41 For now his vncle Gloster much repin'd Against this French alliance and this peace As either out of a tumultuous minde Which neuer was content the warres should cease Or that he did dishonorable finde Those articles which did our State decrease And therefore storm'd because the Crowne had wrong Or that he fear'd the King would growe too strong 42 But whatsoeuer mov'd him this is sure Hereby he wrought his ruine in the end And was a fatall cause that did procure The swift approching mischiefes that attend For loe the King no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T'attache the Duke when he thought least of it 43 And Fortune to set forward this intent The Cont S. Paule from France doth hither bring Whom Charles The sixt imploy'd in complement To see the Queene and to salute the King To whom he shewes his Vncles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his Subiectes sought to sulleuate And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 44 To whom the Cont most cunningly replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such iealousies And rid you of such mutiners as these By cutting off that which might greater rise And now at first preuenting this disease And that before he shall your wrath disclose For who threats first meanes of reuenge doth lose 45 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guiltie by your lawes You easier shall with him your quarrell trie Dead then aliue who hath the better cause For in the murmuring vulgar vsually This publique course of yours compassion drawes Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat 46 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes blood-shed much How iust-soeuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse As so shall you obseruing formall right Be held still as vniust and win more spight 47 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard For thereby shall you scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world too afterward What neede you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compar'd And therefore if you will be rul'd by me In secret sort let him dispatched bee 48 And then arraigne the chiefe of those you finde Were of his faction secretly compact Who may so well be handled in their kinde As their confessions which you shall exact May both appease the aggrieued peoples minde And make their death to aggrauate their fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 49 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest wayes Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easily to any course obayes For euery Prince seeing his daunger neere By any meanes his quiet peace assaies And still the greatest wrongs that euer were Haue then been wrought when Kings were put in feare 50 Call'd in with publique pardon and release The Duke of Gloster with his complices All tumults all contentions seem to cease The land rich people pleas'd all in happinesse When sodainely Gloster came caught with peace VVarwicke with profered loue and promises And Arundell was in with cunning brought Who else abrode his safetie might haue wrought 51 Long was it not ere Gloster was conuayd To Calice and there strangled secretly VVarwicke and Arundell close prisoners laid Th' especiall men of his confederacie Yet VVarwickes teares and base confessions staide The doome of death and came confin'd thereby And so prolongs this not long base-begg'd breath But Arundell was put to publique death 52 Which publique death receiv'd with such a cheare As not a sigh a looke a shrink bewrayes The least felt touch of a degenerous feare Gaue life to Enuie to his courage prayse And made his stout-defended cause appeare With such a face of Right as that it layes The side of wrong t'wards him who had long since By Parliament forgiuen this offence 53 And in the vnconceiuing vulgar sort Such an impression of his goodnes gaue As Sainted him and rays'd a strange report Of miracles effected on his Graue Although the Wise whome zeale did not transport Knew how each great example still must haue Something of wrong a taste of violence Wherewith the publique quiet doth dispense 54 The King foorth-with prouides him of a Guard A thousand Archers daily to attend Which now vpon the act he had prepar'd As th' argument this actions to defend But yet the world hereof conceiu'd so hard That all this nought auaild him in the end In vaine with terror is he fortified That is not guarded with firme loue beside 55 Now storme his grieued Vncles though in vaine Not able better courses to aduise They might their grieuance inwardly complaine But outwardly they needes must temporise The King was great and they should nothing gaine T' attempt reuenge or offer once to rise This league with Fraunce had made him now so strong That they must needes as yet indure this wrong 56 For like a Lion that escapes his boundes Hauing beene long restrain'd his vse to stray Ranges the restless woods stayes on no groūd Riots with blood-shed wantons on his praie Seekes not for neede but in his pride to wound Glorying to see his strength and what he may So this vnbridled King freed of his feares In liberty himself thus wildely beares 57 For standing now alone he sees his might Out of the compasse of respectiue awe And now beginnes to violate all right While no restraining feare at hand he saw Now he exacts of all wastes in delight Riots in pleasure and neglects the law He thinkes his Crowne is licenst to do ill That lesse should list that may do what it wil. 58 Thus b'ing transported in this sensuall course No friend to warne no counsell to withstand He still proceedeth on from bad to worse Sooth'd in all actions that he tooke in hand By such as all impietie did nurse Commending euer what hee did command Vnhappie Kings I that neuer may be taught To know themselues or to discerne their fault 59 And whilst this course did much the kingdome daunt The Duke of Herford being of courage bolde As sonne and heire to mighty Iohn of Gaunt Vtters the passion which he could not holde Concerning these oppressions and the want Of gouernment which he to Norfolke told To th' end he being great about the king Might do some good by better counselling 60 Hereof doth Norfolke presently take hold And to the king the whole discourse relate Who not conceipting it as it was told But iudging it proceeded out of hate Disdeigning deepely to be
former acts did run Vnto that course they see th' effects relate Whil'st still too short they come or cast too far And make these great men wiser then they ar 100 But by degrees he ventures now on blood And sacrifiz'd vnto the peoples loue The death of those that chiefe in enuie stood As th'Officers who first these dangers proue The Treasurer and those whom they thought good Bushy and Greene by death he must remoue These were the men the people thought did cause Those great exactions and abus'd the lawer 101 This done his cause was preacht with learned skill By Arundel th'Archbishop who there show'd A Pardon sent from Rome to all that will Take part with him and quit the faith they ow'd To Richard as a Prince vnfit and ill On whom the Crowne was fatally bestow'd And easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught With what the mouth of grauity had taught 102 O that this power from euerlasting giuen The great alliance made twixt God and vs Th' intelligence that earth doth hold with heauen Sacred Religion ô that thou must thus Be made to smooth our wayes vniust vneuen Brought from aboue earth-quarrels to discusse Must men beguile our soules to winne our wils And make our Zeale the furtherer of ils 103 But the ambitious to aduance their might Dispense with heauen and what Religion would The armed will finde right or els make right If this meanes wrought not yet an other should And this and other now do all incite To strength the faction that the Duke doth hold Who easily obtained what he sought His vertues and his loue so greatly wrought 104 The King still busied in this Irish warre Which by his valour there did well succeed Had newes how here his Lords reuolted are And how the Duke of Herford doth proceede In these affaires he feares are growne too farre Hastes his returne from thence with greatest speed But was by tempests windes and seas debarr'd As if they likewise had against him warr'd 105 But at the length though late in Wales he lands Where thoroughly in form'd of Henries force And well aduertis'd how his owne case stands Which to his griefe be sees tends to the worse He leaues Auwâ—rie at Milford all those bandes He brought from Ireland taking thence his course To Conway all disguis'd with fourteene more To th' Earle of Salisburie thither sent before 106 Thinking the Earle had rays'd some Armie there Whom there he findes forsaken all alone The forces in those parts which leuied were Were closely shrunke away disperst and gone The king had stayd too long and they in feare Resolued euerie man to shift for one At this amas'd such fortune he laments Foresees his fall whereto each thing consents 107 In this disturb'd tumultuous broken State Whil'st yet th' euent stood doubtfull what should bee Whilst nought but headlong running to debate And glittering troupes and armor men might see Furie and feare compassion wrath and hate Confus'd through all the land no corner free The strong all mad to strife to ruine bent The weaker waild the aged they lament 108 And blame their many yeeres that liue so long To see the horrour of these miseries Why had not we said they di'd with the strong In forraine fieldes in honourable wise In iust exployts and noble without wrong And by the valiant hand of enemies And not thus now reserued in our age To home-confusion and disordered rage 109 Vnto the Temples flocke the weake deuout Sad wayling Women there to vow and pray For husbands brothers or their sonnes gone out To blood-shed whom nor teares nor loue could stay Here graue religious Fathers which much doubt The sad euents these broyles procure them may As Prophets warne exclaime disswade these crimes By the examples fresh of other times 110 And ô what do you now prepare said they Another Conquest by these fatall wayes What must your owne hands make your selues a pray To desolation which these tumults rayse What Dane what Norman shall prepare his way To triumph on the spoyle of your decayes That which nor Fraunce nor all the world could do In vnion shall your discord bring you to 111 Conspire against vs neighbour nations all That enuie at the height whereto w' are growne Coniure the barbarous North and let them call Strange furie from farre distant shores vnknowne And let them altogether on vs fall So to diuert the ruine of our owne That we forgetting what doth so incense May turne the hand of malice to defence 112 Calme these tempestuous spirits O mighty Lord This threatning storme that ouer-hangs the Land Make them consider ere they'vnsheath the sword How vaine is th' earth this point where on they stand And with what sad calamities is stor'd The best of that for which th' Ambitious band Labor the ende of labor strife of strife Terror in death and horrour after life 113 Thus they in zeale whose humbled thoughts were good Whil'st in this wide-spread volume of the skies The booke of Providence disclosed stood Warnings of wrath foregoing miseries In lines of fire and characters of blood There fearefull formes in dreadfull flames arise Amazing Comets threatning Monarchs might And new-seene Starres vnknowne vnto the night 114 Red fierie Dragons in the ayre do flye And burning Meteors pointed-streaming lightes Bright Starres in midst of day appeare in skie Prodigious monsters ghastly fearefull sights Strange Ghostes and apparitions terrifie The wofull mother her owne birth affrightes Seeing a wrong deformed infant borne Grieues in her paines deceiv'd in shame doth mourne 115 The earth as if afeard of blood and wounds Trembles in terrour of these falling bloes The hollow concaues giue out groning sounds And sighing murmures to lament our woes The Ocean all at discord with his boundes Reiterates his strange vntimely flowes Nature all out of course to checke our course Neglects her worke to worke in vs remorse 116 So great a wracke vnto it selfe doth lo Disorder'd proud mortalitie prepare That this whole frame doth euen labour so Her ruine vnto frailty to declare And trauailes to fore-signifie the wo That weake improuidence could not beware For heauen and earth and ayre and seas and all Taught men to see but not to shun their fall 117 Is man so deare vnto the heauens that they Respect the wayes of earth the workes of sinne Doth this great All this Vniuersall weigh The vaine designes that weakenesse doth begin Or doth our feare father of zeale giue way Vnto this errour ignorance liues in And deeme our faults the cause that moue these powres That haue their cause from other cause then ours 118 But these beginnings had this impious Warre Th'vngodly blood-shed that did so defile The beautie of thy fields and euen did marre The flowre of thy chiefe pride thou fairest Ile These were the causes that incenst so farre The ciuill wounding hand in rag'd with spoyle That now the liuing with afflicted eye Looke backe with griefe
