set his Kingdome frée By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issules he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Quéene a Damsell faire howbeit by conscent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this Mayden-wife in sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp did spring He laughing sayd the brother there the brother well hath easd His meaning was the Stumblers Feete And haddest thou so pleasd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traytrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am giltles of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke Harolde his sonne by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary windes in Normandie ariues There Goodwyns Sonne did take an oth Duke William vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should goe The Crowne of England clayming by Adoption and by blood But Harolde after Edwards Death not to his promise stood And for he was in wealth in friends in blood and Armor strong And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong But arming him against the Duke so vrged vnto wroth Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe contrary to his Oth. Whil'st William therfore works for Warre King Harolde had not rest For Harolde Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his pusant Bands But Harolde him assayles And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuayles And with the Norgayne Prince he slewe his people almost all When for deuision of the Spoyle did much contention fall Betwixt the King and English-men and many a noble Knight Not only murmor and malinge but did forsake him quight Such mallice growing William with his Normanes taking land Found hot-spurr Harolde prest in Armes his pusance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his chearfull speeches thus his men with courage fild Sée valiant Warr-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agents of our Enemies they henceforth cannot call Supplies for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe Then Conquer these would Conquer you and dread no further Foe They are not stouter then the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger then the sturdie Danes our Uictorie erwhile Not Saxonie could once contayne or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by Sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerat take courage by discent And by their Buryalles not abode their force and flight preuent Ye haue in hand your Countries cause a Conquest they pretend Which were ye not the same ye be euen Cowards would defend I graunt that parte of vs are flead and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytors cléered so Yea pardon hath he to departe that slayeth Mal-content I prize the mynd aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yet troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the ill or well Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which nertheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuayle But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yet wot I neuer Traytor did his Treasons Stypend mis. Shrinke who will shrinke let Armors wayte presse downe the burdned Earth My Foes with wondring eyes shall see I ouer-prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a-like affected be Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from Seruitude to frée Are armed both in shewe and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home-brought Spoyles of Uictorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to dye a noble death that life for Fréedome spends As Harolde hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the Earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lye within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Soldiours one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor bâ—ye Normanes now to seeke in what ye should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pykes to hewe your Honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by lawe Ye come I say in rytious Warre reuenging Swords to drawe Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye Since Rollo to your now Abode with Bands victorious lead ye Or Turchus Sonne of Troyelus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Séede of Priams Sonne Exployt this busnesse Rollons doe that as ye wish be donne Thrée People haue as many tymes got and for-gâ—n this Shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more For Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Séede the Crowne shall neuer passe away Before vs are our armed Foes behinde vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holds of succour and for ease But that Aduantage shall returne their Disaduantage thus If ye obserue no Shore is left the which may shelter vs And so hold out amidst the Rough whil'st they hael in for Lée Whereas whil'st men securely sayle not seldome Shipwrackes bée What should I cite your passed Acts or tediously incence To present Armes your faces shewe your hearts conceiue offence Yea euen your Courages deuine a Conquest not to fayle Hope then your Duke doth Prophesie and in that hope preuayle A People braue a terren Heauen hath Obiects wroth your Warres Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's and mounâ— your fame to Starres Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne extrude vs from our right He dyes to leaue a famous life that doth for Conquest sight By this the furious Battelles ioyne a bloodie day to either And long they fight the Uictorie inclyning vnto neither At length the English had the ods who kéeping close aray Unto the Duchie Forces gaue no entrance any way Then fayning feare and Martially retyring as opprest The English so became secure and followe on disperst To which aduantage furiously the Normanes did returne And got a bloodie victorie In vayne the English thâ—â—ne Amidst the Pykes against the pricke 〈◊〉 Harolde then was slayne From him began the Normanes sole but soone â—â—â—ioyned rayâ—e For second Henrie Mawde her Sonne fréed Englands blood agayne Since whence and euer may they so that Of-spring ruled vs Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne the Genalogue is thus King Edmund Irne side Issue had Edward the Our-law he Had Margret Mawde by Mancholyn the King of Scottes had she Mawde to the Conqueror his Sonne first Henrie Mawde did beire This second Mawde the Angeos wife had second Henrie heire EDward King Harolds Preregnant of this same Change foretold Who present and succéeding tymes thus dying did vnfold It is a World to note quoth he
harmelesse soules that crost those Seas himselfe in fetters lay Yée might haue said and truly said that then did end the fraie So manie were his high exploits whereof such wonder bread That for the same the Heathen folke doe deifie him dead Which since they are so manifold I many ouerpasse And though Amphitruo blush to heare how he deceiued was And that Alcmena pinch my tongue possest with bashfull shame Yea though that Iupiter himself my lauish tongue shall blame Yet since that iealous Iuno knowes alreadie of the same I dare not tell how Iupiter so cunninglie beguild his loue Alcmena that by him she traueld great with child Of Hercules whose famous acts I orderlie shall tell Whereof the first but not the least in Cradle-time be fell CHAP. IIII. QUéene Iuno not a little wroth against her husbands crime By whom shee was a Cockqueane made did therefore at the time In which Alcmena cride for helpe to bryng her fruite to light Thrée nights and dayes inchaunt her throwes and of a Diuelish spight Intended both the Ladies death and that wherewith shée went Till Galinthis vnwitching her did Iunos spells preuent Howbeit cankered Iuno still pursuing her intent Two poisned Serpents got by charmes into the chamber brought Where Hercules in cradle laie and thinking to haue wrought A Tragedie did let them lose who smelling out their praie skaerd Hercules his brother that in selfe same cradle lay But Hercules as Children vse with little whelpes to play Did dallie childishlie with them and no whit did dismay Untill at last his tender flesh did feele their smarting stings And then displeasd betwixt his handes the Snakes to death hée wrings Amphrituo an the Thebans all of this same wonder tell And yeeres permitting Hercules did with Euristeus dwell This King by spightfull Iunos meanes did set him taske on task But Hercules perfourmed more then both of them could aske Yea yet a good Lad for Actiuenes the world did lack his like To Wrestle Ride Run Caste or Shoote to Swim Shift or Strike As witnes his inuention first those solemne actiue Plaios That were on Mount Olimpus tride where he had pricke and praise For which his Nouell and himselfe in those not hauing Péeres The Graecians by th' Olimpides kept reckoning of their yéeres KIng Atlas daughters in the Isles of Hesperae did holde A manie Sheepe and Poets faine their fléeces were of Golde For rarenes then of Shéepe and Wooll in figures so they saw Euristeus pricks his Pople on this nouile Prize to gaine The Greekes applie their sweating Oares and sailing doe persist Until they reach the wished shoare where readie to resist their entrance to the closed Isles an armed Giant stayd Whose grim aspectes at first approch made Hercules afraide Now buckle they and boysterous bloes they giue and take among A cruell sight But Hercules had victorie ere long The Giant slaine Philoctes tooke the vanquisher in hand An harder taske had Hercules then pausing now to stand Most dreadfull was their doubtfull fight both lay about them round Philoctes held the harder fight by kéeping higher ground The Sonne of Ioue perceauing well that prowesse not auail'd Did faine to faint the other thought that he in deed had quaild And left th'aduantage of his ground and fearcely smites his Foe But Hercules whose pollecie was to contriue it so Renuing fight most eagerlye so strikes and strikes againe That to enduer the doubled force his valiant Foe had paine Who yealding to his Uictors will did finde in him such grace As Hercules did thenceforth vse his friendship in each place Hesperides the goodly Nimphes their Kéepers chaunce lament But Hercules did comfort them and cure their discontent And shipping thē of Rammes Ewes a parcel thence he went IN coasting back by new-built Troy he sawe a moneful sort of people clustering round about their yet vnconquered Port. He musing much and striking Saile did boldlie aske wherefore They made such dole Laomidon then standing on the Shoare Did tell the cause the cause was thus Laomedon ere than To reare the statelie walles of Troy a costly worke beganne And wanting pay to finish vp the worke he had begonne Of Neptunes and of Phoebus Priests the Goddes of Sea and Sonne He borowed money promising repaiment of the same by certaine time which therevnto he did expresly name The walles are built the time is come the Priests their money craue Laomedon forswares the debt and naughtie language gaue Forthwith the Sea the Deuill then did many wonders showe Began to swell and much of Troy with violence ouerfloe And therevpon the swealtie Sun the wastfull Sea retierd So vehementlie did shine vpon the Oesie plasshes myerd That thereof noisome vapours rose and of those vapours spread Such plagues as scarce the liuing might giue burial to the dad Repentant then their wrethed king to holy Delphos goes Where at the Oracle he knew his wrongs to cause suc wees And how the Godds of Sun and Seas offended doe require Each month a Uirgin to appease a seaish Monsters ire Wherefore to saue their common weale the Troyans did agrée One Uirgin as her Lot did light should pay that monthlie fée Now after manie murdred Maids for monthlie at one day The fearefull Monster at the Port expects his wonted pray The lot fell to Hesione the daughter of the king whom to the Port to be deuourd with teares the Troyans bring When Hercules thus vnderstood the hard occasion why The guiltles Ladie should haue died he purposing to trie his valiantnes for what was it that Hercules would flie Did aske the king what gift should gro to him that should both free His daughter and his kingdome of that monthly blooddie fee. The king whom now at doubted hope of profered helpe made glad made promise of two milk-white Steedes as chiefest gemmes he had Braue Hercules whose ventrous heart did only hunt for fame Accepts th'assumpsit and prepares the fiend like fish to tame Anone the dreadfull Diuell driues the Sea before his brest and spitting mightie waues abrode disgorgde from monstrous chest Liftst vp his vglie head aboue the toubled waues to catch The trembling Ladie for which pray his yaning iawes did watch But he whose strength exceeded sense with yron Club in fist Did bootelesse long with brusing wait the boistrous Whale resist The greater strokes the fiercer was the Monsters awlesse fight So that the Greekes and Troyans all misdoubt their dreadlesse knight Still Hercules did lay on load and hild the fight so long That in the end the Sea retired and left the fish among The bared sandes and so for want of water not of strength Good fortune honours Hercules with victorie at length Now when the king his Troyans and the Grecians had behild The substance of the vglie Shape euen dreadfull being kild they bring the Champion to the towne with triumphes giftes praise And who but hee belou'd in Troy whiles that in Troy he staies Alone the king a
