Rebel now runne on With that false name t' effect the best he could To make a way for him to worke vpon That but on certaine ground aduenture would For if the traitor sped the gaine were his If not yet he standes safe and blamelesis 114 T' attempt with others dangers not his owne He countes it wisedome if it could be wrought And t' haue the honor of the people knowne Was now that which was chiefly to be sought For with the best he knew himselfe was growne In that account as made him take no thought Hauing obseru'd in those he ment to proue Their wit their wealth their cariage and their loue 115 With whom and with his owne alliances He first begins to open in some wise The right he had yet with such doubtfulnes As rather sorrow then his drift descries Complaining of his countries wretchednes In what a miserable case it lies And how much it importes them to prouide For their defence against this womans pride 116 Then with the discontented he doth deale In sounding theirs not vttering his intent As being sure not so much to reueale Where by they might be made againe content But when they grieued for the common weale He doth perswade them to be patient And to indure there was no other course Yet so perswades as makes their malice worse 117 And then with such as with the time did run He doth in most vpright opinion stand As one that neuer crost what they begun But seem'd to like what stil they tooke in hand Seeking all causes of offence to shun Praises the rule and blames th' vnrulie land Workes so with giftes and kindlie offices That euen of them he serues his turne no lesse 118 Then as for those that were his followers Being all choice men for vertues or desarts He so with grace and benefits prefers That he becomes the monarch of their harts He drawes the learned for his Counsailers And cherishes all men of rarest partes To whom good done doth an impression strike Of ioic and loue in all that are alike 119 And now by meanes of th'intermitted warre Manie most valiant men impou'rished Onely by him fed and relieued are Onely respected grac'd and honoured Which let him in vnto their hearts so farre As they by him were wholy to be led He onely treades the sure and perfect path To greatnes who loue and opinion hath 120 And to haue one some certaine prouince his As the maine body that must worke the feate Yorkeshire he chose the place wherein he is By title liuings and possessions great No country he preferres so much as this Here hath his bountie her abiding seat Here is his Iustice and relieuing hand Ready to all that in destresse do stand 121 What with his tenants seruants followers friends And their alliances and amities All that Shire vniuersally attendes His hand held vp to any enterprize And thus farre vertue with her power extendes The rest touching th' euent in fortune lies With which accomplement so mighty growne Forward he tendes with hope t' attaine a crowne The end of the fourth booke The fift Booke of the Ciuill warres betweene the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke THE ARGVMENT The bad successe of Cades rebellion Yorks open practise and conspiracie His comming in and his submission Th' effect of Printing and Artillerie Burdeux reuolts craues our protection Talbot defending ours dyes gloriously The French Wars end York begins againe And at S. Albones Sommerset is slaine 1 THE furious trayne of that tumultuous rout Whom close subayding powre good successe Had made vnwisely proud and fondly stout Thrust headlong on oppresion to oppresse And now to fulnes growne boldly giue out That they the publique wrongs meant to redresse Formlesse themselues reforming doe pretend As if confusion could disorder mend 2 And on they march with theyr false-named head Of base and vulgar birth though noble fayn'd Who puft with vaine desires to London led His rash abused troupes with shadowes trayn'd When as the King thereof assertained Supposing some small power would haue restrain'd Disordred rage sends with a simple crew Syr Humfry Stafford whom they ouerthrew 3 Which so increasd th' opinion of theyr might That much it gaue to doe and much it wrought Confirm'd their rage drew on the vulgar wight Calld forth the timerous fresh pertakers brought For many though most glad theyr wrongs to right Yet durst not venture theyr estates for nought But see'ing the cause had such aduantage got Occasion makes them styr that els would not 4 So much he errs that scornes or els neglects The small beginnings of arysing broyles And censures others not his owne defects And with a selfe conceite himselfe beguiles Thinking small force will compasse great effects And spares at first to buy more costly toyles When true obseruing prouidence in war Still makes her foes far stronger then they are 5 Yet thys good fortune all theyr fortune mard Which fooles by helping euer doth suppresse For warelesse insolence whilst vndebard Ofbounding awe runnes on to such excesse That following lust and spoyle and blood so hard Sees not how they procure theyr owne distresse The better lothing courses so impure Rather will like theyr wounds then such a cure 6 For whilst thys wilde vnrained multitude Led with an vnfore-seeing greedy minde Of an imagin'd good that did delude Their ignorance in theyr desires made blind Ransack the Citty and with hands imbrude Run to all out-rage in th' extreamest kind Heaping vp wrath and horror more and more Adding fresh guilt to mischiefes done before 7 And seeing yet all thys draw to no end But to theyr owne no promisd ayde t' appeare No such pertakers as they dyd attend Nor such successes as imagin'd were Good men resolu'd the present to defend Iustice against them with a brow seuere Themselues feard of themselues tyr'd with excesse Found mischiefe was no sit way to redresse 8 Like when a greedy Pyrat hard in chace Pursuing of a rich supposed prize Works for the winds plyes sayles beares vp a pace Out-runnes the clowdes scoures after her that flyes Pryde in his hart and wealth before his face Keepes his hands wrought fixed keepes his eyes So long till that ingag'd within some straight He falls amid his foes layd close in wayt 9 Where all too late discouering round about Danger and death the purchase of his hast And no back flying no way to get out But there to perrish or to yeeld disgrast Cursing his error yet in th' error stout Hee toyles for life now charges now is chast Then quailes and then fresh courage takes againe Striuing t'vnwind himselfe but all in vaine 10 So stands thys rout in desperat comberment Enuirond round with horror blood and shame Crost of theyr course dispayring of th' euent When pardon that smooth bayt of basenes came Pardon the snare to catch the impotent Beeing once pronounc'd they straight embrace the same And as huge snowy Mountaines melt with
