FORT! NES

P K I A B E K E R N W R C ,

OMANC A R E .

B Y THE

R O F FRANKE A ! THO NSTEI N.

’ ’ ’ Ja n ven filz d A n leterre ic hard d Yorc no mmé g , R , ' ue l o n duo nt em t nso mmé Q erre, fi tl n ct et co ,

ndurer ra nt so ufi r n t a r no b les ex lo xtz E g a ce ; e p p , ’ vre en nn s n str o des A n lo s . bo e e pera ce, d e e R y g y

Old French Chromcl ex

V IN THREE OL! MES.

V OL . III .

H NRY COLB! RN AN D RICHARD B NTLEY E E , N W ! LINGTO T E B R N STREE .

1 830 .

P E RK I N W A RB E C K .

HA C PTER I .

I am our wi e y f ,

N o human ower ca n o r shall ivo rce p d , M f f om u y aith r d ty .

r o a n . With

M fo rt une and m seemin estin y y g d y,

He m e th o n an d ro e it no a e t h me. d b d, b k wit

N 0 human tie is sna e betwixt us two pp d . ’ m u nn s wu m u r m s c s z .

F IO R N believed that he held the strings, which commanded the movements o f all the puppets

. f about him The intrigues o party, the habi tual use o f ill ~means to what those around him

him to deemed a good end, had so accustomed f lying and orgery, that his conscience was quite

V O L . I I I . B 2 PERKI N WA RBECK . seared to the iniquity o f th ese acts ; truth to w m him as an accident, to be welco ed or not

accordin g as it was or was not advantageo us to

his plots. Ki ng James prepared a fleet fo r the co nvey

‘ ance o f the Prince ; and the Earl of Hunt

o f ley, as a matter course, promised to enter

his i n tain daughter royally, until , in a palace

Westminster, she should find her destined title

and fit abode. The Lady Katherine thanked him , but declared that she was nothing moved

l and rom her brida vow, that she never would ’ All desert Richard s side. that her father

o f n o i . urged was ava l State and dignity, or h t eir contraries, humiliation and disgrace, could

only touch her through her husband ; he was

t a her exal er or deb ser, even as he rose or fell ; it was too late no w to repine at degrada

- tion, which it ill beseemed the daughter o f 3

Gordon to encounter ; it was incurred wh en she plighted her faith at the altar ; wherever she w i w as, it must be hers. As a pr ncess she as lost

’ wo o r redeemed by her husband s fortunes. As a

m a l her r i t an, her glory and l honou must cons s 3 PERK I N WA RBECK .

o f o f in never deviating rom the strait line duty, which forbade her absence from his side . The Earl disdained to reason with a fond

- doating girl, as he called the constant minded a ho w l dy, but applied to the King, representing it woul d redound to his discredit,should a princess o f his blood wander a vagrant beggar over sea

h his and land . James ad pas sed royal word to u Katherine, that she sho ld have her will on

’ hera fa ther s this point ; and when , at suit he

tried . to dissuade her, he was at once silenced “ ” by her simple earnest words ; Ask me not,

f o f un she said , to place mysel on the list

’ : fo r worthy women your own honour s sake,

i in m royal cous n , permit your k swo an to per f f ’ orm a wi e s part unopposed . You and my f f u ather bestowed me, a duti ul s bject, an obe

t0 ' o ur dient daughter, according y will ; you

f m e trans erred y duty and obedi nce, and truly as ” for I paid it to you , so will I keep it my lord .

What can we reply, my good Earl ” IVIa rshall n n e , said James, tur i g to Huntl y, I rebelled against the religion through which I

den o ur w K reign , did I y s eet ate free allow B 2 4 PERKI N WA RBECK . ance to follow th e dictates o f her generous heart.

Nor let us grudge the White Rose this one fair

s n f bloom . Love, uch as Katheri e eels, love,

f of God—al ! too oft and the dearest, best gi t as

me—lf n t de ied to poor humanity, and mos to se i f i complacency, ar sing rom a good consc ence, will ” repay her every sacrifice. Huntley retired in high indignation ; his will

la w was opposed ; his word, which he deemed a ,

’ f l o f had but a eather s weight. The b ood the Gordon was stirred to rage ; and he broke forth in fierce and cruel expr essions of anger; calling

n — r his daughter, i grate her lo d base, and a traitor . Such muttered curses were reported to Lord Buchan : in the scheme on foot they

’ had somewha t dreaded to incur Huntley s dis pleasure and revenge ; knowing how dearly he prized the hope o f royalty fo r his daughter ; but f him now they ancied that they might draw in ,

was ere he aware, to approve their deed . The crafty Frion was set on to sound him ; the iron was i hot, most easily, to the r eyes, it took the desi red form .

l n i Hunt ey was a Scot, cu n ng even when angry PE R KI N WA RBECK . 5 — cau tious when most passionate. The first inti

' mations o f the conspiracy were greedily received " He f by him . learnt the alsehood o f the letter preten ding to come fr om the Earl o f Surrey ;

and t he use that was to be made o f this decoy

' ’ to seize on the Duke of York s person . He did no t scruple to promise his assistance ; he

' reiterated his an gry imprecations against his

- in- la w unworthy son ; he thanked Frion . with

cordial warmth for affording him this oppo rtu n ity fo r revenge ; he declare d his gratitude to

‘ wards the confederate nobles ; and the French f fu i f man le t him, with the ll bel e that he was ready to lend his best aid to deliver over the E nglish Prince to ignominy and death .

’ Such was the end o f King Henry s last

m to o f his sche e obtain possession too no ble, too c l o f f ex elling riva , by means Scottish raud,

’ r o f and the t eason York s dependents. The

' Earl of Huntley conducted the whole afiair wi th

r s the utmost sec e y. Ap parently he acted the

fbr c part designed him by the onspirators . He reconciled hims elf to the prince ; he urged an

c m li i ’ instant o p ance w th Surrey s in vita tion. 6 - KI N W A RBE ic PER c .

The English ha d asked for some guarantee o f ’ f u . i s Surrey s truth Huntley obv ated thi di fic lty , Throug h his intervention a new and suflicing impulse was given . Richard appointed the day

he t when should repair o Greenock, there to meet the envoy who was to lead him to Lord

’ har Surrey s presence . In the bour of Greenock rode the bark which was to con vey him to his

’ En glish prison . King Henry s hirelings were already there ; Frion conducted the vict ims blindfb ld into the net : they had meant to have gathered together a troop o f rufii an borderers to

prevent all resistance ; but Huntley promised to ef h f be there hims l wit a band o Highlanders.

The whole thing only seemed too easy, too secure . t The wily secretary had overshot his mark in

’ taking so readily fo r granted Hun tl evs assent to

o f f the ruin the Duke o York . He had come

upon him in his angry hour : his honied words

o f fo r were a dew poison ; his adjurations peace,

oil to fire . Then, as the noble strode through

the n n e o hall , imprecati g ve geanc , he slid in w rds d him f that ma e stop in ull career. Men are apt to see their wishes mirrored in the obj ect f be ore them ; and, when the Earl bent his grey PERKI N WA RBECK .

dyes upo n the Pro ven gal a n d knit his time - fur w ro edl r . in s b ow attention . and intere t, Frion f f saw , the satis action o f a man on the brink o

- . was fa r a field. dear revenge He , The very rage

i r ha d re in wh ch the Ea l indulged, by a natural

io f his e : act n; so tened him to wards childr n and,

. when the traitor spoke o f schemes ripe to deliver

’ Yo rk his a r into dversary s hands, he recoiled at

oncefrom the path o f vengeance opened before

' ' him w to deta il o f , and listened ith horror the a conspiracy which would tear the very shadow of

t and is wo rds t e lis ened, h . s ill enticed the ov r “ ” . Balma n e sa id the wily Frion y , . all

h . must succeed, even . to the deat Where he

t ran in ermeddles, he . is thus his “ : n comments My good Lord Bucha , what the Foul Fiend makes him so busy? Eng

s o l ! : li h , g d Yes Buchan loves the gilding

better than the strong iron that it hides. The

o f m honour the royal house, . y most reve r end uncle Is his animosity so stirring ? Oh l ’ priests are your on y haters. So Rich a rd s tale

s ea o f is told . The chroniclers will p k Duke

i kin o f Per , the canker that ate out the heart ‘ 8 PERK IN wa na ncx .

’ f n f st of o Gordo s air rose, the gibbet, in ead a

which she was wed a fa ir i n ! throne, to ; em ne ce My Kate will hardly ascend it with him : she

’ ” f . r must halt at the gallows oot These wo ds,

the » said with bitterness, seemed to Frion boil

n The ing sarcasm of an exasperated pare t. man’ s vanity was the trap in which he was

t v caught : he could not believe hat a sa age Scot,

r an untaught Highlander, could ente the lists with one nurtured in the subt le atmosphere o f

the u l of i th v Provence, with p pi Lou s e Ele enth ;

led in east ern lore who had as d a man schoo , p se

f o f a whole li e contrivance and deceit.

ha The Scottish nobles, Moray, Buc n, and

in e r Bothwell , were satisfied in hav g given th i

n countenance to the English hireli gs ; and, now that the more po werful Huntley promised to

vr of watch o e the execution their design s, they were glad enough to withdraw from the rude i h and n ospitable act. Huntley had eve ry

d . thing in his own han s He, with a party o f

l es High anders, corted the Duke and Duchess of f i York, with their r ends and attendant s, to

Greenock . Frion had never shown himself so ‘ 9 PERKI N WA RBECK . hunible or so co urtebus rhe seemed afraid tha t any one of his vict ims s houldf escape : he was partiticularly anxio us to entice his old enemy,

Kilma inha i the Pr ior of mfl ntd the snare. His

' was attributed to the high hopes b e entertained

’ o f his r oyal master s success through the alliance k o f the Earl o f Surrey ; and, while Yor expressed

‘ his o at smiled blan dl affectionate appr b ion, he y, and painted every featurein the very colouring

The vessel rode at anchor ; the English

i o f e o r sa lors, on the arrival York, w nt on b a d,

. r the . got her under weigh, and d opt down coast

w o r f Elhn haim With the da n L d Howard o g ,

a a o the f e with chosen troop, was, cc rding to als

' ' ho es o f R ar . e p ich d , to arrive at the rend zvous, a

W da bo ut t wo i o f w oo m les south the to n , border

n f . e i g the sands o thej séa . H re the English

m an d e e issaries were congregated , here a scor

' f d r ei o n . n Highla e s wer ambush, to assist in the

'

of . capture the White Rose. Hither, even

efo k fu b re dawn , the wa e l Frion came, to a n

n o f nou ce the speedy arrival his lord. He

B 5 1 0 PER KIN WA RBECK .

f s with anic been chie among them, was eized p

e or remorse, and had gone on board the v ssel , which had cast anchor but a few furlongs from

un e the shore . The others were mean d r

’ ]i ngs : Prion s presence gave them courage ; he was elated ; his laugh was free ; he had neither doubt nor scruple ; no, not even when he turned

ro m b a z no un f the vulgar, rut li ed

s n c vi all the ruman , to behold the pri ely

o f innomnce t splendour , wi h one

o f o lovely, that the spirit go d i her form fo r its best earthly

s bea ed nk Edmund, who e dark eyes m with u no wn

l e nc was ex joy, and Nevil e, whos haughty gla e

’ fo r changed a gla d smile. The ma n s sole thought was exultation at his o wn clevemms

e i e d and succ ss, in having nv igle so man y o f the

o to a f n ble and the brave this d rk a te. ” W o f Edin ha m? hat tidings g as ked York. ? ” Are ye ready cried Huntley .

All ! replied Frion ; al l sa ve him ye

a a . f s a f n me Wi tt Sir Robert, or ooth, is but h l l p s a x m waa ns cx .

' n ' e lf a man , and ever does mor than ha deed ,

' ‘ ‘ i t ho ug h tha t half makes a whole crime . All ‘ ' ' ' is I hea r sbund o f bars ihe ready . the ? boat ” hears the shore .

u h un o f e Thro g the tall , bare tr ks the tr es, a glimpse of thebeach might begained ; the roar

“ r was l ing o f the su ges distinct, now ming ed with

' the cry of sailors . ” eweno l . Then los time, said Hunt ey My

of w soimd t . Lord York , these ords s range You m expected a noble country an, to lead you to

f e victory ; you find nameless ellows, and the princ f o knaves, most ready and willing to lead you to

‘ ev . e f i ! erlasting prison Lo, the scen shi ts aga n

n r as Never be cast dow , Maste Frion ; you are — subtle as any o f your race only to be outwit ted m by a niggard Scotch an , who can ill read , and worse write ; except when villainy is blazoned

' ’ ’ m fa in a an s ce, and his sword indites a traitor s l fate . Your clerkship wi l find none among us ” learned enoug h to afford you benefit of clergy .

Huntley drew his sivo rd; and at the signal his Highlanders arose from their ambush . Frion wh v was seized and bound . None, o e en a mo 1 2 m a ma wm s ncx .

co uld have recognised him ; he was pale as the

s o . t n w on Ben Nevis A Highlander, an adep

e in such acts, dexterously threw a knotted rop

his his over head, and cast eye up to the trees

' e for a convenient branch . Such had been th m orders ; such the sum ary jus tice of the Earl . Richard meanwhile looked o n the blanched visage and quailing form of his betrayer in mere ” i n . ? compass o Is it even so, Etienne he said ; w ” and a fter long companionship e p a rt thus.

f o n k The trembling craven ell his nees, though b he tightened the halter vthe movement, so that i when Richard turned away, say ng, I had thought bet ter o f thee : Jesu pardon thee as — readily as I farewel l ! he had scarce vo ice to cry fo r mercy . ” Aye, cried the Gordon ; such mercy as f e f we grant the wol and thi vish o x. Sho rt shrift ” a ! be thine, Master Secret ry

’ ” a By our Lady s grace, st y ! said Kathe

i f - r ne ; do not kill the alse hearted knave. He

a is a coward , and d res survive his honour ; let ” him live . ‘ PERKI N WA RBECK . 18

To the good there is somethin g awful in the

o f i t t sight a g u lty man . It is a mys ery to hem how the human heart can be so perverted . Is f l i lf it a spirit rom he l, that incorporates tse with the pulsation s o f o ur mo rtal bosom ; a darkness that overshadows ; a fiendly essence that mingles with the breat h God gave to his o wn image ?

York felt a shrinking horror. Thou has t pur ” m fbrcin th sued esince my youth , he said, g y selfi n to my councils sometimes as a wily enemy ;

f in at others, be riending me seeming, raising

’ a n n my soul , th t flagged be eath the world s u kind minist ry ; dropping balm by thy wor ds into a wounded heart; to end thy o fii ce thus ! Was this thy purpose ever; or what demon whispered

? ! . o h no ! thee to betray Die , too many, the

r fo r good , the great, the t ue, have died me ;

can —no that York can pardon, York despise t so — w base a thing as thee that ere little, but even

’ Go thy employer. , tell my sister s husband that . I hea r a charmed life ; that love and 14, I w PE RK N a nns c x.

' no r w t - on as ln as e his ill got crowns such t ee.

! a the nbind him, sirs ; m ke signal to bo at ;

let him on board ; the winds stand fair fo r u l :

fa of o The ll many a h pe, roused by the

' as at this otber o f Richard, he sickened mark

’ man s wickedness and folly: He was surely the

r o f f i dear spo t ortune, a tale to chron cle how

fr . If faithless iends may be such thoughts, like

va summer clouds, darkened his mind , they

o f f n ished, driven by the winds li e that bore

i was me fo r him on ward . Th s no ti mere gloomy

was l meditation . Though he ob iged to return

s e to his forgotten Irish ch me, and to dismiss the l d glorious anticipation in which he had indu ge , o f leading the chivalry o f England to the field ;

thoug h no real defeat had ever visited him so keenly as this mockery o f one ; yet he was forced

i f and m f to forget h msel , to apply hi sel to console and rouse his downcast friends ; but his skill

. a was well repaid, and soon he gain awoke to

1 6 PERKIN W ARBECK . from the sad prostration of spirit; the birth of

l t was necessary inmiediat elyt o preparefor his

n n osed his dauht ris mag a imity, no long er opp g e

wi h. i xi we a fo new s The Engl sh e les ree ger r a ,

r o in and, they believed (fo untired is H pe man );

fo r ca ncer. r e a prosperous Scotland grew ud ,

nfi e remo te in their Ir co n d, and e yes. In eland

; were 'pla ced for t hem pthe po rtal s of the world to be open ed by their swonds ; the dancing sea - waves invited them ; the winds of hea ven ’i l vc . friends lent themse ves to their ser i e My ,

R c fai f said i hard, dear and th ul partners

a fo I wo f be of my wayw rd rtunes, uld ondly

f of h n lieve that we are avoured eave . We are few ; but the evil and the treachernus are no longer among us. And does o ld Time in all

a te e a his outworn t les ll any tru r, th n that the m b n f ls a any, eing disu ited, and so a e, h ve ever

' n i the i ol been va qu shed by lov ng, b d, aud heroac few? That a child may scan with it s fing ers

ur a i o b re arithmet c, will therefor e be to us the source of success, as assuredly it will be of w nna cx PERKIN a .

glory. The English were fe w when they mowed down thickly planted French at Cressy and

Poict iers. i o u Wh ch am ng s, armed as We are

' the of but l c in mail valour, wou d en ounter ten

’ ‘ of Tudor s scan t - pa id mercen aries ? For ime !

' I do believe tha t fi nd is on my side, as surely as

I know tha t justice and faith are ; and I feer mo ” defeat.

t l o li es f r ca n endne t he rough sto ne wi h ve n s, o ge

' the mis - shapen metal into a likeness o f all tha t

a nd i . o ur w ns hea rts by exceeding beauty, breathe into a disson a nt trump soul - melting

vain n o f il i lesso s material ph osophy, but wh ch, in the ac its a very t, shows power to pl y with all c rea ted t i s o f i ts hings, add ng the sweetnes o wn n its i s essence to the sweetest, taki g ugl nes

’ an — h m tin Richaad m s soul w ich, ani a g , made him in f and l r in see victory de eat, s uccess g o y the a th e r s the thorn a which it d rk, to tuou , y p th, 18 PERKIN ws a Ba cx. was his destiny to walk from the cradl e to the to mb.

f of s to Oh, had I, weak and aint speech, word teach my~fiellow~creatures the beauty and ca pa ’ i c bilities o f man s m nd ; could I , or ould one

f a r more ortunate, breathe the m gic wo d which

l . c all wou d reveal to all the power, whi h we

ss i f t o f r t po ess, to turn ev l to good, oul ai ; hen vice and pain would desert the new- born world

It is not thus the wise have taught, the good suifered for us ; we are still the same ; and

' still o ur own bitter experience and heart breaking regrets teach us to sympathize too feeli ngly with a tale like this ; which records the various fortunes o f one who at his birth received every gift which most we covet ; whose strange story is replete with every change o f happin ess . and misery ; with every contrast of glorious and disg raceful who was the noble object o f godlike

o f fidelity, and the sad victim demoni ac treason ;

’ ’ the mark o f man s hate and woman s love ; spend in f f g thus a short event ul li e . It is not Spent ;

: he yet brea thes he is on the world of waters. 9 PERKIN WARBECK . 1

Wha t new scene unfolds itself? Where are

who f they were alse, where those who were true

him ca r o f They congregate around , and the

f t fri tf li e bears him on , at ended by many gh ul ,

his e . many lovely shapes, to destin d end He has to ff yet much su er ; and, human as he is, much to enjoy . CHAPTER I I .

O ne moment these were heard and seen another

Pas and the two who s oo enea h ha ni h , t, t d b t t t g t

E ul hea r o r sa w or fel th e o he . ach d y d. , t t r

SHEL L EY .

THE hour had now arrived when Richard took leave o f Scotland . The King was humbled

f f n o f by the necessity he elt himsel u der, sending forth his friend and kinsman into the inhospita ble world and he felt deep grief at parting

n . fo with his lovely cousi She grew pale, when r the last time she saw the friend of her youth . But Katherine looked upon life in a mode very different from the us ual one the luxuries and dig n ifies o f the world never in her mind for a moment came in competition with her affections a n d her duty she saw the pla in pa th before her

’ ’ wha tever her fa ther s or her royal co usin s idea 2 1 PERKIN wa na ncx .

f had been in giving her to the Duke o York, she

w his u t kne that, being , her destiny pon ear h

f . was to share his ortunes, and soothe his sorrows f This constant looking on, giving hersel up to,

n o ne t o neoccu a d delighting in aim, one objec ,

at io n v far the p , ele ated her above common cares f o f existence . She le t

All meane thin s r g , The low ambition and th e pride o f Kings — to shroud herself in love ; to take on herself the

’ hallowed state o f one devoting herself to another 8

n happiness. Cleopatra, baski g in sunny pomp,

the o f l borne, wonder the world, in her gi ded bark,

of s amidst all the aroma the ea t, upon the gently f l rippling Cydnus, e t neither the pride nor joy o f on e o f Katherine, as, the poor d ck their dark

- iff f the weather beaten sk , she elt pillowed by

f f its e downy spirit o love, anned by gentl breath . The Duke of York was more depressed he

o f i d th ught o how, since his m serable chil hood,

d s f f an d he ha been the port o ortune her scorn.

of me f c He thought alse, the old, the perished : a dark wall seemed to rise around him ; a murky

: r vault to close over him success, glory, honou ,

’ r i the world s t easures, wh ch he had been brought 2 ws na a 2 PERKIN cx .

' a up to aspire to as hi dearest aim, his right, were f u unattainable he was the de eated, the o tcast ; there was a clog in his way fo r ever ; a foul taint

u . pon his name Thus seated on the deck, his

his arm coiled round a rope, his head leaning on

dim ra w arm , while the stars showered a silvery

nce c dia , and the sparkling sea mo ked their lus

t tre with brigh er fires ; while the breeze, that

his swelled sail, and drove him merrily along,

its b spent cold reath on him ; he, painting all natural objects with the obscure colouring sug i gested by his then gloomy sp rit, distorting the very scenery o f heaven and vast ocean into sym f f f bols o his evil ate, gave himsel up to the very u of woe — w i w l xury , mean h le the shado o fa lovely f r f him f r o m ell on , so t finge s pressed the curls o f

an d ri s his hair, Kathe ne a ked, Are the nights o f Andalusia more glorious than this

At the voice of the char mer the daemon fled sk an d sea ff th y cast o e dim veil his g rief had

n wove , and creation was restored its native

u : a l o f bea ty Hitherto the h l s palaces, the gaiety o f r n - a cou t, the cou cil chamber, had been the scenes iii which the princely pair had lived toge

24 9 2 1mm wa nnr cx .

no . to h fea rs, no tumult, doubt One the ot er

suffi an d but e i they ced ; , that the trance is fl et ng,

a i e o f the H pp n ss, the lost child world, would

f u e her fo r h have o nd her home w en love,

f ff c ea which is the necessity o a e tionate h rts, and

of the sense duty, which is the mystery and the

o f f i d law our souls, blend into one eel ng, Para ise has litt le to promise save immortality . For many days this state of forgetful exta cy

o f last ed. Plan tagenet and Neville spoke wars in Engla nd ; Lo rd Barry and Keating o f their — I rish schemes the Prince listened and replied ;

was fa r — for but his soul away Oh, that ever they

i u a might sa l th s on the p thless, shoreless sea Noth ing mean o r trivial or ignoble could visit

no f — them ; no hate, no care, ear this might not

but f fo r f w be, to have elt, to have lived thus a e

suflices to f short days, separate mortal man rom

of his —no no the groveling part nature disgrace, despair can so bring him back to the low- minded

to f world, as destroy the sense o having once

fo r i x . so e isted And Richard, marked m sery f h and de eat, acknowledged t at power which A PERKIN . W RBECK . 25 — sentiment possesses to exalt us to convince us

o ur n that minds, e dowed with a soaring, rest no repose on eart h ex cept in love. CHAPTER II ] .

n No w fo r o ur I n s h wars |

s us x s r a s a n .

A G A I N the Duke o f York approached the roc ky

o f o f entrance the Cove Cork, again he passed

s dis through the narrow pa sage, which opening,

a o f played lovely sheet tranquil water, decked f with islands . The arrival o his fleet in the

’ y harbour was hailed with jo . Old John O W a ter had returned to his civic labours, and had con t rived f fo r to get himsel chosen mayor this year, that he might be o f greater assista nce to the

\V hite Rose in his enterprize .

As soon as the arrival o f his ships o ff the

’ O W a ter m coast was known , dispatched essen 27 PERKIN WARBECK .

f gers to the Earl o Desmond, and busied him

’ self to give splendour to Richard s entrance into

a » co lo ured Cork . Tapestry and g y silks were hung from the windows ; the street was strewn — with flo wers citizens and soldiers intermixed

’ - crowded to the landing place. York s heart palpitated with joy . It was not that thence he

fo r adver 1ure much hoped success to his , which required more than the enthusiasm o f the re mote inhabita nts o f the south o f Ireland to

e o f achi ve it, but Cork was a sort home to him ;

f f l a here he had ound sa ety when he anded, b rely ’ — escaped from Tra ng ma r s machinations here he first assumed his rightful name and title

—he bere, a mere boy, ardent, credulous, and bold had seen strangers adopt his ba dge and avouch

a had his cause . Five ye rs elapsed since then

o f f w f the acclaim a e kind voices, the dis play o

his zeal, could no longer influence hopes as then they had done, but they gladdened his heart, and took from it that painful feeling which we all too often experience—that we are cast away

o h u on the inh spitable eart , seless and neg l d ec te . PERKIN WARBECK .

He was glad al so in the very - first spot o f his f claimed dominions whereon he set oot, to see the Lady Katherine received with the honours ff due to her rank . Her beauty and a ability won

’ f d and O W a ter the hearts o all aroun , , with the tenderness that an old man is so apt to feel to l wards a young and love y woman, extended to

t ff her a pa ernal a ection , the simplicity and

o f w as warmth hich touched her, thrown she was among strangers, with gratitude. — Lord Desmond arrived he was struck by the

’ improvement in York s manner, still ingenuous

- t : and open hear ed he was more dignified , more confident in himself than before—the husband

o f Katherine also acquired consideration ; as an

adventurous boy, he might be used according to — the commodity o f the hour now he had place

sta tion in the world, and Des mond paid him f greater de erence, almost unawares. But the Earl was sorely disappointed ; Re ” a ver nd Father, said he to Keating, what aid 7 does Scotland promise Will they draw Tudor

a h har ue ussiers with his rc ers and q b , and well K i h horsed n ghts, to the north, giving our Iris 29 PERKIN WARBECK .

Kern so me chance of safe landin g in the west ?

Peace is concluded between Scotla nd and ” England, replied Keating .

Desmond ldo ked moody . How thrives the White Rose over the water ? How sped the

? So me ' a id Duke, when he entered England

o f somewhere we must have, besides yonder knot ” wanderers, and our own hungry, naked kerns . ” fa ! By my y replied Keating, every

l - d budding b ossom on the Rose bush was nippe ,

- as by a north east wind . When Duke Richard

’ sowed his hopes there, like the drag on s teeth

’ o f so ma n Dan Cadmus, they turned into y armed ” t men o attack him .

Sooth, good Prior, said the Earl, with a

al sharp laugh , we sh l speed well thereby — would you a re acting o f the gleeful mime at Stowe ? ”

f i ti Where ore, sa d Kea ng, fix your thoughts on England ? The dark sea rolls be

' us the i tween , and even g a n ts o f old broke their

’ causeway, which in the north tis said they

rm built, ere it laid its long a on the English 30 PERKIN WARBECK .

o f as f as shore . The name Ireland reads air

so ns a re England ; its , as brave and politic, able to f : de end, to rule themselves blot England f from the world , and Ireland stands ree and

suflicin f. glorious, g to hersel This springal ,

’ e valorous though he be, can never ups t Tudor s throne in London ; but he can do more fo r us

of by his very impotence . He is the true Lord

Ireland : we are liegemen in mainta ining his

a l right. Pl nt his banner, ral y round it all men who wish well to their country ; drive out the — good man Poynings ; crush the Butlers aye, down with them ; and when Richard is crowned

i of K ng Erin, and the Geraldines rule under l him , our native land wil stand singly, nor want

’ fo r —o r r ! fo r England a crutch , by Lady a

a to spe r enter her heart, while she leaneth on it ; so the wars o f York and Lancaster may free f us rom the proud , imperious English ; and the f Irish , like the Scotch , have a king and a state o their own .

’ f fo r Desmond s eyes lashed a moment, as Keating thus pres ented before them the picture he mo st desired to behold ; but they grew cold

32 wa a e PERKIN ncx. o f Waterford : it had been summo ned to ao

u had knowledge D ke Richard as its lord, and refused : Keating was very averse to spending

f f . t z time be ore a ortified town On, on, boue en a v ’ a nt . He reminded Lord Barry o f his device , and strove to awaken ambition in him. The Prior o f Kilmainham had spent all his life in f o f Dublin, a chie member the government,

d factio ns m a se itious, but influential an : the capital to him was all that was worth having;

s o f n while, to these lord Mu ster, the smallest i victory over their part cular rivals, or the gain f ing a chie city in a district, which was their world , appeared more glorious than entering

f t if London itsel Vic oriously, meanwhile Water f o r o f o f I ord , any one the many towns reland, held out against them .

f o f 1497 o f On the fi teenth July, , the Duke

o f York , the Earl Desmond , and the other

f o f many chie many names, some Geraldines,

’ l O Briens all a lied to, or subject to them, as the ,

Ma ca rth s the Roches, the y , the Barrys, and o You hall w thers, assembled at g , a to n subject

f o to the Earl o Desmond, and situated ab ut 33 ' PE RKIN WARBECK .

- f mid way between Cork and Water ord, at the mouth o f the river Blackwater .

On the twenty- second o f July the army was

m o f V V a ter in move ent, and entered the county

f o f e ford ; the chie s, at the head their respectiv

f o f . n ollowers, proceeded to the shrine St Decla

fo r o f at Ardmore, to make their vows the success their expedition . The church at Ardmore, the

a nd - round tower, the shrine, healing rock, were all p bjec ts o f peculiar sanctity . The Countess o f e m f D s ond, and her young son , and the air

s o f ss n Duches York, accompanied this proce io f m Yo u h l f a l . n o f s ro g A ter the celebratio ma s, the illustrious throng congregated On t he rocky

‘ is uilt eminence, on which the mysterious tower b

v o l c s o erl oking the ittle bay, where the alm water broke gently on the pebbly beach . It was a bea u teo us s ummer day ; the noon- day heat was tem

s ea the pered by the breeze, and relieved by

l a h o f regu ar pl s the billows, as they spent

e es o n o A of thems lv the sh re . kind silence

u h h s c silence as t ere can be among a multitude, such a silence as is preserved when the winds sing among the pines—possessed the crowd

C 5 34 PERKIN WARBECK .

e they stood in security, in p ace, surrounded by such objec ts as excited piety and awe ; and yet

o f if the hopes the warrior, and, such a word

’ ma f y be used, a Warrior s ears, possessed them ; it was such a pause as the mountain - goat makes ere he commits himself to the precipice . A mo ment afterwards all was in motion ; to the sound o f warlike instruments the troops wound up the m Ard ore mountains, looking down on the little

fleet, that stemmed its slow way towards the har . bour o f Waterford . The ladies were left alone with few attendants. The young Duchess gazed

o f on that band departing warriors, whose sole standard was the spotless rose ; they were soon lost in the foldings o f the hills ; again they emerged ; her straining eye caught them . That little speck u pon the mountain - side conta ined

o f f the sole hope and joy her li e, exposed to danger fo r the sake o f little good ; fo r Katha

o f rine, accustomed to the sight armies, and to

o f f the companionship chie s and rulers, detected at once the small chance there was, that these men could bring to terms a strongly fortified city ; but resignation supplied the place o f hope ; 35 PERKIN WARBECK . she believed that Richard would be spared ; and ,

s e but fo r his own ake, she car d little Whether a remote home in Ireland, or a palace in England

n received them . She looked agai on the moun

tain path ; no smallest moving object g ave sign o f life ; t he sun - light slept upon the heathy

uplands ; the grey rocks stood in shadowy gran

deur ; Katharine sighed and turned again to the ff f chapel , to o er still more ervent prayers, that on u this beauteo s earth, beneath this bright genial

f : heaven, she might not be le t desolate what f ever else her ortune, that Richard might be

hers .

The army which the Earl o f Desmond led

e f o f against Wat r ord, did not consist more than

w s t o thou and men . With these he invested the

o f western division the city . Richard , with his

peculiar troop, took his position at the extremity

’ o f h l o u t is ine, nearest Passage, close t L mbard s

o f Marsh , there to protect the disembarkment f troops rom the fleet. f Neither party ailed in zeal or ac tivity . The

first day s were actively employed in erecting

works and bringing the canno n to play upon 36 PERKIN wa nna cx :

‘ w . r of the to n On the third, in the ve y midst

was their labours, while the Earl in his litter

carried close under the walls among the pioneers,

and Lord Barry in his eagerness seized a spade

and o f began to work, signals attack were made fro f m the town , and the troops poured out rom the nearest gate . The advanced guard were t oo few to contend with them ; they were driven

back on the entrenchments . The citizens were full o f furvand indignation ; they rushed fo r

a f i w rd with loud cries, and created a con us on, which Desmond and Lord Barry were not slow

to encounter they brought a few regular troops

to stand the a ssault ; a well pointed cannon from

the town swept the thin lines ; they fell back ;

a yell o f victory was raised by the men o f

Waterford ; it reached the out- post o f Duke

: w o f Richard he, ith a score men , five among f them, with himsel , being cavaliers armed at all

o mts o f p , were viewing a portion the walls that seemed most open to assa ult ; the roar o f

(munc h and the clash o f arms called him to

more perilous occupation ; he galloped towards

o f l il f the scene action ; and, whi e st l the altering 37 PERKIN WARBECK .

' o f to fl a men Desmond were ashamed y, yet d red not stand, he, with his little troop, attacked the enemy on their flank . The white steed, the d f no ding plume, the flashing sword o York were foremost in the fray ; Neville and Planta genet were close behind ; these knights in their iron armour seemed to the half- disciplined Irish like i l s ff nvu nerable statues, machine to o end, impreg nable to offence ; twenty such might have turned the fortunes o f a more desperate day : their a n

o f tagonists fell back. The knight Kerry led on at h f o f t is moment a rein orcement Geraldines, and a cannon , which hitherto had been rebel to the

’ n ca noneer s art, opened its fiery mouth with

u fo r such loud injurio s speech, that many moments the dread line it traced remained

. o f a blank Richard saw the post advantage , and endeavoured to throw himself between the enemy and the city : he did not succeed ;

o ff but, on the contrary, was nearly cut him

f by i f o f sel a re n orcement townsmen , sent to secure the retreat o f their fellows . Those who saw him fight that day spoke o f him as a wonder : the heart that had animated him 8 8 PERKIN wa a a a cx .

. in Andalusia was awake ; as there he smote to death the turbaned Moor ; so now he dealt

r f a o f mortal blows on all a ound , e rless the press in c g throng and still en reasing numbers . While thus hurried away by martial enthusiasm , the

o f i sound a d stant trumpet caught his ear, and the echo o f fire arms followed ; it came from the

— : east his own post was attacked now, when he

to wished retreat, he first discerned how alone and how surrounded he was ; yet, looking on his f fo r i oes he saw, but the r numbers, how des

‘ ica ble p they were ; to a knight, what was this throng o f half- armed burghers and naked

s kern , who pell mell aimed at him, every blow ? ineffectual But again the loud bellow o f distant

n —a ca non called him , and he turned to retreat cloud o f missiles rattled against him ; his shield was struck through ; the bullets rebounded from

s o f r f his ca e i on , while his sword elled an enemy at every stroke and now, breaking through the i f oppos ng rank on the other side, his riends join — ’ ed him the citize ns recoiled . Old Reginald s ” tower, they averred , would have bled sooner than these Sir Tristans—they were charmed

' 40 PERKIN WARBECK .