thing he mus'd And hauing stay'd Seem'd to read on againe but yet reades not And still a stealing side-cast looke conuai'd On her sweet face as if he had forgot To be else-where then where he did behold And thought not what he did but what he would 55 But least his sodaine passion might haue there More witnesses then he would wish to haue He tooke vp his desires which posting were Beyond their stages and this answere gaue Madam we will our selfe take time to heare Your Cause at large wherein we wil you haue No other reference but repaire to vs Who will accommodate this businesse 56 She that expected present remedie Hearing this dilatory answer thought The King found scruple in the equitie Of her request and thereupon he sought To put her to delayes of Court whereby She might be try'd and in the end get nought And that which her opinion made more strong Was that he studied and was mute so long 57 Which forc't from her these wordes My Lord Let not my being a Lancastrian bred Without mine owne election disafford Me right or make my Cause disfigured Since I am now the subiect of your sword Which God hath with your Right established To doo vs right and let not what wee were Be now the cause to hurt vs as we are 58 Ladie mistake me not neuer did I Make war with women nor vs'd womens war Reuenge but prosecuted honestly My Right not Men. My quarrels ended are With my obtayning of the victorie And Lady knowe your Cause moues me thus far As you shall finde sayd hee I doo desire To doo you greater right then you require 59 With this they part both with their thoughts full charg'd She of her sute in hand and he of her Wherein he spends that night and quite discharg'd All other cogitations to confer First how he might haue her estate inlarg'd Then in what sort her seruice to prefer Vnto his new exspected Wife and Queene Then how to maske his loue from being seene 60 For yet Lust was not growne to that degree To haue no limits but that shame kept-in The greatest Greatnes from this being free To hold their Wantonness to be no sinne For though Kings cannot ouer-maistred bee They will be ouer-lookt and seene within And though they could their weaknesses make sure Yet crymes though safe can neuer be secure 61 Sometimes he thinks it better to prouide A place retyr'd and haue her from the Court And then with what pretentions he might hide His priuat comming and his oft resort Then by his Queene if it should be espi'd How he might cleare with her and stop report And thus consumes the night and if hee slept He slept those thoughts that with these passions kept 62 The morning being com'n and glad he was That it was com'n after so long a night He thought would haue no morning time did passe So slowe and his desires ran-on so light A messenger with speed dispatched was Of speciall trust this Lady to inuite To come t' his presence though before the time That Ladies rise who rarely rise be time 63 Yet soone shee hastes and yet that soone seem'd long To him whose longing went so swift a pase And frets that such attyring should belong To that which yeelds it selfe sufficient grace Consid'ring how these ornaments may wrong The set of beautie which we see doth grace Th' attire it weares and is not grac't thereby As be'ing that onely which doth take the eye 64 But now be'ing com'n that quarrell of delay Streight ended was her presence satisfies All what Expectance had layd out for stay And he be held more sweetnesse in her eyes And saw her more then she was yesterday A cheerliness did with her hopes arise That lamped cleerer then it did before And made her spirit and his affections more 65 When those who were about him presently Voyded the roome and left him to confer Alone with his faire Suter priuatly As they who to his courses conscious were And he began Madame the remedie Which you in your Petition sue-for here Shall be allow'd to th' vtmost that you craue With th' expedition you would wish to haue 66 And here I haue another sute to you Which if you please to grant wee both shall now Rest equally content Wherewith there grew That so daine alteration in her brow As all were ouer-cast and so with-drew That freedome from her lookes least they should ' low More then her heart might meane as they reflect A narrower and a carefuller aspect 67 That when he saw this barrier of dislike Thus inter-set to keepe his forwardnes Backe from presumptiue pressing it did strike That reuerence as it staide him to expresse His farther will And she replies 'T is like When Kings to subiects sue they meane no less Then to command nor must they be withstood For-that good Kings will seeke but what is good 68 And in that faire respect your Maiestie According to your will both must and may Command my seruice who most reuerently Your royall pleasure euer shall obay With which word pleasure though it doubtfully In that hard fastnesse of condition lay Vnder the locke of goodnesse he was cast In hope he might obtaine the same at last 69 And thus reioynes My pleasure only shall Be Madame for your good please it but you To make it so And here to tell you all I loue you and therein I tell you true What honour may by Kings affections fall Must light vpon your fortunes as your due And though France shall a Wife for fashion bring You must be th' onely mistress of the King 70 Streight might you see how Scorne and Feare Shame All intermixt in one aspect returne The message of her thoughts before words came And first within her brow in state sute Scorne Shame in her Cheekes where also Feare became An In-mate too and both appeare by turne Blushes did paleness paleness blushes chace As scorning fearing shaming such disgrace 71 She scornes to be addeem'd so worthlesse-base As to bee mov'd to such an infamie She shames to thinke that ought within her face Should breed th' opinion of immodestie Shee feares the fatall daunger of the place Her'loneness and the powre of Maiestie And so confus'd in feare in shame in scorne This Answere to his Motion doth returne 72 My sov'raigne Lord it grieues me that you deeme Because I in this sort for Iustice sue I would the same with mine owne wrong redeeme And by dishonour reobtaine my due No I would hate that right which should but seeme To be beholding to a wanton view Or motiue of my person not my Cause That craues but right from Iustice and your lawes 73 And knowe great Monarch that I more doo waigh My Distaffe with mine honour then I doo The mightiest Scepter King did euer sway Vpon the earth or Nations bow'd vnto I owe subiection which I humbly pay With all the outward seruice I can doo But Sov'raigne
THE WHOLE VVORKES OF SAMVEL DANIEL Esquire in Poetrie LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES for SIMON WATERSON and are to be sold at his shoppe in Paules Church-yard at the Signe of the Crowne 1623. TO THE HIGH and most Illustrious Prince CHARLES His Excellence SIR PResents to gods were offered by the hands of graces and why not those of great Princes by those of the Muses To you therefore Great Prince of Honor and Honor of Princes I ioyntly present Poesie and Musicke in the one the seruice of my defunct Brother in the other the duty of my selfe liuing in both the douotion of two Brothers your Highnes humble seruants Your Excellence then who is of such recommendable fame with all Nations for the curiosity of your rare Spirit to vnderstand and ability of Knowledge to iudge of all things I humbly inuite leauing the Songs of his Muse who liuing so sweetly chanted the glory of your High Name Sacred is the fame of Poets Sacred the name of Princes To which Humbly bowes and vowes Himselfe euer your Highnesse Seruant Iohn Daniel TO THE RIGHT NOBLE Lady the Lady Marie Countesse Dowager of Pembrooke MADAME THis Poëm of our last Ciuile Warres of England whereof the many Editions shewe what kinde of intertainement it hath had with the world I haue now againe sent-forth with the addition of two bookes the one continuing the course of the Historie the other making-vp a part which for haste was left vnfurnisht in the former Impressions And hauing nothing else to doo with my life but to worke whil'st I haue it I held it my part to adorne the best I could this Prouince Nature hath allotted to my Charge and which I desire to leaue after my death in the best forme I may seeing I can erect no other pillars to sustaine my memorie but my lines nor otherwise pay my debts and the recknings of my gratitude to their honour who haue donne me good and furthered this Worke. And whereas this Argument was long since vndertaken in a time which was not so well secur'd of the future as God be blessed now it is with a purpose to shewe the deformities of Ciuile Dissension and the miserable euents of Rebellions Conspiracies and bloudy Reuengements which followed as in a circle vpon that breach of the due course of Succession by the Vsurpation of Hen. 4 and thereby to make the blessings of Peace and the happinesse of an established Gouernment in a direct Line the better to appeare I trust I shall doo a gratefull worke to my Countrie to continue the same vnto the glorious Vnion of Hen. 7 from whence is descended our present Happinesse In which worke I haue carefully followed that truth which is deliuered in the Historie without adding to or subtracting from the general receiu'd opinion of things as we finde them in our common Annalles holding it an impietie to violate that publike Testimonie we haue without more euident proofe or to introduce fictions of our owne imagination in things of this nature Famae rerum standum est Though I knowe in these publike actions there are euer popular bruites and opinions which run according to the time the biass of mens affections and it is the part of an Historian to recite them not to rule thē especially otherwise then the circumstances may induce according to that modest saying Nec affirmare sustinco de quibus dubito nec subducere quae accepi I haue onely vsed that poeticall licence of framing speaches to the persons of men according to their occasions as C. Salustius and T. Liuius though Writers in Prose yet in that kinde Poets haue with diuers other antient and modern Writers done before me Wherein though they haue incroched vpon others rights and vsurpt a part that was not properly theirs yet seeing they hold so iust a proportion with the nature of men and the course of affayres they passe as the partes of the Actor not the Writer and are receiu'd with great approbation And although many of these Images are drawne with the pencil of mine owne conceiuing yet I knowe they are according to the portraiture of Nature and carrie a resemblance to the life of Action and their complexions whom they represent For I see Ambition Faction and Affections speake euer one Language weare like colours though in seuerall fashions feed and are fed with the same nutriments and only vary but in time Man is a creature of the same dimension he was and how great and eminent foeuer hee bee his measure and height is easie to be taken And all these great actions are openly presented on the Stage of the World where there are euer Spectators who will iudge and censure how men personate those parts which they are set to perform and so enter them in the Records of Memorie And if I haue erred somewhat in the draught of the young Q. Isabel wife to Ric. 2. in not suting her passions to her yeares I must craue fauour of my credulous Readers and hope the young Ladies of England who peraduenture will thinke themselues of age sufficient at 14 yeares to haue a feeling of their owne estates will excuse me in that point For the rest setting-aside those ornaments proper to this kinde of Writing I haue faithfully obserued the Historie Wherein such as loue this Harmony of words may finde that a Subiect of the greatest grauitie will be aptly exprest howsoeuer others seeing in what sort Verse hath beene idly abused hold it but as a language fitting Lightnes and Vanitie For mine owne part I am not so far in love with this forme of Writing nor haue I sworne Fealtie onely to Ryme but that I may serue in any other state of Inuention with what weapon of vtterance I will and so it may make good my minde I care not For I see Iudgement and Discretion with whatsoeuer is worthy carry their owne Ornaments and are grac't with their owne beauties be they apparayled in what fashion they will And because I finde the common tongue of the world is Prose I purpose in that kinde to write the Historie of England from the Conquest being incouraged thereunto by many noble worthy Spirits Although Madame I must not neglect to prosecute the other part of this Worke being thus reuiued by your Goodnes to whome and to whose Noble Family I hold my selfe euer bound and will labour to doo you all the honor and service I can SAM DANYEL THE FIRST BOOKE THE ARGVMENT What times fore-goe Richard the seconds Raigne The fatall causes of this ciuile VVarre His Vneles pride his greedy Minions gaine Glosters reuolt and death deliuered are Herford accus'd exil'd call'd back againe Pretendes t' amend what others Rule did morre The King from Ireland hastes but did no good VVhil'st strange prodigious signes fore-token blood 1 I Sing the ciuill Warres tumultuous Broyles And bloody factions of a mightie Land Whose people hautie proud with forraine spoyles Vpon themselues turn-backe their conquering hand
