OF all the Cheats, Frauds, and Impoſitions put upon Mankind, ſince Melten Calfs were ſet up, and Adored for Gods, the World can hardly parallel this horrid Impoſtor obtruded upon the Imperial Crown of England, for the Enſlaving of a Nation.

The Arts, the Labour, the Plottings and Cabals (as ſhall be here made out) and indeed all the Engines and Engineers ſet at Work, through the whole Management, are ſuch a complicated Maſs of Villany, as cannot be repeated without Horror and Aſtoniſhment: Conſidering not only the Impudent falſifying with Men, whilſt their miſtaken Homage and Veneration, due only to the Imperial Sacred Blood of Princes, has been extorted from them, and paid to Dirt and Rubbiſh; but alſo the prevaricating even with God himſelf, whilſt publick Prayers, and Solemn Thankſgivings, and all, alas but ſo many meer mock Oblations have been made ſo conſiderable and indeed ſo ſhameful a part of the Pagean •• y • ▪

When we read the dreadful Anathema's pronounced againſt the general Claſs of Hypocrits, to what frightful Apprehenſions of the more than common Bolts and Vials or Divine Wrath, due to the unexampled Authors and Com-plotters of ſo amazing a Deluſion, muſt our ſerious Reflections lead us▪ A Deluſion ſo truly Tremendious, that the fatal Conſequences of it, (had not the Hand of Providence been even a miraculous Deliverer) were almoſt unimaginable. For Inſtance:

After Heaven had Commiſſion'd the great Henry Earl of Richmond, (afterwards Henry the Seventh) to Execute its own particular Mandate, in the Death of the Bloody Richard the Third; a Tyrant, that had himſelf been the Executioner of King Henry the Sixth, (that Innocent Prince) with his own hands, the contriver of the Death of the Duke of Clarence his Brother, and the Murderer of his Nephews, the two young Princes Edward and Richard in the Tower (one of them his Lawful King) by the Hands of his Ruffians and Hirelings: The Uniting of the White Roſe, and the Red (a Diſpute that had ſo often coſt ſo much Engliſh Blood) by the Marriage of the King, the Heir of the Lancaſtrian, and Elizabeth of the Houſe of York; ſeem'd to have laid a laſting Foundation for the future Peace of England. Nevertheleſs, as reſtleſs Spirits, and Ambitious Minds, are never wanting to diſturb the Quiet, even of the moſt Halcyon Reign; it is almoſt impoſſible, even in the higheſt Diſpenſations of Humane Bleſſings, and a National Felicity, to have all Men ſatisfied.

Henry upon his Acceſſion to the Crown, by a State Jealouſie, a natural Diſeaſe in Crown'd Heads, had taken Edward Plantagenet, Son and Heir of George-Duke of Clarence, a Male Remnant of the Houſe of York, formerly by King Richard's Commandment, detained in in ſafe Cuſtody, in a Caſtle in York-ſhire; and kept him cloſe Priſoner in the Tower.

The ſeverity uſed to this young Prince begat a publick Rumour, that King Henry was copying after his Predeceſſor Richard's Original, and that this Princely youth had either already run the Fate of the poor Lamented young Princes before Murdered there, or at leaſt that he was ſpeedily threatned with the ſame untimely End.

However this popular Impreſſion was not ſo Univerſal, but another part of mankind, were of an Opinion in the contrary extream, viz. that even young Edward, and his Brother Richard; both, or at leaſt one of them were alive ſtill; notwithſtanding the known Barbarity of their Inhumane Uncle Richard: Nor was their Credulity in that point ſo much to be wondered at; that two young Princes privately Butcher'd within the Tower, only by four Aſſaſſinates, might in the popular Faith be believed alive ſtill: When a later Unfortunate Gentleman, that loſt his Head at Noon day, upon the open Tower-bill, before Four times Four thouſand Eye-witneſſes, can hardly be believed Dead yet.

At this time (as indeed at all times) there was a ſubtile Prieſt (for ſuch they moſt are) call'd Richard Simon: This Prieſt had to his Pupil, a youth of about 15 years of Age, Named Robert Simnel; by his Original, Born of the Body of a Bakers VVife, and poſſibly begotten too, by the honeſt Pye cruſt-Raiſer the Baker; though in reality ſo well favour'd, and of that extraordinary Dignity, and Grace of Aſpect, as probably might Entitle him to ſome more Gentleman like Derivation, then the courſer Veins of his reputed Father, the Drudg at the Oven could give him. But of the more ſure Mother ſide, Dame Simnel more certainly claim'd her maternal propriety in him.

