Sorcerie some call Would know of things which after should befall And for that cause made her selfe acquainted With mother Madge called the witch of Eye And with a Clerke that after was attainted Bolenbroke he hight that learned was that way With other moe which famous were that day As well in Science called Mathematicall As also in Magicke skill supernaturall These cunning folkes she set on worke to know The time how long the King should liue and raigne Some by the Starres and some by feends below Some by witchcraft sought knowledge to attaine With like fancies friuolous fond and vaine Whereof though I knew least of any man Yet by that meane my mischiefe first began Yet besides this there was a greater thing How she in waxe by counsell of the witch An Image made crowned like a King With sword in hand in shape and likenesse sich As was the King which daily they did pitch Against a fire that as the waxe did melt So should his life consume away vnfelt My Duchesse thus accused of this crime As she that should such practise first begin My part was then to yeeld vnto the time Giuing her leaue to deale alone therein And since the cause concerned deadly sinne Which to the Clergie only doth pertaine To deale therein I plainly did refraine And suffered them her person to ascite Into their Courts to answere and appeare Which to my heart was sure the greatest spite That could be wrought and touched me most neare To see my wife and Ladie leefe and deare To my reproch and plaine before my face Entreated so as one of sort most base The Clergie then examining her cause Conuinced her as guiltie in the same And sentence gaue according to their lawes That she and they whom I before did name Should suffer death or else some open shame Of which penance my wife by sentence had To suffer shame of both the two more bad And first she must by daies together three Through London streets passe all along in sight Bareleg'd and barefoot that all the world might see Bearing in hand a burning taper bright And not content with this extreame despight To worke me woe in all they may or can Exil'd she was into the I le of Man This heinous crime and open worldly shame With such rigour shewed vnto my wife Was a fine fetch further things to frame And nothing else but a preparatiue First from office and finally from life Me to depriue and so passing further What law could not to execute by murther Which by slie drifts and windlaces aloofe They brought about perswading first the Queene That in effect it was the Kings reproofe And hers also to be exempted cleane From princely rule or that it should be seene A King of yeares still gouerned to bee Like a pupill that nothing could foresee The danger more considering the King Was without child I being his next heire To rule the Realme as Prince in euery thing Without restraint and all the sway to beare With peoples loue whereby it was to feare That my haut heart vnbridled in desire Time would preuent and to the Crowne aspire These with such like were put into her head Who of herselfe was thereto soone enclin'd Other there were that this ill humour fed To neither part that had good will or mind The Duke of Yorke our cosin most vnkind Who keeping close a title to the Crowne Lancasters house did labour to pull downe The stay whereof he tooke to stand in me Seeing the King of courage nothing stout Neither of wit great perill to foresee So for purpose if he could bring about Me to displace then did he little doubt To gaine the Goale for which he droue the ball The Crowne I meane to catch ere it should fall This hope made him against me to conspire With those which foes were to each other late The Queene did weene to win her whole desire Which was to rule the King and all the State If I were rid whom therefore she did hate Forecasting not when that was brought to passe How weake of friends the King her husband was The Dukes two of Excester and Buckingham With the Marquise Dorset therein did agree But namely the Marquise of Suffolke William Contriuer chiefe of this conspiracie With other moe that sate still and did see Their mortall foes on me to whet their kniues Which turn'd at last to losse of all their liues But vaine desire of soueraingtie and rule Which otherwise Ambition hath no name So stir'd the Queene that wilfull as a Mule Headlong she runnes from smoke into the flame Driuing a drift which after did so frame As she the King with all their line and race Depriued were of honor life and place So for purpose she thought it very good With former foes in friendship to confeder The Duke of Yorke and other of his blood With Neuils all knit were then all together And Delapoole friend afore to neither The Cardinall also came within this list As Herode and Pilate to iudge Iesus Christ This cursed league too late discouered was By Bayards blind that linked in the line The Queene and Cardinall brought it so to passe With Marquise Suffolke master of this mine Whose ill aduice was counted very fine With other moe which finely could disguise With false visours my mischiefe to deuise Concluding thus they point without delay Parliament to hold in some vnhaunted place Far from London out of the common way Where few or none should vnderstand the case But whom the Queene and Cardinall did embrace And so for place they chose Saint Edmundsburie Since when some say England was neuer merrie Summons was sent this company to call Which made me muse that in so great a case I should no whit of counsell be at all Who yet had rule and next the King in place Me thought nothing my state could more disgrace Then to beare name and in effect to be A Cypher in Algrim as all men might see And though iust cause I had for to suspect The time and place appointed by my foes And that my friends most plainly did detect The subtill traine and practise of all those Which against me great treasons did suppose Yet trust of truth with a conscience cleare Gaue me good heart in that place to appeare Vpon which trust with more haste then good speed Forward I went to that vnluckie place Dutie to shew and no whit was in dread Of any traine but bold to shew my face As a true man yet so fell out the case That after trauell seeking for repose An armed band my lodging did enclose The Vicount Beaumount who for the time supplied The office of high Constable of the Land Was with the Queene and Cardinall allied By whose support he stoutly tooke in hand My lodging to enter with an armed band And for high treason my person did arrest And laid me that night where him seemed best Then shaking and quaking for dread
of a dreame Halfe waked all naked in bed as I lay What time strake the chime of mine houre extreame Opprest was my rest with mortall affray My foes did vnclose I know not which way My chamber dores and boldly in brake And had me fast before I could wake Thou lookest now that of my secret murther I should at large the maner how declare I pray thee Baldwine aske of me no further For speaking plaine it came so at vnware As I my selfe which caught was in the snare Scarcely am able the circumstance to shew Which was kept close and knowne but vnto few But be thou sure by violence it was And no whit bred by sicknesse or disease That felt it well before my life did passe For when these wolues my bodie once did sease Vsed I was but smally to mine ease With torments strong which went so neere the quicke As made me die before that I was sicke A Palsie they said my vitall spirits opprest Bred by excesse of melancholie blacke This for excuse to lay them seemed best Lest my true friends the cause might further racke And so perhaps discouer the whole packe Of my false foes whom they might well suspect For causes great which after tooke effect Dead was I found by such as best did know The maner how the same was brought to passe And then my corps was set out for a show By view whereof nothing perceiued was Whereby the world may see as in a glasse Th' vnsure state of them that stand most hie Which then dread least when danger is most nie And also see what danger they are in Which next their King are to succeed in place Since Kings most part be iealous of their kin Whom I aduise forewarned by my case To beare low saile and not too much embrace The peoples loue for as Senec saith truly O quà m funestus est fauor populi G. Ferrers HOW LORD WILLIAM DELAPOLE Duke of Suffolke was worthily banished for abusing his King and causing the destruction of the good Duke Humfrey Anno Dom. 1450. HEauie is the hap whereto all men be bound I meane the death which no estate may flie But to be banisht headed and then drown'd In sinke of shame from top of honors hie Was neuer man so seru'd I thinke but I. Wherefore Baldwine amongst the rest by right I claime of thee my wofull case to write My only life in all points may suffice To shew how base all baits of Fortune be Which thaw like yee through heate of enuies eyes Of vicious deeds which much possessed me Good hap with vice long time cannot agree Which bring best Fortunes to the basest fall And happiest hap to enuie to be thrall Called I was William De la Poole Of Suffolke Duke in Queene Margarets daies That found the meane Duke Humfreys blood to coole Whose worthie acts deserue eternall praise Whereby I note that Fortune cannot raise Any aloft without some others wracke Flouds drowne no fields before they finde bracke But as the waters which doe breake the walles Doe lose their course they had within the shore And daily rotting stinke within their stalles For fault of mouing which they found before Euen so the state that ouer high is bore Doth lose the life of peoples loue it had And rots it selfe vntill it fall to bad For while I was but Earle ech man was glad To say and doe the best by me they might And Fortune euer since I was a lad Did