this Goddesse she is renowmed more then sufficient O Memory quoth Inquisition this is not Diana no Diana no Gouzaga no Emila no Cariclia no Pallas no Iuno no not knowing Minerua may compare with her for the flourishing feature of her incomprehensible complexion for the comly composition of her Ladilike limmes being the perfectest peece of woorke that euer Nature created that euer earth nouryshed or that euer death destroyed for the passing great dexteritie of her ingenious Capacitie the very Phenix of women and the chiefest amoÌ„gst men that euer thou Memory didst celebrate for learning for knowledge of Tongs for the diuers gifts of the mind shee only dyd inhabite betwixt the wings of flitting Fame for a happye long quiet lyfe in this worlde she onely was fauoured by Fortune or rather singularly preserued by her maker For that shee neuer tasted in all her raigne any aduersytie shee is to bee esteemed immortall for that in all her actions shee had her hartes desyre shee may iustly bee esteemed a Goddesse or rather the very beloued of god Now I report me vnto you is there any Goddesse or Nimph inhabiting the Mount Helicon which maye compare with Queene Hellina not shee of Greece which brought finall destructton vnto the flourishing Troy but shee of Brittayne who redeemed her decaying Country from forraine tyrannye which made not onely a menes for the bodyes of her subiects to liue in quiet peace but she also prescribed vnto theÌ„ an order how they might saue their soules She planted religion amongst her subiects which were at that time sauage neither knowing God nor esteeming godlynesse she was Daughter vnto King Coell shee was Queene of Bryttayne Empresse of the worlde Wyfe vnto Constantius Mother to Constantine the Great Yet the descriptions of time I meane the Chronicles haue lefte so litle reporte of her that I founde her standyng betwixte Forgetfulnesse and Memory almost smothered with Obliuion If shee bee so renowmed as you haue spoken of sayde Memory we shoulde doo her great wrong to deny her a place in this Pageant Speake therefore good Madame Hellina with good leaue your minde and as other by their falles doo set downe examples very necessary for the auoyding of vice so let your history bee a meanes to incourage all men to imbrace vertue Then the good Queene although somewhat abashed yet glad to repeat her lyfe forerunne sayde as followeth ⧠The Lyfe of Queene Hellina How Queene Hellina was Empresse of all the Worlde This Storie dooth declare how happye they bee which liue in the feare and loue of God. MEns due desertes ech Reader may recite For men of men doo make a goodly show But womens workes can neuer come to light No mortall man their famous factes may knowâ— No writer wyll a litle time bestowe The worthy workes of women to repeate Though their renowme and due deserts be great For I by byrth to Coel Daughter deare King Lucy was my good Grandmothers sonne My Father dead I rulde his kyngdome heere And afterwarde the Worlde so wide I wonne â— Empresse was of all vnder the Sunne â— liued long I dyde with perfect blisse â—et writers will repeate no worde of this But now at last I haue obtayned leaue My spotlesse life to paynt in perfect white Though writers would al honour from me reaue Of al renowne they would depriue me quite Yet true report my deedes shal burnishe bright And rubbe the rust which did me much disgrace And set my name in her deserued place From Roman rule who Brittayne did redeme Who planted first Gods woorde in Brittayne land Who did so much virginitie esteme Who did the force of forrayne foes withstand Who al the world subdude without a band Of Martial men who did these noble actes I Hellina haue done these famous factes And now haue here the storye of my state The Brittayne Queene inheritage me crownde Euen then when Romans had so great debate Amongst them selues for Caracallas wounde An Emperour who highly was renownde As then at Rome whose death vndoutedly Diminishte much the Roman Emperie The Romans then were storde with ciuile strife And many Realmes against them did rebell There trouble turnd me to a quiet life My common weale did prosper passing well When al the worlde agreed like Deuils in hel Then I and myne be calmde from Hatreds blast In happy Hauen we harboured were at last Then I a mayd of tender youthful yeares Reporte did say of beutie fresh and fayre Refusde the sute of many noble Peeres Which dayly did vnto my court repayre What though there were vnto my Crowne no heyre Yet I who did regard my Comons good Refusde to linke my selfe with forrayne blood On forrayne Costes on Kingdomes to incroche With wrath of wrackful warres I did despise And fearing aye the ruth of rude reproche With carking care