him to bed he discouered vnto them howe the king had resolued to kill him for which cause Vnulfe winding him about the necke with the shéetes of the bedde and laieng the couerlet and a Beares skin vpon his backe leauing him without capp as if he were some rusticke or common drudging fellowe began to driue him out of the chamber dooing him manie iniuries and villannies so that he verie oftentimes fell to the ground Grimoalds guard whoe were appointed vnto the watch seeing al these outrages asked Vnulfe what he meant Why said he my maisters this rascal slauehath made me my bed in the chamber of that drunken palliard Partharithus which is so full of wine that he sléepeth as if he were dead without stirring and this is the cause whie I beat him and I praye you dooth he not deserue it They hearing these words and beléeuing them to be true did all of them laugh verie hartilie to heare the tidings and giuing both of them licence to depart Partaritus hasted to the cittie of Hasti and from thense went into France praising God for his happie deliuerie As soone as they were gotte awaie the faithfull page locked the door verie diligentlie remaining all that night alone in the chamber and when the messengers of the king came with commission to bring Partaritus to the pallace the nexte daie they knocked at the doore whome the page in humble maner saluted praieng them to haue patience for a while for saith he my Lord being wearie of his last iourney sleepeth now verie soundlie The messengers returning to Grimoald told him the pages answer who all inraged charged them presentlie to bring him to his presence who repairing againe to the chamber doore were in like sort once more solicited by the page to vse forbearance but they admitting no delaies cried out hastilie and hartilie tut tut the droonkard hath now slept enough and therevpon bearing the doore of the hinges they forceablie entered the chamber and sought Partaritus in his bed but found him not wherevpon they asked the page what was become of him who answered them that he was fled The messengers all amazed herewith furiouslie laieng hands on the childes bushie lock and buffeting him pitiouslie brought him to the pallace and conducting him to the presence of the king saide Mightie Prince Partharitus is fled and this caitife boy helpt to conuey him and for that cause meriteth death Grimoald commanded them to laie hands off him and willed him with a friendlie countenance to discouer vnto him the manner and meanes how his maister had escaped awaie The page told him euerie thing as it had past whose faithfulnes when the king had considered vpon he royallie offered him to make him one of his pages assuring the lad that if he would be as faithfull to him as he had shewed himselfe towards his old maister he should both be rewarded and regarded After this he made search for Vnulfe who being brought before his presence was pardoned by him and not only pardoned but commended But as where affection is rooted there no fauors can supplant it nor promises suppresse it so these two louing their maister Partarithus verie deerelie took no delight but onelie in desire they had to sée and serue him for which cause a few daies after they repaired to Grimoald beséeching him of license to séeke out their maister Whie my friends quoth he had you rather séeke out your necessities then liue with me héere in all pleasures By God replied Vnulfe I had rather die with Partharithus than liue in all other worldlie contents and delights What saied the king to the page wilt thou also rather séeke out a bannished man then serue a king I my Lorde saide he for they are bad seruants that will leaue their maisters in miserie Grimoald wondering at their confidence praising both their faithes dismissed both of them with all fauour giuing them both horsse and money to furnish and further them on theyr iourney The two faithfull seruants humblie thanking the kinge tooke their waie into France hoping to finde their maister in that place according as was appointed But Partaritus fearing least by reason of a peace latlie capitulated betwixt Dogobert kinge of France and Grimoald he shoulde be there surprised suddenlie by some sinister subtletie tooke shipping for England and hauing alreadie sailed from the shore the voice of a man was heard among the rocks which asked for Partaritus and whither he were in that ship Whereto when answer was made that there he was the voice replied Then will him presentlie repaire vnto his countrey for Grimoald a three daies hence is departed this life Partaritus suddenly returned backe commanding the marriners to reenter the harbour and as soon as he was landed he diligently sought out the messenger that had thus informed him but finding him by no meanes possible he supposed it to be some messuage sent from God For which cause poasting towards his countrey and arriuing amongst the confines of Italie hee found there a great number of Lombards who expected him with whom he entered Pauia and driuing out a little son of Grimoalds from the kingdome he was by generall consent created kinge of Lombardie thrée monethes after the death of Grimoald For which cause he presentlie sent vnto Beneuent for