smile vpon me with a chearefull sight For when my King had doubed me a Knight And sent me forth to serue at warre in France My luckly speed mine honour did enhance Where to omit the many feates I wrought Vnder others guide I do remember one Which with my souldiers valiantly was fought None other Captaine saue my selfe alone I meane not now th' apprinze of Pucell Ione In which attempt my trauaile was not small Though Burgoyne Duke had then the praise of all The siege of Awmarie is the feat I praise A strong built Towne with castels walles and vaults With men and weapon armd at all assaies To which I gaue nigh fiue times fiue assaults Till at the last they yeelded it for naughts Yet Lord Ramburs most like a valiant Knight Defended it as long as ere he might But what preuailed it these townes to winne Which shortly after must be lost againe Whereby I see there is more glory in The keeping things then is in their attaine To get and keepe not is but losse and paine Therfore ought mē prouide to saue their winnings In all attempts else lose they their beginnings Because we could not keepe the townes we won For they were more then we might easily weeld One yeare vndid what we in ten had done Enuie at home treason abroad did yeeld King Charles his Realme of France made barren field For bloodie warres had wasted all encrease Which caus'd the Pope help need to sue for peace So that in Touraine at the towne of Tours Duke Charles and other for their Prince appered So did Lord Rosse and I then Earle for ours And when we shewed wherein each other dered We sought out meanes all quarels to haue clered Wherein the Lords of Germanie of Spaine Of Hungarie and Denmarke tooke great paine But sith we could no finall peace induce For neither would the others couenants heare For eighteene months we did conclude a truce And while as friends we lay together there Because my warrant did me therein beare To make a perfit peace and through accord I sought a mariage for my soueraigne Lord. And for the French Kings daughters were too small I fancied most Dame Margaret his niece A louely Ladie beautifull and tall Faire spoken pleasant and a Princely piece In wit and learning matchlesse hence to Greece Duke Rayners heire of Aniow King by stile Of Naples Ierusalem and Sicil I le But ere I could the grant of her attaine All that our King had of her fathers lands As Maunts the towne the countie whole of Maine And most of Aniow duchie in our hands I did release him by assured bands And as for do wire with her none I sought I thought no peace could be too deerely bought And when this mariage throwly was agreed Although my King was glad of such a make His vncle Humfrey hated it indeed Because thereby his precontract he brake Made with the heire of the Earle of Arminacke A noble maid with store of goods endowed Which more then this with losse the Duke allowed But loue and beautie in the King so wrought That neither gaine or promise he regarded But set his vncles counsell still at nought And for my paines I highly was awarded Thus vertue starues but lustfood must be larded For I made Marquesse went to France againe And brought this bride vnto my Soueraigne At home because Duke Humfrey aye repined Calling their match aduoutrie as it was The Queene did moue me erst thereto enclined
immortall hate Your mothers teares nor woefull wailings moue Nor naked brests you suckt your malice slake Nor cause t' imbrace the sacred lore of loue O euerlasting Ioue that liu'st aboue Then I protest ere you doe fight the feelde this day You shall in field vngratefull sonnes your wofull mother slay Betweene you both you shall bereaue my life What woes my sonnes aliue shall I sustaine When I shall after this ambitious strife So many see of both your subiects slaine And you with brothers bloud your swords distaine I shall I say in th' end of fight take woefull vewe Of that my sonne which this my sonne his brother slewe O rather now my sonnes leaue off to iar Lay weapons both aside take truce a while If you doe loue to spend your time in war Destroy not here at home your natiue I le The present cause and quarell is too vile Ioine friendly both your armies faith and firme the same To take some conquest great in hand of lasting fame Therein you may with greater honour deale By this you shall defame your selues for aye Thereby you may enlarge your publique weale By this your selues and it shall quite decay Thereby you shall mine age with honour stay Thereby you shall most like your noble father bee Which ere he wore the crowne did conquer kingdomes three Once for my sake then ioine yet hands againe Let me enioy once both before I die I would to see you friends my sonnes bee faine And hope I haue you will not this denie I aske a thing shall neuer hurt perdy For if you now surcease and loue as brethren well Then all the world of this your concord aye shall tell And turning then to me thus wise she said Thou knowest my sonne how twice thou hast been foild Thou twice to scape with life wa st well apaide And since full farre to countries straunge hast toild If now thou shouldst of life and all bee spoilde When liue thou maist in Princely sort with peerelesse ioy What tongue can tell thy mothers griefe and great anoy I heare thou hast in France a Dukedome good Of subiects good thou hast an armie heere Thou hast a wife that came of noble blood Thou need'st at home no foes at all to feare What mean'st thou then such mortall hate to beare Against my sonne thy brother heere which gaue to thee His kingdome halfe the noble land of Albany Sith thine ambition first procur'd the strife Which did'st in armour rise against thy King Against thy brother lou'd thee more then life Thou did'st thy subiects his against him bring Think'st thou it was a wise or worthie thing If not thou hast good cause thy treason all confesse And though he draue thee hence to loue him ne're the lesse Thou shalt therefore submit thy selfe to me And take a truce a peace I will conclude Thy brother eke shall so contented be No quarrels old shall be againe renew'd These broiles haue oft my cheekes with teares bedew'd My heart is rent my hope bereau'd my ioyes are gone My life is lost if you conioyne not both in one Then turning vnto Belinus she spake My noble sonne quoth she thou twice hast quail'd Thy brothers power and mad'st him twice forsake His natiue land which I haue oft bewail'd What though thou haue so oft before preuail'd Think'st thou againe the third time eke to win the field Or art thou sure to slay my sonne or force him yeeld What glorie canst thou get thereby in th' end Will not the world of your foule slaughters tell Will not they all that liue still discommend The man that did his owne deare brother quell Mempricius shamefull acts are knowne too well And Porrex Britaines both their noble brethren slew Confounded after both examples good for you Now further this againe to both I say Do not you rue these noble souldiers good Do not you see how many you shall slay Haue you no care to shed their guiltlesse blood The state of tyrants neuer stable stood By bloodshed they do build and prop their tottering State Raigne liue and die despisde in neuer dying hate You noble men in briefe I speake to you And vnto all the Captaines of your bands And eke to all you souldiers good and true Which haue the sway of bloodshed in your hands Consider well the state of both our lands You shall decrease your force by discord and by strife Distaine your bloods and reaue Corwennas of her life Then if that either Ioues immortall ire Which euer hated slaughters such as these Or feare of Plutoes euerlasting fire Or dangers threatned both by land and seas Or mothers mind which both you ought to please Or countries loue or peace which all are bound t' imbrace May ought perswade then let my iust request haue place If not loe heere my naked breast quoth she Which once you both did sucke in tender age Let both your swords in these first bathed be Perhaps this slaughter shall your thirsts asswage It shall be counted euen as small outrage To slay your mother pleading for a righteous peace As wage the warres which gods commands you to surcease Much more she said which were too long to tell And proffred forth to swords her naked brest But when we both considered had full well Her wofull teares her wise and graue request They so to peace our hautie hearts addrest We laid our weapons downe we met and did imbrace All warre was set aside and Ladie peace tooke place We ioyned hands our captaines did the like And eke the souldiers linked all in loue There was not one that did our truce mislike Our peace did all to ioy and maruell moue With many triumphes feates of armes we proue Our subiects all reioyce in songs we sound Corwennas praise Her fame to skies aloft with many shouts and cries they raise The Galles and Senons then supposing me In Britaine from my Dukedome hard at fight Thought great occasion offred them to be And set themselues in armes and order right My subiects eke of Sauoy day and night They did entice perswade solicite and constraine To chuse another Duke at home with them to raigne Whereof when I heard tell in Britaine I le Eke when my brother Beline thereof knew We laid aside our sports and plaies a while And of our souldiers tooke a muster new Of both our hoasts we chose a noble crew We past the seas as brethren ought in concord knit And both our force in one to conquer France we fit Without resistance much we spoil'd the land At th' entrie in and after many fights We conquer'd all the Realme my foes we fand Which were in armes stout valiant noble wights By sword they fell or flew before our sights The Germans force likewise that did them succour send We made to fall therefore and to our scepters bend Three hundred thousand we in armour had An armie great renown'd Europa through The Kings and Princes of our
