did with cordes me binde No teares nor subbes nor sighes might ought aswage The gelous queene or molifie hir mynde Occasions still hir franticke head did finde And when shee spake hir cyes did leame as fire Shee lookte as pale as chalke with wrathfull Ire Ne stoode she still but with hir handes on syde Walkte vp and down ofte hir palmes she stroke My husbande nowe ê™ she had not thus dyde If such an harlote whore he had not tooke And there withall shee gaue me such a looke As made me quake what lettes ê™ she my knife To ridde this whore my husbandes second wife His dead I liue and shall I saue hir life O queene ê™ I if pitie none remayne But I be slayne or brounde as Humber was Then take thy pleasure by my pinching paine And let me hence as thou appointistc passe But take some pity on my childe alasse Thou knowste the infante made no faulte but hee That 's dead and I therfore reuenge on mee No basterds here shall liue to dispossesse My sonne she said but sithe thou soughtiste fame I will prouide for hir a kingdome lesse Whiche shall hereafter euer haue hir name Thou knowste wherof the name of Humber came Euen so Sabrina shall this streame be calde Sithe Sabrine me as Humber Locrine thralde With that my childe was Sabrine brought in sight And when she see me take in bandes to lie Alasse she cryde what meanes this pitious plight And downe she fell before the queene with crye O queene ê™ she let me more rather dye Then she that 's giltlesse should for why thy king Did as his captiue hir to lewdnes bring Which when I same the kindnes of the childe It burst my harte much more then dome of deathe Poore little lam be with countinance how milde She pleaded still and I for wante of breathe With wofull teares that laye hir feete beneathe Could not put forth a worde our liues to saue Or if therfore I might a kingdome haue Hir pitious plaintes did somwhat death withdrawe For as she long behelde the queene with teares ê™ she let me bane rigoure boyde of lawe In whome the signe of all thy wrath appeares And let me die my fathers face that beares Sithe be is dead and we are boyde of staye Why should I thee for life or mercy praye My mother may to Germanye retourne Where she was borne and if it please thy grace And I may well lye in my fathers tombe If thou wilt graunt his childe so good a place But if thou thinke my bloude is farre to bace Although I came by both of princly line Then let me haue what shroude thou wilt asigne With that the queene replide with milder there And saide the childe was wonders wise and wittie But yet shee would not hir reuenge forbeare For why ê™ she the prouerbe sayes that pitie Hath leudly loste full many a noble citie Then Elstride now prepare thy selfe therfore To die take leaue but talke to me no more On this my leaue I tooke and thus I sayde Farewell my countrey Germanye farewell Ade we the place from whence I was conueyde Farewell my father and my frendes there dwell My Humber drounde as I shal be farewell Adew Locrinus dead for thee I die Would God my corps might by thy coffine lie Adew my pleasures paste farewell adew Adew the cares and sorowes I haue had Farewell my frendes that earst for me did sue Adew that were to saue my life full glad Farewell the fauning frendes I lately bad And thou my beauty cause of death farewell As ofte as harte can thinke or tonge can tell A dewe you heauens my mortall eyes shall see No more your lightes and Planetes all farewell And chiefly Venus faire that paintedste mee When Mercurie his tale to me did tell Eke afterwardes when Mars with vs did dwell And nowe at laste thou cruell Mars adewe Whose darte my life and loue Locrinus sleme And must I nedes departe from thee my childe If nedes I muste ten thousand times fare well Poore little 〈◊〉 thy frendes are quite 〈◊〉 And much I feare thou shalt not long do well But if they so with boyling rancoureswell As thee to slea which neuer wroughtiste ill How can they staye my haynid corps to hill With that my Sabrines slender armes imbraiste 〈◊〉 rounde and would not let me so departe Let me ê™ she for hir the waters taste Or let vs both together ende our smarte Yea rather rippe you foorth my tender harte What should I liue but they the childe withdrew And mee into the raging streame they threm So in the waters as I striude to swimme And kepte my head aboue the waues for breath 〈◊〉 thought I same my childe would venter in Which cride a mayne O let me take like deathe The waters straight had drawne me vnderne the Where striuing vp at lengthe againe came I And sawe my childe aud cryde farewell I die Then as my strength was wasted down I went Eke so I plunged twice or thrice yet more My breath departed nedes I must relent The waters perst my mouth and eares so sore And to the botome with such force me bore That life and breath minde and sonce was gone And I as dead and colde as marble stone Lo thus you here the rare of all my life And how I paste the pikes of paynefull we Howe twise I thought to be a prince his wife And twise was quite depriude mine honour fro The third time queene and felt foule ouerthro Then warne all ladies that how much more die Then their degrees they clime 〈◊〉 daungers nye Bid them beware 〈◊〉 bewty them abuse Beware of pride for haue a fall it muste And will them fortunes flattery to refuse Hir turning whelt is boyde of stedy truste Who reckes no meane but leanith all to luste Shall finde my wordes as true as I them tell Then did be ware in time I wishe them well FINIS The Authoure VVIth that she flitted in the ayre abrode As t were a miste or smoke dissolued quite And or I long on this had made abode A virgine smale appearde before my sight For colde and wet eke scarsly moue she might As from the waters drownde she didering came Thus wise hir talem order did she frame Sabrine the base childe of Locrinus telles howe she was pitifully drowned by his wyfe Guendoline in reuenge of hir fathers adulterye The yeare before Christe 1064. BEholde me Sabrine orphane 〈◊〉 berefte Of all my frendes by cruell case of warre When as not one to treate for me was lefte But 〈◊〉 did all their powres debarre When as my father eke was playne in warre And when my mother euen before my sighte Was 〈◊〉 to death O wretche in wofull plighte Truste who so will the 〈◊〉 of hie estate And bring me worde what stay thereby you haue For why if Fortune once displeasure take She giues the foyle though lookes be nere so braue T is
