ne recked before Good is I graunt of all to hope the best But not to liue still dreadles of the worst So truste the one that the other be forsene Arme not vnskilfulnes with princely power But you that longe haue wisely ruled the reignes Of royaltie within your noble Realme So holde them while the Gods for our auayles Shall stretche the threde of your prolonged dales To soone he clāme into the flamyng Carte Whose want of skyll did set the earth on fire Time and example of your noble Grace Shall teache your sonnes both to obey and rule Whan time hath taught thē time shall make thē pace The place that nowe is full and so I praie Longe it remaine to comforte of vs all Gorboduc I take your faithfull hartes in thankfull parte But sithe I see no cause to drawe my minde To feare the nature of my louyng sonnes Or to misdeme that Enuie or disdaine Can there worke hate where nature planteth loue In one selfe purpose do I still abide My loue extendeth egally to bothe My Lande suffiseth for them bothe also Humber shall parte the Marches of their Realmes The Sotherne parte the elder shall possesse The Northerne shall Porrex the yonger rule In quiet I will passe mine aged daies Free from the trauaile and the painefull cares That hasten age vpon the worthiest kinges But lest the fraude that ye do seeme to feare Of flatteryng tongues corrupt their tender youth And wrieth them to the waies of youthfull lust To climyng pride or to reuengyng hate Or to neglecting of their carefull charge Lewdely to lyue in wanton recklenesse Or to oppressinge of the rightfull cause Or not to wreke the wronges done to the poore To treade downe trueth or fauour false deceite I meane to ioyne to eyther of my sonnes Some one of those whose longe approued faith And wisdome tryed may well assure my harte That mynyng fraude shall finde no way to creepe Into their fensed eares with graue aduise This is the ende and so I praye you all To beare my sonnes the loue and loyaltie That I haue founde within your faithful breasts Arostus You nor your sonnes our soueraigne Lord shall want Our faith seruice while our liues do last Chorus When settled staie doth holde the royall throne In stedfast place by knowen and doubtles right And chiefely whan discent on one alone Make single and vnparted reigne to light Eche chaunge of course vnioynts the whole estate And yeldes it thrall to rayne by debate The strength that knit by laste accorde in one Against all forrein power of mightie foes Could of it selfe defende it selfe alone Disioyned once the former force doth lose The stickes that sondred brake so soone in twaine In faggot bounde attempted were in vaine Oft tender minde that leades the perciall eye Of erringe parentes in their childrens loue Destroies the wrongfull loued childe therby This doth the proude sonne of Appollo proue Who rasshely set in Chariot of his sire Inflamed the perched earth with heauens fire And this great king that doth deuide his land And chaunged the course of his discending crowne And yeldes the reigne into his childrens hande From blisfull state of ioye and great renowne A Myrrour shall become to Princes all To learne to shunne the cause of suche a fall ¶ The order and signification of the dōme shewe before the second Acte ¶ First the Musicke of Cornettes began to playe during whiche came in vpon the Stage a kinge accompanied with a nombre of his Nobylytie Gentlemen And after he had placed him selfe in a Chaire of estate prepared for him there came and kneled before him a graue and aged Gentilman and offred vp a Cuppe vnto hym of Wyne in a glasse whiche the kynge refused After him cōmes a braue and lustie yong Gentleman and presentes the king with a Cup of Golde filled with poison which the king accepted drinkinge the same immediatly fell down dead vpon the stage so was carried thence awaye by his Lordes and Gentlemen then the Musicke ceased Hereby was signified that as Glasse by nature holdeth no payson but is clere and maye easely be seene throughe ne boweth by any Arte So a faithfull Counsellour holdeth no treason but is playne open ne yeldeth to any vndiscrete affection but geueth holsome Counsell whiche the yll aduised Prince refuseth The delightfull golde filled with poyson betokeneth Flattery whiche vnder faire seeming of pleasaunt words beareth deadly poyson which destroieth the Prince that receiueth it As befell in the two brethrene Ferrex and Porrex who refusing the holsome aduise of graue Counsellours credited these yonge Paracites brought to them selues death and destruction therby Actus secundus Scena prima Ferrex Hermon Dordan Ferrex I Meruaile muche what reason leade the kynge My father thus without all my desarte To reue me halfe the kingdome which by course Of lawe and nature shuld remayne to me Hermon If you with stubborne and vntamed pryde Had stood against him in rebellious wise Or if with grudging minde you had enuied So slowe a slidynge of his aged yeres Or sought before your time to haste the course Of fatall death vpon his Royall head Or stained your Stocke with murder of your kyn Some face of reason might perhaps haue seemed To yelde some likely cause to spoile ye thus Ferrex The wrekefull Gods powre on my cursed head Eternall plagues and neuer dyinge woes The Hellish Prince adiudge my dampned ghoste To Tantalus thirste or proude Ixims wheele Or cruell Gripe to gnawe my growing harte To durynge tormentes and vnquenched flames If euer I conceiued so foule a thought To wisshe his ende of life or yet of reigne Dordan Ne yet your father O most noble Prince Did euer thinke so fowle a thing of you For he with more than fathers tendre loue While yet the fates do lende him life to rule Who long might lyue to so your rulynge well To you my Lorde and to his other sonne Lo he resignes his Realme and Royaltie Whiche neuer would so wise a Prince haue done If he had ones misdemed that in your harte There euer lodged so vnkinde a thought But tendre loue my Lorde and setled truste Of your good nature and your nable minde Made him to place you thus in Royall throne And now to geue you half his realme to guide Yea and that halfe within abounding store Of things that serue to make a welthie Realme In statelie Cities and in frutefull soyle In temperate breathing of the milder heauen In thinges of nedefull vse whiche frendlie Sea Transportes by traffike from the forreine Portes In flowing wealth in honour and in force Doth passe the double value of the parte That Porrex hath alloted to his reigne Suche is your ease suche is your fathers loue Ferrex Ah loue my frendes loue wrongs not whom he loues Dordan Ne yet he wrongeth you that geueth you So large a reigne ere that the course of tyme Bringe you to kingdome by discended