I dayly did deuise How I with peace myght make my kingdome rise And how by lawe of God and man I might Giue Caesar his and vnto God his right No God of heauen no Christ my people knewe Wherefore to Rome for learned men I sent Kinge Lucies lawes decayde I did renewe Then preaching made my people so repent There former faultes that all incontinent Were baptized and they within a space The fayth of Christ so firmly did imbrace That nothing seemed currant in their sight But that which holye writers would alowe And that they would imbrace with all their might To shed their bloud the same for to avowe They did not feare at Verolane euen nowe Amidst the force of fiery flashing flame Albon the Protomartyr proude the same As careful marchaunt men do much reioyce When from those Iles Molocchi they haue brought There frayghted shippes for then they haue great choyce Of Marchandize which trafficke long hath sought To finde the ware which trial true hath taught Wyl get moste gayne which beeing got they giue And cast there care how they thereby may liue So I whom both Sir Neptunes surging Seas And Eoles windes euen God him selfe aboue Did fauoure much my labouring minde to please Geuing those thinges were best for my behoue Gods woorde I mene which al my men did loue The Pearles which Christ commaunded to be bought Muste here be found and no where els be sought Then they and I made haste post hast to leade Our sinful liues as Scripture did alowe We knowing God him loude with feare and dread Deuotion made vs crouche and creepe and bowe Our hartes our heades we sauage were but nowe Yet by and by such was the good successe In fiery flames the truth we did professe Then flittinge Fame the truth to testifie Against my wyl at Rome made such reporte That Constantinus thence dyd hether hye And being come vnto my Brittayne Court With louers lookes hee striude to scale the Fort Of my goodwyll but when it woulde not bee He sighing thus addrest his talk to mee O Queene quoth he thy deedes deserue great fame The goodly giftes that
they suffer because they bee excluded out of the English Mirrour of Magistrates their only desire is that you would once agayne by celebrating their decayed names with a fresh Memoryall geue them libertie to declare their estates themselues Of which as fyrst though not chiefest Guidericus the thyrde King of the subdued Brittaynes and the fyrst that refused to pay trybute to Rome desyreth to bee harde Wee will sayth Memory assist hym in what wee may and not onely geue them leaue but also intreate them to declare their estates But where is that Guidericus the exployts of wose lyfe were so passing singular that had hee not beene moued with two much boldnesse euen hee had brought vnder his rule the whole Worlde wee wyll heare hym wyllingly for his death is a great ensample of Gods vengeaunce vnto all them which thinke by their owne courage and abilitie to compasse their desyres Beholde quoth Inqusition hee is euen heere his body rent and torne dooth declare that great was his mishappe Speake then Syr Knight quoth Memory and let vs heare what you wil saye wherewith the sorrowfull Prince sayde as followeth ⧠The Complaint of Guidericus How Guidericus refused to paye tribute vnto Claudius Caesar howe hee subdued Galba how hee became desyrous to winne all the worlde spoyled France Germany and a great part of Italy and lastly how hee was miserably slayne in a tempest of thunder euen at what time hee shoulde haue dealt with Caesar. This History is a synguler ensample of Gods vengeance against pride and arrogancy ON staylesse top of Honours high renowne With busye brayne to builde a bower there Is donne to fall at Fortunes froward frowne Whose turning wheele the hyest fyrst dooth feare And them below it vpwardes styl dooth reare Let them therefore for good estate that striue With sailes halfe hoyst in happy Hauen ariue I prest to tell my suddayne yll successe Amidst the meane which dyd not dayne to dwell To higher state whilst I dyd mee addresse By chaunging chance of Fortunes force I fel Euen suddaynly from Heauen to hatefull Hell From Heauen I saye I fell from that my blysse To hatefull Hell I meane to wretchednesse Guidericus which rulde the Brittayne lande I am the same of Simbaline the sonne Cassiuelane my Grandsyer dyd withstand Sir Caesars force tyll Parcae had vndone The fatal knot and twist that they had sponne Euen then to soone the Romanes did oppresse This Realme which I to ryght did me addresse â–ª Which that I myght the better bring about The three estates in Court to Parle I In hast did call amongst which Royal route As one who ment for welthe of commonty Howe to restore their ancient libertie Pronounst the speache which here I