without a guide Such was my fate to benture on so bolde My rashue s was the cause of all my wot Such is of all our glorye vaine the hope So soone we pompe and pleasures all sorgoe So quickly are we rest our kingdomes froe And such is all the caste of Fortunes playe When lest we thincke to cut vs quite awaye I demde my selfe an beauenly happie wight When once I had my part to raigne within But see the chaunce what hap did after light Or I could scace t' enioy my glee begin A Hunne did 〈◊〉 from me my realme to win And had his will O flatering Fortune fye What meanst thou thus to worke with Princes 〈◊〉 You worthy wariours learne by mee beware Let wisedome worke lay rashnes al apart When as with enmyes you encountred are You must endeuour all your skilfull art By witty wyles with force to make your mart Wit nought auailes late bought with care and cost If you repent when life and labours lost FINIS The Authour WYth that the vvounded Prince departed quite From sight he slinckte I savv his shade no more But Morpheus bade remember this to vvrite And therevvithall presented mee before A vvight vvet dropping from the vvaters shore In Princely vveede but like a vvarlike man And thus mee thought his story he began Humber the king of Hunnes shewes how he minding to conquere this land vvas drowned c. He liued about the yeare before Christ. 1074. THough yet no forraine Princes in this place Haue come to tell their haplesse great mishap Yet giue me leaue a while to pleade my case And shewe howe I slipt out of Fortunes lap Perchaunce some others will eschewe the trap VVherein I fell and both themselues be ware And also seeke the lesse thy countreys care I am that Humber kinge of Hunnes that came To win this Islande from the Britaynes fell UUas drownde in Humber where I left my name A iust reward for him that liude so well At home and yet thought others to expell Both from their Realme and right O filthy fye On such ambition earst as vsed I. But I must blame report the chiefest cause Of my decaye beware of rashe report T is wisedome first to take a while some pause Before to dint of daungers you resort Least when you come in hast to scale the fort By rashe assaule some engin shaft or fyre Dispatcht you quite or make you soone retyre For vnto mee the rumors daily flewe That here a noble Hande might be won The king was dead no warres the people knewe And eke themselues to striue at home begon It were quoth I a noble acte well don To win it then and there withall did make Prouision good this famous Ise to take A war like regall campe prouided was And shipps and vitaile for my Hunnes and mee By sea to Britaine conquest for to passe If Gods there to and heauenly starres agree At length wee came to shores of Albanie And there to fight with Britaynes pitcht our field In hope to make them flinche flye fall or yeelde They met vs longe we fearcely faught it out And doubtful was the victours part of twaine Till with my Hunnes I rusht amonge the route And faught till that king Albanact was staine Then they to yeeld and pardon craue were faine And I with 〈◊〉 great receiude the pray And marched forward fleshe with such a fray I past an arme of Sea that would to God I neuer had bin halfe so bold at furst I made to beate my selfe withall a rod When so within their Realme I venture durst But marke my tale thou hearst not yet the worst As sure I thought the rest to circumuent By spyes before they knew my whole intent And or I wiste when I was come to lande Not farre from shore two Princes were preparde Their scoutes conueyde away my shipps they fand And of my shipmens fleshe they nothing sparde To rescue which as backe againe I farde The armyes twaine were at my heeles behinde So closde me in I wist no waye to winde On th' east Locrinus with an armye great By West was Camber with an other bande By North an arme of Sea the shoores did beate Which compast mee and mine within their lande No way to scape was there but water fande Which I must taste or els the swords of those Which were to mee and mine full deadly foes So when I same the best of all mine boste Beate downe with bats shot slaine or forst to swim My selfe was faine likewise to flye the coast And with the rest the waters entred in A simple shift for Princes to begin Yet far I demde it better so to dye Then at mine enmyes foote an abiecte lye But when I thus had swam with hope to scape If I might wend the water waues to passe The Britaynes that before my ships had gate Can watche mee where amidst the surge I was Than with my boates they rowde to me alas And all they cryde kepe Humber kept their king That to our Prince we may the craytour bring So with my boates beset poore Humber I Wiste no refuge my werye armes did ake My breath was short I had no powre to crye Or place to stand while I my plaint might make The water cold made all my ioyntes to shake My hart did beate with sorrow griefe and paine And downe my cheekes salt teares they gusht amaine O must thou pelde and shall thy boates betraye Thy selfe quoth I no mercy Britaynes haue O would to God I might escape awaye I wot not yet if pardon I may craue Although my deedes deserue no life to haue I will I will death bondage beast am I In maters thus in foraine soyle to dye With that I clapt my quauering hands abrode And held them vp to heauen and thus I saide O Gods that know the paines that I haue 〈◊〉 And iust reuengment of my rashnes paide And of the death of Albanacte betraide By mee and mine I yelde my life therefore Content to dye and neuer greeue yee more Then straight not opening of my handes I bowde My selfe and set my head my armes betweene And downe I sprang with all the force I cowde So duckte that neither head nor foote were seene And neuer sawe my foes againe I weene There was I drounde the Britaynes to my fame Yet call that arme of Sea by Humbers name Take heede by mee let my presumption serue And let my folly fall and rashnes bee A glasse wherein to see if thou do swerue Thou mayste thy selfe perceiue somewhat by mee Let neither trust nor treason traine forth thee But be content with thine estate so shall No wrath of God procure thy haplesse fall If thou be forrayne bide within thy soyle That God hath giuen to thee and thine to holde If thou oppression meane beware the foyle Beare not thy selfe of thee or thine to bolde Or of the feates thy elders did of olde For God is iust iniustice will not
vnwrought ill Why spare you Britaynes this my corps to kill With that the king good Lady fayre what iste Thou canst desire or aske but must obtaine Eke would to God with all my hart I wiste Best waye to ease thee of thy wofull paine But if thou wilt do here with mee remaine If not content conductours shalt thou haue To bring thee home and what thou els wilt craue As for my Queene as yet I none possesse Therefore thou rather maiste voutchsafe to take That place thy selfe then waite on her I gesse Whose beautye with thy face no match can make The Gods denye that I thy heste forsake I saue thy life eke God forbid that I Should euer cause so fayre a Ladye dye O King quoth I the Gods preserue thy grace The heauens requite thy mercy shewde to mee And all the starres direct thy regall race In happye course long length of yeares to see The earth with fertile fruites inriche so thee That thou maist still like Justice her dispose And euer more treade downe thy deadly foes The noble king commaunded to vnbinde Mine armes and let mee lewce and free at will And afterward such fauour did I finde That as his Queene I was 〈◊〉 still And I enioyde all pleasures at my 〈◊〉 So that they quite had quenched out my thrall And I forgate my former fortunes all Thus lo by fauoure I obtainde my suite So had my beauty set his brest on fire That I could make Locrinus euen as muite Or pleasaunt as my causes did require And when I knewe he could no way retyre I praide he would his fauour so extende As I might not be blamed in the ende For if quoth I you take me as your owne And eke my loue to you haue constant beene Then let your loue like wise againe be showne And wed me as you said your spouse and Queene If since in mee misliking you haue seene Then best depart betime before defame Begin to take from Elstride her