presented hir therewith Ye braine-begotten dieties agree you Nurst by transparant christall of chast eies Least she that gaue you life on sudden see you And frowning kil you both who causde you rise From hir you came yong Cupids from no other And but for her if enuious you shal wrastle I feare you both wil lose a louely mother Hir brow your bower hir bosome is your castle There gree you both there both togither go you And suck the Aprill ritches of hir brest Then I who long haue serued and loue to shew you How much I loue the bosome where you rest Will come and kisse and blesse you little wantons And feed you kindly wantons if you want once Another in respect of the occasion I could not find in my hart to forget for being at supper once in hir companie where were manie that discoursed of loue shewing all the idolatrie of their pens in exemplifieng that vnchast deitie he at last when the table was taken vp remembring him of a sonnet in an ancient French Poet on sudden wrote this imitation As soone as thou doost see the Winter clad in colde Within September on the Eaues in sundry formes to fold Sweet Swallow farre thou fliest till to our natiue clime In pleasant Aprill Phaebus raies returne the sweeter time But Loue no day forsakes the place whereas I rest But euery houre liues in mine eies and in my hart dooth nest Each minute I am thrall and in my wounded hart He builds his neast he laies his egges and thence wil neuer part Already one hath wings soft downe the other clads This breakes the skin this newly flegd about my bosome gads The one hath broke the shel the other soares on hie This newly laid that quickly dead before the dam come nie Both day and night I heare the smal ones how they crie Calling for food who by the great are fed for feare they die All wax and grow to proofe and euery yeare doo lay A second neast and sit and hatch the cause of my decay Ah Maudline what reliefe haue I for to remoue These crooked cares that thus pursue my hart in harboring loue But helpelesse of reliefe since I by care am stung To wound my hart thereby to slaie both mother and hir yong At another time being absent from his mistresse by reason that he had a poore mans cause in Essex to be heard he wrote this briefe fancie to hir after the manner of the Italian rimes Oh faire of fairest Dolphin like within the riuers of my plaint With labouring finnes the waue I strike whose flouds are honored by my saint Withouten hart or gall I spring And swim to heare thee sweetly sing All like the fish when natures art Hath reft of â—…ate and tender hart And in the sea for loue I burne As for Arion did the fish At euerie note I skip turnes I harke I praise I like I wish But out alas with better chaunce The friendly fish did him aduance He bare Arion on his back Where I thy sweet imbracements lack These ofher twoe for their shortnesse and strangenesse I could not finde in my hart to pretermit knowing that the better sort that are priuie to the imitation and method will haue their due estimate My mistresse when she goes To pull the pinke and rose Along the riuer bounds And trippeth on the grounds And runnes from rocks to rocks With louely scattered locks Whilst amarous wind doth play With haires so golden gay The water waxeth cleere The fishes draw hir neere The Sirens sing hir praise Sweet flowers perfume hir waies And Neptune glad and faine Yeelds vp to hir his raigne Aâ—…ther When I admire the rose That nature makes repose In you the best of many More faire and blest than any And see how curious art Hath decked euery part I thinke with doubtfull vieu Whether you be the rose or the rose is you An Ode he wrote amongst the rest I dare not forget in that the Poesie is appertinent to this time and hath no lesse life in it than those of the ancient the rather because hereby the learned may sée how euen in those daies Poecy had hir impugners and industrie could not be free from detraction His Oade Since that I must repose Beyond th'infernal Lake What vailes me to compose As many verses as Homer did make Choice numbers cannot keepe Me from my pointed graue But after lasting sleepe The doomb of dreadful iudge I needs must haue I put the case my verse In lieu of all my paine Ten yeares my praise rehearse Orsomewhat longer time some glorie gaine What wants there to consume Or take my lines from light But flame or fierie fume Or threatning noice of war or bloudy fight Excell I Anacrion Stesicores Simonides Antimachus or Bion Philetes or the graue Bacchilides All these though Greekes they were And vsde that fluent toong In course of many a yeare Their workes are lost and haue no biding long Then I who want wits sap And write but bastard time May I expect the hap That my endeuors may ore-come the time No no tis farre more meet To follow Marchants life Or at the iudges feet To sell my toong for bribes to maintaine strife Then haunt the idle traine Of poore Calliope Which leaues for hunger slaine The choicest men that hir attendants be These and such like fruits of his fancie may sufficientlie testifie vnto you both the high spirite and déepe inuention of this craftie Citizen who flourishing thus in the verie fulnesse of loues ioy and reuelling in the chiefest pallaces of pleasure at last recalled to mind the ambitious desires that were wont to accompanie him which hauing the nature of fire which no sooner catcheth hold of drie matter but presentlie it consumeth it from a light smoke at last fell to so huge a flame that himselfe was confounded therewith and all his hopes made frustrate and thus it fell out The kings Maiestie hearing of his continual assemblies and comparing his purposes with his practise began vnder no small grounds to conceiue his curssed intention for considering with himselfe the manner of his life the businesse of his braine the 〈◊〉 eloquence of his toong and the mightinesse of his mind he imagined as afterward it fell out that so great meanes of quick and capeable fuell would at last breake out to an vnquenchable flame wherevpon the K. with considerate iudgement called him to court commanding him to cease his disordered assemblies least in séeking to exterminate the iniuries of the rich he shuld reuiue the in solence of the poore For said he William whoe séeth not whereto these routes tend whoe thinketh not that riot will follow them The labouring men that were kept from innonations by their worke are now capable of all chang and nouelties in their idlenesse In liuing as they doo they rather are drawne to detest labor then to follow it wherthrugh the offices and mechanicall crafts in the citiie doo
