all infamie and shame Dispis'd of men abhord in euery place Hate to thy selfe the very worlds disgrace 176 VVhen all thy race shall be in tryumph set Their royall conquests and atchiuements done Henrie thy Father braue Plantaginet Thy conquering Brother Lyon-hart his sonne The crownes spoiles these famous Champions won This still shall be in thy dishonour said Loe this was Iohn the murderer of a Maid 177 Looke I to heauen her purenes tells my sin Looke I on man hee frownes with hatefull sight Looke I on earth I see my fault therein The light to view my shame doth giue me light The night puts me in mind of my fames night I read my shame in all things as a booke And yet most grieu'd when on my selfe I looke 178 This act enrold in booke of black Defame Where men of death tragick murders reed Recorded in the Register of shame In lines whose letters freshly euer bleed VVhere all the world shall wonder my misdeed And quote the place thus euer passing by Note heere King Iohns vile damned tyranny 179 Her blood exhal'd from earth vnto the sky A fearfull Meteor still hangs ore my head Stayning the heauens with her Vermilion dye Changing the Sunnes bright rayes to gorie red Prognosticating death and fearfull dread Her soule with howling reuengfull steuen Shreeking before the christall gates of Heauen 180 VVhose sacred Counsell now in iudgment set And shee before them stands to plead her case Her drearie words in bloodie tears are wet The euidence appears before my face And I condemn'd a catife wanting grace Iustice cryes out vpon this sinfull deed And to my death the fatall starrs proceed 181 Earth swallow me and hide me in thy wombe O let my shame in thy deepe Center dwell Wrap vp this murder in my wretched tombe Let tender mercy stop the gates of hell And with sweet drops this furious heat expell O let repentance iust reuenge appease And let my soule in torment find some ease 182 O no her tears are now become a flood And as they rise increasing mine offence And now the shedding of her guiltlesse blood Euen like a Cankar gnawes my conscience O ther's my griefe my paine proceeds frō thence Yet neuer time wears out this filthy staine And I dishonor'd euer shall remaine 183 Fame in her death shame in me tooke her birth That shame in dying till her fame be dead My sinne on earth whilst shee is in the earth And by her fall my fault will still be fed My black more black my red be made more red Her no my I her was my wicked is Her good my ill my basenes be her blisse 184 Then doe I vow a solemne pylgrimage Before my wretched miserable end This doone betake me to some Hermitage VVhere I the remnant of my daies will spend VVhere almes and prayer I euer will attend And on the Tombe at last where thou dost lie VVhen all is done Ile lay mee downe and die 185 And for his pennance lastly he deuis'd Monthly to Dunmow would he take his way And in a simple Palmers weede disguis'd VVith deep deuotion kneele him downe to pray Kissing the place whereas my body lay Washing my Tombe with his repentant tears And being wet yet dry'd it with his hairs FINIS THE ARGVMENT OF PEIRS GAVESTON PEIRS Gaueston borne in Gascoyne at a place of that name his Father a valiant Gentleman and a souldiour seruing vnder Edward Longshancks in his warres in Fraunce Scotland and Wales This Peirs Gaueston then beeing a child of singuler beautie and no lesse towardnesse was preferd to the place of a Page to Edward of Carnaruan the young Prince of Wales with whom hee became so highlie in fauour as neuer any thing could remooue his inviolable loue Gaueston as he grew in yeers became most licentious by his inticments drew this toward young Prince following this his youthfull Minion into hate with the Noblemen and disgrace with the King his Father who banished this lasciuious corrupter of his Sonne But after the death of this good King Edward of Carnaruan comming to the Crowne calls him home creating him Earle of Cornwall making him Lord Chamberlaine Treasurer Secretarie Lord Deputie of Ireland and Lord Protector of the Land in his absence in Fraunce giuing him the Ile of MAN with all Queene Elinors dowrie Hee thus established by the King becommeth a hater of the Noble men drowned in pride and ambition setting mortall debate betwixt the Barrons and the King who subborned him in all his actions as a man bewithced by this wicked and vile man Hee was twice banished the Realme by meanes of the Barrons who deadly hated him and yet still the King founde meanes to restore him At length the Barrons seeing no remedy rise in Armes taking Gaueston at Scarborough in the North thether fled as to a refuge frō their furie They bring him to Warwicke where by Guy Beuchamp the great Earle of Warwicke he was beheaded at Blacklow bill THE LEGENDE OF Piers Gaueston Entituled To the vvorthie and Honourable Gentleman Ma. Henrie Cauendish Esquire 1 FRom gloomy shaddow of eternall night Where cole-black darknes keeps his lothsom cel And frō those ghosts whose eyes abhor y e light From thence I come a wosull tale to tell Prepare the Stage I meane to act my part Sighing the Scenes from my tormented hart 2 From Stygian Lake to gracelesse soules assign'd And from the flood of burning Acheron VVhere sinfull spirits are by fire refin'd The fearfull ghost of wofull Gaueston With black-fac'd Furies frō the graues attended Vntill the tenor of my tale be ended 3 Wing-footed Fame nowe summons me frō death In Fortunes triumph to aduaunce my glory The blessed Heauens againe doe lend me breath VVhilst I report this dolefull Tragick storie That soule body which death once did sunder Now meete together to report a wonder 4 O purple-buskind Pallas most diuine Let thy bright Fauchion lend me Cypresse bowes Be thou assisting to this Poet of mine And with thy tragick garland girt his browes Pitying my case when none would hear me weep To tell my cares hath layd his owne to sleepe 5 You mournfull Maidens of the sacred nine You Destenies which haunt the shades beneath To you fayre Muses I my plaints resigne To you black spirits I my woes bequeath VVith sable penns of direfull Ebonie To pen the processe of my tragedie 6 Drawe on the lines which shall report my life VVith weeping words distilling from thy pen Where woes abound and ioyes are passing rife A verie meteor in the eyes of men Wherein the world a wonder-world may see Of heauen-bred ioy and hell-nurst miserie 7 Declare my ebb my often swelling tyde Now tell my calmes and then report my showres My Winters storms and then my Sommers pride False Fortunes smiles then her dissembling lowres The height wherto my glory did ascend Then point the period where my ioyes did end 8 When famous Edward wore the
doth run The Marble-skyes with checker'd varnish faire My branch-embossed bed of natures care The flowers my smell the slood my thirst to steep Thus like a King with pleasure rock'd a sleepe 8 VVhen in a dreame it seemed vnto mee A noyse of trumpets from the flood arose As when great BETA in her pompe wee see VVhen shee by London on the water goes The dauncing Barge with silent musick rowes The people thronging on the wharfes shores The ayre with shouts the water fill'd with oares 9 A troope of Nymphes came suddainly on land When thus was ended this tryumphant sound Encompassing mee lying on the strand Taking theyr places on the grassy ground Theyr ory tresses all with Laurell crown'd Casting theyr sober modest eyes a space Vpon my swarty mellancholly face 10 Betwixt two Ladies came a goodly Knight As newly brought from some distresfull place It seem'd to mee he was some noble wight Though his attyre were miserable and base And care made furrowes in his manly face And though cold age had frosted his faire haires It rather seem'd for sorrow then for yeares 11 The one a princely Lady did support This feeble Image which coulde sarcly stand The other fleering in disdainfull sort With scornefull iesture drew him by the hand VVho being blind yet bound with many a band At length I found this proude disdainefull Dame Was FORTVNE and the other glorious FAME 12 FAME on his right hand in a robe of gold VVhose stately trayne Time as her Page did beare On which for rich embrawdery was enrold The deedes of all the VVorthies euer were So strōgly wrought as wrong could not empeire VVhose large memorialls shee did still rehearse In Poets man-immortalizing verse 13 Two Tables on her goodly breast shee bore The one of Christall th'other Ebony Engrau'd with names of all that liu'd before That the faire booke of heauenly memory Th'other the black scrowle of infamy One stuffd with Poets Saints Conquerers Th'other with Atheists Tyrants Vsurers 14 And in her words appeared as a wonder Her during force and neuer-failing might VVhich softly spake farre of were as a thunder And round about the world wold take their flight And bring the most obscurest things to light That still the farther of the greater still Did euer sound our good or make our ill 15 Fortune as blinde as he whom she doth leade Her feature chang'd each minute of the hower Her riggish feet fantastickly would tread Now would shee smile suddainly would lower And w t one breth her words were sweet sower Vpon her foes she amorously would glaunce And on her followers coylie looke a scaunce 16 About her necke it seem'd as for a chaine Some Princes crownes broken scepters hong Vpon her arme a lazie youth did leane VVhich scornfully vnto the ground shee flong And with a wanton grace passing along Great bags of gold from out her bosome drew And to base Pesants and fond Ideots threw 17 A dusky vaile which hid her sightles eyes Like clowds which couer our vncertaine liues Painted about with bloody Tragedies Fooles wearing crownes wisemen clogd in giues Now how she giues againe how she depriues In this black Map thus shee her might discouers In Campes and Courts on soldiers kings louers 18 An easie rysing little banck there was The seate fayre FLORA somtime sat vpon Curling her locks in louely Isis glasse To reuell in the Springs pauilion Here was her court and this her princly throne Here set they downe this poore distressed man And in this sort proude Fortune first began 19 BEhold quoth she this Duke of Normandy The heire of William Conqueror of this Ile VVhich thou poore Fame hast vow'd to glorifie VVhose history this Poet must compile My slaue my scorne my prisoner an exile Whose life I mark'd with my black dismall brand And thou would'st now eternize with thy hand 20 Thou art an Eccho a by-word a wind Thine ayrie bodie is composd of breath A wandring blast within no place confin'd VVhich oft of nothing silly somthing saith Yet neuer canst speake well till after death And from imagination hast thy birth Vnknowne in heauen vnperceiu'd on earth 21 First in opinion had'st thou thy creation Form'd with conceit the needy Poets frend And like opinion keep'st no certaine fashion Yet in a circle still thy course doth end And but a Post which all base rumors send An needles burden of an idle song The prophane accent of each witles tongue 22 Slaunders vile spy a runnagate a thiefe VVhich day and night in euery chinck doth peepe A blab a wanton lightest of beliefe Nor in thy gate a meane doost euer keepe But now hie in the ayre now in the deepe Reporting that which thou doost but suppose And telling that thou neuer should'st disclose 23 VVith extreame toyle and labour thou art sought Danger the way that leadeth to thy Cell Onely with death thy fauours must be bought And who obtaines thee fetcheth thee from hell Where thou ensconst w t fiery swords dost dwell And when thou art with all this perrill found Thou art a suddaine voice a tinckling sound 24 My out-cast abiects such as I disgrace And euer-more haue held in hatefull scorne And in the world haue set in seruile place These be thy fauorits these thou doost subborne These wait on Fame whose weeds be neerly worne Yet cannot these poore wretches come to thee Vnlesse before they be preferr'd by mee 25 That trump thou saist wakes dead men from theyr traunce Is not of precious gold as somē do deeme A brazen pipe by which vaine fooles do daunce And but to sound so loude doth onely seeme Sith points of vertue no man doth esteeme And with this toy the idle braine abusest And so their folly and thy fault excusest 26 Except in perrill thou doost not appeare And yet in perrill ebbing still and flowing Flying from him that seeth succour neere Diminished at hand augmented going On fertile stocks decay'd on barraine growing Lost life with rumors thou doost but repayre And what thou promisest thou payest with ayre 27 In balefull Hearses sad and sable grounds On gory letters thy memorialls lye Thy lines are deepe immedicable wounds And towards the dust thou point'st thy tearful eye Neuer discouer'd but in Tragedy Thy stony hart is pittifull to none But Syren-like to their destruction 28 This orbes great reuolution knowes my power And how I raigne with the eternall Fates VVith whom I sit in counsell euery howre On change of times subuersion of states On their beginnings on their seuerall dates In destining haps past on things to come In iudgement till the euerlasting dome 29 The starrs my Table-bookes wherein I write My Register the spacious circling Sky On heauens great brow I carefully endite Vnhappy mans long birth-markt desteny And by my power my lawes I ratefy And his fraile will imperiously controule VVith such quaint clauses as I there enroule 30 To me the heauens haue theyr Commission
giuen And in my Charter all their right compil'd That I alone should blesse as beautious heauen And honor those on whom I meane to smile To gaine them tytles of immortall stile That all should worthy be which I bestow Nor reason vrg'd but for I thinke it so 31 In great predestination is my beeing Whose depth yet wisdom neuer could discerne And in her secrets more then secrets seeing Where learning stil may learne how still to learne Those points w t do the deepest points conscerne VVhere sacred texts vnlock the way to me To lighten those which will my glory see 32 What names old Poets to their gods did giue VVere onely figures to expresse my might To shew the vertues that in mee doe liue My onely power on this all-moouing wight And all their Alters vnto mee were dight VVhose wondrous working stil to times did bring Matter whereon they euer-more might sing 33 Still most vncertaine varying in my course Yet in these changes hold one certaine end Crossing mans fore-cast weakning wisdoms force To none still foe to none a perfect frend Amazing thought to thinke what I pretend Depressing vertue sometime that thereby Shee taking wing againe may sore on hie 34 Forth of my lap I poure aboundant blisse All good proceedes from my all-giuing hand By me man happie or vnhappie is Blest if I blesse repuls'd if I with-stand And I alone am friendships onely band Vpon whose Lincks all greedely take hold Which being broke our zealous faith growes cold 35 Pawsing shee strownes when sudainly againe A roaring noyse ariseth from the flood As when a tempest with a shower of raine Is heard far off within some mightie wood At which me thought all things amazed stood As though her words such power with them did beare As Sea Land did quake her voice to heare 36 VVhen Fame yet smiling mildly thus replyes Alasse quoth shee what labour thou hast lost What wondrous mists thou casts before our eyes Yet will the gaine not counteruaile the cost What couldst y u say if thou hadst cause to boast Which thus canst paint such wōders of thy worth Yet art far lesse then nothing can set forth 37 A hap a chaunce a casuall euent The vulgars I doll and a childish terror A what men will a silly accedent The maske of blindnesse and disguise of error Natures vile nickname sollies foolish mirror A tearme a by-word by tradition learn'd A hearesay nothing not to be discern'd 38 A wanton feare a silly Infants dreame A vaine illusion a meere fantasie A seeming shade a lunatick mans theame A fond Aenigma a flat heresie Imaginations doting trumperie A folly in it selfe it one selfe lothing A thing that would be and yet can be nothing 39 Disease of time Ambitions Concubine A minde-entrauncing snare a slippery Ice The baite of death destructions heady wine Vaine-glories Patron the fooles paradice Fond hope wherewith confusion doth entice A vile seducing fiend which haunts men still To loose them in the errors of their will 40 A reason which no reason can discusse And hast the ground of all thy strength frō hence VValking in shadow of mans Genius In humane birth pretending residence A riddle made of the starrs influence VVhich good and euill doost thy title frame Yet neither good nor euill but in name 41 Those ignorant which made a God of Nature And Natures God diuinely neuer knew VVere those which first erected Fortunes stature From whence this vile idolatry first grew Which times defect into mens eares still blew Grounding their vsurpations foolish lawes On the opinion of so poore a cause 42 Sloth first did hatch thee in her sleepie Cell And with base thoughts in idlenes wast bred VVith cowardize thou euer-more doost dwell And with dishonourable ease art fed In superstitious humors brought to bed A gossips tale thy greatest proofe doth lend On old-sayd sawes thy tytle doth depend 43 Thy habit loosenes and thy measure wast Deceitfull vaine inhumane sickle light Thou poysonest him to whom thou giu'st to tast Gainst vertue still thou bendest all thy might VVith honourable thoughts thou wagest fighte The yeelding man in fetters thou doost binde But weake and slauish to the constant minde 44 VVho leanes to thee whō thou hast not deceiu'd VVho slattrest thou whom thou abusest not VVho hopes of thee and not of hope bereau'd whose secrets known w t shame do'st thou not blot VVho not deuour'd thou in thy pawes hast got VVho's he or where yet euer was he found That thou might'st hurt didst not deadly wound 45 The slauish peasant is thy fauorite In chaunge and chaunces all thy glory is In vile and basest things thou tak'st delite In earthly mud consisteth all thy blisse VVhat canst thou be which art bewitch'd with this For weart thou heauenly thou in loue wouldst be With that which neerest doth resemble thee 46 I am the powerfull messenger of heauen My wings the lightning spreading farre wide To euery coast I with a thought am driuen And on the gorgeous sun-beames doe I ride To heauen I mount downe to the earth I slide I regester the worlds eternall howers The Secretarie of the immortall powers 47 Refuge of hope the harbinger of truth Handmaide of heauen vertues skilfull guide The life of life the ages of springing youth Triumph of ioy eternities faire bride The Virgins glory and the Martirs pride The courages immortall raysing fier The very height to which great thoughts aspire 48 The staire by which men to the Starres doe clime The minds first moouer greatnes to expresse Fayths armour and the vanquisher of time A pleasant sweete against deaths bitternes The high reward which doth all labours blesse The studie which doth heauenly things impart The ioy amidst the tedious wayes of Art 49 Learnings greene Lawrell Iustice glorious throne The Muses chariot Memories true foode The Poets life the Gods companion The fire-reuiuing Phaenix Sun-nurst broode The spirits eternall Image honors good The Balsamum which cures the Souldiers scarre The world-discouering Sea-mans happy Starre 50 My dwelling place betwixt the earth and skies My Turret vnto heauen her top vpreares The windowes made of Lynceus piercing eyes And all the walls be made of daintiest eares Where euery thing thats done in earth appeares No word is whispered in this vaulty round But in my Pallace straightwayes it doth sound 51 The pauement is of ratling brasen drums The Rafters trumpets which do rend the aire Sounding aloud each name that thither comes The chinks like tongues of all things talking there And all things past in memorie doe beare The dores vnlock with euery word man faith And open wide with euery little breath 52 It's hong about with Arms conquering spoiles The pillers which support the roofe of this Are tropheis grauen with Herculean toiles The roofe of garlands crownes and ensignes is In midst of which a christall Pyramis All ouer caru'd with men of most renowne Whose base is my faire chaire the spire my
