And neuer the neare: best therefore tary time,
So right shall raigne, and quyet calme ech crime.[1028]
[With that[1029] maister Ferrers shooke mee by the sleue, saying: “Why how now man, do you forget your selfe? belike you minde our matters very much.” “So I doe indeede,” sayd I,[1030] “for I dreame of them.” And whan I had rehersed my dreame, wee had long talke concerning the nature of dreames, which to stint, and to bring vs to our matter agayne, thus sayd one of them: “I am glad it was your chaunce to dreame of duke Richard, for it had bene pity to haue ouerpassed him. And as concerning this lord Clyfford which so cruely killed his sonne, I purpose to gieue you notes: who (as hee well deserued) came shortly after to a sodayne death, and yet too good for so cruell a tyrant. [For on Palmesonday next following, being the xxix day[1031] of March, in the yeare of Christ a thousand four hundreth threescore and one, this lord Clyfford with Henry Percy the thirde earle of Northumberland, the earle of Westmerland, the lord Dacres, the lord Welles, and other were slayn at Towton in Yorkeshyre.][1032] Wherefore as you thought you saw and hearde the headles duke speake through his necke, so now[1033] suppose you see this lord Clyfford, all armed saue his head, with his brest plate all gore bloud running from his throate wherein an headlesse arrow sticketh through which wound hee sayth thus.”[1034]]
How the Lorde Clyfford for his straunge and abhominable cruelty came to as straunge and sodayne a death,[1035] Anno 1461.[1036]
1.
Open confession axeth open pennaunce,
And wisdome would a man his shame to hyde:[1037]
Yet sith forgieuenes commeth through repentaunce,
I thinke it best that men theyr crimes ascride,
For nought so secret but at length is spyed: