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
tears sith eyes your small drops cannot see And since the Fountains cease of my full eyes Teares get you eyes and help to pitty mee And water them which timelesse sorrow dryes Teares giue me teares lend eyes vnto my eyes So may the blind yet make the blind to see Else no help is to them nor hope to mee 189 Body and eyes vsurping others right Both altring vse contrarie vnto kind That eyes to eyes those dark which shold giue light The blind both guide guided by the blind Yet both must be directed by the mind Yet that which both their trustie guide should be Blinded with care like them can nothing see 190 The day abhors thee and from thee doth slie Night followes after yet behind doth stay This neuer comes though it be euernie This ere it comes is vanished away Nor night nor day though euer night and day Yet all is one still day or euer night No rest in darknes nor no ioy in light 191 Whilst light did giue me comfort to my mone Teares sound a meane to sound my sorrows deepe But now alasse that comfort being gone Tears do want eies which shold giue tears to weepe Whence I lost ioy there care I euer keepe What gaue me woe from me doth comfort take Delight a sleepe now sorrow still must wake 192 I saw my ill when ill could scarclie see I saw my good when I my good scarce knew Now see not ill when as my ill sees mee Hasting to that which still doth mee pursue VVith my lost eyes sorrow my state doth view In blindnes loosing hope of all delight And with my blindnes giue my cares full light 193 As man himselfe so the most hatefull beast The Worme enioyes the ayre as well as wee The little Gnat or thing that liues the least Of this by nature kindly is made free what thing hath mouth to brethe but eyes to see Though honor lost yet might I humbly craue To haue what beasts or flies or pore worms haue 194 Mine eyes hurt not the Sun nor steale the day Except a candle they see neuer light These monstrous walls do take that doubt away What feare then y t they shold harme y e night Needles is that sith tears haue blotted sight I know not then froÌ„ whence this hate should rise Except it onely be that they be eyes 195 The man-betraying Basilisk hath eyes Although by sight those eyes be made to kill Though her owne works be made her enemies Though naturally ordained vnto ill Yet in her selfe so iust is nature still How monstrous then am I alone in nature Denide of that she giues the vilest creature 196 Oh tyrannie more cruell far then death Though death be but the end of tyranie Death lends vs sight whilst she doth giue vs breath Of all the sences that the last doth dye In lyuing death how miserable am I In life of this sence me thus to depriue To make the others dye my selfe aliue 197 Eyes which with ioy like Sunnes haue risen oft To view that holy Citties glorious Towers And seene the Christian Ensignes raisd aloft Crowning the walls like garlands of rare flowers Now lie you perrisht in your Iuory bowers Nor shal you henceforth boast what you haue been But leaue the minde to thinke what you haue seen 198 You which haue seene faire Palestine â—estor'd And gorgeous Syon from the Paynims freed The Sepulcher of your most glorious Lord And y t faire Mount wher his sweet wouÌ„ds did bleed And with these sights my hungry soule did feed Within you brincks be drownd in your own blood Which oft haue view'd great Iordans sacred flood 199 Rake vp the sparks which nourished your fire VVithin the ashes of consumed eyes Those little brands which kindled youths desire The haples starrs of passed miseries VVander no more within your circling skies Vnder the Globes great compasse euer roule And in my minds great world now light my soule 200 Good night sweet Sunns your lights are cleane put out Your hollow pits be graues of all your ioy VVith dreadfull darknes compassed about VVherein is cast what murther can destroy That buried there which did the world annoy Those holy Fanes where vertue hallowed stood Become a place of slaughter and of blood 201 Poure downe your last refreshing euening dew And bathe your selues in fountains of your tears The day no more shall euer breake to you The ioyfull dawne no more at all appears No cheerfull sight your sorrow euer cheers Shut vp your windows ere constraint compell Be-take your selues to nights eternall Cell 202 HIS passion ending Fortune discontent Turning her back as shee away would flie Playing with fooles and babes incontinent As neuer toucht with humane misery Euen after death shewing inconstancy As straight forgetting what she had to tell To other speech and girlish laughter fell 203 VVheÌ„ graceful Fame conuaying thence her charge With all these troupes attended royallie Gaue me this booke wherein was writ at large Great Norman Roberts famous history T'amaze the world with his sad Tragedy But Fortune angry with her foe therefore Gaue me this gift That I should still be poore FINIS THE ARGVMENT OF MATILDA MATILDA for her beauty named the faire A second Lucretia the daughter of a noble Barron the Lorde Robert Fitzwater a man of great wisdom courage was long time followed of king Iohn who sought by all meanes possible to winne her to his vnlawfull desire But finding that all hee could deuise tooke no effect such was her wonderfull chastitie hee sought by force to take her from the Court and to sende her to some secret place where hee might fitlie accomplish his wicked intent but his purpose was preuented by her Fathers pollicie The King hereat enraged through despight subborned certaine malicious persons subtilly to accuse the Lord Fitzwater of rebellion where-vpon hee is banished Matilda flieth to Dunmowe in Essex and there became a Nunne in a Religious house there builded by IVGA a Virgin one of her Auncestors to vvhich place the King sendeth one to solicite his old sute with poyson eyther to yeelde to his desire or to end her life Shee seeing her Father banished none left to succour her and fearing to be takeÌ„ out of the Nunnary tooke the poyson and ended her dayes THE LEGEND of Matilda the chaste 1 IF to this some sacred Muse retaine Those choise regards by perfect vertue taught And in her chaste and virgin-humble vaine Doth kindlie cherrish one pure May den thought In whom my death hath but true pittie wrought By her I craue my life be reueald Which black obliuion hath too long concealed 2 Or on the earth if mercie may be found Or if remorce may touch the harts of men Or eyes may lend me teares to wash my wound Or passion be exprest by mortall pen Yet may I hope of some compassion then Three hundreth yeeres by all men ouer-past Now finding one to pittie mee at last 3 You blessed Imps
must stay to woe Thy absence bringeth horrors presence still Thou going staiest and staying I doe goe Thou leau'st me leau'st with me leau'st me to ill Thy flight my fight thy safety me doth kill Thou tak'st my fall with thee in me forsaking Forsake me then away me with thee taking 88 ON shyp-bord now w t hands rear'd to the skyes All sigh'd and wept could sigh nor weepe no more He turns his sad eclipsed teareful eyes As retrograde vnto the blessed shore Rich Ile quoth he once Garner of my store Taken from me by yonder Tyrants theft And I as poore as ere was Irus left 89 Tis not my wealth that I esteeme as light Nor yet my Country though so deere to mee But thou alone Matilda my delight My life my soule all my felicitie Left as a pray vile Monster vnto thee Yet my laments are wasted all in vaine And to these winds and billows must cōplaine 90 Pittie if in thy drop be-dewed eye Thou hast one teare of wonder to let fall That one drop spent be euer after dry But keepe that one to comfort me withall Sweet honny teare sweeten my bitter gall But if thine eye whith mine eyes be drawn dry Trans-forme me then euen all into an eye 91 But now the Wolfe is got into my fold God help the Lambe that's in the Lyons power Alas poore Maid thus art thou bought and sold Prepared for the slaughter euery howre This Minataure must all my hopes deuoure Yet forc'd by Fortune to endure this woe And vnreueng'd vnto my graue shall goe 92 Liue in mee Death and I in thee will liue Be thou my selfe and I will still be thee Giue thou to mee and I to thee will giue And in perpetuall vnion let vs bee Thou I I thou one vndeuided wee Death giue life strength life thou to death lend breath Death be my life and life be thou my death 93 VVithin the furrowes of my aged browes My ioyes must theyr vntimelie buriall haue Thys fatall Tombe proud Fortune them allowes VVhich thus with-holds me frō my wished graue The heauens are deafe although I iustly craue My teares with griese are frozen in mine eyes Yet God nor man regards my miseries 94 Immortall Hate for pittie sit and weepe And VVoe for woe seeke from thy selfe to flye Dyre Passion be thou drown'd in passions deepe And Death for sorrow in my sorrows dye He be my selfe if thou wilt not be I In the attire of my pale Image dight thee If shape of my sad griefes doe not affright thee 95 Thrice famous Romaine fortunate to me By whose owne hands thy deerest child was slaine Deliuer'd so from slauish tyrannie But liuing mine dishonor'd shall remaine Blotting my name with an immortall staine