inferre consuming warre The Brutons vnder Rome secure as men that did relye On others were disabled now by Martiall meanes to trye The fame of fight but Captaineles confusedly they deale And giue a wretched instant of an headles Common-weale And whom so many Romaine Péeres Grand-Captaines of such might Of whom Nine Emperours themselues in persons here did sight Could hardly foyle were fronted now euen of a barbrous Foe And at the poynt a wondrous chaunge their Countrie to forgoe Such fruite hath ease such pollicie did serue the Romaines turne Who wayning Martiall mynds themselues the quietler here soiurne The Brutons thus dispoyâ—d of Aâ—mes and courage in effect Of Prince of Captaines and aduise their busines to direct Dispatch their Legate to the Land Deminatiue in name To Brutaine where the Legate thus his Ambassie did frame The back-slide of our helples friends the down-fall of our state Our lacke of Prince of people and our wealth not now as late The sauage dealing of our Foes consuming ours and vs Is cause right mightie King that we approach thy present thus Not for we are in blood allyed or that whil'st Fortune smil'd Your Auncestors had rule from vs not for the Dames defil'd At Cullin who withstanding lust for it did loose their liues That els to Conon and his Knights had liued noble wiues We are imboldned in our suite though all of these might moue But for our former Wants O King and for thyne owne behoue Great Brutaine doth submit it selfe thy Subiect if thou please Or els dispose it at thy will prouided we haue ease Against such foes as would not saue our liues to haue our Land Whom to conclude except thou helpe we neuer may withstand The King Aldroen pittying much the Cause of his Allies Arm'd thence his brother Constantine a Captaine stout and wise He chacing hence the Scottes and Pichtes with glorie wore the Crowne And through his vertue stayed vp a Kingdome sinking downe WIthin a while did Vortiger the Duke of Cornwalle rayne When Constans sonne of Constantine he traytrously had slayne The Scottes did ruffle then a-new nor did the King affye In Brutons for they hated him and reason had they why And Saxon Fléetes from Germanie in Armor here ariue Through whose support y e King in warres against the Scottes did thriue The Foe by Hengest foyled thus he and his Brother git The chiefest credit with the King but fewe gainsaying it Necessitie of Soldiours here so well for them did fit And Hengests Daughter intertayn'd King Vortiger so well That to misliking of his wife and liking her he fell And sotted thus in forren loue did wed the Saxon Wench Which wrought vnto the Saxons weale but to the Brutes offence For whatsoere the Quéene did aske the King would not denye Untill his Subiects rann to Armes and made the Saxons flye And putting downe the Father then did set vp Vortimer Who poysoned by his Stepdame they restored Vortiger With this condition that he should no Saxons intertayne But Hengest hearing from the Quéene that Vortimer was slayne And Vortiger his Sonne-in-lawe re-kinged did resayle With Saxon forces though with fraude not force he did preuayle For thus by pollicie he did the Brutons circumuent He craued Parlie as a man that were to quietnes bent The place appoynted Parlants him in simple meaning meet Farre from their Armie all vnarm'd whom Saxon Traytors greet With deadly wounds by hidden kniues and held the King with them Confounding so the Brittish Oste. Nor cease they to contemne Both Christian rightes and ciuell Rule subuerting either twaine And what they would of Vortiger through fearfull threats they gaine And plant themselues in Southfolke Kent and elswhere at their will And ruffling runne throughout the Land oppressing Brutons still The King and Brutons flead to Wales and Feend-got Marlyn theare Bewrayed more then I beléeue or credit seemes to beare As shewing how the Castell worke rear'd dayly fell by night By shaking of two Dragons great that vnderneath it fight With other wonders tedious if not trothles to resight Aurelius Ambrose brother to King Constans murdred late From either Bruton hauing ayde wonne so the Kingly state And ere that Hengest or his sonne stout Octa he subdew'd First to reuenge his Brothers death he Vortiger pursew'd In vaine the Welsh wild Mountaines fence the flyer from his Foe Or Gerneth Castell when as flames throughout the buildings goe In midst whereof the wretched King did end his daies in woe THe Brutons thus had peace a-while till Vortigerus Sonne And Guillamour the Irish King in newe Conflicts begonne Whom whil'st that Vter valiantly in Wales to wracke did bring His brother Ambrose did decease and Vter then was King What Vter did by Marlyns Arte in compassing his will Upon the Wife of Garolus transfigured by skill Into the likenes of her Lord on whom he got a sonne Renowmed Arthur or to name the Acts by Vter donne Were much and néedles onely note he was a valiant Prince But such as was his noble Sonne was not before or since Yet blazing Arthur as haue some I might be ouer-seene He was Uictorious making one amongst the Worthiest méene But with his pardon if I vouch his world of Kingdomes wonne I am no Poet and for lacke of pardone were vndone His Scottish Irish Almaine French and Saxone Battelles got Yéeld fame sufficient these seeme true the rest I credite not But Brutone is my taske and to my taske I will retier Twelue tymes the Saxone Princes here against him did conspier And Arthur in twelue Battelles great went Uanquishor away Howbeit Saxone forces still amongst the Brutons stay This King to intertaine discourse and so to vnderstand What Accedents in after-tymes should happen in this Land He with the Brittish Prophet then of Sequelles fell in hand Of Syx long after Kings the man not borne of humaine seede Did Prophesie and many things that came to passe in déede Now Arthur chiefe of Cheualrie had set his Crowne at stay And to his Nephewe Mordred did commit thereof the sway When with his Knights the wonder of the world for Martiall déedes Beyond the Seas in forren fights he luckely procéedes Till faithlesse Mordred calde him backe that forward goes with fame For at his Uncles Dyademe he traytrously did ame Twise Arthur wonne of him the field and thirdly slewe his Foe When deadly wounded he himselfe victorious dyed foe INterred then with publique playnts and issules ensewes A drouping of the Brittish state the Saxon still subdewes Howbeit worthie Kings succéeded but Destinie withsâ—ood The aunciant Scepter to inure in Bruts succéeding blood Unlou'd Careticus was he that lost the Goale at length Whenceforth in vayne to winne their losse y e Brutons vse their strength Yea God that as it pleaseth him doth place or dispossesse When foes nor foyles nor any force their courage might suppresse Séem'd partiall in the Saxon Cause and with a Plague did crosse The Brutons that had els at least
swéete and pretie mouth that laughed on her lippes And brings him backe to Cybels bed Her heart reuiued skips Reuiuing life where reckned death had wrought repentant teares The father fronted with a guile at length the damsell beares The infant vnto Oson towne and in her Ladies name Intreats Melissus daughters twaine to nourish vp the same Up to mountaine beare they him and in a secret Caue A mountaine Goat did giue him milke and so his life they saue His Nourses sounding Simbals once to drowne the Infants crie A manie Bées the Muses birdes into the Caue did flie Where making Honnie Saturnes sonne did long time liue thereby CHAP. III. IT doth remain of Iupiter as bow but then a lad From Epire to Pelasgis him the Lordes Epyrotes had To fetch their pledge Lycaon hild when time of truse had end Lycaon faining to consent that did not so intend Next day as though hee woulde dismisse the Legates with estate Did make to them a solemne feast when hauing slaine of late His noble pledge he brings his limmes and setteth them before His Countrimen to feed vpon in saused dishes store The Strangers and his Subiects too abhorring such a sight Sit gazing ech in others face bereft of speech and sprite Untill that lustie Iupiter a Stripling to behold Did take the limbes dismembred so and with a courage bold Did shew them through Pelasgis stréetes declaring by the way The murder of their blooddie king which did so much dismay The Citizens that euen they detesting such vnright Did rise in armes against their king where youthfull Ioue did fight So valiantlie that by his force Lyacon tooke his flight And after did by Roberies by blood and Rapines liue For which to him a Wooluish shape the Poets aptlie giue IN Fpyre and Pelasgis thus Ioue first his honour wonne But greater things vntouched are by this same Worthie donne And partlie in the monstrous warre that Titan and his Crue Did hold with Saturne when by search of Issues males he knewe The which his brother had aliue against their Couenant made When Tâ—tan Uictor fast in hold was vanquisht Saturne laid Together with his wife and friends where sorrow much they past Till Iupiter did vnderstand his parentage at last He therefore landing toke in Create with well prouided men And slewe his vncle Titan and the Giant Tiphan then With most part of the Titanoies and sets his father free By meanes whereof they reconcile and wel a while agree NOt brooking then Apollos fault in that he entertaind The Remnant of the Titanoies that after warres remainde Apollo was by Iupiter inforced for to flie His kingdome Paphos and to liue exilde in Thessalie Where loue but chieflie penurie constrained him to kéepe Untill he was restored home the king Admetus shéepe And for his Sonne disdainfullie enuied Ioue his praise Ioue was the same Phisitions death that dead to life could raise Whose fame grewe thus As Asculap an heardsman did espie That did with easie fight inforce a Basalique to flie Albeit naturally that beast doth murther with the eie Apollos sonne perceauing him with Garland on his head Imagins as it was in déed some hearbe such vertue bred And for a profe he caused him to cast the wreath away When strait the beast her onelie eies the sillie man did slay Then Asculap him selfe did take the wreath and puts it on And by that meanes he ouercame the Basalique anon In hearbs that déeper force is hid then Science may containe I finde said he an hearb by hearb into his mouth did straine That lay for dead an hearb at last reuiuing him again Henceforth meÌ„ thought him more theÌ„ man when by his wondrous skil He rendred life to many like so winning great good will But as he waxed famous thus he famous waxed proud Disdaining all yea Ioue him selfe for Peere he disaloud Untill that Saturns angrie sonne reuenged it by death Correcting iustly each abuse as Rector on the Earth THe Sonnes renound thus added grace vnto the Fathers name But shadowes wait on substances and enuie followes fame Euen Saturne pompous Saturne ridde by Iupiter of Foes And feare of Titan did renewe his superstitious woes As touching former Oracle and hastis sommons sent Throughout his Realme to muster men in purpose to preuent By death of Ioue his destenie The men of Create repinde To put on armour to his ill whom they had found so kind But will they nill they so they must for so their king assignâ— And Saturne with his