defac't That loosing th' office of his Feete he lyes Shamefull and naked to all â—ober eyes So I in thirst of Glorie Rule and State Drinking excessiuely and past my fill Swinging in Lust and Thoughts intemperate Drunke in Ambition and my â—ensuall will Was so transparent in my latest date And all my Good so swallow'd in my Ill Thâ—t in my staggering Pride and shamefull Fall I grew a Monster and a scorne to all I that once thought that no man could be blest In moderate kinde of Humane blessednes And in my Tyrannous licence did suggest To comprehend in Pompe all Happines Gaue Reignes to Lust and in my Will supprest The rule of Reason mans sole Souereignesse That to the Worlds Doome still prefer'd mine owne And pitcht my hopes no lower then a crowne I that did make no conscience to Plot And perpetrate all Beastiall cruelty That harrow'd Earth and Hell for what I got As if those Tipes would last Eternally In Goodnes cold in Mischiefe euer hot And in my damned Tracts of Pollicie Had sowne mens Harts and with vnfeeling Taints Did dye my Hands in Innocent blood of Saints I that could taint soules with corrupting Breath And from their Brests roote Faith and Pietie Steeling their Spirits for Acts of closest Death And suck the hart of their abilitie Then raise fresh bloods and set the dry beneath Fester'd in conscience of their villany Then rack them with delayes reward with ayre And laugh to see them perish in despaire I that at best held Vertue and Religion No other Things but well mixt Elements Nor Vice nor Ill but Hâ—mors Disposition Depraued by the Bodies Instruments Esteem'd the Soule subiect to Deaths corruption Nor thought all these but naturall Euents And their disorder cur'd by Phisicks Skill And nothing subiect to th' Eternall Will Now did my Conscience that lay smothered Vndâ—r this Pile of Damn'd Impietie And seem'd as with greene fuell Maistered Conceall'd and prison'd in Obscuritie Shew'd that by Sin 't was rather comforted Then any way depriu'd of Facultie And in their Flame did rage so much the more By how much it did seeme restrain'd before Now all my Acts of Murder Sinne and Shame Bred by Ambition and my tyrannous VVill Appear'd vpon my Head like Aâ—tnâ—'s Flame Or like a Beacon fyr'd vpon a Hill Now Rumor giues the Eccho to my Fame Vprores and Insurrections gin to fill All places vast and now in feare I start To fall beneath the mountaine of my Hart. O how I curst my Aspick Flatterie That shed such veâ—ome in my Rationall Powre I curst the Glasse that so corruptedly Did shew the face of vice to smile not lowre Now for each priuiledg'd Mischiefe did I lye A Butt to Torment and a fearefull Showre By the Black vapor of my Sin being bred With blood and vengeance swolne hung o're my head Thus in the VVayning Splendor of my Pride Compast with danger and assaylde with Feares And in my Thoughts all Torments multiply'd That might augment the burthen of my cares I found my selfe so weakely fortifyde Against the powerfull Battery of despaires That I was plung'd into Hels deepe Abisse Secluded from all comfort Ioy or Blisse Nor did the ancient Poets idely faine Erinnis and the damn'd Eumenides Since euen those Furies in their Maske containe The Morall of my tortur'd Tyranies For th' Apparitions of ensuing paine So danted me with their Extremities That I was rack't in terror of my doome And made that present which was but to come Then dreadfull Melanchollâ— did conuert My Nature to the Temper of my Braine Which soaked with my Spleene disturb'd my heart And through my body spred a poisâ—nous Bane It did confound my Sense and eu'ry part Each Muscle Sinnew Artire Ioinâ— and Vaine Had lost their naturall working and prepare To set me it the high-way to despaire Such was the horror of my Malady Distract with feare of that I was t' inherit That it corrupted euery Facultie Congeal'd my Blood and dull'd my actiue Spirit Thus my whole Natureâ—elt â—elt like Sympathy With my despairefull Soâ—le for siâ—full Merit For all the Functions of my Soule and Sence Were maymed by my wounded Conscience My Reason dotes my Soule did idle sit VVanting fit matter of Intelligence Organs deprau'd and stupifyde my Wit My Vnderstanding weake vnsound my Sence And euery part disabled and vnfit To comfort or relieue my Conscience Hopelesse and helplesse all my powers agree In Desperations Gulph to swallow me And as we see the Eye the Eare or Sent Affected long and oueâ— vehemently Retaine their Species in the Instrument Though absent â—e â—he moâ—ing qualitie So the Internall Senceâ— strongly bent To fearefull Obiects of obsâ—â—â—itie To iudge of things by their depraued kinde Giue Passion vigor and make â—eason blind The Sunne the Moone and Planâ—â—â— of â—y Nature So fearefully ecclipsed in their light My inward darknes casting on my Feature Aâ—semblance ghaâ—â—ly pale and full of fright My leprous Soule deformed as my Stature Did in these Tragick Terrors seeme t' excite The thoughtfull presage of my Destinie To be accomplish't in my Tragedie Likewise my Name enter ' d in Hels black Roule So infinite my Actions of Arrest My grim â—ac't conscience ceazing on my Soule And my Tormentor eâ—eâ— in my Brest So not the minde alone but â—ody whole Equally feeling and alike distrest Such watch they kept such clamor they did make That waking I did dreame and sleeping wake Such was my Passion of all faith 〈◊〉 VVhich should apply a Salue vnto my wound That in my Minde Hell onely was conceau'd VVhich did all thought and hope of Heauâ—n confound Thus my despairefull 〈◊〉 weaâ—'d The Web of my affliction and I found My State so desperate and my Sin so great That no repentaâ—t meanes could expiaâ—e Should I haue fill'd the ayre with plainâ—s 〈◊〉 â—ries Haue wrâ—ng my hands in griefe straynd blood in feares Eate into Marble with my still bent knees And all the Center rotted with my teares Such was the clamoâ— of my viâ—â—â—ies