VVhose black reproch for euer shall endure Ah vile disease that neuer time can cure 96 The soules departure giues the body rest My bodies parting giues my soule new care My soule of his abode is dispossest My body endles banisht to despaire My soule and body soule nor body are My soule with hers hers killing mine alone My body hers hers mine neither our owne 97 Euen as the kinde sleep-breaking Nightingale The cruell Merlin ceaz'd her little one Vnto the thickets tells a wofull tale VVearying the woods with her continuall mone This pore bird chirpeth he pore Lord doth grone Shee weeps all night by day complaineth hee Shee for her young one he laments for mee 98 Looke how a Sea the tyde once beeing past VVhose surges stroue the Continent to clime And bounding backe vnto the Gulfe at last Vpon the Sands doth leaue a clammie slime Teares in his cheeks such gutters worne in time VVash'd w t the floods of his still-trobled braine His eyes brim full as furrows after raine 99 And thus my Father vnawares betray'd A thousand sorrowes mee at once assaile What might I doe a silly helplesse Mayde Tost and turmoild in this tempestious gale These boysterous flaws haue brokē down my saile My succours thus like shadows now are gone Not one remaines to whom to make my mone 100 Now like a Roe before the hounds imbost VVhen ouer-toyl'd his swiftnes doth aslake Forsakes the Plaines to which he trusted most And to the couert doth himselfe betake Where doubling still creeps on frō brake to brake Thus doe I flie before the Princes face VVho day and night pursues mee still in chase 101 THE Coast is cleere suspitious eyes at rest And all things fadge which further his desire Now royall hope keepes reuels in his brest The coales are quick and Fancie blowes the fire His loue expects his long deserued hire No clowde discern'd to hinder this his sun The watch discharg'd he hopes y e towne is won 102 The Princes armes are stretcht from shore to shore Kings sleeping see with eyes of other men Craft findes a kay to open euery doore VVhat might I do or what auailes me then The silly Lambe liues in the Lyons Den. Loues wakeful eyes too soone alas discri'd me And found me wher I surest thought to hide me 103 My Ioue like Ioue now seekes mee to inuade And roysting comes in thunder-bolts and raine A Beast a Bird a Satyre in the shade A flood a fire a Serpent and a Swaine Camelion-like as fitt'st my loue to gaine Now like great Phoebus in his golden Carre And then like Mars the fearefull God of war 104 Hee makes the ayre to wooe mee whilst I talke The winde to whistle many a pleasant Dittie The dainty Grasse make musick as I walke The pretty flowers to moue me still to pitty All sencelesse things with reason seeming witty Before mine eyes hee euer doth appeare And if I call still aunswers I am heere 105 My steps are told my paths by Spyes are noted Mine eyes by Night-spells shut within the watch My words are way'd by iealous loue that doted And at my thoughts Ill-meaning still doth catch Into my counsells Treason drawes the latch And at my gates Suspition still doth ward Sorrow my hand-maid Falshood on my gard 106 He weeps his words but words could win no tears The raine doth cease or ere the floods doe rise His wofull words his tongue a while forbeares Then doth he his harts arrant with his eyes His eyes eclipz'd he then with sighes supplies Sighes faile w t smiles he then bewraies his paine Smiling he weeps yet weeping laughs againe 107 Looke how the Peacock ruffs his flaunting tayle And struts vnder his mooned Canapie And how he quiuers with his plumed sayle Yet when his Lead-pale leggs he haps to see With shame abates his painted iolitie The King as proude as Peacock in my loue yet droups again whē words nor tears could moue 108 My breast of Flint a rock impenitrable My hart that stone which neuer toole could perce My thoughts a Center and vnsearchable My words iudgment w c law could not reuerse My frownes such clowds as no ioy could disperse Tygars are tam'd with patience and with skill All
restraine Affections subiect to his mind should be Then absolute is it absolute he His mind commaunding kingly by abstaining As his commaund is absolute in raigning 132 His thoughts be pure as Christall without spot He is wisdom honour valure chastitie VVhat excellence is there that he is not Or what may be by him which cannot be He's Vertues true superlatiue degree From his affections neuer can proceed One little thought of this so vile a deed 133 Kings be the Gods Vizgerents here on earth The Gods haue power Kings frō that power haue might Kings should excell in vertue as in birth Gods punish wrongs kings shold maintain right They be the Suunes from which we borrow light And they as Kings should still in iustice striue With Gods from whō their beings they deriue 134 Empire euen like the Sunne doth draw all eyes And his Eclipse the soonest doth appeare Small vapours seeme great lights drawn to the skies Things ouer-head though far shew euer neare Small staines be great in things shold be most cleare Nothing so soone discernd by humaine sight As is the cloud which hides the cheerfull light 135 Inrag'd with this in greefes extremitie Minion quoth he tis now no time to prate Dispatch or els Ile drench you presently Of this nor that I stand not to debate Expects thou loue where thou reward'st with hate I passe not I how ere thou like the motion Haue done at once and quickly take the Potion 136 THis sudden terror makes me pause for breath Till sighing out at length this sad reply If it be so welcom to me my death This is the vtmost of extremitie And yet when all is done I can but die His will be done sith he will haue it so And welcome Death the end of all my woe 137 My loue is his whilst loue to him is due Allegiance binds that loue that loue tyes truth Vntrue to him if to my selfe vntrue Suspect is still a Page that waites on Youth Ensuing that which of it selfe ensu'th Plasters cure wounds nothing a wounded name Kings pardon death but cannot pardon shame 138 And thou my Deaths-man slaue vnto his lust Th' executioner of his lawlesse will In whom the Tyrant doth repose such trust Detract no time his murthering mind fulfill Doe what thou dar'st the worst thou canst but kill And tell the Tyrant this when I am dead I loath'd his beastly and adulterous bed 139 Nor let the King thy Maister euer thinke A vertuous Maid so cowardly and base As to be frighted with a poysoned drinke And liue an abiect in the worlds disgrace All eyes with shame to gaze me in the face That ages which heer-after shall succeede Shall hold me hatefull for so vile a deede 140 Strange be effects strange things in loue to proue He would take from me what he cannot take He loues my hate and doth but hate my loue And would vnmake what he doth striue to make And thus must loue be punisht for loues sake And would compell by force so to be held VVhich is nor was nor can be if compeld 141 To make that his which then cannot be his VVhich if once had is perisht being had Nor is not then the same that now it is Striuing to get what he to loose is glad VVhen pleasure with extreame excesse is mad Poore in the riches which haue spoiled me I rich in that in which I poore should be 142 Is this the greatest gyft he could bestowe Is this the Iewell wher-with he doth present me I am his friend what gives he to his foe If this in token of his loue be sent me Remedilesse I am it must content me Yet afterward a prouerb this shall proue The gyft King Iohn bestow'd vpon his Loue. 143 Then of this conquest let thy Soueraigne boast And make report with shame what he hath done A thing more easie then subdue an Hoast Or conquer Kingdoms as his Father wonne O haplesse Sire of this vnhappy Sonne And he more shame shall carrie to his graue Then Fortune honors to his Father gaue 144 Thus spoke my mind as women vse to doe Hoping thereby som-what to ease my hart But words I found did but increase my woe Augment his rage not mittigate my smart And now comes in the reckoning ere we part And now my valure must be try'd or neuer Or famous now or infamous for euer 145 Taking the poyson from his deadly hand Vnto the King caroust my latest draught Goe wretch quoth I now let him vnderstand He hath obtayn'd what he so long hath sought Though with my blood my fame I deerly bought And though my youth he basely haue betrayd Yet witnes Heauen I liu'd and dyed a Mayd 146 This cup the pen this poyson is the inke And in this vntoucht table of my brest To him I'le freely write what I doe thinke Where he shall find it feelingly exprest And what I doe omit tell thou the rest Yet rather then in any thing we'le varie VVe iointly will become one Secretarie 147 Then why repine I sith he thinks it meete He is my Soueraigne and my life is his Death is not bitter spyc'd with such a sweet Which leads the way to euerlasting blis He's all my ioy he all my glory is He is the tuch by whom my gold is tryed Onely by him my death is glorified 148 For could my life haue giuen life to me My youths faire flower yet blooming had not died Then how should this but meritorious be When by my death my life is sanctified Could euer thing more fitly be applied In this is loue in this his care I find My Lord is iust my Lord is only kind 149 Then let these teares th'Elixars of my loue Be to his soule a pure preseruatiue And let my prayers be of such force to moue That by my death my Soueraigne may suruiue And from his raigne let Fame herselfe deriue His glory like the Sunnes translucent rayes And as the heauen eternall be his dayes 150 And thou my carefull kind Phisition For phisick now thy patients patient be Appeale to heauen with true contrition And in thy conscience glasse thy foule sinne see To thee I'le be as thou hast beene to mee This potion take to rid thee from dispaire Euen as thy potion shall rid me of care 151 Faith finds free passage to Gods mercy seat Repentance carries heauens eternall kayes The greater sinnes bewept mercy more great A harty will makes straight th' offenders wayes Heauen rings for ioy when once a sinner prayes Of these sweet simples is my drink compounded VVhich shall cure both our soules both deeplie wounded 152 This mortall poyson now begins to rage And spreads his vigor thorough all my vaines There is no phisick can my greefe aswage Such is the torment which my hart destraines Boyling my intrales in most hellish paines And Nature weakned of her wonted force Must yeeld to death which now hath no remorce 153 And those pure thoughts which