armed troupes into Arcadia went Where Iupiter forewarned of his fathers ill intent Intreated peace to him denide so that perforce he must Defend him from his froward Sier or rather foe vniust There might yee see king Saturne fight like to a Lion wood Whilst Iupiter did beare his blowes and spares his fathers blood and him that foo-like would him sley he friendlie did defend Desiring Saturne to retire till wordes were to no end The wilfull man pursuing blood Ioue ceaseth to persuade And rushing in amongst his foes so hot a skirmishâ—made That euerie blow sets blood on broch and so in little space Euen he who late he did intreate is followed now in chace By Arcas and his companie for Ioue refraind the flight Because against his countrimen hée had no will to fight Whilst lucklesse Saturn did escape by flight and fortune then And wandred long in vnquoth Seas depriude of wealth and men Uictorious Iupiter was crownde with glorie king of Create And Saturne now ariude at Troy for succour did intreate Ganymaedes king Trois sonne was sent in Saturns aid A worthie knight and valiant warre to Iupiter he made But hée and his were chased back euen to their Citie walles For who so stood with Iupiter by Iupiter he falles And there the Troyan Paragon Ganymides was taine Twixt whom and Iupiter thencefoorth sound friendship did remaine Then Saturne did the second time to Seas with shame retire And neuer after durst by warre against his sonne conspire But sayling into lower Realmes in Italie did dwell And hereof it is said his sonne did chase him into hell MEane while lesse ioyous of his fame then ielous of his freakes Her wrong Quéene Iuno on the Truls of Iupiter she wreakes Which was the cause that all too late he purposing returne To rescue Danae in whose loue he amorouslie did burne Was cast by stormes into the Seas that foorthwith tooke the name of him whom for his Piracies Ioue vanquisht in the same Yee might haue seene AEgaeon there with wreakfull wroth inflamâ— At sight of Ioue at whose decay he long in vaine had aimd And how that Ioue had now the worst and in a trise againe The Gyant with his twise thrée Barkes in hassard to be taine The Centaures shew them valerous so did Ixeon stout and braue Ganymaedes did deale his balefull dole about But when couragious Iupiter had beaten to the ground AEgaeon and in selfesame Chaines wherein he often bound The
man no doubt predestinate to ill Obseruing how his Subiects bore to Hercules good will and fearing least their loue to him might turne himselfe to hate And seeing now himselfe and land in prosperous estate vnfriendlie did exclude his friend from out his cittie strong Whilst with his Greekes he hunts abrode mistrustlesse of such wrong and when the Champion and his men did from their sport returne Not onelie did gain-say in Troy that longer they soiournâ— But also impudent in guiles withhild the Corsers twaine Which Hercules so dearely wonne in hassard to be slaine Alcmenas sonne abashed then to finde so lewd a meede In lewe of well deserued loue was chollericke in deed and made a vow if life gaue leaue he would such vengeance take on Troy that euen the stones thereof for dread of him should quake and that the liuing Troyans then should say and iustly say That they were happie whom the plague and Monster made away and threatning so the trothlesse king did leaue the hated Port And shortly did ariue at Thaebes and feasts in Creons Court. THence brought he war and wrack to Troy in his armie kinges And by the way Larnessas walles vnto the ground he flings And setteth Tenedos on fire whose fearefull flames espide gaue Sommance vnto carelesse Troy for worser to prouide Before the Greekes had reached Troy the Troyans by the way did bid them battaile manie men on either part decay The sounding armours cracke with blowes whilst pearcing arrowes flie This lieth dead that fame is maimd and more at point to die Heads armes and armour flie about and bodies swimme in blood and fresh supplies did fall with them on whom they fighting stood But Hercules aboue the rest bestird himselfe so well That still before his balefull Club by Shoks the Troyans fell Who fainting now seeke to retyre into their fensiue Towne where Hercules their Porter was and rudely knocks them downe Thus wonne be Troy and sacked Troy and Chanels flowed blood Nor did hee breath whilst anie part of all the Citie stood Saue statelie â—â—ion in the same a manie Ladies were Whose piteous teares wrought Hercules that onlie place to spare As for the false Laomedon he secretlie was fled And valiant Pryamus his sonne to Greece was captiue led CHAP. V. AT home returnd Quéene Iuno craues his companie at Creat Whom there arriud with hartlesse ioy his Stepdame did intreat What hearest thou not my sonne quoth she how Argiue folke complaine Of Lions thrée that in their fieldes both men and heards haue slaine And this she said as knowing him to seeke such hard affaires To win him to which desperate fight no Corse nor cost he spares When this was said enough was said and halfe was yet behind When Hercules did vow redresse and Iuno had her minde He ioyes to heare of that exploit such was his ventrous heart And thanking Iuno for her newes did so from thence depart Philoctes now and Hercules in Nemea Forest be Long seeking what they could not finde till crying from a tree an Heards-man said friends shift away or els come vp to me Least that those cruel Lions thrée now ranging in this wood which haue deuourd those Heards I had and with my Manies blood Imbrud their fierce deuouring chappes and forced me to clime This Trée where I vnhappie man on leaues haue fed long time may all too soone with tearing teeth destroy you in like case The quaking Heards-man scarce had said thus much when as a paâ—â— from out a Thick the Lions thrée on Hercules did runne Philoctes trustlesse of his Prowse by climing did then shunne And now the Rampant Lions great whose onelie view would quaile An hundred knights though armed well did Hercules assaile And sometimes with their churlish téeth and pinching pawes againe So greeuously indanger him that neere he faints with paine Howbeit glorie checking griefe he twaine had now dispatcht The third and dreadfulst of the three though many a blow he catcht yet neither Club nor Sword had force to harme his hardned Hyed Untill that weapons laid apart by strangling handes he died Not Hercules himselfe conceaude more ioy of this successe Then did Philoctes who erewhile did hope of nothing lesse The Paster poore Meloreus like as Hercules he him wild Uncaest the Lions fearing long to touch them being kild And in his Cottage to the knights a Countrie feast he hild The Argiues hearing of this déed with Triumphes him intreat And offer all but leauing all he doth returne to Create Whom golzing Iuno gainst her mind with cost did intertaine and with a tonge repugnant quite to her malicious vaine Commends his déeds wheÌ„ rather she did wish he had béen slain and therefore with an harder taske his labour did renew But what was it that manhood might and he would not pursue IN Egypt was a greeuous drought the cause therof vnknowen which to redres their Diuelish Gods an Oracle had showen Doe offer vp strange blood they bid and so auart our ire Busiris prone before to blood had now his hearts desire No sooner Stranger toucht the shoare but them the barbarous king To frie in flames before his Gods for Sacrifice doth bring Yea custome added worse to yll his Subiect and his friend when Strangers misse supplie the flames his murthers had no end Howbeit with these Butcheries the drought did still remaine For in Busiris was the blood that should redéeme the raine The Gods did meane which they not minde that lewd Busiris he an Alien borne that Stranger was who dead no drought should be A Noble man of Iunos kin Busiris late had slaine For losse of whom the craftie Quéene did often sorrowes faine Cease Madame saith Hercules not long the time shalbe But I his tyrannie shall end els they giue end to me Her sorrowes did not tith her icy when he had giuen consent To vndertake that deathfull taske for death was it she meant Now Hercules in Egypt méetes Busiris and his Crew When sodainlie with maine assault on him the Giant flew Supposing to haue dealt with him as he had done before with other Strangers Hercules alonelie and no more to take his part with skathfull strokes bestird his Club so well In battering of the Tyrants bones that strengthlesse downe he fell Then did he kill and chase away his lewd and cruel traine Till hearing of no further foe hée commeth backe againe and taketh vp the wretched king that cryeth out for aide And on the Altar where himselfe had Strangers often laid Himself was made a Sacrifice and as his blood did staine the Altar euen at the same time there fell a ioyfull raine With ended drought and Tyrants death a common ioy befell And all in Mimphis intertaine the vnknowne Champion well From thence returning backe to Thaebes hee there awhile did dwell King Creons daughter Megara at Thaebes he did espouse To couÌ„tinaÌ„ce their wedding feast did waÌ„t nor knights nor prowse Which triumphes ended when the
from other ransome free And Theseus with Hippolite at Athens landing takes And Hercules to Calidon a Desmalâ— vsage makes THere did King Oeneus bounteously receaue so great a Guest Where scarcely had he any time from pâ—ssed toiles to rest But that proud Achelous sent Ambassidors to knowe If that King Oeneus on him his daughter would bestowe If not to threaten wreakfull warres which much abasht the King Till Hercules who then was come about the selfe same thing For loue to Deianira both Compettitors did bring Expelled feare by offring aide to backe him from the Foe By meanes whereof vnsatisfide away the Legats goe The Tyrant Achelous then with all Epirus force inuades the bounds of Calidon and spoile without remorse But Hercules he leading forth his Armie got the day And well was he amongst his Foes that fastest ran away They their King with hard escape inmure them selues at length within a Castle néere the Sea a Hold of wondrous strength The Thaebans then as resolute to spoile both Foe and Fort Did burne his Foes forsaken shippes left riding in the Porte And with a fewe beset the Holde When Achelous he so slender watch about the walles of Enemies did see He scorned that so weake a siedge should pen him vp so straight He hauing ten for one of them did issue out the Gate against the Greekes that willinglie his comming did awaite Espying Hercules he cride lo yond same diuell is he that droue vs out of Calidon who so of mine he be that slaieth him shall be inritcht with great rewards by me But he that made sâ—ch offers large did offer them in vaine For when his men sawe Hercules approching them amaine With fierie eies and angrie lookes and dreadful Club insist They thought it needles to assaile and booteles to resiste And euery man retired back into the holde againe Where many daies attemting slight they cowardly remaine From warre at length they fell to wiles There lay vpon the shoare a broken Hoy that had not brookt the Seas of long before The Mast they boring full of holes in euerie hole did sticke a burning Torch and lancht it out in night when cloudes were thick No sooner was the firie keele a floot vpon the waues And that the Greekes espied it but ech man rashlie craues the viewing of so strange a sight Their Captaine that did smell the presupposed Stratagem did rainge his armie well And marching neere the guilefull light did finde ambushments there That playing on aduantage thus preuented though appeare Occasion hapning Hercules would not admit the same But tooke them as he found them now and fights it out by aime When Achelous he behild his guild by guile to faile Well might he chafe be harder chaunce his courage might not quaile For looke how fierce and boistrouslie a chafed Bull doth fight So Acheleus lustilie on either side did smite And by his only prowse then a manie knights were slaine Whilst Hercules with like successe his Opposits did paine And now by chance amidst the brunt the valiant Woers twaine doe single and togethers tug and as two Lions strong ech one desiring others blood did hold a Combate long king Achelous minding her for whom began that broile To conquere where he did contend annexed hope to toyle Alcmenas Sonne remembring to whose cause he