fit Soone to be wrought and easie to befed Swolne full with enuie that the Crowne should sit There where it did as if established And whom it toucht in Blood to grieue at it They with such hopes and helps sollicited That this great Earle was drawne t' attempt the thing And practiseth how to depose the King 27 For being of mightie meanes to do the deed And yet of mightier hopes then meanes to do And yet of spirit that did his hopes exceed And then of Blood as great to adde thereto All these with what the gold of France could breed Being powers enow a clyming minde to woo He so imploy'd that many he had wonne Euen of the chiefe the King reli'd vpon 28 The well-knowne right of th' Earle of March allur'd A leaning loue whose Cause he did pretend Whereby he knew that so himselfe procur'd The Crowne for his owne children in the ende For the Earle beeing as hee was assur'd Vnapt for isâ—ue it must needes descend On those of his being next of Clarence race As who by course of right should hold the place 29 It was the time when-as the forward Prince Had all prepar'd for his great enterprize And ready stand his troupes to part from hence And all in stately forme and order lyes When open Fame giues out intelligence Of these bad complots of his enemies Or else this time of purpose chosen is Though knowne before yet let run on till this 30 That this might yeeld the more to aggrauate Vpon so foul a deed vntimely sought Now at this point t' attempt to ruinate So glorious a designe so forward brought Whil'st careful Virtue seekes t' aduance the State And for her euerlasting honor sought That though the Cause seem'd right and title strong The time of dooing it yet makes it wrong 31 But straight an vnlamented death he had And straight were ioyfully the Anchors weighd And all flocke fast aboord with visage glad As if the sacrifice had now beene payd For their good speed that made their stay so sad Loathing the least occasion that delayd And now new thoughts great hopes calme seas fair windes With present action intertaine their mindes 32 No other crosse ô Henry saw thy dayes But this that toucht thy now possessed hold Nor after long till this mans sonne assayesâ— To get of thine the right that he controll'd For which contending long his life he payes So that it fatal seem'd the father should Thy winning seeke to stay and then his sonne Should be the cause to lose when thou hadst won 33 Yet now in this so happy a meane-while And interlightning times thy Virtues wrought That Discord had no leasure to defile So faire attempts with a tumultuous thought And euen thy selfe thy selfe didst so beguile With such attention vpon what was sought That time affoords not now with feare or hate Others to seeke thee to secure thy State 34 Or else how easie had it beene for thee All the pretendant race t' haue layd full lowe If thou proceeded hadst with crueltie Not suffering any fatall branch to growe But vnsuspicious Magnanimitie Shames such effectes of feare and force to showe Busied in free and open Actions still Being great for being good hates to be ill 35 And yet such wrongs are held meete to be done And often for the State thought requisite As when the publike good depends thereon When great iniustice is esteem'd great right But yet what good with doing ill is won Who hath of blood made such a benefite As hath not fear'd more after then before And made his peace the lesse his plague the more 36 Farre otherwise dealt this vndaunted King That cherished the ofspring of his foes And his Competitors to grace did bring And them his friendes for Armes and honors chose As if plaine courses were the safest thing Where vpright goodnesse sure and stedfast goes Free from that subtile maskt impietie Which this depraued world calles policie 37 Yet how hath Fate dispos'd of all this good What haue these Virtues after times auail'd In what stead hath hy-raised Valour stood When this continuing cause of Greatnes fail'd Then when proud-growne the irritated blood Enduring not it selfe it selfe assail'd As though that Prowesse had but learnd to spill Much blood abrode to cut her throat with skill 38 How doth th' Eternall in the course of things Immix the causes both of Good and Ill That thus the one effects of th' other brings As what seemes made to blisse is borne to spill What from the best of Virtues glorie springs That which the world with miserie doth fill I th' end of happinesse but wretchednesse Hath Sinne his plague and Virtue no successe 39 Either that is not good the world holdes good Or else is so confus'd with ill that we Abused with th' appearing likelihood Run to offend whil'st we thinke good to bee Or else the heauens made man in furious blood To torture man Allotting no course free From mischiefe long Sending faire dayes that breed But stormes to make more foul times that succeed 40 Who would haue thought that so great victories Such conquests riches Land and Kingdome gain'd Could not but haue establisht in such wise This powrefull State in state to haue remain'd Who would haue thought that Mischiefe could deuise A way so soone to lose what was attain'd As if powre were but shew'd to grieue not grace And to reduce vs into farre worse case 41 With what contagion Fraunce didst thou infect This Land by thee made proud to disagree T'inrage them so their owne swordes to direct Vpon them-selues that were made sharp in thee Why didst thou teach them here at home t' erect Trophees of their blood which of thine should bee Or was the date of thine affliction out And so by course was ours to come about 42 But that vntimely death of this great King Whose nine yeeres Raigne so mightie wonders wrought To thee thy hopes to vs despaire did bring Not long to keepe and gouerne what was got For those that had th'affayres in managing Although their Countries good they greatly sought Yet so ill accidentes vnfitly fell That their dessignes could hardly prosper wel 43 An infant King doth in the State succeed Scarce one yeere old left vnto others guide Whose careful trust though such as shew'd indeed They weigh'd their charge more then the world beside And did with dutie zeale and loue proceed Yet for all what their trauaile could prouide Could not woo Fortune to remaine with vs When this her Minion was departed thus 44 But by degrees first this then that regain'd The turning tide beares backe with flowing chaunce Vnto the Dolphin all we had attain'd And filles the late lowe-running hopes of Fraunce When Bedford who our onely hold maintain'd Death takes from vs their fortune to aduance And then home-strife that on it selfe did fall Neglecting forraine care did soone lose all 45 Neere three score yeeres are past since
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
seene our Princes slaughtred Peeres destroyd Then hadst not thou deare Countrie com'n to vvage Warre vvith thy selfe nor those afflictions try'd Of all consuming discorde here so long Too mightie novv against thy selfe too strong The ende of the second Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henrie the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded do rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Pomfret Castle sent Is by a cruell Knight there murthered After the Lords had had their punishment His Corps from thence to London is conuayd And there for all to view is open layd 1 NOw risen is that Head by which did spring The birth of two strong Heads two Crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchast thing That fill'd the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 First he attends to build a strong conceipt Of his vsurped powre in peoples mindes And armes his cause with furniture of weight Which easily the sword and Greatnesse findes Succession Conquest and election straight Suggested are and prov'd in all their kindes More then ynough they finde who finde their might Hath force to make all that they will haue Right 3 Though one of these might verie well suffise His present approbation to procure But who his own cause makes doth stil deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise No vsuall plots the doubtfull can secure And all these disagreeing Claymes he had With hope to make one good of many bad 4 Like vnto him that fears and faine would stop An inundation working-on apace Runs to the Breach heapes mightie matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Lodes with huge weights the out-side the top But leaues the inner partes in feeble case Whil'st th'vnder-searching water working-on Beares proudly downe all that wasidly don 5 So fares it with our indirect desseignes And wrong contriued labors at the last Whil'st working Time and iustice vndermines The feeble frame held to be wrought so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioyn'd plots so fayrely ouer-cast Turnes vp those huge pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouer-throwes 6 But after hauing made his title plaine Vnto his Coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous sort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this splendor feeds Is stately furnisht with a glorious traine Wherein the former Kings he far exceedes And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what how 't was done to what is wrought 7 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne who his part did take New Officers new Councellors he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their deseart And rayses them by crushing th' aduerse part 8 So that hereby the vniuersall face Of Court with all the Offices of State Are wholly chang'd by death or by disgrace Vpon th' aduantage of the peoples hate Who euer enuying those of chiefest place Whom neither worth nor vertue but their fate Exalted hath doo when their Kings doo naught Because it 's in their powre iudge it their faute 9 And in their steed such as were popular And wel-deseruing were aduanc't by grace Graue Shirley he ordaines Lord Chancelor Both worthy for his vertues and his race And Norburie hee appoints for Treasurer A man though meane yet fit to vse that place And others t'other roomes whom people hold So much more lov'd how much they loath the old 10 And it behoues him now to doo his best T' approue his vow and oath made to the State And many great disorders he redrest Which alwayes Vsurpation makes the gate To let it selfe into the peoples brest And seekes the publike best t'accommodate Wherein Iniustice better doth then Right For who reproues the lame must go vpright 11 Though it be easie to accuse a State Of imperfection and misgouernment And easie to beget in people hate Of present Rule which cannot all content And fewe attempt it that effect it not Yet t'introduce a better gouernment In steed