next her person and those that were her own he bribes to back him The Court thus fashion'd he levels at the Country whence he must gain his strength if need enforc'd it Here he must have an estate and some sure refuge this he contrives by begging the Custody of divers of the principal Honours and Strength of the Kingdom But these were no inheritance which might perpetuate his Memory or continue his Succession He makes a Salve for this Sore and to be able to be a fit Purchaser of Lands by the benefit of the Prerogative he falls a selling of Titles in which it was believ'd he thriv'd well though he sold many more Lordships than he bought Mannors by this means yet he got many pretty retiring places for a younger Brother within the most fertil Counties of the Kingdom This for the Private now to the Publick he makes sure the principal Heads of Justice that by them his credit might pleasure an old Friend or make a new at his pleasure If in this number any one held him at too smart a distance prizing his integrity and honour before so base a traffique he was an ill Member of State and either silenc'd or sent to an Irish or Welsh Employment It is enough to be believ'd faulty where a disputation is not admitted The Hare knows her ears be not horns yet dares not venture a Tryal where things must not be sentenc'd as they are but as they are taken The Commanders that sway most in Popular Faction as far as he durst or might without combustion he causeth to be conferr'd oâ— his Friends and Kindred and above all things he settles a sure Correspondence of Intelligence in all the quarters of the Kingdome as a necessary leading president he fills the peoples ears with rumour of forreign danger to busie their brains from discoursing Domestick Errours and sends out a rabble of spying Mercuries who are instructed to talk liberally to taste other mens inclinanations and feel the pulses of those that had most cause to be discontented For the antient Nobility which was a more difficult work to reduce to conformity laying aside the punctilio's of his greatness he strives to gain them as he won his Master but when he found them shy and nice to make his party he slights them more and more to shew his Power and make them seek to entertain his favour And to eclipse their Power by birth and number he findes the means to make a new Creation which gave the Rabble-Gentry upstart Honours as Children do give Nuts away by handfuls yet still he hath some feeling of the business Lastly he wins the King to call his Father to the Court who with the shoal of all his Kin are soon exalted while he makes all things lawful that correspond his Will or Masters Humour He thus assuming the administration of the Royal affairs his Master giving way to all his actions the incensed Lords grown out of patience appoint the rendevouz of a secret Meeting at Sharborough where they might descant their griefs with more freedom yet with such a cautelous Secrecy that this Harpy with his Lyncean eyes could not perceive their anger Assoon as they were met Thomas of Lancaster the most eminent of this Confederacy in a grave discourse lays before them the Iniquity of the time the Insolency of this new Ganymede and the Kings intemperate wretchlesness which made the Kingdom a prey to all manner of Injustice Hereford adviseth that they should all together petition the King that he would be pleased to look into the Disorders and grant a Reformation Mowbray Mortimer and the rest soar a higher pitch which Clifford thus expresseth My Lords It is not now as when brave Lincoln lived whom Edward fear'd and all the Kingdom honoured Nor is this new Lord a Gaveston or naked Stranger that only talkt and durst not act his Passions We now must have to do with one of our own Country which knows our ways and how to intercept them See you not how he weaves his webs in Court and Country leaving no means untryed may fence his greatness And can you think a verbal Blast will shake him or a set Speech will sink his daring Spirit No he is no fantastick Frenchman but knows as well as we where we can hurt him his Pride is such he 'll ne're go less a farding but he must fall a key or we must ruine Women and Children make their tongues their Weapons true Valour needs no words our wrongs no wrangling Say this unconstant King hear our Petition admit he promise to redress our Grievance this sends us home secure and well-contented until the Plot be ripe for our destruction If you will needs discourse your cause of Grievance be yet provided to make good your errour a wise man gets his guard then treats Conditions which works a Peace with ease and more assurance All Treaties vain our Swords must be our warrant which we may draw by such a just compulsion those ready then attempt your pleasure and see if words can work a Reformation I am no tongue-man nor can move with language but if we come to act I 'll not be idle Then let us fall to Arms without disputing We 'll make this Minion stoop or dye with honour This rough Speech uttered with a Souldier-like liberty by one so truly noble and valiant inflam'd the hearts of such as heard them They concur all in a general approbation and thereupon they fall to present Levies Mortimer a brave young active Spirit with his Retinue gains the maiden-head of this great Action He enters furiously upon the possession of the Spencers spoiling and wasting like a profest enemy This outrage flies swiftly to the owners and appears before them like Scoggins crow multipli'd in carriage They assoon make the King the sharer of their intelligence and increase it to their best advantage Edward sensible of so audacious an affront thought it did yet rather proceed from private spleen than publick practice which made him in the tenderness of the one and malice to the other by Proclamation thus make known his pleasure That the Actors of this misdemeanour should immediately appear personally and shew cause whereby they might justifie their Actions or forthwith to depart the Kingdom and not to return without his special License When the tenour of this Sentence was divulged and come to the knowledge of the Confederate Lords they saw their interest was too deeply at stake to be long shadow'd In the obedience of such a doom the primitiae of their Plot must receive a desperate blemish They therefore resolve as they had begun so to make good and maintain the quarrel they reinforce their Forces and draw them into a body strong enough to boulster out their doings and to bid a base to the irresolute wanton King and his inglorious Favourite whose Platforms were not yet so compleat as that they durst adventure the Tryal of