did defend Euen hers on whom his being and his verie soule depend So chargd his Contrarie with knocks and vsed his Club so well That vanquished though valerous king Achelous fell Thepirotes when they saw their king a Captiue led away Their hearts were doone and Hercules subdude them ere day And Achelous in exile did end his latter dayes And all AEtolia was fild with Hercules his praise To whom the king did giue to Wife faire Deâ—anira she the pleasing prise of that his prowse and dearelie earned Fee Who after of her owne decay and his the meane should be The Centaure Nessus was the man that made her erre so much Of which her error but his sinne the circumstance is such CHAP. VIII WHen ouer deepe Euenus Foord the passage did not fit This Giaunt of a Stature tall did offer helpe to it And Hercules forgetting him for at the Centaures Fray The same vnslaine but not vnskard escaped then away Did pray him to the farther shoare with Deianir to wade And so he did whilst Hercules this side the Riuer staid Whom Iunos Breed on further bankes his Passenger had set Then lust and long conceiued grudge to foule reuenge did whet Not Deianira coulde auoid a Rape or little lesse Or Hercules disioynd by Foord giue aide to her distresse One while contrarie to himself full humbly he intreates Anon like Hercules indeede he did commaund with threats But first nor latter might preuaile for Nessus hald her thence I may not follow nor in slight is Centaure thy defence said Hercules His deeds approue his latter saying true For letting she a fatall Shaft the Rauisher he slue And though the arrow galled him euen at the verie heart Yet for a while he did indure the not induring smart And hauing brought his trembling Rape into a vallie said See Deianira how thy Loue an end of me hath made Yet is my death lesse griefe to me then that thou shouldst bestow thy selfe on such a changing Churle as Hercules I know sweet Wench I know he doth preferre contrarie Loues to thee Wherefore my graue the lesse my griefe in this thy good shall be Take this he gaue a folded cloth and to the bane therein he mixed somewhat of his blood this same quoth he shall win To thee again thy Husbands loue when he shall it estrange For out of doubt I know it I he takes delight in change When thou suspectast such a wrong doe boyle a shirt with this No sooner shall he weare the same herein such vertue is but that his nouell Loue will change and fall whence he did flie Meane while doe not the vnction touch least so the vertue die In all this time betwixt his armes he did the Ladie claspe And hild her so as Hawke a Pray vntill his latest gaspe Then leauing him a liuelesse Coarse mistrusting nought his drift Shée meaning simply tooke with her the Traitours poisoned gift And Hercules by this had past the Riuer deep and wide Who Deianira first imbrast drew from the Centaures side the fatall Shaft that should the death of braue Achilles proue In Phoebus Church by Paris hand for Polixenas loue THE Centaure left vntoombed there Hée Shée and all their trainâ— are come to Lerna whom the king did noblie entertaine There had he from the common teares the cruell hauock made by Lernan Hydra whom in Fenne not armies durst inuade His vâ—per parts had humane forme his nether Serpentine The whole was monstrous yet his wit more moÌ„strous but most fine For wit is monstrous when the same from vertue doth decline Such were his subtill arguments and still supplies therein That he by often losse of
heads was fained heads to winne And wittie thus to others wrong confounded all he found Propounding questions and a word vnanswered was a wound The scourge of Tyrants hearing this did promise death or aide Whilst fearfull Deianira did the contrarie perswade But womans speech from weapons vse might not withdraw him then Till entring Palus he had rousd the Monster from his Dâ—nne Disdainfullie did Hydra take the presence of his Foe And after subtill arguments too sturdie fight they goe Two blowes at once with Glaue and Taile made Hercules to réele Who since he fiâ—st had vsed armes the like did neuer féele Not long he borrowâ—d had the Loan but Hydra had the like So either twaine repaie their debt and neither faintlie strike But who might stand with Hercules By him the Monster fell Who burning vp his vgly shape did passe his soule to hell Which happie fate of Hydras fall left Lerna glad and well From whence to Athens and from thence to Lycia did he saile Then to Hesperia Gerions Realme his outrages to quaile HE by his triple tyrannie for Geron he was said three-headed in respect that him thrée other Giants aid So spoild and plag'd the neighbour Realmes with daily wrongs war That all the force of Africa his furie could not barre In Gadira when Hercules his Pillers reared had The which our Westerne world not knowne men farther â—â—nd forbad Then with victorious ships he sets on Gerions chased Fleet And secondly at Megida did either armie meete There Geron with his brothers twaine the Cittie did beset And scornfullie aduaunce themselues as men not to be met Prouiding therefore murall workes they threaten hot assault Whilst Hercules contrarie warres vnto his souldiers taught The Gates wide opened out he comes vnto the Giants thrée Your men he said are well at worke well met are also we This lesse then Monster more than man a Fiende in humane shape the Spaniard said is he from whom I made so hard escape Yet hardlier shalt thou now escape said Hercules and than between them foure three to one A cruell fight began And euerie of the Giants thought himselfe an ouer-match to Hercules who almost gaue to one a quick dispatch The second he dispatcht in deed who fell his latest fall Then thousands came to rescue them yet one he fights gainst all Till Theseus with the other knights did march their Armie out And ioyne to him their Foes with them and all make battaile stout Then Gerons brother fights againe and both did bath in blood It was no fighting where they fought or standing where they stoâ—d King Meleus Theseus Hispan and Philoctes did no lesse But soueraignlie the Sonne of Ioue bestird him in the presse The Giant Gerons brother then by him did breath his last And Gerion did retire his men into their Gallies fast But where they land there Hercules wonne landing though hee past the Pikes notwithstanding thousand Swords and warding thousand slings himself alone ere y t his men to fight on shore he brings Then Geryon cursing heauen earth bestirre ye friends he cride Now is the time to liue or die let good or or bad betide Doe liue as men or die as men sée â—enne we are for one What lets vs then from victorie that victors haue ben knowne Reuenge your selues reuenge your frieÌ„ds reuenge our commoÌ„ mone Nor did he shrinke from what he saide or said not as he wrought His onely deeds were manies death Til Hercules he sought Whome singling after combat long of him his end he cought So to subiection Hespera by Hercules was brought NO better Spanish Cacus sped for al his wondrous strength Whom Hercules from out his Realme debelled at the length A richer King or Tyrant worse liu'd not in any Land Nor any one gainst Hercules in hardier fight did stand Yet chased by his Conqueror he was inforc'd to flie vp to a Mountain in those parts where as at point to die through famine by his Magicke Arte he made the Mountaine flame And by that shift escapt his Foe long wondring at the same Then sled the Giant night and day for feare did lend him wings And as about from place to place the wandring Tyrant flings He on a Mount in Italie cal'd Auentine did light Where laboured Cacus did repose his werâ—â—d limbes all night In this same Hill he found a Caue which fitting place espide He did resolue in secrecâ—e thenceforth himselfe to hide in that same Mount from sight of men And being there alone That words at least might vent his woes he maketh thus his mone Ah wretch quoth he no longer King that title now must change Thou late weart fearful vnto all now fearing all must range This ragged Caue must now suffise in stead of Royal seat And though alas the place should please yet want I what to eat where be my solemne banquets now where is my stately traien My Tributes nay my proper Goods or doe my friends remaine Not one I feare proud wealth was such that now in time of néed I knowe not where so seeke a friend in any hope to speede And yet despaire not Picus liues indebted much to me for great good turnes to him I will ere here I setled be Thus droue he foorth the dismall night and vp by peepe of day he sped him vnto Calabrei for there king Picus lay His daughters three of long before and still did loue him well And whether with the kings consent or not it so befell he tooke them all to Auentin and there with him they dwell About his boisterous necke full oft their daintie armes they cast Still plying him with kisses swéet no sport was ouer past That Cacus would and they might worke and more their custome was by pleasant tales in order told the wearie times to passe And once especiallie it was concluded on a roe That each of them should tell her tale the first beginning so CHAP. IX KIng Aganippus ere his death had with his Lords decréed his only daughter Daphles should in Empire him succeed A fayrer Ladie liu'd not then and nowe her like doeth lacke And nature thinke I neuer will a second She compact The king intombed Daphles of his Scepter was possest And one there was a Noble man that could it not disgest Who for he was of fame and force did bid her battaile and In doubtfall end of victorie their ciuill quarrels stand At length the Argiue Maiden Quéene she Doracles subdued But Cacus of this Stratagem a Tragedie ensued Now Loues not Launces came in vre the man that lost the day and lies in Chaines left her in cares her Conquest was his pray Full often did shee blame her selfe for louing him her Foe But oftner thought she it more blame not to haue erred so Thus whom in Campe she loathed late in chaines she loued now And thought him sure because so sure To Princes prisoners bow Thinks shee and watching fitting time vnto the Prison went
a mightie Oste King Picus he prouides And in reuenge of Cacus swore his Slayer should be slaine But he ere long that so did sware vnswared it againe When chased home into his holdes there sparred vp in gates The valiant Thaebane all in vaine a following fight awaites He for dispatch did fayne himselfe a Legate to the King And him the Porters as the same before their Tyrant bring Then shaking of his ciuill Robes his shining Armes appeare And renting downe an Iron sparre both Prince and people feare Some ran to Armor other some did fight with him their last Both Court and Cittie in the ende did lay vpon him fast There Picus worthely did winne of valiantnesse a name Yet Hercules more valiantly by death doth Picus tame And to attend their King his goste he sendeth flocke by flocke His furie was as fier to Ferne his foes as waues to Rocke Nor did his Lyons Spoyle giue place to darting or to knocke Meane tyme his men assault without whil'st he assayles within Then fightes he to beate downe the Gates and so the Goale did win Within the King his ransackt Court he Iole espyes Whose teares then mounting from her hart dismount thē from her eyes King Picus now a lifeles corse was father of this mayde In vaine therefore did Hercules her pensiuenesse disswayde Nor could he but lament her faate and loue so swéete a face Whose person also did containe the type of female grace At first she was so farre from loue she rather seem'd to hate Yet could she not so giue the Checke but that she tooke the Mate Then eithers loue was eithers life poore Deianira shée was out of commons yea of thought an other had her fée WIth this so faire and portly wench he sayled into Thrace And heares how Diomedes did tyrannise in that place No Straunger scapes vnraunsomed but Raunsome wanting then He casteth them as prouendor to Horses eating men A Garde of Tyrants like himself attending on him still Who richly did maintaine themselues by such their doings ill The Scourge of such was moued not to be remoued now by Iole whose louing teares such laboures disalow With Diomedes and his Garde in Forrest did he méete Who with their common Stratagim the Straunger thinke to gréete Hands of commaunded Hercules for Horse I am no hay All Straungers Raunsome once for all my comming is to pay