thereof if we t'example looke The vnder-takers haue beene ouer-tooke 12 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guiltie thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor else could well be wrought Law Iustice blood the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drift coloured 13 Here many of the greatest of the Land Accus'd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleare their Cause most resolutely stout The King perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought-about Desists to vrge their death in any wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 14 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernement To striue with blood when lenitie must gaine The mightie men and please the discontent New Kings do feare when old Courts farther straine Establisht States to all things will consent He must dispense with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 15 Yet not to seeme but to haue some thing done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the people that begun Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect He caus'd be put to execution one Who to performe this murther was elect A base companion few or none would misse Who first did serue their turne and now serues his 16 And to abase the too high state of those That were accus'd and lessen their degrees Aumarle Surry Exceter must lose The names of Dukes their titles dignities And whatsoeuer profits thereby rise The Earles their titles and their Signories And all they got in th' end of Richards raigne Since Glosters death they must restore againe 17 By this as if by Ostracisme t' abate That great presumptiue wealth whereon they stand For first hereby improv'rishing their state He killes the meanes they might haue to withstand Then equals them with other whom they hate Who by their spoyles are rais'd to hie command That weake and enuied if they should conspire They wracke themselues and he hath his desire 18 Yet by this grace which must be held a grace As both they and the world are made beleeue He thinks t' haue dealt benignly in this case And left them state ynough to let them liue And that the taking from thē meanes place Was nothing in respect what hee did giue But they that knowe how their owne reckning goes Account not what they
fame with glorie bright But comming in the way where sinne was growne So foule and thicke it was her chaunce to light Amidst the grosse infection of those times And so came stain'd with black disgrace-full crimes 65 For some the world must haue on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproche and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' onely Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps 't was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor help the same But liuing in the eye of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw-on wo. 66 So much vnhappie do the Mightie stand Who stand on other then their owne defence When-as destruction is so neere at hand That if by weakenesse folly negligence They do not coming miserie withstand They shall be deemed th'authors of th' offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as they who brought those plagues about 67 And so remaine for euer rigistred In that eternall booke of Infamie When yet how many other causes led As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oft lie close smothered And well-meant deedes fall out vnluckily Whil'st the aggrieu'd stand not to waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 68 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults who mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath been A speciall meanes this Common-wealth to marre And that thy weyward will was plainely 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 69 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainely 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 That by his fall thinking to stand alone Thou scarce could'st stand at all when he was gone 70 For this Duke as Protector many yeeres Had rul'd the Land during the Kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if hee still were in his pupillage Which such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incenst with an ambitions rage Shee doth conspire to haue him made-away As one that stayd the Current of her sway 71 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent Who griev'd likewise that any one beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therefore he such deepe aduice appli'd As forraine craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 72 And many ready hands shee straight doth finde To ayde her deed of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind Who all th' especiall Charges vnder-tooke Rul'd all himselfe and neuer had the minde T' impart a part with others who would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And griev'd at such ingrossing of Commands 73 For had he not had such a greedy loue To intertaine his Offices too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life vnless shee did him wrong But hauing liv'd so many yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to be lesse strong And kils that fame that virtue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 74 For could the mightie but giue bounds to pride And weigh-backe Fortune ere shee pull Them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfi'd Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high-spreading ouer-growne Whil'st they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and despight 75 Then neuer should so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloody end Nor their disgrac't confounded families From so high pride to so lowe shame descend But planted on that ground where safetie lyes Their braunches should to eternitie extend But euer they who ouer-looke so much Will ouer-see themselues their state is such 76 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towards euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bred despight So that euen Virtue seemes an Actor too To ruine those Fortune prepares t' vndoo 77 Now such being forward who the Queene well knewe Hated his might and glad to innouate Vnto so great and strong a partie grew As it was easie to subuert his State And onely hope of alteration drew Many to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnesse men growe discontent Where States are ripe to fall and virtue spent 78 And taking all the Rule into her hand Vnder the shadow of that feeble King The Duke sh'excludes from Office and Command And in the reach of enmitie doth bring From that respected height where he did stand When malice scarce durst mutter any thing And now the worst of him comes all reueal'd Which former feare or rigor kept conceal'd 79 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the Land haue brought The Ciuile forme in cases touching blood And such poore Crimes that shew'd their spight was soūd But yet bewrayde their matter wanted ground 80 Yet serv'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shal obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose haynous faultes his matter must deface For where Powre hath decreed to finde th' offence The Cause is better still then the defence 81 A Parlement at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or ought imagining of what befell Where now the matter is so followed That he conuented is ere he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 82 Which quicke and sodaine action gaue no time For men to waigh the iustice of the deed Whil'st looking onely on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drift they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Satietie makes passions still lesse strong 83 And yet they seem'd some mutinie to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Consid'ring hee was popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his Right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither die 84 Reckning it better since his end is
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
THE WHOLE VVORKES OF SAMVEL DANIEL Esquire in Poetrie LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES for SIMON WATERSON and are to be sold at his shoppe in Paules Church-yard at the Signe of the Crowne 1623. TO THE HIGH and most Illustrious Prince CHARLES His Excellence SIR PResents to gods were offered by the hands of graces and why not those of great Princes by those of the Muses To you therefore Great Prince of Honor and Honor of Princes I ioyntly present Poesie and Musicke in the one the seruice of my defunct Brother in the other the duty of my selfe liuing in both the douotion of two Brothers your Highnes humble seruants Your Excellence then who is of such recommendable fame with all Nations for the curiosity of your rare Spirit to vnderstand and ability of Knowledge to iudge of all things I humbly inuite leauing the Songs of his Muse who liuing so sweetly chanted the glory of your High Name Sacred is the fame of Poets Sacred the name of Princes To which Humbly bowes and vowes Himselfe euer your Highnesse Seruant Iohn Daniel TO THE RIGHT NOBLE Lady the Lady Marie Countesse Dowager of Pembrooke MADAME THis Poëm of our last Ciuile Warres of England whereof the many Editions shewe what kinde of intertainement it hath had with the world I haue now againe sent-forth with the addition of two bookes the one continuing the course of the Historie the other making-vp a part which for haste was left vnfurnisht in the former Impressions And hauing nothing else to doo with my life but to worke whil'st I haue it I held it my part to adorne the best I could this Prouince Nature hath allotted to my Charge and which I desire to leaue after my death in the best forme I may seeing I can erect no other pillars to sustaine my memorie but my lines nor otherwise pay my debts and the recknings of my gratitude to their honour who haue donne me good and furthered this Worke. And whereas this Argument was long since vndertaken in a time which was not so well secur'd of the future as God be blessed now it is with a purpose to shewe the deformities of Ciuile Dissension and the miserable euents of Rebellions Conspiracies and bloudy Reuengements which followed as in a circle vpon that breach of the due course of Succession by the Vsurpation of Hen. 4 and thereby to make the blessings of Peace and the happinesse of an established Gouernment in a direct Line the better to appeare I trust I shall doo a gratefull worke to my Countrie to continue the same vnto the glorious Vnion of Hen. 7 from whence is descended our present Happinesse In which worke I haue carefully