good name No wauering hart said he Locrinus beares No sayned flatery shall thy fayth deface Thy beauty birth fame vertue age and yeares Constraine mee both thee and thy hestes imbrace I must of force giue thy requestes a place For as they do with reason good consent Euen so I graunt thee all thy whole inteut Then was the time appointed and the day In which I should be wedded to this kinge But in this case his counsaile causde a staye And sought out meanes at discord vs to bringe Eke Corinaeus claimde a former thing A precontract was made and full accorde Betweene his daughter and my soueraigne Lorde And yet the King did giue me comfort still He said he could not so forsake my loue Yet euermore would beare me all good will As both my beauty and desertes did moue But still the ende doth who is fauty proue His counsaile at the last did him constraine To marry her vnto my 〈◊〉 paine At which I coulde not but with hate repine It 〈◊〉 mee his mate that should haue beene To liue in bate a prince his concubine That euer had such hope to be his Queene The steppes of state are full of wo and teene For when wee thincke we haue atainde the throne Then straight our poÌ„pe pride is quite orethrone Lotwise I fell from hope of Princely crowne First when vnhappy Humber lost his life And next I laide my peacockes pride adowne When as I could not be Locrinus wife But oft they say the thirde doth ende the strife Which I haue proude therefore the sequel ve me The thirde payes home this prouerbe is to true This kinge could not refraine his former minde But vsde me still and I my doubtfull yeares Did linger on I knew no shift to finde But past the time full oft with mourning teares A concubine is neuer voyde of feares For if the wyfe her at aduauntage take In radge reuenge with death she seekes to make Likewise I wiste if once I sought to flye Or to entreate the kinge depart I might Then would he straight be discontent with mee Yea if I were pursued vpon the flight Or came deflourde into my parents sighte I should be taken kept perforce or slaine Or in my country liue in great disdaine In such a plight what might a woman doe Was euer Lady fayre in such a 〈◊〉 O wretched wight bewrapt in webbes of woe That still in dread wast tost from place to place And neuer foundest meane to ende thy race But still in doubt of death in carking care 〈◊〉 liue a life deuoyde of all welfare The king perceiuing well my chaunged cheare To case my hart withall deuisde deceats By secrete wayes I came deuoyde of feare In baultes by cunning Masons crafty feats Whereas wee safely from the Queene her threats Perdy the King and I so vsde our arte As after turnde vs both to paine and smarte By him I had my Sabrine small my childe And after that his wife her father loste I meane he dyed and she was straight exilde And I made Queene vnto my care and coste For she went downe to Cornevval straight in peste And caused all her fathers men to ryse With all the force and strengthe they might deuyse My king and hirs with me gainst hir preparde An army strong but when they came to fighte Dame Guendoline did war at length to harde And of our king vs both deposed quite For from hir campe an arrowe sharpe did lighte Upon his breste and made him leaue his breath Lo thus this king came by vntimely death Then I to late began in vayne to flye And taken was presented to the queene Who me behelde with cruell tigres eye O queene ê™ she that cause of warres haste bene And deadly hate the like was neuer seene Come on for these my bandes shall ridde thy life And take reuengement of our mortall strife I longed long to bring thee to this baye And thou likewyse hast sought to sucke my bloud Nowe arte thou taken in my spoyles a praye That causde my life full long in daunger stoode I wyll both teache thy selfe and others good To breake the bandes of faithfull wedlocke plight And giue thee that which thou deseruidste right O harlote whore why should I stay my handes O painted picture shall thy lookes thee saue Nay bynde hir faste both hande and foote in bandes And let hir some straunge kinde of tormentes haue What stroÌ„pet stues thinkste for thou seemist braue Dr for thy teares or sighes to scape my sight My selfe will rather banquishe thee by fight Thou rather shouldste my vitall breath depriue Then euer scape if none were here but wee But now I will not file my handes to striue Dr else to touche so vile a drabe as shee Come on at once and bring hir after mee With hande and feete as I commaunded bounde And let me see hir here as Humber drounde A thousand things beside she spake in rage While that a caytife
you are but yong the perfection of those stories and th'imperfection of these Finally the good will you beare to your country the commendation of vertue the detestation of vice the fall of ambition the horrible ende of traytours harlots tyraunts adulters enchaunters murderers and such like VVhen men said they consider these things they cannot how simple soeuer your Verse bee but thincke well of the matter At length with these perswasions and suche like I was contente good Reader to publishe them for thy behoufe and the publique weale of my countrye At which if thou enuye I minde not therefore to enuye my selfe and staye my penne but God willing thou shalt as fast as I can prepare them haue other Bookes from my handes which maye please thee againe and thus with all my harte I bidde the hartelye farewell Thy freinde I. H. The Authours induction AS Somer sweete with all hir pleasures paste And leaues began to leaue both braūche and tree VVhile winter colde approatched nere full fast Mee thought the time to sadnes moued mee On drouping daies not halfe such mirth haue wee As when the time of yeare and wether-s fayre So moue our mindes as mocions moue the ayre The wery nightes approatched on apace VVith darkesom shades which somewhat breedeth care The Sun had take more nere the earth his race In Libra than his greatest swinge hee bare For pardy then the dayes more colder are Then fades the greene fruite timely herbes are don And wynter gines to waste that sommer won I deemde some booke of mourning theame was beste To reade were with instructions mingled so As might againe refreshe my wittes oppreste VVith tediousnes not driue mee quyte therfro VVherfore I went the Printers straight vnto To seeke some worke of price I surely mente That might herein my carefull mynde contente At length by hap I found a booke so sad As time of yeare or wynter could require The Mirroure namde for Magistrates he had So finely pende as harte could well desire VVhich when I read so set my heart on fire Eftsones it mee constraind to take the payne Not leaue with once to reade it once againe And as againe I vewde this worke with heede And marked playne eache party tell his fall Mee thought in mynde I sawe those men in deede Eke howe they came in order pleading all Declaring well this life is but a thrall Sithe those on whom for Fortunes giftes we stare Ofte sooniste sinke in greatest seas of care For some of these were kinges of highe estate And some were Dukes and came of Regall race Some Princes Lordes and Iudges great that sate In councell still decreing euery case Some other Knightes that vices did imbrace Some Gentlemen some poore that looked hie Yet euery one had play de his tragoedye A