you are but yong the perfection of those stories and th'imperfection of these Finally the good will you beare to your country the commendation of vertue the detestation of vice the fall of ambition the horrible ende of traytours harlots tyraunts adulters enchaunters murderers and such like VVhen men said they consider these things they cannot how simple soeuer your Verse bee but thincke well of the matter At length with these perswasions and suche like I was contente good Reader to publishe them for thy behoufe and the publique weale of my countrye At which if thou enuye I minde not therefore to enuye my selfe and staye my penne but God willing thou shalt as fast as I can prepare them haue other Bookes from my handes which maye please thee againe and thus with all my harte I bidde the hartelye farewell Thy freinde I. H. The Authours induction AS Somer sweete with all hir pleasures paste And leaues began to leaue both braūche and tree VVhile winter colde approatched nere full fast Mee thought the time to sadnes moued mee On drouping daies not halfe such mirth haue wee As when the time of yeare and wether-s fayre So moue our mindes as mocions moue the ayre The wery nightes approatched on apace VVith darkesom shades which somewhat breedeth care The Sun had take more nere the earth his race In Libra than his greatest swinge hee bare For pardy then the dayes more colder are Then fades the greene fruite timely herbes are don And wynter gines to waste that sommer won I deemde some booke of mourning theame was beste To reade were with instructions mingled so As might againe refreshe my wittes oppreste VVith tediousnes not driue mee quyte therfro VVherfore I went the Printers straight vnto To seeke some worke of price I surely mente That might herein my carefull mynde contente At length by hap I found a booke so sad As time of yeare or wynter could require The Mirroure namde for Magistrates he had So finely pende as harte could well desire VVhich when I read so set my heart on fire Eftsones it mee constraind to take the payne Not leaue with once to reade it once againe And as againe I vewde this worke with heede And marked playne eache party tell his fall Mee thought in mynde I sawe those men in deede Eke howe they came in order pleading all Declaring well this life is but a thrall Sithe those on whom for Fortunes giftes we stare Ofte sooniste sinke in greatest seas of care For some of these were kinges of highe estate And some were Dukes and came of Regall race Some Princes Lordes and Iudges great that sate In councell still decreing euery case Some other Knightes that vices did imbrace Some Gentlemen some poore that looked hie Yet euery one had play de his tragoedye A Mirroure well it may be calde a glasse More cleare then any crystall vnder Sun In eache respecte the Tragoedies so passe Their names shall lyue that such a worke begun For why with such Decorum is it don That Momus spight which more then Argus eyes Can neuer watche to kepe it from the wise Examples there for all estates you finde For iudge I say what iustice he should vse The noble man to beare a noble mynde And not him selfe ambiciously abuse The Gentleman vngentlenes refuse The ryche and poore and euery one may see VVhich way to loue and lyue in his degree Me thinkes they might beware by others harme And eke eschue to clamer vp so hye Yet cursed pride doth all their wittes becharme They thinke of naught but prouerbes true do trie VVho hewes aloft the chips may hurte his eye VVho climes the tops of trees wher bowes ar smal Or hawty towres may quickly catch a fall This thing full well doth Phaëtons fall declare And Icarus aloft would flie and soare Eke Bladud once of Britayne rule that bare VVould clyme and flye but eache did fal therfore For Phaëton was with lightning all to tore And Icarus the meane that did not recke VVas drownde by fal did Bladud breake his neck The scriptures eake of such beare witnes can As Babilon for high presumption fell But let mee ende my tale that I began VVhen I had red these Tragoedies full vvell And paste the night vvith labours long to tell One night at laste I thought to leaue my vse And take some ease before I chaungde my muse VVherfore a vvay from reading I me gate My heauy head vvaxte dull for vvant of reste I layde me dovvne the night vvas vvaxed late For lacke of slepe myne eyes vvere sore oppreste Yet fansy still of all their deathes increaste Me thoughte nothing my minde from them could take So long as Somnus suffered me to vvake Then straight appeard in purple colour blacke Sweete Somnus reste which comfortes eche aliue By ease of mynde that weares away all wracke That noysome night from wery wittes doth driue Of labours long the pleasures wee atchiue VVherat I ioyde sithe after paynes were past I might receiue by Somnus easeat last But hee by whom I thought my selfe at rest Reuiued all my fancies fonde before I more desirous humbly did request Him shewe th' vnhappy princes were of yore For well I wiste that hee could tell mee more Sythe vnto diuers Somnus erste had tolde VVhat things were done in elder times of olde At length he foorth his seruaunt Morpheus calde And bad him shewe mee from the first to th' ende Such persons as in Britayne Fortune thralde VVhich straight vpon his calling did attende And thus he spake with countenaunce of frende Come on thy wayes and thou shalt see and here The Britaynes and their doings what they were And as he led me through the darkes a whyle At length we came into a goodly hall At th' ende wherof there seemde a duskish I le Out of the which he gan the Britaynes call Such only as from Fortunes hap did fall VVhich when he called thryce me seemde to heare The doores to cracke from whence