With the morrow came a new task . Their little fleet had made its way up Waterford , Harbour into the river Suir ; and the troops destined to join his were partly disembarkedu i To protect the land ng, he and Neville rode across the marsh to the strand . On their return a fresh sight presented itself the ponds o f

Kilbarry were filled, the besieged having raised a mound o f earth t o stop the course o f the river which flows from Kilbarry into the Suir ; and the

a ro d back to their camp was completely cut o ff . There was no mode o f getting round save by the road to Tramore ; yet to the active mind o f Richard, it seemed that even this disaster

r im might be turned into a benefit. He e ba rked the troops ; he himself went o n board the prin c ipa l vessel ; he called to secret council the captains - the conclusion was not immediately

o f wa s divulged, but some adventure peril assuredly planned among them .

The long summer day went slowly down ; the hum o f men from Waterford reached the ships ; the quay was thronged with soldiers ; several vessels were anchored in the advance, I 4 ] PE RK N WARBECK .

and manned with troops ; but the English fleet,

h a f their anc ors c st, their sails urled, seemed f l peace u ly inclined . As night came on , the quay became a desert ; the ships were worked back to their former stations . It grew darker ; the city, with its old rough tower and spires, was mirrored indistinctly in the twilight tide ; the walls grew dim and gigantic ; the sound o f

fire- arms ceased ; the las t roll o f the drum died

f o f . away ; the city slept, earless its invaders

to . At this moment, the ebbing tide began flow

Assisted by the rising waters, Richard and Neville ran a small boat under the cover of the

o f opposite bank the river, to observe what f i de ences the quay might possess . The low t de

' ' at that hour was its best defen ce z a watch - tower or two with their centinels, completed the guard o f o f w f a part the to n , whose de ence on that side was neglected by midnight also the tide would

fo r have risen , but it was necessary to wait the following night ; fo r first he must communicate with Desmond , that a night attack in the oppo site direction might effectually leave the water i t s ide deserted . The vessels meanwh le drop 42 PE RKIN WARBECK .

w o ut o f do n below Little Island, at once to get

’ o f shot Reginald s tower, which commands the f harbour, and to remove rom the citizens any apprehensions they might entertai n o f attack .

The winding o f the river concealed them en tirely from the town . u The next day, a burning A gust day, de clined into a dewy night ; imperceptibly during

a the dark the vessels were ne rer the city ; and, while the warders o f the city fancied that the troops on board the fleet were finding a circuit

’ a ous path over land to Desmond s c mp , the sta rs o f night twinkled through the shrouds upon decks crowded with men , arming them selves ia busy silence . Suddenly it was re ported to Richard that a stranger caravel was among them ; she was the only vessel with set

a s ils, and these were enlarged by night, till as she neared , she seemed a giant, a living thing stalking between heaven and the element beneath . A sudden shiver convulsed the Prince ; to his eye it was the likeness o f that vessel which long ere this

d a f had traverse , he hoped in s ety, the western

m its a sea, stem ing mount inous waves towards 43 PE RK I N WARBECK .

the beauteous Indian Isles . Had it been wrecked , and this the spectre ? It was the illusion o f a

moment ; but it was necessary to as certa in the f nature and intentions o the stranger, who was

’ now close among them . York s vessel , at his

l o f u n command, got a ongside her ; he leapt po dim the deck, and saw at once him whom the .

f Herma n night had concealed be ore, de Faro upon the deck . f l A thousand emotions, wonder, ear, de ight,

’ rushed into the youth s heart ; while the Mari

- ner, yet more weather beaten, thin to emacia

n me tion, but still erect, still breathi g the sa

S o f f l pirit ortitude and kind iness, grasped his

f . hand, and blessed the Virgin o r the meeting

o f l The questions, the anxiety Richard , cou d not be uttered in this hour o f action ; he onl y

us said, You will join , and we will be doubly strong ; o r must you remain to guard your daughter ? ” I come from her—she is not with me

o f more this anon .

Rapidly he asked and obtained information o f the meditated attack ; in part he disapproved, 44 WA nBE K PERKIN C .

i s enterpr zes, uggested alterations . Now every é b at was lowered with silent expedition , each

fi'ei ht o f was received its g troops, and rowed

' wt skifl n i h the tide up the Suir . One contai ed

' an York and the Moor. The Prince, in the tici a tio n o f p the hazardous contest, looked seri

’ ous ; while every fea ture o f De Faro s face was

his a l his n bright, animated , gl d smi e, flashi g eyes

- a 11 spoke the exhilaration o f one engaged in his elected pleasure. Richard had never seen

t u f : him h s be ore usually he appeared kind, al most deferenti al ; yet, except when he talked o f o f the sea, heavy and silent, and speaking that in a subdued tone . He now stood the

f- s picture o f a veteran hero, sel posses ed and

o r calm, but f the joyousness that the very

’ f i o f his eel ng sword s weight, as his right k hand grasped the hilt, imparted to his warli e spirit.

o iz d o f Had an angel , on p e wings heavenly f f g rain , hovered over the city o Water ord,

- gazing on its star pointing spires, the reflecting

o f i o waters the Suir, the tranquil h lls and wo ds 45 PERKIN WARBECK .

t hat gathered round the river, he would have believed such quiet inviolate, and blessed the sleep that hushed the miserable passion s o f hu

n man ity to repose . Ano there came the splash

’ o f o f waters, the shout men , the sentinels startled

lash o f u o f c , cry, . the sudden r sh the guard, the swords, the scream , the low groan , the pro

] o f tracted how , and the fierce bark the watch

n dog joining in . The celestial a gel has soared to heaven , scared ; and yet honour, magnani

o f who mity, devotion filled the hearts those thus turned to hell a seeming paradise . Led

r i f by Richard and De Fa o, wh le a party was le t

a fo r behind to ensure retreat, nother rushed w ward right through the to n , to throw open

a nd f the western gate, admit Desmond, be ore t he terrified citizens had exchanged their night

ca ps fo r helmets ; in vain : already the market

place was filled with soldiers ready fo r the

encounter ; guided by a native, they endear

vo ured to find a way through the bye - streets ; they lost themselves ; they got entangled in

narrow all ies ; the awakened citizens cas t upo n

i of their heads t les, blocks wood, all they could 46 PERKIN WARBECK .

la y hands upon to get back to the square was

their only sa lvation ; although the storm an d yell

that rose behind, assured them that Desmond

had commenced the attack . With diminished

numbers York regained the market- place ; here

he was furiously attacked ; the crowd still in

o f creased , until the knot assailants might have

da been crushed, it seemed, by mere numbers ; y, f bright day, with its golden clouds and swi t pacing

s un . o f , dawned u pon the scene In one those pauses which sometimes occur in the most chaotic

r roar, a trumpet was hea d, sounding as it seemed

’ Desmond s retreat from the walls. Richard feltthat d he was deserte , that all hope was over ; and to se

cure the retreat o f his men was a work o f sufficient f difficulty. Foot to oot the young hero and the

veteran mariner fought ; one by the quickness

- o f his blows, the other by his tower like strength , keeping back the enemy ; while retreating slowly,

f fo e their aces to the , they called on their men to make good their esca pe . They reached the — f quay they saw the wide river, their re uge ; their vessels near at hand, the boats hovering

f t o f close, their sa e y was in sight, and yet hope

PERKIN WARBECK .

i nsensible form of Richard with the power o f an

b e him t elephant ; cast in o the near waves, and

f : i him leapt in a ter rais ng with one hand, he

cut the waters with the other, and swam thus

towards his vessel, pursued by a rain o f missiles ;

’ o ne arrow glanced on Richard s unstrung hel

f in met, another fixed itsel the joint at the neck ; but De Faro was unhurt. He passed, swimming thus, the nearest vessels ; the sailors crowded to the sides, imploring him to enter : as if ’ f it had been schoolboy s sport he re used , till

o wn i he reached the Adalid, till his men ra sed f Richard, revived now, but eeble, to her worn

d - deck : an he, on board her well known planks, felt superior t o every sovereign in the world . CHAPTER IV.

are ell E in ! are ell all F w , r f w Wh o live to weep our fall !

mo o ns .

O N o f o f the height the tower Ardmore, the

o f White Rose young Richard kept her vigils,

sea and looked across the calm , and along the

f o f m n passes o the mountains Dru , in a xious

f o f expectation o the event the expedition . Sad fo réboding s oppressed her ; the sentiment that mastered every other, was that her lord should

s a require her presence, her a sist nce, while she

far had was . He promised to send a post each da f i y ; when these a led , her heart sank within her . The only change that occurred, was when she saw the Adalid proceed slowly in the calm

towards Waterford .

V OL . 1 1 1 . 50 PERKIN WARBECK .

On e sunny morn she from her watch - tower perceived several straggling groupes descending the mountains . She strained her eyes : no banners waved ; no martial music spoke o f vic tory . That was Secondary in her eyes ; it was fo r Richard ’ s safety that she was solicitous yet she

f fo r an in would not, did not ear ; there is stin ctive i sense in human nature wh ch , in time o f l f f a rk o f f doubt, sa lies orth rom the re uge, and brings back tidings o f peace or sorrow to the expecta nt on the perilous flood a pro phetic ' — i whic h when it i wbe the l sp rit , despa rs while

‘ J- r t the omen p oves not false . The Lady Ka theri ne watched anxiously but not in despair.

At length heavy foo ts teps ascended the to wer

a nswer t he n o f stairs and, to beati gs her heart,

Edd Plan tag enet a nd the Ma yor o f Cork

h lves presen ted t enme ; they eagerly asked, Is he not here P ” ha s n ot ? Nay, he fled she replied, while w fo r th e first time she gre pale .

’ ur as dO Wa ter Weigh o words mere air, sai ;

' f n but I o r we know nothi g, gentle dame, that

W a t b o ut in o f e i rd. must to Cork, to bar the en r His Highness left us for the fleet ; and the filling 51 PERK IN WARBECK. — up o f those cursed ponds o f Kilbarry ill luck ' — - his h 1 to them cut off return . Last nig t

' Sa int Patrick knows the deeds of . the last

' l—l wea r f l o f night y rom our ab ur the day be ore, w a W e were all too c relessly asleep, hen our camp

a i was assaulted . Earl M ur ce had ridden to

a us of Lismore to h sten his co in , the Knight the

r o f Valley . The e was some report an atta ck f “ upon the town rom th e ships . Havock was the

t u f cry tha ro sed the welkin rom east to west .

s um n ot The I know , save that we are runaways — ” the Si ege o f Waterford is raised.

’ What skiff is that interrupted the

' “ “ in o f . t he o t i Duchess Round p M nehead, first

° ro w a nd peeped the bowsprit, then the p ; last

f of e f a the complete orm a v ssel in ull s il, yet

w r scarcely touched by the ind , weathe ed the pro: ” . s f montory Ha te we, my riends, she conti nued ; the Duke may be on board ; at least ” we shall have intelligence .

’ f f O W a ter I know that cra t ull well, said ” her capta in is a c onverted Moorish pagan . ” i s f m t - ta The Wh te Rose wave rom her as p, r a e is c ied K therin ; oh , he there !

D 2 52 PERKIN WARBECK .

Holy angels exclaimed Edmund ; it is ” A a the dalid I will on bo rd on the instant . Already the Duchess was descending the l steep narrow stairs ; the vi lagers o f Ardmore, with many o f the soldiers who had fled from f Water ord, were on the shingles, watching the f f f caravel, now ull in sight, yet ear ul to ven ture too near the shelving shore . They are ” fo r bound Cork , cried a man . i Oh, not till I first speak to them, sa d

Katherine ; the day is fair ; the sea calm ; put

o ff . a boat Ah , my cousin Edmund, take me with thee . Plantagenet had already got a boat from its

’ O W a ter moorings . was beside the Princess to beseech vainly that she would be patient ; and f poor Astley, who had been le t in special

a attendance on her, waited ne r with blanched ch eeks . Accompanied by these dear or humble f i d riends, the White Rose was borne w th the spee

o f s . ten oars toward the Adalid On the deck, f hal reclining on a rude bed , very pale, yet with f f o . lively, wake ul eyes, lay the Prince England

In a moment Katherine was assisted on board . PERKIN WARBECK . 53

' There was n o death fo r Richard ; she was

f o f f f there, li e his li e ; so young, so beauti ul, a nd true ; the celestial goodness that beamed in her eyes, and dimpled her cherub countenance,

i o f a n a a o f was not l ke . that inh bit nt this sad

tha t s irits o f e planet ; except , p beauty and lov ever and anon do animate the frames o f the earth- born so that we behold in the aspects o f o ur fell ow- beings glan ces and smiles bright as

r m f those o f angels. De Fa o hi sel looked with

“ admiration on the bending form o f this lovely

c u one, till a costed by Edm nd, whose first m — question was, Don He an here where then is

b fo r My eloved Monina you would ask ,

a s id De Faro ; she, who to please her vagrant

. f l to ather, wou d have crossed the wild Atlantic visit the savag e Western Isles . Poor child, even at the threshold of this adventure we were nearly wrecked . She is now in England ; she — sent me here to tell o f rebellion against King

Henry ; to invite Duke Richard to his kingdom .

Thus they were occupied on the sunny deck ; the sea the was calm, keel almost stationary in 54 P wa nenc x E RKIN .

w r ‘ f r the ate ; they were bound o Cork ; Pla ntag genet and the Mayo r gathered eagerly from De

o f n Faro the history the combat. They lear ed that it ha d been expected that Desmond woul d

f e have assaulted rom land, while York invad d the city from the river ; but the fello w sent with

’ h r had e Ric a d s missive b en taken, the city put on her guard. Nothing but the desire of the

e do w citiz ns to too much , and his o n desperat e velo ur ha d s , aved Richa rd ; they resolved at e to a nd him a nce receive destroy , and to s lly

’ unawares o n the Earl s ca mp : they hoped to

make prisoners o f all the chiefs. They failed

the i f in this, but succeeded in raising s ege o

their city .

s d- z s u u Toward evening a lan bree e pr ng p,

’ wo o f i and t others York s vessels hove in s ght,

and passed them quickly ; fo r the Adal id was

a nd s . in much disa bled , made low way Soon

and pursuit appeared a ship two corvettes, which

’ O W a ter reco gnized as belonging to Wa ter

n fo rd . The corvettes proceeded o their way ;

ut o ut a l b the larger vessel spied the Ad id, and,

in of the being now advance her, hove to, with

56 PE RKI N WARBECK .

' ’ 0 W s began to sink on the horizon, ater a ked with some eagerness whither they were bound . ” To f r l . sa ety, De Fa o replied, laconical y “ An idle answer, said Edmund ; we must judge where our safety lies ? ” I have ever foun d best safety on the wide ” i ocean sea, cried the mariner, look ng round proudly on his beloved element . Your safeties

’ a re i and your Lord s, , methinks, Engl sh born ; if n i this wi d hold, on the th rd morning we shall see the coast o f Cornwall .

was Co m The mayor aghast, exclaiming wall England we are betrayed ? ” De Faro looked on him with contempt I ” a I do not comm nd here, he continued ; obey the Prince o f England ; let him decide . Shall we engage superior force ; be boarded ; taken by

: he d the enemy or land, wrecke , perchance, upon this savag e coast ; alive with vengeful — kerns defeated men among a victorious angry people ? Or g o where we are call ed by your

’ ’ o f leader s cause, where thousands men are up

fo in arms to receive you like brothers, to fight r 57 PERKIN WARBECK .

you , with you ; where England , the long de

to her sired kingdom, makes you welcome green , sunny shores ? Ask ye your Prince this ques l w ” tion let his word he a .

This statement, upheld by York, brought c onviction to the mi nds o f Plantagenet and

’ O W a ter The latter was aware o f the risk he '

f o f ran rom the awakened vengeance Henry, to

f d the . pursue his having ostere rebellion in city ,

’ o f which he was magistrate ; and a moment s . reflection showed him that there was no se

a fo r f m . c rity him, except in flight ro Ireland

in its Meanwhile the wind, increasing strength,

i as the f i and r ght tern , carried them over oam ng waters . The early dawn showed them fa r at sea : they had outrun or baffled their pursuers ; and, though , now and then , with anxious thought, t ft h o n hey reflected on the comrades le be ind, the poor equipage and diminished numbers with which they were about to land in England , still there was something so miracul ous in their

f ’ escape, so un oreseen in the destiny tha t c ut .

o ff them , and carried them , a remnant merely o f f m the war, away ro its dangers, that they fielt

D 5 58 PERKIN wa n t on ;

f a u Providence and i n em: q r ling , so res g ed th selves ; greedily drinking in the while the high ly coloured picture De Faro painted o f the Yorkis t

’ i army which awaited them in Co rnwall.

— ! Again upon the sea again impelled by — winds and waves to new scenes na

’ t it awas ha tost here and there by For une, Ric rd s fate to see one frustrated expectation give place

f . to another, which, in its turn , aded and died

s s i o f ec t v This constant ucces on proj ts . kep ali e

within him that sanguine spirit whic h never

could be vanquished . Eagerly he passed from

on e e o e c id a to an th r, and almost wel omed

i i itmeer the last d saster, wh ch appeared but to p

the f r way to uture success. Du ing this voyage,

d o f weak as his wounds had made him, he talke

n w — he E gland as his o n the dearer, because

i rc ms must spend his blood to wi n it . Ci u tances

' had an exact ly contrary efiec t upon Katherine .

The continual cha nge o f schemes convinced her

o f f f all . f if the utility o She elt that, the first

’ ke o f r appearance of the D u Yo k , acknowledged

a nd and upheld by. various sovereigns dear high . 59 PER K I N .WARBECK

e had a of bhi n relativ s, not animated the p rty

r i s f the t te Ro e in his avour, it was not now,

' a fter many defeats and humi liat ions on his

‘ i side, a nd a fter triumphs and . arrogant as

' ' i . of sumptious on that his enemy, that bril " T lia nt success could be expect ed . his convie tion must soon become general among the York ists R wo uld l ear n , ichard the sad lesson, but

~ she was there t o deprive it o f its - st ing ; to

v him s Ka therin e pro e to , that tranquillity and f if were o more worth than struggles, even they

successfii l fo r . proved , vain power

tr n t o f It was s a g e tha a girl royal birth , bred

' t o a n a lac e a ccusto med - o v . p y to a queen like s e

’ reig n ty over her father s numerous vassa ls in l the High ands, should aim at restricting the

to bitions York mere privacy ; while Monina, the humble daughter o f a Moorish mariner;

’ l f re uta tio n ~a ll wou d have elt honour, p , that

a if f is dear to man , at st ke, her riend had dreamed o f renouncing his claims to the English i w crown . H s cause as her life ; his royalty the

n o f and main spri g all her actions thoughts. She had sacrificed love to it —she taught her 60 PERKIN WARBECK . woman ’ s soul to rejoice in his marriage with

s another, because his union with a princes was

o f . pledge to the world his truth Perhaps,

had t he time ever co me when he renounced h d f his struggl es, she a elt with a pang that his lowly fortunes might not incongruously be

f ha d in the shared by her, and sel mingled

f u religion o her heart, which was virtuo s de

o tio n v to him ; but as it was, the idea never

' 0 f. . presented itsel He must win , or die Did he

a fr con win , her h ppiness would result om the

t em la tio n o f p his glory ; were he to die, the

’ young hero s grave would not be watered by her

tears : she believed that in that hour her life

woul d cease . The Lady Katherine saw a vain mask in all

the common - place pomp of palaces ; she per f ceived that power ailed most, when its end

was good ; she saw that in accomplishing its

o f t purpose in the cottage, or in halls sta e, ff felicity resulted from the a ections only . It in ff was but being an actor di erent scenes, to

n a a a r be . a pote t te or pe sant ; the outwa d garb

is not the livery o f the mind : the refinement o f f taste, which enables us to gather pleasure rom ' 6 1 PERKIN WARBECK . simple objects ; the warmth o f heart which n e f ff cess ita tes the exercise o our a ections, but which is content when they are satisfied ; these, to her

ut mind, were the only, b they were the complete ingredients o f happiness ; and it was rarer to f m find, and more di ficult to retain them, a ong f l - t a se hear ed, ambitious courtiers, and the lux

o f - ea ury palaces, than among simple minded p f santry, and a plain natural style o living . There was some romance in this idea ; Katherine felt f that there was, and subdued hersel not to lay too much store by any change or guise o f out

- f f ward circumstance . She taught hersel to eel

w the o f and kno , that in tumult camps and war,

o f f in the anxieties her present vagrant li e, on the throne which she might possess, or in the prison she might share ; by devoting herself to the

o f happiness him to whom she was united , whose

s d a f heroi m , goo ness and love merited all her fec tio n f n , she was per orming the part assig ed to

i o f her on earth, and secur ng a portion happi

fa r o f ness, beyond the common lot those whose colder harder natures require something beyond

t sympathy to constitu e their misnamed felicity . CHAPTER V.

From I relan d thus comes Yo rk to cl aim his right .

If I am not as hame o f m s ol iers I a m a s ous e d y d , d gurnet .

s n s x s r s s a n.

N o f ~ d n O the deck the sea worn A alid, watchi g

i o n the renovated strength, and attend ng the

o f f still remaining weakness her lord, the so t hea rt o f the Princess possessed to fulness all its

i e desires ; wh le Monina, among the wild rud

r e f z Co nish rebels, exerted h rsel , to inspire eal fo r c m o f his cause, and to in rease the nu ber his

e li partisans, winning th m by her thril ng elo

i en thu i quence, rul ng them by her beauty and s

' had f the o ul a tio n rea d asm. She ound whole p p y.

n r to second him ; but fitti g leade s, noble and

. She influential men, were absoluw wanting

64 PERKIN WARBECK .

ne to a had but o object, be the gu rdian , sup

f o f in porter, de ender York, now wandered thought fa r back through many years to their

Spanish home ; to his tenderness for the sweet child of Madeline ; to the developement o f the beauty and virtues o f the lovely Moor . Thrown i apart by their several dest nies, he had scarcely

i o f seen her s nce then ; and now, in place the

h - n dark, laug ing eyed girl, he beheld a woma , bright with intelligence and sensibility ; whose f ff brow wore somewha t the sad trace o su ering,

check was l in whose a litt e sunk, but whose eyes there was a soul , in whose smile an enchantment f not to be resisted . She was all li e, vivacity,

f : and yet so tness all passion, yet yielding and docile . Her purpose was steady, stubborn ; but

o f i the mode its atta nment, her conduct, she eas l i vpermitted to be guided . Edmund scarcely recognized her, but she instantly knew him ; her i elder brother, her kind but serious guard an , whom she had loved with awe, as the wisest and

o f best men . Now he bore a dearer name, as

f f o f the un ailing riend him she loved. To both their hearts this meeting was an unexpectedjoy . 65 PERKIN WARBECK .

t h of Monina had thought oo muc Richard, to ‘ f f remember his cousin . He had hal orgotten

u his own sensations ; or, at least, was q ite

unprepared fo r the power and effect of her

surpassing beauty .

f o f ff Mo A ter the first overflowing a ection ,

i f e nina eagerly deta led the orc s raised, and

l u o f r dwe t on the spirit and co rage the insu gents . f ” “ They are poor ellows, she said, but true ;

r to bu ning with zeal to right themselves, and

avenge their losses at Blackheath ; They are

gathered together by thousands . They want

‘ merely leaders, discipline, arms, money, ammu n ition,and a few regul ar troops to show them ” : o f the way these, course, you bring . l ! ” A as no, said Edmund, we bring merely ” ourselves . “ n f n Could Ireland, the , urnish o warlike . ? ” stores continued the zealous girl . But this ca n ' be f remedied , doubtless . Yoursel , your leader, Lord Desmond , Lord Barry, the gal — lant Neville ; tell me who else who from Bur — ” gundy what Irish, what Scottish knights ?

The last word was said with difficul ty : it 66 ma ma wa nnncx :

“ t l - n n n o f all Edmund, aghas , rep ied, I deed l o e ;

f hi Hzis nes Water ord the Adalid. High s and T myself are the sole English kn ights. he

' good old Mayo r o f Cork must rep resent all

I e i to o —o ur reland, gentl and s mple, y ur eyes fa D n : ten a d ir uchess, Scotla d her at d nts wil fol due m these ' a but e low in ti e, but re n edy

” a id o e P a et seek, not bring , c ntinu d l ntag en gravely . ” no t be n in a. Do a gry, replied Mon There

e and in is more bittern ss sorrow my laugh,

’ e w a . ear than in, m thinks, a idow s te rs My d

‘ f d u l l . rien , God send we are not tter y ost

Yet his Highness and yourself may Wor k won -n

t he ders. Only report truly our state , that

D uke be not to o dissatisfied with o ur appear a him o nce. Tell L rd Audley headed a worse

r z : l him r n o gani ed troop te l that Master He o ,

has s — the mercer , no ilken soul that Master

ai Skelton , the taylor, disd ns a smaller needle ” t - han a clot h yard shaft. E rea ms K . G? . WARBEC

“ And is it to head men like these we have ” been drawn from our Irish friends ? cried

“ ! a is Edmund ; better return. Alas our p th

besieged ; the very sea is subject to our enemy; in the wide world the King o f England has n o ” refuge . ” he IS n o f nd S i That Ki g Engla , a d Monina,

“ “ of f The let not him, let none us orget. very

ai e is f him on i R n power ul let , his nat ve shores,

‘ as . if r e Ki d sume it Surely, thei li ge ng stan

of is f efa his s d singly in the land h or thers, at acre

' r nam e thousan ds will congrega te . He has da ed

too he had r : little, when powe at the worst,

ven let a a nd m . e now, him d re all , triu ph

irn etu o us had ff . Her bold, p lang uage its e ect

: on Edmund it echoed his own mas ter passion,

h d is a ! w ich ever crie aloud, He King and,

n v lf a s o ce gi e himse that sacred n me, submi sion ” and alle ia n g oe from his subjects must fello w .

e u o u his Buoy d p by these th ghts, report on

board the Adalid was fr ee from those humi liatin s i e if he ha d g detail , wh ch , ven wished , he would have found n o voice to communica te to his royal co usin . 68 PERKIN WARBECK .

’ f Mo n ina s task o f imparting to her riends the destitute condition in which their sovereign ar rived; was even easier, He is come among tall ” who men , said the pompous Heron , can

. n uphold him fo r the better king, even to the sati o f his doublet.

f r n o f And fight o him, even to the rendi g ” o wh . our , cried Skelton

’ die fo r him And , as he must too, when all s

” ’ Trer ife. r is done, said e A soldie s death

’ ” better than a dastard s life .

W e a l will h ve out our men in good y array, said Heron . Master Skelton, are the doublets

f o f - cut rom that piece sad coloured velvet,

s o f la t my wares, slashed with white, as I di rected ?

Slash me no doublets but with a Spanish ” rapier, squeaked Skelton, Have I not cast ? away the shears Yet, look you now, good lac k !

in I lie . Here my pouch be a sharp pair, to clip ’ — Master Walter o f Horneck s ears if by the help o f the sain ts we can lay him as flat on the !

field as his own grey suit was on my boa rd when PERKIN WARBECK . 69 a shaping ; by the same token that he never paid ” f r o it .

a In good hour, Sir Taylor, s id Monina

but the talk now is, how duly to receive how his Grace, induce him to accept your aid . ” ! i Tr r f Aye, by Saint Dunstan cr ed e ei e,

rufil ed m he has in France and Burgundy, y masters, and will look on you as clowns and base- born burghers but no man has more

to f . if give than his li e, and he waste that heartily, time was and time may be when vil

o f lains trod on the necks knights, as the ghost l o f Charles o f Burgundy could tel us. Courage

’ is the beginning a nd end o f a soldier s cate ” chism .

‘ were the f f Such chie s Monina ound desirous,

o f and in their own conceit capable, placing

’ ’ England s diadem on Duke Richard s head .

who f Heron, the bankrupt mercer, ancied him self the base - born offspring o f the late Earl o f

of Devonshire, and whose first deed arms would

no find him Heron more, but Sir John Courtn ey ; l Skelton, a luck ess Wight, whose shears ever 7 PE wa n ns c x 0 RKIN .

i fo r his ’ t Hornbeck pa d not misshapen sui ,) and t f r h lf f r who, here o e, believed imse born o

a r Trereife ; gre te things ; and , the younger pro

so of a f o ff digal n a rur l ranklin, who, cast and

i n d si herited , had served in the wars in Flanders, gaining in that country no small reverence fo r h the good Duc ess Margaret, and ready ther e f i ore to r ght her nephew ; besides, like a true

r t t o f and hero, he abho red his silken ime peace,

t o if n ot l s hoped gather sp oil , aurel , in the me dita ted insurrection .

The noble passengers disembarked from the

m t o s . V V elco e Adalid England, weet Kate l wel come to the count ry of which thou art ” if Queen , said York ; and even her reception

fo r s fo r s he be cold or rough , love her my ake, ” is my mother .

- l n o t A step mother I wi l call her, dear my ” m a Lord, replied the Princess, but the atern l embrace is strangely wanting o n these deserted

: f sands the narrow deck o yonder caravel were,

i : methinks, a k ndlier home may we go on and

if f i r n prosper ; but, we a l, my Lo d will pardo

CHAPTER VI .

’ Summo n . Tis but o in to s ea a nd lea in s hore g g p g a , cut ten o r wel e h o usan un necessa hro a s fire t v t d ry t t , se en o r ei h o ns a e h alf a o zen ci es et in o v g t t w , t k d ti , g t th e mar et - lace cro n hi m Richar the ou h and k p , w d F rt , the bus mes s i fini s shed .

ro a n .

Am I not king ?

a e ho u co ar Ma es hou slee es . Aw k , t w d j ty t p t ' Is not the King s na me forty thous an d na mes

SB A K SPEA RE .

THESE doughty leaders drew out their fo l lowers in a plain just without Bodmin. There were about two hundred men decently clad

’ from the remnants o f the mercer s wares, tole rably well armed and disciplined by Trereife ; this troop obtained the distinction of being n x 73 PERKI N wa un c .

’ t selected as Ki ng Richard s body guard . Skel on

e e n was th ir captain, a rar comma der, whose real merit was that he felt happiest when stuck close as a burr to Trereife ; fo r at hea rt he was

r a an errant coward , though a loud b agg rt,

e of n s i and talk d slayi g his thou ands, wh le the very wounding of his do ublet had made him

Heron was brave in his way ; a true Cornish ma n l t l n i , he cou d wres e and cast his a tagon st

s o f io he l t t with the treng th a l n ; oved be er,

t o his it is true, trust to arm than to his sword ,

i o f his Trereife wh ch , in spite strength , always made fly from his hand in their fencin g lessons not the less did he co nsider himself a gall a nt

had cut n a o f r knight, and up ma y a y rd c imson

s fb r i c ramoisy to make a rich uit h mself. He

’ wore Mo n ina sglove in his cap and large yellow roses at his knees ; he cal led himself genera l iss imo a f , and m rshalled under him ull three

a in t had thous nd men , who ruth

n ever s et a s quadro n i n the field N o r fil e dwis ion of a battle knew Mqre than a s pins ter ; v1

V O L . III . ' 74 P wa nns cx . ERKIN ,

w u n t lmt they ere st rdy disconte ted spiri s, who

f . valued li e at its worth , which was even nothing to them , . who had laboured with all their hearts , w f f t ill labour as o no avail, and who then le t the mine and the fu rrow to carry their lo ud com

’ — plaints to the foot o f Henry s throne they were better pleased with the prospect o f overthrow ing it. e Now, my mast rs, make yourselves heard , H ff l cried eron , as he shu led down a ittle emi nence - e e on a short l gg d Welch pony, the only

f a f steed he ound he could back in s ety . His

- h Grace is within ear s ot, so you be loud. Long life to King Richard l—down with the taxes

Saint Michael and Cornwall fo r ever

'

The din was prolonged , ended , began , went

’ the s ummit o f on , as the Prince arrived at the — hill with his little train Fair Katherine was

’ . O W a ter at his side Plantagenet, , De Faro, with some dozen soldiers who fled from Water ford ; sure never invader came so ill equipped.

- On the hill top the illustrious wanderers pa used .

Richard has tily scanned the rough - suited multi — ” tude then, turning to Plantagenet, Cousin, rna x m wa a nnéx . 75

a Yo u insur en t . arm he s id, told me that the g y

i would be drawn out fo r my view ; is it not

htrang e that yonder rabble should hideit from

fa r see n o mar us As as my eye can reach , I re tial discipline, no banners, no lordly c st fie on

' ‘ those drums ! they have no touch o f military ‘ of concord . What makes our army so slack ? ” duty, Cousin

f o f d n b Though no ault his, E mu d lushed

v e—the o f deeply in ery sham approach Heron ,

Trereife f Skelton , , and three or our other princi

al o ff his . ee p rebels, cut reply It had b n agreed

- f o f eloi uence that Skelton , who had a gi t l , should

speak, and many words he used to welcome his liege We will have every man with a Red

Rose in his cap, in a drag chain , please your

' Grace, and give a sound lesson to the saucy

o f wi burghers Exeter tha ll . Not a knight shall

’ o f u i live in the land, but yo r Majesty s dubb ng .

“ W e u ’ have but to put to ro t King Henry s army,

f Ico n for a to hang the alse traitor, and to set

the m fire to London and Parlia ent. Such ff h r nobles as please to do t ei silken cloaks, and

’ " ac kets ma ‘ don miners j , y work, the rest shall E 2 76 PERKIN WARBECK,

' . r o e the da hang Their mere wa dr b s, bless y !

nd a o f will fi us and your Gr ce in cloth gold, m e broidery, and other rich garniture to the end ” o f r l o u ives. ” u t We thank yo r zeal, my worthy mas er, “ i if o said R chard, courteously, our g od troops do h f s al your saying, King Henry mu t look ” to it . Are thos e men to be worse than their ? ” word cried Skelton . There is not one among us but has the arms of ten . We are o f

o f u o a race giants, please yo r Majesty, and c uld h knock the walls of Exeter down wit our fists.

l t s P ease you to en er Bodmin , whose very tones will cry fo r King Richard louder than King ’ — - i Ha l s cannon to morrow, God w lling,we are ” fo r the wars . — The royal party passed o u the dark ferocity or sturdy obstinacy painted on the faces o f the ill - armed rout, struck Richard as he pas sed he became meditative, while Edmund, shamed u and angry, his cheeks b rning, his eyes on the

d l e d n i c groun , ist ned in in ig ant s len e to Master

S t f s him l kel on, who a tened on with such ta k, PERKIN WARBECK . 77

i o f in that whether a sold er spoke kill g doublets, or

a tailor prattled of fashioning a field o f slaugh

ter, was a riddle ill to be devised . At leng th they

passed the gates o f Bodmin ; and here was a

louder cry o f welcome from the shrill voices o f

who u h f women, held p their thin ands and hal

a fo r c st rved children, crying vengean e on Tudor,

blessing the sweet faces o f Richard and his lovely f ’ h wi e . York s eyes flashed again with t eir wonted

fires ; his creative spirit had foun d materials

r here to work some project, all poo and rude

as they might seem .