own Contentment One rough Majestick glaunce will charm their anger Admit great Edward did command Obedience he then was King your Sovereign and your Father he now is dead and you enjoy his Power will you yet still obey and serve his shadow His Vigour dull'd with Age could not give Laws to suit your Youth and Spirit nor is it proper that the Regal Power be made a stranger to his own Contentment or be debarr'd from inward Peace and Quiet Did you but truely know what 't is to be a Monarch you 'ld be so to your self as well as others What do you fear or what is it restrains you A seeming Danger more in shew than substance Wise men that finde their aims confin'd to hazard secure the worst before they give them action You have a Kingdoms Power to back a Will to guide it Can private fear suggest to shake it Alas they cannot if your self were constant Who dares oppose if you command Obedience I deny not if you be faint or stagger you may be crost and curb'd by that advantage that gives their moving-heart shew of Justice You understand your self and feel your Passions if they be such as will not brook denial why do you dally or delay to right them The more you paise your doubts the more they double and make things worse than they or are or can be appearing like your self these clouds will vanish and then you 'll see and know your proper errour Will you vouchsafe my trust I 'll fetch him hither whose absence gives you such a sad distraction You may the while secure his entertainment with such a strength may warrant your proceedings 'T were madness to ask leave to act Transgressions where Pardon may be had when they are acted If you do seek consent from your great Barons they 'll dare deny which is nor fault nor Treason and in that act you foil your hopes and action which gives their opposition shew of Justice But 't is in vain to plead the grounds of Reason since 't is your Will must give the resolution If that be fixt there needs no more disputing but such as best may bring it to perfection When this smooth Physician had prescribed so fit a Balsamum for so foul a Wound the King seems infinitely pleased in his relation he had hit his desires in the Master-vein and struck his former Jealousie between wind and water so that it sunk in the instant his love-sick Heart became more free and frolick which sudden mutation begat as great a wonder The Operations of the Fancy transport sometimes our Imagination to believe an actual possession of those things we most desire and hope for which gives such a life to the dejected Spirits of the Body that in the instant they seem cloathed in a new Habit. Such was the condition of this wanton King that in this bare overture conceits the fruition of his beloved Damon and apprehends this Golden Dream to be an essential part of his fantastique Happiness He heaps a world of promises and thanks on the Relator letting him know he waits but a fitting opportunity to give this project life and action It is a politique part of Court-wisdome to insinuate and lay hold of all the befitting opportunities that may claw the Prince's humour that is naturally vain-glorious or vicious there is not a more ready and certain way of advancement if it do shake hands with Modesty and appear with an undaunted impudent boldness He that will be a Courtier and contains himself within the modest temperance of pure Honesty and not intrude himself before he be called may like a Sea-mark serve to teach other men to steer their Course while he himself sticks fast unmoved unpitied All the Abilities of Nature Art Education are useless if they be tyed to the links of Honesty which hath little or no society in the Rules of State or Pleasure which as they are unlimited walk in the by-way from all that is good or vertuous If this Butterfly had truly laid before his unhappy Master what it had been to break the Injunctions of a dying Father to falsifie such Vows and Oaths so solemnly sworn and to irritate the greatest Peers of the Kingdom with so unworthy an action which had been the Duty of a Servant of his Masters Honour truely careful he had felt the Reward of such plain dealing either with Scorn Contempt or Passion whose flattering falsehood wins him special Grace and Favour and gains the title of an able Agent Some few days pass which seem'd o're long before the King exacts a second tryal In the interim to take away all jealousie he enters into the business of the Kingdom and with a seeming serious care surveys each passage and not so much as sighs or names his Gavaston doubting if in his way he were discovered there might be some cross-work might blast his project He knew how easie 't was if once suspected to take away the Cause might breed a difference What could so poor a stranger do that might protect him against or publick Force or private Mischief either of which he knew would be attempted before the Lords would suffer his reprisal When all was whisht and quiet and all mens eyes were fixed upon the present he calls his trusty Roger to his private presence and after some Instructions throws him his Purse and bids him haste he knew his Errand The wily Servant knows his Masters meaning and leaves the Court pretending just occasion proud of imployment posting on his Journey The King having thus far gone must now go onward he knew that long it could not be concealed such actions cannot rest in sleepy silence which made him think it fit to be the first Reporter This makes him send and call his Council who soon are ready and attend his Summons where he makes known the fury of his Passions and tells the way that he had taken to ease them So strange an act begets as great a wonder they unà voce labour to divert him and humbly plead his Fathers last Injunction to which their Faiths were tyed by deep Engagement They urge the Law that could not be dispens'd with without a publick breach of his prescription They speak the Vows and Oaths they all had taken which in consenting would make them false and perjur'd This working nothing they entreat him he would a while adjourn his resolution time might happily finde out a way might give him content and yet might save their Honours His jealous fear suspects this modest answer a temporizing must increase his sorrow while they so warned might work a sure prevention Being thus at plunge he strives to make it sure and win his Will or loose his Jurisdiction Though he were naturally of a suspicious and timerous Nature yet seeing now the interest of his Power at stake on the success of this Overture he lays aside his effeminate disposition and with angry Brow and stern Majesty doth thus discourse
door give not his inconstant thoughts time to vary but command their Antagonist off to a third Banishment He deprived of heart and strength is enforced to obey having not so much liberty as to take a solemn Farewel Now is he sent for Flanders the Jurisdiction of the Kings Dominions are esteem'd no fit Sanctuary to protect so loose a Liver They leave him to prey and practice on the Dutch whose Caps steel'd with Liquour had reeling Craft enough to make him quiet This passage bred a supposition that he was now for ever lost the King made shew as he were well contented and men were glad to see this storm appeased that seem'd to threaten an intestine ruine This Happiness was but imaginary but it is made perfect by one more real Windsor presents the King an Heir apparent which happy News flies swiftly through the Kingdom which gives it welcome with a brave expression The Royal Father did not taste this Blessing with such a sense of Joy as it deserved Whether 't was his misgiving Spirit or the absence of his lost Jewel he sadly silent sighs out the relation such a deserving Joy could not win so much as a smile from his melancholy Brow grown old with trouble The appearance of his inward agitation was such that the greatest enemies of his Dotage were the most compassionate of his Sufferings Such a masculine Affection and rapture was in those times without president where Love went in the natural strain fully as firm yet far less violent If the circumstances of this passionate Humour so predominant in this unfortunate King be maturely considered we shall finde them as far short of possibility as reason which have made many believe that they had a supernatural operation and working enforc'd by Art or Witchcraft But let their beginning be what it will never was man