Mirroure well it may be calde a glasse More cleare then any crystall vnder Sun In eache respecte the Tragoedies so passe Their names shall lyue that such a worke begun For why with such Decorum is it don That Momus spight which more then Argus eyes Can neuer watche to kepe it from the wise Examples there for all estates you finde For iudge I say what iustice he should vse The noble man to beare a noble mynde And not him selfe ambiciously abuse The Gentleman vngentlenes refuse The ryche and poore and euery one may see VVhich way to loue and lyue in his degree Me thinkes they might beware by others harme And eke eschue to clamer vp so hye Yet cursed pride doth all their wittes becharme They thinke of naught but prouerbes true do trie VVho hewes aloft the chips may hurte his eye VVho climes the tops of trees wher bowes ar smal Or hawty towres may quickly catch a fall This thing full well doth Phaëtons fall declare And Icarus aloft would flie and soare Eke Bladud once of Britayne rule that bare VVould clyme and flye but eache did fal therfore For Phaëton was with lightning all to tore And Icarus the meane that did not recke VVas drownde by fal did Bladud breake his neck The scriptures eake of such beare witnes can As Babilon for high presumption fell But let mee ende my tale that I began VVhen I had red these Tragoedies full vvell And paste the night vvith labours long to tell One night at laste I thought to leaue my vse And take some ease before I chaungde my muse VVherfore a vvay from reading I me gate My heauy head vvaxte dull for vvant of reste I layde me dovvne the night vvas vvaxed late For lacke of slepe myne eyes vvere sore oppreste Yet fansy still of all their deathes increaste Me thoughte nothing my minde from them could take So long as Somnus suffered me to vvake Then straight appeard in purple colour blacke Sweete Somnus reste which comfortes eche aliue By ease of mynde that weares away all wracke That noysome night from wery wittes doth driue Of labours long the pleasures wee atchiue VVherat I ioyde sithe after paynes were past I might receiue by Somnus easeat last But hee by whom I thought my selfe at rest Reuiued all my fancies fonde before I more desirous humbly did request Him shewe th' vnhappy princes were of yore For well I wiste that hee could tell mee more Sythe vnto diuers Somnus erste had tolde VVhat things were done in elder times of olde At length he foorth his seruaunt Morpheus calde And bad him shewe mee from the first to th' ende Such persons as in Britayne Fortune thralde VVhich straight vpon his calling did attende And thus he spake with countenaunce of frende Come on thy wayes and thou shalt see and here The Britaynes and their doings what they were And as he led me through the darkes a whyle At length we came into a goodly hall At th' ende wherof there seemde a duskish I le Out of the which he gan the Britaynes call Such only as from Fortunes hap did fall VVhich when he called thryce me seemde to heare The doores to cracke from whence they should apeare And thryce I shrinkte a syde and shunde the sight And three times thrice I wishte my selfe away Eke thrise from thence there flew a flashe of light Three times I sawe them cōming make their stay At laste they all approtchte in such aray VVith sundry shewes appearing vnto mee A straunger sighte then erste with eyes I see Men mighty bigge in playne and straunge atyre But some with woūdes and bloud were so disguisde You scarcely could with reasons ayde aspyre To knowe what warre suche cruell death deuysde But sithe I haue their formes beneath comprisde VVheras their stories seuerally I showe Your selfe therby their cause of death may knowe And eke their faces all and bodies were Destainde with woade and turkish berds they had On th'ouer lippes moutchatoes long of heyre And wylde they feemde as men dispeyring mad Their lookes did make my fearfull harte full sad And yet I could not for my life eschewe Their presence or their myndes I likewyse
in daunger of his life My father had on him there with remorce Came with a troupe of men to ende the strife When Frenchmen same the Troians force so rife They fled a maye vnto their losse and paine In fight and flight nighe all their host was slaine And in that broyle saue Corinaeus none Did fight so fearcely as did Turnus then My fathers cosin with his sworde alone Did sley that time welnighe sire hundreth men They found him dead as they retournd agen Amongst the Frenchmen wounded boide of breath Which pinche my fathers hart as pangs of death On this they bode a whyle reuenge to yeilde And to interre the dead and Turnus slaine They tooke a towne not farre from place of fielde And built it strong to here the Galles againe The name they gaue it still doth yet remayne Syth there they buried Turnus yet men call It Tours and name the folke Turones all Which towne they left at last with Troianes mande When as their ships were storde with what they nede A borde they hoyste vp sayles and left the lande By aybing windes they cut the seas with spede At lengthe the shining Albion clyues did feede Their gasing eyes by meanes wherof they fande Out Totnes hauen and tooke this promiste lande The countrie semed pleasaunt at the vewe And was by none inhabited as yet But certaine Giauntes whom they did pursue Which straight to caues in mountaines did thē get So fine were woodes floudes and fountaines set My father had no cause but like it well And gaue his souldiers places in to dwell And then this I le that Albion had to name My father caused Britayne called bee And eke the people Britaynes of the same As yet in auncient recordes is to see To Corinaeus gaue he franke and free The lande of Cornwall for his seruice don And for because from Giauntes he it won Then sith our Troiane stocke came first from Troy My father thought that dutie did him bynde Sithe fortune thus had saude him from-anoye The auncient towne againe to call to minde He builte new Troye and Troian lawes assignde Wherby his stocke to his eternall fame Might kepe of Troye the euerlasting name And setled there in perfecte peace and reste Deuoyde of warre of labours strife or payne Then eke my mother all his ioyes encreaste A prince she bare and after other twayne Was neuer king of children erste so fayne Three sonnes because of Innogen he gate Locrinus Camber last me Albanacto Thus hauing welthe and eke the worlde at will Nor wanting ought that might his mynde content T' increase his power with wightes of warlike skill Was all his minde his purpose and intent Wherby if foes inuasion after ment The Britaynes might not feare of foraine landes But kepe by fight possessions in their handes Then when his people once perceaude his mynde As what the prince doth often moste embrace To that the subiectes all are straight inclinde And reuerence still in eache respecte his grace They gat in warre such knowledge in short space That after they their force to try begon They carde for nought by wyt or wight not won They got of Giantes moūtaines whence they came And woodes frō whēce they oft made wise they wold Destroye and kill when voyage out they framde Or she wde them selues in banding ouer bold Then straight the Britaynes gladder then of gold Were redy still to fight at euery call Till time they had extiucte the monsters all Whereby the