And so importunate were my Despaires That nothing as I thought would satisfie Th' offended Iustice of the Deiâ—ie The setled Center easâ—er might aâ—â—ume The heauenly Motion that turnes euer round Huge Whales might sooner fly with feathered plume And Birds like wormes creepe on the baâ—er Ground Ere I could hope or euer might presume By my repentance mercy to haue found For prest with sin and of all Grace bereauen I could not lift one Thought so high as heauen Not Saul that being possest dyde Reprobate Not Esau's selfe that did his Birth-right â—ell Not Iudas mark't for veng'ance by his Fate Not those which were deuoured quick to Hell Not hardned Pharao all as Desperate Nor cursed and forlorne Achitophel Could be more surely seall'd in Heauens iust doome Then I in conscience for the wrath to come Thus blasted with the Whirlewind of Gods Breath And shaken with the Terror of his wrath Veng'ance aboue me and Hell-fire beneath
with one Eye He went a Burding strikes Fowles as they fly And has the very Art of Foulerie Which Art you must not enuie be you pleas'd To hit Desert fly others as diseas'd Whose being pierst is but to be infected And as bold Puritans esteem'd elected Keep from no common Plague which so encreases So these feed all Poeticall Diseases Best Ayre lest dwellers hath yet thinke not I Fore-speake the sale of thy sound Poesie But would in one so worth encouragement The care of what is counted worst preuent And with thy cheerefull going forth with this Thy Muse in first Ranke of our Muses is Non datur ad Musas currere lata via GEOR CHAPMAN To his worthy and ingenious Friend the Author SO farre as can a Swayne who then a Rounde On Oaten-pipe no further boasts his skill I dare to censure the shrill Trumpets sound Or other Musick of the Sacred hil The popular applause hath not so fell Like Nile's lowd Cataract possest mine eares But others songs I can distinguish well And chant their praise despis'd Vertue reares Nor shall thy buskind Muse be heard alone In stately Pallaces the shady woods By me shall learn't and Echho's one by one Teach it the hils and they the siluer floods Our learned Shepheards that haue vs'd tofore Their happy gifts in notes that wooe the plaines By rurall ditties will be knowne no more But reach at Fame by such as are thy straines And I would gladly if the Sisters spring Had me inabled beare a part with thee And for sweet groues of braue Heroes sing But since it fits not my weake melodie It shall suffice that thou such meanes do'st giue That my harsh lines among the best may liue W. BROVVNE Int Temp. Ad Lectorem de Libro HIc nihil inuenies quod carpas mentior ecquid Carpere quod pigeat tam bonus Hortus habet Hinc carpat quisquis gratos vult carpere Flores At Dextrà carpat carpere si quis amat FR. DYNNE Int Temp To his friend the Author vpon his Poem NOt for thy Loue to me nor other merit Doe I commend thy Poems forme or Spirit For though I know thou art a Friend of mine I praise this for it owne sake not for thine Here haue I seen Character'd the Condition The Life and End of a meere Polititian From which I learne T is no good Policy On any termes to part with Honesty And the Opprest may view to his content How sweet it is to be an Innocent Or by contraries learne with what deare rest The Soules of harmelesse dying men are blest So may the bloody Tyrant heere attend What Horror and Despaire pursues his End And those that liuing loath their faults to heare May reading this perhaps repent for feare Since though reproofes they scorne now here they dwell Thus their owne Ghosts proclaime their shames from Hell George Wythers To the Author vpon his Poem I know thou art tâ—â— knowing to enqâ—ire This Title to thy Praise which doth require A Hart so constant and a Brow so chast That vertue must not fall how e'râ— low plac't Who this way merits 〈◊〉 must looke to bring Onely a Flower to an intemp ' rate Spring Which howsâ—e ' 〈…〉 Must feele the Earth-bred Blasts in barren wants Of ruder Elements oft suffring spoile To snew such Hearbs grow not on naturall soile Nor can't be aptlier said of Verse and Rimes They are but Strangers to these wau'ring Times For as men shift their fashions for new Shapes They are in Soules the same Inconstant Apes Which each Boâ—kâ—-seller knowes for as to day Your Pasquill like a mad-cap runnes away To morrow Playes the next day History Mor strange another time Diuinitie And in my Age which is indeed most rare I haue knowne Gallants buy vp Bookes of Prayer But they were Gamsters loosing aâ—l in swearing Try'd a contrarie way in their vprearing To this my common obseruation Thou Hast tooke a course which I must needs allow T' include them all in one to catch their Eyes That soone are dym'd without varieâ—ies Wherein I will not flatter thee to tell Ther 's much of good and what is worst is well ROBERT DABORNE To his friend the Author vpon his Richard VVHen these and such their voices haue employd What place is for my testimony void Or to so many and so Broad-seales had What can one witnesse and a weake one add For such a worke as could not need theirs Yet If Praises when th' are full heaping admit My suffrage brings thee all increase to crowne Thy Richard rais'd in song past pulling downe BEN IONSON THE GHOST OF RICHARD THE THIRD His Character WHat Magick or what Fiends infernall hand Reares my tormented Ghost from Orcus Flame And lights my Conscience with her burning Brand Through Death and Hell to view the Worlds faire Frame Must I againe regreete my Natiue Land Whose Graues resound the horror of my Name Then gaspe those Marble Iawes and Birds of Night Perplex my passage to the loathed Light Some Consciences with soules may hope for Peace When all their veniall and their petty Crimes Are expiate but mine will neuer cease T' augment my Torment past all Worlds and Time Damn'd deeds in life damn'd pennance doth encrease Mens soules may