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 which now before him were Doubting not who behind him doth attend And plyes his hands vndaunted vnaffeard And with good heart and life for life he stird 77 And whiles he this and that and each mans blowe Doth eye defend and shift being layd-to sore Backward he beares for more aduantage now Thinking the wall would safegard him the more When lo with impious hand ô wicked thou That shamefull durst not come to strike before Behind him gav'st that lamentable wound Which layd that wretched Prince slat on the ground 78 Now proditorious wretch what hast thou done To make this barbarous base assassinate Vpon the person of a Prince and one Fore-spent with sorrow and all desolate What great aduancement hast thou hereby wonne By being the instrument to perpetrate So foule a deed where is thy grace in Corte For such a seruice acted in this sort 79 First he for whom thou dost this villanie Though pleas'd therewith will not auouch thy fact But let the weight of thine owne infamie Fall on thee vnsupported and vnbackt Then all men else will loath thy treacherie And thou thy selfe abhorre thy proper act So th' Wolfe in hope the Lyons grace to win Betraying other beastes lost his owne skinne 80 But now as this sweet Prince distended lay And him nor Life nor Death their owne could call For Life remouing rid not all away And Death though entring had not seis'd on all That short-tym'd motion had a little stay The mouer ceasing though it were but small As th' Organ-sound a time suruiues the stop Before it doth the dying note giue vp 81 When lo there streames a spring of bloud so fast From those deepe woundes as all imbru'd the face Of that accursed cay tiue as he past After the deed effected through the place And there withall those dying eyes did cast Such an vpbray ding looke on his disgrace Seeming to checke so cowardly a part As lest th' impression euen in his hart 82 And this one King most neere in bloud ally'd Is made th' oblation for the others peace Which peace yet was not hereby ratifi'd So as it could all future feares release For though the other did forth with prouide To haue the rumour run of his decease By drawing the corps to London where it was Layd three dayes to be seene with open face 83 Yet so great was this execrable deed As men would searce therein belieue their eyes Much lesse their eares and many sought to feed The easie creditours of nouelties By voycing him aliue how hee was freed By strange escape out of his miseries And many did conspire now to relieue Him dead who had forsaken him aliue 84 And many suffred for his Cause when now He had none many wisht for him againe When they perceiv'd th' exchange did not allow Their hopes so much as they did looke to gaine By traffiquing of kings and all saw how Their full exspectances were in the wane They had a King was more then him before But yet a king where they were nought the more 85 And sure this murthred Prince though weake he was He was not ill nor yet so weake but that He shew'd much Martiall valour in his place Aduentring oft his person for the State And might amongst our better Princes passe Had not the flatterie rapine and debate Of factious Lords and greedie Officers Disgrac't his actions and abus'd his yeares 86 Nor is it so much Princes weakenesses As the corruption of their Ministers Wherby the Common-wealth receiues distress For they attending their particulars Make imperfections their aduantages To be themselues both Kings and Councellors And sure this Common-wealth can neuer take Hurt by weake kings but such as we doo make 87 Besides he was which people much respect In Princes and which pleases vulgarly Of goodly personage and of sweete aspect Of milde accesle and liberalitie And feastes and shewes and triumphs did affect As the delights of youth and iollitie But here the great profusion and expence Of his reuences bred him much offence 88 And gaue aduantage vnto enmitie This grieuous accusation to prefer That he consum'd the common Treasurie Whereof he being the simple vsager But for the State not in proprietie Did alien at his pleasure and transfer The same t' his minions and to whome hee list By which the Common-wealth was to subsist 89 Whereby sayd they the poore concussed State Shall euer be exacted for supplyes Which accusation was th' occasion that His successour by order nullifies Many his Patents and did reuocate And reassume his liberalities And yet for all these wasles these gifts and feasts He was not found a Bankrupt in his chests 90 But they who tooke to Syndicque in this sorte The Actions of a Monarch knew those things Wherein the accoumpts were likely to fall short Betweene the State of Kingdomes and their Kings Which president of pestilent import Had not the heauens blest thy indeuourings Against thee Henry had beene likewise brought Th' example made of thy example wrought 91 For though this bountie and this liberalness A glorious vertue be it better fits Great men then kings who giuing in excesse Giue not their owne but others benefits Which calles-vp manies hopes but pleasures lesse Destroying far more loue then it begets For Iustice is their Virtue that alone Makes them sit sure and glorifies the Throne The ende of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT King Henrie his excuses publishes For Richards death and truce doth intertaine With France The Scots aggrieu'd for wrongs address Themselues to warre and are appeas'd againe The Welsh rebell The Percies practises To part the State are stopt in battell slaine Continuall troubles still afflict this King Till Death an end doth to his trauailes bring 1 THe bounds once ouer-gone that hold men in They neuer stay but on from bad to worse Wrongs do not leaue off there where they begin But still beget new mischiefes in their course Now Henrie thou hast added to thy sinne Of vsurpation and intruding force A greater crime which makes that gone before T' appeare more then it did and noted more 2 For now thou art inforc't t'apologise With forraine States for two enormious things Wherein thou dost appeare to scandalise The publike Right and common Cause of Kings Which though with all the skill thou canst deuise Thou ouerlay'st with fayrest colourings Yet th'vnder-worke transparent shewes too plaine Where open acts accuse th' excuse is vaine 3 And these defences are but complement◠To dallie with confining Potentates Who busied in their proper gouernments Do seldome tend th' affaires of other States Their wisedome which to present powre consents Liue-dogges before dead Lyons estimates And no man more respects these publike wrongs Then so much as t' his priuate state belongs 4
