himself before Exeter; and by many fair promises invited that city to
join him. Finding that the inhabitants shut their gates against him,
he laid siege to the place; but being unprovided with artillery,
ammunition, and every thing requisite for the attempt, he made no
progress in his undertaking. Messengers were sent to the king, informing
him of this insurrection: the citizens of Exeter meanwhile were
determined to hold out to the last extremity, in expectation of
receiving succor from the well-known vigilance of that monarch.

When Henry was informed that Perkin was landed in England, he expressed
great joy, and prepared himself with alacrity to attack him, in hopes of
being able, at length, to put a period to pretensions which had so long
given him vexation and inquietude. All the courtiers, sensible that
their activity on this occasion would be the most acceptable service
which they could render the king, displayed their zeal for the
enterprise, and forwarded his preparations. The lords Daubeney and
Broke, with Sir Rice ap Thomas, hastened forward with a small body of
troops to the relief of Exeter. The earl of Devonshire, and the most
considerable gentlemen in the county of that name, took arms of their
own accord, and marched to join the king's generals. The duke of
Buckingham put himself at the head of a troop, consisting of young
nobility and gentry, who served as volunteers, and who longed for an
opportunity of displaying their courage and their loyalty. The king
himself prepared to follow with a considerable army; and thus all
England seemed united against a pretender who had at first engaged their
attention and divided their affections.

Perkin, informed of these great preparations, immediately raised the
siege of Exeter, and retired to Taunton. Though his followers now
amounted to the number of near seven thousand, and seemed still resolute
to maintain his cause, he himself despaired of success, and secretly
withdrew to the sanctuary of Beaulieu, in the new forest. The Cornish
rebels submitted to the king's mercy, and found that it was not yet
exhausted in their behalf. Except a few persons of desperate fortunes,
who were executed, and some others who were severely fined, all the rest
were dismissed with impunity Lady Catharine Gordon, wife to Perkin fell
into the hands of the victor, and was treated with a generosity which
does him honor. He soothed her mind with many marks of regard, placed
her in a rep