shal recite Which moued much there manly mindes to fight The Emperour of Rome hath sent you see Ambassatours the tribute to obtayne Which Theomant subdued did agree To pay But I such greement do disdayne Shal I to Rome a Tribute slaue remayne Because they did subdue this realme of Yore Shal we buy yoke with tribute euermore Shall we this badge of beastly blemishe beare Shal Troians we to Troians tribute yeelde Of Brutus bloude a Prince withouten peare We do descend whose father fyrst dyd buylde In Italy he Alba longa fylde â–ª And furnishte fine with princely byldinges braue He was encombde next good Aeneas graue Then Romulus of Siluius did sucâ—eede And Rome of hym as London tooke of Lud Her name which Alba Longa was in deede Built at the first by good king Brutus blood Dare they for Guerdon of so great a good Demaund of vs whose parentes Patrons were To them to doo this deede they doo not feare Let them demaunde vngrateful beastes they be â–ª Euen tribute of vs Troians let them craue But we in Mars his feeldes wyl pay their fee If needes they must of vs a payment haue They shal ryght stoutly then them selues behaue We wil not feare to fyght it out in feelde Without reuenge we neuer al wyl yeelde Dyd Caesars princely prowesse so preuayle That Britaynes were by Romanes brought to bay Was Caesars valure of so great auayle That it coulde cause Cassiuelaynes decaye Why should not then Guidericus assay By furious force of Mars his bloody feelde To make those roming Romanes al to yeelde By prowesse worne who dooth not knowe by skyl That he who oâ—ce as Victor wore the wreath By chaunged chaunce is forst agaynst his wyl â–ª That garlande gay and vitall lyfe to leaue Such ill mishappes misfortune still dooth heaue That he who dyd subdue but yesterday Is nowe subdude and hath the lyke decaye Which may appeare by Kyng Cassiuelayne Whom Caesar thryce in fyght dyd synd too strong Yet at the last the lewder chaunce was thine Thou litle I le he thrust in with a throng Of mightie men and did thee double wrong Thee then subdude to Rome he seruile made Which wrong to right with this my bloudye blade If you my subiectes wyll thereto consent I wil not cease tyll I reuenge haue seene And them destroyed with dreadful diery dent Of wrathful warre and therefore now I meane To byd the Bace and fetch them from their denne To sende them woorde We owe no tribute we But we of them must recompenced be I to the Gods which rule the rolling skyes Haue vowde a vowe for countreyes lybertie To die in feelde or els that these mine eyes Shall see you free from forrayne tyranny To which no doubt theyr goodnesse wil agree Nowe that you haue the whole of myne intent You knowe the cause why I for you haue sent Al you therefore which compâ— this quarrell good By heaued handes let me them vnderstand My brother Aruiragus by me stoode I must not I he sayde holde vp my hande Nor thee herein assist with any bande For sith we both haue sworne aâ—eagance due To Rome to Rome I euer wil be true No Feare of force no hasarde no mishappe Doth dant my mynde I dare what dare be donne Though nowe we sit in Lady fortunes lappe â–ª By fayth defilde no honour can be wonne The wrath of God men periurde can not shun Do thou therefore what best thy selfe doth seeme Giue them their ryght for that is best I deeâ—e Sith all but you my brother do consent My counsayle and my Commons do agree Yea all the force of this my Realme is bent To liue and dye for countries libertie Take you therefore this sentence in boun gre Because thou seemst a seruile lyfe to loue The Towre a house is best for thy behoue An othe constraynd is made to none auaile To breake such othe doth not the fayth defâ—le Let them goe tel to Claudius this tale We meane with force to furnishe this our Ile Which force him selfe shal feele within a while For if he wyll not fetch his tribute here We then wyl goe and pay hym tribute there Which when the Roman Claudius had heard Though he at home had ciuile
sorrow did on euery side assayle My natiue soyle and being thus dismayde To Rome we seâ—â— for succour helpe and ayde Seuerus then by Bassianus sent To bring this realme vnto some quiet stay The Romans and the Brittaynes both were bent To bring the Scottes and Pictes to their decay Them to returne agayne to Scithya And at the last by good Seuerus ayde We them destroyde when we were most afrayde Whose force though twice the Romans felt to strong Yet at the last we got a goodly day Euen by my meanes who thrust into the throng Of Scots and Pictes I desperate ther dyd play The part of hym whom feare did neuer fray And at the last to end this mortall strife I did depriue king Lodrike of his life And when the Pictes did see their king depriude Of