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nephew, but not without an appearance of doubting his claim, that she might pretend to make a public investigation of his pretensions. His behaviour was consistent with the character he assumed; he resembled Edward IV., and gave a plausible account of his escape, with many minute circumstances respecting the court of England during his early years, such as the young duke of York might be supposed to remember.

These particulars were industriously circulated in England, where they were readily credited by many persons of station and influence. Henry, therefore, imprisoned Tyrrel and Dighton, the surviving murderers, and published a statement of their confessions. The exact declarations were not given to the public: the death of Forrest, the most hardened of the three, probably left some deficiency in their depositions, which rendered it unadvisable to submit them to the remarks likely to be made, though they spoke decidedly as to the actual murder of the princes. The king made preparations to resist invaders, and employed agents to discover who the claimant of the throne really was. The result of this inquiry was a statement, that he was one Perkin Warbeck, or Osbeck, supposed to be the son of a Flemish Jew, but who asserted himself to be the son of Edward IV., to whom he bore considerable personal resemblance. Some persons said, that monarch was his godfather; while others looked upon him as an illegitimate son of Edward. The agents who gave this account, also induced sir Robert Clifford to purchase his own pardon by disclosing the plans of the Yorkists, several of whom were immediately arrested.

The precautionary measures of Henry were characterized by firmness. Being informed that sir William Stanley secretly countenanced the pretender, the king caused him to be arraigned and executed in February, 1494. When we consider that Henry owed his crown to Stanley, this is an instance of the ingratitude of princes, and it warns all who act treacherously towards others, that they may expect to be entangled in their

own devices. The wealth of Stanley was probably one cause why the avaricious monarch availed himself of the opportunity for murder and confiscation. Covetousness is indeed the root of all evil, hardening the heart, and inclining it to deeds of blood. Other severe proceedings were resorted to about this time.

In July, 1495, the claimant appeared on the coast of Kent; his supporters were few; about a hundred and fifty who landed were seized, and put to death. Their leader returned to Flanders, from whence he proceeded to Ireland; but Poynings, sent thither by Henry, had secured that country. He then went on to Scotland; James IV. received him as the duke of York, and married him to the lady Catherine Gordon, daughter of the earl of Huntley.

Early in 1496, a Scottish army entered England with the pretender, but not being joined by the English, they returned after ravaging Northumberland. This invasion gave Henry a pretext for further taxation, which was very unpopular. The people of Cornwall rose, and, headed by lord Audley, marched towards London, passing on to Blackheath, where they encamped. In this position they were attacked by the royal forces, on June 22nd. The rebels were defeated and dispersed; lord Audley was beheaded, and the leaders, Joseph, a farrier, and Flammock, an attorney, were hanged.

Scotland was in its turn invaded by the earl of Surrey, when king James consented to terms of peace, and engaged to send Perkin away. The pretender, after visiting Ireland, landed in Cornwall, assuming the title of Richard IV. Having made vain attempts upon Exeter and Taunton, where he was met by the forces of Henry, he left his followers, and took shelter in Beaulieu Abbey, in Hampshire. Upon promise of pardon, he submitted to be taken to London. After some time he fled to the sea coast, but being unable to escape, returned to Sheen Priory. He was led from thence, and placed in the stocks before Westminster

Hall, where he read a confession that he was an impostor, after which he was sent to the Tower. His wife had been taken in the fortress of St. Michael's Mount, in Cornwall, but was treated with kindness, being made an attendant on the English queen. There appears no cause to doubt his being a mere pretender, or to suppose that the real duke of York did not perish with his brother. The subject, however, has been discussed with much plausibility of argument in favour of Warbeck. It is remarkable, that in several instances, where personages of note have disappeared by violence, their titles have been assumed by others. Thus it was with the famous don Sebastian, of Portugal, in the sixteenth century; while the example of Perkin has been recently followed by persons who have pretended to be the unfortunate Louis XVII.

Another pretender arose shortly after; one Ralph Wilford, a Kentish youth, who, at the instigation of an Augustine friar, personated the earl of Warwick. This shallow device was soon brought to an end; the poor lad was hanged, and the friar condemned to imprisonment for life.

By some proceedings, which are not clearly explained, Perkin was enabled to escape from the Tower, in company with the real earl of Warwick, an ignorant and half-witted character. They were soon retaken; Perkin was hanged at Tyburn, the son of Clarence was beheaded. There is reason to believe that the whole was a device of Henry, who planned that these wretched prisoners might by their conduct afford a pretext for violent measures against themselves. He succeeded; but "woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness." Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul,' Jer. xxii. 13; Hab. ii. 9, 10.

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From the time of these murders, for such they were,

the success and comfort of Henry began to decline, although his situation had much that appeared prosperous. The king of Spain sought his alliance, while other continental princes showed him honour and attention, inducing him to take part in their affairs. In the year 1500 another pestilence visited the land ; twenty thousand inhabitants of London are said to have died. Henry removed his court to Calais for a short time.

In the first year of the sixteenth century, two royal marriages were solemnized, the results of which were most important to England. Catherine, princess of Arragon, was united to the English prince Arthur. He died in the following year; but Henry VII., unwilling to restore the dowry of the Spanish princess, amounting to 60,000l., caused her to be affianced to his younger son, prince Henry, having obtained a dispensation from the pope, who claimed power to do away with the laws of God and man, and to allow prince Henry to marry his brother's widow. The actual celebration of the marriage was deferred, on account of prince Henry's youth. Butthe results of this inauspicious union were overruled to prove most beneficial to England. It produced the Reformation, which freed the nation from the tyranny and yoke of Rome. The other marriage was that of the princess Margaret to James IV., king of Scotland; this led to the union of the two kingdoms, a measure advantageous to both countries. One of Henry's counsellors advised against the connexion, lest it should place a Scottish king on the throne of England; but Henry, with wiser views, said that was not a matter of importance; England was the largest kingdom, and would be the seat of government. 1503, the princess, then fourteen years of age, was forwarded to Scotland. She had to perform this long journey on horseback, except being occasionally carried in a litter when passing through any large town. She entered Edinburgh, sitting on a pillion behind the Scottish monarch, her husband.

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In 1502, cardinal Morton died, to whom Henry was mainly indebted for the throne; this death was followed in the next year by that of the queen, to whom he owed his securing it. The king was now become more eager than ever to accumulate wealth.

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Empsom and Dudley, his two ministers, used every means of extortion; by fines, the revival of antiquated claims, the exactions of wardship, and false accusations, as well as by direct taxation. Among other instances of severity, was the laying a fine of 10,000l. on the earl of Oxford, for clothing his neighbours and tenants in livery when visited by the king, who thanked the earl for his good cheer, but said he would not allow the laws to be broken in his sight. The fine, however, was exorbitant. A salutary law had lately been passed, forbidding to clothe any in the livery of a noble family who were not regular house servants, which diminished the power of the nobility, by not allowing them to keep large bodies of idle retainers. Such enactments, though severe, were reconcileable with the main principles of justice. In 1503, the chancellor,

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