they should apeare And thryce I shrinkte a syde and shunde the sight And three times thrice I wishte my selfe away Eke thrise from thence there flew a flashe of light Three times I sawe them cōming make their stay At laste they all approtchte in such aray VVith sundry shewes appearing vnto mee A straunger sighte then erste with eyes I see Men mighty bigge in playne and straunge atyre But some with woūdes and bloud were so disguisde You scarcely could with reasons ayde aspyre To knowe what warre suche cruell death deuysde But sithe I haue their formes beneath comprisde VVheras their stories seuerally I showe Your selfe therby their cause of death may knowe And eke their faces all and bodies were Destainde with woade and turkish berds they had On th'ouer lippes moutchatoes long of heyre And wylde they feemde as men dispeyring mad Their lookes did make my fearfull harte full sad And yet I could not for my life eschewe Their presence or their myndes I likewyse
vnwrought ill Why spare you Britaynes this my corps to kill With that the king good Lady fayre what iste Thou canst desire or aske but must obtaine Eke would to God with all my hart I wiste Best waye to ease thee of thy wofull paine But if thou wilt do here with mee remaine If not content conductours shalt thou haue To bring thee home and what thou els wilt craue As for my Queene as yet I none possesse Therefore thou rather maiste voutchsafe to take That place thy selfe then waite on her I gesse Whose beautye with thy face no match can make The Gods denye that I thy heste forsake I saue thy life eke God forbid that I Should euer cause so fayre a Ladye dye O King quoth I the Gods preserue thy grace The heauens requite thy mercy shewde to mee And all the starres direct thy regall race In happye course long length of yeares to see The earth with fertile fruites inriche so thee That thou maist still like Justice her dispose And euer more treade downe thy deadly foes The noble king commaunded to vnbinde Mine armes and let mee lewce and free at will And afterward such fauour did I finde That as his Queene I was 〈◊〉 still And I enioyde all pleasures at my 〈◊〉 So that they quite had quenched out my thrall And I forgate my former fortunes all Thus lo by fauoure I obtainde my suite So had my beauty set his brest on fire That I could make Locrinus euen as muite Or pleasaunt as my causes did require And when I knewe he could no way retyre I praide he would his fauour so extende As I might not be blamed in the ende For if quoth I you take me as your owne And eke my loue to you haue constant beene Then let your loue like wise againe be showne And wed me as you said your spouse and Queene If since in mee misliking you haue seene Then best depart betime before defame Begin to take from Elstride her good name No wauering hart said he Locrinus beares No sayned flatery shall thy fayth deface Thy beauty birth fame vertue age and yeares Constraine mee both thee and thy hestes imbrace I must of force giue thy requestes a place For as they do with reason good consent Euen so I graunt thee all thy whole inteut Then was the time appointed and the day In which I should be wedded to this kinge But in this case his counsaile causde a staye And sought out meanes at discord vs to bringe Eke Corinaeus claimde a former thing A precontract was made and full accorde Betweene his daughter and my soueraigne Lorde And yet the King did giue me comfort still He said he could not so forsake my loue Yet euermore would beare me all good will As both my beauty and desertes did moue But still the ende doth who is fauty proue His counsaile at the last did him constraine To marry her vnto my 〈◊〉 paine At which I coulde not but with hate repine It 〈◊〉 mee his mate that should haue beene To liue in bate a prince his concubine That euer had such hope to be his Queene The steppes of state are full of wo and teene For when wee thincke we haue atainde the throne Then straight our poÌ„pe pride is quite orethrone Lotwise I fell from hope of Princely crowne First when vnhappy Humber lost his life And next I laide my peacockes pride adowne When as I could not be Locrinus wife But oft they say the thirde doth ende the strife Which I haue proude therefore the sequel ve me The thirde payes home this prouerbe is to true This kinge could not refraine his former minde But vsde me still and I my doubtfull yeares Did linger on I knew no shift to finde But past the time full oft with mourning teares A concubine is neuer voyde of feares For if the wyfe her at aduauntage take In radge reuenge with death she seekes to make Likewise I wiste if once I sought to flye Or to entreate the kinge depart I might Then would he straight be discontent with mee Yea if I were pursued vpon the flight Or came deflourde into my parents sighte I should be taken kept perforce or slaine Or in my country liue in great disdaine In such a plight what might a woman doe Was euer Lady fayre in such a 〈◊〉 O wretched wight bewrapt in webbes of woe That still in dread wast tost from place to place And neuer foundest meane to ende thy race But still in doubt of death in carking care 〈◊〉 liue a life deuoyde of all welfare The king perceiuing well my chaunged cheare To case my hart withall deuisde deceats By secrete wayes I came deuoyde of feare In baultes by cunning Masons crafty feats Whereas wee safely from the Queene her threats Perdy the King and I so vsde our arte As after turnde vs both to paine and smarte By him I had my Sabrine small my childe And after that his wife her father loste I meane he dyed and she was straight exilde And I made Queene vnto my care and coste For she went downe to Cornevval straight in peste And caused all her fathers men to ryse With