followed that truth which is deliuered in the Historie without adding to or subtracting from the general receiu'd opinion of things as we finde them in our common Annalles holding it an impietie to violate that publike Testimonie we haue without more euident proofe or to introduce fictions of our owne imagination in things of this nature Famae rerum standum est Though I knowe in these publike actions there are euer popular bruites and opinions which run according to the time the biass of mens affections and it is the part of an Historian to recite them not to rule thē especially otherwise then the circumstances may induce according to that modest saying Nec affirmare sustinco de quibus dubito nec subducere quae accepi I haue onely vsed that poeticall licence of framing speaches to the persons of men according to their occasions as C. Salustius and T. Liuius though Writers in Prose yet in that kinde Poets haue with diuers other antient and modern Writers done before me Wherein though they haue incroched vpon others rights and vsurpt a part that was not properly theirs yet seeing they hold so iust a proportion with the nature of men and the course of affayres they passe as the partes of the Actor not the Writer and are receiu'd with great approbation And although many of these Images are drawne with the pencil of mine owne conceiuing yet I knowe they are according to the portraiture of Nature and carrie a resemblance to the life of Action and their complexions whom they represent For I see Ambition Faction and Affections speake euer one Language weare like colours though in seuerall fashions feed and are fed with the same nutriments and only vary but in time Man is a creature of the same dimension he was and how great and eminent foeuer hee bee his measure and height is easie to be taken And all these great actions are openly presented on the Stage of the World where there are euer Spectators who will iudge and censure how men personate those parts which they are set to perform and so enter them in the Records of Memorie And if I haue erred somewhat in the draught of the young Q. Isabel wife to Ric. 2. in not suting her passions to her yeares I must craue fauour of my credulous Readers and hope the young Ladies of England who peraduenture will thinke themselues of age sufficient at 14 yeares to haue a feeling of their owne estates will excuse me in that point For the rest setting-aside those ornaments proper to this kinde of Writing I haue faithfully obserued the Historie Wherein such as loue this Harmony of words may finde that a Subiect of the greatest grauitie will be aptly exprest howsoeuer others seeing in what sort Verse hath beene idly abused hold it but as a language fitting Lightnes and Vanitie For mine owne part I am not so far in love with this forme of Writing nor haue I sworne Fealtie onely to Ryme but that I may serue in any other state of Inuention with what weapon of vtterance I will and so it may make good my minde I care not For I see Iudgement and Discretion with whatsoeuer is worthy carry their owne Ornaments and are grac't with their owne beauties be they apparayled in what fashion they will And because I finde the common tongue of the world is Prose I purpose in that kinde to write the Historie of England from the Conquest being incouraged thereunto by many noble worthy Spirits Although Madame I must not neglect to prosecute the other part of this Worke being thus reuiued by your Goodnes to whome and to whose Noble Family I hold my selfe euer bound and will labour to doo you all the honor and service I can SAM DANYEL THE FIRST BOOKE THE ARGVMENT What times fore-goe Richard the seconds Raigne The fatall causes of this ciuile VVarre His Vneles pride his greedy Minions gaine Glosters reuolt and death deliuered are Herford accus'd exil'd call'd back againe Pretendes t' amend what others Rule did morre The King from Ireland hastes but did no good VVhil'st strange prodigious signes fore-token blood 1 I Sing the ciuill Warres tumultuous Broyles And bloody factions of a mightie Land Whose people hautie proud with forraine spoyles Vpon themselues turn-backe their conquering hand
might Whil'st we hold but the shadow of our owne Pleas'd with vaine shewes and dallied with delight They as huge vnproportion'd mountaines growne Betweene our land and vs shadowing our light Bereaue the rest of ioy and vs of loue And keepe downe all to keepe themselues aboue 20 Which wounds with griefe poore vnrespected zeale When grace holdes no proportion in the parts When distribution in the Common-weale Of charge and honour due to good desarts Is stopt when others greedie hands must deale The benefite that Maiestie imparts What good we meant comes gleaned home but light Whilst we are robd of prayse they of their right 21 Thus he complaind when lo from Lancaster The new intit'led Duke with order sent Arriv'd Northumberland as to conferre And make relation of the Dukes intent And offred there if that he would referre The controuersie vnto Parlement And punish those that had abus'd the State As causers of this vniuersall hate 22 And also see that Iustice might be had On those the Duke of Glosters death procur'd and such remov'd from Councell as were bad His cosin Henry would he there assur'd On humble knees before his Grace be glad To aske him pardon to be well secur'd and haue his right and grace resto'rd againe The which was all he labour'd to obtaine 23 And therefore doth an enterparle exhort Perswades him leaue that vnbeseeming place and with a princely hardinesse resort Vnto his people that attend his Grace They meant his publique good and not his hurt and would most ioyfull be to see his face He layes his soule to pledge and takes his Oath The ost of Christ an ostage for his troth 24 This proffer with such protestations made Vnto a King that so neere danger stood Was a sufficient motiue to perswade When no way else could shew a face so good Th'vnhonourable meanes of safety bade Danger accept what Maiesty withstood When better choyses are not to be had We needes must take the seeming best of bad 25 Yet standes he'in doubt a while what way to take Conferring with that small remaining troope Fortune had left which neuer would forsake Their poore distressed Lord nor neuer stoope To any hopes the stronger part could make Good Carlile Ferby and Sir Stephen Scroope With that most worthy Montague were all That were content with Maiesty to fall 26 Time spare and make not sacrilegious theft Vpon so memorable constancie Let not succeeding Ages be berest Of such examples of integritie Nor thou magnanimous Leigh must not be left in darknesse for thy rare fidelitie To saue thy faith content to lose thy head That reuerent head of good men honoured 27 Nor will my Conscience I should iniury Thy memorie most trusty Ienico For b'ing not ours though wish that Gasconie Claym'd not for hers the faith we reuerence so That England might haue this small companie Onely to her alone hauing no moe But le' ts diuide this good betwixt vs both Take she thy birth and we will haue thy troth 28 Graue Moniague whom long experience taught In either fortune thus aduis'd his King Deare Sou'raigne know tho matter that is sought Is onely now your Maiesty to bring From out of this poore safetie you haue got Into theyr hands that else hold euery thing For now but onely you they want of all and wanting you they nothing theirs can call 29 Here haue you craggie Rocks to take your part That neuer will betray their faith to you These trusty Mountaines here will neuer start But stand t' vpbraid their shame that are vntrue Here may you fence your safetie with small art against the pride of that confused Crew If men will not those verie Cliffes will fight and be sufficient to defend your right 30 Then keepe you here and here shall you behold Within short space the slyding faith of those That cannot long their resolution hold Repent the course their idle rashnesse chose For that same mercenarie faith they sold With least occasions discontented growes And insolent those voluntarie bands Presuming how by them he chiefly stands 31 And how can he those mightie troupes sustaine Long time where now he is or any where Besides what discipline can he retaine Whereas he dares not keepe them vnder feare For feare to haue them to reuolt againe So that it selfe when Greatnesse cannot beare With her owne waight must needes confus'dly fall Without the helpe of other force at all 32 And hither to approche hee will not dare Where deserts rockes and hilles no succours giue Where desolation and no comforts are Where few can do no good many not liue Besides we haue the Ocean to prepare Some other place if this should not relieue So shall you tire his force consume his strength And weary all his followers out at length 33 Doe but referre to time and to small time And infinite occasions you shall finde To quaile the Rebell euen in the prime Of all his hopes beyond all thought of minde For many with the conscience of the crime In colder blood will curse what they design'd And bad successe vpbrayding their ill fact Drawes them whom others draw from such an act 34 For is the least imagin'd ouerture But of conceiv'd reuolt men once espie Straight shrinke the weake the great will not indure Th' impatient run the discontented slie The friend his friends example doth procure And all togither haste them presently Some to their home some hides others that stay To reconcile themselues the rest betray 35 What hope haue you that euer Bullingbrooke Will liue a Subiect that hath tri'd his fate Or what good reconcilement can you looke Where he must alwayes feare and you must hate And neuer thinke that he this quarrell tooke To reobtaine thereby his priuate state T' was greater hopes that hereto did him call And he will thrust for all or else lose all 36 Nor trust this suttle Agent nor his oth You knowe his faith you tri'd it before hand His fault is death and now to lose his troth To saue his life he will not greatly stand Nor trust your kinsmans proffer since you both Shew blood in Princes is no stedfast band What though he hath no title he hath might That makes a title where there is no right 37 Thus he when that good Bishop thus replies Out of a minde that quiet did affect My Lord I must confesse as your case lies You haue great cause your Subiects to suspect And counter plot against their subtelties Who all good care and honestie neglect And feare the worst what insolence may do Or armed fury may incense them to 38 But yet my Lord feare may aswell transport Your care beyond the truth of what is meant As otherwise neglect may fall too short In not examining of their intent But let vs weigh the thing which they exhort T is Peace Submission and a Parlement Which how expedient 't is for either part T were good