- They entered the town hall ; when, by some

l o f sudden revu sion in the tide the crowd, every

f a th e d Cornishman ell b ck, closed doors, an f le t the wanderers alone. Something was for gotten surely ; fo r Heron had paced po nipo usly

t on up to Richard, when suddenly he urned his ” A ! all heel, crying, word , my masters and i were gone . The Lady Kather ne had marked ‘ their backing a nd hurrying with becoming grew vit but wa f y ; , when the door s airly shut, she

u no - f co ld restrain longer a heart elt laugh.

a i i h Rich rd jo ned in her m rth, w ile Plantagenet 78 PERKIN wa a nncx .

l strode through the hall angri y ; . muttering, ,

an army a rout o f shirtless beggars ; is this

’ ” England s reception fo r her King ? m ” It were fine mum ing, said Richard, under a hedg e with the green sward fo r a ” stage. “ ” s i ! r By our Lady, this pas es pat ence e “ iterated Edmund , where are the gentlemen o f England ? Where the sons o f those who fell fo r York ? Are we to Oppose these half- naked knaves to the chivalry o f Henry ?

o l is r It w u d seem that such expected, e i plied the Pr nce ; and , verily, Cousin , we w . I ra might do orse p y you , treat the honest rogues well ; better may come o f it ; keep we

and an m ? our secret, have we not ar y

! . My Lord cried Plantagenet, in wonder f ” i I Patience, dear riend , sa d York ; ha ve not been apprentice to adversity so m y long years, without becoming an adept in my

. I I h calling say, have an army ; bold , thoug — f fu . M poor ragged truly, but exceeding aith l e thinks it were more glorious to put Tudo r do wn

s n e him in with such mall mea s, than to me t _

80 w PE RK IN a a a s c x.

i f the t tlep Richard the Fourth . He announced ha intent ion o f immediately penetrating Eng l i m l and , and seiz ng on so e wal ed town or city, beibre Henry could be aware o f his having

No r ; landed. did he confine his energy to words

n o f his he exami ed the state _ men ; their arms and furnitu re ; he provided fo r their better dis ci lin e e p , and animat d his cousin to take an active part in marshalling them to order . He

e m o f w nt a ong them, learned the causes their

s s f t n i dis ati ac io , prom sed them bett er days, and

so raised a la d s irit in hem tha t t eir hea rt g p t , h s d overleaping both time and circumstance, pa i him the honour and the love he might have “ a l e led fer cl imed, had he a r ady them throug h

a ud e ic t o tile England , plant d his v ori us stand

Trereife ard on the Tower o f London. swore

was a r by his heard, he p oper youth ; the old soldier awoke to the remembrance of harvests f i o spo l he ha d gathered in the Netherlands, the stern encounters and the joys of suc cess ; he

e men and e gaz d on the rough Cornish , wond red how they should withstand the nobility of Eng

: e i e land but, wh n R chard glanced hop and 8 1 PE RKIN WARBECK .

he o e triumph fro m his bright eyes, when sp k

f l el of the omnipot ence o reso ved v our, when he

t firm m showed them how, by s anding erely, — they might redeem themselves while the poor

s s better still , gra ped their arm more fiercely,

' and trod the earth with free an d decided steps ; a thousand facilities seemed to be discover ed ; a h fo r wa r nn t ousand reso urces the displayed,

f f ? o r dr eamt o be ore. Were these mere words i d f at his vo ce did sol iers rise rom the clods, and victory obey the sound ?

’ a s l u Plant g enet, eeing his roya Co sin s resolve,

' s i trove to secon d t. With a pa rty of men he

u f it and assa lted a near ortress, carried , seized

s o f i a on a tore arms . This success looked l ke mighty victory ; Richard exalted it as such ; and the very fellows who handled awkwa rdly thei r f m booty, ancied the s elves heroes at the mere sight of it. On the third day they were to proceed to Exe

‘ ' ter it bein t r i e , g de e m ned that th y should besieg e ' this city . De Faro offered to sail to Cork to

E 5 82 re am! : wannncfi

“ invite the warlike Chiefta ins of Munster to come over with their power ; and at least himself to

a nd . r t bring back in the Adalid, Neville , the es ' w f . ho o the English exiles While Edmund, looked glad at the thoug ht, counselled that they should entrench themselves in this corner of h England , w ich was so entirely devoted to them , f d till these orces were ad ed to their number, and i ’ l till by disc pline, they shou d have made regular

’ r0 0 o f r t ps the rabble, by cou tesy y cleped an a rmy .

f do Where ore, Cousin , asked Richard , you desire others to share in o ur disasters ?

u . My Lord l cried Edmund, asto nded ” n I have but one wish , conti ued the Prince,

’ that you and my g ood O W a ter were even now in Ireland ; so that I might stand the brunt o f this war alone . You look amazed . Yet it were more amazing if L expect ed to do ba ttle against the Veres, the Howards, the Berkeleys,

o f the Courtneys, and ten thousand other names

h n o f hig renown , backed by their trai martial adherents,with ragged regiments like those we areabout to lead to the field - even though the kerns of Ireland made their number double, y a a xxn WARBEC K.

’ their noblen ess dign ity to our Victor s conquest.

Remember Stoke, my cousin (Edmund ; you

may well remember it. Remember my honoured

‘ kinsman the Earl o f Lincoln and my lamen ted

' l I n w f v e . o Ah, that did not peril your li e, then spared !

' if all i Yet, your Grace fight at , sa d

’ O W a ter h e , bluntly ; met inks we w re not the

fo r e f r f worse being b tter appointed o the ray .

v ' For victims, even those poor honest arlets a re ” too many .

' That one other life sho uld be wasted for ” i f y me, replied R chard erventl , is my saddest

. I f few s thought ear it must be so ; some live ,

to ‘ each as dear him that spends it, as is the life

a . I sa blood to our own he rts can y no more .

' I s I f I have a secret purpo e, con ess, in all do .

To accomplish it f a n d I do believe it to be —' I i f j ust one must str ke one blow ; nor ail .

Tudor is yet unprepared ; Exeter vacant o f

' s hea r ts fo r I garri on ; with stout the work, trust

. e to be ,able to seize that city Th re the wars o f l f ' York shal end . So ar I confide in your di s 8 PERKIN K 4 WARBEC .

l is the single property o f my own soul. Wil

s fa r f e s —so far you help me o , dear ri nd hazard

if — e n f R l e not to conqu r a ki gdom or ichard, but to redeem his honour ? ”

’ - - a i O wa The warm hearted, grey he ded Ir sh

w u a to ter, ith g shing eyes, swore to dhere him to the last.

r e 1 am» but o f Edmund epli d, a bit thee ; deal with me as with thyself ; a nd I kno w thou ” wilt be no niggard in giving me awa y to danger . I De Faro cried , am a sailor, and know better how to face death on the waves than vic ! tory on shore ; but, Santiago may our blessed

f sh on a t at if Lady hersel look y me the gre day, the Mariner o f the Wreck prove false to your ” Grace . ” o ur i Now then to work, cr ed York, to speak fair to my fa ithful f ellows and their

at s s l be winn ers braggart leaders. They lea t hal in our game ; fo r my ha n d is on my prize ; a spirit has whispered success to me ; my hope and its con summa tion are ma rried even a t their ” birth . q l 1 g . ,

Do st ho u hea r la ? t , dy

m e I f from the field I sha ll return once or To kis s hes e li s I will a a r in blo o t p , ppe d ; I an d my sword Will earn o ur chroni cle

in Th ere is h ope it yet . H S A K SPEA R E ,

RICHAR D was obliged to plead his causeyet t ed once again . Ka herine had watch all hismove

' ments ; she had eyed curiously the army he

' to a e mustered the field ; she t lk d to its leaders,

' l vaunted h er ffa and whi e they a bility, she was

e s diving with arne t mind, into the truth o f

No f r ~ f things . ea that it could be hid rom her ; love fo r R ichard was the bright light that dis

elled s f the e p every deceptive hadow rom sc ne. She saw the bare reality ; some three thousand 86 ERKIN P WARBECK .

r as s o w poo pe ant and mechanics, wh se s ords were more apt to cut themselves tha n strike the enemy, were arrayed against the whole power

e t of and maj s y Englan d. On the morrow they

f . i were to set orward That night, wh le at the

‘ casement o f e his rud chamber, Richard gazed

a i i upon the congregated st rs, try ng to dec pher in their intricate bright tracery the sure omen o f

a t r fo r the good he was told they ch rac e ed him ,

’ n ft Katheri e, a er a moment s hesitation , with a

an d s as quivering voice, hand that hook it

h his f pressed his, knelt on a cus ion at eet,

a saying, My sweet Richard , he r me ; hear — your faithful frien d your true wi fe ; call no t

f but my councils weak and eminine, weig h them ? ” sag ely ere you resolve . May I speak “ ” o f Lady my heart, arise, said Richard ; — speak my soft- voiced Katherin e my White — ’ Rose o f beauty fair flower, crowning York s

God v withered tree . Has not done all in gi ing

for . you to me ; yet we must part, love, awhile

Your soldier is fo r the wars, Kate, while you sit

o o fo r in your bower , weaving vict ri us garlands ” his return .

88 PE R K X N wa nns cx .

m an d I : but (if) no t the , submit carelessly turn

’ from mine. There is ah mlos no u ht to w e g in,

n in wha t yo n ow do . Death may blo t the

fii ture ad h page, so that we re neit er disgrace or priso n in its sa d lin es ; but wherefore risk to

die. ea l n While yet, d r ove, we are you g, life has a a thous nd charms, and one may be the m v iserable survi or, whose heart now bleeds at ” the mere surmise. ‘ She faltered ldssed f ; he her so t cheek, and

' r m h r h p e ed e to is hea rt . Why may we no t — ” why should we no t live ? continued Kath erine ; what is ther e in the name or state o f k n i g, that should so take captive our thoughts, that we can imagine no life but on a throne ?

f n Believe me, care ul nights and thor y days are the portion o f a mona rch : he is lifted to that awful height only to view more clea rly destr uc

f all tion beneath ; around, ear, hate, disloyalty,

him. a yelling at The cold, he rtless Tudor may

' fo r well desire the prize, he has nothing save the gilt crown to ennoble him ; nothin g but the

Si mple knees o f courtiers to present to him th e But — ! i Show o f love. ah could I put fire nto E K I 8 9 P R N WARBEC K.

— ’ my weak words my heart s zeal into my sup — plicato ry voice persuasion would attend u pon

ou f a n me, and y would eel th t to the you g, to u two nited as we are, our best kingdom is each

’ other s hearts ; our dearest power that which

r each , without let or envy, exercises ove the

f be f of ot her . Though our palace roo the ra ters

o ur the ff a lowly cot, state, dear a ection we bear

ob serv each other, our attendants the duty and

o f - I ance one to the other , so served by King

’ — f o f Edward s son you , by the right ul queen this fair island— were better waited on than Henry

a nd l t . E izabe h, by their less noble servitors I

. m s w al o t think that, with ords like these, I might drawyou fr om the uneasy throne to the do wny pa radise o f love ; and can I no t from this hard

t c struggle, while dea h yet g uards the pala e gate, and you wil l be pierced through and through ” n long ere you ca enter . ” u ou Th s, my gentle love, said Richard , y woul d have me renounce my birth and name ; you desire that we become the scorn of the

an d u t i h ~ world, wo ld be content tha so d s o no ured t a , the bragg ar impostor, and his d me 90 w PERKIN a na s cx .

h sh nn eful Katherine, should spend t eir a days in an ignominious sloth , misnamed tranquillity .

I am a king, lady, though no holy oil nor jewelled crown ha s touched this head ; and such ” I must prove myself. v Oh, doubt it not, she replied, it is pro ed by your own speech and your own nobleness ; my hea rt approves you such ; the whole earth ,

o f till its latest day, will avouch that the lord Katherine is no deceiver ; but my words avail ” not with y o u.

They do avail, my best, my angel girl , to

’ show me that the world s treasure is mere dross

: l z compared with thee one on y thing I pri e, not as thy equal , but as that without which , I were a

casket not even worthy to enca se this jewel o f the — earth my honour A word ta ught me by my i ’ victim brother, by my noble cousin L ncoln , by the generous Plantagenet ; I lea rnt its meaning — among a race o f hero es the Christian cavaliers

— ' the Moo rish chivalry o f Spain ; dear is it to

‘ ' l a me, since without it I wou d not p rtake your

o f —e u u and home love home, more glorio s

more blessed than the throne o f the universe. 9 1 PERKIN WARBECK .

’ fo r no w fi ht for It is that I g , Katherine ; not a i k ngdom which, as thy royal Cousin truly said,

If f , never will be mine . I all, that Cousin , the

un ificent re great, the m James, will be your f uge.

r Never, in te rupted the lady, Scotland I f shall never see again ; never show mysel , a

o f u queen and no queen, the mock their r de

u f speech ; never p t mysel into my dear, but

’ fa a s ambitious ther s h nd , to be bartered away

r to another than my Richa d ; rather with your,

’ o f u in u aunt B rgundy, rather Tudor s own co rt, f with your ai r sister. Holy angels ! of wha t do I speak ? how frightfully distinct has the

bereft world spread its elf out as my widowed abode ! ” f A gush o tears closed her speech . Think o f l brighter days, my ove, said Richard, they will be ours . You spoke erewhile o f the diffi culty o f giving true imag ery to the living thought ; thus, I know not how to shape an appropriate garb (to use a trope o f my friend

for Skelton) my inmost thoughts. I feel s ure

o f s. f succes I eel, that in giving up every pros 92 wa ns PERKIN nc x .

of i i - peet acqu r ng my birth right, I make the

io f nd ll due oblat n to ortune, a that she wi be — stow the rest that rest is to rescue my name from the foul slur Henry has cast on it ; to os ta blish myself as mysel f in the eyes o f England ; and then to solicit your patience in our cal a — mity your truth and love as the only sceptre and globe this hand will ever gras p . In my own

n Spain , among the ora ge and myrtle groves,

w - i o f a i the flo ery plains and sun lit h lls And lus a, wil l v f we li e unambitious, yet more ortunate ” than crowned emperors. With such words and promises he soothed

f n her ears ; to the word honour she had o reply. w Yet it as a mere word here ; in this case, a

r hfe barren wo d, on which her and happiness were to be wrecked. The Prince and Monina had met with undis

No l ff w guised delight. C i ord ould now dare traduce her ; she need not banish herself from countries where his name en riched the speech of f ite all men ; nor even rom that, which, inv d by her, he had come to conquer . He was glad to be able to extend his zeal ous fi‘aternal proteo 93 PERKIN WARBECK .

f e i tion over her, to e l that he m ght guard her f di th rough life, despite o f the ortune that

fo r her the ' vided them . He obtained Lady

’ o o o rtu Katherine s regard , which she s ught pp n ities to demonstrate, while they were avoided

u by Monina, who hono red and loved her as

’ d f d c c Richa rd s wife and earest rien , yet made i ca sion to absent herself from bo th . Noth ng beautiful coul d be so unlike as these two fair

r of on es . Kathe ine was the incarnate image i lovel ness, such as it might have been conceived

n f f by an a gelic nature ; noble, so t, equable rom her tender care not to displease others ; in spite o f o f f s f- sat isfied re the ills ate, gay, becau e sel and signed ; the bright side o f things was that which she contemplated : the bright and the tran — quil although the haza rds run by him sh e f loved, at this period in ormed her thoughts — i r . a w th terro Monin , no, there was no evil in

i if f- Mon na too much sel devotion , too passion

a h a too en h ate att chment to one dear idea, t usi as tic o f n an adoration one exalted bei g, could be f call ed aught but virtue. The ull or bs o f her dark

- flashin eyes; once g bright, were now more se ' wa a s a x 94 PB RK I N c .

v n ous, more melancholy ; her ery smile would

i i make you weep ; her v vac ty, all concentred in

f s f trifles et one object, orgot to spend it el on ; y , while the Princess wept that Richard should en

o fi uitless for c unter danger a mistaken aim ,

’ g l a dn ess sa t on Moh ina s brow : He goes to conquer ; God will give victory to the right : as a warrior he treads his native land ; as a mo nat ch he will rule over her. The very name o f

hea rs King he , will shame the lukewarm English ;

sun they will gather round the apparent , now f d that he shows himsel uncloude , leaving the f ' i alse light, Tudor, to flicker nto its native nothingness .

r Monina, said the P ince, you in the wide i world can bestow r chest largess on the beggar, ” King Richard . She looked on him in wonder.

: i I go to conquer or to die th s, lovely one, is no

’ new language fo r you ; a warrior s friend must hear such words unflinching . I die without a fear ” if . a you take one charge upon you Her be ming,

to expressive eyes replied him . He continued

The Adalid and safety are images most firmlv

united in my mind ; if I cannot find security on

96 wa a PERKI N na cx .

hea r is the of which you , pledge and assurance

i l r And you meanwh le wi l stay, and assu e

’ ” K a therine s destiny ? I My dear Lord , have a task to accomplish .

If I e r o f l ave her Grace, it is because all spi its good and power watch over her, and my weak

fo r support is needed elsewhere . I am bound ” London .

They parted thus . The temerity o f their de signs sometimes inspi red them with awe ; but

l e more usual y animat d them to loftier hopes .

V V lien the thickening shadows o f coming ” e f ev nts clouded their spirits, they took re uge in the sun - bright ima gina tions which painted to each the accomplishment o f their several

o fe h pes. Monina lt assured tha t the hour o f victory was at hand. Richard looked forward to a mortal struggle, to be crowned with suc cess : a few short weeks or briefer days would

: w close the long account his ord redeemed , his honour avenged, he looked forward to his — dea r reward : not a sceptre tha t was a play 97 PERKIN WARBECK .

’ fit fo r Henry s hand ; but to a life o f

o f and love ; a very eternity sober, with her he idol

in the sunny clime o f his regretted

V O L . I I I . E I II CHAPT R V .

Oh ha s e n un en in man ! , t t t r b d g In this unha ppy marriage what have I — N ot suffered not endured ’ w nn s ca rnw a s a xxsmm .

O nce mo e un o the reach ea en s once more r t b , d r fri d , , O r clo se th e wall up with our Englis h dead !

s n a xsr a a a n.

Tm: lapse o f years had confir med Henry

his . was n on throne He extortio ate and severe, it is true ; and thus revolts had been fre quent during the earlier portion o f his reign ; but they took their rise in a cla ss which ffi even in modern days, it is di cult to keep

of la w. a withi n the boundaries The pe santry,

o n scattered and dependant the nobles,

1 00 ba ri um WARBECK . clined to the endangering them afresh far a

° stranger youth . When Fitzwater, Stanley, and

u f - a nd f their n merous ellow conspirators, ellow

o f victims sided with the Duke York, nearly all England entertained a timid belief in his ' identity with King Edward ’s lost son—but those times were changed . Many were glad to soothe their consciences by declaring him a n impostor ; many so desired to curry favour with Henry ; a still greater number either feared to say their

or d thought, were averse to isturb the tranquillity o f o l be' their country, by a contest, which c u d n efi t one man alone, and which must entail on them another war like that so lately ended

Abroad , in France, Burgundy, and Scotland, the Prince might be discountenanced from poli

, tical motives ; but he was treated with respect, and spoken o f as being the man he named him — self : in England it was otherwise c ontempt f f ollowed hard upon ear, giving birth to deri a sion, the best we pon against the unhappy,

w had which Henry well knew how to ield. He two — f motives in this one was, that by a fixing

' t o a a disgrace and scorn his dvers ry , he took s nx m . r W. ARBECK

' w o f a ay the glitter his cause, and deterred the young and ambitious from any desire to share

was f in his obloquy . The other a eeling deeper — rooted in his mind an intense hatred of the — House o f York a n exultation in its overthrow — and disgrace a gloating over every circumsta nce If that blotted it with ignominy . Richard had

had e really been an impostor, Henry not us d — half the pains to stigmatise him as low- born to

s his bla t pride with nicknames, nor have looked f orward with the joy he now did, to having him — — in his power to the degradation the mortal stain of infamy he intended to taint him with

f r o ever.

—f of th e Secure in power earless result, Henry heard with unfeign edjoy that his young

l n v riva had landed in E gland , and was ad ancing i o f nto the interior the island, at the head o f the i Cornish nsurgents. He himself announ ced the rising to his nobles . Laughing, he said, I

i fo r : have tid ngs you, gentlemen a flight o f

’ a f wild geese clad in e gles eathers, are ready to pounce upon us . Even now they hover over : 1 02 PERKIN wa nnhcxt o ur o of fr in g od city Exeter, ight g the honest ” burghers with their dissonance.

Blackheath will witness another victory, said Lord Oxford. ” u l And my kitchen receive a new sc l ion, replied the King ; since Lambert Simnel he

f i f dis came alconer, our roast meat th nks itsel honoured at not being spitted by a pretender to f f l my crown ; o r n o Audley heads these e lows,

o f l f th e m but the King Rakehells himse , ost

who r un noble Perkin, , to grace the mo e the

f t washed rogues, calls himsel Richard the Four h f fo r the nonce . I have air hope to see his

if fo Majesty this bout, he whiz not away in a g , or ] sink underground like Lord Love , to the

i o f all f w d sappointment merry ellows, ho love ” new masks and gaudy mumming . ” Please your Majesty, said the young Lord “ t fo r o William Cour ney, it is the honour f

o f r our house that not a stone Exeter be ha med . f With your good leave, my ather and myself will gather in haste what force we may : if for

n tu e aid us, we may present your Grace with ” your new servitor.

1 04 PERKIN WA RBECK r

' this appellation bestowed on o ne she knew to be so mea t o f kin . That very morning she had

' — seen Monina the enthusiastic Monina, who,

’ f e Co nfiding in her royal riend s succ ss, visited London to watch over the fate o f Elizabeth and

ff s her children . The Queen smiled at her o er of service ; she felt that no such army could

’ endanger Henry s reign ; but she feared fo r

fo r - f who Richard, her ill ated brother, had now

fo r f entered the net, whom she elt assured there

no . in was escape Trembl g at her own boldness, she answered the King, Whoever he may be, ” you will riot dest roy him in cold blood ? You would have me spare the imposto r ? “ asked Henry . Spare him who claims your

’ s ? B d o f on s throne y Our La y Walsingham , the maternal virtues o f the daughter o f York ” deserve high praise .

z n ff r Eli abeth, dreadi g more to o end, hor or struck a t the idea that her husband should shed

’ her h d brot er s bloo , burst into tears . Silly ” d , , I ; , mgirl sai Henry am not ang ry nay . if ore, I grant your prayer Perkin , not s a a lain by ch nce blow, shall live . My word is fl E K J PERKIN JV A RB C aI a it : r no r r p ssed ; . trust to I neither inqui e ca e whether he he t he godson or the base brat o f the libertine Edward . In either case, my revenge

' stoops so low as his pal try life : does this ‘ not content you

May the saints bless your Grace, said

f . Elizabeth , you have eased my every ear ” Remember then that you prove no ingrate,

e o f continued the King, no dup report, no

’ traducer of your children s birth . Betray no

’ i f - nterest in the knave s down all , save as he is

If is my enemy . you d play any emotion that k awakens a doubt, that this can er rose be aught in your eyes except a base pretender—if you mark any feeling but stern contempt fo r one so — l f vile tremble . My vengeance wi l all on him ; ” and his blood be on your hea d .

s Magnanimou Prince thought Elizabeth ,

had f : in bitter scorn , when he le t her this is your mercy . You fear ! My poor Richard

’ your sister, a monarch s daughter, is finely

’ a taug ht by this E rl s son . But you will live ; then let him do his worst : the Queen o f Eng

' a s if land is not quite lave ; . e y can bind ,

F 5 1 06 PERKIN wa nmscx :

k o f Elizabeth may loose ; and the Du e York laugh in another land at the malice o f his ” enemy. ft S We return to this Prince, whose lo y pirit

im an a was sustained by an a , object dearer th n

befbre a kingdom in his eyes. He arrived

Exeter at the head of seven thousand men. Al l the discontented in Cornwall and Devon

o f r shire joined him. Some these we e younger brothers ; some men - a t - arms who repin ed at

e p ace ; chiefly they were needy, oppressed men, ro uzed of by a sense wrong, as destitute, but not so hardy as the kerns of Ireland . Still they were many , they were valiant ; Exeter was

f ef r ungarrisoned , unprepared o r d ence, and the e

s ‘ he was a po sibility that by sudden assault, might possess himself o f the town . With this l intent he did not a low his troops time to repose,

on fo r i but at once set the attac k, endeavour ng to scale the lofty walls ; unaided by any fitting f i chinery, scarcely poss essed o a s ngle scaling

i e ladder, he was driven back with loss. Fo l d

s f was but not vanqui hed, o r his heart set upon

i for e this pr ze, thr e days, though unpossessed

v wa a s a cx . 1 0 8 . . PERKIN w for Trereife, , f l ; . ran to look Master who poor e lo i rd lies cold within the moat. The cit zens hea

’ a nd answered my Cousin the Ea rl s call ; but they were too frightened to let light through h f t e keyhole o a postern ; and his lordship, God save him ! was obliged to climb the ha t ” tlemen ts .

‘ li ? C mb the battlements, noble Captain s i a ? a d Rich rd ; that is, a ladder was let down

b e a m It was a stone l adder sc led, y liege, “ said Heron ; yo ur Grace may walk up the

same . It will scarce budge, seeing that it is f ” the o ld part o f the wall itsel .

W ho knows more o f this ? asked the

Prince . “ “ I saw the whole, said Skelton ; That is

. rereife fo r the end Master T was dead the nonce,

' l ca me a f so b ck to lead my men to the ray .

was k o n There the Earl , perched li e a crow, the

s o f a n - bough old thorn bush , that grows at the f top o the wall . Surely he must have torn his

c f r loak, o the place is thick with all manner of

' d a nd e . wee s, rough ston s, and brambles But

more than his broad- cloth got a hole ; for Clim 9 PERKIN WARBECK . 10

‘ of Tre o and let fl a g thius handled his bow, y

'

‘ - t f i ih his. clo h d sha t, which was stick ng ” shoulder as he got down the other side .

i ro While the Ta lor talked , Richard was p ceeding hastily to the spot. It looked t ranquil . The old crumbling wall was green with rank

. an d grass and tangled weeds He drew nearer, then a whole shower o f arrows was discharged e against him . The Earl had xpected that his

c s s suc es would excite their curio ity, and prepared fo r ihem o o f , with not the less zeal n account

’ his own wound . Richard escaped unhurt ; but

Edmund , who was scantily armed, received an arrow in his side : he fell . That same hour tidings came o f the advance o f King Henry at the head o f a formidable army .

’ Plantagenet s wound was dressed it showed

o f a an d i signs d nger, quite d sabled him . My f hf fel s f ait ul lows swear to pre erve you in sa ety, ” i ” Cousin, sa d Richard ; I must leave you . ” a ? Do you retre t asked Edmund . “ u No, by my so l ! Truly, my hopes have s l omewhat quailed yet it is but a lucky b ow, and f I gain all , I leave you, my riend ; but I 1 10 PERKIN wa a a r cx;

will not leave you in doubt and ignorance. Read this paper : it is to enforce its contents to obl ige my haughty foe to lay as ide his worst

al l robabi weapon, detraction , that I, against p

a l s . ll ty and wisdom, will urge my c use to the a t

: My kingdom, it is his my honour he must

ts . restore, and I cry him qui Now you have my

fo r f l w secret. Pardon my poor e lo s ; pardon,

o f i r and some alleviation the r cruel lot. Fo f w mysel , as you ill find, I ask little, but I must

h w f a s o no ear, no retreating, to obtain even th t.

f n I march orwards, the , towards Taunton : it is a less place than Exeter The smallest secure ” port gained, and Henry may grant my boon . f Plantagenet un olded the paper, and read these words :

Richard, legitimate and true son o f Edward

h o f the Fourt , King England and France, and

o f Lord Ireland , to Henry, the reigning Sove

e o f r ign these realms. In my infancy I was

a n made a prisoner by usurping uncle, escaping f hr wl rom his t a by a id o f the most noble Earl of

l . i Linco n This uncle, th s usurper, you con

1 12 PERKIN . WA RBEC K :

f the n be that my wi e, Lady Katherine Gordo , permitted to return to her royal cousin, James of Scotland ; that such o f my followers as

s desire it, may be allowed to go beyond sea ;

o f e that those your subjects who, goad d into

l i s rebe l on by your exaction , have taken up arms, receive free pardon and remission o f their

. If I I imposts conquer, add but one other demand—that you confess to the wide world how foully you have slandered me ; revoke the lies you have published, and acknowledge me to f u o f . all men , the right l Duke York

‘ If you deny my just demands, be the blood spil t in defence o f my honour on your head ;

England ravaged , your towns destroyed , your realm subject to all the calamities o f war ; these

' I ' evils rest with you . will not sheathe my

w a s ord, nor tread one b ckward step in my d undertaking ; but as in the lists, so on the drea

- field or battle , meet your abettors, and conquer die f o f in de ence my name . Expecting a fitting i 1 answer to th s just defiance, bid you heartily f arewell .

RICHAR D . PERKIN wa a nr cx ; 1 13

o f r Written under the walls Exete , this

f f o f twel th day o September, in the year our Blessed Lord

Plantagenet was deeply‘ affected by his Cou

’ s in s gallantry . He sighed , saying, Tudor ? has not, will not reply to your challenge ” He has not, but he may, replied Richard . I I wh f have, know not y, a firm belie that w l o l f . If in fe a l g od wi l come rom it not, a days

f w ca n will be over. In a very e days you be

’ to . l conveyed St Michae s Mount, where the

. d Queen now is The Adali hovers near. Save

f : f her, save yoursel save one other, less help ul — ” than my Katherine hé a brother to Monina.

Richard, erring in his mark, was animated

s by the mo t sanguine hopes, to which he was seduced by a constant belief that his life was not f near its close, and there ore that his claims would be admitted as otherwise he had reso lved to fall in the assertion o f them . Leaving the

o f sick couch his Cousin, he prepared to advance A to Taunton . conversation meanwhile which

of l he dreamt not , and wou d have scorned, had 1 14; PERKIN wa a s ncx . place in an obscure and gloomy spot in London, fraught with fate to him. l t After the base desertion o f his roya mas er, Frion had sailed to England with the other iff hirelings of Henry ; among these was Cl ord.

e c Clifford, whose n ed and whose mali e armed

’ f who him against York s li e, but tried to hide his shame under an assumed appellation . There h ad always been a false fellowship and a real enmity between Frion and the knight. On his

first arrival in Brussels, the secretary looked on l ff him as an interloper ; and C i ord , while he

to f ce used the other, tried orce him into his pla

to l him to o wn as an underling, and b ind his designs. When he betrayed his party, spread

of ing death among the partizans York, and

f es annihilating the cause, Frion, whose ortun depended on its success, was unmeasured in his

o f a expressions indign tion and contempt. They had worked in direct opposition the year before f in Kent ; and, when Frion saw the hand o this reproba ted man uplifted in midn ight assas sin a io n o f t , he triumphed in the lowness his f ffl all . Both were traitors now, both ba ed

1 16 K PERKI N WARBEC .

that crowded its tumultuous court. Even here Frion reigned umpire ; but he broke from a

o f knot noisy squabblers, who held tattered

a f f cards, and appe led to him on a question o air

’ play, as he saw one enter. Even he a wretch , yet many degrees better than the best o f his miserable companions ; a scarlet suit, trimmed

a o k o f with gold l ce, s mewhat tarnished, a cloa f m ample olds, but threadbare, a dark plu ed bonnet, drawn over his brow, above all , a rapier

f i r . at his side, distinguished him rom the pr sone s ” i his This is k nd, Sir Robert, said Frion in

f I f f too so test manner, hal eared you were proud or politic to visit a disgraced man ; fo r these last three days I have despaired o f your ” fa ! worship ; by my y your are right welcome . Clifford cast a shuddering look around the walls ; his eyes were hollow ; his cheek sunk ;

was r o f he the me e shadow bold Robert. Few

r r wo ds are best thanks, Master Stephen , he e plied ; I am kind to you because the dice are cruel to me ; you promise largely, and my wants ? ” are no dwarfs. What are your designs ” fo r ai This is no place parley, s d Frion ; PERKIN WARBECK . 1 1 7

” u a follow me. He led the way thro gh sever l narrow passages to a miserable cell ; straw was heaped in one corner fo r a bed ; the walls were

‘ dank and tattered ; the floor broken and filthy . ” to Welcome my domicile, Sir Knight, said

Frion : Whether it were compunction that he had brought him to this, or distrust that the inj ury

v ff a nd would be re enged , Cli ord shrunk back l his lips grew livid . One wou d not live here f ” I rom choice, said Frion, allow ; yet do not

few grudge me a moments, it may stead us ” both .

To the point then , said the Knight ; it is not the place, Master Frion but at the hour o f noon

N as o excuses, you like the place as ill I, said the Frenchman with a bland smile ; but

fo r I you are more generous, would not dwell

’ an insta nt s space hefe o f my own will to gain

’ s . f any man salvation Now, what news rom the west ? Is it true that the Duke o f York is slain ? ? or Exeter taken both reports are rife. Adam W icherly and Mat Oldcra ft made their escape

to l two days ago, join the gal ant. Mat was 1 18 PERKIN WARBECK.

r seized again, and says that the e were bonfires ” in Southwark fo r Richard the Fourth .

ff f a Cli ord, by a brie det il , answered, and then

ft a er some hesitation said, He is not so low but that the King desires him to be lower : he f who could bring him, bound hand and oot, to

London, would be a made man . Empson

who ll Garthe yesterday ; and he, ca s me Wiatt, ca me post to consult with me ; but it were hazardous to attempt him ; he is ten thousand ” strong. ” Yo u know me, Sir Robert, said Frion ;

few i there are th ngs I canno t bring about, so

ff . I that I have room to ru le in have a plot,

King Richard is ours in three days, so one

t word be said ; that wo rd is liber y to me. Take you the reward ; I ask no further share in your gains than free leave to set the channel between i ” me and th s dingy island . i i Each desp sing, each m strusting the other,

’ these men conspired fo r the Prince s fal l : like mousing owls they hawked at an eagle with

’ o ai f t o true an m. York s thoughts were o honour ; but through them they were to be

CHAPTER IX .

! Ri char i h the e es o f h ea min Ah d, w t y vy d,

I ‘ th lo l e a s ho o in s a r see y g ry, ik t g t ,

Fall to th e bas e earth from th e firmament .

s mxx s r s an a .

e RICHAR D proceeded towards Taunton . Al

i his thoug h th s was in appearance an advance,

- s f o f ill succe s be ore Exeter, and report the large force already brought against them by Sir John

’ had fa r Cheney, King Henry s Chamberlain, so discouraged his followers as to occasion the — desertion o f many so that o f the seven thou him s and he had with in Devonshire, he retained but three on his arrival near Taun ton. These

i of f s cons sted the original body o insurgent , 1 21 PERKIN WARBECK .

who fa r Cornishmen, had proceeded too to go

y ff fo r back, and who, partl in a ection their

’ fi‘ leader, partly om natural stubborness, swore to

. f die in the cause Poor ellows ! rusty rapiers, and misshapen lances were their chief arms ; a few had bows ; others slings ; a still greater

u o f number their pondero s tools, implements

f a i o n . labour and pe ce, to be used now slaughter

Their very dress displayed at once their un ma r

- ll tial an d po verty stricken state. In a these might be o f f gathered a troop three hundred oot, not

o f s wholly destitute arms and di cipline . The horse were not less at fault ; yet among them d there were about one hundred tolerably mounte , f the riders indeed , but too requently, disgracing their steeds .

’ It required all Richard s energy o f purpos e to

him f ai hold back rom desp r. The bitter sense o f degradation visited him in spite o f every

H o f f effort. ad he ever made one the chivalry o France and Burgundy ? Ha d he run a tilt with

f a kn i htl b ro ther James o Scotland, or gr sped in g y hood the mailed hand o f Sir Patrick Ha milton ?

A nd were these his comrades ? unwashed arti

I G VOI I I . 1 22 PERKIN WARBECK .

l ficers ; ragg ed and rude peasants ; vu gar f “ tongued traders ? He elt, in disgrace with

. ’ fortune and men s eyes ; and now to obta in

r t pardon fo them, to send hem back skaithless f to their own homes, was his chie desire, even to the buymg o f their safety with his own downfall . After a two days march he arrived near Taun

u ton . O reconnoitring the town, its position and weakness g ave him hope that he might carry

s it, even with his sorry soldiery . To check the e thoughts, tidings came, that Sir John Cheney f was in close neighbourhood , and Henry himsel

o f advancing with a chosen body men . On the

o f a f r w evening their rrival be o e the to n , a de t a chmen t o f o ff the enemy entered it, cutting the last hOpe o f Richard .

The next morning it became eviden t that the

o f f o crisis his rtunes was at hand . The whole country teemed with soldiery . As the troops poured towards a common centre, the array and order o f a battle - field became apparent in their

o f operations. A battle, between a very myriad

- golden spurred knights, armed at all points, and

wa a a s c x . 1 24 . r z a x m

' c de them :when dismayed, he had heered, when

f e feated, he had com orted them ; nor did he leav

he bod o f - —f n t . y the meanest camp ollower uni

’ terred ; fo r one o f Richard s characteristics was

u his a q ick sympathy with species, and a rever:

fo r b o f . ence all that ore the shape man But,

e u s e a ll whil these q alitie render d him dear to ,

they inspired him with a severe sense o f his

duties towards others, and a quick insig ht into

their feelings; thus increasing to anguis h the dis

ét qui ude that agitated him .