more immoderately transported which took from him in this little time of his third absence the benefit of his Understanding and Spirits so fully that he seems rather distracted than inamour'd more properly without Reason than ability to command it In the circumference of his Brain he cannot finde a way to lead him out of this Labyrinth but that which depended more of Power than Wisdome Bridle his Affections he could not which were but bare embryons without possession alter them he cannot where his eye meets not with a subject powerful enough to engage him what then rests to settle this civil discord but restitution which he attempts in spight of opposition Gaveston comes back the King avows and bids them stir that durst He would protect him Princes that falsifie their Faiths more by proper inclination than a necessary impulsion grow not more hateful to forreign Nations than fearful and suspected to their own Subjects If they be tainted with a known Guilt and justifie it 't is a shrewd presumption of a sick State where the Head is so diseased A habit of doing ill and a daring Impudence to maintain it makes all things in a Politique Wisdome lawful This Position in the end cosens the professor and leaves him in the field open to shame and infamy And it stands with reason for if Vertue be the Road-way to Perfection the corruption of a false Heart must certainly be the path to an unpitied ruine The enraged Barons seeing great Cornwal return are sensible of their dishonour and think it too great a wrong to be dispens'd with yet they will have the fruit of their revenge through-ripe before they taste it He appears no Changeling but still pursues the strains of his presumption The actions of Injustice seldom lessen Progression is believ'd a moral Vertue He that hath a Will to do ill and doth it cannot look back but on the Crown of mischief This makes him not disguise his conceptions but shew them fully having withal this excellent Vertue that would be never reconciled where he once hated The Lords observing his behaviour think time ill lost in so weighty a business they draw their forces together before the King could have a time to prevent or his abuser to shun it The gathering together of so many threatning Clouds presag'd the Storm was a coming Gaveston labours to provide a shelter but 't was too late the time was lost that should assure the danger All that he could effect by his own strength or the Royal Authority he calls to his assistance but such was the general distaste of the Kingdom he could not gain a strength might seem a party The Court he knew would be a weak Protection against their Arms whose Tongues had twice expell'd him This made him leave it and with such Provision as so short a time could tender commit himself to Scarborough-Castle This Piece was strong and pretty well provided but prov'd too weak against so just a Quarrel His noble Enemies being inform'd where they should finde him follow the track and soon begirt this Fortress He seeks a Treaty they despise Conditions knowing he none would keep that all had broken All hope thus lost he falls into their power from whom he had no cause could hope for mercy The Butterflies companions of his Sun-shine that were his fortunes friends not his forsake his Winter and basely leave him in his greatest troubles The tide of Greatness gain'd him many Servants they were but hangers on and meer Retainers like Rats that left the house when it was falling The Spring adorn'd him with a world of Blossoms which dropt away when first they felt this Tempest Forsaken thus this Cedar is surpriz'd and brought to know the end of such ambition The Prey thus tane short work concludes his story left that a Countermand might come to stop their Verdict Gaverseed is made the fatal place that sacrific'd his life to quench their fury Thus fell the first glorious Minion of Edward the Second which appearing for a time like a Blazing-star fill'd the world with admiration and gave the English cause to blame his fortune that liv'd and died nor lov'd excus'd or pitied In the wanton Smiles of his lovely Mistriss he remembers not that she was blinde a â—iglet and a Changeling nor did he make himself in time a Refuge might be his Safeguard If she had prov'd unconstant constant such a Providence had made the End as fair as the Beginning But these same towering Summer-birds fear not the Winter till they feel it and then benumb'd they do confess their Errour Height of Promotion breeds Self-love Self-love Opinion which undervalues all that are beneath it Hence it proceeds that few men truely honest can hold firm Correspondence with so great a Minion his ends go not their ways but with Cross-capers which cares not how so these attain perfection Servants that are confin'd to truth and goodness may be in shew but not in trust their Agents He that will act what Pride and Lust imposeth is a fit Page to serve so loose a Master Hence it proceeds that still
Royal actions must make his Subjects his but at a second hand yet he is resolv'd of a new choice of such a Favourite as might supply and make good the room of his lost beloved Gaveston hence sprung that fatal fire which scorcht the Kingdom with intestine Ruine He was put to no great trouble to seek a forreign Climate he had variety of his own that might be easily made capable enough for such a loose employment He had a swarm of Sycophants that gap'd after greatness and cared not to pawn their Souls to gain promotion amongst these his eye fixt on Spencer a man till then believ'd a naked States-man he was young and had a pleasing aspect a personage though not super-excellent yet well enough to make a formal Minion The Ladder by which he made his ascent was principally thus he had been always conformable to the King's Will and never denied to serve his appetite in every his ways and occasions which was vertue enough to give him wealth and title Some others think this feat was wrought by Witchcraft and by the Spells of a grave Matron that was suspected to have a Journey-man Devil to be her Loadstone which is not altogether improbable if we behold the progression for never was Servant more insolently fortunate nor Master unreasonably indulgent Their passages are as much beyond belief as contrary to the Rules of Reason But leaving the discourse of the Cause the King applauds his own Workmanship and doats infinitely on the Non-age of this Imposture which seeing the advantage labours to advance it and though in his own nature he were proud harsh and tyrannous yet he cloaths himself in the habit of Humility as obsequious to his Master as smooth and winning to his Acquaintance knowing that a Rub might make the Bowl fall short while it was running Heat of Blood and height of Spirit consult more with Passion than Judgment where all sides are agreed quick ends the bargain Spencer must rise the King himself avows it and who was there durst cross their Sovereigns pleasure The resolution known like flocks of Wild-geese the spawn of Court-corruption fly to claw him The great ones that till now scarce knew his Off-spring think it an honour to become his Kinsmen The Officers of State to win his favour forget their Oaths and make his Will their Justice Lord how the Vermin creep to this warm Sun-shine and count each Beam of his a special Favour Such a thing is the Prologue of a beginning Greatness that it can Metamorphose all but those that hate it The King though he were pleased with this new structure yet his inward revolutions were not altogether free