Which sayd himself against them all began a noble fray The sturdie Thracians mightie men did hardly loose their ground But then the King a mightier man not any where was found These all at once assayle and strike and thunder on his Sheeld But number fitted to his force vnwonted so to yeeld For with his Club he skuffles then amongst their Curates so That speedie death was sweeter dole then to suruiue his blo Well mounted comes the King himself whom he dismounts anon But rescued to his Horse againe away he would be gon Lesse haste he sayd I Harts out runne nor shalt thou me out ride Out stripping so the man-fead horse he topled ore his side The monstrous King that rescules to flying people cride Who lying all to frusshed thus the sonne of Ioue did bring His cruell Iades that soone deuoure their more then cruell King The Thracians all submit themselues and ioye their Tyrants death And thinke some God had left the Heauens to succour men on earth From such as what they would they will and what they will they can And what they can they dare and doe and doing none withstan Nor thought they better of the man then did his deedes approue That neuer was a Conqueror vnto his owne behoue But to establish vertuous men and Tyrants to remoue This common Soldiour of the world with Iole did land in Lycia and the earth in peace discharged there his band Sweete busses not sharpe battelles then did alter man and minde Till he as others sorrowe in securitie did finde From Assur went the Empier then when Tonos he had tyme To court his Trulles Arbaces so espying place to clyme Secure in Tomyris her flight was valiant Cyrus slaine From Capua not from Cannas grewe the braue Carthagians vaine The same to whose victorious Sword a second world was sought That Macedon in Court not Campe to traytrous end was brought A Louer not a Soldiour went Achilles to his graue And Caesar not in steele but silke to Rome his farwell gaue Euen so this second vnto none superior vnto all To whome did soner Causes cease then Conquests not befall This Monster-Master Hercules this Tyrant-Tamer he Whose ligh Exploytes did leaue the Earth frō spoyle Spoylers frée In pleasures did perrish now that did in perrilles thriue A gréeuous Taske I vndertake his dying to reuiue CHAP. XIII WHen Deianira vnderstood her husbands back returne She thought it strange that he from her so strangely did soiorne Explorers sent to search the cause returne was made that he Did loyter in a Strangers loue and Iole was she That euer hanged at his lips and hugged was of him And that his armor layd a-part in silke he courts it trim The daughter of th Atolian King did little lesse then raue And can the churle quoth she preferre in loue a captiue Slaue Before his wife whome late he faynd inferiour vnto none Ah Hercules thou art a man thy manhood thus is knowne Fye may a forren Strumpits armes so fasten on his necke As he the Rector of the Earth must bowe if she doe becke Oh how vnlike to Hercules is Hercules in this But leauing men to natures fault in her the lewdnes is No man so chaste but such as she may worke to doe amis Thus whilst her ouerplus of loue to Ielosie did growe She simply mynds the spightfull gift that Nessus did bestowe And for he dying spake the words she held it as her Créede That it could winne him to her selfe of which now hauing néede She vseth part and sent a Shirte so boyled as she bad To Hercules and Hercules was of the Present glad Confessing her his onely Wiffe And whilst he did repent His breach of loue on Oeta Mount to sacrifice he went Philoctes Paeans valiant Sonnne and Lychas he that brought The poysned Shirt were present there but of no treason thought Nor Deianiras selfe good Soule till tryall made it playne When as his body and the fire gaue moysture to the bayne His stoutnes hid such torments long as els could none abyde Yea till the baine his Bowels and his verie Marroe fryde But when his torments had no meane the Altar downe he throes And from his martred body rents the gory smoking clothes And striuing to strip of the Shirt he teareth flesh from bone And left his breaking Synooes bare his Intrailes euery one Did boyle and burst and shew themselues where lumpes of flesh did lack And still the murdrous Shirt did cleue vnto his mangled backe Espying Deianiras Squire that quaking stoode he sayde And art thou wretch the Instrument
to trayne With whorish tricks a vicious King but neither of you twayne Thou stately Drabb nor this thy Brat a bastard as thy selfe Shall liue in triumph of my wrong first mother and her Elfe Shall â—ish in Flood for Humbars soule and bring him newes to hell That Locrins wife on Locrins Whore reuenged her so well They lifting vp their lillie hands from out their louely eyes Powre teares like Pearles and washe those Chéekes where naught saue beautie lyes And seeking to excuse themselues and mercie to obtaine With spéeches good and prayers faire they speake and pray in vaine Quéene Guendoleyne so bids and they into the Flood are cast Whereas amongst the drenching waues the Ladies breath their last As this his Grandame such appear'd Mempricius Madans sonne Whose brother Manlius traytrously by him to death was done And since of noble Brute his lyne prodigious things I tell I skipping to the Tenth from him will shewe what befell ABout a thirtie yeres and fiue did Leit rule this Land When doting on his Daughters thrée with them he fell in hand To tell how much they loued him the Eldest did estéeme Her life inferior to her loue so did the Second déeme The Youngest sayd her loue was such as did a childe behoue And that how much himself was worth so much she him did loue The formost two did please him well the youngest did not so Upon the Prince of Albanie the First he did bestoe The Middle on the Cornish Prince their Dowrie was his Throne At his decease Cordellas parte was very small or none Yet for her forme and vertuous life a noble Gallian King Did her vn-dowed for his Quéene into his Countrie bring Her Sisters sicke of Fathers health their Husbands by consent Did ioyne in Armes from Leir so by force the Scepter went Yet for they promise pentions large he rather was content In Albanie the quondam King at eldest Daughters Court Was setled scarce when she repynes and lessens still his Porte His second Daughter then he thought would shewe her selfe more kinde To whom he going for a while did franke allowance finde Ere long abridging almost all she keepeth him so loe That of two badds for betters choyce he backe againe did goe But Gonorill at his returne not onely did attempt Her fathers death but openly did hold him in contempt His aged eyes powre out their teares when holding vp his hands He sayd O God who so thou art that my good happ withstands Prolong not life deferre not death my selfe I ouer-liue When those that owe to me their liues to me my death would giue Thou Towne whose walles roofe of my wealth stand euermore to tell Thy Founders Fall and warne that none doe fail as Leir fell Bid none affie in Friends for say his Children wrought his wracke Yea those that were to him most deare did loath and let him lacke Cordella well Cordella sayd she loued as a Childe But sweeter words we seeke then sooth and so are men begilde She onely rests vntryed yet but what may I expect From her to whom I nothing gaue when these doe me reiect Then dye nay trye the rule may fayle and Nature may assend Nor are they euer surest friends on whom we most doe spend He shippes himself to Gallia then vut maketh knowne before Unto Cordella his estate who rueth him so poore And kept his there ariuall close till she prouided had To furnish him in euery want Of him her King was glad And nobly intertayned him the Queene with teares among Her duetie done conferreth with her father of his wrong Such duetie bountie kindnes and increasing loue he found In that his Daughter and her Lord that sorrowes more abound For his vnkindly vsing her then for the others cryme And King-like thus in Agamps Court did Leir dwell till tyme The noble King his Sonne-in-law transports an Armie greate Of forcie Gawles possessing him of dispossessed Seate To whom Cordeilla did succeede not raigning long in queate Not how her Nephewes warre with her and one of them slew th'other Shall followe but I will disclose a most tyrannous mother CHAP. XV. GOrbodugs double Issue now when eighteene Kings were past Hild ioyntly Empier in this Land till Porrex at the last Not tyed so by brotherhood but that he did disdaine A fellowe King for neuer can one Kingdome brooke of twaine Did leuie secrete bands for dread whereof did Ferrex flye And out of Gallia bringeth Warre in which himselfe did dye Then Porrex only raigned here and ruled all in peace Till Iden mother Quéene to both her furie did increase So fearcely as she seekes reuenge euen in the highest degrée Why liueth this quoth she a King in graue why lyeth he Dye Iden dye nay dye thou wretch that me a wretch hast mayde His goste whose life stoode in thy light commaundeth me of ayde Nor want I Ferrex will to ayde for why the Gods I see Deferre reuenge nor with a Deuill the Deuilles disagree The heauens me thinks with thunderbolts should presse his soule to hell Or Earth giue passage that at feast with men he might not dwell But I my selfe euen I my selfe their flacknesse will supplye And mothers name and Nature both to such a Sonne denye Dead night was come when Iden found the King her sonne a sléepe And all was still not then as now did Gards their Princes kéepe Admit they had who would haue feard such mischiefe in a mother She whispring softly sleepe thy last yea sleepe as doth thy brother Did gash his throte who starting vp when strength spéech were gone Lifts vp his faynting hands and knewe the Tyrantisse anone And maketh signes as who would say ah mother thou hast done a déede as neuer mother earst did practise on her Sonne But name of Sonne nor signes did serue him stil w t wounds she plyes Nor more then Monster did it please that simply so he dyes But that his bodie peecemeale tore about the Lodging flyes And thus from noble Brute his lyne the Scepter then did passe When of his bloud for to succéede no heire suruiuing was FOwer Dukes at once in ciuell broyles seiunctly after raine Néere when the Scottes whom some accuse by Ante-dates to gaine Did settle in the Northerne Isles These people bring their lyne from Cecrops and that Pharo he that euer did declyne from Moses seeking Hebers house from AEgypt to conuay His daughter Scota Gathelus their Duke brought thence away When Pharos sinne to Iacobs Séede did nere that Land decay And Cecrops sonne brought then froÌ„ thence as Scottes inforce the same The Stone that Iacob slept vpon when Angles went and came Of it was made their fatall Chaire of which they beare in hand That wheresoere the same is found the Scottes shall brooke that land At Westminster that Monument doth now decaying stand In Lusitania Gathelus did first his Kingdome found And of his race of Scota Scottes when Spanish Scottes abound Ariue in Ireland and in