Towards evening he was alone in his tent.

was f At first he con used by the various aspec ts,

f s all terrible, that his ortunes a sumed . By the

o f s caprice destiny, he who was de cended from a

o f line kings , who had so long been the inhabitant of s court , a Cavalier, honourable in his de

e fo r gre , renowned his prowess, had not one

- n ti noble bor pa r s a n near him : not one o f his ancient counsellors, to whom he had been used f m to de er, re ained ; he was absolutely alone ; f the sense o right and justice in his own hea rt

all e d - was he poss sse , to be a beacon light in this wmnsa cx . 1 25 PERKIN .

' a f w ul hour, when thousands depended upon his w — ? ord yet had he power to . save

’ ' e o u An id a, dim at first as a star the horizon s g verge, stru gling through vapours, but growing m each second brighter and clearer, dawned pg n

All was e his mind . then ov r his prophetic

' ‘ soul ha d proved fal se in ' its presumed fore f o knowledge ; de eat, dishon ur, disgrace . tracked

f then t to his steps To lead his troops orth, and

' ’ ' m a t redee . them Henry s hand, by the condi tio nl es s o f f surrender himsel , was the thought,

o f f- n tha t child d espair and sel devotion , , still struggling with the affections and weaknesses o f f f f n . e his ature, presented itsel , not yet ull ledg d, . but about to become so . . h He ad been several times in terupted during .

m o f his editations by the arrival scouts, with various reports o f the situation and proceedings o f : t these un the enemy Richard, better han

a o f the va rio u t ught recruits, knew the meaning , s f operations . As i on a map, he saw the stationing o f a large and powerful army in ekpecta t io n o f battle ; and was aware how incapable he was to

n cope with their umbers an d force . At last 1 26 PERKIN WARBECK .

Astley announced the arrival o f two men : one

o f was a Fleming, known to Richard as one

’ la ne s f was L a y men, but the ellow stupidly

drunk ; the other was an English peasant. ” “ Plea se your worship, he said, I am this

’ man s guide, and must act as his interpreter besides ; nothing would serve the spungy fellow but he must swallow ale at every tavern on ” t he way . “ i “ Speak, then, sa d Richard ; what is the purport o f his journey ?

a as o f Ple se you, Sir, l t night three hundred them came right pop upon us afore we were awar e ; sore afraid they made us with their tall

- f iron sha ted poles, steel caps, and short swords, I ” i f r ca ll ng each one o bread and beer .

“ ” e Do you mean , cri d the Prince, his eye

“ brightening as he spoke, that three hundred men d f a re , soldiers, armed like yon er ellow, ” l a nded in ? l England

So the countryman averred ; an d that even now they were but at the dista nce o f twenty miles f ’ rom Richard s encampment. They were still w advancing, when the report as spread that

128 PERKIN WARBECK .

at thehour which now the empty h o ur- glass

l . a a n tb d was come Hastily, e gerly, Richard

no unced the arrival o f these German mer

cen a ries ; he directed them to accompany him,

that with some show o f attendance he might

present himself to Schwartz . The camp was not to be disturbed ; two or three men alone . r among them we e awakened , and ordered to — keep guard in five hours a ssuredly he must

? f o f return In a brie space time, the troop

who were to accompany him, Heron , Skelton ,

’ O W a ter f , and Astley, with some orty more, — led their horses to his tent in s ilence z there

were few lights through all the camp ; their

hea t h honest hearts which within slept, while e

to was awake succour and save them . This was ’ l Richard s ast thought, as, mounted on his good

s teed, he led the way across the dim heath

towards Yeovil . It was such a night as is frequent at the end o f September ; a warm but furious west- wind tore along the sky, shaking the dark tresses o f the trees, and chasing the broad shadows o f the

l o n c ouds acr ss the plai s . The moon, at the 1 29 PE RKIN W A RBECK .

o f ~her third s ed thro u h beginning , quarter, p g ,

the sky with rapid , silvery wings ; now cutting — the dark , . sea like ether ; now plunging deep a a midst the clo uds ; now buried in utter d rk

ness ; anon spreadi ng a broad halo among the

thinn er woof o f vapours. The guide was at the

’ his Prince s side ; Heron , upon short sturdy

b et pony, was just ehind ; Skelton tried to g

’ his tall mare to an even pace with Richard s

f : horse, but she ell back continually the rushing,

howling wind, and rustling trees . drowned the

o f f Th clatter the hoo s . evreached the extreme edge o f the common ; Richard turned hishead — the lights o f his little camp burnt dim in the

o s m on hine, its poor apparel o f tents was lost in

: the distance they entered a dark lane , and lost sight o f every trace o f it ; still they rode

fleetl . f y on Night, and the obscure shapes o — i - n ght around holy, blinding, all seeing night when we feel the power o f the Omnipotent a s if immediately in conta ct with us ; when religion

l f a r a re a l fi ls the soul , and our very e s une rth y ; when familiar imag es assume an unknown power to thrill our hearts ; and the winds and trees

G 5 130 PERK IN WARBECK .

and shapeless clouds, have a voice not their

o f own, to speak all that we dream or imagine beyond our ac tual life . Through embowered lanes, whose darkness seemed thick and pal — p ahle over open, moonshiny fields, where the airy chase o f clouds careered in dimmer shapes

— r f d f upon the earth Richard ode orwar , ostering newly- awakened hope ; glad in the belief that while he saved all who depended him, he would not prove a mere victim led in tame submission , an unrighteous sacrifice to the Evil

o f Spirit the World .

1 8 2 wa umac x . PERKIN.

side o f the stream was bounded by an abrupt

f o f hill, at the oot which was a narrow path

way ; on the green acclivity flourished a beech

a e grove, whose roots were spre d in many dirc

n tions to catch the soil , while their tru ks,

s f a ome almost horizontal, were all ant stically

f o f f e grown , and the airy tracery the oliag e sh d

u f as s ch so t, mellowed, chequered light must

incli ne the heart o f the wanderer beneath the f a u . le y bower, to delicio s musings

Now the moon silvered the trees, and some

m o n t s ti es glimmered the wa ers, whose murmur contended with the wi nd that sung among the boughs : a nd was this all ? A straggling moon beam fell o n something bright amid the

a nd o f bushes, a deep voice cried, Jack the if t ’ Wynd, hou can st not get to thicker cover, pluck darnels to cover that cursed steel cap o f thine . ! Hush repeated another lower voice,

Your bawling is worse than his headpiece ;

is you outroar the wind . How high the moon , a nd f —he be our riends not come will be here . " before theui. 133 PERKIN WA RBECK .

Hark a bell !

‘ ‘ t e ! he seize Matins , by the Fi nd may that double - tongued knave I much suspect Master. f ” Frion I know him o old.

He cannot mar us now, though it be he w ' ” ho ma de this ambushment . f Oh, by your leave ! he has the trick o it; and could spring a mine in the broadest way ; f he can turn, and twist , and show more aces H — than a die . e laughed this morn I know the l — f ” laugh there is mischie in t.

But, your Worship, now, what can he do ?

Do ! darken the moon ; set these trees alive

’ a nd dancing ; do ! so play the Will 0 the Wisp

that the King shall be on Pendennis and the

a f is w Duke at Greenwich, and e ch ancy he ithin bow- shot o f the other do ask the Devil

t his fo r wha is in compact, he is but the Merry

Andr ew o f Doctor Frion . Hush

It . is he, said the other speaker A breathless pause ensued ; the wind swept through the trees— another sound — its mono ton ous recurrence showed that it was a dashing

f — ‘ water all and yet again it grew louder . 1 34 PERKIN WARBECK .

It is he.

’ No, Gad s mercy, it comes westward f close, my merry ellows, close, and mind the

fo r f word close, we have but hal our number, ” a nd yet he may escape . Again the scene sank into silence and dark

’ ness : such silence as is nature s own, whose voice is ever mus ical ; such darkness as the em

- bowering trees and vast island clouds made, dimming and drinking up the radiance o f the moon .

The stillness wa s broken by the tramp o f

’ horses drawing near, men s voices mingled with the clatter, and now several cavaliers entered

an d the defile ; they rode in some disorder, so

o f straggling, that it was probable that many their party lagged fa r behind : the principal horseman had reached midway the ravine, when

o f suddenly a tree, with all its growth green and

o f tangled b ughs, ell right across the path ; the clatter o f the fall deafened the screech which

fo r accompanied it, one riderwas overthrown ; it was succeeded by a flight o f arrows from ” a . fo r conce led archers Ride your lives,

1 36 PERKIN WAR BECK .

f view o f fields and uplands and o the varied

- u a e moon lit sky, grew pon his l nguid senses ; h

was still on horseback, bound to the animal , and

supported on either side by men . As his move

e ments communicat d his returning strength , one

o f these fellows rode to impa rt the tidings to their

leader, while the other stayed to guide his horse ; ” ! e the word gallop was call d aloud , and he f was urged along at ull speed, while the sudden

motion almost threw him back into his swoon .

n Daw , which at first seemed to add to the

o f a dimness and indistinctness the landsc pe ,

struggling through the clouds, and paling the

moon, slowly stole upon them . The Prince

became sufficiently alive to make observations ;

he and his fellow- pris oners were five in number

te n f only, their guards were ; oremost among

them was one, whom in whatever guise he coul d f ’ not mistake . Each eeling in Richard s heart

man stimulated him to abhor that , yet he pitied

. f i him more Gallant, bold Robin , the rol ck s - S o f ome page, the merry witted harer a thou

. f ho w sand pleasures Time, thou art a thie ; 1 37 PERKIN WARBECK .

‘ bas e a thief - when thou steal est not only o ur f ’ riends, our youth , our hopes, but, besides, our innocence giving us in the place o f light- hearted co n fiden ce— t o f guile, dis rust, the consciousness evil deeds . In these thoughts, Richard drew the f f v o f e louring the pictur , rom the resh and vi id

’ tints that painted his own soul . Clifford s

’ breast had perhaps n ever been free from the c o f : ho n o ur he ares guilt he had desired ; , had loved renown ; but the early developement o f passion and o f talent ha d rendered him even in - boyhood, less single hearted than Richard now .

Clifford was triumphant ; he possessed Mo

' ’ — i n in a s belo ved o f - bo un d the cause his disgrace , a prisoner and wounded . Why then did pain

f s h ? distort his eatures, and passion flu his brow

NO triumph laughed in his eye, or sat upon his lip . He hated the prince ; but he hated an d despised himself. He played a dastardly and

’ a vil lain s part ; and shame awaited even suc cess. The notoriety and infamy that attended on him (exaggerated a s those things usually are, in his own eyes), made him fear to meet I 138 PERKIN WARBECK .

.in o es , , the neighb uring villag or towns any noble cavalier who might recognis e him ; even if he

o f saw a party horsemen on the road , he turned

o f out it, and thus got entangled among bye

fr o f paths in an un equented part the country .

They continued the sames fas t career for several

l a f hours, ti l they entered wild dark orest, where the intermi nable branches o f the old oaks met

- high arched over head , and the paths were beset f with ern and underwood . The road they took was at first a clear and open glade, but it

d o ff quickly narrowe , and branched in various

f o f directions ; they ollowed one its windings, till

: it abruptly closed the leader then reined in , and ff ’ Cli ord s voice was heard . Years had elapsed

’ n si ce it had met Richard s ear ; the mere, as it f iff were, abstract idea o Cl ord was mingled with

ha te his his crime and voice, manner, his look

e o f w re associated with protestations fidelity ; or, f f dearer still, the intercourse o riendship and youthful g a ietv; no wonder that it seemed a f voice rom t he grave to betrayed York .

ff o f Halloo cried Cli ord , Clim the Lyn ,

a 1 40 PERKIN wa a m c x . f t his ree as they ; and, mine though wild wood I I be, must thank an outlaw ere dine upon my own .

Thus thought Richard ; and at that moment, with his limbs aching through their bondage, f and with throbbing temples, liberty in the ree fo res t seemed worth more than a kingdom . — — The bright sun was high the sky serene th e — merry birds were caroling in the brake the f - l orest basked in noon day, whi e the party wound along the shady path beneath . The languid frame o f York revived at first to pain

l - f a fo r a . one, memory was serpent nged What bird - lime was this to ensnare the royal eagle !

so o n fla ed but Despair, which had pp her harpy

s f wings acro s his ace, blinding him, fled away ;

H and a o f ope awoke, in her tr in , schemes escape, f o f . reedom, and a renewal the struggle Meanwhile they threaded many a green path f ’ way, and, a ter another hour s ride, arrived at “ e o f a the op ning a wide gr ssy dell ; a deer, a ” sta ' o f ten f f g , leapt rom his erny bed and

o o f f b unded away ; a herd timid awns, j ust vi si i ble in the d stance, hurried into the thicket ; s PERKIN . wa a a cx . 141

w. while many a bird fle fro m the near sprays.

a unbitted their Here the party h lted first they ,

a nd t steeds, then dismoun ed the prisoners,

’ m fo r binding the security s sake to a tree . Ri

fo r chard was spared this degradation , still he

’ was a prince in Clifford s eyes ; and his extreme physical weakness, caused by his blow, made even the close watching him superfluous . He

f f u o h was li ted rom his horse, and placed p n t e

f f o f tur , and there le t. While some his guards went to seek and slay their repast, others led

u their animals to a brook, which m rmured near :

s all were variou ly and busily employed . Clif ford alone remained ; he called fo r waten ; evi den tly he was more weary than he chose to own ; he took o ff his casi1ue : his features were ghas tly ;

n w the re was a red streak upo his bro , which

kn it as if was to endurance, and his lips were

n white and quiveri g . Never had crime visited

- with such torment ill f ated man ; he lo o ked . a

Ca in after the murder ; the Abel he had killed — was his own fair fame the ancestral honour o f

f wh n . i . e R cha1 d his race , How changed rom

f was las t saw him, but two years be ore ; his hair 1 42 PERKIN WARBECK .

l f nearly grey, his eyes hol ow, his cheeks allen in ; yet, though thin to emaciation, he had lost that delicacy a nd elegance o f feature that m ha d characteriz ed him . Al ost without reflec

f o wn f tion , orgetting his position in pain ul com passion , the Prince exclaimed, Thou art an ” ma ! k r unhappy n, Sir Robert The night e

a - t o plied with ghastly smile, which he meant ” d f . be isdain ul But now, continued Richard ,

' o f c I while thy vis r screened thy a e, was on the point o f taunting thee as a coward; o f defying thee to mortal combat ; but thou art

- n o miserable, and broken hearted , and match f ” Or me .

’ ff was Cli ord s eyes glared , his band upon his

’ : e f sword s hilt he r collected himsel , replying,

You cannot provoke me, Sir, you are my pri ” so ner.

n Thy victim, Robi ; though once saved by thee ; but that is past, and there is no return .

o f l o f The blood Stan ey, and a hundred other

a : I m rtyrs, rolls between us conquer my own

fo r I o nature, when even a moment look up n ” their murderer.

1 44 PERKIN WARBECK .

travelled men, that in Heathenesse the unhap

' t ized miscreant is true to him whose hos pi ~

he . tal ity . has shared There was a time when my eyes brightened when I saw you ; when the i name o f Robin was a bened ction to me . You have changed it fo r the direst curse . Yours are no common crimes. Foremost in the chroui

as cles, your name will stand a type and symbol o f ingratitude and treason , written with the

o f blood Fitzwater and Stanley . But this is not all . The young and defenceless you de stroy you have stood with uplifted dagger over ” o f n the couch a sleeping ma . Clifford had fostered the belief that this vilest

o f f act his li e, to which he had been driven

o f rather by fierce revenge than hope reward , was a secret. A moment before he had advanced with hasty and furious glances towards his

’ enemy . Scarcely had the words pa ssed York s

s o f a ra lvsis a . lip , than a kind p c me over him

His knees knocked together : his arms fell nerveless to his side . “ 0 ! ” “ , man continued York , arouse thy l f s eeping aculties . Bid the fiend who tortures 1 45 PERKIN WARBECK .

! E e f l thee; Avaunt vn now, at the word, he ee s

his a s . B power over thy ‘ miser ble oul waver y im who t H died on the Cross, I conjure him o

e . l ave thee Say thou amen to my adj uration ,

' and he departs . Cast o ff the huge burthen

' o f g uilt : deliver thy soul into the care of

men. s holy _As thy first act, depart this pot :

’ — leave me. It is I who comman d Richard of

- h York, t y sovereign : Begone ; o r kneeling at

f k h so my eet, see the grace thou ast . dearly f for eited . For a moment it almost seemed as if the

wretched man were about to obey ; but at the

f s rin where moment his groom came rom the p g , .

n his s of he had been wateri g hor e . The sight

his e d another human being , to witness d g ra a

hren z . l l tion , awoke him to p y He ca led a oud,

How ! u a ? now, Sirrah Why, . nbit Dr g on ” him I us ' n Bring here. m t bego e.

’ “ t u i He can carry yo r honour a m le, said f the ellow. ” “ i a ~ A mr cle, cried Richard ; you repent, r ” Sir Robe t .

” As u f l to r L ci er in he l Look the prisone ,

V OL . 1 1 1 . H . C S ur to his eyes wild and bloodshot. lapping p s

’ i si e he ut him to his s eed, the jaded an mal s d , p p

” ri d his at e n His fit is on him ! d e t nda t,

“ a and What are we to do ? . He rides race

d e us to do ot h Wit h the fien , l aving b h t eir

w i r n : he ma r war More h s pe i g) tte ed ,

' 1“ Hol d Duke Richard ia bonds against his will ' ’ He ave me oid in n a nders he say i not . g g ; ' ’ is a Kin g s so n and a bel ted Kragb a - aad I a ” poor serviwr. wa s had conceived a faint hdpe of Work

nif s m r enli tin mg ma e t re o se, and s g ” hi as again un derdie hatiner (if the W te Rose. w i His workfi r Was great when he sa h m flyin g sarong!) the forest with uncovered hea d and

‘ ash amed hair ; the br idle o f his 1mm in the

’ ‘ wea a al s urre groom s hand, while the ried nim , p d s s ‘ w a s re u a i wi f a . se , th p his he d, snort ng th e r

was to t Not a moment be los , the Prince flew to

‘ ffis coma e in ca i r d s pt vity . Al ready Home and

’ O W ater had their bonds cut by the sword o f

148 PERKIN WARBECK .

f L n n l fo Clym o the y , and a other out awed

ff t a rester, (Cli ord in mustering a roop had g thered together all manner o f wild companions) l m now appeared dragging in a fa t buck . C y grinned when he saw the al tered state o f thin gs : ” fo r Come, my men , he said, it is not us to

’ fight King Henry s batt les ; the more Majesties

n r fo r I there be in E gland, the me rier us, trow ; and the wider and freer the range o f the King

o f . s the New Forest Put up your rapier , and let us feast like brethren ; ye may fall to with

v a f . if r our we pons a terwards Or, it please you

to Grace trust to me, I will lead you where none

’ ” o f the King s men will follow . Wilt thou guide me back to Taunton ? a sked the Prince.

fo r f l o f d Not my cap u l rose nobles, replie t he outlaw ; the way is beset : and trust me

’ your worship s men are scattered fa r and wide

. fe I ill ere this You are a tall llow, and should

o f like to see you in their gripe . Be one us ; you shall be King o f the Greenwood - shade ; and

f who a merrier, reer monarch than he lives at ” Westminster. 49 . 1 PE RK IN WARBECK .

” w in o f Hark l the ord, spoken a voice

a al l . alarm , made the p rty ear There was a — distant tramp every now and then a breaking

— " o f bus hes and a whole he rd o f deer came bounding up the glade in flight. A forester

f r who had rambled u ther than the rest, rushed f back, saying, Sixty yeomen o the royal guard

r They are coming hitherwa d . Sir Harry de Vere

ad m I ” le s the know his bright bay horse. Away CHAPTER XI .

He mi h ha e el in reen ores t g t v dw t g f , ! nder th e sha do ws green ;

nd v e t bo th him and us at rest A ha e k p ,

le an en Out of all troub d te . .

o w B A L LAD.

’ Ir' o f had been the policy Richard s captors, to have remained to deliver up their priao

o f ners to a stronger fo rce . But most them

’ l f wh o were out aws by pro ession, held the King s men in i nstinctive horror : these were the first to

fly ; the panic spread ; those who had no cause

to f do . ear, fled because they saw others so In a moment the sward was cleared o f all save the

who ri prisoners, hastily b dled their horses, and f w ollowed York do n a narrow path into a glen, in an oppodte direction from the app roaching t roop . With what speed they might they made

' PERKIN WA RB EGK .

It was agreed that they shduld pursue their way

. ' a nd s t c o h at midnight ; so, tre hed the grassy

' ' l a the of e un soi , pe ce and beauty natur aro d

‘ f u to s them, each gave himsel p a lumber,

o f f ue n no which, at that extremity atig , eeded

t All slept, save the Prince ; he lay in a sta e i o f feverish d squietude, looking at the sky

f a d through the lea y tr cery overhea , till night

a massed and confused every obj ect . D rkest

o f o thoughts thronged his mind ; loss h nour,

' ' of f f of his oo r : desertion riends, the ate p men f he was to have devoted himsel to them, but a

' s r thunderin avalan che f tream, d iven by a g rom its course, had as much power as he to oppose the circumstances that had brought him from his

' C o h s c . amp near Taunt n , to t i se luded spot For an interval he gave himself up to a tumult - o f

i e i fr i m m s rable deas, till om the gr m troop so e hu assumed a milder aspect, some a brighter e

ft r f c and, a e long and pain ul onsideration , he ar ranged such a plan as promised at least to vin dicate th his own name, and to save e lives of

ad s. his herent Calmed by these thoughts, x 53 PERKIN wa ns ac . 1

' soothed to repose by the d ntle influence o f a o o o f s uth wind, and the sweet monot ny rustling

r t l . leaves and running wate , he sank a ast into l a dreamless s eep.

A i o f was r i . Whisper ng voices the fi st th ng t hat struck his wakening sense : it was quite

’ 0 c c dark . Is Master Water ome ba k a sked Heron , ” l . I am here, rep ied the Irishman ” “'Hast discovered aught ? f That the night is dark, and the orest wide,

’ replied O W a ter had we a planet to guide us we might hope to reach its skirts . We are wo rse o ff th , than e Spanish Admiral on the western f sea, or the compass was a star without a cloud ” t o him.

“ n r rl Sai t Ma y save us said, or rather whi ed

o ur f fr poor Skelton , ortunes are slit om top

t o no a - m to e, and p tch work will ake them ” whole . ” of There is hope at the mouth a culverin, ’ “ O W a ter o f s said , or at the foot the gallow ,

so a man lf. 9 haV e that be true to himse l .

ii 5 1 54 renn i n wa nnrzcx .

“ ’ ” b t r e i te And y our Lady s g ac , n rrupted “ ’ l . Richard, . sha l again, worthy Mayor My

ocean ca nnot be many miles off; fé r ' the sun set

the day ; the wind by its mildness is southerly ;

' we will face it . When once we reach the sea

' ' ' o f the free wide o side, the shore , ocean, Tud r s

w s sh r e of po er tops o t, and y are safe; myself

‘ t wl n t el here i l the be ime to think. Say, sh l ” r c n he ? p o eed now, or give a ot r hour to repose

' ' ' All were eager to sta rt, slowly leading their horses t hrough the tangled pat hs they i could w find, the quarter whence the wind ble th eir

' bnl nide: rni f u m i y g mo ng o nd the to ling on, but nromin i i f g d m nished hal their labours ; and,

the r ea m d as birds twitte ed, and the east gl e ,

' their spirits rose to meet and co nquer dang er .

' ’ O W ater was n le o f in his ative e ment , that

Skél tbn a a but fo r , they might h ve fl g g ed,

fla i Richard ; he ttered their pr de, raised their

156 PERK I N wa nnn crc.

’ e f be lives were most endang red, be ore occupied himself with the safety o f the rest.

a At length , at noon, his quick ear caught

d . r be heavy, istant roar The t ees had begun to more scattered : they rea ched the verge o f the forest ; they were too weary to congratula te each other ; before them was a ris ing ground which bounded their view ; some stragglin g

“ cottages crowned the height ; slowly they

ec i l - a nd r a hed the h l top, there beheld stormy h lm- n ee , clippi g in the circular coast with

’ watery girdl e ; at a crow s flight it might be a ml few s i e distant ; a hut , and a single blac k boat spotted in one place the else desert beach i a south w nd swept the sea, and vast surges broke upon the san ds ; all looked bleak and d eserted . T hey stopped at a cottage- door inquiring the r ; oad they heard there was one, which went il three m es about, but that the plain at their ' f b i eet was intersected y w de ditches, which their f an irna ls agged could , not leap . Moreover, w o f o ut to hat hope putting sea, in opposition to ' t he big noisy waves which the wi nd was hur ry 1157 PERKIN WARBECK. ing towards shore i t Were safest and best to take a short repose in this obscure village .

inn Heron and Skelton entered the poor ,

r to while Richard waited on his horse, st iving win him by ”caresses to tas te the food he at first

f - a ll re used, Heron , who was warm hearted with

u d of his bluster, bro ght the Prince out a ag on excellent wine, such , as by some chance, it f f might be a wreck, the tide had wa ted rom the

‘ opposite coast : Richard was too ill to drink ;

’ but, as he stood , his arm on his poor steed s f neck, the creature looked wist ully up in his f h f ff ace, averting his mo nt rom the p ro ered grain ; half playfully his mas ter held out to

fia o n him the wide mouthed g , and he drank i w th such eagerness, that Richard vowed he

' the should have another bottle, and, buying

’ c d host s onsent with gol , filled a large can fr n - r om the wi e cask ; the beast d ank, and, had

a he been a Christian man, could not have p

ea red f . The f f p more re reshed Prince, orget ul o f his a f h pains, was musing himsel thus, w en f Skelton, pale and gasping, came rom the

u f a i ho se, and , voiceless through e r, la d one

’ n and hand o his leader s arm, with the other i 158 rea lm: wanna cx .

l What he called his attention. i sA ong the shore

i proach ng to wa rds them from west to arm,

" f O which soon showed itsel to be a troop f: horse soldiers. Richa rd gave s pwdy order that his fr i iends should assemble and mount, wh le he contin ued to watch the proceedings Of the e nemy.

t the t ac t e arrived a huts on he be h, a nd h Prince perceived that they were making dis podtions to

o f i if n leave a part their number beh nd. F ty me

d and s tr - t s were selecte , po ted as pa ole he re t

m v f wa s e . then o ed orward, still to rd th east By — e r vl and gathered in on spot the - il agers also — ’ were collecting Skelto n s teeth chartered - he asked an old woman if there were a ny sanctuary

A ur is l t ye, by o Lady, there, rep ied he “ e xt en mi1 s alon o t dam , si e e g the c ast is he

B a uli A san monastery of e eu. ctua ry for Princes ; b t a ad ar e y the same oken th t the L y M gae t ,

w a 160 PERKIN a ancx.

’

- fo r ! fault. Ride, my lady s sake, ride i l ” Master Astley is a cunn ng gent eman, said “ are a - l Skelton ; our horses weary, and a ittle i ” craft woul d help us m ghtily .

’ Still Richard s eyes were fixed o n the troopers — f the men advanced as ar as a broad, deep i stream, which ntersected the plain ; here they

a f l t a cross hesit ted ; one o the best mounted eap ,

a i the t the others drew b ck, seek ng along s eep,

fo r fo i of the shelving banks a rd , or a narrow ng

o f o n stream. The eyes the t roop the shore

n w were o turned upon their comrades . Our ” t r ime is come, cried Richa d ; back to the ” f t orest . One step took them down the o her

o f side the hill, hiding sea and beach and enemy f f rom their eyes, and skreening them also rom

. the f a observation They soon reached orest, nd entered its sh ade ; and then proceeded along j ust within its skirts . Whither respectfully

’ O W a ter f f asked , a ter Skelton had o r some time been mutterin g many a hin t concerning sanc t r ua y.

To i . are Beaulieu, said the Pr nce We inse a m wa nmficx: 1 61

‘ — d cl d‘ sa n étuar all land the little islan , y epe y, is f ' f that is le t to ye. God speed us sa ely hither

’ Richard s horse was lively and refreshed after

his u se ' o f genero s draught, but tho the others f flagged . The Prince exerted himsel to keep

u the o f p spirits all ; he rallied Skelton, spoke f com ort to Astley, and good hope to Heron .

t o f The s urdy apprentice danger, flight and treated it all as a matter o f

—e if so but course ven hanging, it chanced, was — a likely accident the others needed more en

g o ura ement. A f for c stley eared his Lord, even

r o f ~ to an appea ance timidity, which , though dis

d ha d bad ff o n . intereste , a e ect the others

~ Heron complained bitterly that his dinner had

f n the i been le t unfi ished ; while poor ta lor, now f f m ‘ ancying that he would run away ro all, now f f o f ear ul solitary misadventure, kept up a gar

ulo us n o f r hara gue, which terror was the burthen ’ f and the sum . Richard s voice was cheer ul, his manner gay ; but, placing his hand on Astley, it felt scorching ; every moment it required more “ energ y to throw o ff the clinging lethargy that 1 62 PE RKIN wa a ns cxs

the forest ; and it was to be feared they had lo st — . All their way were weary all , save Richard , hungry . The breeze had died away ; the air

s it f li was oppres ive, and more and more elt kea

’ load intolerable to the Prince s burning brow

i be an o c s in so vr da rk N ght g t lo e ey , that tha

' r f d hl ho ses re used to go forwa rd. Sud e y a ro a ré

so und. a ro se . which was s ing , not the ea ; and, but t t a t s w l wam tha h a mo phere as so stil , the derers would have sa id that it was a fierce wind

a o . . fo r now m ng the trees Such must it be, it

e i i the came near r ; like l ving th ngs, vast giants of the ‘ fo rest tossed their branches furio usly ; and nd uri i entire darkness a sudden, po ng ra n re m i h f i vealed the te pe—st, wh ch t eir lea y pr son ha d f ll so be ore hidden a was instantaneous, that it would seem tha t n a ture was nu-t der o in g g some great revulsion in her laws.

’ and The Prince s horse snorted reared, while

’ ’ O a ter s fu o W dashed rio usly n, striking against

a nd i his i f a tree, throw ng r der, rom whose lips there escaped a shriek. What wo uld have been the las t overflowi ng drop in the bitt er cup to a

164 p r a ms WARBa cx.

' on fi a to rch e t had gone rst, and lit ; as th y migh ,

him in his agony on the low couch . The hermit looked inquisitively on all the party; neglecting

fo r to answer Skelton, who asked the hundredth time the distance to Beaulieu . h f Richard still occupied imsel with the Mayor, endeavouring to discover if the limb were bro “ ” ken . By your leave, your Grace, said the “ m o f n her it, I am somewhat a chirurgeo ; I

f o f d boas t o my cures horses, and have save a ” Christian man ere now. Scarcely did the Prince remember to wonder at the title by which the unknown addressed ' B ’ him . y our Lady s love he besought him to “ ” att fri . the end to his end Trust me, said “ m no t f r her it, I will ail ; but you, my Lo d , must not ta rry here ; the forest is beset with

: fo r troops but night and storm, you would

wo hardly attain Beaulieu in safety . It is but t miles distant : I will guide your Highness thither ; and then return to your follower . Have f in m aith me, y Lord ; I have served your royal l i unc e, and was enl sted under your banner last 2 p r a m WARBECK. 1 65

. year m Kent I made a shift to escape; , and

' took ‘ sanctuarys but the stone wall s of a mo mastery are little bette r tha n those o f a prison ;

so l s . betook me to the wood Oh, I beseech

o : f l y u, waste no time I will return . to your o ” « f lower : he is sa e til l then . “ and i Direct us, I . will thank you , repl ed

Richard ; but you shall not desert your patient ” even fo r a moment.

There was no alternative but to comply : the man gave as clear instructions as he might, and Richard again set forwar d with his diminished

' party . They were long entangled by trees ; and

no w it was quite night : the excitement over, the

' r a n v Prince had d ooped ag i . Even this inter al

f o f —a o f : was ull peril tramp . steeds was heard

“ they drew up among the trees ; a party o f é horsemen passed ; o n e co uld it be the voice of “ — o f the subtle Frion said, At the end this glade we shall see the abbey spires . Well I know the same ; fo r when Queen Margaret This speaker was succeeded by a woman ’s

.voice :yet greater wonder, she spoke in Spanish ,

— ’ ’ in unforgotten accen ts Richard s heart stood 66 rea ms wm s cx.

f a hd i his i be t rmnp of steeds grew aint ; bra n,

' ‘ ' thought to enter; save the one fixed t hereeven

' f ue to n er in delirium . The ugitives contin d li g in this spot until it was prob a ble iha t the

’ t ravellers should have arrived . True to the

had o f i nfo rmation they verheard, the orest opened at the end o f the glade into a leafy

m h e n was o s a p itheatr ; an ave ue ppo ite, which l ed to the abbe a e whose Go thic s ires y g t a p , b uttrem s h s e and carved arc e , ros above the

tufted trees in da rk masses. O n e end of the

' l n was i t — was bui di g llumina ed that the church , a nd the peeling organ stole mournful ly o n the ni i erer the i f ght, sound ng a Mis e ; chaunt n g o

he o n w the i s w l t m nks mi gled ith harmon ou s e l , a in o f n u dd g that pathos, that touch solemn , u e i n no tt rable sent me t, which perhaps music,

of ma h e o w sses . save t at the hu n voic , p e

’ ' Richa rd S cdm anio ns - am t] p were rough , vul

' fgms- minded ; but they were Cat holic and t e

' li iou men and were a - g s , we str nck hy this voice

' 1 68 PERKIN WARBECK .

f f and these yielded to a eebleness, that orced hi u mto sink to the ground, when he endeavo red

: h e f to rise orgot his situation , the near abbey,

fr f f re his iends ; he orgot where ore, but he membered that his presence was required some

a nd e eff where, with a resolv d ort he rose and —h f “ staggered towards his horse e ell . A little ” I . was sleep, and shall be well This his last

ht h thoug , and e lay in a state between slumber and stupor upon the earth . ER I CHAPT XI .

I the ul l substance o f m fles h ere tho u h f d y w g t. io i I njur us d s tance shoul d n ot s to p my w ay ;

Fo r h en es i e o f s ace I oul be rou h t , d p t p , w d b g t

To limi s far emo e he e thou dos st a t r t , w r t y . m a mm a ls .

THERE is a terror whose cause is unreveaied

e h ev n to its victim, which makes the eart bea t — wildly ; and we ask the vo iceless thing where f r t he of s o e, when beauty the vi ible universe sickens the achin g sense ; when we beseech the

f the i winds to com ort us, and we implore Invis

fo r f i e f o fa ? ble relie , wh ch is to sp ed to us r m a r

n t We e deavour, in our impotent s ruggle with f i l the sense o comng evi , to soar beyond the

V O L . 1 1 1 . 1 70 PERKIN wa a a s cx . imprisoning atmosphere o f our own identity ;

a to and we call upon the st rs speak to us,

fa would in believe that mother earth , with

e . inorganic voice, propheci s Driven on by the mad imaginings o f a heart hovering be

f f a the tween li e and death , we ancy th t visible frame o f things is replete with ora

—o r is ? cles it true And does air and earth, divined by the sorrow- tutored spirit, possess

’ true aug uries ? At such dread ho ur ' we are

‘ forced to listen and believe : n o r can we ever i a fterwa rds . n f f , common li e, orget our miserable i nitiation into the mysteries o f the unexplained f laws o f our nature . To one thus aware o the

o f misfortune that awaits her, the voice consola t ion is a mockery . Yet, even while she knows

h die ll c that t e is cast, she wi not a knowledge herintimate persuasi on o f ' ill ; but sits smiling

o r u o n any h pe b o ght to her, as a mother on the physician who tal ks o f recovery while her child

(lies . TheLady Katherine had yielded to Richard ’s

sa w‘ tha t e l wishes, because she he r al y desired her

. mo nas er i n - absen ce Alone in a t y, a distan t part

1 72

nor s o f ancient date, could she lay his term en dearment and cheerin g to her heart and be f consoled . In the a ternoon a torn soiled billet w f o f as brought her rom Edmund . In spite

u r m f fa r his wo nd , he had d agged hi sel as as

e t his . to Launc s on , on way to her Forced stop , — ’ he sén t her tidings o f al l he knew Richard s

’ m o ysteri us flight, Henry s bloodless victory, the eagerness the King exp ressed to learn where she was o f , and the dispatching troops in search o f

to . i her. He besoug ht her fly It m ght be

o n hoped that the Prince had escaped bey d sea,

' whither she must has ten ; or falling into his

’ e ha nds . nemy s , she would never see him more

e a P rplexed and gitated , knowing that dis

’ honour would result from Richard s strange dis

he appearance, yet persuaded that had some ulterior view which it behoved her no t to

t t . hwart, she hesi ated what step to take

c ccurred An in ident to end her uncertainty . S l f udden y, in the evening , Monina stood be ore

r n f - he . Moni a came with the sa ety laden A da lid her to o f r , to bear the shores Bu gundy. She r ea ms waa BEcrt . 1 73

i bro ught the history o f the fraud practised upo n

Yo r ~ o f u fo r if o f k, the amb sh laid his l e, his

a n i escape, d the arrival immed ately succeeding

r f hi f to he s, o s ollowers at the Abbey o f Beaul ieu ; ho w / the pawing and trampling o f a horse a t th a t who e g tes had brough out the monks, discovered the hapless Pri nce senseless on the

/ da k so d. e e r H was carri d in, and through her

a w s c re his name a entered in the sanctuary.

