POEMS By Michaell Draiton Esquire N L LONDON Printed for N. Ling. 1605. The Arguments THe Barrons warres Englands Heroicall Epistles Idea The Legend of Robert Duke of Normandie The Legend of Matilda The Legend of Pierce Gaueston To Sir Walter Aston Knight of the honourable order of the Bath and my most worthy Patron I Will not striue m' invention to inforce With needlesse words your eyes to entertaine T' obserue the formall ordinarie course That euerie one so vulgarly doth faine Our interchanged and deliberate choise Is with more firme and true election sorted Then stands in censure of the common voice That with light humor fondly is transported Nor take I patterne of an others praise Then what my pen may constantly avow Nor walke more publique nor obscurer waies Then vertue bids and iudgement will allow So shall my loue and best endeuours serue you And still shall studie still so to deserue you Michaell Drayton To the Reader The Quadrin doth neuer double or to vâ—e a word of He raldrie neuer bringeth forth Gemells The Quiazain too soone The Sostin hath Twinnes in the base but they detaine not the Musicke nor the Cloze as Musitians terme it long enough for an Epicke Poeme The stanza of seauen is touched before This of eight both holds the tune cleane through to the base of the columne which is the couplet the foote or bottome and closeth not but with a full satisfaction to the care for so long detention Briefely this sort of stanza hath in it maiestie perfection and soliditie resembling the pillar which in Architecture is called the Tuscan whose shaft is of six diameters and bases of two The other reasons this place will not beare but generally all stanzas are in my opinion but tyrants and torturers when they make inuention they their number which sometime would otherwise scantle it selfe A fault that great Maisters in this Art striue to auoide Concerning the diuision which I vse in this Poeme I am not ignorant that antiquitie hath vsed to distinguish workes into Bookes and euery one to beare the number of their order Homers â—liads and Vlysiads indeede are distinguished by seuerall letters of the Greeke Alphabet as all the world knâ—wes and not by the numerall letters onely which to lotâ— are digit and afterward compound the Alpha being our vnite for the Greeks had no figures nor ciphers in their Arithmeticke Virgils Aeneis Statius Thebaâ—s Silius worke of the Carthaginian warre Illyricus Argonauticks Vidas Christeis are all diuided into books The Italians vse Cantos and so our first late great Reformer Master Spenser that I assume another name for the sections in this volume cannot be disgratious nor vnauowable Lastly if I haue not already exceeded the length of an Epistle I am to intreats that he who will as any man may that will make himselfe a partie to this of ours would be pleased to remember that Spartan Prince who being found by certaine Ambassadors playing among his children requested them to forbeare to censure till also they had some of their owne To such I giue as ample power and priuiledge as euer Ius libâ—rorum coulain Rome crauing backe againe at their hands by a regrant the like of that which I impart for great reason there is that they should vndergoe the licence which themselues challenge and suffer that in their fames which they would wrongly put vpon others according to the most indifferent law of the Talio Fare you well To M. Michaell Drayton WHat ornament might I deuise to fit Th' aspiring height of thy admired spirit Or what faire Garland worthy is to sit On thy blest browes that compasse in all merit Thou shalt not crowned be with common Bayes Because for thee it is a crowne too low Apolloes tree can yeeld thee simple praise It is too dull a vesture for thy brow But with a wreathe of starres shalt thou be crown'd VVhich when thy working temples do sustaine VVill like the Spheares be euer moouing round After the royall musicke of thy braine Thy skill doth equall Phoebus not thy birth He to heauen giues musicke thou to earth Thomas Greene. To M. Michaell Drayton THose painefull wits which natures depth admire And view the causes of vnconstant strife Doe tremble least the Vniuerse expire Through lasting iarres the enemies of life On earthly signes let not such Sages looke Nor on the cleere aspects of hopefull starres But learne the worlds continuance from thy booke which frames past natures force eternall warres wherein the Mases shewing perfect glory Adorne it so with gracefull harmonie That all the acts of this lamented story Seeme not perform'd for peoples libertie Nor through the awe of an imperious King But that thy verses their deepe wounds might sing Iohn Beaumont THE FIRST BOOKE of the Barrons warres The Argument The grieuous plagues and the prodigious signes That this great warre and slaughter doe foreshow Th' especiall cause the Baronage combines The Queenes strong griefe whence many troubles grow The time by course vnto our fallinclines And how each country doth to battell goe What cause to yeeld the Mortimers pretend And their commitment perfecting the end 1 THe bloodiefactions and rebellious pride Of a strong nation whose vnmanag'd might Them from their naturall Soueraigne did diuide Their due subiection and his lawfull right Whom their light error loosely doth misguide Vrg'd by lewd Minions tyrannous despight Me from soft layes and tender loues doth bring Of dreadfull fights and horred warres to sing 2 What hellish furie poysned your hie blood Or should bewitch you with accursed charmes That by pretending of the generall good Rashly extrudes you to tumultuous armes And from the safetie wherein late you stood Reâ—t of all taste and feeling of your harmes That France and Belgia with affrighted eyes Were sad beholders of your miseries 3 T 〈…〉 ueterate ranckor in their bosoms bred Who for their charter wag'd a former war Or through your veines this raging venom spred Whose next-succeeding Nephewes now you are Or that hote gore your bowes in conquest shed Hauing enlarg'd your Countries bounds so far Ensigne to ensigne furiously oppose With blades of Bilbo dealing English blowes 4 O thou the great director of my Muse On whose free bountie all my powers depend Into my breast a sacred fire infuse Rauish my spirit this great worke to attend Let the still night my laboured lines peruse That when my Poems gaine their wished end They whose sad eyes shall reade this tragique story In my weake hand shall see thy might and glory 5 What Care would plot Dissentions quickely crosse Which like an earthquake rends the tottering state By which abroade we beare a publique losse Betrayd at home by meanes of priuate hate Whilst vs those strange calamities doe tosse The daily nurse of mutinous debate Confusion still our countries peace confounds No helpe at hand and mortall all our wounds 6 Thou Church then swelling in thy mightinesse Tending the care and safetie of the soule