all the force and strengthe they might deuyse My king and hirs with me gainst hir preparde An army strong but when they came to fighte Dame Guendoline did war at length to harde And of our king vs both deposed quite For from hir campe an arrowe sharpe did lighte Upon his breste and made him leaue his breath Lo thus this king came by vntimely death Then I to late began in vayne to flye And taken was presented to the queene Who me behelde with cruell tigres eye O queene ê™ she that cause of warres haste bene And deadly hate the like was neuer seene Come on for these my bandes shall ridde thy life And take reuengement of our mortall strife I longed long to bring thee to this baye And thou likewyse hast sought to sucke my bloud Nowe arte thou taken in my spoyles a praye That causde my life full long in daunger stoode I wyll both teache thy selfe and others good To breake the bandes of faithfull wedlocke plight And giue thee that which thou deseruidste right O harlote whore why should I stay my handes O painted picture shall thy lookes thee saue Nay bynde hir faste both hande and foote in bandes And let hir some straunge kinde of tormentes haue What stroÌ„pet stues thinkste for thou seemist braue Dr for thy teares or sighes to scape my sight My selfe will rather banquishe thee by fight Thou rather shouldste my vitall breath depriue Then euer scape if none were here but wee But now I will not file my handes to striue Dr else to touche so vile a drabe as shee Come on at once and bring hir after mee With hande and feete as I commaunded bounde And let me see hir here as Humber drounde A thousand things beside she spake in rage While that a caytife
thē adioyned it is impossible for him that is endued with the aboue named vertues euer to fall into the vnfortunate snares of calamitie or misfortune But Ambition which is an immoderate desire of honore rule dominiō and superioritie the very destructiō of nobilitie and commune weales as among the Romains Silla Marius Carbo Cinna Cateline Pompey and Caesar are witnesses hath brought great decay also to our countrey and countreymen which Maister Baldwin hath so learnedly touched in his Epistle of the other volume of this booke that I nede not therewith deale any further Onely I would to God it were so ofte read and regarded of all Magistrates as the matter requireth I haue here right honorable in this booke which I am so bolde to dedicate to your honors only reproued foly in those which are heedelesse iniurie in extortioners rashnes in venterers and excesse in such as suppresse not vnruly affections And I trust you will so thinke of it although the stile deserue not like commendation as you thought of the other part which if you shall I doubt not but it maye pleasure some if not yet giue occasion to others which can do farre better either with eloquence to amende that is amisse in mine or else when they see these so rudely pende to publishe their own And thus wishing you Prudence to discerne what is meete for your callinges Iustice in the administrations of your functiōs Fortitude in the defence of your countrey and Temperance in moderation of all your affections with increase of honors and euerlasting felicitie I bid you in Christe Iesu fare well Your humble Iohn Higgins I. Higgins to the Reader AMongst diuers sondry Chronicles of many Nations I thincke there are none gentle reader so uncertaine briefe in the beginninge as ours at which I cannot but maruaile sith at all times oure Ilande had as learned writers some singuler men excepted as any Nation under that Sunne Againe those which now are our best Chroniclers as they report haue great Antiquities but what they publish of late yeares may be enlarged in many places by Chronicles of other Nations whereby it is manifest they are either ignoraunt of the tōgues orels not giuen to the study of that which they most professe for if they were me thincks it were easye for them with such Antiquities as they brag they haue to fetch our Distories from the beginning make them as ample as the Chronicles of any other Country or Nation But they are faine in steede of other stuffe to talke of the Romaines Greekes Persians c. and to fill our Distoryes with their facts fables This I speake not to that end I would haue ours quite seperate from other without any mention of them but I would haue them ther onelye named wher th'affayres of both countryes by warre peace truce mariage trafique or some necessary cause or other is intermired I haue seene no auncient antiquities in writtē hand but two one was Galfridus of Munmouth which I lost by misfortune the other an old Chronicle in a kind of Englishe Verse beginning at Brute and endinge at the death of Humfrey Duke of Glocester in the which and diuers other good Chronicles I finde manye thinges not mentioned in that great tome engroced of late by Maister Grafton and that where he is most barraine and wantes matter But as the greatest heades the grayest heyres and best clarkes haue not most witte so the greatest Bookes titles and Tomes containe not most mater And this haue I spoken because in writinge the Tragedies of the first infortunate Princes of this 〈◊〉 I was often faine to vse mine owne simple inuention yet not swaruing from the matter because the Chronicles althoughe they wente out vnder diuers mens names in some suche places as I moste needed their ayde wrate one thing and that so brieflye that a whole Princes raigne life and death was comprised in three lines Yea and sometimes mine olde booke aboue mentioned holpe mee out when the rest forsoke mee as for Lanquet Stowe and Grafton were alwayes nighe of one opinion but the Floure of Histories somewhat larger some helpe had I of an olde Chronicle imprinted