Yet most it seem'd the French King to import As sharer in his daughters iniurie Though bloud in Princes links not in such sort As that it is of any powre to tye Where their estates may seeme t'aduenture hurt Or where there is not a necessitie That doth combine them with a stronger chaine Then all these great Alliances containe 5 For though this King might haue resentiment And will t' auenge him of this iniurie Yet at that time his State being turbulent Factious and full of partialitie And oftentimes he him selfe impotent By meanes of his Phreneticque maladie It was not likely any good could rise By vndertaking such an enterprise 6 And therefore both sides vpon entercourse As fitted best their present termes agreed The former truce continue should in force According as it had beene fore-decreed Vpon the match with Richard and a course For Isabel with all conuenient speed Prouided with an honorable Traine Suting her state to be sent home againe 7 Whome willingly they would haue still retain'd And matcht vnto the Prince but shee though yong Yet sensible of that which appertain'd To honor and renowne scornd any tongue That offred such a motion and disdaynd To haue it thought she would but heare that wrong Mov'd to her of her Lord and husband dead To haue his murtherers race inioy his bed 8 Besides the French doubting the Gouernment Thus gotten would be subiect still to strife Not willing were to vrge her to consent T' accept a troublous and vncertaine life And being returnd she grew in th' end content To be at home a Duke of Orleance wife Scap't from such stormes of powre holding it best To be belowe her selfe to be at rest 9 And so hath Henrie assecur'd that side And therewithall his State of Gasconie Which on th' intelligence was notifi'd Of Richards death were wrought to mutinie And hardly came to be repacifi'd And kept to hold in their fidelitie So much to him were they affectioned For hauing beene amongst them borne and bred 10 These toyles abtode these tumults with his owne As if the frame of all disioynted were With this disordred shifting of the Crowne Fell in the reuolution of one yeare Beside the Scotte in discontentment growne For the detayning and supporting here The scourge of all that kingdome George Dunbar With sire and sword proclaymes an open war 11 Taking their time in these disturbances And newneâ—â—e of a wauering Gouernment T' auenge them of their former grieuances And by our spoyles their fortunes to augment Against whose forces Henry furnishes A powrefull Army and in person went But warres with a retyring enemy With much more trauaile then with victorie 12 And being by sharp deformed Winters force Caus'd to retire he sindes new stormes at home From other Coasts arysing that prov'd worse Then those which now hee was returned from In VVales a Cause of Law by violent course Was from a variance now a warre become And Owen Glendour who with Gray of late Contests for priuate landes now seekes a State 13 Whom to represse he early in the Spring With all prouisions fit doth forward set When straight his enemies not purposing To hazard battaile to the mountaines get Where after long and weary trauayling Without performing any great defeat He onely their prouisions wastes and burnes And with some prey of Cattell home returnes 14 Wherewith the Rebell rather was the more Incourag'd then addaunted and begun T'aduenture farther then he did before Seeing such a Monarch had so little done Being com'n in person with so great a powre And sodainely againe retyr'd and gone For in this case they helpe who hurt so small And he hath nothing done that doth not all 15 But now behold other new heads appeare New Hidra's of rebellion that procure More worke to doo and giue more cause of feare And shew'd that nothing in his State stood sure And these euen of his chiefest followers were Of whome he might presume him most secure Who had th' especiall ingins beene to reare His fortunes vp vnto the State they were 16 The Percies were the men men of great might Strong in alliance and in courage strong Who now conspire vnder pretence to right Such wrongs as to the Common wealth belong Vrg'd either through their conscience or despight Or finding now the part they tooke was wrong Or else Ambition hereto did them call Or others enuy'd grace or rather all 17 And such they were who might presume t' haue done Much for the king and honour of the State Hauing the chiefest actions vnder-gone Both forraine and domesticall of late Beside that famous day of Homeldon Where Hotspur gaue that wonderfull defeat Vnto the Scottes as shooke that kingdome more Then many Monarchs armies had before 18 Which might perhaps aduance their mindes so farre Aboue the leuell of subiection as T'assume to them the glory of that war Where all things by their powre were brought to passe They being so mightie and so popular And their command so spacious as it was Might in their State forget how all these things That subiects doo effect must be their Kings 19 And so sell after into discontent For that the king requir'd to haue as his Those Lords were taken prisoners whome they ment To hold still as their proper purchases Then that he would not at their sute consent To worke their Cosin Mortimers release Out of the Rebell Owen Glendour's hands Who held him prisoner in disgracefull bands 20 But be what will the cause strong was their plot Their parties great meanes good the season fit Their practise close their faith suspected not Their states far off and they of wary wit Who with large promises so wooe the Scot To aide their Cause as he consents to it And glad was to disturne that furious streame Of warre on vs that else had swallowed them 21 Then ioyne they with the Welsh who now wel train'd In Armes and action dayly grew more great Their Leader by his wiles had much attaynd And done much mischiefe on the English State Beside his prisoner Mortimer he gain'd From being a foe to b'his confederate A man the King much fear'd and well he might Least he should looke whether his Crowne stood right 22 For Richard for the quiet of the State Before he tooke those Irish warres in hand About Succession doth deliberate And finding how the certaine Right did stand With full consent this man did ordinate The heyre apparent to the Crowne and Land Whose competencie was of tender touch Although his might was small his right was much 23 With these the Percies them confederat And as three heads conioyne in one intent And instituting a Triumuirate Do part the Land in triple gouernment Diuiding thus among themselues the State The Percies should rule all the North from Trent And Glendour VVales the Earle of March should be Lord of the South from Trent and so they'gree 24 Then
