BEING A TRVE CHRONICLE HISTORIE OF THE VNTIMEly death of such vnfortunate Princes and men of Note as haue happened since the first entrance of BRVTE into this Iland vntill this our latter Age WHEREVNTO IS ADDED THE FAMOVS LIFE AND DEATH OF QVEENE ELIZABETH with a declaration of all the Warres Battles and Sea-fights wherein at large is described the Battell of 88. with the particular seruice of all such Ships and men of note in that action Contre fortune nulne peut AT LONDON Imprinted by F. K. for William Aspley and are to besold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard at the Signe of the Parrot 1619. Loue and liue TO THE NOBILITIE AND ALL OTHER IN OFFICE GOD GRANT ENcrease of wisdome with all things necessarie for preseruation of their estates Amen AMongst the wise right Honorable whose sentences for the most part tend either to teach the attaining of vertue or eschewing of vice Plotinus that wonderful and excellent Philosopher hath these words The property of Temperance is to couet nothing which may be repented not to exceed the bands of measure and to keepe Desire vnder the yoke of Reason Which saying if it were so well knowne as it is needfull so well embraced as is wished or so surely fixed in mind as it is printed in his works then certes many Christians might by the instruction of an Ethnicke Philosopher shun great and dangerous perils For to couet without consideration to passe the measure of his degree and to let will run at randon is the only destruction of all estates Else how were it possible so many learned politicke wise renowned valiant and victorious personages might euer haue come to such vtter decay For example we haue Alexander the Great Caesar Pompey Cyrus Hannibal c. All which by desire of glorie felt the reward of their immoderate and insatiable lusts for if Alexander had bin content with Macedonie or not been puft vp with pride after his triumphes he had neuer been so miserablie poisoned If Caesar and Pompey had been satisfied with their victories and had not fell to ciuill dissension the one had not been slaine in the Senate with daggers nor the other abroad by their friends procurement If Cyrus had bin pleased with all Persia Media and not thirsted for blood he had neuer come to so infortunate a fal So if Hannibal had not so much delighted in glory of warfare his coūtry had neither fel in ruine nor he bin miserably forced to poyson himselfe But you will say desire of fame glorie renowne and immortalitie to which all men well nigh by nature are inclined especially those which excell or haue any singular gift of fortune or the bodie moued them to such dangerous great and hardy enterprises which must needs be confessed as an infallible veritie and therefore I surely deeme those Princes aboue specified considering their fortunes fame and exploits had neuer come to such end but for want of temperance And now sith there are three other Cardinal vertues which are requisit in him that should be in authoritie that is to say Prudence Iustice and Fortitude which so wonderfully adorne and beautifie all estates If Temperance be with them adioyned that they moue the very enemies with admiration to praise them some peraduenture as affection leads will commend one some another as Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers names Prudence the mother of vertues but Cicero defines her the knowledge of things which ought to be desired and followed and also of them which ought to be fled and eschewed yet you shall finde that for want of Temperance some which were counted very wise fell into wonderfull reproch and infamie But Iustice that incomparable vertue as the ancient Ciuilians define her is a perpetual and constant wil which giueth to euery man his right yet if shee be not constant which is the gift of Fortitude nor equal in discerning right from wrong wherein is Prudence nor vse proportion in iudgement and sentence which pertaineth to Temperance she can neuer be called equitie or iustice but fraud deceit iniustice and iniurie And to speak of Fortitude which Cicero defineth a considerate vndertaking of perils and enduring of labours if he whom we suppose stout valiant and of good courage want Prudence Iustice or Temperance he is not counted wise righteous and constant but sottish rude and desperate For Temperance saith Cicero is of reason in lust and other euill assaults of the mind a sure and moderate dominion and rule This noble vertue is diuided into three parts that is Continencie Clemencie and Modesty which well obserued and kept if grace be to them adioyned it is impossible for him that is endued with the aboue named vertues euer to fall into the infortunate snares of calamitie or misfortune But Ambition which is immoderate desire of honor rule dominion and superiority the very destruction of nobilitie and common weales as among the Romans Sylla Marius Carbo Cinna Catiline Pompey and Caesar are witnesses hath brought great decay to our countrey and countrey-men But I haue heere Right Honorable in this booke only reproued folly in those which are heedlesse Iniury in extortioners rashnesse in venterers treacherie in traytours riot in rebels and excesse in such as suppresse not vnruly affections Now I trust you will so thinke of it although the stile deserue not like commendation as you thought of the other part Which if you shall I doubt not but it may pleasure some if not yet giue occasion to others which can do better either to amend these or to publish their owne And thus wishing your Prudence to discerne what is meet for your callings Iustice in the administration of your functions Fortitude in the defence of your Countrey and Temperance in moderation of all your affections with encrease of