the yeare 1515. But surely mee thincks and so do most which delite in historyes it were worthily done if one Chronicle were drawne from the beginning in such perfect sort that all monuments of vertuous men to that eralting of Gods glorye and all punishments of vicious persons to that terrour of the wicked might be registred in perpetuall remēbraunce To which thing the right reuerende father in God Matthew Archbishoppe of Canterbury Metropolitane of Englande hath brought such ayde as well by printing as preseruinge the written Chronicles of this Realme that by his Graces studye and paines the labour in time to come wil be farre more easye to them shall take such trauaile in hande But to leaue with these and declare the cause of my purpose As I chaunced to reade the Mirour for Magistrates worke by all men wonderfully commended and full of fitte instructions for preseruation of eche estate takinge in hand the Chranicles and minding to conferre the times mee thoughte the liues of a nomber euen at the beginninge the like infortunate Princes offered themselues vnto mee as matter verye meete for imitation the like admonition miter and phrase and seing Baldwine by these woordes moued mee some what thereto It were sayth hee a goodly and a notable matter to search and discourse our whole story from the beginninge of the inhabiting of this Isle c. I read the storyes I considered of the Princes I noted their liues and therewith conferred theyr deathes On this I toke penne in hande mindinge nothinge lesse then to publishe them abroade but onelye to trye what I coulde do if neede were or time and leasure were giuen mee to bestow in such wise I wrote the two first euen as they now are and because I would not keepe secrete my first labours in this kinde of studye though I might well haue blushed at the basenes of my stile I shewed them to a freiude of mine desiring his bufayned iudgement in this matter which when he had read he neuer left intreating mee to write other til I had ended all to the byrth of CHRIST and yet not so content he desired meet'accomplish the residue til I came to the Conquest which were welnighe fiftye Cragedies but wearied with those which I had written I desired him pause on this till time and leasure were giuen mee Yet he makinge relation to other his frendes what I had done left mee not quiet till they likewise had seene them Whose perswasion as it seemed without any suspition of assentation or flatery so bath it made mee bolder at this present then before For although sayd they your Tragedies be simple and not comparable to those which the other before haue written yet when men consider that many wrote those but one these that they are graue writers
thriue He plagues the prowde preserues the good aliue FINIS The Authoure THen vanishte Humber and no sooner gon VVas he but straight in place before me came A princely wight had complet harnes on Though not so complet as they now do frame He seemde sometime t' aue bene of worthy fame In breste a shafte with bleeding wounde he bare And thus he tolde the cause of all his care Locrinus the eldest sonne of Brutus declareth his slaughter to haue happened for his euill life He died the yeare before Christe 1064. YF euer any noble prince might rewe His factes are paste long since the same may I That would to God it were not farre to true Or that I iustly could my faultes denye The truthe of thinges the ende or tyme doth trie As well by me is seen my haplesse fall Declares whence came my greate misfortunes all I am Locrinus seconde Britayne king The 〈◊〉 sonne of him that founde this lande Whose death to me my mischiefes all did bring And causde why first I tooke my death in bande He chiefly wylde me when he gaue this lande I should be rulde by all his counsayles will And vse their iudgmentes in my dealings still But what do I accuse my fathers heste What meane I here th'unfauty for to blame All he commaunded euen was for the beste Though in effecte of beste the worste became So thinges ofte times well mente vnfitly frame So often times the counsayle of your frende Apparent good fawles faulty in the eude For as he wisht I vsde his counsayles ayde In eache thing that I deemde was good for mee I neuer ought that they desirde denayde But did to all their mindes and hestes agree And Corinaeus sawe my harte so free By diuers meanes he sought this match to make That to my wife I might his daughter take But I that wiste not then what mariage ment Did straight agree his Guendoline to haue Yet afterwarde suspecting his intent My frendes to me this pointe of counsaile gaue That who so doth of Prince aliaunce craue He meanes thereby to worke some point of ill Or else to frame the prince vnto his will. It may well be he mente no euill at all But wise men alwayes vse to dreade the-worste And sithe it was the fountaine of my fall From whence the springe of all my sorowes burste I may well thinke was some of vs accurste For why the ende doth alwayes proue the facte By ende weiudge the meaning of the acte I made no haste to wed my spoused wyfe I wiste I could as yet without hir byde I had not tasted toyes of trayned life I dcemde them fooles by Cupides darte that dide I Venus vise and all hir force defide And liude at reste and rulde my land so well That men delighted of my factes to tell My brethren eke long weldid well their partes We feard no foes we thought our state would stand We gaue our selues to learned skilfull artes Wherin we other fruite or pleasur fand And we enioyde so fine a fruitfull land That fewe in earth might with our states compare We lyude so voyde of noysome carke and care But see the chaunce when least we thought of ill When we esteamde our state to be moste sure