Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/478

 350 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. renewed, their bodies were removed by the priest I fessors and chaplains of divers great men ; and of the Tower, and buried by him in some place, which, by means of the priest s death soon after, could not be known. Thus much was then de livered abroad, to be the effect of those examina tions ; but the king, nevertheless, made no use of them in any of his declarations ; whereby, as it seems, those examinations left the business some what perplexed. And as for Sir James Tirrel, he was soon after beheaded in the Tower-yard for other matters of treason. But John Dighton, who, it seemeth, spake best for the king, was forthwith set at liberty, and was the principal means of divulging this tradition. Therefore this kind of proof being left so naked, the king used the more diligence in the latter, for the tracing of Perkin. To this purpose he sent abroad into several parts, and especially into Flanders, divers secret arid nimble scouts and spies, some feigning themselves to fly over unto Perkin, and to adhere unto him ; and some under other pretences, to learn, search, and discover all the circumstances and particulars of Perkin s parents, birth, person, travels up and down; and in brief, to have a journal, as it were, of his life and doings. He furnished these his employed men liberally with money, to draw on and reward intelligences ; giv ing them also in charge, to advertise continually what they found, and nevertheless still to go on. And ever as one advertisement and discovery called up another, he employed other new men, where the business did require it. Others he em ployed in a more special nature and trust, to be his pioneers in the main countermine. These were directed to insinuate themselves into the familiari ty and confidence of the principal persons of the party in Flanders, and so to learn what associates they had, and correspondents, either here in Eng land or abroad ; and how far every one engaged, and what new ones they meant afterwards to try or board. And as this for the persons, so for the actions themselves, to discover to the bottom, as they could, the utmost of Perkin s and the con spirators, their intentions, hopes, and practices. These latter best-be-trust spies had some of them further instructions, to practise and draw off the best friends and servants of Perkin, by making remonstrance to them, how weakly his enterprise and hopes were built, and with how prudent and potent a king they had to deal ; and to reconcile them to the king, with promise of pardon and good conditions of reward. And, above the rest, to assail, sap, and work into the constancy of Sir Robert Clifford ; and to win him, if they could, being the man that knew most of their secrets, and who being won away, would most appal and discourage the rest, and in a manner break the Knot. There is a strange tradition ; that the king be- ins lost in a wood of suspicions, and not knowing whoru to trust, had both intelligence with thecon- fwr the better credit of his espials abroad with th contrary side, did use to have them cursed at Paul s by name, amongst the bead-roll of the king s enemies, according to the custom of those times. These espials plied their charge so round ly, as the king had an anatomy of Perkin alive ; and was likewise well informed of the particular correspondent conspirators in England, and many other mysteries were revealed ; and Sir Robert Clifford in especial won to be assured to the king, and industrious and officious for his service. The king therefore, receiving a rich return of his dili gence, and great satisfaction touching a number of particulars, first divulged and spread abroad the imposture and juggling of Perkin s person and travels, with the circumstances thereof, throughout the realm ; not by proclamation, be cause things were yet in examination, and so might receive the more or the less, but by court- fames, which commonly print better than printed proclamations. Then thought he it also time to send an ambassage unto Archduke Philip into Flanders, for the abandoning and dismissing of Perkin. Herein he employed Sir Edward Poyn- ings, and Sir William Warham, doctor of the canon law. The archduke was then young, and governed by his council, before whom the ambas sadors had audience ; and Dr. Warham spake in this manner: &quot; My lords, the king our master is very sorry, that England and your country here of Flanders, having been counted as man and wife for so long time ; now this country of all others should be the stage, where a base counterfeit should play the part of a King of England ; not only to his grace s disquiet and dishonour, but to the scorn and reproach of all sovereign princes. To coun terfeit the dead image of a king in his coin is an high offence by all laws, but to counterfeit the living image of a king in his person, exceedeth all falsifications, except it should be that of a Ma homet, or an Antichrist, that counterfeit divine honour. The king hath too great an opinion of this sage council, to think that any of you is caught with this fable, though way may be given by you to the passion of some, the thing in itself is so improbable. To set testimonies aside of the death of Duke Richard, which the king hath upon record, plain and infallible, because they may be thought to be in the king s own power, let the thing testify for itself. Sense and reason no power can command. Is it possible, trow you, that King Richard should damn his soul, and foul his name with so abominable a murder, and yet not mend his case 1 Or do you think that men of blood, that were his instruments, did turn to pity in the midst of their execution ? Whereas in cruel and savage beasts, and men also, that the fiist draught of blood doth yet make them more fierce and enraged. Do you not know that the bloodv