THE POETICALL ESSAYES OF SAM DANYEL Newly corrected and augmented AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus AT LONDON Printed by P. Short for Simon Waterson 1599. The Argumentes of these Essayes following THe ciuill wars betweene the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke Musophilus or a defence of learning The Epistle of Octauia to Antonius The Tragedy of Cleopatra corrected The complaint of Rosamond To the Right honorable Sir Charles Blunt Knight Lord Mountioy and Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter and his most worthy Lord. I Do not plant thy great respected name Here in this front to th' end thou shouldst protect These my endeuors from contempt or blame Which none but their own forces must effect Nor do I seeke to win thy more respect Most learned Lord by these Essaies of mine Since that cleere iudgement that did first elect To fauor me will alwaies keepe me thine Nor do I this more honor to assigne Vnto thy worth that is not more hereby Since th' offrings made vnto the powers deuine Enrich not them but shew mens pietie But this I do to th' end if destinie Shall any monument reserue of me Those times should see my loue how willing I That liu'd by thee would haue thee lius with me S. D. THE CIVIL WARS OF ENGLAND BEtween the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus SAM DANIELL AT LONDON Printed by P. S. for Symon Waterson 1599. THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE What times forgoe Richard the seconds raigne The fatall causes of this ciuile warre His Vnckles pride his greedte Minions gaine Glosters reuolt and death dcliuered are Herford accusd exild calld backe againe Pretends t' amend what others Rule did marre The King from Ireland hastes but did no good Whilst strange prodigious signes foretoken bloud 1 I Sing the ciuil warrs tumultuous broyles And bloudy factions of a mighty land VVhose people hauty proud with forain spoyles Vpon themselues turne back their conquering hand VVhilst Kin their Kin brother the brother foyles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against bowes the Crowne against the crowne vvhil'st all pretending right all right throwen downe 2 What furie ô what madnes held you so Deare people to too prodigall of bloud To wast so much and warre without a foe Whilst France to see your spoyles at pleasure stood How much might you haue purchasd with lesse wo Thaue done you honor and your Nephewes good Yours might haue beene what euer lies betweene The Perenei and Alps Aquitayne and Rbeine 3 And yet ô God wee haue no cause to plaine Since hereby came the quiet calme we ioye The blisse of thee ELIZA happie gaine For all our losse for that no other waye The heauens could find then vnite againe The fatall seu'red families that they Might bring forth thee that in thy peace might grow That glory which no age could euer show 4 O sacred Goddesse I no muse but thee Invoke in this great worke I now entend Do thou inspire my thoughts infuse in mee A power to bring the same to happie end Raise vp a worke for latter times to see That may thy glorie and my paines commend Strengthen thy subiect strang thinges to rehearse And giue peace to my life life to my verse 5 And thou Charles Mountioy borne the worldes That hast receiu'd into thy quiet shore delight Me tempest-driuen fortune-tossed wight Tir'd with expecting and could hope no more And cheerest on my better yeares to write A sadder Subiect then I tooke before Receiue the worke I consecrate to thee Borne of that rest which thou dost giue to mee 6 And MEMORIE preseruresse of thinges done Come thou vnfold the wounds the wracke the wast Reucale to me how all the strife begunne Twixt Lancaster and Yorke in ages past How causes counsels and euents did runne So long as these vnhappie times did last Vnintermixt with fictions fantasies I versifie the troth not poetize 7 And to the end we maie with better ease Iudge the true progresse here bigin to showe What weare the times fore going nere to thease That these we maie with better profit knowe Tell how the world fell into this disease And how so great distemperature did growe So shall we see by what degrees it came How thinges grown full do sone grow out of frame 8 Ten kings had now raignd of the Norman race With variable fortune turning chaunce All in two hundreth sixtie one yeares space When Edward third of name and first of Fraunce Possest the crowne in fortunes highest grace And did to greatest state his state aduaunce When England might the largest limits see That euer any king attaind but hee 9 For most of all the rest toyld in vnrest What with wrong titles what with inward broyl Hardlie a true establishment possest Of what they sought with such exceeding toyle For why their power within it self opprest Scarce could breake forth to greatnes al that while Such wo the childhood of this state did passe Before it could attaine to what it wasse 10 For first the Norman conquering all by might By might was forst to keepe what hee had got Altring the lawes chaunging the forme of Right And placing barbarous Customes he had brought Maistring the mighty humbling the poorer wight With grieuous taxes tyranie had sought Scarce laide th' assured groundes to build vpon The chaunge so hatefull in such course begon 11 William his sonne tracing the selfesame wayes The great outworne with war or slaine in peace Onely vpon depressed weakenes prayes And treades down what was likeliest to increase Those that were left being left to wofull daies Had onely powre to wish for some release Whilst giuing beastes what did to men pertaine Tooke for a beast himselfe was after slaine 12 Henrie his brother raignes when he had donne Who Roberts title better to reiect The Norman Duke the Conquerours first sonne Lightens in shew rather then in effect Those greeuances his fatall race begunne Reformes the lawes which soone he did neglect Whose sons being drownd for whō he did prepare Leaues crowne strif to Maud his daughters care 13 Whom Stephen his Nephew falsifying his oath Preuents assailes the Realm obtaines the crown Raising such tumults as torment them both Whil'st both held nothing certainlie their owne Th' afflicted Realme deuided in their troth And partiall faith most miserable growne Endures the while till peace and Stephens death Conclude some hope of quiet to take breath 14 The sonne of Maud from Saxon bloud deriu'd By mothers line succeeds th'vnrightfull king Henrie the second in whose raigne reuiu'd Th' oppressed state and first began to spring And ô if he had not beene too long liu'd T' haue seene th'affliction that his age did bring By his vngodly sonnes then happie man For they against him warr'd for whom hewan 15 All Ireland Scotland th'Iles of Orcades Poytiers Guienna Brittany hee got And leades forth
whom they seeke to foile Then follow leagues destruction ruine spoile 35 Whether it were that they which had the charge Suffred the king to take a youthfull vaine That they their priuate better might inlarge Or whether he himselfe would farther straine Thinking his yeares sufficient to discharge The gouernment presumd to take the raigne We will not saie but now his eare he lendes To youthfull counsell and his lusts attends 36 And courts were neuer barren yet of those Which could with subtle traine and apt aduise Worke on the Princes weakenes and dispose Of feeble frailtie easiest to intice And such no doubt about this king arose Whose flattery the daungerous nurse of vice Got hand vpon his youth to pleasures bent Which lead by them did others discontent 37 For now his vnckles grew much to mislike These ill proceedings were it that they saw That others fauor'd did aspiring seeke Their nephew from their counsels to withdraw Seeing his nature flexible and mecke Because they onely would keepe all in awe Or that indeed they found the king and state Abusde by such as now in office sate 38 Or rather else they all were in the fault Th' ambitious vnckles th' indiscreet young king The greedy counsell and the Minions naught And all togither did this tempest bring Besides the times withall iniustice fraught Concurr'd in this confusd disordering That we may truly say this spoild the state Youthfull Counsell priuate gaine partiall hate 39 And sure the king plainly discouereth Apparant cause his vnckles to suspect For John of Gaunt was said to seeke his death By secret meanes which came not to effect The Duke of Gloster like wise practiseth In open world that all men might detect And leagues his Nobles and in greatest strength Rises in armes against him too at length 40 Vnder pretence from him to take away Such as they said the states oppressors weare To whom the Realme was now become a pray The chiefe of whom they nam'd was Robert Vere Then Duke of Ireland bearing greatest sway About the king who held him only dere Him they would haue remou'd and diuers more Or else would neuer lay downe armes they swore 41 The king was forst in that next Parliment To grant them what he durst not well refuse For thither arm'd they came and fully bent To suffer no repulse nor no excuse And here they did accomplish their intent Where iustice did her sword not ballance vse For euen that sacred place they violate And there arest the Iudges as they sate 42 Which soone with many others had their end Cruelly slaine without the course of right And still these warres that publique good pretend Worke most iniustice being done for spight For the agrieued euermore doe bend Against those whom they see of greatest might Who though themselues are wrong'd often forst Yet for they can doe most are thought the worst 43 And yet I doe not seeme herein to excuse The Iustices and Minions of the king Which might their office and their grace abuse But onely blame the course of managing For great men too well grac'd much rigor vse Presuming fauorites mischiefe euer bring So that concluding I may boldly speake Minions too great argue a king too weake 44 Now that so much was granted as was sought A reconcilement made although not ment Appeasd them all in shew but not in thought Whilst euery one seem'd outwardlie content Though hereby king nor peeres nor people got More loue more strength or easier gouerment But euery day things now succeeded worse For good from kings must not be drawne by force 45 And this it lo continued till by chance The Queene which was the emperours daughter dy'de When as the king t' establish peace with Fraunce And better for home quiet to prouide Sought by contracting marriage to aduance His owne affaires against his vnckles pride Tooke the young daughter of king Charles to wife Which after in the end raisd greater strife 46 For now his vnckle Gloster much repin'd Against this french aliance and this peace Hauing himselfe a working stirring mind Which neuer was content the warres should cease Whether he did dishonourable finde Those articles that did our boundes decrease And therfore storm'd because the crown had wrōg Or that he fear'd the king would grow too strong 47 Or whatsoeuer mou'd him this is sure Hereby he wrought his ruine in the end And was a fatall cause that did procure The swift approching mischiefes that attend For lo the king no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T' attach the Duke when he thought least of it 48 And fortune now to further this intent The great Earle of S. Paule doth hither bring From Charles of Fraunce vnto the young Q. sent To see both her and to salute the king To whom he shewes his vnckles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his subiects sought to fulleuare And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 49 To whom the suttle Earle forthwith replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such ielousies And rid you of such mutiners as thease By cutting off that which might greater rise And now at first preuenting this disease And that before he shall your wrath disclose For who threates first means of reuenge doth lose 50 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guilty by your lawes Easier you shall with him your quarrell try Dead then aliue who hath the better cause For in the murmuring vulgar vsually This publique course of yours compassion drawes Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat 51 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes bloudshed much How iust-socuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse That so shall you obseruing formall right Be still thought as vniust and win more spight 52 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard So shall you hereby scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world to afterward What need you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compard And therefore if you will be rul'd by me Strangled or poison'd secret let him be 53 And then araigne the chiefe of those you find Were of his faction secretly compact Whom you maie wisely order in such kind That you maie such confessions then exact As both you maie appease the peoples mind And by their death much aggrauate the fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 54 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest waies Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easelie