Bullingbrooke Did first attaine God knowes how iust the Crowne And now his race for right possessors tooke Were held of all to hold nought but their owne When Richard Duke of Yorke begins to looke Into their right and makes his title knowne Wakening-vp sleeping Right that lay as dead To witnesse how his race was iniured 46 His fathers end in him no feare could moue T' attempt the like against the like of might Where long possession now of feare and loue Seem'd to prescribe euen an innated Right So that To proue his state was to disproue Time law consent oath and allegeance quight And no way but the way of blood there was Through which with all confusion hee must passe 47 And how much better for him had it beene T' indure a wrong with peace then with such toyle T' obtaine a bloody Right since Right is sinne That is ill sought and purchased with spoyle But this so wretched state are Kingdomes in Where one mans Cause shall all rest imbroyle And oft t' aduance a Tyran to a Crowne Men run t' vndoo the State that is their owne 48 And yet that opportunitie which led Him to attempt seeme likewise him t' excuse A feeble spirited King that gouerned Who ill could guide the Scepter he did vse His enemies that his worth maliced Who both the Land and him did much abuse The peoples loue and his apparent Right May seeme sufficient motiues to incite 49 Besides the now â—ipe wrath deferd till now Of that sure and vnfayling Iusticer That neuers suffers wrong so long to growe And to incorporate with right so farre As it might come to seeme the same in showe T' incourage those that euill minded are By such successe but that at last he will Confound the branch whose root was planted ill 50 Else might the impious say with grudging spight Doth God permit the Great to riot free And blesse the mightie though they do vnright As if he did vnto their wrongs agree And onely plague the weake and wretched wight For smallest faults euen in the high'st degree When he but vsing them for others scourge Likewise of them at leÌ„gth the world doth purge 51 But could not yet for blood-shed satisfie The now well-ruling of th'ill-gotten Crowne Must euen the good receiue the penaltie Of former sinnes that neuer were their owne And must a iust Kings blood with miserie Pay for a bad vniustly ouerth towne Well then wee see Right in his course must goe And men t' escape from blood must keepe it so 52 And sure this King that now the Crowne possest Henrie the sixt was one whose life was free From that command of vice whereto the rest Of most these mightie Soueraignes subiects bee 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 hee had in managing 53 Of humble spirite of nature continent No thought t' increase he had scarce keep his owne For pard'ning apter then for punishment He chokes his powre to haue his bountie knowne Farre from reuenge soone wonne 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 54 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 55 For now the Duke of Bedford beeing dead He is ordain'd the Regent to succeed In Fraunce for fiue yeeres where he trauayled With 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 got and lost and reattaines againe That which againe was lost for all his paine 56 His time expir'd he should for fiue yeeres more Haue had his charge prolongd but Sommerset That still had enui'd his command before That place and honor for himselfe did get Which ads that matter to th'already store Of kindled hate which such a fire doth set Vnto the touch of a confounding flame As both their bloods could neuer quench the same 57 And now the weakenesse of that feeble Head That doth neglect all care but his soules care So easie meanes of practice ministred Vnto th' ambitious members to prepare Their owne desires to what their humors led That all good actions coldly followed are And sev'rall-tending hopes do wholly bend To other now then to the publique end 58 And to draw-on more speedy miserie 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 France had some Erynnis sent T' auenge their wrongs done by the insolent 59 This marriage was the Earle of Suffolkes deed With great rewardes won to eftect the same Which made him that hee tooke so little heed Vnto his Countries good or his owne shame It beeing a match could stand vs in no steed For strength for wealth for reputation fame But cunningly contriv'd for others gaine And cost vs more then Aniou Mauns and Maine 60 And yet as if he had accomplished Some mightie benefit vnto the Land He got his trauailes to be registred In Parlement foreuermore to stand A witnes to approue all what he did To th' end that if hereafter it were scand Authoritie might yet be on his side As doing nought but what was ratifi'd 61 Imagining th' allowance of that Place Would make that good the which he knew was naught And so would his negotiation grace As none might think it was his priuate fault 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 shew'd craft bad gone before 62 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 embracing spoyle 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 mightie Ilium here on fire 63 I grieue I should be forc't to say thus much To blame her whom I yet must wonder at Whos 's so sweete beautie wir and worth were such As though she Fortune lost she glory gat Yet doth my Countries zeale so neerely touch That here my Muse it doth exasperate Although vnwilling that my pen should giue Staine to that sex by whom her fame doth liue 64 For sure those virtues well deserv'd a Crowne And had it not beene ours no doubt she might Haue beene among the Worthies of renowne And now sat faire with