from agitation He beheld the Lords and Kingdom now quiet and the Scotch Tragedy worn out of memory he was not without cause doubtful whether this new Act might not cause a new Distraction He calls to minde the ground of his first troubles and found it had with this a near resemblance He looks upon the sullied State scarce cleansed and fear'd this leap might cause a new pollution These thoughts like misty vapours soon dissolved and seem'd too dull to feed his Love-sick fancy His hatred to the Barons bids him freely venture that in their moving he might so oppress them which on cool blood might seem too great Injustice Gaveston's Death lay in his heart impostum'd not to be cur'd but by a bloody issue From this false ground he draws his proper ruine making Phantasms seem as deeds were acted Such Castles in the Air are poor Conceptions that sell the Skin before the Beast be killed The Barons were no Children he well knew it the hope was little might be got with striving where all the Kingdom was so much distasted but he priz'd high his own contemning theirs which wrought their Death and after his Misfortune Being resolv'd to countenance his Will with more haste than advisement He honours the subject of his choice with the Lord Chamberlain's place professing freely he thought him worthy and would maintain him in it This foreright jump going so high made all men wonder and soon suspect him guilty of some secret vertue Scarce had this new great Lord possession of the White-staff but he forgets his former being and sings the right Night-crow's tune of upstart Greatness and follows his Predecessors pattern to the life but with a far more strength and cunning He was not born a stranger or an alien but had his Birth and breeding here where he is exalted and though he had not so much depth to know the Secrets yet understands the plain-Song of the State and her progressions which taught him his first Lesson That Infant-greatness falls where none support it From this principle his first work is employ'd to win and to preserve an able party To work this sure he makes a Monopoly of the Kings ear no man may gain it but by his permission establishing a sure intelligence within the Royal Chamber not trusting one but having sundry Agents who must successively attend all motions By this he wedgeth in his Sentinels at such a distance that none can move but he receives the Larum The first request he makes his Sovereign who ne're denied him was that he would not pass a Grant till he survey'd it for this he makes a zealous care the cover left by such Gift the Subject might be grieved the King abused This stratagem unmaskt gave perfect knowledge who ever leapt the Horse he held the Bridle which rein'd his foes up short while friends unhors'd them and raised as he pleased all such as brib'd or sought him To mix these serious strains with lighter objects he feeds the current of his Sovereign's Vices with store of full delights to keep him busied whilst he might act his part with more attention He quarrels those whom he suspects too honest or at the least not his more than their Masters and quickly puts them off that there may be entry for such as he prefers his proper creatures so that a short time makes the Court all of a piece at his Commandment Those whom he fear'd in State would cross his workings he seeks to win by favour or alliance if they both fail he tenders fairly to lift them higher by some new promotion so he may have them sure on all occasions and with these baits he catcht the hungry Planets Such as he findes too faithful for surprisal these he sequesters mounting his Kindred up to fill their places The Queen that had no great cause to like those Syrens that caus'd her grief and did seduce her Husband he yet presumes to court with strong professions vowing to serve her as a faithful Servant She seeing into the quality of the time where he was powerful and she in name a Wife in truth a Hand-maid doth not oppose but more increase his Greatness by letting all men know that she receiv'd him To win a nearer place in her opinion he gains his Kindred places
to make a full relation both of their Verdict and whole Proceedings The Lords being prepossest by their own knowledg of all the actions of this false Impostor after a Conference and grave discussion pronounce their Sentence That the Spencers Father and Son should both be forthwith sent to live in Exile This done a grave Declaration is made by both Houses and presented to the King expressing the Tenour of their doom and reasons moved them to it The King as weak in his distractions as wilful in advantage sees now there was no striving unless he would adventure his own hazard by such denial No time is now left for dispute he ratifies the Sentence and present execution swiftly follows Judgment Immediately are these two great Courtiers carryed with more attendants than they car'd for unto the Port of Dover and straightways shipt to seek some other Fortune The Son is no whit dejected but bears up bravely He knew his Master's Love and scorn'd their Malice Parting he takes a silent farewel full of rancour which vows revenge and hopes to live to act it The aged Father whose Guilt was less and sorrow greater deserv'd in Justice Pity and Compassion his snowie Winter melts in tears and shews his inward grievance bitterly he taxeth his Sons Pride and his own Vanity exclaiming against the rigour of his fortune that had in the last act of his age cast him so cruelly from his Inheritance and at the very brink of the grave estrang'd him from his Birth-right He confesseth the improvidence of his errour which being rais'd by by-ways sought to keep it Lastly he wisheth his behaviour had been such that in this change might give him help or pity but it is the inseparable companion of Greatness fraudulently gotten not by Desert or Vertue it prefers falshood and a kinde of shifting juggling before a winning truth or goodness which draws with it a firm assurance Of all others it is the most erroneous fond opinion which conceits Affections may be won and continued in a subordinate way They are the proper Operations of the Soul which move alone in their own course without a forc'd compulsion Other ways may serve as temporary provisions but he that by a just desert and credit of his own worth hath won the Love of good men hath laid himself a sure foundation This makes his Honour his own and the Succession permanent to his continuing praise and glory These imperious Servants thus removed the elder in obedience of his Doom makes a forreign Climate witness his Submission The younger of a more impatient and turbulent spirit makes the spacious Sea the centre of his dwelling He would not trust to any other Nation since his own Climate so unkindly left him The King yet scarcely weaned from his sorrow makes yet fair weather to the parting Barons He thanks them for their care and great discretion which he would still acknowledge and remember Thus Kings can play their parts and hide their Secrets making the Tongue the instrument of sweetness when that the Heart is full of bitter Gall and Wormwood They knew he juggled yet applaud his Goodness and give him back an Answer justly suiting their Tongues seem'd twins their Hearts had both one temper which at the length occasioned all their ruine And thus with the Enacting of some few ragged Laws He dissolves this Meeting Now is the lost Chamberlain furrowing up the watery sides of angry Neptune wafting about the skirts of his first dwelling falling short in