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
a burthen of mishappes All his delightes repentaunce doth dayly dothe pursue Nothing but death doth bryng hym peace and quiet rest Yet that which bringes hym blesse he most of all doth hate Which made Democritus with myrth to spende his dayes He laughing aye did mocke the madnesse of mankynde Whose loue is long to liue and feareth much to dye Death reaues vs from desease Death endes the feare of death When Midas did demaunde Silenus what was best For mortall man to wishe the Satyre thus did say Not to be borne if borne not long our liues to leade For life I most do lothe and death I least doo dread And how did Timon leade with sauage beastes his lyfe How did that Hermite poore his lothsome life detest Affirming with the wise Aurelius Emperour Thaâ— if a man shoulde make a true discourse of all The wretched woes he felt from birth to dying day The feeble fleshe would faynt to feele so sharpe a â—ight The hart would quake to heare Dame Fortunes sharpe assaults And I Cadwallader a king can make reporâ— That nothing may content the mind of mortall man The more my selfe did eate the hungryer ay I was The more I dranke the more thirst did me stil distresse The more I sâ—ept the more I sluggishe did remayne The more I rested me the more I wearyed was The more of wealth I had the more I dyd desire The more I still did seeke the lesse I aye did finde And to conclude I founde I neuer coulde obtayne The thing but in the ende it causde me to complayne My present good successe did threaten thrall to come And changing chaunce did still with sorowe me consume For which my royall robes my crowne I layd aside Meaning to proue by proofe the paynes of pouertye Which pouertie I felt all ryches to exceede It beareth much more blesse then hygh and courtly state Codrus and Irus poore for wealth did farre surpasse Midas and Craesus king for wealth who did surpasse And I amongst my mates the Romishe Fryers felt More ioye and lesse anoye then erst in Britaine braue For there I doubted still the Saxons subtile sleyghtes I feared there the fall from royall regall seat But here at Rome I liude not fearing force of foe I had for myne estate what I coulde wish or craue And this I there did finde they of the Cleargye be Of all the men that liue the leste in misery For all men liue in care they carelesse do remayne Lâ—ke buzzing Drones they eate the hony of the Bee They â—nely doo excel for fine felicitie The kiâ—â— must wage his warres he hath no quiet day The noble man must rule with care the common weale The Countreyman must toyle to tyll the barren soyle With care the Marchant man the surging seas must sayle With trickling droppes of sweat the haÌ„dcrafâ—es man doth thriue With hand as harde as bourde the woorkeman eates his bread The souldiour in the fielde with paine doth get his pay The seruing man must serue and crouch with cap and knee The Lawier he must pleade and trudge from bentch to barre Who Phisicke doth professe he is not voyde of care But Churchmen they be blest they turne a leafe or two They sometime sing a Psalme and for the people pray For which they honour haue and sit in highest place What can they wishe or seeke that is not hard at hande They labour not at al they knowe no kinde of payne No daunger dooth with dreade their happy liues distresse Ceasse you therefore to muse what madnesse made me leaue The Courte and courtly pompe of wearing royal crowne No madnesse did that deede but wisedome wisht it so I gaynd thereby the blesse which fewe before me felt I niene yeares led my life and neuer felt annoy And certaynely if nowe I might be king agayne Refusing all that pompe I woulde become a priest A Deacon or a Deaâ—e Prebende or Minister For these men leade their liues with liuings two or three Some haue their substitutes in Uniuersities Some leade the brauest liues that any man may haue They feede vppon the fleece they force not of the flocke Three houres in the yere with beastly bosomde stuffe They spend and that is all that lawe of them requires Muse not though many thrust and shoulder for degrees For happy man is he who hath a Preachers fees But let me nowe returne vnto my Romishe route Who fed like Bacon fat did nought but play and pray With whom for niene yeares space when I my life had led I songe my Requiem and payde the earth her fee. Then in Saint Peters Church at Rome they did me lay Booted and spurd euen as you see me here this day So now you haue the whole of all my Tragedye Of Brutus bloode the last I â—ude that rulde as king My Britaines driuen to Wales they Welchmen then were calde And I at Rome their king a mumbling Monke instald The Saxons had the day for which they longed long They England calde the Ile of Brute which tooke her name Some men be borne to blisse and some to hatefull happe Who would haue thought that I in warre a raging kyng Should by the force of Fate at Rome haue dide a Monke Let al the worlde then know that nothing is so sure That can affoorde and say I thus wyl aye indure For that which seemeth best is soonest brought to naught Which playnely doth appeare by that which I haue taught The worthiest in the worlde princes philosophers Will teach that I haue taught and proue it passing