this blade and thrust it to my harte O Sir I sayd the Goddes defend that I Should causelesse kil a man in myserye Tel me thy name and place then by and by I wyl prouide for thyne aduersitie Then he replide my name is Sigeberte I am the man which wrought thy masters smart I rulde of late this Realme euen at my liste Take thou reuenge with that thy friendly fiste And wel content I wyl reuenge with speede The death of him whome causelesse thou didst kill King Sigebert and art thou he in deede Sith he thou art dispaâ—th and make thy wyl For to my Lorde this day I wyl present Thy head therefore thy former faultes repent Thou seest the blocke on which thy lyfe must ende Cal thou for grace that God may mercie sende Wherewith the kneelyng by he block of bale Dispatch quoth he and do that friendly deede O welcome death and farewel Fortune fraile Dispatch good friende dispatch my lyfe with speede Wherewith on blocke he stretcht his necke out right And sayd no more but praying me to smite I gaue the stroke which ended al his care A blouddie stroke which did my death prepare For I who hopte to haue some great rewarde For killing of my maisters fathers foe Was hanged strayght my cause was neuer hearde Such was my chance and wel deserued woe For when my Lord had heard me tel the tale Howe I his king and myne did there assayle His frowning face did put me in great feare He sighte and sobde and sayd as you shal heare O Caitife vile O impe of Satans seede And hast thou kylde our Soueraigne Lorde and kyng His due deserte deserueth death in deede Yet what made thee to doo so vile a thinge What though he dyd my Father causelesse kyll What though he rulde the Realme with lawlesse wyll Shall we therefore with cruel bloudy knyfe Depriue our Lorde and king of vitall lyfe O filth fye may subiectes false surmise With murthering mindes their Gouernour resiste That may not be for Tully wonderous wyse Plato in whom true knowledge dooth consiste They both agreed that nâ— man ought to kyll A Tyrant though he hath hym at his wyll Yet thou thou wretche this bloudy deede hast donne The like was neuer seene vnder the Sunne When God wyl plague the people for their sinne Them then to scourge he doth a Tyrant sende We should therefore that subiectes be begin With earnest minde our former faultes tamende Which if we do it is to great auaile Mans force is fonde fighting cannot preuayle And he who doth resist the Magistrate Resisteth god repenting al to late If subiects be by peruerse Prince opprest They then must pray that God the change maye make Which God no doubt Rebellion doth detest No subiect may his sworde nor armoure take Against his Prince whom god hath placed there Yet hath this wretch al voyde of Subiectes feare Destroyde a King whome God did thrust from throne Alas poore king thy death I do bemone But he who hath thy lyngring lyfe destroyde Shal be destroyd and finde it passing playne That no man may a Princes lyfe anoye Although the Prince desiers to be slayne Yet subiectes must from sheading bloud refrayne From which seeing this wretch could not abstayne Let him be hangde as I before decreed A iust rewarde for his so vile a deed Then I forthwith to end my lyfe was led I hopte to haue preferment for my deede I was preferde and hangde al saue the head Did euer man the lyke example read Not one I thinke therefore good Memorie In register inrolle thou this for mee That they who liue and read the fall I felt May â—inde how Fate most strangely with me delte Yet my desert no doubt dyd death deserue Though hatred dyd not make mee kyll my kyng Yet lucre lewde dyd force my feete to swarue That hatefull hap mee to this bale dyd bring Let them then learne that heedlesse liue by hope Her hatefull hestes wyll bring them to the rope And happy he who voyde of hope can leade A quiet lyfe all voyde of Fortunes dread Perillus he who made the Bull of Brasse Lyke him I hopte to haue some great rewarde But he in brasen belly broyled was And to a Skarfe of Hempe I was preferde So they that meane by others harmes to rise Their dying day shall ende with dolefull cries â–ª And here I ende approuing that most true From wicked workes no goodnesse can insue ⧠The Induction THis Heardman quoth Inquisition dooth make me cal to minde Pans Preachers I meane Maroes shepherds Siluanus CaÌ„didus and such lyke who with their Oten Pipes dyd often times disâ—lose very intricate mysteries reasoning pro et con of many high poynts belonging vnto the common weale And I know not with what knowledge they dyd decide doubtfull matters accordyng vnto the opinyon of the best Philosophers Surely Memorie I maruel much at the men of the olde worlde for I read of many who hauing many passing great giftes of learning and knowledge were content with the base estate of Heardmen In these our dayes none bee Heardmen but fooles and euery man though his witte be but meane yet he cannot liue with a contented mind except