they want of all And wanting you they nothing theirs can call 30 Here haue you craggy rockes to take your part That neuer will betray their faith to you These trustie mountaines here will neuer start But stand t' obraid their shame that are vntrue Here maie you fence your safetie with small art Against the pride of that confused Crew If men will not these very cliffes will fight And be sufficient to defend your right 31 Then keepe you here and here shall you behold Within short space the sliding faith of those That cannot long their resolution hold Repent the course their idle rashnes chose For that same mercenarie faith they sold With least occasions discontented growes And insolent those voluntarie bands Presuming how by them he chieflie stands 32 And how can he those mightie troupes sustaine Long time where now he is or any where Besides what discipline can he retaine Where as he dares not keepe them vnder feare For feare to haue them to reuolt againe So that it selfe when greatnes cannot beare With her owne waight must needes confusdly fall Without the helpe of other force at all 33 And hither to approach h' will neuer dare Where deserts rockes and hils no succours giue Where desolation and no comforts are Where few can do no good manie not liue Besides we haue the Ocean to prepare Some other place if this should not relieue So shall you tire his force consume his strength And weary all his followers out at length 34 Doe but referre to time and to small time And infinite occasions you shall find To quaile the reble euen in the prime Of all his hopes beyond all thought of mind For manie with the curse what they design'd And bad sucesse obraiding their ill fact Drawes them that others draw from such an act 35 For if the least imagind ouerture But of conceiud reuolt men once espie Straight shrinke the weake the great wil not indure Th' impatient run the discontented flie The friend his friends example doth procure And altogither haste them presently Some to their home some hide others that stay To reconcile themselues the rest betray 36 What hope haue you that euer Bullingbrooke Will liue a subiect that hath tride his fate Or what good reconcilement can you looke Where he must alwaies feare and you must hate And neuer thinke that he this quarrell tooke To reobtaine thereby his priuate state T was greater hopes that hereto did him call And he will thrust for all or else loose all 37 Nor trust this suttle Agent nor his oth You know his faith you tride it before hand His fault is death and now to loose his troth To saue his life he will not greatly stand Nor trust your kinsmans proffer since you both Shew bloud in Princes is no stedfast band What though he hath no title he hath might That makes a title where there is no right 38 Thus he when that good Bishop thus replies Out of a mind that quiet did affect My Lord I must confesse as your case lies You haue great cause your subiects to suspect And counterplot against their subtelties You all good care and honestie neglect And feare the worst what insolence maie doe Or armed fury maie incense them to 39 But yet my Lord feare maie as well transport Your care beyond the truth of what is ment As other wife neglect maie fall too short In not examining of their intent But let vs weigh the thing which they exhort T is Peace submission and a parlament Which how expedient t is for either part T were good we iudged with an vnpartiall hart 40 And first for you my Lord in griefe we see The miserable case wherein you stand Void here of succour helpe or maiestie On this poore promontory of your land And where how long a time your grace may be Expecting what may fall into your hand We know not sinceth ' euent of things do lie Clos'd vp in darknes far from mortall eie 41 And how vnsit it were you should protract Long time in this so dangerous disgrace As though that you good spirit and courage lackt To issue out of this opprobrious place When euen the face of kings do oft exact Feare and remorse in faulty subiects base And longer stay a great presumption drawes That you were guilty or did doubt your cause 42 What subiects euer so inragd would dare To violate a Prince t' offend the bloud Of that renowmed race by which they are Exalted to the glorie of this good What if some things by chance misguided were Which they haue now rebelliously withstood They neuer will proceed with that despight To wracke the state and to confound the right 43 Nor doe I thinke that Bulling brooke can do So blind ambitious to affect the crowne Hauing himselfe no title and doth see Others if you should faile must keepe him downe Besides the Realme though mad will neuer gree To haue a right succession ouerthrowne To raise confusion vpon them and theirs By preiudicing true and lawfull beires 44 And now it may be fearing the successe Of his attempts or with remorse of mind Or else distrusting secret practises He would be glad his quarrell were resignd So that there were some orderly redresse In those disorders which the Realme did find And this I thinke he now fees were his best Since farther actions farther but vnrest 45 And for the impossibility of peace And reconcilement which my Lords obiects I thinke when doying iniury shall cease The cause pretended then surcease th' effects Time and some other Actions may increase As may diuert the thought of these respects Others law of forgetting iniuries Maie serue our turne in like calamities 46 And for his oath my Lord I thinke in conscience True honour would not so be found vntrue Nor spot his bloud with such a fowle offence Against his soule against his God and you Our Lord for bid that euer with th' expence Of heauen and heauenly ioies that shall insue Mortality should buy this litle breath T' indure the horror of eternall death 47 And therefore as I thinke you safely maie Accept this proffer that determine shall All doubtfull courses by a quiet waie Needfull for you fit for them good for all And here my sou'raigne to make longer stay T' attend for what you are vnsure will fall May slippe th' occasion and incense their will For feare that 's wiser then the truth doth ill 48 Thus he perswades euen of a zealous mind Supposing men had spoken as they ment And vnto this the king likewise inclinde As wholy vnto peace and quiet bent And yeelds himselfe to th' earle goes leaues behind Safety Scepter honor gouernment For gone all 's gone he is no more his owne And they rid quite offeare he of the crowne 49 A place there is where proudly raisd there stands A huge aspiring rocke neighbou'ring the skies Whose surly brow imperiously commands The sea his bounds that
faire pretence Of Tilts and Turnements which they intend Prouide them horse and armour for defence And all things else conuenient for their end Besides they might hold sure intelligence Among themselues without suspect t' offend The king would think they sought but grace in court Withall their great preparing in this sort 34 A solemne oth religiously they make By intermutuall vowes protesting there This neuer to reueale nor to forsake So good a cause for daunger hope or feare The Sacrament the pledge of faith they take And euery man vppon his sword doth sweere By knighthood honor or what els should binde To assecure the more each others minde 35 And whenal this was done and thought welldone And euery one assures him good successe And easie seemes the thing to euery one That nought could crosse their plot or thē suppresse Yet one among the rest whole mind not wonne With th' ouerweening thought of hot excesse Nor headlong carried with the streame of will Nor by his owne election lead to ill 36 Sober milde Blunt whose learning valor wit Had taught true iudgement in the course of things Knew daungers as they were and th humerous fit Of ware-lesse discontent what end it brings Counsels their heat with calme graue words fit Words welfore thought that from experiēce springs And warnes a warier cariage in the thing Least blind presumption worke their ruining 37 My Lords saith he I know your wisedomes such As that of my aduise you haue no need I know you know how much the thing doth touch The maine of all your states your bloud your seed Yet since the same concernes my life as much As his whose hand is chiefest in this deed And that my foote must go as farre as his I thinke my tongue may speake what needfull is 38 The thing we enterprize I know doth beare Great possibility of good effect For that so many men of might there are That venter here this action to direct Which meaner wights of trust and credit bare Not so respected could not looke t' effect For none without great hopes will follow such Whose powre and honor doth not promise much 39 Besides this new and doubtfull gouernment The wauering faith of people vaine and light The secret hopes of many discontent The naturall affection to the right Our lawfull sou'raignes life in prison pent Whom men begin to pitty now not spight Our wel-laid plot and all I must confesse With our iust cause doth promise good successe 40 But this is yet the outward fairest side Of our disseigne within rests more of feare More dread of sad euent yet vndiscride Then ô most worthy Lords I would there were But yet I speake not this as to deuide Your thoughts from th' act or to dismay your cheere Onely to adde vnto your forward will A moderate feare to cast the worst of ill 41 Danger before and in and after th' act You needs must grant is great and to be waigh'd Before least while we doe the deed protract It be by any of our selues be wraid For many being priuy to the fact How hard it is to keepe it vnbetraid When the betrayer shall haue grace and life And rid himselfe of danger and of strife 42 For though some few contioue resolute Yet many shrinke which at the first would dare And be the formost men to execute If the act and motion at one instant were But intermission suffers men dispute What dangers are and cast with farther care Cold doubt cauils with honor skorneth fame And in the end feare waighes down faith with shame 43 Then in the act what perils shall we finde If either place or time or other course Cause vs to alterth ' order now assign'd Or that then we expect things happen worse If either error or a fainting minde An indiserect amazement or remorse In any at that instant should be found How much it might the act and all confound 44 After the deed the daungers are no lesse Least that our forwardnes not seconded By our owne followers and accomplices Being kept backe or flow or hindered The hastie multitude rush on t' oppresse Confused weaknes there vnsuccored Or raise another head of that same race T' auenge his death and prosecute the case 45 All this my Lords must be considered The best and worst of that which maie succeed That valour mixt with feare boldnes with dread May march more circumspect with better heed And to preuent these mischiefes mentioned Is by our faith our secrefie and speed For euen already is the worke begun And we rest all vndone till all be done 46 And ô I could haue wisht another course In open field t' haue hazarded my bloud But some are heere whose loue is of that force To draw my life whom zeale hath not withstood But like you not of your disseigne the worse If the successe be good your course is good And ending well our honor then begins No hand of strife is pure but that which wins 47 This said a sad still silence hold their minds Vpon the fearefull proiect of their woe But that not long ere forward fury finds Incouraging perswasions on to go We must said they we will our honour bindes Our safety bids our faith must haue it so We know the worst can come t is thought vpon We cannot shift being in we must goe on 48 And on indeed they went but ô not sarre A fatall stop trauersd their headlong course Their drist comes knowne and they discouered are For some of many will be False of force Aumarle became the man that all did marre Whether through indisoretions chance or worse He makes his peace with offring others bloud And shewes the king how all the matter stood 49 Then lo dismaid confusion all possest Th' afflicted troupe hearing their plot discride Then runnes amazd distresse with sad vnrest To this to that to flie to stand to hide Distracted terror knew not what was best On what determination to abide At last despaire would yet stand to the sword To trie what friends would doe or fate afford 50 Then this then that mans ayd they craue implore Post here for helpe seeke there their followers Coniure the frendes they had labor for more Sollicite all reputed fauorers Who Richards cause seem'd to affect before And in his name write pray send messengers To try what faith was left if by this art Anie would step to take afflictions part 51 And some were found some againe draw backe Vncertaine power could not it selfe retaine Intreat they may autority they lacke And here and there they march but all in vaine With desp'rat course like those that see their wracke Euen on the Rockes of death and yet they straine That death maie not them idly find t' attend Their certaine last but worke to meet their end 52 And long they stand not ere the chiefe surprizd Conclude with their deare bloud their tragedie And all the rest disperst run some disguisd