haue beene there So that the heauens the sea the winde partakes With him as if they of his faction were Or that his spirit and valour were combin'd With destinie t' effect what he design'd 49 Which working though without and on the shore Reacht yet vnto the centre of the Land Searcht all those humors that were bred before Shakes the whole frame whereon the State did stand Affection pittie fortune feare being more Farre off and absent then they are at hand Pittie becomes a traytor with th' opprest And many haue beene rays'd by being supprest 49 For they had left although themselues were gone Opinion and their memorie behinde Which so preuayles that nought could here be done But straight was knowne as soone as once design'd Court Councell-chamber Closet all were-won To be reuealers of the Princes minde So false is Faction and so smooth a lyer As that it neuer had a side entire 50 Whereby th'exil'd had leasure to preuent And circumuent what-euer was deuiz'd Which made that Faulconbridge to Sandwich bent That Fortresse and the Gouernour surpriz'd Who presently from thence to Calais sent Had his vnguiltie blood there sacrifiz'd And Faulconbridge returning backe relates Th' affection here and zeale of all estates 51 Drawne with which newes and with a spirit that dar'd T' attempt on any likelihood of support They take th' aduantage of so great regard Their landing here secur'd them in such sort By Faulconbridge the fatall bridge prepar'd To be the way of blood and to transport Returning furie to make greater wounds Then euer England saw within her bounds 52 And but with fifteene hundred men do land Vpon a Land with many millions stor'd So much did high-presuming Courage stand On th' ayde home-disobedience would afford Nor were their hopes deceiv'd for such a hand Had Innouation ready for the sword As ere they neere vnto the Cittie drew Their powre beyond all former greatnesse grew 53 Muse what may we imagine was the Cause That Furie workes thus vniuersally What humor what affection is it drawes Sides of such powre to this Nobilitie Was it their Conscience to redresse the Lawes Or malice to a wrong-plac't Sov'raintie That caus'd them more then wealth or life desire Destruction ruine bloud-shed sword and fire 54 Or was the Powre of Lords thus inter-plac't Betwixt the height of Princes and the State Th' occasion that the people so imbrac't Their actions and attend on this Debate Or had their Greatnesse with their Worth imbas't The Touch of Royaltie to so lowe rate As their opinion could such tumults moue Then Powre and Virtue you contagious proue 55 And Perianders leuell'd Eares of Corne Shew what is fittest for the publique Rest And that the hyest Minions which adorne A Common-weale and doo become it best Are Zeale and Iustice Law and Customes borne Of hye descent that neuer do infest The Land with false suggestions claymes affrights To make men lose their owne for others rights 56 But now against this disproportion bends The feeble King all his best industrie And from abrode Skales Louell Kendall sends To hold the Cittie in fidelitie The Cittie which before for others ends Was wrought to leaue the part of Royaltie Where though the Kings commaund was of no powre Yet worke these Lords so that they tooke the Towre 57 And from thence labour to bring-in againe The out-let will of disobediencie Send terror threates intreaties but in vaine VVarwicke and March are with all iollitie And grace receiv'd The Citties loue did gaine The best part of a Crowne for whose defence And intertaining still stayes Salsburie Whil'st March and VVarwicke other fortunes try 58 Conducting their fresh troupes against their King Who leaues a woman to supply his steed And neere Northhampton both imbattailing Made now the very heart of England bleed Where what strange resolutions both sides bring And with what deadly rancour they proceed Witnesse the blood there shed and fowlly shed That cannot but with sighes be registred 59 There Buckingham Talbot and Egremont Bewmont and Lucy parts of Lancaster Parts most important and of chiefe account In this vnhappy day extinguisht are◠There the Lord Grey whose sayth did not amount Vnto the trust committed to his care Betrayes his King borne to be strangely tost And late againe attain'd againe is lost 60 Againe is lost this out-side of a King Ordain'd for others vses not his owne Who to the part that had him could but bring A feeble body onely and a Crowne But yet was held to be the dearest thing Both sides did labor-for so much to crowne Their Cause with the apparency of might From whom and by whom they must make their Right 61 When he himselfe as if he nought esteem'd The highest Crowne on earth continues one Weake to the world which his Religion deem'd Like to the breath of man vaine and soone gone Whil'st the stout Queene by speedy flight redeem'd The safety of her selfe and of her Sonne And with her Sommerset to Durham fled Her powres supprest her heart vnuanquished 62 So much for absent Yorke is acted here Attending English hopes on th' Irish coast Which when vnlookt-for they related were Ambition still on horse-backe comes in poast And seemes with greater glory to appeare As made the more by be'ing so long time lost And to the Parlement with state is led Which his associates had fore-summoned 63 And com'n into the Chamber of the Peeres He sets himselfe downe in the chayre of State Where such an vnexpected face appeares Of an amazed Court that gazing sate With a dumbe silence seeming that it feares The thing it went about t'effectuate As if the Place the Cause the Conscience gaue Barres to the words their forced course should haue 64 T is strāge those times which brought such hāds for blood Had not bred tongues to make good any side And that no prostituted conscience stood Any iniustice to haue iustifi'd As men of the forelone hope onely good In desperatest acts to be imploy'd And that none in th' assembly there was found That would t'ambitious descant giue a ground 65 That euen himselfe forc't of necessitie Must be the Orator of his owne Cause For hauing viewd them all and could espie None proff'ring once to speake all in a pause On this friend lookes with an inuiting eye And then on that as if he woo'd applause Holding the cloth of State still in his hand The signe which he would haue them vnderstand 66 But se'ing none moue with an imperiall port Gath'ring his spirits he ryses from his sent Doth with such powre of wordes his Cause support As seemes all others Causes to defeat And sure who workes his Greatnesse in that sort Must haue more powres then those that are borne great Such Reuolutions are not wrought but when Those spirits doe worke which must be more then men 67 He argues first his Right so long with-held By th'vsurpation of the Lancasters