a lingring war That Arms might cease while mischiefe might increase To bring death neere by sending safety far In making that which made all quite might mar Treason crept in by this adulterate kay Into the closset where his counsailes lay 76 Thus made a friend to rob him of his friend The meanes a foe might weaken so his foe To frame this strange beginning to his end The well-cast plot or vtter ouerthrowe In this faire vizard masking in this showe That since hate thus in wearing would not proue He brings him now in habite of his loue 77 Thus reconcil'd by me one to the other Ioyn'd in this poore deuided vnion These brothers now make war vpon their brother As loth from them he should goe free alone To shape his mischiefe truly by their owne To drawe on griefe and vrge it to be more Because it came not fast enough before 78 This by fore-sight still wisely prouident To spur them on beyond degrees of ill To make their furie far more violent And ground their ruine on their peeuish will That mischiefe should be getting mischiefe still That iniurie so far should pitty chase As reconcilement neuer should take place 79 And here to shew my power on thee poore Fame I made thee now my greatest instrument That in the furie of this raging flame Euen in the height of Henryes discontent To Roberts eares the brute of war I sent Of Palaestine that leauing all with them He might away to great Ierusalem 80 With that sweet fume of honors shortest breath Feeding the humor which possest his hart VVhen now drew on the time of Williams death That in this fatall hower he should depart Herein to shew my very depth of Art That Henry now in England left alone Might seate himselfe in Roberts rightfull throne 81 The warlick Musique of these clattring Armes Doth stop his eares like a tempestious wind That now he finds no presage of his harmes Beyond all course so lifted is his mind Declaring well the greatnes of his kind Mounted so high within the spacious ayre As out of sight of ground he dreads no snare 82 His Father dy'd when first his cares tooke breath His Brother dyes now when his woes should die His sorrowes thus are strangely borne in death All-ending death brings forth his miserie Such is my power in humaine destenie That where an vtter ruine I pretend Destruction doth begin where hate should end 83 Thus laid the complot in the course of all I make his safetie vnto him more deare Seated from whence he neuer thought to fall Assur'd of good if any good there were That now each thought a Scepter seems to beare VVhich such a hold in his great spirit doth winne As after made his error prooue his sinne 84 VVith grace young Henry to his throne I bring Making great friends of mighty enemies She wing my power in this new raigning King As by my hand inuisibly to rise Decking his crowne with worldly dignities Forging his tongue with such a sacred fire As could perswade what ere he would desire 85 In Palaestine with Robert Fame doth rest In England with young Beauclark Fortune bides These mightie Ladies of these Lords possest Thus each of these with each of these deuides Thus weare we factious then on either sides Fame sor braue Short-thigh purchasing renowne Fortune for Beauclark for the English crowne 86 Thou wooest I win thou suest and I obtaine What I possesse that onely thou dost craue Thou layest out to gaine but what I gaine Thou dost desire I in possession haue Thou hordst I spend I lauish thou dost saue Thou scarsely art yet that thou art to mee Thou wouldst I can thou seruile I am free 87 Robert growne weake Henry recouered strength What quencht the Normans glory sir'd his will Robert is fallen Henry got vp at length Robert no guide Henry is steerd with skill Grounding his good on lucklesse Roberts ill Their mutuall courage and vnmooued hate Tels Henryes rise decline of Roberts state 88 From perrils safe no place at home he sees Abroad he wins at home he still doth lose At home wasted with ciuill enemies VVhilst he abroad is conquering forraine foes Wasting at home more then abroad he growes At home his daunger vnto many knowne Yet he abroad is carelesse of his owne 89 Now bring I Robert from these glorious wars Triumphing in the conquered Pagans flight From forraine broiles to toile in home-nurst iars From getting others Lands for's owne to fight Forced by wrong by sword to claime his right And with that sword in Panyms blood imbrude To saue himselfe by his own friends pursude 90 Thus he's inrich'd with that he cannot see With few vaine titles swelling in his name And all his substance but meere shadowes be VVhilst he strange castles in the aire doth frame Lo such a mighty Monarchesse is Fame That what she giues so easie is to beare As of those gifts none robbing need to feare 91 This whets his spleene but doth his strength abate Much care for coyne makes care for kingdoms lesse His feeblenes must hold vp Henries state These beare vp him which Roberts hopes suppresse Whose brothers comfort is in his distresse This is the meane he vndertooke to try VVith Roberts blood his safety first to buy 92 VVith kind intreaty he doth first begin Not fullie yet establisht as he would By this aduantage to get further in Till he had got a sure and faster hold Baiting vnseene deceit with sums of gold By yearely tribute from his crowne to rise To stop the mouth of passed iniuries 93 This peace to which the mutenie must yield And English tribute paid to Normandy VVhat Robert thinks his safegard's Henries shield And Roberts selfe doth Robert iniurie This tribute wrongs his true Nobilitie And frō this source from whence their peace shold spring Proceeds the cause of Roberts ruining 94 These summs the sinewes of Duke Roberts war Like howerly tides his flowing current sed And to his fier the liuely fuell are His will the streame and this the Fountaine head Hauing his humor fitlie cherished Deceiptfull Henry reobtaines at length Vnto his Arme adding Duke Roberts strength 95 This want his haughtie courage soone doth find Cutting the quils of his high flying wings That now he must commit him to the wind Driuen which way the furious tempest flings Powerlesse of that which giueth power to Kings VVhich desperate griefe his mind enrageth so As makes him past all reason in his woe 96 Honor gaue entertainment to beliefe Vnder which collour treason in was brought Which slew his strength before he selt the griese Pure innocence seldom suspecteth ought No base affection maister of his thought Nor maiestie inward deceit had learn'd More then to shew her outward eyes discern'd 97 Miserie seem'd nothing yet to him vnknowne Not knowing euill euill could not flie Not sauouring sorrow hauing tasted none To find lurking deceit he look'd too hie To honest minds Fraud doth the
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