king had cause to take delight And might be bolde the lesse to feare his toes Perdye eche Priuce may recke his enmyes spite Thereafter as his force in fight he knoes A Princely hart the liberall gifts disclose He gaue to eche such guerdons for their facts As might them onely moue to noble actes No labours great his subiects then refusot Nor trauailes that might like his regall miude But eche of them such exercise well vsde Wherein was praise or glorye greate to finde And to their leidge bare faithful harts so kinde That what he wild they all obeyde his beste Nought els was currant but the kings request What Priuce aliue might more reioyce then 〈◊〉 Had faithfull men so baliaunt bolde and stout What pleasure more on carty could lightly 〈◊〉 Then winne an Isle and liue deuoyde of doubt An Isle saide 〈◊〉 naye namde the world throughout An other world sith Sea doth it deuide From th' earth that wants not all the world beside What subiects eke more happye were then these Had such a king of such a noble hart And such a lande enioyde and liude at ease Whereof eche man almost might chose his part No feare of foes vnknowen was treasons arte No fayning frends no fawning Gnatoes skill No Thrasoes brags but bearing ech good will. But as eache Sommer once receaues amende And as no state can stable stande for aye As course of tyme doth cause thinges home bende As cuery pleasure hath hit ending daye As will can neuer passe the power of mayc Euen so my father happy dayes that spente Perceaude he must by sickenesse laste relente As both the shipman well forsee the storme And knowes what daunger lyes in syrtes of sande Eke as the husband man prouides beforne When he perceaues the wynter colde at hande Euen so the wise that course of thiuges haue scande Can well the ende of sicknes great presage When it is ioynde with yeares of stooping age His counsayle all and we assembled were To byd vs hie or haste there was no nede We went with them this nemes vs caused feare Sithe so he sent he was not well in dede And when we all approtchte to him with spede To soone alasse his grace right sicke we founde And him saluted as our duty bounde And casting of his doulfull eyes aside Not able well to moue his painefull head As silent we with teares his minde abyde He wild him selfe be rearid in his bed Which done with sight of vs his eyes he fed Eke pawsing so a whyle for breathe he stayde At lengthe to them and vs thus myse be sayde No marueyle fare though you herewith be sad You noble Britaynes for your Brutus sake Sithe whilome me your captaine stout you had That nome my leaue and last farewell must take Thus nature willes me once an ende to make And leaue you here behinde which after mee Shall come as I departe before you ice You wot wherfore I with the Grecians foughte With dinte of sworde I made their force to flye Antenors frendes on Tuscane shores I soughte And did you not my promiste lande denye By Martiall powre I made the Frenchmen flye Where you to saue I loste my faithfull frense For you at Tours my Turnus tooke his ende I 〈◊〉 not now resite what loue I bare My frendship you I truste haue founde so well That none emongste you all which present are With teares doth not recorde the tale I tell Eke whom I founde for
vertues to excell To them I gaue the price therof as de we As they deserude whose factes I founde so true Nowe must I proue if paynes were well 〈◊〉 Or if I spente my gratefull giftes in bayne Or if these great good turnes to you I owde And might not aske your loyall loues agayne Which if I wist what tonge could tell my payne I meane if you vngratefull mindes do beare What meaneth death to let me linger here For if you shall abuse your prince in this The Goddes on you for such an heynous facte To take reuenge be sure will neuer misse And then to late you will repente the acte When all my realme and all your welthes are facte But if you shall as you begon procede Of kingdomes fall or fces there is no dreede And to auoyde contention that may fall Because I wishe this realme the Britaynes still Therefore I will declare before you all Sithe you are come my whole intent and will. Which if you kepe and wreste it not to ill There is no doubte but euermore with fame You shall enioye the Britaynes realme and name You see my somes that after me must raigne Whom you or this haue liekte and counsaylde well You know what erst you wisht they should refraine Which way they might all vices vile expell Which way they might in vertues great excell Thus if you shall when I am gone insue You shall discharge the truste reposde in you Be you their fathers with your counsayle wise And you my children take them euen as mee Be you their guydes in what you can deuise And let their good instructious teache you three Be faithfull all as brethren ought agree For concorde kepes a real me in stable staye But discarde bringes all kingdomes to decape Recorde to this mine cldest sonne I giue This midle parte of realme to holde his owne And to his heyres that after him shall lyue Also to Camber that his parte be knowne I giue that laude that lies welnighe oregrowne With woodes Norwest mountaynes mighty bie Twene this and that the Stutiae streame doth lye And vnto the my yongest sonne that arte Myne Albanacte I giue to thee likewise As muche to be for thee and thine a parte As Northe beyende the arme of sea there lyes Of which loe here a map before your eyes Lo here my sonnes my kingdome all you haue For which I nought but this remember craue Firste that you take these fathers graue for mee Imbrace their counsaile euen as it were myne Next that betwene your selues you will agree And neuer one at others welthe repine See that ye byde still bounde with frendly lyne And laste my subiectes with such loue retayne As long they may your subiectes eke remayne Lo nowe I fele my breath beginnes to fayle My time is come giue eche to me your hande Farewell farewell to mourne will not preuayle I see with knife where Atropos doth stande Farewell my frendes my children and my lande And farewell all my subiectes farewell breathe Farewell ten thousand tymes and welcome deathe And euen with that he turnde himselfe a syde And gasped thryse and gaue a way the ghost Then all at once with mourning voyce they cryde And all his subiects cke from lest to most Lamenting fild with wayling teares ech coast Perdy the Britaynes all with one assent Did for their king full doulfully lament But what auayles to striue against the tyde Or els to sayle against the streame and winde What booteth it against the clyues to ryde Or els to worke against the course of kinde Sith nature hath the ende of thinges assiude There is no nay we must perforce departe Gainst dint of deaty there is no ease by arte As custome wild wee funerals preparde And al with moutning cloathes and there did come To laye this king on Beere we had regarde In Royal sort as did his corps become His Herce prepard we brought him to his tombe At Troynouant he built where he did dye Was he entombde his Royal corps doth lye Thus raignd that worthy king that found this land My father Brutus of the Troian blood And thus he dyed when he fulwell had mande This noble Realme with Britaynes fearce and good And so a while in stable state it stoode Till 〈◊〉 deuided had this realme in three And I to soone receiude my