fly their bodies putrid Clymes But horrid paines still cleaue to foule offence Nor will the sinne forsake the Conscience Giue way Times Pageants Bubbles but a Blast Obiects for idle spirits whose vanitie Feede Streames of Humors in this Sea of Waste Where Carpet Courtlings swim in Brauery Such Comick Puppets are not Things to last Subiects vnfit for Fame or Memory But Time nor Age can paralell or stayne My Bloudy scoeâ—es which Death hath dyde in grayne Vale Natures â—urselings Fortunes Fauorites Whose percell-guylt my Touch will not endure Fostrers of Fooles and glib-Tongu'd Parasites Sick of Times Lethargie past hope of Cure Cameleons in your Change of gaudy Sights How wanton Salmasis with Lust impure Cleaues to your soules proues ye of two fold Kind Male in the Body Female in the Mind Wallow in Wast still iet in sumptuous Weeds Waue feathered Gulls with Wind shrinck with Raine Buskin'd ye are but not for lofty deeds No stately Matter e're inspyr'd your Braines Nought but soft Loue your great Ambition Feeds None sencible of Pleasure but of Paine Must looke on me such whose high Thoughts are fed With spirit and Fame from dust of Bodies dead Thinke Ye that Graues and hollow Vaultes inherit Nought but Obliuion and Impotence Doth not from Death arise an other spirit Of high Resolue th'extracted Quintessence Fame is the Agent to substantiall merit And beares about the Worlds Circumference All deeds notorious which Time remembers Thus Phoenix like Life springs from down-trod Eâ—â—bers Then as th' Almighty Thundeâ—er doth shake With selfe-bred Fumes th'Immense and Massie Earth No lesse amazement may my Fury make In my Liues horror from my Monstrous Byrth And since I 'm raised from
Hells burning Like I le fright the World and chase all Formes of Mirth From this now Mimick and ridiculous stage I sing of Murther Tyrany and Rage Then let the Canker'd Trumpets of the Deepe Proclaime my Entrance to this stagie Round That I may startle Worldlings from their sleepe Their sences in security fast bound My Tongue in firie Dragons Spleene I steepe That Acts with Accents Cruelty may â—ound As once the Furies snakes hist in my Breath When I kist Horror and engender'd Death And that my Deuilish Braine may not be dull But touch the quick of each ambitious Soule I take the Wittiest Polliticians Skull That euer Hells black Booke did yet enroule His Mazor fill'd with Stygian Iuice brym-full And innocent Blood fit for an Ebon Bowle I quaffe to all damn'd spirits and I know well They 'l pledg me though they drinke as deepe as Hell All yee then that are flesh't in Tyranny View me your ruthlesse President and Mirror Now all Earths glewâ—d together villany Dissolue and melt with pale and gastly Terror Loe I vnclaspe the Booke of Memory Rowze bed-rid Age fowle sinne and smooth fac'd error And with all these awake Antiquity To sing my Actions to Posterity In my Conception Nature stroue with Kinde When in the heaâ—e of Blood and Lusts desire Imagination mou'd a part of Mind And with the Seede commixt an ardent Fire A strange Effect these Powres should be combyn'd The Mortall with th' Immortail Part Conspire To forme a Prodegy the World to fright To blemish Humanes and distayne the Light For Why my Mother in the strength of Thought Propos'd vnto her Apprehensiue Powre Some monstrous Birth by Natures Error wrought On which all Plannets of good luck did lowre My Syre Corruption to this Fancy brought My Mother languish't many a tedious houre Trauell brought Sweate and Grones Shee long'd to see Her burth'nous Fraught at last She brought forth Me. My Legges came formost an vnequall Payre Much like the Badgers that makes swiftest speede In waies vneuen which shew'd that no course faire Should crowne my Life and actions to succeed Hollow my Cheekes vpon my Brest black Hayre The Characters of spleene and virulent deeds My Beetle-Brow and my fire-cyrcled Eye Foreshew'd me Butcher in my Cruelty Then as a Brow bent Hill much vndermin'd Casts scowling Shadowes o're the neighb'ring Plaines Which th'approchers feare as being enclyn'd To bury all his spatious Reach containes So Mountaine-like was I contract behind That my stretch't Armes plumpe with ambitious veines Might crush all Obstacles and throw them downe That stood betwixt my Shadow and a Crowne And as a Rauens Beake pointed to the South Crokes following Ill from sharpe and rau'nous maw Such cry Yorkes Bird sent from a fatall mouth Boading confusion to each wight I saw To adde to these as Token of more Ruth Th' amazed Women started for each Iaw Appear'd with teeth which Mark made these Ils good That I should woorry Soules suck humane Blood My Father rau'd my Mother curst her Wombe Th'impris'ned winds shooke Earth burst their Caues And Time swolne big with sad Euents to come Did send forth Throes eccho'd by gasping Graues The Lights of Heauen dropt on the worlds darke Tombe Horror inuades the Maine whose raging Waues Doe foame and swell aboue their bounds the Earth These fatall Signes raign'd at my fearefull Byrth In progresse of my Childhood with delight I taught my Nature to see Fowles to bleede Then at the Slaughter-house with hungry sight Vpon slaine Beasts my sensuall part did feede And that which gentler Natures might affright I search't their Entrayles as in them to reade Like th' Ancient Baâ—ds what fate should thence beâ—ide To cherish Sin and propagate my Pride Then as I waxed in Maturity I would frequent the Sessions and those Places Where guilty Men receiu'd their doomes to Dye As well to note the Gestures and the Graces Of those were cast as of the Iudges Eye How these looke pale the others Front out-faces Eene death it selse and hence I learned how To conquer Pitty with a bended Brow Now to confirme these Notions in my Braine And to chase thence all Naturall Formes of Good To presse to Executions sooth'd my vaine To see men reeking in their Sweate and Bloud