once I choisly fed Now when pale death my sences doth surprize I offer her vpon my dying bed This precious sweet perfumed sacrifice Hallowed in my almighty Makers eyes Which from this Alter lends me heauenly light Guiding my soule amid this darksome night 154 My glorious life my spotlesse Chastitie Now at this hower be all the ioyes I haue These be the wings by which my fame shall flye In memorie these shall my Name engraue These from obliuion shall mine honour saue VVith Laurell these my browes shall coronize And make me liue to all posterities 155 Our fond preferments are but childrens toyes And as a shaddow all our pleasures passe As yeeres increase so wayning are our ioyes And beautie crazed like a broken glasse A prettie tale of that which neuer was All things decay yet Vertue shall not dye This onely giues vs immortalitie 156 My soule thus from her pryson set at large And gently freed from this poluted roome This prize vnladen from this lothsome Barge Such is the Heauens ineuitable doome My body layd at Dunmow in my Toombe Thus Baynards-Castle boasts my blessed birth And Dunmow kindly wraps me in her earth 157 NOW scarcely was my breathlesse body cold But euery where my Tragedy was spred And Fame abroad in euery Coast had told My resolution being lately dead The glorious wonder of all women-head And to my Father flyes with this report VVho liu'd an Exile in the French-Kings Court 158 His griefe too great to be bewail'd with teares VVords insufficient to expresse his woe His soule assaulted with a thousand feares As many sundry passions come and goe His thoughts vncertaine wandring too and froe At length this fearefull extasie ore-past Grones from his soule this passion at the last 159 O Heauens quoth he why was I borne accurst This onely comfort to mine age was left But to despite me you haue done your worst And me of all my worldly ioyes bereft I quite vndone by your deceitfull theft This was the Iewell I esteemed most And loosing this now all my treasurs lost 160 Yee powers Diuine if you be cleane and chast In whom alone consists eternitie VVhy suffer you your owne to be disgras't Subiect to death and black impuritie If in your shield be no securitie If so for Vertue these rewards be due VVho shall adore or who shall honour you 161 VVhat ment you first to giue her vitall breath Or make the world proud by her blessed birth Predestinating this vntimelie death And of her presence to depriue the earth O fruitlesse age now staru'd with Vertues dearth Or if you long'd to haue her companie O why by poyson would you let her die 162 O Soile with drops of mercy once bedew'd When iust men were instauled in thy throne But now with blood of Innocents imbrew'd Stayning the glory of fayre Albion O lustfull Monster ô accursed Iohn O heauens to whom should men for iustice cry When Kings themselues thus raigne by tyrannie 163 O gyue me wings Reuenge I will ascend And fetch her soule againe out of their power From them proceeded this vntimely end VVho tooke her hence before her dying hower And rays'd that clowd which rayn'd this bloodie shower And frō the graue Ile dig her body vp VVhich had her bane by that vile poysoned cup 164 O pardon Heauens these sacriligious words This irreligious open blasphemie My wretched soule no better now affords Such is the passion of mine agonie My desperate case in this extremitie You harbour those which euer like you best With blessed Angels let her spirit rest 165 No no Ile practise by some secret Art How to infect his pure life-breathing ayre Or else Ile sheath my poyniard in his hart Or with strong poyson Ile annoynt his Chayre Or by inchauntment will his dayes impayre O no reuenge to God alone belongs And it is he which must reuenge my wrongs 166 Griefe would'st thou wound a world of humaine harts And yet not furnish'd with artillerie Of my care-dryed bones then make thee darts And point them with my sorrow poysoned eye Which hitting right shall make euen death to dye That thou thine Ebon bowe shalt neuer drawe But black despaire himselfe shall stand in awe 167 O heauens perforce we must attend your time Our succours must awaite vpon you still In your iust waights you ballance euery crime For vs you know what's good and what is ill VVho vnderstands your deepe and secret skill In you alone our destenies consist Then who is he which can your power resist 168 O could my sighes againe but giue thee breath Or were my tears such balme as could restore thee Or could my life redeeme thee from this death Or were my prayers but inuocations worthy Sighs tears life prayers were all to little for thee But since the heauen thus of my child disposeth Ah me thy Tombe now all my ioyes incloseth 169 But Death is proud and scorneth to be Death Her smiling beautie did his heate aswage And is so much enrich'd with her sweet breath As he doth scorne mine o're-worne wrinkled age Though with contempt I moue him still to rage But as thou lou'st her death for her sweet sake As thou took'st her from me me to her take 170 O what a wonder shall thy valure bring VVhat admiration to posteritie VVhat rare examples from thy vertues spring O what a glorie to thy Progenie To be engrau'd in lasting memorie VVhen as applauding Fame in euery Coast Shall thus in honor of Fitzwaters boast 171 England when peace vpon thy shores shall flourish And that pure Maiden sit vpon thy Throne VVhich in her bosome shall the Muses nourish Whose glorious fame shall through the world be blowne O blessed Ile thrice happy Albion Then let thy Poets in their stately rimes Sing forth her praises to succeeding times 182 Euen like the roote of some large branched Oake VVhose body by some storme is ouer-borne Euen with such horror be mine entrailes broke As when that roote out of the ground is torne And with such wofull horror let them mourne As with y e shreeks each liuing thing may wound Euen as the Mandrake torne out of the ground 183 BY this the Kings vile bloody rage is past And gentle time his choller dooth digest The fire consumes his substance at the last The griefe asswag'd which did his spirit molest That fiend cast out wherewith he was possest And now he feeles thys horror in his soule Whē lothsome shame his actions doth cōtroule 174 Black hell-bred-humor of reuenging sin By whose inticements murder we commit The end vnthought of rashlie we begin Letting our passion ouer-rule our wit Missing the marke which most we ayme to hit Clogging our soules with such a masse of care As casts vs downe oft times to deepe Dispaire 175 Traytor to Vertue Reprobate quoth hee As for a King no more vsurpe the name Staine to all honor and gentilitie Mark'd in the face with th'yron of Defame The Picture of
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
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
crowne 53 Here in the bodies likenes whilst it liues Appeare the thoughts proceeding from the mind To which the place a forme more glorious giues And there they be immortally deuin'd By vertue there more heauenly refin'd And when the earthly body once doth perrish There doth this place the minds true Image cherish 54 My beauty neuer fades but as new borne As yeares encrease so euer waxing young My strength is not diminished nor worne VVhat weakneth all things euer makes me strong Nor from my hand my Scepter can be wroong Times sacriligious rapine I defie A tributarie to eternitie 55 The face of heauen my chronicles containe Where I erect the Tropheis of my fame VVhich there in glorious characters remaine The gorgeous feeling of th'immortall frame The constellations letters of my name VVhere my memorialls euermore abide In those pure bodies highly glorified 56 FAme ending thus Fortune againe began Further to vrge what she before had said And loe quoth she Duke Robert is the man VVho by my might and pollicie's betraid Then let vs see how thou canst lend him aide I tooke from him his libertie and crowne Raise thou him vp whō I haue thus thrown downe 57 Quoth Fame a fitter instance is there none Then Robert is then Fortune doe thy worst Here may thy weaknes and my power be showne Here shall I blesse whom thou before hast curst Begin thou then since thus thy turne comes first And thou shalt see how great a power I haue Ouer the world proud Fortune and the graue 58 Quoth Fortune then my hand did point the Star The seale wherwith heauen sign'd his vtmost date Which markt his birth with brands of bloody war Rash mutinys rude garboiles harsh debate His forrain plagues home wrongs priuate hate And on the height of his great Fathers glory First laid the ground work of his Sonnes sad story 59 Nature which did her best at Roberts birth I most vndid in his natiuitie This friend I made his greatest foe on earth Her gifts I made his greatest enemie Framing such mildnes in Nobilitie Differing so far from haughtie Williams straine That thus hee iudg'd his Sonne vnfit to raigne 60 And yet that courage which he did inherit And from the greatnes of his blood had taken Stird vp with griefe awakes this greater spirit VVhich more and more did Williams hate awaken Hee thus forsaken as hee had forsaken Yet to his will so partiallie inclind As now his rage his reason quite doth blind 61 Now doe I leane to him whom all haue left Laughiug on him on whom dispaire doth lowre Lending him hope of former hope berest Giuing his youth large wings wherwith to towre Ayding his power to crosse great Williams power That so his might in countermaunding might By his owne wrong might hinder his owne right 62 That whilst his Fathers sierie tempered sword Through Albions cleeues that fatall entrance made With Germaine power returnes this youthfull Lord VVith others Armes his owne bounds to inuade And Normandy lyes coucht vnder his blade Thinking to make a present meane of this To make his owne yet doubtfull to be his 63 Towards Williams end now Williams hate begun VVhom he begot doth now beget his woe He scarse a Father Robert scarse a Sonne His Sonne the Father fo his ouerthrowe Youth old in will age young in hate doth growe He nursing that which doth all mischiefe nurse He by his blessing causing his owne curse 64 And yet least age might coole Duke Williams blood VVith warrs in Fraunce I still the heate suppli'd That whilst young Robert yet disgrace stood Iustly condemn'd of insolence and pride In this confirm'd the famous Conqueror