Queen therewith appeased be The Cup of deadly Poyson fill'd as she sat on her knee She gave this comely Dame to drink who took it from her hand And from her bended knees arose and on her Feet did stand And casting up her eyes to Heaven she did for mercy call And drinking up this Poyson strong her life she lost withal But when that death through every Limb had done his greatest spight Her chiefest Foes did plain confess she was a Glorious Might Her Body then they did Entomb when life was fled away At Godstow near to Oxford town as may be seen this day FINIS 2. A new Sonnet containing the Lamentation of Shore's Wife who was sometimes Concubine to King Edward the Fourth setting forth hâ—r great Fall and withal her most miserable and wretched end To the Tune of The Hunt is up LIsten fair Ladies Unto my misery That lived late in pompous State most delightfully And now to Fortunes fair Dissimulation Brought in cruel and uncouth Plagues most pitiously Shore's Wife I am So known by Name And at the Flower-de-luce in Cheapside was my dwelling The only Daughter of a wealthy Merchant-man Against whose counsel evermore I was rebelling Young was I loved No action moved My heart or mind to give or yield to their consenting My Parents thinking strictly for to wed me Forcing me to take that which caused my repenting Then being wedded I was quickly tempted My beauty caused many Gallants to salute me The King commanded I straight obeyed For his chiefest Iewel then he did repute me Bravely was I trained Like a Queen I reigned And poor mens Suits by me was obtained In all the Court to none was such great report As unto me though now in sâ—orn I be disdained When the King died My grief was tried From the Court I was expelled with despight The Duke of Glocester being Lord Protector Took away my Goods against all Law and right And a Procession For my transgression Bare-footed he made me go for to shame me A Cross before me there was carried plainly As a pennance to my former life for to tame me Then through London Being thus undone The Lord Protector published a Proclamation On pain of death I should not be harbour'd Which further more encreas'd my sorrow and vexation I that had plenty and Dishes dainty Most sumptuously brought to my Board at my pleasure Being full poor from door to door I beg my Bread with Clack and Dish at my leisure My rich attire By fortunes ice To rotten Rags and nakedness they are beaten My Body soft which the King embrac'd oft With Uermine vile annoy'd and eat on On Stalls and Stones Did lye my Bones That wonted was in Bed of Down to be plac't And you see my finest Pillows be Of stinking Straw with Dirt and Dung thus disgrac'd Wherefore fair Ladies With your sweet Babies My grievous faâ—l bear in your mind and behold me Vow strange a thing that the Love of a King Should come to dye under a Stall as I told ye FINIS 3. A new Sonnet of Edgar King of England how he was deceived of a Lady which he loved by a Knight of his own Court To be sung in the old way or else to the Tune of Lebandalashot When as King Edgar did govern this Land a down a down down down down And in the strength of his years did â—tand call him down 〈◊〉 Such praise was spreâ—d of â—alâ—ant Dame Which did through England 〈◊〉 great fame And she a Lady of high degree The Earl of Devonshire's Daughter was she The King which lately had 〈…〉 And not long time â— Widowed had been â—earing this praise of a gallant Maid Upon her Beauty his Love he laid And in his sight he would often â—ay I will send for that Lady say Yea I will send for thiâ— Lady bright Which is my treasure and delight Whose Beauty like to Phoebus Bâ—aâ—s Doth glister through all Christian Realms Then to himself â—he would reply Saying how fondâ— Prince am I To cast my love 〈◊〉 base and low Upon a Girl I do not know King Edgar will his fancy frame To love some Pâ—erleâ—s Princely Dame The Daughter of a Royal King That may a dainty Dolory bring â— Whose matchless Beauty brought in place May Estrilds Colour â—lean disgrace But senseless 〈◊〉 what do I mean Upon a broken need to lean â— Or what 〈…〉 Thus to abuse my dearest Love Whose â—iâ—ge grac'd with heâ—â—enly hue Doth Hellens honour quite suâ—due The glory of her beautious pride Sweet Estrilds favour â—oth 〈◊〉 Then pardon my unseemly speech Dear Love and Lady I beseech For I my thoughts will 〈…〉 To spread the honour of thy Dame Then unto him he call'd a â—â—ight Which was most trusty in his â—â—ht And unto him thus he did say To Earl Orgator â—o thy way Where ask for Estrilds câ—mely Dame Whose beauty went so far by fame And if you find her comely Grace As fame did spread in every place Then tell her Father she shall be My Crowned Queen if she agree The Knight in â—â—ssage 〈◊〉 And into Devonshire â—ent with speed But when he saw the Lady bright He was so ravisâ—t