part to mee Then straight through all the world gan fame to flye A monster swifter none is vnder son Encreasing as in waters wee descrye The cyrcles small of nothing that begon Which at the length vnto such breadth do come That of a drop which from the skyes doth fall The cyrcles spread and hide the watersall So fame in flight increaseth more and more For at the first she is not scarcely knowne But by and by she 〈◊〉 from shore to shore To cloudes from th' earth her stature straight is growne There what soeuer by her trompe is blowne The sound that both by sea and land out flyes Reboundes againe and verberats the skyes They say the earth that first the giaunts bred For anger that the Gods did them dispatche Brought forth this sister of those monsters dead Full light of foote swift winges the winds to catch Such monster erst did Nature neuer hatche As manye plumes she hath from top to toe So many eyes them vnder watche or moe And tongues do speake so many eares do harke By night twene heauen she flyes and earthly shade And shreaking takes no quiet steepe by darke On houses rowfes or to wres as keeper made She sittes by day and Cities threats t' inuade And as she telles what thinges she sees by veme She rather shewes thats fained false then true This fame declarde that euen a people finall Had landed here and found this pleasaunt I le And how that now it was deuided all Into three parts and might within a while Be won by force by treason fraude or guile Wherefore she moues her frends to make assay To win the price aud beare our pompe away A thousand thinges beside she bruites and telles And makes the most of euery thing she heares Long time of us she talkes and nothinge els Eke what shee seeth abroade in hast she beares With tatling toyes and tickleth so their eares That needes they must to flattering Fame assent Though afterwards they do therefore lament By East from hence a countrey large doth lye Vngaria eke of Hunnes it hath to name And hath Danubius floud on South it by Deuiding quite from Austria the same From thence a king was named Humber came Du coastes of Albanie did he ariue In hope this lande of Britaine to achiue Which when by postes of subiects I did heare How enmies were ariued on my shore I gathered all my souldiers voyde of feare And backe the Hunnes by force and might I bore But in this battaile was I hurt so sore That in the field of mounds I had I dyde And left my men as flockes
hand and foote at once let see Her here receiue her whole request of mee Eke as I wishe to haue in minde her fame As Humbers is which should her father beene So shall this floud of Sabrine haue the name That men thereby may say a righteous Queene Here drownde her husbands childe of concubine Therefore leaue Sabrine here thy name and life Let Sabrine waters ende our mortall strife Dispatch quoth she with that they bound me fast My slender armes and feete which litle neede And sans all mercye me in waters caste Which drewe me downe cast me vp with speede And downe me drensht the Sabrine fishe to feede Where I abode till now from whence I came And there the waters holde as yet my name Lo thus this gelous Queene in raging sort With bloudy hate bereft her husbands health And eke my mother Elstrids life God wot Which neuer ment to hurt this common wealth And mee Locrinus child begot by stealth Against all reason was it for to kill The childe for that her parents erst did ill By this you see what time our pompe doth bide Hereby you see th'unstedy trust in warre Hereby you see the stay of states etryde Hereby you see our hope to make doth marre Hereby you see we fall from benche to barre From bench quoth 〈◊〉 nay from the Princely seate You see how soone vs Fortune downe doth beate And here you see how lawlesse loue doth thriue Hereby you see how gelous folkes do fare Here may you see with wisedome they that wiue Neede neuer recke Cupidoes cursed snare Here may you see deuorcemente breedeth care Here may you see the children seldome thee Which in vnlawfull wedlocke goten bee Declare thou then our fall and great mishap Declare the hap and glory we were in Declare how soone we taken were in trap When we 〈◊〉 we had most safest bin Declare what losse they haue that hope to win Farewell and tell when Fortune most doth smile Then will she frowne she laughes but euen a while Finis The Authour WIth that the Lady Sabrine slinckt from sight I lookt about and then me thought againe Approched straight an other vvofull vvight It seemde as thoughe vvith doggs he had bin flaine The bloud from all his members torneamaine Ran dovvne his clothes vvere also torne and rente And from his bloudy throte these plaints he sente Madan shewes how for his euill life he was 〈◊〉 of Wolues the yeare before Christe 1009. AMongste the rest that sate in hauty seate And felt the fall I pray the pen for mee A Tragedy maye some such wisedome geate As they may learne and somewhat wiser bee For in my glasse when as themselues they see They may be ware my fall from 〈◊〉 lap Shal teach them how t' eschew the like mishay I am that Madan once that Britaine kings Was thirde that euer raigned in this lande Marke well therefore my death as straunge a thinge As some would deeme could scarce with reason stande Yet when thou hast my life well throughly scande Thou shalt perceiue not halfe so straunge as true All life worse death doth after still insue For when my mother Guendoline had raignde In my nonage full xv yeares she dyed And I but yonge not well in vertues trainde Was left this Realme of Britaynes for to guide Whereby when once my minde was puft with pride I past for nought I vsde my lust for lawe Of right or iustice reckte I not a strawe No meane I kept but ruled all by rage No boundes of measure could me compasse in Durst none aduenture anger mine t'aswage If once to freate and fume I did begin And I excelde in nothing els but sinne So that welnighe all men did wishe my ende Saue such to whom for vice I was a frende In pleasures pleasaunt was my whole repaste My youth me led deuoyde of compasse quite And vices were so rooted in at last That to recure the euill it past my might For who so doth with will and pleasure fight Though all his force do striue them to withstande Without good grace they haue the vpper hande What licoure first the earthen pot doth take It keepeth still the sauour of that same Full hard it is a cramocke straight to make Or crooked logges with wainscot fine to frame T is hard to make the cruel Tiger tame And so it fares with those haue vices caught Naught once they saye and euer after naught I speake not this as though it past all cure From bices vile to bertue to retire But this I saye if vice be once in vre The more you shall to quite your selfe requyre The more you plunge your selfe in fulsome myre As he that striues in soakte quicke sirtes of sande Still sinkes scarse neuer comes againe to lande The giftes of grace may nature 〈◊〉 And God may graunt both time and leaue repeute Yet I did more in laps of lewdnes run And last my time in tyrauntes trade I spente But who so doth with bloudy actes contente His minde shall sure at laste finde like againe And feele for pleasures thousand panges of paine For in the midste of those vntrusty toyles When as I nothing fearde but all was sure With all my trayne I hunting rode for