we iudg'd with an vnpartiall hart 39 And first for you my Lord in griefe we see The miserable case wherein you stand Voyde here of succour helpe or maiestie On this poore promontorie of your Land And where how long a time your Grace may be Expecting what may fall into your hand Wee know not since th' euent of things do lie Clos'd vp in darkenes farre from mortall eye 40 And how vnfit it were you should protract Long time in this so dangerous disgrace As though that you good spirit and courage lackt To issue out of this opprobrious place When euen the face of Kings do oft exact Feare and remorse in faultie subiects base And longer stay a great presumption drawes That you were guilty or did doubt your cause 41 What Subiects euer so inrag'd would dare To violate a Prince t' offend the blood Of that renowmed race by which they are Exalted to the height of all their good What if some things by chaunce misguided were Which they haue now rebelliously withâ—â—ood They neuer will proceed with that despight To wracke the State and to confound the right 42 Nor doe I thinke that Bullingbrooke can bee So blind-ambitious to affect the Crowne Hauing himselfe no title and doth see Others if you should fayle must keepe him downe Besides the Realme though mad will neuer gree To haue a right succession ouerthrowne To rayse confusion vpon them and theirs By preiudicing true and lawfull heires 43 And now it may be fearing the successe Of his attemptes or with remorse of minde Or else distrusting secret practises He would be glad his quarrell were resign'd So that there were some orderly redresse In those disorders which the Realme did finde And this I thinke he now sees were his best Since farther actions further but vnrest 44 And for th'impossibilitie of peace And reconcilement which my Lord obiects I thinke when doying iniurie shall cease The cause pretended then surcease th' effects Time and some other Actions may increase As may diuert the thought of these respects Others law of forgetting iniuries May serue our turne in like calamities 45 And for his oath in conscience and in sense True honour would not so be found vntrue Nor spot his blood with such a foule offence Against his soule against his God and you Our Lord forbid that euer with th' expence Of heauen and heauenly ioyes that shall insue Mortalitie should buy this little breath T' indure the horror of eternall death 46 And therefore as I thinke you safely may Accept this proffer that determine shall All doubtfull courses by a quiet way Needfull for you fit for them good for all And here my Sov'raigne to make longer stay T' attend for what you are vnsure will fall May slippe th' occasion and incense their will For Feare that 's wiser then the truth doth ill 47 Thus he perswades out of a zealous minde Supposing men had spoken as they ment And vnto this the King likewise inclin'd Avwholly vnto peace and quiet bent And yeeldes himselfe to th' Earle goes leaues-behind His safetie Scepter Honor Gouernement For gone all 's gone he is no more his owne And they rid quite of feare he of the Crowne 48 A place there is where proudly rais'd there stands A huge aspiring Rock neighb'ring the Skies Whose surly brow imperiously commaund The Sea his boundes that at his proud feete lies And spurnes the waues that in rebellious bands Assault his Empire and against him rise Vnder whose craggy gouernment there was A niggard narrow way for men to pasle 49 And here in hidden cliffes concealed lay A troope of armed men to intercept The vnsuspecting King that had no way To free his foote that into danger stept The dreadfull Ocean on the one side lay The hard-incroching Mountaine th' other kept Before him he beheld his hateful foes Behind him trayterous enemies inclose 50 Enuiron'd thus the Earle begins to cheere His al-amased Lord by him betrayde Bids him take courage ther 's no cause of feare These troopes but there to guard him safe were layd To whom the King What neede so many here This is against your oath my Lord he said But now hee sees in what distresse he stood To striue was vaine t' intreat would do no good 51 And therefore on with careful hart he goes Complaines but to himselfe sighes grieues and freats At Rutland dines though feedes but on his woes The griefe of minde hindred the minde of meats For sorrow shame and feare scorne of his foes The thought of what he was and what now threats Then what he should and now what he hath done Musters confused passions all in one 52 To Flint from thence vnto a restless bed That miserable night he comes conuayd Poorely prouided poorely followed Vncourted vnrespected vnobayd Where if vncertaine sleepe but hoouered Ouer the drooping cares that heauy weigh'd Millions of figures fantasie presents Vnto that sorrow wakened griefe augments 53 His new misfortune makes deluding sleepe Say 't was not so False dreames the trueth denie Wherewith he starts feels waking cares do creepe Vpon his soule and giues his dreame the lie Then sleepes againe and then againe as deepe Deceites of darknes mocke his miserie So hard believ'd was sorrow in her youth That he thinks truth was dreams dreams were truth 54 The morning light presents vnto his view Walking vpon a turret of the place The trueth of what hee sees is prov'd too true A hundred thousand men before his face Came marching on the shore which thither drew And more to aggrauate his great disgrace Those he had wrongd or done to them despight As if they him vpbrayd came first in sight 55 There might hee see that false forsworne vile crue Those shameless agents of vnlawfull lust His Pandars Parasites people vntrue To God and man vnworthy any trust Preacing vnto that fortune that was new And with vnblushing faces formost thrust As those that still with prosperous fortune sort And are as borne for Corte or made in Cort. 56 There hee beheld how humbly diligent New Adulation was to be at hand How ready Falsehood slept how nimbly went Basepick-thank Flattery and preuents Command Hee saw the great obay the graue consent And all with this new-rays'd Aspirer stand But which was worst his owne part acted there Not by himselfe his powre not his appeare 57 Which whilst he view'd the Duke he might perceiue Make towards the Castle to an interview Wherefore he did his contemplation leaue And downe into some fitter place withdrew Where now he must admitte without his leaue Him who before with all submission due Would haue beene glad t' attend and to prepare The grace of audience with respectiue care 58 Who now being come in presence of his king Whether the sight of Maiestie did breed Remorse of what he was in compassing Or whether but to formalize his deed He kneeles him downe with some astonishing Rose kneeles againe for craft wil still
shew of iustice aggrauates despight The multitude that looke not to the cause Rest satisfied so it seeme done by lawes 98 And now they diuerse articles obiect Of rigor malice priuate fauourings Exaction riot falsehood and neglect Crimes done but sildome answered by Kings Which Subiectes doe lament but not correct And all these faults which Lancaster now brings Against a King must be his owne when hee By vrging others sinnes a King shall be 99 For all that was most odious was deuis'd And publisht in these articles abrode All th' errours of his youth were here compris'd Calamitie with obloquie to lode And more to make him publikely despis'd Libels inuectiues rayling rimes were sow'd Among the vulgar to prepare his fall With more applause and good consent of all 100 Looke how the day-hater Mineruas bird Whil'st priuiledg'd with darknes and the night Doth liue secure t'himselfe of others feard If but by chaunce discouered in the light How doth each little Fowle with enuie stirr'd Call him to iustice vrge him with despight Summon the feathered flockes of all the wood To come to scorne the tyrant of their blood 101 So fares this King layd open to disgrace Whil'st euerie mouth full of reproche inuayes And euerie base detractor in this case Vpon th' aduantage of misfortune playes Downe-falling Greatnes vrged on apace Was followed-hard by all disgracefull wayes Now in the point t' accelerate an end Whil'st miserie had no meanes to defend 102 Vpon those articles in Parlement So haynous made inforc't and vrg'd so hard He was adiudg'd vnfit for gouernment And of all regal powre and ruled ebarr'd For who durst contradict the Dukes intent Or if they durst should patiently be heard Desire of change old wrongs new hopes fresh feare Being far the maior part the cause must beare 103 Yet must we thinke that some which saw the course The better fewe whom passion made not binde Stood careful lookers-on with sad commorse Amaz'd to see what headlong rage design'd And in a more considerate discourse Of tragicall euentes thereof diuin'd And would excuse and pittie those defects Which with such hate the aduerse parts obiects 104 Say'ing better yeeres might worke a better care And time might well haue cur'd what was amisse Since all these faults fatall to Greatnes are And worse deserts haue not beene punisht thus But yet in this the heauens we feare prepare Confusion for our sinnes aswell as his And his calamitie beginneth our For he his owne and we abus'd his powre 105 Thus murmur'd they when to the king were sent Certaine who might perswade him to forsake And leaue his Crowne and with his free consent A voluntarie Resignation make Since that he could no other way preuent These dangers which he else must needes partake For not to yeeld to what feare would constraine Would barre the hope of life that did remaine 106 And yet this scarce could worke him to consent To yeeld vp that so soone men hold so deare Why let him take sayd he the gouernement And let me yet the name the title beare Leaue me that shewe and I will be content And let them rule and gouerne without feare What can they not my shadow now indure When they of all the rest do stand secure 107 Let me hold that I aske no other good Nay that I will hold Henrie do thy worst For ere I yeeld my Crowne I 'le lose my blood That blood that shall make thee and thine accurst Thus resolute a while he firmely stood Till loue of life and feare of being forc't Vanquisht th' innated valour of his minde And hope and friends so wrought that he resign'd 108 Then to the Towre where he remained went The Duke with all the Peeres in company To take his offer with his free consent And this his Resignation testifie And thereof to informe the Parlement That all things might be done more formally And men thereby rest better satisfide As of an act not forc't or falsifide 109 And forth h 'is brought vnto th' accomplishment Deckt with the Crowne in princely robes that day Like as the dead in other Landes are sent Vnto their Graues in all their best aray And euen like good did him this ornament For what he brought he must not beare away But buries there his glory and his name Intomb'd both in his owne and others blame 110 And there vnto th' assembly of these States His sorrow for their long indured wrong Through his abus'd authority relates Excuses with confessions mixt among And glad he sayes to finish all debates He was to leaue the Rule they sought-for long Protesting if it might be for their good He would as gladly sacrifice his blood 111 There he his Subiectes all in generall Assoyles and quites of oath and fealtie Renounces interest title right and all That appertaind to kingly dignitie Subscribes thereto and doth to witnesse call Both heauen and earth and God Saints on hie To testifie his act and doth professe To do the same with most free willingnesse 112 This said with his owne hands he gaue the Crowne To Lancaster and wisht to God he might Haue better ioy thereof then he had knowne And that his power might make it his by right And furthermore he crav'd of all his owne But life to liue apart a priuate wight The vanity of Greatnes he had tri'd And how vnsurely standes the foote of pride 113 This brought to passe the Lords returne with speed The Parlement hereof to certifie Where they at large publisht the Kings owne deed And forme of his resignement verbally And thereupon doth Lancaster proceede To make his claime vnto the Monarchie And shewes the right he hath both by descent And by recouerie to the gouernement 114 Which being granted Canterburie rose And animates them by the sacred word In this their course and by his Text he showes How well they made their choyce of such a Lord Who as a man was able to dispose And guide the State and how the royall sworde Ought to be at a mans commandement Not at a childes or one as impotent 115 Since when the greatnes of his charge exceedes The smallnesse of his powers he must collate The same on others whence sayes he proceedes This rauenous expilation of the State Whence no man any more the publike heedes Then so much as imports his priuate state Our Health is from our head if that be ill Distemp'red faint and weake all the rest will 116 Then to the present all his speach he drawes And shewes what admirable parts abound In this braue Prince being fit to giue them lawes Fit for his valour fit for iudgement sound And Lancaster indeed I would thy cause Had had as lawfull and as sure a ground As had thy vertues and thy noble hart Ordaind and borne for an Imperial part 117 Then had not that confus'd succeeding Age Our fieldes in grayn'd with bloud our riuers dy'd With purple-streaming woundes of our owne rage Nor