earth can bring Skarse equals him in what his raigne brought forth Being of a mind as forward to aspire As fit to gouerne what he did desire 16 His comely body was a goodly seate Where vertue dwelt most faire as lodgd most pure A bodic strong whene vse of strength did get A stronger state to do and to endure Making his life th' example to beget Like spirit in those he did to good in vre Most glorying to aduaunce true vertuous bloud As if he greatnes sought but to do good 17 Who as the chiefe and all-directing head Did with his subiects as his members liue And them to goodnes forced not but lead Winning not much to haue but much to giue Deeming the powre of his his powre did spread As borne to blesse the world not to grieue Adornd with others spoiles not subiects store No king exacting lesse none winning more 18 He after that corrupted faith had bred An ill inur'd obedience for commaund And languishing luxuriousnes had spred Feeble vnaptnes ouer all the land Yet he those long vnordred troupes so led Vnder such formall discipline to stand That euen his soule seemd only to direct So great a bodie such exployts t' effect 19 He bringes abrode distracted discontent Disperst ill humors into actions hie And to vnite them all in one consent Plac'd the faire marke of glorie in their eye That malice had no leasure to dissent Nor enuie time to practise treachery The present actions do diuert the thought Of madnes past while mindes were so well wrought 20 Here now were pride oppression vsury The canker-eating mischeifes of the state Cal'd forth to praie vppon the enemie Whilst the home-burthned better lightned sate Ease was not suffered with a gredie eye T' examine states or priuate wealthes to rate The silent Courtes warr'd not with busie wordes Nor wrested law gaue the contentious swordes 21 Now nothing entertaines th'attentiue care But stratagems assaults surprises fights How to giue lawes to them that conquered were How to articulate with yeelding wights The weake with mercie and the proud with feare How to retaine to giue desarts their right Were now the Arts and nothing else was thought But how to win and maintaine what was gote 22 Here ô were none that priuately possest And held alone imprisoned maiestie Proudly debarring entraunce from the rest As if the praie were theirs by victorie Here no detractor woundes who merits best Nor shameles brow cheeres on impietie Vertue who all her toyle with zeale had spent Not here all vnrewarded sighing went 23 But here the equally respecting eye Of powre looking alike on like desarts Blessing the good made others good thereby More mightie by the multitude of harts The field of glorie vnto all doth lie Open alike honor to all imparts So that the only fashion in request Was to bee good or good-like as the rest 24 So much ô thou example dost effect Being far a better maister then commaund That how to do by doing dost direct And teachest others action by thy hand Who followes not the course that kings elect When Princes worke who then will idle stand And when that dooing good is onely thought Worthy reward who will be bad for nought 25 And had not th' earle of Cābridge with vaine speed Vntimely practizd for anothers right With hope t' aduaunce those of his proper seed On whom yet rule seem'd destined to light The land had seene none of her owne to bleed During this raigne nor no aggrieued sight None the least blacknes interclouded had So faire a day nor any eye lookt sad 26 But now when Fraunce perceiuing from a far The gathering tempest growing on from hence Readie to fall threatning their state to marre They labor all meanes to prouide defence And practising how to preuent this warre And shut out such calamities from thence Do softer here some discord lately growne To hold Ambition busied with her owne 27 Finding those humors which they saw were fit Soone to be wrought and easie to be fed Swolne full with enuie that the crowne should sit There where it did as if established And whom it toucht in bloud to grieue at it They with such hopes and helps sollicited That this great Earle was drawne t' attempt the thing And practises how to depose the king 28 For being of mightie meanes to do the deed And yet of mightier hopes then meanes to do And yet of spirit that did his hopes exceed And then of bloud as great to ad thereto All which with what the gold of Fraūce could breed Being powers inough a climing mind to woo He so imploid that many he had wonne Euen of the chiefe the king relide vppon 29 The wel-known right of the Earle of March alurd A leaning loue whose cause he did pretend Whereby he knew that so himselfe procurd The Crowne for his owne children in the end For the Earle being as he was assurd Vnapt for issue it must needes descend On those of his being next of Clarence race As who by course of right should hold the place 30 It was the time when as the forward Prince Had all prepar'd for his great enterprize And readie stand his troupes to part from hence And all in stately forme and order lyes When open fame giues out intelligence Of these bad complots of his enemies Or else this time of purpose chosen is Though knowne before yet let run on till this 31 That this might yeeld the more to aggrauate Vpon so foule a deed so vilely sought Now at this time t' attempt to ruinate So glorious great disseignes so forward brought Whilst carefull vertue seekes t' aduaunce the state And for her euerlasting honor sought That though the cause were right and title strong The time of dooing it yet makes it wrong 32 And straight an vnlamented death he had And straight were ioyfully the Anchors weighd And all flocke fast aboord with visage glad As if the sacrifize had now beene payd For their good speed that made their stay so sad Lothing the least occasion that delayd And now new thoughts great hopes calme seas fair windes Whith present action intertaines their mindes 33 No other crosse ô Henry saw thy daies But this that toucht thy now possessed hold Nor after long till this mans sonne assaies To get of thine the right that he controwld For which contending long his life he paies So that it fatall seemd the father should Thy winning seeke to staie and then his sonne Should be the cause to loose when thou hadst won 34 Yet now in this so happie a meane while And inter lightning times thy vertues wrought That discord had no leasure to defile So faire attempts with a tumultuous thought And euen thy selfe thy selfe didst so beguile With such attention vppon what was sought That time affoordes not now with care or hare Others to seeke thee to secure thy state 35 Else ô how easie had it beene for thee All the
takes Of what had past in sleepe and silent night Yet hereof no important reck'ning makes But as a dreame that vanisht with the light The day designes and what he had in hand Left it to his diuerted thoughts vnskand 94 Doubtfull at first he warie doth proceed Seemes not t' affect that which he did effect Or els perhaps seemes as he ment indeed Sought but his owne and did no more expect Then fortune thou art guilty of his deed That didst his state aboue his hopes erect And thou must beare some blame of his great sin That left'st him worse then when he did begin 95 Thou didst conspire with pride and with the time To make so easie an assent to wrong That he that had no thought so hie to clime With fauoring comfort still allur'd along Was with occasion thrust into the crime Seeing others weakenes and his part so-strong And ô in such a case who is it will Do good and feare that maie liue free with ill 96 We will not say nor thinke O Lancaster But that thou then didst meane as thou didst swere Vpon th' Euangelists at Doncaster In th' eie of heauen and that assembly there That thou but as an vpright orderer Sought'st to reforme th' abused kingdome here And get thy right and what was thine before And this was all thou would'st attempt no more 97 Though we might say thinke that this pretence Was but a shadow to th' intended act Because th' euent doth argue the offence And plainely seemes to manifest the fact For that hereby thou mightst win confidence With those whom els thy course might hap distract And all suspition of thy drift remoue Since easily men credit whom they loue 98 But God forbid we should so nerely pry Into the low deepe buried sinnes long past T' examine and conferre iniquity Whereof faith would no memory should last That our times might not haue t' exemplifie With aged staines but with our owne shame cast Might thinke our blot the first not done before That new-made sins might make vs blush the more 99 And let vnwresting charity beleeue That then thy oth with thy intent agreed And others faith thy faith did first deceiue Thy after fortune forc'd thee to this deed And let no man this idle censure giue Because th' euent proues so t was so decreed For ô what counsels sort to other end Then that which frailty did at first intend 100 Whilst those that are but outward lookers on That cannot sound these misteries of state Deemes things were so contriu'd as they are done Holding that policie that was but fate Wondring how strange t was wrought how close begun And thinke all actions else did tend to that When ô how short they come or cast too fare Making the happy wiser then they are 101 But by degrees he venters now on blood And sacrifiz'd vnto the peoples loue The death of those that chiefe in enuy stood As th' Officers who first these dangers proue The treasorer and those that they thought good Bushy and Greene by death he must remoue These were the men the people thought did cause Those great exactions and abusd the lawes 102 This done his cause was preacht with learned skil And th' Archbishop of Canterbury shew'd A pardon sent from Rome to all that will Take part with him and quit the faith they ow'd To Richard as a Prince vnfit and ill On whom the crowne was fatally bestow'd And easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught With what the mouth of grauity had taught 103 O that this powre from euerlasting giuen The great alliance made twixt God and vs Th' intelligence that earth doth hold with heauen Sacred religion ô that thou must thus Be made to smooth our waies vniust vneuen Brought from aboue earth-quarrels to discusse Must men beguile our soules to winne our wils And make our zeale the furtherer of ils 104 But the ambitious to aduance their might Dispence with heauen and what religion would The armed will finde right or else make right If this meanes wrought not yet another should And this and other now doe all incite To strength the faction that the Duke doth hold Who easily obtained what he sought His vertues and his loue so greatly wrought 105 The king still busied in this Irish warre Which by his valour there did well succeede Had newes how here his Lords reuolted are And how the Duke of Herford doth proceed In these affaires he feares are growne too farre Hastes his returne from thence with greatest speed But was by tempests windes and seas debarr'd As if they likewise had against him warr'd 106 But at the length though late in wales he landes Where thorowly inform'd of Henries force And well aduertisd how his owne case stands Which to his griefe he sees tendes to the worse He leauest ' Aumarle at Milford all those bands He brought from Ireland taking thence his course To Conwaie all disguisd with fourteene more Toth ' Earle of Salisburie thither sent before 107 Thinking the Earle had raisd some forces there Whom there he findes for saken all alone The people in those partes which leuied were B'ing closely shronke away dispersd and gone The king had stayed too long and they in feare Resolued euery man to shift for one At this amasd such fortune he laments Foresees his fall whereto each thing consents 108 In this disturb'd tumultuous broken state Whilst yet th' euent stood doubtfull what should be Whilst nought but headlong running to debate And glittering troupes and armor men might see Fury and feare compassion wrath and hate Confusd through all the land no Corner free The strong all mad to strife to ruine bent The weaker waild the aged they lament 109 And blame their many yeares that liue so long To see the horrour of these miseries Why had not we said they dyde with the strong In forraine fields in honourable wise In iust exploits and lawfull without wrong And by the valiant hand of enemies And not thus now reserued in our age To home confusion and disordered rage 110 Vnto the Temples flocke the weake deuout Sad wailing women there to vow and pray For husbands brothers or their sonnes gone out To bloudshed whom nor tears nor loue could stay Here graue religious fathers which much doubt The sad euents these broyles procure them may As Prophets warne exclaime disswade these crimes By the examples fresh of other times 111 And ô what doe you now prepare said they Another conquest by these fatall waies What must your own hands make your selues a pray To desolation which these tumults raise What Dane what Norman shall prepare his way To triumph on the spoile of your decaies That which nor France nor all the world could doe In vnion shall your discord bring you to 112 Conspire against vs neighbour nations all That enuy at the height whereto w' are growne Coniure the barbarous North and let them call Straunge fury from far distant shores