his wife Rhodolinde and his sonne Cunibert And being a godlie Catholike and iust man a liberall patron of the poore and father of the innocent as soone as he hadde quiet possession of the kingdome in that place from whence he fled which is on the other side of of Tesinus he buil ded a monasterie to the honor and glorie of God his sauiour and onelie defender wherein there were diuers Nunnes inclosed whom he alwaies enriched with manie very goodlie possessions The Quéene likewise builded a church in honour of our Ladie without the cittie wals adorning it with maruelous rich ornaments his page and trustie seruant returning to his court as soon as they had tidinges of his establishment were by him fauourablie intertained and richlie rewarded Finallie after he had reigned eighteene yeares he departed this life not without the generall lament and teares of the whole inhabitants of Lombardie The wonderfull dreame of Aspatia the daughter of Hermotimus the Phocencian a verie poore man who afterwards thorow hir wonderful vertues became the wife of Cyrus king of Percia and was afterwards married to Artaxerxes ASpatia was the daughter of Hermotimus of Phocis who after the death of hir mother was brought vp and nourished in great pouertie yet was not hir pouertie so gréeuous as her continencie was gratious in her infanâ—…ie she had vnder hir chin a great swelling which disâ—…igured hir face and was a great disgrace to hir fairenesse For which cause hir father desirous to haue hir cured carried hir to a physitian who promised to heale hir for a certeine summe of money The good olde man hauing no money tolde the Physitian of his little meanes beséeching him
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
THE Life and Death of william Long beard the most famous and witty English Traitor borne in the Citty of London Accompanied with manye other most pleasant and prettie histories By T. L. of Lincolns Inne Gent. Printed at London by Rychard Yardley and Peter Short dwelling on Breadstreat hill at the Signe of the Starre 1593. ¶ THE LIFE AND death of William Long beard Howe Willyam Long beard betraied his elder brother vnto his death of his falling in acquaintance with the Abbot of Cadonence in Normandy and how cunningly and coulourably they got authority from the Kinge to accomplish their ambitious pretences WHilst all the world was in vprore and schismes raigned in the Church when God by prodigious signes threatened pestilent plagues at suche time as two sunnes appéered in our Horizon in England and three Moones were discouered in the West in Italie William with the longe beard was borne in the famous Cittie of London of greater minde then of high parentage a graft of mightie hope at the first though as it afterwards proued his parents spent too much hope on so little vertue This frée Cittizen borne tenderlie fostered in his infancie was afterwards trained vp in good letters wherin he profited so suddenlie that most men wondered at his capacitie and the wisest were afraid of the conclusion And for that the age wherein hee was bread being the third yeare of Henrie the Second was full of troubles this yoong mans rare guifts were raked vp in the embers little regarded because not yet ripened but at last as years increased the minde ordained for mightie thinges began to mount the rather because ambition sealed his eies which made him with the Doue soare so hie till his own cunning and labour made him be ouerturned for when he perceiued his fathers foote alreadie prepared for the graue his mother seazed by age and more besotted with affection himselfe at mans estate without maintenance he thus began the first fruites of his impietie the sequell whereof exceedeth all conceit and testifieth his deuilish and damnable nature He had a brother elder than himselfe in yeares but yoonger in policie who hauing by his owne frugalitie gotten great wealth was called to be a Burgesse of the cittie a man beloued of all men for his vpright dealing and lamented of al men for his vntimelie death For William little regarding the benefites he had receiued of him in his youth the brotherlie kindnesse the bountifull curtesies sought all means possible to betray him who had trained him vp to suck his hart bloud who had sought his harts rest and to that intent séeing the opportunitie fitted him in the raigne of Richard the first that noble Prince of famous memorie he suborned certeine lewd and smister confederates of his to accuse him of Treason for which cause poore innocent man being suddenlie apprehended his goods were confiâ—…cate his body imprisoned his wife and children left succourlesse whilst wicked William being both complotter informer and witnes wrought so cunningly with the kings councell that the goods were his which his brother with his long labour had gotten and the poore innocent man brought out before the Iudges with wéeping eies beheld his yoonger brother both reuelling in his ritches and reiocing at his ruine Many were his obtestations before God and protestations to the Iudges manie his exhortations to his brother and detestations of his periurie But William whose hart was the very harbour of all impietie ceased not in his owne person to