whom they seeke to foile Then follow leagues destruction ruine spoile 35 Whether it were that they which had the charge Suffred the king to take a youthfull vaine That they their priuate better might inlarge Or whether he himselfe would farther straine Thinking his yeares sufficient to discharge The gouernment presumd to take the raigne We will not saie but now his eare he lendes To youthfull counsell and his lusts attends 36 And courts were neuer barren yet of those Which could with subtle traine and apt aduise Worke on the Princes weakenes and dispose Of feeble frailtie easiest to intice And such no doubt about this king arose Whose flattery the daungerous nurse of vice Got hand vpon his youth to pleasures bent Which lead by them did others discontent 37 For now his vnckles grew much to mislike These ill proceedings were it that they saw That others fauor'd did aspiring seeke Their nephew from their counsels to withdraw Seeing his nature flexible and mecke Because they onely would keepe all in awe Or that indeed they found the king and state Abusde by such as now in office sate 38 Or rather else they all were in the fault Th' ambitious vnckles th' indiscreet young king The greedy counsell and the Minions naught And all togither did this tempest bring Besides the times withall iniustice fraught Concurr'd in this confusd disordering That we may truly say this spoild the state Youthfull Counsell priuate gaine partiall hate 39 And sure the king plainly discouereth Apparant cause his vnckles to suspect For John of Gaunt was said to seeke his death By secret meanes which came not to effect The Duke of Gloster like wise practiseth In open world that all men might detect And leagues his Nobles and in greatest strength Rises in armes against him too at length 40 Vnder pretence from him to take away Such as they said the states oppressors weare To whom the Realme was now become a pray The chiefe of whom they nam'd was Robert Vere Then Duke of Ireland bearing greatest sway About the king who held him only dere Him they would haue remou'd and diuers more Or else would neuer lay downe armes they swore 41 The king was forst in that next Parliment To grant them what he durst not well refuse For thither arm'd they came and fully bent To suffer no repulse nor no excuse And here they did accomplish their intent Where iustice did her sword not ballance vse For euen that sacred place they violate And there arest the Iudges as they sate 42 Which soone with many others had their end Cruelly slaine without the course of right And still these warres that publique good pretend Worke most iniustice being done for spight For the agrieued euermore doe bend Against those whom they see of greatest might Who though themselues are wrong'd often forst Yet for they can doe most are thought the worst 43 And yet I doe not seeme herein to excuse The Iustices and Minions of the king Which might their office and their grace abuse But onely blame the course of managing For great men too well grac'd much rigor vse Presuming fauorites mischiefe euer bring So that concluding I may boldly speake Minions too great argue a king too weake 44 Now that so much was granted as was sought A reconcilement made although not ment Appeasd them all in shew but not in thought Whilst euery one seem'd outwardlie content Though hereby king nor peeres nor people got More loue more strength or easier gouerment But euery day things now succeeded worse For good from kings must not be drawne by force 45 And this it lo continued till by chance The Queene which was the emperours daughter dy'de When as the king t' establish peace with Fraunce And better for home quiet to prouide Sought by contracting marriage to aduance His owne affaires against his vnckles pride Tooke the young daughter of king Charles to wife Which after in the end raisd greater strife 46 For now his vnckle Gloster much repin'd Against this french aliance and this peace Hauing himselfe a working stirring mind Which neuer was content the warres should cease Whether he did dishonourable finde Those articles that did our boundes decrease And therfore storm'd because the crown had wrōg Or that he fear'd the king would grow too strong 47 Or whatsoeuer mou'd him this is sure Hereby he wrought his ruine in the end And was a fatall cause that did procure The swift approching mischiefes that attend For lo the king no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T' attach the Duke when he thought least of it 48 And fortune now to further this intent The great Earle of S. Paule doth hither bring From Charles of Fraunce vnto the young Q. sent To see both her and to salute the king To whom he shewes his vnckles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his subiects sought to fulleuare And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 49 To whom the suttle Earle forthwith replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such ielousies And rid you of such mutiners as thease By cutting off that which might greater rise And now at first preuenting this disease And that before he shall your wrath disclose For who threates first means of reuenge doth lose 50 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guilty by your lawes Easier you shall with him your quarrell try Dead then aliue who hath the better cause For in the murmuring vulgar vsually This publique course of yours compassion drawes Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat 51 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes bloudshed much How iust-socuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse That so shall you obseruing formall right Be still thought as vniust and win more spight 52 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard So shall you hereby scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world to afterward What need you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compard And therefore if you will be rul'd by me Strangled or poison'd secret let him be 53 And then araigne the chiefe of those you find Were of his faction secretly compact Whom you maie wisely order in such kind That you maie such confessions then exact As both you maie appease the peoples mind And by their death much aggrauate the fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 54 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest waies Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easelie