vitall life Lord how they fled the fielde They made me muse to see how fast they striude With staylesse steppes eche one his life to shielde Who could not flye he there with care was kilde So by my meanes my country did obtayne Her auncient state and liberty agayne At my returne I to Seuerus sayde See here how I with woundes am all bestead I cannot liue I feele how lyfe doth fade Lodrike him selfe did carue and cut my head For which my blade his lukewarme blood hath shed â–ª He cut my cap and I haue got his crowne He lost his lyfe and I haue found renowne Seuerus then vnto his Surgion sayde Heale hym and bryng him safe and sound agayne Thou for thy paynes with poundes shalt wel be payd And he shall haue such honoure for his payne As vnto him for euer shal remayne â–ª For by the Gods which rule the skies aboue His noble actes deserue eternal loue When by the skill of Surgions curious arte My hurtes were healde and holesome health ensude Seuerus then reioycing at the harte Made me a Lorde with wealth he me indude Yea he although my learning were but rude Senâ— me to Rome as Legate of this lande To make reporte how here our state did stande My deedes at home inrichte me with renowne My talke abroade with proper filed phrase Adornde my head euen with a Laurell crowne The Emperour did much commend my wayes So that I was bedeckt with double prayse I could not reade my lerning was but weake Yet they of Rome did muse to heare me speake As learned Arte doth geue a goodly grace To some so some by natures giftes do get Eternal fame and purchase them a place Aboue the place where learned men do siâ— We finde the fine dexteritye of wit In them which be both wise and ful of skill â–ª Yet neuer striude to clime Pernassus hill So I with prayse a time at Rome did stay And tracte of time returnde me baâ—ke agayne The Emperour he gaue my ryght away Within a while which made me storme amayne I had great cause me thought for to complayne Seuerus he was made the king of all The giftes he gaue to me were very small I was but made the Captayne of the coast From Forrayne force to keepe my realme in rest Seuerus he was crowned king in post Which did so boyle within my warrelike â—rest That I with griefe most strangely was distrest Shal he sayde I thus reape the high renowne Which I deserue Shal he inioy the Crowne I wonne the wreath and he wil weare the same I got the goale and he will get the gayne For me in faith it were a deadly shame If I in this his regall royall raygne Without repulse should suffer him remaine Which if I do then let the dreadfull darte Of Vulcans wrath torment in twayne my hart For why I see what seruile seruitude Shall then insue if he may â—aigne in rest Shall Bryttayn â—raue by Romanes be 〈◊〉 It shal no doubte by Romans be distrest Except my might against his might be prest My might as yet cannot his strength constraine Yet may my might compell him to complaine The drainyng droppes doo make the Marble yeelâ— In time the seas the cragged rockes do rende And Courtly Kinges by tearing time be kilde For time dooth make the mightie Okes to bende And time dooth make the litle twigges ascende So I in time such power may prepare As shal constraine Seuerus death with care But whylst I did indeuour to destroy Seuerus strength the Pictes were prickte with pride For theyr reuenge vs Britaynes to annoy Which when I hard in post I did prouide A power great then I in hast did ride And kept the Coast so strong with men of warre That no man coulde ariue to make or marre The poore Pictes preuented of their pray In waltering waues did bousâ— their bittter â—ayne They digde a diche and caught theyr owne decay On rockes theyr Barkes in seas them selues were slaine The Westerne windes with wo did them constrayne By Britayne bankes to make so long delaye I and the Seas brought them to their decay By meanes whereof my credite did increase Seuerus did esteeme me as his stay I from my fyrst deuises coulde not cease For aye I hopâ—e to haue a happy day To bring the Roman rule to their decay With fauning faâ—e good fortune smyled so I had my wyshe what might I hope for mo For into Spayne the Roman souldiours sent I had at home the might him to depriue Then wisely I al perilles to preuent Prouided so that no man could ariue No Picte nor Scot nor Roman then could striue With me at home then I the Lordes with speede Of Brirttayne calde and thus I did proceede The Roman rule vs subiect slaues hath made You se my Lordes a Roman heere doth raigne Whome to destroy my power shal inuade I do in deede this seruile life disdayne And you your selues do much therof complayne If you with helpe wyl me assiste I sweare The Roman rule shal haue no power here Then they most glad with