my counsell yet this comfort is It cannot hurt although I thinke amisse Then liue in hope in tryumph to returne vvhen cleerer dayes shall leaue in clowdes to mourne But so hath sorrow girt my soule about That that word hope me thinks comes slowly out The reason is I know it heere would rest vvhere it would still behold thee in my brest Farewell sweete Pole faine more I would indite But that my teares doe blot as I doe write Notes of the Chronicle Historie Or brings in Burgoyne to ayde Lancaster PHillip Duke of Burgoyne and his sonne were alwayes great fauorites of the house of Lancaster howbeit they often dissembled both with Lancaster and Yorke Who in the North our lawfull claime commends To win vs credite with our valiant friends The chiefe Lords of the North-parts in the time of Henry the 6. withstoode the Duke of Yorke at his risingâ— giuing him two great ouerthrowes To that allegeance Yorke was bound by oath To Henries heyres and safetie of vs both No longer now he meanes records shall beare it He will dispence with heauen and wil vnsweare it The duke of Yorke at the death of Henry the fift at this kings coronation tooke his oath to be true subiect to him and his heyres for euer but afterward dispensing therewith claymed the crowne as his rightfull and proper inhearitance If three sonnes faile shee 'le make the fourth a King The duke of Yorke had foure sonnes Edward Earle of March that afterward was duke of Yorke and king of England when he had deposed Henry the sixt and Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine by the lord Clifford at the battell at Wakefield George duke of Clarence that was murthered in the Tower and Richard duke of Glocester vvho was after he had murthered his brothers sonnes King by the name of Richard the third 〈◊〉 that 's so like his Dam her youngest Dicke That foule â—fauoured crookback'd Stigmaticke c. Till this verse As though begot an age c. This Richard whom ironically she here calls Dicke that by treason after his Nephewes murthered obtained the crowne was a man low of stature crookeback'd the left shoulder much higher then the right of a very crabbed sower countenaunce his mother could not be deliuered of him he was borne toothed with his feete forward contrarie to the course of nature To ouershadow our vermilian Rose The redde Rose was the badge of the house of Lancaster and the white Rose of Yorke which by the marriage of Henry the seauenth with Elizabeth indubitate heyre of the house of Yorke was happilie vnited Or who will muzzell that vnrulie beare The Earle of Warwicke the setter vp and puller downe of Kings gaue for his Armes the white Beare rampant the ragged staffe My Daysie flower which erst perfum'd the ayre Which for my â—auour Priâ—â—â—es once did were c. The Daysie in French is called Margaret which was Queene Margarets badge where-withall the Nobilitie and chiualrie of the Lande at the first arriuall were so delighted that they wore it in theyr Hats in token of honour And who be starres but Warwicks bearded slaues The ragged or bearded staffe was a part of the Armes belonging to the Earledome of Warwick Slaundring Duke Rayner with base baggary Rayner Duke of Aniou called himselfe King of Naples Cicile and Ierusalem hauing neither inhearitance nor tribute from those parts was not able at the marriage of the Queene of his owne charges to send her into England though he gaue no dower with her which by the Dutches of Glocester was often in disgrace cast in her teeth A Kentish Rebell a base vpstart Groome This was Iacke Cade which caused the Kentish-men to rebell in the 28. yeere of Henry the sixth And this is he the white Rose must prefer By Clarence daughter match'd to Mortimer This Iacke Cade instructed by the Duke of Yorke pretended to be descended from Mortimer which married Lady Phillip daughter to the Duke of Clarence And makes vs weake by strengthning Ireland The Duke of Yorke being made Deputy of Ireland first there beganne to practise his long pretended purpose strengthning himselfe by all meanes possible that he might at his returne into England by open warre claime that which so long he had priuily gone about to obtaine Great Winchester vntimely is deceas'd Henry Beuford Bishop and Cardinall of Winchester sonne to Iohn of Gaunt begot in his age was a proude ambitious Prelate fauouring mightily the Queene the Duke of Suffolke continually heaping vp innumerable treasure in hope to haue beene Pope as himselfe on his death bed confessed With Fraunce t' vpbrayd the valiant Somerset Edmund Duke of Somerset in the 24. of Henry the sixt was made Regent of Fraunce and sent into Normandie to defend the English territories against the French inuasions but in short time hee lost all that King Henry the fifth won for which cause the Nobles and the Commons euer after hated him T' endure these stormes with wofull Buckingham Humfry duke of Buckingham was a great fauorite of the Queenâ— Faction in the time of Henry the sixt And one fore-told by water thou should'st die The Witch of Eye receiued aunswer by her spirit that the duke of Suffolke should take heede of water which the Queene forwarnes him of as remembring the Witches prophecie which afterward came to passe FINIS To the Right Worshipfull Sir Thomas Munson Knight SIR amongst many which most deseruedly loue you though â— the least yet am loth to be the last whose endeuours may make knowne howe highly they esteeme of your noble and kind disposition Let this Epistle Sir I beseech you which vnworthily weares the badge of your woorthy name acknowledge my zeale with the rest though much lesse deseruing which for your sake doe honour the house of the Mounsons I know true generositie accepteth what is zealously offered though not euer deseruingly excellent yet for loue of the Art froÌ„ whence it receiueth resemblance The light Phrigian harmony stirreth delight as well as the melancholy Doricke moueth passion both haue theyr motion in the spirit as the liking of the soule moueth the affection Your kinde acceptance of my labourâ— shall giue some life to my Muse which yet â—ouers in the vncertainetie of the generall censure Mich Drayton Edward the fourth to Shores wife ¶ The Argument This Mistres Shore king Edward the fourths beautious paramour was so called of her husband a Goldsmith dwelling in Lombard streete Edward the fourth sonne to Richard Duke of Yorke after hee had obtained the crowne by deposing Henry the sixth which Henry was after murthered in the Tower by Richard Crookeback after the battel fought at Barnet where the famous Earle of VVarwicke was slaine and that King Edward quietly possessed the crowne hearing by report of many the rare and wonderfull beautie of the aforesaid Shores wife commeth himselfe disguised to London to see her where after he had once beheld her he was so
bestow vvhich as a quarry on the soyld earth lay Seasd on by conquest as a glorious pray 58 Heere noble Bohun that braue-issued peere Herford so hie in eu'ry gracious hart Vnto his country so receiu'd and deere vvounded by treason in the lower part As o're the bridge his men returning were Through those ill-ioyn'd plancks by an enuious dart But Lancaster whose lot not yet to die Taken reseru'd to greater infamie 59 O subiect for some sadder Muse to sing Of fiue great Earldoms happily possest Of the direct line of the English King vvith fauours friends and earthly honours blest If so that all these happines could bring Or could endowe assurednes of rest But what estate stands free from fortunes power The Fates haue guidance of our time and howre 60 Some few themselues in sanctuaries hide In mercie of that priuiledged place Yet are their bodies so vnsanctifi'd As scarce their soules can euer hope for grace vvhereas they still in want and feare abide A poore dead life this draweth out a space Hate stands without and horror sits within Prolonging shame but pard'ning not their sin 61 Here is not death contented with the dead As though of some thing carelesly deni'd Till which might firmly be accomplished His vtmost fully were not specifi'd That all exactly might be perfected A further torment vengeance doth prouide That dead men should in misery remaine To make the liuing die with greater paine 62 You soueraine Citties of th' afflicted Ile In Cipresse wreaths and widowed attire Prepare yee now to build the funerall pile Lay your pale hands vnto this latest â—â—re All mirth and comfort from your streets exile Till you be purg'd of this infectious â—â—e The noblest blood yet liuing to be shed That euer dropt from your rebellious dead 63 VVhen this braue Lord great Lancaster who late This puisant force had now thus long retayn'd As the first Agent in this strange debate At fatall Pomfret for these facts aâ—ayn'd Gainst whom of all things they articulate To whom these factions chiefly appertain'd vvhose proofes apparant so directly sped As from his body reâ—t a reuerent head 64 Yet Lancaster it is not thy deere breath Can raunsome back the safety of the Crowne Nor make a league of so great power with death To warrant what is rightfully our owne But they must pay the â—orfait of their faith vvhich fondly broke with their ambiâ—ion vvhen now reueâ—ge vnto the vtmost rack'd The Agents iustly suffer with the actâ— 65 Euen in that place where he had lately led As this darke path vnto the rest to show It was not long ere many followed In the same steps that he before did goe London thy freedome is prohibited The first in place ô would the first in woe Others in blood did not excell thee farre That now deuour the remnant of this warre 66 O parents ruthfull and hart-renting sight To see that sonne thy tender bosome fed A mothers ioy a fathers sole delight That with much cost yet with more care was bred A spectacle euen able to affright Th'most sencelesse thing and terrifie the dead His blood so deere vpon the cold earth powr'd His quarter'd coarse of birds and beasts deuour'd 67 But t is not you that beere complaine alone Or to your selues this fearefull portion share Heer 's choyce and strange varietie of moane Poore childrens teares with widdowes mixed are Many a friends sigh many a maydens grone So innocent so simply pure and rare As though euen nature that long silent kept Burst out in playnts and bitterly had wept 68 O wretched age had not these things beene done I had not now in these more calmer times Into the search of former troubles runne Nor had my virgine impoluted rimes Altred the course wherein they first begun To sing these bloody and vnnaturall crimes My layes had still beene to Ideas bower Of my deere Ankâ—r or her loued Stoure 69 Or for our subiect your faire worth to chuse Your birth your vertue and your hie respects That gently dayne to patronize our Muse vvho our free soule ingeniously elects To publish your deserts and all your dues Mauger the Momists and Satyrick sects vvhilst my great verse eternally is song You still may liue with me in spight of wrong 70 But greater things reserued are