he hath the degree of a Lorde â–ª It is moste true sayde Memorye for heretofore men did not raunge vntyed in such a worlde of libertye as they doo nowe then the wisest was best content with the lowest estate yea Reason so bridled the affections of men that Apollo whome Poetes do faygne to be the verye God of wisedom what was he but a shepehearde and that verye poore as it woulde seeme for he kepte Admetus hearde in Thessalie And Argus who for the sharpnesse of his wit was reported to haue an hundred eies he also was content to be a Cowheard And were not Bacchus Saturne and mighty Iupiter delighted in husbandrie But he who is most wyse in these our dayes doth approue him selfe most folish by thrusting himselfe vnto his owne destruction which this Heardman hath declared sufficiently â—n this storie of Sigebert But let vs nowe proceede and let vs by examples teach what fruit vertue and vice coÌ„tentation and ambition doth yeeld Then let them of this world choose whether lyke the wise Mariners they wil auoyd those daÌ„gerous rocks or willingly cast theÌ„selues away Proceede therfore good Inquisition let vs see whom you haue here Shee will declare her selfe quoth Inquisition what she is but for the better vnderstanding of her talke you must think that you see .51 NuÌ„nes al Ladies by birth hauing all their noses vpper lippes flead of al flaming in a fire being shut into a church then do you imagine that you see this Lady the mistris and gouerner of the rest standing dismembred burning amongst the rest to say as foloweth The Lyfe of Ladye Ebbe Howe Lady Ebbe dyd flea her nose and vpper lippe away to saue her Virginitie DO nothing muse at my deformed face
strife in hande And though he were by forrain foes debarde And could not come him selfe yet he a bande Of thirtie thousand sent for to withstand My strength which strength in the fyrst foughten feelde They found so strong that forst they al did yeelde From Galba then my selfe his shield did get In golden feelde which had the horse of fame Euen Pegasus in seemely siluer set The curious skill of Heraultes there did frame Thasheument true of auncient Troy by name Imbordred braue with golden letters thus Senatus Populusque Romanus Wherewith as one priâ—t foorth with good successe â–ª A great attempt I quickly did deuise I ment O Rome vpon thy walles to presse It easye seemde to me in my surmise To commpasse all that I did enterprise Me thought I could winne al the worlde in haste But fyrst I ment the Romane state to waste I did prepare in euery poynt my powre I sayld the Seas I spoyled them of France I made the Germans and the Lumbartes lowre Yea good successe did so my state aduance In Italy such was my luckye chaunce I did subdue my souldiers had the spoyle Of all the chiefest Cities in that soyle See here howe Roming Rumor ranne about See how report did tel a truthlesse tale For Hannibal the Carthage Duke so stout Renide it sayd woulde once agayn assayle The Roman state and cause it nowe to quake Which false Report did put them in such feare Cities would yeelde before my Campe came neare His former feates the fuming fancies fed That doutful now affrighted sore with feare They tel howe at Trisemenus they sped In Cannas feeldes how they despoyled were They hate to tel they lothe that hap to heare A bushel there he fyld most true it is With golden Ringes Equestri ordinis And whilst their mindes on these mishaps do muse They wishe that nowe good Graccus were not dead For Fabius he who wysely would refuse Forthwith to fight they wish for such a head Camillus nowe would stand them in great stead And some with sighes did wishe for Scipio Them to defend from me there deadly foe But as the Lion passente once with feare Gardante a mouing mollhil did beholde From whence he thought some wonder would appeare A little Moule crepte from the mouing mould Which made the quaking Lion then so bolde Feare set a side that he for his delyght Playd with the Moule and kilde the strengthlesse wight So nowe the campe of Claudius did drawe neare Where he hym self was Lord cheefe general Which greatly did delyght my hart to heare And caused me my Captayne 's then to call To whome I sayde We two must striue for al The world so wide which if I chance to winne Then you your selues haue ample part therein Euen whilst I marcht my men in good aray A corsser post came praunsing in the fielde Who comming to my Cabbin thus dyd say Guidericus thy friendes at home be kilde Thy natiue soyle to forrayne force did yielde The Romans they haue spoylde thee of eche thing Thy brother there Aruiragus is kyng Which newes although they dyd amaze me much Yet I whose hart did neuer faynt for feare Although sayd I their good successe be such Yet if we can subdue the Romans here They shal I thinke buy Britayne very deare Which out of doubt yf you as you haue donne Will fight like men the fielde wil soone be wonne But they who hilde their wiues