we iudg'd with an vnpartiall hart 39 And first for you my Lord in griefe we see The miserable case wherein you stand Voyde here of succour helpe or maiestie On this poore promontorie of your Land And where how long a time your Grace may be Expecting what may fall into your hand Wee know not since th' euent of things do lie Clos'd vp in darkenes farre from mortall eye 40 And how vnfit it were you should protract Long time in this so dangerous disgrace As though that you good spirit and courage lackt To issue out of this opprobrious place When euen the face of Kings do oft exact Feare and remorse in faultie subiects base And longer stay a great presumption drawes That you were guilty or did doubt your cause 41 What Subiects euer so inrag'd would dare To violate a Prince t' offend the blood Of that renowmed race by which they are Exalted to the height of all their good What if some things by chaunce misguided were Which they haue now rebelliously withâ—â—ood They neuer will proceed with that despight To wracke the State and to confound the right 42 Nor doe I thinke that Bullingbrooke can bee So blind-ambitious to affect the Crowne Hauing himselfe no title and doth see Others if you should fayle must keepe him downe Besides the Realme though mad will neuer gree To haue a right succession ouerthrowne To rayse confusion vpon them and theirs By preiudicing true and lawfull heires 43 And now it may be fearing the successe Of his attemptes or with remorse of minde Or else distrusting secret practises He would be glad his quarrell were resign'd So that there were some orderly redresse In those disorders which the Realme did finde And this I thinke he now sees were his best Since farther actions further but vnrest 44 And for th'impossibilitie of peace And reconcilement which my Lord obiects I thinke when doying iniurie shall cease The cause pretended then surcease th' effects Time and some other Actions may increase As may diuert the thought of these respects Others law of forgetting iniuries May serue our turne in like calamities 45 And for his oath in conscience and in sense True honour would not so be found vntrue Nor spot his blood with such a foule offence Against his soule against his God and you Our Lord forbid that euer with th' expence Of heauen and heauenly ioyes that shall insue Mortalitie should buy this little breath T' indure the horror of eternall death 46 And therefore as I thinke you safely may Accept this proffer that determine shall All doubtfull courses by a quiet way Needfull for you fit for them good for all And here my Sov'raigne to make longer stay T' attend for what you are vnsure will fall May slippe th' occasion and incense their will For Feare that 's wiser then the truth doth ill 47 Thus he perswades out of a zealous minde Supposing men had spoken as they ment And vnto this the King likewise inclin'd Avwholly vnto peace and quiet bent And yeeldes himselfe to th' Earle goes leaues-behind His safetie Scepter Honor Gouernement For gone all 's gone he is no more his owne And they rid quite of feare he of the Crowne 48 A place there is where proudly rais'd there stands A huge aspiring Rock neighb'ring the Skies Whose surly brow imperiously commaund The Sea his boundes that at his proud feete lies And spurnes the waues that in rebellious bands Assault his Empire and against him rise Vnder whose craggy gouernment there was A niggard narrow way for men to pasle 49 And here in hidden cliffes concealed lay A troope of armed men to intercept The vnsuspecting King that had no way To free his foote that into danger stept The dreadfull Ocean on the one side lay The hard-incroching Mountaine th' other kept Before him he beheld his hateful foes Behind him trayterous enemies inclose 50 Enuiron'd thus the Earle begins to cheere His al-amased Lord by him betrayde Bids him take courage ther 's no cause of feare These troopes but there to guard him safe were layd To whom the King What neede so many here This is against your oath my Lord he said But now hee sees in what distresse he stood To striue was vaine t' intreat would do no good 51 And therefore on with careful hart he goes Complaines but to himselfe sighes grieues and freats At Rutland dines though feedes but on his woes The griefe of minde hindred the minde of meats For sorrow shame and feare scorne of his foes The thought of what he was and what now threats Then what he should and now what he hath done Musters confused passions all in one 52 To Flint from thence vnto a restless bed That miserable night he comes conuayd Poorely prouided poorely followed Vncourted vnrespected vnobayd Where if vncertaine sleepe but hoouered Ouer the drooping cares that heauy weigh'd Millions of figures fantasie presents Vnto that sorrow wakened griefe augments 53 His new misfortune makes deluding sleepe Say 't was not so False dreames the trueth denie Wherewith he starts feels waking cares do creepe Vpon his soule and giues his dreame the lie Then sleepes againe and then againe as deepe Deceites of darknes mocke his miserie So hard believ'd was sorrow in her youth That he thinks truth was dreams dreams were truth 54 The morning light presents vnto his view Walking vpon a turret of the place The trueth of what hee sees is prov'd too true A hundred thousand men before his face Came marching on the shore which thither drew And more to aggrauate his great disgrace Those he had wrongd or done to them despight As if they him vpbrayd came first in sight 55 There might hee see that false forsworne vile crue Those shameless agents of vnlawfull lust His Pandars Parasites people vntrue To God and man vnworthy any trust Preacing vnto that fortune that was new And with vnblushing faces formost thrust As those that still with prosperous fortune sort And are as borne for Corte or made in Cort. 56 There hee beheld how humbly diligent New Adulation was to be at hand How ready Falsehood slept how nimbly went Basepick-thank Flattery and preuents Command Hee saw the great obay the graue consent And all with this new-rays'd Aspirer stand But which was worst his owne part acted there Not by himselfe his powre not his appeare 57 Which whilst he view'd the Duke he might perceiue Make towards the Castle to an interview Wherefore he did his contemplation leaue And downe into some fitter place withdrew Where now he must admitte without his leaue Him who before with all submission due Would haue beene glad t' attend and to prepare The grace of audience with respectiue care 58 Who now being come in presence of his king Whether the sight of Maiestie did breed Remorse of what he was in compassing Or whether but to formalize his deed He kneeles him downe with some astonishing Rose kneeles againe for craft wil still
their ruining 38 My Lords sayth he I knowe your wisedomes such As that of mine aduice you haue no need I knowe you knowe how much the thing doth touch The maine of all your states your blood your seed Yet since the same concernes my life as much As his whose hand is chiefest in this deed And that my foote must go as farre as his I thinke my tongue may speake what needfull is 39 The thing we enterprize I knowe doth beare Great possibilitie of good effect For-that so many men of might there are That venture here this action to direct Which meaner wightes of trust and credite bare Not so respected could not looke t' effect For none without great hopes will follow such Whose powre and honor doth not promise much 40 Besides this new and doubtfull gouernment The wauering faith of people vaine and light The secret hopes of many discontent The naturall affection to the right Our lawfull Sov'raignes life in prison pent Whom men begin to pittie now not spight Our well layd plot and all I must confesse With our iust cause doth promise good successe 41 But this is yet the outward fayrest side Of our desseigne within rests more of feare More dread of sad euent yet vndescri'd Then my most worthy Lords I would there were But yet I speake not this as to diuide Your thoughts from th' act or to dismay your cheere Onely to adde vnto your forward will A moderate feare to cast the worst of ill 42 Danger before and in and after th' act You needes must graunt is great and to be waigh'd Before least while we do the deede protract It be by any of our selues bewraid For many being priuie to the fact How hard it is to keepe it vnbetraid When the betrayer shal haue life and grace And rid himselfe of danger and disgrace 43 For though some few continue resolute Yet many shrink which at the first would dare And be the formost men to execute If th' act and motion at one instant were But intermission suffers men dispute What dangers are and cast with farther care Cold doubt cauils with honor scorneth fame And in the end feare waighes downe faith with shame 44 Then in the act what perils shall we finde If either place or time or other course Cause vs to alter th' order now assign'd Or that then we expect things happen worse If either error or afainting minde An indiscreet amazement or remorse In any at that instant should be found How much it might the act and all confound 45 After the deede the dangers are no lesse Lest that our forwardnes not seconded By our owne followers and accomplices Being kept backe or slowe or hindered The hastie multitude rush-on t' oppresse Confused weakenes there vnsuccored Or rayse another head of that same race T' auenge his death and prosecute the case 46 All this my Lords must be considered The best and worst of that which may succeede That valour mixt with feare boldnesse with dread May march more circumspect with better heed And To preuent these mischiefs mentioned Is by our faith our secrecie and speed For euen already is the worke begun And werest all vndone till all be done 47 And though I could haue wisht another course In open fielde t' haue hazarded my blood Yet some are heere whose loue is of that force To draw my life whom zeale hath not withstood But like you not of your desseigne the worse If the successe be good your course is good And ending well our honor then begins No hand of strife is pure but that which wins 48 This sayd a sad still silence held their mindes Vpon the feareful proiect of their woe But that not long ere forward furie findes Incouraging perswasions on to goe We must sayd they we wil our honour bindes Our safety bids our fayth must haue it so We know the worst can come 't is thought vpon We cannot shift being in we must goe on 49 And on in deed they went but ô not farre A fatal stop trauerst their headlong course Their drift comes knowne and they discouered are For some of many will be false of force