41 For now his vncle Gloster much repin'd Against this French alliance and this peace As either out of a tumultuous minde Which neuer was content the warres should cease Or that he did dishonorable finde Those articles which did our State decrease And therefore storm'd because the Crowne had wrong Or that he fear'd the King would growe too strong 42 But whatsoeuer mov'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 loe the King no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T'attache the Duke when he thought least of it 43 And Fortune to set forward this intent The Cont S. Paule from France doth hither bring Whom Charles The sixt imploy'd in complement To see the Queene and to salute the King To whom he shewes his Vncles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his Subiectes sought to sulleuate And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 44 To whom the Cont most cunningly replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such iealousies And rid you of such mutiners as these 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 threats first meanes of reuenge doth lose 45 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guiltie by your lawes You easier shall with him your quarrell trie 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 46 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes blood-shed much How iust-soeuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse As so shall you obseruing formall right Be held still as vniust and win more spight 47 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard For thereby shall you scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world too afterward What neede you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compar'd And therefore if you will be rul'd by me In secret sort let him dispatched bee 48 And then arraigne the chiefe of those you finde Were of his faction secretly compact Who may so well be handled in their kinde As their confessions which you shall exact May both appease the aggrieued peoples minde And make their death to aggrauate their fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 49 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest wayes Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easily to any course obayes For euery Prince seeing his daunger neere By any meanes his quiet peace assaies And still the greatest wrongs that euer were Haue then been wrought when Kings were put in feare 50 Call'd in with publique pardon and release The Duke of Gloster with his complices All tumults all contentions seem to cease The land rich people pleas'd all in happinesse When sodainely Gloster came caught with peace VVarwicke with profered loue and promises And Arundell was in with cunning brought Who else abrode his safetie might haue wrought 51 Long was it not ere Gloster was conuayd To Calice and there strangled secretly VVarwicke and Arundell close prisoners laid Th' especiall men of his confederacie Yet VVarwickes teares and base confessions staide The doome of death and came confin'd thereby And so prolongs this not long base-begg'd breath But Arundell was put to publique death 52 Which publique death receiv'd with such a cheare As not a sigh a looke a shrink bewrayes The least felt touch of a degenerous feare Gaue life to Enuie to his courage prayse And made his stout-defended cause appeare With such a face of Right as that it layes The side of wrong t'wards him who had long since By Parliament forgiuen this offence 53 And in the vnconceiuing vulgar sort Such an impression of his goodnes gaue As Sainted him and rays'd a strange report Of miracles effected on his Graue Although the Wise whome zeale did not transport Knew how each great example still must haue Something of wrong a taste of violence Wherewith the publique quiet doth dispense 54 The King foorth-with prouides him of a Guard A thousand Archers daily to attend Which now vpon the act he had prepar'd As th' argument this actions to defend But yet the world hereof conceiu'd so hard That all this nought auaild him in the end In vaine with terror is he fortified That is not guarded with firme loue beside 55 Now storme his grieued Vncles though in vaine Not able better courses to aduise They might their grieuance inwardly complaine But outwardly they needes must temporise The King was great and they should nothing gaine T' attempt reuenge or offer once to rise This league with Fraunce had made him now so strong That they must needes as yet indure this wrong 56 For like a Lion that escapes his boundes Hauing beene long restrain'd his vse to stray Ranges the restless woods stayes on no groūd Riots with blood-shed wantons on his praie Seekes not for neede but in his pride to wound Glorying to see his strength and what he may So this vnbridled King freed of his feares In liberty himself thus wildely beares 57 For standing now alone he sees his might Out of the compasse of respectiue awe And now beginnes to violate all right While no restraining feare at hand he saw Now he exacts of all wastes in delight Riots in pleasure and neglects the law He thinkes his Crowne is licenst to do ill That lesse should list that may do what it wil. 58 Thus b'ing transported in this sensuall course No friend to warne no counsell to withstand He still proceedeth on from bad to worse Sooth'd in all actions that he tooke in hand By such as all impietie did nurse Commending euer what hee did command Vnhappie Kings I that neuer may be taught To know themselues or to discerne their fault 59 And whilst this course did much the kingdome daunt The Duke of Herford being of courage bolde As sonne and heire to mighty Iohn of Gaunt Vtters the passion which he could not holde Concerning these oppressions and the want Of gouernment which he to Norfolke told To th' end he being great about the king Might do some good by better counselling 60 Hereof doth Norfolke presently take hold And to the king the whole discourse relate Who not conceipting it as it was told But iudging it proceeded out of hate Disdeigning deepely to be