right Which time perhaps might end your time before Ferrex Is this no wrong saie you to reaue from me My natiue right to halfe so great a realme And thus to matche his yonger sonne with me In egall power and in as great degree Yea what sonne the sonne whose swellyng pryde Woulde neuer yelde one poinct of reuerence Whan I the Elder and apparaunt heire Stoode in the likelyhode to possesse the whole Yea and that sonne whiche from his childishe age Enuieth myne honour and doth hate my life What will he nowe do when his pride his rage The mindefull malice of his grudging harte Is armed with force with wealth and kingly state Hermon Was this not wrong yea yll aduised wrong To giue so mad a man so sharpe a sworde To so great perill of so great mishappe Wide open thus to set so large a waye Dordan Alas my Lorde what griefull thing is this That of your brother you can thinke so ill I neuer sawe him vtter likelie signe Whereby a man might see or once misdeme Suche hate of you ne suche vnyeldinge pride Ill is their counsell shamefull be their ende That raising suche mistrustfull feare in you Sowing the seede of suche vnkindly hate Trauaile by reason to destroy you both Wise is your brother and of noble hope Worthie to welde a large and mightie Realme So muche a stronger frende haue you therby Whose strēgth is your strēgth if you gree in one Hermon If nature and the Goddes had pinched so Their flowing bountie and their noble giftes Of Princelie qualyties from you my Lorde And powrde them all at ones in wastfull wise Vpon your fathers younger sonne alone Perhappes there be that in your preiudice Would saie that birth shuld yeld to worthines But sithe in eche good gift and Princelie Acte Ye are his matche and in the chiefe of all In mildenes and in sobre gouernauce Ye farre surmount And sithe there is in you Sufficing skill and hopefull towardnes To weld the whole and match you Elders praise I see no cause whie ye should loose the halfe Ne wold I wisshe you yelde to suche a losse Lest your milde sufferaunce of so great a wronge Be deemed cowardishe and simple dreade Whiche shall geue courage to the fierie head Of your yonge Brother to inuade the whole Whiles yet therfore stickes in the peoples mynde The lothed wronge of your disheritaunce And ere your Brother haue by settled power By guyle full cloke of an allurynge showe Got him some force and fauour in this Realme And while the noble Queene your mother lyues To worke and practice all for your auaile Attempt redresse by Armes and wreake your selfe Vpon his life that gaineth by your losse Who nowe to shame of you and griefe of vs In your owne kingdome triumphes ouer you Shew now your courage meete for kingly estate That thei which haue auowed to spēd their goods Their landes their liues honours in your cause Maye be the bolder to mainteine your parte Iohan thei do see that cowarde feare in you Shall not betraye ne saile their faithfull hartes If ones the death of Porrex ende the strife And paie the price of his vsurped Reigne Your Mother shall perswade the angry kynge The Lords your frends eke shall appease his rage For thei be wise and well thei can forsee That ere longe time your aged fathers death will brynge a time when you shall well requite Their frendlie fauour or their hatefull spite Yea or their slackenes to auaunce your cause Wise men do not so hange on passyng state Of present Princes chiefely in their age But they will further cast their reachinge eye To viewe and weigh the times reignes to come Ne is it lykely thoughe the kinge be wrothe That he yet will or that the Realme will beare Extreme reuenge vpon his onelye sonne Or if he woulde what one is he that dare Be ministre to suche an enterprise And here you be nowe placed in your owne Amyd your frendes your vassalles your strength We shall defende and kepe your person safe Tyll either counsell turne his tender minde Or age or sorowe ende his werie daies But if the feare of Goddes and secrete grudge Of Natures Lawe repynynge at the facte Withholde your courage from so great attempt Knowe ye that lust of kingdomes hath no Lawe The Goddes do beare and well allowe in kinges The thinges they abhorre in rascall routes When kinges on sclender quarrels ron to warres And than in cruell and vnkindely wise Cōmaunde theftes rapes murder of Innocentes To spoile of townes reignes of mighty realmes Thinke you such Princes do suppresse them selues Subiect to Lawes of kinde and feare of Gods Yet none offence but decked with glorious name Of noble Conquestes in the handes of kinges Murders and violent theftes in priuate men Are heynous crymes and full of foule reproche But if you like not yet so hote deuise Ne list to take suche vauntage of the time But thoughe with great perill of your state You wil not be the first that shall inuade Assemble yet your force for your defence And for your safetie stande vpon your garde Dordan O heauen was there euer harde or knowen So wicked Counsell to a noble Prince Let me my Lorde disclose vnto your grace This heynous tale what mischiefe it conteynes Your fathers death your brothers and your owns your present murder and eternall shame Heare me O king and suffre not to sinke So highe a treason in your Princelie brest Ferrex The mightie Goddes forbyd that euer I Shuld once conceiue suche mischiefe in my harte Althoughe my Brother hath bereft my Realme And beare perhappes to me and hatefull minde Shall I reuenge it with his death therfore Or shall I so destroy my fathers lyfe That gaue me life the Gods forbyd I saye Cease you to speake so any more to me Ne you my friende with Aunswere once repeate So foule a tale in scilence let in die What Lorde or Subiect shall haue hope at all That vnder me they safely shall enioye Their goods their honours landes and liberties With whome neither one onely brother deare Ne father dearer coulde enioye their lyues But sithe I feare my younger brothers rage And sithe perhappes some other man may gyue Some like aduise to moue his grudging head At mine estate whiche counsell may perchaunce Take greater force with him than this with me I will in secrete so prepare my selfe As if his malice or his lust to reigne Breake forth with Armes or sodeine violence I may withstande his rage and kepe myne owne Dordan I feare the fatall time now draweth on When ciuyll hate shall ende the noble lyne Of famouse Brute and of his Royall seede Great Ioue defende the mischiefes nowe at hande O that the Secretaries wise aduise Had erst ben harde whan he besought the kynge Not to deuide his lande nor sende his sonnes To further partes from presence of his Courte Ne yet to yelde to
wreke it on me And on my Sonnes not on this gilties Realme Sende down your wasting flames from wrathful skies To reue me my sōnes the hateful breath Reade reade my Lordes this is the matter whie I called ye nowe to haue your good aduyse ¶ The Letter from Dordan the Counsellour of the elder Prince Eubulus readeth the Letter MY Soueraigne Lord what I am loth to write But lothest am to see that I am forced By Letters nowe to make you vnderstande My Lord Ferrex your eldest sonne mislead By Traitours framde of yong vntempred wittes Assembleth force against your yonger sonne Ne can my Counsell yet withdrawe the heate And furyous panges of his enflamed head Disoaine saieth he of his inheritaunce Armes him to wreke the great pretended wronge With ciuyll sword vpon his Brothers life If present helpe do not restraine this rage This flame will wast your sōnes your land you Your Maiesties faithfull and most humble Subiecte Dordan Arestus O King appease your griefe staie your plaint Great is the matter and a wofull case But timely knowledge maye bringe timely help Sende for thē both vnto your presence here The reuerence of your honour age and state Your graue aduise the awe of fathers name Shall quickelie knit againe this broken peece And if in either of my Lordes your sonnes Be suche vntamed and vnyelding pride As will not bende vnto your noble Hestes If Ferrex the elder sonne can beare no peere Or Porrex not content aspires to more Then you him gaue aboue his Natiue right Ioyne with the iuster side so shall you force Them to agree and bolde the Lande in state Eubulus What meaneth this Loe yonder cōmes in hast Philander from my Lord your younger sonne Gorboduc The Goddes sende ioyfull newes Philander The mightie Ioue Preserue your Maiestie O noble kinge Gorboduc Philander welcome But how doth my sonne Philander Your sonne sir lyues and healthie I him left But yet O kinge this want of lustfull health Could not be half so griefefull to your Grace As these most wretched tidynges that I brynge Gorboduc O heauens yet more no ende of woes to me Philander Tyndar O kyng came lately from the Courte Of Ferrex to my Lorde your yonger sonne And made reporte of great prepared store Of warre and saith that it is whollic ment Against Porrex for highe disdaine that he Lyues nowe a kynge and egall in degree With him that claimeth to succede the whole As by due title of discedinge right Porrex is nowe so set on flamynge fire Partely with kindled rage of cruell wrathe Partely with hope to gaine a Realme therby That he in haste prepareth to inuade His Brothers Lande and with vnkindely warre Threatens the murder of your elder sonne Ne coulde I him perswade that first he should Sende to his Brother to demaunde the cause Nor yet to you to staie his hatefull strife Wherfore sithe there no more I can be harde I come my selfe nowe to enforme your Grace And to beseche you as you loue the liefe And safetie of your Children and your Realme Nowe to emploie your wisdome and your force To staie this mischiefe ere it be to late Gorboduc Are thei in Armes would he not sende for me Is this the honour of a Fathers name In vaine we trauaile to asswage their mindes As if their hartes whome neither Brothers loue Nor Fathers awe nor kingdomes care can moue Our Coūsels could withdrawe from ragyng heat Ioue slaye them both and ende the cursed Lyne For though perhappes feare of such mightie force As I my Lords ioyned with your noble Aides Maye yet raise shall represse their present heate The secrete grudge and malyce will remayne The fire not quentched but kept in close restraint Fead stil within breakes forth with double flame Their death and mine must peaze the angrie gods Philander Yelde not O king so muche to weake dispaier Your sonnes yet lyue and long I trust they shall Yf fates had taken you from earthly life Before begynning of this ciuyll strife Perhaps your sonnes in their vnmaistered youth Lose from regarde of any lyuyng wight Wolde ronne on headlonge with vnbridled Race To their owne death and ruine of this Realme But sith the God that haue the care for kinges Of thinges and times dispose the order so That in your life this kindled flame breakes forth While yet your lyfe your wisdome your power Maye staie the growing mischiefe and represse The fierie blaze of their inkindled heate It seemes and so ye ought to deeme therof That louyng Ioue hath tempred so the time Of this debate to happen in your daies That you yet lyuynge maye the same appeaze And adde it to the glorie of your latter age And they your sonnes maye learne to liue in peace Beware O kynge the greatest harme of all Lest by your wayleful plaints your hastened death Yelde larger roume vnto their growyng rage Preserue your lyfe the onely hope of staie And if your highnes herein list to vse Wisdome or force Counsell or knightly aide Loe we our persons powers and lyues are yours Vse vs tyll Death O king we are your owne Eubulus Loe here the perill that was erst forsene When you O king did first deuide your Lande And yelde your present raigne vnto your sonnes But nowe O noble Prince nowe is no time To wayle and plaine and wast your wofull lyfe Nowe is the time for present good aduise Sorowe doth darke the Iudgement of the wytte The Hart vnbroken and the courage free From feble faintnes of booteles dispaier Doth either ryse to safetie or renowme By noble valure of vnuanquisshed minde Or yet doth perishe in more happie sorte Your Grace maye sende to either of your sonnes Some one both wise and noble personage Which with good counsel with weightie name Of father shall present before their eyes Your hest your liefe your safetie and their owne The present mischiefe of their deadlie strife And in the while assemble you the force Whiche your Cōmaundement and the spedie hast Of all my Lordes here present can prepare The terrour of your mightie power shall steye The rage of bothe or yet one at lest Nuntius O King the greatest griefe that euer Prince dyd here The euer wofull Messenger did tell That euer wretched Lande hath sene before I brynge to you Porrex your yonger sonne With soden force inuaded hath the lande That you to Ferrex did allotte to rule And with his owne most bloudie hande he hath His Brother slaine and doth possesse his Realme Gorboduc O Heauēs send down the flames of your reuenge Destroie I saie with flasshe of wrekefull fier The Traitour sonne and than the wretched sire But let vs go that yet perhappes I maye Die with reuenge and peaze the hatefull gods Chorus The lust of kingdomes knowes no sacred faithe No rule of Reason no regarde of right No kindlie loue no feare of heauens wrathe But with contempt of Goddes and mans
them his gouernaunce Lo suche are they nowe in the Royall throne As was rashe Phaeton in Phebus Carre Ne then the fiery stedes did drawe the flame With wilder randon through the kindled skies Then traiterous councell now will wherle about The youthfull heads of these vnskilfull kinges But I hereof their father will enforeme The reuerence of him perhappes shall staye The growing mischiefes while thei yet are grene If this helpe not then wo vnto them selues The Prince the people the deuided lande Actus secundus Scena secunda Porrex Tyndar Philander Porrex ANd is it thus And doth he so prepare Against his Brother as his mortall foe And nowe whyle yet his aged father lyues Neither regardes be him nor feares he me Warre would he haue and he shall haue it so Tyndar I sawe my selfe the great prepared store Of Horse of Armours and of weapons there Ne brynge I to my Lorde reported tales Without the ground of seene and serched trouthe Loe secrete quarrelles ronne about his Courte To bringe the name of you my Lorde in hate Eche man almost can nowe debate the cause And aske a reason of so great a wronge While he so noble and so wise a Prince Is as vnworthie rest his Heritage And whie the kinge mislead by craftie meanes Deuided thus his lande from course of right The wiser sorte holde downe their griefull heades Eche man withdrawes from talke and companie Of those that haue ben knowen to fauour you To hide the mischiefe of their meaninge there Rumours are spred of your preparynge here The Rascall nombres of the vnskilfull sorts Are filled with monsterous tales of you and yours In secrete I was counsailed by my friendes To hast me thence and brought you as you know Letters from those that both can truely tell And would not write vnlesse they knewe it well Philander My Lorde yet ere you nowe vnkindely warre Sende to your Brother to demaunde the cause Perhappes some trayterous tales haue filled his eares with false reports against your noble grace Which once disclosed shal ende the growing strife That els not staied with wise foresight in time Shall hazarde both your kingdomes your lyues Sende to your father eke he shall appeale Your kindled mindes and rid you of this feare Porrex Ridde me of feare I feare him not at all Ne will to him ne to my father sende If daunger were for one to tarye there Thinke ye it safely to retourne againe In mischiefes suche as Ferrex nowe intendes The wanted courteous Lawes to Messengeres Are not obserued whiche in iust warre they vse Shall I so hazarde any one of myne Shall I betraie my trustie friende to hym That hath