To vnknowne costes some to the shores do flie Some to the woodes or whether feare aduisd But running from all to destruction hye The breach once made vpon a battered state Downe goes distresse no shelter shroudes their fate 53 O now what horror in their soules doth grow What sorrowes with their frendes and nere allyes What mourning in their ruin'd houses now How many childrens plaints and mothers cryes How many wofull widowes left to bow To sad disgrace what perisht families What heires of hie rich hopes their thought smust frame To bace-downe-looking pouerty and shame 54 This slaughter and calamitie forgoes Thy eminent destruction wofull king This is the bloudie comet of thy woes That doth fortell thy present ruyning Here was thy end decreed when these men rose And euen with their this act thy death did bring Or hastened at the least vpon this ground Yet if not this another had beenbe found 55 Kinges Lordes of times and of occasions May take th' aduantage when and how they lift For now the Realme with these rebellions Vext and turmyld was thought would not resist Nor feele the wound when like confusions Should by this meanes be stayd as all men wist The cause be'ing once cut off that did molest The land should haue her peace and he his rest 56 He knew this time and yet he would not seeme Too quicke to wrath as if affecting bloud But yet complaines so far that men might deeme He would t were done and that he thought it good And wisht that some would so his life esteeme As rid him of these feares wherein he stood And therewith eies a knight that then was by Who soone could learne his lesson by his eie 57 The man he knew was one that willingly For one good looke would hazard soule and all An instrument for any villanie That needed no commission more at all A great ease to the king that should hereby Not need in this a course of iustice call Nor seeme to wil the act for though what 's wrought Were his own deed he grieues should so be thought 58 So soule a thing ô thou iniustice art That tortrest both the doer and distrest For when a man hath done a wicked part O how he striues t' excuse to make the best To shift the fault t'vnburthen his charg'd hart And glad to finde the least furmise of rest And if he could make his seeme others sin O what repose what easelie findes therein 59 This knight but ô why should I call him knight To giue impiety this reuerent stile Title of honour worth and vertues right Should not be giuen to a wretch so vile O pardon me if I doe not aright It is because I will not here defile My vnstaind verse with his opprobrious name And grace him so to place him in the same 60 This eaitise goes and with him takes eight more As desperat as himselfe impiously bold Such villaines as he knew would not abhorre To execute what wicked act he would And hastes him downe to Pomfret wherebefore The restles king conuaid was laide in hold There would he do the deed he thought should bring To him great grace and fauour with his king 61 Whether the soule receiue intelligence By her nere Genius of the bodies end And so impartes a sadnesse to the sense Forgoing ruine whereto it doth end Or whether nature else hath conference With profound sleope and so doth warning send By prophetizing dreames what hurt is neere And giues the heauie carefull hart to feare 62 How euer so it is the now sad king Tost here and there his quiet to confound Feeles a straunge waight of sorrowes gathering Vpon his trembling hart and sees no ground Feeles so dayne terror bring cold shiuering Lists not to eat still muses sleepes vnfound His sences droope his steedy eye vnquicke And much he ayles and yet hee is not sicke 63 The morning of that day which was his last After a weary rest rysing to paine Out at a little grate his eyes he cast Vppon those bordering hils and open plaine And viewes the towne and sees how people past Where others libertie makes him complaine The more his owne and grieues his soule the more Conferring captiue-Crownes with freedome pore 64 O happie man faith hee that lo I see Grazing his cattel in those pleasant fieldes O if he knew his good how blessed hee That feeles not what affliction greatnes yeeldes Other then what he is he would not bee Nor chaung his state with him that Scepters weildes O thine is that true life that is to liue To rest secure and not rise vp to gricue 65 Thou sit'st at home safe by thy quiet fire And hear'st of others harmes but feelest none And there thou telst of kinges and who aspire Who fall who rise who triumphs who doe mone Perhappes thou talkst of mee and dost inquire Of my restraint why here I liue alone O know tis others sin not my desart And I could wish I were but as thou art 66 Thrice-happie you that looke as from the shore And haue no venter in the wracke you see No sorrow no occasion to deplore Other mens trauayles while your selues sit free How much doth your sweet rest make vs the more To see our misery and what we bee O blinded greatnes thou with thy turmoyle Still seeking happie life mak'st life a toyle 67 But looke on mee and note my troubled raigne Examine all the course of my vext life Compare my little ioyes with my long paine And note my pleasures rare my sorrowes rife My childhood difrent in others pride and gaine My youth in daunger farther yeares in strise My courses crost my deedes wrest to the worst My honour spoild my life in daunger forst 68 This is my state and this is all the good That wretched I haue gotten by a crowne This is the life that costes men so much bloud And more then bloud to make the same their owne O had not I then better beene t' haue stood On lower ground and safely liu'd vnknowne And beene a heards man rather then a king Which inexperience thinkes so sweet a thing 69 O thou great Monarch and more great therefore For skorning that whereto vaine pride aspires Reckning thy gardens in Illiria more Then all the Empire took'st those sweet retires Thou well didst teach that ô he is not poore That little hath but he that much desires Finding more true delight in that small ground Then in possessing all the earth was found 70 But what do I repeating others good To vexe mine owne perplexed soule the more Alas how should I now free this poore bloud And care-worne body from this state restore How should I looke for life or liuely-hood Kept here distrest to die condemnd before A sacrifice prepared for his peace That can but by my death haue his release 71 Are kings that freedom giue themselues not free As meaner men to take what they maie giue O are
