Celebrated Claimants from Perkin Warbeck to Arthur Orton | Page 6

names of its
supporters in England, the king pounced upon the leading conspirators.
Almost at the same instant he arrested Fitzwater, Mountfort, and
Thwaites, together with William D'Aubeney, Thomas Cressener,
Robert Ratcliff, and Thomas Astwood. Lord Fitzwater was sent as a
prisoner to Calais with some hopes of pardon; but being detected in an
attempt to bribe his gaolers, he was beheaded. Sir Simon Mountfort,

Robert Ratcliff, and William D'Aubeney were tried, condemned, and
executed, and the others were pardoned.
Stanley, the chamberlain, was reserved for a more impressive fate. His
domestic connection with the king and his former services seemed to
render him safe against any punishment; but Henry, thoroughly aroused
by his perfidy, determined to bring the full weight of his vengeance
upon him. Clifford was directed to come privately to England, and cast
himself at the foot of the throne, imploring pardon for his past offences,
and offering to condone his folly by any services which should be
required of him. Henry, accepting his penitence, informed him that the
only reparation he could now make was by disclosing the names of his
abettors; and the turncoat at once denounced Stanley, then present, as,
his chief colleague. The chamberlain indignantly repudiated the
accusation; and Henry, with well-feigned disbelief, begged Clifford to
be careful in making his charges, for it was absolutely incredible "that a
man, to whom he was in a great measure beholden for his crown, and
even for his life; a man to whom, by every honour and favour, he had
endeavoured to express his gratitude; whose brother, the Earl of Derby,
was his own father-in-law; to whom he had even committed the trust of
his person by creating him lord chamberlain; that this man, enjoying his
full confidence and affection, not actuated by any motive of discontent
or apprehension, should engage in a conspiracy against him." But
Clifford persisted in his charges and statements. Stanley was placed
under arrest, and was subsequently tried, condemned, and beheaded.
The fate of the unfortunate chamberlain, and the defection of Clifford,
created the greatest consternation in the camp of Perkin Warbeck. The
king's authority was greatly strengthened by the promptness and
severity of his measures, and the pretender soon discovered that unless
he were content to sink into obscurity, he must speedily make a bold
move. Accordingly, having collected a band of outlaws, criminals, and
adventurers, he set sail for England. Having received intelligence that
Henry was at that time in the north, he cast anchor off the coast of Kent,
and despatched some of his principal adherents to invite the gentlemen
of Kent to join his standard. The southern landowners, who were
staunchly loyal, invited him to come on shore and place himself at their

head. But the wary impostor was not to be entrapped so easily. He
declined to trust himself in the hands of the well-disciplined bands
which expressed so much readiness to follow him to death or victory;
and the Kentish troops, despairing of success in their stratagem, fell
upon such of his retainers as had already landed, and took 150 of them
prisoners. These were tried, sentenced, and executed by order of the
king, who was determined to show no lenity to the rebels. Perkin being
an eye-witness of the capture of his people, immediately weighed
anchor, and returned to Flanders.
Hampered, however, by his horde of desperadoes, he could not again
settle quietly down under the protecting wing of the Duchess Margaret.
Work and food had to be found for his lawless followers; and in 1495
an attempt was made upon Ireland, which still retained its preference
for the House of York. But the people of Ireland had learnt a salutary
lesson at the battle of Stoke, and Perkin, meeting with little success,
withdrew to Scotland. At this time there was a coolness between the
Scottish and English courts, and King James gave him a favourable
reception, being so completely deceived by his specious story, that he
bestowed upon him in marriage the beautiful and virtuous Lady
Catherine Gordon, the daughter of the Earl of Huntly, and his own
kinswoman. Not content with this, the King of Scots, with Perkin in his
company, invaded England, in the hope that the adherents of the York
family would rise in favour of the pretender. In this expectation he was
disappointed, and what at first seemed likely to prove a dangerous
insurrection ended in a mere border raid.
For a time Warbeck remained in Scotland; but when King James
discovered that his continued presence at his court completely
prevented all hope of a lasting peace with England, he requested him to
leave the country. The Flemings meanwhile had passed a law barring
his retreat into the Low Countries. Therefore, after hiding for a time in
the wilds of