seene our Princes slaughtred Peeres destroyd Then hadst not thou deare Countrie com'n to vvage Warre vvith thy selfe nor those afflictions try'd Of all consuming discorde here so long Too mightie novv against thy selfe too strong The ende of the second Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henrie the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded do rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Pomfret Castle sent Is by a cruell Knight there murthered After the Lords had had their punishment His Corps from thence to London is conuayd And there for all to view is open layd 1 NOw risen is that Head by which did spring The birth of two strong Heads two Crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchast thing That fill'd the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 First he attends to build a strong conceipt Of his vsurped powre in peoples mindes And armes his cause with furniture of weight Which easily the sword and Greatnesse findes Succession Conquest and election straight Suggested are and prov'd in all their kindes More then ynough they finde who finde their might Hath force to make all that they will haue Right 3 Though one of these might verie well suffise His present approbation to procure But who his own cause makes doth stil deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise No vsuall plots the doubtfull can secure And all these disagreeing Claymes he had With hope to make one good of many bad 4 Like vnto him that fears and faine would stop An inundation working-on apace Runs to the Breach heapes mightie matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Lodes with huge weights the out-side the top But leaues the inner partes in feeble case Whil'st th'vnder-searching water working-on Beares proudly downe all that wasidly don 5 So fares it with our indirect desseignes And wrong contriued labors at the last Whil'st working Time and iustice vndermines The feeble frame held to be wrought so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioyn'd plots so fayrely ouer-cast Turnes vp those huge pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouer-throwes 6 But after hauing made his title plaine Vnto his Coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous sort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this splendor feeds Is stately furnisht with a glorious traine Wherein the former Kings he far exceedes And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what how 't was done to what is wrought 7 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne who his part did take New Officers new Councellors he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their deseart And rayses them by crushing th' aduerse part 8 So that hereby the vniuersall face Of Court with all the Offices of State Are wholly chang'd by death or by disgrace Vpon th' aduantage of the peoples hate Who euer enuying those of chiefest place Whom neither worth nor vertue but their fate Exalted hath doo when their Kings doo naught Because it 's in their powre iudge it their faute 9 And in their steed such as were popular And wel-deseruing were aduanc't by grace Graue Shirley he ordaines Lord Chancelor Both worthy for his vertues and his race And Norburie hee appoints for Treasurer A man though meane yet fit to vse that place And others t'other roomes whom people hold So much more lov'd how much they loath the old 10 And it behoues him now to doo his best T' approue his vow and oath made to the State And many great disorders he redrest Which alwayes Vsurpation makes the gate To let it selfe into the peoples brest And seekes the publike best t'accommodate Wherein Iniustice better doth then Right For who reproues the lame must go vpright 11 Though it be easie to accuse a State Of imperfection and misgouernment And easie to beget in people hate Of present Rule which cannot all content And fewe attempt it that effect it not Yet t'introduce a better gouernment In steed thereof if we t'example looke The vnder-takers haue beene ouer-tooke 12 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guiltie thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor else could well be wrought Law Iustice blood the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drift coloured 13 Here many of the greatest of the Land Accus'd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleare their Cause most resolutely stout The King perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought-about Desists to vrge their death in any wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 14 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernement To striue with blood when lenitie must gaine The mightie men and please the discontent New Kings do feare when old Courts farther straine Establisht States to all things will consent He must dispense with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 15 Yet not to seeme but to haue some thing done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the people that begun Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect He caus'd be put to execution one Who to performe this murther was elect A base companion few or none would misse Who first did serue their turne and now serues his 16 And to abase the too high state of those That were accus'd and lessen their degrees Aumarle Surry Exceter must lose The names of Dukes their titles dignities And whatsoeuer profits thereby rise The Earles their titles and their Signories And all they got in th' end of Richards raigne Since Glosters death they must restore againe 17 By this as if by Ostracisme t' abate That great presumptiue wealth whereon they stand For first hereby improv'rishing their state He killes the meanes they might haue to withstand Then equals them with other whom they hate Who by their spoyles are rais'd to hie command That weake and enuied if they should conspire They wracke themselues and he hath his desire 18 Yet by this grace which must be held a grace As both they and the world are made beleeue He thinks t' haue dealt benignly in this case And left them state ynough to let them liue And that the taking from thē meanes place Was nothing in respect what hee did giue But they that knowe how their owne reckning goes Account not what they
haue but what they lose 19 The Parlement which now is held decreed What-euer pleas'd the King but to propound Confirm'd the Crowne to him and to his seed And by their oath their due obedience bound Which was the powre that stood him best in steed And made what-euer broken courses sound For what he got by fortune fauour might It was the State that now must make his right 20 Here was agreed to make all more secure That Richard should remaine for euermore Close-prisoner least the Realme might chaunce indure Some new reuolt or any fresh vp-rore And that if any should such broyle procure By him or for him he should die therefore So that a talke of tumult and a breath Would serue him as his passing-bell to death 21 Yet reuerent Carlile thou didst there oppose Thy holy voyce to saue thy Princes blood And freely checktst this iudgement and his foes When all were bad yet thou dar'dst to be good Be it in rold that time may neuer lose The memorie how firme thy courage stood When powre disgrace nor death could ought diuert Thy glorious tongue thus to reueale thy heart 22 Graue reuerent Lords since that this sacred place Our Auentine-Retire our holy hill This place soule of our State the Realmes best grace Doth priuiledge me speake what reason will Let me but say my conscience in this case Least sinne of silence shew my hart was ill And let these walles witnesse if you will not I do discharge my soule of this foule blot 23 Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent That he that two and twentie yeeres hath raignd As lawfull Lord and King by iust descent Should here be iudg'd vnheard and vnarraignd By Subiects too Iudges incompetent To iudge their King vnlawfully detaind And vnbrought-foorth to plead his guiltless Cause Barring th'Annoynted libertie of lawes 24 Haue you not done inough with what is done Must needes disorder growe from bad to worse Can neuer mischiefe end as it begunne But being once out must farther out of force Thinke you that any meanes vnder the Sunne Can assecure so indirect a course Or any broken cunning build so strong Aâ— can hold out the hand of vengeance long 25 Stopt there was his too vehement speech with speed And he sent close to warde from where he stood His zeale vntimely deem'd too much t' exceed The measure of his wit and did no good They resolute for all this do proceed Vnto that iudgement could not be withstood The King had all he crav'd or could compell And all was done let others iudge how well 26 Now Muse relate a wofull accident And tell the blood-shed of these mightie Peeres Who lately reconcil'd rest discontent Griev'd with disgrace remayning in their feares How-euer seeming outwardly content Yet th' inward touch that wounded honor beares Rests closely rankling and can finde no ease Till death of one side cure this great disease 27 Meanes how to feele and learne each others hart By th' Abbots skill of Westminster is found Who secretly disliking Henries part Inuites these Lords and those hee meant to sound Feasts them with cost and drawes them on with art And darke and doubtfull questions doth propound Then playner speakes and yet vncertaine speakes Then wishes well then off abruptly breakes 28 My Lords saith he I feare we shall not finde This long-desired King such as was thought But yet he may do well God turne his minde T is yet new dayes but Ill bodes new and noughtâ— Some yet speed well though all men of my kinde Haue cause to doubt his speech is not forgot That Princes had too little we too much God giue him grace but 't is ill trusting such 29 This open-close apparent-darke discourse Drew-on much speech and euerie man replies And euery man addes heate and words inforce And vrge out wordes For when one man espies Anothers minde like his then ill breedes worse And out breaks all in th' end what closest lies For when men well haue fed th'blood being warme Then are they most improuident of harme 30 Bewray they did their inward boyling spight Each stirring other to reuenge their cause One sayes he neuer should indure the sight Of that sorsworne that wrongs both Land and lawes Another vowes the same of his minde right A third t' a point more neere the matter drawes Sweares if they would he would attempt the thing To chace th' vsurper and replace their King 31 Thus one by one kindling each others fire Till all inflam'd they all in one agree All resolute to prosecute their ire Seeking their owne and Countries cause to free And haue his first that their blood did conspire For no way else they sayd but this could be Their wrong-detained honor to redeeme Which true-bred blood should more then life esteeme 32 And let not this our new-made faithless Lord Sayth Surry thinke that we are left so bare Though bare inough but we wil finde a sword To kill him with when he shal not beware For he that is with life and will instor'd Hath for reuenge inough and needes not care For time brings meanes to furnish him withall Let him but way to occasions as they fall 33 Then of the manner how t' effect the thing Consulted was and in the ende agreed That at a Maske and common Reuelling Which was ordain'd they should performe the deed For that would be least doubted of the King And fittest for their safetie to proceed The night their number and the soddaine act Would dash all order and protect their fact 34 Besides they might vnder the faire pretence Of Tilts and Turnements which they intend Prouide them horse and armour for defence And all things else conuenient for their end Besides they might hold sure intelligence Among themselues without suspect t' offend The King would thinke they sought but grace in Court With all their great preparing in this sort 35 A solemne oath religiously they take By intermutuall vowes protesting there This neuer to reueale nor to forsake So good a Cause for danger hope or feare The Sacrament the pledge of faith they take And euerie man vpon his sword doth sweare By Knighthood honor or what else should binde To assecure the more each others minde 36 And when all this was done and thought well done And euerie one assures him good successe And easie seemes the thing to euerie one That nought could crosse their plot or them suppresse Yet one among the rest whose minde not wonne With th'ouer-weening thought of hot excesse Nor headlong carryed with the streame of will Nor by his owne election led to ill 37 Iudicious Blunt whose learning valor wit Had taught true knowledge in the course of things Knew dangers as they were and th'humerous fit Of ware-lesse discontent what end it brings Counsels their heat with calme graue words and fit Words well fore-thought that from experience springs And warnes a warier cariage in the thing Least blind presumption worke