was slaine by the commandement of the Tyrant Phalaris Anaxarchus by the iudgement of Nicocreon finished his life with manie tortures Archimedes the Philosopher an excellent Mathematisian was slaine by Marcellus souldiers Pythagoras with his threescore schollers was put to the sworde Anacharsis died suddenlie Diodorus burst thorough harts gréefe by reason he could not answer a question which Stilbo the Philosopher had propounded him Aristotle after he had lost the fauour of Alexander being in Calcide drowned himselfe in the floud Euripus Calistines his scholler was cast hedlong out of a window Marcus Tullius had his ears and hands cut off and set vp in the publike place where the Drators declaimed Seneca was put to death by his scholler Nero whoe had first caused his vaines to be opened in a bathe of hot water Iohannes Scotus reading in England by a sudden conspiracie of his schollers was with his best fauorites put to death but if I should vndertake to repeat all the haplesse endes of these ancients whoe were excellent in learning it were too long for me to write or you to read For which cause I will begin to let you vnderstand the death of some moderne learned Petrach died suddenlie Domitius Caldarinus perished through the sicknesse of the plague Consiliator was burned aliue Angelus Politianus finished his daies by hauing his braines dasht out against a wall Peter Leo of Spoletum was drowned in a ditch the Lorde Francis Pico was slaine by his tenants Fisher and Thomas Moore were beheded Cranmer and Latimer burned the rest since fresh in memorie I néed not to trouble you with I onelie set these down for the learned to consider vppon and examine themselues by circumstances cunninglie canuase in their conscience an argument a comparatis Howe kinge Rodorigo the last of the Royall house of the Gothes lost his kingdome and life thorough his incontinence IN the yeare 712. Roderigo raigned in Spaine who earnestlie enamored of a daughter of Iulians Countie of Cantabre and desirous to gather the fruite of his loue because otherwise he might not in that the maiden was verie honest and vertuous he sent hir father embassadour into France by that oportunitie enforcing hir he satisfied his lewd and dissolute lust Iulian returning into Spaine and vnderstanding the heauie case and estate of his daughter made shew before the king that he was vtterlie ignorant thereof and after a few daies he fled into Affrica with all his familie taking vppe his house in the cittie of Lepte and seeking out Muca the gouernour of Affrica hee tolde him of the outrage doone him by the king and howe for that cause he was come vnto him First to offer him a great rich and faire empire next to profer him his seruice and moreouer said he the time is come to reuenge the Arabians which were slain a few yeares past in the hoast of king Bamba To the performance whereof I will backe you with the greater part of the Lords of Spaine whoe will be readie to assist you in this enterprise bycause the king is deadlie hated of them both for his crueltie and lawlesse corruption Muca sent him vnto king Mulit in Arabia whoe hearing Iulianos purpose dispatched him with letters to Muca wher in he wrote that he should fauour him with all reasonable helpes Muca gaue him an hundreth horsse and foure hundreth men on foote vnder the conduct of a famous captaine called Tariffe with this power they passed the Seas landed in Spaine and to the end they might the more securelie beard the enimie they builded a cittie which they called by the name of Tariffe captaine of the Barbarians And assoone as Iulio had giuen notice to his confederates for what occasion he was come what desire he had to reuenge him of the iniurie doone vnto him by the king many of them vnited themselues with the Arabians and ouerran al the contrey of Algazera which the said Iuliano had in gouernement vnder the said king The Arabians of Africa séeing the great progresse and fortune the countie had and assured of his faith sent him twelu thousand horsse and a great multitude of footmen by reason that they had intelligence that the king had sent against him his cosin Ignicus with a huge host who fighting many times vnhappilie with the Moores at the last was himselfe slaine all his followers cut in péeces wherevpon the Moores being rid of this impediment ouerran and spoiled a great parte of Spaine For which cause the king leuied a greater army than the first and comming himselfe to wage the fight with the Moores there fell a terrible and dreadfull battell betwéene both the armies which continued eight continuall daies saue onlie the intermission of night but by reason of the rebellion of the two late kings sonnes called Detifa the king had the worst and perished in the field with many other valiant persons and the Moores like couragious victors possessed the spoiles This defeat was on sunday being the xi of Septēber in the yeare 719 The Moores attaining victorie had the dominion of Spaine Of many famous men whoe leauing the gouernement of the Commonweale gaue themselues ouer to a priuate life CAto the Censor was the most vertuous and best reputed Romaine that flourished in that time for during al the daies of his life there was neuer man that saw him commit anie light action neither lose or diminishe any one inch of his seuere grauitie This man after he had liued fifty and eight yeares leauing the trauailes of the common wealth went and spent the remnant of his life in the kingdome of Naples in a village called at that daie Picenio and in this time Pozzuolo liuing vpon his owne liuelihoods and reuenews And whilest thus this good and vertuous Cato liued sequestred from all others sometimes reading his bookes some other times trimming his vines there was one of his neibours who wrote vpon his gate with a coale O fortunat Cato thou only amongst al others knowst how to liue in this world Lucullus the Consul and Romaine captaine remained in the Parthian warres and continued the same for the tearme of sixteene yeares in which he acquired much honor to Rome many laudes for the common weale much fame for himself and as great riches for his house This man after he returned from Asia to Rome and found the commonweale altogither swarming with dissentions by reason of the factions of Scilla and Marius purposed with himselfe to leaue Rome and to build him a certaine place of pleasure néere Naples vpon the riuer of the sea at this daie called Castello di Lupo in which place he reposed ten yeares entitled to all kind of pleasures and quietnesse of mind frée from all trauailes and troubles till suche time as he finished his wearied age with a contented and worthie death Dioclesian after he had gouerned Rome and the emperie for the space of eighteene yeares vtterlie refusing all the Empire departed Rome and