O how remorslesse was I of their Paine It was my Cordiall and my nourishing â—ood These ruthles Thoughts were in my hart so rise That I could laugh at Death and sport with Life Aâ— Butchers and loath'd Hang-men in their Life Through Bent of Mind and instrumentall partes Being often vs'd vnto the bloody Knife Make Blood and Death the habits of their Harts And therefore since with them such Acts are riâ—e The Lawes of Kinde in Liew of their deserts â—xempted haue from Life and Deaths sterne Iewries Who for their Natures might well ranke with Furies So this habituall Custome euer breeds Such fixt impression in th' Affects and Sence That thence the Minde receaues Corruptiue Seedes Nor doth sincerely take the difference Twixt Cruell actions and compassionate deeds So Man and Beast with Guylt and Innocence Are all alike to Tyrants in their swayes Where sensuall Will commands and not obaies Thus as Contagious Ayre breeds some disease Which all vnseene creeps on in fowle infection Till at the lat the vitall parts it ceaze And in his Mortall kind attaines perfection So by Corruption of such Thoughts as these And giuing way to Humor and Affection Pernitious Ills encreas'd and thus I found How Pitty lost and Cruelty won her Ground Now for I knew great spirits in Ignorance Were farre vnfit to sway or to Command Since cunning Arts do Pollitick Ends aduance I sought to ioyne their Strengths into one Band And t'arme my selfe against the Threats of Chance I gaue my selfe corruptly t' understand Letters and Artes whoâ—e superficiall Skill Might lay the Ground to propagate my Ill. Hence were my Organs apt and Parts dispos'd To giue my Intellect the Formes of Things Hence was the Chaoâ— of my Braine disclos'd That through each sence conueâ—'d their hidden springs Their winding Streames yet in my Sea were Cloz'd Which made me swell in state and surge with Kings Yet with no Lyne or Plummet to be sounded Nor in no Limit but a Crowne be bounded In my Designes I bore no wexen face To take the Print of any Formes within I had a Forge that temper'd it like Brasse Not by my Tongue my Hart was knowne or seene Betweene these two there was so ample space That Words and Thoughts were neuer of a kin With Threats I could allâ—e smile when I fround Kisse when I kil'd and heale when I did wound From Schoole-mens Customes I obseru'd some Skill What 's their nice Learning and their wrangling Sâ—râ—fe But Gaine or Glory to turne Good to Ill As if from Reason Passion we deriue Then since these Enâ—s in Sciences raigne still And few professe them for an after Life As they tooke swindge then from their Polliticke
Renowne And euen as he with an Insatiate sight Beheld a beautious Face a sparkling Eye Admir'd a pleasant wit as Loues delight And still adored Cupids Deitie So I enslam'd with Glories Appetite Did Court the shining Beames of Maiestie Priz'd Policie Altars to Fortune rear'd He study'd to be lou'd I to be fear'd Clarence his Life in Fortunes tickle wheele Had now a slipperie Stand for dreadlesse He In sound Estate of Health began to recle As Natures Powre must yeeld to Tyranny My Adamant had pointed to his Steele And subtly drew him to his Destinie I had a Craft to vndermine each State My Engines were the Instruments of Fate For why an Ignorant Wisard taught by Me That neuer knew a Letter in the Rowe From his Spell'd Lesson tooke the Letter G To worke my rising and his ouerthrow And by a foolish childish Prophesie As Fooles and children still tell all they know Insinuates with the fearefull King that G Should put to death his Royall Progenie So harmelesse Clarence superstitiously In sent to close Death to the Fatall Tower But I that charm'd fulfill'd the Augurie So Polliticks kill farre off with vnseene Powre VVith sheathed Points I wrought my Tyranny Thus could I whet prepare feed and deuoure Concoct Euacuate with most nimble hast Blood was my Cheare and other Feasts my Fast. So George rid post and at his Iourneyes end To quench his Thirst and coole his bloody Sweate His gentle Host being my secret friend Did broach a Butt t' allay his dangerous heate But so he sow'st him in 't that he did send Poore George to rest in euerlasting Seate Yet no tart VVine But Malmsey stopt his Breath So dyde he not the sharp'st but sweetest Death Next Time an other Point begins t' attaine VVhen Edward past the Solstice of his yeares With necessarie change begins to wayne And I thrust in to vndergoe his cares Life sencible of Pleasure now feeles paine Earth must to Earth as natures course out-weares His Scene is done Death strikes him to the Hart So parts the Stage and now begins my part Now Back-steel'd Buckingham I made my Friend Him I sustain'd with hope and fed with Ayre To further me in my aspyring End In whom I found will power and faithfull care I shot the Shaft and he the Bowâ— did bend And both could runne with Hound and hold with Hare And though to crosse his Ayme I had a Clause Yet strongest Agents back the weakest Cause Next Riuers Vaughan Gray that stood in light And iustly enterpos'd my vniust Ayme Did feele the vengeance of my fell despite VVhose Deaths did more secure my lawlesse Claime Poore simple soules they were to stand for Right Not hauing Strength for Vertues power is lame 'T is desperate folly to oppose not strong Then sinke with Right 't is better winke at wrong So Regent made Protector to the Princes Bare Heads bent Knees sooth Mischiefe second hope Religious shewes doe couer close Preâ—enses More Towres more Titles are my Fancies scope Now I contract my wits summon my Sences To smooth the rugged VVay the Dores to ope That leade to State the Law being in my VVill I had a Licence to make good my Ill. I plaid with Law as with a waxen nose Now made it crookt then straight then saddle wise And its firme brow I bent vnto the toes To make a foot-stoole on 't for me to rise VVhat Wisdome stablisht pollicy