tell And with an host of Picts appointed well He did returne with speed to Britaine strand That time I lay by North to guide the land At length to Yorke with all his host he came Besieging it full sharpe assaults he gaue Where I likewise for to defend the same And from our foes the castell good to saue Came with my power as destnies on me draue But in that field it was my chance to fall I tooke my deadly wound there ended all The Scythian eke receiu'd a deadly wound Which came to conquer vs and lost his feeld Thus fortune fares her children to confound Which on her wheele their bastiles brauely beeld Let noble Princes then to reason yeeld The dainefull Ladie daintie and demure Dame Fortunes fauour fickle and vnsure Some say that I return'd to Rome againe Sore troubled with the gout desiring death And that I would haue taken poison faine Which me deni'd to reaue my vitall breath I tooke a surfet great which wrought my death The Britaines say at Yorke my bones do lie The Romans say at Rome in Italie But this I wish all noble wights to view How I by slaughter gate the throne at first My souldiers noble men for Empire slew This way to rise of all I proued worst For why his hand of gods and men is curst To rise aloft that layes the ground with blood The states of such vnstable still haue stood HOW FVLGENTIVS A SCYTHIAN OR PICT WAS slaine at the seige of Yorke about the yeare of Christ 206. or 213. I Am that valiant Scythian Prince the Pict That vanquisht oft the Britaines in this I le Against the noble Romans power I kickt And kept them play in Britaine both long while I forst them make a wall an hundred mile From sea to sea with towers to keepe me out Which of vs Picts did daily stand in doubt Our ancient race as I can shew with skill Had right by due descent to claime this land Of which repeate some proofe therefore I will That so thou maist our title vnderstand When all mankind felt Ioues almightie hand That drencht all nations quite for their foule sin Then straight in Scythia did the world begin Th' Egyptians hold forsooth that they restord The world againe but how vnlikely see For Scythiaes site is high as all accord From vs the fountaines great'st deriued bee The ancient writers all likewise agree That on Armenia mount the Arke did rest Till Ioue againe the earth with drowth addrest But they alledge againe their Zone is milde And fertill temperate meete to foster men Our Scythian hilles they say are frostie wilde Which cannot breed but ruder people then To which I may well answere make agen As God did make the Zones hot milde and cold So did he make like men the same to hold They say we are nigh neighbours to the Pole Or frozen point more neere the fire are they What poysons breed with them and Lybians sole In parching sands the writers wise display Can nature fraine mankind more deepe decay Where parching heat where serpents vglie breed Is no fit clime whence man should first proceed But now I le tell why Scythians should possesse This noble Isle first Lord Neptunus gaue The Islands to his sonnes both more and lesse Eke Albion first of all this Isle should haue He not with this content the Firme did craue Wherefore in France him Hercules dispatcht When as he would a Kingdome there haue catcht Now as from Noah of Scythia by descent Downe vnto Albions time they held the land From Scythe to Scythian as of right it went And after him no Scythian Prince it fand When as vsurpers tooke the raigne in hand Was it not reason we should vndertake This noble Realme our owne againe to make The Romans this deny but euen themselues likewise If they from vertue stray as they do vse And do Iehouaes lawes and hests despise And right and truth and iustice so refuse Shall find how much their Scepter they misuse The Scythian shall their loftie seate assaile The Prince of Picts against them shall preuaile But of Proud Romes Seuerus now I tell When he the wall had made to keepe me out To Scythia hence I sail'd and stor'd me well With men munition good a warlike rout Of youthfull Picts full strong in armout stout A Nauie good I brought and taking land Of stately Yorke I tooke the siege in hand The Emperour great Seuerus Parthique proud With Romans Galles and Britaine souldiers came To make me raise the siege of Yorke he vow'd And I likewise to win and race the same To win the prize we both our armies frame But he was slie his souldiers skilfull train'd My men to flie by ambush he constrain'd Againe to fight we fell afresh the battell grew About I brought my wings and now they sound Tantara teares alarme the fluits fight fight anew And there a while the Romans fell to ground The cries and shouts of men to skies resound They fall fall flie the fluits downe downe the droms do crie Whereon the Romans sound retraite and saine to flie My souldiers all too rash had broke array The Romane rereward cast about with speed And both their wings enclosed vs each way Their maine likewise to keepe array gaue heed Which when I saw it made my heart to bleed And to Seuerus selfe I made my way Where with my Picts the Parthique I did stay So when the Emperour fell a shout arose The Romans blancke amazed wofull were Fulgentius fast recoil'd death wounded goes And of my crew a troupe to aide me there I bought my British conquest all too deere No conquest yet for as I conquest sought With my life blood the conquest deare was bought You noble men yee see what trust there is In Fortunes gifts how mischiefe makes the marts And how our hoped haps in warres do misse When backe the braue and blinded Ladie starts High reaching heads swim oft in seas of smarts The man content is blest and best at ease Which in meane state both God and man do please HOW GETA THE YONGER SONNE OF THE EMPErour Seuerus once Gouernour of Britaine was slaine in his mothers armes by his brother ANTONINE Emperour of Rome about the yeare of Christ 214. IF euer Prince had cause his state to rue Or by his end might moue men mone his chance My wofull tale may shew the like to you Whom fortune erst and birth did high aduance In Rome in Britaine Germanie and France I fauour had and liu'd belou'd alway I Emprour was what need I more to say In Britaine while my father waged fight By North against the Picts I rul'd the South Seuerus so appointed it my right And Britaine Iustice had from Getaes mouth I gaue not then my selfe to idle slouth But gaue an end to causes great of strife With doome so iust that men reioyst my life The Senate honor'd me for vertues sake Abroad the Britaines blest me
one Prince preserued you Behold the same him loyall loue to him be iust and true For euen as Ioue aboue amongst the gods doth rule alone So he in earth the Empire all allottes and giues to one Thus hauing said aloud with irefull mood And bloodie countnance cast about the place Th' assemblie pale and trembling fearefull stood And I return'd to 'th Palace thence a space My brothers house and fame I did deface His friends his seruants all yong old and new And th' infants eke without respect I slew The Wrastlers and the Waggeners likewise Musitians players which did please his mind Of th' order of the Senators full wise In whom was noble blood or wealth to find Not one of Getaes friends I left behind Also my wife whom I exil'd away To Sicile I le I caused them to slay Lucilla eke that ancient noble Dame To Marcus wise the daughter sage and graue Of Commodus that sister great of fame Which honor much in Rome deseru'd to haue I say she did my deeds therein depraue Because to Getaes mother she wept sore For Getaes death I causde her die therefore Her sonne likewise I caused should be slaine And of th' Imperiall blood to make all sure I left not one aliue that might remaine Or vnto whom they might my place procure By night likewise I put like acts in vre For day and night I ceased not to slay Of Getaes friends to roote the rest away I Vestall virgins buried eke aliue And made the souldiers multitudes to kill Because I deem'd they were in words too bliue Against my coach wherein I trauell'd still The souldiers slew the men that thought no ill Or made them buy their liues with all they had Which were to scape with life alone full glad This done for feare from Rome with speede I gate The towne like life at home misliked me For why the City did my murders hate Where souldiers held their slaughters franke and free And were enricht by spoile of each degree I gate therefore with all my Martiall crew From Itayle land Danubian shores to view Where vnto hunting I applide my selfe To ride abroad in couch and giue them lawes In few dispacht their pleas about but pelfe Not giuen to heare long pleading plaints for strawes I counted such but cau'lling caitiue dawes As spent their substance time and goods in suite About such things as could not yeeld them fruit I clad my selfe much like the Germans then So trimde my haire chose them my guard to serue So framde my selfe to please these ruder men As might them cause of me full well deserue From labour none with them I seem'd to swerue To digge lift beare to grinde mould knead or bake In painfull sort and simple fare to take The Germans much reioyc'd my kind of life My sufferance great in during labours long The name of mate with vs was holden rife I seem'd a fellow souldier them among Of stature small yet was I wondrous strong So that few men which in mine armies were Could with like strength such weightie burthens beare When at Danubius I had placed strength To Thracia thence with speed apace I went There Monuments againe I made at length To Alexanders fame to Rome I sent Likewise of statues for the same intent In Capitole and Temples them to place For honour great of Alexanders grace I made me garments eke