She ha d attended on his sick couch two days w and nights, when his first return to reason as

to m e , e t o i plore her to s ek Kath rine, carry (her ’ f beyon d Tudor s power, out o the island prison.

’ Her fa ther s caravel was hovering on the coa st.

A f avouring south - ea st wind bore her to these shores : she ca me a t his desire : the Adalid was

a nd l to there, she might sai , not Burgundy, but

i o . She even , to the spot wh ch harb ured Richard also could take sanctuary in Beaulieu .

The monastery in which th e Duchess o f York

’ n f a had take re uge, was situ ted on Saint Michael s

’ far f m n . The Mo unt, not ro the La d s End f i land projects romantica lly into the sea, orm ng ’ w a little harbour called Mount s Bay . To ards ' 174 PER K I N warra nt s .

‘ ivitv s r ual n the land the accl is at fir t g ad , becomi g

flo ws water, the tide between the rock and the

in co n nected b land, but it was those days y a

- c . ki nd bf natural , ro ky causeway Towards the

’ f for sea it is nearly perpendicular. A strong

‘tress was connected with the church ; and a stone l antern was att ached to one o f the towers o f the

far f e church . Not rom the castl , in a craggy

o f l s - c ff a nd almost i na ccessible part th li , is

’ Cha ir which situated Saint Michael s , , on account

‘ f o its dangerous approach , and the traditions a e o f the ious ttached to it, becam the resort p .

Man y a legend belonged to this spot. Its thick

o o f wo ds, the hoar appearance the crags, the

s sea fo r wide pread , ever warring against the land,

c ha d t f o ut a whi h thrust i sel into the watery sp ce, ti sur in o f r p g a part its empi e, made it singu l a rly grand ; while the placid beauty o f the little ba f m t y or ed by the rock, and the pic uresque

n o f r s groupi g the t ee , the straggling paths, and l r r e so fter bea ut to nume ous bi ds, added very y the sc ene .

A Often did Kath erine . watch the changeful

a f l oce n , or turn her eyes to the more grate u

P1 6

‘ wi m Princess gro ng eac h m inute, ore unquiet and

u h o f fo r r l f miserable, so g t in some kind activity e ie ' ' i ’ tii her suflexi ngs . I will go to Saint M cha el s ” a she fo r e Ch ir, said ; good spirits ev r hover near the saluted spot ; they will hear and carry a ’ f ” food wife s prayer to the throne o the Eternal .

’ In silence Monina followed the lady . They

i - l were both mounta n bred, and trod lightly a ong ff f pa ths, which seemed scarcely to a ord ooting

the o f to a goat. They reached seat the rock ;

ok u f wa they lo ed over the sea, whose dark s r ace s made visible by the sheets o f fo am that covered

T h it ; the roar o f waves was at their met. e

w - red i its sun went do n blood , and, n dying

l r g ories, the c escent moon shewed first pale, then glowing ; the thousand stars rushed fro m among the vast clouds that blotted the sky ; a nd the

n e Wi d tor fiercely round the crag, and howled

. 0 e sk among the trees , arth, and sea, and y ! Strange mysteries ! that look and are so beau tiful even in tumult and in storm ; did ye feel

a the m o f p in then, when ele ents which ye are

se ? compo d , battled together Were ye tortured

f of a by the stri e wind and w ve, even as the soul PE RKIN WARBECK . 177 o f man when it is the prey of passion ?

d a the were ye unmove , p in only being portion o f o f two the hearts the human beings, who,

f s looking on the commotion, ound your, wilde t

a m rage, c l m comparison with the tempest o f f 1 f ear and gr e which had mastery over them . of Sickened by disappointment, impatient despair, each remained, brooding mutely over their several thoughts . Poor Katherine ; her dearest wish was set upon sharing in all its drear minutiae the fortune o f l er e her ord, her gallant knight, h most swe t

n Richard. He was her husband; he had take

co nfidin f o f her her, timid yet g , rom the shelter

- ' ’ father s roof; they ha dentered the young world

f . o hope and hazard together Custom, the gen

’ o f f r w tle weaver so t woman s tenderness, had th o n its silken net o ver her ; his disasters became h f hers ; his Wis es, and their de eat, were also

of hers. She only existed as a part him ; while enthusiastic love made her fondly cling even to

in t the worst that betided , as better its dires shape than any misnamed good fortune that uno “ - l linked them. My love, my altar p ighted

1 5 1 78 PERKIN WARBECK .

' ' thee ; and sleep, my rest unben iso ned by thy

r we good night i The simple wo d, the , that sym

lized co in mo n f f bo our ate, cut in two, each hal ” a nothing, so disjoined .

While Katherine thus struggled with neces

t u . si y, Monina was given p to patience The present hour had fulfilled its fear ; her busy tho ughts fashioned a thousand plans fo r his es

o r cape, tremblingly painted a dark futurity . He was o f . a part her being, though no portion o f

f . hersel was claimed by him She was not his, as f a lover or a wi e, but as a sister might be if in

’ t his ill world such hea rt s concord could exis t : a

o f f o f ff sharing ate and a ection, combined with angelic purity . As easily might she fancy ani mal life to survive in her body after the soul had

a n o f fled , as soon im gi e that the beating her heart c ould continue when the living impulse which

wa s quickened its palpitations still, as that he,

’ er f o f h childhood s play ellow, the golden dream

had a her youth , the shrine at which she s crificed that youth , should die, and she live on in the wido wed world without him .

x 180 PE RKIN ws a nnc .

claim his prize. Katherine received him with dignified sweet ness ; she con quered her ill fate by smiling at i and l n as ts . blows, ooked a Quee , she yielded

f a slav f ht had hersel e. The watching o the nig all diso rdered her drm and derang ed her

d but f r the gol en tresses ; her wondrous ai ness,

f n o f f her and so t mouldi g her ace, regal throat,

e o en w di her n arch d p bro , ben ng over intellige t,

et s ft e e y o , blue eyes ; her person maj stic, ven in its sl o f t im beauty, were tokens a spirit, tha in

s i w de titut on must reign over all ho approached it.

o to - Her first w rds, ease the awe struck Earl, w r e e an entreaty to be conducted to the King. She showed more earnest desire tha n he to pre

n f er f w se t hersel to her royal victor. In a v y e hours, thed descended the Mount ; and has

o ut of i o f the a o f n tened hear ng ro r the ocea ,

so which had cruelly deceived her hopes. In her eyes could only be read the mas tery she had uhtained over her thoughts ; no lurking weak

fe n . ness betrayed ar, or even disappointme t Surely yet she cherished s ome dear expectation ; PERKIN WARBECK . 1 8 1

o to a t yet how, l st to liberty, could she hope tain it ? w u are hile . But th s we , untamed by years Youth,

t i to elas ic and bright, disda ns be compelled .

f its h f When conquered, rom very c ains it orges implements fo r freedom ; it al ig hts from one

‘ bafiied flight, only again to sc ar on untired wing i f towards some other a m. Previous de eat is made the bridge to pass the tide to another if f shore ; and, that break down , its ragments It will feed upon de

ll it o spair, and ca a medicine which is to ren vate

its dying hopes. CHAPTER X III .

Fo r hen C mo cles s aw the oul re roach , w y f p

Which h im a each e ric e i h n o le shame pp d, p k d w t b ’ a A nd inward grief:he fiercely ga n approach

' Res o l e t o ut a a ha l o athl blame v d p w y t t y ,

O r die w1th ho nour a nd des ert o f fame.

s PE N s a n .

FT th e Prin ce o f A ER , by the voyage Monina,

fo r had, as he hoped , provided the escape and

f o f o u sa ety the Lady Katherine, he c ld not,

as i all weak he was, rema n in repose .

From his early childhood he had been nur t ured in the idea that it was his first; chief duty to regain his kingdom ; his friends lived fo r tha t si ngle objec t ; all other occupation was regarded f as impertinent or trifling . On the table o his

184 PERKIN wA nBEcx . nor crowned by victory ; deserted by foreign

s sful allies, un ucces in Ireland, he had appeared at the head o f a rabble army strong on ly in wro ngs and in revenge . Even these he had

c abandoned, and with nameless hinds taken san

'w f tuary ; his story as a able, his name a jeer ;

i fo r the he no longer, so it seemed , ex sted ; appell ation o f D uke o f York was to be lost and merged in the disgraceful misnomer afiixed to him by the ! surper . Ric hard was no whin in g monk to lament the

l . To inevitable, and tamely to await the resu t see an evil was to spur him to seek a remedy ‘ he had given up every expectation o f reign

f a nd ing, excep t such as sprung rom his right, u faith in the justice o f God . But hono r was a more valued treasure ; and to his warm heart dearer still was the safety o f the poor fellows abandoned by him . On the third day after his hrrival t f a Beaulieu, he arose rom his sick couch ,

f e donned his armour, and, yet pale and eebl , sent to speak with the cavalier who commanded h t e party that guarded all egress from the Abbey .

i of W th him he held long parley, in conclusion PERKIN WARBECK .

' which Sir Hugh L uttrel directed three o f his

' f w of his ollo ers to be in readiness, and two

n le a chose horses to be d to the Abbey g tes.

Richard took leave o f the Abbot ; he recom

his f to ri mended poor ollowers him, a d lightly

s o f an wered the remonstrance the holy man ,

who thought that delirium alone coul d urge the

, f ugitive to quit the tranquil, sacred spot, where

he himself passed his days in quiet, and which

held out so secure a protection to the va n i h qu s ed. His remonstrance was vain ; one word more with Richard than a paradise o f i . fa ! f peace In my, dishonour No ; even his people were safe—bythrowing himself in the self

. same peril to which he had apparently ex

’

t cfiaced. e posed hem, that stain were The v ry e lf g ntleman to whom he had surrendered himse ,

" had trespassed o n his allegiance to Henry

to dissuade him fr omthe fool - hardihood of his adventure . It was a sight of pity to see one so

very young walk voluntarily to the sacrifice; and the princely mien and youthful appearance o f

f- all to the sel constituted prisoner, wrought mas co p sion and respect . For still this fair While I ' PERKI N WA RBECK .

zh d he d o ok f r v ‘ o o ; ed, a te such ariety of fortune,

~ if . no t o nl bu as evil y never had, t never could

‘ x tarnish the brightness o f his spirit . or o f his as pect ; illness had a little enfeebled him; without

‘ f o . hiS f detracting r m youth ul beauty, giving f h rather that so tness w ich made it loveliness, yet

f f- painted airer by his sel immolating resolve,

A s weet e a r and amia le race r g d b g ,

M xe i h manl s ernn ess did a ear i d w t y t pp ,

w : fo r and eagerness ithal eag er he was, even to f almost oolish haste, to redeem the lost hours, f and establish himsel again no runaway . With fresh joy he addressed himself to retrace f his steps to Taunton . Sanctuary and re uge — from death o b ! how he trampled on the sla vish thought . Death was to him a word , a

n shadow, a phantom to deride and scor , not an en emy to grapple with ; disgrace was his ab

r fo e hin . ho red , and r he thus overthrew His

a o f resolves, inspired by disd in permitting one

to blemish ex e taint . his career, were not the p dien s o f a o f t prudence, but the he dlong exploit

wa u a c x 188 PERKIN a .

e o t n e » senc , w uld put to fligh the ma y colour d

' i had ‘ web of invention , wh ch his rival cast over him to mar his truth and obscure his nobility .

f r e o A ter three days they d ew n ar Taunt n .

‘ ea The stubble fields, the flowery hedges, the p l ' i teo us orchards were passed. From a ris ng

th w ll o f w ground they looked upon e a s the to n,

' t e his and h vacant moor where camp had st ood .

i “ Sir I R chard halted, saying? Knight, will — awa it you here do you seek your King : say, I

co me c fi u e it a voluntary sa ri ce, to p rchas w h drops o f my royal blood the baser tide o f my

f w— poor ollowers . I demand no mo re bid him rear the scaffold ; let the headsman sharpen the

xe to o ff h e . a , lop t e topmost bough of Plantag net

~ k v m w . e rice I as the des s es o f en ho Th p , is pi ed li , ,

t a e n a o f er bu th t th y loved me, were i cap ble m it

f c r r in r u a or o i rle his eyes. Fo their h mble s kes,

a f r I r . like my gr nd ather Yo k, am prepa ed to die

p ledg e of this be den ied me l still am free .

I and i el if l wear a sword , w ll s l my l e dear y, ” though alone.

n Sir Hugh L uttrel was perplexed. He k ew

o f his l a e the stern natur e roya m st r, and how ws a a a cx . 1 89 . PERKIN heavily he would visit on him any disappo int ment in his dearest wish of obtaining poss ession

’ ' o f . had durin his rival s person The Prince , g

’ a ined r a t their three days companionship, g g e power over him : he felt that he wa s in truth the

f ' son o Edward the Fourth , a man he had n ever

fo r t loved ( Sir Hugh was a Lancastrian), bu one whom he had fea red and obeyed as his ‘ sove

c f reign. How ould he put slavish o rce upon his l ff ? gal ant o spring He hesitated—, till the Prince de ma nded Wherefore delay is there aught ” else tha t yo u desire ?

a ir You pledge your knightly word, s id S ” u no t ? H gh , to desert this spot “ - - Else wherefore am I here? this is idle .

Yet I vo w a , so to content you, swear by my m de

l o f d o ur under the wa ls Grana a, by Lady, and ” th e I l . by e bl ssed Saints, wi l abide here

'The knight rode into the town wi th his {bl

n fo r lowers, leavi g young Richard impatient the hour that was to deliver him to servitude .

D a wben re Sir Hugh first sought Lord y, quest ing him to obtain fo r him instant nu “ ” i i . a dien ce of the K ng His Grace, s d wa a a 1 90 PE R K I N a c x .

’ ' “ « abo ut s to e noble, is at vespers, or att nd

I dare not wait till they are

L uttrel ,who every minute felt the burthen of

responsibility weighing heavier on him . — Nor I interrupt his Majesty e ven now he x ” enters the church .

as ' In haste Sir Hugh crossed the street ; and, K f i the ing took the holy water rom the chal ce,

f f w ' he knelt be orehim . The e wor ds he spoke

’ painted Henry s fa ce with exulting gladness ” d We thank thee, good Sir Hugh, he sai ,

and will make our thanks apparent. By the

’ o f mass, thou hast deserved well us this day ! ” Where hast t hou bestowed o ur counterfeit ?

- a o ur . Hi h~ Ple se your Majesty, he awaits y g " n ess a ccep tan ce o f his conditions without the ” eastern gate . You have plac ed strong guard over him ?

'He pledged his oath to await my return . ” He is alone .

f w a lee ' from A dark, angry ro n ch sed all g

’ ' Tudo r s bro w ; bending a stern glance on his

h r erew ile welcome messenge , he commanded

1 92 p m x m wa na s cx .

his i vow e . m nd, not to fly, his being pledg d, but to remember that he was now free and uncon

’ strained , and would soon be in other s thrall f when arewell to the aspiring thought, the deed

o f o f his f o e arms, and to the star li e, to wh se id a, f l now his purpose was accomplished , he ond y ” n i s i tur ed Poor Kather ne, he whi pered, th s f f is the crown, the ated , allen youth , the seer ” f In f - his or etold. a ter times that scene dwelt on

m n n - d fo r memory ; he called to i d the eve ing ti e,

n the sun was dow , and the clouds, lately gold

lls besprent, waxing dun, as the town wa grew f w u him high and dark, and the e trees abo t

waved fitfully in a soft bree ze : that wind was f ree, and could career over the plain ; what Spell

bound the noble knight and stalwart steed , that

they coursed not also free as it ? — In a few minutes he was a prisoner an d led

r within those darksome walls . At fi st, treated i w w th some observance, he as unaware, as is

the osrti o n case in any new p , with whose circum

a t nces and adjuncts we are unacquainted, how f utterly he had allen . He was led to no ba rred

s fo r pri on ; and, a time, the nobles and knights 193 PERKIN WARBECK . who to n o e flocked see him, were bad exchang fo r e u if the motley cr w he had q itted . But, as in f im al a a dream, he elt gather round him p p — ble but adamantine wal ls chains hung upo n his limbs, not the less heavy, because the iron

o . pierced, his s ul rather than his flesh He had been a free man ; his name was attendedwith

the love and respect, and his aspect commanded

o f . e obedience men Now, the very app llation given to him was a mortal insult ; a stranger

was seemed to be spoken to when he addressed , and yet he must answer. He was never alone ;

’ and night was the sole suspension from the ln f suiting curiosity of the crowd . He must orego himself ; grow an impostor in his own eyes ; take on him the shameful name o f Perkin all

u of P which native hono r, and memory his rin

a e i . cess bride, m d trebly sting ng

‘ To barb the dart came intelligence that the r Lady Katherine was a prisoner. King Hen y had quitted Taunton , and gone towards Exe , 11 15 ter, when, on arrival there, the Earl o f

s Oxford presented the Scotti h Princess to him .

i e o f f Pra s s her wondrous beauty became ri e,

vo 1 1 l u 1 . K . 1 4 ‘ 9 PERKIN WARBECK .

’ i brought by some of the King s tra n, returned to Taunton ; praises so ex cessive and warm as could not have been inspired by celestial if beauty in adversity, . not egged on by some a u fa dventitious stim lant . It was the shion to speak o f her as the Queen o f Lovelines s as (for

’ beauty s sake the name belonged to her) the fairest White Rose that ever grew on thorny bush . By this name she was mentioned to

‘ York ; and it visited his hea rt as the first gl eam o f sunshi ne on his ensha do wed misery : dear wa s the name of the White Rose to the fallen one . It had been his own in fresh and happy days, when first he showed his prowess among

s the knight o f France and Burg undy . Still

o f louder grew the echo some mighty voice,

’ that gave forth encomium o f the prisoner s h bride ; and the smiles wit which some spoke,

m l f o f f of o . s iles ha wonder hal m ckery, told o f at l some secret charm , which last was open y

‘ h commented upon . Again the King saw t e fair one yestermorn ; and dallied ere be granted

if to the earnest suit she made, as he loved so ” be entreated .

K 1 96 PERKIN WARBEC .

’ f r f who this was ordered o his royal wi e s sake,

’ w o f as cousin to England s dear ally, the King

’ did a Scotland . These idle tales not re ch York s

f b e f ear : wherever he showed himsel , en orced

no such personal respect, that there was likeli

’ hood that any conjecture, linked with his lady s

f . name, would be hazarded be ore him He was told that the King entertained her royally ; and when he heard that she was to be presented to

l o f his sister, the Queen Elizabeth , a thril joy

. His i te ! passed into his heart s s r as a boy, he f remembered the air, kind girl , whom he had called his loved and most sweet sister : he knew

o f that she was conscious his truth , and , though

his . wedded to rival , loved not her lord It was a leasin m f p g drea , to ancy these gentle ladies to gether to kno w that, while the one spoke her ff thé f a ection and praise, other must eel the

. a a kindred blood w rm in her he rt, and proudly, though sadly, acknowledge him her worthy brother . CHAPTER XIV.

he r n vel T y a e oble s ufferers . I mar

’ How the d h a e l o o e h ad th e een victors y v k d, y b , With such a cons ta nt nobility enforce

A ree om o f on e f d ut o b dag .

TW O N O B L E K IN SM E N .

THE f of o f vulgar rabble, ond any sort show, were greedy o f this new one . In all parts the

f o o rk of the f name o the Duke , counter eit

o f . a Perkin , drew a concourse gazers The p petite was keenest in London; and many a

n tawdry masque and mime was put in motio , to deck the streets through which the defeated

n youth was to pass . Vainly ; he entered Londo at night, and was conducted privately to West PERKI N .WARBECK .

' h t stran e ? h minster. W a g thing was this W at

o f did f mark reality his very orehead wear, that .

o f f Henry, so prodigal contumely on his oes,

dared not bri ng him forward fo r the public gaze ? One man was put in the stocks fo r a similar remark ; and on the followi ng day it

t n was suddenly proclaimed, hat Perki would go f in procession rom Westminster to Saint Pauls,

f a and back again . A troop o horse at the p pointed hour left the Pala ce : in the midst o f f l them rode a air young gentleman , whose nob e mien and gallant bearing gave l ustre to his

: f f escort his sweet aspect, his rank so t smile,

o f and lively but calm manner, had no trace constraint or debasement. He is unarmed

a r i ? o f —he is th t Pe k n No, the Earl Warwick — ” is a prince sure yet that is he ! Such mur murs sped around ; at some little distan ce fol lowed another burlesque procession ; a poor f i n h is ellow, a Corn shma , was tied to an ass, f s i ace to the tail , and the bea t now proceed ng

no w lazily, driven by sticks, now kicking, now,

ill - f f g alloping, made an ashioned mirth o r the

i e . mult tud Whether, as York was not to be

200 PERKIN WARBECK .

him he guarded , never moving, according to t

o f emphatic language the old chroniclers, the

o f f breadth a nail rom his side . He attended early mas s each morning : he was permitted to

’ take one hour s ride on every evening th at was f not a estival . Two large gloomy chambers,

l . with barred windows, were a lotted him Among his guards, he quickly perceived that the same faces seldom appeared ; and the most rigorous silence , or monosyllabic discourse was impo sed upon them . Harsher measures were perhaps s f al pared, rom respect to his real birth , or his liance with the King o f Scotland : yet greater

n n . severity had bee less tantalizi g As it was,

the corpse in the grass- grown grave was not f f more bere t o intercourse with the sunny world,

win than the cag ed Duke o f York . From his do w he - s, looked upon a deserted court yard ; in |

i to f e his rides, purposely d rected un requent d

he few a spots, now and then saw a hum n beings

- such name could be hardly bestowed on his

- f - . stony aced , stony hearted guards Richa rd was the very soul o f sympathy ; he l l co u d muse fo r hours in so itude, but it must be PERKIN WARBECK; 20 1

upon dear arg ument, that had fo r its subject the

as ff He ple ures, interests or a ections o f others .

could not entertain a heartless intercourse: W a c herever he saw the hum n ountenance, he

f - r d beheld a ellow creatu e ; and, uped a thousand

tirnes , and a thousand times deceived, still he ” must love . To spend thehour in Sportive

talk ; fondly to interchange the gentle offices o f domestic life ; to meet peril and endure misery

f re with others ; to give away himsel , and then t to l adeh urn his inner being, like a bee with gathered sweets ; to pile up in his store- house

s o f f an d memory, the trea ured honey riendship l o f ove, and then away to nestle in the bosom his own dear flower, and drink up more, or gaily

‘ to career the golden fields ; such was his nature : — and now this was worse than loneliness ; this commune with the mutes o f o ffice ; to be checked by l ow- born men ; to feel that he must obey the f heck o an hireling . A month, interspersed

o f with hopes change, he had endured the de grada tion ; now he began to meditate escape . ? W Yet he paused . Where was Katherine here his many zealous fi iends ? K 5 202 PERKIN WARBECK

The Lady Katherine was in an apartment of f f the Palace, whose arched and retted roo , and i thick buttresses, were well adapted to mpart a feelin g o f comfortable seclusion from the rough

o f elements without. The dulness dark Novem ber was gladdened by a huge wood fire . The little Pri nce of Wales was narrating some strange story o f fa iryland ; and bluff Harry was setting t wo r f dogs to quar el, and then beatin g his avour its fo r n i i not co quer ng, wh ch seeing, his sister Marg aret drew the animal from him to console and ca ress it: The gentle Queen bent over f her embroidery . Listening she was to her a vo urite him f Arthur, interrupting with play ul questions and exclamations, while Katherine no w kindly attended to the boy, now turned

' anxiously at every sound . She rose at last : f Surely vespers are ringing rom the Abbey . My lord the King promised to see me before ” vespers.

to My lord the King is very gracious you , ” ” l . sweet one, said E izabeth l Methinks by nature he is gracious, rep ied

s I him . the Princess ; at lea t, have everfound so

204 PERKIN WARBECK :

~ e o f f- i to , c ss sel restraint, tim d, schooled patience i l but with the proud fiery spirit o f a P antagenet,

i n ot n her tall ed, dead withi , she could be silent, but not speak by halves . The very natural vi va city o f her nat ure made her disda in not to have

her will, when once it was awaked. She strug gled against her rising feeling ; she strove to sup

press her emotion ; but at last she spoke ; and

ft once again, a er the ten years that had elapsed

’ n since her mother s impriso ment, truth was u imaged by her words . To none co ld she have

if o f addressed herself better. The l e the Scot tish Princess had been spent in administering balm to wounded minds : the same soft elo quence, the same persuasive counsels, that took

’ the sting o f remorse fr om her royal cousin s con

- w science, was spent upon the long hidden sorro s

f f u o . o the neglected wi e, the h mbled w man

From her own sensitive mind she culled the knowledge which taught her where and how

a n d o peace resignati n were to be found . The piety that mingled with her talk was the

religion o f love ; her philosophy was mere love ;

i o f ow and it was the sp rit love, n kindling the 05 PERKIN WARBECK . 2 b l now a my atmosphere o f charity to many, con:

r a centred in one point, but ever e dy to soothe

m ff ' f hu an su ering with its so t influence, that dwelt upon her lips, and modulated her silver f voice . Elizabeth elt as if she had wandered long

f- i in a wol haunted W ld, now suddenly changed

' f f fu ’ to a airy demesne, resh and beauti l as poet s

f set dream . Timidly she eared to her untaught

- feet within the angel guarded precincts . The

’ first effect o f her new friend s eloquence wa s to

f o f make her speak . A ter years silence, to utter

th ’ f her very inner oughts, her woman s ears, her

i e rep nings, her av rsions, her lost hopes and affections crush ed : she spent her bitterest words ; but thus it was as if she emptied a silver chalice o f to its gall , be refilled by Katherine with hea l ven y dew. The weeks o f baffled expectation grew into

t . a o f mon hs It is a dre ry portion our existence, when we set our hearts upon an object which e r cedes as we approach, and yet entices us on .

’ The king s courtesy and smiles, and eviden t

e r pleasure in her soci ty, gave bi th to warm

s o f i hopes in the bo om the pr ncess . She had 206 p ianx m wa nna crc.

’ asked to share her husband s prison ; she had him besought to be permitted to see ; it seemed,

’ from Henry s vague but consolatory answers, that to - morrow she would receive even more

i o f the tha n her desires . The d sappointment w morro , which she lamented bitterly at first, f then grew into the root, whence resh hopes

n f spru g again, to be elled by the cruel axe, again to shoot forth : the sickening sensation of despair crept over her sometimes ; her very struggles to master it enfeebled her ; and yet she did conquer all but the hard purpo ses o f the tyrant. Now a messenger was to be despatched to Scotla nd ; now he expected one thence ; now an embassy fr om Burgundy : he implored her

l s patience, and talked back the smi e into her saddened countenance . He was almos t sincere

his at first, not in excuses, but in his desire to

‘ pleas e her at any sacrifice ; but - this dlSlD tel ? estad wish grew soon into a mere grasping at self- g ra tificatio n . In a littl e whil e he hoped she would be persuade d how vain it was to expect that he should set free so dangerous a rival ; and yet he did not choose to extinguish all her

20 8 rea ms wa na a c x .

The strangest sight o f all was to see Henry

’ act a lo V er s part. At first he was wholly sub dued,

’ he o in So eas is a eas e. t s m y , t pp t r y w d

m f le Of malice in the cal o as a n omankin . , p t w d

Even generosity and magnanimity , disguises he sometimes wore the better to conceal his inborn

o f fo r littleness soul , almost possessed him ; a moment he forgot his base exultation in crush

fo e fo r ing a , and a moment dwelt with genuine

on pleasure the reflection , that it was in his

f her power to grati y every wish , and to heap ben efits on one so lovely and so true . When

first she was presented to him , in all the calm majesty o f her self- conquering mood ; her stain

eff less loveliness had such ect, that surely he co uld deny her nothing ; and when she asked tha t no foul dishonour should be put upon her

b e befb re k : his Lord, granted almost she as ed expressions o f service and care were heartfelt ; f and she los t every ear as she listened . When f custom, which , with man , is the devourer o

f o holy en thusiasm, changed his purer eelings int

to something he dared not name, he continued ’ ‘ PERKIN wa a ns cx ; 209

if f man est the same eelings, which had bested

i him so well at first ; a n d to angle with his prey.

he fo r Though scarcely knew what he wished, a thousand worldl y motives sufficed to check any

a dishonourable approach, it was enough th t she was there ; that, when she saw him, her coun t en an ce lighted up wi th pleasure ; that with the sweetest grace she addressed her entreaties to u his ear ; not in abr pt demands, but in such i u earnest prayer, such yielding aga n , to ret rn with another and another argument ; that often

if to he thought, even he had wished concede, he would hold out a little longer, that still her him sweet voice might address , still her state neck be bent imploring as she fixed her blue eyes on him . It was very long before the artless girl sus

ted pec that he had any other intent, but to con sent at last to her supplications . As it was as eas y t o him to lure her on with a greater as

‘ r f s l es se hope, she even ancied that, under certain

’ f d be restrictions, York s ree om might restored ;

' ‘ and that with him, in some remote country, she mig ht bless Tudor as a generous adversary. 21 0 PERKIN WARBECK§

was f the r t o Elizabeth a raid to discover t uth ,

fo r a her, she also dre ded to lose her, and was

f f o f sh a raid that, on the ailure her hopes, e would seek to return to Scotland ; or at leas t

’ seclude herself from her husband s jailor. Mo nina first awoke her to the truth. Monina,

to who had been Brussels, to consult with the

Duchess Margaret an d Lady Brampton , and

’ who came ba ck full o f projects fo r her friend s e h scape, heard wit amazement and scorn the false lures held out by Henry ; she impa

tientl - v f r y put aside e ervinducement o delay,

a f and with rash, but determined ze l , ramed f him many a scheme o r communicatin g with ,

and contriving means fo r his flight. — — He himself the chained eagle was sick at — — heart . No word no breath no hope ! Had

f ? b as all orgotten him Was e, yet living, er ed

from the lists o f memory ? Cut off fie m the

in beloved beings whom he had confided, through — their o wn act no longer a part o ff their ? thoughts, their lives, themselves Stood he l alone in this miserable world, a lied to it by — hate only the hate borne to him by his foe?

2 1 2 PERK I N WARBECK .

all of and, above , by the keen burning desire her

a im heart, the L dy Katherine became very portun a te with the crafty monarch to be per mi tted an interview with her lord. Henry was in no mood to grant her request : the thousand designs he had meditated to disgrace his vic

fo r tim, he had given up her sake, because he would not refuse himself the pleasure o f seeing f her, and eared to behold aversion and horror mark an aspect hitherto all smiles towards him .

f r o f The same ear, nurtu ed by the expressions ff him her tender a ection , made hesitate, ere he should endeavour to convince her that she had f misallied hersel to an impostor . Indeed, when at last he ventured to frame a speech bearing

n if such a meaning, her a swer told him, that, he could have changed the royal York into base

n f born Perkin , the you g and innocent wi e would still cling to him to whom she had pledged her vows ; to whom she had given himself; whose

’ o wn nu , in heaven s and her own eyes, she

lienabl . a y was But now Henry, grown more l cal ous as time elapsed, coined a new scheme,

ul b e a i vile as his own so resolved, by ct ng on E I 2 1 P RK N WARBECK . 3

’ f t her woman s ears, enderness and weakness, to make her the in struinent o f persuading her lord f to some damning con ession , that mus t stamp f him as a deceiver o r ever . This bright project

him to f animated resh endeavours to please, and her with fresh hopes ; yet he paused a little before he sought to execute it.

Winter crept on into spring, and spring ripened into summer, and still the various actors in this tragic drama were spending their

’ s lives, their every thought and heart s pul ation , on one object. Richard had latterly received intimation that he would be permitted an in terview with his beloved White Rose ; and a week or two more were patiently endured with

i . th s expectation Katherine each day believed,

! that on the morrow she should see him, whom n ow she conversed with only in her nightly

to him dreams, and woke each morning find

fled with them . Some change approached :

’ Henry s promises became more clear in t heir expression ; his assertions more peremptory ; he

his i would at last name cond tions, which she was to communicate to her lord ; ' even Elizabeth ' 2 14 . . PERKIN WARBECK

* . o e « almost dared to hope M nina alone, de ply

l f of impressed with a be ie in the malice Tudor,

was incredulous, and reluctantly yielded to Katherine’ s request to suspend yet a little while

her plots.

a Whitsuntide arrived, and Henry at l st would

f : decide . This estival was to be spent at Shene

f e thither the royal amily went, accompani d by i the Princess, who vanqu shed her disappoint f ment at urther delay, not to appear an ingrate

- f i . to the air prom sing King Indeed , in the

secure hope she cherished o f again seeing vhim

.who was her earthly paradise, she smiled through

t he - . very heart gushing tears expectation caused

. s n to flow On Whit Sunday she awoke, re olvi g

to discard the heavy lo ad o f anticipated evil that

involuntarily weighed at her heart . She knelt f l v at mass, and ervent y stro e to resign her dear

est wishes to the dir ection o f her God ; and — yet that she should see him again soon oh ? — how very soon filled her with such dizzy rap

'

r n w f r - ture, that her o iso s ere o got midway re

' — membered; and turned to th a nksg ivings till she recollected that still her hope was unfulfill ed ;

2 1 6 PERKIN wa nnr cx. forth the thing which yet was fo r ever present

al l to it ; and, while else were amazed to hear that o Y rk escaped and fled, his lovely, anxious

o ff f cut rom communication with all, knew only that she alone was ignorant o f what she w f ' ould have given her li e to learn . CHAPTER XV .

Tho u Go d o f win s tha rei nest in the seas , d , t g ,

Th a t rei nest al s o in th e co n tinent g ,

A t las t l o u s o me entle al e o f eas e b w p g g ,

The which ma rin m shi ere it b e ren y b g y p , t.

h in ! nto the gla ds ome po rt o f er tent .

s r nus z a .

D ! RIN G the winter and the untoward late spring, Richard had endured his captivity . The

m a war h ppy summer season , calling all nature n to a jubilee, at first sadde ed , then animated

o f him to contrive new projects escape . The promised interview with his White Rose tempt ed him e to delay ; , while an inner spirit reb lled e ven against this dear enticement, and ba de hi m fly .

o f o f un On the evening the ninth J e, he was

V O L 1 1 1 . L 2 18 PERKIN WARBECK .

' permitted to attend vespers in a secluded chapel

s o f Westminster Abbey. During the hor t pas f sage rom the Palace to the Cathedral, it seemed to him as if a new life were awake every where ;

o f an unknown power, on the eve liberating

’ him . Never before had he prayed so fervently f r f : e o reedom the pealing organ , the dim arch d

a cteda as s venerable vault above, stimulant to his i roused and eager soul ; he stood t ptoe, as on the o f s f his eve the accompli hment o desire.