and children deare Could not digest the losse of that their lande For which they fledde left me their Chieftayne there When Claudius host to fight was euen at hande Whose mightie force I could not then withstande Yea all my pagâ— my footmen fled for feare And left me post alone with heauy cheare That cruell Queene of hel Proserpina From foorth whose loynes this Fury feare first fled Megeras sighes no no nor Medusa Who hath ten thousand Snakes about her head The fiery flames of hell doth not so dreade The minde as feare which makes mans hart we see To shake and quake like leafe of Aspen tree My Martial knyghtes who once so valiant were That they the worlde euen al the world would spoyle This fury fyerce this feeble fayntyng feare Did causlesse cause them thus here to recoyle Her only force inforst me to this soyle Not Caesars force no strength of Roman power But feare euen feare dyd make me here to lower Which feare for trueth dyd neuer me dismaye But too to soone my hartlesse men it made To shrinke to flinche to flee eche man his way And me a pray most fit for Claudius blade They left alone alas what may be sayde What may be done what fittes for mine auayle I wyl not flee to fight cannot preuayle What must I then go crouche vnto my foe Fy on that fate that I should sue for grace To hym who is the worker of my woe Whose hart from foorth his brest for to displace I gladly woulde ten thousand deathes imbrace My lyfe in faith doth lothe to liue with shame By death therfore my lyfe shall purchase fame For as I once did winne with courage stout In Galbas shielde the praunsing Pegasus So with renowne I nowe will go about To see if Claudius dare the cause discusse With me alone if couragious Dare do that deed that we in open feeld Mâ—y try the case then he or I must yeelde And therewithal in armour bright I clad Myne arming swoorde my Targate I did take And on my Helme or Burgonet I had My royal crowne and so I dyd forsake The place whereas my souldiers fled of late I marcht and met the scoute of Claudius To whom I dyd addresse my language thus The Britayne Kyng is come alone you see Conduct him then your Emprour to salute You for your paynes shal gayne a golden fee For why my grace to Claudius hath a sute The scurers they al silent mumme and mute Yet wel appayde of such a princely pray In hast they dyd to Caesar me conuay With ten times twentie thousand men I met Him marching there to meete with me but one To whom I sayde thy powre is passing great My force is fled what must I then bemone My selfe to thee not so but I alone Am come to know with Magnanimitie If thou dost dare to wrecke thy wrath on me The crowne for which so many men be slayne Thy Galbas shield with many iewels more Which vnto me do only appertayne For in the fielde I wonne them al of yore And vnto thee I wyl them not restore If thou as I canst winne them with renowne Then al is thine both realme and royal crowne Why doost thou muse as though thou wert dismayde Doeth doubtful dreade nowe daunt thy Roman mynde Faynt not for feare thou needst not be afrayde A Britayne borne thy selfe ryght well shalt fynde I am a man and not a God by kinde Wherewith to grounde a golden gauntlet I Dyd cast and he at last dyd thus reply Thou
sorrow did on euery side assayle My natiue soyle and being thus dismayde To Rome we seâ—â— for succour helpe and ayde Seuerus then by Bassianus sent To bring this realme vnto some quiet stay The Romans and the Brittaynes both were bent To bring the Scottes and Pictes to their decay Them to returne agayne to Scithya And at the last by good Seuerus ayde We them destroyde when we were most afrayde Whose force though twice the Romans felt to strong Yet at the last we got a goodly day Euen by my meanes who thrust into the throng Of Scots and Pictes I desperate ther dyd play The part of hym whom feare did neuer fray And at the last to end this mortall strife I did depriue king Lodrike of his life And when the Pictes did see their king depriude Of vitall life Lord how they fled the fielde They made me muse to see how fast they striude With staylesse steppes eche one his life to shielde Who could not flye he there with care was kilde So by my meanes my country did obtayne Her auncient state and liberty agayne At my returne I to Seuerus sayde See here how I with woundes am all bestead I cannot liue I feele how lyfe doth fade Lodrike him selfe did carue and cut my head For which my blade his lukewarme blood hath shed â–ª He cut my cap and I haue got his crowne He lost his lyfe and I haue found renowne Seuerus then vnto his Surgion sayde Heale hym and bryng him safe and sound agayne Thou for thy paynes with poundes shalt wel be payd And he shall haue such honoure for his payne As vnto him for euer shal remayne â–ª For by the Gods which rule the skies aboue His noble actes deserue eternal loue When by the skill of Surgions curious arte My hurtes were healde and holesome