in store Vnto this taske my Armed Muse to keepe Still offering me occasion as before Matter whereof my tragick verse may weepeâ— And as a vessell beeing neere tâ—e shore By aduerse winds enforced to the deepe Am driuen backe from whence I came of late Vnto the bus'nes of a troubled state The end of the second Canto The third Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument By a sleepie potion that the Queene ordaines Lord Mortimer escapes out of the Tower And by false slights and many subtile traines Shee gets to Fraunce to raise a â—orraine power The French King leaues his sister need constraines The Queene to Henault in a happy bowre Edward her sonne to Phillip is affi'd And for iâ—uasion presently prouide 1 SCarce had these passed miseries their ends vvhen other troubles instantly begun As still new matter mischiefe apprehends By things that inconâ—id'ratly were done And further yet this insolence extends vvhilst all not yeelded that the sword had wonneâ— For some there were that â—ecretly did he That to this bus'nes had a watchfull eye 2 VVhen as the King whilst things thus fairely went VVho by this happy victory grew strong Summons at Yorke a present Parlement To plant his right and helpe the Spensers wrong By which he thinks t' establish his intent vvhence more and more his Mineons greatnes sprong vvhose counsels still in all proceedings crost Th' inraged Queene whom all misfortunes tost 3 VVhen now the eld'st a man extreamly hated vvhom yet the King not aptly could prefer The edge of their sharpe insolence abated This parlement makes Earle of VVinchester vvhere Herckley Earle of Carlell is created And Baldock likewise is made Chauncelor One whom the King had for his purpose wrought A man as subtile so corrupt and naught 4 VVhen now mishapp's that sildome come alone Thicke in the necks of one another fell The Scot pretends a new inuasion And Fraunce doth thence our vse-full power expell Treasons suspected to attend his throne The greeued Commons eu'ry day rebell Mischiefe on mischiefe curse doth follow curse One ill scarse past when after comes a worse 5 For Mortimer this wind yet fitly blew Troubling theyr eyes which else perhaps might see vvhilst the wise Queene who all aduantage knew Is closly plotting his deliuery vvhich now she doth with all her powers pursue Aptly contryu'd by her deepe pollicie Against opinion and the course of might To worke her will euen through the iawes of spight 6 A sleepie drinke she secretly hath made vvhose operation had such wonderous power As with cold numnes could the sence invade And mortifie the patient by an howre The liuelesse corse in such a slumber layd As
though pale death did wholy it deuour Nor for two dayes take benefit of eyes By all means Art or Physick could deuise 7 For which she Plantane and cold Lettice had The water Lilly from the marrish ground VVith the wan Poppy and the Night-shade sad And the short mosse that on the trees is found The poysning Henbane and the Mandrake drad vvith Cypresse flowers that with the rest are pound The braine of Cranes like purposely she takes Mix'd vvith the blood of Dormise and of Snakes 8 Thus sits the great Enchauntresse in her cell Strongly ingert with ceremonious charmes Her clensed body sens'd with hallowing smell vvith Vestall fire her potent liquor warmes Hauing full heate vnto her â—usnes fell vvhen her with Magique instruments she Armes And from the hearbes the powerfull verdure wrong To make the med'cine forcible and strong 9 The sundry doubts that incident arise Might be supposd her trembling hand to stay If she considered of the enterprise To thinke what perrill in th'attempting lay The secret lurking of deceitfull spies That on her steps continually doe pray But when they leaue of vertue to esteeme Those greatly erre which take them as they seeme 10 Their plighted â—aith for liberty they leaue Their loue is cold their lust hote hote their hate vvith smiles and teares they serpentlike deceaue In their desires they be insatiate There 's no restraint their purpose can bereaue Their will no bound nor their reuenge no date All feare exempt where they at ruine ayme Couering their sinne with their discouered shame 11 The elder of the Mortimers this space That many sundry miseries had past So long restrayn'd within that healthlesse place Redeem'd by death yet happily at last That much auailes the other in this case And from this Lord that imposition cast vvhich the deere safety of his vnckles breath vvithin the Tower so strictly limmeteth 12 But there was more did on his death depend Then heauen was pleasd the foolish world should know And why the Fates thus hasted on his end Thereby intending greater things to show Braue Lord in vaine thy breath thou didst not spend From thy corruption further matters grow And soone beginning fruitfully to spring New formes of feare vpon the time to bring 13 All things prepard in readines and fit The Queene attends her potions power to proue Their stedfast friends their best assisting it Their seruaunts seale their secrets vp in loue And he expresse his valure and his wit vvhom of the rest it chiefly doth behoue Places resolu'd where guide and horses lay And where the ship him safely to conuay 14 As his large bounties liberally were heapt To all deseruing or to those that neede His solemne birth-dayes feastifall was kept At his free charge all in the Tower to feede vvhich may suspition cleerly intercept A strong assistant in so great a neede vvhen midst their cates their furious thirst to quench Mixing their wine with this approoued drench 15 VVhich soone each sence and eu'ry power doth ceaze vvhen he that knew the strength of eu'ry ward And to the purpose sorting all his keyes His corded ladders readily prepar'd And lurking forth by the most secret waies Not now to learne his compasse by the Card To winne the walls coragiously doth goe vvhich looke asscorning to be mastred so 16 They soundly sleepe whilst his quick spirits awake Opposd to perrill and the stem'st extreames Alcydes labours new to vndertake Of walls of gates of watches and of streames Through which his passage he is now to make And let them tell King Edward of their dreames For ere they rose out of the brainsicke traunce He hopes to tell this noble iest in Fraunce 17 The sullen night hath her blacke Curtaines spred Lowring the day had tarryed vp so long vvhose faire eyes closing softly steales to bed vvhen all the heauens with duskie cloudes are hong And Cynthia now plucks in her horned head And to the vvest incontinently flong As she had long'd to certifie the sunne vvhat in his absence in her Court was done 18 The glymmering lights like Sentinels in warre Behind the cloudes stand craftily to pry And through false loope-holes looking from a farre To see him skirmish with his desteny Not any fix'd nor any wandring starre As they had held a counsell in the skie And had before concluded with the night It should not looke for any cheerfull sight 19 In deadly silence all the shores are hush'd Onely the Skreech-howle sounds to the assault And Isis with a troubled murmure rush'd As if consenting and would hide the fault And as his foote the sand or grauell crush'd A little whisp'ring moou'd within the vault Made by the treading softly as he went vvhich seem'd to say it furthered his intent 20 This wondrous Queene whom care yet restlesse kept Now for his speede to heauen holds vp her hands A thousand strange thougâ—ts in her bosome heap'd As in her Closet listening still she stands That many a sigh spentâ— many a warme teare wept And though deuided as in sundry strands Most absent present in desires they be Our minds discerne where eyes doe cease to see 21 The small cloudes issuing from his lips she saith Labouring so fast as he the ladder clame Should purge the ayre of pestilence and death And as sometime that â—ilch'd Prometbian flame Euen so the power and vertue of his breath New creatures in the elements should frame And to what part of heauen it happ'd to stray There should path out another milkie way 22 Attaynd the top halfe spent awhile to blow Now round about he casts his longing eyes The gentle earth salut's him from below And couered with the comfortable skies Viewing the way that he is now to goe Cheer'd with the beames of Isabels faire eyes Downe from the turret desperatly doth slide Night be succesfull fortune be his guide 23 vvith his descent her eye soe still descends As feare had fix'd it to forewarne his fall On whom her hope and fortune now depends vvhen suddaine feare her sences doth appall For present ayde her god-like hand extends Forgets her selfe and speedy ayde doth call Silent againe if ought but good should hap Shee begs of heauen his graue may be her lap 24 Now she intreats the darke distempred ayre Then by stronge Magicks she coniures the wind Then she inuokes the gloomy night by prayer Then with her spells the mortall sence to bind And fearing much least these yet frustrate are Now by the burning tapers she diuin'd Intreating Tâ—ames to giue a friendly passe The deerest fraught ere on her bosome was 25 The rushing murmure stills her like a song But yet in feare the streame should fall in loue Suspects the drops that on his tresses hong And that the billowes for his beauty stroue To his fayre body that so closely clong vvhich when in swimming with his breast he droue Palled with griefe she turnes away her face Iealous that he the waters should embrace 26 This angry