one consent replide We wyl assist thee with what myght we may And we our selues most wylling wyl prouide No Britayne borne against thee shal display His shielde but al at the appoynted day As prest to please thy heste shal thee assist Winne thou the Crowne and weare it at thy list Which when I hard them say with one consent Blame not though pride did then possesse my hart For Princely Crowne â–ª the dreadfull dierie dent Of wrakful warre who would not feele the smart Of griping grefe who would not feele the dart Of dreadful death or who regardeth payne If he a Crowne and kingdome may obtayne For gunnehole grotes the countrie Clowne doth care Restlesse with ruth the Rusticke gets his gayne The Marchant man for welth doth send his ware About the worlde with perill and great payne And all the worlde for welth doth not disdayne Amidst the surge of mighty mounting Seas To caste them selues their owne delightes to please If to obtayne such trifles they do toyle And neuer ceasse to bring there driftes about Why should
poynt the Queene me backe doth bring On thother side the Knight dooth woorke my wracke The other poyntes with Pannes be al possest And here the Rooke of ruth dooth reaue my rest And being brought into this strange estate I do confesse my selfe to haue a mate Sith sorrowe so hath seasde vpon my bones That nowe too late I doo lament my losse And sith no meanes may turne my gastfull grones To ioyfull glye sith trouble still doth tosse Me to and fro in walteryng waues of woe Death is my friend and life I compt my foe Which death though once my feeble fleshe did feare Yet now I fayne would feele his murdring speare In gurging gulfe of these such surging seas My Pouer soule who drownd you wil request I wretched wight haue sought mine owne disease By myne owne meanes my state it was distrest For whilst I meant to make my lust a lawe Iustice me from my high estate did drawe So that I fynde and feele it nowe with payne Al worldly pompe al honour is but vayne Which honour I to fiery flames compare For when they flash and flourishe most of all Then suddaynely their flamings quenched are For proofe whereof to minde nowe let vs cal Antigonus and Ptollemeus Great Caesar and Mithridate we may repeat With Darius and great Antiochus Cambises eke and conquering Pyrrhus And I the last myght fyrst haue had my place They al as I with flaming fierie showe Were quenched quite Dame Fortune did deface Yea hatefull happe euen then did ouerthrowe Us most when most we had our hartes desire When most we flourisht like the flames of fyre Euen then the seas of sorowe did preuayle And made vs weare a blacke wamenting sayle And here before my death I wyl repeate To thee the thing which I of late did dreame That thou and al the worlde may see how great A care it is to rule a royal realme My dreame shal showe that blisse doth not consist In wealth nor want but he alone is blest Who is content with his assigned fate And neuer striues to clime to higher state When seemely Sol had rest his glittering gleames And Nox the earth with darkenesse did imple Dame Sinthia then with her bright burnishte beames The shadowed shades of darkenesse did assayle Then Somnus causde my senses al to quayle On careful couche then being layde to rest With doubtful dreames I strangely was distrest In cottage colde where care me thought did keepe With naked neede and want of wherewithal Where pouertie next beggers doore did creepe And where expences were so passing smal That al men deemde that man forethrongd with thral Which there did dwel euen there from bondage free I veiwde a man al voyde of miserie And whilst I musde howe he in bliue of blisse Coulde leade his life amidst that caue of care From princely Court proceeded eare I wist A man with whom there might no man compare His wealth his wit his courage were so rare That none before nor since were like to him Yet he mee thought in waues of woe did swimme This man had al that men could wyshe or craue For happy state yet nought he had in deede The other he had nought that men would haue Yet had he al beleeue it as thy Creede This saying of that happy man I reade That hauing nought yet al thinges so I haue That hauing nought I nothing more doo craue The king mee thought with al his Courtly trayne Past to the place where pouertie did dwel With frowning face and with a troubled brayne With woe and want his vexed vaynes did swell With myrth and ioy the poore man did excel And being come vnto his house ymade Of one poore hogsheadde thus to him he sayde Diogenes thou leadst a lothsome life Me thinke thou mightst much better spend thy time Within my Court both thou and eake thy wife Thou by that meanes to high estate maist clime I haue the