health ensude Seuerus then reioycing at the harte Made me a Lorde with wealth he me indude Yea he although my learning were but rude Senâ— me to Rome as Legate of this lande To make reporte how here our state did stande My deedes at home inrichte me with renowne My talke abroade with proper filed phrase Adornde my head euen with a Laurell crowne The Emperour did much commend my wayes So that I was bedeckt with double prayse I could not reade my lerning was but weake Yet they of Rome did muse to heare me speake As learned Arte doth geue a goodly grace To some so some by natures giftes do get Eternal fame and purchase them a place Aboue the place where learned men do siâ— We finde the fine dexteritye of wit In them which be both wise and ful of skill â–ª Yet neuer striude to clime Pernassus hill So I with prayse a time at Rome did stay And tracte of time returnde me baâ—ke agayne The Emperour he gaue my ryght away Within a while which made me storme amayne I had great cause me thought for to complayne Seuerus he was made the king of all The giftes he gaue to me were very small I was but made the Captayne of the coast From Forrayne force to keepe my realme in rest Seuerus he was crowned king in post Which did so boyle within my warrelike â—rest That I with griefe most strangely was distrest Shal he sayde I thus reape the high renowne Which I deserue Shal he inioy the Crowne I wonne the wreath and he wil weare the same I got the goale and he will get the gayne For me in faith it were a deadly shame If I in this his regall royall raygne Without repulse should suffer him remaine Which if I do then let the dreadfull darte Of Vulcans wrath torment in twayne my hart For why I see what seruile seruitude Shall then insue if he may â—aigne in rest Shall Bryttayn â—raue by Romanes be 〈◊〉 It shal no doubte by Romans be distrest Except my might against his might be prest My might as yet cannot his strength constraine Yet may my might compell him to complaine The drainyng droppes doo make the Marble yeelâ— In time the seas the cragged rockes do rende And Courtly Kinges by tearing time be kilde For time dooth make the mightie Okes to bende And time dooth make the litle twigges ascende So I in time such power may prepare As shal constraine Seuerus death with care But whylst I did indeuour to destroy Seuerus strength the Pictes were prickte with pride For theyr reuenge vs Britaynes to annoy Which when I hard in post I did prouide A power great then I in hast did ride And kept the Coast so strong with men of warre That no man coulde ariue to make or marre The poore Pictes preuented of their pray In waltering waues did bousâ— their bittter â—ayne They digde a diche and caught theyr owne decay On rockes theyr Barkes in seas them selues were slaine The Westerne windes with wo did them constrayne By Britayne bankes to make so long delaye I and the Seas brought them to their decay By meanes whereof my credite did increase Seuerus did esteeme me as his stay I from my fyrst deuises coulde not cease For aye I hopâ—e to haue a happy day To bring the Roman rule to their decay With fauning faâ—e good fortune smyled so I had my wyshe what might I hope for mo For into Spayne the Roman souldiours sent I had at home the might him to depriue Then wisely I al perilles to preuent Prouided so that no man could ariue No Picte nor Scot nor Roman then could striue With me at home then I the Lordes with speede Of Brirttayne calde and thus I did proceede The Roman rule vs subiect slaues hath made You se my Lordes a Roman heere doth raigne Whome to destroy my power shal inuade I do in deede this seruile life disdayne And you your selues do much therof complayne If you with helpe wyl me assiste I sweare The Roman rule shal haue no power here Then they most glad with one consent replide We wyl assist thee with what myght we may And we our selues most wylling wyl prouide No Britayne borne against thee shal display His shielde but al at the appoynted day As prest to please thy heste shal thee assist Winne thou the Crowne and weare it at thy list Which when I hard them say with one consent Blame not though pride did then possesse my hart For Princely Crowne â–ª the dreadfull dierie dent Of wrakful warre who would not feele the smart Of griping grefe who would not feele the dart Of dreadful death or who regardeth payne If he a Crowne and kingdome may obtayne For gunnehole grotes the countrie Clowne doth care Restlesse with ruth the Rusticke gets his gayne The Marchant man for welth doth send his ware About the worlde with perill and great payne And all the worlde for welth doth not disdayne Amidst the surge of mighty mounting Seas To caste them selues their owne delightes to please If to obtayne such trifles they do toyle And neuer ceasse to bring there driftes about Why should