they of so fatall a degree That they cannot discend from that and liue Vnlesse they still be kings can they not bee Nor maie they their authority surviue Will not my yeelded crowne redeeme my breath Still am I fear'd is there no way but death 72 Scarce this word death had sorrow vttered But in rusht one and tels him how a knight Is come from court his name deliuered What newes with him said he that traiterous wight What more remoues must we be farther lead Are we not sent inough yet out of sight Or hath this place not strength sufficient To guard vs in or haue they worse intent 73 By this the bloudy troope were at the dore When as a sodaine and a strange dismay Inforst them straine who should go in before One offers and in offring makes a stay Another forward sets and doth no more A third the like and none durst make the way So much the horror of so vile a deed In vilest mindes hinders them to proceed 74 At length as to some great assault the knight Cheeres vp his fainting men all that he can And valiantly their courage doth incite And all against one weake vnarmed man A great exployt worthy a man of might Much honour wretch therein thy valor wan Ah poore weake prince yet men that presence feare Which once they knew autoritie did beare 75 Then on thrustes one and he would formost be To shead anothers bloud but lost his owne For entring in as soone as he did see The face of maiestie to him well knowne Like Marius soldier at Minternum hee Stood still amazd his courage ouerthrowne The king seeing this startes vp from where he fate Out from his trembling hand his weapon gate 76 Thus euen his foes that came to bring him death Bring him a weapon that before had none That yet he might not idly loose his breath But diereuengd in action not alone And this good chaunce that this much fauoureth He slackes not for he presently speedes one And Lion-like vpon the rest he flies And here falles one and there another lies 77 And vp and downe he trauerses his ground Now wardes a felling blow now strikes againe Then nimbly shiftes a thrust then lendes a wound Now backe he giues then rushes on amaine His quicke and readie hand doth so confound These shamefull beastes that foure of them dies slain And all had perisht happily and well But for one act that ô I greiue to tell 78 This coward knight seeing with shame and feare His men thus slaine and doubting his owne end Leapes vp into a chaire that lo was there The whiles the king did all his courage bend Against those foure that now before him were Doubting not who behind him doth attend And plies his handes vndaunted vnaffeard And with good hart and life for life he stird 79 And whiles he this and that and each mans blow Doth eye desend and shift being laid to sore Backward he beates for more aduantage now Thinking the wall would safegard him the more When lo with impious hand o wicked thou That shamefull durst not come to strike before Behind him gau'st that wofull deadly wound That laid that most sweet Prince flat on the ground 08 Monster of men ô what hast thou here done Vnto an ouerpressed innocent Lab'ring against so many he but one And one poore soule with care with sorrow spent O could thy eies indure to looke vpon Thy hands disgrace or didst thou then relent But what thou didst I will not here deuine Nor straine my thoughts to enter into thine 81 But leue thee wretch vnto blacke infamie To darke eternall horror and disgrace The hatefull skorne to all posterity The out-cast of the world last of thy race Of whose curst seed nature did then deny To bring forth more her faire workes to deface And as asham'd to haue produc'd that past She staies her hand and makes this worst her last 82 There lies that comely body all imbrude With that pure bloud mixt with that fowle he shed O that those sacred streames with such vile rude Vnhallowed matter should be mingled O why was grossenes with such grace indude To be with that sweet mixture honoured Or seru'd it but as some vile graue ordaind Where an imbalmed corpes should be containd 83 Those faire distended limmes all trembling lay Whom yet nor life nor death their owne could call For life remou'd had not rid all away And death though entring seas'd not yet on all That short-tim'd motion that soone finish shall The mouer ceasing yet a while doth stay As th' organ sound a time suruiues the stop Before it doth the dying note giue vp 84 So holdes those organs of that goodly frame The weake remaines of life a little space But ah full soone cold death poffest the same Set are those sun-like eles bloudlesse that face And all that comely whole a lump became All that fair forme which death could scarce disgrace Lies perisht thus and thus vntimely fate Hath finisht his most miserable state 85 And thus one king most nere in bloud allide is made th' oblation for the others peace Now onely one both name and all beside Intirely hath plurality doth cease He that remaines remaines vnterrifide With others right this day doth all release And henceforth he is absolutely king No crownes but one this deed confirmes the thing 86 And yet new Hydraes lo new heades appeare T' afflict that peace reputed then so sure And gaue him much to do and much to feare And long and daungerous tumults did procure And those euen of his chiefest followers were Of whom he might presume him most secure Who whether not so grac'd or so preferd As they expected these new factions stird 87 The Percyes were the men men of great might Strong in alliance and in courage strong That thus conspire vnder pretence to right The crooked courses they had suffered long Whether their conscience vrgd them or despight Or that they saw the part they tooke was wrong Or that ambition hereto did them call Or others enuide grace or rather all 88 What cause soeuer were strong was their plot Their parties great meanes good th' occasion fit Their practise close their faith suspected not Their states far off and they of wary wit Who with large promises draw in the Scot To ayde their cause he likes and yeeldes to it Not for the Ioue of them or for their good But glad hereby of meanes to shed our bloud 89 Then ioyne they with the Welsh who fitly traind And all in armes vnder a mightie head Great Glendowr who long warr'd and much attaind Sharp conflicts made and many vanquished With whom was Edmond Earle of March retaind Being first his prisoner now confedered A man the king much fear'd and well he might Least he should looke whether his Crown stood right 90 For Richard for the quiet of the state Before he tooke those Irish warres in hand About succession