by force of Armes subdew her hence to thee Yet from thy strongest Hold in Danske I would thy Conquest free Loe here my Gage he terr'd his Gloue thou know'st the Uictors meede So did he pause his Pledge vntoucht and then did thus proceede Then freat thy fill and worse thy worst deliuer Lords your willes Ye haue experience how this same with bragges not battell killes He threatneth onely I intreate he claimeth her of dewe I wish and hope for to deserue The Counsell then withdrewe themselues aparte and soone for Brenn a verdict did ensewe The Dane inraged fayled thence and rigged out a Fléete And did with Brenn resayling home at great aduantage méete Their Shippes did grapple and their swords did sunder life from lim So fought they as their Shippes did seeme in Seas of blood to swim But multitude oppressed Brenn he hardly did escape His Lady will be nill he left the King Denmarkes Rape Not meanely insolent the Danes hoyst vp their home-meant Sayles But after many crabbed Flawes and long contrarie Gayles The Kings and Norgane Ladies Shippe was tossed to the Coste Of Brutaine where imprisoned King Belyn was their Hoste Untill sufficient Pledges had that Denmarke it should pay Continuall Tribute to the Brutes he them dismist away Howbeit Brenn receiued now amongst the Gawles did threate For Norgane Lady him with-held his Brothers selfe and Seate For Tyme alaying Loue did add vnto domesticke hate He with the Cenouesean Gawles whose Prince his heire of late He had espoused did inuade the Empier of his Brother And almost did their Battelles ioyne when thus intreates their Mother I dare to name ye Sonnes because I am your Mother yet I doubt to tearme you Brothers that doe Brotherhood forget These Prodigeies their wrothfull Sheilds forbodden Foe to Foe Do ill beséeme allyed hands euen yours allyed foe O how seeme Oedipus his Sonnes in you againe to striue How séeme these Swords in me aye me Iocasta to reuyue I would Dunwallo liued or ear death had lofte agayne His Monarchie sufficing Fower but now to smale for Twayne Then either would you as did he imploy your wounds elswheare Or for the smalenes of your Power agrée at least for feare But pryde of ritch rome-some Throones that wingeth now your darts It will I would not as I feare worke sorrowe to your harts My Sonnes swéet Sonnes attende my words your Mothers words attend And for I am your Mother doe conclude I am your frend I cannot councell but intreate nor yet I can intreate But as a Woman and the same whose blood was once your meate Hence had yée Milk She baerd her Pappes these Armes did hug ye oft These fyled hands did wype did wrap did rock and lay yée soft These Lippes did kisse or Eyes did wéepe if that ye were vnqueat Then plye I did w t Song or Sighes w t Dance with Tonge or Teate For these kinde Causes deer my Sonnes disarme your selues if not Then for these bitter teares that now your Mothers Chéekes doe spot Oft vrge I Sonnes and Mothers Names Names not to be forgot Send hence these Soldiors yée my Sonnes none but ye would fight When none should rather be at one if Nature had her right What comfort Beline shall I speede swéet Brenn shall I preuaile Say yea swéet Youthes ah yea say yea or if I néedes must faile Say noe and then will I beginn your Battell with my baiel Then then some Stranger not my Sonnes shall close me in the Earth When we by Armor ouer-soone shall méet I feare in death This sayd with gushing teares eftsoones she plies the one and other Till both did shewe themselues at length Sonnes worthy such a Mother And with those hands those altred hands that lately threatned blooes They did imbrace becoming thus continuall frends of fooes Glad was the Quéene and Beline hild sole Empier more he had From Denmarke Tribute and to this a greater honor add His daughter Cambra wedded to the Almayne Prince gaue vaine Unto the Cimbrians holding Rome so long and warlike game Some if no Error giue to him for forren Conquests fame His Ualour Warre and Peace â—re-past now speake we of the Knight That this side and beyond the Alpes subdewed all by fight The stateliest Townes in Italie had Brenn their Buylder and Euen Rome the terror of the World did at his mercie stand The Senate giuing to the Earth eax-while both warre and peace Could not themselues their Cittie scarce their Cappitoll release THeir Gander Feast what Manlius and Camillus did therein How This the Cappitole That from Brenn his Spoyles did win I pretermit The thrée-topt Mount Parnassus had beloe Appollos Temple whether men for Oracles did goe This with the God and Goods the Gawles did put to sacke and spoyle And whil'st incamped here they kept such sacraligious coyle The God or rather Deuill whom th'Almightie did permit His Deitie prophaned to deceiue the world in it With Tempests Earth-quakes Stench Sights so cryde the Spolers quit That most did perrish fewe disparse and all were out of harte Yea Brenn himselfe discouraged did chaunge in euery parte He looking after and vpon the scattered and the slayne Did seeme a second Cadmus saue lesse patient of his payne And shaming to be seene to wéepe deuoured sightles teares And in these words his hartie gréefes did number to their Eares Swéete Soldiours leaue me to my selfe it likes me that ye leaue me More takes your tarriance from my health then can these plagues bereaue me Ech of these Masse of Courses dead hath bin a death to mee Deliuer then myne Eyes of you too many deathes I see Suruiue and tell the Westerne World what we exployted haue How that to Rome amidst her Roofe the Mayden Sacke we gaue Tell of our Battelles Booties and our Buyldings lastly tell An honor to our Ouerthrowe that we at Delphos fell By wounds deuine no humaine Armes But God who so thou be Lesse is thy courage then thy meanes els would'st thou cope with me As Pluto with Alcides did and Mars sometymes with men Doe me like honor and these Graues shall lightly gréeue me then But thou full little darest so Nay I doe dare to much That with my so vnhallowed tongue thy Deitie dare touch Ah see these Slaughters and reserue aliue this small Remayne Let last me and only me eeke to the number slayne But bootlesse to a ruthles God I see my prayers spent As haughtelie doest thou reuenge as humbly I repent Well God of Delphos since our teares this Incence nor these Graues Appease thyne yre parsist to plague this flesh that henceforth craues No pittie to the Hebrewe God of power excéeding thyne Men say appeale I and bequeath the Soules of me and myne Accept my simple Legacie O Godhood most deuyne Sayd Brenn. And with a selfe-wrought wound did perrish and his men Departing wonne and left the name to Gallo-Grecia then The rightuous Gorboman might add fresh Subiect
so long we shall on triffles stay Sayd Caesar and with such his words did so inflame his men That with lesse patience did they liue then linger battell then The Romaines bid the Baâ—e and then did cruell Warre begin And little wanted that the Brutes the better did not win But Caesar so foresawe Supplies and Succors here and theare Perswading this disswading that controuling flight and feare That after many Romaines slayne the Brutons tooke their flight To Southerne Shoores whereas to proofe Cassiuelan did fight With oft Erruptions out of Woods vntill the traytrous Knight The Earle of London yéeldes his Charge and Cittie to the Foe Through which disloyall presedent did other Citties foe And then with hard-won Tribute hence the Conquerour did goe BUt he that wonne in euery Warre at Rome in ciuell Robe Was stab'd to death no certentie is vnderneath the Globe The good are enuied of the bad and glorie findes disdayne And people are in constancie as Aprill is in rayne Whereof amidst our serious penne this Fable intertayne An Asse an Old-man and a Boye did through a Cittie passe And whil'st the wanton boye did ride the old-man led the Asse See yonder doting foole sayd Folke that crauleth scarce for age Doth set the boye vpon his Asse and makes himselfe his Page Anon the blamed Boy alightes and lets the Old-man ride And as the old-man did before the boy the Asse did gide But passing so the people then did much the old-man blame And told him Churâ—e thy limbes be tough y e Boy should ride for shame The fault thus found both man and boy did backe the Asse and ride Then that the Asse was ouer-charg'd each man that met them cride Now both a-light and goe on foote and leade the emptie Beast But then the people laugh and say that one might ride at least With it they both did vndershore the Asse on either side But then the wondring people did that witles pranke deride The old-man seeing by no waies he could the people please Not blameles then did driue the Asse and drowne him in the Seas Thus whil'st we be it will not be that any pleaseth all Els had bin wanting worthely the noble Caesars fall CHAP. XVIII AVgustus quayling Antonie was Emperour alone In whose vn-foed Monarchie our commoÌ„ health was knowne The Brooser of the Serpents head the Womans promis'd Seede The Second in the Trinitie the Foode our soules to feede The Uine the Light the Doore the Way the Shepheard of vs all Whose Manhood ioyn'd to Deitie did Raunsome vs from thrall That was and is and euermore will be the same to his That sléepes to none that wake to him that turnes our Curse to blisse Whom yet vnseene the Patriarkes sawe the Prophets haue fortold Th'apostles preacht the Saincts addore and Martiers doe behold The same Augustus Emperour in Palastine was borne Amongst his owne and yet his owne bid crosse their Blisse in skorne Bi-formed Ianus then in Mewe so would this Prince of peace That Caesars Edict euery where should Mars his enuie ceace THen raigned here King Cymbelin King Theomantius sonne Next him Guiderius that with-held the Tribute Caesar wonne The Romaines that in our respect neglected Misia Spayne Armenia Fraunce and Siria then Recusants of their Rayne Not by their Captaines but himself the Emperour of Rome Into relapsed Brutaine with imperiall Ensignes come Then hotter then the Punick Warres to Romaines did begin And Claudius looseth valiantly all that the Brutons win But Romish Hamo from whose death Southhampton had that name In Brittish Armes salutes the King and slewe by gyle the same Duke Aruiragus vsing then the Armor of the King Maintayned fight and wonne the field ere Brutons knewe the thing This hardie Knight his Brother slayne was Crowned in his place And with his winnings also wonne the Emperour to grace Who sending for his Daughter faire Genissa so did ende The Warres in Wedding and away did Claudius Caesar wende But Aruiragus after this reuolted and to stay The hauocke made of Romaines here came succors euery day His Quéene Genissa childing dyed when his Reuolt she knewe And Voada deuorsed late became his Quéene of newe Then he that at Ierusalem the fatall siege begonne Was sent from Rome and warring here the wonted Tribute wonne And through his gentle Uictorie bound Aruiragus still A friend to Caesar whom the King adopted heire by will I here omit the dismall Warre in the Isle of Nona made Against the Romaines whom the Priestes the Drudes inuade With banning words and women with their hayre vntrussed stand With brands of fier in furious wise about their desperat band The King deceased Voada and her two Daughters they Abused by the Romaine Lords doe hotter warres assay THe noble Scot King Corbred he confeddrats with the King of Pichtes and they and Brittish Péeres to field their Armies bring To ayde the Quéene of Brutes that like the Amazonian Dame That beating downe the bloodie Greekes in Priams succour came Had pight her Iauelen at her feete when entred in among The fearce Confedrates thus she spake amidst the scylent throng My state and sexe not hand or hart most valiant friends withhild Me wretched Cause of your repaier by wicked Romaines ild From that reuenge which I doe wish and ye haue cause to worke In which suppose not Voada in female feares to lorke For loe my selfe vnlike my selfe and these same Ladies faire In Armor not to shrinke an ynch where hottest doings are Euen we doe dare to bid the Bace and you your selues shall see Your selues to come behinde in Armes the Romaines too that bee Such Conquerors and valiantly can womenkind oppresse Shall knowe that Brittish women can their Romish wrongs redresse Then arme ye with like courages as Ladies shall present Whom ye nor wounds nor death the praise of Onset shall preuent Nor enuie that our Martiall rage excéedes your manly ire For by how much more we endewer so much more we desire Reuenge on those in whose default we are vnhallowed thus Whil'st they forget themselues for men or to be borne of vs. Ye yéeld them Tribute and from vs their Legions haue their pay Thus were to much but more then thus the haughtie Tyrants sway That I am Quéene from being wrong'd doth nothing me protect Their Rapes against my Daughters both I also might obiect They Maydes deflower they Wiues enforce and vse their willes in all And yet we liue deferring fight inferring so our fall But valiant Brutons ventrous Scottes and warlike Pichtes I erre Exhorting whom I should dehorte your fearcenes to deferre Lesse courage more considerat would make your Foes to quake My hart hath ioy'd to see your hands the Romaine Standards take But when as force and Fortune fayld that you with téeth should sight And in the faces of their Foes your women in dispight Should fling their sucking Babes I hild such valentnes but vaine Inforced flight it is no shame such Flyers fight againe Well here