wealth and thou art voyde of crime And loe before thy face I here am prest To geue thee that which thou shalt nowe request Stand backe Sir Kyng thy vaunting vowes be vaine I no thing recke thy promise goodes nor lande And Titans stately streames would me sustayne With heate if thou from thys my doore wouldst stande Thou takst away much more then thy commaunde Can geue agayne thy giftes so vile I deeme That none but fooles such follies do esteeme With Conquest thou hast wonne the worlde so wide And yet thou canst not winne thy wandring wyll Thou wouldest winne an other worlde beside But â—ushe that facte doth farre surpasse thy skyll Thou neuer wilt of Conquest haue thy fyll Til Death with daunting darte hath conquerd thee Then must thou leaue behynd thy Monarchie With greate assaultes my selfe I haue subdude In all respectes I haue my hartes desyre With a contented minde I am endude To hygher state I neuer will aspire More like a Prince then any pore Esquire I leade my life and sith my state is such Aske thou of me for I can geue thee muche All dasht with dreade me thought in fuming heate He sayd departing thence in hast with speede If I were not Alexander the Great I would become Diogenes in deed Who leades his life al voyd of woeful dread He hath the welth which I cannot obtayne I haue the welth which wise men do disdayne I liue in feare I languishe al in dreade Welth is my woe the causer of my care With feare of death I am so il bestead That restlesse I much like the hunted Hare Or as the canuiste Kite doth feare the snare Ten hundred cares hath brought me to the baye Ten thousand snares for this my lyfe men laye When Philip he of Macedon the king One Realme me leâ—te I could not be content Desier prickte me to an other thing To winne the worlde it was my whole intent Which donne an other worlde to winne I ment When least I had then most I had of blesse Now al the worlde and al vnquietnesse No woe to want of contentation No welth to want of riches and renowne For this is seene in euery nation The highest trees be sonest blowen downe Ten kinges do dye before one clubbishe Clowne Diogenes in quiet Tunne doth rest When Caesar is with carking care distrest Wherewith me thought he was departed quite And Morpheus that sluggishe God of sleepe Did leaue my limmes wherewith I stoode vpright Deuising long what profite I could reape Of this my dreame which playnly did expresse That neyther want nor wealth doth make mans blesse Who hath the meane with a contented minde Most perfect blesse his God hath him assignde But I who liude a Crowned king of late And nowe am forste of thee to begge my bread I cannot be content with this estate I lothe to liue I would I wretch were deade Despayer she doth feede me with decay And Pacience is fled and flowne away Do thou therefore O Heardeman play thy parte Take thou
this blade and thrust it to my harte O Sir I sayd the Goddes defend that I Should causelesse kil a man in myserye Tel me thy name and place then by and by I wyl prouide for thyne aduersitie Then he replide my name is Sigeberte I am the man which wrought thy masters smart I rulde of late this Realme euen at my liste Take thou reuenge with that thy friendly fiste And wel content I wyl reuenge with speede The death of him whome causelesse thou didst kill King Sigebert and art thou he in deede Sith he thou art dispaâ—th and make thy wyl For to my Lorde this day I wyl present Thy head therefore thy former faultes repent Thou seest the blocke on which thy lyfe must ende Cal thou for grace that God may mercie sende Wherewith the kneelyng by he block of bale Dispatch quoth he and do that friendly deede O welcome death and farewel Fortune fraile Dispatch good friende dispatch my lyfe with speede Wherewith on blocke he stretcht his necke out right And sayd no more but praying me to smite I gaue the stroke which ended al his care A blouddie stroke which did my death prepare For I who hopte to haue some great rewarde For killing of my maisters fathers foe Was hanged strayght my cause was neuer hearde Such was my chance and wel deserued woe For when my Lord had heard me tel the tale Howe I his king and myne did there assayle His frowning face did put me in great feare He sighte and sobde and sayd as you shal heare O Caitife vile O impe of Satans seede And hast thou kylde our Soueraigne Lorde and kyng His due deserte deserueth death in deede Yet what made thee to doo so vile a thinge What though he dyd my Father causelesse kyll What though he rulde the Realme with lawlesse wyll Shall we therefore with cruel bloudy knyfe Depriue our Lorde and king of vitall lyfe O filth fye may subiectes false surmise With murthering mindes their Gouernour resiste That may not