Tracts, legal and historical

fret 1 at the head of one hundred thousand men, and
that they were going to join him. This palpable
fable was to secure her countenance and support.
Mr. Tytler, while he admits the evident falsity in
part of the story, again strangely infers that the P> 345—6.
Lords actually alluded to the escape of the true
Richard, of which ideal event we are thus, accord-
ing to him, supplied with the first intimation, — and,
therefore, that it had occurred at the time. The
supposition, perfectly in keeping with his former con-
clusions, it need hardly be observed, is quite vision-
ary. The conspirators had nothing to back their
assertions, except their own invention, and Maude-
lain, who here could not be adduced, because the
Queen would have detected him ; and, accordingly,
he is kept out of view, while a flimsy phantom is
made to personify Richard. But, independently of
this, Walsingham, the very authority to whom Mr.
Tytler appeals, after stating that the Queen rejoiced
at the news, significantly adds, " licet inaniter"
shewing that it was all fabrication, and pointedly
applies " mendaces" to the rumors thus circulated,
which, he says, even the people of Cirecester, (where
the conspirators went, instead of going to meet the
King 2 ) would not believe. During the whole time, p. 404.
it is indisputable, that Maudelain was with them,
1 Otterburn, instead of Pomfret, substitutes here Radcote
Bridge, p. 226.
2 — " putantes prouterat rumores eorum mendaces. Previous-
ly, Walsingham intimates that the conspirators, on leaving the
Queen, went first to Abingdon instigating the people, " per onmes