of Genowaies Megollo was inforced to giue him the lie but seethe other little moued the rewith his countrey dishonoured and the court laughing at him he sought his remedie at the Emperors hands from whom he could get no redresse in repaire of his honor For which cause Megollo hotlie discontent though for a purpose he smothered his displeasures a space a fewe daies after vpon a lawfull cause tooke occasion to craue the Emperours licence and departing to Genua altogither inflamed to reuenge he furnished himselfe by meanes of some parents and friends and rigging out two warlike Gallies he sailed with them into the great sea and there indeuored him selfe to spoile all the coast and ransacke euerie shippe belonging to the Emperour whomesoeuer hee tooke in waie of great disdaine he cut off their noses and eares and though there were manie ships set out against him yet in spight of all he neuer desisted from endangering him and this might he the better performe in that his ships were verie swifts and when he found himselfe at any disaduantage he coulde both leaue and take how and when it pleased him It chanced amongst manie other preparations that were set out to intrap him foure stout Gallies were rigged who vpon consultation as soone as they had discouered him deuided themselues apart thinking to inclose him in the midst of them so all at once to assaile him Megollo that quicklie perceiued their pollicie suddenlie fained to flie whom when their swiftest Gallie had long time pursued and ouer-wrought all hir consorts Megollo made hed againste them and slewe them and serued them all after the same sauce to the woonderfull amaze and discontent of the Emperor Amongest one of these Gallies there was an olde man wish his two sonnes whoe fearing the like fortune which had befalne others should light on him and his sonnes humblie prostrating himselfe at Megollos féet he humblie intreated him for mercie The old mannes teares were gratious and had such power ouer the generous mind of Megollo that he forgaue both him and his sonns with the rest that were aliue in his Gallie and sent him back vnto the Emperor with a vessell full of Eares and Noses willing the olde man to let the Emperor vnderstand that he would neuer cease to indemnifie him vntill such time as he hadde sent vnto him the man who had so disdainfullie and dishonorablie iniured him in his court The Emperor asserteined hereof determined with himselfe as the lesser euill to go himselfe in person vnto the sea and carrie with him as he did the yong man who had occasioned all this trouble Megollo hearing thereof thrust his Gallies néerer the shore when as the Emperor presently in a light boat sent him the yoong Noble with a rope about his necke whoe hauing his eies proude with teares humbled himselfe at Megollos féet beséeching mercy Megollo compassionate therewith bad him get him thence telling him that it was not the fashion of the Genowaies to tyrannize ouer effeminate milksops The parents of the yong man seeing him returne againe beyond their expectation receiued him wish great ioye diuers offers were made by the Emperor to Megollo who refusing them all returned this answer That he came thither not for desire of riches but for honors sake and to eternise the name of the Genowaies admitting no other couenantes but this that in memorie of those his actions a pallace shuld be reared in Trabisond for the commodity of the Genowaies wherein he would that by a curious hand and cunning work man those his actions shoulde be eternized which being afterwards fullie obserued by the Emperor they whoe traffiqued there followe their marchandize with more honor then they were accustomed Megollo after this worthie acte returned home to Genoua where he was receiued and gratified with great honors by the Cittizens The memorable deeds of Ualasca a Lady of Bohemia whoe causing all other Ladies to kill their husbands Brethren and sonnes raigned seuen yeares in Bohemia I Read in the Bohemian historie written by Pope Pius that this Valasca of whom I héere meane to intreate was a woman of great mind bolde in all attempts and highlie fauored by Fortune and to the end you may the better vnderstand hir historie I will first of all begin with hir cause of hatred You haue therefore to consider that Crocus second Duke of Bohemia dieng without issue male his daughter Libussa held in those daies in as great account as one of the Sibils with the fauour of the people and good liking of the better sort was placed in hir fathers seate and gouerned that Prouince manie yeares with the generall good liking of all men Finallie hauing giuen a iust sentence in right of certeine possessions against a mightie man in that countrey he being there with incensed prouoked vp the people against hir saieng that it was an oprobrious scandalous thing for such a people as they were and so great a Nobilitie as was resident in that place to suffer the kingdome causes of iustice to be vnder a woman Libussa hauing intreated silence at their hands for a time said vnto them that she knew their new desire and was not ignorant of their firme determination disabling her selfe to satisfie their expectations praieng them to assemble the next daie which according as she willed them they perfourmed The morning began noe sooner to pushe forth his blushinge beawties but the people repaired to the iudgement seat in great multitudes and as soone as the pallace was filled euerie waies by them Libussa began to speake vnto them on this maner You know Bohemians that to this present day I haue beene your peaceable and bountifull Ladie according to womens custome whoe are audatious in nothing but in offering curtesies Hitherto haue I not béene offensiue to any of you either chargeable by reason of Pompe shewing my selfe rather a mother vnto you then a mistresse but ingratefullie vnkind men as you are requite you my gouern ment But at these your actions woonder not I at all because you accustome your selues to the common fashions of men who are neuer content but are more skilfull to desire a iust and mercifull Lord then hauing him they haue knowledge to kéepe him As touching mine owne title I wholie surrender it into your hands and as you haue desired one who shal gouerne you and order your lawes as he list so am I contented you shall haue him Therefore go ye and take me a white horsse and bridle him with all his other apparell and ornamentes and afterwards lead him to such a plaine where he may take that waie which best likes him Which doone let him trot as he list and follow you him by his footsteps as he turnes so turne you and as he returneth so returne you finallie when you shall see him staie before a man that foedeâ—…h at an iron table then assure your selues he is the man forpointed to be my husband and your prince This his
