ostor, however successful, might easily at last be
set aside; and if a way could be found at his risk to subvert the
government, she hoped that a scene might be opened, which, though
difficult at present exactly to foresee, would gratify her revenge, and
be on the whole less irksome to her than that slavery and contempt to
which she was now reduced.[**]

* Polyd. Virg. p. 569. 570.

** Polyd. Virg. p. 570.

But whatever care Simon might take to convey instruction to his pupil
Simnel, he was sensible that the imposture would not bear a close
inspection; and he was therefore determined to open the first public
scene of it in Ireland. That island, which was zealously attached to
the house of York, and bore an affectionate regard to the memory
of Clarence, Warwick's father, who had been their lieutenant, was
improvidently allowed by Henry to remain in the same condition in
which he found it; and all the counsellors and officers, who had been
appointed by his predecessor, still retained their authority. No sooner
did Simnel present himself to Thomas Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, the
deputy, and claim his protection as the unfortunate Warwick, than that
credulous nobleman, not suspecting so bold an imposture, gave attention
to him, and began to consult some persons of rank with regard to this
extraordinary incident. These he found even more sanguine in their zeal
and belief than himself: and in proportion as the story diffused itself
among those of lower condition, it became the object of still greater
passion and credulity, till the people in Dublin with one consent
tendered their allegiance to Simnel, as to the true Plantagenet. Fond of
a novelty which flattered their natural propension, they overlooked
the daughters of Edward IV., who stood before Warwick in the order
of succession; they paid the pretended prince attendance as their
sovereign, lodged him in the Castle of Dublin, crowned him with a diadem
taken from a statue of the Virgin, and publicly proclaimed him king, by
the appellation of Edward VI. The whole island followed the example of
the capital; and not a sword was any where drawn in Henry's quarrel.

When this intelligence was conveyed to the king, it reduced him to some
perplexity. Determined always to face his enemies in person, he yet
scrupled at present to leave England, where he suspected the conspiracy
was first framed, and where he knew many persons of condition, and the
people in general,