A deep and awful sound sudde nly shook the

i h ' fill ed building ; a glar ng, lurid flas , with

n a . A l o f stra ge brilliancy the long, d rk aisle c ap

f a thunder, loud, and swi tly repe ted , reverberated along the heavens ; the shr il l scream o f women answered the mig hty voic e . The priest who

. sa w c read the service, his sa red book glared on fl by so keen a ash, as blinded him to the dim mer light that succeeded . Every bein g in the

a i e s church s nkon the r kne s, cro sing themselves, and striving to repeat their pa temosters and

w i f l s aves h le Richard stood ear e s, enjoying the

n ] elemental roar, exulti g in the pea , the flash ,

et el the tempestuoushavock, as powers y reb lious

220 PERKIN WARBECK. guards rushed towards the spot ; the only re

~ g maining o ne was kneeling in an a ony o f terror . York stood on the threshold o f the porch ; he

few e fear os advanced a steps b yond ; a new , p ill —h ! sessed the fellow . He w escape i alloo ” - — e James Martin l The very words imparted

he l t thought to the Prince, who fil ed erewhile f with wonder and religious awe, had orgotten

ma n his own sad plight. He turned to the , who was doubtful whether to rush into the

fo r his z chapel comrades, or singly to sei e his

r — p isoner his dagger was drawn . Put up f ” that oolish steel, said York, it cannot harm

m God f — one who ca lls to reedom listen , he — spea ks ; farewell ! The lightning again

flas hed : with blue and forked flame it ran along the blade o f the wea pon raised aga inst him ;

s with a hriek the man dashed it to the earth .

a was Rich rd already out o f sight.

The rain poured in to rrents : it came down

in continuous cata racts from the eaves o f the

houses. On this sunny festival few had re

a i - m ned at home ; and those, terror stricken

no w w , ere on their knees : no creature was K ’ am m PER IN w cx . 221

” in the streets as the fugitive sped on, ig no

' rant whither he should g ti. London was a

w to : as vast, unkno n labyrinth him as well he

and could divine, he directed his flight eastward, a th t with such velocity, that he might compete

’ ' ' in full ca ree l f n h im with a horse r . a vsaw , as e thus with winged heels he flew along, th y

' did not wonder that a person should hast en t o s o f w s f helter out the storm . It a o slight regard

e e t an d to him, that rain and hail plough d the ar h, continual thunder echoed through the sky ; that

' alone and friendless he fled thr ough the streets

’ of f His u n t his Victor s chie city . ex lti g hear , t f his light, glad spirit told him hat he was ree ; if fo r few f a minutes only, he would joy ully

’ purchas e with his life those few minutes eman

‘ cipa tibn from his frightful thraldom . No wor ds

th e could speak, no thought image supreme

o gladness f that moment .

a Meanwhile, d rk night, aided by the thick

n o f clouds which still poured down torre ts rain,

and had crept over the dim twilight, began to

' ” inibarrier with doubt the path o f the rejoicing l f . f the o f ugitive He ound at ast, that lines houses 3 222 PERKIN . wa nnncm

hewas a in receded, and that in an open sp ce,

t o f ‘ w‘ the mids which rose a gigan tic . shado , stretching itself iri stillness and vastness on the” — summit of the rising ground before him it was

’ t ‘ o f . . No w clo aked b the Cathedral St Paul s , y the red dark and inclement night, he began to

flect o n his actual situation : London might

S h warm wit his partizans, but he knew not where

fi c u- r to nd on e. Probably all those who were ec

' f resided in t e pied by his ate Westmins er, whenc he had precipitately fled ; whither ass uredl y

e er-s he would not return . These r flections p

lexed but a r o p him, in no wy allayed his t ansp rt at finding himself free ; he felt that if he wana

fi a nd d o f r dered to the wide elds, ied hunge

the un e there, it were bliss enough to see sky ” clo uded by his dungeon roof; to behold the woods, the flowers, and the dancing waves ; nor

’ s e who be mocked with man s hap , when those ’ — woreit had sold man s dearest privilege t hat o f allowing his actions to wait upo n the free im

o f pulses his hea rt. Still therefore he hurried along; a nd fin ally becaxm completely bewildered in some swampy,

224 PERKIN wa nns cxx t he armour and weapons with whic h he h ad

e f defended himself from and attack d ortune.

Even one so fa llen and so low as poor Ja ne

o f and Shore, was, through the might fidelity

his ht affection, o f more avail than all doug y

is a ns o f e w t ? pa rt , who, in the hour ne d, ere sca f f terad and orget ul .

lo w- f f un mis The , roo ed cot was be ore him m taken . : The crevice whence the light e anated

too s is i n was ‘ mall to admit h enqu ring gla ce ;

i f a amid the driv ng, pattering rain he ancied th t

i b a t be d stinguished voices within ; , with a bold

f n he f ness which bade him ear nothi g, li ted the

in o f latch, and beheld truth a sight wonder

t f her t she Monina, with a shriek star ed rom sea f f m an d olded him with wild joy in her air ar s,

f on then, blushing and trembling, threw hersel

the neck o f Lady Brampton ; and Jane her sel f

f o o f rose rom her c uch straw, more wan , more — ema ciated than ever yet even over her sad pale f c a s i n a e , m le wa dered, shewing in yet more h astl h ues n it illumined. g y the rui ,

u cu i a nd t Q estions, eja lat ons, wonder deligh ,

burst fromevery lip : He is here to dur wish ; ' of s a re and he e the means e cape secured, is h re 1

' dearest 'L ad o do no t Oh, y Brampt n , the blessed ” ' ? of . angels guard him Monina spoke, and her s t

“ W o n if luminous eyes ere fixed him , as not daring

to chastenedx , believe the vision ; it was not the

” ’ o f n e e f a delight age, but the bur ing, ard nt joy

‘ a h o nex de- l young he rt, who had but one thoug t,

‘ s r ' t e t i e, and that abou to be accomplish d her

flushed cheeks betokened her ra pture : I ha ve

' a lmos t bla s h m h repined, despaired , p e ed ; yet e

v ' here z ho w . God s en is good is Almighty ! Li t ,

a r - de r my Lord, how wond ously opportune your

l : l arriva is Lady Brampton will tell you al . Oh,

’ this new miracle is the blessed Virgin s own achievement—you are free l ”

dew z Sca rcely less animated , the zealous lady tailed the circumstances that united so f avourably

had e fo r o e fo r him . She be n s me tim at Brus

- sels with the Duchess Margaret, who wa s more grie ved than could be imagined at the capture o f

he her beloved n ephew. S lived in a st ate o f

n terror on his a ccou t. That his life was awhile

f : the ‘ spared, availed little to paci y her ; mid

u - a s sb f night m rders and prison ass s inations, ri e

L 5 'PERK I N WA RBECKI

s i h . wa rs o f (lur ng .t e i York and L ancaster Weré

‘ r d br a rtizaris fo r eve y evice, every ibe, to gain p

v - h achie ei f . Arno n im to his reedom g others, f f ff most liberal o promises” was the a lse Cli ord . After Richard had es caped from him in the New

s he fell i n i n Fore t, , with Fr o , whose double plot

'

f d he . being de eate , strove to capture and accuse

c l c fa v the a comp i e whom, in ct, he had decei ed .

The Knight fledghe esca ped to the Low Countries ;

- l in and by a gloz ing ta e .easily g a ed dhe ear of

uc e s in enha he the D h ss, Lo t England, p ps

wished to reb nild his fallen fortunes ; . aided by

mun ifioence e M P , perhaps he prepared som

: o . it new treachery h wever might be, he was

s ed ul o f the r tra t , and was the so p esen t enter

'

ri . s t d p se De Faro s ve sel , refi ted and well manne , ' the m o f m was now anchored in outh the Tha es.

Clifford undertook t he tas k o f foisti ng some

ea t e o f o wn .o r e f . i cr ur his , ev n himsel ! d sguised ,

’ o f un dertaking the part o f one o f Richard s

ee do ub ted l no t tO ube k pers, when he able to

c fl . se ure . his ight

With her usual vivacity Lady Brampto n gave

228 PERKIN wa nnecm'

t d s s attemped bol ness, and , la t, ullen malice

painted his as pect when he beheld the Pri nce .

w a He as much ch nged, and looked a lmost

an old man ; his dark and profuse hair was

nd grizzled ; his grey eyes hollow ; a his dress,

at o f b n o f though th a cavalier, exhi ited sig s i l hab tual neglect. His person , a ways slight, had been redeemed from insig n ifica n ce by its

‘ exquisite grace a nd eleg ance ; every . trace of , this was flown ; and his hagga rd do un ten a nce

and diminutive size made even York sca rcely

wa s e l s credit that this inde d the gay, reck es

Robin . His resolve had been already made ;

he ss Sir addre ed him kindly, saying, Robert,

I 'hear that you are willing to renew to me your broken vows : may you hereafter keep them ” more faithfully .

Clifford muttered a few words ; he looked to

if o f wards the door, as desirous escape ; he

“ u a nd s str gg led with shame, guilt, ome other

emotion . As soon as a consultation began as to the mean s to be adopted fo r the Prince to

c the in f el f rea h sea sa ety, he conquered hims , 2 PERK I N WARBECK. 29

h a entering into it with spirit and zeal . T e pl n i ’ s f if the he propo ed was cra ty, his own part in

’ f dis u1s 1n the principal . He spoke o g g prince

a f a o n o f his a nd as em le attendant Monina ; .

’ ’ O W ter s om a l o n he a acc panying them g . t river banks as soon as daylight .

f ? r And where ore not now Or rather, whe e f ore even now do we not hasten to the Thames, ” an d seize a boat ?

“ ff ! Mo q Because, said Cli ord , interrupting

, “ ’ i his ~Hi hn ess s is n na, g flight already known ; a line o f boats intersects the Th a mes alielow

n af Lo don Bridge ; and lower still every .cr t is ” on the alert. Each one exchanged looks ; the Knight con

“ i : a ll I t n ued You distrust me, and wonder

\

I « not. am in your power now ; here are my unarmed hands ; even a woman may bind them .

Go forth yourselves ; seek the path to the see : before an hour elapses the Duke will be again a

in s l prisoner. You may thi wild spot p ant

u tha t in b t . your daggers my heart to avenge,

f . will not save him; o r I have no power . here

f m and b vthe But set me ree, confide to y care, , y ’ 23 0 r na x m wa a nncx .

me d c of the God that made , he walks the e k

I ' ul Adalid are the setting sun . co d tell yo u

' ho w t be the i mo re his can , and ye would not

if I s o f trust me, poke such alliance with, such

a nd ‘ va abo nds o f s power over, the rogues g thi

e saintly city, as enables me to mov strang e engines to execu te my will ; even if you credited h me, you would disdain that your ero should f u owe his li e to such base means. Be it as yo

' will : believe me ; and I pledge my life tha t his

' G race will ride the da nci ng waves beyo ndrKing

’ ” - n Henry s reach to morrow night . “ ” wh I accept the pledge, replied York, o l “ had eyed him earnest y as he spoke . I com

f o ur ca re mit mysel to y ; act speedily, without ” a fear o f ba lk or suspicion on my p rt.

’ Clifford s lips curled into a tri umpha nt smile ;

a a s e n bec use gain he was tru ted, or b cause agai he would betrayg it was hard to divine: I ” t first lao mus beseech your patience in the p e, s aid Sir Robert : I can no t get the fit ti ng dis, ” g uises during the night. ” Night is no more, replied Richard, throw ing open the casement ; and the dusky room was tena nce r l s e c du ing the who e cene, x laimed

“ ‘ o ur o wn ! m ri This moment is Fly, y P nce ; — trust me I know that bad man ; if he find you

e he h re when returns, you are lost, ! d Hist Jane spoke the wor , and a dead

h ~ silence fell upon t eanxious band . The steps o f a horse were heard : Monina flew to the “ fa it h f casement. It is our Irish riend, my

’ ” was Lord ; it is 0 Water. The door opened ; v and each one crowded round the isita nt. He uttered a “ By the mischief ! ” which sounded

sa w o f like a benediction, when he the Duke

a I l f York, adding , all is well, all in re diness ; e t f the Adalid, a ter the storm vester evening, in ” sa fe anchorage . ” a f Oh yes, s ety , cried the enthusiastic “ Spa niard ; safety or death ! Trust not fal se ff — u Cli ord seize the fleeting, precious opport nity

’ ’ 0 Wa ter s horse

‘ “ n "he Is blow , said Richard, cannot carry me. “ And the ways strangely beset, s aid the “ I Mayor. Just now saw a young gentleman p r m s a wa nnecx . 233

dea rl but n He bribed y,u they wo uld ot list en ” the ’ whole country is alarmed . ” I fo r ff d will wait Cli or , continued York ; “ e . fr and trust in providenc Some kind iend only ,

: I bestow a dagger on . me would not be taken

e lik . an unarmed girl

’ — A tramp o f steeds they are ” ford guides them hither ; we ar e lost ! cried

‘ Lady Brampton .

— — ’ ‘f O h fl fl m d O a ter exs , y y y liege, sai fl pose not these women to the a ssault. Poor Rose

a ca n et h a r f f Bl nche y e you ast and ar .

t . f n a r The sound as o a troop o f horse e ed.

’ The Prince saw O W a ter blo cking i up the case

. l\/Io n in a ment, and then draw his sword , f f m wild with agony, ell at his eet Fly; y

’ fo r Lord, fly the Lad y Katherine s sake : fly

n : w fo r I see ? I, ho mi e own must you die .

a a a a have lived l s ! how v inly . Lady Br mpton — — he . 0 t beseech command must fly , hey will

— e him be here to seize, to murd r

” ’ a O Wa ter Here is my dagger, my lord, s id coolly Defe nd yourself meanwhile - now 234 P ER K I . N , WARBECK

’ Lady recommend . us to God s holy grace The gallop o f a troop grew yet more distinct ;

R a r n ich d looked round : Jane was kneeli g, her face buried in her hands : Lady Br ampton

“ b ut c fi the fe pale, resolved , was ready to sa ri ce li

’ O a « e she ha d spent fo r him. W ter had resign d

‘ m f th f o f f o f hi sel to e inal act a li e peril, sealed

a a e dfo in his blood . The lovely Sp niard lon st a ll her self- possession ; tears strea ming fromher

upl ifted eyes ; her arms twined rou nd his knees : — to fly fly! was the only thought she could ex ” “ h press . I yield , said York ; t row open

” ’ ’ O /V a ter s o n the door . l h rse had bee led

Within the but ; he vaulted on his ba ck ; he

.z ” placed the dagger in his belt. That way,

“ ’ r l s t Lady B ampton cried, it ead n the river s side below

A scream from Moni na follo wed his swift der ” —he l r parture. He perishes betrays us c ied

' O W er l o n no s a t . Richard ga loped ; t acro s f but i the fields away rom town , right . nto

the ai danger ; there, whence troop was cert nly

He the s approaching. was lost to view on in tant,

CHAPTER

I‘h ll ma n a lo rious mo nin have I seen y g r g ,

latt r th e moun ain s i h s o erei e e F e t top w t v gn y , Kis s in g with go lden fa ce the mea do ws green ; Gilding p al e s t reain s with hea venly a l chemy ;

n on e mi the ases clou s t o i e A , p r t b t d r d

With u l rac o n his celes ial fa ce g y k t .

s n a z s r m nn .

o f THE Duke York, urged so earnestly to fly, felt that to do so was to save himself at the ex

’ o f f ven pense his riends, on whom Henry s

fu f g ea nce would severely ll, when he ound him self balked o f his victim . He consented to S ’ f leave Jane hore s abode, with the resolve not o

ff es o f e ecting his cape, but securing, by surren

n f f o f f deri g himsel , the sa ety his de enceless adherents united under her lowly roof. He 7 PER K IN WAR BECK . 23

l v n directed his course as he be ife ed i to the very

o f centre danger, entering the narrow stragg ling str eet whence the sound cf the advance o f the troop o f horse had been heard: He entered the lane ; it was empty. The ominous sounds were still sharp and near ; it seemed as if they were in some street parallel to the one which he e r d. i th eade He turn d at right angles nto another, to reach the spot ; again he turned, led by the

f t . It ba fling noise, in another direc ion was j ust four in the morning ; there were but fewabroad so early he saw a monk gliding stealthily fr m f o under a dark archway, and a poor ellow,

’ who looked as if he had slept beneath heaven s

f f . roo , and had not wherewithal to break his ast

the f True to kindly instincts o his nature,

Richard felt at his girdle fo r his purse ; it was long since he had possessed the smallest coin o f ’ “ I a Prin ce f his adversary s realm . , his eeling f had been more bitter, but that his ingers came

' ’ in contact with his dagger s hilt, and the con victio n o f freedom burst with fresh delight upon

en o f i fo r him. Free, ev in spite his ntents ; the ' 238 PE R K I N wanBECK .

tramp which had gradually gro wn fainter, was

dyin g absolutely away. a u: f They had p robably rea ched the hut : thither

find he must retu rn . It was no easy thing to his

had h f way to it, he so entangled imsel in the

’ o f narrow lanes, and wretched assemblages , dwellings huddled together on the outskirts o f

' t f r London . At leng h they opened be o e him ;

e t n th re was the dingy field , there the hut, s andi g

of n sun o f in quiet beneath the rays the morni g ,

so ft 'swee t . the opening, summer, , day He was h w quickly at its threshol d ; . e entered . Jane as

n o within, alo e, seated in her wo den chair ; her han ds clasped ; her pale face sunk on her bosom

hen e es big tears were gathering in y , and rolling

’ w fa e do n her ded cheeks unhe ded . Jane s aspect was usually so marble (a miraculous chiseling o f resigned hopelessness, )her mien so unbending,

that these signs o f emotion struck the Prince with wonder and compassion .

f s e He knelt at her eet and pre s d her thin,

n but little hand to his lips, sayi g, Mother, f ? where are my riends Mother, bless me before ” I go .

’ ‘ 240 PE B K I N WARBECK .

t no ught, now a long e ernity ; it was when my poor heart knew nothing o f love save its strong necessity and its delight ; methought I woul d

’ f e f o ffs fo r o see your ath r s air pring, I l ved them v ' fo r his sake . At the festi al of Easter I placed myself near the gate o f the roya l chapel : I tho ught to be unseen . The happy Q ueen held

n her sons each by the ha d ; you were then , as

e t S e- now, his imag , a li tle portive blu eyed che

n f ’ rub . The Pri ce o Wales had his mether s

" ft s u look ; her large, dark eye, her so , ro y mo th, her queenlike brow ; her beauty which had won

w es Ed ard, her chaste sweetn s, which had made

' hm f rwence t o u to her wi e ; my p , I h ght conceal

a . d her it bet ter, was reve led The Queen turne

face away ; there was anguish surely written " fo r the a of there, Prince d rted on me a look

s — he—his n such withering corn yes, even stai f ’ f less, air brow was knit, his bright angel s ace w ’ clouded : the look sunk in my heart. Ed ard s

a beautiful , pure child reproved me, h ted me

' fo r three days I felt that I would never see

' the deluder more : you do no t share his a h E ' 24 P R K I N WARBECK . 1 ho rrence ; yo u do not hate the pale ghost ' o f Shore’ s wife ? ”

i th e Such clinging to the past, such liv ng. mory o f what was so abs olutely dead to all “ f - except hersel , awe struck the Prince, We are ” o f God all sinners in the eye , he said, but thy f f aults are surely orgiven thee, gentleone; thy tears have washed every trace away, and my brother, my poor murdered Edward, now blesses thee . Alas ! Would that I could soft en this last stage ff f ” o f your su ering earthly li e .

’ ” ’ is s Tis better as it , she answered ha tily,

once I felt disgrace and privation keenly ; perhaps that may atone. Now, would it were f f more bitter, that so I might wean mysel rom him . whose very memory will lose my soul .

You are good , and Our Lady will requite you .

i l a Now, l sten , the damse Monin and Master

’ O W a ter have gone towards Southend :your re

f fo r . l maining riends watch you here I sha l - see

them again to- night : meanwhile it is to be feared

' o mit s that Clifio rd pl ts vengeance, and you t fly ;

you mus t at every h azard go to wards Southend .

B w 3 eyond the to n , on the lone sands, there is

V OL . I I I . M w 242 PERKIN a nns cx .

J w hross ll n - ooden , te i g where one escaped dread ful peril through the might of Him who died

f in f on it o r us ; the smallest sign , the wav g o

for your cap, will be watched by the Adalid,

ll a ak o u on d they wi send a bo t to t e y boar .

Now swiftly depart : your life hangs on the hour ; this purse will furnish you with means ” Lady Brampton left it for you .

Bless me, mother, ere I go . Can ' a sinner’ s blessing avail ? fear rather

“ s that God puni h me through you, where my

in heart is garnered . Oh, may he deed bless ” and save you ; and I shall die in peace .

He kissed her withered hand and was gone ; s h e dragged her failing limbs to the eas ement ; he was alrea dy lost among the straggling tene ments that bounded her field .

Again York was flying from his foe; again stu ff f . dying to elude pursuit , with how di erent eelings

f r fo r Be ore, his flight was perempto y, the preser

o f vation others, while he blindly longed to de f . fo r liver himsel to slavery Now liberty, its own

e d ar sake, was worth the world to him . He had

s its of ta ted to dregs the misery captivity, and l o d athed the very name ; whatever might beti e,

244 PERKIN WARBECK.

Now over head the meetin g boughs of trees scarce s ufliced to shield him from the penetrating glare ; no w in the open path he was wholly ex

to i d w posed it, as his dimin shed sha o clung

’ l f s a most to the horse s hoo s. The bird twittered " l z m r s s above ; the a y a e was tretched ba king, while her colt gamboled around ; each slight thing spoke o f the voluptuous indolence o f sum mer ft of b s , and the wa ed scent hay, or gummy cx

o f n lation evergree s, distilled by the warm noon , fed with languid sweets every delighted If paradise be ever o f this world it now em bowered Richard . All was yet insecure ; his W hite Rose was fa r ; but nature showered such extasy o n him that his whole being wa s given up to her in fluence . L a tterlvthe form o f man had

' been ever befo re his aching sight under the aspect o f an enemy ; the absence o f every fel

‘ - — lo w creature he hailed with gladness free and f alone, alone and ree ! With the pertinacious dwelling on one idea, which is characteristic o f f overpowering eeli ng, this combination o f words

f f is and ideas haunted his thoughts, ell rom h

' lips, and made a part o f the soul - subduing rap

u now t re his portion . w PERKIN a nns cx . 2 45

— ' ; Ma be ad w m st . y it ded e u a ddress the uni h i knoun tha t ' appy and imaginat ve, who the future is so linked with the present - as to have a n influence over that present, when we add

’ t hat the intensity o f the liberated Brinc e s feel in s 'was l m g wrought even to pa , by its being the

i ’ l as t t ime that unalloyed delight would e ver lie

— f f the his the, last when he might eel himsel

i o f h o f nursl ng nature, allied by t e bond enjoy

all ff . ment , to her o spring He knew not this

in f h himself. Immersed the sense o all that e

o w e s d n poss s e , he did not pause to reflect whe

i r m ther th s we e the last time, that he, the victi

f nd a the o chance a ch nge, might ever see waving po m vo r shadowy trees, or hear the caroling

o f f f k birds, or, the murmurs the resh ree broo s gurgling round some pendant boug h or jutting stone but that so it was to be, gave poignancy t hi su o s plea re, a dreamy halo to the whole scener

l of It wou d appear, in spite the precautions

o o f taken by his enemy, that the n rth bank the

Thames had been neglected. Richard met with

n di en t . he u impe m in his progress . Whenever

of be e ca ught a sight the river, perceiv d unusual 2 46 PERKIN WARBECK .

e s igns o f ac tivity . Little wherri s shot hither

its fa l to a nd thither on sur ce, revea ing him that keen and vigilant search was being made.

i o n a fo r Meanwh le he rode , the bro d stream

i . his guide, avoiding towns and v llages He

«ventured to purchase bread at a lone farm — house he alighted in a little grove beside a

- v f ri ulet, to rest his tired horse, and to re resh

i f a u i h msel . The summer heat rec lled Andal s a to his mind ; and scenes and obj ects quite fo r

f l e s gotten, wandered rom their ob ivious r cesse “ back into his recollection. My happy boy hood My belo ved Spain ! Why did I leave the

of land beauty, where with Monina The

idea o f her whose fate was so inextricably lin ked

of his who had with his, bride, quitted her palace

h is a d . home to share adversity, repro che him But his imagination could not fix itself on bleak

t its n i : Sco land , wild hau ts, its capric ous king it could only build another bower among the

f of a o f olds the mount ins Andalusia, and place

his White Rose therein . i Aga n he pursued his way . The slant beams

o f but the descending sun were yet more sultry,

it sank swiftly down ; now casting gigantic

248 PERKIN wA nnEcx .

r i tall slender masts he t hought he ecogn zed.

o f l The broad expanse ca m ocean was there, whose waves broke in tiny r ipplets on the

’ s . O W a er beach . He reached the cro s t and

Ir h Monina saw his approach . The is ma ii

. c own lan wel omed him boisterously, in his S guage . Monina uttered a benediction in pa

n u . ish . The scene was solita ry and sec re v E ery danger was past. There floated the

h n caravel w ich e sured escape, and the stars al her one witnessed their flight. Monina gave

’ i O W a ter e white ve l to , who contriv d to elevate

few s it on the cross . In a moments the spla h

o f c a rs was heard, and a dark speck floated

f d o towards them on the waves, rom the irecti n

“ ” o f . f the Adalid They come ; you are sa e, murmured his lovely friend : this hour repays f ” o r all. The boat was already on the beach “ a seaman leaped on shore . The White s ” English Ro e, he said : such was the word .

u i i n agreed pon ; and, ha l ng it, Moni a hurried

to embark with her compa nions . The little

’ boat was pushed from shore . O Wa ter gave

e v nt to his delight in a shout, that resembled a P 2¢L9 ERKIN WARBECK . <

yell . Monina crept close to the Duke o f York f that he was sa e was a truth so dear, so new, f that she orgot every thing, save her wish to a lf a n d w s. ssure herse again again that so it a o f m At that moment triu ph, something like s adness invaded Richard : he had quitted the

fo r his fr had land which iends bled, and he had

uff —fo r f s ered, ever : he had le t his Katherine t d fo r here, where all was arraye against him his

f t destruction . This was sa ety ; but it was he

o f overthrow every childish dream, every youth ful vision ; it put the seal o f ineffectual nothing

’ ness on his every manhood s act .

e While each, occupied by th ir peculiar reveries, were aware only that they were being ho me onwards on the waves, a smaller boat shot athwart their bows, and a voice exclaimed a in Spanish , Desdichados, estais all ” f —we e My ather are b trayed, Monina cried . and she threw her arms round Richard, as if by such frail guard to shelter him—another strongergraspwas upon h is a rmas he endeavoured

— s f assmn l to rise a voice, hu ky rom p , yet stil M 5 250 PERKIN wm ns cx .

’ ff 18 i Cli ord s voice, muttered, The day m ne you—she—all are mine l ” Thou fell traitor ! What ho ! De Faro to ” therescue ! already the marin er had thrown a — grappling iron a lready the Adalid was in mo l tion towards them . C ifford strove to draw his

o o sword . York was up n him in m rtal struggle ;

a d f his keen d gger, unsheathe , upli ted ; the boat

— f f r lurched his arm descended , but hal the o ce o f f the intended blow was lost, while both ell

’ overboard . The crew rushed to the boat s side l h to loosen the grapp ing iron, w ich concluded

who on its upset. De Faro, stood high the

o f bows his own boat, had seized Monina . Now ff another larger ski was seen approaching, To your c ars cried the Moor : they shot swiftly i towards the Adalid, and wh le the sea became f l alive with cra t, they reached the litt e caravel ,

s to who turning her canva s the wind, dropped

down the tide .

nn 252 PERKIN :wa n cx.

eamin s to dwelt in her heart, turning all its y g

despair. As she approached the city she tho ught each step must reveal the truth o f what she was t o

L 0 — suffer. ! the palace was entered her habi — tual chamber silence and solitude al one man i

fes te d that some change was even now in its

effect ; she had no tears to spend upon her

f coldur grie ; her changing , her quickened respi ration shewed that every faculty was possessed

e . by t rror Two hours, each minute stretched to s a long long century, two hours pa sed , when

a little scroll was delivered to her ; it came from

the Queen , and contained these words, My

t os ! — Whi e R e the tempest has past leaving,

as o : alas, dev tati n we yet remain to each other

’ 7 come

These expressions spo ke the worst io . her — fear - stricken mind no subsequent ag ony might

to a n ever compare the p g, that made her very

life- blood pause in her fa ilin g heart at that

moment. Had the present and the future become

i ' fo r him m vo d , to who she was wedded heart and

l - sou wedded in youth, when our hopes stretch 253 PERKIN WARBECK . themselves not merely to to- dayhn d to - morrow; but even to eternity . In this state o f human woe i an d , we do .not describe the d sheartening

’ carking sorrows o f those who lag on life s high — f way but the swi t, poignant, intolerable agonies o n fo r f the you g, to whom the aspiration happi ness is a condition o f being . The Queen had been accustomed to witness and admire

’ Katherine s self- command and quiet fortitude ; she was awe - struck on beholding the devastation o f s f f the la t our days, and the expression o wild

f f f in horror on her so t eatures . With eminine

stin ct a t she re d her hear , her first words were, — — Sweet love, he lives and he will live his f li e is spared , and we may still hope . f ’ Tears at. last flowed rom the mourner s eyes, f ? as she asked, What then will be his ate Shall I ever see him more ? ”

How can - we guess the hidden purposes o f the King ? By your enforced solitude you have

esca ped his . scowling brow, his violence, his i s sarcasms again he sm le . My gentle Kate, my ff sweet courageous su erer, hitherto we have

’ — r played with the - lion s fangs they are un wa nna x 254 PERKIN c . — sheathed in anger now let us prepare : he will ” be here anon . The Princess desired no t to exhibit too humi lis tin g a spectacle o f misery to her cruel foe — she c hecked her weeping she endeavoured to forget the burning agony that tortured her

him but me beating heart . Let live ; let but once more see him ; and the unbidden tears

flowed ag ain . The King soon broke in upon them ; his look was haughty even to insolence :

x o f in his an e pression vulgar triumph was eyes, that baffled the eager scanning gaze of the hap

. ffi was less Princess He said, sco ngly, (and it in

’ ’ man s nature, or only in Henry s, to look o n the

o of m sad , but l vely countenance his victi , and to

woe ? la mock her ) We congratu te you , Lady, on the return of the gentle Perkin to our good — — city o f Westminster do not weep he is in

f f —it f sa e keeping now, very sa e is no eathered ” shoe our Mercury wears this day .

Holy Virgin cried Katherine, your Grace does not surely mean " not —he e n n Fear liv s, conti ued He ry, his scorn growing more bitter as he spoke ; he

2 56 PERKIN wa nnncx .

wil u o f be l yo visit your prince plotters, and hold him o n whom the King o f Scotland be stowed your virgin hand ? ” '

“ ' him ! clas his See Oh, even in death to p ” decaying limbs were better than this absence l

’ An indefin able expression passed over Henry s countenance as he replied , Be it as you wish ;

fo r you must hasten, in an hour the occasion will be past ; it is but a few steps ; you shall be a t ” tended . At last she was to see him ; this assurance filled and satisfied her ; there was no place in

fo r n her heart any other thought, si ister as were

’ her torturer s looks . Her eyes grew bright, m her cheek resu ed its vermeil tint, never had she looked more lo vely ; it was a dazzling

o f ff beauty ; one those ine able expressions, l u which , unless ang age could express music, or

a p inting image fire, it is in vain to attempt to describe : an irradiation o f love passed over her countenance ; her form; something like it dwells

’ ’ ’ in Raphael s Madonna s and Guido s Angel o f

— n a Annunciation, He ry was westruck, yet did PERKIN WARBECK . 257

not falter in his purpos e ; he let the bright

f of angel go orth on her mission good and love,

to meet on her way a sight fiends might re30 1ce

. f over Human li e and human nature are, alas

d n f a drea , i explicable web o suffering and o f

infliction . f In Westminster, in sight o the Abbey where

his ancestors had been crowned kings, the spec

tacle intended to be so opprobrious, was set

f his f orth . Henry, in angry ear on his escape,

his re- f in his exultation at capture, orgot the

’ soft tyranny o f Katherine s looks ; or rather

he despised himself fo r the obedience he had

in o f yielded to them and, the true spirit base ff ness, was glad to revenge on her the ill e ects that had resulted to him through his involun tary enslavement. It was a triumph to him to disgrace

o f for the object her care, he was ill read, his understanding affording him no key to the un

in o f known language, that illuminated page

s o f f the hi tory eminine excellence, which tells the delight she feels in exhausting her treasures o f f devoted love on the allen, because they need

m : it ost he believed, that to present her hus 258 PERKIN WARBE CK .

th e ti o f i band to her, under very inflic on g

m ff t to no iny, would turn her a ec ion cold dis

— he dain permitted her to g o . Attended by

o f some the body guard and a gentleman usher, she hastened through the courts o f the palace into the Open square : there was assembled a

r o f s v c owd common people, hu hed to uni ersal silence : at a dista nce from the centre some were ” a o f t lking aloud, and the name Perkin was

the burthen o f their speech ; but pity stilled

s w ic those nearest to the pot, to ards wh h , to the

r i o f all she a n . su pr se and horror , h ste ed The

, crowd instinctively closed to bar her advance ;

f t o in s of and, when orced make way, pite the ” o f despotism the times, the word Shame f f burst rom the lips o many, especially the w t women . She as agitated by the obs acles, by

the nume rous uncourtly eyes turned on her ;

still she went on , and soon saw — She understood not what a kind o f wooden

machine in which the lord o f her heart sat. There had been a time when pride and royal

majesty o f soul had shed such grandeur over

York, that, when exposed as a show, he had

260 YERKIN WARBECK .

f dear love, attaches itsel to your name ; no ill f will mark your ate, when you are no longer linked to such a thing as I . God has spoken, and told me that this earth is no dwelling fo r

f to i one, who, rom his cradle th s last shame,

’ f - has been ortune s step child, and her despised toy. How often have I been dragged to the

o f f : f in di ria tio n utmost verge li e I have elt g ,

: f anger, despair now I am resigned ; I eel the

o f hand the Mighty One on me, and I bow to it. In very truth , I am subdued ; I sleep away ” r w . the weary hou s, and death ill end them all

o o f Ka With every expressi n tenderness, therine endeavoured to reca ll him to life and to

f. o f e hersel She spoke another scape, which it

i o f would be her care to ach eve, the solitude, o f the paradise o f love they woul d enjoy to ” hh . l tea gether My poor gir , he replied, your young heart to seek these blessings apart from me : I were the very wretch Tudor stig u matizes me, could I live nder a memory like

t this. Forget me, my Whi e Rose ; paint with gaudier colours the sickly emblem o f my fo r f b tunes orget, that, duped y some strange PERKIN wa ns ec x . 261 f e orgery, you were wedd d to Perkin War

In spite o f hims elf large drops gathered in his eyes, swelling the downcast lids, and then stealing down . Katherine kissed them from his

‘ e e cheek a thousand tim s mor noble, royal , l godlike, she cal ed him ; had not the best and

worthiest suffered ignominious punishment ; even our blessed Lord himself ? His own acknow

‘ l edg men t a lo ne could disgrace him ; he must

reca l the false words wrung from his agony ;

this last vile act o f his enemy must awaken each '

' sovereign on his throne to indignation ; each

would see in hirii a mirror o f what might befa l

if f . themselves, allen James, her royal Cousin , ffi roused by her, should resent the stigma a xed ” to his kinsman .

For your own sake, sweet, do so ; my soul

dying within me is alive again with indignation, ' l to think that your p ighted wedded love is he,

is fo r who exposed to contumely ; but that, me l m f thinks, I wou d call ysel by that wretched f name I dared pronounce, so that the annals o the House of York escaped this stain : yet even w 262 PERKIN a nnecx . thus I seem more closely allied to them ; fo r violent death , treachery, and ill have waited on ea ch descendant o f Mortimer ; my grandfather bore a paper crown in shame upon his kin gly ” brow .

e ffi e un He was int rrupted by the o c r, who

i o f . closed the nstrument disgrace Richard,

f d i r weak and ailing, was assiste to r se ; Kathe ine supported him as a yo ung mother her feeble offspring ; she twined her arms round him as

in t of is his prop, and, spi e m ery, was enraptured

to to him f once again to see, hear, touch rom

had b who m she been a sent so long . This is n ot well ; it must not be ; his Majesty will be

f o f much displeased , said the chie the guard , witn essing the compassion her tender care in ” spired , You must return to the palace, Lady . ” r i if One little step, pleaded Kathe ne ; I s hould never see him more, how should I curse i lf your cruelty ! I w ll not speak, as I ha thought

I would to these good people, to tell them that l they may well honou—r him a Princess oves drag me not away yet o ne more good bye

264 PERKIN WARBECK .

’ loves, and careless playing with sacred ties, had caused the blot o f base birth to be affixed to his ff legitimate o spring, and so strewed the sad way that led them to untimely death .

was Henry, cruel as he , had not the courage to u encounter his ins lted prisoner on her return .