commaund and they direct our grace 104 Must they our powre thus from our will diuide And haue wee might but must not vse our might Poore Maiestie which other men must guide Whose discontent can neuer looke aright For euer-more wee see those who abide Gracious in ours are odious in their sight Who would all-maistring Maiestie defeat Of her best grace that is to make men Great 105 But well We see although the King be Head The State will be the Heart This Soueraigntie Is but in place not powre and gouerned By th'equall Scepter of Necessitie And we haue seene more Princes ruined By their imoderat fauouring priuatly Then by seuerity in generall For best h 'is lik't that is alike to all 106 Thus stormes this Lady all disquieted When-as farre greater tumults now burst out Which close and cunningly were practiced By such as sought great hopes to bring about For vp in Armes in Kent were gathered A mighty insolent rebellious rout Vnder a dangerous Head who to deterr The State the more himselfe nam'd Mortimer 107 The Duke of Yorke that did not idle stand But seekes to worke on all aduantages Had likewise in this course a secret hand And hartned on their chiefest complices To try how here the people of the Land Would if occasion serv'd b'in readiness To aide that Line if one should come in deed To moue his Right and in due course proceed 108 Knowing himselfe to be the onely one That must attempt the thing if any should And therefore le ts the Rebell now run-on With that false Name t' effect the best he could To make a way for him to worke vpon Who but on certaine ground aduenture would For if the Traitor sped the gaine were his If not yet he stands safe and blamelesse is 109 T' attempt with others dangers not his owne He counts it wisedome if it could be wrought And t' haue the humour of the people knowne Was now that which was chiefely to be sought For with the best he knew himselfe was growne In such account as made him take no thought Hauing observ'd in those he meant to proue Their wit their wealth their cariage and their loue 110 With whome 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 Complayning of his Countries wretchednes In what a miserable case it lies And how much it imports them to prouide For their defence against this womans pride 111 Then with the discontented he doth deale In sounding theirs not vttering his intent As be'ing aduis'd not so much to reueale Whereby 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 112 And then with such as with the time did run In most vpright opinion he doth stand As one that neuer crost what they begun But seem'd to like that which they tooke in hand Seeking all causes of offence to shun Prayses the Rule and blames th'vnruly Land Works so with gifts and kindely offices That euen of them he serues his turne no lesse 113 Then as for those who were his followers Being all choyce men for virtues or desearts He so with grace and benefits prefers That he becomes the Monarch of their hearts He gets the learned for his Counsaylers And cherishes all men of rarest parts To whom good done doth an impressiō strike Of ioy and loue in all that are alike 114 And now by meanes of th'intermitted warre Many most valiant men improv'rished Onely by him fed and relieued are Onely respected grac't and honoured Which let him in vnto their hearts so farre As they by him were wholly to be led He onely treads the sure and perfect path To Greatnesse who loue and opinion hath 115 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 hee preferres so much as this Here hath his Bountie her abiding seat Here is his Iustice and relieuing hand Ready to all that in distresse do stand 116 What with his tenants seruants followers friends And their alliances and amities All that Shire vniuersally attends His hand held vp to any enterprize And thus farre Virtue with her power extends The rest touching th' euent in Fortune lies With which accomplements so mightie growne Forward he tends with hope t' attaine a Crowne The ende of the fift Booke THE SIXT BOOKE THE ARGVMENT The bad successe of Cades rebellion Yorkes 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 warres end and Yorke begins againe And at S. Albones Sommerset is slaine 1 THE furious traine of that tumultuous rout Whom close sub-ayding power and good successe Had made vnwisely proud and fondly stout Thrust headlong on oppression to oppresse And now to fulnesse growne boldly giue out That they the publique wrongs meant to redresse Formelesse themselues reforming doe pretend As if Confusion could Disorder mend 2 And on they march with their 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 train'd When-as the King thereof ascertained Supposing some small power would haue restrain'd Disordred rage sends with a simple crew Sir Humfrey Stafford whom they ouer-threw 3 Which so increast th' opinion of their might That much it gaue to do and much it wrought Confirm'd their rage drew on the vulgar wight Call'd foorth the timorous fresh partakers brought For many though most glad their wrongs to right Yet durst not venture their estates for nought But see'ing the Cause had such aduantage got Occasion makes them stirre that else would not 4 So much he erres that scornes or else 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 warre Still makes her foes farre stronger then they are 5 Yet this good fortune all their fortune mard Which fooles by helping euer doth suppresse For wareless insolence whil'st vndebard Of bounding awe runnes on to such excesse That following lust and spoyle and blood so hard Sees not how they procure their owne distresse The better lothing courses so impure Rather will like their wounds then such a cure 6 For whil'st this wilde vnrained multitude Led with an vnfore-seeing greedy mind Of an imagin'd good that did delude Their ignorance in their desires made blind Ransacke the Cittie and with hands imbru'd Run to all out-rage in th' extreamest kind Heaping-vp wrath and horrour more