di'd Setting proud Rufus on his regall throne VVhilst Norman Robert striues but for his owne 65 Much trust in him a carelesnes first bred His courage makes him ouer-confident Blinding reuenge besides his course him led VVhen lost his wits in errors darknes went Rashnes sees all but nothing can preuent VVhat his mind loth'd disgrace did vrge him to Making his will the cause of his owne woe 69 This buried trunck of William is the roote From which these two world-shadowing branches spred This factious body standing on this foote These two crosse currents springing frō one head And both with one selfe nutriment are fed Vpon themselues their owne force so should spend Till in themselues they both themselues shold end 67 Thus the old conquest hath new conquests made And Norman Ensignes shaddow English fields The brother now the brother must muade The conquerors shield against y e conquerors shield Right wounding right nor wrong to wrong will yield One arme beare off the others furious stroke Scepter with Scepter sword with sword be broke 68 The hatefull soiles where death was sown in blood Encreasing vengeance one against the other And now the seede of wrath began to bud Which in their bosoms they so long did smother These but as bastards England their step mother Weakning her selfe by mallice giues them strength With murdring hands to spoile thēselues at length 69 This Williams death giues Roberts troubls life VVhose life in death made lucklesse Robert liue This end of strife beginneth greater strife Giuing to take what it did take to giue Liuing depriu'd which dead doth him depriue Euill brought good that good conuerts to ill Thus life and death breed Roberts mischiefe still 70 VVhen first King William entred on this Ile Harrold had friends but then the Norman none But Rufus liued here as an exile And Robert hop'd to raigne of many a one Onely my hand held vp his slyding throne William but weake beats Harold down by wrong William supplanting Robert Robert strong 71 Odo the prop which Rufus power vpheld Reuolting then inrag'd with Lansrancks spight And on this hope grounding his faith rebell'd might In bloody letters writing Roberts right Great Mortayns power and strong Mountgomeres Mangling this Ile with new deformed scars Ere peace had cur'd the wounds of former wars 72 The Normans glory in the conquest won The English bruzed with their battred Armes The Normans followed what they had begun The English fearefull of their former harmes What cooles the English Norman corage warms The Normans entred to new victorie The English for their fight already flie 73 VVhilst Rufus hopes thus freshly bleeding lay And now with ruine all things went to wrack Destruction hauing found the perfect way Were not proud Robert by some meanes kept back By fond delayes I forc'd him time to slack And stopt the mischiefe newly thus begun To vndoe all what he before had done 74 Thus first by counsell spurr'd I on the rage Forcing the streame of their distempred blood Then by my counsaile did againe aswage VVhen this great Duke secure of conquest stood Pyning his force giuing aduantage foode That first by taking Arms he strength might loose And making peace giue strength vnto his foes 75 A peace concluded to destroy their peace A suddaine truce to breed
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
had commission to commaund his crowne In all his course conducted by this star This with a smile could cleere each clowdy frown This conquered him which conquered al in war This calm'd his thoughts in many a bloody iar This taught his eyes their due attendance still This held the raines which rul'd his princly wil. 27 Controuling Loue proud Fortunes busie Factor The gaule of wit sad Melancholies schoole Hart-killing corsiue golden times detractor Life-fretting Canker mischiefes poysoned toole The Ideots Idoll but the wisemans foole A foe to friendship enemie to truth The wrong misleader of our pleasing youth 28 MY vertuous Father famous then in Court Who liu'd in pompe Lorded with the best Whose mind was trobled with this strange report As one enshrining honor in his brest And as a man who euer lou'd mee best Foresaw the danger by such secret spyes VVho still attended on the Princes eyes 29 And he who in the Kings own bosome slept Experience taught his deepest thoughts to sound Yet in his brest the same he secret kept Nor would disclose the thing which he had found VVho being hurt must needs conceale the wound For why he knew it was a dangerous thing In rule or loue but once to crosse a King 30 And finding lust had kindled all this fire And his affection in extreams consisted He greatly fear'd his youthfull vaine desire Might grow impatient being once resisted Yet in his humor sith he still persisted VVith me his child thought fittest to perswade Ere further he into the deepe durst wade 31 SWeet gyrle quoth he the glory of my life The blessed and sole obiect of mine eyes For whom the Heauens with Nature fell at strife On whom the hope of all my fortune lies Whose youth my age with comfort still supplies Whose very sight my drouping hart doth raise And doth prolong thy aged fathers dayes 32 Thou seest a world vpon thy youth awaite That Paradice where all delights do growe Thy peerlesse Beautie made so faire a baite The Bursle where Nature sets her ware to show Where blushing Roses sleep in beds of snow The heauēs haue fring'd thy fore-head with their gold That glasse wher heauē her-selfe may wel behold 33 All gaze at Comets choysest things be best The rarest pearles are euer dearest prized Seldom wants guests where Beautie bids the feast Mens eyes with wonders neuer are suffised At fairest signes best welcome is surmised The shrine of Loue doth seldom offrings want Nor with such counsell Clyents neuer scant 34 Honor is grounded on the tickle Ice The purest Lawne most apt for euery spot The path to hell doth seeme a paradice Vices be noted vertues oft forgot Thy fame once foild incurable the blot Thy name defac'd if toucht with any staine And once supplanted neuer growes againe 35 The Lechors tongue is neuer voyd of guile Nor Crocodile wants teares to win his pray The subtil'st Temptor hath the sweetest stile VVith rarest musick Syrens soon'st betray Affection will like fire himselfe bewray Time offers still each hower to do amisse And greatest dangers promise greatest blisse 36 Deceit still with a thousand sleights is fraught Art hath a world of secrets in her power Who hopes a Conquest leaues no means vnsought Soft golden drops once peirc'd the brazen tower Care and Suspition is faire Beauties dower Guile like a Traytor euer goes disguis'd Lust oft is fild but neuer is suffic'd 37 This wanton Prince whose soule doth swim in vice VVhose lawlesse youth time neuer hath restrained He leaues no meanes vnprou'd which may entice The rytes of wedlock wantonly profained His hands with blood of innocents distained This Lyon would thy chastity deuoure VVhich kept by Vertue lyes not in his power 38 Laciuious will the sences doth abuse Birth is no shaddow vnto tyranny No scepter serues dishonor to excuse Nor kinglie vaile can couer villanie Fame is not subiect to authoritie No plaister heales a deadly poysoned sore No secret hid where slaunder keepes the dore 39 No subtile plea reuokes dishonors error No law can quite where Fame is once endited No armour proofe against the conscience terror Gainst open shame no Text can well be cyted The blow once giuen cannot be euited If once the fire be to the powder got Tis then too late to seeke to flie the shot 40 His youthfull loue is like a sudden fire VVhose heate extreame of force decay it must The cause proceeding from his lewd desire Is quickly out and sooner turn'd to dust Yet frets the life as iron frets with rust Sinne in a chaine leads on her sister Shame And both in Giues fast fettered to Defame 41 The stately Eagle on his pitch doth stand And from the maine the fearfull foule doth smite Yet scornes to touch it lying on the land VVhen he hath felt the sweet of his delite But leaues the same a pray to euery Kite With much we surfet plenty makes vs poore The wretched Indian spurns the golden Ore 42 Kings vse their Loues as garments they haue worne VVeake stomacks loath if once but fully fed The Saint once stolne who doth the shrine adorne Or what is Nectar if it once be shed What Princes wealth can prize thy Maiden-head Which should be held as precious as thy breath VVhich once dissolu'd of force ensueth death 43 Loe here he makes a period with his teares Which from his eyes now make a sudden breach By which the weight of all his speech appeares In words so graue as seemed still to preach This Idioma with such power doth teach VVhose tuned cadence doth such rules impart As deepely fixt each sentence in my hart 44 O sacred counsell true hart suppling balme Soule-curing plaster time preseruing blisse VVater of life in euery suddaine qualme The heauens rich store-house where all treasure is True guide by whom foule Errors den we misse Night-burning Beacon watch against mishaps Fore-sight auoyding many after claps 45 The King deluded in his loue the while His soule tormented in this quenchlesse fire VVith flattering hope his sences doth beguile Quickning the coales vnto his fond desire Affection growne too head-strong to retire Controles his silence hating to be mute And still doth vrge him to commence his sute 46 Thus carried on by his vnbridled thought He leaues no baite vnprou'd that might allure Deceit a schoole of common fleights hath taught Desire hath philters which desires procure Lust puts most vnlawfull things in vre Nor yet in limmets euer could be bounded Till he himselfe himselfe haue quite consounded 47 But still perceiuing all deuises faile His traines in Court yet neuer tooke effect Now with his tongue determin'd to assaile And to this end doth all his thoughts direct Too much abused by his vaine suspect Too further daies no longer would be posted But finding time me brauely thus accosted 48 GOddesse quoth he when Nature thee engrayned With colours fetcht frō heauens eternall spring Little thought she herselfe she could haue stayned Or grae'd