behold From whence by coynesse of their chaste disdaines Subiection is imperiously controld Their earthly weaknesse euermore explaines Exalting whom they please not whom they should When their owne fall showes how they â—ondlyer'd Procur'd by those vnworthily prefer'd 62 Merit goes vnregarded and vngrac'd When by his fauters ignorance held in And Parasites in wise mens roomes are plac'd Onely to sooth the great ones in their sin From such whose gifts and knowledge is debac'd There 's many strange enormities begin Forging great wits into most factious tooles When mightiest men oft proue the mightiest fooles 63 But why so vainely doe I time bestow The fowle abuse of th'wretched world to childe Whose blinded iudgement eu'ry howre doth show What follie weake mortalitie doth guide Wise was the man that laugh'd at all thy woe My subiect still more sorrow doth prouide And this late peace more matter still doth breede To hasten that which quickly must succeede The end of the fourth Canto ⧠The fifth Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument Th' imprisoned King his gouernement for sakes And to the Peeres his weakenesse so excused Who him ere long from Leisters keeping takes That with much woe his soueraigne Lord refused His torturers of him a mockery makes And basely and reproachfully abused By secret waies to Berckley being led And cruelly in prison murthered 1 THe wretched King vnnaturally betrayd By lewd coruption of his natiue Land From thence with speede to Kennelworth conuayd By th' Earle of Leister with a mightie band Some few his fauorers quickely ouer-wayd And now a present Parlement in hand To ratifie the generall intent His resignation of the gouernment 2 Falne through the frailtie of intemperate will That with his fortunes it so weakely farde To vndergoe that vnexpected ill For his deserued punishment preparde The measure of that wretchednesse to fill To him alotted as a iust reward Armes all with malice either lesse or more To strike at him that strooke at all before 3 And being a thing the commons daily craue To which the great are resolutely bent Such forward helpes on eu'ry side to haue T' effect their strong and forcible intent Which now that speede vnto their action gaue That ratifi'd by generall consent Still hastned on to execute the thing Which for one ill two worse should shortly bring 4 Bishops Earles Abbots and the Barrons all Each in due order as becomes the state Set by the Heraults in that goodly hall The Burgesses for places corporate Whom this great busnes at this time doth call For the Cinque-ports the Barrons conuocate And other Knights for the whole body sent Both on the South and on the North of Trent 5 From his impris'ning chamber clad in blacke Before th' assembly sadly he is brought A dolefull hearse vpon a dead mans backe whose heauy lookes might tell his heauier thought In which there doth no part of sorrow lacke Nor fained action needes to grieue be taught His funerall solemniz'd in his cheere His eyes the mourners and his legs the Beere 6 Torleton as one select to this intent The best experienc'd in this great affaire A man graue subtile stowt and eloquent First with faire speech th' assembly doth prepare Then with a voyce austere and eminent Doth his abuse effectually declare As winnes each sad eye with a reuerent feare With due attention drawing eu'ry eare 7 The great exactions raised by the King With whose full plenty he is Mineons fed Himselfe and subiects so impou'rishing And that deere blood he lauishly had shed Which desolation to the land should bring And the chiefe cause by his lewd riots bred The losse in warre sustained through his blame The during scandall to the English name 8 Proceeding forward to the future good That their dissignements happily intend And with what vpright policie it stoode No after hopes their for tunes to amend The resignation to his proper blood That might the action lawfully defend The present neede that willd it strictly so Whose imposition they might not sorslowe 9 Pardon me Art that striuing to be short To this intent a speech deliuering And that at full I doe not heere report Matters that tuch deposing of the King My faithfull Muse O doe not thou exhort The after times to so abhorr'd a thing To shew the reasons forcibly were laide Out of thy feelings what hee might haue saide 10 The strong deliu'ry of whose vehement speech Borne with a dauntlesse and contracted brow That with such steme seueritie did teach His reasons more authentique to allow Which the more easly made the dang'rous breach By the remembrance of a generall vow To which they heere must openly contest When Edward comes to consumate the rest 11 His faire cheeke couerd in pale sheets of shame And as a dumbe shew in a swowne began Where passion dooth such sundry habites frame As eu'ry sence a right Tragedian Truely to shew from whence his sorrow came Beyond the compasse of a common man where Nature seemes a practiser in Art Teaching Dispaire to act a liuely part 12 Ah Pitty dost thou liue or wert thou not Mortalls by such sights haue to flint bin turned Or what men haue beene hath their seed forgot Or was it neuer knowne that any mourned In what so strangely are we ouershot Against our owne selfe hath our frailtie spurned Or teares hence forth abandon humane eies And neuer-more to pitâ—y miseries 13 He takes the Crowne yet scornefully vnto him With slight regarde as scarcely thinking on it As though not sencelesse that it should forgoe him And sildome casts a scornefull eie vpon it would seeme to leaue it and would haue it woe him Then snatching it as loath to haue forgone it Yet puts it from him yet he will not so would faine retaine what faine he would forgoe 14 In this confused conflict of the minde Teares drowning sighes and sighs confounding teares Yet whenas neither libertie could finde Oppressed with the multitude of â—eares Stands as a man affrighted from his kinde Griefe becomes senslesse when too much it beares whilst speech sileÌ„ce striues which place shuld take From his ful bosome thus his sorrowee brake 15 If that my title rightfully be planted Vpon a true indubitate succession Confirmd by nations as by nature granted That freely hath deliuerd me possession Impute to heauen sufficiencie t' haue wanted which must deny it power or you oppression which into question by due course may bring The grieued wrongs of an annointed King 16 That halowed vnction by a sacred hand which once was powrde on this emperious head which wrought th'iudument of a strict command And round about me the rich verdure spred Either my right in greater stead must stand Or why in vaine was it so idely shed whose prophanation and vnreueret tuch Iust heauen hath often punisht alwayes much 17 When from the bright beames of our soueraine due Descends the strength of your enated right And prosperously deriues it selfe to you As from
