THE FORTUNES OF PERKIN WARBECK. A Romance. BY THE AUTHOR OF "FRANKENSTEIN." J'ai veu filz d'Angleterre, Richard d'Yore nommé, Que l'on disoit en terre, estinct et consommé, Endurer grant souffrance; et par nobles exploitz, Vivre en bonne esperance, d'estre Roy des Angloys. _Old French Chronicle._ LONDON: G. ROUTLEDGE & CO. FARRINGDON STREET; NEW YORK: 18, BEEKMAN STREET. 1857 CONTENTS Chapters Preface Chapter I--THE FLIGHT FROM BOSWORTH FIELD Chapter II--THE CONFERENCE Chapter III--ELIZABETH OF YORK Chapter IV--LADY BRAMPTON Chapter V--THE INTERVIEW Chapter VI--LAMBERT SIMNEL Chapter VII--THE BATTLE OF NEWARK Chapter VIII--THE DISCOVERY Chapter IX--THE DECOY Chapter X--THE ESCAPE Chapter XI--THE EXILES Chapter XII--THE CHALLENGE Chapter XIII--TEMPTATION Chapter XIV--THE TRAITOR PUNISHED Chapter XV--THE LANDING AT CORK Chapter XVI--NEW FRIENDS Chapter XVII--THE FRENCH COURT Chapter XVIII--THE TOKEN Chapter XIX--CLIFFORD'S RESOLVE Chapter XX--THE CONSPIRACY Chapter XXI--TREASON Chapter XXII--HERMAN DE FARO Chapter XXIII--THE TRAITOR UNMASKED Chapter XXIV--THE TOWER Chapter XXV--THE RESCUE Chapter XXVI--THE EARL OF SURREY Chapter XXVII--THE LANDING AT HYTHE Chapter XXVIII--THE PARTING Chapter XXIX--WELCOME TO SCOTLAND Chapter XXX--THE COURT OF SCOTLAND Chapter XXXI--THE MARRIAGE Chapter XXXII--THE MARCH TOWARDS ENGLAND Chapter XXXIII--THE ASSASSIN Chapter XXXIV--DISAPPOINTMENT Chapter XXXV--THE RETREAT Chapter XXXVI--TIDINGS FROM IRELAND Chapter XXXVII--TREACHERY Chapter XXXVIII--DEPRESSION Chapter XXXIX--SIEGE OF WATERFORD Chapter XL--AN ESCAPE Chapter XLI--ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND Chapter XLII--RECEPTION IN CORNWALL Chapter XLIII--MISGIVINGS Chapter XLIV--A CHALLENGE Chapter XLV--ARRIVAL AT TAUNTON Chapter XLVI--A PRISONER Chapter XLVII--A DILEMMA Chapter XLVIII--CAPTURE OF KATHERINE Chapter XLIX--RICHARD SURRENDERS Chapter L--A PROCESSION Chapter LI--AN ESCAPE Chapter LII--TREASON Chapter LIII--DEATH OF CLIFFORD Chapter LIV--IMPRISONMENT IN THE TOWER Chapter LV--ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE Chapter LVI--THE TRIAL Chapter LVII--THE PRISON OF LUDGATE Chapter LVIII--CONCLUSION PREFACE The story of Perkin Warbeck was first suggested to me as a subject for historical detail. On studying it, I became aware of the romance which his story contains, while, at the same time, I felt that it would be impossible for any narration, that should be confined to the incorporation of facts related by our old Chroniclers, to do it justice. It is not singular that I should entertain a belief that Perkin was, in reality, the lost duke of York. For, in spite of Hume, and the later historians who have followed in his path, no person who has at all studied the subject but arrives at the same conclusion. Records exist in the Tower, some well known, others with which those who have access to those interesting papers are alone acquainted, which put the question almost beyond a doubt.