284 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



for his part, wanting to himself, either in gracious and 

 princely behaviour, or in ready and apposite answers, 

 or in contenting and caressing those that did apply 

 themselves unto him, or in pretty scorn and disdain 

 to those that seemed to doubt of him ; but in all 

 things did notably acquit himself: insomuch as it was 

 generally believed, as well amongst great persons 

 as amongst the vulgar, that he was indeed Duke 

 Richard. Nay, himself, with long and continual 

 counterfeiting, and with oft telling a lie, was turned 

 by habit almost into the thing he seemed to be ; and 

 from a liar to a believer. The duchess therefore, as 

 in a case out of doubt, did him all princely honour, 

 calling him always by the name of her nephew, and 

 giving him the delicate title of the white rose of 

 England ; and appointed him a guard of thirty per 

 sons, halberdiers, clad in a party-coloured livery of 

 murrey and blue, to attend his person. Her court 

 likewise, and generally the Dutch and strangers, in 

 their usage towards him, expressed no less respect. 



The news hereof came blazing and thundering 

 over into England, that the Duke of York was sure 

 alive. As for the name of Perkin Warbeck, it was 

 not at that time come to light, but all the news ran 

 upon the Duke of York ; that he had been enter 

 tained in Ireland, bought and sold in France, and 

 was now plainly avowed, and in great honour in 

 Flanders. These fames took hold of divers ; in some 

 upon discontent, in some upon ambition, in some 

 upon levity and desire of change, and in some few upon 

 conscience and belief, but in most upon simplicity ; 