Emperour that Charles eldest sonne of the said Philip should marry the Ladie Mary daughter to King Henry when they came to age which agreement was afterward in the eight yeare of Henry the eight annihilated When he in triumph of his victorie Vnder a rich embrodered Canapie Entred proud Turney which did trembling stand c. Henry the 8. after the long siege of Turnay which was deliuered to him vpon composition entred the Citie in triumph vnder a Canapie of cloth of gold borne by foure of the chiefe and most noble Cittizens the king himselfe mounted vpou a gallant courser barbed with the Armes of England France and Ireland When Charles of Castile there to banquet came With him his sister that ambitious Dame Sauoys prowd Dutches The King being at Turnay there came to him the Prince of Castile and the Lady Margaret Dutches of Sanoy his sister to whom King Henry gaus great entertainment Sauoys proud Dutches knowing how long shee By her loue sought to win my loue from mee At this time there was speech of a marriage to be concluded betweene Charles Brandron then Lord Lâ—ste and the Dutches of Sauoy the Lord Lâ—sâ—e being highly fauoured and exceedingly beloued of the Dutches. When in King Henries Tent of cloth of gold The King caused a rich Tent of cloth of gold to bee erected where he feasted the Prince of Castile and the Dutches and entertained them with sumptuous maskes and banquets during their aboad When Maximillian to those wars addrest Were Englands Crosse on his imperiall breast Maximillian the Emperour with all his souldiers which serued vnder king Henry wore the Crosse of S. George with the Rose on their breasts And in our Armie let his Eagle flie The blacke Eagle is the badge imperiall which here is vsed for the displaying of his ensigne or standard And had his pay from Henries treasurie Henry the 8. at his wars in France retained the Emperor al his souldiers in wages which serued vnder him during those warres But this alone by Wolseys wit was wrought Thomas Wolsey the kings Almoner then Bishop of Lincolne a man of great authoritie with the king and afterward Cardinall was the chiefe cause that the Lady Mary was married to the old French King with whom the French had dealt vnder-hand to befriend him in that match When the proud Dolphin for thy valour sake Chose thee at tilt his Princely part to take Frauncis Duke of Valoyes and Dolphin of Fraunce at the mariage of the Lady Mary in honour thereof proclaimed a Iusts where he chose the Duke of Suffolke and the Marques Dorset for his aydes at all martiall exercises Galeas and Bounarme matchlesse for their might This Countie Galeas at the Iusts ran a course with a speare which was at the head fiue inches square on euery side and at the But nine inches square wherby he shewed his woÌ„drous force and strength This Bounarme a Gentleman of Fraunce at the same time came into the field armed at all poyntes with tenne Speares about him in each stirrop three vnder each thigh one one vnder his left arme and one in his hand and putting his horse to the careere neuer stopped him till he had broken euerie staffe Hall Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk to Mary the French Queene BVt that thy faith commaunds me to forbeare The fault thine owne if I vnpacient were Were my dispatch such as should be my speede I should want time thy louing lines to reede Heere in the Court Camelion-like I fare And as that creature feed vpon the ayre All day I waite and all the night I watch And starue mine eares to heare of thy dispatch If Douer were th'Abydos of my rest Or pleasant Cal 〈…〉 ce were my Maries Cest Thou shouldst not need faire Queene to blame me so Did not the distance to desire say no Noted ous night from trauell should be free Tâ—ll through the wanes with swimming vnto thee A snowy path I made vnto thy Bay So bright as is that Nectar-stained way The restlesse sunne by trauelling doth weare Passing his course to finish vp the yeare But Paris lockes my loue within the maine And London yet my Brandon doth detaine Of thy firme loue thou putst me still in minde But of my faith not one word can I finde When Longauile to Mary was affide And thou by him wast made King Lewes bride How oft I wisht that thou a prize mightst bee That I in armes might combate him for thee And in the madnesse of my loue distraught A thousand times his murther haue sore thought But that th'all-seeing powers which sit a 〈…〉 Regard not mad mens oathes nor faults in loue And haue confirmde it by the graunt of heauen That Louers sinnes on earth should be forgiuen For neuer than is halfe so much distrest As he that loues to see his loue possest Comming to Richmond after thy depart Richmond where first thou stolst away my heart Me thought it looke not as it did of late But wanting thee â—or loâ—ne and desolate In whose faire walkes thou often hast bin seene To sport with Katharine Henries beauteous Queene Astâ—nishing sad winter with thy sight As for thy sake the day hath put backe night That the smal birds as in the pleasant spring Forgot themselues and haue begun to sing So oft I go by Thames so oft returne Me thinkes for thee the riuer yet doth mourne Who I haue seene to let her streame at large Which like a hand-maid waited on thy Barge And if thou hapst against the flood to row Which way it ebd it presently would flow Weeping in drops vpon thy laboring oares For ioy that it had got thee from the shoares The Swans with musicke that the Roothers make Ruffing their plumes come gliding on the lake As the fleete Dolphins by Arionâ— strings Were brought to land with their sweete rauishings The flockes and hâ—irdes that pasture neere the flood To gaze vpon thee haue forborne their food And sate downe sadly mourning by the brim That they by nature were not made to swim Whenas the Post to Englands royall Court Of thy hard passage brought the true report How in a storme thy well rigd ships were tost And thou thy selfe in danger to be lost I knew t was Venus loath'd that aged bed Where beautie so should be dishonoured Or fearde the Sea-Nimphs haunting of the lake If thou but seene their Goddesse should forsake And whirling round her Doue-drawne Coach about To view the Nauie now in lanching out Her ayrie mantle loosely doth vnbinde Which fanning forth a rougher gale of winde Wafted thy sailes with speede vnto the land And runnes thy ship on Bullins harboring strand How should I ioy of thy arriue to heare But as a poore sea-faring passenger After long trauaile tempest-torne and wrack'd By some vnpitting Pirat that is sack'd Heare 's the false robber that hath stolne his wealth Landed in some safe harbour and in health Enriched with invaluable store For which he