’ Katherine s feeli ngs were wrought too high fo r any display o f passion ; her an xiety was spent

’ o n how she could sooth York s wounded feel n i gs, and restore his health ; it were vain to ask,

f e if the K n she ear d ; yet, i g would permit her t o attend on him, under whatever restrictions, they should be obeyed ; and this while poor

fo r Elizabeth besought her pardon with tears,

f o f . being the wi e her insolent adversary She, a

a proud Plant genet, was more sorely stung than ff the White Rose, by the indignity o ered to her house ; and she intreated her not to love her

o f brother less because this foul disgrace . So ” the - doing, said quick sighted Queen, you

’ fulfil his dearest wish. While you are Richa rd s f f loving wi e, he, even he, the allen and humi

o f v to lis ted, is an object en y his Majesty, who ’ 26 5 PERKIN wa nnncx .

s sought, by making you witness hi ignominy, to . f o ” detach you r m him .

s m1sta ke i n How trange a , repl ed Katheri e,

' ' fo r one so sage as iheKing the lower my sweet

’

f m e o f . Richard alls, the ore ne d he surely has me

' v s But t a s c aso urs u h t lo e, u h , knits too indivisibly to rec1 ro c1t o f fi admit a p y bene t, I should say

’ t it ~ e d me hat is to mak me rich indee , to enable

' s to l a m to be tow, vish good on y Lord but we

' ' a re but m f m f one, and I give to ysel , and ysel

( e if ni e o f s tréii th to r ceive, y w akness is any g him . Dear sister mine, your liege, wise as he

’ ' iri a - ih the may be, is a tyro our wom n s lore

' myster ies o f devoted love ; he never felt one in ” ‘ spiration o f the mighty sprite .

few Thfs was n o t quite true . For some days

Henry had been so inspired ; but love,an exotic ‘ de en era ted fro m f fra in his heart, g being a air,

ian t i on . e, g r flower, into a w ld, pois ous weed Lov

' ' he xcess o f whose essence is t e sympathy, and

“ ‘ - hm n t . n co nsequeiitly o f self aba n do e and ge e

ros it he an r s , y, w n it alights on"unwo thy oil " ‘ all its a appears therea t first in , native bloom ,

‘ ’ h i n ha verywo ri der even to t eheart which it s

N V O L . I I I . 266 PERKIN WARBECK .

- a . r t ken root The cold, selfish , na row hearted

Richmond was lulled to some slight forgetfulness

o f f r f sel , when fi st he was ascinated by Katherine,

and he decked himself with ill- assorted virtues

to merit her approbation . This lasted but a f l brie interva ; the uncongenial clime in which .the w m new plant gre , i pregnated it with its own

. s poison Envy, arrogance, ba e desire to crush

f an d the allen , were his natural propensities ; , f when love re used to minister to these, it

changed to something like hate in his bosom ;

to if it excited his desire have power over her,

for fo r . not her good , then her bane

The Duke o f York was imprisoned in the

No f Tower. urther measures were apparently

in action against him . Katherine no longer hoped any thing from her foe ; and day and night there lay beneath her eye- lids the image of Richard, wasting and dying in captivity . ff Something must be done, some aid a orded him ; she was anxious al so to learn the details f i f o his flight, and how aga n he ell into the

f foe. hands o his Monina, who in a thousand disguises had been used to penetrate every where,

268 PERKIN WARBECK .

w hoods ere now mute, his deceptions passed

by away ; he could never more win his smiles, or stab by his lying words ; death alone z ha d a share in him , death and the cold sands ben eath

‘ which he was interred, leaving a name, the f o f . mark scorn, the symbol o treachery They had struggled beneath the strangling

s wave , Richard and his adversary . The Prince

ffl enfee was wounded in the scu e, and became bled almost to insensibility before he could sever

’ from his enemy s grasp the fair locks he clutched

- he swam away, as well as he might, and, with

e o f f- m fo r the instinct sel pres rvation , ade the

—he f shore orgot, that England was a wide pri — son he only strove to master the fate which beat him to the ground . He reached the — sands he sought the covert o f some near

n d s f underwood , a threw him el upon the earth

f i in blind thank ulness ; exhausted, almost inan

r n mate, he lay the e, given up only to the se se f f f m d o repose , and sa ety ro death, which visite his failing heart with a strange sense o f plea sure .

f l fa r be The ol owing morning was advanced , p a a x m WARBECK. 269 fore he could rdus e himself from this lethargy;

HeJoo ked upon the waters ; but the Adalid was — no more to be seen he was quite alone ; he e ne ded succour and none was afforded him .

l ane 2din le Well he knew that every field, , g and d copse swarme with enemies, and he shuddered

w ‘ at the likelihood that unarmed, and eak as

. f he was, he should all into their hands . He de sired to reach London again as his sole refuge ;

lie a a ll and journeyed, as he hoped, tow rds it,

‘

o f - wo rn tra veller unknowing the route . No way s in savage lands, pursued by barbarous enemie ,

ff o f ever. suffered mo re than the o spring Edward

' the Fourth amidst the alienated fields o f his

ra in ' suCCeeded paternal kingdom . Cold and to the pleasant summer weather —during night he lay exposed to the tempests—during day he to a w iled on , his limbs benumbed, his he rt asted

f o f by hunger and atigue yet never, at the head

in the Scottish chivalry, never Burgundy or in f England, did he eel more resolute not to sub

’ ffl f r his mit, but, ba ing o tune and enemy s power, f f f to sa ve himsel in spite o ate . He had

f r h wandered a inland, and knew not w ere he 270 PERKIN WARBECK .

—he was had indeed passed beyond London,

as a s w and got up high Barnes. It as the fourth — day from that o f his escape he had tas ted lit

f n o r i tle ood , and st ength rema ned in him, i except that wh ch gave energy to his purpose . f f m He ound himsel on a wide, heathy com on ,

es o — studded with trees, or d lately open the

o s rainy day cl sed, and a bleak ea t wind swept

“ over the plain , and curled the leaden coloured

o f — o f f waters the river his love li e, his de f termination not to yield, quailed be ore the physical miseries o f his , lot ; fo r some few moments, he thought that he would lie down and die . At this time another human figure appeared

A la — upon the scene . Benedictine y brother,

f o f who in the freedom o solitude, in defiance

i d for ruf w nd and rain, trolled a itty, fitter a

’ ’ f n . li g swaggerer s bonnet, than a monk s cowl

v o ur He started not a little, on percei ing wan derer leaning ag ainst the scathed trunk o f a

solitary tree ; nor less did he wonder when be f recognised the allen Prince. It was Heron

f who himsel , the magnanimous mercer, having

’ 2 p ea x m WARBECK .

. ill- f disg race Thus worn and weak, the ated son o f d York was ma e a public spectacle o f infamy .

far But Henry went a step too ; and, when he thrus t the Scottish Princess forward on the f to m . scene , he turned de eat triu ph

die — ra ther to n He was not to but . pi e out a — miserable existence o r had the sage monarch any other scheme ? The high - spirited Prince — was to be cooped up within the Tower there, where the Earl o f Warwick wasted his wretched life . Did he imagine that the resolved and ardent s o f co mmu oul Richard would, on its revival ,

f o f nicate a part o its energy to the son Clarence, and that ere long they would be enveloped in one ruin ? Some words had transpired that appeared to reveal such an intention ; and his

o f order to the Lieutenant the Tower, that, with

n out permitti g, he should connive at any — covert intercourse between the two his reco m menda tio n o f a noted spy and hireling to a high t f rust, and the order this ellow had to bring each day intelligence to the palace from the prison spoke loudly o f some design ; fo r Hen ry never 273 PE R K i N wAnBECK .

attempt to escape was expected on the part o f u the prisoners, and that rich reward wo ld attend its CHAPTER XVIII .

A nd a e at o nce Ca tm t is l a e b r , , p y d p y d ,

S - ta n ds sco fii ng through th e n ever opened ga te ;

Wh ch no hin hrou h its a r a mi s sa e da i t g t g b s d t , v y A nd as eles s o t t f od . Y N B R O .

THE Lady Katherine, no longer trusting the

so f a good intention the insolent tyr nt, was eager to communicate with her roya l cousi n o f Scot

f a land, to urge him to save rom de th or disgrace,

' if ff i o f not to e ect the l beration, him to whom f f he had given her b and . The di ficulty o fin d

a . ing _ messenger was great The Queen , all

r i f amiable and so row ng as she was, shrunk rom

if i a any act, which , d scovered, would enr ge the

King. Where did Monina tarry while her

276 PERKIN WARBECK .

f e im courage, e ling in his heart the keenest pulses—while around him were the mute trees o f the wild wood and pathless glades . He could be satisfied with such dreamy illusions ; so th at action with him was never the result o f

a o f f physic l restlessness, nor youth ul emulation, nor o f that stirring spirit o f life which forces us f f to abhor repose . It lowed rom an imperious sense o f duty ; it welled up from the very sources o f f his soul. Other men per orm the various

t t are par s allotted to hem, and yet something else the while ; as is the actor, even while he struts in the garb o f royalty : but Edmund

m f u yielded hi sel wholly p, and was the mere creat ure o f the thought within . — To be great and good great from the good he

’ ff was should e ect, his boyhood s asp iration . It is if probable that, he had not been subjected to f extraneous in luence, he would have devoted f himsel to religion , and become a saint or

fo r a martyr ; his all , his underst nding, heart, a nd person, would have been given up to the holy cause he espoused . His being led him ’ f to King Richard s tent, the night be ore the E P RKIN WARBECK . 277

o f‘i battle Bosworth Field, gave a new an d ih f extinguishable law to his li e . ! nknown duties r . s we e imposed The fir t and dearest was, to f ’ redeem his ather s soul from the guilt o f mur derons ambition, by elevating his injured nephew to his original greatness . He devoted hii nself to his cousin . Soon he learned to love Richard

o f as the work his own hands . He had reared his tender infancy ; he had been his tutor in

. t mar ial exercises, teaching him to curb the fiery

n steed , to wield the lance, and, more tha all, to meet danger in the field fearlessly ; to be honour able, brave and kind . He had led him to war, and shielded him with his own body from the If cruel Moor. ever they were divided, his w thoughts dwelt only the more carefully ith him .

' a him f L st, he had broug ht rom glorious combats i in Spa n, to conquer his ancestral kingdom; and

set him up the rival o f a powerful king- the

f n mark o his ve geance .

n o It was all over. Edmund possessed innate

strength to rise from the blow ; he was a mari

ner on the wide ocean, without compass or

fo r rudder. The universe had one central point 27 8 PERKIN WARBECK .

h was him ; t at destroyed, and a total blank

’ remained . York s first surrender visited him as a death stroke ; he struggled against it. En f d eebled by his wound, more by espair, he passed over to Ireland ; there he expected to find friends o f the White Rose ; he found only enemies of Duke Perkin : men eager to excul

e f o f ill f pate themselv s, rom the charges aith or

a ingratitude, gl dly adopted a phraseology, or a f u belie , that reduced to d st the golden glories o f

’ Perkin poor Edmund s idol . W ar beck l Oh thou

o f ! o f flower York thou nursling love, though

o f child calamity, is even thy bright n ame so to be tainted ? Not by those immediately ar rayed by self- interest ag ainst thee ; but by the

f l . v ulgar crew, ever eager to crush the al en

There was no hope in Ireland . Keating, the

r f . Prio o Kilmainham, was dead The Earl o f Desmond was reconciled to the English Govern ment. Lord Barry had fled to Spain . The

f n Citizens o Co rk were busy redeemi g, by

’ eager servility, their Mayor s disloyalty .

sa d n a n Overcome by these cha ges, a m ligna t fever seized o n Edmund : in addition to every

280 PE RKIN wa nns cx .

. another secret change came over him ; he con

f o o f quered death , and crawled orth , the gh st w what he was, into the hopeless orld .

He contrived to gain admission to the Princess .

such She did not recognize him, was the pale '

ut . r disguise disease had p upon him His vo ce,

' f i was al tered hollow as rom a ton h, ; his dark,

r o t melancholy eyes, occupying too la ge a p r ion o f f f his ace, gleamed rom under his streaked and

. i o f f fo r wan brow Yet his was a v sit com ort,

to n he could do her mission Scotland, and i vite the forgetful James to succour his friend a nd kins

: man . Edmund listened eagerly to this pro

’ posal : a draught o f soothing balm descended f w into his rame, with the thought that yet all as

a not lost. His physic l energy almost returned : he hurried to depart How will you traverse ” “ this wide kingdom ? asked the lady . C annot b f the Ada lid come as e ore, to aid and speed you on your way ? ”

n fa r a s a The Adalid is saili g on the oce n e ,

a replied Plant genet ; we are all as dead , in the ” eyes o f De Faro and our Monina. Faithless girl W 28 ] PERKIN ARBECK .

With a trace o f his ancient warmth and l sweetness, Edmund entered upo n the gent e

’ t maiden s exculpa ion . He related that a poor fellow lay on the bed next his in the convent

b e e a n hospital , whom recognis d to be Irishman ,

a f m f d who had esc ped ro Water ord, and saile with them in the Adalid to Cornwall . From him he heard the tale o f what had befallen De

r Faro and his child . He heard how the marine had long haunted the English coast waiting for an opportunity to ca rrvoff the Prince ; o f the f a f at l night, when snatching his daughter rom the

t wa ery peril, he saw Richard , as he believed, perish in the waves . more had the ’What Moo rish mariner and his daughter to dowith i m ? th s iserable, g uilty island He called his men together ; he told them his resolve finally to quit the eastern world fo r the golden islands o f 1 n v1t m the west, g those who were averse to

a f f the voy ge to go on shore at once, be ore the air wind that was rising, should hurry them into the

o open sea . The poor Irishman alone desired t land : before he went he saw the Spanish damsel ; he described her as calm and mild, though there 282 PERKIN wAa BECK . was something unearthly in her gleamin g eyes “ ” f . If she and in the solemn tone o her voice , “ ai f f who s d , you meet any o our riends, any

fo r d if ask De Faro an his daughter, you see

Lady Brampton; Lord Barry, or Sir Edmund l h l Plantagenet, tel them t at Monina ives, that

f f to she tarries with her ather, and tasks hersel f be his com ort and support. We seek the

Western Indies ; wel l may it betide us that we never reach the unknown strand ; or we may be

in cast away an uninhabited solitude, where my care and compa nionship may stead my dear father much ; or I may tea ch the sacred truths o f i our religion to the wild Ind ans, and speak the dear name o f Christ to the unba ptized o f f those wilds ; or so ten, as best I may, the cruel f Spaniard, and save the devoted people rom i their barbarity . Tell them, wh chever way I look, I perceive a thousand duties to which our great Taskmaster calls me, and these I live to f fi if f l ul l, so my eeble body wi l permit ; tell them that my only hope is death that, and that by my obedience to the Almighty will , I may

284 PERKIN WARBECK .

which answers the internal question . What have I done so to be visited ? ” in the poet’ s words,

I can no t charge — My memo ry with much s ave s o rro w but I have been s o beyo n d the commo n lot

Ch as ene and is e I nee s mus hin t d v it d, d t t k h w T at I as W i cked .

But soon his eager, eagle spirit spurned the tame

i : be debas ng thought resolved again to struggle, and at last t o conquer the fire bum ed brighter fo r its short smouldering ; almost with a light

as be en heart he laughed, resolved again to

v r dea o u .

His prison life was more than irksome ; it was f unendurable . No change, which is the soul o enjoyment, varied it. No sympathy, the parent

o f . his content, came anear In young days he

’ o f f had trod on the verge li e s wave, watching f it recede, and ancying that it would discover glittering tr easures as it retreated into the ocean o f eternity : now the tide ebbed sullenly ; the barren sands grew dark ; and the expanse before afforded no hope—what was to be done ? PERKIN WARBECK . 28 5

in He was the Tower, whence he had twice escaped ; where the Earl o f Warwick was im

u i f m red, pin ng in ruitless vegetation , rather than

“ living . Should he do as he had done, and be

f n n come a cypher, a orgotte priso er, a mere thing to wake and sleep, and be as nothing ?

The very dog that guards a cottage- door from m nightly harm , had ore dignity and purpose in f f o . his li e, than this victim ambition The bird that alighted on the sill o f his iron - barred case

o ff u fo r her n e n ment, and carried a cr mb stli gs, was an emblem o f utility an d freedom in com

o ff f parison , which Warwick, cut rom all , must

’ weep to mark . How different was Richa rd s fate ; he had dear friends ready to risk all fo r

’ f a u him , whose li e s s crifice he co ld repay only

f : f by being true to himsel he had a wi e, wedded

’ to . him in youth s early flower, whose happiness

w . a s unalterably linked to his He had courage, f f ortitude, energy ; he would not cast these gi ts

be a way, a thankless boon ; valued them at their f ff price : i death crowned his e orts, it were well ;

w o f he as a mere toy in the hands God, and he

e submitted ; but, as a man, he was ready to cop 286 PERKIN WARBECK .

‘ f with men, and though de eated never to be

vanquished .

Not a month after his removal to t he Tower

had f instru he observed his acilities, marked his ments, and resolved to enter on his schemes they were quickened by other circumstances.

’ Warwick heard o f his cousin s arrival ; and he believed this to be the signal o f his own den liverance . His first chief desire was to have

s co mmunication with him . Among his attendant there was one to whom he could apply ; he was f l i a lank, tall e low, with little understand ng and — but one idea gratitude to the Duke o f Ola

o rence . This man , called R ger, and nicknamed

t f dis tinc Long Roger, his leng h being his chie tion, had been very poor, and burthened besides with several infant children : accidents and a bad season broug ht them to the verge o f sta ry a

n him o f tio , when a chance threw in the way the v Duke o f Clarence, who got him made ser itor

this f in the Tower. When un ortunate Prince

f o was imprisoned within its atal walls, L ng Roger underwent a thousand perils to wait on

’

l a nd to do . him by stea th, what service he might

28 8 PERKI N wa nmacx .

’ effecting the Earl s escape ; his limited under

u f ‘ o f standing s ggested no relie , save a bottle

o f ri Canary , or bunches White Roses in Ju e,

' ’ .which in fact was Dame Madge s feminine idea ; and often had the simple flowers soothed War

’ wi ck s care . To this man the poor prisoner applied , to enable him to see and converse with t he newly arrived Richard two are better than

' o ne f to a east ; and , the next time Roger medi

‘ fo r t a ted a dainty supper his lord , he resolved to endeavour that York should pa rtake it with him as a g uest .

own - In his guileless way, the simple hearted man began to practise on and bribe one o f his f l ff to el ows, without whom it had been di icult accomplish his desire . Abel Blewit had lately been appointed to his service : he was nearly a f dwar , with bushy eyebrows and red hair ; there

o f s o m was something ill omen in his phy i gno y,

’ but hs t he tall yeoman looked over the bezid o f h is c t comrade, his ourage rose The Whippe ” a c ff u sn pper ould not rebu me, he tho ght, as he dre im f f and e w h sel up to his ull height, b gan to en . n x m WARBECK . propound the mighty deed o f conducting Perkin t ’ hy mistake to the Lord Edward s chamber,on f his return rom vespers . Roger paused sud del fo r o f o y; , in spite his stature, he was appalled by the glance Blewet shot up from under his penthouses o f 'brows : still he gave a willing ' ‘ f f assent, and even took upon himsel the chie risk o f the undertaking. f ’ The ollowing evening, while Richard was yet pondering how to commence his machina

u d d w tions, n ecide , though resolved ; and hile he made up his mind not to

' ' thoughts to the sinister- looking being before ’ him, he was to find that he was led "surprised through a n unaccustomed gallery ; and still

n more, on enteri g the chamber into which he

was introduced, to recognise it as that where he

had - unexpectedly found refuge during his last ' visit to the Tower, and to perceive that W a r

wick himself was there expecting him .

e h d Was this the thin , wasted b ing he a seen three years before ? Had Warwick been then

f had not set ree to hunt upon the hills, he re gained more flesh and bloom than no wthat

V O L . 1 1 1 . o M um ws aas cx .

His c uin hope had been his only medicine. o s York bad inspired him with marveflous con fi dence ; his : last entra nce int o the fbrmidable

Tower an d e had a , his spe dy exit, appeared

th w m thes miracle to e poor Earl, to ho e high

f r e a world from waffs a nd sad chambers o m d , whic h f the l r a on ro , as rom a g er one, de th ly p m his ised egress. He had pined and wasted in

f o s e appetite to be ree; to be With ut tho e gat s,

- ’ indad» him : e us inse a b g in th se portento , p ra le W obstacles ere mere cobweb chains to Ric hard.

He had com in t and e , he had depar ed , all as eas W wc u as nr e ily, so ar i k tho ght, the u egard d

’ fl ha had er w f e y, t t p haps flo n rom Westminst r,

’ - mE i e h fio his . l zab th s c amber, to light upon cheek

’ In al l the subse quent tales o f York s ‘ checks and ove thr w he m l r o , s i ed at the idea that one born

o‘ vic ould s t tory c be thu overcome. He laughed at the Chaim Henry had thrown over him; and his transfer to the Tower elated himwith a firm

W ef t at b r Was w h li e ty at hand . D elling on

‘ m thoughts Warwick ceased to be the dead

CHAPTER XIX .

Gen le Cousin t ,

If - ou be s een ou e is h ins an l y , y p r t t y,

Fo r ea i n riso n br k g p .

N o, no , Cousin ,

I ill no mo re be hi en n or ut o ff w dd , p Thi l s great adventure to a s eco nd t ria .

' t wo N OB L E x ms uxx .

Q ! ICK on the first greeting followed War

’ w t . A nd ick s ques ion , noble Cousin, what have you projected ? when shal l we escape ? ”

' ' Richard s being in durance with him, seemed ffi i su c ent pledge, that without delay they sho uld

be fr . e both ee While York, w aried by o ppo

foe f n sitiou to his mighty , just oiled in his e dea vurs f h d o to preserve his reedom, even when he a

a in a d att ined it, saw giant obstacles his path ; n , ER C ‘ 29 P KIN WARBE K, 3

’ although resolved to endeavour all, was . fully conscious o f the fa tal end that must wait upon

f i ; his too probable a lure . His reply was dicta ted by these feelings ; he was averse to drag one

' ' so e so unha inexperienc d,and ppy, into the pit

' was fo r m he believed that he digging hi self. He besought the Earl well to weigh the value he set upon life ; to place the fatal scaffold in prospect ; to teach hi mself to know what death f was, and to be ready to meet it, be ore he planned f escape rom the wily Tudor. Warwick listened with impatient wonder ; but when Richard con

’ e a ffirm1n tha t he ef sad clud d with g , hims l , in sober

f in ness, pre erred hazarding all to the remaining f ’ prison, and that he would be ree, the Earl s coun ' “ r . t eifan ce again g ew light and gladsome. But

” “ ? u n . when , Coz, when was still his eager q estio

Thus they had changed characters. Wa r e f wick, so many years s cluded rom the world, was in total ignorance o f its ways. Had the

’ - Tower- gates been Opened to him, he had trem bled t o walk forth alone ; but restraint had made him feminine ; and with his cousin he would

’ e s ! a rm o f s hzw ru hed pon an y spears, in u're w §94 PERK I N a m cx.

' o r e i id His positi n end red him t m , indolent, and

e b on ic as depend nt ; ut he relied R hard, a

all sin wo man o n her lo ver. York b eheld thing

e r o vr th i clear, true light ; he was aware f e e y diflioxdsy ; o f the means he possessed fo r over

i t e o f ran i com ng h m, and the hazards he in us ng

e n . o f s th se mea s A sentiment, born the highe t

e e it m him f he g n ros y, ade hesitate be ore con

n la n wi I w n al n carted a y p th Warwick. t as o t o e that he was ave rse to risldng ane ther life ; but he felt tha t his cause would receive adva nt age from this link with an undo ubted Plantagenet; na t a f c y, h t, in the prison it sel , the atta hment and

es c fe r s the o f Cla b r pe t lt towa d son rence, y so o f the men use me very he meant to , would

ha s serve him. T t he hould reap benefit fro m

s ill- f i ce to u expo ing the ated Pr n ntried dangers,

hi h de revolted his g and in pen dent nature . War wick ha d reco urse to many an en trea by and

e u s o b o R r p rs a i n, ere he r ught icha d to consent

ha t e fo u o i t t h ir rtunes sho ld be j ned , and that,

as of the o l t White Rose, they w uld rise or fall

ti o o to e his together . S ll Y rk was bliged ch ck

’ $96 PERKIN ws unrc x . his ff o t liiier ted o spring; he w uld present tha son, a

i ‘ h him to her ; t c y , His junc ion with the Prin e must revivethe old Yorkists in his favour ; this worst blast o f fortune might be the gale to speed

c eus ms met again and again ; ho r was it 16mg

’ ef ' ’ ra f b ore their own desires, and Henry s c t, began to wea ve that fatal web which entangled them even in the very mode the hard- hearted

Summer was gone : quicker than he was w w ont, the sun withdre his embattl ed arra y of

i li ht and l eréwhiie g heat ; and co d and tempest, driven ‘to mountain fastnesses; or to their own

' the t co ura e and ie en king doms in nor h, took g th bro w f f c ree, and ke with ild ury upon the de en e

1635 world : the blea k winds were their coursers ; ' savagely they yelled and howled over the lan d ' - thé of o s i s . . bey de olated First, growth fl wer was the f it a nd en r their prey ; ru s, th the verdu e

‘ e t he sun nf the earth, whil , each day retreat

in ffo f d . r g , a rded urther scope to their inroa s Yo k

‘ resolved not to pa ss ano ther winter in prison . He had quickly perceived that his purpose w uld E P RKIN WARBECK . 2297

‘ ff - only be e ected by corrupting. their guards and then all would depend upon the fidelity of these . mn His ' e . first attempts were followed by an

: - h a rted dull almost too easy success good e , g

’ headed , Long Roger heard with unreplying cre ndulit o f c a y the assertions Warwick, that , Ri h rd

‘ ' rnus t in . . all u succeed he ndertook, and readily

a ids - l Blewet in e f his promised his Abe , spit o vz

sinister ~ as ect c “? t e dogged, p , yielded at on e h

o f Tw seduction a promised bribe. o others, by

e necessar ;to t h his advic , were associated as y eir

‘ - . Stmn ewa a rufilin f success g ya g , drunken ellow,

; d w r who had been thrice dismisse , but hose p etty awife each time procured his re appointment ;

“ and Astwood , a saving miser, who lent

- - in his fellow servitors on usury. With these strumen ts the Cousins went to work : W arwick

* f f o f : - e in ull belie success York, perceiving tr ason and discovery close to them, but ready to defy these bloodhounds to their worst . ” in A n d , now, Coz, said Warwick, 1 very

s n o f . s .t ruth there n eed urther delay Methink

wo uld s mistrust the drawbridge down , you

— m - m arch of our m a nd a a , so e gin, w it to throw y,

o 5 298 mm » wa a ancx .

a weary of your sloth .

’ There was a cin essmg sweetness in Warwick s

i a nd nner i vo ce ma ; an ignorant, ndolent, con

fidin mflike i ~ lif g enthusiasm, so qu ck witted C

’ f r of D i f f s o d, or any uke R chard s ormer riend , — that he felt a new emotion towards him hi therto

t on he had been the protec ed, served , and waited , of his te e r o associa s, now h played the p otect r and the gu a rdian .

e s i he ie My gentl Cou n , repl d, even as

ou us so a l find me— i l y tr t, you sh l wa t but a litt e,

nd h . I a a will be past Yet grieve to say, where

tia I f y see escape, perceive an ambushment o

t o d f k death ; and , h ugh rea y to ace the grim s ele

I on s him. I whh , we mu t arm ourselves against

' I u I t co ld show you even as see, the dangers tha — en viron n a perha ps you would shrink ; an d it is

do ? n yet time . What do you Not o ly plan

l f an escape, but al y yoursel , and give the s ction f o your untarnished name, to one whom Tudor

b n an d . ra ds as an impostor, abhors as a rival His

V a f fo r i if enge nce will all heavily th s deed , he rea h ou few l d y . While a years, ike the many

’ 300 p a nn m WA RBEC KJ

id I e o I l !re iss quit my s e, s ek that t wer, eap m h and - d u eig ht, the cold waters shall rink p my

r I r 0 being, ather than endu e an ther hour my

i - if ” 1 u pr son l e .

' ” S “ “ ~ . M it is y dear, dear Cousin, said York,

' written 'b e and I — f e y the Fat s, yield our ortun s

a f n w n ' sh ll be one . A ew days o b ri g s the hourt it will move along the dial ; it will become a po m

o f — w the tion past time what it ill leave us, is in ” 1 han ds o f God .

ing hour which preceded o their esca pe: L o ng

r t o the s Roger served suppe kinsmen , the la t

- - they were ' to pa rtakewithin the fa tcd wall s:

o f w e ' as me The po r ello h aved a bitter sigh ,

" ’ i art waited by his lord s cha r . Thou ” the r downcast, good Roger, said Ea l, pledge ' m t ma n h wn o f r nd me, y , in t is ruby i e Bu gu y

of t o - o f tt»n i ht - ; o think morrow, not g to morr w ” - l n the deed wi l be do e .

' ’ — Roger quaffed the fmnfered bowl ho sot it d o e o n d n own with an th r sigh , almost a g r a , ad i g, " l ” 1 Better drown reaso n than life in thevat !

. c h ll u for Then recolle ting to w at he a ded, and be e I PE RK IN WARBECK .

' s c hisv a whom, he blu hed s arlet to ery e rs, and :

‘ like a bashful man he made it worse by going on f ‘ I a blunderingly, was never h ndy at these sort o f things ; it is fo r all the world like turn

o ut f r s ing o a wa m bed on a cold nowy morning,

' — o nly to think o f them and . when they a re.

‘ m enough or dark enough, when vLord your

’ - J fatherr

” Roger l exclaimed Warwick .

’ ~~The fwine had r not decreased the man s ter or,

i had but t opened his mouth , and taken away

“ ' his discretion ; he continued : It wa s an awful

’ b e nig o xW all knew what was going to . be

: I T s u sa id n ve done am . sure, as homa Pa let ,

v hea rd o ur very hearts beat. Then there . was grim- faced Hobler, who at the Judg ment might

; f f r o .Master. A bel o nl be taken o the born twin , v — l he was .taller by a span even he ooked uglier, nor spoke above his breath Is he at his

a nd Bra kenbur as prayers ? asked he, Sir yy as — white a s the earth itself it was the begin . n n o f f i g . Lent ; and the snow lay three eet deep

’ o n it s 3 02 mea n s wa nnacx .

no o m f u By unc m on law o our nat re, the dread design of the present night awoke keen recoll ec l tio n in the usual y drowsy mind of this man . At

i c u e first, w th thrilling horror, Warwi k interr pt d him f , but now the very t errors o the theme he

h e f —h w f i c ose, assum d an aw ul charm e as asc n ated l his d to listen, whi e knees knocke toge — ther Richard felt also the magic of Snell perilous excitement.

o o Oh , L rd Edward, continued R ger, — these walrls have seen fiendly sights the

f r L an blood o many a Plantagenet, Yo k or

o n its a . it not s caster, is p vement Was in thi

s n as Fa room that the piou King, Sai t Henry , — ther Piers calls him you will not sleep ano ther

in o u night it, so there is no harm now, telling y that his poor ghost has been seen on the battle

n he ments coming from this very chamber, whe e ” was murthered .

The night win d rushed round the m y walls,

. m a — the autu n l wind, fierce and howling York ta u o f r as il s rted p, No more this un e on , wh e

’ ll an d race to we need a our strength , God s g

Ob o of boot, to nerve us to our task . , gh st

‘ ‘ 304 p s nxm wii na ncic. murder wrench ye asunder? It is a dread act ' ’ l to disobey God s word, and lay the sou under mortal sin—must it be done ? ” ” M a Co usm y de r , said York, do not mis — take a month ago the choice was yours ; no w there is no going bac k. We have no right to

r t t hen to d aw these poor men in o peril , and , quarrel at the precaution they take for when

'

f . the was sa eties We said , aye, when matter

‘O pi po sed. Aga in I repeat the word ; they must

ha e look to it, who so savagely vdriven us to the f t atal pass . When Digby under ook the ungentle

s o f t ta k jailor, he knew that he mus hold it f at the hazard o f his li e .

m i Sir John has ever been kind to e, sa d f d I Warwick , orgive the word, my Lor , am — firm now awa y with mercy ! To win an easy e f r l I m gress rom these mu derous wa ls. could y f ” sel plant the dagger .

x i the We are not e ecu t oners, interrupted

’ who f o f i n Duke, elt none Warwick s vacillat o s, ' no w now sinking benea th the required tone,

' d f r and erfec tl lm wo un up a above it, was p y ca ,

o c t th ugh his heart, he s arce knew why, en er ‘ l ' ‘ tained ho o f su s hope cces . Warwick believed i a he h t should win , and mourned the losers in thef f right ul game . Richard knew that he might fai a nd n o l , assuredly would, did he t meet ea ch

' ' hecess it a n y and hazard with dau tless spirit.

‘ The sound o f a bell from a neighbouring

‘ convent was brought fitfully by the wind n ‘ — They are ri ging matins there is our signal,

r. "4' i‘ ’ ” Aiid l The o f Digby s knel . door the cham

‘ “ ‘ ber o en ed wo rds an d p as Warwick said these , ' Bléwe with a he fi his usu l catlike pace, slid in ; wl d i u to him a ke stra ght p Roger, and casting on “ ” f m . a glance ro under his brows, said only Come u ” Are all at rest ? asked the Earl . 1 r ” Two I hours agone, said Master Abel, have kept myself awake sharpening my steel ;

’ lid to iiché d the handle of a huge butcher s knife

t ~ stuck in his girdle, whose gli tering blade did i ‘ ‘ ale and bredit to his care. Warwick turned p - ‘ o ” u éick. n will be dulled anon, contin ed

Where are thy comrades ? ” Richard asked T hey wait at the end of the corridor 306 retra i n wm nc x.

a . Master Astwood is counting his g ins Come,

f to the Poor Roger ollowed him door, then ” turning to the Princes ; My royal masters, s if ill I aid he, this deed goes , and never see

Cr 1 ye more, by Christ and his oss, pray a bless in if I f g on ye ; may pray, but by the mass 1 ear

'

I nor . shall never pray, sup more — They were gone Warwick strove to look; to

he —a r be firm, but grew ashy white doo , clapped

to a t d t f n . d a dista nce, ma e him almos ai t Richar

the was pale also ; but his hand shook not in least, f as he presented a cup o wine to his co usin . i ” h G ve me water rather, said the Earl, s ud

—h his dering, that cup is red ark it is g" roans

I the i d t is w nd aroun the turret, where my li and e . ege brother said York, end avour ing to give other thoughts to the poor Prince, who cried,

It is the hell - born laug h o f fiends viewing ” the deed . With the breeze indeed came a sound o f laughter. Are we betrayed cried

s in York : but the sound pas ed away wailing.

808 E P RKI N wA RBEc K .

n u s eel dero s prison ho se, the Foul Fiend pos ess th ” ni such is my be so ri. — Blewet looked at him York marked the

m f - sarcas , the scorn o his glance the gate mean “ while Was open ed : at that moment a cl a s h o f

arms was heard . The sentinels a i the East ern a ” g te, remarked Abel .

God Go d grant it cried Warwick, grant—yet can it be ! and am I free

’ He to rushed through the open door, intent s l f id n eize upon liberty , as Tanta us on his orb de — feast his first step beyond the thresh old o f his — prison was followed by a shriek aluio st a Wo

’ er in : man s shriek, it was so shrill and pi c g

f c o f What he quailed be ore, gave presen e mind

— the to York experienced in ills. Whatever

' new he e o ut to t evil might be, w nt mee it

A o f e wr calmly. party archers and y omen e e u drawn up in the court yard . This tr ly is a ” “ mm at . i e, he said, in which one least wins ” Our good Lieutena nt is sa fe ; we are lost.