Than came a flawe to bridle all our will For straungers far gan vs to warre procure And euen when first they put their pranke in vre On Albane shores my brother there they slewe Whose death we after made the Hunnes to rue When he was dead they hopte to winne the reste And ouer Abi streame with haste did hie But I and eke my brother Camber dreste Our armies straight and came their force to trie We brake their rayes and forste their king to flie Into the arme of Sea they ouer came Where Humber brounde that waters tooke his name We ether slewe or tooke them captiues all Emongst the which O mischiefe great to tell The Gods to worke mine ouerthrow and fall Sent ladies three whose beauties did excell Of which because I liked one so well I tooke hir straight nor she did ought denie But eche thing graunted so she might not dye Thus Humber we this hatefull hungery king In Humber drenshte and him depriude of pride And of his loftie ladies he did bring He loste the praye and all his men beside And we the spoiles of all his hoaste deuide But I that thought I had the greatest share Had caught the cause of all my wofull care They calde this lady Elstride whome I tooke Whose bewty braue did so my wittes confounde That for hir sake my promise I for sooke Wherby I was to Gwendoline first bounde Me thought no lady went on earthely grounde That might alure me euer chaunge my minde So was I caught by snares of Cupide blynde Was neuer none before so likte mine eye 〈◊〉 hir more then I coulde loue my life Hir absence still me thought did cause me die I surely mente to take hir to my wife But see howe beauty breadeth deadly strife Lo here began my whole confusion here Sprang out the shaft frō which this wounde I beare For Corinaeus had no soner hearde That I did meane his daughter to forsake But straight as one that did nought else regarde In haste his voyage towardes me did take And come declarde what promise I did make From whiche he saide if once I sought to slioe It should by dinte of sworde and bloud be tride But if I would hir take as erste I sayde And not this straunger choose against his minde His helpe he promiste at eache time and ayde To be so redy as I wishte to finde He furder sayde my contrey did me bynde To take such one as all my subiectes knewe Sithe straungers to their foes are neuer true I wayde his wordes and thought he wishte me wel But yet because his stocke should gaine therby I reckte them lesse and yet the truthe to tell I durste not dare my promise made denye For well I wiste if once it came to trye It would both weaken all this noble lande And doubtfull be who should ha th'upper hande Thus nedes perforce I must his daughter take And must leaue of to loue where I delighte I was constrainde contentio to forsake The forme that moste did captiuate my sighte What lucke had I on such a lote to lighte What ment you Goddes that me such fortune gane To caste my minde on hir I might not haue To shorte my tale his Guendoline I tooke I was contente against my will what then Nore quite for this myne Elstride I forsoke For why I wrought by skill of cunning men A vaulte along vnder the grounde a denne Hir companie wherin I vsed still There we acco mplishte our vnhappy will. There I begat my Sabrine sely childe That virgine sinall myne Elstride bare to mee Thus I my wife full often did beguilde Which after warde did beare a sonne to mee Namde Madan yet we neuer could agree And he
that was the cause she was my bryde This whyle hir father Corinaeus dyde Which when I hearde I had my hartes desire I craude no more there was my ende of griefe At leste I thought to quenche Cupidoes fire And eke to worke my lusting loues reliefe I mente no more to steale it like a thiefe But maried Elstride whom I loude as lyfe And for hir sake I put away my wyfe Likewise I causde was Elstride queene proclaimde And tooke hir as my lawfull wyfe by right But Gwendoline that sawe hir selfe sisoainde Straight fled and moude the Cornishe men to fight To them when she declarde hir pitious plighte In haste they 〈◊〉 an army for to bee Reueugers of my newe made queene and mee And I likewise an armie did prepare I thoughte to 〈◊〉 their courage all by force But to my coste I founde to late beware There is no strengthe in armoure man or horse Can vayle if loue on wronged take remorce For he on whom the deadly darte doth lighte Can neuer scape by ransome frende or flighte So when our armies met night Stura streame The trompettes 〈◊〉 and I denide the peace I minded to erpell them all the realme Or else to make them euer after cease And they except I Elstride would releace They sayde and take my Gwendoline againe They would reuenge the wrong or else be slayne On this we met and valiauntly we fought On eather side and nether parte did yelde So equaly they fell it was great doubtr Which part should haue the better of the fielde But I to boldr rushte in with sworde and sheelde To breake their rayes so hasty men get smarte An arrowe came and stroke me to the harte Then was I brought to Troynouant and there My body was enterrid as you reade When I had raigned all out twenty yere Lothus I liuve and thus became I deade Thus was my crowne depriued from my heade And all my pompe my princely troupe and trayne And I to earth and duste resolude agayne Now warne estates let this for wedlorke serue Beware of chaunge it will not holde out longe For who so mindeth from his make to swerue Shal sure at lengthe receiue reuenge for wrong T is foly fight with God h 'is farte to stronge For though ye colour all with coate of right Yet can no fained farde deceiue his sight Finis The Authour WIth that this king vvas vanisht quite and gone And as a miste dissolued into ayre And I vvas left vvith