ore'throwes Corrupts her pure Soule bleares her fairest eyes Law 's a mute female Iudge Guifts Wit and Tongue Oft prostitute her parts to lust and wrong Truth had a tattering stand I made Commander Tyrants are euer fearefull of the good And Innocence in vaine opposeth slander VVhom I accus'd or censur'd who withstood My Brayne was as an intricate Meander VVhence horror issu'd and the streames of blood My Soule like Stix and Ioue might sweare by me As nought more aduerse to his Detty Now whiles I trembled in an Agony Sole Soueraignty with safest meanes contriuing My working head my Counsells Consistory Debates how I might raigne the Princes liuing My powers disioyn'd and for security Neither to other a sure Hostage giuing But in this doubtfull conflict leâ—t me still Betweene my Reason and my sensuall Will Reason obiects to countercheck my pride How Kings are natures Idols made of clay And though they were by mortalls Deifide Yet in the Graue Beggers as good as they That Sence was slauish and for man no guide That Reason should Command and Will obey And that with all worlds pompe and Fortunes good VVe still were nothing else but flesh and blood Reason infer'd Men in effect were Kings If they could rule themselues and conquer Passion And that Desire soar'd with Icarus Wings When it out-stript her Bounds of limitation That Her Powre onely could distinguish things Shew what was Reall what but Forme and Fashion Suggests likewise â—hat man was ouerthrowne Not more by others Flatterie then his owne Farther She vrg'd that Fortune had no Power But in Mens Ignorance although Shee boast To blesse or crosse as Shee doth smile or Lowre And to make Fooles of those Shee Flatters most That Vertue onely was the Mindes rich Dowre By Wealth not bought by Pouertie not lost VVhich who so had not euer purchast losse His Pompe was Bane and Titles but his Crosse. This Reason doth suggest which I conuince And proue those Grounds for idle false and vaine I knew her Powre was in decay of sence Which Age not Youth did Foster and maintaine And though your sagest Morrallists from hence Gaue Humane Precepts with much thanklesse paine Such meager Wisedome writ with Death-like clawes I held as foolish as your old VViues Sawes Low Thoughts in high-pitcht Hopes despaire do bring And as one walking when the stars appeare Night fils his Eye whence Shapes of Darknes spring And all his Thoughts proue Visions by his Feare But when Aurora sets the Day on VVing And driues the Rauen-black Night from Heau'ns bright sphere Then Flowers and Trees spangled with dewes he spies And worlds of Glories glitter in his Eyes So when great Spirits doe shrinke in cloudy Feares Loosing their strength diminishing their Pleasures Then Wealth and Glorie and what else is theirs In darkest Womb doe bury all their Treasures But when a Kingly boldnes them vpreares Treading on cloth of state their solemne Measures Then doe they graspe in vigor of their Powres The Globe and Scepter and kisse Heauen with Towres Now then quoth I let tastlesse liues Define Vertue and her Reward in after Time Richard thou hast an Essence more Diuine VVhich Glories Flame hath purg'd from grossest Slime Crownes be thy Obiects and those Eares of thine Rellish no Musick but a Sphere-like Chime Thus coucht I Reason with my Eagles wings If Reason rulâ—d Men then what need of Kings No I look't vp Nature bid me aspire So taught the firie Essence of my soule Harts are small Things but infinite in Desire VVhich neither bounds
wits high Straines Prepares the Citie States men chiefly VVise In giuing way to things aboue their Braines Such as were seene in Measures Weights and Siz Of Grocerie with Bread Bâ—ere Ale and Graines And better knew the waight of Bags and Pence Then matters of this weight and Consequence These notable Wise-wealthy Mâ—gistrates Such they were then what euer they are now Did onely see with th' Eyes of higher States And what these thought though bad they would allow The sweet Recorder and the Cittie Waytes Did make them sound and eu'rie Man knew how Better to Coppie from their lookes Austere Then take true Notes of Wit from them by Eare. These Gray-hayr'd Sages Graue in saying little My Subtle Buckingham like Wax had wrought Who surely seal'd together with the People He brought to tender what I long had sought And being their Mouth deliu'ring to a tittle Both what they would and what our selues fore-thought Sollicit me and they would haue no Nay To take the Crowne the Scepter and the Sway. He shewes the publique Good that would ensue The Peoples generall liking and Applause Preuention of seditious Plots that grew Through want of Execution of the Lawes Said that old sores would fester and renew If I tooke not the Sword to right their Cause Behold vs then quoth He with Pitties Eye Of your accustom'd Grace and Clemencie Then I with hart-cheek't tongue made this Reply That though I saw their heauy states with Ruth Yet so much was my loues sinceritie Vnto the promising Hopes of Edwards Youth Withall so loth to staine Humilitie Professing seemelesse Zeale and naked Truth That I vnapt for Rule and Soueraigntie Prefer'd content to highest Monarchie He farther doth enforce and I deny He pleads my Right and I dissemble strong Obiects the Princes confirm'd Bastardie And still the Maidens part is all my Song At last he driâ—es his subtill Oratorie To shew of Spleene that I their liues did wrong And if quoth he you will not Condiscend We must elect some other there 's an End This Scâ—ne so well perform'd on either part The play drew on to a Catastrophe I added to States double dealing Art Deuices that by Ebbing fill'd my Sea I hung off to be drawne by the Desert Of making Conscience of the charge my Plea To take as forc'd what more then Heauen I wish't And to which would through troubled Hel haue fish't I still put Baite on Baite to make my Hooke The more Inuisible and gaue