honors and euerlasting felicity I bid you in Christ Iesus farewell At Winceham the 7. day of December 1586. Your most humble in the Lord IOHN HIGINS TO THE READER TO acquaint you in briefe with what is done in this impression know that the verse is in proportion by measure and in symphonie or rithmos in diuers places amended the storie in some places false and corrupted made historically true the tragedies wrongly inserted disposed in their proper places according to iust computation of time those neuer before collected in one volume published in this impression for the forme and frame of the whole historie I did intend to haue reduced it into the same order which I haue obserued in my Additions but preuented by other occasions I haue thus digested it The tragedies from the time of Brute to the Conquest I haue left with dependencie vpon that Induction written by M. Higins Those from the Conquest to this our last age that is to the fall of the Lord Cromwell excellently well penned by M. Drayton hath reference to that golden Preface called M. Sackuils Induction After these I haue placed my
than I was despised both of God and man Could I long prosper thus do you suppose Might any ill exceed these vices told Thinke you ther 's any wight on ground that goes Might scape reuenge of vice so manifold No sure * who is in sinfulnes so bold His vices fare like weeds they sprout so fast They kill the corps as weeds the corne at last My great outrage my heedlesse head the life I beastly led could not continue so My brothers blood my leauing of my wife And working of my friends and subiects woe Cri'd still to God for my foule ouerthroe Who heares the wrong'd who viewes their carefull case And at the length doth all their foes deface Yet I mistrusting no mishaps at hand Though I were worthie twentie times to die I lewdly liu'd and did my wealth withstand I neuer thought my end was halfe so me For my disport I rode on hunting I In woods the fearefull Hart I chased fast 'Till quite I lost my company at last And or I wist to cost I found my foes By chance I came whereas the Wolues they bred Which in a moment did me round inclose And mounted at my horse his throat and head Some on the hinder parts their panches fed Yet fought I still to scape if it might be Till they my panting horse puld downe with me Then was I hopelesse to escape their iawes They fastned all their holders fast on mee And on my royall robes they set their clawes My Princely presence nor my high degree Mou'd them no more obeysant for to bee Nor of my corps to take no more remorce Then did the grieuous groning of my horse But rauenously they rent my breast and throat Forsooke my steed came all at once and tare My Kingly corps from which they fleid my coat And of my flesh they made at all no spare They neuer left me till my bones were bare Lo thus I slew my brother left my wife Liu'd vilely and as vilely ended life Beware of bloodie broiles beware of wrong Embrace the counsell of the wise and sage Trust not to power though it be nere so strong Beware of rashnes rude and roisters rage Eschew vile Venus toyes she cuts off age And learne this lesson oft and tell thy friend By sudden death pockes begging harlots end HOW KING BLADVD TAKING ON HIM TO FLIE fell vpon the Temple of Apollo and brake his necke the yeere before Christ 844. I Pray thee Higgins take in hand thy pen And write my life and fall among'st the rest A warning set me downe for curious men Whose wits the worke of nature seeke to wrest I was Prince Bladud pregnant as the best Of wisdome wealth and learning I had store Of regall race or what I craued more But this in all the sorts of men we see An vncontented mind when much they haue The learned yet would more profounder be The richest most t' encrease their wealth do craue The finest Dames do slike their faces braue The noble higher climes and to the skies T' aduance his name he daily doth deuise In Britaine though I learned had full well The artes and could among'st the wise conferre Yet when of Athens I the fame heard tell Though it in Greece so far hence distant were I trauail'd thither writers witnes are I studied there thence learned men I brought That noble Arts in Britaine might be taught But after he was dead that was my stay My father graue I meane the worthie King Then all the Britaines shortly by a day To royall seat elected me did bring Where I to place in order euery thing Receiu'd both crowne and scepter in my hand With right and equitie to rule this land Then for because the sway of all the I le Depended on my gouernment to rest I did consult with all the Peeres a while And of my fathers Counsellers the best I order tooke for matters vnredrest Giuing to each such place as best did fit Their birth their wealth their persons and their wit The learned Greekes whom I from Athens brought Conferring with the British learned men A place as I commanded them had sought Amid'st the Realme and brought me word agen At Staneford there I built a Colledge then And of my land I gaue the fertil'st partes To foster learning and the famous Artes. By this of skilfull men the land had store And all the arts were read in Britaine well No countrey was for learning praised more We did in noble science so excell From other nations hither came to dwell The wisest wits commending vs to skies Deeming vs people valiant learn'd and wise And for that time of Gods we honor'd all Apollo high for wisdome arte and skill At Troynouant a Temple speciall I built to him for sacrifices still Whereon I fell as after speake I will Such was our vse and superstition then To deeme as Gods the images of men By arts I made the holesome Baths at Bathe And made therefore two Tunnes of burning brasse And other twaine