Morpheu all alone VVho represented straigt a Lady fayre Of frendes depriude and left in deepe dispaire As eke she spake all vvet in cordes fast bounde Thus tolde she hovv she vvas in vvaters drounde Elstride the concubine of Locrinus myserably drowned by Gwendoline his vvyfe declares her presumption lewde life and infortunate fall She suffered before Christe 1064. ANd must I needes my selfe resite my fall Poore woman I must I declare my fate Must I the first saue three amongste vs all Shew how I thrise fell from my Princely 〈◊〉 And from the loftye seate on which I sate If needes I must then well content I will Lest here my place in vaine I seeme to fill Locrinus loude 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 daughter came frō Germaines land 〈◊〉 of beauty many Princes moude 〈◊〉 for grace and fauour at my hand Which bruite once blowne abrond in euery land One Humber king of Hunnes with al his traine To come to mee a suiter was full faine What neede I tell the giftes to mee he gaue Or shew his suite or promise he me plight Sith wel you know a Prince nede nothing craue May nigh 〈◊〉 ech thing as t were his right For as the fowle before the Eagles sight Euen so me fall submit and yeld vs still At Prince his call obeysaunt to his will. And for that time the Hunnes full mighty were And did increase by martiall feates of warre Therefore our Germaine kings agaste did beare Them greater fauour then was neede by farre My father durst not Humbers hest debarre Nor I my selfe I rather was content In hope of crowne with Humber to consent Two Princely Dames with me came then away He bragde to wiune these country partes all three We Ladies rather was this Priuce his pray Because he promist that we Queenes should bee We came to coste these country coasts to see Sith he on whom our hope did wholy stande Was drownd namde Humber waters lost the lande For as you heard before when he 〈◊〉 He had wonne all because he won a part Straight way he was againe thereof deposde Constrainde to flye and swim for life poore 〈◊〉 Loe here the cause of all my douleful smarte This noble king with whom I came to raigne Was 〈◊〉 drownde vnto my greuous paine Then were his souldiers taken slaine or spoilde And wel were they that could make suite for life Was neuer such an armye sooner foilde O wofull warre that flowste in floudes of strife And carst not whom thou cutste with cruell knife Or had not Venus fraught my face with hewe I had no longer liude my forme to rewe For as I came a captine with the reste My countenaunce did shewe as braue as Sunne Ech one that sawe my natiue hewe were preste To yelde themselues by beames of beauty won My fame straight blowne to gaze on mee they ron And said I paste eche worldly wight as farre As Phoebus 〈◊〉 the morning starre Like as you see in darkes if light appeare Straight way to thatech man directes his eye Euen so amongst my captiue mates that were When I did speake or make my plaints with cry Theu all on mee they stared by and by Bemoning of my fates and fortune soe As they had bin partakers of my woe My fourme did praise my plea my sighes they suide My teares entiste their hartes some ruth to take My sobbes in sight a seemely hewe reneude My wringing hands wan suiters shift to make My sober southes did cause them for my sake Mee to commende vnto their noble kinge Who wilde they should me into presence bringe Which when I came in cordes as captiue bounde O King quoth I whose power we feele to strong O worthy wighte whose Fame to skyes doth sounde Do pitie me that neuer wishte the wronge Release mee one thy captiues all amonge Which from my frends by fraude am brought away A Prince his daughter drounde in deepe decaye Now as thou art a Prince thy selfe of might And maist do more then I do dare desire Let me O Kinge finde fauour in thy sight Asswage somewhat thy deadly wrath and ire No part of manhode t is for to require A Ladyes death thee neuer did offende Sith that thy foe hath brought her to this ende But let me rather safely be conuaide O gracious king once home before I dye Or let me on thy Queene be wayting maide If it may please thy royal maiestye Or let me raunsome paye for libertye But if thou minde reuenge of
wisedome rather then to winne to saue For ofce who trustes to get a prince his trayne Would at the lengthe of beggers life be fayne This might the Hunne erste Humber well haue sayde And this my mother Elstride proufde to true When as his life by striuing streames was stayde And when the tyrauntes hir in waters threwe What I may saye my selfe reportes to you Which had more terrour shewde then twyce such twayne Blue care and iudge if I abode no payne First when my fathers corps-was stroken downe With deadly shafte I came to mourne and see And as he laye with bleding breste in sowne He caste asyde his watring eyes on mee Flye flye he said thy stepdame seekes for thee My wofull childe what flight maiste thou to take My Sabrine poore I must the nedes forsake See here 〈◊〉 ende beholde thy fathers fall Flye flye thy gelous stepdame seekes thy lyfe Thy mother eke or this is wrapte in thrall Farewell in woe you cannot scape hir knyfe Farewell my childe mine Elstride and my Wyfe Adew ê™ he I may no longer hyde And euen with that he gaspid thrise and dyede What birde can flye and sore if formes do rage What ship can sayle if once the myndes resiste What wight is that can force of warres aswage Or else what warre can bridle Fortunes liste What man is he that dare an hoaste resiste What woman only dare withstande a fielde If not what childe but must to enemies yelde My fathers souldiers 〈◊〉 away for feare As soone as once their Captaines death they seande The Queene proclaimde a pardon euery where To those