rebated from their losse For Cadwane and Cadwallyne and Cadwallader the last But not the least for valarous of Brittish Princes past Brought out of Wales such knightly Warres as made their foes agast The Plague worse spoyler then y e Warres left Cambre almost waste Which to auoyde the remnant Brutes into their Shippes did haste Cadwallader in leauing thus his natiue Shore he fixt His eyes from whence his bodie should and with his sighes he mixt His royall teares which giuing place he speaketh thus betwixt Swéete Brutaine for I yet must vse that sweete and ceasing name Adewe thy King bids thee adewe whose flight no weapons frame But God cōmaunds his Wroth cōmaunds all counter-maund is vaine Els for thy loue to dye in thée were life to thy Remaine Thus tymes haue turnes thus Fortune still is flying to and fro What was not is what is shall cease some come and others goe So Brutaine thou of Nation and of name endewrest chaunge Now balking vs whom thou hast bread and brooking people straunge Yet if I shoote not past myne aime a world of tyme from me Parte of our blood in highest pompe shall Englands glorie be And chiefly when vnto a First succeedes a second She. But leauing spéeches ominous Cadwallader is woe That seeing death determines griefe he dyes not on his foe Ah Fortune faileth mightie Ones and meaner doth aduaunce The mightest Empier Rome hath chaunge then Brutaine brooke thy chaunce Let it suffice thou wert before and after Rome in fame And to indure what God intends were sinne to coumpt a shame Nor vaunt ye Saxons of our flight but if ye néedes will vaunt Then vaunt of this that God displac'd whom you could neuer daunt This said y e teares contrould his tongue sayles wrought land frō sight When saue a Remnant small the Isle was rid of Brutons quight THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XX. THE Brutons thus departed hence Seauen Kingdomes here begonne Where diuersly in diuers broyles the Saxons lost and wonne King Edell and King Adelbright in Diria ioyntly rayne In loyall concorde during life these Kingly friends remayne When Adelbright should leaue his life to Edell thus he saies By those same bonds of happie loue that held vs friends alwaies By our by-parted Crowne of which the Moyetie is myne By God to whom my Soule must passe and so in tyme may thyne I pray thée nay I Coniure thée to nourish as thyne owne Thy Néece my Daughter Argentile till she to age be growne And then as thou receiuest it resigne to her my Throne A promise had for this Bequest the Testator he dyes But all that Edell vndertooke he afterward denyes Yet well he fosters for a tyme the Damsell that was growne The fayrest Lady vnder heauen whose beautie being knowne A many Princes seeke her loue but none might her obtaine For grippell Edell to himselfe her Kingdome sought to gaine And for that cause from sight of such he did his Ward restraine By chaunce one Curan sonne vnto a Prince in Danske did sée The Mayde with whom he fell in loue as much as one might bée Unhappie Youth what should he doe his Sainct was kept in Mewe Nor he nor any Noble-man admitted to her vewe One while in Malancholy fits he pynes himselfe away Anon he thought by force of Armes to winne her if he may And still against the Kings restraint did secretly inuay At length the high Controller Loue whom none may disobay Imbased him from Lordlynes vnto a Kitchin Drudge That so at least of life or death she might become his Iudge Accesse so had to see and speake he did his loue bewray And telles his bearth her aunswer was she husbandles would stay Meane while the King did beate his braines his bootie to achiue Not caring what became of her so he by her might thriue At last his resolution was some Pessant should her wiue And which was working to his wish he did obserue with ioye How Curan whom he thought a Drudge scapt many an amorous toy◠The King perceiuing such his vayne promotes his Uassall still Least that the bacenesse of the man should let perhaps his will Assured therefore of his loue but not suspecting who The Louer was the King himselfe in his behalfe did owe. The Lady resolute from loue vnkindly takes that hée Should barre the Noble and vnto so base a Match agrée And therefore shifting out of doores departed thence by stealth Preferring pouertie before a daungerous life in wealth When Curan heard of her escape the anguish in his harte Was more then much and after her from Court he did departe Forgetfull of himselfe his bearth his Countrie friends and all And onely mynding whom he mist the Foundresse of his thrall Nor meanes he after to frequent or Court or stately Townes But sollitarilie to liue amongst the Countrie grownes A brace of yeres he liued thus well pleased so to liue And Shepheard-like to féede a Flocke himselfe did wholly giue So wasting loue by worke and want grewe almost to the Waene But then began a second Loue the worser of the twaene A Coūtrie wēch a Neatheards Mayd where Curan kept his Shéepe Did féede her Droue and now on her was all the Shepheards kéepe He borrowed on the working daies his holly Russets oft And of the Bacons fat to make his Startups blacke and soft And least his Tarbox should offend he left it at the Folde Swéete Growte or Whigge his Bottle had as much as it might holde A Shéeue of bread as browne as Nut and Chéese as white as Snowe And Wyldings or the Seasons fruite he did in Skrippe bestowe And whil'st his py-bald Curre did sléepe and Shéep-hooke lay him by On hollowe Quilles of oten Strawe he pyped melodie But when he spyed her his Sainct he wipte his greasie Shooes And clear'd the driuell from his beard and thus the Shepheard owes I haue swéete Wench a péece of Chéese as good as tooth may chawe And bread and Wyldings souling well and therewithall did drawe His Lardrie and in eating see you Crumpled Ewe quoth hée Did twinne this fall and twinne should'st thou if I might tupp with thée Thou art to eluish faith thou art to eluish and to coye Am I I pray thée beggerlie that such a Flocke enioye I wis I am not yet that thou doest hold me in disdaine Is brimme abroade and made a gibe to all that kéepe this Plaine There be as quaint at least that thinke themselues as quaint that craue The Match which thou I wot not why mayst but mislik'st to haue How wouldst thou match for well I wot thou art a female I I knowe not her that willingly with Mayden-head would dye The Plowmans labour hath no end and he a Churle will proue The Craftsman hath more worke in hand then fitteth vnto loue The Marchant traffaquing abroade suspects his wife at home A Youth will play the Wanton and an old-man proue a Mome Then choose a Shepheard
his Sonne he sayd not quite forlorne am I Whose life hath had so much of gréefe thus graciously to dye Add more thy vertues glad my death yet two things gréeue among To leaue my Kingdome thus in Warres and thée for Warres so yong So may these troubles waer to none as thou doest wax I pray And so possesse thy fathers Seate that all approue thy Sway. Not to be made a King my Sonne is so to make thée proude For mildnes fitteth Maiestie high mynds are disaloude Sée me thy father now a King and by and by but earth Nor thinke that euery King hath happ to dye a happie death Let Nature for perfection mold a Paragon each way Yet Death at least on finest lumpes of liuing flesh will pray For Nature neuer framed it that neuer shall decay The brauest are as Blossomes and the longest Liuer dyes And dead the louelest Creature as the lothsomst Carrion lyes Then thinke not but that Kings are men and as the rest miscarrie Saue that their fame or infamie continually doth tarrie Déeme past Examples Sentences and which did fayle in me Make vse of those not now in vse for now will cease to be Attempt not things beyond thy reach ioyne Fortune to thy will Least Phaebus Chaire doe els surcharge rash Phaoton his skill If Fortune helpe whom thou would'st hurt freat not at it the more When Aiax stormed then from him the Prize Vlisses bore Trye friends by Touch a feeble friend may proue thy strongest Foe Great Pompeis head to Caesars hand it was betrayed so Admit thou hadst Pactolian waues to land thée Gold at will Knowe Craesus did to Cyrus knéele and thou maist spéede as ill Abandon lust if not for sinne yet to auoyde the shame So Hoggs of Ithacus his men the Latian Witch did frame Be not to modie in thy wrath but pause though Fist be bent Oft Phillips Sonne did rashly strike and leisurly repent Content thée with vnthreatned Meane and play not AEsops Dogg The Gold that gentell Bacchus gaue was gréedie Midas Clogg Be valiant not to venterous but fight to fight againe Euen Hercules did hold it ods for one to striue with twaine Be not ambiciously a King nor grudgingly decline One God did roote out Cis his stocke and raise vp Iesses line Iest not with edge tooles suffer Saincts let mightie Fooles be mad Note Seneca by Neros doome for Precepts pennance had Haue care to whom of whom and what to speake though spéech â—e trew That Misse made Phaebus contrary his Rauens Swan-like hew He frameth torments to himselfe that feedes a Tyrants vayne Perillus was by Phalaris adiudg'd to selfe-taught payne Praise not the beautie of thy wife though she of forme be sped For Gyges moued so did graft on Candaules his head Shunne Ielosie that hart-breake Loue if Cat will goe to kinde Be sure that Io hath a meane that Argus shalbe blinde Commit not Treasure with thy Childe to greedie mynded men Thou leauest Polydor a Spoyle to Polymnestor then Occurrants giue occasions still of like in which be sure To serue thy God to saue thy selfe and well to all procure Be vertuous and assure thy selfe thou canst not then but thriue In only Uertue is it sayd that men themselues suruiue As for the vicious such they are as is the heedlesse Flye That killes it selfe and hurts his sight that hath her in his Eye Farewell my Sonne England farewell thy neuer happie Prince Doth take his leaue an happie leaue if taken so long since And Edmund burying not with me thy vertues nor my speech I blesse thee in his blessed name whom I of blesse beseech Sayd Egelred and shortly gaue a quiet gaspe or twayne And being dead his noble Sonne succeeded him in Rayne THis like himselfe euen knightlike and an English-man in deede Did quicken Englands quayling Prowes and Mars-like did proceed A brauer Captaine then was he not any Band might haue And yet a Mars did match this Mars Canutus was as braue These Wonders of that age for Armes and Dirij of those daies Did often battell equally to eithers losse and praies Now after many bloodie Fieldes when none might estimate The better or the worser parte a Knight that sawe the state Then present and by likelihoodes presaged what might fall Sayd hearing it the diffring Kings and Soldiours almost all We euer warre and neuer winne Edmund hath Fortitude Canutus Fortune neither thus of other is subdude Death feares not vs nor for their liues our Contraries doe crare It followes then that all must dye where all so despret are If all be slayne then who shall serue our Princes that suruiue Or fence out Forrens better one then none of both should thriue To thriue therefore were not a-misse that seeing one of twayne Will Owner all that only they the quarrell doe maintayne Or if Combattansie not please the Land is rich and large And they Coperciners may liue and vs of death discharge If Combate nor Partition be then will this Warre reuiue Till one suruiuing all of vs wants one with whom to striue This sayd the Kings did marke and make a profite of the same And did conclude by Combacie to loose or winne the Game Within a little Island nere round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trye their force by fighting hand to hand They spurre their Horses breake their Speares and beate at Barriars long And then dismounting did renewe a Battell braue and strong Whil'st either King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus sayd we both I see shall end Ere Empier shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or parte With it their Knights crye out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of sight And so the Champions did imbrace forgetting Mallice quight Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And brother-like they liue and loue till by a deulish traine Earle Edricus a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne Did murther Edmund and his head supposing to haue wonne The fauour of Canutus so presenting sayd O King For loue of thee I thus haue done Amazed at the thing Canutus sayd and for that thou hast headded him for mee Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall bee The Earle was headded and his head poolde vp for all to see Of England Danske and Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in his triple Regment all with vertue did accord Harolde and Hardi-knought his Sonnes each did succeede Of either which small certen Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raynes to English-men did gréeuous thraldome bréed But after Hardi-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the State of England euer sence CHAP. XXII OF forsayd Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwyns gile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout franke and milde was he And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did