carke for plenty and for dearth Fame neuer lookes vpon these prostrate drones Man is allotted at his princely birth To manage Empires and to sit on thrones Frighting coy Fortune when she sternst appeares Which else scornes sighes and jeeteth at our teares 46 When now Report with her fleet murmuring wing Tucht the still entrance of his listning eare A fleete preparde this royall Queene to bring And her arriuall still awaited neare When euery sound a note of loue doth sing The ioyfull thoughts that in his bosome were The soule in doubt to make her function lesse Denies the vtterance fully to expresse 47 Quoth he Slide billowes gently for her sake Whose sight can make your aged Nereus yong For her faire passage euen allies make On the sleeke waters wast her sailes along And whilst she glides vpon the pleasant lake Let the sweete Syrens rocke her with a Song Though not Loues mother that dooth passe this way Fairer than she that 's borne vpon the sea 48 You Sea-bred creatures gaze vpon her eie And neuer after with your kinde make warre O steale the accents from her lip that flie Which like the musicke 's of the Angels are And them vnto your amorous thoughts apply Comparde with which Aryons did but jarre Wrap them in aire and when blacke tempests rage Vse them as charmes the rough seas to asswage 49 France send to fetch her with full sholes of oares With which her fleete may euery way be plide And being landed on thy happie shoares As the vast nauie dooth at anckor ride For her departure when the wilde sea roares Ship mount to heauen there brightly stellifide Next Iasons Argo on the burnisht throne Assume thee there a constellation 50 Her person hence conuaide with that delight Which best the languish of her iournies easde That to her pleasure dooth it selfe inuite Whereon her mind and subtil fancie seasde And that most deare her liking might excite Which then this Lorde naught more her presence pleasd where when with state she first her time could take Thus the faire Queene her Mortimer bespake 51 O Mortimer great Mortimer quoth shee What angry power did first this meane deuise To seperate Queene Isabell and thee whome loues eternall vnion strongly ties But if supposde this fault beganne by mee For a iust pennance to my longing eyes Though guiltlesse they this punishment assignde To gaze vpon thee till they leaue me blinde 52 T is strange sweete friend how thou arte altred thus Since first in Court thou didst our fauours weare whose shape seemde then not mortall vnto vs when in our eye thy brow was beauties spheare In all perfection so harmonious A thousand seuerall graces mooving there But what then couldst thou be not now thou arte An alien first last home-borne in my heart 53 That powerfull fate thy safetie did inforce And from the worst of danger did thee free Still regular and constant in one course Wrought me a firme and euen path to thee Of our affections as it tooke remorce Our birth-fix't starres so happily agree Whose reuolution seriously directs Our like proceedings to the like effects 54 New forme of counsaile in the course of things To our dissignement findes a neerer way That by a cleere and perfect managing Is that firme prop whereon we onely stay Which in it selfe th' authoritie doth bring That weake opinion hath no power to sway Confuting such whose sightlesse iudgement sit In the thicke ranke with euery vulgar wit 55 Then since pleasde Time our wish'd content assures Imbrace the blessings of our mutuall rest And whilst the day of our good hap endures And we as fauorites leane on Fortunes breast Which doth for vs this vacancie procure In choice make free election of the best Ne're feare the sâ—orme before thou feele the shower My sonne a King an Empire is my dower 56 Of wanton Edward when I first was woo'd Why cam'st thou not into the Court of France Thy selfe alone then in my grace hadst stood Deere Mortimer how good had beene thy chance My loue attempted in that youthfull mood I might haue beene thine owne inheritance Where entring now by force thou hold'st thy might And art deseisor of anothers right 57 Honour thou Idole women so adore How many plagues doost thou retaine to grieue vs When still we finde there is remaining more Then that great word of Maiesty can giue vs Which takes more from vs then it can restore And of that comfort often doth depriue vs That with our owne selues sets vs at debate And mak'st vs beggars vnder our estate 58 Those pleasing raptures from her graces rise Strongly inuading his impressiue breast That soone entranced all his faculties Of the prowd fulnesse of their ioyes possest And hauing throughly wrought him in this wise Like tempting Syrens sing him to his rest When eu'ry power is passiue of some good Felt by the spirits of his high-rauisht blood 59 Like as a Lute that 's touch'd with curious skill In musickes language sweetely speaking plaine When eu'ry string his note with sound doth fill Taking the tones and giuing them againe And the eare bath's in harmony at will A diapason closing eu'ry straine So their affections set in keyes so like Still fall in consort as their humors strike 60 When now the path to their desire appeares Of which before they had been long debar'd By desolution of some threatning feares That for destruction seem'd to stand prepar'd Which the smooth face of better safetie beares And now protected by a stronger guard Giues the large scope of leisure to fore-cast Euents to come by things alreadie past 61 These great dissignements setting easly out By due proportion measuring eu'ry pace T' auoide the cumbrance of each hindring doubt That might distort the comlinesse and grace Comming with eu'ry circumstance about Strictly obseruing person time and place All ornaments in faire discretions lawes Could giue attire to beautifie the cause 62 The Embassie in termes of equall height As well their state and dignity might fit Apparelling a matter of that weight In ceremony well beseeming it To carry things so steddy and so right Where Wisedome with cleare maiesty might sit All things still seeming strictly to effect That Loue commaunds and Greatnesse should respect 63 Whos 's expedition by this faire successe That doth againe this antient league combine when Edward should by couenant release And to the Prince the Prouinces resigne With whome king Charles renues the happy peace Receiuing homage due to him for Guyne And lastly now to consumate their speede Edwards owne person to confirme the deede 64 Who whilst he stands yet doubtfull what to do The Spensers chiefely that his counsels guide Nor with their Soueraigne into Fraunce durst goe Nor in his absence durst at home abide Now whilst the weake king stands perplexed so His listning eares with such perswasion plide As he at last to stay in England's wonne And in his place to send the Prince his sonne 65 Thus