for this inconuenience wherevnto the king easilie condiscended so that he likewise was authorized to redresse such enormities and both he and his fellowe Abbot were with manie princelie fauours dismissed Mounted thus vpon the whéele of Fortune which euerie waie sheweeth hir selfe as fickle as she is fauourable as ful of gall as she hath honie they both of them depart for London carrieng so high countenances as euerie one were amazed at their manners My lord Abbot first suted in his Pontificallbus called forth diuers officers purposing to examine their accounts taunting them with vntowarde languages and accompanieng threates with imprisonment But as the Giants that threatened the heauens were ouer throwne in their most hautinesse and as Phaeton vsurping his fathers seat was confounded for his ambitious pride by vntimelie death so the Abbot of Cadonence when he thoght to cauell at all accompts was called to accompt himselfe before she Tribunall iustice seat of God and died in midest of his iollitie But William who towred with the Phaenix to burne in the sunne and aduentured to crosse the troblesome seas of this world to perish with ouermuch wrastling in the same now began his pageant exhorting and stirringe the commons to loue and imbrace libertie to fight and labour for freedome brieflie to detest and blame the excesse and outrage of ritch men whoe as he tolde them reaped the sweet whilst they poore soules sweat for it Heerevnto wrested he manie stories of antiquitie First the Laconian state next the popular gouernement of Athens wherein peace neuer flourished better said he than when the Commons had fréedome of speech With these and such like honie spéech he so animated the multitude that like a second Hercules he drew them by the eares thorow the honie of his eloquence And to his words he annexed action vndertaking manie poore mens causes who were ouerborne by the rich handeling his matters with such pollicie as that he was held for a second God among the poore and for a long time esteemed for a good subiect by the Prince Yet notwithstanding this the mightie maligned him greatlie for that he had informed the king that by their meanes his Maiestie lost manie forfeits and â—…scheats which were due vnto him and for that his detested subtleties may be more apparant where through he cloked his succéeding treacheries I haue thought good to sette downe some one of them which may giue a taste to those tragike miseries which shall ensue How William with the long beard handled the cause of Peter Nowlay a Cobler who was iniuried by Robert Besant sometime Bailife of London DUring the time that William long beard flourished after this manner in all pompe and pleasure attended dailie and hourelie by hole troops of Citizens it fortuned that one Peter Nowlay a cobler a man of little capacitie liued in London whoe hauing gotten vppe by his owne handie labour and endeuour the summe of fortie marks and not knowing the meanes how to employ the same to his best commoditie solicited one Robert Besaunt sometimes Baylife of London to take the same money into his hands and to employ it to some good vse to the ende that after his decease his poore infants which were twoe in number might haue some succour and maintenance This money Robert Besaunt accepted hauing the vse thereof for the space of ten yeares accustoming poore Peter as these great men are wont to doo to a Sundaies dinner and swéet words which in these our daies is the verie poison of this world in that time was no small pestilence At last pleased God to call the Cobler to his mercie where through his poore wife liued distressed his children complaine theyr miserie and all his neighbors considering the honestie of the man in his life were compassionate and pittied his Orphans after his death The poore mother seeing hir necessities increase and hir abilitie quite ouerthrowne separated apart from all companie began to wéepe verie tenderlie recommending hir poore babes to his mercy who had no doubt lent them hir to a better end than famishment Ahlas said she my God if the least Sparrow is not vncared for by thee what letteth me to trust my childrens helth vnto thée who hauing bestowed breath vpon them mayest likewise in fauour bestow bread vpon them Thou séest Lord their friend is taken from them and the mothers neastlings without thy helpe must become staruelings Woe is me would God I had forgon my life or forgotten loue oâ—… would my handes were as plentifull as my heart is pittifull Ah Pellican I must imitate thée and pierce mine owne breast to the end I may foster my babes otherwise the helpe is vaine which hope yéeldeth since charitie is cold which should feede hope Woe is me where should I begin to mourne that haue no end of mone Shall I lament my marriage no the heauens ordained it shall I complaine of Fortune no for then I suppose an enimie where there is none shall I blame my fruitfulnes how vaine were that since it is a felicitie to enioy babes What then shall I doo truelie put my whole trust and confidence in Gods mercie whoe being Lord of all plentie can best of all relieue necessities Scarsly bad she ended these words when as hir yoong ones the one imbracing hir necke cried for meate the other kissing hir hands moorninglie bewraied his wants whilst she like Mirrha hauing tears to bewail them no tresure to relieue them sung this wofull Lullabie vnto them whilst the musicke of hir voice enforced them to listen hir Lullabie Ah little Laddes Giue ceaselesse sorow end with lullabie Suck vp my teares That streame from out the fountaines of mine eie Feed feed on me whom no good hope or Fortune glads Oh set me free From those incessant and pursuing feares which waken vp my woes and kil my pleasure Lullabie Weepe weepe no more But let me weepe and weeping weepe life hence That whilst you want I may not see false Fortunes proud pretence When I am dead My God perhaps will send you store Oh smile in need Poore hungry babes let smiles be nothing scant I teares yow smiles both haue no better treasure To bring these woes exceeding meane or measure To Lullabie Noe sooner had she finished hir song but Robert Besaunt entered the house who though altogither giuen ouer to couetousnesse yet beholding the wofull estate of the poore wife and children he comforted them the best he might sending for some little sustenance to yéeld hir and hir little ones som succour and after some conference about hir husbands state his maner of death he desired colourablie to see hir writings to the ende he might couenablie conuaie out of her hands the bill of fortie marks which he had past vnto Peter hir husband in his time The sillie soule supposing his almes deeds was vnattended by trecherie drew out of an olde till certeine briefes which she had vsing these or such like terms Maister Besaunt