it that time celestiall signes hath done 2 VVhilst our ill thriuing in those Scottish broyles Theyr strength and couâ—age greatly doth aduaunce That beeing made fat and wealthy by our spoyles vvhen we still weakned by the iarres in Fraunce And thus dishartned by continuall foyles Yeelds other cause whereat our Muse may glaunce And Herckleys treasons lastly brings to view vvhose power of late the Barrons ouerthrew 3 Now when the Scot with an inuasiue hand By daily inroads on the borders made Had spoyld the Country of Northumberland The buildings leuell with the ground weare layd And finding none that dare his power withstand vvithout controlement eu'ry where had pray'd Bearing with pride what was by pillage got As our last fall appointed to theyr lot 4 For vvhich false Herckley by his Soueraigne sent T' intreate this needfull though dishonored peace Cloking his treasons by this fayn'd intent Kinling the warre which otherwise might cease And with the Scot new mischiefes doth inuent T' intrap King Edward and their feare release For which their faith they constantly haue plight In peace and warre to stand for eithers right 5 For which the King his sister doth bestow Vpon this false Lord which to him affy'd Maketh too plaine and euident a show Of what before his trust did closely hide But beeing found from whence this match should grow By such as now into their actions pry'd Displayes the treasons which not quickly crost vvould shed more blood then all the warres had cost 6 VVhether the Kings weake counsels causes are That eu'ry thing so badly forteth out Or that the Earle did of our state despaire vvhen nothing prosper'd that was gone about And therefore carelesse how these matters fare I le not define but leaue it as a doubt Or some vaine title his ambition lackt Hatch'd in his breast this treasonable act 7 VVhich now reueal'd vnto the iealous King For apprehension of this tray't rous Peere To the Lord Lucy leaues the managing One whose knowne faith he euer held so deere By whose dispatch and trauell in this thing He doth well worthy of his trust appeare In his owne Castell carelesly defended The trecherous Herckley closely apprehended 8 For which ere long vnto his tryall led In all the roabes befitting his degree VVhere Scroope chiefe Iustice in King Edwards sted vvas now prepar'd his lawfull Iudge to be Vrging the proofes by his enditement red vvhere they his treasons euidently see vvhich now themselues so plainly doe expresse As might at first declare his bad successe 9 His honor'd title backe againe restord Noted with tearmes of infamie and scorne And then disarmed of his knightly sword On which his faith and loyaltie was sworne And by a varlet of his spurres dispur'd His coate of Armes in peeces hal'd and torne To tast deserued punishment is sent T'a trayterous death that trayterously had ment 10 VVhen such the fauorers of this fatall war vvhom this occasion doth more sharply whet Those for this cause thet yet impris'ned are Boldly attempt at liberty to set vvhose purpose frustrate by the others care Doth greater wounds continually beget vvarning the King more strictly looke about These secret fires still daily breaking out 11 And Hereford in Parlement accusd Of treasons which apparantly were wrought That with the Queene and Mortimers were vsd vvhereby subuersion of the Realme was sought And both his calling and his trust abusd vvhich now to aunswere when he should be brought Ceaz'd by the Clergy in the Kings despight Vnder the colour of the Churches right 12 VVhilst now the Queene from England day by day That of these troubles still had certaine word vvhose friends much blam'd her tedious long delay vvhen now the time occasion doth afford vvith better hast doth for herselfe puruay Bearing prouision presently abord Ships of all vses daily rigging are Fit'st for inuasion to transport a warre 13 The Earle of Kent by 's soueraigne brother plac'd As the great Generall of his force in Gwine vvho in his absence here at home disgra'st And frustrated both of his men and coyne By such lewd persons to maintaine theyr wast From the Kings treasúres ceas'd not to proloyne Th'lasciuious Prince though mou'd regardlesse still Both of his owne losse and his brothers ill 14 VVhos 's discontentment beeing quickly found By such as all aduantages await That still apply'd strong corsiues to the wound And by their sharpe and intricate deceit Hindred all meanes might possibly redound This fast-arising mischiefe to defeate Vntill his wrongs vvere to that fulnesse growne That they haue made him absolute their owne 15 VVhose selfe-like followers in these faithlesse warres Men most experienc'd and of worthiest parts vvhich for their pay receaued onely scarres vvhilst the inglorious reap'd their due desarts And Mineons hate of other hope debarres vvith too much violence vrg'd their grieued harts On Iohn of Henault wholy doe rely vvho led a great and valiant company 16 That in this conquest doe themselues combine The Lords Pocelles Sares and Boyseers Dambretticourt the young and valiant Heyn Estoteuill Comines and Villeers Others his Knights Sir Michaell de la Lyne Sir Robert Balioll Boswit and Semeers Men of great power whom spoile and glory warmes Such as were wholly dedicate to Armes 17 Three thousand souldiers mustred men in pay Of French Scotch Almaine Swiser and the Dutch Of natiue English fled beyond the Sea vvhose number neere amounted to asmuch VVhich long had look'd for this vnhappy day vvhom her reuenge did but too neerely tuch Her friends now ready to receaue her in And new commotions eu'ry day begin 18 VVhen she for England fitly setting forth Spreading her proud sayles on the watry plaine Shaping her course directly to the North vvith her young Edward Duke of Aquitaine vvith th' other three of speciall name and worth The destain'd scurges of his lawlesse raine Her souldier Beumount with the Earle of Kent And Mortimer that mighty malcontent 19 A for-wind now for Harwich fitly blowes Blow not too fast to kindle such a fire vvhilst with full saile and fairer tide she goes Turne gentle wind and force her to retire The fleet thou driu'st is fraughted with our woes But winds and seas doe Edwards wracke conspire For when iust heauen to chastice vs is bent All things conuert to our due punishment 20 Thy coasts be kept with a continuall ward Thy Beacons watch'd her comming to discry O had the loue of subiects beene thy guard T 'had beene t' effect that thou didst fortifie But whilst thou stand'st gainst for raine foes prepard Thou art betrayd by thy home enemy Small helpe by this thou art but like to win Shutting death out thou keep'st destruction in 21 VVhen Henry brother to that haplesse Prince The first great engine of this ciuill strife Deere Lancaster whom law did late conuince And that at Pomfret left his wretched life This Henry in whose great hart euer since Reuenge lay couer'd smoother'd vp in griefe Like fire in some fat
felt as comming from a swoune And that his powers a little gan awake Fortune quoth he thou doost not alwaies frowne I see thou giu'st aswell as thou doost take That wanting naturall couert for my braine For that defect thou lend'st me this againe 38 To whom ô heauen should I my griefes complainâ— Since thou art iust and prouident in all How should this body naturall strength retaine To suffer things so much innaturall My cogitations labour but in vaine Except thou be partaker in my fall And when at once so many mischiefes meet By change of sorrow mak'st my torment sweet 39 VVherefore my fate I should but fondly grutch T is vaine contention when with heauen we striue vvhich preordaines my miseries for such That by one woe another should suruiue To shew how it mortalitie can â—uch My wretchednes so strangely to contriue That all my comfort in mishaps should rest And else in nothing but misfortune blest 40 To Berckley thus they lead this wretched King The place of horror that was long fore-thought vvhat power should suffer so defil'd a thing Or can behold this murther to be wrought That might the Nation into question bring But that your wayes with iudgment still are fraught Thus art thou hap'd into thy earthly hell Now take thy leaue and bid the world farewell 41 Berckley whose faire seate hath beene famous long Let thy faire buildings shreeke a deadly sound And to the ayre complaine thy grieuous wrong Keeping the figure of King Edwards wound That as thou waxest old theyr shame still yong Their wretched footsteps printed on the ground That when report shall lend their vile act breath All tongues may ad damnation to their death 42 The omenous Rauen with a dismall cheere Through his hoarce beake of following horror tells Begetting strange imaginary feare vvith heauy eccho's like to passing Bells The howling dogge a dolefull part doth beare As though they chym'd his latest burying knells Vnder his eaue th buzzing shreechowle sings Beating his windowes with her fatall wings 43 And still affrighted in his fearefull dreames with raging fiends and goblins that he meets Of falling downe from steepe Rocks into streames Of tombes of burialls and of winding sheets Of wandring helplesse in farre forraine Realmes Of strong temptations by seducing sprites VVherewith awak'd and calling out for ayde His hollow voyce doth make himselfe afraid 44 Next comes the vision of his bloody raine Masking along with Lancasters steme ghost Of Barrons twenty eyght or hang'd or slaine Attended with the rufull mangled host That vnreueng'd yet all this while remaine At Borough battell and at Burton lost Threatning with frownes and trembling eu'ry lim As through in peeces they would torture him 45 And if it chaunce that from the troubled skies The least small starre through any chincke giue light Straightwaies on heapes the thronging cloudes arise As though the heauen were angry with the night That it should lend that comfort to his eyes Deformed shadowes glimpsing in his sight As darknes for it would more darkned be Through those poore crannies forc'd it selfe to see 46 VVhen all th'affliction that they could impose Euen to the full and vtmost of their hate Aboue his torment yet his strength arose As nature made a couenaunt with fate vvhen now his watchfull and two wary foes That cease not still his woes to aggrauate All further helps suspected to preuent To take his life to Berckley closely sent 47 And subtilly a letter fashioning vvhich in the words a double sence doth beare vvhich seemes to bid them not to touch the King Shewing withall how vile a thing it were But by false poynting is another thing And to dispatch him bids them not to feare vvhich taught to finde these murtherers neede no more For which they stood too ready long before 48 VVhere as he haps a Chronicle to finde Of former Kings their raignes their deaths and deedes vvhich some their lodg'd forgotten had behind On which to passe the howers he falls to reede Thinking thereby to recreate his mind But in his breast this greater woe doth breed For when deepe sorrow on the fansie seaseth vvhat ere we see our misery increaseth 49 First of great VVilliam conqueror of this I le From whom hee 's tenth that in succession lies vvhose power inforc'd the Saxon to exile Planting new lawes and forraine subtilties Force and subiection so to reconcile The punishment of Harolds tyrannies vvhich he applies with arguments so strong To the due course of his just punish'd wrong 50 Rufus his sonne Duke Robert farre abroad Receaues the rule in weakeinfeebled state His fathers steps that euidently troad Depressing those who had beene conquer'd late vvishing release of this theyr grieuous load Vnder the guidance of their former fate The place for men that did to beasts intend A bestiall life had last a beastly end 51 Henry the yong'st his brother VVilliam dead Taketh the crowne from his vsurpfull hand Due to the eldest good Duke Roberts head Bearing our Red-crosse in the Holy Land vvhose force farre off so much diminished That his returne disabled to withstand vvhen those for whom th' vnnaturall warre was done The sea deuours he left without a sonne 52 To Maude the Empresse he the scepter leaues His onely daughter which by false pretext Stephen Earle of Bullaine forcibly bereaues Henries false nephew in succession next By which the Land a stranger warre receaues vvherewith it grew so miserably vext Till Stephen fayling and his issue reft T 'the heyres of Maude the regall scepter left 53 The second Henry Maude the Empresse sonne Of th' English line Plantaginet the first By Stephens death a glorious raigne begunne vvhose youth prolong'd to make his age accurst By his sonne Henries corronation vvhich to his dayes much woe and sorrow nurst vvhen those for whom he conquer'd to make great Abroade his townes at home vsurp'd his seate 54 Richard his sonne that after him succeedes vvho not content with what was safely ours A man lift vp to great and glorious deedes Into the East transports our valiant powers vvhere with his sword whilst many a Pagan bleedes Relentlesse fate hasts on vntimely howres And makes a period to this hopefull story Euen in the spring and blossome of his glory 55 VVhen him succeedes his faithlesse brother Iohn Murth'ring young Arthur by oppresfull might Climing by force to his vsurped throne Iustly with poyson was repay'd his spight His life to all men is so hatefull growne vvho greeues his wrongs that nere did any right That on the Cleargie tyrannously fed vvas by the Cleargie iustly punished 56 Henry his sonne now crowned very yong vvho for the hate they to his Father bare His state of raigning stood in question long Or to be left vnto a strangers care vvith whom the Barrons insolent and strong For the old Charter in commotion are vvhich his long raine so carefully attends Granting his dayes in peace securely ends 57 From him proceedes a Prince