the possibility of revenge of those he hated he vows to make the harmless Merchant feel it What by surprize and what by purchase he had made himself strong at Sea and well provided with which he scowres the Coast and robs all comers making a prize of all he rifled Sometimes he slips into the private Harbours and thence brings out the Ships were newly laden such work to those that trade by Sea breeds strange amazement A Piracy so strong and daring soon makes the terrour great the clamour greater the Councel-table's covered with Petitions the Royal ear is cloy'd with exclamations all still enforce that Trade must sink and founder unless the King the sooner did prevent it Edward well knew their griefs and did believe them but saw withal it was his Spencer caused them whom he too well affected to pursue with danger He thinks it reason to ease his grievance ere he right the Subject let them expect and bite upon the bridle that they may taste the errour of their Judgment Necessity in time would make them seek their quiet the means whereof he thinks not fit to motion yet still he thunders out his shew of anger and gives directions that shipping should be rigg'd and mann'd well-furnish'd to bang this Pyrate off from his oppression whom he would take or lose the Royal Navy yet under-hand he countermands these Precepts pretending present want for such provision as might make good at full this Expedition which should be done securely though delay'd While thus the rage grows out of this disorder all Plaints prove fruitless there was no provision The flock of Merchants all appear before him letting him know the state they stood in Their Stocks his Custome must impair and minish unless some present course repress this Pyrate The King gave Answer He laments and pitied their Loss his Wants and private Dangers which in the instant was of such a nature that he had cause to fear his proper safety The Malecontents that fish in troubled waters were plotting new Combustions to act their malice he understood their workings strong and cunning which he was forc'd to stop with haste or loose the Garland This was the cause he could not yet go onward to help their griefs which shortly he intended till which he wisht their grave Deliberations could fall upon some way might stop the current and take off Spencer from so curst proceeding which he believ'd he acted by enforcement rather than Will to wrong his fellow-Subjects The Citizens as naturally talkative as suspicious parting from the King forget their Losses and fall to a liberal discoursing upon the King's words what the Plot of this great Treason might be They were not without a kinde of jealous suspicion lest the City might share in the sufferance if it came to be acted A little time brought this news to be the common discourse of every Barbers shop and Conduit To make the suspition more authentical the King makes a strong Guard about his Person sending forth directions to his friends and all his well-affected subjects that they should enable themselves with the best strength they could and to be ready on occasion upon an hours warning To lull the watchful Lords asleep he addresses unto them his particular Letters full of humanity and gentleness desiring as he most reposed on their loves and fidelity so that they would if the necessity required be ready to assist him against a crew of disordered persons
must be their Warrant or else their Lives must pay a bitter Forfeit Their Forces were not yet fully ready yet they march on resolv'd to wait the Kings approach at Burton Time that runs swift to Mischief slow to Goodness at length conjoyns their Strength and several Levies which were not great and yet believ'd sufficient to give a Canvas to the Royal Army which as their Curriers told them was not mighty Soon are they brought to view each others Countenance where Friend against Friend and Son against the Father Brother against the Brother stood embattl'd such mischief follows still a Civil Discord The Kings Force far exceeds in strength and number which made the Terms of hazard far unequal The adverse part perceiving well the danger which they were in if they abide the Tryal condemn their own belief and Servants falshood who had so far fallen short in their discovery But now a second Deliberation is entertain'd which adviseth them to decline the Battle and to make a Retreat till they were re-enforced This Resolution taken from the present suspition was not more dishonourable than dangerous it gave confidence to their Enemies and dejected their own Party willing rather to try their hands than their heels where the peril seem'd indifferent But the Reasons given in excuse were grave and weighty The Earl of Lancaster had sent Sir Thomas Holland to raise his Northern Friends and Tenants who was marching up strongly and well provided so that if they could have adjourned the Battle off to his arrival it would have made the Terms more hopeful if not equal It is in the Rule of War esteem'd a weakness to affront an Enemy for a set Battle with too great disproportion in number but to recoyl without a marvelous discreet and orderly proceeding is no more than laying the disheartned Troops to a present slaughter the Experiment whereof was here apparent The Lords rise but ill and in disorder more like a Flight than a discreet Retiring Valence Earl of Pembrooke that did command in chief under the King sees this Confusion and straight lays hold of such a fair advantage He chargeth hotly on the Reer which straight was routed the Barons make a head but are forsaken which makes them flie to seek their proper safeguard With much ado they get to Pontefret whither the broken Troops at length repair for succour Holland intrusted performs the work he went for and marcht with speed hoping to give a Rescue but when he saw that their Affairs were desperate rate he thinks it his best play to change his Master and leads his Troops to get the Kings Protection As it deserv'd it gains a gracious welcome Thus all things tend to their Confusion one mischief seldom comes but many thunder The despairing Barons finding themselves hotly pursu'd repair to Council where many ways are mov'd and none embraced save that same fatal one which wrought their Ruine They leap like Fishes from the Pan that scorcht them into the raging Flames that soon consum'd them The Castle of Donstanborough was believed a strength tenable until their Friends do raise a second Army or they at worst might treat some fair Conditions they march to gain this hold but are prevented Sir Andrew Harcklaye meets them at Borough-briggs and guards the Passage Hereford and Clifford seek to force it and like inraged Lions here act Wonders twice had their angry Swords made the way open but fresh Supplies opprest them still with number till wearied not o'ercome they yield to Fortune and by a glorious Death preserve their Honour When these brave Arches fell the Building totter'd though Mowbray made a while a brave resistance till his Heroick Bloud not Valour fail'd him The surprizal of Lancaster and many other noble Knights and Barons perfects this Overthrow and ends these Civil Tumults The Prey thus seiz'd the Spencers long to taste it and like to furious Tygers act their Passions They give not their incensed Master time to deliberate on that Work which was so weighty which had the Lives of such great Peers in balance They whet on and exasperate the Kings Revenge that needs no instigation Soon is the Work resolv'd where deep Revenge hath master'd