would yelde and craue it at hir hande Excepting such as did her ay withstande For so the course alwayes of pardons goes As saues the souldiers and entrapps the foes Then wiste I flight could nothing me preuaile I feard her pardon would not saue my lyfe The storme was such I durst not beare a saile I durst not go t'lntreate my fathers wyfe Althoughe I neuer was the cause of strife For gelozye deuoyde of reasons raine With frensies fume enragde her restles braine But see the chaunce thus compast rounde with feare In broyles of bloud as in the field I stande I wishte to God my corps were any where As out of life or of this hatefull lande No sooner wisht but there was euen at hande A person vile in hast quoth he come on Queene Elstride wil before thou come be gon The rascall rude the rooge the clubfist gripe My litle arme and plucte me on in haste And with my robes the bloudy ground he sweept As I drue backe he halde me on full fast Under his arme my sclender corps he cast Sith that quoth he thou putst me to this paine Thou shalt thereby at length but litle gaine Thus through the 〈◊〉 he bare me to my bane And shewde the souldiers what a spoile he had Loke here quoth he the litle Princes tane And laught and ran as brutish butcher mad But my lamenting made the souldiers sad Yet nought preuailde the caytife as his pray Without all pity bare me still away Till at the length we came where we descride A nomber huge of folkes about the Queene As when you see some wonder great beside Or els the place wher some strauÌ„g sight hath beene So might you there the people standing seene And gazed all when as they see mee brought Then sure I demde I was not come for nought And in the 〈◊〉 some praisde my coinlye face Some said to Elstride she resembleth right Some said I loked like my fathers grace Some other said it was a piteous sight I should so dye the Queene mee pardon might Some said the thiefe mee 〈◊〉 did mee abuse And not so rudely ought a Princes vse But what did this redresse my wofull care You wot the Commons vse such prouerbs still And yet the captiues poore no better are It rather helpes their pained harts to kill To pity one in griefe doth worke him ill Bemone his woe and cannot ease his thrall It kills his hart but comforts nought at all Thus past me throw the prease at length we came Into the presence of the gelous Queene Who nought at all the rascall rudc did blame That bare me so but askte if I had seene My father slame that cause thereof had beene O Queene quoth I God knowes nice innocent To worke my fathers death I neuer ment With that I sawe the people looke asyde To 〈◊〉 a mourning voyce I heard thereby It was my wofull mother by that cryde Lo Sabrine hounde at brinke of death I lye What pen or tongue or teares with weeping eye Could tell my woes that sawe my mother bounde On waters shore wherein she should be drounde With that I fell before the Queene and praide For mercy but 〈◊〉 fiery 〈◊〉 she bent Hir browes on mee out vastar de bile she sain Thou worst not yet wherefore for thee I sent O Queene quoth I haue pity be content And if thou minde of mercy ought to show 〈◊〉 mee and let my mother harmelesse go For why she was a Prince his daughter borne In Germany and thence was brought away Perforce by Humber who by mattes forlorne Thy king as captiue toke hir for his pray Thou maiste full well her case with reason weye What coulde she do what more then she or I Thy 〈◊〉 now thine owne to line or dye Take pity then on Princely race O Queene Take pity if remorce may ought require Take pity on a captiue thrice hath beene Let pity pearce the rage of all thine ire But if thy breast burne with reuenging fire Then let my death quenche oute that fuming flame Sith of thy husbands bloud and hirs I came Much more I saide while teares out streaming went But nought of ease at all thereby I gainde My mother eke did as she lay lamente Where with my hart a Thousand folde she painde And though the Queene my plaints to fauour fainde Yet at the last she bade she should prepare Her selfe to dye and ende her course of care Than all her frends my mother Elstride namde And pleasures paste and bade them all adue Eke as she thus her last farewell had framde With losse of him from whom her sorowes grue At length to mee which made my hart to rue She said farewell my childe I feare thy fall Ten thousand times adewe my Sabrine small And as the cruel 〈◊〉 came to take 〈◊〉 vp to caste and drowne her in the sloud I fast mine armes about her clipt did make And cryde O Queene let mercy meeke thy moode Do rather reaue my hart of vitail bloude Then thus I liue with that they slachte my holde And 〈◊〉 my mother in the waters colde For loue to ayde her venter in would I That sawe my mother striue aloft for winde To lande she lookte and saide farewell Idye O let me go quoth I like fate to finde Said Guendoline come on likewise and binde This Sabrine