disclosed his treason vnto me Let him entreate that feares I feare him not Or shall I to the kinge my father sende Yea and sende nowe while suche a mother lyues That loues my Brother and that hateth mee Shall I geue leasure by my fonde delayes To Ferrex to oppresse me at vnware I will not but I will inuade his Realme And seeke the Traitour Prince within his Court Mischiefe for mischiefe is a due rewarde His wretched head shall paie the worthie pryce Of this his Treason and his hate to me Shall I abide entreate and sende and praie And holde my yelden throate to Traitours knife While I with valiaunt minde conquering force Might rid my selfe of foes and winne a Realme Yet rather when I haue the wretches head Than to the king my father will I sende The booteles case may yet appease his wrath If not I will defend me as I maye Philander Loe here the ende of these two youthfull kings The fathers deth the reigne of their two realmes O most vnhappy state of Counsellours That light on so vnhappy Lordes and times That neither can their good aduise be harde Yet must thei beare the blames of yll successe But I will to the king their father haste Ere this mischiefe come to that likely ende That if the mindefull wrath of wrekefull Gods Since mightie Ilions fall not yet appeased With these poore remnant of the Troians name Haue not determinedlie vnmoued fate Out of this Realme to rase the Brutish Line By good aduise by awe of fathers name By force of wiser Lordes this kindled hate Maye yet be quentched ere it consume vs all Chorus Whan youth not bridled with a guyding staie fraie Is left to randon of their owne delight And welds whole Realmes by force of soueraigne Great is the daunger of vnmaistred might Lest skilles rage throwe downe with headlong fal Their lands their states their liues them selues all When growing pride doth fil the swelling brest And gredy lust doth raise the clymbynge minde Oh hardlie maye the perill be represt Ne feare of angrie Goddes ne Lawes kinde Ne Countrie care can fiered hartes restrayne Whan force hath armed Enuie and disdaine VVhan kinges of foreset wyll neglecte the rede Of best aduise and yelde to pleasinge tales That do their fansies noysome humour feede He reason nor regarde of right auailes Succedinge heapes of plagues shall teache to late To learne the mischiefes of misguydinge state Fowle fall the Traitour false that vndermines The loue of Brethrene to destroye them bothe Wo to the Prince that pliant eare enclynes And yeldes his minde to poysonous tale that floweth From flatterynge mouth wo to wretched lande That wasts it selfe with ciuyll sworde in hande Loe thus it is poyson in golde to take And holsome drinke in homely Cuppe forsake ¶ The order and signification of the dōme shewe before the thirde Act ¶ Firste the Musicke of Fluites began to playe during which came in vpon the Stage a companye of Mourners all clad in blacke betokeninge Death and sorowe to ensue vpon the yll aduised misgouernement and discention of Bretherne as befel vpon the Murder of Ferrex by his yonger Brother After the Mourners had passed thryse about the stage thei departed and than the Musicke ceased Actus tertius Scena prima Gorboduc Eubulus Arostus Philander Nuntius Gorboduc O Cruell fates O mindfull wrath of Goddes whose vēgeaūice neither Simois streined streames Flowing with blood of Troian Princes slaine Nor Phrygian fieldes made rancke with Corpses dead Of Asian kynges and Lordes can yet appease He slaughter of vnhappie Pryams race Nor Ilions fall made leuell with the soile Can yet suffice but still continued rage Pursue our lyues and from the farthest Seas Doth chast the issues of distroyed Troye Oh no man happie tyll his ende be seene If any flowyng wealth and seemynge Ioye In present yeres might make a happy wight Happie was Hecuba the wofullest wretche That euer lyued to make a Myrrour of And happie Pryam with his noble sonnes And happie I till nowe Alas I see And feele my most vnhappie wretchednes Beholde my Lordes reade ye this Letter here Loe it conteines the ruyne of our Realme If timelie speede prouide not hastie helpe Yet O ye Goddes if euer wofull kynge Might moue you kings of kinges
⧠THE TRAGEDIE OF GORBODVC whereof three Actes were wrytten by Thomas Nortone and the two laste by Thomas Sackuyle ¶ Sett forthe as the same was shewed before the QVENES most excellent Maiestie in her highnes Court of VVhitehall the .xviij. day of Ianuary Anno Domini 1561 By the Gentlemen of Th ynner Temple in London ⧠IMPRYNTED AT LONDON in Fletestrete at the Signe of the Faucon by William Griffith And are to be sold at his Shop in Saincte Dunstones Churchyarde in the VVest of London Anno. 1565 Septemb. 22. ¶ Th argument of the Tragedie GORBODVC king of Brittaine deuided his Realme in his lyfe time to his Sōnes Ferrex and Porrex The Sonnes fell to dyuision and discention The yonger kylled the elder The Mother that more dearely loued thelder for reuenge kylled the yonger The people moued with the Crueltie of the facte rose in Rebellion and slewe both father and mother The Nobilitie assembled and most terribly destroyed the Rebelles And afterwardes for want of Issue of the Prince wherby the Succession of the Crowne became vncertayne They fell to Ciuill warre in whiche both they and many of their Issues were slayne and the Lande for a longe tyme almoste desolate and myserablye wasted W G ¶ The names of the Speakers Gorboduc kynge of great Brittayne Videna Queene and wife to kynge Gorboduc Ferrex Elder Sonne to kynge Gorboduc Porrex Yonger Sonne to kynge Gorboduc Clotyn Duke of Cornewall Fergus Duke of Albanye Mandud Duke of Leagre Gwenard Duke of Cumperlande Eubulus Secretarie to the kynge Gorboduc Arostus A Counsellour of kynge Gorboduc Dordan A Counsellour assigned by the kynge to his Eldest Sonne Ferrex Philander A Counsellour assigned by the kynge to his yonger Sonne Porrex Both beynge of the olde kynges Counsell before Hermon A Parasyte remaynyng with Ferrex Tyndar A Parasyte remaynyng with Porrex Nuntius A Messenger of thelder Brothers deth Nuntius A Messenger of Duke Fergus rysynge in Armes Marcella A Ladye of the Queenes priuie Chamber Chorus Foure auncient and Sage men of Brittayne ¶ The Order of the dōme shewe before the firste Acte and the Signification therof ¶ Firste the Musicke of Violenze began to playe durynge whiche came in vppon the Stage sixe wilde men clothed in leaues Of whom the first bare in his necke a Fagot of smal stickes whiche thei all both seuerallie and togither assaied with all their strengthes to breake but it could not be broken by them At the length one of them plucked out one of the stickes and brake it And the rest pluckinge oute all the other stickes one after an other did easelie breake the same beynge seuered which beyng conioyned they had before attempted in vayne After they had this done they departed the Stage and the Musicke ceased Hereby was signified that a state knit in vnytie doth continue stronge against all force But beynge deuyded is easely destroied As befell vpon Duke Gorboduc deuidinge his Lande to his two sonnes which he before held in Monarchie And vpon the discention of the Brethrene to whome it was deuided Of Gorboduc Actus primus Scena prima Viden Ferrex Viden. THE silent night that bringes the quiet pawse From painefull trauailes of the wearie Daie Prolonges my carefull thoughtes and makes me blame The slowe Aurore that so for loue or shame Doth longe delaye to shewe her blusshing face And nowe the Daie renewes my griefull plainte Ferrex My gracious