me he meanes to shoot at you 67 For thus these great Reformers of a State Aspiring to attaine the Gouernment Still take aduantage of the peoples hate Who euer hate such as are eminent For who can great affaires negotiat And all a wayward multitude content And then these people-minions they must fall To worke-out vs to work themselues int'all 68 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 Traitor-like hath rais'd a mightie Band With colour your proceedings to amend Which if it should haue hapned to succeed You had not now sate to adiudge his deed 69 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 their life to come Shall hee whose fortune and him insolence Haue both deserv'd to die escape that doome When you shall saue your Land your Crowne thereby And since You cannot liue vnlesse He die 70 Thus spake th'aggrieued Duke that grauely saw Th'incompatible powers of Princes mindes And what affliction his escape might draw Vnto the State and people of all kindes And yet the humble yeelding and the aw Which Yorke there shew'd so good opinion findes That with the rumor of his Sonnes great strength And French affaires he there came quit at length 71 For euen the feare t'exasperat the heat Of th' Earle of March whose forward youth and might Well follow'd seem'd a proud reuenge to threat If any shame should on his Father light And then desire in Gascoyne to reget The glorie lost which home-broyles hinder might Aduantaged the Duke and sav'd his head Which questionlesse had else beene hazarded 72 For now had Burdeux offered vpon ayd Present reuolt if we would send with speed Which faire aduantage to haue then delay'd Vpon such hopes had beene a shamefull deed And therefore this all other courses stayd And outwardly these inward hates agreed Giuing an interpause to pride and spight Which breath'd but to breake-out with greater might 73 Whil'st dreadfull T'albot terror late of Fraunce Against the Genius of our Fortune stroue The downe-throwne glorie of our State t' aduance Where Fraunce for more then Fraunce he now doth proue For friends opinion and succeeding chaunce Which wrought the weake to yeeld the strong to loue Were not the same that he had found before In happier times when lesse would haue done more 74 For both the Britaine and Burgonian now Came altred with our lucke and won with theirs Thoâ—e bridges and the gates that did allow So easie passage vnto our affaires Iudging it safer to endeuour how To link with strength then leane vnto despaires And who wants friends to backe what he begins In Lands far off gets not although he wins 75 Which too well prov'd this fatall enterprize The last that lost vs all wee had to lose Where though aduantag'd by some mutinies And petrie Lords that in our Cause arose Yet those great fayl'd whose ready quick supplies Euer at hand cheer'd vs and quail'd our foes Succours from far come seldome to our minde For who holds league with Neptune and the winde 76 Yet worthy Talbot thou didst so imploy The broken remnants of disscattered 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 victorie With so deare wounds as made the conquest sowre So much it cost to spoyle who were vndon And such adoe to win when they had won 77 For as a fierce courageous Mastiue fares That hauing once sure fast'ned on his foe Lyes tugging on that hold neuer forbeares What force soeuer force him to forgo The more he feeles his woundes the more he dares As if his death were sweet in dying so So held his hold this Lord whil'st he held breath And scarce but with much blood le ts goe in death 78 For though he saw prepar'd against his side Both vnlike fortune and vnequall force Borne with the swelling current of their pride Downe the maine streame of a most happy course Yet standes he stiffe vndesht vnterrifi'd His minde the same although his fortune worse Virtue in greatest dangers being best showre And though opprest yet neuer ouer-throwne 79 For rescuing of besieg'd Chatillion Where hauing first constraind the French to fly And following hard on their confusion Comes lo incountred with a strong supply Of fresh-arriuing powers that backe thrust-on Those flying troupes another chaunce to trie Who double arm'd with shame and fury straine To wreake their foyle and win their fame againe 80 Which seeing th' vndaunted Talbot with more might Of spirit to will then hands of power to do Preparing t' entertaine a glorious fight Cheeres-vp his wearied Souldiers thereunto Courage sayth hee those brauing troupes in sight Are but the same that now you did vndo And what if there be come some more then they They come to bring more glory to the day 81 Which day must either thrust vs out of all Or all with greater glorie backe restore This day your valiant worth aduenture shall For what out Land shall neuer fight for more If now we faile with vs is like to fall All that renowne which we haue got before This is the last if we discharge the same The same shall last to our eternall fame 82 Neuer had worthy men for any fact A more faire glorious Theater then we Whereon true Magnanimitie might act Braue deedes which better witnessed could be For lo 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 di'd not in vaine 83 And euen our foes whose proud and powreful might Would seeme to swallow vp our dignitie Shall not keep-backe the glory of our right Which their confounded blood shall testifie For in their wounds our goarie swords shall write The monumentes of our eternitie For vile is honor and a title vaine The which true worth and danger do not gaine 84 For they shall see when we in carelesse sort Shall throwe our selues on their despised speares T is not despaire 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 foul thought beares For be they more let Fortune take their part Wee 'll tugge her too and scratch her ere we part 85 This sayd a fresh infus'd desire of fame Enters their warmed blood with such a will That they deem'd long they were not at the game And though they marcht apace thought they stood still And that their lingring foes too slowely came To ioyne with them spending much time but ill Such force had wordes fierce humors vp to call Sent from the mouth of such a Generall 86