soonest pry Whose nature thus I chose to be the mould Therein to worke what forme of hap I would 98 His owne compassion cause of his owne care Vpon his thought his constant promise stood Vertue in him most naturally rare No vile base humor tainted his pure blood His bounty still gaue good desert her food His mind so great and honorably free Made him too prone to loose credulitie 99 His counsels thus are combred by his care In nothing certaine bnt vncertaintie His friends resolu'd on nothing but dispaire Yet shewes he greatnes in most misery Each place become a stage for Tragedy By error wandring far beyond his scope Strong in desire but weakest in his hope 100 In publique shame oft counsell seemes disgrac'd No priuiledge can from the Fates protect In desperation counsell hath no taste Vntamed rage doth all aduise reiect Hiding the course which reason should direct Making himselfe the author of his harms VVithout experience valor wants his arms 101 Now I whose power in Williams wars was seene VVhen first on Williams conquest he begun To shew my selfe the worlds imperious Queene Now turne my selfe against his warlike son To lose by me by me his Father won On Englands part gainst Normandy to stand Which Normandy had conquered by my hand 102 The conquest William made vpon this Ile VVith Norman blood be-peopling Brittany Euen now as Brittons made within a while Turne with reuenge to conquer Normandy Thus victory goes back to victory That his own blood wins what before he won His conquering son subdu'd his conquering son 103 Thus Norman townes begirt with English arms The furious brother dealing wrathfull blowes Both pressing in where deadly perrill swarms These English-Norman Norman-English foes At last doe get what they at first did lose As Normandy did Englands fall prouoke Now Norman necks must beare the English yoke 104 The flood of mischiefe thus comes in againe VVhat Fortune works not alwaies seems pretéded The wind thus turn'd blows back the fire amaine VVhere first mischance began she will be ended And he defend him from those he offended For this we find the course of fatall things Is best discern'd in states of Realms Kings 105 On whom of late in Palaestine I smild In ciuill warrs now dreadfully I frowne He call'd from exile I from him exil'd To leaue his crowne who had refus'd a crowne Who beat all down now heare is beaten down Here to lose all who there had gotten all To make his fall more grieuous in his fall 106 To England now a prisoner they him bring Now is he hers which claim'd her for his owne A Captiue where he should haue been a King His dūgeon made wher shold haue been his throne Now buried there wheras he shold haue growne In one poore tower mew'd vp within one place Whose Empires bounds the Ocean shold embrace 107 Could mortall sence containe immortall hate Or reason sound the depth of things diuine Iudgement might stand amaz'd at Roberts state And thinke no might to be compar'd with mine That all power may vnto my power resigne And that in Roberts fall the world may see Amongst the starrs what power remaines in mee 108 That sword which on his fortune hath such power Yet powerles is to end his wretched dayes Those daies w c in their course all things deuoure To his swift griefe makes slow and lazie staies To Tyrannies long raigne he thus obaies That he in life a thousand deaths might die Onely in mercy rackt with crueltie 109 He hath no ioy but in his miseries His greatest comfort is the blessed light For which as I were angry with his eyes I make the King depriue him of his sight To sute his daies so iustly with the night That sencles stones to mone he should not see Yet sencles stones behold his misery 120 And this he felt that Fortune made him blinde Least his eyes obiects yet might lighten care That y e light wanting more might light his minde VVhose eyes might see how great his sorrows are That euery sence that sences woe might share And so that sence depriu'd of ioy alone Might more increase the griefe of euery one 111 These griefes and horrors enemies of rest VVhich murther life where they do harbor long Kill humors which his body oft opprest Vnnaturally thus making nature strong As out of deaths dead stock new life still sprong As life with death had tempted him till now Yet death to life no ease would er'e allow 112 Death he fear'd not is taught his end to feare Life once he lou'd with him now fall'n in loue That foe a friend to hurt him doth forbeare That friend a foe he cannot now remoue Twixt them he all extremities doth proue Aged in youth to pine his ioy thereby Youthfull in age to suffer misery 113 Courage forbids that he himselfe should kill His life too proud to be constrain'd to die His will permits not death now when he will VVhat would dispaire true valor doth deny Thus life's life foe death is deaths enemy VVilling to die by life him double killing Vrging to die twice dying he vnwilling 114 So many yeeres as he hath worne a crowne So many yeeres as he hath hop'd to rise So many yeeres he liues thus quite thrown downe So many yeeres he liues without his eyes So many yeeres in dying ere hee dyes So many yeeres lockt vp in prison strong Though sorrow make the shortest time seeme long 115 Thus sway I in the course of earthly things That Time might worke him euerlasting spite To shew that power yet euer makes not kings Nor that conceit can compasse my deceit In fined things such meruails infinite Nor any wonder is to be supposed In that wherein all wonders are inclosed 116 AT Fortuns speech they stand as all amaz'd Whilst Fame herselfe doth wonder at his woe And all vpon this deadly Image gaz'd VVhose misery shee had discribed so But in reuenge of this dispightfull foe Fame from a slumber as it seem'd awake On his behalfe thus for herselfe be-spake 117 What time I came frō world-renowned Rome To waken Europe from her drouzie traunce Summoning the Princes of great Christendome To Palaestine their Ensignes to aduaunce Soūding my trump in England Spaine Fraunce To moue the Christians to religious war Frō Pagans hands to free CHRISTS sepulchar 118 That holy Hermit Peter then as one VVhich as a Saint bewaild so great a losse With Bulloigne Godfrey Christs strong champion Vnder the Banner of the bloody CROSSE Now on the Alps the conquering collours tosse Leading along the brauest Christian band To reare their Tropheys in the HOLY LAND 119 Hether the flocks of gallant spirits do throng The place whence immortalitie doth spring To whom the hope of conquest doth belong Nor any thought lesse then to be a King Hether doth Fame her deerest children bring And in this Camp shee makes her treasury The rarest Iems of Europs Chiualry 120 This conquering lord