solicite and by his companions to incense the Iudges in such sort that his brother was at last by them condemned and adiudged to death as some Writers suppose for coining And being led forth to his execution like an harmelesse innocent the people mustering about the place the curssed brother the occasion and compactor of his confusion accompanie him with these or such like words he finished his life Thou God that knowest the cause of my vntimelie death canst in iuâ—…ice punish my vniust accusers meane while take mercie on my poore soule who am forsaken of my priuate friends be thou a safeguard vnto me whoe am left without succors and helpe the desolate widdow with hir distressed children This said after some priuate conference by permission betwéene his brother and him he suffered torment But William hauing gotten wealth began to take vpon him state and vnderstanding his father and mother through hartie griefe were in their extreame age committed to the graue he seazed on their goods carrieng such a countenance in London that all men wondered at him In wit he was pregnant in publike affaires pollitike in reuenges constant in speeches affable in countenance graue in apparell gorgeous yea so cunning was he to insinuate himselfe among the Commons that as the report went he had more Prentises clubs at his command then the best Courtier had seruants to attend him And as the custome is whilest thus he behaued himselfe it fortuned that hee fell in companie and conference with the Abbot of Cadonence in Normandie a man as high minded as himselfe and more subtill than Sinon by whose aduise and directions he grew so craftilie conceited that vnder a holie pretert he wrought more mischiefe than either the Councell of England could for a long time remedie or by industrie reuerse and thus it fortuned After that the noble and warlike Richard the firste of that name had to his immortall glorie recouered his rights in France established peace with the French king and by the perswasions of his mother Dame Elianor reconciled his brother Iohn who had before that time béene at deadlie â—…d with him It plesed his Maiestie partlie for his owne recreation sake partlie to remedie the discontents of his subiects to goe on Progresse in the eight yeare of his reigne and in the yeare of our Lord 1197. at which time the Abbot of Cadonence and William watching an occasion and oportunitie so cunninglie wrought she matter that they had audience at his Maiesties hands and attained vnder the broad seale the whole summe of their requests The Abbot couloured his stratagem vnder the coppie of conscience assuring the king that the corruption of his officers were the chiefest groundes of publike contention praieng him in the bounty of an heroick and princelie potentate to take some order for she correction of them least at the last it should turne to his owne confusion His maiestie that had euer regard of the poore with gratious good words thanked him for his good will giuing him warrant and authoritie to redresse those inconueniences and promising him great promotions if he tooke any profite by his pollicie William now that hath the second subtiltie to enact suted his lookes in all sobrietie and stroaking his long beard which he curiouslie fostered euen from the beginning tolde the king of the insolence and outrage of rich men who spared their owne and pilled the poore robbed Irus and clawed Midas beséeching in the commons behalfe a remedie
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
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
publikelie shewed the papers and after that turning him to M. Besaunt he expostulated thus Well sir since your corruption is found out and your vngodlie oathes haue doubled your offence by that authoritie which I haue receiued from his maiesty I condemn you to pay the summe of fortie marks with the vse thereof for ten yeares vnto this widdow and hir children next for your periurie wherein you haue offended God especiallie and next your countrey I adiudge you to paie in waie of a fine to his Maiestie two hundreth poundes sterling aduising you hereafter to vse your conscience more vprightlie and to deale by the poorer sort more iustlie Besaunt who highlie stood on his reputation was so amazed at his so sudden conuiction before the assemblie of the citie that he knew not what to say his owne hand he coulde not denle and if he should there were some in the companie well acquainted therewith To be adiudged thus of by his inferiour as he thought it was no small disgrace for which cause smothering vnder faire lookes his false hart he appeled to the king and his Councell assuring William that he would not be discredited in that sort and that it shoulde cost him a thousand pounds but he would be reuenged With these and such like spéeches the court brake vp the widdow the children were dismissed with giftes and William with a thousand Cittizens at his taile was with great triumphe conuaied to his lodging But Besaunt for all his braues was committed and enforced to pay the penaltie yea so did William worke with the king and his councell as had not this corrupt marchant with great sommes got himself frée no doubt he had béene