make vvhen I am growne familiar with my woe And nothing can th' afflicted conscience grieue But he can pardon that doth all forgiue 87 And thus thou most adored in my hart vvhose thoughts in death my humbled spirit doth raise Lady most fayre most deere of most desart VVorthy of more then any mortall praise Condemned Marcb thus lastly doth depart From her the greatest Empresse of her dayes Nor in the dust mine honor I inter Thus Caesar dy'd and thus dies Mortimer 88 To Nottingham this Letter brought vnto her vvhich is subscrib'd with her Emperious stile Puts her in mind how once that hand did wooe her vvith this short thought to please herselfe awhile Thus sorrow can so subtilly vndoe her That with such flattery doth her sence beguile To giue a sharper feeling to that paine vvhich her grieu'd hart was shortly to sustaine 89 Putting her fingers to vnrip the seale Cleauing to keepe those sorrowes from her eyes As it were loth the tydings to reueale vvhence griefe should spring in such varieties But strongly vrg'd doth to her will appeale vvhen the soft waxe vnto her touch implies Sticking vnto her fingers bloody red To shew the bad newes quickly followed 90 Thus by degrees she easâ—y doth begin As the small fish playes with the bayted hooke Then more and more to swallow sorrow in As threatning death at eu'ry little looke vvhere now she reads th'expences of her sin Sadly set downe in this blacke dreadfull booke And those deere summes were like to be defray'd Before the same were absolutely pay'd 91 An hoast of woes her suddainly assayle As eu'ry letter wounded like a dart As though contending which should most preuaile Yet eu'ry one doth piâ—rce her to the hart As eu'ry word did others case bewaile And with his neighbour seem'd to beare a part Reason of griefe eâ—ch sentence is to her And eu'ry line a true remembrancer 92 Greefe makes her reade yet straightwaies bids her leaue vvith which ore-charg'd shee neither sees nor heares Her sences now theyr Mistris so deceiue The words doe wound her eyes the sound her eares And eu'ry organe of the vse bereaues vvhen for a fescue she doth vse her teares That when some line she loosly ouer-past The drops doe tell her where she left the last 93 O now she sees was neuer such a sight And seeing curs'd her sorrow-seeing eye Yet thinks she is deluded by the light Or is abusd by the orthography And by some other t' is deuis'd for spight Or pointed false her schollership to try Thus when we fondly sooth our owne desires Our best conceits oft proue the greatest lyers 94 Her trembling hand as in a feuer shakes vvhere-with the paper doth a little stirre vvhich she imagines at her sorrow shakes And pitties it who she thinks pitties her Each small thing somewhat to the greater makes And to the â—umor some thing doth infer VVhich when so soone as shee her tongue could free O worthy Earle deere-loued Lord quoth shee 95 I will reserue thy ashes in some Vrne vvhich as a relique I will onely saue Mix'd with the teares that I for thee shall mourne vvhich in my deare breast shall theyr buriall haue From whence againe they neuer shall returne Nor giue the honor to another graue But in that Temple euer be preserued vvhere thou a Saint religiously art serued 96 VVhen she breakes out to cursing of her sonne But March so much still runneth in her mind That she abruptly ends what she begunne Forgets her selfe and leaues the rest behind From this she to another course doth runne To be reueng'd in some notorious kind To which shee deeply doth ingage her troth Bound by a strong vow and a solemne oth 97 For pen and incke she calls her mayds without And the Kings dealings will in griefe discouer But soone forgetting what she went about Shee now begins to write vnto her louer Heere she sets downe and there she blotteth out Her griefe and passion doe so strongly moue her vvhen turning backe to read what she had writ She teares the paper and condemns her wit 98 And thus with contrarieties araysed As waters chilnesse wakeneth from a swound Comes to her selfe the agony appeased VVhen colder blood more sharply feeles the wound And griefe her so incurably hath seaized That for the same no remedie is found As the poore refuge to her restlesse woes This of her griese she lastly doth dispose 99 That now vnkind King as thou art my sonne Leauing the world some legacie must giue thee My harts true loue the dying March hath wonne Yet that of all I will not quite bereaue thee The wrong and mischiefe to thy mother done I thee bequeath so bound that they out-liue thee That as my breast it hourely doth torment Thou maist enioy it by my Testament 100 Hence forth within this solitary place Abandoning for euer generall sight A priuate life I willingly embrace No more reioycing in the obuious light To consumaâ—e the weary lingering space Till death inclose me with continuall night Each small remembrance of delight to flie A conuertite and penitently die FINIS To the Reader SEeing these Epistles are now to the world made publique it is imagined that I ought to bee accountable of my priuate meaning cheefely for mine owne discharge least beeing misttaken I fall in hazard of a iust and vniuersall reprehension for Hae nugae feria ducent In mala derisum semel exceptumque sinistre Three poynts are especially therefore to be explained First why I entitle this worke Englands heriocall Epistles theÌ„ why I obserue not the persons dignitie in the dedication lastly why I haue annexed notes to euery Epistles end For the first the title I hope carrieth reason in it selfe for that the most and greatest persons herein were English or else that theyr loues were obtained in England And though heriocall be properly vnderstood of demi-gods as of Hercules and AEneas whose parents were said to be the one celestiall the other mortall yet is it also transferred to them who for the greatnes of mind come neere to Gods For to be borne of a celestiall Incubus is nothing else but to haue a great and mightie spirit farre aboue the earthly weakenesse of men in which sence Ouid whose imitator I partly professe to be doth also vse heroicall For the second seeing none to whom I haue dedicated any two Epistles but haue theyr states ouermatched by them who are made to speake in the Epistles how euer the order is in dedication yet in respect of their degrees in my deuotion and the cause before recited I hope they suffer no disparagement seeing euery one is the first in theyr particuler interest hauing in some sort sorted the complexion of the Epistles to the character of theyr iudgements to whom I dedicate theÌ„ excepting onely the blamefulnesse of the persons passion in those poynts wherein the passion is blamefull Lastly such manifest difference being betwixt euery one of them where or
with ayre Yet sometime doth our greatest griefe appease To double sorrow after little ease Like that which thy lasciuious will doth craue vvhich if once had thou neuer more canst haue vvhich if thou get in getting thou doost wast it Taken is lost and perrish'd if thou hast it vvhich if thou gain'st thou nere the more hast wone I loosing nothing yet am quite vndone And yet of that if that a King depraue me No King restores though he a kingdome gaue me Doost thou of Father and of friends depriue me And tak'st thou from me all that heauen did giue me vvhat nature claimes by blood alies or neernes Or friendship challenge by regard or deernes Mak'st me an Orphan ere my Father die A vvofull widdow in virginitie Is thy vnbrideled lust the cause of all And now thy flattering tongue bewayles my fall The dead mans graue with fained teares to fill So the deuouring Crocodile doth kill To harbor hate in shew of sweetest things So in the Rose the poisned serpent stings To lurke farre off yet lodge destruction by The Basiliske doth poyson with the eye To call for ayde and then to lie in waite So the Hiena murthers by deceite By sweet inticements suddaine death to bring So from the Rocks th'alluring Mermaids sing In greatest wants t' inflict the greatest woe This is the vtmost tyrannie can doe But where I see the tempest thus preuailes vvhat vse of Ankors or what neede of sailes Aboue vs blustring winds and dreadfull thunder The waters gape for our destruction vnder Heere on this side the furious billowes flie There rocks there sands and dangerous whir-pooles lie Is this the meane that mightines approues And in this sort doe Princes wooe their Loues Mildnes would better sute with maiestie Then rash reuenge and rough seueritie O in what safetie Temperance doth rest Obtayning harbour in a soueraigne brest VVhich if so praisefull in the meanest men In powerfull Kings how glorious is it then Alas and fled I hether from my fo That innocence should be betrayed so Is Court and Country both her enemie And no place found to shroud in chastitie Each house for lust a harbour and an Inne And euery Cittie a receite for sinne And all doe pittie beautie in distresse If beautie chast then onely pittilesse Thus is she made a tempting stale to lust Or vnreleeued needsly perrish must Lasciuious Poets which abuse the truth vvhich oft teach age to sinne infecting youth For the vnchast make trees stones to mourne Or as they please to other shapes doe turne Cinyras daughter whose incesteous mind Made her wrong nature and dishonour kind Long since by them is turn'd into a Mir vvhose dropping liquor euer weepes for her And in a fountaine Biblis doth deplore Her fault so vile and monsterous before Silla which once her Father did betray Is now a bird if all be true they say She that with Phoebus did the foule offence Now metamorphiz'd into Frankensence Other to flowers to odors and to gum At least Ioues