lineaments of his Quoth he the man thee to the Crowne did bring Might at thy hands the least haue lookt for this And in this place vnseeming of the rest Where onely sacred solitude is blest 67 Her presence frees th' offender of his ill And as the essence makes the place diuine What strong Decree can countermaund the will That gaue to thee the power that now is thine And in her armes preseru'd in safety still As the most pure inuiolable shrine Though thou thus irreligiously despise And dar'st profane these halowed liberties 68 But as when Illion fatally surprisde The Grecians issuing from the woodden horse Their rage and fury prowdly exercisde Opening the wide gates letting in their force Putting in act what was before deuisde Without all sence of pitty or remorce With cries shreekes rumors in confused sound words are broken off complaints abruptly drownd 69 Dissolu'd to drops she followes him O teares Elixar like turne all to pearle you touch To weepe with her the building scarce forbeares The sorrowes that she vttereth are such Able to wound th'impenitrabl'st eares Her plaints so piercing and her woes so much when with th' abundance words wold hardly come Her eyes in silence spake when lips were dumbe 70 Sweete sonne quoth she let not that blood be spilt Once prizd so deere as did redeeme thy Crowne Whose purity if â—ainted now with guilt The cause thereof efficiently thine owne That from the ruines of thy country built Razde with dissentions thy substantiall throne And broke those bounds thy kingdomes once confinde Into large France to exercise thy minde 71 For the deere portion of that naturall blood Which lends thee heate and nutriment of life Be not a niggâ—rd of so small a good Where bounty should be plentifully rife Begg'd on those knees at which thou oft hast stood In those armes circles might co 〈…〉 re this strife O God! that breath from such a bosome sent Should thus in vaine be prodigally spent 72 When in this vproare with the sodaine fright Whilst eu'ry one for â—afety seekes about And none regarding â—o preserue the light Which being wasted sadly goeth out Now in the midst and terrour of the night At the departure of this armed rowt The Queene alone at least if any neare Her wretched women yet halfe dead with feare 73 When horror darkenes and her present woe Begin to worke on her afflicted minde And eu'ry one his tyranny doth show Euen in the fulnes of his proper kinde In such â—x 〈…〉 sse her accusations flow This liberty vnto their power assignde Racking her conscience by this torture due It selfe t' accuse with whatsoere it knew 74 O God to thinke that not an houre yet past Her greatnes freedome and her hopes so hie The sweet content wherein her thoughts were placde Her great respect in eu'ry humbled eye How now she is abused how disgracde Her present shame her after misery When eu'ry woe could by despaire be brought Presents his forme to her distracted thought 75 To London now a wretched prisner led London where oft he triumpht with the Queene And but for spite of no man followed Scarcely thought on who had for many beene Of all regard and state impou'rished Where in excesse he often had bin seene Which at his fall doth make them wonder more Who sawe the pompe wherein he liu'd before 76 O misery where â—nce thou doost infest How soone thy vile contagion alters kinde That like a Circe metamorphisest The former habite of the humane minde That euen from vs doost seeme our selues to wrest Striking our fraile and fading glories blinde And with thy vicious presence in a breath Chain'st vs as slaues vnto pale fainting Death 77 At Westminster a Parliment decreed To th'establishing the safetie of the Crowne Where to his end they finally proceede All laying hand to dig this mountaine downe To which Time wills they haue especiall heede Now whilst the Fates thus angerly doe frowne The blood of Edward and the Spensers fall For their iust vengeance hastily doe call 78 The death of Kent that foule and loathsome blot Th'assuming of the Wardes and Liueries With Ione the Princesse married to the Scot he summes oft seized to his treasuries And that by this might well haue beene forgot The signe at Stanhope to the enemies Or what else ript from the records of Time That any way might aggrauate his crime 79 O dire Reuenge when thou in time arte rakde From the râ—de ashes which preseru'd thee long In the dry cindars where it seemde as slakde Matter to feed it forcde with breath of wrong How soone his hideous fury is awakde From the small sparks what flames are quickly sprong And to that top dooth naturally aspire Whose weight and greatnes once represt his fire 80 And what auailes his answer in this case Which now the time doth generally distast Where iudgement lookes with so seuere a face And all his actions vtterly disgrac'd What fainting bosome giues him any place From out the faire seate of opinion cast With pen and incke his sorrowes to deceiue Thus of the faire Queene takes his latest leaue 81 Most mighty Empresse s'daine not to peruse The Swan like dirges of a dying man Vnlike those raptures of the fluent Muse In that sweete season when our ioyes began That did my youth with glorious fire infuse When for thy gloue at Tilt I prowdly ran Whereas my startâ—ing Courser strongly set Made fire to flie from Hartfords Burgoneâ— 82 The King your sonne which hastneth on my death Madam you know I tendred as mine owne And when I might haue grasped out his breath I set him gently on his fathers throne Which now his power too quickly witnesseth Which to this height and maiesty is growne But our desert forgot and he forgiuen As after death we wish to liue in heauen 83 And for the sole rule whereon thus he stands Came bastard William but himselfe on shore Or borrowed not our fathers conqu'ring hands Which in the field our ancient ensignes bore Guarded about with our well ordred bands Which his prowd Leopards for their safety wore Raging at Hastings like that ominous Lake From whose dread waues our glorious name we take 84 Had I beene chargde vpon mine armed horse As when I came vnto the walles of Gaunt Before the Belgike and Burgonian force There challenging my Countries Combattant Borne from my seate in some robustious course That of my spoiles the enemy might vaunt Or had I falne vnder my battered shield And lent mine honour to some conquered field 85 I haue not followed Fortun like a slaue To make her bounty any whit the lesse By my desert her iudgement to depraue Nor lent me aught I freely not confesse And haue returnd with intrest what she gaue A minde that suted with her mightinesse He twice offends which sinne in flattry beares Yet eu'ry houre he dies that euer feares 86 I cannot feare what forceth others quake The times and I haue