slaine and doubting his owne end Leapes vp into a chaire that lo was there The-whiles the King did all his courage bend Against those foure which now before him were Doubting not who behind him doth attend And plyes his hands vndaunted vnaffeard And with good heart and life for life he stird 77 And whiles he this and that and each mans blowe Doth eye defend and shift being layd-to sore Backward he beares for more aduantage now Thinking the wall would safegard him the more When lo with impious hand ô wicked thou That shamefull durst not come to strike before Behind him gav'st that lamentable wound Which layd that wretched Prince slat on the ground 78 Now proditorious wretch what hast thou done To make this barbarous base assassinate Vpon the person of a Prince and one Fore-spent with sorrow and all desolate What great aduancement hast thou hereby wonne By being the instrument to perpetrate So foule a deed where is thy grace in Corte For such a seruice acted in this sort 79 First he for whom thou dost this villanie Though pleas'd therewith will not auouch thy fact But let the weight of thine owne infamie Fall on thee vnsupported and vnbackt Then all men else will loath thy treacherie And thou thy selfe abhorre thy proper act So th' Wolfe in hope the Lyons grace to win Betraying other beastes lost his owne skinne 80 But now as this sweet Prince distended lay And him nor Life nor Death their owne could call For Life remouing rid not all away And Death though entring had not seis'd on all That short-tym'd motion had a little stay The mouer ceasing though it were but small As th' Organ-sound a time suruiues the stop Before it doth the dying note giue vp 81 When lo there streames a spring of bloud so fast From those deepe woundes as all imbru'd the face Of that accursed cay tiue as he past After the deed effected through the place And there withall those dying eyes did cast Such an vpbray ding looke on his disgrace Seeming to checke so cowardly a part As lest th' impression euen in his hart 82 And this one King most neere in bloud ally'd Is made th' oblation for the others peace Which peace yet was not hereby ratifi'd So as it could all future feares release For though the other did forth with prouide To haue the rumour run of his decease By drawing the corps to London where it was Layd three dayes to be seene with open face 83 Yet so great was this execrable deed As men would searce therein belieue their eyes Much lesse their eares and many sought to feed The easie creditours of nouelties By voycing him aliue how hee was freed By strange escape out of his miseries And many did conspire now to relieue Him dead who had forsaken him aliue 84 And many suffred for his Cause when now He had none many wisht for him againe When they perceiv'd th' exchange did not allow Their hopes so much as they did looke to gaine By traffiquing of kings and all saw how Their full exspectances were in the wane They had a King was more then him before But yet a king where they were nought the more 85 And sure this murthred Prince though weake he was He was not ill nor yet so weake but that He shew'd much Martiall valour in his place Aduentring oft his person for the State And might amongst our better Princes passe Had not the flatterie rapine and debate Of factious Lords and greedie Officers Disgrac't his actions and abus'd his yeares 86 Nor is it so much Princes weakenesses As the corruption of their Ministers Wherby the Common-wealth receiues distress For they attending their particulars Make imperfections their aduantages To be themselues both Kings and Councellors And sure this Common-wealth can neuer take Hurt by weake kings but such as we doo make 87 Besides he was which people much respect In Princes and which pleases vulgarly Of goodly personage and of sweete aspect Of milde accesle and liberalitie And feastes and shewes and triumphs did affect As the delights of youth and iollitie But here the great profusion and expence Of his reuences bred him much offence 88 And gaue aduantage vnto enmitie This grieuous accusation to prefer That he consum'd the common Treasurie Whereof he being the simple vsager But for the State not in proprietie Did alien at his pleasure and transfer The same t' his minions and to whome hee list By which the Common-wealth was to subsist 89 Whereby sayd they the poore concussed State Shall euer be exacted for supplyes Which accusation was th' occasion that His successour by order nullifies Many his Patents and did reuocate And reassume his liberalities And yet for all these wasles these gifts and feasts He was not found a Bankrupt in his chests 90 But they who tooke to Syndicque in this sorte The Actions of a Monarch knew those things Wherein the accoumpts were likely to fall short Betweene the State of Kingdomes and their Kings Which president of pestilent import Had not the heauens blest thy indeuourings Against thee Henry had beene likewise brought Th' example made of thy example wrought 91 For though this bountie and this liberalness A glorious vertue be it better fits Great men then kings who giuing in excesse Giue not their owne but others benefits Which calles-vp manies hopes but pleasures lesse Destroying far more loue then it begets For Iustice is their Virtue that alone Makes them sit sure and glorifies the Throne The ende of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT King Henrie his excuses publishes For Richards death and truce doth intertaine With France The Scots aggrieu'd for wrongs address Themselues to warre and are appeas'd againe The Welsh rebell The Percies practises To part the State are stopt in battell slaine Continuall troubles still afflict this King Till Death an end doth to his trauailes bring 1 THe bounds once ouer-gone that hold men in They neuer stay but on from bad to worse Wrongs do not leaue off there where they begin But still beget new mischiefes in their course Now Henrie thou hast added to thy sinne Of vsurpation and intruding force A greater crime which makes that gone before T' appeare more then it did and noted more 2 For now thou art inforc't t'apologise With forraine States for two enormious things Wherein thou dost appeare to scandalise The publike Right and common Cause of Kings Which though with all the skill thou canst deuise Thou ouerlay'st with fayrest colourings Yet th'vnder-worke transparent shewes too plaine Where open acts accuse th' excuse is vaine 3 And these defences are but complement◠To dallie with confining Potentates Who busied in their proper gouernments Do seldome tend th' affaires of other States Their wisedome which to present powre consents Liue-dogges before dead Lyons estimates And no man more respects these publike wrongs Then so much as t' his priuate state belongs 4
those faire bayts these Trouble-States still vse Pretence of common good the Kings ill Course Must be cast forth the people to abuse And giue their Cause and them the better force The king for tyranny they doo accuse By whom the State was growne from bad to worse A periur'd man who held all faith in scorne Whose trusted Oathes had others made forsworne 25 And therewithal the execrable act On their late murthered King they aggrauate How he imploy'd the dooers of the fact Whom afterwards hee did remunerate And dayly such taxations did exact As were against the Order of the State Presuming those great summes hee did impose About his priuate vses to dispose 26 And how he was inuironed with such As had possest him and in slanderous sort Accus'd them so as they durst not approche To cleare themselues of such vniust report And thereupon they flatly disauouch To yeld him more obedience or support And as t' a periurd Duke of Lancaster Their Cartell of Defiance they preferre 27 Protesting these obiections to make good With sword in hand and to confirme and seale Their vndertaking with their dearest bloud As Procurators for the Common-weale And that vpon their Consciences it stood And did import their dutie and their zeale Vnto the State as Peeres to see redrest Those miseries wherewith it was opprest 28 Great seem'd their Cause and greatly too did adde The peoples loue thereto these crymes impos'd That many gathered to the troupes they had And many sent them aide though vndisclos'd So that the King with all maine speed was glad Both by his remonstrances well compos'd And with his sword his best defence prouide To right himselfe and to correct their pride 29 Divulging first a fayre Apologie Of his cleere heart touching the foule report Of that assassinate which vtterly He doth abiure protesting in no sort T' agree thereto in will or priuitie And how he had beene vsed to extort The State could witnesse best by whose consent Was granted what he had in Parlement 30 Which neuer was but onely one supply In foure yeares troublous and expensiue Raigne And that vpon extreame necessitie The safetie of the publicke to maintaine And that the Percies best could testifie How most that mony issued was againe To whom the same was rendred to the end To warre the Scot and Borders to defend 31 And that the rest was to the same effect For which it was obtaynd in like sort spent And where-as they did slanderously obiect How that they durst not hazard to present In person their defences in respect He was incenst by some maleuolent It was most false for he knew no defence They were to make till now they made offence 32 And how far he had been from cruelty Both VVales and Scotland could him witnes beare Where those effects of his great clemencie In sparing bloud do to his cost appeare Much more his subiects finde his lenitie Whose loue he seekes to haue and not their feare But thus said he they euer do pretend To haue receiv'd a wrong who wrong intend 33 Not to giue time vnto th' increasing rage And gathering furie foorth hee marcht with speed Least more delay or giuing longer age To th' euill growne it might the cure exceed All his best men at Armes and Leaders sage All he prepar'd hee could and all did need For to a mighty worke thou goest ô King That equall spirits and equall powres shal bring 34 There shall young Hotspur with a fury led In grapple with thy sonne as fierce as hee There Martiall VVorster long experienced In forraine armes shall come t' incounter thee There Dowglas to thy Stafford shall make head There Vernon for thy valiant Blunt shall be There shalt thou finde a doubtfull bloudy day Though sicknesse keep Northumberland away 35 Who yet reserv'd though after quit for this Another tempest on thy head to rayse As if still wrong-reuenging Nemesis Meant to afflict all thy continuing dayes And here this field hee happely doth misse For thy great good and therefore well hee stayes What might his force haue done being brought thereto When that already gaue so much to doo 36 The swift approche and vnexpected speed The King had made vpon this new-rays'd force In th' vnconfirmed troupes much feare did breed Vntimely hind'ring their intended course The ioyning with the Welsh they had decreed Was hereby dasht which made their Cause the worse Northumberland with forces from the North Expected to be there was not set forth 37 And yet vndaunted Hotspur seeing the King So neere arriv'd leauing the worke in hand With forward speed his forces marshalling Sets forth his farther comming to withstand And with a cheerefull voyce incouraging His well experienc't and aduentrous Band Brings on his Army eger vnto fight And plac't the same before the King in sight 38 This day saith he my valiant trusty friendes What-euer it doth giue shal glory giue This day with honor frees our State or endes Our misery with fame that still shal liue And doo but thinke how well the same he spends Who spends his blood his Country to relieue What haue we hands and shall we seruile bee Why were swordes made but to preserue men free 39 Besides th' assured hope of victorie Which we may even fore-promise on our side Against this weake constrayned company Whom force and feare not will and loue doth guide Against a Prince whose foul impiety The heauens doo hate the earth cannot abide Our number being no lesse our courage more No doubt we haue it if wee worke therefore 40 This sayd and thus resolv'd euen bent to charge Vpon the King who well their order view'd And wary noted all the course at large Of their proceeding and their multitude And deeming better if he could discharge The day with safetie and some peace conclude Great proffers sendes of pardon and of grace If they would yeeld and quietnesse imbrace 41 Which though his feares might driue him to propose To time his businesse for some other ende Yet sure hee could not meane t' haue peace with those Who did in that supreame degree offend Nor were they such as would bee wonne with showes Or breath of oathes or vowes could apprehend So that in honor th'offers he doth make Were not for him to giue nor them to take 42 And yet this much his courses doo approue He was not bloudy in his Naturall And yeeld he did to more then might behoue His dignitie to haue dispenst with all And vnto VVorster hee himselfe did moue A reconcilement to be made of all But VVorster know'ing it could not be secur'd His Nephews on-set yet for all procur'd 43 Which seeing the King with greater wrath incenst Rage against furie doth with speede prepare And though sayd he I could haue wel dispenst With this dayes bloud which I haue sought to spare That greater glory might haue recompenst The forward worth of these that so much dare That we might good