playne Paulus Aemiâ—ius did dye but wretchedly And was not Scipio euen to his dying day Constraynde to helpe his neeede the painfull plowe to plye Caesar and Silla both did not they tast the whyppe And made not Hannibal a miserable ende And how was Socrates before his tyme destroyed And Anaxagoras inprisoned long with paine For cruel beastly coyne diuine Plato was soulde And Aristotle sent to exile where he dyde And so was Solon sage and that Licurgus wise And many more which here I could at large repeat But let these fewe suffice to teach for certaine truth That al the men that liue are subiectes al to ruth And seeing so it is then let them learne the meane That if the barke do breake they safe may swimme to lande The Induction The greate desire quoth Inquisition whiche we haue had to heare this man hath made vs to ouerpasse king Arthur and Cariticus the one no lesse famous for his noble actes then the other for his vices and wretchednes infamous Yea said Memory so haue we forgot two or three other whose examples would haue been goodly lanternes to lighten wandryng pylgrimes But it is not much amisse for of Arthur there be whole volumes and of the rest ther be the like ensamples both in Bochas and Baldwin let vs therefore passe them ouer and speake somwhat of some of the Saxons for seeing they were made of fleshe and
strife in hande And though he were by forrain foes debarde And could not come him selfe yet he a bande Of thirtie thousand sent for to withstand My strength which strength in the fyrst foughten feelde They found so strong that forst they al did yeelde From Galba then my selfe his shield did get In golden feelde which had the horse of fame Euen Pegasus in seemely siluer set The curious skill of Heraultes there did frame Thasheument true of auncient Troy by name Imbordred braue with golden letters thus Senatus Populusque Romanus Wherewith as one priâ—t foorth with good successe â–ª A great attempt I quickly did deuise I ment O Rome vpon thy walles to presse It easye seemde to me in my surmise To commpasse all that I did enterprise Me thought I could winne al the worlde in haste But fyrst I ment the Romane state to waste I did prepare in euery poynt my powre I sayld the Seas I spoyled them of France I made the Germans and the Lumbartes lowre Yea good successe did so my state aduance In Italy such was my luckye chaunce I did subdue my souldiers had the spoyle Of all the chiefest Cities in that soyle See here howe Roming Rumor ranne about See how report did tel a truthlesse tale For Hannibal the Carthage Duke so stout Renide it sayd woulde once agayn assayle The Roman state and cause it nowe to quake Which false Report did put them in such feare Cities would yeelde before my Campe came neare His former feates the fuming fancies fed That doutful now affrighted sore with feare They tel howe at Trisemenus they sped In Cannas feeldes how they despoyled were They hate to tel they lothe that hap to heare A bushel there he fyld most true it is With golden Ringes Equestri ordinis And whilst their mindes on these mishaps do muse They wishe that nowe good Graccus were not dead For Fabius he who wysely would refuse Forthwith to fight they wish for such a head Camillus nowe would stand them in great stead And some with sighes did wishe for Scipio Them to defend from me there deadly foe But as the Lion passente once with feare Gardante a mouing mollhil did beholde From whence he thought some wonder would appeare A little Moule crepte from the mouing mould Which made the quaking Lion then so bolde Feare set a side that he for his delyght Playd with the Moule and kilde the strengthlesse wight So nowe the campe of Claudius did drawe neare Where he hym self was Lord cheefe general Which greatly did delyght my hart to heare And caused me my Captayne 's then to call To whome I sayde We two must striue for al The world so wide which if I chance to winne Then you your selues haue ample part therein Euen whilst I marcht my men in good aray A corsser post came praunsing in the fielde Who comming to my Cabbin thus dyd say Guidericus thy friendes at home be kilde Thy natiue soyle to forrayne force did yielde The Romans they haue spoylde thee of eche thing Thy brother there Aruiragus is kyng Which newes although they dyd amaze me much Yet I whose hart did neuer faynt for feare Although sayd I their good successe be such Yet if we can subdue the Romans here They shal I thinke buy Britayne very deare Which out of doubt yf you as you haue donne Will fight like men the fielde wil soone be wonne But they who hilde their wiues and children deare Could not digest the losse of that their lande For which they fledde left me their Chieftayne there When Claudius host to fight was euen at hande Whose mightie force I could not then withstande Yea all my pagâ— my footmen fled for feare And left me post alone with heauy cheare That cruell Queene of hel Proserpina From foorth whose loynes this Fury feare first fled Megeras sighes no no nor Medusa Who hath ten thousand Snakes about her head The fiery flames of hell doth not so dreade The minde as feare which makes mans hart we see To shake and quake like leafe of Aspen tree My Martial knyghtes who once so valiant were That they the worlde