betray me trecherously consented That for the fact being lawfully conuented Iudgde in these waters still to haue their being For their presumption thy perfections seeing Sit thou commanding vnder mine estate Hauing thy tresses honored with my Crowne As not vnworthie of a meaner fate And make the prowd'st to tremble with a frowne Raise whom thou wilt cast whoÌ„ it please thee downe And be my loue renowned through this I le With all the titles fame may thee instile What if my Queene repining at our blisse Thee as did Iuno Ioues faire darling keepe Mine I 'le preserue as that great god did his Wise Mercury lulld Argus eies to sleepe Loue euer laughs when iealousie dooth weepe When most she stirs our power shal keep hir vnder She may raise stormes but we doe rule the thunder Thus hauing made the entrance to his loue Which he supposde assuredly in time Of better tidings messenger might proue By which he after to his ioyes might clime And of my youth now being in the prime Leaues me not knowing well which way to turne me warm'd with the fire which vnawares might burne me Vpon my weaknes that so strongly wrought Whilst in my breast a mutiny arose Feare and Desire a doubtfull combate fought As like two eager and ambitious foes This striues to winne the other feares to loose By this oft cleered and by that accused Flattred by that most most which me abused And in my selfe that well suspected treason Knowing who watcht to haue me for his pray And in so apt and dangerous a season vvhen youth and beauty bare so great a sway And where he battery still to me might lay vvho girt so strongly euery way about vvell might suspect I could not long holde out All doubts end feares cast vtterly aside Resolu'd at last away from Court to goe Whither it pleasde my happy starres to guide There I my selfe determinde to bestowe Vntill time might this passion ouer-blow Or if at least it wrought not the extrusion Might lend me power to help my resolution When he whose care this while me not forsooke That many a sweete sleepe for my safetie brake Much that was pleased with the course I tooke As one that truely suffred for my sake Did his abode at Baynards Castle make which since the Court so happly did leaue one To his protection kindely did receiue me Whence sorrow seemed vtterly exilde vvherein my life I long before did waste The present time that happily beguilde vvith thought of that which was alreadie past vvhere I was now so fortunately plac'd Euen as a bird escap'd the Fowlers snare vvhome former danger warneth to beware When now the King whose purposes were crossd vvhich this euasion subt'ly did preuent And that the meane to which he trusted most vvas that which most did frustrate his intent Seeing his sute preposterously went Another course bethinkes himselfe to runne Else now as farre off as when first begunne Thenceforth deuising to dissolue the masse That lay so full betwixt him and the light That in his sute so great a hindrance was And least exspected wrought him most dispite Finding the cause that all things went not right Casteth forth with my father to remoue To make the way more cleerer to his loue When scarcely cured of that sickely qual 〈…〉 And that my hart was happily at case But as a ship that in a gentle calme Floates vp and downe vpon the quiet seas By some rough gust some aduerse starre doth raise Driuen againe into the troubled maine vvh 〈…〉 well had hopde securely to haue laine The powrefull Prince whome I did thus reiect Heereon in Court doth first this Peere disgrace Thereby to giue the people to suspect T' offend in some thing sitting neere his place Them it by all meanes vrging to imbrace Which if he cleerely modeld out that path Should giue a passage freely to his wrath And giuing colour to his ran'ckrous hate By such false councell as to him he drew Cunning in all the stratagems of state My guiltlesse father ceaselesly pursue Whose kingly power too quickely ouerthrew Him which I hop'd me succour should haue giuen Till from all refuge absolutely driuen And not their cleere and intellectuall sight Into the quarrell that did throughly looke Nor our alies that to their vtmost might Gainst his proceeding that our partie tooke Vnto the end that neuer me forsooke Could the effect of his great power preuent To stay from Fraunce my banisht father sent Not all his seruice to his soueraigne done In warre as valiant as in councell sound Which from this Prince compassion might haue won To him that faithfull euermore was found How deepely thou ingratitude doost wound Sure first deuised to no other end But to grieue those whom nothing could offend Ay me forsaken left vnto my foe Thus by my fortune fro wardly betraide Neuer poore maiden was besieged so And all depressed that should lend me aide Such weight the heauens vpon my birth had laide Yet her due merite vertue neuer loseth Gainst her faire course though heauen it selfe opposeth Embarkt for France his sd deiected eies Filled with teares in plentifullest store His parting threatned by the lowring skies Then vnder saile from sight of any shore Feare him behinde and sorrow him before Wasting withall his sad laments in vaine To the rude waters only to complaine When like a deere before the hounds imboste vvhen him his strength beginneth to forsake Leaues the smoothe lawnes to which he trusted most And to the couert doth it selfe betake Doubling that creepes from brake againe to brake Thus still I shift me from the Princes face vvhich hath me novv continually in chase The coast now cleere suspition laide to rest And each thing fit to further his intent vvhich with much pleasure quieted his breast That euery thing so prosperously went And if the rest successefully consent Of former ayde that being quite forsaken He hopes the fort may easily be taken A Princes armes are stretcht from shore to shore Kings sleeping see with eies of other men Craft findes a key to open euery doore Little it bootes in walles my selfe to pen The lambe inclosed in the lions den vvhose watchfull eies too easily descride me And found me soonst where â—ur'st I thought to hide me My paths by spies are diligently noted O're me he holdes so vigilant a watch And on my beautie he so fondly doted That at my lookes he enuiously did catch Readie that stoode attending at my â—atch vvhere jealous loue continually did warde Treason my handmaide Falshoode on my guarde Wherefore since this so badly sorted out He to my shifts so narrowly me draue Another course must needesly cast about Where safer harbor happily to haue Since insufficient this was me to saue His power so spatious euery way did lie That still I stood in his ambitious eye And feare which taught me euery way to proue When I of many long time did debate Me at the last it pleasde the powers to