of Thracian guise And Captaines me to Alexander call To Pergame thence in Asia great that lies I gate Achilles tombe with honours all With eie to view as stories witnesse shall Whence order set to Antioch I farde Where my receit with honour was preparde To Alexandria then I fared fast For they had scoft full oft before at mee My mother they had named Queene Iocaste Achilles great and Alexander mee They smilde my folly great herein to see Which though I were a dwarfe of stature small Durst take the name of Captaines great and tall Ne Getaes murder spared oft to spread As is their nature giuen to taunt and iest Wherefore as though Religion had me lead I offred sacrifice with solemne feast At Alexanders tombe where most and least Of all the youth were present to behold The offerings great I brought and gifts of gold This done I wil'd the youth should all prepare To shew themselues in field for I would chuse A band by Alexanders name to fare As erst in Thrace and Sparta I did vse They came reioicing all to heare the newes Where I with souldiers come to take the view Them compast in and all the people slew The valley all did swimme with streames of bloud So great that time a slaughter was there made It stainde the mightie mouthes of Nilus floud And on the shores you might bloud wetshod wade My piners eke were prest with showle and spade Tinterre the dead a monstrous trench that fill And on them dead they reard a mightie hill But then desiring glorie more to get By Parthian name which erst my father had I sent to Artabane without of let Ambassage great with gifts his minde to glad And for his daughter them perswade I bad Desiring him to giue her me to wife The cause of lasting loue and end of strife By this both ioind in one we might for ay Of all the world the Diademe possesse And might to each in all attempts be stay In fight our foes by firmer force suppresse When they my message thus did there expresse At first he feard deceit againe I sent Wherewith he was at last full well content By gifts I wrought and plight my faith withall For truth to him and for his daughters loue And he began me sonne in lawe to call Which new report did all the Parthians moue Vs to receiue our friendships firme t' approue Reioycing now such league at last to see Whereby they might from Romane warres be free And so I entred Parthia as mine owne The Parthians me receiued with triumphs great When mine approch to Artabane was knowne In plaine before the City of his seat He came to meete mee with a number great Ware garlands gay in golden vestures clad With all the ioy and triumphs might be had So when great multitudes assembled were Their horses left behind and bowes laid downe Amongst their cups deuoide of force the feare By numbers great the chiefe of all the towne Which came to see the bridemans high renowne Disorderly vnarm'd as so they stand I gaue my souldiers signe to vse their hand And downe by sword they fell they could not flie The King scarse scap'd conueid by horse away Their solemne garments long their flight did tie A slaughter great of Parthians was that day We sackte their Townes and noble men did slay From thence I past t'Azamia after this To hunt and gaue my selfe to bathe in blisse Thus hauing runne my recklesse race vnkinde And doubting both of treason and my thrall I sought by curious arts of sprites to finde Who should
Sir I said the gods defend that I Should causelesse kill a man in miserie Tell me thy name and place then by and by I will prouide for thine aduersitie Then he repli'd my name is Sigebert I am the man which wrought thy masters smart I rul'd of late this Realme euen at my list Take thou reuenge with that thy friendly fist And well content I will reuenge with speed The death of him whom causelesse thou did'st kill King Sigebert and art thou he indeed Sith he thou art dispatch and make thy will For to my Lord this day I will present Thy head therefore thy former saults repent Thou seest the blocke on which thy life must end Call thou for grace that God may mercie send Wherewith he kneeling by the blocke of bale Dispatch quoth he and do that friendly deed O welcome death and farewell Fortune fraile Dispatch good friend dispatch my life with speed Wherewith on blocke he stretcht his neck outright And said no more but praying me to smite I gaue the stroke which ended all his care A bloodie stroke which did my death prepare For I who hopte to haue some great reward For killing of my Masters fathers foe Was hanged straight my cause was neuer heard Such was my chance and well deserued woe For when my Lord had heard me tell the tale How I his King and mine did there assaile His frowning face did put me in great feare He sigh'd and sob'd and said as you shall heare O Caitiffe vile O Impe of Satans seed And hast thou kill'd our Soueraigne Lord and King His due desert deserueth death indeed Yet what made thee to do so vile a thing What though he did my father causelesse kill What though he rul'd the Realme with lawlesse will Shall we therefore with cruell bloodie knife Depriue our Lord and King of vitall life O wicked deed may subiects false surmise With murthering minds their Gouernour resist That may not be for Tully wondrous wise Plato in whom true knowledge doth consist They both agreed that no man ought to kill A Tyrant though he hath him at this will Yet thou thou wretch this bloody deed hast done The like was neuer seene vnder the Sun When God will plague the people for their sin Them then to scourge he doth a Tyrant send We should therefore that subiects be begin With earnest mind our former saults t' amend Which if we do it is to great availe Mans force is fond fighting cannot prcuaile And he who doth resist the Magistrate Resisteth God repenting all too late If subiects be by peruerse Prince opprest They then must pray that God the change may make Which God no doubt rebellion doth detest No subiect may his sword or armour take Against his Prince whom God hath placed there Yet hath this wretch all void of subiects feare Destroy'd a King whom God did thrust from throne Alas poore King thy death I do bemone But he who hath thy lingring life destroi'd Shall be destroi'd and find it passing plaine That no man may a Princes life annoy Although the Prince desiers to be slaine Yet subiects must from sheading blood refraine From which seeing that this wretch could not abstaine Let him be hang'd as I before decreed A iust reward for his so vile a deed Then I forthwith to end my life was led I hopte to haue preferment for my deed I was prefer'd and hang'd all saue the head Did euer man the like example read Not one I thinke therefore good Memorie In register inrole thou this for me That they who liue and reade the fall I felt May find how fate most strangely with me delt Yet my desert no doubt did death deserue Though hatred did not make me kill my King Yet lucre leaud did force my feete to swerue That hatefull hap me to this bale did bring Let them then learne that heedlesse liue by hope Her hatefull hests will bring them to the rope And happie he who void of hope can lead A quiet life all void of Fortunes dread Perillus he who made the Bull of brasse Like him I hopte to haue some great reward But he in brasen belly broyled was And to a skarfe of hemp I was prefer'd So they that meane by others harmes to rise Their dying day shall end with dolefull cries And heere I end approuing that most true From wicked workes no goodnesse can ensue Thomas Blener Hasset HOW LADIE EBBE DID FLEA HER NOSE AND VPPER lippe away to saue her Virginitie Anno Dom. 870. DO nothing muse at my deformed face For Nature it in perfect mould did make And when your wits haue weighed well the case You will commend me much for vertues sake With these my hands which from my face did take Mine ouer-lippe and eke my seemely nose So to auoid the rage of all my foes For I by birth a Princes daughter borne An Abbiesse by my profession Of which estate I neuer thought it scorne It greatly did delight me to be one Which might erect diuine religion At Collingam I tooke this charge in hand And fiftie more of chaste Dianaes band All Ladies borne by birth of high degree Which there did vow with me their liues to leade And to auoid carnall fragilitie We all did vow as you right well may reade With single liues to liue in feare and dread Of God our Lord so to refraine the vice Of fleshly lust which doth to sinne intice Then did the Danes the Saxon state inuade And they who did the Britaine state destroy To sue for grace were glad and well apaid So strangely did the Danes vs then annoy That Saxons like the men of broyling Troy Amaz'd they gaz'd not knowing what was best So straitly were the Saxons then distrest These dreadfull Danes they had no feare of God But sauage they did make their lust a law Whom God did send for a reuenging rod To make vs Saxons liue in feare and awe Of him who did from seruile bondage draw Vs out and made vs liue at libertie When as we seru'd with cruell slauerie Not much vnlike the murmuring Israelites Sometime we seru'd our Lord with feare and dread In trouble we imploi'd our whole delights To fast and pray but when we quiet were We restlesse led our liues all void of care Forgetting him who did in each distresse With helping hand vs blesse with good successe See heere the fruit of health and good successe It maketh man both proud and insolent In health we hate the God who hath vs blest Trouble doth make vs mortall men repent Our former faults in sicknesse we be bent To fast and pray and in aduersitie To pray to God is mans felicitie And for this fault abusing this our blesse The Danes with ruth our Realme did ouerrunne Their wrath inwrapt vs all in wretchednesse There was no sin from which those men did shunne By them the Commonweale was quite vndone They did destroy the state of euery towne They Churches