Lemmon is a starre become And more they faine a thousand fond excuses To hide their scapes and couer theyr abuses The virgin onely they obscure and hide vvhilst the vnchast by them are deifide Yet if a Vestals name be once exprest She must be set together with the rest I am not now as when thou saw'st me last That fauour soone is vanished and past That Rosie-blush lapp'd in a Lilly-vale Now with the Morphew ouer-growne and pale And downe my cheekes with showers of swelling teares Remaine the furrowes that continuance weares And in the circles of my withered eyes In aged wrinkles beautie buried lyes And in my grace my presence iesture cheere Ruine distresse woe anguish doth appeare That brest that hand that cheeke that eye that brow Faded decayed fallen darkned wrinkled now Such was my beauty once now is it such Once thought most rare now altred more then much Nor I regard all that thou canst protest My vow is taken I a Nun profest This Vestall habite doth content me more Then all the robes that yet I euer wore Had Rosamond a recluse of our sort Taken our Cloister left the wanton Court Shadowing that beauty with a holy vale vvhich she alas too loosely set to sale She neede not like an vgly Minotaur Haue beene lock'd vp from iealious Ellenor But beene as famous by thy mothers wrongs As by thy father subiect to all tongues To shadow sinne might can the most pretend Kings but the conscience all things can defend A stronger hand restaines our wilfull powers A will must rule aboue this will of ours Not following what our vaine desires doe wooe For vertues sake but what we onely doe And hath my Father chose to liue exild Before his eyes should see my youth defild And to withstand a Tyrants lewd desire Beheld his Towers and Castles razd with fire Yet neuer tuch'd with griefe so onely I Exempt from shame might with true honor die And shall this iewell which so deerely cost Now after all by my dishonour lost No no his reuerend words his holy teares Yet in my soule too deepe impression beares His latest fare-well at his last depart More deepely is ingraued in my hart Nor shall that blot by me his name shall haue Bring his gray haires with sorrow to his graue Better his teares to fall vpon my Tombe Then for my birth to curse my mothers wombe Though Dunmow giue no refuge heere at all Dunmow can giue my body buriall If all remorcelesse no teare-shedding eye My selfe will moane my selfe so liue so dye Notes of the Chronicle Historie THis Epistle containeth no particuler points of historie more then the generality of the argument layeth open for after the banishment of the Lord Robert Fitzwater and that Matilda was become a Recluse at Dunmowe from whence this replie is imagined to bee written the King still earnestly persisting in his â—ute Matilda with this chast constant deniall hopeth yet at length to finde some comfortable remedy and to rid her selfe of doubts by taking vpon her this monastick habite to shew that she still beareth in mind his former cruelty bred by the impatience of his lust she remembreth him of her Fathers banishment the lawlesse exile of her alies and friends Dost thou of Father and of friends depriue me Then complaining of her distresse that flying thether thinking there to find releefe she sees her selfe most assaild where she hoped to haue found most safety Alas and fled I hether from my foe That c. After againe standing vpon the precise points of conscience not to cast off this habite she had taken My vow is taken I a Nun profest And at last laying open more particulerly the miseries sustained by her Father in England the burning of his Castles and houses which she proueth to be for her sake as respecting onely her honour more then his natiue Countrey and his owne fortunes And to withstand a Tyrants lewd desire Beheld
euen all things as it list And with vniust men to debate of lawes Is to giue power to hurt a rightfull cause vvhilst parlements must still redresse theyr wrongs And we must starue for what to vs belongs Our wealth but fuell to theyr fond excesse And we must fast to feast theyr wantonnesse Think'st thou our wrongs then insufficient are To moue our brother to religious war And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquytaine And if not that yet hath he broke the truce Thus all accur to put backe all excuse The sisters wrong ioynd with the brothers right Me thinks might vrge him in this cause to fight Be all those people sencelesse of our harmes vvhich for our country ought haue manag'd armes Is the braue Normans courage now forgot Or the bold Brittaines lost the vse of shot The big-bon'd Almaines and stout Brabanders Theyr warlike Pikes and sharp-edg'd Semiters Or doe the Pickards let theyr Crosbowes lie Once like the Centaurs of old Thessalie Or if a valiant Leader be theyr Lacke vvhere thou art present who should driue them backe I doe coniure thee by what is most deere By that great name of famous Mortimer By auncient VVigmors honourable Crest The Tombes where all thy famous Grandsires rest Or if then these what more may thee approue Euen by those vowes of thy vnfained loue That thy great hopes may moue the Christian King By forraine Armes some comfort yet to bring To curbe the power of traytors that rebell Against the right of princely Isabell. Vaine vvitlesse woman why should I desire To adde more heate to thy immortall fire To vrge thee by the violence of hate To shake the pillers of thine owne estate vvhen whatsoeuer we intend to doe To our misfortune euer sorts vnto And nothing els remaines for vs beside But teares and coffins onely to prouide VVhen still so long as Burrough beares that name Time shall not blot out our deserued shame And whilst cleere Trent her wonted course shall keepe For our sad fall her christall drops shall weepe All see our ruine on our backs is throwne And to our selues our sorrowes are our owne And Torlton now whose counsell should direct The first of all is slaundred with suspect For dangerous things dissembled sildome are vvhich many eyes attend with busie care VVhat should I say my griefes doe still renew And but begin when I should bid adiew Few be my words but manifold my woe And still I stay the more I striue to goe As accents issue forth griefes enter in And where I end mee thinks I but begin Till then fayre time some greater good affoords Take my loues payment in these ayrie words Notes of the Chronicle Historie O how I feard that sleepie drinke I sent Might yet want power to further thine intent MOrtimer beeing in the Tower and ordayning a feast in honour of his byrth-day as hee pretended and inuiting there-vnto sir Stephen Segraue Constable of the Tower with the â—est of the officers belonging to the same he gaue them a sleepie drinke prouided him by the Queene by which meanes he got libertie for his escape I steale to Thames as though to take the ayre And aske the gentle streame as it doth glide Mortimer being got out of the Tower swam the riuer of Thames into Kent whereof she hauing intelligence doubteth of his strength to escape by reason of his long imprisonment being almost the space of three yeeres Did Bulloyne once a festiuall prepare For England Almaine Cicile and Naeuarre Edward Carnaruan the first Prince of Wales of the English blood married Isabell daughter of Phillip the faire at Bulloyne in the presence of the Kings of Almaine Nauarre and Cicile with the chiefe Nobilitie of Fraunce and England which marriage was there solemnized with exceeding pompe and magnificence And in my place vpon his regall throne To set that girle-boy wanton Gaueston Noting the effeminacie luxurious wantonnesse of Gaueston the Kings Minion his behauiour and attire euer so womanlike to please the eye of his lasciuious Prince That a foule Witches bastard should thereby It was vrged by the Queene and the Nobilitie in the disgrace of Piers Gauestone that his mother was conuicted of witchcraft burned for the same and that Piers had bewitched the King Albania Gascoyne Cambria Ireland Albania Scotland so called of Albanact the second sonne of Brutus and Cambria Wales so called of Camber the third son the foure Realmes countries brought in subiection by Edward Longshankes When of our princely Iewels and our dowers We but enioy the least of what is ours A complaint of the prodigalitie of King Edward giuing vnto Gaueston the iewels treasure which was left him by the auncient Kings of England and enriching him with the goodly Manor of Wallingford assigned as parcel of the dower to the queens of this famous I le And ioyn'd with the braue issue of our blood Alie our kingdome to their crauand brood Edward the second gaue to Piers Gaueston in mariage the daughter of Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester begot of the Kings sister Ione of Acres maried to the said Earle of Glocester Should giue away all that his Father won To backe a stranger King Edward offered his right in Fraunce to Charles his brother in law and his right in Scotland to Robert Bruse to be ayded against the Barrons in the quarrell of Piers Gaueston And did great Edward on his death-bed giue Edward Longshanks on his death-bed at Carlile commanded yong Edward his sonne on his blessing not to call backe Gaueston which for the misguiding of the Princes youth was before banished by the whole counsell of the Land That after all this fearefull massaker The fall of Beuchamp Lasy Lancaster Thomas Earle of Lancaster Guy Earle of Warwick Henry Eaâ—le of Lincolne who had taken their oaths before the deceased King at his death to withstand his sonne Edward if hee should call Gauestone from exile being a thing which he much feared now seeing Edward to violate his Fathers coÌ„maundement rise in Armes against the king which was the cause of the ciuill war the ruine of so many Princes And gloried I in Gauestons great fall That now a Spenser should succeed in all The two Hugh Spensers the Father the sonne after the death of Gaueston became the great fauourites of the King the sonne beeing created by him lord Chamberlaine the father Earle of Winchester And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homaage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquitaine Edward Longshanks did homage for those Citties and Territories to the French King which Edward the second neglecting moued the French King by the subornation of Mortimer to cease those Countries into his hands By auncient Wigmors honourable Crest Wigmore in the marches of Wales was the auncient house of the Mortimers that noble and couragious familie That still so long as Borrough beares that name The Queene remembreth the great