Deities of the Armour Ornaments and al what soeuer the Reliques of AEneas left behind him at his departure from Carthage would effectually estraunge the outrage of her passions and extinct in her y e very remembraunce of AEneas Thys Counsell either for that at the first she beléeued it possible or for that opportunitie so offered it selfe to practise the thing she did purpose Elisa entertayning opened the same to Anna her Syster who simply vnsuspitious of the sequell prouided secretely as was gyuen her in charge a pyle of dry Faggots crowned with Garlands for the dysmall Sacrifice which and Elisa her selfe in a readynes AEneas his Armour béeing her eyes Obiect became in thys wise her tongues Subiect Wyth this quoth she eying the Armour y e craking Troian bosted to haue buckled w t the gallant Diomedes not seldome to haue offended the defenclesse Grecians and after many loned blowes at the sacking of Troy valiantly to haue boordded his thence-bent Nauie thys Armour profitable to my preiudice there defensiue to him to bee héere offensiue to me were it vnnecessarie to thys Sacrifice shoulde neuerthelesse burne for the same trespasse Thys Cuppe thys Phrigian Cuppe too guilty of too many Tyrian draughts Assystaunts in forming me audatiously amorous shall now occupy these cerimonial flames as the then Accessarie to a contrarie fire These Bracelets and these Earinges by too often and offentious handes fastned and loosed with begged and graunted kysses among and nowe lesse precious by the Gyuer hys practise shall also adde Cynders to the repentant payment of mine ouer-rated pleasure Lastly are remayning onely two Reliques of that Recreant this Sword and Elisa her selfe But what diddest thou AEneas leaue this and thyne Armor in Carthage as if in Italie thou shouldest encounter an other Elisa inconsiderat that thou art albeit such feareles Conflicts best beséeme such effeminate Captaines yet no Clymat can affoorde thée one so foolish and therefore in no Country expecte such Fortune The Storme ah from thence are these teares sheltring vs twayne lately in one Caue was no doubt ominous to these euills for then shoulde I haue remembred that like as Shelters are chiefely sought for in Stormes so men labour our fauours onely in extremities but their lustes satisfyed or wants supplyed as of Shelters in Sunne-shyne they estimat our bountie leauing thenceforth euen to séeme such as in troth they neuer were but what is naturall is of necessitie onely let it be graunted he is a Man and it foloweth necessarilye he is deceitful Fly Traytor AEneas flye vnfollowed and vnfriended of Elisa euer may the windes bee contrarie to thy Course and the Seas not promise thée one howres safety euer be thy Shippe drowning and thy selfe neuer but dying often resayle in a moment whence thou wert sayling a moneth let no blaste from the Ayre or Billowe in the Sea stirre but to thy preiudice and when no horror and mishap hath fayled thee with thy dead bodie to the vttermost plagued perrish also may thy Soule vnpardoned But least mine incharitie prooue lesse pardonable then his Iniurie I that will not lyue to heare it so hartily disclame to haue it so pardon therefore ye Gods me desiring it and him deseruing it Troth is it this one Sacrifice shall giue ende to myne infinite sorrowes but not alas with these burninges rather found guiltie of new beginninges but with my harts blood the latest Ceremonie wanting to thys Exquisie Scarcely had these words passed her mouth when with AEneas hys Sworde sh◠pierced her Brest so performing on her selfe a Tragedie sought for and to hers a terror vnlooked for WHilst Dido so named of this her death or as haue some not lesse probable of so preuenting Hiarbas minacing her marriage was thus passionate did thus perrish AEneas after weary Sea-faring much sorrowe many people and places séene and sayled from arryuing in Sicilie was ioyfully entertayned of his auncient friend Kyng Acestes and there as the yéere before at Drepaum did solemnize an Anniuersarie at the Tombe of hys father Anchises The Masteries feates and actiue pastymes tryed heere by the Troian and Cicilian youth with land sea Skirmidges by running ryding leaping shooting wrestling and such like with Bacing on foote and on horsback this last a sport lately vsed of our English youthes but nowe peuishly perhaps vnpollitickly I am sure discontinued Or how y e Women of Troy wher of manie were also imbarcked from thence tyred with the perils of the Sea and intised with the pleasures of Sicilie to preuent further sayling fired their Shyps not without great losse rescued Or howe AEneas buylding there the Cittie Acesta peopled the same with his women and impotent Troians Or of the drowning and Reuise of Palinurus manie Occurrants hapning héere at Cuma Caieta and els-where I omit as lesse pertinent then the hastning of AEneas into Italie Wherefore shypping him from Sicilie I nowe lande him in Latium in which part of Italie raigned and was Resident in his Cittie Laurentum the King Latinus to whom AEneas addressed a hundred Knights one of them delyuering this Ambasie Ignoraunt are we not most gracious King for in that Tytle art thou famous and in that tryall may we prooue fortunate of thy Consanguinitie with the Troians by noble discentes from Dardanus our auncient Progenitor neyther canst thou but know that Troy is sacked and her people for the most part slaughtered onely know if alreadie thou knowst it not that AEneas our Duke with a few hys Folowers hetherto reserued to more infortunes after more then seauen yéeres sayling are lastly and luckilie I hope arryued in thy Countrey Howbeit of many vnpeopled places for pleasure and fertility moste worthy manuring haue we abandoned the quiet possession yea many the greatest Princes of Europe and Affrick haue voluntarily desired our Taryance denyed onely infinite Seas haue we sayled and more sorrowes sustayned to séeke this Clyme from whence we Troians deryue our Originalles and whether our Gods haue dyrected vs by their Oracles Thys thy Country in respect of the bignes may easilie affoorde rome for a newe Troy to be builded A plot more spacious wee doo not aske A smaller sute thou canst not graunt if with our present extremities thou also peise our purposed loyalties Neuer were we thy foes euer wil we cōtinue thy friends Seated we must be and héere we would be We dare not disobey the Gods commaunding it nor would we discontent thée in demaunding it graciously therefore conceaue of our Petition and gratefully receiue from AEneas these worthlesse Presents Hauing thus sayd he in the name of AEneas presented the King with a most ritch Mantell or Robe with an inualuable Crowne of Golde enchased with precious Stones and with the late royall Scepter of King Priamus with a standing Cuppe and other Treasure which Latinus chéerefully receiuing returned the Troians thys aunswere Had not the Gods commanded your hether repaire which I gainsay not or were we not of Allyance
remembring of this Hystorie I haue also vsed other Authorities YT followeth After long Warres valiantly on eyther part performed Manie greate Kinges Princes and Parsonages perrished when lastly the Rutiles begunne to be repentant of their wrong and the Troians wearie of the Warres AEneas and Turnus méeting had these wordes And first AEneas Often Truces haue we had Turnus for the burial of our deade neuer Intreaties of peace for the welfare of those aliue onely once as I haue béene euer diddest thou séeme thou diddest but séeme prouident that no moe should miscarie offering me Combate which I accepting haue in vaine expected but since thy minde chaunged I wote not by what meanes haue chaunged y e lyues of I wote not how many But now euen now when for the palpable leasâ—ng thou shouldest not speake like Turnus shouldest thou deny the better of the warres to abide with AEneas and yet I still be AEneas though playing vpon that Aduauntage with Turnus euen nowe I say my selfe doo request thée of that Combate whereby further Blood-sheds may happily bee concluded Beléeue me wert thou a Begger and I a Monark yet so much doo I emulate not enuie thy glory I woulde hazarde all in a Combate requested of so valerous a Competitor But least perhaps I ouer-breath thy tyckled Conceite with more selfe-lyking then is expedient knowe Man Turnus know Nature Beath Arte Education nor whatsoeuer are in any thing more beneficiall to Turnus then that iustly be may enuie as much or more in AEneas To thys aunswered the Rutule thus Whether thou speakest this AEneas as insulting ouer my infortune or as insolent of thine owne felicitie or emulous as thou sayst and I beléeue it of my glory trust mee onely if thus in thy better successe to abandon thy selfe to such offered disaduauntage be not indiscretion neuer hearde I wherein to derogate from thy pollicie but say it indiscretion yet by Iupiter AEneas it is honourable indiscretion Not to encounter so heroicall for in thée I enuie not that Epitithon a Combattant is as contrary to my thought as contenting to my very Soule and as contenting to my Soule as if AEneas were already conquered and Turnus Conqueror either which I deuine at y e leastwise I am determined to aduenture be prouided therefore AEneas of courage for thou prouokest no Cowarde but euen Turnus that would haue asked no lesse had hée not doubted AEneas not to haue dared to aunswere so much Thus and with these Conditions that further warres should finish that the Espousall of Lauinia and Succession of Latium should bee the Prize to the Uictor A Combat to be tryed by these twayne body against body was vpon Othes taken and other Circumstaunces ratefyed Nowe were they Armed Mounted and did Encounter their Coursers were breathles the Ryders Dysmounted and buckled on Foote both offended eyther defended and nayther faynted Lastly not with vnrequited blowes was Turnus Disarmed the Uanquished pleading for life and the Uictor not purposing his death had he not espied on his Shoulders the sometimes Badrike of his once especiall Fréende Pallas King Euander his Sonne whom Turnus in Battell ouercomming had put to Sword then AEneas saying onely in this Spoyle thou shalt not tryumphe and onely for his sake am I vnintreatable shoffed his Sworde through hys Breaste Turnus so ending the World and AEneas the Warres Then was he peaceably wedded to Lauinia shortly after possessed of Latium After which about thrée yéeres he dying left his Kingdome to Ascanius and Lauinia with Childe She at her time and at the house of the before remembred Tyrrhus was deliuered of Syluius Posthumuâ— so called of hys béeing borne amongst y e Wooddes after the death of his Father To him because in right it was the Inheritance of Syluius from his Mother dyd Ascanius voluntarilie resigne the Kingdome of Latium and of him for his honourable Regyment were all the after Latine Kinges called Syluij Finally he Hunting and mistaken amongst the Thickets for a Stagge was slayne with an Arrowe by his Sunne Brutus This Brutus for sorrow and his safety accompanied with manie lusty Gentlemen and others of AEneas his Troians Ofsprings imbarking themselues after long Sayling aryued in this Iland then called Albion whose Cyantlike Inhabitants in respect of their monstrous making and inciuill Manners sayd to haue béene engendred of Deuilles he ouercomming Manured theyr Countrey and after his owne name called it Brutaine And thus hauing begotten Brutus an Originall to our Brutons I conclude this abridged Hystorie of his Grand-Father AEneas William Warner Finis ¶ Imprinted at London by George Robinson for Thomas Cadman Anno. Do. 1586.