HISTORY OF KINO HENRY VII. 353 



means, he should get Perkin into his hands. But 

 they did all in their preambles much bemoan the 

 king s case, with a kind of indignation at his fortune ; 

 that a prince of his high wisdom and virtue, should 

 have been so long and so oft exercised and vexed 

 with idols. But the king said, that it was the vexa 

 tion of God Almighty himself to be vexed with idols, 

 and therefore that that was not to trouble any of his 

 friends ; and that for himself, he always despised 

 them ; but was grieved that they had put his people 

 to such trouble and misery. But in conclusion, he 

 leaned to the third opinion, and so sent some to deal 

 with Perkin, who seeing himself prisoner, and desti 

 tute of all hopes, having tried princes and people, 

 great and small, and found all either false, faint, or 

 unfortunate, did gladly accept of the condition. The 

 king did also, while he was at Exeter, appoint the 

 Lord Darcy, and others commissioners, for the 

 fining of all such as were of any value, and had any 

 hand or partaking in the aid or comfort of Perkin, 

 or the Cornish men, either in the field or in the flight. 

 These commissioners proceeded with such strict 

 ness and severity, as did much obscure the king s 

 mercy in sparing of blood, with the bleeding of so 

 much treasure. Perkin was brought unto the king s 

 court, but not to the king s presence ; though the 

 king, to satisfy his curiosity, saw him sometimes out 

 of a window, or in passage. He was in shew at 

 liberty, but guarded with all care and watch that was 

 possible, and willed to follow the king to London. 

 But from his first appearance upon the stage, in his 