humane Judgment and Reason doth subscribe to private Malice Valence a stout and noble Gentleman hating such a barbarous Cruelty seeks to divert it and mildly thus intreats the Royal favour To win a Battle Sir it is glory to use it well a far more glorious Blessing In heat of Blood to kill may taste of Valour which yet on cooler terms may touch of Murder Laws were not made to catch offences but to judge them which are dispens'd with where the cause is weighty else none may live where many are delinquent Celestial Powers have blest you with a Conquest and do expect to see how you will use it For your own Goodness sake make known your Vertue be like to him that gave you this great Blessing and then your Mercy will exceed your Justice The savage beasts but kill to kill their hunger and will you act in blood to please your fancy The Heavens forbid the Royal Heart should harbour a thought that justly may be deemed cruel Your Sword victorious is imbrew'd with Honour let it not ravage where is no resistance to spill where you may save obscures your Glory to save where you may spill proclaims your Goodness I 'll not excuse their faults or plead their merits which both are lesser far than is your Mercy let not such branches so untimely wither which may in time be your defence and shelter Kings are but men that have their fates attend them which measure out to them what they to others Blood is a crying Sin that cries for vengeance which follows swiftly those that vainly shed it Black Apparitions fearful Dreams affright them whose guilty Souls are stain'd with deeds of darkness Oh let your purer thoughts be unpolluted that they may live to shew your Grace and Vertue and After-ages speak your worth in Glory The King had scarce the patience to hear out the Conclusion of a Theme so contrarious to his resolution and humour yet weighing the Integrity and well-deserving of the man that spake it to justifie himself and to give him satisfaction with an angry brow he makes this sudden Answer Valence but that I know you truely love me your words do touch too near your Soveraigns Honour Shall I seduced by a female pity compassion those that do attempt my ruine such actions may be goodness no discretion how many times have I declin'd my Power to win them home by mercy not by justice what hath my mildness won but flat Rebellion which had it took where then had been their virtue Say I should spare their Lives and give them freedom each slight occasion colours new eruption and I may then too late repent my kindness When my poor Gaveston was tane where was their mercy They made their Arms their
make the Citizens desperate of favour and so more resolute who else being mutable as Weather-cocks might alter on the least occasion Let the consideration be what it will the Fact was inhumane and barbarous that spilt without Desert or Justice the Blood of such a Reverend Prelate who yet had so much happiness as to leave to his Honour in the University of Oxford a remarkable Memorial of his Charity and Goodness But now to seek out the reward of this vertuous Service four of the principal and most eminent Burghers are selected to make known their proceedings and devotion who are graciously received entertain'd and highly thanked for their lawless bloody Fact which was stiled an excellent piece of Justice Though the deed had been countenanced in that it ran with the sway of the time and the Queens humour yet certainly no great cause of commendation appears which is so more properly due to the Hangman which performeth the grave Ceremonies of his Office by Warrant and the actual part on none but such as the Law hath made ready for his Fingers Now is the Queen settling her remove for Bristow where the Prey remain'd her Haggard-fancy long'd for She was unwilling to give them so much advantage though she believ'd it almost impossible as to hazard the raising of an Army or so to enable their Provisions and Defences that it might adjourn the hope of making her Victory perfect She saw she had a great and Royal Army well provided but how long it would hold so she knew not the principal strength and number consisting of the giddy Commons who like Land-stoods rise and fall in an instant they had never yet seen the face of an Enemy nor did rightly understand what it was to bear Arms against the King whom they must here behold a party These considerations hasten her on with more expedition All the way as she went she is entertain'd with joyful Acclamations Her Army still grows greater like a beginning Cloud that doth fore-run a Shower When she was come before this goodly City and saw his strength and the Maiden-Bravery of their opposition which gave her by a hot Salley led by the valiant Arundel a testimony of her Welcome she then thinks that in the Art of War there was somewhat more than meer Imagination and justly fear'd lest the Royal Misery would beget a swift Compassion which was more to be doubted of him in his own Kingdom since she herself had found it in a forreign Country But smiling Fortune now become her Servant scarce gives her time to think she might be hinder'd The Townsmen that knew no Wars but at their Musters seeing themselves begirt the Market hinder'd which was their chiefest and best Revenue begin among themselves to examine the business They saw no likelihood of any to relieve them and daily in danger of some sad surprizal They saw their Lives Wives Children and state at stake for the defence of those that had oppress'd them and wrong'd the Kingdome by their foul Injustice they measur'd the event of an unruly Conquest where many look for Booty all for Pillage This did so cramp their valiant hearts that the Convulsion seeks a present Treaty The Queen seeing a Pusillanimity beyond her hopes and a taint unlook'd for makes the use and hits them on the blind side and answers plainly She will have no Imparleance no discoursing if they desir'd their own Peace and her assured Favour they then must entertain and follow her Conditions which if they but delay'd the next day following they should abide their Chance she would her Fortune This doom as it sounds harshly was deem'd too heavy but no intreaty could prevail she would not alter They yet desire to know what she requir'd and that she grants and thus unfoldeth Your Lives and Goods quoth she shall rest untouched nor shall you taste your selves the least Affliction so you deliver up with speed your Captains and in the time prefixt resign the City A choice so short so sharp so peremptory being related in the staggering City breeds straight a supposition not without reason she had some certain practis'd Plot within them or else some way assured for to force the City They could have been content she had their Captains since it would set them free from fear and danger but to be Actors in so foul a Treason or sacrifice their Guests that came for succour this they conceit too false and poor a baseness No more Imparleance is allow'd or will be heard no second motion the breach in their faint hearts is so well known that nothing is allow'd but present Answer This smart proceeding melts their leaden Valour which at the first had made so brave a flourish and brings Arundel Winchester and the Town to her possession When man 's own proper portion is in question and all he hath at stake be it but doubtful his eye doth more reflect on his own danger than on the Laws of Justice Friendship Honour Charity 't is true begins at home but she 's a Vertue hath no society with Fraud or Falshood neither is the