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
blind or wink and will not see Or doe you sport at my calamitie 87 O happy climat what so ere thou be Cheerd with those sunnes the fair'st that euer shon Which hast those Starrs which guide my destenie The brightest Lamps in all the Horizon O happy eyes that see what most I lack The pride and beautie of the Zodiack 88 O blessed Fountaine source of all delight O sacred spark that kindlest Vertues fier The perfect obiect of the purest sight The superficies of true loues desire The very tuchstone of all sweet conceite On whom all graces euer-more awaite 89 Thus whilst his youth in all these storms was tost And whilst his ioyes lay speechlesse in a trance His sweet content with such vnkindnes crost And lowring Fortune seem'd to looke a skance Too weake to swim against the streamfull time Fore-told their fall w c now sought most to clime 90 Camelion-like the world thus turnes her hue And like to Proteus puts on sundry shapes One hastes to clime another doth ensue One falls another for promotion gapes Flockmell they swarme like flies about the brim Some drown whilst others w t great danger swim 91 And some on whom the Sunne shone passing faire Yet of their Sommer nothing seeme to vaunt They sawe their fall presaged by the ayre If once this Planet were predominant Thus in their gate they flew with wings of feare And still with care doe purchase honor deare 92 Thus restlesse Time that neuer turnes againe VVhose winged secte are slyding with the Sunne Brings Fortune in to act another Scene By whom the Plot already is begunne The argument of this black tragedie Is vertues fall to raise vp infamie 93 The brute is blowne the King doth now pretend A long-look'd voyage to the Holy-land For which his Subiects mighty sums doe lend And whilst the thing is hotly thus in hand Blind Fortune turnes about her fickle wheele And breaks y e prop which maks y e building reele 94 I feare to speake yet speake I must perforce My words be turn'd to teares euen as I write Mine eyes doe yet behold his dying course And on his Hearse me thinks I still indite My paper is hard sable Ebon wood My pen of Iron and my Inke is blood 95 Loe here the time drew on of Edwards death Loe here the dolefull period of his yeares O now he yeeldeth vp that sacred breath For whom the Heauens do shower down floods of teares For whom the Sun euen mourning hides his face For whom the earth was all too vile and base 96 May I report his dolefull obsequie VVhen as my Ghost doth tremble at his name Faine would I vvrite but as I vvrite I die My ioynts apald vvith feare my hand is lame I leaue it to some sacred Muse to tell Vpon whose life a Poets pen might dwell 97 No sooner was his body vvrapt in lead And that his mournfull Funerals vvere done But that the Crowne vvas set on Edwards head Sing I-o now my Ghost the storme is gone The wind blows right loe yonder breaks my day Caroll my Muse and now sing care away 98 Carnaruan now calls home vvithin a vvhile Whom vvorthy Long-shanks hated to the death Whom Edward swore should dye in his exile He vvas as deere to Edward as his breath This Edward lou'd that Edward loued not Kings wils perform'd dead mens words forgot 99 Now waft me wind vnto the blessed Ile Rock me my ioyes loue sing me with delight Now sleepe my thoughts cease sorrow for a while Now end my care come day farwell my night Sweet sences now act euery one his part Loe here the balme that hath recur'd my hart 100 Loe now my Ioue in his ascendant is In the Aestiuall solstice of his glorie Now all the Stars prognosticate my blis And in the Heauen all eyes may read my storie My Comet now worlds wonder thus appeares Foretelling troubles of ensuing yeares 101 Now am I mounted with Fames golden wings And in the tropick of my fortunes height My flood maintayned with a thousand springs Now on my back supporting Atlas weight All tongues and pens attending on my prayse Surnamed now the wonder of our dayes 102 VVho euer sawe the kindest Romaine dame VVith extreame ioy yeeld vp her latest breath VVhen from the wars her Sonne triumphing came And stately Rome had mourned for his death Her passion here might haue exprest a right VVhen once I came into the Princes sight 103 VVho euer had his Lady in his arms Which hath of loue but felt the miserie Touching the fire that all his sences warms Now clips with ioy her blushing Iuorie Feeling his soule in such delights to melt Ther's none but he can tell the ioyes we felt 104 Like as when Phoebus darting forth his rayes Glydeth along the swelling Ocean streams And whilst one billow with another playes Reflecteth back his bright translucent beams Such was the conflict then betwixt our eyes Sending forth looks as tears doe fall and rise 105 It seem'd the ayre deuisd to please my sight The whistling wind makes musick to my tale All things on earth doe feast me with delight The world to me sets all her wealth to sale VVho now rules all in Court but I alone VVho highly grac'd but onely Gaueston 106 Now like to Mydas all I touch is gold The clowds doe showre downe gold into my lap If I but winck the mightiest are controld Plac'd on the turret of my highest hap My Cofers now euen like to Oceans are To whom all floods by course doe still repare 107 With bountie now he franckly seales his loue And to my hands yeelds vp the Ile of Man By such a gift his kingly mind to proue Thys was the earnest where-with he began Then Wallingford Queene Elnors stately bower With many a towne and many a goodly tower 108 And all those summs his Father had prepard By way of taxes for the Holy-land He gaue me franckly as my due reward In bountie thus it seem'd he pleasd his hand Which made the world to wonder euery howre To see me drowned in this golden showre 109 Determin'd now to hoyse my saile amaine The Earle of Cornwall he created me Of England then the Lord high Chamberlaine Cheese Secretarie to his Maiestie VVhat I deuisd his treasure euer wrought His bountie still so answered to my thought 110 Yet more to spice my ioyes with sweet delight bound by his loue apprentice to my pleasure VVhose eyes still leueld how to please my sight VVhose kindnes euer so exceeded measure Deuisd to quench my thirst with such a drink As from my quill drops Nectar to my inck 111 O sacred Bountie mother of Content Prop of renowne the nourisher of Arts The Crowne of hope the roote of good euent The trump of Fame the ioy of noble harts Grace of the heauens diuinitie in nature Whose excellence doth so adorne the creature 112 Hee giues his Neece is marriage vnto me Of royall blood for beautie
past compare Borne of his Sister was this Bellamie Daughter to Gilbert thrice renowned Clare Cheefe of his house the Earle of Glocester For princly worth that neuer had his Peere 113 Like heauen-dy'd Andromeda the faire In her embrodered Mantle richly dight With starrie traine inthronis'd in the ayre Adorns the Welken with her glittering light Such one shee was who in my bosome rested w t whose sweet loue my youthful yeres wer fested 114 As when faire Ver dight in her flowrie rayle In her new-coloured liuerie decks the earth And glorious Tytan spreads his sun-shine vaile To bring to passe her tender infants birth Such was her beautie which I then possest With whose imbracings all my youth was blest 115 Whose purest thoughts and spotles chast desire To my affections still so pleasing were Neuer yet toucht with sparke of Venus fire As but her breast I thought no heauen but there To none more like then faire Idea she The perfect Image of pure chastitie 116 O chastitie thou gyft of blessed souls Comfort in death a crowne vnto the life VVhich all the passions of the minde controuls Adorns the mayde and beautifies the wife That grace the w c nor death nor time attaints Of earthly creaturs making heauenly Saints 117 O Vertue which no Muse can poetize Faire Queene of England which w t thee doth rest VVhich thy pure thoughts doe onely exercize And is impressed in thy royall brest VVhich in thy life disciphred is alone VVhose name shall want a fit Epitheron 118 The Heauens now seeme to frolick at my feast The Starrs as hand-mayds seruing my desiers Now loue full fed with beautie takes his rest To whom content for safetie thus retiers The ground was good my footing