It came into this Prieſts Fancy (as Embroyling of Kingdoms, are ſeldom out of their Fancies) to ſet up this Lad, for a Prince of Wales, or a Duke of York; either for the firſt or ſecond Son of King Edward the Fourth, before Murdered; though by Vulgar Tradition received for Living. This projection was firſt Hammered, and reſolved upon; but an Accident happening, made him change his firſt meaſures, and afterwards deſigned him to perſonate Edward Plantagenet, the abovenamed preſent Priſoner in the Tower. And why? becauſe about this time a General Bruit aroſe, that Edward Plantagenet had prevented King Henry's: Bloody purpoſe, by an Eſcape from the Tower; and thereby finding him ſo much beloved amongſt the People, and ſuch rejoycing at his reported Deliverance, the cunning Prieſt changed his firſt Copy; the young Plantagenet being more in the preſent Speech, and Votes of the People; and ſo it pelced better, and followed more cloſe and handſomely to appear a Plantagenet, after a Reſurrection from ſo many Years lying Buried in Priſon walls; then an Edward, or a Richard now almoſt forgotten.

Accordingly the Ghoſtly Prince-maker, big with wonderous hopes of preferment, by the Idol he reſolved to ſet up. expecting to be a Biſhop at leaſt, if his Game was once play'd out; began to inſtruct his young Pupil, in all the magiſterial Graces and Behaviours of his intended Soveraignty, and what by his own, and the Queen Dowagers Aſſiſtanee, from whom this Action had the principal ſourſe and motion; they held the Book ſo well, and and ſo prompted him in the whole Stage-play, that they equipt him for a compleat true Royal-Born immediately; and furniſht him with all and all manner of Anſwers fitted to all Queſtions and Interrogatories.

And indeed there was very good Reaſon for a more than ordinary care and caution, in acting ſo critical a part. For alas, our new made Prince was not to perſonate one that had been long before taken out of his Cradle, or conveyed away in his Infancy, and ſo almoſt unknown, or at leaſt forgotten, but a youth that till the Age of almoſt Ten years, had been brought up in a Court, where infinite Eyes had been upon him.

However as bold a Maſquerader as this Attempt would make him, the Hazard ſhall be no Barr to the Deſign. For that enterprize muſt be very hardy indeed, where the Forehead of a Prieſt ſhall redden at the undertaking.

However, for the fore-mentioned Reaſons it was not thought convenient that he ſhould make his firſt Entry upon the Engliſh Stage, leaſt the too curious Engliſh Opticks, ſhould pry a little too narrowly, and too near into the Diſguiſe; and therefore 'tis Decreed to give him his firſt ſtart in Ireland; where not only the diſtance would give Credit to the Figment, but alſo the ſtrong Bent of the Iriſh Inclination to the Houſe of York, would yield him the more favourable Countenance and Reception.

Accordingly our Prieſt, and his Imper •• l Nurſling, Embark'd for Ireland, where th •• no ſooner Landed, but all things were ſo ready prepared for Revolt and Mutiny (the Natural Diſtemper of the Clime) as if his Succeſs and Tryumph, had been the Study, not the Lottery of his good Fortune: all things ſeemed Plotted before hand. Simon • Firſt Addreſs was to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, before whoſe Eyes, and Iriſh Underſtanding, our Prince-look'd Puppit caſt ſuch a Miſt, as joyn'd perhaps with ſome inward Vapours of Ambition, left him fully poſſeſt that it was the true Plantagenet. The Deputy communicated the Matter to the Iriſh Nobles, and finding their Pulſes beat ſo exactly with his own, they reſolved to take a taſte of the Peoples Inclinations. But if the more Noble Iriſh Grandees were in ſo much forwardneſs, no wonder that the meaner Teague, thoſe thinner Sould Dear Joys, were all Fury, and Tranſport: Inſomuch, that with a marvellous conſent and applauſe, this counterfeit Plantagenet was brought with great Solemnity to the Caſtle of Dublin, and there Saluted, Served, and Honoured as King; and in a few Days after Proclaimed in Dublin, by the Name of King Edward the Sixth; there being not one Sword drawn in King Henry's Quarrel.