their states For they bee faults that foile men not their fates Th. Phaer HOW HENRY PERCY Earle of NORTHVMBERLAND was for his couetous and traiterous attempt put to death at Yorke Anno 1407. O Morall Senec true finde I thy saying That neither kinne riches strength or fauour Are free from Fortune but are aie decaying No worldly wealth is ought saue doubtfull labour Mans life in Earth is like vnto a tabour Which now to mirth doth mildly men prouoke And straight to warre with a more sturdy stroke All this full true I Percy finde by proofe Which whilom was Earle of Northumberland And therefore Baldwine for our peeres behoofe To note mens falles sith thou hast tane in hand I would thou should my state well vnderstand For few there were that were so much redoubted Whom double Fortune lifted vp and louted As for my kinne their noblenesse is knowen My valiant acts were folly for to praise Where through our foes so oft were ouerthrowen That who but I was doubted in my daies And that King Richard found at all assaies For neuer foes rebelled in his raigne But through my force were either caught or slaine A brother I had was Earle of Worcester Alwaies in office and fauour with the King And by my wife Dame Elenor Mortimer A sonne I had which so the foes did sting That being yong and but a very spring Henry Hotspur they gaue him vnto name And though I say it he did deserue the same We three triumphed in King Richards time Till Fortune ought both him and vs a spite But chiefly mee whom cleere from any crime My King did banish from his fauour quite Proclaiming mee a most disloyall Knight Where through false slander forced mee to bee That which before I did most deadly flee Let men beware how they true folke defame Or threaten on them the blame of vices nought For infamy breedeth wrath wreke followeth shame Eke open slander often times hath brought That to effect that erst was neuer thought To bee misdeem'd men suffer in a sort But none can beare the griefe of misreport Because my King did shame mee wrongfully I hated him and soone became his foe And while he did at warre in Ireland lie I did conspire to turne his weale to woe And through the Duke of Yorke and other moe All royall power from him wee quickly tooke And gaue the same to Henry Bolenbrooke Neither did we this onely for this cause But to say truth force draue vs to the same For he despising God and all his lawes Slew whom hee would made sinne a very game And seeing nor age nor consell could him tame We thought it well done for the Kingdomes sake To leaue his rule that did all rule for sake But when Sir Henry had attaind his place Hee straight became in all points worse then he Destroied the Peeres and slew King Richards grace Against his oth made to the Lords and me And seeking quarrels how to disagree He shamelesly requir'd me and my sonne To yeeld him foes which we in field had wonne My nephew also Edmund Mortimer The very heire apparent to the crowne Whom Owen Glendour held as prisoner With chaines fast bound in dungeon deepe cast downe He would not ransome but did felly frowne ' Gainst Mortimer and me which for him spake And him proclaimed traytour for our sake Thus foule despite did cause vs to conspire To put him downe as we did Richard erst And that we might this matter set on fire From Owens Iaile our cosin we remerst And vnto Glendour all our griefes rehearst Who made a bond with Mortimer and mee To priue the King and part the Realme in three But when King Henrie heard of this deuice To Owen Glendour he sped him very quicke Minding by force to stop our enterprise And as the diuell would then fell I sicke Howbeit my brother and sonne more politicke Then prosperous with an host from Scotland brought Encountred him at Shrewesbury where they fought The one was tane and kill'd the other slaine And shortly after was Owen put to flight By meanes whereof I forced was to faine That I knew nothing of the former fight Fraud oft auailes more then doth sturdie might For by my faining I brought him in beliefe I knew not that wherein my part was chiefe And while the King thus tooke me for his friend I sought all meanes my former wrong to wreake Which that I might bring to the sooner end To the Bishop of Yorke I did the matter breake And to th' Earle Marshall likewise did I speake Whose father was through Henries cause exiled The Bishops brother with trayterous death defiled These straight assented to do what they could So did the Lord Hastings and Lord Faueonbridge Which altogether promised they would Set all their power the Kings daies to abridge But see the spite before the birds were flidge The King had word and seased on the nest Whereby alas my friends were all opprest The bloodie tyrant brought them all to end Excepted me which into Scotland fled To George of Dunbar th' Earle of March my friend Who in my cause with many more made head And when on hope of greater aid I fed Both at the Frenchmen and the Flemmings hand And could get none I tooke such as I fand And with the helpe of George my very friend I did inuade Northumberland full bold Whereas the folke drew to me still on end Bent to death my partie to vphold Through helpe of these full many a fort and hold The which the King right manfully had man'd I easely wonne and seased in my hand Not so content for vengeance draue me on I entred Yorkshire there to waste and spoile But ere I had far in the countrie gone The Shiriffe thereof Raph Rokesbie did assoile My troubled host of much part of our toile For he assaulting freshly tooke through power Me and Lord Bardolph both at Bramham moore And thence conueyed vs to the towne of Yorke Vntill he knew what was the Kings intent There loe Lord Bardolph kinder then the Storke Did lose his head which was to London sent With whom for friendship mine in like case went This was my hap my fortune or my faut This life I led and thus I came to naught Wherefore good Baldwine will the Peeres take heed Of slander malice and conspiracie Of couetise whence all the rest proceed For couetise ioynt with contumacie Doth cause all mischiefe in mens hearts to breed And therefore this to esperance my word Who causeth bloodshed shall not scape the sword HOW RICHARD PLANTAGENET EARLE OF CAMBRIDGE INTENding the Kings destruction was put to death at Southhampton Anno Dom. 1415. HAste maketh waste hath commonly been said And secret mischiefe selde hath luckie speed A murdering mind with proper poyze is way'd All this is true I find it in my creed And therefore Baldwine warne all states take heed How they conspire another to betrap Lest mischiefe ment light in
the miners lap For I Lord Richard heire Plantagenet Was Earle of Cambridge and right fortunate If I had had the grace my wit to set To haue content me with mine owne estate But O false honors breeders of debate The loue of you our leaud hearts doth allure To lose our selues by seeking you vnsure Because my brother Edmund Mortimer Whose eldest sister was my wedded wife I meane that Edmund that was prisoner In Wales so long through Owens busie strife Because I say that after Edmunds life His rights and titles must by law be mine For he ne had nor could encrease his line Because the right of Realme and Crowne was ours I searched meanes to helpe him thereunto And where the Henries held it by their powers I sought a shift their tenures to vndoe Which being force sith force or sleight must doe I void of might because their power was strong Set priuie fleight against their open wrong But sith the death of most part of my kin Did dash my hope throughout the fathers daies I let it slip and thought it best begin When as the sonne should dread least such assayes For force through speed sleight speedeth through delayes And seeld doth treason time so fitly find As when all dangers most be out of mind Wherefore while Henrie of that name the fist Prepar'd his armie to go conquer France Lord Scroope and I thought to attempt a drift To put him downe my brother to aduance But wer 't Gods will my lucke or his good chance The King wist wholly whereabout we went The night before to shipward he him bent Then were we straight as traytours apprehended Our purpose spi'd the cause thereof was hid And therefore loe a false cause we pretended Where through my brother was from danger rid We said for hire of French Kings coine we did Behight to kill the King and thus with shame We stain'd our selues to saue our friend from blame When we had thus confest so foule a treason That we deseru'd we suffered by the law See Baldwine see and note as it is reason How wicked deeds to wofull ends do draw All force doth faile no craft is worth a straw To attaine things lost and therefore let them go For might rules right and will though truth say no. W. Baldwine HOW THOMAS MONTAGVE EARLE OF SALISBVrie in the middest of his glorie was chanceably slaine at Orleaunce with a piece of Ordinance the third of Nouember Anno Dom. 1428. WHat fooles be we to trust vnto our strength Our wit our courage or our noble fame Which time it selfe must needs deuour at length Though froward Fortune could not foile the same But seeing this Goddesse guideth all the game Which still to change doth set her only lust Why toile we so for things so hard to trust A goodly thing we deeme of good report Which noble hearts do seeke by course of kind But seeing the date so doubtfull and so short The way so rough whereby we do it find I cannot chuse but praise the Princely mind That preaseth for it though we find opprest By foule defame those that deserue it best Concerning whom marke Baldwine what I say I meane the vertuous hindred of their brute Among which number recken well I may My valiant father Iohn Lord Montacute Who lost his life I iudge