passing sure My dayes delightsome and my life secure 119 Loe thus ambition creeps into my breast Pleasing my thoughts with this emperious humor And with this deuill beeing once possest Mine ears are fild with such a buzzing rumor As onely pride my glorie doth await My sences sooth'd with euery selfe-conceit 120 Selfe-loue Prides thirst vnsatis-fied desire A flood that neuer yet had any bounds Times pestilence thou state-consuming fire A mischiefe which all Common weals confounds O plague of plagues how many kingdōs rue thee Happy those Empires which yet neuer knew thee 121 And now reuenge which had been smothred long Like piercing lightning flasheth from mine eyes This word could sound so sweetly on my tonge And with my thoughts such stratagems deuise Tickling mine eares with many a pleasant storie VVhich promise wonders a world of glorie 122 For now began the bloody-rayning broyles Betweene the Barrons of the Land and me Labouring the state with Ixion-endles toyles Twixt my ambition and their tyrannie Such was the storme this deliuge first begun With which this Ile was after ouer-run 123 O cruell discord foode of deadly hate O mortall corsiue to a common weale Death-lingring consumption to a state A poysned sore that neuer salue could heale O foule contagion deadly killing feuer Infecting oft but to be cured neuer 124 By courage now imboldned in my sinne Finding my King so surely linckt to mee By circumstance I finely bring him in To be an actor in this Tragedie Perswading him the Barrons sought his blood And on what tearms these earth-bred giants stood 125 And so aduauncing to my Princes grace The baser sort of factious qualitie As beeing raised vnto such a place Might counterpoize the proude Nobilitie And as my Agents on my part might stand Still to support what ere I tooke in hand 126 Suborning Iesters still to make me mirth Vile Sycophants at euery word to sooth me Time-fawning Spaniels Mermayds on the earth Trencher-fed fooles with flatteries to smooth me Base Parasits these elbow-rubbing mates A plague to all lasciuious wanton states 127 O filthy Monkies vile and beastly kinde Foule pratling Parrats byrds of Harpie broode A corasiue to euery noble minde Vipers that suck your mothers decrest blood Mishapen Monster worst of any creature A foe to Art an enemie to nature 128 His presence grac'd what ere I went about Best pleasd with that which most contented me VVhat ere I did his powre still bare mee out And where I was there euer-more was hee By birth my Soueraigne but by loue my thrall King Edwards Idoll all men did mee call 129 Oft would hee set his crowne vpon my head And in his chayre sit dovvne vpon my knee And when his eyes with loue were fully fed A thousand times hee sweetly kissed mee When did I laugh and he not seene to smile If I but frownd he silent all the while 130 But Fortune now vnto my ouer-throw Intic'd me on with her alluring call And still deuising how to worke my woe One baite tane vp shee let another fall Thus Syren-like she brings me to the bay VVhere long before shee plotted my decay 131 For now the King to Fraunce doth him prepare For marriage with the Princesse Isabell Daughter to Phillip then surnam'd the faire And shee like him in beautie did excell Of tylts and tryumphs euery man reports And the vniting of these famous Courts 132 To raise me now to honors highest stayre Hee makes mee Lord-protector of the Land And placing me in his imperiall chayre Yeelds vp his Scepter wholy to my hand Deuising still how hee to passe might bring That if hee died I might succeed as King 133 His treasure now stood absolute to mee I dranck my pleasurs in a golden cup I spent a world I had aboundantlie As though the earth had throwne her bowels vp My reckonings cast my summes were soone enroled I was by no man once to controled 134 Now being got as high as I could clime And Fortune made my foot-cloth as I gest I paint mee braue with Tagus golden slime Because I would enioy what I possest Alluding still that he is mad and worse Which playes the nyggard w t a Princes purse 135 And now the King returning with his traine I summond all the chiefe Nobilitie And in my pompe went soorth to entertaine The Peers of Fraunce in all thys ioylitie Where in my carriage were such honors placed As with my presence all the showes were graced 136 Guarded with troupes of gallants as I went The people crouching still with cap and knee My port and personage so magnificent That as a God the Commons honored mee And in my pride loe thus I could deuise To seeme a wonder vnto all mens eyes 137 In richest Purple rode I all alone VVith Diamonds imbrodered and bedight VVhich like the starrs in Gallaxia shone VVhose luster still reflecting with the light Presented heauen to all that euer gazed Of force to make a world of eyes amazed 138 Vpon a stately Iennet soorth I rode Caparizond with Pearle-enchased plumes Trotting as though the Measures he had trode Breathing Arabian Ciuit-sweet perfumes Whose rarenes seem'd to cast men in a traunce Praised of England but admir'd of Fraunce 139 Like trident-maced
with weeping mournfull cryes In griefe of soule complains his miseries 243 Hee wants digestion and refrains his rest His eyes ore-watched like eclipsed sunnes With bitter passion is his soule opprest And through his eyes his braine disolued runnes And after silence when with paine he speakes A suddaine sigh his speech in sunder breakes 244 Hee starteth vp and Gaueston doth call Then stands he still and lookes vpon the ground Then like one in an Epileps doth fall As in a Spasma or a deadly swound Thus languishing in paine and lingring euer In the Symptoma of this pyning feuer 245 Like to a flower that droupeth in a frost Or as a man in a Consumption pyning Staynd like a cloth that hath his culler lost Or Poets-worne Lawrell whē it is declyning Or like a Peacock washed in the rayne Trayling adowne his starry-eyed trayne 246 To Belgia I crosse the narrow seas And in my breast a very sea of greefe Whose tyde-full surges neuer giue me ease For heauen and earth haue shut vp all releefe The ayre doth threaten vengeance for my crime Clotho drawes out the thred of all my time 247 Like as that wicked brother-killing Caine Flying the presence of his mighty God Accurst to die forbidden to bee slaine A vagabond and wandring still abroade In Flaunders thus I trauell all alone Still seeking rest yet restles finding none 248 Or as the Monarch of great Babylon VVhose monstrous pride the Lord did so detest As he out-cast him from his princly throne And in the field hee wandred like a beast Companion with the Oxe and lothlie Asse Staru'd with the cold and feeding on the grasse 249 Thus doe I change my habite and my name From place to place I passe vnknowne of any But swift report so farre had spred my fame I heare my life and youth contrould of many The bouzing Flemings in their boistrous tongue Still talking on me as I passe along 250 O wretched vile and miserable man Besotted so with worldy vanitie VVhen as thy life is but a very span Yet euerie howre full of calamities Begot in sinne and following still the game Lyuing in lust and dying oft with shame 251 Now working means to haue intelligence By secret Letters from my Lord the King How matters stood since I departed thence And of the tearms and state of euery thing I cast about which way I might deuise In spight of all once more to play my prize 252 And still relying on King Edwards loue To whom before my life had beene so deere Whose constancie my fortune made me proue And to my Brother Earle of Glocoster And to my wife who labored tooth and naile My abiuration how she might repeale 253 I now embarck mee in a Flemish Hoy Disguised in the habite of a Muffe Attended thus with neither man nor boy But on my backe a little bagge of stuffe Like to a souldier which in Campe of late Had been imployd in seruice with the State 254 And safely landed on this blessed shore Towards Windsor thus disguisd I tooke my way VVhereas I had intelligence before My wife remaind and there my Edward lay My deerest wife to whom I sent my ring Who made my comming known vnto the king 255 As when old-youthfull Aeson in his glasse Saw from his eyes the cheerfull lightning sprung VVhen as Art-spell Medea brought to passe By hearbs charms againe to make him young Thus stood King Edward rauisht in the place Fixing his eyes vpon my louely face 256 Or as Muse-meruaile Hero when she clips Her deere Leanders byllow-beaten limms And with sweet kisses seazeth on his lips When for her sake deepe Hellespont she swimms Thus we by tender deere imbracings proue Faire Heros kindnes and Leanders loue 257 Or like the twifold-twyned Geminy In their star-gilded gyrdle strongly tyed Chaynd by their Saffrond tresses in the sky Standing to guard the Sun-coch in his pride Like as the Vine his loue the Elme imbracing With nimble arms our bodies interlacing 258 O blinded Reason reasonles in this Vnrulie will of vnrul'd appetite Could our discretion moderate our blisse It might more easlie moderate their spight But wee are carried with the winds away To violent the Gulfe of our decay 259 O wondrous loue were then a meane in thee Reason might vnderstand what thou dost meane But