our renowned seate To raze the auncient Trophies of our race vvith our deserts theyr monuments to grace Nor shall he leade our valiant marchers forth To make the Spensers famous in the North Nor be the Gardants of the Brittish pales Defending England and preseruing VVales At first our troubles easily recul'd But now growne head-strong hardly to be rul'd vvith grauest counsell all must be directed vvhere plainest shewes are openly suspected For where mishap our error doth assault There doth it easiliest make vs see our fault Then sweet represse all fond and wilfull spleene Two things to be a woman and a Queene Keepe close the cyndars least the fire should burne It is not this which yet must serue our turne And if I doe not much mistake the thing The next supply shall greater comfort bring Till when I leaue my Princesse for a while Liue thou in rest though I liue in exile Notes of the Chronicle Historie Of one condemn'd and long lodg'd vp in death ROger Mortimer Lorde of Wigmore had stoode publiquely condemned for his insurrection with Thomas Earle of Lancaster and Bohun Eale of Herford by the space of three moneths and as the report went the day of his execution was determined to haue beene shortly after which he preuented by his escape Twice all was taken â—twice thou all didst giue At what time the two Mortimers this Roger Lord of Wigmore and his vncle Roger Mortimer the elder were apprehended in the West the Queene by meanes of Torlton Bishop of Hereford and Becke Bishop of Duresme and Patriarke of Ierusalem being then both mightie in the state vpon the submission of the Mortimers somewhat pacified the King and now secondly she wrought meanes for his escape Leauing the cords to tell where I had gone With strong ladders made of cords prouided him for the purpose he escaped out of the Tower which when the same were found fastened to the walls in such a desperate attempt they bred astonishment to the beholders Nor let the Spensers glory in my chance The two Hugh Spensers the Father and the Sonne then beeing so highly fauoured of the King knew that their greatest safety came by his exile vvhose high and turbulent spirit could neuer brooke any corriuall in greatnes My Grandsire was the first since Arthurs raigne That the round-table rectifi'd againe Roger Mortimer called the great Lorde Mortimer Grandfather to this Roger which was afterward the first Earle of March reerected againe the Round-table at Kenelwoorth after the auncient order of King Arthurs table with the retinue of a hundred Knights a hundred Ladyes in his house for the entertayning of such aduentures as came thether from all parts of Christendome Whilst famous Longshanks bones in Fortunes scorne Edward Longshanks willed at his death that his body should bee boyled the flesh from the bones and that the bones should be borne to the warres in Scotland which he was perswaded vnto by a prophecie which told that the English should still be fortunate in conquest so long as his bones were carried in the field The English blood that stained Banocksburne In the great voyage Edward the second made against the Scots at the battell at Stâ—iueling neere vnto the riuer of Banocksburne in Scotland where there was in the English campe such banquetting excesse such riot and misorder that the Scots who in the meane time laboured for aduantage gaue to the English a great ouerthrow And in the Dead-sea sincke our houses fame From whose c. Mortimer so called of Mare Mortuum and in French Mortâ—mer in English the Dead-sea which is said to be where Sodome Gomorra once were before they were destroyed by fire from heauen And for that hatefull sacriligious sin Which by the Pope he stands accursed in Gaeustelinus and Lucas two Cardinalls sent into England froÌ„ Pope Clement to appease the auncient hate betweene the King and Thomas Earle of Lancaster to whose Embassy the King seemed to yeeld but after theyr departure he went back from his promises for which hee was accursed at Rome Of those industrious Romaine Colonies A Colony is a sort or number of people that come to inhabite a place before not inhabited whereby hee seemeth heere to prophecie of the subuersion of the Land the Pope ioyning with the power of other Princes against Edward for the breach of his promise Charles by iâ—uasiue Armes againe shall take Charles the French King mooued by the wrong done vnto hys sister ceazeth the Prouinces which belonged to the King of England into his hands stirred the ratheâ— thereto by Mortimer who solicited her cause in Fraunce as is expressed before in the other Epistle in the glosse vpon this poynt And those great Lords now after theyr attaints Canonized among the English Saints After the death of Thomas Earle of Lancaster at Pomfret the people imagined great miracles to be doone by his reliques as they did of the body of Bohun Earle of Herford slaine at Borough bridge FINIS ¶ To my worthy and honoured friend Maister VValter Aston SIR though without suspition of flatterie I might in more ample and freer tearmes intymate my affection vnto you yet hauing so sensible a tast of your generous and noble disposition which without this habit of ceremony can estimate my loue I will rather affect breuitie though it shoulde seeme my fault then by my tedious complement to trouble mine owne opinion setled in your iudgement and discretion I make you the Patron of this Epistle of the Black-Prince which I pray you accept till more easier howers may offer vp from me some thing more worthy of your view and my trauell Yours truly deuoted Mich Drayton Edward the blacke Prince to Alice Countesse of Salisburie ¶ The Argument Alice Countesse of Salisburie remaining at Roxborough Castle in the North in the absence of the Earle her husband who was by the Kings commaund sent ouer into Flaunders and there deceased ere his returne This Lady being besieged in her Castle by the Scots Edward the blacke Prince being sent by the King his Father to relieue the North-parts with an Armie and to remoue the siege of Roxborough there fel in loue with the Countesse when after she returned to London hee sought by diuers and sundry means to winne her to his youthfull pleasures as by forcing the Earle of Kent her Father her Mother vnnaturally to become his Agents in his vaine desire where after a long and assured trial of her inuincible constancie hee taketh her to his wife to which end hee onelie frameth this Epistle REceiue these papers from thy wofull Lord vvith far more woes then they with words are stor'd vvhich if thine eye with rashnes doe reproue They 'le say they came from that imperious loue In euery Letter thou maist vnderstand vvhich Loue hath sign'd and sealed with his hand And where no farther processe he refers In blots set downe for other Characters This cannot blush although you doe refuse it Nor will reply
ouerthrowne by the Welchmen which word Croggen hath since beene vsed to the Welchmens disgrace which was at first begun with their honour And old Caer-Merdin Merlins famous towne Caer-Merdin or Merlins Towne so called of Merlins beeing found there This was Ambrose Merlin whose prophecies weâ— haue There was another of that name called Merlin Siluestris borne in Scotland surnamed Calidonius of the Forrest Calidon where he prophecied And kept our natiue language now thus long The Welchmen be those auncient Brittaines which when the Picks Danes and Saxons inuaded heere were first diuen into those parts where they haue kept their language euer fince the first without commixion with any other language FINIS To my worthy and deerely esteemed Friend Maister Iames Huish SIR your owne naturall inclination to vertue your loue to the Muses assure mee of your kinde acceptance of my dedication It is seated by custome from which wee are now bolde to assume authoritie to beare the names of our friends vpon the fronts of our bookes as Gentlemen vse to set theyr Armes ouer theyr gates Some say this vse beganne by the Heroes and braue spirits of the old world which were desirous to bee thought to patronize learning and men in requitall honour the names of those braue Princes But I thinke some after put the names of great men in their bookes for that men shoulde say there was some thing good onely because indeed their names stoode there But for mine owne part not to dissemble I find no such vertue in any of theyr great titles to doe so much for anie thing of mine and so let them passe Take knowledge by this I loue you in good faith worthy of all loue I thinke you which I pray you may supply the place of further complement Yours euer M. Drayton Elinor Cobham to Duke Humfrey The Argument Elinor Cobham daughter to the Lord Cobham of Sterborough and wife to Humfry Plantaginet Duke of Glocester the son of Henry the fourth King of England sirnamed Bullingbrooke This noble Duke for his great wisedome and iustice called the good was by King Henry the fift brother to this Duke at his death appointed Protector of the Land during the nonage of Henry the sixt this Elinor Duches of Glocester a proud and ambitious woman knowing that if young Henry died without issue the duke her husband was the neerest of the blood conspired with one Bullenbrooke otherwise called Onely a great Magitian Hun a priest and Iourdane witch of Eye by sorcery to make away the king by coniuration to know who should succeede Of this beeing iustly conuicted she was adiudged to do penance three seuerall times openly in London then to perpetuall banishment in the I le of Man from whence she writeth this Epistle ME thinks not knowing who these lines should send Thou straight turn'st ouer to the latter end VVhere thou my name no sooner hast espi'd But in disdaine my letters casts aside VVhy if thou wilt I will my selfe denie Nay I 'le affirme and sweare I am not I Or if in that thy shame thou doost perceiue I le leaue that name that name my selfe shall leaue And yet me thinks amaz'd thou shouldst not stand Nor seeme so much appauled at my hand For my misfortunes haue inur'd thine eye Long before this to sights of misery No no read on t is I the very same All thou canst read is but to reade my shame Be not dismaid nor let my name afright The worst it can is but t' offend thy sight It cannot wound nor doe thee deadly harme It is no dreadfull spell nor magique charme If shee that sent it loue Duke Humfrey so I st possible her name should be his foe Yes I am Elnor I am very shee vvho brought for dower a virgins bed to thee Though enuious Beuford slaunder'd me before To be Duke Humfreys wanton Paramore And though indeed I can it not denie To magique once I did my selfe apply I won thee not as there be many thinke vvith poysoning Philters and betwitching drinke Nor on thy person did I euer proue Those wicked potions so procuring loue I cannot boast to be rich Hollands heyre Nor of the blood and greatnes of Bauier Yet Elnor brought no forraine Armies in To fetch her backe as did thy Iacomin Nor clamorous husbands folowed me that fled Exclaiming Humfrey to defile his bed Nor wast thou forc'd the slaunder to suppresse To send me backe as an adulteresse Brabant nor Burgoyne claimed me by force Nor su'd to Rome to hasten my deuorce Nor Belgias pompe defac'd with Belgias fire The iust reward of her vniust desire Nor Bedfords spouse your noble sister Anne That princely-issued great Burgunnian Should stand with me to