seuen kinds of salts that haue In them in closde but these be made of glasse With sulphur fil'd wilde fire emixt there was And in foure welles these Tunnes I did assay To place by arte that they might last of aye Which waters heate and clensing perfect powre With vapours of the sulphur salts and fire Hath vertue great to heale and wash and scowre The bathed sores therein that health desire If of the vertues moe thou dost require I will recite what old experience telles In causes cold the vertues of these welles The bathes to soften sinewes vertue haue And also for to clense and scowre the skin From Morphewes white and blacke to heale and saue The bodies freckled faint are bath'd therein Scabs lepry sores both old and festered in The scurfe botch itch gout poxe and humors fell The milt and liuer hard it healeth well I must confesse by learned skill I found Those natiue welles whence ye haue helpe for men But well thou know'st there runnes from vnder ground Springs sweet salt cold and hote euen now as then From rocke salt-petre alume grauell fen From sulphur iron lead gold brasse and tinne Springs vertue take of vaines that they been in Then who so knowes by natures worke in these Of metals or of mines the force to heale May sooner giue his iudgement in disease For curing by the bath and surer deale With sickly people of the publique weale And also find of fountaines hot and cold To heale by them the sicke both yong and old The Citie eke of Bathe I founded there Renouned far by reason of the wels And many monuments that ancient were I placed there thou know'st the storie tels I sought renowne and fame and nothing els But when our actes extols vs to the skies We look not downe from whence we first did rise There are but few whom Fortune bathes in blesse But blinded are and dazelingly they looke They see nought else but worldly
for their blisse The souldiers stout of me account did make Let stories tell if I do faine in this Lest some suspect that I report amisse For what is he which is not counted vaine When for himselfe he speakes though nere so plaine In peace I prudent was and graue of grace In warres as stout but not so fierce withall Not forst with feare to turne from foes my face Nor bought with bribes to let Dame Iustice fall I not opprest the weaker sort with thrall But sought to pleasure all both neare and farre More prone to peace I was then bent to warre What heart so hard but will for pitie bleed To heare a Prince which meant to each so well Should haue such cause to liue in feare and dreed Of sword of bane of force or poison fell Not daring Emprour nere his brother dwell Whom Romans lou'd and strangers honor'd still But brothers treason caused all our ill Hight Antonine I hate his name and facts Sith he my butcher was as may appeare The world detests his vile and viprous acts And subtill shifts to kill his father deare So void of grace so void of honest feare He durst attempt the guard to bribe and fee That so by them his fire might poisoned bee This when our Sire Seuerus wist and saw How Antonine that bloodie beast was bent Against the order quite of natures law Eke how to take the Empire whole he ment For both of vs at Yorke he often sent Perswading vs true concord for to hold And of the fruits of discord oft he told Yet Antonine regarded nought his hest Nay yet the charge of warres he had in hand T' enlarge his power for th' Empire he addrest Which when Seuerus old did vnderstand All pleasures quite and ioyes he did aband Pursuing warre neere Yorke he tooke his end By sword of Picts or by some traytour friend Then Antonine made spoile of all his men Physitions nil'd before at his request Dispatch their Lord to death he put them then And so he seru'd of faithfull guard the rest What villanie was in this vipers brest Was not content with death of those he sought But after brings their friends likewise to nought I was foretold my life he thirsted sore And that the Empire sole he sought to haue As we to Rome did passe I feared more I from his courts and diets did me saue I knew my life and th' Empire he did craue Wherefore in Rome my court I kept likewise Apart from his that did my death deuise My seruants were allur'd by sundrie gifts By poyson to procure my lifes decay He tri'd to cut me off a thousand shifts What maruell since he sought his sire to slay He made his Fathers friends for spite away Because they would not to his will be wrought To bring them vnto death he daily sought His sleights for me could take no sure successe For still his traines and treasons were descri'd In danger I was forst to seeke redresse By like attempts but that likewise was spide * Pretended murder no man close can hide But out it flies the rumor runnes a pace The spot thereof all vertues else deface When this was knowne that I likewise assai'd His life to reaue though t' were my life to saue Not long to wrecke the same the butcher stai'd He had the thing so long he sought to haue Cause of reuenge the rumor small him gaue That in the euen he came to spill my blood As I vnarmed with my mother stood There she perceiuing him with sword approch In armes me caught to saue my life and blood But he deseruing all the worlds reproch No whit in doubt to end my slaughter stood She him besought as seem'd an Empresse good While he without remorse of her request Betweene her armes did run me through the brest These were the acts of that vile monster then For Empire sake to raigne alone aloft Despisde that was abhor'd of Gods and men And curst to hell by all good men so oft You see the fall of Geta milde and soft Whose line of life no longer fates could stretch Cut off by sword of Antonine that wretch Now maist thou deeme of my deserts and his He to his sire of