Aumarle became the man that all did marre Whether through indiscretion chance or worse He makes his peace with offring others blond And shewes the King how all the matter stood 50 Then lo dismayde confusion all possest Th' afflicted troupe hearing their plot descride Then runnes amaz'd distresse with sad vnrest To this to that to flie to stand to hide Distracted terror knew not what was best On what determination to abide At last Despaire would yet stand to the Sword To trie what friende◠would doe or fate affoord 51 Then this then that mans ayde they craue implore Poste here for helpe seeke there their followers Coniure their friendes they had labour for more Sollicite all reputed fauourers Who Richards cause seem'd to affect before And in his name write pray sende messengers To try what faith was left if by this art Any would step to take Afflictions part 52 And some were found and some againe draw backe Vncertaine power could not it selfe retaine In treate they may authoritie they lacke And here and there they march but all in vaine With desp'rate course like those that see their wracke Euen on the Rockes of death and yet they straine That death may not them idly finde t' attend Their certaine last but worke to meet their end 53 And long they stand not ere the chiefe surpriz'd Conclude with their deare blood their tragedie And all the rest disperst run some disguis'd To vnknowne coastes some to the shores do flye Some to the woods or whither feare aduis'd But running from all to destruction hie The breach once made vpon a battered state Downe goes distresse no shelter shroudes their fate 54 And now what horror in their soules doth growe What sorrowes with their friendes and neere allies 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 thoughts must frame To base-downe-looking pouertie and shame 55 This slaughter and calamitie fore-goes Thy eminent destruction wofull King This is the bloody Comet of thy woes That doth fore-tell thy present ruyning Here was thy ende decreed when these men rose And euen with theirs this act thy death did bring Or hastened at the least vpon this ground Yet if not this another had beene found 56 Kings Lords of times and of occasions may Take their aduantage when and how they list For now the Realme he thought in this dismay T' auoyd like mischiefes neither would resist Nor feele the wound at all since by this way All future disturbations would desist The roote cut off from whence these tumults rose He should haue rest the Common-wealth repose 57 He knew this time and yet he would not seeme Too quicke to wrath as if affecting
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
haue had by th'ouerthrowne And th'wounds we make might not haue beene our owne 44 Yet since that other mens iniquitie Calles-on the sword of wrath against my will And that themselues exact this crueltie And I constrayned am this bloud to spill Then on braue followers on courageously True-harted subiects against traytors ill And spare not them who seeke to spoyle vs all Whose foul confused end soone see you shal 45 Forth-with began these fury-mouing sounds The notes of wrath the musicke brought from Hell The ratling Drums which trumpets voyce confounds The cryes th'incouragements the shouting shrill That all about the beaten ayre rebounds Confused thundring-murmurs horrible To robbe all sense except the sense to fight Well hands may worke the minde hath lost his sight 46 O warre begot in pride and luxurie The child of malice and reuengeful hate Thou impious good and good impietie That art the foul refiner of a State Vniust-iust scourge of mens iniquitie Sharpe-easer of corruptions desperate Is there no meanes but that a sin-sicke Land Must be let bloud with such a boysterous hand 47 How well mightst thou haue here beene spar'd this day Had not wrong-counsaild Percy beene peruerse Whose forward hand inur'd to woundes makes way Vpon the sharpest fronts of the most fierce Where now an equall furie thrusts to stay And backe-repell that force and his disperse Then these assaile then those re-chase againe Till stayd with new-made hils of bodies slaine 48 There lo that new-appearing glorious starre Wonder of Armes the terror of the field Young Henrie laboring where the stoutest are And euen the stoutest forceth backe to yeeld There is that hand boldned to bloud and warre That must the sword in wondrous actions wield Though better he had learnd with others bloud A lesse expence to vs to him more good 49 Yet here had he not speedy succour lent To his indangered father neere opprest That day had seene the full accomplishment Of all his trauailes and his finall rest For Mars-like Dowglas all his forces bent T' incounter and to grapple with the best As if disdayning any other thing To doo that day but to sub due a King 50 And three with fierie courage he assailes Three all as kings adornd in royall wise And each successiue after other quailes Still wondring whence so many Kings should rise And doubting lest his hand or eye-sight fayles In these confounded on a fourth hee flyes And him vnhorses too whom had hee sped He then all Kings in him had vanquished 51 For Henrie had diuided as it were The person of himselfe into foure parts To be lesse knowne yet known euery where The more to animate his peoples harts Who cheered by his presence would not spare To execute their best and worthyest parts By which two special things effected are His safetie and his subiects better care 52 And neuer worthy Prince a day did quit With greater hazard and with more renowne Then thou didst mightie Henry in this fight Which onely made thee owner of thine owne Thou neuer proov'dst the Tenure of thy right How thou didst hold thy easie-gotten Crown Till now and now thou shew'st thy selfe Chiefe Lord By that especial right of kings the Sword 53 And deare it cost and much good bloud is shed To purchase thee a sauing victorie Great Stafford thy high Constable lyes dead With Shorly Clifton Gawsell Caluerly And many more whose braue deathes witnessed Their noble valour and fidelitie And many more had left their dearest bloud Behind that day had Hotspur longer stood 54 But he as Dowglas with his furie ledde Rushing into the thickest woods of speares And brakes of swordes still laying at the Head The life of th' Army whiles he nothing feares Or spares his owne comes all inuironed With multitude of powre that ouer-beares His manly worth who yeeldes not in his fall But fighting dyes and dying kils withall 55 What Arke what trophey what magnifence Of glory Hot-spurre hadst thou purchas 't here Could but thy Cause as fayre as thy pretence Be made vnto thy Country to appeare Had it beene her protection and defence Not thy ambition made thee sell so deare Thy selfe this day shee must haue here made good An euerlasting Statüe for thy bloud 56 Which thus misspent thy Army presently As if they could not stand when thou wert downe Disperst in rout betooke them all to flie And Dowglas faint with wounds ouer-throwne Was taken who yet wonne the enemie Which tooke him by his noble valour showne In that dayes mighty worke and was preserv'd With all the grace and honor he deserv'd 57 VVorc'ster who had escap't vnhappily His death in battel on a Scaffold dyes The next day after in the company Of other chiefest of that enterprise And so the tempest of this mutinie Became allay'd and those great ieoperdies Blowne-ouer in this sort the Coasts well cleer'd But for one threatuing cloud that yet appear'd 58 Northumberland recouered still out-stands The principall of this great family And faction hauing Berwike in his hands With other holdes strong by confed'racie With Scotland mighty by his owne command And likely now his vtmost powre to trie T' auenge him on the ruine of his Bloud And ioyne with Wales which yet vndanted stood 59 Which mov'd the king who had too much indur'd In this dayes worke to hazard new againe By all the aptest meanes could be procur'd To lay to draw him in by any traine And write he did and vow'd and him assur'd Vpon his princely word to intertaine With former grace if hee would but submit And come to yeeld th' obedience that was fit 60 The Earle be'ing now by this defeat dismay'd And fearing his confederates would fayle With Fortune and betray rather then ayde Those who are downe being for their owne auayle Relying on his Sov'raignes oath obay'd Which with his tender griefs did much preuaile And in hee came and had no detryment But for a shew some short imprisonment 61 The Parlement that afterward insu'd Restor'd him t' all his dignities and landes And now none but the Welsh seem'd to seclude The king from hauing wholly in his hands All peace within and them he had pursu'd Whiles this braue army with these ready bands Were yet on foot could he but haue got pay To hold them and his charge of war defray 62 But that hee could not gaine though all the wayes That might be wrought he labours to procure Meanes to effect the same But those delayes And long protraction which he must indure By way of Parlement so much betrayes The opportunitie that might secure His vndertaking as the occasion lost Draue both the State and him to greater cost 63 For now the Rebell thus forborne growes strong Both in his reputation and successe For hauing with his powre held out so long Many aduenture with more forwardnesse To yeeld him ayd and to support his wrong And forraine Princes in his businesse Whom hee sollicites