The King alarm'd with this unexpected Accident, amongſt ſeveral other Councils, to Ward againſt this growing Danger, cauſed the true Edward to be releas'd from his long Confinement, and ſhew'd in the moſt publick manner that could be deviſed, to diſabuſe and ſedate the miſtaken part of Mankind, and convince them of their Error and Frenzy and, thereby expoſe the Levity and Impoſture of the proceedings in Ireland. Hereupon the true Plantagenet was upon a Sunday brought, throughout the principal Streets of I •• nd •• , to be ſeen of the People; and from thence in Solemn proceſſion conducted to St. Pauls Church; the King having taken care, that thoſe of the Nobility that he moſt ſuſpected, as alſo thoſe that knew the perſon of Plantagenet beſt, ſhould hold Communication with the Young Gentleman by the way; which in effect much marred the Iriſh Pageant with the Subjects here. Nevertheleſs in Ireland it wrought little, or rather no effect at all; but on the contrary, what with their Iriſh Intellects, and Iriſh Impudence together, they turned the Impoſture back upon the King; audaciouſly charging him with tricking up a falſe Plantagenet, to Defeat the true Inheritor.

The Rebels in Ireland continuing ſtill obſtinate to Reaſon, ſo privily tranſacted with ſeveral Engliſh Nobles, as to draw them off to their party. But that which chiefly ſupported the Reputation of this Impoſtor, was the countenance It received from France, from the Lady Margaret of Bergundy, the moſt inveterate Enemy of the Lancaſtrian Family. The Earl of Lincoln, with others the Confederate Engliſh Lords retiring into Flanders, and ſuccoured with ſome Thouſands of Forces from the Lady Margaret, immediately Embark for Ireland, where upon this new acceſſion of Power, the Iriſh proceed to Grown their new King in the Cathedral Church of Dublin; and after ſeveral Debates, it was reſolv'd to Tranſport their Army, and aſſert His Right, and make Their Fortunes in England,

In the mean time the King of England finding the Impoſtors cauſe upheld by ſuch powerful Abbettors, provides and prepares accordingly, by making Levies ſuitable to oppoſe ſo formidable an Enemy.

The Iriſh in the mean time, headed by their Lord Deputy, the Earl of Lincoln, the Lord Lovell, &c. Landed at Fouldrey in Lancaſhire; and from thence took their March towards York; but were much deceived in their Expectation of the Countries Concourſe to them; nevertheleſs they reſolved to give the King Battle, being now paſt Hopes of a Retreat.

The King and his Party with all alacrity, came to the Deciſion upon the Plains near Newark; where the Battle was on both ſides deſperately fought. Nevertheleſs the Divine Providence was pleaſed to carry Victory to the Rightful Cauſe. The Kings Conqueſt was compleat; nor did the Iriſh and their Allies fail in Courage or Fierceneſs: There dyed upon the place all the Chieftains of the Rebels, viz. the Earl of Lincoln, Earl of Kildare, Francis Lord Lovel, Martin Swart, commander of Two thouſand Almains, all dying without giving Ground. Of the Iriſh fell 4000. and amongſt the Priſoners taken, was the Counterfeit Plantagenet, now plain Lambert Simnell again, and the crafty Prieſt his Tutor. As for Lambert, the King diſdained to take his Life, both out of magnanimity, as taking him but as an Image of VVax, that others had tempered and moulded; and alſo as much out of policy, as thinking by his Execution he would be forgotten too ſoon; but being kept alive would be a continued Subject of the peoples Laughter and Deriſion, and conſequently a kind of Spell, or Antidote againſt all future Frenſies and Infatuations. For which Reaſon he very prudently took him Into ſervice in the Court, and poſted him in the Office of a Scullion in the Kings Kitchin. Thus by a Caprice of Fortune, poor Simnel comes from weilding a Scepter to turning a Spit; where behaving himſelf a quieter Subject, then he had raigned a Prince, he had the Honor afterwards to advance to the preferment of one of the Kings Faulconers.

The overthrow of ſuch a Villanous Impoſture, was that National Deliverance, as is not a little worthy the Engliſh Remembrance; and the ſame ſort of Artifices and Machinations form'd and practiſed in this preſent Age, we have juſt Reaſon to believe, by the ſame over-ruling Providence are and ſhall be as fully, and as happily detected, fruſtrated, and defeated.