thing he mus'd And hauing stay'd Seem'd to read on againe but yet reades not And still a stealing side-cast looke conuai'd On her sweet face as if he had forgot To be else-where then where he did behold And thought not what he did but what he would 55 But least his sodaine passion might haue there More witnesses then he would wish to haue He tooke vp his desires which posting were Beyond their stages and this answere gaue Madam we will our selfe take time to heare Your Cause at large wherein we wil you haue No other reference but repaire to vs Who will accommodate this businesse 56 She that expected present remedie Hearing this dilatory answer thought The King found scruple in the equitie Of her request and thereupon he sought To put her to delayes of Court whereby She might be try'd and in the end get nought And that which her opinion made more strong Was that he studied and was mute so long 57 Which forc't from her these wordes My Lord Let not my being a Lancastrian bred Without mine owne election disafford Me right or make my Cause disfigured Since I am now the subiect of your sword Which God hath with your Right established To doo vs right and let not what wee were Be now the cause to hurt vs as we are 58 Ladie mistake me not neuer did I Make war with women nor vs'd womens war Reuenge but prosecuted honestly My Right not Men. My quarrels ended are With my obtayning of the victorie And Lady knowe your Cause moues me thus far As you shall finde sayd hee I doo desire To doo you greater right then you require 59 With this they part both with their thoughts full charg'd She of her sute in hand and he of her Wherein he spends that night and quite discharg'd All other cogitations to confer First how he might haue her estate inlarg'd Then in what sort her seruice to prefer Vnto his new exspected Wife and Queene Then how to maske his loue from being seene 60 For yet Lust was not growne to that degree To haue no limits but that shame kept-in The greatest Greatnes from this being free To hold their Wantonness to be no sinne For though Kings cannot ouer-maistred bee They will be ouer-lookt and seene within And though they could their weaknesses make sure Yet crymes though safe can neuer be secure 61 Sometimes he thinks it better to prouide A place retyr'd and haue her from the Court And then with what pretentions he might hide His priuat comming and his oft resort Then by his Queene if it should be espi'd How he might cleare with her and stop report And thus consumes the night and if hee slept He slept those thoughts that with these passions kept 62 The morning being com'n and glad he was That it was com'n after so long a night He thought would haue no morning time did passe So slowe and his desires ran-on so light A messenger with speed dispatched was Of speciall trust this Lady to inuite To come t' his presence though before the time That Ladies rise who rarely rise be time 63 Yet soone shee hastes and yet that soone seem'd long To him whose longing went so swift a pase And frets that such attyring should belong To that which yeelds it selfe sufficient grace Consid'ring how these ornaments may wrong The set of beautie which we see doth grace Th' attire it weares and is not grac't thereby As be'ing that onely which doth take the eye 64 But now be'ing com'n that quarrell of delay Streight ended was her presence satisfies All what Expectance had layd out for stay And he be held more sweetnesse in her eyes And saw her more then she was yesterday A cheerliness did with her hopes arise That lamped cleerer then it did before And made her spirit and his affections more 65 When those who were about him presently Voyded the roome and left him to confer Alone with his faire Suter priuatly As they who to his courses conscious were And he began Madame the remedie Which you in your Petition sue-for here Shall be allow'd to th' vtmost that you craue With th' expedition you would wish to haue 66 And here I haue another sute to you Which if you please to grant wee both shall now Rest equally content Wherewith there grew That so daine alteration in her brow As all were ouer-cast and so with-drew That freedome from her lookes least they should ' low More then her heart might meane as they reflect A narrower and a carefuller aspect 67 That when he saw this barrier of dislike Thus inter-set to keepe his forwardnes Backe from presumptiue pressing it did strike That reuerence as it staide him to expresse His farther will And she replies 'T is like When Kings to subiects sue they meane no less Then to command nor must they be withstood For-that good Kings will seeke but what is good 68 And in that faire respect your Maiestie According to your will both must and may Command my seruice who most reuerently Your royall pleasure euer shall obay With which word pleasure though it doubtfully In that hard fastnesse of condition lay Vnder the locke of goodnesse he was cast In hope he might obtaine the same at last 69 And thus reioynes My pleasure only shall Be Madame for your good please it but you To make it so And here to tell you all I loue you and therein I tell you true What honour may by Kings affections fall Must light vpon your fortunes as your due And though France shall a Wife for fashion bring You must be th' onely mistress of the King 70 Streight might you see how Scorne and Feare Shame All intermixt in one aspect returne The message of her thoughts before words came And first within her brow in state sute Scorne Shame in her Cheekes where also Feare became An In-mate too and both appeare by turne Blushes did paleness paleness blushes chace As scorning fearing shaming such disgrace 71 She scornes to be addeem'd so worthlesse-base As to bee mov'd to such an infamie She shames to thinke that ought within her face Should breed th' opinion of immodestie Shee feares the fatall daunger of the place Her'loneness and the powre of Maiestie And so confus'd in feare in shame in scorne This Answere to his Motion doth returne 72 My sov'raigne Lord it grieues me that you deeme Because I in this sort for Iustice sue I would the same with mine owne wrong redeeme And by dishonour reobtaine my due No I would hate that right which should but seeme To be beholding to a wanton view Or motiue of my person not my Cause That craues but right from Iustice and your lawes 73 And knowe great Monarch that I more doo waigh My Distaffe with mine honour then I doo The mightiest Scepter King did euer sway Vpon the earth or Nations bow'd vnto I owe subiection which I humbly pay With all the outward seruice I can doo But Sov'raigne