now wil lend their hand To hould him vp seeing himselfe can stand 64 And thus he prospers whiles the King here spent Much time to leuie treasure to maintaine His charge abrode which with that discontent That murmure those denyals hee doth gaine As that hee findes it euen as turbulent To warre for it as with it all his Raigne Though hee had those inforcements of expence Both for offence retaynements and defence 65 For here beside these troubles in the Land His large Dominions held abrode require A plentiful and a prepared hand To guard them where so mightie men aspire T' assaile distract and trouble his Command With hopes with promises with sword and sire And then as deepe importes his Coastes to cleere Which by his neighbors much infested were 66 The Flemings Britaines with the French and all Attempt incursions and worke much despight Orleance for Guien and here the Conte Saint Paul For Calais labours and the I le of Wight Wherein though neither had successe at all Yet Cleremont ouercame and wonne by fight Important Holdes in Gasconie the-while And did the English much distresse and spoyle 67 All which require prouisions to withstand And all are succord with great prouidence A Nauie to secure the Seas is mann'd And forces sent to Calais for defence And wherein other parts defectiue stand They are supply'd with carefull diligence So that his subiects could not but well knowe That what they granted he did sure bestowe 68 Nor did hee spare himselfe nor his but bent All-wholly vnto actiue Worthynesse The Prince of VVales vnto his Prouince sent Where hee was sure hee should not take his ease His second sonne is with the Earle of Kent Imployd as Gouernour to keepe the Seas A third though very yong likewise sent forth With VVestmerland attends vnto the North. 69 Thus were they bred who after were to bee Men amongst men here with these graue Adioynts These learned Maisters they were taught to see Themselues to read the world and keep their points Thus were they entred in the first degree And Accedence of action which acquaints Them with the Rules of Worth and Nobleness Which in true Concord they learn'd well t' expresse 70 And whiles h'attends the State thus carefully The Earle of Marches children are conuay'd Out of the Towre of VVindsor secretly Being prisoners there not for their merit lay'd But for their Bloud and to the ende whereby This Chayne of Nature might be interlay'd Betweene the Father and his high intents To hold him backe to saue these innocents 71 For which attempt though it were frustrated By their recouerie who were got againe Aumarle now Duke of Yorke is chalenged By his owne sister to haue layd that trayne Who late her Lord with others ruined In secretly betraying them t' obtaine His grace and peace which yet contents him not For Who hath grace and peace by treason got 72 So much did loue t' her executed Lord Predominate in this faire Ladies hart As in that region it would not afford Nature a place to rest in any part Of her affections but that she abhord Her proper blood and left to doo the part Of sisterhood to doo that of a wife T' auenge a Husbands death by Brothers life 73 Vpon which accusation presently The Duke committed is without much stirre Or vulgar noyse for that it tenderly Did touch the secretst wounds of Lancaster When streight another new conspiracie As if it were a certaine successor Ally'd to this ingendred in the North Is by th'Archbishop Scroope with power brought forth 74 And with faire zeale and pietie approv'd To be forth vniuersall benefit And succour of the people who soone mov'd By such perswaders as are held vpright And for their zeale and charitie belov'd Vse not t' examine if the Cause be right But leap into the toyle and are vndon By following them that they rely'd vpon 75 Here new aspersions with new obloquies Are layde on old deserts and future ill On present suffrings bruted to aryse That farther grieuances ingender wil. And then concussion rapine pilleries Their Catalogue of accusations fill Which to redresse they doo presume to make Religion to auow the part they take 76 And euen as Canterburie did produce A Pardon to aduance him to the Crown The like now Yorke pronounces to induce His faction for the pulling of him down Whilst th' ignorant deceiv'd by this abuse Makes others ends to be as if their owne But what wold these haue don against the crimes Oppressions iyots wastes of other times 77 Since now they had a Monarch and a man Rays'd by his worth and by their owne consent To gouerne them and workes the best he can T' aduance the Crowne and giue the State cōtent Commits not all to others care nor ran An idle course or on his Minions spent But thus the Horse at first bites at the Bit That after is content to play with it 78 Growne to a mighty powre attending now Northumberland with his prepared ayde The Bishop by a parle is with a showe Of combination cunningly betrayde By Westmerland whose wit did ouerthrowe Without a sword all these great feares and stayd The mightiest danger that did euer yet Thy Crowne and State disturbed Henrie threat 79 For which this reuerent Priest with Mowbray dyes Who both drawne on with passion of despight To vndertake this fatall enterpise The one his brothers bloud-shed to requite The other for his fathers iniuries Did wrong themselues and did not others right For who through th' eyes of their affections looke And not of iudgement thus are ouer-tooke 80 Whereof when newes came to Northumberland Who seldome other then of miserie Seemes borne to heare being euer behind hand With Fortune and his opportunitie To Scotland flyes where giuen to vnderstand Of some intrapment by conspiracie Gets into VVales whence hee aduentured T' attempt another day and lost his head 81 Whereby once more those Parts are quieted When-as the King who neuer had his brow Seene free from sweat nor hart from trouble rid Was with suspicion that his sonne grew now Too popular and forward so much fed By wicked instruments who well knew how To gaine by Princes feares as he thereby Fell in his griefe to great extreamitie 82 Which when that vertuous Prince who borne to bee The module of a glorious Monarch heard With humble protestations did so free His fathers feares and his owne honor cleer'd As that he plainely made the world to see How base Detraction and Deceipt appeard And that a hart so nobly built could not Containe within a thought that wore a blot 83 Wherewith the king betakes him to some peace Yet to a peace much like a sicke-mans sleep Whose vnrelenting paines do neuer cease But alwayes watch vpon his weakenes keepe That neuer any Sabaoth of release Could free his trauailes and afflictions deepe But still his cares held working
Bullingbrooke Did first attaine God knowes how iust the Crowne And now his race for right possessors tooke Were held of all to hold nought but their owne When Richard Duke of Yorke begins to looke Into their right and makes his title knowne Wakening-vp sleeping Right that lay as dead To witnesse how his race was iniured 46 His fathers end in him no feare could moue T' attempt the like against the like of might Where long possession now of feare and loue Seem'd to prescribe euen an innated Right So that To proue his state was to disproue Time law consent oath and allegeance quight And no way but the way of blood there was Through which with all confusion hee must passe 47 And how much better for him had it beene T' indure a wrong with peace then with such toyle T' obtaine a bloody Right since Right is sinne That is ill sought and purchased with spoyle But this so wretched state are Kingdomes in Where one mans Cause shall all rest imbroyle And oft t' aduance a Tyran to a Crowne Men run t' vndoo the State that is their owne 48 And yet that opportunitie which led Him to attempt seeme likewise him t' excuse A feeble spirited King that gouerned Who ill could guide the Scepter he did vse His enemies that his worth maliced Who both the Land and him did much abuse The peoples loue and his apparent Right May seeme sufficient motiues to incite 49 Besides the now â—ipe wrath deferd till now Of that sure and vnfayling Iusticer That neuers suffers wrong so long to growe And to incorporate with right so farre As it might come to seeme the same in showe T' incourage those that euill minded are By such successe but that at last he will Confound the branch whose root was planted ill 50 Else might the impious say with grudging spight Doth God permit the Great to riot free And blesse the mightie though they do vnright As if he did vnto their wrongs agree And onely plague the weake and wretched wight For smallest faults euen in the high'st degree When he but vsing them for others scourge Likewise of them at leÌ„gth the world doth purge 51 But could not yet for blood-shed satisfie The now well-ruling of th'ill-gotten Crowne Must euen the good receiue the penaltie Of former sinnes that neuer were their owne And must a iust Kings blood with miserie Pay for a bad vniustly ouerth towne Well then wee see Right in his course must goe And men t' escape from blood must keepe it so 52 And sure this King that now the Crowne possest Henrie the sixt was one whose life was free From that command of vice whereto the rest Of most these mightie Soueraignes subiects bee And numbred might haue beene among the best Of other men if not of that degree A right good man but yet an euill King Vnfit for what hee had in managing 53 Of humble spirite of nature continent No thought t' increase he had scarce keep his owne For pard'ning apter then for punishment He chokes his powre to haue his bountie knowne Farre from reuenge soone wonne soone made content As fitter for a Cloyster then a Crowne Whose holy minde so much addicted is On th' world to-come that he neglecteth this 54 With such a weake-good feeble-godly King Hath Richard Duke of Yorke his Cause to trie Who by th' experience of long managing The warres of Fraunce with supreame dignitie And by his owne great worth with furthering The common good against the enemie Had wrought that zeale and loue attend his might And made his spirit equall vnto his Right 55 For now the Duke of Bedford beeing dead He is ordain'd the Regent to succeed In Fraunce for fiue yeeres where he trauayled With ready hand and with as carefull heed To seeke to turne backe Fortune that now fled And hold vp falling power in time of need And got and lost and reattaines againe That which againe was lost for all his paine 56 His time expir'd he should for fiue yeeres more Haue had his charge prolongd but Sommerset That still had enui'd his command before That place and honor for himselfe did get Which ads that matter to th'already store Of kindled hate which such a fire doth set Vnto the touch of a confounding flame As both their bloods could neuer quench the same 57 And now the weakenesse of that feeble Head That doth neglect all care but his soules care So easie meanes of practice ministred Vnto th' ambitious members to prepare Their owne desires to what their humors led That all good actions coldly followed are And sev'rall-tending hopes do wholly bend To other now then to the publique end 58 And to draw-on more speedy miserie The King vnto a fatall match is led With Rayners daughter King of Sicilie Whom with vnlucky starres he married For by the meanes of this affinitie Was lost all that his father conquered Euen as if France had some Erynnis sent T' auenge their wrongs done by the insolent 59 This marriage was the Earle of Suffolkes deed With great rewardes won to eftect the same Which made him that hee tooke so little heed Vnto his Countries good or his owne shame It beeing a match could stand vs in no steed For strength for wealth for reputation fame But cunningly contriv'd for others gaine And cost vs more then Aniou Mauns and Maine 60 And yet as if he had accomplished Some mightie benefit vnto the Land He got his trauailes to be registred In Parlement foreuermore to stand A witnes to approue all what he did To th' end that if hereafter it were scand Authoritie might yet be on his side As doing nought but what was ratifi'd 61 Imagining th' allowance of that Place Would make that good the which he knew was naught And so would his negotiation grace As none might think it was his priuate fault Wherein though wit dealt wary in this case Yet in the end it selfe it ouer-raught Striuing to hide he opened it the more His after-care shew'd craft bad gone before 62 Deare didst thou buy ô King so faire a Wife So rare a spirit so high a minde the-while Whose portion was destruction dowry strife Whose bed was sorrow whose embracing spoyle Whose maintenance cost thee and thine their life And whose best comfort neuer was but toyle What Paris brought this booty of desire To set our mightie Ilium here on fire 63 I grieue I should be forc't to say thus much To blame her whom I yet must wonder at Whos 's so sweete beautie wir and worth were such As though she Fortune lost she glory gat Yet doth my Countries zeale so neerely touch That here my Muse it doth exasperate Although vnwilling that my pen should giue Staine to that sex by whom her fame doth liue 64 For sure those virtues well deserv'd a Crowne And had it not beene ours no doubt she might Haue beene among the Worthies of renowne And now sat faire with
