The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck: a romance

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 s...

He seemed breathless, heartless, faint and wan, And all his armour sprinkled was with blood, And soil'd with dirty gore, that no man can Discern the hue thereof. He never stood,...

The earl of Lincoln, declared by Richard the Third, heir to the crown, did not join the royal forces, nor appear at the battle of Bosworth. This distinguished prince was a man o...

Henry the Seventh was a man of strong sense and sound understanding. He was prudent, resolute, and valiant; on the other hand, he was totally devoid of generosity, and was actua...

Meanwhile the Yorkists were impatient for action. The existence of Prince Richard was a secret to all save Lincoln and Lovel--even the Staffords were kept in ignorance; their pu...

The historical account of Lord Lovel's insurrection is contained in a few words. While the two Staffords besieged Worcester, this nobleman advanced against Henry in York. The du...

The birth of Arthur, prince of Wales, which took place in the month of September of this same year, served to confirm Henry Tudor on the throne, and almost to obliterate the mem...

Within these ten days take a monastery; A most strict house; a house where none may whisper, Where no more light is known but what may make you Believe there is a day; where no...

Whoever writes concerning the actions of the men of the olden time, must sadden the reader by details of war, descriptions of fields of battle, narrations of torture, imprisonme...

It was a simple scheme, yet with the simple simplicity succeeds best. A new face and talk of distant lands had excited York beyond his wont. He could not rest during the long ni...

Notwithstanding the promise Clifford made of a merry tale, both he and his auditor looked grave as he commenced. Richard expected, with some anxiety, an explanation from his fri...

The further Edmund journeyed from the late abode of his lost cousin, the more he felt displeased at the step he had taken; but on his arrival in Paris his uncertainty ended. War...

This was a gloomy lesson for these young and affectionate beings; they consoled one another, and wept as they consoled. At first Monina despaired; her ceaseless laments and unas...

A thousand recollections and forgotten thoughts revived in Richard's bosom when he saw his childhood's friend, the Lady Brampton. He was reminded of his sufferings in the Tower,...

Richard meanwhile sailed fearlessly, with treachery for his nearest mate. Trangmar had at once exhibited audacity and prudence in the arrangement of his plan. He had made no gre...

Then Paridell, in whom a kindly pride Of gracious speech, and skill his words to frame Abounded, being glad of so fit tide Him to commend to them, thus spake, of all well eyed.

The duke, immediately on his arrival at the Castle of Buttevant, despatched Hubert Burgh to the prior of Kilmainham, with a message from himself and a token from Lord Barry, ann...

The voyage of the duke of York was easy and auspicious. He repaired to Paris; and all the exiled Yorkists, to the number of one hundred gentlemen, instantly gathered round him,...

While in attendance on the king at his palace of Shene, the lord chamberlain, Sir William Stanley, was informed that a young and foreign lady requested an audience with him. Mon...

It had been Monina's design to return to the protection of Lady Brampton, immediately on the fulfilment of her task in England. The appearance of Clifford suggested other ideas....

Like one lost in a thorny wood, That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns, Seeking a way, and straying from the way; Not knowing how to find the open air, But toiling d...

Henry's ambassadors had wrought little change on any except Clifford. His words had been interrupted; they were nothing in themselves; but their spirit, the spirit of treason, w...

"Where is the traitor?" Neville's question resounded through Flanders, and was re-echoed in groans from the English shores. Each man feared the other, and saw the mark of Henry'...

Shall I be the slave Of--what? a word? which those of this false world Employ against each other, not themselves, As men wear daggers not for self offence. But if I am mistaken,...

At nine o'clock in the evening, York and Lord Barry took their station on the Thames, at the appointed place. The boat was tethered to the shore; and the rising tide brought the...

Morning, cold and wintry, dawned upon the gloomy chambers of the Tower. York became eager to put in execution some plan of escape in which Warwick should share; but Warwick was...

Seated in the rude gipsy-cart, guided, protected, by the uncouth being into whose hands he had so strangely fallen, Richard, for the first time, felt the degradation and low for...

The duke of York was not of a temperament to sink supinely before the first obstacles. Lord Surrey's deep-felt abjuration of war influenced him to sadness, but the usual habit o...

The duke of York found Lord Barry, Sir George Neville, Plantagenet, and several other distinguished friends, on board his vessel. In consultation with them, it was agreed to sai...