vnknowne And let them altogither on vs fall So to diuert the ruine of our owne That we forgetting what doth so incense May turne the hand of malice to defence 113 Calme these tempestuous spirits O mighty Lord This threatning storme that ouer hangs the land Make them consider ere they'vnsheath the sword How vaine is th' earth this point wheron they stand And with what sad calamities is stoor'd The best of that for which th' Ambitious band Labor the end of labor strife of strife Terror in death and horrour after life 114 Thus they in zeale whose humbled thoughts were good Whil'st in this wide spread volume of the skies The booke of prouidence disclosed stood Warnings of wrath foregoing miseries In lines of fire and caracters of blood There fearefull formes in dreadfull flames arise Amazing Comets threatning Monarches might And new-seene starres vnknowne vnto the night 115 Red fiery dragons in the aire doe flie And burning Meteors poynted-streaming lights Bright starres in midst of day appeare in skie Prodigious monsters gastly fearefull sights Straunge Ghosts and apparitions terrific The wofull mother her owne birth affrights Seeing a wrong deformed infant borne Grieues in her paines deceiu'd in shame doth morn 116 The Earth as if afeard of bloud and woundes Trembles in terror of these falling bloes The hollow concaues giue out groning sounds And sighing murmurs to lament our woes The Ocean all at discord with his boundes Reiterates his strange vntimely floes Nature all out of course to checke our course Neglects her worke to worke in vs remorse 117 So great a wracke vnto it selfe doth lo Disordered mortality prepare That this whole frame doth euen labour so Her ruine vnto frailty to declare And trauailes to fore-signifie the wo That weake improuidence could not beware For heauen and earth and aire and seas and all Taught men to see but not to shun their fall 118 Is man so deare vnto the heauens that they Respect the waies of earth the workes of sin Doth this great all this vniuersall weigh The vaine designes that weakenes doth begin Or doe our feare father of zeale make way Vnto this errour ignorance liues in Making our faults the cause that moue these powres That haue their cause from other cause then ours 119 Or doe the conscience of our wicked decdes Apply to sinne the terrour of these sights Hapning at the instant when commotion breedes Amazing only timorous vulgar wights Who euer aggrauating that which feedes Their feares still find out matter that affrights Whilst th' impious fierce neglecting seele no touch And weigh too light what other scare so much 120 Ah no th' eternall powre that guides this frame And serues him with the instruments of heauen To call the earth and summon vp our shame By an edict from euerlasting giuen Forbids mortality to search the same Where sence is blind and wit of wit bereauen Terror must be our knowledge feare our skill T' admire his worke and tremble at his will 121 And these beginnings had this impious warre Th' vngodly bloudshed that did so defile The beauty of thy fields and euen did marre The flowre of thy chiefe pride ô fairest Ile These were the causes that incensd so farre The ciuil wounding hand inragd with spoile That now the liuing with afflicted eie Looke backe with griefe on such calamity THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE King Richard mones his wrong and wailes his raigne And here betrayd to London he is led Basely attyrd attending Herfords traine Where th' one is skornd the other welcomed His Wife mistaking him doth much complaine And both togither greatly sorrowed In hope to saue his life and ease his thrall He yeelds vp state and Rule and Crowne and all 1 IN dearth of faith and scarsity of friends The late great mighty monarch on the shore In th' vtmost corner of his land attends To call backe false obedience fled before Toyles and in vaine his toile and labour spends More hearts he sought to gaine he lost the more All turn'd their faces to the rising sunne And leaues his setting-fortune night begun 2 O Percy how by thy example lead The household traine for sooke their wretched Lord When with thy staffe of charge dishonoured Thou brak'st thy faith not steward of thy word And tookst his part that after tooke thy head When thine owne hand had strengthned first his For such great merits doe obraid and call For great reward or thinke the great too small 3 And kings loue not to be beholding ought Which makes their chiefest friends oft speed the worst For those by whom their fortunes haue bin wrought Put them in mind of what they were at first Whose doubtfull faith if once in question brought T is thought they will offend because they durst And taken in a fault are neuer spar'd Being casier to reuenge then to reward 4 And thus these mighty actors sonnes of change These partizanes of factions often tride That in the smoake of innouations strange Build huge vncertaine plots of vnsure pride And on the hazard of a bad exchange Haue venterd all the stocke of life beside Whilst Princes raisd disdaine to haue beene raisd By those whose helpes deserue not to be praisd 5 O Maiestie left naked all alone But with th' vnarmed title of thy right Those gallant troupes thy fortune followers gone And all that pompe the complements of might Th' amazing shadowes that are cast vpon The eares of Princes to be guile the sight Are vanisht cleane and only frailty left Thy selfe of all besides thy selfe berest 6 Like when some great Colossus whose strong base Or mighty props are shronke or sunke awaie Fore-shewing ruine threatning all the place That in the danger of his fall doth stay All straight to better safetie flocke apace None rest to helpe the ruine while they maie The perill great and doubtfull there dresse Men are content to leaue right in distresse 7 As stately Thames inricht with many a flood And goodly riuers that haue made their graues And buried both their names and all their good Within his greatnes to augment his waues Glides on with pompe of waters vnwithstood Vnto the Ocean which his tribute craues And Taies vp all his wealth within that powre Which in it selfe all greatnes doth deuour 8 So flocke the mightie with their following traine Vnto the all-receiuing Builing brooke Who wonders at himselfe how he should gaine So manie hearts as now his partie tooke And with what ease and with how slender paine His fortune giues him more then he could looke What he imagind neuer could be wrought Is powrd vpon him farre beyond his thought 9 So often things which seeme at first in shew Without the compasse of accomplishment Once ventred on to that successe do grow That euen the Authors do admire th' euent So manie meanes which they did neuer know Doe second their designes and doe present Straunge vnexpected helpes and chiefly then When th' Actors are reputed worthy men
states of the redeemed Earth Might thee admire and glorise thy birth 127 Thence might thy valor haue brought in despight Eternall Tropheis to Elizas name And laid downe at her sacred feete the right Of all thy deedes and glory of the same All that which by her powre and by thy might Thou hadst attaind to her immortall fame Had made thee wondred here admir'd a farre The Mercury of peace the Mars of warre 128 And thou my Lord the glorie of my muse Pure-spirited Mountiâ—â— th' ornament of men Hadst had a large and mighty field to vse Thy holie giftes and learned counsels then Whole landes and Prouinces should not excuse Thy trusty faith nor yet sufficient beene For those great vertues to haue ordered And in a calme obedience gouerned 129 Nor had I then at solitary brooke Sate framing bloudy accents of these times Nor told of woundes that grieued eies might looke Vpon the horror of their fathers crimes But rather a more glorious subiect tooke To register in euerlasting rimes The sacred glories of ELIZABETH T' haue kept the wonder of her worth from death 136 And like wise builded for your great designes O you two worthies bewties of our state Immortall tombes of vnconsuming lines To keepe your holic deedes inuiolate You in whose actions yet the image shines Of ancient honor neere worne out of date You that haue vertue into fashion brought In these neglected times respected nought 131 But whither am I carried with the thought Of what might haue beene had not this beene so O sacred Fury how was I thus brought To speake of glory that must tell of wo These acted mischiefes cannot be vnwrought Though men be pleasd to wish it were not so And therefore leaue sad Muse th' imagin'd good For we must now returne againe to bloud THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henry the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded doe rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Promfret Castle sent Is murthered there The Percies making head Against the king receiue the punishment And in the end a tedious troublous raigne A grieuous death concludes with care and paine I Tow risen is that head by which did spring The birth of two strong heads two crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchased thing What fild the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 Striuing at first to build a strong conceit Of his weake cause in apt-abused mindes He deckes his deed with colours of deceit And ornaments of right which now he findes Succession conquest and election straight Suggested are and prou'd in all three kindes More then inough he findes that findes his might Hath force ' to make all that he will haue right 3 All these he hath when one good would suffize The worlds applause and liking to procure But who his owne cause makes doth still deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise The doubtfull can no vsuall plots indure These selfe-accusing titles all he had Seeking to make one good of maine bad 4 Like foolish he that feares and saine would stop An inundation working on apace Runs to the breach heapes mighty matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Loades with huge waights the outside and the top But leaues the inner parts in feeble case Thinking for that the outward forme seemes strong T is sure inough and may continue long 5 But when the vnder working waues come on Searching the secrets of vnsenced waies The full maine Ocean following hard vpon Beares downe that idle frame skorning such staies Prostrates that frustrate paines as if not done And proudly on his silly labors plaies Whilst he perceiues his error and doth finde His ill proceeding contrary to kind 6 So fares it with our indirect diffeignes And wrong-contriued labors at the last Whilst working time or Iustice vndermines The feeble ground-worke craft thought laid so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioynd plots so fairely ouercast Turnes vp those strong pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouerthrowes 7 But wel he thought his powre made al seem plain And now t' his coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous fort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this error feedes Is furnisht with a stately-glorious traine Wherein the former kings he far exceeds And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what and how t was done to what is wrought 8 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne and who his part did take New officers new counsellours he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their desart Seeking all meanes t' oppresse the aduerse part 9 All Counsellers vnto the former king All th' officers and iudges of the state He to disgrace or els to death did bring Lead by his owne or by the peoples hate Who euermore by nature mallicing Their might whom not their vertues but their fate Exalted hath who when kings do what 's naught Because t is in their powre t is thought their faut 10 And plac'd for these such as were popular Belou'd of him and in the peoples grace Learned graue Shirley he makes Chauncellor One of great spirit worthy his worthy race And Clifford he ordaines Lord Treasuror A man whose vertues well deseru'd that place Others to other roomes whom people hold So much more lou'd how much they loathd the old 17 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guilty thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor els could wel be wrought Law Iustice bloud the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drist shadowed 12 Here maine of the greatest of the land Accusd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleere their cause most resolutely stoute The king perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought about Desistes to vrge their death in anie wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 13 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernment To striue with bloud when lenity must gaine The mighty wight and please the discontent New kings do feare when old courts farther straine Establisht states to all things will consent He must dispence with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 14 Yet not to seeme but to haue something done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the
