pension to Henry and his heirs of twenty-five thousand crowns. Thus the king, as remarked by Bacon, (p. 605) made profit upon his subjects for the war, and upon his enemies for the peace. This treaty was signed at Etaples, November 3d, and ratified November 6th, 1492.

The sudden return of that expensive armament, without having performed any thing for the honour or advantage of the country, highly irritated the minds of the people all over England. In a word, Henry, notwithstanding his prosperous situation, was very unpopular at this period, when a pretender to his crown appeared. He is well known in history by the name of Perkin Warbeck, but he called himself Richard duke of York, the youngest son of Edward IV. late king of England. The opinion adopted by almost all historians, is that Warbeck was an impostor: but the learned Dr. Henry, in his History of England, and Mr. Horace Walpole, in his Historical Doubts on the Life and Reign of Richard III. has thrown such a light upon that question, that the contrary opinion may be supported with the most plausible arguments. Previous to any investigation of Warbeck's pretensions and character, it is necessary to state some authentic facts, which never were nor can be denied.

When the last war was ready to break out between France and England, Perkin Warbeck, assuming the name of Richard Plantagenet, duke of York, landed at Cork, where he was joined by the mayor and several others. He wrote to the two potent earls of Desmond and Kildare, to solicit their assistance; but found them unwilling to engage in so dangerous an undertaking: and the Irish, who still smarted from the wounds they had received in supporting Simnel, were in general averse to venture so soon in an attempt of the same kind. When Perkin's affairs were in this unpromising state, he received a

>

message from the king of France, inviting him to Paris, and promising him protection and assistance. He embarked immediately, and was received by Charles VIII. with all the marks of regard due to the duke of York; a handsome pension and magnificent lodgings were assigned to him, and in order to provide at once for his dignity and security, a guard was given him, of which lord Congresal accepted the office of captain.

Perkin, both by his deportment and personal qualities, supported the prepossession which was spread abroad of his royal pedigree; and the intelligence being received in England, sir George Nevil, sir John Taylor, and above a hundred gentlemen, came to Paris, in order to offer their services to the supposed duke of York, and to share his fortunes. But when the peace was concluded at Etaples, a hint was given him to leave France. He went immediately to the duchess of Burgundy, presented himself to her, as her unfortunate nephew Richard duke of York, and claimed her protection. She at first treated him roughly, calling him an impostor, and saying she had been once deceived, but would not be so a second time. She desired, before all her court, to be informed how he was entitled to assume the name which he bore, examined every circumstance he related with the most scrupulous nicety, put many particular questions to him, and after a long and severe scrutiny of his answers, acknowledged and embraced him as her nephew; the true image of Edward, the sole heir of the Plantagenets, and the legitimate successor to the English throne. She appointed him a guard of thirty halberdiers, treated him in all respects as the head of her family, and honoured him with the appellation of the White Rose of England.

No sooner the news of these transactions reached England, than several gentlemen of the York party

held private consultations, and sent sir Robert Clifford to Brussels to investigate the truth. After having had many conversations with Perkin, he wrote back to England, that he knew perfectly the person of the duke of York, that Perkin was undoubtedly that prince himself, and that no circumstance of his story was susceptible of the least doubt.

In the mean time, Henry sent several trusty spies into the Low Countries, and was informed by them that Perkin Warbeck was the son of one John Osbeck, a converted Jew of Tournay; that he was born in London; that Edward IV. had been his godfather; that, in his childhood, his parents had carried him with them to Tournay; that, when a young boy, he lived some time with a relation at Antwerp; after which he became such a wanderer, that he could be no farther traced. It was added, to account for his likeness to Edward IV. and to the real duke of York, thât Edward had entertained a secret commerce with the Jew's wife. Such an improbable account, unsupported by any proof, could never lead the king to the discovery of the true history of this young man whoever he was. Other agents of higher rank were sent over to Brussels, and directed to insinuate themselves in the confidence of Warbeck, to watch all his words and actions, and, above all, to spare no expence to gain sir Robert Clifford, which they accomplished; and as he was the most intimate confident of Warbeck, he became a most dangerous enemy to him and to his friends. Many of them, in consequence of information received from him, were all seized in one day, tried and condemned, as guilty of high treason, for corresponding with Warbeck, and promising to join him. Sir William Stanley, the lord chamberlain, who had rendered the greatest services to Henry, who at the battle of Bosworth had saved his life, gained the victory, and placed the crown upon his head, was one of these

victims. These discoveries and executions struck with terror all the partisans of Perkin. He knew, however, that he had many friends in England, who hated the king, and wished for a revolution; and he determined to make a trial of their strength and resolution, by appearing among them. Having accordingly, with the assistance of the duchess of Burgundy, collected a body of troops of different nations, to the amount of six hundred men, he embarked with them, and approached the coast of Kent, near Sandwich (July 3d, 1495). There he commanded a party of his men to land, to gain intelligence and invite the country to declare for him. But the Kentish people, observing that they were all foreigners of a suspicious appearance, fell upon them, killed many, and took one hundred and fifty of them prisoners. These were tried, condemned, and all of them executed by order from the king, to shew what those might expect who would engage in such attempts.

Warbeck, finding that none of his men returned, and suspecting what had happened, sailed back to Flanders. But a treaty of friendship and commerce was concluded (24th February, 1496) between England and the Netherlands, by which the contracting parties mutually agreed not to admit the enemies of each other into their territories, and to expel, reciprocally such of them as had been already admitted. These stipulations being evidently designed against Warbeck, he resolved to depart before he was compelled, and embarked for Ireland with such of his retainers as still adhered to his cause. But there he found, that the people of all ranks were more averse than ever to embark in his quarrel, and determined accordingly to direct his course to Scotland. When he arrived at Edinburgh, he presented himself to James IV. who then governed that kingdom, and to whom he had been recommended by

the king of France, and by the emperor Maximilian. He approached the king, who was seated on his throne, and surrounded by his nobles; and, in an elegant speech, he related all the particulars concerning his birth, his imprisonment, and his rescue. To this speech, king James replied, that, whoever he was, he should never have reason to repent that he had put himself under his protection. (Bacon, p. 148, 153.)

To these circumstances England was principally indebted for that wise and famous statute, which enacted, that no person, who should by arms or otherwise assist the king for the time being, should ever afterwards, either by course of law, or act of parliament, be attainted for such an instance of obedience. It is more than probable, that Henry, conscious of the defect of his title, promoted this law as the best means to secure his partisans against all events. It is no less remarkable, that though there is no nation who can boast of more loyalty and affection for their legitimate sovereign than the English, there never was a throne more frequently usurped than that of England, until the constitution was fixed on its present immoveable basis.

Ann. 1496, 1497.

There is no doubt that king James was convinced, at that time that Warbeck really was, what he pretended to be; and he carried his confidence so far, as to give him in marriage Catherine Gordon, a lady eminent for virtue as well as beauty, daughter of the earl of Huntley, and related to the royal family. Though by the last truce between the two nations, it was stipulated that neither of the two kings should admit the enemies of the other into his dominions, or give them any assistance; James having determined to support Warbeck, raised an