Lady and mother deare Pardon my griefe for your so grieued minde To aske what cause tormenteth so your harte Viden. So great a wronge and so vniust despite Without all cause against all course of kinde Ferrex Suche causeles wronge and so vniust despite Maye haue redresse or at the least reuenge Viden. Neither my Sonne suche is the frowarde will The person suche suche my mishap and thyne Ferrex Myne know I none but griefe for your distresse Viden. Yes myne for thyne my sonne A father no In kynde a Father but not in kyndlynes Ferrex My Father whie I knowe nothynge at all Wherin I haue misdone vnto his Grace Viden. Therfore the more vnkinde to thee and mee For knowynge well my sonne the tendre loue That I haue euer borne and beare to thee He greued therat is not content alone To spoyle thee of my sight my chiefest Ioye But thee of the birth right and Heritage Causeles vnkindly and in wrongfull wise Against all Lawe and right he will bereaue Halfe of his kyngdome he will geue awaye Ferrex To whome Viden. Euen to Porrex his younger sonne Whose growinge Pride I do so sore suspecte That beynge raysed to equall Rule with thee Mee thinkes I see his enuious harte to swell Fyllde with Disdaine and with ambicious Pride The ende the Goddes do know whose Aulters I Full oft haue made in vaine of Cattell slayne To sende the sacred smoke to Heauens Throne For thee my sonne if thinges so succede As nowe my Ielious minde misdemeth sore Ferrex Madame leaue care and carefull plaint for me Iust hath my Father ben to euery wight His firste vniustice he will not extende To me I truste that geue no cause therof My brothers pride shall hurt him selfe not mee Viden. So graunt the Goddes But yet thy father so Hath firmely fixed his vnmoued mynde That plaints praiers can no whit auaile For those haue I assaied but euen this daie He wyll endeuour to procure assent Of all his Counsell to his fonde deuise Ferrex Their Auncestours from race to race haue borne True fayth to my forefathers and their seede I truste thei eke wyll beare the lyke to me Viden. There resteth all but if they fayle therof And if the ende bringe forth an euyll successe On them and theirs the mischiefe shall befall And so I praie the Goddes requite it them And so they will for so is wont to bee When Lordes and trusted Rulers vnder kynges To please the present fancie of the Prince With wrong transpose the course of gouernaunce Murders mischiefe or ciuyll sworde at length Or mutuall treason or a iust reuenge When right succedinge Line returnes againe By Ioues iust Iudgement and deserued wrathe Bringes them to ciuill and reprochefull death And rootes their names kindredes frō the earth Ferrex Mother content you you shall see the ende Viden. The ende thie ende I feare Ioue ende me first Actus primus Scena secunda Gorboduc Arostus Philander Eubulus Gorboduc MY Lordes whose graue aduise faithfull aide Haue long vpheld my Honour my Realme And brought me from this age from tender yeres Guidynge so great estate with great renowme Nowe more importeth mee the erst to vse Your faith and wisdome wherby yet I reigne That when by death my liefe and rule shall cease The kingdome yet maye with vnbroken course Haue certayne Prince by whose vndoubted right Your wealth and peace may stand in quiet staie And eke that thei whome Nature hath preparde In time to take my place in Princelie Seate While in their Fathers tyme their pliant youth Yeldes
of your forefather Brute So your two sonnes it maye also suffice The moe the stronger if thei gree in one The smaller compasse that the Realme doth holde The easier is the swey therof to welde The nearer Iustice to the wronged poore The smaller charge and yet ynoughe for one And whan the Region is deuided so That Brethrene be the Lordes of either parte Such strength doth nature knit betwene the both In sondrie bodies by conioyned loue That not as two but one of doubled force Eche is to other as a sure defence The Noblenes and glorie of the one Doth sharpe the courage of the others mynde With vertuous enuie to contende for praise And suche an egalnes hath nature made Betwene the Brethren of one Fathers seede As an vnkindlie wronge it seemes to bee To throwe the other Subiect vnder feete Of him whose Peere he is by course of kinde And nature that did make this egalnes Ofte so repineth at so great a wronge That ofte she rayseth vp a grudgynge griefe In yonger Brethren at the elders state Wherby both townes kingdomes haue be rased And famous stockes of Royall blood distroied The Brother that should be the Brothers aide And haue a wakefull care for his defence Gapes for his death blames the lyngering yeres That brings not forth his ende with faster course And oft impacient of so longe delayes With hatefull slaughter he presentes the fates And keepes a iust rewarde for Brothers bloode With endles vengeaunce on his stocke for aye Suche mischiefes here are wisely mette withall If egall state maye nourishe egall loue Where none hath cause to grudge at others good But nowe the head to stoupe beneth them bothe Ne kinde ne reason ne good ordre beares And oft it hath ben seene that where Nature Hath ben preuerted in disordered wise When Fathers cease to know that thei shuld rule And Children cease to knowe they should obey And often our vnkindly tendrenes As Mother of vnkindly Stubbornes I speake not this in enuie or reproche As if I grudged the glorie of your sonnes Whose honour I beseche the Goddes to encrease Nor yet as if I thought there did remaine So filthie Cankers in their noble brestes Whome I esteme whiche is their greatest praise Vndoubted children of so good a kynge Onelie I meane to shewe my certeine Rules Whiche kinde hath graft within the mind of man That Nature hath her ordre and her course Whiche being broken doth corrupt the state Of myndes and thinges euen in the best of all My Lordes your sonnes may learne to rule of you Your owne example in your noble Courte Is fittest Guyder of their youthfull yeares If you desire to seeke some present Ioye By sight of their well rulynge in your lyfe See them obey so shall you see them rule Who so obeyeth not with humblenes Will rule without rage and with insolence Longe maye they rule I do beseche the Goddes But longe may they learne ere they begyn to rule If kinde and fates woulde suffre I would wisshe Them aged Princes and immortall kinges Wherfore most noble kynge I well assent Betwene your sonnes that you deuide your Realme And as in kinde so matche them in degree But while the Goddes prolongue your Royal life Prolongue your reigne for therto lyue you here And therfore haue the Goddes so longe forborne To ioyne you to them selues that still you might Be Prince and father of our cōmon weale They when they se your children ripe to rule Will make them roume will remoue you hence That yours in right ensuynge of your life Maye rightlie honour your mortall name Eubulus Your wonted true regarde of faithfull hartes Makes me O kinge the bolder to presume To speake what I conceiue within my brest Althoughe the same do not agree at all With that whiche other here my Lords haue said Nor whiche your selfe haue seemed best to lyke Pardon I craue and that my wordes be deemde To flowe from hartie zeale vnto your Grace And to the safetie of your cōmon weale To parte your Realme vnto my Lords your sōnes I thinke not good for you ne yet for them But worste of all for this our Natiue Lande For with one Lande one single rule is best Deuided Reignes do make deuided hartes But Peace preserues the Countrey the