cease and by the omission of industrieriseth the pretermission of dutie For this cause as you haue care of my loue incite them not to too much libertie Further them what you may if they be wronged but let not iustice be a coulour to winne them to wickednes With these or such like admonitions kinge Richard attempted him and so wrought him that for a while the commotions and motiues of trouble were laide apart so that he walked London stréets with lesser troops and wholie adicted himselfe to play with his faire Maudeline whose vnchast life was abi-word in the cittie How William with the long beard slew Arthur Brown who deceiued him of his Maudline WHilst William was conuersent in the affaires of state intending euerie waie to inlarge his own power and attending daselie vppon the kinges pleasure it fortuned that one Arthur Browne fur me red by his youth and fitted by occation fell in with Maudline Willams wanton concubine and hauing welth sufficient and wit no lesse subtill he so craftilie handled the cause that he won the yoong woman to stoope to a seconde lure and to accept his loue Manie and often times had they entercourse so that at last the rumor passing in euerie place it coulde not choose but light at laste in Williams hearing who moued beyond measure to sée himselfe outfaced by one who had so long time béene feared by all he frowningly prepared reuenge resoluing with himselfe that no means were too meane to giue a tragicall sauce to his corrupt meaning Wherevpon breaking his mind with certaine of his faction he a gréed to watch an oportunitie to reuenge impietie and for that cause watching verie craftilie when Arthur his riuall should repaire vnto his lawlesse lemman he at laste surprised and encountred him and causing some of his train to muffle him in his cloake and to stopp his mouth for fears of crieng he stabbed him with a dagger in diuers places and in the last wound left the same sticking fastening the poore caitifes owne hande with his owne dagger which he had purposelie to auoid all meanes of suspition and to raise an opinion that he had murthered himselfe sheathed in Arthurs owne bodie This doone he departed vnespied and vnsuspected and the bodie being founde according to the censure and verdict of the Iurie which behelde the same was thrust thorowe with a stake and so buried as if he had béene guiltie of his owne murther William thus deliuered of a supplanter of his pleasure after some vnkindnesse past and calmed betweene him and his Maudline finallie fell to an accord accustoming hir as he was wont vnder promise of more constancie in affection and to the intent she should remember hir of the iniuries offered he wrot this with a poin ted Diamond in hir glasse Thinke what I suffred wanton through thy wildenesse When traitor to my faith thy losenesse led thee Thinke how my moodie wrath was turnde to mildnesse When I bad best yet baser groomes did bed thee Thinke that the staine of bewtie then is stained Whenlewd desires doo alienate the hart Thinke that the loue which will not be contained At last will grow to hate in spight of art Thinke that those wanton lookes will haue their wrinkles And but by faith olde age can merit nothing When time thy pale with purple ouer-sprinkles Faith is thy best thy beautie is a woe thing In youth be true and then in age resolue thee Friends wil be friends till time with them dissolue thee But leauing these his effeminate follies of youth wherin he so vngratiouslie passed his time let vs draw to the consideration of his traitorous practises and finallie as the fruits of such sinister follies conclude with his tragicall end After he had for a time vntill the princes minde were otherwise withdrawne with more waightie matters ceased both his routs and riots the old ranckled venome of his ambition began more fréelte to breake forth so that what before time he colored vnder conscience now at last he manifested with audacious considence The mightie in court that maligned him he ouermaistered by his attendants swashing out in open streats vppon euerie light occasion for himselfe hee thought no man sufficient to suppresse him â—…or of sufficiencie to braue him for at a beck Coblers Tinkers tailors and all sortes of the hare-brainde multitude attended him fought for him supported him and made him Lorde of their factions where-through the better sorts neither were Lords of themselues neither commanders of their owne liueliehoods From some he extorted wealth by corrupt witnesses sparing no meanes to inrich his followers by racking and wresting the kinges authoritie and no sooner did he heare that the kinge had giuen order to his councell to sensure on his bad demeanors but gathering to himselfe a huge multitude he openlie vsed this discourse vnto them beginning his exhortation with this place of Scripture Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus saluatoris Which is as much to say as You shal drawe waters with Ioy out of the fountaines of our Sauiour For quoth he my worthie and faithfull friends whoe haue more courage than coine and abilitie in armes then possibilities of wealth I am the sauiour of you that are poore and the soueraigne of such as are penilesse you that haue assaied the hard hand of the rich shall be succoured by the happie hande of the righteous Now therefore draw your happie fountaines of councell out of my words and turne the troubles you haue to assured triumphs for the daies of your visitation is at hande I shall depart waters from waters I mean the proud from the poore the mercilesse from the mercifull the good from the euill and the light from the darkenesse I will oppose my selfe against all dangers to preuent your domage and loose my life but you shall haue liuing Be confident therefore and bolde for such as haue courage are sildome conquered Let the greatest vpbraid they shall not bite we haue weapons to withstand as well as wordes to perswade we are as couragious as our enimies are craftie Stick therefore vnto me who will striue for you let me be supprest you are subdued let me flourish you are fortunate but if finister chance threaten whie Alea iacta est vnasalus victis nullam sperare salutem Thus dailie and hourelie animated he the ill minded sorte and although the king did oftentimes summon him and by letters disuaded him from his ill demeanour yet was hee enforced to vse violence or otherwise that stripe which at first séemed to be but a fillip would at last haue growne vnto a Fistula For which cause Hubert then Bishop of Canterburie soundlie resoluing in his thoughts that forbearance would be the meanes of further mischiefe by the aduise of others of the Priuie councell called him in question summoning him against an appointed day to come and yeelde a reason of those his factions tumults William that saw the iron readie to war hot and the