twyst in twayne I graunt my sonne the Monarchie is myne For at his death thy father gaue it me For terme of life but let it nowe be thine I aged must goe pay the earth her fee I am content to liue with lesse degree O louing sonne geue eare vnto my hest I wyl not rule that charge for thee is best And when he myght not rule his mothers minde Agaynst his wyll he wylling did assent That al should be as I had then assignde To rule the worlde he greued was content And whilste that there my happie dayes I spent Reioycing much to see my sonnes successe I dyde and had a heauenly happinesse Thrice happye I who ranne this Royal race And in the ende my wished Goale did get For by my meanes al people did imbrace The fayth of Christ the orders I did set They were obayd with ioy which made me iet Euen in this blesse a better blesse befel I dyde and nowe my soule in heauen doth dwel So now you see the happye hap I had Learne then thereby to do as I haue done To prayse gods name let euery Prince be glad To persecute the truth let al men shunne By vertuous wayes great honor maye be wonne But he who doth to vices vile incline May be comparde vnto a filthie swine Who doth not loue the playne nor pleasant way He can not feare to sleepe amidst the greene But in the mire he doth delyght to lay So Princes such as vile and vicious beene Do tumble aye amidst a sinke of sinne Whose names on earth whose soules in hel remayne In infamye the other pincht with payne Let them that seeke for euerlasting fame Tread in the steppes that I before haue trod And he who would avoyd reprochful shame And flee the smart of Plutoes ruthful rod Let him not cease to learne the law of God Which onely lawe mans stumbling steppes doth 〈◊〉 Who walkes therein his feete can neuer slide The Induction BEholde quoth Memorye the effect of vertue and godlynesse If the contentatioÌ„ of the mind be perfecte happinesse as some Philosophers haue defynde it then no doubt this Queene was most happy and happp is hee who can imitate her in her happynesse But not long time after her there lyued a King named Vortiger who for his vice was as diuerslye afflicted as this Woman for her vertue was blessed I doo remember the wickednesse of this man was exceeding great Haue you founde hym out Inqusition is not this he good Memory quoth Inqusition I founde hym both sitting and sighing amongst the miserable and it would appeare that hee is ashamed to make rehearsall of thinges past It is euen he quoth Memorie you may know him by his fyry lookes for though it be long since hee liued yet he beareth about with hym the badge of his destruction Note you his story with dilygeÌ„ce good Inquisition for this is hee who subuerted the common weale of Brirtayne And you Sir Prince I doo coniure you by the duty you owe vnto mee who doo know all thinges that you doo heere repeate vnto vs the whole Story of your estate Wherewith he with smoking sighes greatly against his wyl saide as followeth ⧠The Complaynt of Vortiger ¶ How Vortiger destroyed the young kyng Constantine and howe he obteyned the Crowne howe the abusyng of his prosperitie brought hys Realme so lowe that he was constrayned to hyre souldyers to defend hym selfe from hys enimyes and howe after many miseries he was miserably burnt in his Castle by the brethren of Constantine BY quiet peace of Ianus ioylitie Their happy hauens with forewinds forst some haue By wrackful warres of Mars his crueltie With much adoo some get the Goale they craue By subtyl sleightes and fetches boulstred braue My haplesse hand dyd hyt with leueled lyne The aymed marke the more mishap was myne By gyftes of grace some men haue happy hap By blessed byrth to Kyngdomes borne some be Succession sets some men in Fortunes lap By wisedome wyt and prudent policie Some clyme aloft by trustlesse treacherie And courage dooth a multitude aduaunce Driftes finely filde they dyd my state inhaunce I Vortiger by byrth was borne a Lorde Kyng Constantine his Coosin did me call I cride amayne and clapt his crowne a borde And for a tyme til Fortune forst my fall With restlesse blesse I sate in stately stall But men of warre of much more might then I For my desert my carefull corpes did fry As furious force of fiery flashing flame With Cinders brought my body to decay So smulderyng smokes of euerlasting shame Reude my renowne and wipte my fame away What may I more of my misfortune say I sigh to see I silent ceasse to tell What me destroide and drownd my soule in hel Here to repeate the partes that I haue playd Were to vnâ—ippe a trusse of trumpery For me to shew how I aloft was stayde Were to erect a schoole of Trechery Silence is best let no man learne by me Nor by my meanes how they by wicked waies From low estate aloft them selues may rayse As good men can by wicked workes beware So wicked men by wicked workes be wise If ill men reade my deedes which wicked were They by my meanes will compasse their surmise For wicked workers dayly do deuise To make examples vile and vicious To stand in stead to serue their lawlesse