Prince Suche is in man the gredie minde to reigne So great is his desire to climbe alofte In worldly Stage the stateliest partes to beare That faith and Iustice and all kindly loue Do yelde vnto desire of Soueraigntie Where egall state doth raise an egall hope To winne the thing that either wold attaine Your grace remembreth howe in passed yeres The mightie Brute first Prince of all this Lande Possessed the same and ruled it well in one He thinking that the compasse did suffice For his three sonnes three kingdoms eke to make Cut it in three as you would nowe in twaine But how much Brutish blod hath sithence bē spilt To ioyne againe the sondred vnitie What Princes slaine before their timely honour What wast of townes and people in the Lande What Treasons heaped on murders on spoiles Whose iust reuenge euen yet is scarcely ceased Ruthefull remembraunce is yet had in minde The Gods forbyd the like to chaunce againe And you O king geue not the cause therof My Lorde Ferrex your elder sonne perhappes Whome kinde and custome geues a rightfull hope To be your Heire and to succede your Reigne Shall thinke that he doth suffre greater wronge Than he perchaunce will beare if power serue Porrex the younger so vnpaised in state Perhappes in courage will be raised also If Flatterie then whiche sayles not to assaile The tendre mindes of yet vnskilfull Youthe In one shall kindle and encrease disdaine And Enuie in the others harte enflame This fire shall waste their loue their liues their land And rutheful ruine shal destroy them both A wisshe not this O kyng so to befall But feare the thing that I do most abhorre Geue no beginning to so dreadfull ende Kepe them in order and obedience And let them both by nowe obeyinge you Learne suche behauiour as beseemes their state The Older myldenes in his gouernaunce The younger a yeldyng contentednes And kepe them neare vnto your presence still That they restreined by the awe of you Maye liue in compasse of well tempred staie And passe the perilles of their youthfull yeares Your aged life drawes on to febler tyme Wherin you shall lesse able be to beare The trauailes that in youth you haue susteined Both in your persons and your Realmes defence If planting nowe your sonnes in furder partes You sende them furder from your present reache Lesse shal you know how they thē selues demaund Traiterous corrupters of their pliant youthe Shall haue vnspied a muche more free accesse And of ambition and inflamed disdaine Shall arme the one the other or them bothe To ryuill warre or to vsurpinge pride Late shall you rue that you
as yet In this harde case what worde thou canst alledge For thy defence by vs hath not ben harde We are content to staie our wyll for that Whiche Iustice biddes vs presently to worke And geue the leaue to vse thie speache at full If ought thou haue to laye for thine excuse Porrex Neither O kyng I can or wyll denie But that this hande from Ferrex lyfe hath reft Which fact how much my doleful hart doth waile Oh would it mought as full appeare to sight As inwarde griefe doth powre it forth to me So yet perhappes if euer ruthefull hart Melting in teares within a manlie breast Throughe depe repentaunce of his bloudie facte If euer griefe if euer wofull man Might moue regreite with sorowe of his fault I thinke the torment of my mournefull case Knowen to your grace as I do feele the same Woulde force euen wrath her selfe to pytie mee But as the water troubled with the mudde Shewes not the face whiche els the eye shulde see Euen so your Irefull minde with stirred thought Can not so perfectly discerne my cause But this vnhappe emongst so many heapes I must content me with most wretched man That to my selfe I must referre my woe In pynynge thoughts of myne accursed facte Sithens I may not shewe here my smallest griefe Suche as it is and as my breast endures Whiche I esteme the greatest myserie Of all mishappes that Fortune nowe can sende Not that I rest in hope with plaints and teares Should purchase life for to the Goddes I clepe For true recorde of this my faithfull speache Neuer this harte shall haue the thoughtfull dreade To die the death that by your Graces dome By iust desarte shal be pronounced to mee Nor neuer shal this tongue ones spend this speche Pardon to craue or seeke by sute to lyue I meane not this as though I were not touchde With care of dreadfull death or that I helde Lyfe in contempt but that I knowe the mynde Stoupes to no dreade although the flesh be fraile And for my gilt I yelde the same so great As in my selfe I finde a feare to sue For graunte of lyfe Gorboduc In vayne O wretche thou shewed A wofull harte Ferrex nowe lyes in graue Slaine by thy hande Porrex Yet this O father heare And than I ende Your Maiestie well knowes That whan my Brother Ferrex and my selfe By your owne hest were ioyned in gouernaunce Of this your Graces Realme of Brittayne Lande I neuer sought nor trauaylled for the same Nor by my selfe or by no scende I wrought But from your highnes will alone it spronge Of your most gracious goodnes bent to me But howe my Brothers hart euen than repined With swollen disdaine against mine egali rule Seing that Realme which by discent shuld grow Whollie to him allotted halfe to me Euen in your highnes Court he nowe remaynes And with my Brother than in nearest place Who can recorde what proofe therof was shewde And how my brothers enuious hart appearde Yet I that iudged it my parte to seeke His fauour and good will and lothe to make Your highnes knowe the thing which shuld haue brought Grief to your grace your offēce to him Hopyng by earnest suite shuld soone haue wonne A louynge hart within a Brothers brest Wrought in that sorte that for a pleadge of loue And faithfull hart he gaue to me his hande This made me thinke that he had banished quite All rancour from his thought and bare to me Suche hartie loue as I did owe to him But after once we left your Graces Court And from your highnes presence liued aparte This egall rule still still did grudge him so That nowe those Enuious sparkes which erst lay raked In lyuing cinders of dissemblynge brest Kindled so farre within his hates disdaine That longer could he not refraine from proofe Of secrete practise to depriue me life By Poysons force and had bereft me so If myne owne Seruaunt hired to this fact And moued by trouthe with hate to worke the same In time had not bewraied it vnto mee Whan thus I sawe the knot of loue vnknitte All honest League and faithfull promise broke The Lawe of kind and trothe thus rent in twaine His hart on mischiefe set and in his brest Blacke treason hid then then did I dispaier That euer tyme coulde wynne him frende to me Than sawe I howe he smyled with slaying knife Wrapped vnder cloke then sawe I depe deceite Lurke in his face and death prepared for mee Euen nature moued me than to holde my lyfe More deare to me than his and bad this hande Since by his lyfe my death must nedes ensue And by his death my lyfe to be preserued To shed his bloud and seeke my safetie so And wisdome willed me without protracte In spedie wise to put the same in vre Thus haue I tolde the cause that moued me To worke my Brothers death and so I yelde My lyfe my death to iudgement of your grace Gorboduc Oh cruell wight shulde any cause preuaile To make the staine thy hands with brothers blod But what of thee we will resolue to doe Shal yet remaine vnknowen Thou in the meane Shalt from our royall presence banyshed be Vntill our Princely pleasure furder shall To the be shewed departe therfore