spoyles Of them who after did my death procure Those lewde delightes did boldly me alure To folow still and to pursue the chase At laste I came into a deserte place Besette with hilles and monstrous rockes of stone My company behinde me lost or stayde The place was eke with hauty trees oregrowne So wiste and wylde it made me half afrayde And straight I was with rauening wolues betrayd Came out of caues and dennes and rockes a maint There was I rent in pieces kilde and slaine Alasse that youth in vayne so vyly spente Should euer cause a king to haue such ende Alasse that euer I should here lament Or else should teache vnto my cost my frende Alasse that fortune such mishap should sende But sithe it is to late for me to crie I wishe that others may take hede me by I might full well by wisdome shund this snare T is sayde a wiseman all mishap withstandes For though by starres we borne to mischieues are Yet prudence bayles vs quite from careful bandes Eche man they say his fate hath in his handes And what he makes or marres to lese or saue Of good or euill is euen selfe do selfe haue As here thou seest by me that led my dayes In vicious sorte for greedy wolues a 〈◊〉 Warne others wysely than to guide their wayes By myne example well eschue they may Suche vices as may worke their owne decay Which if they do full well is spent the time To warne to wryte and eke to reade this time FINIS The Authoure VVHen this was said no more was Madan sene If it were he but sure I halfe suspecte It was some other else so serude had bene For that all stories do not so detecte His
death or else I dide perhaps neglecte His tale because that diuers stories broughte Suche fancies of his death into my thoughte Therefore although it be not as some write Here pende by me and yet as others haue Let it not griue thee reade that I recite And take what counsaile of good life he gaue I trust 〈◊〉 may that dreame some pardon craue For if the reste no dreames but stories pen Can I for that they write be blamed then No sure I thinke the readers will not giue Such captious dome as Momus erste did vse Though Zoilus impes as yet do carping liue And all good willing writers much misuse Occasion biddes me some such beastes accuse Yet for their bawling hurtes me not I nill But with my purpose on procede I will. Next after that came one in princely raye A worthy wight but yonge yet felt the fall It seemde he had bene at some warlike fraye His breste was woundid wyde and bloudy all And as to mynde he musde his factes to call Depe sighes he fet made all his limmes to shake At length these wordes or like to me he spake Manlius declares how he minding to kill his brother for the kingdome was by him slayne The yeare before Christe 1008. YF Fortune were so firme as she is frayle Or glosing glorie were still permanent If no mishap our doings did assaile Or that our actes factes were innocent If we in hope no hurte nor hatred ment Or dealing ay were don with dutie dewe We neuer coulde our great misfortunes rewe If pompe were payne and pride were not in price Or hawty seate had not the highest place If we could lerne by others to be wise Or else eschew the daungers of our race If once we coulde the golden meane embrace Or banishe quite ambition from our breste We neuer nede to recke or reape vnreste But O we thinke such sweetenes in renowne We deme on earth is all the greatest hap We nothing feare the hurte of falling downe Or litle rome in lady Fortunes lap We giue no hede before we get the clap And then to late we wishe we had bene wise When from the fall we would and cannot rise As if two twinnes or children at the teate Of nurce or mother both at once might be And both did striue the better dugge to geate Till one were downe and slipte beside hir knee Euen so it fares by others and by me In fortunes lap we haue so litle holde She cannot staye both striuing if she would I am that Manlius one of Madans sonnes Which thought to raigne and rule this noble I le And would so don but see what chauÌ„ce ther comes When brethren loue and frendship quite exile Who thinkes another of his right beguyle Him selfe is soonest cleane bereaude of all Insteade of rule we reape the crop of thrall My elder brother then Mempricius hight Whose hauty minde and mine did euer square We euermore as foes hight other spite And deadly Ire in hatefull hartes we bare He sought alwayes he might to worke me care And eache regarded others enuy so As after turnid both to painfull wo. Because my father loude me well therfore My brother feared I should haue his right Likewise on fauour boldned I me bore And nether had in vertues wayes delite What nede I here our inwarde griefes recyte We not as brethren liude in hatrid still And sought occasion other eache to kill I forbecause I might obtaine the crowne And he for that he fearde my fauoure bred Such frendship as might alwayes kepe him downe And both 〈◊〉 him of his crowne and head But when it chaunste our father once was dead Then straight appeared all our enuy playne And I could not from mine attempt 〈◊〉 See here th' occasion of my haplesse happe See here his chauÌ„ce that might haue liude ful well So baited swete is euery deadly trappe In brauiste bowres doth deepest daunger dwell I thought mine elder from his right t' expell Though he both age and custome forth did bring For title right I sayd I would be king Some wishte we should departe the realme in two And sayde my father eke was of that mynde But nether of vs both that so would do We were not eche to other halfe so kinde And vile ambition made vs both so blynde We thought our raigne coulde not be sure good Except the ground therof were laide with bloud Wherfore as eache did watche conuenient time For 〈◊〉 commit this haynous bloudy facte My selfe was taken not accusde of crime As if I had offendid any acte But he as one that witte and reason lacte Saide traitour vile thou arte to me vntrue And therewith all his bloudy blade he drewe Not like a king but like a cutthrote fell Not like a brother like a butcher brute Though t were no worse then I deserued well He gaue no time to reason or dispute To late it was to make for life my suite Take traytour here ê™ he thy whole deserte And therwithall he thrust me to the harte Thus was I by my brutishe brother slayne Which likewyse mente my brother for to kill This oftentimes they use to get and gaine Which do inuente anothers bloud to spill Was neuer man pretendid such an ill But God to him like measure shortly sente As he to others 〈◊〉 before had mente Uniustice euer thriues as theues doe thie And bloudthirste cries for vengeaunce at his hande Which all our right and wronges 〈◊〉 daily see The good to ayde and gracelesse to withstande If ether vice or 〈◊〉 we abande We ether are rewarded as we serue Or else are plaged as our deedes deserue Let this my warning then suffise eche sorte Bio them beware example here they see It passeth playe t is tragicall disporte To clime a step aboue their owne degree For though they thinke good fortune serude not me Yet did she use me as she hsoe the resle And so I thinke she seruith even the beste FINIS The Authour VVHen Manlius had thus endid quite his tale He vanishte out of sight as did the reste And I perceiued straight a persone pale VVhose throte was torne and blodied all his breste Shall I ê™ he for audience make requeste No sure it nedes not straunge it semes to thee VVhat he that beares this rentid corps should bee VVherefore I deeme thou canst not chuse but by de And here my tale as others erste before Sythe by so straunge a meanes thouseest I dyde VVith rentid throte and breste thou musiste more Marke well ê™ he my ratling voyce therfore And therwithall this tale he gan to tell VVhich Irecyte though nothing nere so well Mempricius giuen all to luste pleasure and the sinne of Sodomye telles how he was deuoured of wolues The yeares before Christ. 989. 〈◊〉 often sayd a man should do likewyse To other as he would to him they did Do as thou wouldste be don to saith the wyse And do as conscience and as iustice