breach of Faith or touch of Treason allow'd within the verge of her rich Precepts I do confess Necessity may drive him to such a bitter choice that one must perish but this should be when things are so near hopeless that there be more than words to give it justice A wise and noble minde adviseth soundly upon the act before it is engaged but being so it rather sleeps with Honour than lives to be the map of his thus tainted Conscience The interest of Friends of Guests of poor oppressed though diversly they touch the Patrons credit yet all agree in this one point of Vertue Not to betray where they have vow'd assistance Had these faint Citizens not given assurance had they not vow'd to keep their Faith 's untainted the other had not trusted nor inclosed themselves within so weak and false a Safeguard But they were most to blame that would so venture their Lives within the power of such a Berry where they might know were none but suckling Rabbets that would suspect each Mouse to be a Ferret Had they but had a guard secur'd their persons they might have awed them or themselves have scaped Part of the prey thus gotten no time is lost to call them to a reckoning Sir Thomas Wage Marshal of the Army draws up a short Information of many large offences which are solemnly read to the attentive Army with a Comment of all the harsh aggravations might make them more odious The confused clamour of the Multitude serves for Judge Jury and Verdict which brings them to a sharp Sentence to be forthwith hang'd and their Bodies to remain upon the Gallows Revenge brooks no delay no leisure Malice Old Spencer feels instantly the rigour of this Judgment The Green before the Castle is made the place of Execution Nature that gave him Life had almost
they disfigure him by cutting off his Hair and shaving of his Beard Edward that had been formerly honourably used and tenderly served is bitterly grieved with this Indignity and one day among the rest when they came to shave him which was attempted without fire and a cold liquor his eyes pour forth a stream of Tears in sense of his Misfortune which to the inquisitive Actors gives this answer He would have some warm water in spight of all their malice Another time in the presence of two or three of those that were as well set to be Spies over him as to guard him in a deep Melancholy Passion he thus discours'd his Sorrow Is mine offence quoth he so great and grievous that it deserves nor pity nor assistance Is Christian Charity all Goodness lost and nothing left in Subject Child or Servant that tastes of Duty Is Wedlock-love forgotten so fully all at once forsake me Admit my errours fit for reformation I will not justifie my self or censure others Is 't not enough that it hath taken from me my Crown the Glory of my former being but it must leave me void of native comfort I yet remain a Father and a Husband a Soveraign and a Master lost cannot deprive me of that which is mine own till Death dissolve me Where then is filial Love Where that Affection that waits upon the Laws of God and Nature My wretched Cares have not so much transform'd a me that I am turn'd to Basilisk or Monster What can they fear that they refuse to see me unless they doubt mine eyes can dart destruction I have no other Weapons that may fright them and these God wot have only tears to drown them Can they believe or once suspect a danger in visit of a poor distressed Captive Their hardned hearts I know are not so noble or apt to take a gentler milde impression by seeing these poor ruines thus forsaken What then occasions this so great a strangeness or makes them jealous of so poor a venture Are they not yet content in the possession of all that once was mine now theirs But by what title their Arms can better tell than can their Conscience My misled harmless Children are not guilty my Wife betrays them and false Mortimer who else I know would run to see their Father Justly I pay the price of former folly that let him scape to work mine own confusion Had he had his desert the price of Treason he had not liv'd to work me this dishonour But time will come my wrongs will be revenged when he shall fall with his own weight unpitied Thou wretched state of Greatness painted Glory that falling find'st thine own the most perfidious must thou still live and yet not worthy of one poor look It is a meer Injustice Would they would take my Life 't is that they aim at I will esteem it as an act of pity that as I live but hate mine own Condition Here with a deep sigh of scalding Passions his tears break loose afresh to cool their fury All sadly silent while he rests perplexed a stander by makes this uncivil answer whom Mortimer had placed to increase his sorrow Most gracious Sir the Queen your Wife and Children are justly jealous of your cruel nature they know too well your heat and former fury to come too near so great and sure a danger besides they are assur'd that your intentions are bent to work them hurt or some foul mischief if they adventure to approach your presence The Queen my Wife quoth he hath she that Title while I that made her so am less than nothing Alas poor wretched woman can her invention apt for mischief fashion no one excuse but this so void of reason Is there a possibility in her Suspition Can I being so resolved act a Murder or can their false hearts dream me so ill-minded I am thou seest a poor forsaken Prisoner as far from such a Power as Will to act it they too well know it to suspect my nature But let them wonder on and scorn my sorrow I must endure and they will taste their errour But fellow thou that tak'st such sawcy boldness to character and speak thy Sovereigns errours which thou shouldst cover not presume to question Know Edward's heart is as free from thine aspersions as thou or they from Truth or Moral Goodness When he had ended these words he retires himself to his Chamber sad and melancholy thinking his Case was hard and desperate when such a paultry Groom durst so affront him The Queen and Mortimer revelling in the height of their Ambition had yet a wary eye to the main which they knew principally consisted in the sure keeping of their Prisoner They see their plausible income was but dully continued there being a whispering murmur not so closely mutter'd but that it came to their ears which shew'd an absolute dislike of the manner of their proceedings Though they had all the marks and essential parts of Sovereignty the name alone excepted yet they had unquiet and troubled thoughts What they wish'd they had obtain'd yet there was still something wanting to give it perfection Such is the vanity of our imagination which fashions out a period to our desires that being obtain'd are yet as loose and restless Ambition hath no end but still goes upward never content or fully satisfied If man had all that Earth could give and were sole Monarch of the world he yet would farther and as the Giants did make War with Heaven rather than lose those Symptomes of his Nature Fear to preserve what is unjustly gotten doth give the new-made great one agitation which something limits his immense affections that do believe he must still mount up higher and else would swallow all within his compass This made this pair stop here a while to strengthen and more assure what was already gotten They know the people giddy false inconstant a feather wagg'd would blow them to commotion They see the Lords that were their prime Supporters seeming content in heart not satisfied the bough was lopt that shadow'd ore their greatness another was sprung up as large and fearful which though more noble yet no less aspiring The drooping tongue of the dejected Kingdom doth grumble out his expectations cozen'd The Grievance still continues great and heavy not chang'd in substance but alone in habit a just compassion aggravates the clamour to see their former King so hardly used short of his Honour Merit Birth and Calling These passages related tingled the ears of our great Mortimer he knew that all was now at stake which unprevented must hurl them back again with worse conditions No longer can he mince his own Conceptions but plainly tells the Queen the cause must perish Edward must dye this is the only refuge must make all sure and cleanse this sad suspicion so long as he remain'd their fear continues as would the hope of them attempt their