the Conquerors eldest sonne Whose hand did then the Norman scepter weld In Armes to win what once his Father won To Englands conquest is againe compeld Whose crown frō him proud William Rufus held An exile thence by's angry Father driuen By Fortune robd of all by Nature giuen 121 VVith fame of this once Roberts eares possest With heauenly wonder doth his thoughts inspire Leauing no place for wrong in his faire brest Giuing large wings vnto his great desire VVarming his courage w t more glorious fire As thus to fight for his deere Sauiours sake Of Englands crowne he no account doth make 122 Of kingdoms tytles he casts off the toyle VVhich by proude Rufus tyranny is kept Deere as his life to him that hallowed soile VVherein that God in liuely manhood slept At whose deere death the rocks for pitty wept A crown of gold this Christian knight doth scorne so much he lou'd those temples crown'd w t thorne 123 Those grieuous wants whose burthen weyed him downe The sums w c he in Germany had spent In gathering power to gaine the English crowne Garded with princly troopes in his rich Tent Like William Conquerors sonne magnificent Now by his need he greeuously doth find VVeakning his might what neuer could his mind 124 This braue high spirited Duke this famous Lord VVhose right of England Rufus held away To set an edge vpon his conquering sword In gage to Henry Normandy did lay Thus to maintaine his valiant souldiers pay Rather of Realms himselfe to dispossesse Then Christendome should be in such distresse 125 Eternall sparks of honors purest fire Vertue of vertues Angels angeld mind VVhere admiration may it selfe admire VVhere mans diuinest thoughts are more diuin'd Saint sainted spirit in heauēs own shrine enshrind Endeared dearest thing for euer liuing Receiuing most of Fame to Fame more giuing 126 Such feruent zeale doth from his soule proceed As those curl'd tresses which his browes adorne Vntill that time Ierusalem were freed Hee makes a vow they neuer should be shorne But for a witnes of that vow be worne True vow strōg faith great lord most happy howr Perform'd increasd blest by effecting power 127 True vow so true as truth to it is vowed Vowing all power to help so pure a vow Allowing perfect zeale to be allowed If zeale of perfect truth might ere allow Then much admir'd but to be wondred now Faith in it selfe then wonder more concealing Faith to the world then wonder more reuealing 128 Disheueld locks what names might giue you grace VVorne thus disheueld for his deere Lords sake Sweet-flowring twists valors engirdling lace Browe-decking fringe faire golden curled flake Honors rich garland beauties meshing brake Arbors of ioy which nature once did giue VVhere vertue should in endles Sommer liue 129 Faire Memory awaken Death from sleepe Call vp Times spirit of passed things to tell Vnseale the secrets of th'vnsearched deepe Let out the prisoners from Obliuisions Cell Inuoke the black inhabitants of hell Into the earths deepe dungeon let the light And with faire day cleere vp his clowdy night 130 Eternitie bee prodigall a vvhile VVith thine immortall arms imbrace thy loue Diuinest Powers vpon your image smile And from your star-encircled thrones aboue Earths misty vapors from his sight remoue And in the Annals of the glorious fun Enrole his worth in Times large course to run 131 Truth in his life bright Poesie vphold His life in truth adorning Poesie VVhich casting life in a more purer mold Preserues that life to immortalitie Both truly working eyther glorifie Truth by her power Arts power to iustifie Truth in Arts roabs adorn'd by Poesie 132 To his victorious Ensigne comes from far The Redshanck'd Orcads toucht with no remorse The light-foote Irish which with darts make war Th'ranck-ryding Scot on his swist running horse The English Archer of a Lyons force The valiant Norman all his troupes among In bloody conquests tryed in Arms train'd long 133 Remote by nature in thys colder Clyme Another nature he new birth doth bring And by the locks he haleth aged Tyme As newly he created euery thing Shewing the place where heauens eternall King Our deere blood-bought redemption first began Man couering God earth heauen God in man 134 Poore Ilanders which in the Oceans chaine Too long imprisoned from the cheerfull day Your warlike Guide now brings you to the maine VVhich to your glory makes the open way And his victorious hand becomes the kay To let you in to famous victories The honor of your braue posterities 135 Be fauourable faire heauen vnto thine owne And with that Bethelem birth-foretelling star Still goe before this Christian Champion In fiery pillers lead him out from far Let Angels martch with him vnto this war VVith burning-bladed Cherubins still keepe Encompasse him with clowds when he doth sleep 136 VVhen heauen puts on her glittering vaile of stars And with sweet sleep the souldiers sences charms Then are his thoughts working these holy wars Plotting assaults watchful at all alarms Rounding the Campe in rich apparreld Arms His sleep their watch his care their safeties kay Their day his night his night he makes their day 137 Valors true valor honours liuing crowne Inspired thoughts desert aboue desert Greatnes beyond imaginations bound Nature more sweet then is exprest by Art A hart declaring a true princly hart Courage vniting courage vnto glory A subiect fit for an immortall story 138 Why shold not heauen by night when forth he went Conuert the stars to Sunnes to giue him light And at his prayers by day in his close Tent The Tapers vnto starrs to help his sight That in his presence darknes might be bright That euery thing more purer in his kind Might tell the purenes of his purer mind 139 Yet Letters but like little Ilands bee And many words within this world of fame VVhose Regions rise and fall in their degree Large volumes short descriptions of his name Like little Maps painting his Globes great fame VVit lost in wonder seeking to expresse His vertues sum his praises vniuerse 140 In greeuous toyles consisteth all his rest In hauing most of most enioyeth none Most wanting that whereof he is possest A King ordain'd ne're to enioy his throne That least his own which richly is his own In this deuision from himselfe deuided Himselfe a guide for others safety guided 141 His one poore lyfe deuided is to many Dead to his comfort doth to others liue Vnto himselfe he is the least of any All from him taken vnto all doth giue Depriu'd of ioy of care his to depriue Who al controuleth now that all controules Body of bodyes his soule of their soules 142 Religious war more holy pilgrimage Both Saint souldier Captaine Confessor A deuout youth a resolute old age A warlike States-man peacefull Conqueror Graue Consull true autentique Senator Feare-chasing resolution valiant feare Hart bearing nought yet patient all to beare 143 Skill valour guides and valour armeth skill Courage emboldneth