they of so fatall a degree That they cannot discend from that and liue Vnlesse they still be kings can they not bee Nor maie they their authority surviue Will not my yeelded crowne redeeme my breath Still am I fear'd is there no way but death 72 Scarce this word death had sorrow vttered But in rusht one and tels him how a knight Is come from court his name deliuered What newes with him said he that traiterous wight What more remoues must we be farther lead Are we not sent inough yet out of sight Or hath this place not strength sufficient To guard vs in or haue they worse intent 73 By this the bloudy troope were at the dore When as a sodaine and a strange dismay Inforst them straine who should go in before One offers and in offring makes a stay Another forward sets and doth no more A third the like and none durst make the way So much the horror of so vile a deed In vilest mindes hinders them to proceed 74 At length as to some great assault the knight Cheeres vp his fainting men all that he can And valiantly their courage doth incite And all against one weake vnarmed man A great exployt worthy a man of might Much honour wretch therein thy valor wan Ah poore weake prince yet men that presence feare Which once they knew autoritie did beare 75 Then on thrustes one and he would formost be To shead anothers bloud but lost his owne For entring in as soone as he did see The face of maiestie to him well knowne Like Marius soldier at Minternum hee Stood still amazd his courage ouerthrowne The king seeing this startes vp from where he fate Out from his trembling hand his weapon gate 76 Thus euen his foes that came to bring him death Bring him a weapon that before had none That yet he might not idly loose his breath But diereuengd in action not alone And this good chaunce that this much fauoureth He slackes not for he presently speedes one And Lion-like vpon the rest he flies And here falles one and there another lies 77 And vp and downe he trauerses his ground Now wardes a felling blow now strikes againe Then nimbly shiftes a thrust then lendes a wound Now backe he giues then rushes on amaine His quicke and readie hand doth so confound These shamefull beastes that foure of them dies slain And all had perisht happily and well But for one act that ô I greiue to tell 78 This coward knight seeing with shame and feare His men thus slaine and doubting his owne end Leapes vp into a chaire that lo was there The whiles the king did all his courage bend Against those foure that now before him were Doubting not who behind him doth attend And plies his handes vndaunted vnaffeard And with good hart and life for life he stird 79 And whiles he this and that and each mans blow Doth eye desend and shift being laid to sore Backward he beates for more aduantage now Thinking the wall would safegard him the more When lo with impious hand o wicked thou That shamefull durst not come to strike before Behind him gau'st that wofull deadly wound That laid that most sweet Prince flat on the ground 08 Monster of men ô what hast thou here done Vnto an ouerpressed innocent Lab'ring against so many he but one And one poore soule with care with sorrow spent O could thy eies indure to looke vpon Thy hands disgrace or didst thou then relent But what thou didst I will not here deuine Nor straine my thoughts to enter into thine 81 But leue thee wretch vnto blacke infamie To darke eternall horror and disgrace The hatefull skorne to all posterity The out-cast of the world last of thy race Of whose curst seed nature did then deny To bring forth more her faire workes to deface And as asham'd to haue produc'd that past She staies her hand and makes this worst her last 82 There lies that comely body all imbrude With that pure bloud mixt with that fowle he shed O that those sacred streames with such vile rude Vnhallowed matter should be mingled O why was grossenes with such grace indude To be with that sweet mixture honoured Or seru'd it but as some vile graue ordaind Where an imbalmed corpes should be containd 83 Those faire distended limmes all trembling lay Whom yet nor life nor death their owne could call For life remou'd had not rid all away And death though entring seas'd not yet on all That short-tim'd motion that soone finish shall The mouer ceasing yet a while doth stay As th' organ sound a time suruiues the stop Before it doth the dying note giue vp 84 So holdes those organs of that goodly frame The weake remaines of life a little space But ah full soone cold death poffest the same Set are those sun-like eles bloudlesse that face And all that comely whole a lump became All that fair forme which death could scarce disgrace Lies perisht thus and thus vntimely fate Hath finisht his most miserable state 85 And thus one king most nere in bloud allide is made th' oblation for the others peace Now onely one both name and all beside Intirely hath plurality doth cease He that remaines remaines vnterrifide With others right this day doth all release And henceforth he is absolutely king No crownes but one this deed confirmes the thing 86 And yet new Hydraes lo new heades appeare T' afflict that peace reputed then so sure And gaue him much to do and much to feare And long and daungerous tumults did procure And those euen of his chiefest followers were Of whom he might presume him most secure Who whether not so grac'd or so preferd As they expected these new factions stird 87 The Percyes were the men men of great might Strong in alliance and in courage strong That thus conspire vnder pretence to right The crooked courses they had suffered long Whether their conscience vrgd them or despight Or that they saw the part they tooke was wrong Or that ambition hereto did them call Or others enuide grace or rather all 88 What cause soeuer were strong was their plot Their parties great meanes good th' occasion fit Their practise close their faith suspected not Their states far off and they of wary wit Who with large promises draw in the Scot To ayde their cause he likes and yeeldes to it Not for the Ioue of them or for their good But glad hereby of meanes to shed our bloud 89 Then ioyne they with the Welsh who fitly traind And all in armes vnder a mightie head Great Glendowr who long warr'd and much attaind Sharp conflicts made and many vanquished With whom was Edmond Earle of March retaind Being first his prisoner now confedered A man the king much fear'd and well he might Least he should looke whether his Crown stood right 90 For Richard for the quiet of the state Before he tooke those Irish warres in hand About succession
doth deliberate And finding how the certaine right did stand With full consent this man did ordinate The heyre apparent to the crowne and land Then iudge if this the king might nerely touch Although his might were smal his right being much 91 With these the Percyes them confederate And as three heades they league in one intent And instituting a Triumuirate Do part the land in triple gouerment Deuiding thus among themselues the state The Percyes should rule all the North from Trent And Glendowr Wales the Earle of March should bee Lord of the South from Trent and thus they gree 92 Then those two helpes which still such actors find Pretence of common good the kings disgrace Doth fit their course and draw the vulgar mind To further them and aide them in this cafe The king they accusd for cruell and vnkind That did the state and crowne and all deface A periurde man that held all faith in skorne Whose trusted othes had others made for sworne 93 Besides the odious detestable act Of that late murdered king they aggrauate Making it his that so had will'd the fact That he the doers did remunerate And then such taxes daily doth exact That were against the orders of the state And with all these or worse they him assaild Who late of others with the like preuaild 94 Thus doth contentious proud mortality Afflict each other and it selfe torment And thus o thou mind-tortring misery Restles ambition borne in discontent Turn st and retossest with iniquity The vnconstant courses frailty did inuent And fowlst faire order and defilst the earth Fostring vp warre father of bloud and dearth 95 Great seemd the cause and greatly to did ad The peoples loue thereto these crimes rehearst That manie gathered to the troupes they had And many more do flocke from costs disperst But when the king had heard these newes so bad Th'vnlookt for dangerous toyle more nearly perst For bēt t'wards Wales t' appease those tumults there H 'is for'st diuert his course and them forbeare 96 Not to giue time vnto th' increasing rage And gathering fury forth he hastes with speed Left more delay or giuing longer age To th' euill growne it might the cure exceed All his best men at armes and leaders sage All he prepard he could and all did need For to a mighty worke thou goest ô king To such a field that power to power shall bring 97 There shall young Hotespur with a fury lead Meete with thy forward sonne as fierce as he There warlike Worster long experienced In forraine armes shall come t' incounter thee There Dowglas to thy Stafford shall make head There Vernon for thy valiant Blunt shal be There shalt thou find a doubtfull bloudy day Though sicknesse keepe Northumberland away 98 Who yet reseru'd though after quit for this Another tempest on thy head to raise As if still wrong reuenging Nemesis Did meane t' afflict all thy continuall dayes And yet this field he happely might misse For thy great good and therefore well he staies What might his force haue done being ioynd thereto When that already gaue so much to do 99 The swift approch and vnexspected speed The king had made vpon this new-raisd force In th'vnconfirmed troupes much feare did breed Vntimely hindring their intended course The ioyning with the Welsh they had decreed Was hereby stopt which made their part the worse Northumberland with forces from the North Expected to be there was not set forth 100 And yet vndaunted Hotspur seeing the king So nere approch'd leauing the worke in hand With forward speed his forces marshalling Sets forth his farther comming to withstand And with a cheerfull voice incouraging By his great spirit his well imboldned band Bringes a strong host of firme resolued might And plac'd his troupes before the king in sight 101 This day saith he ô faithfull valiaunt frendes What euer it doth giue shall glorie giue This day with honor frees our state or endes Our misery with fame that still shall liue And do but thinke how well this day he spendes That spendes his bloud his countrey to relieue Our holie cause our freedome and our right Sufficient are to moue good mindes to fight 102 Besides th' assured hope of victory That wee may euen promise on our side Against this weake-constrained companie Whom force feare not will and loue doth guide Against a prince whose soule impiety The heauens do hate the earth cannot abide Our number being no lesse our courage more What need we doubt if we but worke therefore 103 This said and thus resolu'd euen bent to charge Vpon the king who well their order viewd And carefull noted all the forme at large Of their proceeding and their multitude And deeming better if he could discharge The day with safetie and some peace conclude Great proffers sendes of pardon and of grace If they would yeeld and quietnes imbrace 104 But this refusd the king with wrath incensd Rage against fury doth with speed prepare And ô faith he though I could haue dispensd With this daies bloud which I haue sought to spare That greater glory might haue recompensd The forward worth of these that so much dare That we might honor had by th' ouerthrown That th' wounds we make might not haue bin our own 105 Yet since that other mens iniquity Calles on the sword of wrath against my will And that themselues exact this cruelty And I constrained am this bloud to spill Then on my maisters on couragiously True-harted subiects against traitors ill And spare not them who seeke to spoile vs all Whose fowle confused end soone see you shall 106 Straight moues with equall motion equall rage The like incensed armies vnto blood One to defend another side to wage Foule ciuill war both vowes their quarrell good Ah too much heare to bloud doth now inrage Both who the deed prouokes and who withstood That valor here is vice here manhood sin The forward st hands doth ô least honor win 107 But now begin these fury-mouing soundes The notes of wrath that musicke brought from hell The ratling drums which trumpets voice cōfounds The cryes th' incouragements the shouting shrell That all about the beaten ayre reboundes Thundring confused murmurs horrible To rob all sence except the sence to fight Well handes may worke the mind hath lost his sight 108 O war begot in pride and luxury The child of wrath and of dissention Horrible good mischiefe necessarie The fowle reformer of confusion Vniust-iust scourge of our iniquitie Cruell recurer of corruption O that these sin-sicke states in need should stand To be let bloud with such a boystrous hand 109 And ô how well thou hadst bene spar'd this day Had not wrong counsaild Percy bene peruers Whose yong vndanger'd hand now rash makes way Vpon the sharpest fronts of the most fierce Where now an equall fury thrusts to stay And rebeat-backe that force and his disperse Then these assaile then those chace backe