lust The Serpent thence his venym vile dooth drawe From whence the Bee her honny sweete dooth get Leawd liuers learne to breake the written lawe By that whereby good men doo learne much wit. For wicked men eche fetche is thought most fyt To serue their turne therefore I compt it best To leaue my faultes and follyes vnconfest Geue leaue therefore good Memory I may Not here repeate my tedious Tragedy Inquiry let me nowe departe away My common weale subuerted was by me I leawdly liude and dyde in misery And for my faultes I felt disdayneful smarte Let this suffice and let me nowe departe With that he seemde as on that would away But Memory stay stay thy steppes quoth she Let wicked men procure their owne decay We recke it not if warned once they be Let that suffice and let thy misery Make iust report how vayne and vile a thing It is to liue as a vsurping King. Sith needes I must repented faultes forerunne Repeat and tel the fal and foyle I felt Patience perforce to speake shame bids me shunne To thinke thereof dooth make my harte to melte But sith I needes must shewe howe here I delt I am contente to tell the truth of al Let wise men learne to stande which reade my fal For first I causde the young king Constantine Of faythlesse Scots and Pictes to make his garde They by my meanes did kil their kyng in fine For which with speede I sent them al to warde And hangde them al their cause was neuer harde So I who fyrst did cause them kil their king To stop their mouthes them al to
place here O Memorie quoth Inquisition they of the reformed Church be the most zelous Pastoures of the world moste of theÌ„ both godly good liuers and wise and in my fancye in many poyntes greatly deseruing the name of reformed But this man was both a Prince and a Prelate whome I refused oftentimes to heare because he looked so deuoutly yet he beeing importunate did ouercome me with his prayers and when I gaue eare vnto him I reioyced And not without a cause good Memorye for it is euen he whom you sent me to seeke Let me see quoth Memorie is it Cadwallader In good time it is euen he in deede O se what the alteration of apparel doth in good fayth I had almost forgotten the man he was the last King of the Brittaynes and when thinges would not fal out after his desire he went to Rome and there he became a Frier But we wyl not accuse him of anye thing let him do the thing that he commeth for you may perswade your selfe that seing he is of the Church his conscience wyl constrayne him in euery thing to tel the truth Then he stepped forthe booted and spurde al in blacke with a long priestes Gowne a square cappe a Scala Caeli in his hande and a longe payre of Beades by his side then he sighing proceeded vnto his purpose and said as followeth ⧠The Complaynt of Cadwallader How Cadwallader the last King of the Brittaynes â–ª after he had behaued him selfe very valiantly against the Saxons resigned his Crowne and went to Rome where he liued in a religious house This storye contayneth in it the estate of al estates You mourning Muses al where euer you remayne Assist my sobbing soule this drierye tale to tell You furious Furies fearce of Lymbo Lake belowâ— Helpe to vnlade my brest of al the bale it beares And you who felte the falle from honors high renowne FroÌ„ graues you grizie ghosts seÌ„d forth to help me mourn O Pallas geue thou place that mourning Clio may On Lute lamenting sound and sing my doleful dumpes Let riming metered lines and and pleasant Musike cease Let Satyres sollome sound sende forth the fall I felt And when the truth of al my Tragedie is knowne Let them that liue then learne al things must haue an end The Persian Monarch and Medes it downe did fal That of Assiria in tracte of time did end Yea Alexanders force in fight subdude them both And brought the worlde so wide into one Monarchie What though the fretting force of Fate did him dismâ—y He felt at laste the foyle his vaunting was in vayne He dead the worlde it was deuided as before The Roman Emperie came tumbling downe at last And where is Troy and Greece and mightie Macedon They flourishte for a tyme like this my little I le The Soldian brought them downe and did theyr states destroy Euen so the Saxons brought the Britayns to the bay Euen these mine eyes did see that hateful â–ª hidious sight These feeble handes when long they labourde had in vaine Dyd yeeld their interest then thus I did complayne Who can refrayne the force of mightye mounting Seas When bellowes make a breache and beate the banckes adown Doth not the saltish surge then beate the bankes adown Then man may not withstand the the rigor of their rage But wisedome would haue kept the waues within their boundes Counsayle doth come to late when hope of helpe is past Such was my filthye fate my lewde and lothsome lucke I sought a salue to cure and helpe the helpelesse wound For long before my tyme seuen Kings were setled here The Saxons such as dwelt