hath signde and sealed with his hand And where no farther processe he refers In blots set downe for others Characters This cannot blush although you doe refuse it Nor will reply how euer you shall vse it All one to this though you should bid dispaire This still intreates you this still speakes you faire Hast thou a liuing soule a humane sence To like dislike pâ—oue order and dispence The depth of reason soundly to aduise To loue things good things hurtfull to despise The tuch of iudgement which should 〈…〉 things proue And hast thou toucht yet not allowst my loue Sound moues his sound voyce doth beget his voyce One Ecâ—ho makes another to reioyce One well tunde string set truely to his like Strooke neere at hand doth make another strike How comes it then that our affections jarre What opposition doth beget this warre I know that Nature franckly to thee gaue That measure of her bounty that I haue And with that sence she likewise to vs lent Each one his organ each his instrument But euery one because it is thine owne Doth p 〈…〉 se it selfe vnto it selfe alone Thy d 〈…〉 y hand when it it selfe doth tuch That feeling tells it there was neuer such When in thy glâ—sse thine eie it selfe doth see That thinkes there 's none like to it selfe can be And euery one doth iudge it selfe diuine Because that thou doost challenge it for thine And each it selfe Narcissus like dooth smother And loues it selfe not like to any other Fie be not burnd thus in thine owne desire T is needlesse beauty should it selfe admire The Sunne by which all creatures lightned bee And seeth all it selfe yet cannot see And his owne brightnesse his owne foile is made And is to vs the cause of his owne shade When first thy beautie by mine eye was prou'd It saw not then so much to be belou'd But when it came a perfect view to take Each looke of one doth many beauties make In little circlets first it doth arise Then somewhat larger seeming in mine eyes And in this giâ—ing compasse as it goes So more and more the same in greatnes growes And as it yet at libertie is set The motion still doâ—h other formes beget Vntill â—t length looke any way I could Nothing there was but beautie to behold Art thou offended that thou art belou'd Remoue the cause th' effect is soone remou'd Indent with Beautie how farre to extend Set downe desire a limmit where to end Then charme thine eies their glances shal not wound And teach the sence the depth of loue to sound If thou do this nay then thou shalt do more And bring to passe what neuer was before Make anguish sportiue crauing all delight Mirth solemne sullen and inclinde to night Ambition lowly enuie speaking well Loue his reliefe of nigardize to sell Our war-like father did these forts deuise As surest holds against our enemies The safest places for our sexe to rest Feare soone is setled in a womans breast Thy breast is of another temper farre And then thy Castell fitter for the warre Thou doost not safely in thy Castell rest Thy Castell should be safer in thy breast That keepes out foes but doth thy friends inclose But thy breast keepes out both thy friends and foes That may be batterd or be vnderminde Or by strait siege for want of succour pinde But thy heart is inuincible to all And more defensiue then thy Castell wall Of all the shapes that euer Ioue did proue Wherewith he vsde to entertaine his loue That likes me best when in a golden shower He â—ainde himselfe on Danae in her Tower Nor did I euer enuie his command In that he beares the thunder in his hand But in that showrie shape I cannot bee And as he came to her I come to thee Thy Tower with foes is not begirt about If thou within they are besieg'd without One haire of thine more vigor doth retaine To binde thy foe then with an yron chaine Who might be gyu'd in such a golden string Would not be captiue though he were a King Hadst thou all India heap'd vp in thy fort And thou thy selfe besieged in that sort Get thou but out where they can thee espie They 'le follow thee and let the treasure lie I cannot thinke what force thy Tower should win If thou thy selfe doost guard the same within Thine eye retaines artillary at will To kill who euer thou desirâ—st to kill For that alone more deepely wounds their hearts Then they can thee though with a thousand darts For there entrenched little Cupid lies And from those turrets all the world defies And when thou letst downe that transparant lid Of entrance there an Armie doth forbid And as for Famine thou needes neuer feare Who thinkes of want when thou art present there Thy onely sight giues spirit vnto the blood And comforts life though neuer tasting foode And as thy souldiers keepe their watch and ward So chastitie thy inward breast doth guard Thy modest pulse serues as a latum bell Which watched by a wakefull Sentinell Is stirring still with euery little feare Warning if any enemy be neare Thy vertuous thought when all the others rest Like carefull Skowts passe vp and downe thy breast And still they round about that place doe keepe Whilst all the blessed garrison do sleepe But yet I feare if that the truth were told That thou hast robbde and flâ—st vnto this bolde I thought as much and didst this Fort deuise That thou in safety heere mightst tyrannize Yes thou hast robbde the heauen and earth of all And they against thy lawlesse theft doe call Thine eies with mine that wage continuall warres Borrow their brightnesse of the twinckling starres Thy breath for which mine still in sighes consumes Hath rob'd sweete flowres rich odors and perfumes Thy cheeke for which mine all this penance proues Steales the pure whitenes both from Swans doues Thy lips from mine that in thy maske be pent Haue filch'd the blushing from the orient O mighty Loue bring hether all thy power And fetch this heauenly theefe out of her Tower For if she may be suffred in this sort Heauens store will soone be hoarded in this fort When I arriu'd before that state of loue And saw thee on the battlement aboue I thought there was no other heauen but there And thou an Angel didst from thence appeare But when my reason did reproue mine eye That thou wert subiect to mortalitie I then excusde the Scot before had done No maruaile though he would the fort haue wonne Perceiuing well those enuious walls did hide More wealth then was in all the world beside Against thy foe I came to lend thee aide And thus to thee my selfe my selfe betraide He is besieg'd the siege that came to raise There 's no assault that not my breast assaies Loue growne extreame doth finde vnlawfull shifts The Gods take shapes and do allure with gifts Commanding Ioue that by great Stix doth