through iust pursute I say the cause and not the casuall speed Is to be waighed in euery kind of deed This rule obseru'd how many shall we find For vertues sake with infamie opprest How some againe through helpe of Fortune blind For ill attempts atchieu'd with honor blest Successe is worst oft times when cause is best Therefore say I God send them sory haps That iudge the causes by their afterclaps The end indeed is Iudge of euery thing Which is the cause or latter point of time The first true verdict at the first may bring The last is slow or slipper as the slime Oft changing names of innocence and crime Duke Thomas death was Iustice two yeares long And euer since sore tyrannie and wrong Wherefore I pray thee Baldwine weigh the cause And praise my father as he doth deserue Because Earle Henry King against all lawes Endeuoured King Richard for to starue In iayle wherby the regall Crowne might swarue Out of the line to which it then was due Whereby God knowes what euill might ensue My Lord Iohn Holland Duke of Excester Which was deare cosin to this wretched King Did moue my Sire and th' Earle of Glocester With other Lords to ponder well the thing Who seeing the mischiefe that began to spring Did all consent this Henry to depose And to restore King Richard to the Rose And while they did deuise a prety traine Whereby to bring their purpose well about Which was in maske this Henry to haue slaine The Duke of Aumerle blew their counsaile out Yet was their purpose good there is no doubt What cause can be more worthy for a Knight Than saue his King and helpe true heires to right For this with them my father was destroid And buried in the dunghill of defame Thus euill chance their glory did auoid Whereas their cause doth claime eternall fame When deeds therefore vnluckily doe frame Men ought not iudge the authors to be naught For right through might is often ouerraught And God doth suffer that it should be so But why my wit is feeble to decise Except it be to heape vp wrath and we On wicked heads that iniuries deuise The cause why mischiefs many times arise And light on them that would mens wrongs redresse Is for the rancour that they beare I gesse God hateth rigour though it further right For sinne is sinne how euer it be vsed And therefore suffereth shame and death to light To punish vice though it bee well abused Who furthereth right is not therby excused If through the same he doe some other wrong To euery vice due guerdon doth belong What preach I now I am a man of warre And that my lims I dare say doth professe Of cured wounds beset with many a skarre My broken iaw vnheald can say no lesse O Fortune Fortune cause of all distresse My father had great cause thy fraud to curse But much more I abused ten times worse Thou neuer flatteredst him in all thy life But me thou dandledst like thy darling deare Thy gifts I found in euery corner rife Where ere I went I met thy smiling cheare Which was not for a day or for a yeare But through the raigne of three right worthy Kings I found thee forward in all kind of things The while King Henry conquered in France I sued the warres and still found victory In all assaults so happy was my chance Holds yeeld or won did make my enemies sory Dame Prudence eke augmented so my glory That in all treaties euer I was one When weighty matters were agreed vpon But when this King this mightie conquerour Through death vnripe was both
some write in his sicknes last Said as it were by way of prophecie How that the Diuell a Darnell graine had cast Among his kin to encrease enmity Which should remaine in their posterity Till mischiefe and murder had spent them all Not leauing one to pisse against the wall And yet from him in order did succeed In England here of crowned Kings fourteene Of that surname and of that line and seed With Dukes and Earles and many a noble Queene The number such as all the world would weene So many impes could neuer so be spent But some heire male should be of that descent Which to be true if any stand in doubt Because I meane not further to digresse Let him pursue the histories throughout Of English Kings whom practise did oppresse And he shall find the cause of their distresse From first to last vnkindly to begin Alwaies by those that next were of the kin Was not Richard of whom I spake before A rebell plaine vntill his father died And Iohn likewise an enmy euermore To Richard againe and for a rebell tried After whose death it cannot be denied Against all right this Iohn most cruelly His brothers children caused for to die Arthur and Isabell I meane that were Ieffreies children then duke of Britaine Henries third sonne by one degree more neere Then was this Iohn as stories shew most plaine Which two children were famisht or els slaine By Iohn their Eame cald Saunzterre by name Of whose foule act all countries speake great shame Edward and Richard second both by name Kings of this Land fell downe by fatall fate What was the cause that Princes of such fame Did leese at last their honour life and state Nothing at all but discord and debate Which when it haps in kinred or in bloud Erynnis rage was neuer halfe so wood Be sure therefore ye Kings and Princes all That concord in Kingdoms is chiefe assurance And that your families doe neuer fall But where discord doth lead the doubtfull dance With busie brawles and turnes of variance Where malice is minstrel the pipe ill report The maske mischiefe and so ends the sport But now to come to my purpose againe VVhilst I my charge applied in England My brother in France long time did remaine Cardinal Beauford tooke proudly in hand In causes publique against me to stand VVho of great malice so much as he might Sought in all things to doe me despite VVhich proud prelate to me was bastard Eame Sonne to Duke Iohn of Gaunt as they did faine VVho being made high Chancellour of the Realme Not like a Priest but like a Prince did raigne Nothing wanting which might his pride maintaine Bishop besides of VVinchester he was And Cardinall of Rome which Angels brought to passe Not Gods Angels but Angels of old Gold Lift him aloft in whom no cause there was By iust desert so high to be extold Riches except whereby this golden asse At home and abroad all matters brought to passe Namely at Rome hauing no meane but that To purchase there his crimz in Cardinall hat Which thing the King my father him forbad Plainly saying that he could not abide Within his Realme a subiect to be had His Princes peere yet such was this mans pride That he forth with after my father di'd The King then yong obtained of the Pope That honor high which erst he could not hope Whose proud attempts because that I withstood My bound dutie the better to acquite This holy father waxed well neere wood Of meere malice deuising day and night To worke to me dishonor and despight Whereby there fell betweene vs such a iarre As in this land was like a ciuill warre My brother Iohn which lay this while in France Heard of this hurle and past the seas in haste By whose trauell this troublesome distance Ceased a while but nerethelesse in waste For rooted hate will hardly be displaste Out of high hearts and namely where debate Happeneth amongst great persons of estate For like as a match doth lie and smoulder Long time before it commeth to the traine But yet when fire hath caught in the poulder No art is able the flames to restraine Euen so the sparkes of enuie and disdaine Out of the smoke burst forth in such a flame That France and England yet may rue the same So when of two Realmes the regiment royall Betweene brothers was parted equally One placed in France for affaires Martiall And I at home for ciuill policie To serue the state we both did so applie As honor and same to both did encrease To him for the warre to me for the peace Whence enuie sprang and specially because This proud prelate could not abide a Peere Within the land to rule the state by lawes Wherefore sifting my life and acts most neere He neuer ceast vntill as you shall heare By practise foule of him and his allies My death was wrought in most vnworthie wise And first he sought my doings to defame By rumors false which he and his did sow Letters and billes to my reproch and shame He did deuise and all about bestow Whereby my troth in doubt should daily grow In England first and afterward in France Mouing all meanes to bring me to mischance One quarell was that where by common law Murder and theft been punisht all alike So as manslayers which bloodie blades do draw Suffer no more then he that doth but pike Me thought the same no order politike In setting paines to make no difference Betweene the lesser and greater offence I being seene somewhat in ciuill law The rules thereof reputed much bitter Wherefore to keepe offenders more in awe Like as the fault was smaller or greater So set I paines more easier or bitter Weghing the qualitie of euery offence And so according pronounced sentence Among'st my other Delicta Iuuentutis Whil'st rage of youth my reason did subdue I must confesse as the very truth is Driuen by desire fond fancies to ensue A thing I did whereof great trouble grew Abusing one to my no small rebuke Which wife was then to Iohn of Brabant Duke Called she was Ladie Iaquet the faire Delitefull in loue like Helene of Troy To the Duke of Bauier sole daughter and heire Her did I marrie to my great annoy Yet for a time this dame I did enioy With her whole lands withholding them by force Till Martin the Pope betweene vs made diuorce Yet all these blasts not able were to moue The anchor strong whereby my ship did stay Some other shift to seeke him did behoue Whereto ere long ill Fortune made the way Which finally was cause of my decay And cruell death contriued by my foes Which fell out thus as now I shall disclose Eleanor my wife my Duchesse only deare I know not how but as the nature is Of women all aye curious to enquire Of things to come though I confesse in this Her fault not small and that she did amisse By witches skill which