our sight Accursed childe What cruell destenie What frowarde fate hath sorted vs this chaunce That euen in those where we shuld comfort find Where our delight nowe in our aged daies Shulde rest and be euen there our onelie griefe And depest sorrowes to abridge our liefe Most pynyng cares and deadlie thoughts do graue yours Arostus Your Grace shuld now in these graue yeres of Haue founde ere this the price of mortall Ioyes Howe shorte they be howe fadyng heare in earth Howe full of chaunge howe Brittle our estate Of nothynge sure saue onely of the Death To whome both man and all the worlde doth owe Their ende at last neither shall natures power In other sorte against your harte preuayle Than as the naked hande whose stroke assayes The Armed breast where force doth light in vaine Gorboduc Many can yelde right graue and sage aduise Of pacient sprite to others wrapped in woe And can in speache both rule and conquere kinde Who if by proofe they might feele natures force Wold shewe them selues men as thei are in dede which now wil nedes be gods but what doth meane The sory chere of her that here doth come Marcella Oh where is ruthe or where is pytie nowe Whether is gentle harte and mercie fled Are they exiled out of our stony breasts Neuer to make retourne is all the worlde Drowned in bloode and soncke in crueltie If not in women mercie maye be founde If not alas within the mothers brest To her owne childe to her owne flesshe and blood If ruthe be banished thence if pytie there Maye haue no place if there no gentle harte Do lyue and dwell where shuld we seeke it than Gorboduc Madame
alas what meanes your woful tale Marcella O sillie woman I why to this howre Haue kinde and fortune thus deferred my breathe That I shuld lyue to see this dolefull daye Will euer wight beleue that suche harde harte Coulde rest within the cruell mothers breaste With her owne hande to slaye her onely sonne But out alas these eyes behelde the same They sawe the driery sight and are become Most ruthfull recordes of the bloodie facte Porrex alas is by his mother slayne And with her hand a wofull thynge to tell While slomberinge on his carefull bed he restes His hart stalde in with kniefe is reft of life Gorboduc O Eubulus oh drawe this sworde of ours And perce this hart with speede O hatefull light O lothsome liefe O sweete and welcome Death Dere Eubulus worke this we thee beseche Eubulus Patient your Grace perhappes he liueth yet With wounde receued but not of certayne death Gorboduc O let vs than repaier vnto the place And see if that Porrex or thus be slaine Marcella Alas he liueth not it is to true That with these eies of him a pereles Prince Sonne to a King and in the flower of youth Euen with a twinke a censeles stocke I sawe Arostus O dampned deed Marcella But heare this ruthefull ende The noble Prince perst with the sodeine wounde Out of his wretched slombre hastelie starte Whole strēgth now failyng streight he ouerthrew When in the fall his eyes euen newe vnclosed Behelde the Quene and cryed to her for helpe We then alas the Ladies whiche that tyme Did there attende seynge that heynous deede And hearing him oft call the wretched name Of mother and to crie to her for Aide Whose direfull hand gaue him the mortal wound Pitieng alas for nought els could we do His ruthefull ende ranne to the wofull bedde Dispoyled streight his brest and all we might wyped in vaine with napkyns next at hande The sodeine streames of blood that flusshed fast Out of the gaping wounde O what a looke O what a ruthefull stedfast eye me thought He fixed vpon my face whiche to my deathe Will neuer parte fro me when with a braide A deepe set signe he gaue and therewith all Claspinge his handes to heauen he cast his sight And streight pale death pressyng within his face The flyinge ghoste his mortall corps forsooke Arostus Neuer did age bring forth so vile a facte Marcella O harde and cruell happe that thus assigned Vnto so worthie a wighte so wretched ende But most harde cruell harte that coulde consent To lende the hatefull destenies that hande By whiche alas so heynous cryme was wrought O Queene of Adamante O Marble breaste If not the fauour of his comelie face If not his Princelie chere and countenaunce His valiant Actiue Armes his manlie breaste If not his faier and semelie personage His noble Lymmes in suche preparacion caste As would haue wrapped a sillie womans thought If this mought not haue moued the bloodie harte And that most cruell hande the wretched weapon Euen to let fall and kiste him in the face With teares for ruthe to reaue suche one by death Should nature yet consent to slaye her sonne O mother thou to murder thus thie childe Euen Ioue with Iustice must with lightening flames From heauen send down some strange reuenge on thee Ah noble Prince how oft haue I beheld Thee mounted on thy fierce and traumpling stede Shyning in Armour bright before the Tylte And with thy Mistresse Sleaue tied on thy Helme And charge thy staffe to please thy Ladies eie That bowed the head peece of thy frendly foe Howe oft in Armes on horse to bende the Mace Howe oft in Armes on foote to breake the sworde Whiche neuer nowe these eyes men 〈◊〉 againe Arostus Madame alas in vaine these plaints are shed Rather with me departe and helpe to asswage The thoughtfull griefes that in the aged kings Must nedes by nature growe by death of this His onelie sonne whome he did holde so deare Marcella What wight is that whiche sawe that I did see And could refraine to waile with plainte teares Not I alas that harte is not in me But let vs goe for I am greued anewe To call to minde the wretched fathers woe Chorus Whan gredie lust in Royall seate to reigne Hath reft all care of goddes and eke of men And cruell hart wrathe Treason and disdaine Within the ambicious breast are lodged then Beholde howe mischiefe wide her selfe displaies And with the brothers hande the brother slaies When blood thus shed doth staine this heauens face Crying to Ioue for vengeaunce of the deede The mightie God euen moueth from his place With wrathe to wreke then sendes he forth with spede The dreadful furies daughters of the night With Serpents girt carying the whip of Ire With heare of stinging snakes and shining bright With flames and blood and with a brande of fire These for reuenge of wretched Murder done Do make the Mother kill her onelie sonne Blood asketh blood death must death requite Ioue by his iust and euerlasting dome Iustly hath euer so requited it These times before recorde and tymes to come Shall finde it true and so doth present proofe Present before our eies for our behoofe O happie wight that suffres not the snare Of murderous minde to tangle him in bloode And happie he that can in time beware By others harmes and tourne it to his goode But wo to him that fearing not to offende Doth serue his lust and will not see the ende ¶ The order and signification of the dōme shewe before the fifthe Acte ¶ Firste the Drommes and Fluites beganne to sounde durynge whiche there came foorth vpon the Stage a companie of Hargabusiers and of Armed men all in order of Battaile These after their Peeces discharged and that the Armed men had three tymes marched aboute the Stage departed and then the Drommes and Fluits did cease Hereby was signified tumults rebellions Armes and ciuyll warres to folowe as fel in the Realme of great Brittayne which by the space of fiftie yeares and more continued in ciuyll warre betwene the Nobylytie after the death of king Gorboduc of his Issues for wante of certayne lymitacion in the Succession of the Crowne till the time of Dunwalle Molmutius who reduced the Lande to Monarche Actus quintus Scena prima Clotyn Mandud Gwenard Fergus Eubulus Clotyn DId euer age bring forth such Tirants hartes The Brother hath bereft the Brothers lyfe The Mother she hath died her cruell handes In bloud of her owne sonne and nowe at last The people loe forgettyng trouthe and loue Contemnynge quite both Lawe and loyall harte Euen they haue slayne their soueraigne Lord and Quene Mandud Shall this their trayterous crime vnpunished rest Euen yet they cease not caryed out with rage In their rebellious routes to threaten stil A newe bloode shedde vnto the Princes kinne To slaie them all and to vproote the race Both of the kyng and Queene so are