Cousin of York, thus once more we embrace thee; Welcome to James of Scotland! For thy safety, Know, such as love thee not shall never wrong thee. Come, we will taste awhile our...

A lady, the wonder of her kind, Whose form was upborne by a lovely mind; Which dilating had moulded her mien and motion, Like a sea-flower unfolded beneath the ocean.

She is mine own; And I as rich in having such a jewel, As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, Their water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.

But these are chimes for funerals: my business Attends on fortune of a sprightlier triumph; For love and majesty are reconciled, And vow to crown thee Empress of the West.

Traitor, what hast thou done? how ever may Thy cursed hand so cruelly have swayed Against that knight? Harrow and weal-away? After so wicked deed, why liv'st thou longer day!

Faster than the airy slave quicksilver is influenced by the changes of the atmosphere, does the subtle essence of the mind of one, who from love or gratitude hangs upon the smil...

Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day, And make me travel forth without my cloak, To let base clouds o'ertake me on the way, Hiding thy bravery in their rotten smoke?

Pedro D'Ayala was ambassador from Ferdinand and Isabella to the king of England. There was something congenial in the craft and gravity of this man with the cautious policy of H...

Frion believed that he held the strings, which commanded the movements of all the puppets about him. The intrigues of party, the habitual use of ill means to what those around h...

The hour had now arrived when Richard took leave of Scotland. The king was humbled by the necessity he felt himself under, of sending forth his friend and kinsman into the inhos...

Again the duke of York approached the rocky entrance of the Cove of Cork, again he passed through the narrow passage, which opening, displayed a lovely sheet of tranquil water,...

On the height of the tower of Ardmore, the White Rose of young Richard kept her vigils, and looked across the calm sea, and along the passes of the mountains of Drum, in anxious...

On the deck of the sea-worn Adalid, watching the renovated strength, and attending on the still remaining weakness of her lord, the soft heart of the princess possessed to fulne...

SKELTON. 'Tis but going to sea, and, leaping ashore, cut ten or twelve thousand unnecessary throats, fire seven or eight towns, take half a dozen cities, get into the market-pla...

Dost thou hear, lady? If from the field I shall return once more To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood; I and my sword will earn our chronicle; There is hope in it yet.

The lapse of years had confirmed Henry on his throne. He was extortionate and severe, it is true; and thus revolts had been frequent during the earlier portion of his reign; but...

Richard proceeded towards Taunton. Although this was in appearance an advance, his ill success before Exeter, and report of the large force already brought against them by Sir J...

Art thou he, traitor! that with treason vile Hast slain my men in this unmanly manner, And now triumphest in the piteous spoil Of these poor folk; whose souls with black dishono...

It had been the policy of Richard's captors to have remained to deliver up their prisoners to a stronger force. But most of them were outlaws by profession, who held the king's...

If the dull substance of my flesh were thought, Injurious distance should not stop my way; For then, despite of space, I would be brought To limits far remote, where thou dost s...

For, when Cymocles saw the foul reproach Which him appeached, prick'd with noble shame And inward grief, he fiercely 'gan approach; Resolved to put away that loathly blame, Or d...

The vulgar rabble, fond of any sort of show, were greedy of this new one. In all parts the name of the duke of York, of the counterfeit Perkin, drew a concourse of gazers. The a...

Thou, God of winds, that reignest in the seas, That reignest also in the continent, At last blow up some gentle gale of ease, The which may bring my ship, ere it be rent, Unto t...

Full many a glorious morning: have I seen, Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye, Kissing with golden face the meadows green; Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy;...

Your love and pity doth the impression fill, Which vulgar scandal stamp'd upon my brow; For what care I who calls me well or ill, So you o'erskreen my bad--my good allow?

The Lady Katherine, no longer trusting the good intentions of the insolent tyrant, was eager to communicate with her royal cousin of Scotland, to urge him to save from death or...

Richard's being in durance with him, seemed sufficient pledge, that without delay they should both be free. While York, wearied by opposition to his mighty foe, just foiled in h...

Tempestuous Fortune hath spent all her spite, And thrilling sorrow thrown his utmost dart Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heavy plight Than that I feel and harbour in my heart.

So young to go Under the obscure, cold, rotting, wormy ground! To be nailed down into a narrow place; To see no more sweet sunshine; hear no more Blithe voice of living thing; m...

Love is too young to know what conscience is, Yet who knows not. Conscience is born of Love? Then, gentle cheater, urge not my amiss, Lest guilty of my faults thy sweet self prove.