at her â—â—ght That nothing â—oâ—do his passion move Except he might obtain her Love For day and night while there he â—laid He courted 〈…〉 And in his Suit he 〈◊〉 such skill That at the length he gain'd her Goâ—◠〈◊〉 Forgetting quite the Duty though Which he unto the King did owe. Then coming home unto his Grace â—â— told him with â—â—sembling face That those Reports were to blame That so advanc'd the Maidens Name For I assure your Grace sâ—â—d he She is as other Women â—e Her Beauty of such great Report â—o better then the Common sort And far 〈◊〉 in every thing To meet with such a Noble King But though her face be nothing fair 〈◊〉 she is her â—atherâ—â—â—eir Perhaps some Lord of high degree Would veâ—y â—ain her 〈…〉 Then if your Grace would give consent I would my self be well content The Dâ—msel for my â—â—fe to take For her great Lands and Livings sake The King whom thus he did decâ—ive Incontinent did give him leave For on that point he did not 〈◊〉 For why he had no neâ—â— of Landâ— Then being glad he went 〈◊〉 And wedded straight this Lady gay The fairest Creature 〈◊〉 life Had this false Kâ—ight unto his wife And by that match of 〈◊〉 degree An Earl soon after that waâ— he E're he long time had Married heeâ— That many had her Beauty seen Her praise was spread both far and near The King 〈◊〉 thereof did â—ear UUho then in hearâ— did plainly provâ— He was betrayed of his Love Though therefore he was â—eâ—ed sore Yet seem'd he not â—o grieve therefore But kept his countâ—â—â—nce 〈◊〉 and kind As though he â—are â—o gâ—udge in mind But on a day it â—ame to pass UUhen as the King full merry was To Ethlewood in sâ—ort â—e saâ—d I muse what câ—ear
matcht with any man â—ho has in prison three score Knights and four that he has wound â—nights of King Arthurs Court they be and of his Table Round 〈◊〉 brought him to a River-side and also to a tree Thereon a Copper Bason hung his fellows Shields to see 〈◊〉 struck so hard the Bason broke when Tarquin heard the sound 〈◊〉 drove a Horse before him straight whereon a Knight lay bound Sir Knight then said Sir Lancelot tho bring me that Horse-load hither And lay him down and let him rest we 'l try our force together And as I understand thou hast so far as thou art able Done great despite and shame unto the Knights of the Round Table â—f thou be of the Table Round quoth Tarquin speedily Both thee and all thy fellowship I utterly deste That 's overmuch quoth Lancelot tho defend thee by and by They put their Spurs unto their Steeds and each at other slye They couch their Spears and Horses can as though there had been thunder And each struck them amidst the shield wherewith they broke in sunder Their Horses backs brake under them the Knights were both aston'd To hold their Horses they made great haste to light upon the ground They took them to their Shields full fast thier Swords they drew out then With mighty strokes most eagerly each one at other ran They wounded were and bled full sore for breath they both did stand And leaning on their Swords a while quoth Tarquin hold thy hand And tell to me what I shall ask say on quoth Lancelot tho Thou art quoth Tarquin the best Knight that ever I did know And like a Knight that I did hate so that thou be not he I will deliver all the rest and eke accord with thee That is well said quoth Lancelot then but sith it must be so What is the Knight thou hatest so I pray thee to me shew His Name is Sir Lancelot du Lake he slew my Brother dear Him I suspect of all the rest I would I had him here Thy wish thou hast but yet unknown I am Lancelot du Luke Now Knight of Arthurs Table Round King Hauds Son of Suewake And I desire thee do thy worst Ho ho quoth Tarquin tho One of us two shall end our lives before that we do go If thou be Lancelot du Lake then welcome shalt thou be Wherefore see thou thy self defend for now I thee defte They buckled together so like two wild Boars rushing And with their Swords and Shields they ran at one another flashing The ground beâ—winkled was with Blood Tarquin began to faint For he gave back and bore his Shield so low he did repent Then soon spied Sir Lancelot tho he leapt upon him then He pull'd him down upon his knee and rushing off his yelm And then he struck his Neck in â—â—o and when he had done so From prison threescore Knights and four Lancelot delivered tho FINIS 9. A Song in Praise of Women To a pleasant new Tune called My Vallentine AMongst all other things that God hath made beneath the Sky Most glorious to satisfie the curious eye of mortal men withal The sight of Eve Did soonest fit his fancy Whose courtesse and amity most speedily had caught his heart in thrall Whom he did love so dear Aâ— plainly both appear He made her Queen of all the world and Mistris of his heart Though afterwards she wrought his woe his death and deadly