sonnes was most vnkind His mothers ioyes he reau'd away her blisse That Dame which bare to both so milde a mind And let my dealings aye due fauour find Whose murder may giue plaine prospect and show What monster wrought his faithfull friends such woe HOW AVRELIVS AN TONIVS BASSIANVS CARACALLA Emperour of Rome was slaine by one of his owne seruants about the yeere of Christ 209. WHo thirsts to throng vnto the highest throne Ne wisely windes Dame Fortunes subtile snare Or who in Court would rule the rost alone And sees not what he heapes himselfe of care Let him well weigh my case and then beware Whom forth the stately seate did first allure Which after did my hastie death procure And Higgins here in purpose sith thou hast The haplesse hauen where Fortunes impes arriue A mirour make likewise of me thou maist If thou my life and dealings wilt discriue It may perhaps much profit some aliue Which when themselues plaine painted forth they see They may presage their fatall falles in me I am that Antonine Seuerus sonne That once of mightie Rome did beare the sway Which in my fathers life a strife begone With Geta thirsting often him to slay I sought to haue my father made away To raigne alone so great desire I had Nought but their deathes my wicked hart could glad My father oft exhorted both to peace Declar'd by stories olde what came by strife Dehorted both from ciuill discord cease But I sought meanes to rid him of his life I banisht to Sycilia Isle my wife Encreast mine host reckt not my British charge But how I might enioy the Empire large And first when as my father once was dead I gaue my selfe to all reuenge of foes The seruants late which stood mee not in stead And some who did my trecherie disclose Or such to saue their Prince themselues dispose Or reconcile vs brethren tooke sore paine I causde them all without respect be slaine The captaines all my friends I sought to make In Britaine then desiring them to chuse Me Emprour sole and Geta to forsake Which they to doe for duties sake refuse Our mother eke all meanes with vs did vse Perswading vs to loue and concord bend To which in shew I granted in the end We both in Empire like from Britaine passe A truce concluded there and hostage take His reliques shrinde as then the custome was To Rome therewith our voyage fast we make And yet the malice could not so aslake For in our iournies we durst neither trust But seuerall Courts and Diets keepe we must Both fearing poyson force or treason wrought Both crauing all the Empire to enioy Both working all the waies that might be sought To worke to each some secret great
lings brest Whom not desire of raigne did driue to field But mothers pride who longd the Realme to wield But straight my death shall shew my worthie meed If first to one other murther I proceed VVhile Edward liued dissembled discord lurked In double hearts yet so his reuerence worked But when succeeding tender feeble age Gaue open gap to tyrants rushing rage I holpe the Boare and Bucke to captiuate Lord Riuers Gray sir Thomas Vaughan and Hawte If land would helpe the sea well earnd that ground It selfe to be with conquering waues surround Their speedie death by priuie dome procured At Pomfret tho my life short while endured My selfe I slue when them I damned to death At once my throate I riued and reft them breath For that selfe day before or neere the hower That withred Atropos nipt the springing flower VVith violent hand of their forth running life My head and body in Tower twinde like knife By this my paterne all ye peeres beware Oft hangth he himselfe who others weenth to snare Spare to be each others butcher Feare the Kite VVho soareth aloft while frog and mouse do fight In ciuil combat grappling void of feare Of forreine foe at once al both to beare Which plainer by my pitied plaint to see A while anew your listning lend to mee Too true it is two sundrie assemblies kept At Crosbies place and Baynards Castle set The Dukes at Crosbies but at Baynards we The one to crowne a king the other to be Suspicious is secession of foule frends When eithers drift to th' others mischief tends I fear'd the end my Catesbies being there Discharg'd all doubts Him held I most entire Whose great preserment by my meanes I thought Some spurre to pay the thankfulnesse hee ought The trust he ought me made me trust him so That priuie he was both to my weale and wo. My hearts one halfe my chest of confidence Mine only trust my ioy dwelt in his presence I lou'd him Baldwine as the apple of mine eye I loath'd my life when Catesby would me die Flie from thy chanel Thames forsake thy streames Leaue the Adamant Iron Phoebus lay thy beames Cease heauenly Sphears at last your weary warke Betray your charge returne to Chaos darke At least some ruthlesse Tiger hang her whelp My Catesby so with some excuse to help And me to comfort that I alone ne seeme Of all dame natures workes left in extreeme A Golden treasure is the tried frend But who may Gold from Counterfaits defend Trust not too soone nor yet too soone mistrust With th' one thy selfe with th' other thy friend thou hurt'st VVho twin'th betwixt and steareth the golden meane Nor rashly loueth nor mistrusteth in vaine In friendship soueraigne it is as Mithridate Thy friend to loue as one whom thou maist hate Of tickle credit ne had bin the mischiefe What needed Virbius miracle doubled life Credulity surnamed first the Aegean Seas Mistrust doth reason in the trustiest raise Suspicious Romulus stain'd his Walls first reard With brothers bloud whom for light leape he feard So not in brotherhood ielousie may be borne The ielous Cuckold weares the Infamous Horne A beast may preach by triall not foresight Could I haue shund light credit nere had light The dreaded