by my fathers ioyned faste The nobles then desirde to haue On me their children wayte and tende And royall giftes with them me gaue As might their powres therto extende But here began my cause of care As all delightes at length haue ende Bemixte with woes our pleasures are Amidste my ioyes I loste a frende My father nyne and twenty yeares This tyme had raignde and helde the crowne As by your cronicles appeares Whan fates on vs began to frowne For euen amidste his moste of ioye As youth and strengthe and honours fade Sore sicknes did him long anoye At laste of life an ende it made Then was I chose king of this lande And had the crowne as had the reste I bare the scepter in my hande And sworde that all our foes oppreste Eke for because the Greekes did bse Me well in Greece at Athens late I bad those foure I brought to chuse A place that I might dedicate To all the Muses and their artes To learnings vse for euermore Which when they sought in diuers partes At last they found a place therfore Amidst the realme it lies melnfghe As they by arte and skill did proue An healthfull place not lowe nor bigve An holsome soyle for their behoue With water streames and springes for melles And medowes sweete and baleyes grene And woodes groaues quaries all things else For studentes weale or pleasure bene When they reported this to me They prayde my grace that I would bussde Them there an bntuer sitle The fruites of learning for to yelne I buylte the scholes like Atikes then And gaue them landes to maintayne those Which were accounted learned men And could the groundes of artes disclose The towne is called Stamforde yet There stande the walles untill this daye Foundations eke of scholes I set Bide yet not maintainde in decaye Whereby the lande receauid store Of learned clarkes long after that But nowe giue eare I tell the more And then my fall aud great mishap Because that time Apollo was Surmisde the God that gaue vs wit I builte his temple braue did passe At Troynouant the place is yet Some saye I made the batthes at Bathe And made therfore two tunnes of brasse And other twayne seuen saltes that haue In them but these be made of glasse With sulpher fylde and other things Wyide fire saltgem salte peter eke Salte armoniake salte 〈◊〉 Salte comune and salte Arabecke Salte niter mirid with the rest In these fowre tunnes by portions right Fowre welles to laye them in were dreste Wherin they boyle both daye and night The water springes them rounde about Doth ryse for ay and boyleth still The tunnes within and eke without Do all the welles with vapoures fill So that the heate and clensing powre Of Sulpher and of salts and fyre Doth make the bathes eche pointed houre To helpe the sickly health desyre These bathes to soften sinewes haue Great vertue and to scoure the skin From morphew white and blacke to saue The bodies faint are bathde therein For leprye scabs and sores are olde For scurfes and botche and humors fall The bathes haue vertues many folde If God giue grace to cure them all The ioyntes are swelde and hardned milte And hardned liuer palseis paine The poxe and itche if worke thou wilt By helpe of God it heales againe Shall I renege I made them then Shall I denye my cunning 〈◊〉 By helpe I had of learned men Those worthy welles in gratefull 〈◊〉 I will do so for God gaue grate Whereby I knewe what nature wrought And lent me lore to finde the place By wisedome where those welles I sought Which once confest to here my harme Eschewe the like if thou be wise Let neuer will thy wits becharme Or make the chaunge of kinde deuise For if the fishe would learne to goe And leaue to swim against his bre When he were quite the waters froe He could not swim you may be sure Or if the beast would learne to flye That had no plumes by nature lent And get him winges as earst did I Would not thincke you it him 〈◊〉 Though Magicke Mathematicall Make wooden birdes to flye and sore Eke brasen heads that speake they shall And promise many marueiles more Yet sith it swarues from Natures will As much as these that I recite Refuse the fondnes of such skill Doth ay with death the proufe requite I deemde I could more soner frame My selfe to flye then birdes of woode And ment to get eternall fame Which I esteemde the greatest good I deckt my selfe with plumes and winges As here thou seest in skilfull wise And many equall poysing thinges To ayde my flight to fall or rise Thou thinckste an art that seldome bsde In hand I toke and so it was But we no daunger then refusde So we might bring our feates to passe By practise at the length I could Gainst store of winde with ease arise And then which way to light I should And mount and turne I did deuise Which learned but not perfectly Before I had there of the sleight I new aloft but downe fell I For want of skill againe to light Upon the temple earst I built To God Apollo downe I fell In fiters broisde for such a guilt A iust reuenge requited well For what should I presume so highe Against the course of nature quite To take me winges and saye to flpe A foole no fowle in fethers dight As learning founds and cunning finds To such haue wit the same to vse So she confounds and marres the mindes Of those her secrets seeme t' abuse Well then deserts requirde my fall Presumption proude depriude my breath Renowne bereft my life and all Desire of praise procurde my death Do let alureing arts alone They pleasaunt seeme yet are they vaine Amongst an hundreth scarce is one Doth ought thereby but labour gaine Their cunning castes are crafty cares Deuices vaine deuisde by men Such witched wiles are Sathans snares To traine in fooles dispise them then Their wisedome is but wily wit Their sagenes is but subtilty Darke dreames deuisde for fooles are fit And such as practise pampestry Thou seest my fall and eke the cause Unwisely I good giftes abusde Lo here the hurt of learned sawes If they be mrested or misuide Then write my story with the rest May pleasure when it comes to vewe Take heede of counsailes all is best Beware take heeds farewell adieu Farewell will students keepe in minde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Els May they chaunce like fate to finde For why 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Authour WHen Bladud thus had ended quite his tale And tolde his life as you haue hearde before He toke his flight and then a Lady pale A pearde in sight beraide vvith bloudy gore In hande a knife of sanguine dye she bore And in her breast a wounde was pearced wyde So freshly bledde as if but than she dyde She staide a while her coulour came and went And