sweare Forsworne in loue with louers oathes doth beare Loue causelesse still doth aggrauate his cause It is his law to violate all lawes His reason is in onely wanting reason And were vntrue not deepely tuch'd with treason Th'vnlawfull meanes doth make his lawfull gaine Hee speakes most true when he the most doth faine Pardon the faults that haue escapde by mee Against faire vertue chastitie and thee If Gods can their owne excellence excell Is it in pardoning mortalls that rebell When all thy trialls are enrol'd by fame And all thy sexe made glorious by thy name Then I a captiue shall be brought heereby To adorne the triumph of thy chastitie I sue not now thy Paramore to bee But as a husband to be linck'd to thee I am Englands heire I thinke thou wilt confesse Wert thou a Prince I hope I am no lesse But that thy birth doth make thy stocke diuine Else durst I boast my blood as good as thine Disdaine me not nor take my loue in scorne Whose brow a crowne heereafter may adorne But what I am I call mine owne no more Take what thou wilt and what thou wilt restore Onely I craue what ere I did intend In faithfull loue now happily may end Farewell sweete Lady so well maist thou fare To equall â—oy with measure of my care Thy vertues more then mortall tongue can tell A thousand thousand times farewell farewell Notes of the Chronicle history Receiue these papers from thy wofull Lord. BAndello by whoÌ„ this history was made famous being an ItaliaÌ„ as it is the peoples custom in that clime rather to faile somtime in the truth of circumstance then to forgoe the grace of their conceit n like manner as the Grecians of whom the Satyrist Et quicquid Graetia mendax Audet in historia Thinking it to be a greater triall that a Countesse should be sude vnto by a King then by the sonne of a King and conseqently that the honour of her chastitie should be the more hath caused it to be generally taken so but as by Polidore Fabian and Froisard appeares the contrarie is true Yet may Bandello be very well excused as being a stranger whose errors in the truth of our historie are not so materiall that they should neede an inuectiue lest his wit should bee defrauded of any part of his due which were not lesse were euery part a fiction Howbeit lest a common error should preuaile against a truth these Epistles are conceiued in those persons who were indeede the actors to wit Edward surnamed the Blacke 〈◊〉 not so much of his complexion as of the dismall battells which he fought in France in like sence as we may say a blacke day for some tragicall euent though the Sunne shine neuer so bright therein And Alice the Countesse of Salsburie who as it is certaine was beloued of Prince Edward so it is as certaine that many points now current in the receiued story can neuer hold together with likelihoode of such enforcement had it not beene shewed vnder the title of a King And when thou let'st downe that transparent lid Not that the lid is transparent for no part of the skin is transparent but for the gemme which at that closure is said to containt is transparent for otherwise how could the minde vnderstand by the eye should not the images slide through the same and replenish the stage of the phantasie But this belongs to Optickes The Latines call the eye lid cilium I will not say of celando as the eye brow supercilium and the haire on the eye lids palpebra perhaps quod palpitet all which haue their distinct and necessary vses Alice Countesse of Salsbury to the Blacke Prince AS one would grant yet gladly would deny Twixt hope and feare I doubtfully reply A womans weakenesse lest I should discouer Answering a Prince and writing to a louer And some say Loue with Reason doth dispence And wrest our plaine words to another sence Thinke you not then poore women had not neede Be well aduisde to write what men should reade When being silent moouing but awry Giues cause of scandall and of obloquy Whilst in our hearts our secret thoughts abide Th'inuenom'd tongue of slander yet is tide But if once spoke deliuered vp to Fame Hers the report but ours returnes the shame About to write yet newly entring in Me thinkes I end ere I can well begin When I would end then something makes me stay And then me thinkes I should haue more to say And some one thing remaineth in my breast For want of words that cannot be exprest What I would say as said to thee I faine Then in thy person I reply againe Then in thy cause vrge all I can obiect Then what againe mine honour must respect O Lord what sundry passions do I trie Striuing to hate you forcing contrarie Being a Prince I blame you not to proue The greater reason to obtaine your loue That greatnesse which doth challenge no deniall The onely rest that doth allow my triall Edward so great the greater were his fall And my offence in this were capitall To men is granted priuiledge to tempt But in that charter women be exempt Men win vs not except we giue consent Against our selues except our selues are bent Who doth impute it is a fault to you You proue not false except we be vntrue It is your vertue being men to try And it is ours by vertue to deny Your fault it selfe serues for the faults excuse And makes it ours though yours be the abuse Beautie a beggar fie it is too bad When in it selfe sufficiencie is had Not made a Lure t' entice the wandring eye But an attire t' adorne sweete modestie If modestie and women once do seuer We may bid farewell to our fame for euer Let Iohn and Henry Edwards instance be Matilda and faire Rosamond for me A like both woo'd alike su'd to be wonne Th' one by the father th' other by the sonne Henry obtaining did our weakenesse wound And laies the fault on wanton Rosamond Matilda chaste in life and death all one By her deniall lâ—â—es the fault on Iohn By these we proue men accessary still But women only principalls of ill What praise is ours but what our vertues get If they be lent so much we be in debt Whilst our owne honours vertue doth defend All force too weake what euer men pretend If all the world else should suborne our fame T is we our selues that ouerthrow the same And howsoe're although by force you win Yet on our weakenes still returnes the sin A vertuous Prince who doth not Edward call And shall I then be guiltie of your fall Now God for bid yet rather let me die Then such a sin vpon my soule should lie Where is great Edward whither is he led At whose victorious name whole armies fled Is that braue spirit that conquerd so in France Thus ouercome and vanquisht with a glance Is that great hart that did aspire