hammers readie to strike began to remember himselfe and his guiltie conscience which as the wise man saieth is a hundreth witnesses would not suffer him to walk with so great confidence yet least feare should be suspected in him whose good fortunes and life wholie depended on his courage hee oftentimes lookt abroad but attended by such a band of base companions as if it had béene the proude Changuis leading his legious of Tartars thorow Europe But when the day of his appearance came he was backt with such a number of mechanicall rebels that Hubert in stead of attempting him with vpbraids was faine to temper him with flattering persuasions yea the stoutest councellor though neuer so considerate were faine to intreat him whom they had resolued to threaten and imprison William séeing them abasht wared bold and in these wordds saluted them Honorable Fathers and graue Councellors according to your Honourable summons and the dutie of a subiect I present my self before you attended in this sort as you sée not to violate lawes by lewd insurrections but both to present my seruice to my Prince and your Honors and to drawe my friendes and wel willers to that dutie wherevnto in soule I am deuoted to this state If therefore you haue ought to command me or if my seruices in times past be any waie suspected I stand readie to satisfie you in the one or answre to the other Hubert that knew well that soft drops in time pierce harde stones and that the Diamond though not tainted by the hammer is tempered in strong vineger began to coulour where he might not command and flatter where he coulde not inforce and thus he said Being assured William that good subiects tied by no bountie to their prince yet yéelde him all obseruance wee cannot persuade our selues that you who haue béene authorised by your prince to counterchecke iniustice will be the pattern of iniurious insolence for which cause we haue called you not as condemners of your faith but commenders of your forwardnesse neither haue we so bad an opiniâ—…on of thâ—…se good men that follow you that either they would be drawne to violate iustice or you could be induced to violate and al ter their honest and christianlike duties Our onelie request to you in the kings behalfe is to cast off this Lordlie traine and suffer these poore men to follow their professions least being vnawares assailed by want they shall at laste desparatelie attempt wickednes As for these good fellows who in their lookes promise no losenesse I beséech them in his Maiesties name to kéepe their houses promising them in generall that if any one of them be wronged they shall haue remedie Nay we will haue remedie in spight of you said they as long as William liues And this said without all reuerence they departed the place carrieng with them their captaine commander scoffing at the fainthartednes of the Archbishop for full well was he assured that greater seueritie was concluded vpon then he there would insinuate for which cause he continuallie stood on his guard spoiling all such men as hee thought were abettors of the Bushop The Bailifes of London according to their authoritie séeing matters were growne to such extremitie kept diligent and strong watch drawing some of the commons from him by faire words and some by guifts This notwithstanding William was neuer vnattended The Councell who euerie waies were vigilant to roote out this viper from the common weale what they could not by proues they aduentured by pollicie animating diuers valiant men with huge promises to marke his manners and when the occasion was offered to apprehend him at such time as he little suspected But long was it yer they either could finde oportunitie or catch the Fore in his forme yet at last when he least suspected they caught him tardee in Breadstreat attended onlie by ten or twelue at which time they drawing their swordes assailed him valiantlie But he who in all conflicts of Fortune was both confident and couragious first animated his retinue to the fight and after that wresting himselfe by maine force out of their hands he tooke him to flight towards the hart of the Cittie and ranne intâ—… Cheapside They who were busâ—…ed against his poore followers séeing him fled gaue ouer fight and earnest lie pursued him By this time the cittie was in an vprore the poorer sort laboured to rescue William the Bailifs with the best Cittizens armed them to back the kings officers so that the cittie was altogither vp in armes William long beard séeing himselfe hotlie pursued and knowing no mean to escape stept to a poore Carpenter who staid in Cheape for worke and taking his Axe from him desperatlie assailed his pursuers and with his owne hands valiantlie siue some of them but when he perceiued the factions of his enimies to be great and his friends wel nigh tired he betooke himselfe at last into Bow church not for his sanctuarie but for a bulwarke of his safetie Thither repaired all the poore commons some with bats some with spittes and such weapons as they had driuing awaie all the kings officers in despight of their friendes and determining with themselues rather to dy than to lose their William Long beard amongst the rest Maudline his minion knowing that his wracke was hir ruine came vnto him where wéeping mild teares from hir immodest eies shee so mollified his marbell heart that as some testifie he was more moued therewith then with the threats and terrors of his greatest enimies but sée impietie where it preuaileth how it worketh That church which was sacred to praiers was now made a den of rebels those places which were reserued to holie vses were now soiled with dishonest abuses where before our Ladie was praied to lewdnesse was plaid withall But to bring these causes to their Catastophe sufficeth it that darknes for this time ended the discention and the comming on of the night wrought also the conclusion of the fight How William with the long beard after long trouble was taken by the kings officers and executed for his misdemeanors NO sooner gan the howers draw forth the brunisht chariot of the sun and the star that beau tifieth the morninges breake shut vppe her beames in the bowels of the hidden Hemisphere but Richard and his councell assertained of that which was happened comanded the Bailifes of the citie by expresse letters to ferret him out of his hole and cease the tumultes by their authorities for which cause â—…he Bailifes attended by a bolde troope of men in harnesse came into Cheape The eldest of whom being called Gerard de Antiloche handled himselfe with such grauitie and vsed so effectuall persuasions that the commons for the most part withdrew them to their owne houses and after assurance of pardon from his Maiestie bâ—…tooke them to their labour As for the rest in the Church when neyther persuations could allure them nor threats intenerate their harts the Bailifes fell to armes and