by East Sibertus rulde The Angles in the East Redwallus â—ulde as king Then Ethelbert was king of all the coast of Kent In Southsex Ethelwolfus wore the regall crowne Then Quincillinus was a Saxon king by west Of Martia in the midst king Penda was the Prince And Edwin in Northumberland did rule and raygne How dyd my Grandsire grand renowmed Arthur he These seuen destroye wyth deadly field of wrackfull warre â–ª But Mordred made the meane that brought them in agayne Vorâ—iporus wyth warre almost consumde them all Then Malgo he with peace restorde agayne their state Cariticus the synne of Ciuil stryfe did loue For which Gurmundus did the Britaynes much annoy Then Cadwin out of Wales kyng Etheldred did spoyle Cadwalline then did force king Penda to a foyle And I Cadwallader at last did presse in place Then Lothar king of Kent in warre that wretch I slue And Ethiwolne â—he king of Southsaxons I spoylde The other fiue did me inuade with cruel fight With whom in diuers warres I diuersly did speed Somtime Bellona blewe a blessed blaste for me And changed chaunce somtime did farce my men to flee Whilst thus I wagde my warres in secrete silent night The very voyce of God it thus to me did speake Thou striust ageinst the streame the tide doth beate thee backe Strike thou thy Sailes take Ancor hold els must thou feele a wracke â–ª Which saying did in deede amaze me more by muche Then al the force that man against my wil might bende For who the wyll of God with weapons may resist And when as sinne hath solde a countrye to decay Then prayer must preuayle for weapons will not helpe And when the end is come when all the glasse is runne Who can resist the force of Fate and destinies Who things forerunne to fal from falling can refraine It passeth mortall might to bring such thinges about Let man content himselfe to do what best he may By trying too to much no man his God may tempte But mortall man must thinke that God the best doth knowe Who can depresse to dust and cayse when best him please And as I thus amidst my musinges did remayne I did resigne my crowne and deemde al honoures vayne And though it greeude me muche to feele the fall I felte Yet was I well content I could not as I would For which I left my lande my people and my place The Saxons they obtaynde the wage for which they warrde When I three yeares had raygnd without one day of rest Euen then in mourning robes at Rome I did ariue And there contemning all the worlde and worldly thinges I made my selfe a Monke ceasse Memory to muse A Monke I made my selfe thou knowst it passing playne Amongste the Friers there I led my lyngring life And tyll my dying day I daily did deuise How by my meanes it might to all the worlde be knowne That mortall flesh is frayle and euery thing must fade And euen amongst those thinges which Nature doth create Nothing so vile as man amongst the rest is founde Which made Heraclitus with ceasslesse sighes to wayle He to hys dying day did nothing els but weepe Affirming all the worlde vnder the heauen to be A path of penitence a maze of misery What is the life of man but care and daily toyle Bearyng alwayes about
al my Realme proclame At which both Danes and Englishmen did meete Then secretely my friendes and I did frame That Englishmen the Danes shoulde friendly greete And at the feast that they shoulde doo their feate And that they might the better woorke their wyl They thus were plast according vnto skil Two before one and three before fyue Here two and there two and foure then beliue Here one and there one and three at a cast Then one and twice two and one at the last They mingled thus the watchworde wysely geuen And Englishmen with weapons wel bestead The Danes amidst their Cuppes were shauen shriuen Fiue hundred thousand in one day were dead Nowe note the ende of blood so beastly shed For Swane the king of Denmarke did ariue He for reuenge did me to Richard driue Marke here howe lawlesse policies preuaile Their good successe doo promise present payne What May mans vayne deuises ought auaile Dishonest deedes no honour can obtayne Al murthering Massacers be vile and vayne Such suttle slayghtes haue neuer good successe The proofe whereof with payne I here expresse For Swane with swoorde and fyre did destroye Both man and beast and euery earthly thing He did that noble London much annoy He wonne the Realme and was the Englishe king When tract of time him to his Beere did bring Canutus then his sonne did him succeede Whom to displace I did despatch with speede My brother Richarde Duke of Normandy Of Normans gaue to me a goodly bande By helpe of whom Canutus forst to flee I got agayne the kingdome of Englande But out alas what thing may fyrmely stande Whose vnder propt is of so litle might That want of strength dooth let thinges drop downright Canutus did from Denmarke nowe returne The wrathful wight appoynted passyng strong My subiectes slue my Cities he did burne Which