moue a womans strife To yeeld the place to the Protectors wife If Cobhams name my birth can dignifie Or Sterborough renowne my familie VVhere 's Greenewich now thy Elnors Court of late vvhere she with Humfrey held a princely state That pleasant Kent when I abroade should ride That to my pleasure layd forth all her pride The Thames by water when I tooke the ayre Daunc'd with my Barge in lanching from the stayre The anchoring ships that when I pass'd the roade vvere wont to hang their chequered tops abroad How could it be those that were wont to stand To see my pompe so goddesse-like on land Should after see mee mayld vp in a sheete Doe shamefull penance three times in the streete Rung with a bell a Taper in my hand Bare-foote to trudge before a Beedles wand That little babes not hauing vse of tongue Stoode poynting at me as I came along VVher 's Humfreys power where was his great command vvast thou not Lord-protector of the Land Or for thy iustice who can thee denie The title of the good Duke Humfrey Hast thou not at thy life and in thy looke The seale of Gaunt the hand of Bullingbrooke VVhat blood extract from famous Edwards line Can boast it selfe to be so pure as thine vvho else next Henry should the Realme prefer If it allow of famous Lancaster But Rayners daughter must from Fraunce be fet And with a vengeance on our throne be set Mauns Maine and Aniou on that begger cast To bring her home to England in such hast And what for Henry thou hast laboured there To ioyne the King with Arminacks rich heyre Must all be dash'd as no such thing had been Poole needs must haue his darling made a Queen How should he with our Princes else be plac'd To haue his Earleship with a Dukedome grac'd And raise the ofspring of his blood so hie As Lords of vs and our posteritie O that by Sea when he to Fraunce was sent The ship had sunck wherein the traytor went Or that the sands had swallowed her before Shee ere set foote vpon the English shore But all is well nay we haue store to giue vvhat need we more we by her lookes can liue All that great Henries conquests
insolencie was punished in him his posterity as if it were fatall to the conquerour to doe his soueraigne such loyall seruice as a thousand such seuere censurers were neuer able to performe Since Scottish blood discoloured Floden field The battell was fought at Bramstone neere to Flodden hill beeing a part of the Cheuiot a mountaine that exceedeth all the mountaines in the North of England for bignes in which the wilfull periurie of Iames the fifth was punished from heauen by the Earle of Surrey being left by King Henry the eyght then in Fraunce before Turwin for the desence of his Realme Nor beautious Stanhope whom all tongues report To be the glory c. Of the beautie of that Lady he himselfe testifies in an Elegie which he writ of her refusing to daunce with him which he seemeth to alegorize vnder a Lyon and a Wolfe And of himselfe he saith A Lyon saw I late as white as any snow And of her I might perceiue a Wolfe as white as Whalls bone A fairer beast of fresher hue beheld I neuer none But that her lookes were coy and froward was her grace And famous Wyat who in numbers sings Sir Thomas Wyat the elder a most excellent Poet as his Poems extant doe witnes besides certaine Encomions written by the Earle of Surrey vpon some of Dauids Psalmes by him translated What holy graue what worthy Sepulcher To wyats Psalmes shall Christians purchase then And afterward vpon his death the said Earle writeth thus What vertues rare were tempred in thy brest Honour that England such a Iewell bred And kisse the ground whereas thy corps did rest At Honsdon where those sweet celestiall eyne It is manifest by a Sonnet written by this noble Earle that the first time he beheld his Lady was at Hunsdon Honsdon did first present her to mine eyne Which Sonnet beeing altogether a description of his loue I do alledge in diuers places of this glosse as proofes of what I write Of Hampton Court and Windsore where abound All pleasures c. That hee enioyed the presence of his faire and vertuous mistris in those two places by reason of queene Katherines vsuall aboad there on whom this Lady Geraldiue was attending I proue by these yerses of his Hampton me taught to wish her first for mine Winsor alas doth chase me from her sight And in another Sonnet following When Winsor walls sustaind my wearied arme My hand my chin to ease my restles head And that his delight might draw him to compare Winsor to Paradice an Elegy may proue where he remembreth his passed pleasures in that place With a Kings sonne my childish yeeres I pass'd In greater feast then Priams sonne of Troy And againe in the same Elegie Those large greene Courts where we were wont to roue With eyes cast vp vnto the maydens Tower With easie sighs such as men draw in loue And againe in the same The statelie seats the Ladies bright of hue The dances short long tales of sweet delight And for the pleasantâ—es of the place these verses of his may tosusie in the same Elegie before recited The secret groues which we haue made resound With siluer drops the meads yet spread for ruth As goodly flowers from Thamisis doe grow c. I had thought in this place not to haue spoken of Thames beeing so oft remembred by me before in sundry other places on this occasion but thinking of that excellent Epigram which as I iudge either to be done by the said Earle or Sir Frauncis Brian for the woorthinesse thereof I will heere insett which as it seemes to me was compiâ—ed at the Authors beeing in Spayne Tagus farewell which Westward with thy streames Turn'st vp the graines of gold already tride For I with spur and sayle goe seeke the Thames Against the sun that shewes her wealthy pride And to the towne that Brutus sought by dreames Like bended Moone that leanes her lustie side To seeke my Country now for whom I liue O mighty Ioue for this the winds mee giue FINIS Geraldine to Henry Howard Earle of Surrey SVch greeting as the noble Surrey sends The same to thee thy Geraldine commends A maydens thoughts doe check my trembling hand On other termes or complements to stand vvhich might my speech be as my hart affords Should come attired in farre richer words But all is one my faith as firme shall proue As hers that makes the greatest show of loue In Cupids Schoole I neuer read those bookes vvhose lectures oft we practise in our lookes Nor euer did suspitions riuall eye Yet lie in waite my fauours to espie My virgine thoughts are innocent and meeke As the chast blushes sitting on my cheeke As in a Feauer I doe shiuer yet Since first my penne was to the paper set If I doe erre you know my sexe is weake Feare proues a fault where mayds are forc'd to speakeâ— Doe I not ill ah sooth me not heerein O if I doe reproue me of my sinne Chide me infaith or if my fault you hide My tongue will teach my selfe my selfe to chide Nay noble Surrey blot it if thou wilt Then too much boldnes should returne my guilt For that should be euen from our selues conceal'd vvhich is disclosd if to our thoughts reueal'd For the least motion more the smallest breath That may impeach our modestie is death The Page that brought thy Letters to my hand Me thinks should meruaile at my strange demaund For till he blush'd I did not yet espie The nakednes of my immodestie vvhich in my face he greater might haue seene But that my fanne I quickly put betweene Yet scarcely that my inward guilt could hide Feare seeing all feares it of all espide Like to a Taper lately burning bright Now wanting matter to maintaine his light The blaze aâ—cending forced by the smoke Liuing by that which seekes the same to choke The flame still hanging in the ayre doth burne Vntill drawne downe it back againe returne Then cleere then dim then spreadeth and then closeth Now getteth strength and now his brightnes looseth As well the best discerning eye may doubt VVhether it yet be in or whether out Thus in my cheeke my diuers passions show'd Now ashy pale and now againe it glow'd If in your verse there be a power to moue It 's you alone who are the cause I loue It 's you bewitch my bosome by mine eare Vnto that end I did not place you there Ayres to asswage the bloody Souldiors mind Poore women we are naturally kind Perhaps yow 'll thinke that I these termes enforce For that in Court this kindnes is of course Or that it is that honey-steeped gall vve oft are said to bayte our loues withall That in one eye we carry strong desire The other drops which quickly quench the fire Ah what so false can Enuie speake of vs But shall finde some too vainly credulous I doe not so and to adde proofe thereto I loue in faith in faith sweet Lord I do
liueth As smiles in teares and teares in gladnes giuethâ— Yet thinke not Iane that cowardly I faint As begging mercy by this sad complaint Or yet suppose my courage daunted so That thou shouldst stand betwixt me and my so That grim-aspected death should now controule And seeme so fearefull to my parting soule For were one life a thousand lifes to me Yet were all those too few to die with thee vvhen thou my woes so patiently dost beare As if in death no cause of sorrow were And no more doost lifes dissolution shunne Then if cold age his longest course had runne Thou which didst once giue comfort in my woe Now art alone becom my comforts foe Not that I leaue wherein I did delight But that thou art debarr'd my wished sight For if I speake and would complaine my wrong Straight-waies thy name doth come into my tongâ— And thou art present as thou still didst lye Or in my hart or in my lips or eye No euill plannet raigned at thy birth Nor was that houre prodigious heere on earth No fatall marke of froward destinie Could be diuin'd in thy natiuitie T is onely I that did thy fall deuise And thou by me art made a sacrifice As in those Countries where the louing wiues Doe with their husbands euer end their liues And crown'd with garlands in their brides attire Goe with their husbands to that holy fire And she vnworthy thought to liue of all vvhen feare of death or danger doth appall I boast not of Northumberlands great name Nor of Kets conquest which adornes the same vvhen he to Norfolke led his troupes from far And yok'd the rebels in the chaine of war vvhen our white Beare did furiously respireâ— The flames that sing'd their Villages with fire And brought sweet peace in safety to our doores Yet left our fame vpon the Easterne shores Nor of my princely brothers which might grace And plant true honour in the Dudleys race Nor of Grayes match my children borne by thee Alied to great Plantaginet should bee But of thy vertues proudly boast I dare That she is mine whom all perections are I crau'd no Kingdome though I thee did craue And hauing thee I wish'd no more to haue Yet let me say how euer it befell Me thinks a Crowne should haue becom'd thee well Me thinks thy wisedome was ordain'd alone To blesse a Scepter beautifie a throme Thy lips a sacred Oracle retaine vvherein all holy prophecies remaine More