knewe For Morpheus wylde me by de and bad them tell Their names and lyues their haps and haples days And by what meanes from Fortunes globe they fel VVhich did them erste vnto such honours rayse VVherwith the first not making moe delayes A persone tall wyde woundes in breste that bare Drewe nere to tell the cause of all his care And as to speake he wiste he might be bolde Depe from his breste he threwe an vnked sounde I was amasde his gestures to beholde And bloud that freshly trickled from his wounde VVith Ecco so did halfe his wordes rebounde That scarce at first the sence might well appeare But thus me thought he spake as you shall heare Albanacte the yongest sonne of Brutus telles of the finding of this lande his fathers life and his owne infortunate fall He liued about the yeare before Christe 1074. SIthe flattering Fortune slyely could beguyle Me first of all the Princes of this lande And yet at firste on me did sweetely smyle Do marke me here that firste in presence stande And when thou wel my wouÌ„ded corps hast scande Then shalt thou see what tale I mynde to frame In stories called Albanacte by name So if thou liste to heare what I resite If thou intende to showe my fatall fall I praye thee take the paynes my tale to wryte As I in order here repeate it shall What nedste thou muse thou nedst not feare at al Sythe those that later liude their tales haue tolde Dur elder liues to wryte thou mayst be bolde Lay dreade aside let nothing thee amase We haue dispaire of so vncoutched ryme Leaue of on mee with fearfull lookes to gase Thy pen may serue for such a tale as myne First will I tell thee all my fathers Lyne Then hither warde why he with Troianes mande His boyadge made and founde this noble lande And last I minde to tell the of my selfe My life and death a Tragedye so true As may approue your world is all but pelse And pleasures sweete whom sorrowes aye ensue Hereafter eke in order coms a crue Which can declare of worldly pleasures vaine The price we all haue bought with greeuous paine Well now I see thou putst apart thy fright And giuste an care to heare not heard before I will declare the slorye all so right Thou shalt no whit haue neede t inquyre no more Do marke me well what I resite therefore And after write it and there with my name Let hardly mee receyue if ought be blame When Troy was sackt and brent could not stand A Eneas fled from thence Anchises sonne And came at length to king Latinus lande He Turnus slewe Lauinia eke he wonne And reignde 3. yeares Ascanius then his sonne Reignde next to him the Siluius was his heyre Begate my father of a Ladye fayre But when as Brutus fiftene yeares was olde for so they calde my father by his name With Siluius then an hunting goe he would And thinking for to strike in chare the game His father that by thaunce beyonde it came Receiude the glaunce and through his tender syde With deadly dint the shaft did swiftly slyde So thoughe by chaunce my father Brutus stewe My graundsyre Siluius sore against his will Which came by chaunce as be his arow drewe That thought the fearefull harte not him to kill Yet was he banisht from Italia still Commaunded neuer to retourne no more Excepte he would his life to leese therefore On this to Greece from thence he toke his waye Where Troians were by Grecians captiues kept Helenus was by Pirrhus brought awaye FroÌ„ death of those whose fall their frends bewept My father all this while no busines slepte But by his facts and feats obtainde such fame Seuen Thousande captiue Troians to him came A saracus a noble Greecian eke Who by his mother came of Troiane race Because be sawe my fathers powre not weke Came vnto him to ayde him in this case For that his brother thought him to deface Which was a Greeke by both his parents sydes His Castels three my father Brutus guides Thus hee to be their captaine was content And all the Troians gathered to his bande Hist post unto the Greecian kinge he sent For to entreat he might depart his laude Which when King Pandrasus did vnderstande An armye straight he did therefore addresse On purpose all the Troians to suppresse Then whyle king Pandrasus at Spartine towne Thought them in desertes by to circumuente My father with three thousande beate them downe Such fauoure loe him lady Fortune 〈◊〉 By Mars his force their rayes I ranckes he rente And tooke Antigonus the brother of their king With others mo as captiues home to bring The taken towne from which the king was fled My father with sire hundreth men did man Cache prisner was vnto his keper led To kepe in towne the noble Troianes wan My father vnto woodes conueyde him than Againe with his and kepte him there by nighte To quayle the Greecians if they came to fighte And when the king had calde to mynde his foyle His flighte and brother by the Troianes take The towne he loste and Brutus had the spoyle He thought not so the field and fight forsake But of his men a muster newe to make And so agayne for to vesiege the towne In hope reuenge or winne his loste renowne By night my father that his purpose knewe Came forth from woodes wheras he wayted by The Troianes all th'vnarmid Greecians slewe WeÌ„t through their 〈◊〉 could non their force deny Unto the tente where Pandrasus did lye Wheras my father tooke their king that night And saude his life as seemde a worthy wight Which victory when he had wisely won The Troiane victoure did a counsayle call To knowe what beste were with the king be don Now tell ê™ he what ransom aske we shall On which when none agreed scarce of all At lengthe Mempricius vp from seate did rise And silence made gaue thus his counsayle wyse I cannot Troianes but commend the facte Of this our noble captaine worthy praise Which thought as t' was a wicked he yuous acts T' abridge the Grecian king of vitall dayes Wee rather ought by clemency to rayse Our fame to sky then by a sauage guyse Sithe Gods and men both cruelty despise The cause we fought was for the freedome all Of Troianes taken we haue freedome won Wee haue our purpose and their king withall To whom of rygour nothing ought be don Though he the quarell with vs first began And though we owe the fall of Troies requite Yet let reuenge therof from Gods to light His subiectes all do wayle their ill pretence And weapons layde asyde for mercy crye They all confesse their plagues to come from thence Where first from faith of Gods they seemde to flye Their nobles dare not come the case to trye But euen for peace with all their hartes they sue And meekly grauute whence all their mischiefes grewe The lady faire his