death vpon my guilty head But Fooles aye wont to learne by after read Had Catesby kept vnstaind the truth he plight Yet had yet enioied me and I yet the light All Derbies doubts I cleared with his name I knew no harme could hap me without his blame But see the fruites of tickle light beleefe The ambitious Dukes corrupt the Traitor theefe To grope mee if allured I would assent To bin a Partner of their cursed intent Whereto when as by no meanes friendship vail'd By Tyrant force behold they me assail'd And summond shortly a Counsell in the Tower Of Iune the fifteenth at appointed hower Alas are Counsels wried to catch the good No place is now exempt from sheading bloud Sith counsels that were carefull to preserue The guiltelesse good are meanes to make them starue VVhat may not mischiefe of Mad man abuse Religious cloake some one to vice doth chuse And maketh God Protectour of his crime Omonstrous world well ought we wish thy fine The fatall skies roll on the blackest day VVhen doubled bloudshed my bloud must repay Others none forceth To me sir Thomas Haward As spurre is buckled to prouoke me froward Derbie who feared the parted sittings yore Whether much more he knew by experience hoare Or better minded clearelier truth could see At midnight darke this message sends to mee Hastings away in sleepe the gods foreshow By dreadfull dreame fell fates vnto vs two Me thought a Bore with tuske so raced our throate That both our shoulders of the blood did smoake Arise to horse straight homeward let vs hie And seeth our foe we cannot match O flie Of Chanteclere you learne dreames sooth to know Thence wisemen construe more then the cock doth crow While thus he spake I held within mine arme Shores wife the tender piece to keepe me warme Fie on adulterie fie on leacherous lust Marke in me ye Nobles all Gods iudgements iust A Pander Murderer and Adulterer thus Only such death I die as I ne blush Now lest my dame might thinke appall'd my hart With eager mood vp in my bed I start And is thy Lord quoth I a Sorcerer A wiseman now become a dreame reader What though so Chanteclere crowed I reck it not On my part pleadeth as well dame Partelot Vniudg'd hang'th yet the case betwixt them tway Nay was his dreame cause of his hap I say Shall dreaming doubts from Prince my seruing slack Nay then might Hastings life and liuing lacke He parteth I sleepe my mind surcharg'd with sinne As Phoebus beames by mistie cloud kept in Ne could misgiue ne dreame of my mishap As blocke I tumbled to mine enemies trap Securitie causelesse through my fained frend Reft me foresight of my approching end So Catesby clawed me as when the Cat doth play Dallying with Mouse whom straight she meanes to slay The morow come the latest light to me On Palfray mounted to the Tower I hie Accompanied with that Haward my mortall foe To slaughter led thou God didst suffer so O deepe dissemblers honoring with your cheare Whom in hid heart you trayterously teare Neuer had Realme so open signes of wrack As I had shewed me of my heauie hap The vision first of Stanley late descried Then mirth so extreame that neare for ioy I died Were it that Swanlike I foresong my death Or merrie mind foresaw the losse of breath That long it coueted from this earths annoy But euen as siker as th' end of woe is ioy And glorious light to obscure night doth tend So extreame mirth in extreame mone doth end For why extreames are haps rackt out of course By violent might far swinged forth perforce Which as they are piercing'st while they violent'st moue For that they
to the morning mist And straight againe the teares how they down rold Alongst his cheekes as if the riuers hist Whose flowing streames ne were no sooner whist But to the stars such dreadfull shouts he sent As if the throne of mighty Ioue should rent And I the while with sprits welny bereft Beheld the plight and pangs that did him straine And how the bloud his deadly colour left And straight returnd with flaming red againe When suddenly amid his raging paine He gaue a sigh and with that sigh hee said Oh Banastaire and straight againe he staid Dead lay his corps as dead as any stone Till swelling sighs storming within his breast Vpraisd his head that downeward fell anon With lookes vpcast and sighs that neuer ceast Forth streamd the teares records of his vnrest When he with shrikes thus groueling on the ground Ybraied these words with shrill and dolefull sound Heauen and earth and ye eternall lamps That in the heauens wrapt will vs to rest Thou bright Phoebe that clearest the nights damps Witnesse the plaints that in these pangs opprest I wofull wretch vnlade out of my brest And let me yeeld my last words ere I part You you I call to record of my smart And thou Alecto feede mee with thy food Let fall thy serpents from thy snaky heare For such reliefe well fits mee in this mood To feede my plaint with horrour and with feare While rage afresh thy venomd worme areare And thou Sibylla when thou seest mee faint Addresse thy selfe the guide of my complaint And thou O Ioue that with the deepe fordoome Dost rule the earth and raigne aboue the skies That wreakest wrongs and giu'st the dreadful doome Against the wretch that doth thy name despise Receiue these words and wreake them in such wise As heauen and earth may witnesse and behold Thy heapes of wrath vpon this wretch vnfold Thou Banastaire gainst thee I clepe and call Vnto the Gods that they iust vengeance take On thee thy bloud thy stained stocke and all O Ioue to thee aboue the rest I make My humble plaint guide me that what I speake May be thy will vpon this wretch to fall On thee Banastaire wretch of wretches all O would to God the cruell dismal day That gaue me light first to behold thy face With foule eclipse had