for the space of foure houres continued a bloudie and desperate fight But when they perceiued the Traitors were desperate and the Church was sufficientlie strong to keep them out they at last found out this worthie pollicie They caused some chiefe men to bring them great store of straw which they fâ—…ered in diuers parts about the Church in euerie corner whereas the wind might worke the smoake anie entrance which so smothered and stifeled them in the Church that they were all of them for the libertie of a shorte time of life to submit themselues to the iudgement of succéeding death Herevpon after manie wofull plaints powred out on euerie side by William his Maudline and other malefactors they were all inforced to leaue the church and submit themselues to the hands of the Bailifes who according to the kings command picking out William with nine other his confederats committed them vnto warde for that time dismissing the rest vnder the kings generall pardon whoe certified hereof was not a little solaced For which cause he sent some of his Councel and Iudges the next day who ascending the iudgment seat called forth William with the Long beard with his confederates arraigning them of high treason against God the king and countrey Among all the rest William shewed himselfe most confident for neither did the taâ—…nts of the Iudges extennuate his courage neither could the bonds he was laden withall abash him any waies but that with a manlie looke and inticing eloquence he thus attempted the iustices You lords and Honorable Iudges though I knowe it a hard thing to striue against the obstinate or to extort pittie there where all compassion is extinguished yet will I speake vsing the officer of nature to worke you although I know I shall not win you I am here called and indighted before you for hie treason a hainous crime I confesse it and worthie punishement I denie it not but may it please you with patience to examine circumstances I haue imboldened the poorer sort to innonation to fight for libertie to impugne the rich a matter in the common weales of Greece highlie commended but héere accounted factions and whie there subiects made kings here kings maister subiectes and why not say you and whie not think I yet am I faultie vnder a good president and the ambition which hath intangled mee hath not beene without his profit To offend of obstinate will were brutish but vnder some limits of reason to defaulte can you my Lords but thinke it pardonable I haue raised one or two assemblies and what of this peace was not broken onely my safetie was assured and were it that the Law had béene iniured might not the righting of a hundred poore mens causes merit pardon for two vnlawfull assemblies But you will saie I haue animated subiects against their prince I confesse it but vnder a milder title I haue councelled them to compasse libertie which if nature might be equall iudge betwéene vs I knowe should not be so hainoustie misconstred For my last tumult I did nothing but in mine owne defence and what is lawfull if it be not permitted vs Vim vi repellere But whie pleade I excuses knowing the lawes of this Realme admit no one of my constructions If it be resolued I must die doo me this fauour my Lords to protract no time execute your iustice on my bodie and let it not pine long time in feare thorowe supposall of extreames For my soule since it is deriued from a more immortall essence I dare boast the libertie thereof knowing that eternitie is prepared for it and mercie may attend it But for these poore ones who haue defaulted thorough no malice but haue béen misled through vaine suggestions howe gratious a deede should your honnors do to exemplifie your mercie on them poore soules they haue offended in not offending and but to enthrone me haue ouerthrowne themselues for which cause if consideration of innocent guiltines guiltie innocence may any waies moue you grant them life and let me solie enact the tragedie who am confirmed against all Fortunes tyrannies These latter words were deliuered with so great vehemencie of spirit and attended with so quickening motions and actions of the bodie that euerie one pittied that so rare vertues should be rauished by vntimelie death or accustomed with so manie vngodlie practises The Iudges whoe were Socratical in all their spéeches shewing their Rhetorique in their vpright iudgements not quaint discourses after the examinations indictments verdicts of the Iurie and suche like at last gaue finall and fatall iudgement That William with the long beard with his confederates should the nexte daie be hanged drawne and quartered and so after some other worthie exhortations to the people to mainteine peace and that they should shew themselues more dutifull and after thanks to the Bailifes and good cittizen for their faithful and good seruice to his Maiestie the assemblie broke vp and the prisoners till the next daye were committed to the dungeon No sooner was the gaie mistresse of the daie break prepared in hir roseat coatch powdering the heauens with purple but the Bailifes repaired to the prison leading foorthe William and those his other confederates to their execution Then flocked about them diuers sorts of people some to sée those who were so much searched after others to lament him whom they had so loued at laste arriued at the place where they should finish their daies all stood to beholde their death William as principall in his life time of seditious practise was to enact the first and fatall part in the tragedie for which cause boldlie climing vp the ladder and hauing the rope fitlie cast about his neck after some priuate praiers he spake after this manner vnto the people My good countreymen you are repaired hither to sée a sorie spectacle to beholde the follie of life paid with the fruits of death to marke how sinister treasons ende with condigne torments if you applie what you here see and beholde to your owne profits I shall be glad whoe now euen at this my last hower desire rather you shuld reconcile your selues from all wickednes then be dismaied ormoued with my wretchednesse Oh my déere friends I now protest before God vowe before men that mine owne presumptuous climing hath béene the iust cause of my confusion I haue had more desire of glorie then respect of God more regard of dignitie then of dutie déeming it better to be a famous Traitor then a faithfull and true subiect For which my inestimable sinnes I crie God hartilie mercie I beseech his Maiestie to forgiue me and pray you all by your praiers to implore Gods grace for me Neither deserue I death only for the offence I haue made the king but my conscience accuseth me and I heere doo openlie confesse it that I was he who murthered Anthonie Browne in that he was a riuall in my most lewde loue This this if nought else my countreymen