for thou wouldst not comprehended bee Our vnderstanding thou doost but disdaine Thou mind-transforming monster monstrous ill Which hating saues but cherrishing doth kill 260 But all thy meane fond loue is in extreames Thy heed is rashnes thy fore-cast thy fall Thy wit is follie and thy hopes are dreames Thy counsell madnes and thy rule is thrall And onelie this thou art not what thou art And of thy selfe thou art not any part 261 The Barrons hearing how I was arriued And that my late abiurement naught preuailed By my returne of all their hopes depriued Their bedlam rage no longer now concealed But as hote coles once puffed with the wind Into a flame out-breaking by their kind 262 Like to a man whose foote doth hap to light Into the nest where stinging Hornets lie Vext with the spleene and raging with despight About his head these winged spirits flie Thus rise they vp with mortall discontent By death to end both life and banishment 263 Or like to souldiers in a towne of warre VVhen Sentinell the enemie discries Affrighted with this vnexpected iarre All with the fearfull Larun-bell arise Thus muster they as Bees doe in a hyue The idle Drone out of their combes to dryue 264 It seem'd the earth with heauen grew male-content Nothing is heard but warrs Armors ringing Now none but such as stratagems inuent The whisling phife the warlike trumpet singing Each souldier now his crested plume aduaunces On barbed horses prest with swords launces 265 Thus whilst our hopes should thriue they do diminish Our early rising makes our set too soone Euen as it dooth begin it soone dooth finish Our night is come before it should be noone Our down-fall haps as wee should mount on hie So short and fraile is our felicitie 266 Mens haps by heauen be fram'd preposterous Now with eternall good now temporall ill And oft againe contrary vnto vs Our good but short our euill during still To shew that heauens euer-waking powers Doe rule as Lords both ouer vs and ours 267 Lyke as the Ocean chafing with his bounds VVith raging billows flyes against the Rocks And to the shore sends forth his hidious sounds Making the earth to tremble with his shocks Euen thus the murmure flies from shore to shore Like to the Cannons battering fearefull rore 268 By day and night attended still with Spyes The Court become the cause of all our woes The Countrie now a Campe of enemies The Citties are be-peopled with our foes Our very beds are snares made to enwrap vs Our surest guard as Traytors do intrap vs. 269 Like to a cry of roring-mouthed hounds Rouzing the long-liu'd Stagge out
of his layre Pursue the chase through vastie forrest grounds So like a thunder ratling in the ayre Thus doe they hunt vs still from Coast to Coast Most hated now of those we fauored most 270 This gracious Prince loe thus becoms my guide And with a conuoy of some chosen friends Brings me to Yorke where being fortified To Balioll the King of Scots hee sends And to the Welchmen crauing both their ayde That by their help the Barrons might be staid 271 But they which in their busines neuer slept And as it seem'd had well fore-seene this thing Cause all the Ports and Marches to be kept That none should enter to assist the King And by disswasiue Letters still deuise To stay their neighbours from this enterprize 272 Loe in this sort the King and I betrayd And to their wills thus left as wofull thrals And finding now no further hope of ayde VVee shut vs vp within Yorks aged walls Vntill we knew the Barrons full intent And what all thys rude hurly burlie ment 273 This gracious King wanting his wonted rest And toyling still in this perplexitie VVith greeuous sicknes is so sore opprest And growne by this to such extremitie As hee is forced to depart away A while to purge this humor at the sea 274 From Bedford now the synod of their shame The counsell-house of all their villanie These bloody Barrons with an Armie came Downe vnto Yorke where they besieged mee VVhere now not able to resist their might Am forst persorce to flye away by night 275 To Scarborough with speed away I post With that small force the Citty then could lend me The strongest Castell there in all the Coast And as I thought the surest to defend mee VVhereas I might with-stand thē by my power Hoping the Kings returning euery howre 276 But now like to a sousing suddaine raine Forc'd by a strong and sturdie Easterne blast Or like a hayle storme down they come amaine And in the Castell girt mee now so fast No way to scape no hope for mee to flye My choyse was hard or yeeld my selfe or dye 277 Away thus like a prysoner am I led My costlie roabs in peeces rent and torne Bound hand and foote my haire disheuiled Naked and bare as euer I was borne Saue but for shame to stop the peoples cryes Am basely clothed of mine enemies 278 Along the Land toward Oxford they conuay mee Like bauling curres they all about me houle VVith words of foule reproch they now repay mee VVondring my shame as byrds doe at an Owle Cursing my life my manners and my birth A scourge of God ordain'd to plague the earth 279 The King now hearing how I was arested And knew my quarrell cause of all this strife Hee writes he sends he sues he now requested Vsing all meanes he could to saue my life VVith vowes othes that al should be amended If that my death alone might be suspended 280 And being brought to Dedington at last By Aymer Valence Earle of Pembrooke then VVho toward King Edward rode in all the haft And left me guarded safely by his men This gentle Earle w t meere compassion moued For Edwards sake whom he so deerely loued 281 But now Guy Beuchamp whom I feared still The Earle of VVarwick whom I called curre Hauing fit time to execute his will The Fox thus caught he vowes to teare my furre And hee for whom so oft hee set the trap By good ill luck is fallen into his lap 282 This bloody Beuchamp I may tearme him so For this was he which onely sought my blood Now at the vp-cast of mine ouer-throw And on the chaunce whereon my fortune stood To Dedington by night came where I lay And by his power conuay'd me thence away 283 To Warwick thus fast bound he doth me bring Imprisoning me within the Castell there And doubting now my succor from the King Hee raiseth vp the power of VVarwickshire By whom forth-with to Blacklow I was led And on a scaffold there I lost my head 284 LOe heere the poynt and sentence of my time My liues full stop my last Catastrophe The stipend of my death-deseruing crime The Scene that ends my wofull Tragedie My latest farwell knitting my conclusion Mine vtter ruine and my fames confusion 285 Like as Adonis wounded with the Bore From whose fresh hurt the life-warme blood doth spin Now lieth wallowing in his purple gore Stayning his faire and Allablaster skin My headles body in the blood is lest Heere lying brethles of all life bereft 286 O now my Muse put on thy Eagles wings O lend some comfort to my tyred ghost And with Apollos dolefull-tuned strings Now helpe at need for now I need thee most Sorrow possesse my hart myne eyes mine eares My breth consume to sighs my braine to teares 287 My soule now in the heauens eternall glasse Beholds the scarrs and botches of her sin How filthy vglie and deformd shee was The lothsome dunghill that she wallowed in Her pure Creator sitting in his glory VVith eyes of iustice to peruse her story 288 Like as a Stagge at bay amongst the hounds The bloody Moat sounding in his eares Feeling his breth diminish by his wounds Poures downe his gummy life-preseruing tears Euen thus my soule now bayted by my sin Consuming shewes the sorrow shee is in 289 Thus comfortles forsaken and alone All worldly things vnstable and vnsure By true contrition flyes vnto his throne In whose compare the heauens are most impure By whose iust doome to blessed soules reuealed She gets her pasport to his mercy sealed 290 And by repentance finds a place of rest Where passing to the faire Elisian plaine Shee is alow'd her roome amongst the blest In those Ambrosian shadowes to remaine Till summond thus by Fame she is procur'd To tell my life which hath been long obscur'd 291 Thys Monster now thys many-headed beast The people more vnconstant then the wind VVho in my life my life did so detest Now in my death are of another mind And with the fountains from their tearfull eyes Doe honour to my latest obsequies 292 Star-holding heauen hath shut vp all her light Nature becom a step-dame to her owne The mantled truch-man of the Rauen-hu'd night In mournfull sables clad the Horizon The sky-borne Plannets seeming to conspire Against the ayre the water earth and fire 293 Pearle-paued Auon in her streamfull course VVith heauie murmure floting on the stones Mou'd with lament to pitty and remorse Attempering sad musick to my mones Tuning her billowes to sweet Zephyrs breath In watrie language doth bewaile my death 294 Oke-shadowed Arden fild with bellowing cryes Resounding through her holts and hollow grounds To which the Eccho euer-more replyes And to the fields sends forth her hidious sounds And in her Siluan rude vntuned songs Makes birds beasts for to expresse my wrongs 295 The heauen-dyed slowers in this happy clime Mantling the Medowes in their Sommers pride As in the wofull frostie winter