be for Tully wonderous wyse Plato in whom true knowledge dooth consiste They both agreed that nâ— man ought to kyll A Tyrant though he hath hym at his wyll Yet thou thou wretche this bloudy deede hast donne The like was neuer seene vnder the Sunne When God wyl plague the people for their sinne Them then to scourge he doth a Tyrant sende We should therefore that subiectes be begin With earnest minde our former faultes tamende Which if we do it is to great auaile Mans force is fonde fighting cannot preuayle And he who doth resist the Magistrate Resisteth god repenting al to late If subiects be by peruerse Prince opprest They then must pray that God the change maye make Which God no doubt Rebellion doth detest No subiect may his sworde nor armoure take Against his Prince whom god hath placed there Yet hath this wretch al voyde of Subiectes feare Destroyde a King whome God did thrust from throne Alas poore king thy death I do bemone But he who hath thy lyngring lyfe destroyde Shal be destroyd and finde it passing playne That no man may a Princes lyfe anoye Although the Prince desiers to be slayne Yet subiectes must from sheading bloud refrayne From which seeing this wretch could not abstayne Let him be hangde as I before decreed A iust rewarde for his so vile a deed Then I forthwith to end my lyfe was led I hopte to haue preferment for my deede I was preferde and hangde al saue the head Did euer man the lyke example read Not one I thinke therefore good Memorie In register inrolle thou this for mee That they who liue and read the fall I felt May â—inde how Fate most strangely with me delte Yet my desert no doubt dyd death deserue Though hatred dyd not make mee kyll my kyng Yet lucre lewde dyd force my feete to swarue That hatefull hap mee to this bale dyd bring Let them then learne that heedlesse liue by hope Her hatefull hestes wyll bring them to the rope And happy he who voyde of hope can leade A quiet lyfe all voyde of Fortunes dread Perillus he who made the Bull of Brasse Lyke him I hopte to haue some great rewarde But he in brasen belly broyled was And to a Skarfe of Hempe I was preferde So they that meane by others harmes to rise Their dying day shall ende with dolefull cries â–ª And here I ende approuing that most true From wicked workes no goodnesse can insue ⧠The Induction THis Heardman quoth Inquisition dooth make me cal to minde Pans Preachers I meane Maroes shepherds Siluanus CaÌ„didus and such lyke who with their Oten Pipes dyd often times disâ—lose very intricate mysteries reasoning pro et con of many high poynts belonging vnto the common weale And I know not with what knowledge they dyd decide doubtfull matters accordyng vnto the opinyon of the best Philosophers Surely Memorie I maruel much at the men of the olde worlde for I read of many who hauing many passing great giftes of learning and knowledge were content with the base estate of Heardmen In these our dayes none bee Heardmen but fooles and euery man though his witte be but meane yet he cannot liue with a contented mind except he hath the degree of a Lorde â–ª It is moste true sayde Memorye for heretofore men did not raunge vntyed in such a worlde of libertye as they doo nowe then the wisest was best content with the lowest estate yea Reason so bridled the affections of men that Apollo whome Poetes do faygne to be the verye God of wisedom what was he but a shepehearde and that verye poore as it woulde seeme for he kepte Admetus hearde in Thessalie And Argus who for the sharpnesse of his wit was reported to haue an hundred eies he also was content to be a Cowheard And were not Bacchus Saturne and mighty Iupiter delighted in husbandrie But he who is most wyse in these our dayes doth approue him selfe most folish by thrusting himselfe vnto his owne destruction which this Heardman hath declared sufficiently â—n this storie of Sigebert But let vs nowe proceede and let vs by examples teach what fruit vertue and vice coÌ„tentation and ambition doth yeeld Then let them of this world choose whether lyke the wise Mariners they wil auoyd those daÌ„gerous rocks or willingly cast theÌ„selues away Proceede therfore good Inquisition let vs see whom you haue here Shee will declare her selfe quoth Inquisition what she is but for the better vnderstanding of her talke you must think that you see .51 NuÌ„nes al Ladies by birth hauing all their noses vpper lippes flead of al flaming in a fire being shut into a church then do you imagine that you see this Lady the mistris and gouerner of the rest standing dismembred burning amongst the rest to say as foloweth The Lyfe of Ladye Ebbe Howe Lady Ebbe dyd flea her nose and vpper lippe away to saue her Virginitie DO nothing muse at my deformed face