commaund of vice whereto the rest Of many mighty foueraignes subiectés be And numbred might haue beene among the best Of other men if not of that degree A right good man but yet an euill king Vnfit for what he had in managing 55 Mild meeke of spirit by nature patient No thought t' increase or scarse to keepe his owne Apter for pardoning then for punishment Seeking his bounty not his powre t' haue knowne Far from reuenge soone won soone made content As fitter for a cloyster then a crowne Whose holy minde so much addicted is On th' world to come that he neglecteth this 56 With such a weake good feeble godly king Hath Richard Duke of Yorke his cause to trie Who by th' experience of long managing The warres of Fraunce with supreame dignitie And by his owne great worth with furthering The common good against the enemie Had wrought that zeale and loue attend his might And made his spirit equall vnto his right 57 For now the Duke of Bedford beeing dead He is ordaind the Regent to succeed In Fraunce for fiue yeares where he trauailed Whith ready hand and with as carefull heed To seeke to turne backe fortune that now fled And hold vp falling power in time of need And gote and lost and reattaines againe That which againe was lost for all his paine 58 His time expird he should for fiue yeares more Haue had his charge prolong'd but Sommerset That still had enuide his commaund before That place and honor for himselfe did get Which ans that matter to th' alreadie store Of kindled hate which such a fire doth set Vnto the touch of that confounding flame As both their blouds could neuer quench the same 59 And now the weaknes of that feeble head That doth neglect all care but his soules care So easie meanes of practise ministred Vnto th' ambitious members to prepare Their owne desires to what their humors lead That all good Actions coldly followed are And seurall-tending hopes do wholy bend To other now then to the publique end 60 And to draw on more speedy misery The king vnto a fatall match is led With Rayners daughter king of Sicilie Whom with vnlucky starres he married For by the meanes of this affinitie Was lost all that his Father conquered Euen as if Fraunce had some Erynnis sent T' auenge their wrongs done by the insolent 61 This marriage was the Duke of Suffolks deed With great rewardes won to effect the same Which made him that he tooke so little heed Vnto his countries good or his owne shame Being a match could stand vs in no steed For strength for wealth for reputation fame But cunningly contriued for their gaine To cost vs more then Aniou Mauns and Maine 62 And yet as if he had accomplished Some mighty benefit vnto the land He gote his trauailes to be registred In Parliment for euermore to stand A witnes to approue all what he did To th' end that if hereafter it were scand Autoritie might yet be on his side As doing nought but what was ratifide 63 Imagining th' allowance of that place Would make that good the which he knew was naught And so would his negotiation grace As none would thinke it was his priuat faut Wherein though wit dealt wary in this case Yet in the end it selfe it ouer raught Striuing to hide he opened it the more His after care shewd craft had gone before 64 Deare didst thou buy ô king so faire a wife So rare a spirit so high a minde the while Whose portion was destruction dowry strife Whose bed was sorrow whose imbracing spoile Whose maintenance cost thee and thine their life And whose best comfort neuer was but toyle What Paris brought this booty of desire To set our mighty Ilium here on fire 65 I grieue that I am forst to say thus much To blame her that I yet must wonder at Whos 's so sweet beauty wit and worth were such As euerlasting admiration gat Yet doth my countries zeale so nerely touch That I am drawne to say I know not what And yet ô that my pen should euer giue Staine to that sex by whom her fame doth liue 66 For sure those vertues well deserud a crowne And had it not beene ours no doubt she might Haue matcht the worthiest that the world hath known And now sate faire with fame with glorie bright But comming in the way where sin was grown So foule and thicke it was her chance to light Amidst that grosse infection of those times And so came staind with blacke disgracefull crimes 67 And some the world must haue on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproach and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' only Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps t was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor helpe the same But liuing in the eie of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw on wo. 68 So much vnhappie doth the mightie stand That stand on other then their owne defence When as distruction is so neare at hand That if by weakenes folly negligence They do not comming miserie withstand They shall be thought th'authors of the offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as those that brought those plagues about 69 And so remaine for euer registred In that eternall booke of infamie When ô how many other causes lead As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oftly close smothered And well ment deedes fall out vnluckily Whilst the aggrieued stand not t'waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 70 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults that mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath beene A speciall meanes this commonwealth to marre And that thy way ward will was plainly seene In vaine ambition to presume too farre And that by thee the onely way was wrought The Duke of Gloster to his death was brought 71 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainly permit Others to looke to that they could not see During his life nor would aduenture it When his remoue quite made that passage free So by his fall thinking to stand alone Hardly could stand at all when he was gone 72 For this Duke as Protector many yeares Had rul'd the land during the kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if he still were in his pupillage With such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incensd with an ambitious rage She doth conspire to haue him made awaie As who the course of her maine will doth staie 73 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent That grieu'd likewise that any else beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therfore he such deepe aduise applide As forraine