they moued With Porrex deathe wherin they falsely charge The giltles kinge without desarte at all And traiterouslie haue murdered him therfore And eke the Queene Gwenard Shall Subiectes dare with force To worke reuenge vpon their Princes facte Admyt the worst that maye as sure in this The dede was fowle the Quene to slaie her sonne Shall yet the Subiecte seeke to take the sworde Arise agaynst his Lorde and slaie his kynge O wretched state where those rebellious hartes Are not rent out euen from their lyuynge breasts And with the bodie throwen vnto the Fowles As Carrion foode for terrour of the rest Fergus There can no punisshement be thought to greate For this so greuous cryme let spede therfore Be vsed therin for it behoueth so Eubulus Ye all my Lordes I see consent in one And I as one consent with ye in all I holde it more than nede with the sharpest Lawe To punisshe the tumultuous bloodie rage For nothynge more maye shake the coÌ„men state Than sufferaunce of Vproares without redresse Wherby how some kingdomes of mightie power After great Conquestes made and floorishing In fame and wealth haue ben to ruyne brought I praie to Ioue that we may rather wayle Suche happe in them than witnes in our selues Eke fullie with the Duke my minde agrees That no cause serues wherby the Subiect maye Call to accompt the doynges of his Prince Muche lesse in bloode by sworde to worke reuenge No more then maye the hande cut of the heade In Acte nor speache no not in secrete thoughte The Subiect maye rebell against his Lorde Or Iudge of him that sittes in Ceasars Seate With grudging mind do damne those Hemislikes Though kinges forget to gouerne as they ought Yet Subiectes must obey as they are bounde But nowe my Lordes before ye farder wade Or spend your speach what sharp reuenge shal fal By iustice plague on these rebellious wights Me thinkes ye rather should first searche the waye By whiche in time the rage of this vproare Mought be repressed these great tumults ceased Euen yet the life of Brittayne Lande doth hange In Traitours Balaunce of vnegall weight Thinke not my Lords the death of Gorboduc Nor yet Videnaes bloode will cease their rage Euen our owne lyues our wiues and children Our Countrey dearest of all in daunger standes Nowe to be spoiled nowe nowe made desolate And by our selues a conquest too ensue For geue ones sweye vnto the peoples lusts To russhe forth on and staye them not in time And as the streame that rowleth downe the hyll So wil thei headlong ronne with raging thoughtes From bloode to bloode from mischiefe vnto moe To ruyne of the Realme them selues and all So giddle are the coÌ„mon peoples mindes So glad of chaunge more waueryng than the Sea Ye see my Lordes what strength these Rebelles haue What hugie nombre is assembled still For though the traiterous fact for which their rose Be wrought and done yet lodge thei still in fielde So that howe farre their furies yet wyll stretche Great cause we haue to dreade that we may seeke By present Battaile to represse their power Speede must we vse to leuie force therfore For either they forthwith will mischiefe worke Or their rebellious roares forthwith will cease These violent thinges may haue no lasting loude Let vs therfore vse this for present helpe Perswade by gentle speache and offre grace With gifte of pardon saue vnto the chiefe And that vpon condicion that forthewith They yelde the Captaines of their enterpryse To beare suche querdon of their traiterous facte As may be both due vengeaunce to them selues And holsome terrour to posteritie This shall I thinke flatter the greatest parte That nowe are holden with desire of home Weried in fielde with could of Winters nightes And some no doubt striken with dread of Lawe Whan this is ones proclaymed it shall make The Captaines to mistruste the multitude Whose safetie biddes them to betraye their heads And so muche more bycause the rascall routes In thinges of great and perillous attemptes Are neuer trustie to the noble race And while we treate scande on termes of grace We shal both staie their furies rage the while And eke gaine time whose onely helpe sufficeth Withouten warre to vanquisshe Rebelles power In the meane while make you in redynes Suche bande of Horsemen as ye maye prepare Horsemen you know are not the Comons streÌ„gth But are the force and store of noble men Wherby the vnchosen and vnarmed sorte Of skâ—â—â—she Rebelles whome none other power But nombre makes to be of dreadfull force With sodeyne brunt maye quickely be oppreste And if this gentle meane of proffered grace With stubborne hartes cannot so farre auayle As to asswage their desperate courages Than do I wisshe suche slaughter to be made As present age and eke posteritie Maye be adrad with horrour of reuenge That iustly than shall on these rebelles fall This is my Lordes the soÌ„me of mine aduise Clotyn Neyther this case admittes debate at large And though it did this speache that hath ben saide Hath wel abridged the tale I would haue tolde Fullie with Eubulus do I consente In all that he hath saide and if the same To you my Lordes may seeme for best aduise I wisshe that it shoulde streight be put in vre Mandud My Lordes than let vs presentlie departe And folowe this that lyketh vs so well Fergus If euer time to gaine a kingdome here Were offred man nowe it is offred mee The Realme is reft bothe of their kyng Quene The ofspringe of the Prince is slaine and dead No issue nowe remaines the Heire vnknowen The people are in Armes and mutynies The Nobles thei are busied howe to cease These great rebellious tumultes and vproars And Brittayne Lande nowe deserte left alone Amyd these broyles vncertaine where to rest Offers her selfe vnto that noble harte That wyll or dare pursue to beare her Crowne Shall I that am the Duke of Albanye Discended from that Lyne of noble bloode Whiche hath so longe floorisshed in worthie fame Of valiaunt hartes suche as in noble Breasts Of right shulde rest aboue the baser sorte Refuse to aduenture liefe to winne a Crowne Whome shall I finde enemies that will with stande My facte herein if I attempte by Armes To seeke the Fame nowe in these times of broyle These Dukes power can hardlie well appease The people that alredie are in Armes But if perhappes my force be ones in fielde Is not my strength in power aboue the best Of all these Lordes nowe left in Brittaine Lande And though they shuld match me with power of men Yet doubtfull is the chaunce of Battailles ioyned If Victors of the fielde we may departe Ours is the Scepter than of great Brittayne If slayne amid the playne this body be Mine enemies yet shall not deny me this But that I died gyuynge the noble charge To hazarde life for conquest of a Crowne Forthwith therfore will I in poste depart To Albanye