neither any other march andise could be brought either from the kingdome of Naples from Corsica or the riuer of Genua vnto the cittie Against him Pope Alexander sent the great Consaluo who tooke the rocke and brought Menaldo bound to Rome vpon a leane Iade in maner of triumph And it is reported that he went with so confident a countenance that he inforced terror in all those that beheld him Consaluo for that he was a Spaniard got him his pardon and wrought the Pope to be very bountifull vnto him A true and famous History of Partaritus king of Lombardie who being pursued by Grimaldo fled first of all to Cucano king of the Auarior Huns and then into France and finallie after manie trauailes was restored to his kingdom with much maiestie wherein the worthy memorie of two faithfull seruants is happilie registred PArtaritus was the sonne of Albert kinge of Lombardie who after the death of his father raigned himselfe in Millan and Gundibert his brother in Pauia Betwixt these twoe there grewe a mortall discention for which cause Gundibert sent Caribald Duke of Turinge to Grimoald duke of Beniuent a most worthy and valiant Capteine requesting his assistance in armes against his Brother and promising him in rewarde thereof to bestowe his sister vpon him in mariage But Garibald vsed Treason against his Lord animating Grimoald to the enterprise not as an a better but a conqueror For said he you may easily occupie the kingdome by reason of the twoe brethren whoe through their dissentions haue almoste ruinated the same Grimoald asserteined her of made his sonne Duke of Beneuent and leuieng a mightie power set onwards on his way to Pauia and through euerie Cittie that he passed he drewe friends vnto him and won the better sort with benefites to the end they should assist him toward the attainment of the kingdome and comming to parlie with Gundibert who little suspecting the trecheries which Garibald had complotted came slenderlie and courtlie accompanied to intertain him he on sudden slue him and occupied the kingdome Partaritus assertained hereof abandoned Rhodeline his wife and his iit tle sonn and fled to Cucano king of the Auarior Huns Grimoald confirmed in the kingdome of Pauia vnderstanding that Partharithus was entertained by Cucano sent ambassadors vnto him threatning him that if he retained Partharithus his enimie in his kingdome he shoulde be assured to purchase of him a mightie enimie and more to occasion a present and dangerous warre The king of the Hunns assertained héereof called Partarithus vnto him and said thus I pray thée gentle friende depart into some other place for if thou be héere resident my good will towards thee will occasion great warres againste my selfe Partharitus vnderstanding the kings mind returning into Italie went and sought out Grimoald reposing his life vpon the good dispositions of his enimie And drawing neere the Cittie of Lodi he sent before him one of his faithfull seruants called Vnulfe who might make manifest to Grimoald both how much he trusted him and what he required at his hands Vnulfe presenting himselfe before the kinges Maiestie told him that Partaritus his maister had recourse vnto his clemencie and sought succour in his court Grimoald admiring his confidence faithfullie promised him that he might repaire vnto him vppon the faith of a prince assuring him that before he should be harmed he would hazard his owne hart A little while after when Partharitus presented himselfe before Grimoald and humblie knéeling on his knées be sought his fauour the king pitiouslie and gratiouslie entertained and kissed him whome in humble manner Partharitus saluted thus mightie Soueraigne I am thy seruant who knowing that thou art a Christian doubt not of thy compassion I might as thou knowest O king haue liued among Pagans but what life were that and howe base confidence were I in rather to trust the faithlesse then humble my selfe to the faithfull I beseech thée of mercie and kissing thy feete craue maintenance The king according to his maner swering a solemne oath promised him saieng By him that begat me since thou hast recourse vnto my faith I will neuer forsake thée but I will take order for thee in suche manner that thou maiest both honestlie and honorablie liue in this countrey Wherevpon he commanded him to be worthilie lodged giuing charge that he should be furnished of all necessaries whatsoeuer vpon his treasurie It chanced that Partaritus departing from the king and repairing to his lodging was suddenlie encountered with a whole troope of Cittizens of Pauia who came to sée him and salute him as their sorestemed friend But sée what great mischiefe procéedeth from an euill and detracting toong For some malignant flatterers beholding the same sought out the king and gaue him to vnderstande that if he made not Partaritus suddenlie out of the waie himselfe without all doubt should lose both his kingdome and life swearing to him that all the cittie was alreadie addicted to take his part Grimoald considering these thoughts and by his ouermuch credulitie suspecting more then he néeded suddenlie resolued on the death of miserable Partharitus and calling his councell vnto him ceased not to contriue the meanes howe the innocent might be made awaie They séeing that daie far spent resolued the déed shoulde be doone the next morrowe animating the king by good words who otherwise through feare was almost out of his wits notwithstanding thorow their perswasions gathering to himselfe more confidence the better to coulour his intention hee sent vnto him that night manie excellent dishes and strong wines purposing if it were possible to make him drunke assuring himselfe that by the meanes thereof he for that night shoulde haue more care of his sléepe than regard of his safetie But see how God helpeth the innocent for a certein gentleman who before time had béene a seruitour in Partharithus fathers court presenting him with a messe of meate from the king and leaning downward as if intending reuerence to his Maiestie tolde him secretlie howe the kinge the next daie had resolued to put him to death For which cause Partaritus suddenlie called his squire willing him for that night to giue him no other drink but a little water in a siluer cup knowing this that if those who presented him in the kings behalfe would request him to carouse to his health he might easilie doe without intoxicating his braines drinking onelie water Those that serued him at the table seeing Partaritus take his liquor so liuelie certified the king thereof who with much ioyfulnesse said let the drunkerd drinke his fill for this night but to morrowe yer euer he suspect the banquet I meane to feast him with his owne bloud This saide he caused his guard to be set the house fearing and suspecting least Partaritus should escape him in any sort The supper being ended and euerie one hauing taken his leaue Partharitus thus left alone with Vnulfe his trustie seruant and the Page who ordinarilie attended on