reft my sight away Th' vnhappy hower the time and eke the day The Sunne and Moone the Stars and all that was In their aspects helping in ought to thee The earth and aire and all accursed be And thou caitiffe that like a monster swarued From kind and kindnes hast thy master lorne Whom neither trueth nor trust wherein thou serued Ne his deserts could moue nor thy faith sworne How shall I curse but wish that thou vnborne Had beene or that the earth had rent in tway And swallowed thee in cradle as thou laie To this did I euen from thy tender youth Vouchsafe to bring thee vp did I herefore Beleeue the oth of thy vndoubted truth Aduance thee vp and trust thee euermore By trusting thee that I should die therfore O wretch and worse then wretch what shall I say But clepe and curse gainst thee and thine for aye Hated be thou disdaind of euery wight And pointed at where euer that thou goe A traiterous wretch vnworthy of the light Be thou esteemd and to encrease thy woe The sound be hatefull of thy name also And in this sort with shame and sharp reproch Lead thou thy life till greater griefe approch Dole and despaire let those be thy delight Wrapped in woes that cannot be vnfold To waile the day and weepe the weary night With rainy eine and sighes cannot be told And let no wight thy woe seeke to withhold But count thee worthy wretch of sorowes store That suffering much oughtst still to suffer more Deserue thou death yea be thou deem'd to die A shamefull death to end thy shamefull life A sight longed for ioifull to euery eye When thou shalt be arraigned as a theefe Standing at bar and pleading for thy life With trembling tongue in dread and dolours rage Lade with white lockes and fourscore yeares of age Yet shall not death deliuer thee so soone Out of thy woes so happy shalt not be But to th' eternall Ioue this is my boone That thou maist liue thine eldest sonne to see Reft of his wits and in a soule Bores stye To end his daies in rage and death distrest A worthy tombe where one of thine should rest Yet after this yet pray I more thou may Thy second sonne see drowned in a dike And in such sort to close his latter day As heard or seene erst hath not been the like Ystrangled in a puddle not so deepe As halfe a foot that such hard losse of life So cruelly chanst may be the greater griefe And not yet shall thy dolefull sorrowes cease Ioue shall not so withhold his wrath from thee But that thy plagues may more and more encrease Thou shalt still liue that thou thy selfe maist see Thy daughter strucken with the leprosie That she that erst was all thy whole delight Thou now maist loath to haue her come in sight And after that let shame and sorrowes griefe Feed forth thy yeares continually in woe That thou maist liue in death and die in life And in this sort forwaild and wearied so At last thy ghost to part thy bodie fro This pray I Ioue and with this latter breath Vengeance I aske vpon my cruell death This said he flung his retchlesse armes abroad And groueling flat vpon the ground he lay Which with his teeth he all to gnasht and gnaw'd Deepe grones he fet as he that would away But loe in vaine he did the death assay Although I thinke was neuer man that knew Such deadly paines where death did not ensue So stroue he thus a while as with the death Now pale as lead and cold as any stone Now still as calme now storming forth a breath Of smokie sighes as breath and all were gone But euery thing hath end so he anon Came to himselfe when with a sigh outbrayed With woefull cheere these woefull words he said Ah where am I what thing or whence is this Who rest my wits or how do I thus lie My limbes do quake my thought agasted is Why sigh I so or whereunto do I Thus groule on the ground and by and by Vprais'd he stood and with a sigh hath stai'd When to himselfe returned thus he said Sufficeth now this plaint and this regrete Whereof my heart his bottome hath vnfraught And of my death let Peeres and Princes were The worlds vntrust that they thereby be taught And in her wealth sith that such change is wrought Hope not too much but in the mids of all Thinke on my death and what may them befall So long as Fortune would permit the same I liu'd in rule and riches with the best And past my time in honor and in fame
dilatorie Ne Doctor or Proctor to alledge the lawes But forced me to plead in mine owne cause The Kings counsell were called to the case My husband then shut out for the season In whose absence I found but little grace For Lawyers turned our offence to treason And so with rigor without ruth or reason Sentence was giuen that I for the same Should doe penance and suffer open shame Nay the like shame had neuer wight I weene Duches Lady ne Damsel of degree As I that was a Princesse next the Queene Wife to a Prince and none so great as hee A Kings vncle Protector of his countrey With Taper burning shrouded in a sheete Three dayes a row to passe the open streete Barelegd and bare foote to all the worlds wonder Yea and as though such shame did not suffise With more despite then to part asunder Me and my Duke which Traitors did deuise By Statute lawe in most vnlawfull wise First sending me with shame into exile Then murdring him by trechery and guile Yea and besides this cruell banishment Far from all friends to comfort mee in care And husbands death there was by Parliament Ordaind for me a messe of courser fare For they to bring me to beggers state most bare By the same act from mee did then withdraw Such right of dower as widowes haue by law Death as t' is said doth set all things at rest Which fell not so in mine vnhappy case For since my death mine enmies made a Iest In minstrels rimes mine honour to deface And then to bring my name in more disgrace A song was made