smart What need I speak Of matters passed long ago Which all men know I need not shew to high or low the case it is so plain â—lthough that Eve committed then so great E're she went hence A recompence in defence she made mankind again For by her blessed Seed we are Redeem'd indeed Why should not then all mortal men esteem of women well And love their wives even as their lives as nature doth câ—mpel A vertuous Wife The Scripture doth commend and say That night and day she is a stray from all decay to keep her Husband still â—he useth not To give her self a wandring Or flattering or pratling or any thing to do her Neighbour ill But all her mind is bent his Pleasures is conâ—â—nâ— Her faithful love doth not remove for any Storm or grief Then is not he well blest think ye that meets with such a â—ife But now methinks I hear some men do say to me Few such there be in each degree and quality at this day to be found And now adays Some men do set their whole delight Both day and night with all despite to brawl and fight their rage did so abound But sure I think and say here comes no such to day Nor do I know of any she that is within that place And yet for fear I dare swear it is so hard a case But to conclude For Maids and wives and Virgins all Both great or small in Bowér or Hall to pray I shall so long as life doth last That they may live With hearts content and perfect peace That joys increase may never cease till death release the care that crept so fast For beauty doth me blind To have them all in mind Even for her sake that doth us make so merry to be seen The glory of the Female kind I mean our Noble Queen FINIS 10. A Song in praise of a single Life To the Tune of The Ghosts hearse SOme do write of bloody wars Some do shew the several jars 'twixt men through envy raised Some in praise of Princes write Some set their whole delight to her fair Beauty blazed Some other persons are mov'd for to praise where they are lov'd And let lovers praise beauty as they will other ways I am intended True Love is little regarded And often goes unrewarded Then to avoid all strife I 'le resolve to lead a single life whereby the heart is not offended â— what suit and service too Is used by them that wooe â— what grief in heart and mind What for row we do find through womens fond behaviour Subject to suffer each hour and speeches sharp and sower And labour love cost perchance 't is but all lost and no way to be amended And so purchase pleasure And after repent at leisure Then to avoid all strife c. To no man in wedded state Doth happen much debate except Gods special favour If his wife be proudly bent Or secretly consent to any lewd behaviour If â—he be slothful or idle Or such as her tongue cannot bridle O then well were he Of death his bane would be no sorrow else can be amended For look how long he were living Evermore he would be grieving Then to avoid all strife c. Married folks we often hear Even through their Children dear have many causes of sorrow If disobedient they be found Or false in any ground by their unlawful sorrows To see such wicked fellows shamefully come unto the Gallows Whom Parents with great care Nourished with dainty fare from their
comfort give Lift up thy fair Eyes Listen to my Crys think in what great grief I live All in vain she sued All in vain she vicwed the Princess life was dead and gone There stood she still mourning Till the Sun approaching add bright day was coming on In this great distress Quoth the Royal Lady Who can now express what will become of me To my Fathers Court Will I never wander But some Service seek where I might placed be And thus she made her moan UUeeping all alone all in dread and dreadful fear A foâ—rester all in Green Most comely to be seen ranging the woods did find her there Round beset with sorrow Maid quoth he good morrow what hard hap brought you here Harder hap did never Chance to Maiden ever here lies slain my Brother dear UUhere might I be plac'd Gentle forrester tell me Where should I procure a Service in my care Pains I will not spare And will do my duty Ease me of my care help my extream need The Forrester all amazed On her beauty gazed till his heart was set on fire Yes fair Maid quoth he you shall have your hearts desire He brought her to his Mother And above all other he sets forth the Maidens praise Long was his heart inflamed At last her love he gained thus did his Glory raise Thus unknown he married With the Kings fair Daughter Children they had seven e're he knew the same But when he understood She was a Royal Princess By this means at last she shewed forth her fame He Cloth'd his Children Not like to other men in party colours strange to see The left side Cloth of Gold The right side now behold of woollen cloth still framed he Men hereat did wonder Golden fame did thunder this