heat So they dissolu'd with hope and home they get 11 Leauing their Captaine to discharge alone The shott of blood consumed in theyr heat Too small a sacrifice for mischiefes done Was one mans breath which thousands dyd defeat Vnrighteous Death why art thou but all one Vnto the small offender and the great Why art thou not more then thou art to those That thousands spoyle and thousands liues doe lose 12 Thys fury passing with so quick an end Disclosd not those that on th' aduantage lay Who seeing the course to such disorder tend With-drew theyr foote asham'd to take that way Or els preuented whilst they dyd attend Some mightier force or for occasion stay But what they meant ill fortune must not tell Mischiefe be'ing oft made good by speeding well 13 Put by from thys the Duke of Yorke dissignes Another course to bring his hopes about And with those frends affinity combines In surest bonds his thoughts he poureth out And closely feeles and closely vndermines The fayth of whom he had both hope and doubt Meaning in more apparant open course To try his right his fortune and his force 14 Loue and aliance had most firmly ioynd Vnto his part that mighty family The fayre discended stock of Neuiles kind Great by theyr many issued progeny But greater by theyr worth that cleerely shind And gaue faire light to theyr nobilitie A mightie partie for a mighty cause By theyr vnited amitie hee drawes 15 For as the spreading members of proud Po That thousand-branched Po whose limmes embrace Thy fertile and delicious body so Sweet Lombardie and beautifies thy face Such seemd this powreful stock frō whence did grow So many great discents spreading theyr race That euery corner of the Land became Enricht with some great Heroes of that name 16 But greatest in renowne doth VVarwick sit That great King-maker VVarwick so far growne In grace with Fortune that he gouerns it And Monarchs makes and made againe puts downe What reuolutions his first mouing wit Heere brought about are more then too well known That fatall kindle-fire of those hote dayes Whose worth I may whose worke I cannot prayse 17 With him with Richard Earle of Salisbury Courtny and Brooke his most assured frends Hee intimates his minde and openly The present bad proceedings discommends Laments the state the peoples misery And that which such a pittyer seldom mends Oppression that sharpe two edged sword That others wounds and wounds likewise his Lord. 18 My Lord sayth he how things are carryed heere In thys corrupted state you plainly see What burden our abused shoulders beare Charg'd with the weight of imbecillitie And in what base account all we appeare That stand without their grace that all must be And who they be and how their course succeeds Our shame reports and time bewrayes theyr deeds 19 Aniou and Maine O maine that foule appeares Eternall scarre of our dismembred Land And Guien's lost that did three hundred yeeres Remaine subiected vnder our commaund From whence me thinks there sounds vnto our eares The voyce of those deere ghosts whose liuing hand Got it with sweat and kept it with theyr blood To doe vs thankles vs theyr of-spring good 20 And seeme to cry O how can you behold Their hatefull feet vpon our graues should tread Your Fathers graues who gloriously dyd hold That which your shame hath left recouered Redeeme our Tombes O spirits too too cold Pull backe these Towres our Armes haue honored These Towres are yours these Forts we built for you These walls doe beare our names and are your due 21 Thus well they may obrayd our rechlesnes Whilst we as if at league with infamie Ryot away for nought whole Prouinces Giue vp as nothing worth all Normandy Traffique strong holds sell Fortresses So long that nought is left but misery Poore Callice and these water-walls about That basely pownds vs in from breaking out 22 And which is worse I feare we shall in th' end Throwne from the glory of inuading war Be forst our propper limmits to defend Where euer men are not the same they are Where hope of conquest doth theyr spyrits extend Beyond the vsuall powres of valor far For more is he that ventureth for more Then who fights but for what he had before 22 Put to your hands therefore to reskew nowe Th'indangered state dere Lords from thys disgrace And let vs in our honor labour how To brings thys scorned Land in better case No doubt but God our action will allow That knowes my right and how they rule the place Whose weakenes calls vp our vnwillingnesse As opening euen the doore to our redresse 24 Though I protest it is not for a Crowne My soule is moou'd yet if it be my right I haue no reason to refuse myne owne But onely these indignities to right And what if God whose iudgements are vnknowne Hath me ordaynd the man that by my might My Country shall be blest if so it be By helping me you rayse your selues with me 25 In those whom zeale and amitie had bred A fore-impression of the right he had These styrring words so much encouraged That with desire of innouation mad They seem'd to runne before not to be led And to his fire doe quicker fuell ad For where such humors are prepard before The opening them makes them abound the more 26 Then counsell take they fitting theyr desire For nought that fits not theyr desire is wayghd The Duke is straight aduised to retyre Into the bounds of Wales to leauy ayde Which vnder smooth pretence he doth require T' amoue such persons as the state betrayd And to redresse th' oppression of the land The charme which weakenes seldom doth withstand 27 Ten thousand straight caught with this bait of breth Are towards greater lookt-for forces led Whose power the King by all meanes trauaileth In theyr arising to haue ruined But theyr preuenting head so compasseth That all ambushments warilie are fled Refusing ought to hazard by the way Keeping his greatnes for a greater day 28 And to the Citty straight directs his course The Citty seate of Kings and Kings cheefe grace Where finding of his entertainment worse By far then he expected in that place Much disappoynted drawes from thence his force And towards better trust marches a pace And downe in Kent fatall for discontents Nere to thy banks fayre Thames doth pitch his Tents 29 And there intrencht plants his Artillery Artillery th' infernall instrument New brought from hell to scourge mortality With hideous roring and astonishment Engin of horror fram'd to terrific And teare the earth and strongest Towers to rent Torment of Thunder made to mock the skyes As more of power in our calamities 30 O if the fire subtile Promethius brought Stolne out of heauen did so afflict mankind That euer since plagu'd wyth a curious thought Of styrring search could neuer quiet find What hath he done who now by stealth hath got Lightning and Thunder both in wondrous kind