brought within the compas of a Premunire such subtill suggestions had William practised against him How William with the long beard behaued himselfe towardes the Courtiers and of his loue to his faire Lemman Maudeline WIlliam hauing by this means insinuated himselfe into the fauour of the king and by that reason brought the cittizens in feare of him like the vntoward childe whoe hauing an inche stealeth an elle began to presume aboue the latchet as the prouerbe is setting light by all men animating the baser sort against the better so that the Nobilitie put vp much iniurie at his hands the clergie were badlie vsed by him and the officers of the cittie highlie offended The earle of Durham then Chancellor and bishop taking the parte of a chapleine of his who was iniuried by a meane and mechanicall townesman was braued by him in Cheape side beaten of his horsse and had not the Bailifes of the cittie rescued him the common spéeches went he should neuer haue courted it more A gentleman in court at another time vpbraiding William of his base estate and birth told him that the worst haire in his beard was a better gentleman than hee was for which cause William mightilie agréeued and watching opportunitie of reuenge at last incountred him braue lie mounted on his foot cloth in Friday stréet where taking him forceably from his horsse he carried him into a Barbers shop and caused both his beard and head to be shaued close pleasantlie giving at him in this sort Gallant now haue I cut of the whole traine of of the best gentlemen you durst compare with me the last daie and if hereafter you bridle not your toong as base a Gentleman as you make me Ile haue you by the eares The king informed héereof grew highlie offended but William who wanted neither money friends nor eloquence so ordered the matter as his maligners might barke but not bite him But for that all his minde was planted on ambition and his greatest feare was least by ouer forward thrusting himselfe into state his cloaked aspiring shoulde be discouered he began for a while to leaue the court to intend onelie the causes of the poore and complot those meanes whereby labouring for mightines without suspect he might attaine the same without counterchecke and first to make shewe how much his mind was altred from high climing he craftilie pretended a new conceited loue and but pretending it at firste at laste was inforced to practise it and thus it fell out An honest and well disposed Merchant of London had by his wife a faire and amiable yoong mayden to his daughter being the onely hope of his age and the fruit of his corage This louelie Mawdelin as the lesser starres are in respect of the sunne or Mercurie in regarde of the Orbe of Venus amongst our London damosels was the A perse for beautie â—…d the parragon of perfections hir looks full of quickening puritie were able to animate loue in Marbel nature could doo no more but wonder at hir owne handiworke art had nought but shadowes in respect of such a substance Al eies that beheld hir wondred all pens that praised hir were quickened by hir excellence To be short hir least worth was of so great consequence as the best writer might be abashed to conceit or imagine them with this faire damosell William Long beard traffiqued his fancies summoning hir yéelding affections with so manie earnest sutes and seruices that he at last conquered that fort wherein fancie himselfe tooke delight to tyranize and as the Iet draweth Amber the Load stone the Stéele of the compasse so hir beautie assaulted his sences that all of them had no power of their offices but were fatallie assigned to subscibe to hir sorceries And where as authoritie and countenance are wrested the bulwarke of chastitie though otherwise impregnable is oftentimes impugned and not onelye assaulted but at laste subdued William by his friends and followers so wrought that what by his friends and faire words he won hir for his Lemmon sparing no cost to trick hir out in brauerie to the end he might by that meanes giue a foile and glasse to her beawtie This Maudelin thus compassed hir paramour began to pranke it in the brauest fashion wresting his wits to make an idoll of hir worth whose amorous passions since they are of some regard I haue heer set downe for the courtliest care to censure of Amidst the maze of discontented mind The royall trophey of ioy-breeding loue A happy holde and resting place did find Within that brest which earst earthes hel did proue Since when my long-enfeebled eies haue reard Their drooping sight to gaze vpon the sunne Since when my thoughts in written lines appeard Reioycing at that Palme my faith had wunne Ennobled thus by that thrice-nobled passion Which hath the power all worldly cares to banish I flie sweet-seeming leures of false occasion And let al thoughts but loue-sweet vade vanish The fruits I reape in spight of Fortune froward Makes me suppose no torment too vntoward Another he made vpon this occasion Maudelin his mistresse had a faire Iewell wherein the twoe Cupids of Anacreon were painted wrastling the one with the other with this Motto Pro palma for which cause he wrote this sonnet and
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