fame with glorie bright But comming in the way where sinne was growne So foule and thicke it was her chaunce to light Amidst the grosse infection of those times And so came stain'd with black disgrace-full crimes 65 For some the world must haue on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproche and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' onely Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps 't was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor help the same But liuing in the eye of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw-on wo. 66 So much vnhappie do the Mightie stand Who stand on other then their owne defence When-as destruction is so neere at hand That if by weakenesse folly negligence They do not coming miserie withstand They shall be deemed th'authors of th' offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as they who brought those plagues about 67 And so remaine for euer rigistred In that eternall booke of Infamie When yet how many other causes led As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oft lie close smothered And well-meant deedes fall out vnluckily Whil'st the aggrieu'd stand not to waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 68 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults who mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath been A speciall meanes this Common-wealth to marre And that thy weyward will was plainely seene In vaine ambition to presume too farre And that by thee the onely way was wrought The Duke of Gloster to his death was brought 69 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainely permit Others to looke to that they could not see During his life nor would aduenture it When his Remoue quite made that passage free That by his fall thinking to stand alone Thou scarce could'st stand at all when he was gone 70 For this Duke as Protector many yeeres Had rul'd the Land during the Kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if hee still were in his pupillage Which such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incenst with an ambitions rage Shee doth conspire to haue him made-away As one that stayd the Current of her sway 71 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent Who griev'd likewise that any one beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therefore he such deepe aduice appli'd As forraine craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 72 And many ready hands shee straight doth finde To ayde her deed of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind Who all th' especiall Charges vnder-tooke Rul'd all himselfe and neuer had the minde T' impart a part with others who would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And griev'd at such ingrossing of Commands 73 For had he not had such a greedy loue To intertaine his Offices too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life vnless shee did him wrong But hauing liv'd so many yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to be lesse strong And kils that fame that virtue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 74 For could the mightie but giue bounds to pride And weigh-backe Fortune ere shee pull Them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfi'd Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high-spreading ouer-growne Whil'st they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and despight 75 Then neuer should so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloody end Nor their disgrac't confounded families From so high pride to so lowe shame descend But planted on that ground where safetie lyes Their braunches should to eternitie extend But euer they who ouer-looke so much Will ouer-see themselues their state is such 76 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towards euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bred despight So that euen Virtue seemes an Actor too To ruine those Fortune prepares t' vndoo 77 Now such being forward who the Queene well knewe Hated his might and glad to innouate Vnto so great and strong a partie grew As it was easie to subuert his State And onely hope of alteration drew Many to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnesse men growe discontent Where States are ripe to fall and virtue spent 78 And taking all the Rule into her hand Vnder the shadow of that feeble King The Duke sh'excludes from Office and Command And in the reach of enmitie doth bring From that respected height where he did stand When malice scarce durst mutter any thing And now the worst of him comes all reueal'd Which former feare or rigor kept conceal'd 79 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the Land haue brought The Ciuile forme in cases touching blood And such poore Crimes that shew'd their spight was soūd But yet bewrayde their matter wanted ground 80 Yet serv'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shal obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose haynous faultes his matter must deface For where Powre hath decreed to finde th' offence The Cause is better still then the defence 81 A Parlement at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or ought imagining of what befell Where now the matter is so followed That he conuented is ere he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 82 Which quicke and sodaine action gaue no time For men to waigh the iustice of the deed Whil'st looking onely on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drift they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Satietie makes passions still lesse strong 83 And yet they seem'd some mutinie to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Consid'ring hee was popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his Right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither die 84 Reckning it better since his end is
grace From all disturbs to be so long kept free And with such glorie to discharge that place And therefore if by such a Power thou bee Sâ—opt of thy course reckon it no disgrace Sith shee alone being priuiledg'd from hie Hath this large Patent of her dignitie 48 This charge the Goddesse gaue when ready straight The subtill messenger accompayned With all her crew of Artes that on her wait Hastes to effect what she was counsailed And out she pours of her immense conceit Vpon such searching spirits as trauayled In penetrating hidden secrecies Who soone these meanes of miserie deuise 49 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde Into their mothers close-lockt Treasurie They Mineralls combustible do finde Which in stopt concaues placed cunningly They fire and fire imprisoned against kinde Teares out a way thrusts out his enemie Barking with such a horror as if wroth With man that wrongs himselfe and Nature both 50 And this beginning had this cursed frame Which Yorke now planted hath against his King Presuming by his powre and by the same His purpose vnto good effect to bring When diuers of the grauest Councell came Sent from the King to vnderstand what thing Had thrust him into these proceedings bad And what he sought and what intent he had 51 Who with words mildly-sharpe gently-seuere Wrought on those wounds that must be toucht with heed Applying rather salues of hope then feare Least corrasiues should desperat mischiefes breed And what my Lord sayd they should moue you here In this vnseemely manner to proceed Whose worth being such as all the Land admires Hath fairer wayes then these to your desires 52 Wil you whose means whose many friends whose grace Can worke the world in peace vnto your will Take such a course as shal your Blood deface And make by handling bad a good Cause ill How many hearts hazard you in this case That in all quiet plots would ayde you still Hauing in Court a Partie farre more strong Then you conceiue prest to redresse your wrong 53 Phy phy forsake this hatefull course my Lord Downe with these Armes that will but wound your Cause What Peace may do hazard not with the Sword Lay downe the force that from your force with-drawes And yeeld and we will mediate such accord As shal dispense with rigor and the lawes And interpose this solemne fayth of our Betwixt your fault and the offended Power 54 Which ingins of protests and proffers kinde Vrg'd out of seeming griefe and shewes of loue So shooke the whole foundation of his Minde As they did all his resolution moue And present seem'd vnto their course inclin'd So that the King would Sommerset remoue The man whole most intolerable pride Trode downe his worth and all good mens beside 55 Which they there vow'd should presently be done For what will not peace-louers willing graunt Where dangerous euents depend thereon And men vnfurnisht and the State in want And if with words the conquest will be won The cost is small and who holds breath so scant As then to spare though with indignitie Better descend then end in Maiestie 56 And here-upon the Duke dissolues his force Submits him to the King on publique vow The rather too presuming on this course For that his sonne the Earle of March was now With mightier powers abroad which would inforce His peace which else the King would not allow For seeing not all of him in him he hath His death would but giue life to greater wrath 57 Yet comming to the King in former place His foe the Duke of Sommerset he findes Whom openly reproching to his face Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kindes The Duke returnes like speeches of disgrace And fierie wordes bewray'd their flaming mindes But yet the triall was for them deferd Till fitter time allow'd it to be heard 58 At Westminster a Counsell sommoned Deliberates what course the Cause should end Of th' apprehended Duke of Yorke whose head Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend Law fiercely vrg'd his act and found him dead Friends fayl'd to speake where they could not defend Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood As prodigall of life niggard of blood 59 And as if angrie with the Lawes of death Ah! why should you sayd hee vrge things so far You that inur'd with mercenarie breath And hyred tongue so peremptorie are Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth As if you did with poore Affliction warre And prey on frayltie folly hath betray'd Bringing the lawes to wound neuer to ayd 60 Dispense sometime with sterne seueritie Make not the Lawes still trapâ— to apprehend Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie Mercie may mend whom malice made offend Death giues no thankes but checkes authoritie And life doth onely Maiestie commend Reuenge dies not Rigor begets new wrath And blood hath neuer glorie Mercy hath 61 And for my part and my part should be chiefe I am most willing to restore his state And rather had I win him with reliefe Then lose him with despight and get more hate Pittie drawes loue blood-shed is natures griefe Compassion followes the vnfortunate And losing him in him I lose my power We rule who liue the dead are none of our 62 And should our rigor lessen then the same Which we with greater glorie should retaine No let him liue his life must giue vs fame The childe of mercie newly borne againe As often burials are Physicians shame So many deaths argue a Kings hard Raigne Why should we say The Law must haue her vigor The Law kills him but quits not vs of rigor 63 You to get more preferment by your wit Others to gaine the spoyles of miserie Labour with all your powre to follow it Shewing vs feares to draw-on crueltie You vrge th' offence not tell vs what is fit Abusing wrong-informed Maiestie As if our powre were onely but to slay And that to saue were a most dangerous way 64 Thus out of Pittie spake that holy King Whom milde affections led to hope the best When Sommerset began to vrge the thing With words of hotter temper thus exprest Deare soueraigne Lord the Cause in managing Is more then yours t'imports the publique rest We all haue part it toucheth all our good And life 's ill spar'd that 's spar'd to cost more blood 65 Compassion here is crueltie my Lord Pittie will cut our throates for sauing so What benefite enioy we by the sword If mischiefe shall escape to draw-on mo Why should we giue what Law cannot afford To be'accessaries to our proper wo Wisedome must iudge 'twixt men apt to amend And mindes incurable borne to offend 66 It is no priuat Cause I do protest That moues me thus to prosecute his deede Would God his blood and mine had well releast The dangers that his pride is like to breed Although at me hee seemes to haue addrest His spight 't is not the end hee hath decreed I am not he alone hee doth pursue But thorow