when I hearde I liude not very long My faynting hart was thronged with a throng Of cares which broke it in my feareful brest And so at last death brought my bones to â—est Twice tenne and eight I ranne my ruthful race And then in Paules my cursed corps was layde Canutus did my common weale deface The Danes were kinges my kingdome was decayde This worlde is frayle and euery thing must fade But alwayes that which wanteth gouernment That fyrst dooth feele the force of dangers dent The Induction O Memory quoth Inquisition what dyd become of Edmunde Ironsyde of whom you made mention in your former induction That vertuous valiaunt Prince quoth Memory was miserably made away by an Earle By an Earle quoth Inquisition I haue here an Earle called Edricus who murthered a Kynge it maye bee that chaunce hath yeelded vntoo vs the factour vnlooked for He is euen the same sayd Memory and hys Tragedye is very necessarie for hee as thys woorthie Kyng was set on a Priuie to doo as nature and necessitie dooth constrayne caused hym miserably to bee thrust vp into the fundament wyth a Speare wherewith the good Prince ended hys dayes If we doo heare hym geue hym warnyng quoth Inquisition that hee be briefe for wee haue no tyme too bestowe in hearing the complayntes of those miserable Princes and yet wee muste needes heare one more besyde hym Let him therefore goe roundly to the purpose He shal not be tedious quoth Memory Wherewith the wretched man sayde as foloweth ⧠The Complaint of Edricus ¶ Howe Edricus destroyed the valiant king Edmunde Ironsyde hoping to haue greate preferment for his labour of Canutus the Dane and howe the same Canutus caused him to be headed for his labour A necessary example for al such as thinke by craft and deceite to increase their credite YOu hellish hagges of Limbo Lake belowe Which dayly doo my cursed corps torment Come forth come forth come forth I say and shewe Howe I on earth my dismal dayes haue spent And wil you not you wretched wightes assent To helpe me here to tell that drierie tale Which may amongst men liuing much preuayle O cursed ghost condemde to endelesse thral Sith they refuse to aide thee in this neede Doo thou declare and tel the truth of al That men aliue my wretched woorkes may reade And see the fruite of suttle Satans seede Auoyding vice and fancies fonde delight Note wel my tale the truth I shal recite When Etheldrede had geuen Canutus place Edmunde dis sonne surnamed Ironside Deuising howe he might his foe deface By wrath of warre the cause they did decide And in the ende the Realme they did deuide Edmunde had hâ—lfe Canutus had the rest Then they with peace and quietnesse were blest O blinde beleefe O hope of higher hope Why did you moue my minde to meditate Howe I in woe king Edmunde might inwrap And howe I might depresse my kinges estate Thou blinde beleefe thou breeder of debate I wanting grace did let thee moue my minde Causlesse to kil a courteous king and kinde He being kilde I to Canutus went To whom I sayd See here a faythful friend I for thy loue with bloody blade haue bent And brought my king to his vntimely ende Thou by that meanes shalt rule thy realme with rest My friendly fist with happie good successe Hath thee inricht with blisse and happinesse Hast thou quoth he destroyde thy souerayn king Thou faythlesse fauning friende for loue of me Thou verlet vile and couldste thou doo the thing The which might more abridge my libertie O heynous acte O bloody crueltie But sith that loue did moue thee doo that deede Thou for thy paynes shalt be preferde with speede Wherwith in hast he to the hangman said Let this mans head the hyghest place obtayne On London walles wherewith I neuer stayde But on a blocke my necke was cut in twayne In all mens sighte my head did long remayne See here what wit the grape of hope dooth yeeld See on what sand such buste braynes do builde O hateful thing that fancies fonde delight The sense of mortal man should senselesse make When vices vaunts with vertues deedes dare fyght Then dooth the soule the hapyie heauens forsake Then man makes hast to Plutoes sothsome sake Why should man loue that sugered sowre sweete Which wisedoms lore to lothe hath thought most meete FINIS The Induction THe iust rewarde for so vile an offence dothe proue quoth Inquisition this Canutus to bee both a wise and a worthy Prince Yea saide Memory yf he had liued amoÌ„gst those pratling Poetes which made so muche tattle of Hector Hercules certaynely he should not haue been inferiour vnto eche of them This Canutus was king at one time of foure kingdomes as for Englande and Scotlande and Norway he held them by conquest By birth he was the kyng of Denmarke yea he so demeaned him selfe that duryng his lyfe all these foure kingdomes honoured him with the honoure due vnto a natiue king But not long after his death that good king Saint Edmunde the confessour obtayned agayne the rule of Englande but chiefely