of his could beare no mate Our wealth through him waxt many a time the worser So cankardly he had our kin in hate He troubled oft the Kings vnsteady state And that because he would not be his ward To wed and worke as he should list award He spited vs because we were preferd By mariage to dignities so great But craftily his malice he deferd Till traytorously he found meanes to entreate Our brother of Clarence to assist his feate Whom when he had by mariage to him bound Then wrought he straight our linage to confound Through slanderous brutes he brued many a broile Throughout the Realme against the King my brother And raised trayterous rebels thirsting spoile To murder men of whom among all other Robin of Kiddesdale many a soule did smother His rascall rable at my father wroth Tooke sire and sonne and quicke beheaded both This heynous act although the King detested Yet was he faine to pardon for the rout Of rebels all the Realme so sore infested That euery way assaild he stood in doubt And though he were of courage high and stout Yet he assaid by faire meanes to asswage His enemies ire reueld by rebels rage But Warwicke was not pacified thus His constant rancour causeles was extreme No meane could serue the quarell to discus Till he had driuen the King out of the Realme Nor would he then be waked from his dreame For when my brother was come and plac'd againe He stinted not till he was stoutly slaine Then grew the King and Realme to quiet rest Our stocke and friends still stying higher and higher The Queene with children fruitfully was blest I gouernd them it was the Kings desier This set their vncles furiously on fier That we the Queenes bloud were assignd to gouern The Prince not they the Kings owne bloud and brethren This causde the Duke of Clarence so to chafe That with the King he brainelesse fell at bate The Counsaile warily to keepe him safe From raising tumults as he did of late Imprisoned him where through his brothers hate He was condemnd and murdered in such sort As he himselfe hath truly made report Was none abhord these mischiefs more then I Yet could I not be therewith discontented Considering that his rancour toucht mee ny Els would my conscience neuer haue consented To wish him harme could he haue beene contented But feare of hurt for sauegard of out state Doth cause more mischiefe then desert or hate Such is the state that many wish to beare That or we must with others bloud be staind Or leade our liues continually in feare You mounting mindes behold here what is gaind By coumbrous honour painfully attaind A damned soule for murdring them that hate you Or doubtfull life in danger lest they mate you The cause I thinke why some of high degree Do deadly hate all seekers to ascend Is this The clowne contented can not be With any state till time he apprehend The highest top for therto climers tend Which seldome is attaind without the wracke Of those betweene that stay and beare him back To saue themselues they therfore are compeld To hate such climers and with wit and power To compasse meanes where through they may be queld Ere they ascend their honours to deuoure This causd the Duke of Clarence frowne and lowre At me and other whom the King promoted To dignities wherein he madly doted For seeing we were his deare allied frends Our furtherance should rather haue made him glad Then enmy-like to wish our wofull ends We were the neerest kinsfolk that he had We ioyed with him his sorow made vs sad But he esteem'd so much his painted sheath That he disdaind the loue of all beneath But see how sharply God reuengeth sinne As he maligned me and many other His faithfull friends and kindest of his kin So Richard Duke of Glocester his owne brother Maligned him and beastly did him smother A diuellish deed a most vnkindly part Yet iust reuenge for his vnnaturall hart Although this brother-queller tyrant fell Enuide our state as much and more then he Yet did his cloaking flattery so excell To all our friends ward chiefly vnto mee That he appear'd our trustie stay to bee For outwardly he wrought our state to furder Where inwardly hee minded nought saue murder Thus in appearance who but I was blest The chiefest honours heaped on my head Belou'd of all enioying quiet rest The forward Prince by me alone was led A noble impe to all good vertues bred The King my Liege without my counsaile knowne Agreed nought though wisest were his owne But quiet blisse in no state lasteth long Assailed still by mischief many waies Whose spoyling battrie glowing hote and strong No flowing wealth no force nor wisdome staies Her smoakles powder beaten souldiers slaies By open force foule mischiefe oft preuailes By secret sleight she seeld her purpose failes The King was bent too much to foolish pleasure In banqueting he had so great delight This made him grow in grossenesse out of measure Which as it kindleth carnall appetite So quencheth it the liuelines of sprite Whereof ensue such sicknes and diseases As none can cure saue death that all displeases Through this fault furdered by his brothers fraud Now God forgiue me if I iudge amisse Or through that beast his ribald or his baud That larded still these sinfull lusts of his He sodainely forsooke all worldly blisse That loathed leach that neuer welcome death Through Spasmous humours stopped vp his breath That time lay I at Ludloe Wales his border For with the Prince the King had sent me thither To stay the robberies spoile and foule disorder Of diuers outlawes gathered there together Whose banding tended no man wist well whither VVhen these by wisdome safely were suppressed Came wofull newes our soueraigne was deceassed The griefe whereof when reason had asswaged Because the Prince remained in my guide For his defence great store of men I waged Doubting the stormes which at such time betide But while I there thus warely did prouide Commandement came to send them home againe And bring the King thēce with his houshold traine This charge sent from the Counsell and the Queene Though much against my minde I beast obayed The diuell himselfe wrought all the drift I weene Because he would haue innocents betraied For ere the King were halfe his way conuayed A sort of traytors falsly him betrapt I caught afore and close in prison clapt The Duke of Glocester that in carnate deuill Confedred with the Duke of Buckingham VVith eke Lord Hastings hasty both to euill To meete the King in mourning habit came A cruell VVolfe though clothed like a Lambe And at Northampton where as then I baited They toke their Inne as they on me had waited The King that night at Stonystratford lay A towne too small to harbour all his traine This was the cause why he was gone away VVhile I with other did behind remaine But will you see how falsly
shamefull death no earthly wight bemones For in thy life thy workes were hated so That euery man did wish thy ouerthro Wherefore I may though partiall now I am Curse euery cause whereof thy bodie came Woe worth the man that fathered such a child Woe worth the houre wherein thou wast begate Woe worth the brests that haue the world beguil'd To nourish thee that all the world did hate Woe worth the gods that gaue thee such a fate To liue so long that death deseru'd so oft Woe worth the chance that set thee vp aloft Yee Princes all and Rulers euery chone In punishment beware of hatreds ire Before yee scourge take heed looke well thereon In wroths ill will if malice kindle fire Your hearts will burne in such a hot desire That in those flames the smoke shall dim your sight Yee shall forget to ioyne your iustice right You should not iudge till things be well discerned Your charge is still to maintaine vpright lawes In conscience rules ye should be throughly learned Where clemencie bids wrath and rashnes pause And further saith strike not without a cause And when ye smite do it for iustice sake Then in good part each man your scourge wil take If that such zeale had mou'd this tyrants mind To make my plague a warrant for the rest I had small cause such fault in him to find Such punishment is vsed for the best But by ill will and powre I was opprest He spoil'd my goods and left me bare and poore And caused me to beg from dore to doore What fall was this to come from Princes fare To watch for crums among the blind and lame When almes were delt I had an hungrie share Because I knew not how to aske for shame Till force and need had brought me in such frame That starue I must or learne to beg an almes With booke in hand to say S. Dauids Psalmes Where I was wont the golden chaines to weare A paire of beads about my necke was wound A linnen cloth was lapt about my heare A ragged gowne that trayled on the ground A dish that clapt and gaue a heauie sound A staying staffe and wallet therewithall I bare about as witnesse of my fall I had no house wherein to hide my head The open streete my lodging was perforce Full oft I went all hungrie to my bed My flesh consum'd I looked like a corse Yet in that plight who had on me remorse O God thou know'st my friends forsooke me then Not one holpe me that succred many a man They froun'd on me that faun'd on me before And fled from me that followed me full fast They hated me by whom I set much store They knew full well my fortune did not last In euery place I was condemn'd and cast To pleade my cause at barre it was no boote For euery man did tread me vnder foote Thus long I liu'd all wearie of my life Till death approcht and rid me from that woe Example take by me both maid and wife Beware take heed fall not to follie so A mirour make by my great ouerthro