The Right of a direct Line alwayes held The sacred course of Blood our Ancestors Our Lawes our reuerent Customes haue vp-held With holy hands Whence when disorder erres What horrors what confusion do we see Vntill it be reduc't where it should bee 68 And how it prospers with this wretched Land Witnesse the vniuersall miserie Wherein as if accurst the Realme doth stand Depriu'd of State wealth honor dignitie The Church and Commons vnderneath the hand Of violence extortion robberie No face of order no respect of Lawes And thus complaynes of what himselfe is cause 69 Accusing others insolence that they Exhausted the Reuenues of the Crowne So that the King was forc't onely to prey Vpon his Subiects poore and wretched growne And that they now sought Ireland to betray And Calais to the French which hee had knowne By th'intercepted notes of their owne hand Who were the onely Traytors of the Land 70 And yet procur'd th'Attaynders most vniust Of others guiltlesse and vnspotted blood Who euermore had labour'd in their trust And faithfull seruice for their Countries good And who with extreame violence were thrust Quite out of all spoyl'd of their liuelihood Expos'd to all the miseries of life Which they indur'd to put-off blood and strife 71 But since sayth he their malice hath no ende But t' end vs all and to vndo the Land For which the hatefull French gladly attend And at this instant haue their swords in hand And that the God of heauen doth seeme to bend Vnto our Cause whereto the best 〈◊〉 â—and And that this blood of mine so long â—â—ue sought Reserued seemes for some thing to be wrought 72 It rests within your iudgements to vp-right Or else to ruine vtterly the Land For this be sure I must pursue my Right Whil'st I haue breath or I and mine can stand Thinke whether this poore State being in this plight Stands not in need of some vp-raysing hand Or whether 't is not time we should haue rest And this confusion and our wounds redrest 73 This said he turnes aside and out hee goes Leaues them to counsell what was to be done Where though the most part gath'red were of those Who with no opposition sure would run Yet some more temp'rate oftred to propose That which was fit to beâ— considered on Who though they knew his clayme was faire in sight Yet thought it now lackt the right face of Right 74 Since for the space of three score yeeres the Crowne Had beene in act possest in three descents Confirm'd by all the Nobles of renowne The peoples suffrages Oathes Parlements So many Actes of State both of our owne And of all other foraine Gouernments That Wrong by order may grow Right by this Sith Right th'obseruer but of Order is 75 And then considring first how Bullingbrooke Landing in Yorkeshire but with three score men By the consent of all the Kingdome tooke The Crowne vpon him held for lawfull then His Vncle Yorke and all the Peeres betooke Themselues to him as to their Soueraigne when King Richards wrongs and his propinquitie Did seeme to make no distance in their eye 76 Nor was without example in those dayes Wherein as in all Ages States do take The side of publique Peace to counterpayse The waight of wrong which time may rightfull make No elderhood Rufus and Henrie stayes The imperiall Crowne of England t' vndertake And Iohn before his nephew Arthur speedes Whom though depriv'd Henry his sonne succeedes 77 Edward the third made Sov'raigne of the State Vpon his fathers depriuation was All which though seeming wrongs yet fairely sate In their succeeders and for right did passe And if they could so worke t'accommodate And calme the Peeres and please the Populasse They wisht the Crowne might where it stood remaine Succeeding inconuenience to restraine 78 Thus th' auncient Fathers of the Law aduise Graue Baron Thorpe and learned Fortescue Who though they could not fashion otherwise Those strong-bent humors which aueâ—siue grew Yet seem'd to qualifie th'extreamities And some respect more to their Sov'raine drew That during life it was by all agreed He should be King and Yorke should him succeed 79 Which presently enacted was beside Proclaym'd through-out with all solemnities And intermutually there ratifi'd With protestations vowes and oathes likewise Built-vp with all the strength of forme t' abide What-euer oppositions could aryse And might haue seem'd sure and authenticall Had all this bodie of the State beene all 80 But Trent thou keptst a part Thames had not all The North diuided honor with the South And like powre held like Greatnes seuerall Where other Right spake with another mouth Another Heire another Prince they call Whom naturall succession follow doth The branch of Kings the true sonne of the Crowne To whom no father can but leaue his owne 81 The King as husband to the Crowne doth by The wiues infeoftement hold and onely here Inioyes the same for life by Curtesie Without powre to dispose it other-where After his death but as th' authoritie Order and custome of Succession beare And therefore Henries Act cannot vndo The right of him whom it belongs vnto 82 And this vnnaturall intrusion here Of that attainted Blood out of all course Effected with confusion and with feare Must be reduc't to other tearmes of force These insolencies Iustice cannot beare The sword whereto they onely had recourse Must cut this knot so intricately ty'd Whose vaine contriued ends are plaine descry'd 83 Thus they giue-out and out the sword in hand Is drawne for blood to iustifie the same And by a side with many a Worthie mand Great Sommerset Excester Buckingham With Clifford Courtney and Northumberland Lords of as mightie courage as of name Which all against Yorkes forced courses bend Who hauing done yet had not made an end 84 But to another worke is forc't to go The last turmoyle lab'ring Ambition had Where Pride and Ouer-weening led him so For fortunes past as made the issue sad For whether safer counsell would or no His yet vnfurnisht troupes he desp'rat led From Sandall Castle vnto VVakefield Greene Against far mightier forces of the Queene 85 Where round inclos'd by Ambushments fore-lay'd Hard-working for his life but all in vaine With number and confusion ouer-lay'd Himselfe and valiant Salsbury are slaine With whome the most and dearest blood decay'd Of his couragious and aduenturous traine So short a life had those long hopes of his Borne not to weare the Crowne he wrought for thus 86 But in the ryse of his out-springing lust Now in the last of hope receiv'd this fall Now that his working powres so far had thrust That his desires had but this slep to all When so neere home he seem'd past all distrust This vnexpected wracke doth him befall This successor th'inherit or fore-goes The play-game made of Fortune and his foes 87 Whos 's young sonne Rutland made the sacrifice For others sinnes ere he knew how to sinne Brought only
on such calamitie The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE THE ARGVMENT King Richard moues his wrong and wails his raigne And here betrayd to London he is led Basely attyr'd attending Herfords traine Where th' one is scornd the other VVelcomed His Wife mistaking him doth much complaine And both togither greatly sorrowed In hope to saue his life and ease his thrall He yeelds vp state and Rule and Crowne and all 1 IN dearth of faith and searchie of friendes The late great mighty Monarch on the shore In th' vtmost corner of his Land attendes To call backe false obedience fled before Toyles and in vaine his toyle and labour spendes More harts he sought to gaine he lost the more All turn'd their faces to the rising sunne And leaue his setting-fortune night begunne 2 Percy how soone by thy example led The household traine for sooke their wretched Lord When with thy staffe of charge dishonoured Thou brak'st thy fayth not steward of thy word And tookst his part that after tooke thy head When thine owne hand had strengthned first his sword For such great merits do vpbraid and call For great reward or thinke the great too smal 3 And Kings loue not to be beholding ought Which makes their chiefest friends oft speed the worst For those by whom their fortunes haue bin wrought Put them in minde of what they were at first Whose doubtfull faith if once in question brought T is thought they will offend because they durst And taken in a fault are neuer spar'd Being easier to reuenge then to reward 4 And thus these mightie actors sonnes of change These partizanes of factions often tri'd That in the smoake of Innouations strange Builde huge vncertaine plots of vnsure pride And on the hazard of a bad exchange Haue ventur'd all the stocke of life beside Whilst Princes rais'd disdaine to haue bin rais'd By those helpes deserue not to be prais'd 5 But thus is Richard left and all alone Saue with th'vnarmed title of his right And those braue troupes his fortune-followers gone And all that pompe the complements of might Th' amuzing shadowes that are cast vpon The state of Princes to be guile the sight All vanisht cleane and only frailty left Himselfe of all besides himselfe bereft 6 Like when some great Colossus whose strong base Or mightie props are shrunk or sunke away Fore-shewing ruine threatning all the place That in the danger of his fall doth stay All straight to better safetie flocke a pace None rest to helpe the ruine while they may The perill great and doubtfull the redresse Men are content to leaue Right in distresse 7 And looke how Thames inricht with many a Flood And goodly Riuers that haue made their Graues And buried both their names and all their good Within his greatnes to augment his waues Glides on with pompe of Waters vnwithstood Vnto the Ocean which his tribute craues And layes vp all his wealth within that powre Which in it selfe all greatnes doth deuowre 8 So flocke the mighty with their following traine Vnto the all-receiuing Bullingbrooke Who wonders at himselfe how hee should gaine So many harts as now his partie tooke And with what ease and with how slender paine His fortune giues him more then he could looke What he imagind neuer could be wrought Is powrd vpon him farre beyond his thought 9 So often things which seeme at first in showe Without the compasse of accomplishment Once ventred on to that successe do growe That euen the Authors do admire th' euent So many meanes which they did neuer knowe Do second their designes and do present Straunge vnexpected helps and chiefly then When th' Actors are reputed worthy men 10 And Richard who lookt Fortune in the backe Sees headlong-lightness running from the right Amazed standes to note how great a wracke Of faith his riots caus'd what mortall spight They beare him who did law and iustice lacke Sees how concealed hate breakes out in sight And feare-depressed enuie pent before When fit occasion thus vnlockt the dore 11 Like when some mastiue whelpe dispos'd to play A whole confused heard of beastes doth chace Which with one vile consent run all away If any hardier then the rest in place But offer head that idle feare to stay Backe straight the daunted chaser turnes his face And all the rest with bold example led As fast run on him as before they fled 12 So with this bold opposer rushes-on This many-headed monster Multitude And he who late was feard is set vpon And by his owne Actaeon-like pursu'd His owne that had all loue and awe forgone Whom breath and shadowes onely did delude And newer hopes which promises perswade Though rarely men keepe promises so made 13 Which when he saw thus to himselfe complaines O why do you fond false-deceiued so Run headlong to that change that nothing gaines But gaine of sorrow onely change of wo Which is all one if he be like who raignes Why will you buy with blood what you forgoe T' is nought but shewes that Ignorance esteemes The thing possest is not the thing it seemes 14 And when the sinnes of Bullingbrooke shall be As great as mine and you vnanswered In these your hopes then may you wish for me Your lawfull Sov'raigne from whose faith you fled And grieued in your soules the error see That shining promises had shadowed As th'humorous sicke remouing finde no ease When changed Chambers change not the disease 15 Then shall you finde this name of Libertie The watch-word of Rebellion euer vs'd The idle eccho of Vncertaintie That euermore the simple hath abus'd But new-turnd Seruitude and Miserie And euen the same and worse before refus'd Th' aspirer once attaind vnto the top Cuts off those meanes by which himselfe got vp 16 And with a harder hand and streighter raine Doth curbe that loosenes he did finde before Doubting th' occasion like might serue againe His owne example makes him feare the more Then ô iniurious Land what dost thou gaine To aggrauate thine owne afflictions store Since thou must needs obay Kings gouernement And no rule euer yet could all content 17 What if my youth hath offered vp to lust Licentious fruites of indiscreet desires When idle heate of vainer yeeres did thrust That furie on yet now when it retires To calmer state why should you so distrust To reape that good whereto mine age aspires The youth of Princes haue no boundes for sinne Vnlesse themselues do make them boundes within 18 Who sees not that sees ought wo worth the while The easie way that Greatnesse hath to fall Enuirond with deceit hemm'd-in with guile Sooth'd vp in flatterie fawned on of all Within his owne liuing as in exile Heare 's but with others eares or not at all And euen is made a prey vnto a fewe Who locke vp grace that would to other shewe 19 And who as let in lease do farme the Crowne And ioy the vse of Maiestie and