wit wit courage arms This is the thred which leadeth on his will This is the steere which guides him in these storms To see his good and to foresee his harms Not flying life in fortune so content Not fearing death as truly valient 144 He feasts desire with sweetest temperance Greatnes he decks in modesties attire Honor he doth by humblenes aduance By sufferance he raiseth courage hier His holy thoughts by patience still aspire To fashion vertue strangely he doth seeke Making poore hope impatient sorrow meeke 145 Then in his ioy he nothing lesse inioyes Still of him selfe the worser part he is What most shold please him him the most annoyes Of his there's nothing can be called his And what he hath that doth he euer misse His thought of conquest so doth rest inuade Thus is he made as vnto others made 146 All things to him be prosperous as he would Not trusting Fortune nor distrusting Fate Resolu'd to hope hap what soever could Ioying in woe in ioy disconsolate Ioy lightneth woe woe ioy doth moderate Carelesse of both indifferent twixt either VVooed of both yet yeelding vnto neither 147 Endlesse his toyle a figure of his fame And his life ending giues his name no end Lasting that forme where vertue builds the frame Those sums vnnumbred glory giues to spend Our bodies buried then our deeds ascend Those deeds in life to worth cannot be rated In death with life our fame euen then is dated 148 VVilling to doe he thinketh what to doe That what he did exactly might be done That due foresight before the act might goe VVhich wisely warning might all errors shun That care might finish what he had begun Iustly directed in the course of things By that straight rule which sound experience brings 149 From famous Godfrey and the Christian hoast Vnto the migty Grecian Emperor Now is he sent through many perrils tost This Norman Duke the braue Ambassador His royall spirit so much ne're seene before As with his princely traine when he doth come Before the towne of faire Bizantium 150 From forth the holy Region is he sent Bending his coure through Macedon and Thrace Yet neuer would he sleepe but in his Tent Till he return'd vnto that hallowed place Till he beheld that famous Godfreis face Nor neuer rest his body in a bed Till Palaestine were free deliuered 151 Triumphall prowesse true disposed care Cleare-shining courage honourable intent Vertuous-apparreld manhood thoughts more rare Mind free as heauen imperiall gouernment Numbers of vertues in one sweet consent Gyfts which the soule so highly beautifie Humble valour valiant humilitie 152 Sweet ayre with Angels breath be thou refin'd And for his sake be made more pure then ayre And thether let some gentle breathing wind From Paradice bring sweets which be most rare Let Sommer sit in his imperiall chayre And clothe sad Winter in the cheerefull prime Keeping continuall Sommer in the clime 153 Delight be present in thy best attire And court his eyes with thy delightfull change Oh warme his spirit with thy soule-feasting fire To base delight-abusers be thou strange Such as in vainest pleasures boundlesse range For pleasure he all pleasures quite forsooke And arm'd with zeale these toiles first vndertooke 154 O let Danubius in her watry roome VVhere she the name of Ister first did take VVith threescore riuers swelling in her wombe With seauen large throats her greedy thirst to slake Doth swallow in the great worlds vastie lake Vnto all regions which doe know her name In Roberts glory tell our countries fame 155 And broad-brim'd Strymon as she vaulteth on Slyding along the fertill Thracian shore Kissing the stronds of famous Macedon Which once the name of old Aemathia wore Whose fame decay'd her drops do now deplore May raise another Orpheus with her mones To sing his praise vnto her trees and stones 156 Time on his life thy gathered store disburse VVhich may enrich thee with eternall gaine VVhich art a beldame now become a nurse And in his end begin his glorious raigne That yet truth may of truth be forc'd to faine That of his praise thy selfe a part maist be VVhich praise remaines the better part of thee 157 O thou immortall Tasso Aestes glory VVhich in thy golden booke his name hast left Enrold in thy great Godfreis liuing story VVhose lines shall scape vntoucht of ruins thest Yet vs of him thou hast not quite bereft Though thy large Poems onely boast his name Ours was his birth and we will haue his fame 158 The curious state of greatnes he doth scorne Carelesse of pomp to be magnificent Deeming the noblest minded noblest borne Him worthiest honor which the furthest went His blood most pure whose blood in wars most spent Esteeming all fond titles toyes of naught Most honoring those which were with peril bought 159 His richest roabes are his approoued Armes His sports were deeds of peerelesse chiualrie He flies all pleasures as the Syrens charmes To his great mind no pleasing harmonie Not touch't with childish imbecillitie As sacriledge to his religious mind To mix base thoughts with those of heauenly kind 160 A mind which of it selfe could rightly deeme Keeping a straight way in one certaine course As a true witnes of his owne esteeme Feeding it selfe from his owne springing source And by himselfe increasing his owne force Desirous still him daylie to enure To endure that men thought none could endure 161 Deuinest touch instinct of highest heauen Most gracefull grace purest of puritie To mortall man immortall vertue giuen Manhood adorn'd with powerfull dietie Discreetfull pitty hallowed pietie In secret working by itselfe confest In silent admiration best exprest 162 Not spur'd with honor dearely louing peace Constant in any course to which he fell A spirit which no asffliction could oppresse Neuer remou'd where once his thought did dwell Opynionate that what he did was well VVhich working now vpon so good a cause Approueth his conceit the surest lawes 163 No braggarts boast nor ostentacious word Out of his mouth is euer heard proceed But on his foe-mans curats with his sword In characters records his valiant deed That there vnpartiall eyes might plainly reed In modest silence by true vertue hid That though he dumb his deeds told what he did 164 He cheres his Souldiers with sweet honied words His princely hand embalmes the maimeds wound Vnto the needie gold he still affords To braue attempts encouraging the sound Neuer dismaid in perrill is he found His Tent a seate of iustice to the greeu'd A kingly court when need should be releeu'd 165 His life each hower to danger he doth giue Yet still by valour he with perrill striues In all attempts as he did scorne to liue Yet lyuing as his life were many liues Oft times from death it seemes that he reuiues Each hower in great attempts he seemes to die Yet still he liues in spight of ieopardie 166 Euen by that town o're which his Lord did weepe Whose precious tears were shed