strange Deed in every place The King of France came thither Being pleasant weather in the woods the Part to chase The Children then did stand As their Father wistled Where the Royal King must of force come by Their Bother richly clad In fair crimson velvet Their Father all in Gray comely to the eye Then the famous King Noted every thing asking how he durst be so bold To let his wife to wear And deck his Children there in costly Robes and Cloath of Gold The forrester thus reply'd And the case deâ—crib'd to the King thus did say â—ell may they by their Bother Wear rich Gold like other being by birth a Princess gay The King upon these words More heedful beheld them Till a crimson blush his conceit did crofs The more I look he said On thy Wife and Children the more I call to mind my daughter whom I lost I am the Child quoth she Falling on her knee pardon me my Soveraign Leige The King perceiving this His Daughter dear did kiss and joyful tears did stop his speech With his train he turned And with her sojourned straightway he dub'd her Husband Knight Then made him Earl of Flanders One of his chief Commanders thus was his sorrows put to flight FINIS Of the faithful friendshid that lasted between two faithful friends To the Tune of flying fame IN stately Rome sometimes did dwell a man of Noble Fame Who had a Son of seemly shape Alphonso was his name When he was grown and come to age his Father thought it best To send his Son to Athens fair where wisdoms School did rest And when he was to Athens come good Lectures for to learn A place to board him with delight his friends diâ— well disceâ—n A Noble Knight of Athens Lowâ— of him did take the charge Who had a Son Ganselo Caâ—'d just of his piâ—ch and age In stature and in person both in favour speech onâ— face In quality and condiâ—ions â—ke they 'greed in â—very place So like they were in all respâ—cts the one unto the other They were not known but by their names of Father or of Mother And as in favour they were found alike in all reâ—â—â—â—s Even so they did most dearly lâ—ot and probe by 〈…〉 Ganselo loved a Laâ—y fair which did in Athens â—well Who was in beauty pâ—erless 〈◊〉 so far â—he did excell Upon a time it chanced so as fancy 〈…〉 That he would visit for delight his Lady and his Love And to his true and faithful Friend he declared the same Asking of him if he would see that fair and comely Dame Alphonso did thereto agree and with Ganselo went To see the Lady which he lov'd which bred his discontent But when he cast his Chrystial eyes upon her Angels hue The beauty of that Lady bright did staight his heart subdue His gentle heart so wounded was with that fair Ladies face That afterwards he daily liv'd in sad and woful case And of his grief he knew not how therefore to make an end For that he knew his Ladies Love was yielded to his Friend Thus being sore perplext in mind upon his Bed he lay Like one which death and deep despair had almost worn away His friend Ganselo that did see his grief and great distress At length requested for to know his cause of heaviness With much adâ— at length he told the truth unto his friend Who did relieve his inward woe with comfort to the end Take courage then dear friend quoth he though she through love be mine My right I will resign to thee the Lady shall be thine You know our favours are alike our speech also likewise This day in mine apparel then you shall your self disguise And unto Church then shall you go directly in my stead Loe though my friends suppose'tis I you shall the Lady wed Alphonso was so well appaid and as they had decreed He went that day and wedded plain the Lady there indeed But when the Nuptual feast was done and Phoebus quite was fled The Lady for Gansela took Alphonso to her bed That night they spent in pleasant sport and when the day was come A Poast for fair Alphonso come to fetch him home to Rome Then was the matter plainly prov'd Alphonso wedded was And not Ganselo to that Dame which brought great woe alas Alphonso being gone to Rome with this his Lady gay Ganselo's friends and kindâ—ed all in such a rage did stay That they depriv'd him of his wealth his Land and rich attire And banished him their Country quite in rage and wrathful ire With sad and pensive thoughts alas Ganselo wandred then Who was constrain'd through want to beg relief of many men In this distress oft would he say to Rome I mean to go To seek Alphonso my dear Friend who will relieve my woe To Rome when poor Ganselo came and found Alphonso's place Which was so famous huge and fair himself in such poor case He was asham'd to shew himself in that his poor array Saying Alphonso knows me well if he would come this way Therefore he staid within the street Alphonso then came by But heeding not Ganselo poor his Friend that stood so nigh Which griev'd Ganselo to the heart