now wil lend their hand To hould him vp seeing himselfe can stand 64 And thus he prospers whiles the King here spent Much time to leuie treasure to maintaine His charge abrode which with that discontent That murmure those denyals hee doth gaine As that hee findes it euen as turbulent To warre for it as with it all his Raigne Though hee had those inforcements of expence Both for offence retaynements and defence 65 For here beside these troubles in the Land His large Dominions held abrode require A plentiful and a prepared hand To guard them where so mightie men aspire T' assaile distract and trouble his Command With hopes with promises with sword and sire And then as deepe importes his Coastes to cleere Which by his neighbors much infested were 66 The Flemings Britaines with the French and all Attempt incursions and worke much despight Orleance for Guien and here the Conte Saint Paul For Calais labours and the I le of Wight Wherein though neither had successe at all Yet Cleremont ouercame and wonne by fight Important Holdes in Gasconie the-while And did the English much distresse and spoyle 67 All which require prouisions to withstand And all are succord with great prouidence A Nauie to secure the Seas is mann'd And forces sent to Calais for defence And wherein other parts defectiue stand They are supply'd with carefull diligence So that his subiects could not but well knowe That what they granted he did sure bestowe 68 Nor did hee spare himselfe nor his but bent All-wholly vnto actiue Worthynesse The Prince of VVales vnto his Prouince sent Where hee was sure hee should not take his ease His second sonne is with the Earle of Kent Imployd as Gouernour to keepe the Seas A third though very yong likewise sent forth With VVestmerland attends vnto the North. 69 Thus were they bred who after were to bee Men amongst men here with these graue Adioynts These learned Maisters they were taught to see Themselues to read the world and keep their points Thus were they entred in the first degree And Accedence of action which acquaints Them with the Rules of Worth and Nobleness Which in true Concord they learn'd well t' expresse 70 And whiles h'attends the State thus carefully The Earle of Marches children are conuay'd Out of the Towre of VVindsor secretly Being prisoners there not for their merit lay'd But for their Bloud and to the ende whereby This Chayne of Nature might be interlay'd Betweene the Father and his high intents To hold him backe to saue these innocents 71 For which attempt though it were frustrated By their recouerie who were got againe Aumarle now Duke of Yorke is chalenged By his owne sister to haue layd that trayne Who late her Lord with others ruined In secretly betraying them t' obtaine His grace and peace which yet contents him not For Who hath grace and peace by treason got 72 So much did loue t' her executed Lord Predominate in this faire Ladies hart As in that region it would not afford Nature a place to rest in any part Of her affections but that she abhord Her proper blood and left to doo the part Of sisterhood to doo that of a wife T' auenge a Husbands death by Brothers life 73 Vpon which accusation presently The Duke committed is without much stirre Or vulgar noyse for that it tenderly Did touch the secretst wounds of Lancaster When streight another new conspiracie As if it were a certaine successor Ally'd to this ingendred in the North Is by th'Archbishop Scroope with power brought forth 74 And with faire zeale and pietie approv'd To be forth vniuersall benefit And succour of the people who soone mov'd By such perswaders as are held vpright And for their zeale and charitie belov'd Vse not t' examine if the Cause be right But leap into the toyle and are vndon By following them that they rely'd vpon 75 Here new aspersions with new obloquies Are layde on old deserts and future ill On present suffrings bruted to aryse That farther grieuances ingender wil. And then concussion rapine pilleries Their Catalogue of accusations fill Which to redresse they doo presume to make Religion to auow the part they take 76 And euen as Canterburie did produce A Pardon to aduance him to the Crown The like now Yorke pronounces to induce His faction for the pulling of him down Whilst th' ignorant deceiv'd by this abuse Makes others ends to be as if their owne But what wold these haue don against the crimes Oppressions iyots wastes of other times 77 Since now they had a Monarch and a man Rays'd by his worth and by their owne consent To gouerne them and workes the best he can T' aduance the Crowne and giue the State cōtent Commits not all to others care nor ran An idle course or on his Minions spent But thus the Horse at first bites at the Bit That after is content to play with it 78 Growne to a mighty powre attending now Northumberland with his prepared ayde The Bishop by a parle is with a showe Of combination cunningly betrayde By Westmerland whose wit did ouerthrowe Without a sword all these great feares and stayd The mightiest danger that did euer yet Thy Crowne and State disturbed Henrie threat 79 For which this reuerent Priest with Mowbray dyes Who both drawne on with passion of despight To vndertake this fatall enterpise The one his brothers bloud-shed to requite The other for his fathers iniuries Did wrong themselues and did not others right For who through th' eyes of their affections looke And not of iudgement thus are ouer-tooke 80 Whereof when newes came to Northumberland Who seldome other then of miserie Seemes borne to heare being euer behind hand With Fortune and his opportunitie To Scotland flyes where giuen to vnderstand Of some intrapment by conspiracie Gets into VVales whence hee aduentured T' attempt another day and lost his head 81 Whereby once more those Parts are quieted When-as the King who neuer had his brow Seene free from sweat nor hart from trouble rid Was with suspicion that his sonne grew now Too popular and forward so much fed By wicked instruments who well knew how To gaine by Princes feares as he thereby Fell in his griefe to great extreamitie 82 Which when that vertuous Prince who borne to bee The module of a glorious Monarch heard With humble protestations did so free His fathers feares and his owne honor cleer'd As that he plainely made the world to see How base Detraction and Deceipt appeard And that a hart so nobly built could not Containe within a thought that wore a blot 83 Wherewith the king betakes him to some peace Yet to a peace much like a sicke-mans sleep Whose vnrelenting paines do neuer cease But alwayes watch vpon his weakenes keepe That neuer any Sabaoth of release Could free his trauailes and afflictions deepe But still his cares held working
sinne and shame The worst of times th' extreame of ills rehearse To rayse olde staynes and to renew dead blame As if the mindes of th' euill and peruerse Were not farre sooner trained from the same By good example of faire vertuous acts Then by the shew of foul vngodly facts 7 Would God our times had had some sacred wight Whose words as happy as our swords had bin To haue prepar'd for vs Tropheis aright Of vndecaying frames t' haue rested in Triumphant Arks of perdurable might O holy lines â— that such aduantage win Vpon the Sieth of Time in spight of yeares How blessed they who gaine what neuer weares 8 For what is it to do if what we do Shall perish neere as soone as it is donne What is that glory wee attaine vnto With all our toyle if lost as soone as wonne A small requitall for so great adoo Is this poore present breath a smoake soone gone Or these dumb stones erected for our sake Which formless heapes few stormy changes make 9 Tell great ELIZA since her dayes are grac't With those bright ornaments to vs deni'd That she repaire what darknesse hath defac't And get our ruyn'd deedes reedifi'd She in whose all-directing eye is plac't A powre the highest powers of wit to guide Shee may command the worke and ouer-see The holy frame that might eternall bee 10 For would Shee be content that Time should make A rauenous prey vpon her glorious Raigne That Darkenesse and the Night should ouertake So cleare a Brightnesse shining without staine Ah! no She fosters some no doubt that wake For her eternitie with pleasing paine And if shee for herselfe prepare this good Let her not so neglect those of her Blood 11 This that great Monarch Henrie seem'd to craue When weighing what a holy motiue here Vertue propos'd and fit for him to haue Whom all times ought of dutie hold most deare I sigh't and wisht that some would take t'ingraue With curious hand so proud a worke to reare To grace the present and to blesse times past That might for euer to our glorie last 12 So should our well-taught times haue learn'd alike How faire shin'd Virtue and how foul Vice stood When now my selfe am driuen to mislike Those deedes of worth I dare not vow for good I cannot mone who lose nor prayse who seeke By mightie Actions here t' aduance their Blood I must say Who wrought most least honor had How euer good the Cause the deedes were bad 13 And onely tell the worst of euerie Raigne And not the intermedled good report I leaue what glorie Virtue did attaine At th'euer-memorable Agincort I leaue to tell what wit what power did gaine Th'assieged Roan Caen Driux or in what sort How Maiestie with terror did aduance Her conquering foote on all subdued Fraunce 14 All this I passe and that magnanimous King Mirror of vertue miracle of worth Whose mighty Actions with wise managing Forc't prouder boasting Climes to serue the North. The best of all the best the earth can bring Scarce equals him in what his Raigne brought foorth Being of a minde as forward to aspire As fit to gouerne what he did desire 15 His comely body was a goodly seate Where Virtue dwelt most faire as lodg'd most pure A body strong where vse of strength did get A stronger state to do and to endure His life he makes th' example to be get Like spirit in those he did to good inure And gaue to Worth such life and liuelihood As if hee Greatnes sought but to do good 16 Hee as the Chiefe and all-directing head Did with his subiects as his members liue And them to goodnesse forced not but led Winning not much to haue but much to giue Deeming the powre of his his powr did spread As borne to blesse the world and not to grieue Adorn'd with others spoyles not subiects store No King exacting lesse none winning more 17 Hee after that corrupted faith had bred An ill inur'd obedience for Command And languishing luxuriousnes had spred Weyward vnaptnesse ouer all the Land Those long vnordred troupes so marshalled Vnder such formall discipline to stand That euen his soule seem'd onely to direct So great a body such exployts t' effect 18 He brings abrode distracted Discontent Disperst ill humors into actions hie And to vnite them all in one consent Plac't the faire marke of glorie in their eye That Malice had no leasure to dissent Nor Enuie time to practise treacherie The present actions do diuert the thought Of madnesse past while mindes were so well wrought 19 Here now were Pride Oppression Vsurie The canker-eating mischiefes of the State Call'd foorth to prey vpon the enemie Whil'st the home-burth'ned better lightned sate Exactors did not with a greedy eye Examine states or priuate riches rate The silent Courts warr'd not with busie words Nor wrested law gaue the contentious swords 20 Now nothing entertaines th'attentiue eare But stratagems assaults surprises fightes How to giue lawes to them that conquered were How to articulate with yeelding wightes The weake with mercie and the proud with feare How to retaine to giue deserts their rights Were now the Artes and nothing else was thought But how to win and maintaine what was got 21 Nor here were any priuately possest Or held alone imprisoned Maiestie Proudly debarring entraunce from the rest As if the prey were theirs by victorie Here no detractor woundes who merits best Nor shameless brow cheeres-on impietie Vertue who all her toyle with zeale had spent Not here all vnrewarded sighing went 22 But here the equally-respecting eye Of Powre looking alike on like deserts Blessing the good made others good thereby More mightie by the multitude of hearts The fielde of glorie vnto all doth lie Open alike honour to all imparts So that the onely fashion in request Was to be good or good-like as the rest 23 So much ô thou Example dost effect Being farre a better Maister then Command That how to do by doing dost direct And teachest others action by thy hand Who followes not the course that kings elect When Princes worke who then wilâ—d eâ—â—and And when that dooing good is onely thought Worthy reward who will be bad for nought 24 And had not th' Earle of Cambridge with vaine speed Vntimely practiz'd for an others right With hope to aduance those of his proper seed On whome the Rule seem'd destined to light The Land had seene none of her owne to bleed During this Raigne nor no aggreeued sight None the least blacknesse interclouded had So faire a day nor any eye lookt sad 25 But now when Fraunce perceiued from afarre The gathering tempest growing-on from hence Ready to fall threatning their State to marre They labour all meanes to prouide defence And practising how to preuent this warre And shut-outsuch calamities from thence Do foster here some discord lately growne To hold Ambition busied with her owne 26 Finding those humors which they saw were