G rim Sir John had much disliked even this

rew masque of murder . He saw their seizu ith

the a grin o f delight. He abhorred Richard, as enax m . WARBECK. 309

rime mover o f d s p ‘ the me itated a sassination ; but he hated Warwick more, who s l thu could lay in fo r th f of ambush e li e one, who he believed had been a most courteous and soft- hearted — jailor to him he commanded his myrmidons to lead the royal kinsmen to the strongest

- o f ward rooms the Tower, with dogged, savage

an d l In dark separate ce ls, in solitude and

s - f m o f f m night, the e ill ated victi s cra t and a bi tion were co nsigned to bitin g reflection and

. o ut sinister anticipation Warwick, worn by the

o f unusual excitement the last weeks, by his eager hopes, and overwhelming despair, had no

s one thought, but ten thou and thoughts, making a chaos and hell o f his poo r heart. Richard felt more fo r his cousin than fo r himself. But f ” o r me, he repeated internally, he had still n been a patient prisoner. Yet to break priso

- is not crime capital he may yet be saved .

‘ fo r ver Elizabeth will intercede ; Tudor, y shame,

cannot do further wrong to one so near akin, so

f - I powerless and unfort un ate . For mysel am

h i . 0 3 3 1 1 m m WARBECK .

the o f d dead Duke die ,

first I a slave. So that my memory sur ' ‘ ’ — vive in my o wn White Rose s hea rt let the victor dispose at his pleasure o f this f ” o Richard .

3 12 PE I RK N f WARBECK .

Among such fate- hunted victims was the

o f Duke York. Hope had died in his heart ; and his few remaining days were only to be f spent in celebrating her dark unera l . Morning

’ Opened its eyes on Prince Richard s dungeon,

showing him van quished by grievous overthrow

and change. To look back thr ough his tumul

tuo us f to n li e, dwell upon its chances, to thi k

f ff fo r o the many who had su ered him, were sad h but fitting t oughts, to which he betook him

f l l his . sel , . ti l death became love y in eyes But intermingled with such retrospection were other f memories : his own sweet love was be ore him,

in her tears or smiles ; he looked into her dear

be i s eyes, closed his own , and thrill ng kis es

n f pr essed his burni g lips, and so t, white arms were roun d him ; ' at thought o f such he grew

ti of his the f fu impa ent chains, and _ ear l cutting

l off from all that awaited him. He began to ca l culate on the probability that his life would be

a l spared, and grew cow rd y the while ; to if f feed upon those rosea te lips, to drink l e rom f l f f those eyes, to clasp his beauti u , ond wi e, feeling that beyond the circle o f his arms PERKIN WARBECK . 3 1 3

' t e t his desir s nough exist d wor hy e , became a i fierce, impat ent hunger, to gratify which he i f ' would call h msel impostor, give up fame and a ' reput tion , and become Perkin Warbeck in all

’ men s eyes .

' ' There was but one refuge from this battle o i fe " youth and li with the grim skeleton . With a strong effort he endeavoured to turn his attention’ 1 f i ts v1cto r 812111 : rom earth, woes, and more tyrant

' h v w f joys, to the ea en here alone his uture lay .

w ffi b e ffe The struggle as di cult, but e cted it

his prayer brought resignation, calm ; so when

l his f soul, stil linked to mortal rame, and slave

n i h to its i stincts, aga n returned to eart , it was

‘ with milder wishes and subdued reg rets . Mo

' ’ nina s lovely form wandered into his mind ; she was an angel now, a blessed spirit, he believed fo r , what deceived her, deceived him ; and he fancied that he alone had escaped from the watery

o f perils that night ; she had arrived there, where he soon should be, in the serene immutability

f in revulsmn o f df eternal li e he began , the his

‘ to it l s . thoughts, p y those destined sti l to exi t

' ' t Earth was a skaithed plane , a roofless, shel

V O L . I I I . P 3 14; PE RK I N wa a nnc m. terless home ; a wild where the h uman soul wa n

e le t o s der d a litt in erval , t rtured by harp, cruel

o st rms ; lost in thorny, entangled brakes ; weary,

n repini g, till the hour came when it could soar

its t a nd f f s to native bir hplace, find re uge rom it

in ills promised Paradise .

c wa s o f e c His ell indeed the haven p a e, com

e f f o par d to the turbid, right ul atm sphere in wh ich his Katherine lived . Edmund had not returned ; every attempt she ma de to co mmu

S f il . nicate with cotland or Burgundy, a ed She

m e of u had past a su m r wretchedness, nor co ld the tender attention o f Elizabeth sooth her .

o f the s In spite all, poor Queen was almo t hap pier than she ha d ever been ; fo r many years ” n b o f her she had bee the canni al own heart,

her f f s devouring grie s in voiceless, riendle s,

i ve an d t he were h sol tude ; her ry joys, y t ose

f e o wn o maternity, were lock d up in her

It was the birth of ba in to bosom . pp ess share her griefs with another ; that other bein g so

et the fa i gentl e, so wise, and y so sensitive, as r

who n her White Ros e, co ced ed own worst

to sooth tho se of one ossess in less fo r pa ins, p g

3 16 . , PERKIN WARBECK

f weight at her heavy oreboding heart increa sed .

’ The tale was soon told o f Richard s attempted ” escape and failure What ca n be done ?

has delivere d Nothing ; God t the innocent into

. h o f the ands the cruel ; the cruel , to whom

r as me cy is as unknown , , methinks, it is even to the awful Power who rules our miserable ” lives . Such words, with a passionate burst o f f tears, burst rom the timid Elizabeth, whose crushed and burning heart even arraigned the

f r th Deity o eagony she endured .

Katheri ne looked on her with sweet compas “ ” “ sion , Gentle one, she said , what new spirit puts such strange speech into your mouth, whose murmurings heretofore were those o f piety ? ”

” '

It is a . bad world, continued the Queen ; if I I and, become bad in it, perchance shall

: I prosper, and have power to save have been

s f- f- n too mild , too el communing and sel co demn f f ing ; and the right ul result is, that the sole

sca f bei ng that ever loved me, perishes on the

f . , R old , Both will perish my White ose, doubt w no . o n it t Your York, and my devoted only , 131311 141 14 WARBECK .

l oved Edward . In hi s prison I have been hi s

, it fin d dream he breaks , not to liberty again, ' E but lizabeth . Wretched boy l knows he not

’ he i that shall never aga n find her, who roamed f o with a ree spirit the w odland glades, talking

o f f o f to him the uture, as a scene painted to

f l avJ—I my will ; aded, outworn , a degraded s e '

‘ ” am b not Eliza eth .

’ ’ Did yo u kno w the dearest truth of re ” - ‘ l i ion i WOfild f e g , replied Kather ne, you e l ' i that she, who has been tried, and co me o ut ” r 1 s a fa r a —3 pu e, _ nobler being th n

I n o t r n ot n “ am pu e, in ocent ; much you ” the im mistake me, said Queen wicked,

u u i n h pious tho ghts harbo r my eart, and pol

‘ m f lute y soul , even beyond the hope o me t I dia tio n . Some imes hate my beautiful chil

. dren because they are his ; sometimes in the

o f i I e nu tl al dark hour n ght, renounc my p vow, ~ whi and lend ready, willing ear to fiendish s

’ . s 1 I pering which borrow Edward s vo ce. court

a d i m sleep, because he w n ers nto ydreams ; and I I ? a What do say, what am revealing L dy,

' ud e : o u married e i g me not y him you lov d, 3 18 fulfill ing thus the ‘ best destiny tha t can be

w t f given in this hard orld o woman , whose li e is

he and merely love . Tho ugh perish in his youth,

ou f r him fo r e u f y weep b ev r, hug yo rsel in the

‘ bless ed knowledg e t hat your fate is bright a s an for a s gels; we re p cele tial joys, when love and

s duty, twined in si terly embrace , take up their

I— Ka abode together withi n us : and but,

e ou ?— th rine, did y hear me They perish even as

‘ I speak : his cruel heart knows no touch of h ” mercy, and t ey perish.

" ’ l no a i s VVhi They sha l t, de rest, sa d York te “ n tha t so fo l d Rose ; it can ot be, ul a b ot arken

i No o o ur whole l ves . ; there are w rds and d lo oks an bon es that may persuade. Ala s !

r r l we e we mo e ho y, surely a miracle might be

o u sa f nor i rd v ch ed, th s Pharoah ha en his heart f ” or ever.

A ll her - en860 1 n s love lad beami g in her eye ,

e t him with a voice that ev n hrilled , though it moved him no u the White Rose addressed

’ Henry. She had yet to learn that a tyr ant s

smile is more fatal than his frown : he was a ll

ou s fo r w s s im la mhle an c rte y, he a re olved, p ; d

320 PERKIN WARBECK .

a . f rcei e h ou ppeal Herea ter you will pe g t at y gain,

s o f o f in tead losing, by an act justice which you

’ : passionately call cruelty it is zmercy, heaven s

. s mercy doubtless, that break the link between a ” royal prin cess and abaseborn impos tor .

A sudden fear thrilled Katherine : You ” cannot mean that he should die, she cried ;

’ f r fo r i o your own sake, your ch ldren s sake,

s t n on whom your sin will be visi ed, you can ot intendsuch murder : you dare not ; fo r the whole world would rise against the unchristian king

’ . e who sheds his kinsman s blood All Europe, th

o f secret hearts those nearest to you , your own k m nowledge, all proclai your victim, your rival

l fra i to be your brother, and wi l brand you a tr

s cide . You are Lanca ter, your ancestors were

n i a in i ki gs, you conquered th s re lm the r name,

and may reign over it in pea ce o f conscience ;

t e o f but not so may you destroy the York .

His him mother avouched , the Duchess o f Bur

a I was h gundy cknowledges him, given to im

. b o f y my royal cousin, as to one equal rank, and

h e u — i pholds him More than all, his pr ncely PERKIN WARBECK . 321

‘ a ' f- decla res thé o o sel truth nor can evil c unsell rs,

' ‘ f zb etween nor alse chroniclers, stand you, and

‘ heaven and the avenging world . You vainly

' seek to heap accusation on him you term Crook

' ’ back s head : time will affix the wo rs t indelible '

‘ u . stain pon you You cannot, will not slay ” him .

' What were words to the fixed mind o f

' e ? A H nry summer breeze, whispering round

'

- Q a tempest withstanding watch - to wer he ml ght

‘ grow chill at this echo o f the fears his o wn heart " e and o e spoke ; but still he smil d, his purp s was

a unsh ken . It became known that the Princes were to be

r fo r n: ar aigned treaso first the unhappy, mis

m n the om na ed Perki was tried , by c mon courts,

in Westminster Hall . When a despot gives up

' ' the eiiecutio n o f his revenge to the co urse o f

e o f law, it is only b cause he wishes to get rid

pa ssing the sentence o f death upon his single

' a oic o f authority, and to make the dre d v e mis i the of named justice, and its executors, abettors

' ‘ his crime . When Tragedy a rrays itself in the formal P 5 322 PE RKIN wana rcx .

e odious th i . mor , an in any other gu se When

c t o r e us f si kness threatens dep iv o one, round — whom our heart- strings ha ve twined we think — inextricably the skill o f man is our frien d ; if

the f t merciless tempest be murderer, we eel hat

n u it obeys One whose ways are i scr table, while we strive to believe that they are good. Groping in e r the da rkness, we teach our h a ts bitter lesson

r si i do o r ' la me the of e g nat on . Nor we hate n b

il ho e w d Winds and murderous waves, t ugh th y ha ve drank up a life more precious and more beloved than words have power to speak. But

’ th a t man s authority should destroy the life

f f a fu o his ellow man ; th t he who is power l,

o l fo r sh u d, his own security and benefit, drive

f om n into the da rksome vo id o the t b, o e un ited to our sun- visited earth by ties o f tenderness a nd love—one whose mind was the abode o f ho no ur and virtue ; to know that the word of man co uld still bind to its earthly tabernacle

ff t s of the being , voice, looks, thoughts, a ec ion

o f un o ur all ; and yet, that the man power

e e of all locks the seeret chamb r, rifl s it its

324 PERK IN ma s s a cre

in a in b . T f h , T e . tw tried yranny .will go ort

ma a nd wi h c f t . sque, _ hideous anti s ancy that

She ma n he tles .with a decorous garb r blood H s . n thirsty act e will be . co demned ; but he

n o t will die ! not die ! Oh no, my Richard is — immortal he cannot D I E

e o u m My royal Cousin , wh n y gave me to y

- in sweet love, and pledged your word that weal

or woe I should be his ; and I promised myself

h the ua rdian still .dearer t ings, to be , g angel f f and tutelar genius o his li e ; and took pleasure,

f f I was n the i ond, oolish girl that , i anticipat on

o f misfortunes that I should rob o f all power

r the m t to hu t ; no thought, among , any hat

n fut urit told o f r i strayed i to y, , me this dese t on ,

o f ff this impotence e ecting good . Alas ! how

deaf and cruel man is : I could more eas ily tear

his - l asunder prison wal s with my hands, and

a n break with my we k fingers his iron chai s,

’ an mo ve o ne ff d e th , as liable to su er and to , i

as even his victim, to pity

Elizabeth listened pale and silent to these co m i — pla nts bitter as they were, they were hushed to mor - f i i n e o f e heart end ng s le ce, when , th hour '

PEfIK IN wa a a s cx . 3 25 — t a e she s o l di e fo rial c m hould n y pray to , be re the " w a ‘ h r ord th t spoke his condemnat ion met e ear .

’ ' ‘ ‘ — - Accustomed a s a Priricess a high - bo rri and

e o f m t wrf to respected daught r one os po e ul , be ' obeyed a nd served to fihd ‘ herself d estitute o f

f ‘ seemed to a inhn other all influence, pl ce her — ' planet—it was not men not her fellow- crea tures that were ‘ a ro un d ‘ her ; but fiends who f wore the mask o humanity . An unihhabited

i desert had not been ' more solitary than this

she s s d populous land, whose language pos e se

fo r if it not ; what is language, reach not the heart and move it ?

o f time t e Richard, the wonder the , ga her d courage as ill- fort une pressed more hardlyupon

' f n ot a but him in the hour o trial he did qu il ,

f f tlie stood in bold , earless innocence be ore men ,

fe. He whose thoughts were armed against his li

' fo r n o t lie was not guilty, he said, he could

' in dictment ‘ was guilty o f treason . When the read which treated himas a foreigner a n d an

s o f e a d f alien, the pirit the Plantagen t fl she rom

- h t his eyes, and the very stony ear ed clerk, who

' n castin re ards . o n f e a d rea d, g his g him alt red 3 26 PERKIN wa a a s cx .

l o f sta mmered , overawed by a b aze dignity,

f i r which, did we oster ant que c eeds, we might believe was shed over him by some such spirit

as imparted divine majesty to the person o f the

King o fi Ithaca . Proudly and silently Richard h lis tened to the evidence on his trial . It touc ed only on such points as would afterwards be most

rw material fo r inculpation o f poor Wa ick . In

en d had to r the he was asked what he plead, whe e fore judgment sho uld not pass upon him—but

w s f he a bid to be brie , and to beware not to use any language derogatory to the high and mighty f o a . A i e Prince, Henry, king these re lms sm l

a nd curled his lips at this admonition , with even

fu “ a play l air he said, My very good Lord, I

fo r l ask nothing, save that a ittle mercy be ex

o f i tended to the memory my grac ous uncle, my

f - Lord o Gloucester, who was no child mur ” derer.

t d and e e At the word he was interrup e , s nt nce

pronounced. As the ignominious words were f said, Richard, who rom the beginning had

f in a abst ract ed himsel prayer, so that his e rs might be as little wounded as possible by an

CHAPTER XXI .

So yo ung t o g o

! n e the o scure co l ro in orm roun ! d r b , d, tt g , w y g d To be na iled down into a na rrow pla ce To s ee no mo re sweet s unshine ; h ea r n o mo re Blithe vo ice o f livmg thing mus e no t a gain

! o n familiar hou h s s ad et hus los p t g t , , y t t How fea rful S m r um e .

Speak to me, Lady, sister, speak ! your frozen glances frighten me ; your fingers as I

f . touch them, have no resistance or li e Dearest and best, do not desert me, speak but one word , ” my own White Rose . Katherine raised her blue eyes heavenward

f he ff too f as i t e ort were great, they ell again on the g round, as she said, in a voice so low t hat 9 PERKIN WARBECK . 32

“ Elizabeth could hardly catch the sound ; I

f ‘ ” must see him once again be ore he dies. I And you shall , dearest, promise you .

u ff him'b s Cheer p, my love, not to a right y look

. s like these Indeed you hall see him, and I

' ‘ ‘ ’ will also ; he shall kno w that he- has a sister s

’ r r praye s, a siste s love . Patience, sweet Kate, ” but a little patience . Would I could sleep till then replied the miserable wife : and she covered her face with

‘ if o f da a fid her hands, as to shut out the light y, sighed bitterly.

When our purposes are inflexible, how do insurmountable obstacles break before our st rong will ? so that often it seems that we f w are more inconstant than ortune, and that ith perseverance we might attain . the sum o f . our desires. The Queen , the weak, despised, pow

less f er Queen , resolved to grati y this one last wish o f her beloved friend . Many a motive

to f urged her it ; compassion, love, and even sel interest. At first she almost despaired ; while Richard continued in the Tower it was impo s

- i o f sible ; but on the twenty th rd November, w 330 r s nx m a a s s c x . t wo days befo re the destined termina tion o f his f of the i l o f atal tragedy, on the day tr a poor

he r o f Warwick, was removed to the p ison Lud

a . r at o f g te And he e, dead n ight, Henry, being a e bs ent inspecting his new palac at Richmond,

l i l n shrinkin no w the E izabeth , t mid, tremb i g, g at

t —and n fa r d one las Katheri e, too absorbe in

o f f thought to dream ear, took boat at West

i a nd a m nster, were rowed along the d rk, cold tide to Blackfriars . They were silent ; the

’ her f n n ich was Queen clasped rie d s ha d , wh

l . b chi l and deathlike Eliza eth trembled , ac .

o fo r f in customed to h pe , to seek re uge her

f e stronger mind, she elt d serted, now that she,

ass a nd l f grossed by p ion , silent sti l , the wi e of o f t o the near prey dea h, could remember nly

fo r w i e was that yet a little h l he alive. Their short voyage seemed endl ess ; still the oars

l the i sp ashed , still boat gl ded , and yet they

l fo r — one arrived not. Cou d it last ever with

e e e hope ever in vi w, nev r to know that h was

’ dead ? The thought passed into Katherine s min d with the sluggish but absorbing tenacity o f n ef a nd i tense gri , at last possessed it so

33 2 w PERKIN a ns s cx .

The turnkey looked as not understand ing ;

o f but their guide, who was the chaplain the jail, answered, f i He does not. Fear ul that some imped ment

i e dis m ght interv ne, unwilling to disturb by a a ppo inted z hope a soul so near its heavenly ” ho a t in . me, I h ve old him noth g n “ Ge tly, then, said Katherine, let our ” speech be low.

‘ ‘ doo r o en ed f The p , and displayed the son o t he d u o d prou , lux ri us E ward , sleeping on a

a e . wretched m ttress, chained to the pavem nt

' e The ladies entered alone . Katherine glid d noiselessly to his side ; her first act was to be nd

i l his the down her cheek, t l breath disturbed ringlet that rested on it ; thus to as sure herself f tha t li e was within his lips. El izabeth fixed

a s if her e rne t gaze on him , to discover in aught

’ o f u - - he reminded her the bl e eyed , flaxen haired

bridegroom o f Anne Mowbray : he more resem

bled apicture o f her father in his early man

hood ; and then again her aunt the Duches s

of f Burgundy, whom she had seen j ust be ore

’ King Edward s death . He lay there in placid e ep ; thought and feeling absent ; yet in that ’ - . 333 PERKIN WARBECK , fo rm resided the soul o f Richard ; a bright » — casket containing a priceless gem : no flaw no

o f — token weakness or decay . He lived and at a word would come back from oblivion to her w A few a n d f orld o f love . days that ormwould still exist in al l its fair proportion . But veil it quick ; he is not there ! unholy a n d false is the

s philo ophy, that teaches us that that , lurid mockery was the thing we loved .

h w ke And now e o , almost to joy ; yet sadness succeeded quickly to rapture . My poor; “ fo r fo r he said, . weep not me ; weep

l f f a . Th thyse rather; a rose gra ted on thorn _ e ” a n o such . degr ded and disgraced claims _ sorrow b Katherine replied . y an embrace ; by laying her

beautiful head on his bosom, and listening with

f exta c o f forget ul , delicious y to the throbbings

his beating heart . ” f f un Be not unjust to thysel , said a so t,

o f known voice, breaking the silence the lovers ;

be not false to thy house . We are a devoted

ro u even race, my brother ; but we are p d to ” the last .

n . This is a new miracle, cried , the Pri ce 334 p s a x m wa n s s cx . kindred with Tudor ’s enemy ?

’ Tudor s wife ; your sister . Do you not remember El izabeth ? ” h wh As these words were said, Kat erine, o

i e appea red to ha ve accompl sh d her utmost wish,

i o him sat bes de him , her arms ar und , her i sweet hea d reposing, her eyes closed . Kiss ng f f i her so t hair and air brow, York disentw ned her cl$ ed p hands, and rose, addressing the ueen : ” My sister, he said, you do a deed which calls fo r blessings from heaven upon you and

. i l n o w m i i yours T l , such was y unmanly sp r t, the t ffix the d r s igma a ed to my name, n ace of me my ignominious death , made odious

o f to myself. The weakness tha t thought is

o f t past ; the love this swee est sweet, and

o . i r your kindness rest re me Indeed , my s ste , I — ” am York l am Plantagenet. ” u e As s ch , replied the Que n , I ask a

o fo r as b on , which , selfish I am , I chiefl y came ; ” my brother will not deny me ?

Trifler i is . , th s vanity I can g ive not hing .

3 ns x 36 PERKIN wa u c .

Katherine stretched out her hand to ‘ the

’ f o f Queen , who was at York s eet, in token com plia nce : she could not speak ; it was a mighty effort to press the fi ngers o f Elizabeth slightly ; who said , Before heaven and your dear Lord I claim

fo r your promise you are mine ever . “ f A precious gi t, my Bess ; was it not th us my infant lips called you I trust her to you ;

o f and so the sting death is blun ted . Yet let not

f n rin too o d a linge g on one passed away, tarnish the bright hours that may yet be in store for her. Forget me, sweet ones ; I am nought ; a — vapour which death and darkness inhales best

wo l unremembered . Yet while I live I u d ask — i - o f one question our vict m cousin, Edward Warwick Elizabeth could no longer restrain her tears W as she related , that, however weak arwick f a mig ht hereto ore have seemed , he ppeared a

e Plantagenet on his trial. He disdain d the

f i o f insulting ormalit es law, where the bitter

t f Lancas rian, Lord Ox ord, was the interpreter o f j us tice ; he at once declared himself g uilty of PERKIN . WARBECK; 337

' ' ' plotting to put the English crown on the head of

' ' he o f his cousin, t Duke York . He was quickly n interrupted, and co demned to be beheaded .

Generous; unhappy Warwick . Ah ! is no t

' f o f o e w li e a misery, when all g od, xcept ye t o ” angelic creatures, die . The signal was now given that the interview

. . in must end Elizabeth wept Kather e, still

l n voice ess, clu g closer to her husband ; while he nerved himself to support these gentle spirits

l f t . ff with man y orti ude One long, a ectionate kiss he pressed o n the mouth o f Katherine ; and as her roseate lips yet asked another, another and another followed ; their lives mingled with their

We meet in Paradise, mine only one,

’ whispered York ; through our Lord s mercy ” assuredly we meet there . He unwound her arms ; he placed her in

. those o f Elizabeth . Cherish, preserve her

thv . Bless thee, my sister ; thee, and children f They at least will, by my death, reign right ully over this kingdom . Farewell

ai f He kissed her hand, and then ag n the li e

V O L . 1 1 1 . g R 338 PERKIN WA BECK . less han d of who stood

not could statue. She had spoken ; no words

her . utter despair Another moment, and their fair fo rms were gone ; the door of his cell was

fo r of God closed ; and, but the presence the he Richard was left alone to solitude

and night .

340 PERKIN WARBECK .

regrets which must endure while we exist. w Those who have met with one, ith whose every feeling and thought their thoughts a nd feelings

o f i were entwined , who knew no d vided past, f nor could imagine a solitary uturity, to them

m brin ? o f what bal can time g Time, the giver

a hours, months, and years, e ch one how barren,

to f contemptible, and heavy to bear the bere t !

n o fo r There was consolation Katherine, which co uld make her fo r a moment forget that her

o f f present existence was but the lees li e, the

r n o f spiritless emna ts a nectareous draught.

o But Katherine was gentle, go d , and resigned ; l she ived on, dispensing pleasure, adored by all

ac e who appro h d her, and gladly hailing any

i o i visitat on f happiness, wh ch might reach one whose affections were to o fondly lin ked to the grave.

f sa d Years had passed, since the last act o the d tragedy which estroyed her dearest hopes. She accompa nied the Queen of Englan d on a b progress made y her, and they remained

e o f o ne night at Eas tw ll Place, the seat Sir

Thomas Moyle. There was a park, and PERKIN WARBECK . 341

- ‘ s e - to stately pleasure ground b longing the house,

s undulating upland , shady copses, and sweet f A running brooks to diversi y the sc ene.

o f the crowd the noble and gay were there, and . a ' the roy l party was unu uall mirthful ; fire s' y works, masks and dances were employed ; and ll a joyous ly gave themselves up to the spirit of

. of - the hour The chords a harp, a well known air, first awoke in the bosom of the W hite

s Ro e that languid melancholy, so near allied to

r i pleasu e, so close a neighbour to pa n. By degrees memory grew busy in her brain ; she could no longer endure the laughter o f her

h na companions, t eir sallies, y, nor their kind

’ ness ; fo r Elizabeth perceived her dear friend s

o f change countenance, and was approaching,

. w no t re~ hen Katherine, making her a sign to

' a wa a n d a mark her, stole y, entering straggling h path, wandered on, struggling wit the tears, f which the beauty o the evening, and the very f hilarity which just be ore she had shared, caused

f f e . to gush, warm and ast rom her yes

She reached a little streamlet, and was pass

o f the ing forward, when she became aware 842 PERK IN ws m cx .

of h presence ano t er in the scene. A labouring

of i his h e man, m ddle age, (but air was gr y,

fl u was e and owed on his sho lders, ) seat d on the i n of f i i rust c maso ry a rude ounta n , read ng ;

' he l do fied his he rose when saw the ady, and

i e hat ; she, w th the cordial sweetness that a com

a nied her s ets p slightest , gave him an evening

benison . Her voice, her look, her cordial man ner moved to its depths a heart lately hardened

a ins h s on fol g a t er. As she pa sed , the man

e he i . low d hastily, Lady cr ed It stru ck the Princess that this poor fellow

e f his and had some requ st to pre er to master,

' that he Wished to do it through her medium ;

i do she turned with a benevolent sm le, Can I

fo r f n aught you, good rie d

His voice fail ed him; he stretched out his

c : hand, whi h held his book, she took it the tiny volume was no stranger to her eyes ; as if a

h n g ost had looked on her lonely watchi g, she

trembled and grew pale, when she opened it, and

f a now saw written in air char cters, by a hand ” B . n dust, La Rosa lanca The rustic k elt

before her.

3 4 wa a nncx 4 PERKIN . disdaining to communicate with oii e who lives but to remember them ? Of the death o f seve ral I have heard but often I have longed with

t e o f o u o f i bit ern ss to hear y , and the Span sh ” maiden, Monina de Faro . ” Her t l i gen le sou , repl ed Edmund, has

fo r flown to join him whom she lived and died .

It is now two years since I was assured o f this . A f i f vi r ar, whom I had ormerly well known , sited Lisbon ; and I entreated him to enquire fo r The De Faro and his child. commander o f the f Adalid was almost orgotten ; at last, an old sailor f was ound, who remembered that, some . years

f fo r be ore, he had sailed the Western Indies, and ” was never heard o f more .

His daughter accompanied him ?

o f i In the churchyard a convent, placed h gh among the foldings o f those lovely hills which

overlook Lisbon, he was shown an humble tomb, hal f defaced ; her dea r sacred name is carved f 1 4 upon it, and hal the date, the which

i f c n showed that she d ed be ore the entury bega , ‘ in which we now live . She could not have

Richa rd was put to death in 1 499 . PERKIN WARBECK . 345

f ’ died be ore him, nor ever knew the worst pang o f the i ' all, ignominy l nked with. his beloved ” memory.

mv " o 2 And you; kinsman , how l ng haveyou wedded penury and labour in this obscure dis guise ? ” ” t “ Penury and labour, said Plan agenet, a re not confined to the humble occupation I have “ adopted . I was m ade poor by the death - blow

' o f my hopes ; and my chief labour is to tame my

i

i o f - heart to resignat on to the will God . Oh

o u o ’ scure y may indeed call my destinati n . Would I could shroud it in tenfold night !

Dearer to me is the silence and loneliness o f

fo r m nd this spot, where I can ever co mune u is u ed t rb with the past, than a pomp which is

’ d o f . him stai ned by the bloo , whom once I thought we all loved so well .

— fr When oh , let me not name the ightful thin l— 'for g when he was gone ever, the whole

ml serab r f worldwas to me but one le tomb. I g oped a a in darkness, misery my m te, etern l lamentation

m . y sole delight The first thing that brought Q 5 346 wa nc PERKIN a s x.

' peace t o my soul; was the beauty of this vmible

. God mi fo r in universe When per tted, some l scrutable purpose, moral evi to be showered so

ifu he re plent lly over us, gave us a thousand If sources out of ourselves in compensation . I

s o l l h u d I miss him, who was sing e a mong men

fo r e - r i goodness, wisdom, and h aven bo n nobil ty

of soul . My heart sickens at the evil things

t o f ha t usurp the shape humanity, and dare deem

o f s u f ll themselves the same pecies I t rn rom a ,

a i . no f l lo th ng But here there is change, no al ing

o if of o f : , no loss beauty and good these glades,

’ these copses, the seasons change and elemental

fo r the — ministrations, are ever same the type

in of their Maker glory and in good . The

loveliness o f earth saves me from des pair : the

majes ty of Heaven imparts aspirin g ho pe . I bare

my boso m to the breeze, and my wretched heart

l the bab throbs less wild y . I drink in y sweet

f h ho ur and re os a a in on the o d~ ness o t e , p e g g o

ness o f my Creato r.

Yours is another existence, Lady ; you — mad the adulation of the crowd the luxury o f

8 48 PERKIN WARBECK .

W e ' a ll o ur are , dear Cousin, impelled by . nature to make ourselves the central point of f the universe. Even those, who as they ancy,

f r o f sacrifice themselves o the love God, do it more trul vfo r love o f themselves ; and the fo l lowers o f virtue too often see their duties through

r the obscu e and deceptive medium , which their

o wn in divxdual f l . single, ee ings create Yet we have one unerring guide ; one given us at our

i fo r birth, and which He who d ed on the cross

s a u , taught us to understand and to appreci te, commanding us to make it the master- law o f our lives. Call it love, charity, or sympathy ; it is

o o f . the best, the angelic porti n us It teaches

f . us to eel pain at others pain, joy in their joy The more entirely we mingle our emotions with

o f r i l those othe s, mak ng our we l or ill being

r depend on thei s, the more completely do we

as f c t away selfishness, and approach the per ec

f a tion o our n ture.

to You are going answer, perhaps to refute — me do not. Remember I am a woman, with

’ ’ a a woman s tutelage in my e rly years, a woman s

a in i educ tion the world , wh ch is that of the E I P RK N WARBECK . 34d) — t ! fo r a s— h hear alas not of the head . I ave

- — no school learning, no logic but simply the

o f voice my own soul which speaks within mell : f f I try to orget, you orce me back upon myself. You attack ; and you beseech me to

f f. n de end mysel So to do, I must dwell upo

‘ o f a the sentiments a heart, which is hum n , and f f ' there ore aulty, but which has neither guile nor malice in it. ’ — In my father s house and when I Wa n ' h' o diffi dered wit my bel ved outcast, I had no — culty in perceiving, nor God was so gracious — rue in f m . to ulfilling y duties For, in child

a nd f b a n d hood I was cherished avoured . y all f ’ d when I became a wi e, it was no won er that I

o - e should love and idolize the m st single heart d, generous, and kindly being that ever trod the

f ‘ — earth . To give mysel away to him to be a part of him - to feel that we were an ha rmo

wa s nions one in this discordant world, a happi

f of few — f ness that alls to the lot de eat, chains, — imprisonment all these were but shows ; the

reality was deep in our hearts, invulnerable by f any tyrant less remorseless than death . I this 350 PERKIN WARBECK .

f w the our I li e ere sum and boundary of being, had possessed the consummation and fulfilment of happiness. But we are taught to believe that o ur ex isten ce here is but the stepping stone to another

an d ‘ in of beyond, that , death is the beg ning

’ f we r of s i li e . When each the summit our de res,

f to . then we all, and death comes destroy He

s an d l was lo t to me, my glory, my good Little i h m u i . c co ld I ava l to now The aresses, love,

’ hf and and watc ul care, the obedience the heart s f wh sacrifice, o a poor thing o g roped darkling

in upon earth, could avail nought to a spirit

f to f Paradise. I was orced eel that I was alone and, as to me, to love is to exist, so in that dark

o f f hour, in the gaspings my agony, I elt that

if fo r r f ! must die, eve divided rom him who poss es sed my affections .

If ef Years have passed since then . gri kills

i . us not, we k ll it Not that I cease to grieve ;

e to l n fo r each hour, rev aling me how excel i g and

who m ma tchless the being was, once was ine, but renews the pang with which I deplore my

52 ER I 3 P K N WARBECK .

' ' whom I l ff ct n t associate, with a c inging a e io tha f ‘ orbids me to separate myself from them . Did

I not love the noble and good, even as he did,

? e while Richard lived Do s he not now, in his ? heavenly abode, love them And must my f living heart be stone, because that dear orm is u d st, which was the medium o f my co mmun ica ? ff tion with his spirit Where I see su ering, there I must bring my mite fo r its relief. We are not deities to bestow in impassive benevo — lence We give, because we love and the

o f a meshes that sweet web, which mutu l good

f en o fices and sympathy weaves, entangle and thra l f me, and orce me to pain and pleasure;

to ever o f and , y variety emotion which is the portion o f those whom it holds Within its folds . I quarrel not with—I admire—those who can

be good and benevolent, and yet keep their

o f r for hearts to themselves, the shrine wo ship

i . a m God, an haven wh ch no wind can enter I f not one o these, and yet take no shame there l fore : I fee my many weaknesses, and know that some o f these form a part o f my strength ; the ' 53 PERKIN WARBECK . 3 reviled part of our nature bein g a porti ono f that which elevates us to the godlike. My reason,

o f o bservahc my sense duty, my conscientious e o f its dicta tes - u the better , you will set p as part ; but I venerate also the freer impulses of

a sswn s m i our souls . My p , my susceptible i ag

f ou nation, my altering dependence others, my — clinging to the sense o f joy this makes an f t integral part o Katherine, nor the worst par

‘ o f her When my so ul quits this bower o f

’ flesh, these leaves and flowers, which are per

f . haps the growth o it, may decay and die I

an im know not ; as it is, I am content to be f per ect creature, so that I never lose the enno

f e blin g attribute o my speci s, the constant en dea vo ur to be more perfect .

u fo r I do not blame you, my Co sin, seek

f r ing repose in solitude a te much endurance . But unquiet should I feel in the unreplying i f lonel ness, which orms your peace . I must love

s f and be loved . I mu t eel that my dear and f chosen riends are happier through me . When I ha ve wandered out o f myself in my endeavour 354 PERKI N WARBECK .

r u i to shed pleasure a o nd, I must aga n return laden with the gathered sweets on which I feed — . i i n and live Perm t th s to be, u blamed permit ff a heart whose su erings have been , and are, so

a a fr m ny and so bitter, to re p what joy it can om the strong necessity it feels to be sympathized — ” with w love.

Tan EN D .

N A ND 80 8 9 6 PA RL IA MENT W RI ST. J. B. ICHO LS , ,