HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 131 



affection in the earl s own mind, left him fully pos 

 sessed, that it was the true Plantagenet. The earl 

 presently communicated the matter with some of 

 the nobles, and others there, at the first secretly ; 

 but finding them of like affection to himself, he 

 suffered it of purpose to vent and pass abroad; 

 because they thought it not safe to resolve, till they 

 had a taste of the people s inclination. But if the 

 great ones were in forwardness, the people were in 

 fury, entertaining this airy body or phantasm with 

 incredible affection ; partly, out of their great devo 

 tion to the house of York ; partly, out of a proud 

 humour in the nation, to give a king to the realm of 

 England. Neither did the party, in this heat of af 

 fection, much trouble themselves with the attainder 

 of George, duke of Clarence ; having newly learned 

 by the king s example, that attainders do not inter 

 rupt the conveying of title to the crown. And as 

 for the daughters of King Edward the Fourth, they 

 thought King Richard had said enough for them ; 

 and took them to be but as of the king s party, be 

 cause they were in his power and at his disposing. 

 So that with 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 ; the boy becoming it 

 well, and doing nothing that did bewray the base 

 ness of his condition. And within a few days after 

 he was proclaimed king, in Dublin, by the name of 

 King Edward the Sixth ; there being not a sword 

 drawn in King Henry s quarrel. 