away More then men ask't men vs'd more care to looke Where any Suite but worth the begging lay Then how to get my wing'd Hand to the Booke Proud Beggery made the whole weeke Holiday For Saboths Beggery was a worke of worth While merit grew as bamefull as the North. Then made I ciuill men make Ryot way Men by Art Ciuill that are ryotous euer When men play Artes prize once they fight and play Such danger in the open Field is neuer Art drawne from Nature drawes her Soule away And then from Beasts you can not men disseuer But in the worst part These men for round Fees Squar'd Arts and all Termes out by Policies For Fees I made them lawfull proue my claime Disabling both my Nephewes to Inherit Gold sets vp markes Hoyles pricks for any Ayme That still shall hit how wide soeuer Merit Goulds Chymick Skill can cure an aged Mayme And in at deaths last gaspe breath Youths first Spirit Nay so much Art and Nature Gold controules That men it makes liue without manly Soules Gold got by Begging Begging not forgot Could be at any hand but varied now For my good now they beg'd that theirs might not The Font finde dry since euer all the flow Their Sewres renew'd still and made seeth their Pot. T is sacred Truth First good t' our selues we owe Thus for themselues they Supplication made That I would take on me the Royall Trade I made it nice for my Good as from theirs They turn'd their owne ends ouer all to mine And at the last for their Good heard their Prayers And as by any Floods side sinkes a Pine To take more Roote and curle his leauie Hayres The more in Bows and Armes that kisse the Skyne So stoopt I so to rise and being vp Both with their Goods and Bloods I crown'd my cup. This fearefull doubt then being thus decided As a Praeludium to my Tragick Maine The factious Peeres now ioyn'd that were diuided Who with all sollemne Rites confirm'd my Reigne Thus desperately I tooke the Clew that guided Through Laberinthian doubts and now in vaine That monstrous Minotaure the people rag'd Whose turbulent Breath I calm'd and fiercenes swag'd Now though all heads are bare all bend their knees Yet in themselues my Greatnes they compare To Senecaes high-stiled Tragedies Embost with gold most glorious ritch and faire Which as they ope Thyestes greets their eyes Who prou'd his Childrens Tombe and then they fare Like men that see with horror reade with hate And so abhorred was my golden state For hauing died my hands in humane gore Made black my Soule my wit a plot doth caâ—t To feed my rauenous appetite with more My Gorge was empty for a new repast But such a one not Ages long before Offer'd to Time or Fames all-sounding Blast Now doth my Conscience play the Cowards part And Blood chac'd from my face flies to my heart Then Ioy with Feare and Hope with deep Despaire Adulterate their Powers and did engender Confusion Horror and blood-thirsting Care Which Passion mixed with distraction render Now Nature shrunke and set on end my Hayre My Hart pants thick my Pulse beates slow and tender At the Conception of a Thought whose Hell Containes that Torment where the Diuels dwell In shapelesse Darknes I was then confin'd And eu'rie thing that erst was my delight Turn'd to a Fiend broâ—d waking I was blind As if enfolded in the vayle of Night Astonishment did all my sences binde Shame did appeare dead Pittie rose to light VVhen I conceau'd the Murder of the Princes Which Heau'n Hel Time Nature death conuinces Yet thus my Diuellish spirit shooke off this Trance And thus my Genius chid O Coward faint Did not thy wit aboue thy Birth aduance Cut knotty Doubts and Bars of all Restraint Doth not thy Frowne controule the Frowne of chance And shall thy Superstitious Fancy paint These hartlesse Feares Imaginarie Hell And haue a Charme aboue thy Politick Spell Hast not made God a Cloake to get a Crowne VVithout all Shame parboyl'd thy blushlesse Face With conquering Tyrany cast Pitie downe Establish't Wickednes supplanted Grace And now like to a man ready to drowne Catch at a helplesse Thing Why this is base Not like a Kingly Pollitician But a poore Ignorant Plebeian VVhat wilt thou thus runne from thy selfe to Error And make Indulgent Nature now thy Foe Plunging thy selfe into the Depth of Terror And where once Wisedome thriu'd let Folly grow Shall ayrie Vertue now become thy Mirror
them the Abstract of perfection The Graces in their sweet proportion shin'd Whose radiant Beames shot Loue and fyr'd Affection And if the outward Beauty from the Minde Receiue all Grace all Luster and Reflection Then might one say of eithers Spirit and Feature Heauen held the Pensill and the forme of Nature The Worlds Abridgement in this Beauty lay Thus subiect to the hand of Tyranny Whose light from darknes might haue strooke the day And with his Beames dazled an Eagles Eye Yet these damn'd Hell-Hounds had the hart t' assay To roule these Orbs vp in obscuritie And pash to Chaos their so faire built Frames To sacrifice their Lymbs in Funerall Flames Now in the Bed which is the Type of Graues And in dead Sleepe the portraicture of Death Those dregs of Men this Spawne of Earth these Slaues Did bury them aliue and stop't their Breaths Where like a Sexton each himselfe behaues To couer them with that which lay beneath So left them sleeping in eternall Rest Whose Sainted soules now liue among the Blest These Furies now are tortur'd with Despayre And howle in horror of their murd'rous deede They beate their Brests and teare their Snaky Hayre In their assured Torment to succeed VVith sinfull Breaths they taint the piâ—rest Ayre And in their Faces eu'ry one may reade Guilt mixt with Feares too late they finde too well That though they breath on Earth they liue in Hell Now when I saw printed in Tyrrels Brow These Characters of Death and shamefull Gore I bid him study for the best meanes how I might requite or he might well Implore But he that did with Guilt