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
ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft things done perhaps do lesse annoy Then may the doing handled with delay 85 And so they had it straight accomplished For next day after his commitment he Is dead brought forth being found so in his bed Which was by sodaine sickenesse sayd to bee That had vpon his sorrowes newly bred As by apparant tokens men might see And thus ô Sickenesse thou art oft beli'd When death hath many wayes to come beside 86 Are these the deedes high forraine wittes inuent Is this that Wisedome whereof they so boast Well then I would it neuer had beene spent Heere amongst vs nor brought from out their coast Let their vile cunning in their limits pent Remaine amongst themselues that like it most And let the North they count of colder blood Be held more grosse so it remaine more good 87 Let them haue fairer citties goodlier soyles And sweeter fieldes for beautie to the eye So long as they haue these vngodly wyles Such detestable vile impietie And let vs want their Vines their Fruites the-whyles So that wee want not fayth and honestie We care not for those pleasures so we may Haue better hearts and stronger hands then they 88 Neptune keepe-out from thy imbraced Ile This foul contagion of iniquitie Drowne all corruptions comming to defile Our faire proceedings ordred formally Keepe vs meere English let not craft beguile Honor and Iustice with strange subtiltie Let vs not thinke how that our good can frame Which ruin'd hath the Authors of the same 89 But by this impious meanes that worthy man Is brought vnto this lamentable end And now that Current with maine furie ran The stop remov'd that did the course defend Vnto the full of mischiefe that began T' a vniuersall ruine to extend That Isthmus fayling which the Land did keep From the intire possession of the Deepe 90 And now the King alone all open lay No vnder prop of Blood to stay him by None but himselfe stands weakely in the way Twixt Yorke and the affected sov'raignty Gone is that barre that would haue beene the stay T' haue kept him backe from mounting vp so hie But see ah I see What state stand these men in That cannot liue without nor with their kin 91 The Queene hath yet by this her full desire And now she with her Minion Suffolke raigns Now she hath hath all authoritie intire And all affayres vnto her selfe retains And onely Suffolke is aduaunced hier He is the man rewarded for his pains He that did her in stead most chiefly stand And more aduanc't her then hee did the Land 92 Which when they saw who better did expect Then they began their error to descry And well perceiue that onely the defect Was in their iudgements passion-drawne awry Found formall rigor fitter to direct Then pride and insolent inconstancie Better seueritie that 's right and iust Then impotent affections led with lust 93 And thereupon in sorrow thus complaine What wondrous inconuenience do they feele Where as such imbecillitie doth raigne As so neglects the care of Common-weale Where euer one or other doth obtaine So high a grace thus absolute to deale The-whilst th'aggreeued subiect suffers stil The pride of some predominating will 94 And euer one remov'd a worse succeedes So that the best that we can hope is Warre Tumults and stirres that this disliking breedes The sword must mend what Insolence doth marre For what rebellions and what bloody deedes Haue euer followed where such courses are What oft-remoues what death of Counsailers What murder what exile of Officers 95 Witnesse the Spencers Ganestone and Vere The mighty Minions of our feeblest Kings Whoeuer Subiects to their subiects were And onely the procurers of these things When worthy Monarchs that hold honour deare Maister themselues and theirs vvhich euer brings That vniuersall reuerence and respect For who waighes him that doth himselfe neglect 96 And yet our case is like to be farre worse Hauing a King though not so bent to ill Yet so neglecting good that giuing force By giuing leaue doth all good order kill Suffring a violent Woman take her course To manage all according to her will Which how she doth begin her deedes expresse And what will be the end our selues may ghesse 97 Which after followed euen as they did dread When now the shamefull losse of Fraunce much grieues Which vnto Suffolke is attributed As who in all mens sight most hatefull liues And is accus'd that he with lucre led Betraies the State and secret knowledge giues Of our designes and all that we did hold By his corruption is or lost or sold. 98 And as hee deales abroad so likewise here He robs at home the Treasurie no lesse Here where he all authorities doth beare And makes a Monopoly of Offices He is inricht His rais'd and placed neare And onely he giues counsaile to oppresse Thus men obiect whil'st many vp in Armes Offer to be reuenged of these harmes 99 The Queene perceiuing in what case she stoode To lose her Minion or ingage her State After with long contention in her blood Loue and Ambition did the Cause debate Shee yields to Pride and rather thought it good To sacrifice her Loue vnto their hate Then to aduenture else the losse of all Which by maintaining him was like to fall 100 Yet seeking at the first to temporize Shee tries if that some short Imprisonment Would calme their heat when that would not suffize Then to exile him she must needs consent Hoping that time would salue it in such wise As yet at length they might become content And shee againe might haue him home at last When this first furie of their rage was past 101 But as he to his iudged exile went Hard on the shore he comes incountered By some that so farre off his Honour sent As put his backe-returne quite out of dread For there he had his rightfull punishment Though wrongly done and there he lost his head Part of his blood hath Neptune part the Sand As who had mischiefe wrought by sea and land 102 Whos 's death when swift-wingd Fame at full conuaid To this disturbed Queene misdoubting nought Despight and Sorrow such affliction laid Vpon her soule as wondrous passions wrought And art thou Suffolke thus said she betraid And haue my fauours thy destruction brought Is this their gaine whom Highnesse fauoureth Who chiefe preferd stand as preferd to death 103 O fatall grace without which men complaine And with it perish what preuailes that we Must weare the Crowne and other men must raigne And cannot stand to be that which we be Must our owne Subiects limit and constraine Our fauours wher-as they themselues decree Must we our loue at their appointment place Do we
grace From all disturbs to be so long kept free And with such glorie to discharge that place And therefore if by such a Power thou bee Sâ—opt of thy course reckon it no disgrace Sith shee alone being priuiledg'd from hie Hath this large Patent of her dignitie 48 This charge the Goddesse gaue when ready straight The subtill messenger accompayned With all her crew of Artes that on her wait Hastes to effect what she was counsailed And out she pours of her immense conceit Vpon such searching spirits as trauayled In penetrating hidden secrecies Who soone these meanes of miserie deuise 49 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde Into their mothers close-lockt Treasurie They Mineralls combustible do finde Which in stopt concaues placed cunningly They fire and fire imprisoned against kinde Teares out a way thrusts out his enemie Barking with such a horror as if wroth With man that wrongs himselfe and Nature both 50 And this beginning had this cursed frame Which Yorke now planted hath against his King Presuming by his powre and by the same His purpose vnto good effect to bring When diuers of the grauest Councell came Sent from the King to vnderstand what thing Had thrust him into these proceedings bad And what he sought and what intent he had 51 Who with words mildly-sharpe gently-seuere Wrought on those wounds that must be toucht with heed Applying rather salues of hope then feare Least corrasiues should desperat mischiefes breed And what my Lord sayd they should moue you here In this vnseemely manner to proceed Whose worth being such as all the Land admires Hath fairer wayes then these to your desires 52 Wil you whose means whose many friends whose grace Can worke the world in peace vnto your will Take such a course as shal your Blood deface And make by handling bad a good Cause ill How many hearts hazard you in this case That in all quiet plots would ayde you still Hauing in Court a Partie farre more strong Then you conceiue prest to redresse your wrong 53 Phy phy forsake this hatefull course my Lord Downe with these Armes that will but wound your Cause What Peace may do hazard not with the Sword Lay downe the force that from your force with-drawes And yeeld and we will mediate such accord As shal dispense with rigor and the lawes And interpose this solemne fayth of our Betwixt your fault and the offended Power 54 Which ingins of protests and proffers kinde Vrg'd out of seeming griefe and shewes of loue So shooke the whole foundation of his Minde As they did all his resolution moue And present seem'd vnto their course inclin'd So that the King would Sommerset remoue The man whole most intolerable pride Trode downe his worth and all good mens beside 55 Which they there vow'd should presently be