highly priz'd thy vertues were to me Then crownes then Kingdomes or then Scepters bâ— So chast thy loue so innocent thy life A wiued virgine and a mayded wife The greatest gifts that heauen could giue me heere Nothing on earth to me was halse so deere This was the ioy wherin we liu'd of late Ere worldly cares did vs excruciate Before these troubles did our peace confound By war by weapon massacre or wound Ere dreadfull Armies did disturbe our shores Or walls were shaken with the Cannons roares Suspect bewrayes our thoughts bewrayes our words One Crowne is guarded with a thousand swords To meane estate but common woes are showne But Crownes haue cares that euer be vnknowne And we by them are to those dangers led Of which the least we are experienced VVhen Dudley led his Armies to the East Of all the bosome of the land possest vvhat Earthly comfort was it that he lack'd That with a Counsels warrantie was back'd That had a Kingdome and the power of lawes Still to maintaine the iustnes of his cause And with the Clergies helpe the Commons ayd In euery place the peopled Kingdome swayd But what alas can Parliaments auaile vvhen Maries right must Edwards acts repealeâ— VVhen suffolks power doth Suffolks hopes withstand Northumberland doth leaue Northumberland And those which should our greatnes vnder prop Raze our foundation ouerthrow our top Ere greatnes come we wish it with our hart But being come desire it would depart And indiscretly follow that so fast which when it comes brings perrill at the last If any man doe pittie our offence Let him be sure to get him far from hence Heere is no place no comfort heere at all For any one that shall bewaile our fall And we in vaine of mercy should but thinke Our briny teares the fullen earth doth drink O that all teares for vs should be forlorne And all should die so soone as they be borne Mothers that should their childrens fortunes rue Fathers in death too kindly bid adue Friends of their friends a kind farwell to take The faithful seruant mourning for our sake Brothers and sisters waiting on our Beere Mourners to tell what we were liuing heere Those eares are stopt which should bewaile our fall And wee the Mourners and the dead and all And that which first our Pallace was ordain'd The prison which our libertie restrain'd And where our Court we held in princely state There now alone are left disconsolate Thus then resolu'd as thou resolu'd am I. Die thou for me and I for thee will die And yet that heauen Elizabeth may blesse Be thou sweet Iane a faithfull Prophetesse VVith that health gladly resaluting thee VVhich thy kind farwell wish'd before to mee Notes of the Chronicle Historie Nor of Kets conquest which adornes the same IOhn Duke of Northumberland when before he was Earle of Warwicke in his expedition against Ket ouerthrew the rebels of Norfolk and suffolk encamped at Mount-Surrey in Norfolke Nor of my princely brothers which might grace Gilford Dudley as remembring in this place the towardnesse of his brothers which were all likely indeed to haue raised that house of the Dudleyes of which he was a fourth brother if not suppressed by their Fathers ouerthrow Nor of Grayes match my children borne by thee Noting in this place the alliance of the Ladie Iane Gray by her mother which was Frauncis the daughter of Charles Brandon by Mary the French Queene daughter to Henry the seuenth and sister to Henry the eight To blesse a Septer beautifie a threne Sildome hath it euer been known of any woman endued with such wonderfull gifts as was this Ladie both for her wisedome and learning of whose skill in the tongues one reporteth by this Epigram Miraris Ianam Graio sermone â—alere Quâ— primum nata est tempore Graia Fuit When Dudley led his armies to the East The Duke of Northumberland prepared his power at London for his expedition against the Rebels in Norfolke and making hast away appointed the rest of his forces to meete him at Newmarket Heath of whom this saying is reported that passing through Shorditch the Lord Gray in his company seeing the people in great numbers came to see him hee said the people presse to see vs but none bid God speede vs. That with the Counsels warranty was back'd Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland when he went out against Queene Mary had his Commission sealed for the generalship of the Armie by the consent of the whole Counsell of the Land
glorious in her fruite Till by the sun clad in her Tinsell sute Nor doth shee euer smile him in the face Till in his glorious armes he her embrace vvhich proues she hath a soule sence delight Of generations feeling appetite vvell hipocrite in faith wouldst thou confesse vvhat ere thy tongue say thy hart saith no lesse Note but this one thing if nought els perswade Nature of all things male and female made Shewing herselfe in our proportion plaine For neuer made she any thing in vaine For as thou art should any haue beene thus Shee would haue left ensample vnto vs. The Turtle that 's so true and chast in loue Shewes by her mate something the spirit doth moue Th'arabian bird that neuer is but one Is onely chast because she is alone But had our mother Nature made them two They would haue done as Doues and Sparrowes doe But therefore made a Martyr in desire And doth her pennance lastly in the fire So may they all be rosted quicke that be Apostataes to nature as is shee Find me but one so young so faire so free vvoo'd su'd sought by him that now seekes thee But of thy minde and heere I vndertake Straight to erect a Nunry for her sake O hadst thou tasted of these rare delights Ordaind each where to please great Princes sights To haue their beauties and their wits admird vvhich is by nature of your sexe desired Attended by our traines our pompe our port Like Gods ador'd abroade kneeld to in Court To be saluted with the cheerefull cry Of highnes grace and soueraigne maiestie But vnto them that know not pleasures price Al 's one a prison and a Paradice If in a dungion closd vp from the light There is no difference twixt the day and night vvhose pallate neuer tasted daintie cates Thinks homely dishes princely delicates Alas poore girle I pitty thine estate That now thus long hast liu'd disconsolate VVhy now at length let yet thy hart relent And call thy Father back from banishment And with those princely honours heere inuest him That aukeward loue not hate hath dispossest him Call from exile thy deere alies and friends To whom the furie of my griefe extends And if thou take my counsaile in this case I make no doubt thou shalt haue better grace And leaue that Dunmow that accursed Cell There let black night and melancholie dwell Come to the Court where all ioyes shall receiue thee And till that howre yet with my griefe I leaue thee Notes of the Chronicle Historie THis Epistle of King Iohn to Matilda is much more poeticall then historicall making no mention at al of the occurrents of the time or state touching onely his loue to her the extremitie of his passions forced by his desires rightly fashioning the humour of this king as hath been truely noted by the best and most autenticall Writers whose nature and disposition is truliest discerned in the course of his loue first iesting at the ceremonies of the seruices of those times thē going about by all strong and probable arguments to reduce her to pleasures and delights next with promises of honor which he thinketh to be last and greatest meane to haue greatest power in her sexe with promise of calling home of her freends which he thought might be a great inducement to his desires Matilda to King Iohn NO sooner I reciu'd thy letters here Before I knew from whom or whence they were But suddaine feare my bloodlesse vaines doth fill As though diuining of some future ill And in a shiuering extasie I stood A chilly coldnes runnes through all my blood Opening thy letters I shut vp my rest And let strange cares into my quiet brest As though thy hard vnpittying hand had sent mee Some new deuised torture to torment me vvell had I hop'd I had beene now forgot Cast out with those things thou remembrest not And that proud beauty which inforst me hether Had with my name now perished together But ô I see our hoped good deceaues vs But what we would forgoe that sildome leaues vs Thy blamefull lines bespotted so with sin Mine eyes would clense ere they to reade begin But I to wash an Indian goe about For ill so hard set on is hard got out I once determin'd still to haue beene mute Onely by silence to refell thy sute But this againe did alter mine intent For some will say that silence doth consent Desire with small incouraging growes bold And hope of euery little thing takes hold I set me downe at large to write my mind But now nor pen nor paper can I find For dread and passion or so powerfull ore me That I descerne not things that stand before me Finding the pen the paper and the waxe This at commaund and now inuention lacks This sentence serues and that my hand out-strikes That pleaseth well and this as much mislikes I write indite I point I raze I quote I enterline I blot correct I note I hope dispaire take courage faint disdaine I make alledge I imitate I faine Now thus it must be and now thus and thus Bold shamefast fearelesse doubtfull timerous My faint hand writing when my full eye reedes From euery word strange passion still proceedes O when the soule is fettered once in wo T is strange what humors it doth force vs to A teare doth drowne a teare sigh sigh doth smother This hinders that that interrupts the other Th'ouer-watched weakenes of a sicke conceite Is that which makes small beauty seeme so great Like things which hid in troubled waters lie vvhich crook'd seeme straight if straight seeme contrarie And this our vaine imagination showes it As it conceiues it not as iudgement knowes it As in a Mirrhor if the same be true Such as your likenes iustly such are you But as you change your selfe it changeth there And showes you as you are not as you were And with your motion doth your shadow moue If frowne or smile such the conceite of loue VVhy tell me is it possible the mind A forme in all deformitie should finde VVithin the compasse of mans face we see How many sorts of seuerall fauours be And that the chin the nose the brow the eye If great if small flat sharpe or if awry Alters proportion altereth the grace And makes a mighty difference in the face And in the world scarce two so likely are One with the other which if you compare But being set before you both together A iudging sight doth soone distinguish eyther How woman-like a weakenes it it then O what strange madnes so possesseth men Bereft of sence such sencelesse wonders seeing vvithout forme fashion certaintie or being For which so many die to liue in anguish Yet cannot liue if thus they should not languish That comfort yeelds not yet hope denies not A life that liues not and a death that dies not That hates vs most when most it speakes vs faire Doth promise all things alwayes paies