in manner of a laic Which old wiues sing of mee vnto this day Yet with these spites their malice could not end For shortly after my sorowes to renue My loiall Lord which neuer did offend VVas cald in haste the cause he litle knew To a Parlement without sommons due VVhereas his death was cruelly contriued And I his wife of earthly ioyes depriued For all the while my Duke had life and breath So long I stood in hope of my restore But when I heard of his most causles death Then the best salue for my recureles sore VVas to despaire of cure for euermore And as I could my carefull heart to cure VVith patience most painfull to endure O Traitors fell which in your hearts could find Like feends of hell the guiltles to betray But ye chiefly his kinsmen most vnkind VVhich gaue consent to make him so away That vnto God with all my heart I pray Vengeance may light on him that caused all Beaufort I meane that cursed Cardinall VVhich bastard Priest of th' house of Lancaster Sonne to Duke Iohn surnamed Iohn of Gaunt VVas first create Bishop of VVinchester For no learning whereof he might well vaunt Ne for vertue which he did neuer haunt But for his Gold and summes that were not small Paid to the Pope was made a Cardinall Proud Lucifer which from the heauens on high Downe to the pit of hell below was cast And being once an Angell bright in sky For his pride in hell is chained fast In deepe darkenes that euermore shall last More haut of heart was not before his fall Then was this proud and pompous Cardinall VVhose life good Baldwine paint out in his pickle A and blase this Baal and Belligod most blind An hypocrite all faithles false and fickle A wicked wretch a kinsman most vnkind A Diuell incarnate all diuellishly enclind And to discharge my conscience all at once The Diuell him gnaw both body bloud and bones The spitefull Priest would needes make me a VVitch As would to God I had been for his sake I would haue clawd him where he did not itch I would haue plaid the Lady of the Lake And as Merline was closde him in a brake Ye a Meridian to lull him by day light And a night mare to ride on him by night The fiery feends with feuers hot and frenzy The Airy hegges with stench and carren sauoures The watry ghosts with gowtes and with dropsy The earthly Goblines with Aches at all houres Furies and Fairies with all infernall powers I would haue stird from the darke dungeon Of hell Centre as deepe as Demagorgon Or had I now the skill of dame Erichto Whose dreadfull charmes as Lucan doth expresse All feends did feare so far forth as Prince Pluto VVas at her call for dread of more distresse Then would I send of helhownds more and lesse A legion at least at him to cry and yell And with that charme herrie him downe to hell VVhich need not for sure I thinke that he VVho here in earth leades Epicurus life As farre from God as possible may be VVith whom all sinne and vices are most rife Vsing at will both widow maid and wife But that some Diuell his body doth possesse His life is such as men can iudge no lesse And God forgiue my wrath and wreakefull mind Such is my hate to that most wicked wretch Die when he shall in heart I could well finde Out of the graue his corps againe to fetch And racke his limmes as long as they would stretch And take delight to listen euery day How he could sing a masse of welaway The I le of Man was the appointed place To penance me for euer in exile Thither in haste they posted me apace And doubting scape they pind me in a Pile Close by my selfe in care alas the while There felt I first poore prisoners hungry fare Much want things skant and stone walles hard and bare The change was strange from silke and cloth of gold To rugged frize my carcas for to cloath From Princes fare and dainties hot and cold To rotten fish and meates that one would loath The diet and dressing were much alike boath Bedding and lodging were all alike fine Such Downe it was as serued well for swine Neither doe I mine owne case thus complaine Which I confesse came partly by desert The only cause which doubleth all my paine And which most neere goeth now vnto my heart Is that my fault did finally reuert To him that was least guilty of the same Whose death it was though I abode the shame VVhose fatall fall when I doe call to minde And how by me his mischiefe first began So oft I cry on Fortune most vnkinde And my mishap most vtterly doe banne That euer I to such a noble man Who from my crime was innocent and cleare Should be a cause to buy his loue so deare Oh to my heart how grieuous is the wound Calling to mind this dismall deadly case I would I had been doluen vnder ground When he first saw or looked on my face Or tooke delight in any kind of grace Seeming in me that him did stir or moue To fancie me or set his heart to loue Farewell Greenewich my Palace of delight Where I was wont to see the Christall streames Of royall Thames most pleasant to my sight And farewell Kent right