seems was his Crafts-master that this place was to him both fatal and ominous 'T was ill in him to seek by such ill and unlawful means the knowledge of that which being known did but augment his sorrow Whatsoever the cause was his arrival here makes him deeply heavy sad and melancholy his Keepers to repel this humour and to take him off from all fear and suspicion feed him with new hopes and pleasant discourse improving his former entertainment both in his Diet and Attendance while his misgiving spirit suspects the issue Though he would fain have fashion'd his belief to give them credit yet he had such a dull cloud about his heart it could receive no comfort The fatal Night in which he suffer'd shipwrack he eats a hearty Supper but stays not to disgest it immediately he goes to Bed with sorrow heavy assoon he takes his Rest and sleeps securely not dreaming of his end so near approaching Midnight the Patron of this horrid Murder being newly come this Crew of perjur'd Traitors steal softly to his Chamber finding him in a sweet and quiet Sleep taking away his Life in that advantage The Historians of these Times differ both in the time place and manner of his Death yet all agree that he was foully and inhumanly murther'd yet so that there was no visible or apparent signe which way 't was acted A small tract of time discovers the Actors and shews evidently that it was done by an extremity of Violence they long escape not though Mortimer's greatness for the present time keep them both from question and puishment yet by the Divine Justice they all meet with a miserable and unpitied Death and the Master-work-man himself in a few years after suffered an ignominious Execution The Queen who was guilty but in circumstance and but an accessory to the Intention not the Fact tasted with a bitter time of Repentance what it was but to be quoted in the Margent of such a Story the several relations so variously exprest of their Confessions that were the Actors and Consenters to this deed differ so mainly that it may be better past over in silence than so much as touch'd especially since if it were in that cruel manner as is by the major part agreed on it was one of the most inhumane and barbarous acts that ever fell within the expression of all our English Stories fitter rather to be pass'd over in silence than to be discours'd since it both dishonoureth our Nation and is in the Example so dangerous It seems Mortimer was yet a Novice to Spencer's Art of that same Italian trick of Poysoning which questionless had wrought this work as surely with a less noise and fewer agents It had been happy if such a Villany had never gain'd knowledge or imitation in the World since it came to be entertain'd as a necessary servant of State no man that runs in opposition or stands in the way of Greatness is almost secure in his own house or among his Friends or Servants I would to God we had not fresh in our Memory so many bleeding Examples or that this Diabolical Practice might stop his career with the Mischief it hath already done But so long as the close conveyance is deemed a Politick Vertue and the Instruments by Power and Favour are protected what can be expected but that in short time it must fall under the compass of a Trade or Mystery as fit for private Murtherers as Statesmen But leaving the professors of this execrable practice to their deserts and that guilt which still torments them Thus fell that unfortunate King Edward the Second who by the course of Age and Nature might have out-run many years had not his own Disorder the Infidelity of his Subjects and the Treachery of those that had deprived him of his Kingdome sent him to an untimely Death and Ruine Many Reasons are given probable enough to instance the necessity of his Fall which questionless may be the secondary means but his Doom was register'd by the inscrutable Providence of Heaven which with the self-same Sentence punish'd both him and Richard the Second his great Grandchild who was coequally guilty of the same Errours that both betrayed them and the Peace of their Kingdome Henry the Sixth though he tasted of the same Cup of Deposition yet there was more reason to induce it Henry the Fourth his Grandfather was an Usurper and had unjustly got the Crown by pulling down the House of York and exalting that of Lancaster which in Justice brings it back again to the right Inheritour yet were not those times innocent of those enormities which occasion'd their confusion It is most true that Henry himself was a sweet harmless condition'd Man religious and full of Moral Goodness but he was fitter for a Cloister than a Crown being transported with a Divine Rapture of Contemplation that took him off from the care of all Worldly Affairs while Margaret his Wife Daughter of Reynard that stil'd himself King of Naples and Jerusalem acted her part with a like imitation though she had not a Gaveston a Spencer or a Duke of Ireland yet she had a Suffolk and a Somerset that could teach the same way to the Destruction and Deposition of her Husband These three sympathized in their Royal Inheritance in their Depositions Deaths and Fortunes and these alone since the Conquest of the Normans unless we rank into the number Edward the Fifth which must be with an impropriety since he was by Richard his Tyrannical Uncle murdered before he was Crowned If we example him with them we may it is true conclude his case most miserable that lost the Crown before he enjoy'd it or had the perfection of years to make known his Inclination The event that followed the others especially the two precedent may be fitly a Caution and Admonition to Posterity and teach them what it is to hazard a Kingdome and their own Lives by the continuing of a wilful Errour Certainly we have had other Kings fully as vicious that have out-liv'd their Vices not dying by a violent hand but by the ordinary and easie course of Nature they were more cautelous and flexible and were content in the more moderate use of their own Vices The Condition of this our Edward the subject of this Story was not in it self more hurtful than dangerous to the Peace and Tranquillity of the whole Kingdome If by Heat of Youth Height of Fortune or the Corruptions of Nature the Royal Affections flie loosely and at random yet if it extend no farther than the satisfaction of the private Appetite it may obscure the glory but not supplant the strength and safety of a Scepter But when it is not only vicious in it self but doth patronize it in others not blushing or shrinking in the justification it is a fore-running and presaging Evidence that threatens danger if not destruction It is much in a King that hath so great a Charge deliver'd over to his care