enough endowe His wretched state would neuer looke for more But summing vp this Murder with his Pride He got the Diuell and all so liu'd so dyde Thus without Feare arm'd with Herculean Force I saw this Hell my Thoughts had shap't and bred If fearefull Hydra had oppos'd my course I should haue left the Monster neuer a Head Or like Roomes Tyrant with as small remorse Thousand contracted Liues haue Butchered To raise my Glorie to this compleate Frame And set my Foote vpon the Throate of Shame Yet now my Liâ—e was conuersant with Danger Feare and suspition did perturb my Sleepe Th'apparant Hate of Men stir'd vp my Anger And charged Pistols for defence I keepe For since I had profest my selfe a Stranger To euery Good in Blood and sinne so deepe My Sores were to be rub'd t' auoide their Harmes Whom 〈◊〉 sollicits Circumspection armes They that no Ill commit no Ill need feare And Truth is their best Armor of Defence Ill comes not when before it was not there And Weapons fit a wounded Conscience Tyrants the priuie coate had need to weare And euer waking keep their troubled Sence So kept I watch and stood vpon my Guard My Steele still drawne of mine own Shadow fear'd Now the 〈◊〉 Line that scarse was seene With Sword insteed of Pen begins to raze The Line of Yorke whose Inke is blackest Spleene To blot my Glorie and my Name deâ—ace The Frost bit Rose now sprouts and waxeth greene Wanting but time to spred with wonted Grace The white Rose must be ioined with the Red To propagate faire Stems in one chast Bed Richmond my Brothers Daughter to Espouse The sweet Elizabeth is maâ—k't by Fate VVhich to preuent my Lyon Spirit I Rouze VVith that faire Lyonesset Incorporate Which though nor Lawes of God nor Man allowes Yet to establish and secure my State I sought with wilfull Lust and powerfull Awe To crosse the Banes and ouer-rule the Law First Buckingham whose hopes were vainely â—ed To breake the Ice for Richmond with his powre I march'â— against and by good Fortune sped My Starres herein did smile and his did lowre I prick't him kindly he as kindly bled His ancient Loue and so in happy howre I pai'd th' arrerages of his lent Good And had m' Acquittance sealed with his Blood O Buckingham thou wert too open Brested And spent'st too freely to receiue thy Right For of my State by thee I was Inuested A debt farre greater then I could requite Some States-mens Hands are shut their Bounty Chested And ill doe they abide those men in â—ight That may vpbrayde with vnrequited Good Such Bonds are seldome cancell'd but with Blood Next Anne my Wife whose Being did deny My match with my fayre Neece Elizabeth Fell sodaine sicke with griefe or Iealousie And all my Loue would not preserue her Breath I gaue her Medicines for Sterilitie And She grew fruitfull in the Bed of Death Her Issue crawling Wormes and there she lyes Whose loue and life loe thus I memorize This was that creature that I woo'd and wonn Ouer her bleeding Husband stab'd by me Such different persons neuer saw the Sunne He for perfection I Deformitie She wept and smil'd hated and lou'd in one Such was her Vertue my Hypocrisie Thus womens Griefes nor Loues are dyde in graine For eithers colour Time or Men can staine For farther proofe my Sister Queene I chose Professing Truth to her t' her Daughter Loue Insinuating with such artfull Gloze As if the God of Eloquence should moue And notwithstanding all the banefull woes She had sustain'd by me I made her proue My Loues Attourney furthering my Sute T' astonish Wonder and strike Rumor Mute By this I Instance how these Fooles are caught With honors Baites or tickled with their Praise Whose flexible conditions may be wrought To any Forme Subiects for Sports and Playes Angels they seeme and are with Angels bought Guilded corruption Natures falsed Glaze No meane in their Affects in Passion mouing No moment in their Teares nor Faith in Louing Inconstant Sex no sooner full then wayning In weakenes dying and imperfect borne Their scanted wils like halfe fac't Moones complaining Which to supply they make the Forked Horne Nor hot nor cold now louing then disdaining The Fautors of Deceipt of Truth the storme Like Cotton Buds which none can bruise or pull But being put forth like them they turne to wooll Such were my Wyles I could deceiue deceite Guild Imperfections with Imperfect Glorie Building on Ruines my vncertaine State Laugh at Oppression from Prides Promontorie I sooth'd my Pompe with an eternall Date And in Ambition perfected my Storie Which VVord let Fame to after Ages sound As of my Life the Pyramed and Ground And as a Taper play'd within the night Where men doe firmely sit or walke or stand Raiseth their Shadowes to the places hight Then to the Ground in turning of a hand Now it empaiâ—es them by the waâ—ing light And then extends their lengths themselues beyond So Fortune playes with Kings and worldly States She tosses turnes reares and precipitates As one that drinkes more then he can containe He surâ—ets in excesse and duls his Tast And then the Fume spred through his Poares Braine He speakes his secret's thoughts and seemes disgrast Nor doth desist till in his drunken vaine His Intellectuall powres are so