gaine the mightie men when they be dead By all the spoile and blood that they haue shed The loftie towre where honor hath his seat Is high on rockes more slipper then the ice VVhere still the whirling winde doth roare and beat VVhere sudden qualmes and perils still arise And is beset with many sundrie vice So strange to men when first they come thereat They be amas'd and do they wot not what He that preuailes and to the towre can clime VVith toile and care must needs abridge his daies And he that slides may curse the houre and time He did attempt to giue so fond assaies And all his life to griefe and shame obaies Thus slide he downe or to the top ascend Assure himselfe repentance is the end Baldwine therefore do thou record my name For president to such as credit lies Or thirst to suck the sugred cup of fame Or do attempt against their Prince to rise And charge them all to keepe within their sise VVho doth assay to wrest beyond his strength Let him be sure he shall repent at length At my request admonish thou all men To spend the talent well which God hath lent He that hath one let him not toile for ten For one's too much vnlesse it be well spent I haue had proofe therefore I now repent Thrice happie are those men yea blest is hee VVho can contented serue in his degree M. Cauil HOW THE VALIANT KNIGHT SIR NICHOLAS Burdet Chiefe Butler of Normandie was slaine at Pontoise Anno Dom. 1441. IF erst in Kings affaires we counted were of trust To fight in waged warres as Captaines gainst the foes And might therefore aliue receiue the guerdon iust Which aye his Maiestie employ'd on those Why should we so keepe silence now and not disclose Our noble acts to those remaine aliue T' encourage them the like exploits t' atchiue For if when as we warr'd for Prince and publike weale We might to each for both haue time and place to speake Then why not now if we to both appeale Sith both well know our dealings were not weake We claime as right in truth our minds to breake The rather eke we thinke to speake we franchiz'd are Because we seru'd for peace and di'd in Princes warre VVhich granted so and held deserued due I may full well on stage supplie the place a while Till I haue plainly laid before your view That I haue cause as these to plaine of Fortunes guile VVhich smirking though at first she seeme to smooth and smile If Fortune be who deem'd themselues in skies to dwell She thirleth downe to dread the gulfes of gastly hell But heere I let a while the Ladie Fortune stay To tell what time I liu'd and what our warres were then The great exploits we did and where our armies lay Eke of the praise of some right honorable men VVhich things with eyes I saw call'd now to mind agen VVhat I performed present in the fight I will in order and my fall recite In youth I seru'd that roiall Henry fift the King Whose praise for martiall feats eternall fame reteines When he the Normanes stout did in subiection bring My selfe was vnder then his ensignes taking paines With loial hart I fought pursu'd my Prince his gaines There dealt I so that time my fame to raise French writers yet my name and manhood praise And erst as Burdets diuers warlike wights In Warwicke shire their lands in Arrow ar Were for good seruice done made worthy Knights Whose noble acts be yet recounted far Euen so my selfe well fram'd to peace or war Of these the heire by due discent I came Sir Nicholas Burdet Knight which had to name That time the noble Iohn of Bedford Duke bare sway And feared was in France for courage stout and fell He lou'd me for my fight and person though I say And with reuenues me rewarded yearely well I plaid the faithfull subiects part the truth to tell And was accounted loiall constant still Of stomack worship great and warlike skill But then O greefe to tell ere long this peerelesse King When he restored had his right vnto the Crowne The Duchie all of Normandy eke subiect bring The Frenchemen all and set Lieutenants in each towne High Regent made of France then Fortune gan to frowne He then departed life too soone alas Some men suppose his grace empoisond was Thou Fortune slie what meanst thou thus these prancks to play False Fortune blere ey'd blind vnsteady startling still What meanst thou turning thus thy flattering face away Inconstant where thou bearest most good will Is it thy nature then or i st thy wonted skill It cost thee nought they say it comes by kind As thou art bisme so are thine actions blind I nothing doubt then thou thy selfe shalt fall I trust to see the time when thou shalt be forgot For why thy pride and pompe and power must vanish all Thy name shall die for aye and perish quite I wot And when thou shalt be counted but a sot The noble wights which liu'd and dide in worthy fame In heauen and earth shall find an euerlasting name But words of course are these of Fortune had When vnto Princes haps chance good or ill God sends to euery sort these tempests sad VVhen from his word they swarue and heauenly will Men must endeuour then to please his goodnesse still And then come life or death come ioy come smart No Fortunes frowne can daunt the doughty hart The famous King so dead his son but nine months old Henry the sixt of England was proclaimed King And then the Frenchmen waxt more stout and bold His youth occasion gaue them to conspire the thing Which might them all from due subiection bring On which the Counsell cald a Parliament Of French that might the treasons high preuent VTherein the Duke of Bedford my good Lord and frend VVas Regent made the Prince his deputy in France The Duke of Glocester Protectour was to th' end To rule in cases such at home might hap to chance They chose to gard the Prince in honour to aduance Henry Benford Bishop of VVinchester And Thomas the noble Duke of Excester But here before those things could well be setled sure As great affaires of Kingdomes longer time doe take The Frenchmen did by treason force and coine procure Some townes which English were in France their faith forsake A long discourse it were of all recitall make But of my chance that time recite will I VVhich seru'd in warres my Prince in Normandy Before the Mount S. Michael as in siege I lay In confines of the Normans and the Britons land From townesmen famisht nigh we vitailes kept away And made them oft in danger of dis-Mounting stand But it being strong and also stoutly man'd Euen by our losses they gate heart of grasse And we declining saw what Fortune was Yet nerethelesse we thought by famine make them yeeld Eke they by fight or succours hopte the siege to