againe Till staid with new-made hils of bodies slaine 110 There lo that new-appearing glorious starre Wonder of Armes the terror of the field Young Henrie laboring where the stoutest are And euen the stoutest forces backe to yeild There is that hand boldned to bloud and warre That must the sword in woundrous actions weild But better hadst thou learnd with others bloud A lesse expence to vs to thee more good 111 Hadst thou not there lent present speedy ayd To thy indaungerde father nerely tyrde Whom fierce incountring Dowglas ouerlaid That day had there his troublous life expirde Heroycall Couragious Blunt araid In habite like as was the king attirde And deemd for him excusd that fate with his For he had what his Lord did hardly misse 112 For thought a king he would not now disgrace The person then supposd but prince like shewes Glorious effects of worth that fit his place And fighting dyes and dying ouerthrowes Another of that forward name and race In that hotte worke his valiant life bestowes Who bare the standard of the king that day Whose colours ouerthrowne did much dismaie 113 And deare it cost and ô much bloud is shed To purchase thee this loosing victory O trauayld king yet hast thou conquered A doubtfull day a mightie enemy But ô what woundes what famous worthlyes dead That makes the winner looke with sorrowing eye Magnanimous Stafford lost that much had wrought And valiant Shorly who great glory gote 114 Such wracke of others bloud thou didst behold O furious Hotspur ere thou lost thine owne Which now once lost that heate in thine waxt cold And soone became thy Armie ouerthrowne And ô that this great spirit this courage bold Had in some good cause bene rightly showne So had not we thus violently then Haue termd that rage which valor should haue ben 115 But now the king retires him to his peace A peace much like a feeble sickemans sleepe Wherein his waking paines do neuer cease Though seeming rest his closed eyes doth keepe For ô no peace could euer so release His intricate turmoiles and sorrowes deepe But that his cares kept waking all his life Continue on till death conclude the strife 116 Whos 's harald sicknes being sent before With full commission to denounce his end And paine and griefe enforcing more and more Besiegd the hold that could not long defend And so consum'd all that imboldning store Of hote gaine-striuing bloud that did contend Wearing the wall so thin that now the mind Might well looke thorow and his frailty find 117 When lo as if the vapours vanisht were Which heate of boyling bloud health did breed To cloude the sence that nothing might appeare Vnto the thought that which it was indeed The lightned soule began to see more cleere How much it was abusd notes with heed The plaine discouered falsehood open laid Of ill perswading flesh that so betraid 118 And lying on his last afflicted bed Where death conscience both before him stand Th' one holding out a booke wherein he red In bloudie lines the deedes of his owne hand The other shewes a glasse which figured An ougly forme of fowle corrupted sand Both bringing horror in the hyest degree With what he was and what he straight should bee 119 Which seeing all confusd trembling with feare He lay a while as ouerthrowne in sprite At last commaunds some that attending were To fetch the crowne and set it in his sight On which with fixed eye and heauy cheere Casting a looke O God saith he what right I had to thee my soule doth now conceiue Thee which with bloud I gote with horror leaue 120 Wert thou the cause my climing care was such To passe those boundes nature and law ordaind Is this that good which promised so much And seemd so glorious ere it was attaind Wherein was neuer ioye but gaue a touch To checke my soule to thinke how thou wert gaind And now how do I leaue thee vnto mine Which it is dread to keepe death to resigne 121 With this the soule rapt wholy with the thought Of such distresse did so attentiue weigh Her present horror whilst as if forgote The dull consumed body senceles lay And now as breathles quite quite dead is thought When lo his sonne comes in and takes awaie The fatall crowne from thence and out he goes As if vnwilling longer time to lose 122 And whilst that sad confused soule doth cast Those great accounts of terror and distresse Vppon this counsell it doth light at last How she might make the charge of horror lesse And finding no way to acquit that 's past But onely this to vse some quicke redresse Of acted wrong with giuing vp againe The crowne to whom it seem'd to appertaine 123 Which found lightned with some small ioy shee hyes Rouses her seruaunts that dead sleeping lay The members of hir house to exercise One feeble dutie more during her stay And opening those darke windowes he espies The crowne for which he lookt was borne awaie And all-agrieu'd with the vnkind offence He causd him bring it backe that tooke it thence 124 To whom excusing his presumteous deed By the supposing him departed quite He said ô Sonne what needes thee make such speed Vnto that care where feare exceeds thy right And where his sinne whom thou shalt now succeed Shall still vpbraid thy ' inheritance of might And if thou canst liue and liue great from wo Without this carefull trauaile let it go 125 Nay father since your fortune did attaine So hye a stand I meane not to descend Replyes the Prince as if what you did gaine I were of spirit vnable to defend Time will appease them well that now complaine And ratefie our interest in the end What wrong hath not continuance quite outworne Yeares makes that right which neuer was so borne 126 If so God worke his pleasure said the king And ô do thou contend with all thy might Such euidence of vertuous deeds to bring That well may proue our wrong to be our right And let the goodnes of the managing Race out the blot of foule attayning quite That discontent may all aduauntage misse To wish it otherwise then now it is 127 And since my death my purpose doth preuent Touching this sacred warre I tooke in hand An action wherewithall my soule had ment T' appease my God and reconcile my land To thee is left to finish my intent Who to be safe must neuer idly stand But some great actions entertaine thou still To hold their mindes who else will practise ill 128 Thou hast not that aduantage by my raigne To riot it as they whom long descent Hath purchasd loue by custome but with payne Thou must contend to buy the worlds content What their birth gaue them thou hast yet to gaine By thine owne vertues and good gouernment And that vnles thy worth confirme the thing Thou canst not be the father to a king 129 Nor art thou
commaund of vice whereto the rest Of many mighty foueraignes subiectés be And numbred might haue beene among the best Of other men if not of that degree A right good man but yet an euill king Vnfit for what he had in managing 55 Mild meeke of spirit by nature patient No thought t' increase or scarse to keepe his owne Apter for pardoning then for punishment Seeking his bounty not his powre t' haue knowne Far from reuenge soone won soone made content As fitter for a cloyster then a crowne Whose holy minde so much addicted is On th' world to come that he neglecteth this 56 With such a weake good feeble godly king Hath Richard Duke of Yorke his cause to trie Who by th' experience of long managing The warres of Fraunce with supreame dignitie And by his owne great worth with furthering The common good against the enemie Had wrought that zeale and loue attend his might And made his spirit equall vnto his right 57 For now the Duke of Bedford beeing dead He is ordaind the Regent to succeed In Fraunce for fiue yeares where he trauailed Whith ready hand and with as carefull heed To seeke to turne backe fortune that now fled And hold vp falling power in time of need And gote and lost and reattaines againe That which againe was lost for all his paine 58 His time expird he should for fiue yeares more Haue had his charge prolong'd but Sommerset That still had enuide his commaund before That place and honor for himselfe did get Which ans that matter to th' alreadie store Of kindled hate which such a fire doth set Vnto the touch of that confounding flame As both their blouds could neuer quench the same 59 And now the weaknes of that feeble head That doth neglect all care but his soules care So easie meanes of practise ministred Vnto th' ambitious members to prepare Their owne desires to what their humors lead That all good Actions coldly followed are And seurall-tending hopes do wholy bend To other now then to the publique end 60 And to draw on more speedy misery The king vnto a fatall match is led With Rayners daughter king of Sicilie Whom with vnlucky starres he married For by the meanes of this affinitie Was lost all that his Father conquered Euen as if Fraunce had some Erynnis sent T' auenge their wrongs done by the insolent 61 This marriage was the Duke of Suffolks deed With great rewardes won to effect the same Which made him that he tooke so little heed Vnto his countries good or his owne shame Being a match could stand vs in no steed For strength for wealth for reputation fame But cunningly contriued for their gaine To cost vs more then Aniou Mauns and Maine 62 And yet as if he had accomplished Some mighty benefit vnto the land He gote his trauailes to be registred In Parliment for euermore to stand A witnes to approue all what he did To th' end that if hereafter it were scand Autoritie might yet be on his side As doing nought but what was ratifide 63 Imagining th' allowance of that place Would make that good the which he knew was naught And so would his negotiation grace As none would thinke it was his priuat faut Wherein though wit dealt wary in this case Yet in the end it selfe it ouer raught Striuing to hide he opened it the more His after care shewd craft had gone before 64 Deare didst thou buy ô king so faire a wife So rare a spirit so high a minde the while Whose portion was destruction dowry strife Whose bed was sorrow whose imbracing spoile Whose maintenance cost thee and thine their life And whose best comfort neuer was but toyle What Paris brought this booty of desire To set our mighty Ilium here on fire 65 I grieue that I am forst to say thus much To blame her that I yet must wonder at Whos 's so sweet beauty wit and worth were such As euerlasting admiration gat Yet doth my countries zeale so nerely touch That I am drawne to say I know not what And yet ô that my pen should euer giue Staine to that sex by whom her fame doth liue 66 For sure those vertues well deserud a crowne And had it not beene ours no doubt she might Haue matcht the worthiest that the world hath known And now sate faire with fame with glorie bright But comming in the way where sin was grown So foule and thicke it was her chance to light Amidst that grosse infection of those times And so came staind with blacke disgracefull crimes 67 And some the world must haue on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproach and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' only Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps t was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor helpe the same But liuing in the eie of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw on wo. 68 So much vnhappie doth the mightie stand That stand on other then their owne defence When as distruction is so neare at hand That if by weakenes folly negligence They do not comming miserie withstand They shall be thought th'authors of the offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as those that brought those plagues about 69 And so remaine for euer registred In that eternall booke of infamie When ô how many other causes lead As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oftly close smothered And well ment deedes fall out vnluckily Whilst the aggrieued stand not t'waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 70 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults that mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath beene A speciall meanes this commonwealth to marre And that thy way ward will was plainly seene In vaine ambition to presume too farre And that by thee the onely way was wrought The Duke of Gloster to his death was brought 71 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainly permit Others to looke to that they could not see During his life nor would aduenture it When his remoue quite made that passage free So by his fall thinking to stand alone Hardly could stand at all when he was gone 72 For this Duke as Protector many yeares Had rul'd the land during the kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if he still were in his pupillage With such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incensd with an ambitious rage She doth conspire to haue him made awaie As who the course of her maine will doth staie 73 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent That grieu'd likewise that any else beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therfore he such deepe aduise applide As forraine
craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 74 And manie ready hands shee straight doth find To aide her deede of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind That to himselfe th' affaires all wholly tooke And ruling all had neuer any minde T' impart a part with others that would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And grieu'd at such ingrossing of commaunds 75 And had he not had such a greedy loue Of still continuing of his charge too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life without shee did him wrong But hauing liu'd so manie yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to be lesse strong And kils that fame that vertue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 76 O could the mighty but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe fortune ere shee pull them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfide Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high spreading ouergrowne Whilst they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and dispight 77 Then should not ô so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloudy end Nor their disgrac'd confounded families From so hye pride to so low shame descend But planted on that ground where safety lies Their branches should to eternity extend But euer those that ouerlooke so much Must ouersee themselues their state is such 78 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towardes euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bread despight So that euen vertue seemes an Actor too To ruine those fortune prepares to vndoo 79 Those thus prouided whom the Queene wel knew Hated his might and glad to inoouate Vnto so great and strong a party grew As easie t' was to ouerthrow his state And onely hope of alteration drew Manie to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnes men grow discontent Where states are ripe to fall and vertue spent 80 And taking all the rule into her hand Vnder the shadowe of that feeble king The Duke sh' excludes from office and command And in the reach of enmity doth bring From that respected height where he did stand Whilst malice scarce durst mutter anything When straight the worst of him comes all reueald Which former feare or rigor kept conceald 81 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the land haue brought The ciuile forme in cases touching bloud And such poore crimes that shewd their spight was sound But yet bewraide their matter wanted ground 82 Yet seru'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shall obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose hainous faults his matter must deface For where powre hath decreed to find th' oftence The cause is better still then the defence 83 A Parlament at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or ought imagining of what befell Where as the matter is so followed That he conuented is ere he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 84 Which quicke and sodaine action gaue no time For men to weigh the iustice of the deed Whilst looking only on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drift they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Sacietie makes passions still lesse strong 85 And yet they seem'd some mutiny to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Seeing he was most popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither dye 86 Reekning it better since his end is ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft things done perhaps doe lesse anoy Then may the doing handled with delay 87 And so they had it straight accomplished For that day after his committing he Is dead brought foorth being found so in his bed Which was by sodaine sicknes said to bee That had vpon his sorrowes gathered As by apparant to kens men might see And thus ô Sicknes thou art oft belide When death hath many waies to come beside 88 Are these the deedes hye forraine wits inuent Is this that wisedome whereof they so boast O then I would it neuer had beene spent Here amongst vs nor brought from out their coast O let their cunning in their limits pent Remaine amongst themselues that like it most And let the North they count of colder bloud Beheld more grosse so it remaine more good 89 Let them haue fairer citties goodlier soiles And sweeter fields for beautie to theeie So long as they haue these vngodly wiles Such detestable vile impietie And let vs want their vines their fruites the whiles So that we want not faith and honestie We care not for those pleasures so we may Haue better harts and stronger hands then they 90 Neptune keepe out from thy imbraced Ile This foule contagion of iniquitie Drowne all corruptions comming to defile Our faire proceedings ordred formally Keepe vs mere English let not craft beguile Honor and Iustice with strang subtiltie Let vs not thinke that that our good can frame Which ruinde hath the Authors of the same 91 But by this impious meanes that worthy man Is brought vnto this lamentable end And now that current with maine fury ran The stop remou'd that did the course defend Vnto the full of mischiefe that began T' a vniuersall ruine to extend That Isthmus failing which the land did keepe From the intire possession of the deepe 92 And now the king alone all open lay No vnderprop of bloud to stay him by None but himselfe standes weakely in the way Twixt Yorke and the affected sou'raignty Gone is that barre that would haue beene the stay T' haue kept him backe from mounting vp so hie But ô in what a state stand these men in That cannot liue without nor with their kin 93 The Queene hath yet by this her full desire And now she with her minion Suffolke raignes Now shee hath all authority intire And all affaires
vnto her selfe retaines And only Suffolke is aduanced hyre He is the man rewarded for his paines He that did her insteed most chiefly stand And more aduanc'd her then he did the land 94 Which when they saw who better did expect Then they beganne their error to descry And well perceiue that only the defect Was in their iudgements passion-drawne awry Found formall rigour fitter to direct Then pride and insolent inconstancie Better seuerity that 's right and iust Then impotent affections led with lust 95 And there upon in sorrow thus complaine O what great inconuenience do they feele Where as such imbecility doth raigne As so neglectes the care of common weale Where euer one or other doth obtaine So high a grace thus absolute to deale The whilst th'aggreieued subiect suffers still The pride of some predominating will 96 And euer one remou'd a worse succeedes So that the best that we can hope is warre Tumults and stirres that this disliking breedes The sword must mend what insolence doth marre For what rebellions and what bloudy deedes Haue euer followed where such courses are What oft remoues what death of counsailers What murder what exile of officers 97 Witnes the Spencers Gaueston and Vere The mighty minions of our feeblest kings Who euer subiects to their subiects were And only the procurers of these things When worthy Monarches that hold honor deare Maister themselues and theirs which euer brings That vniuersall reuerence and respect For who waighes him that doth himselfe neglect 98 And yet our case is like to be farre worse Hauing a king though not so bent to ill Yet so neglecting good that giuing force By giuing leaue doth all good order kill Suffring a violent woman take her course To manage all according to her will Which how she doth begin her deeds expresse And what will be the end our selues may gesse 99 Thus well they deem'd what after followed When now the shamefull losse of Fraunce much Which vnto Suffolke is attributed As who in all mens sight most hatefull liues grieues He with the enemy consedered Betraies the state and secret knowledge giues Of all our strength that all which we did hold By his corruption is or lost or sold. 100 And as he deales abroad so likewise here He robs at home the treasurie no lesse Here where he all authorities doth beare And makes a Monopoly of offices He is inricht h 'is raisd and placed neere And only he giues counsaile to oppresse Thus men obiect whilst many vp in armes Offer to be reuenged of these harmes 101 The Queene perceiuing in what case shee stood To loose her minion or ingage her state After with long contention in her bloud Loue and ambition did the cause debate Shee yeeldes to pride and rather thought it good To sacrifice her loue vnto their hate Then to aduenture else the losse of all Which by maintaining him was like to fall 102 Yet seeking at the first to temporize She tries if that some short imprisonment would calme their heat when that would not suffize Then to exile him shee must needes consent Hoping that time would salue it in such wise As yet at length they might become content And shee againe might haue him home at last When the first fury of this rage was past 103 But as he to his iudged exile went Hard on the shore he comes incountered By some that so far off his honor sent As put his backe-returne quite out of dread For there he had his rightfull punishment Though wrongly done and there he lost his head Part of his bloud hath Neptune part the sand As who had mischiefe wrought by sea and land 104 Whos 's death when swift-wingd fame at full conuaid Vnto the trauaild Queen misdoubting nought Despight and sorrow such affliction laid Vpon her soule as wondrous passions wrought O God saith she and art thou thus betraid And haue my fauours thy destruction brought Is this their gaine whom highnes fauoureth Who chiefe preferd stand as preferd to death 105 O fatall grace without which men complaine And with it perish what preuailes that we Thus beare the title of a soueraigne And suffred not to be that which we be O must our subiects limit and constraine Our sauors where as they themselues decree Must we our loue at their appointment place Do we commaund and they direct our grace 106 O will they then our powre and will deuide And haue we might but must not vse our might Poore maiestie that other men must guide Whose discontent can neuer looke aright For euermore we see those that abide Gracious in ours are odious in their sight Who would all-maistring maiesty defeat Of her best grace that is to make men great 107 Decre Suffolke ô I saw thy wofull cheere When thou perceiu'dst no helpe but to depart I saw that looke wherein did plaine appeare The lamentable message of thy heart That seemd to say O Queene and canst thou beare My ruine so the cause whereof thou art Canst thou indure to see them worke their will And not defend me from the hand of ill 108 Haue I for thee aduentured so much Made ship wracke of my honor faith and fame And doth my seruice giue no deeper touch To thy hard heart better to feele the same Or dost thou feare or is thy weakenes such As not of force to keepe me from this shame Or else now hauing seru'd thy turne of me Art well-content my ouerthrow to see 109 As if my sight did read vnto thy minde The lecture of that shame thou wouldst forget And therefore peraduenture glad to finde So fit occasion dost it forward set Or else thy selfe from dangerous toile t'vnwinde Downe on my necke dost all the burthen let Since kings must haue some hated worse then they On whom they may the waight of enuy lay 114 No Suffolke none of this my soule is cleere Without the thought of such impiety Yet must I needes confesse that too much feare Made me defend thee lesse couragiously Seeing more Princes euer ruind were By their immoderate fauoring priuately Then by seueritie in generall For best h 'is lik't that is alike to all 111 Thus in her passion lo shee vttered When as far greater tumults now burst out Which close and cunningly were practised By such as sought great hopes to bring about For vp in armes in Kent were gathered A mighty insolent rebellious rout Vnder a daungerous head who to deter The state the more himselfe nam'd Mortimer 112 The Duke of Yorke that did not idle stand But seekes to worke on all aduantages Had likewise in this course a secret hand And hartned on their chiefe accomplices To try how that the people of the land Would if occasion seru'd b' in readines To aide that line if one should come indeed To moue his right and in due course proceed 113 Knowing himselfe to be the onely one That must attempt the thing if any should And therefore lets the