done For what will not peace-louers willing graunt Where dangerous euents depend thereon And men vnfurnisht and the State in want And if with words the conquest will be won The cost is small and who holds breath so scant As then to spare though with indignitie Better descend then end in Maiestie 56 And here-upon the Duke dissolues his force Submits him to the King on publique vow The rather too presuming on this course For that his sonne the Earle of March was now With mightier powers abroad which would inforce His peace which else the King would not allow For seeing not all of him in him he hath His death would but giue life to greater wrath 57 Yet comming to the King in former place His foe the Duke of Sommerset he findes Whom openly reproching to his face Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kindes The Duke returnes like speeches of disgrace And fierie wordes bewray'd their flaming mindes But yet the triall was for them deferd Till fitter time allow'd it to be heard 58 At Westminster a Counsell sommoned Deliberates what course the Cause should end Of th' apprehended Duke of Yorke whose head Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend Law fiercely vrg'd his act and found him dead Friends fayl'd to speake where they could not defend Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood As prodigall of life niggard of blood 59 And as if angrie with the Lawes of death Ah! why should you sayd hee vrge things so far You that inur'd with mercenarie breath And hyred tongue so peremptorie are Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth As if you did with poore Affliction warre And prey on frayltie folly hath betray'd Bringing the lawes to wound neuer to ayd 60 Dispense sometime with sterne seueritie Make not the Lawes still trapâ— to apprehend Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie Mercie may mend whom malice made offend Death giues no thankes but checkes authoritie And life doth onely Maiestie commend Reuenge dies not Rigor begets new wrath And blood hath neuer glorie Mercy hath 61 And for my part and my part should be chiefe I am most willing to restore his state And rather had I win him with reliefe Then lose him with despight and get more hate Pittie drawes loue blood-shed is natures griefe Compassion followes the vnfortunate And losing him in him I lose my power We rule who liue the dead are none of our 62 And should our rigor lessen then the same Which we with greater glorie should retaine No let him liue his life must giue vs fame The childe of mercie newly borne againe As often burials are Physicians shame So many deaths argue a Kings hard Raigne Why should we say The Law must haue her vigor The Law kills him but quits not vs of rigor 63 You to get more preferment by your wit Others to gaine the spoyles of miserie Labour with all your powre to follow it Shewing vs feares to draw-on crueltie You vrge th' offence not tell vs what is fit Abusing wrong-informed Maiestie As if our powre were onely but to slay And that to saue were a most dangerous way 64 Thus out of Pittie spake that holy King Whom milde affections led to hope the best When Sommerset began to vrge the thing With words of hotter temper thus exprest Deare soueraigne Lord the Cause in managing Is more then yours t'imports the publique rest We all haue part it toucheth all our good And life 's ill spar'd that 's spar'd to cost more blood 65 Compassion here is crueltie my Lord Pittie will cut our throates for sauing so What benefite enioy we by the sword If mischiefe shall escape to draw-on mo Why should we giue what Law cannot afford To be'accessaries to our proper wo Wisedome must iudge 'twixt men apt to amend And mindes incurable borne to offend 66 It is no priuat Cause I do protest That moues me thus to prosecute his deede Would God his blood and mine had well releast The dangers that his pride is like to breed Although at me hee seemes to haue addrest His spight 't is not the end hee hath decreed I am not he alone hee doth pursue But thorow
replyes As the rebounding Eccho streight through-out From Towre to Towre reuerberated flyes To th' eares of those great Lords who sate about The consultation for this enterprise Whose care is sav'd which most they stood vpon For what they counsell how too doe is done 108 And nothing now but to confirme him king Remaines which must not long remaine to do The present heare doth strait dispatch the thing With all those solemne rites that long thereto So that what Yorke with all his trauayling Force and intrusion could not get vnto Is now thus freely layd vpon his sonne Who must make faire what fowlly was begunne 109 Whos 's end attayn'd had it here made an end Of foule destruction and had stay'd the bloud Which Towton Exham Tewksbury did spend With desp'rate hands and deeper wounds withstood And that none other Crowne brought to contend With that of his had made his seeme lesse good How had this long-afflicted Land been blest Our sighes had ended and my Muse had rest 110 Which now but little past halfe her long way Stands trembling at the horrors that succeed Weary with these embroylements faine would stay Her farther course vnwilling to proceed And faine to see that glorious holy-day Of Vnion which this discord reagreed Knowes not as yet what to resolue vpon Whether to leaue-off here or else go-on The end of the seauenth Booke THE EIGHTTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT King Edward Powre against King Henry led And hath at Towton-field the victory From whence King Henry into Scotland fled Where he attempts his States recouery Stea'es into England is discouered Brought Prisoner to the Towre disgracefully And Edward whiles great Warwick doth assay A Match in France marries the Lady Grey 1 ON yet sad Verse though those bright starres from whence Thou hadst thy light are set for euermore And that these times do not like grace dispense To our indeuours as those did before Yet on since She whose beames do reincense This sacred fire seemes as reseru'd in store To raise this Worke and here to haue my last Who had the first of all my labours past 2 On with her blessed fauour and relate With what new bloud-shed this new chosen Lord Made his first entry to th' afflicted State Past his first Act of publique with the sword Ingor'd his new-worne Crowne and how he gat Possession of affliction and restor'd His Right vnto a Royall miserie Maintained with as bloudy dignitie 3 Shew how our great Pharsalian Field was fought At Towton in the North the greatest day Of ruine that dissension euer brought Vnto this Kingdom where two Crownes did sway The worke of slaughter two Kings Causes wrought Destruction to our People by the waie Of their affections and their loyalties As if one for these ills could not suffise 4 Where Lancaster and that couragious side That noble constant Part came furnished With such a Powre as might haue terrifi'd And ouer-run the earth had they been led The way of glory where they might haue tri'd For th' Empire of all Europe as those did The Macedonian led into the East Their number being double at the least 5 And where braue Yorke comes as compleatly mand With courage valour and with equall might Prepar'd to trie with a resolued hand The metall of his Crown and of his Right Attended with his fatall fier-brand Of Warre Warwicke that blazing starre of fight The Comet of destruction that portends Confusion and distresse what way he tends 6 What rage what madness England do we see That this braue people in such multitude Run to confound themselues and all to be Thus mad for Lords and for meere Seruitude What might haue been if Roman-like and free These gallant Spirits had nobler ends pursu'd And strayn'd to points of glory and renowme For good of the Republique and their owne 7 But here no Cato with a Senate stood For Common-wealth nor here were any sought T'emancipate the State for publique good But onely headlong for their faction wrought Here euery man runs-on to spend his bloud To get but what he had already got For whether Pompey or a Caesar wonne Their state was euer sure to be all one 8 And first before these fatall Armies met Had forward Warwicke lay'd the passage free At Ferry Brigges where the Lord Clifford set With an aduentrous gallant companie To guard that streight Yorkes farther march to let Began the Scene to this great Tragedie Made the first entrance on the Stage of blood Which now set wide for wounds all open stood 9 When Edward to exhort his men began With words whereto both spirit and Maiestie His pers'nage gave for-that he was a man Besides a King whose Crowne sate gracefully Com'n is the day sayd he wherin who can Obtaine the best is Best this day must try Who hath the wrong and whence our ills haue beene And t is our swords must make vs honest men 10 For though our Cause by God and men allow'd Hath in it honor right and honestie Yet all as nothing is to be avow'd Vnless withall we haue the victorie For Iustice is we see a virtue proud And leanes to powre and leaues weake miserie And therefore seeing the case we now stand in We must resolue either to dy or winne 11 So that if any here doth finde his heart To fayle him for this noble worke or stands Irresolute this day let him depart And leaue his Armes behind for worthier hands I knowe e now will stay to doo their part Here to redeeme themselues wiues children landes And haue the glory that thereby shall rise To free their Country from these miseries 12 But here what needed wordes to blowe the fire In flame already and inkindled so As when it was proclaym'd they might retire Who found vnwillingnes to vnder-goe That ventrous worke they all did so conspire To stand out Fortune that not one would goe To beare away a hand from bloud not one Defraud the Field of th' euill might be done 13 Where VVarwicke too producing in their sight An argument whereby he did conclude There was no hope of safetie but by fight Doth sacrifize his horse to Fortitude And thereby did the least conceipt of flight Or any succour by escape exclude Se'ing in the streight of a necessitie The meanes to win is t' haue no meanes to flye 14 It was vpon the twi-light of that day That peacefull day when the Religious beare The Oliue-branches as they go to pray And we in lieu the blooming Palmes vse here When both the Armies ready in array For th' early sacrifize of blood appeare Prepar'd for mischiefe ere they had full light To see to doo it and to doo it right 15 Th' aduantage of the time and of the winde Which both with Yorke seeme as retayn'd in pay Braue Faulconbridge takes hold-on and assign'd The Archers their flight-shafts to shoote away Which th' aduerse side with sleet and dimnesse blinde Mistaken in the distance of