for her own sinne Euen by that towne this zealous Lord did weepe To see her now defil'd with others sinne He wept he weepes for sinne and he for sinne He first shed teares he lastly sheddeth teares Those sacred drops the others drops endeares 167 What prince was found within the Christian hoast That carried marke of honor in his shield That with braue Roberts Lyons once durst boast Raging with furie in the bloody field VVhose mighty pawes a piller seem'd to weild Which froÌ„ their nostrhils breath'd a seeming flame VVhen he in pride amongst the Pagans came 168 His life with blood how dearely did he prize And neuer did he brandish his bright sword But many Pagan soules did sacrifize And all the ground with liuelesse truncks he stor'd Such was his loue vnto his dearest Lord That were true loue more purer then is loue Here in this loue his purenes he might proue 169 Who from his furie latelie fled away VVhen in the field far off they him espied Pursu'd in his faire presence make a stay As of his hand they willing would haue died His beautie so his feircenes mollified As taking death by valiant Roberts name Should to their liues giue euerlasting fame 170 The cruell Panyms thirsting after blood VVith his sweet beauty doe their hates a slake Yet when by him in danger they haue stood And that his valour did their rage awake And with their swords reuenge wold deeply take The edges turne as seeming to relent To pitty him to whom the blowes were sent 171 At feirce assaults where thousand deaths might fall His cheerfull smiles made death he could not kill Imperiously his sword commaunds the wall As stones should be obedient to his will The yeelding blood his blood did neuer spill His fury quencht with teares as with a flood And yet like fire consuming all that stood 172 When in the morne his Courser he bestrid The trumpets sound vnto his thoughts gaue fire But from the field he euer dropping rid As he were vanquisht onely in retire The neerer rest farther from his desire In bootie still his Souldiers share the crowns They rich in gold he onely rich in wounds 173 At this returne now in this sad retreate From heathens slaughter from the Christians fled This is not he which in that raging heate On mighty heapes laid Pagan bodies dead Whose plumed helme empaled in his head Mild as some Nimphlike â—â—â—gin now he seem'd VVhich some in fight a fearefull spirit deem'd 174 No tryumphs doe his victories adorne But in his death who on the Crosse had died No lawrell nor victorious wreath is worne But that red Crosse to tell him crucified This death his life this pouertie his pride His feast is fast his pleasure pennaunce is His wishes prayers his hope is all his blisse 175 Great Caluary whose hollow vaulted womb In his deere Sauiours death afunder riuen That rock-rent Caue that man-god burying tomb VVhich was vnto his blessed body giuen VVhose yeelding Ghost did shake the power of heauen Here as a Hermit could he euer liue Such wondrous thoughts vnto his soule they giue 176 Thus a poore Pilgrim he returnes againe His sumptuous roabes be turn'd to Palmers gray Leauing his Lords to lead his warlick traine Whilst he alone comes sadly on the way Dealing abroad his deare bloods purchas'd pray A hermits staffe his caresull hand doth hold VVhose charged Launce the beathen foe controld 177 Most louing zeale borne of more zealous loue Cares holy care faiths might ioyes food hopes kay The groundwork worlds bewitching cannot moue Of true desires the neuer failing stay The cheerfull light of heauens ne're-ending day Vertue which in thy selfe most vertuous art The fairest gyft of the most fairest part 178 But now to end this long continued strife Henceforth thy malice takes no further place Thy hate began and ended with his life His spirit by thee can suffer no disgrace Now in mine armes his vertues I imbrace His body thine his crosses witnes be His mind is mine and from thy power is free 179 Thou gau'st vp rule when he gaue vp his breath And at his end then did I first begin Thy hate was buried in his timelesse death Thou going out first did I enter in Thou loosing him thy losse then did I win And when the Fates did vp their right resigne Thy right his wrong thy hate his hap was mine 180 To the vnworthie world then get thee back Stuft with deceits and fawning flatteries There by thy power bring all things vnto wrack And fill the times with fearefull Tragedies And since thy ioy consists in miseries Heare his complaint who wanting eyes to see May giue thee sight which art as blind as hee 181 AT her great words whilst they in silence stand Poore haplesse Robert now remembring him Holding one bloody eye in his pale hand VVith countenance all dead and gastly grim As in a feauer shaking euery lim Euen with a pitteous lamentable grone Vailing his head thus breakes into his mone 182 Poore teare dim'd taper which hast lost thy brother And thus art lest to twinkle here alone Ah might'st thou not haue perrisht with the other And both together to your set haue gone You both were one one wanting thou not one Poore twins which like true friends one watch did keepe Why seuer'd thus y t so you shold not sleepe 183 And thou pore eye oh why sholdst thou haue light The others black eclipse thus soone to see And yet thy fellow be depriu'd of sight For thy sad teares the while to pitty thee Equall your griefes your haps vnequall be Take thou his darknes and thy sorrow hide Or he thy light his griefe so well espied 184 Let that small drop out of thy iuicie ball Canded like gum vpon the moist'ned thrid There still be fixed that it neuer fall But as a signe hang on thine eyes staind lid A witnes there what inward griefe is hid Like burning glasses sired by the Sonne Light all mens eyes to see what there is done 185 Now like to conduits draw my body drie By which is made the entrance to my blood Streame-gushing sluces plac'd in eyther eye VVhich shalbe fed by this continuall flood Whirlpooles of tears where pleasures citty stood Deuouring gulfes within a vastie land Or like the dead Sea euer hatefull stand 186 Where stood the watch-towers of my cheerful face Like Vestall Lamps lighted with holy flame Is now a dungeon and a lothed place The dark some prison of my hatefull shame That they themselues doe most abhor the same Through whose foule grates griefe full of miserie Still begging vengeance ceaseth not to crie 187 VVith dire-full seales death hath shut vp the dores VVhere he hath taken vp his dreadfull Inne In bloody letters shewing those fell sores That now doe raigne wherioy mirth haue beene This mortal plague the iust scourge of their sinne From whose contagion comfort quite is fled And they themselues in their selues buried 188 Poore