Defie the world and all his wanton waies Beware by me that spent so ill her daies Tho. Churchyard HOW THOMAS WOLSEY DID ARISE VNTO GREAT authoritie and gouernment his manner of life pompe and dignitie and how he fell downe into great disgrace and was arrested of high treason Anno 1530. SHall I looke on when States step on the stage And play their parts before the peoples face Some men liue now scarce fourescore yeares of age Who in time past did know the Cardnals Grace A gamesome world when Bishops run at bace Yea get a fall in striuing for the gole And bodie lose and hazard silly sole Ambitious mind a world of wealth would haue So scrats and scrapes for scorfe and scornie drosse And till the flesh and bones be hid in graue Wit neuer rests to grope for mucke and mosse Fie on proud pompe and gilded bridles bosse O glorious gold the gaping after thee So blinds mine eyes they can no danger see Now note my birth and marke how I began Behold from whence rose all this pride of mine My father but a plaine poore honest man And I his sonne of wit and iudgement fine Brought vp at schoole and prou'd a good Diuine For which great gifts degree of schoole I had And Batchler was and I a little lad So tasting some of Fortunes sweete concaits I clapt the hood on shoulder braue as Son And hopte at length to bite at better baits And fill my mouth ere banquet halfe were don Thus holding on the course I thought to ron By many a feast my belly grew so big That Wolsey streight became a wanton twig Loe what it is to feed on daintie meate And pamper vp the gorge with suger plate Nay see how lads in hope of higher seate Rise early vp and studie learning late But he thriues best that hath a blessed fate And he speeds worst that world will nere aduance Nor neuer knowes what meanes good lucke nor chance My chance was great for from a poore mans son I rose aloft and chopt and chang'd degree In Oxford first my famous name begon Where many a day the scholers honor'd mee Then thought I how I might a courtier bee So came to Court and feathred there my wing With Henrie th' eight who was a worthie King He did with words assay me once or twice To see what wit and readie sprite I had And when he saw I was both graue and wise For some good cause the King was wondrous glad Then downe I lookt with sober countnance sad But heart was vp as high as hope could go That suttle fox might win some fauour so We worke with wiles the minds of men like wax The fawning whelp gets many a piece of bred We follow Kings with many cunning knacks By searching out how are their humours fed He haunts no Court that hath a doltish hed For as in gold the pretious stone is set So finest wits in Court the credit get I quickly learn'd to kneele and kisse the hand To wait at heele and turne like top about To stretch out necke and like an Image stand To taunt to scoffe and face the matter out To prease in place among the greatest rout Yet like a Priest my selfe did well behaue In faire long gowne and goodly garments graue Where Wolsey went the world like Beeswould swarme To heare my speech and note my nature well I could with tongue vse such a kind of charme That voice full cleare should sound like siluer bell When head deuis'd a long discourse to tell With stories strange my speech should spised be To make the world to muse the more on me Each tale was sweet each word a sentence waid Each eare I pleas'd each eye gaue me the view Each Iudgement markt and paused what I said Each mind I fed with matter rare and new Each day and houre my
The Frier low lowting crossing with his hand Speak with Contrition quoth he I would craue Father quoth Peace your comming is in vaine For him of late Hypocrisie hath slaine God shield quoth he and turning vp the eyes To former health I hope him to restore For in my skill his sound recouerie lies Doubt not thereof if setting God before Are you a surgeon Peace againe replies Yea quoth the Frier and sent to heale his sore Come neere quoth Peace and God your comming speed Neuer of help Contrition had more need And for more haste he haleth in the Frier And his Lord Conscience quickly of him told VVho entertain'd him with right friendly cheere O Sir quoth he intreate you that I could To lend your hand vnto my Cosin deare Contrition whom a sore disease doth hold That wounded by Hypocrisie of late Now lieth in most desperate estate Sir quoth the Frier I hope him soone to cure Which to your comfort quickly you shall see Will he a while my dressing but endure And to contrition therewith commeth hee And by faire speech himselfe of him assure But first of all going thorough for his fee VVhich done quoth he if outwardly you show Sound t'not auailes if inwardly or no. But secretly assoiling of his sin No other med'cine will vnto him lay Saying that heauen his siluer him should win And to giue Friers was better then to pray So he were shrieu'd what need he care a pin Thus with his patient he so long did play Vntill contrition had forgot to weepe This the wise plowman shew'd me from his sleepe He saw their faults that loosly liued then Others againe our weaknesses shall see For this is sure he bideth not with men That shall know all to be what they should bee Yet let the faithfull and industrious pen Haue the due merit but returne to mee Whose fall this while blind Fortune did deuise To be as strange as strangely I did rise Those secret foes yet subt'ly to deceiue That me maligning lifted at my state The King to marry forward still I heaue His former wife being repudiate To Anne the sister of the Duke of Cleaue The German Princes to confederate To backe me still gainst those against me lay Which as their owne retain'd me here in pay Which my destruction principally wrought When afterward abandoning her bed Which to his will to passe could not be brought So long as yet I beare about my head The only man her safetie that had sought Of her againe and only fauoured Which was the cause he hasted to my end Vpon whose fall hers likewise did depend For in his high distemprature of blood Who was so great whose life he did regard Or what was it that his desires withstood He not inuested were it nere so hard Nor held he me so absolutely good That though I crost him yet I should be spar'd But with those things I lastly was to go Which he to ground did violently throw When Winchester with all those enemies Whom my much power from audience had debarr'd The longer time their mischiefes to deuise Feeling with me how lastly now it far'd When I had done the King that did suffice Lastly thrust in against me to be heard When all was ill contrarily turn'd good Making amaine to th' shedding of my blood And that the King his action doth deny And on my guilt doth altogether lay Hauing his riot satisfied thereby Seemes not to know how I therein did sway What late was truth conuerted heresie When he in me had purchased his pray Himselfe to cleere and satisfie the sin Leaues me but late his instrument therein Those lawes I made my selfe alone to please To giue me power more freely to my will Euen to my equals hurtfull sundrie waies Forced to things that most do say were ill Vpon me now as violently ceaze By which I lastly perisht by my skill On mine owne necke returning as my due That heauie yoke wherein by me they drew My greatnesse threatned by ill-boding eyes My actions strangely censured of all Yet in my way my giddines not sees The pit wherein I likely was to fall O were the sweets of mans felicities Often amongst not temp'red with some gall He would forget by his ore weening skill Iust heauen aboue doth censure good and ill Things ouer rancke do neuer kindly beare As in the corne the fluxure when we see Fill but the straw when it should feed the eare Rotting that time in ripening it should bee And being once downe it selfe can neuer reare With vs well doth this similie agree By the wise man due to the great in all By their owne weight b'ing broken in their fall Selfe louing man what sooner doth abuse And more then his prosperitie doth wound Into the deepe but fall how can he chuse That ouer-strides whereon his foot to ground Who sparingly prosperitie doth vse And to himselfe doth after-ill propound Vnto his height who happily doth clime Sits aboue Fortune and controlleth time Not chusing that vs most delight doth bring And most that by the generall breath is freed Wooing that suffrage but the vertuous thing Which in it selfe is excellent indeed Of which the depth and perfect managing Amongst the most but few there be that heed Affecting that agreeing with their blood Seldome enduring neuer yet was good But whil'st we striue too suddenly to rise By flattring Princes with a seruill tong And being soothers to their tyrannies Worke our more woes by what doth many wrong And vnto others tending iniuries Vnto our selues it hapneth oft among In our owne snares vnluckily are caught Whil'st our attempts fall instantly to naught The Counsell Chamber place of my arrest Where chiefe I was when greatest was the store And had my speeches noted of the best That did them as hie Oracles adore A Parliament was lastly my enquest That was my selfe a Parliament before The Tower hill scaftold last I did ascend Thus the great'st man of England made his end Michael Drayton FINIS Plotinus Quintus Curtius â—ustinus â—â—b 1. Plutarchus â—iuius Colybius Aristot. Cicero Prudence Fortitude Cicero Cicero Temperance â—his letter is â—â— Flores hiâ—â—oriarum but â—â—â— may not â—â—inke that I do 〈◊〉 it dovvne â—â—ereby to afâ—â—â—me that he â—â—rote it For â—â—â— persvvaâ—â—d he vvould â—â—t vvrite so â—â—ell and yet â—â— appeares by â—rosius and oâ—â—ers that â—â—audiusâ—â—ould â—â—ould haue â—â—de Christ to â—â—ue bin taken Rome for a â—â—d and that Senate and â—â—â—ell so at vaâ—â—â—nce about â—â—â— same matâ—â—â—