he meanes to shoote at you 71 For this course euer they deliberate Which doe aspyre to reach the gouernment To take aduantage of the peoples hate Which euer hate those that are eminent For who can manage great affayres of state And all a wayward multitude content And then these people-minions they must fall To worke out vs to worke themselues int'all 72 But note my Lord first who is in your hand Then how he hath offended what 's his end It is the man whose race would seeme to stand Before your right and doth a right pretend Who Traytor-like hath raysd a mighty band With coullor your proceedings to amend Which if it should haue hapned to succeed You had not now fate to adiudge hys deed 73 If oftentimes the person not th' offence Haue beene sufficient cause of death to some Where publique safety puts in euidence Of mischiefe likely by theyr lyfe to come Shall he whose fortune and his insolence Haue both deseru ' d to dye escape that doome When you shall saue your Land your Crowne therby And since you cannot lyue vnlesse he dye 74 Thys spake th' agreeued Duke that grauely saw Th' incompatible powers of Princes minds And what affliction his escape might draw Vnto the state and people of all kinds And yet the humble yeelding and the aw Which Yorke there shew'd so good opinion finds That with the rumor of his sonnes great strength And French affayres he there came quit at length 75 For euen the feare t' exasperat the heat Of th' Earle of March whose forward youth might Well followd seem'd a proude reuenge to threat If any shame should on his Father light And then desire in Gascoyne to reget The glory lost which home-broyles hinder might Aduauntaged the Duke and sau'd his head Which question lesse had els been hazarded 76 For now had Burdeux offered vpon ayd Present reuolt if we would send with speed Which fayre aduantage to haue then delayd Vpon such hopes had been a shamefull deed And therfore this all other courses stayd And outwardly these inward hates agreed Giuing an interpause to pride and spight Which breath'd but to break out with greater might 77 Whilst dreadfull Talbot terror late of Fraunce Against the Genius of our fortune stroue The down-throwne glory of our state t' aduaunce Where Fraunce far more then Fraunce hee now doth proue For frends opinion succeeding chaunce Which wrought the weak to yeld the strong to loue Were not the same as he had found before In happyer tymes when lesse would haue done more 78 For both the Britayne and Burgonian now Came altred with our luck won with theirs Those bridges and the gates that dyd allow So easie passage vnto our affayres Iudging it safer to endeuour how To linke with strength then leane vnto dispayres And who wants frends to back what he begins In Lands far of gets not although he wins 79 Which too well prou'd thys fatall enterprize The last that lost vs all we had to lose Where though aduantag'd by some mutenies And petty Lords that in our cause arose Yet those great fayld whose ready quick supplyes Euer at hand cheerd vs and quaild our foes Succours from far come seldom to our mind For who holds league with Neptune or the wind 80 Yet worthy Talbot thou didst so imploy The broken remnants of discattered power That they might see it was our destiny Not want of spirit that lost vs what was our Thy dying hand sold them the victory With so deere wounds as made the conquest sowre So much it cost to spoyle who were vndon And such a doe to win when they had won 81 For as a fierce couragious mastiue fares That hauing once sure fastned on his foe Lyes tugging on that hold neuer forbeares What force soeuer force hym to forgoe The more he feeles his wounds the more he dares As if his death were sweet in dying so So held his hold thys Lord whilst he held breath And scarce but with much blood le ts goe in death 82 For though he saw prepard against his side Both vnlike fortune and vnequall force Borne with the swelling current of theyr pryde Downe the mayne streame of a most happy course Yet stands he stiffe vndasht vnterrified His minde the same although his fortune worse Vertue in greatest dangers being best showne And though opprest yet neuer ouerthrowne 83 For reskuing of besieg'd Chatillion Where hauing first constraind the French to flye And following hard on theyr confusion Comes loe incountred with a strong supply Of fresh-ariuing powers that back thrust on Those flying troupes another chaunce to try Who double Arm'd with shame and fury straine To wreake their foyle and win theyr fame againe 84 Which seeing th' vndaūted Talbot with more might Of spirit to will then hands of power to doe Preparing t' entertaine a glorious fight Cheeres vp his wearied souldiers thereunto Courage sayth he those brauing troupes in sight Are but the same that now you dyd vndoe And what if there be come some more then they They come to bring more glory to the day 85 Which day must eyther thrust vs out of all Or all with greater glory back restore Thys day your valiant worth aduenture shall For what our Land shall neuer fight for more If now we faile with vs is like to fall All that renowne which we haue got before Thys is the last if we discharge the same The same shall last to our eternall fame 86 Neuer had worthy men for any fact A more fayre glorious Theater then we VVhereon true magnanimity might act Braue deeds which better witnessed could be For loe from yonder Turrets yet vnsackt Your valiant fellowes stand your worth to see T' auouch your valour if you liue to gaine And if we die that we dyde not in vaine 87 And euen our foes whose proud powrefull might VVould seeme to swallow vp our dignitie Shall not keepe backe the glory of our right Which theyr confounded blood shall testifie For in theyr wounds our gored swords shall write The monuments of our eternitie For vile is honor and a tytle vayne The which true worth and danger doe not gayne 88 For they shall see when we in carelesse sort Shall throw our selues on theyr despised speares T is not dispaire that doth vs so transport But euen true fortitude that nothing feares Sith we may well retire vs in some sort But shame on him that such a foule thought beares For be they more let Fortune take theyr part We'ill tugge her to and scratch her ere we part 89 Thys sayd a fresh infusd desire of fame Enters theyr warmed blood with such a will That they deem'd long they were not at the same And thogh they march'd they thought they yet stood still And that their lingring foes too slowly came To ioyne with them spending much time so ill Such force had words fierce humors vp to call Sent from the mouth of such