time Drouping with faintnes hold their heads aside The boistrous storms dispoile y e greenest greues Stripping the Trees staik naked of their leaues 296 Death cald in liueries of my louely cheeks Layd in those beds of Lillies and of Roses Amaz'd with meruaile here for wonders seeks VVere he alone a Paradice supposes Grew male content and with himselfe at strife Not knowing now if he were death or life 297 And shutting vp the casements of those lights Which like two suns so sweetly went to rest In those faire Globes he saw those heauenly sights In which alone he thought him onely blest Cursing himselfe who had depriued breath From that which thus could giue a life in death 298 VVith palenes touching that faire rubied lip Now waxing purple like Adonis flower Where Iuory walls those rocks of Currall keep From whence did slow y t Nectar streaming shower There earth-pale Death refresht his tyred lims Where Cupid bath'd him in those Christall brims 299 And entring now into that house of glory That Temple with sweet Odors long perfumed VVhere Nature had ingraued many a story In Letters which by death were not consumed Accursed now his crueltie he curst That Fame should liue when death had done his worst 300 Now when the King had notice of my death And that he saw his purpose thus preuented In greeuous sighes he now consumes his breath And into teares his very eyes relented Cursing that vile and mercy-wanting age And breakes into this passion in his rage 301 O heauens quoth he lock vp the liuing day Cease Sunne to lend the world thy glorious light Starres flye your course and wander all astray Moone lend no more thy siluer shine by night Heauen Stars Sun Moone coÌ„ioyne you al in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 302 Earth be thou helplesse in thy creatures birth Sea breake thou sorth from thy immured bound Ayre with thy vapours poyson thou the earth Wind break thy Caue all the world confound Earth Sea Ayre Wind conioyne you all in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 303 You Sauage beasts which haunt y e waylesse woods You Birds delighted in your Siluan sound You scaly Fish which swim in pleasant floods You hartlesse Wormes which creep vpon y u ground Beasts birds fish worms each in your kind alone Bewaile the death of my sweet Gaueston 304 Faire Medowes be you withered in the prime Sun-burnt and bare be all the goodly Mountains Groues be you leauelesse in the Sommer time Pitchy and black be all the Christall Fountains All things on earth each in your kind alone Bewaile the death of my sweet Gaueston 305 You damned Furies breake your Stigian Cell You wandring spirits in water earth and ayre Lead boyled Ghosts which liue in lowest hell Gods deuils men vnto mine ayde repayre Come all at once conioyne you all in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 306 Eyes neuer sleepe vntill you see reuenge Head neuer rest vntill thou plot reuenge Hart neuer think but tending to reuenge Hands neuer act but acting deepe reuenge Iust-dooming heauens reuenge me from aboue That men vnborne may wonder at my Loue. 307 You peerlesse Poets of ensuing times Chaunting Herioque Angell-tuned Notes Or humble Pastors Nectar-filled lines Driuing your flocks with musick to their Cotes Let your high-flying Muses still bemone The wofull end of my sweet Gaueston 308 My earth-pale body now enbalmd with tears To famous Oxford solemnly conuaid There buried by the ceremonious Friers Where for my soule was many a Trentall said With all those rites my obsequies behoued Whose blind deuotion time truth reproued 309 But ere two yeeres were out and fully dated This gracious King who still my fame respected My wasted bones to Langley thence translated And ouer me a stately Tombe erected VVhich world-deuouring Time hath now out-worne As but for Letters were my name forlorne FINIS The vision of Matilda ME thought I saw vpon Matildas Tombe Her wofull ghost which Fame did now awake And crâ—â—â—'d her passage froÌ„ Earths hollow wombe To view this Legend written for her sake No sooner shee her sacred Name had seene Whom her kind friend had chose to grace her story But wiping her chast teares from her sad eyne Shee seem'd to tryumph in her double glory Glory shee might that his admired Muse Had with such method fram'd her iust complaint But proud she was that reason made him chuse To patronize the same to such a Saint In whom her rarest vertues may be shown Though Poets skil shold faile to make theÌ„ known H. G. Esquire TEares in your eyes and passions in your harts With mournfull grace vouchsafe Matildas story The subiect sad a King to act the parts Of his owne shame to others endlesse glory But such is sinne where lawlesse lust is raigning Sweet to the tast till all turnes to infection VVhen count is cast a reckoning is remayning VVhich must be payd but not at our election Perrill and Greefe the interest of Pleasure Spending the stock that Danger long was gayning Makes soule and body banckrupt of that treasure Which vainly spent what helps our fond coÌ„plaining O that my lines could so the Author grace As well his vertues merit prayse and place R. L. Esquire To M. Drayton MIchaell which dost great Roberts fame compile Thy subiects worth thy wit thy Ladies glory Cheere vp thy Muse add lyfe vnto thy stile VVhile thou assaist to write his worthy story Whose boundlesse spirit whose high chiualrie And vertuous deeds must needs haue buried beene By ages enuie and times tirannie And neuer had with mortall eyes been seene Had not thy Muse restor'd his former fame The twise dead Norman to his speaking sight Euen when his eyes had lost their shyning flame Like vnto Lamps that wanting oyle want light By thee he sees he liues he speaks againe TheÌ„ chere thee Michaell Fame rewards thy paine Mirocinius