted by the necessity of either making Henry VII or Perkin Rarbeck the hero* but since the play dealt largely with the pretender it m e not logical for

Ford to give the play over to the king. To make Warbeok the hero it m e necessary for the playwright to secure the sym-' pathy of the audience for the pretender. It was impossible to do this in presenting the historical Perkin Warbeok, since

M s insincere qualities would arouse antagonist! toward him.

There were only a few ways that the sympathy of the audience could be gained for Perkin Warbeok. Ford might have made him a genuine pretender and attempted to establish

grounds for warbeok*a pretensions, hut it was impossible for

him to do this, sinoo it was generally accepted that Warbeok

was without any claim to the throne. The only other alternative

was to picture Warbeok as a helpless,sincere pretender Who be­

came the tool of others, and leave the truth of his preten­

sions an open question.

Ford scorns to be fully capable of dealing with a

question from all possible angles, and never answering it.

Previous to writing Perkin Warbeok. in hie *Tls a Pity She*3

a Whore Ford had dealt with a very illicit love affair. In

it he infused a superficial t o m of innocence, making the

lover’s relations more imaginative than sensual, so that tho (96) evil lost the appearance of evil* Again in writing Perkin

Warbeck. he resorts to this same device in making the pre­

tender's greatest conflicts subjective rather than objective, and instead of vigorously harassing Henry VII, he is made to

struggle with himself. In doing this. Ford is able to push

into the background the question of the authenticity, of the pretender's claims, and leaving them unanswered, proceed with the development of the play with the full sympathy of

the audience for Perkin Warbeok*

It would have been impossible for Ford to maintain

the sympathy of the audience for Warbeok if he had continued

to allow the pretender to promote himself; so he resorts to . making him the dupe of others, and gets away from the histori­

cal characterization* Such a method drew attention away from

the question of the pretensions, and shielded Warbeok from

any censures for guilt in being a party to the hoax* Instead

of a feeling that Warbeok was trying to undermine the safety

of the English people, Ford attempted to create a sympathy

for his pretensions in the audience, through a. sympathy for

the imaginative Warbeok* Such a sympathy made it possible

for Ford to make Perkin Warbeok the hero of the play.

With Warbeok set well in the center of the stage, . .

Ford found it necessary to redeem his character, and make him

admirable in the eyes of his audience• With obvious history

making it impossible for Warbeok to gain the crown, the play- (97)

wight eould only resort to maldug the pretender euecedfi. and

win .in;lil«"straggle with himself* ?'any know that Henry VII

had not been npset by Perkin Warbaok, but few, wero familiar

enough with the details to know that Warbook donfossed hla

guilt as a oounterfoit. This offered Ford the opportunity

to make Perkin Warbeek a hero without actually winning the

orown, so he seised it, and by altering history he gave the

pretender sufficient Itioral strength to remain loyal to his

ideals* The mere faot that he eheae between death and hie

ideal was sufficient to make him a hero. It was not necessary

to say Whether or not YJarbeok’e pretensions were genuine, but

the mere fact that he .had courage to die for thorn, wan cuff - f icient to make him a hero In tho eyes of tho sentimental Eng­ lish audionoo of 1GS3.

^hen John Ford rnado those alterations in tho char­

acter of Perkin Warbeek he was acting under tho influence of

both M s established stylo, and the tendencies of the day

which led toward the tragi-comic elements of drama. Previous to his writing The Chronic1® History of Perkin Warbeek. Ford

had produced one distinctly tragi-comic play, The Lover*c

Melancholy, and three melodramatic tragedies. The Breton Heart. lovo's Saorifioe, and *Tis a Pity Bhc*8 a YHiore. which

sot his stylo as being intensely irnglnstlvo, and tragic.

All of these plays show definite signs of decadence in tho

unreal and imaginative qualities of the unproportioned emotions (#8) of the characters* Brezy action of his playjsecno straised, every amotion tempestuous, and f W v of his oteracters aeeo fully possessed of themselves* They are Ills the true tragi­ comic ’’knight® in ladies’ service v/ho have no free mill*"

All i of his major characters show themselves much more sub­

jective and abnormal than the characters of earlier playsf ; and when Ford characterises T e r M u Harbeok as struggling with his own omotiona the playwright is merely continuing in his own tendencies* At tho time Ford wrote M s chronicle the English audience m s demanding now and greater thrills from the Illy- livored heroos of tragi-ooraediea* A few years before ^Beau­ mont and Fletcher had set tho stylo for tragi-ooaady with the

Maid’s Tragedy and Philaster. and woro followed by James Shir­ ley, who was producing the Maid’s Bevonge* The Traitor, and

Love’s Cruelty, about the time Ford’s chronicle m s written*

’7lth so groat a demand on the part of the audiences for tragi­

comic heroes it would not have been necessary for Ford to hes­

itate in creating a tragl-oomlo characterisation, which was

dramtic but not historically true.

With every audience demanding s lily-livered hero,

and his own style tending towards creating imaginative and sub­

jective characters. Ford set out to adapt Perkin Warbeok to

the theatre* Warbeek in Ford’s hands ceased to bo an adventurer*

who confessed himself a counterfeit, and became a romantic

hero, who for a long time was the will-lees dupe of otherst but finally be same .strong enough to dio for hie idealti. Ford has greatly exaggerate4 the oharaotor of Perkin Warbock and wide him a boro, when there nero Tory few horoio qualities In hie actual character. In changing Perkin Warheok from a crafty adventurer to a romntid hero John Ford has romntioiaed ths character of Perkin Warbeok in his n.?he Chronicle History of

Perkin Pfarbeok, A gtrango Truth" and created a proton&or who

1b not hletorleally true.

If Perkin Warbeokrs adventures had been dramatised during the earlier part of the Slisabathan a m , it is pro­ bable that he would have been treated in an objective manner, and some other excuse found to m k e liira appear a hero. Bhake- epear would have, no doubt, orented him artistically ai . . t, character similar to -Henry V, with maiQr fine linoc and a great deal of action. As it m e , Ford adapted Warbeck to the theatre

When it WBe in a state of decay and characters were imagina­ tive, so at ouch a time John Ford's characterisation of Per­ kin Warbeck could not have been any other than that of a ro­ mantic hero. (loo)

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