Lord being bent thereto I was by loue by feare by weakenes made An instrument to such disseignes as these For when the Lord of all the Orient bade Who but obey'd who was not glad to please And how could I withdraw my succouring hand From him that had my heart and what was mine The intrest of my faith in streightest band My loue to his most firmly did combine Caes. Loue alas no it was th' innated hatred That thou and thine hast euer born our people That made thee seeke all means to haue vs scattred To disunite our strenght and make vs feeble And therefore did that brest nurse our dissentiō With hope t' exalt thy selfe t' augment thy state To pray vppon the wracke of our contention And with the rest our foes to ioy thereat Cleo. O Caesar see how easie t is t' accuse Whom Fortune hath made faultie by their fall The wretched conquered may not refuse The titles of reproch he 's charg'd withall The conquering cause hath right wherein thou art The vanquisht still is iud'g the worser part Which part is mine because Ilost my part No lesser then the portion of a Crowne Enough for me alas what needed arte To gaine by others but to keepe mine owne But here let weaker powers note what it is To neighbour great Competitors too neere If we take part we oft do perish thus If neutrall bide both parties we must feare Alas what shall the forst partakers doe When folowing none yet must they perish to But Caesar sith thy right and cause is such Be not a heauie weight vpon calamitie Depresse not the afflicted ouer-much The chiefest glorie is the Victors lenitie Th'in heritance of mercie from him take Of whom thou hast thy fortune and thy name Great Caesar me a Queene at first did make And let not Caesar now confound the same Read here these lines which still I keep with me The witnes of his loue and fauours euer And God forbid this should be said of thee That Caesar wrong'd the fauoured of Caesar. For looke what I haue beene to Antonie Think thou the same I might haue been to thee And here I do present thee with the note Of all the treasure all the iewels rare That Egypt hath in many ages got And looke what Cleopatra hath is there Seleus Nay there 's not all set downe within that roule I know some things she hath reseru'd apart Cleo. What vile vngrateful wretch dar'st thou cōtroule Thy Queen soueraigne caitife as thou art hands Caes. Hold holde a poore reuenge can worke so feeble Cleo. Ah Caesar what a great indignitie Is this that here my vassall subiect stands T' accuse me to my Lord of trecherie If I reseru'd some certaine womens toyes Alas it was not for my selfe God knowes Poore miserable soule that little ioyes In trifling ornaments in outward showes But what I kept I kept to make my way Vnto thy Liuia and Octauias grace That thereby in compassion mooued they Might mediate thy fauour in my case Caes. Well Cleopatra feare not thou shalt finde What fauour thou desir'st or canst expect For Caesar neuer yet was found but kinde To such as yeeld and can themselues subiect And therefore giue thou comfort to thy minde Relieue thy soule thus ouer charg'd with care How well I will intreate thee thou shalt find So soone as some affaires dispatched are Til whē farewel Cl. Thanks thrise-renowned Caesar Poore Cleopatra rests thine owne for euer Dol. No maruel Caesar though our greatest spirits Haue to the powre of such a charming beautie Been brought to yeeld the honor of their merits Forgetting all respect of other dutie Then whilst the glory of her youth remain'd The wondring obiect to each wanton eye Before her full of sweet with sorrow wain'd Came to the period of this miserie If still euen in the midst of death and horror Such beautie shines thorow clouds of age sorow If euen those sweet decaies seeme to plead for her Which from affliction mouing graces borrow If in calamitie she could thus moue What could she do adorn'd with youth and loue What could she do then when as spreading wide The pompe of beautie in her glorie dight When arm'd with wonder she could vse beside Th'ingines of her loue Hope and Delight Beautie daughter of Maruaile ô see how Thou canst disgracing sorrowes sweetly grace What power thou shew'st in a distressed brow That mak'st affliction faire giu'st tears their grace What can vntressed locks can torne rent haire A weeping eye a wailing face be faire I see then artlesse feature can content And that true beautie needes no ornament Caes. What in a passion Dolabella what take heed Let others fresh examples be thy warning What mischiefes these so idle humors breed Whilst error keepes vs from a true discrening In deed I saw she labour'd to impart Her sweetest graces in her saddest cheere Presuming on the face that know the arre To moue with what aspect so eu'r it were But all in vaine she takes her ayme amisse The ground and marke her leuel much deceiues Time now hath altred all for neither is She as she was nor we as she conceiues And therfore now t were best she left such badnes Folly in youth is sinne in age t is madnes And for my part I seeke but t' entertaine In her some feeding hope to draw her forth The greatest Trophey that my trauailes gaine Is to bring home a prizall of such worth And now sith that she seemes so well content To be dispos'd by vs without more stay She with her children shall to Rome be sent Whilst I by Syria thither take my way CHORVS O Fearefull frowning Nemesrs Daughter of Iustice most seuere That art the worlds great arbitresse And Queene of causes raigning heere Whose swift-sure hand is euer neere Eternall iustice righting wrong Who neuer yet deserest long The proudes decay the weakes redresse But through thy power euery where Dost raze the great and raise the lesse The lesse made great dost ruine to To shew the earth what heauen can do Thou from darke-clos'd eternitie From thy black clowdy hidden seate The worlds disorders dost descry Which when they swel so proudly great Reuersing th' order nature set Thou giu'st thy all consounding doome Which none can know before it come Th' ineuitable destinie Which neither wit nor strength can let Fast chain'd vnto necessitie In mortall things doth order so Th' alternate course of weale or wo. O how the powres of heauen do play With trauailed mortalitis And doth their weakness still betray In their best prosperitie When being lifted up so hie They looke beyond themselues so farre That to themselues they take no care Whilst swift confusion downe doth lay Their late proude mounting vanitie Bringing their glorie to decay And with the ruine of their fall Extinguish people state and all But is it iustice that all we The innocent poore multitude For great mens faults should punisht be And to