heat So they dissolu'd with hope and home they get 11 Leauing their Captaine to discharge alone The shott of blood consumed in theyr heat Too small a sacrifice for mischiefes done Was one mans breath which thousands dyd defeat Vnrighteous Death why art thou but all one Vnto the small offender and the great Why art thou not more then thou art to those That thousands spoyle and thousands liues doe lose 12 Thys fury passing with so quick an end Disclosd not those that on th' aduantage lay Who seeing the course to such disorder tend With-drew theyr foote asham'd to take that way Or els preuented whilst they dyd attend Some mightier force or for occasion stay But what they meant ill fortune must not tell Mischiefe be'ing oft made good by speeding well 13 Put by from thys the Duke of Yorke dissignes Another course to bring his hopes about And with those frends affinity combines In surest bonds his thoughts he poureth out And closely feeles and closely vndermines The fayth of whom he had both hope and doubt Meaning in more apparant open course To try his right his fortune and his force 14 Loue and aliance had most firmly ioynd Vnto his part that mighty family The fayre discended stock of Neuiles kind Great by theyr many issued progeny But greater by theyr worth that cleerely shind And gaue faire light to theyr nobilitie A mightie partie for a mighty cause By theyr vnited amitie hee drawes 15 For as the spreading members of proud Po That thousand-branched Po whose limmes embrace Thy fertile and delicious body so Sweet Lombardie and beautifies thy face Such seemd this powreful stock frō whence did grow So many great discents spreading theyr race That euery corner of the Land became Enricht with some great Heroes of that name 16 But greatest in renowne doth VVarwick sit That great King-maker VVarwick so far growne In grace with Fortune that he gouerns it And Monarchs makes and made againe puts downe What reuolutions his first mouing wit Heere brought about are more then too well known That fatall kindle-fire of those hote dayes Whose worth I may whose worke I cannot prayse 17 With him with Richard Earle of Salisbury Courtny and Brooke his most assured frends Hee intimates his minde and openly The present bad proceedings discommends Laments the state the peoples misery And that which such a pittyer seldom mends Oppression that sharpe two edged sword That others wounds and wounds likewise his Lord. 18 My Lord sayth he how things are carryed heere In thys corrupted state you plainly see What burden our abused shoulders beare Charg'd with the weight of imbecillitie And in what base account all we appeare That stand without their grace that all must be And who they be and how their course succeeds Our shame reports and time bewrayes theyr deeds 19 Aniou and Maine O maine that foule appeares Eternall scarre of our dismembred Land And Guien's lost that did three hundred yeeres Remaine subiected vnder our commaund From whence me thinks there sounds vnto our eares The voyce of those deere ghosts whose liuing hand Got it with sweat and kept it with theyr blood To doe vs thankles vs theyr of-spring good 20 And seeme to cry O how can you behold Their hatefull feet vpon our graues should tread Your Fathers graues who gloriously dyd hold That which your shame hath left recouered Redeeme our Tombes O spirits too too cold Pull backe these Towres our Armes haue honored These Towres are yours these Forts we built for you These walls doe beare our names and are your due 21 Thus well they may obrayd our rechlesnes Whilst we as if at league with infamie Ryot away for nought whole Prouinces Giue vp as nothing worth all Normandy Traffique strong holds sell Fortresses So long that nought is left but misery Poore Callice and these water-walls about That basely pownds vs in from breaking out 22 And which is worse I feare we shall in th' end Throwne from the glory of inuading war Be forst our propper limmits to defend Where euer men are not the same they are Where hope of conquest doth theyr spyrits extend Beyond the vsuall powres of valor far For more is he that ventureth for more Then who fights but for what he had before 22 Put to your hands therefore to reskew nowe Th'indangered state dere Lords from thys disgrace And let vs in our honor labour how To brings thys scorned Land in better case No doubt but God our action will allow That knowes my right and how they rule the place Whose weakenes calls vp our vnwillingnesse As opening euen the doore to our redresse 24 Though I protest it is not for a Crowne My soule is moou'd yet if it be my right I haue no reason to refuse myne owne But onely these indignities to right And what if God whose iudgements are vnknowne Hath me ordaynd the man that by my might My Country shall be blest if so it be By helping me you rayse your selues with me 25 In those whom zeale and amitie had bred A fore-impression of the right he had These styrring words so much encouraged That with desire of innouation mad They seem'd to runne before not to be led And to his fire doe quicker fuell ad For where such humors are prepard before The opening them makes them abound the more 26 Then counsell take they fitting theyr desire For nought that fits not theyr desire is wayghd The Duke is straight aduised to retyre Into the bounds of Wales to leauy ayde Which vnder smooth pretence he doth require T' amoue such persons as the state betrayd And to redresse th' oppression of the land The charme which weakenes seldom doth withstand 27 Ten thousand straight caught with this bait of breth Are towards greater lookt-for forces led Whose power the King by all meanes trauaileth In theyr arising to haue ruined But theyr preuenting head so compasseth That all ambushments warilie are fled Refusing ought to hazard by the way Keeping his greatnes for a greater day 28 And to the Citty straight directs his course The Citty seate of Kings and Kings cheefe grace Where finding of his entertainment worse By far then he expected in that place Much disappoynted drawes from thence his force And towards better trust marches a pace And downe in Kent fatall for discontents Nere to thy banks fayre Thames doth pitch his Tents 29 And there intrencht plants his Artillery Artillery th' infernall instrument New brought from hell to scourge mortality With hideous roring and astonishment Engin of horror fram'd to terrific And teare the earth and strongest Towers to rent Torment of Thunder made to mock the skyes As more of power in our calamities 30 O if the fire subtile Promethius brought Stolne out of heauen did so afflict mankind That euer since plagu'd wyth a curious thought Of styrring search could neuer quiet find What hath he done who now by stealth hath got Lightning and Thunder both in wondrous kind
Lord being bent thereto I was by loue by feare by weakenes made An instrument to such disseignes as these For when the Lord of all the Orient bade Who but obey'd who was not glad to please And how could I withdraw my succouring hand From him that had my heart and what was mine The intrest of my faith in streightest band My loue to his most firmly did combine Caes. Loue alas no it was th' innated hatred That thou and thine hast euer born our people That made thee seeke all means to haue vs scattred To disunite our strenght and make vs feeble And therefore did that brest nurse our dissentiō With hope t' exalt thy selfe t' augment thy state To pray vppon the wracke of our contention And with the rest our foes to ioy thereat Cleo. O Caesar see how easie t is t' accuse Whom Fortune hath made faultie by their fall The wretched conquered may not refuse The titles of reproch he 's charg'd withall The conquering cause hath right wherein thou art The vanquisht still is iud'g the worser part Which part is mine because Ilost my part No lesser then the portion of a Crowne Enough for me alas what needed arte To gaine by others but to keepe mine owne But here let weaker powers note what it is To neighbour great Competitors too neere If we take part we oft do perish thus If neutrall bide both parties we must feare Alas what shall the forst partakers doe When folowing none yet must they perish to But Caesar sith thy right and cause is such Be not a heauie weight vpon calamitie Depresse not the afflicted ouer-much The chiefest glorie is the Victors lenitie Th'in heritance of mercie from him take Of whom thou hast thy fortune and thy name Great Caesar me a Queene at first did make And let not Caesar now confound the same Read here these lines which still I keep with me The witnes of his loue and fauours euer And God forbid this should be said of thee That Caesar wrong'd the fauoured of Caesar. For looke what I haue beene to Antonie Think thou the same I might haue been to thee And here I do present thee with the note Of all the treasure all the iewels rare That Egypt hath in many ages got And looke what Cleopatra hath is there Seleus Nay there 's not all set downe within that roule I know some things she hath reseru'd apart Cleo. What vile vngrateful wretch dar'st thou cōtroule Thy Queen soueraigne caitife as thou art hands Caes. Hold holde a poore reuenge can worke so feeble Cleo. Ah Caesar what a great indignitie Is this that here my vassall subiect stands T' accuse me to my Lord of trecherie If I reseru'd some certaine womens toyes Alas it was not for my selfe God knowes Poore miserable soule that little ioyes In trifling ornaments in outward showes But what I kept I kept to make my way Vnto thy Liuia and Octauias grace That thereby in compassion mooued they Might mediate thy fauour in my case Caes. Well Cleopatra feare not thou shalt finde What fauour thou desir'st or canst expect For Caesar neuer yet was found but kinde To such as yeeld and can themselues subiect And therefore giue thou comfort to thy minde Relieue thy soule thus ouer charg'd with care How well I will intreate thee thou shalt find So soone as some affaires dispatched are Til whē farewel Cl. Thanks thrise-renowned Caesar Poore Cleopatra rests thine owne for euer Dol. No maruel Caesar though our greatest spirits Haue to the powre of such a charming beautie Been brought to yeeld the honor of their merits Forgetting all respect of other dutie Then whilst the glory of her youth remain'd The wondring obiect to each wanton eye Before her full of sweet with sorrow wain'd Came to the period of this miserie If still euen in the midst of death and horror Such beautie shines thorow clouds of age sorow If euen those sweet decaies seeme to plead for her Which from affliction mouing graces borrow If in calamitie she could thus moue What could she do adorn'd with youth and loue What could she do then when as spreading wide The pompe of beautie in her glorie dight When arm'd with wonder she could vse beside Th'ingines of her loue Hope and Delight Beautie daughter of Maruaile ô see how Thou canst disgracing sorrowes sweetly grace What power thou shew'st in a distressed brow That mak'st affliction faire giu'st tears their grace What can vntressed locks can torne rent haire A weeping eye a wailing face be faire I see then artlesse feature can content And that true beautie needes no ornament Caes. What in a passion Dolabella what take heed Let others fresh examples be thy warning What mischiefes these so idle humors breed Whilst error keepes vs from a true discrening In deed I saw she labour'd to impart Her sweetest graces in her saddest cheere Presuming on the face that know the arre To moue with what aspect so eu'r it were But all in vaine she takes her ayme amisse The ground and marke her leuel much deceiues Time now hath altred all for neither is She as she was nor we as she conceiues And therfore now t were best she left such badnes Folly in youth is sinne in age t is madnes And for my part I seeke but t' entertaine In her some feeding hope to draw her forth The greatest Trophey that my trauailes gaine Is to bring home a prizall of such worth And now sith that she seemes so well content To be dispos'd by vs without more stay She with her children shall to Rome be sent Whilst I by Syria thither take my way CHORVS O Fearefull frowning Nemesrs Daughter of Iustice most seuere That art the worlds great arbitresse And Queene of causes raigning heere Whose swift-sure hand is euer neere Eternall iustice righting wrong Who neuer yet deserest long The proudes decay the weakes redresse But through thy power euery where Dost raze the great and raise the lesse The lesse made great dost ruine to To shew the earth what heauen can do Thou from darke-clos'd eternitie From thy black clowdy hidden seate The worlds disorders dost descry Which when they swel so proudly great Reuersing th' order nature set Thou giu'st thy all consounding doome Which none can know before it come Th' ineuitable destinie Which neither wit nor strength can let Fast chain'd vnto necessitie In mortall things doth order so Th' alternate course of weale or wo. O how the powres of heauen do play With trauailed mortalitis And doth their weakness still betray In their best prosperitie When being lifted up so hie They looke beyond themselues so farre That to themselues they take no care Whilst swift confusion downe doth lay Their late proude mounting vanitie Bringing their glorie to decay And with the ruine of their fall Extinguish people state and all But is it iustice that all we The innocent poore multitude For great mens faults should punisht be And to