proclaimes And ring my welcome with their clamorous chaines Me thought I saw and heard the loathsome Plight Of dying Men how bound in Frosts they lye Swimming in cold sweates and berest of Light Their entrailes gnawne pulse stay'd and veines drawne dry Their ratling Throats fur'd Tongues their broken sight Their gasping Breaths their lookes deformitie Their earthy sauor in expiring Breath O horrid Dreame but O more fearefull Death Me thought likewise the dismall Rau'ns did croke As I approch't my death to passe the Graues The Earth did shake and coniur'd Tempests broke In hydeous noises from their Bellowing caues Which threw downe Turrets roots the stoutest Oake Then from the clouds the Arme of vengeance waues And giues the Signall to the bloody fight Where thousand swords diuide me and the light These violent distractions broke in sunder The heauy Band thaâ— bound my Sences fast Whose frightfull visions made me wild with wonder Yet vp I rose then had I slept my last And whiles with ghastly visage I did ponder Present ensuing and the Times long past I started from my Trance with ragefull Teene Taking a Dragons Spirit a Tygers Spleene And as the motions of all Naturall Things Proue swiftest in their Ends more strong enclin'd As Torrents roare deriu'd from smallest Springs And gentle Blasts doe turne to boystrous winâ—e So I resolu'd to put on fierie wings And in my End adde Spirit to my minde For yeelding Thoughts befit the basest Slaues Kings should soare high although they drop to graues The Mornings Chanticlere proclaim'd the day Whose lowring countenance vaild the God of light Yet glistring Armor spite of Mornings Gray To valiant mindes doe yeeld a cheerefull sight The roll'd vp Ensigne when it doth display Giues Hart and Coulor to the Martiall wight From Richmonds Armes his harts took such bright shine But leaden Spirits could take no life from mine Now was my Battell rang'd on Bosworth Plaine The Vantgard order'd and the Wings were set Norfolke my Chieftaine with much sweat and paine Temper'd my Frozen Harts with his kind heate Surrey and He bore mindes that had no staine Both well approu'd in Armes and martiall Feate Our Standards both aduanc't in open fight Summons are giuen to prepare the Fight My Men with Souldiors Rethorick I excite Enforce the vildnes of mine Enemie Th'Iniustice of his cause of ours the Right Our wealthy States their desperate Pouertie Their fainting Force and our assured Might Our liuing Honors and their Infamy So I concluded with these hartning Words St George for England and for me their Swords Now rotten Sin giues ripenes to my Fate And Ioue doth vaile the Curtaine of the Sky Reflecting Beames of Fauor and sterne hate On Richmonds Conquest and my Tragedie Heauens singing Motion that deuoures liues date The working Organs of the Deitie Hast to my Period when I must be throwne From height of Pride to depth of Acheron Signall is giuen and the sound of death Showts Drums and Trumpets deafen all our Eares Brests Buts for Shafts and swords in flesh doe sheath Horse meet with Horse and Speares are lin'd with speares Blood blends with Blood Breath doth mix with breath Life flies with life and Beeres are laid by Beeres Mazors to Bils doe stand for Butchers Blocks Fire twin'd with Lightning Thunder ioin'd with shocks Bellona rag'd not so as I did storme My Lâ—on Spirit hunts Richmond for my pray I out-fac't death in his most vgly Forme And through the thickest Shocks I hew'd my way My Spirit was like whirle-winde and mine Arme A pointed Comet in this cruell Fray Streaming forth Blood and foming Rage and Gall Deathfull my spleene my Fury Funerall Vnequall'd was my more then mortall Ire Hels euer burning Lymbeck did distill The Spirit of Diuels in my quenchlesse Fire Wishing such power to damne as hart to kill My winged Horse did Regase my desire Windes in my Passion th' Ocean in my Will My cloud-congested Rage dissolu'd like Thunder My valour more prodigious then VVonder But soone my Archers slack their strongest Bent My Souldiers Steele rebated yet more keene They brandish Malice with one free consent And against me conuert their pointed Spleene Stanley with Richmond ioines his Regiment Some fled some stood at gaze the rest were seene VVith idle action to maintaine the Field Powre faintly answer'd argues Will to yeeld Then as I had attain'd the wished Ken Of Richmonds selfe by noted Markes he wore In bloudy sweate I spur'd through slaughtred Men To quench my fierie Spirit with his Gore Brandon his valiant Standard-Bearer then I slew with stout opposers many more And with spent Blood being weake in eu'ry part I fail'd to set my Seale on Richmonds Heart My Horse being slaine with him I fell to Ground And yet euen then was not disanimate For my high Spirit aboue my Flesh did bound Scorning the limit of my mortall Date Till with their thickest Troopes enclosed round And wrastling manly with râ—alignant Fate They Character'd in wounds my Tyrannie And thus perform'd my bloody Tragedie My Braine they dasht which flew on eu'ry side As they would shew my Tracts of Policie My yeares with stabs my dayes they multiplide In drops of Blood t' expresse my Crueltie They pierst my Hart euaporating Pride And mangled me like an Anatomie And then with Horses drag'd me to my Tombe Thus finish't I my Fate by Heauens iust Doome Yee that in stately madnesse of desire Doe thinke your selues firme Center'd in your Spheres Yee that subiecting Sence like Gods aspire In rising Hopes confounding headlong Feares Behold in me your suddaine quenched fire To depth of Hell falne from those lofty Stayres Asswage your Thirst betimes remit your height For if yee fall y' are crush't with your owne weight But if ye slight my Counsell still feed lust Pamper proud flesh drinke sinfull Lethae free Till Tyme and Death resolue your Trunkes to dust Your Soules to Torments Names to Infamy And so farewell for back againe I must Vnto the horrid shades of Destiny Now doe I sinke as erst in Pride I fell And to leaue fame on Earth thus diu'd to Hell Now Englands Chaos was reduc't to order By God-like Richmond whose successiue Stems The hand of Time hath Branch't in curious Border Vnto the mem'rie of thrice Royall Iames An Angels Trumpe be his true Fames Recorder And may that Brittaine Phoebus from his Beames In Glories light his influence extend His Off-spring countles Peace nor Date nor End Hac decies repetita placebit FINIS Errataâ— C. pag. ◠〈◊〉 9. 〈◊〉 foâ— regard Ibid. pâ— 7. â—in 5. wayâ—e foâ—â— vaine F. 〈…〉 for feamelesse Ibid. lin 22 〈◊〉 for loues pag. 7. lin 16. bâ—â—efull for bâ—nefull 〈…〉 * 〈…〉