in this plot.  Is it to be believed, that mere turbulence and a restless spirit could in a year’s time influence that woman to throw the nation again into a civil war, and attempt to dethrone her own daughter?  And in favour of whom?  Of the issue of Clarence, whom she had contributed to have put to death, or in favour of an impostor?  There is not common sense in the supposition.  No; she certainly knew or believed that Richard, her second son, had escaped and was living, and was glad to overturn the usurper without risking her child.  The plot failed, and the queen dowager was shut up, where she remained till her death, “in prison, poverty, and solitude."(35) The king trumped up a silly accusation of her having delivered her daughters out of sanctuary to King Richard, “which proceeding,” says the noble historian, “being even at the time taxed for rigorous and undue, makes it very probable there was some greater matter against her, which the king, upon reason of policie, and to avoid envy, would not publish.”  How truth sometimes escapes fiom the most courtly pens!  What interpretation can be put on these words, but that the king found the queen dowager was privy to the escape at least or existence of her second son, and secured her, lest she should bear testimony to the truth, and foment insurrections in his favour?  Lord Bacon adds, “It is likewise no small argument that there was some secret in it; for that the priest Simon himself (who set Lambert to work) after he was taken, was never brought to execution; no, not so much as to publicke triall, but was only shut up close in a dungeon.  Adde to this, that after the earl of Lincoln (a principal person of the house of York) was slaine in Stokefield, the king opened himself to some of his councell, that he was sorie for the earl’s death, because by him (he said) he might have known the bottom of his danger.”

(35) Lord Bacon.

The earl of Lincoln had been declared heir to the crown by Richard, and therefore certainly did not mean to advance Simnel, an impostor, to it.  It will be insinuated, and lord Bacon attributes that motive to him, that the earl of Lincoln hoped to open a way to the crown for himself.  It might be so; still that will not account for Henry’s wish, that the earl had been saved.  On the contrary, one dangerous competitor was removed by his death; and therefore when Henry wanted to have learned the bottom of his danger, it is plain he referred to Richard duke of York, of whose fate he was still in doubt.(36) He certainly was; why else was it thought dangerous to visit or see the queen dowager after her imprisonment, as lord Bacon owns it was; “For that act,” continues he, “the king sustained great obliquie; which nevertheless (besides the reason of state) was somewhat sweetened to him In a great confiscation.”  Excellent prince!  This is the man in whose favour Richard the Third is represented as a monster.  “For Lambert, the king would not take his life,”