euen al the world would spoyle This fury fyerce this feeble fayntyng feare Did causlesse cause them thus here to recoyle Her only force inforst me to this soyle Not Caesars force no strength of Roman power But feare euen feare dyd make me here to lower Which feare for trueth dyd neuer me dismaye But too to soone my hartlesse men it made To shrinke to flinche to flee eche man his way And me a pray most fit for Claudius blade They left alone alas what may be sayde What may be done what fittes for mine auayle I wyl not flee to fight cannot preuayle What must I then go crouche vnto my foe Fy on that fate that I should sue for grace To hym who is the worker of my woe Whose hart from foorth his brest for to displace I gladly woulde ten thousand deathes imbrace My lyfe in faith doth lothe to liue with shame By death therfore my lyfe shall purchase fame For as I once did winne with courage stout In Galbas shielde the praunsing Pegasus So with renowne I nowe will go about To see if Claudius dare the cause discusse With me alone if couragious Dare do that deed that we in open feeld Mâ—y try the case then he or I must yeelde And therewithal in armour bright I clad Myne arming swoorde my Targate I did take And on my Helme or Burgonet I had My royal crowne and so I dyd forsake The place whereas my souldiers fled of late I marcht and met the scoute of Claudius To whom I dyd addresse my language thus The Britayne Kyng is come alone you see Conduct him then your Emprour to salute You for your paynes shal gayne a golden fee For why my grace to Claudius hath a sute The scurers they al silent mumme and mute Yet wel appayde of such a princely pray In hast they dyd to Caesar me conuay With ten times twentie thousand men I met Him marching there to meete with me but one To whom I sayde thy powre is passing great My force is fled what must I then bemone My selfe to thee not so but I alone Am come to know with Magnanimitie If thou dost dare to wrecke thy wrath on me The crowne for which so many men be slayne Thy Galbas shield with many iewels more Which vnto me do only appertayne For in the fielde I wonne them al of yore And vnto thee I wyl them not restore If thou as I canst winne them with renowne Then al is thine both realme and royal crowne Why doost thou muse as though thou wert dismayde Doeth doubtful dreade nowe daunt thy Roman mynde Faynt not for feare thou needst not be afrayde A Britayne borne thy selfe ryght well shalt fynde I am a man and not a God by kinde Wherewith to grounde a golden gauntlet I Dyd cast and he at last dyd thus reply Thou
I feare the force of forrayne foyle Why should I not assay with courage stout To wreake my wrath vppon the Romishe route Which heere remayne whome to the bale to bringe Were me to crowne my natiue countries King. One thinge there is which greatly doth me grieue Seuerus he who did inhance my state He did in my distresse with life relieue My dyinge dayes he neuer did me hate Yet now with hym I must be at debate Euen hym with myght I greatly must disgrace â— are I can set my selfe in princely place Untimely death shall not destroy his dayes For if he wyl returne to Rome agayne Or if he wil resigne his â—â—owne with prayse Or if hee wyl amongst vs styl remayne If he can like of these we wyl refâ—ayne From sheading bloude which if he dothe disdayne I then against my â—yl 〈◊〉 woorke his paine So foorth I past with al my power prest Seuerus did at Durham then delay Whereas I mente his state to haue distrest But some I thinke my secretes did bewray For he to Yorke in hast did take his way Which when I had bessiegde on euery side with care and griefe of minde Seuerus dide Se heere the force of cruel fretting care Se heere how sorowe doth dismay the minde For when he harde Carassus did prepare To reue his crowne he iudging me vnkinde With sobbing sighes of sorrowe he resignde Before his time his minde from manly breste Beholde with care how sorrowe reaues mans rest Thus he intombde in his vntimely Chest It was decreed Carassus shoulde be King The three estates of al my Realme were prest With one consent they al to me did bring The kingly crowne then thus they al did singe The due desertes of this renowned wyght Deserues to be the Britayne king by right Marke by what steppes I dyd the toppe obtayne With keeping sheepe my youthful yeares were spent Then with the whyp I plide the Plowe amayne In Mars his feeldes to fight my minde was bent As Legate then to Rome my selfe was sente I dubbed was a Lorde of high renowne And now at laste I haue obtaynd the Crowne The ende the acte the Plaudite dooth proue And all is well whose endyng is not yll Who sittes aloft had neuer neede to moue For feare least he shoulde fall agaynst his wyll Though creepyng he dyd gayne the toppe with skil Yet at the last by turning of his toe A suddayne fall may worke his wretched wâ—e Which fall I felt and how I here wyll showe When I as King dyd all the Realme comaunde I fearefull dyd suspect mine ouerthrow The place mee thought dyd shake where I dyd stande Then for my garde I dyd prouide a bande Of warlyke wights to garde my Noble grace I lastly dyd my Noble men displace From foorth the Feeldes I for my Father sent Hym of a Clowne a Noble man I made My Brethren all euen for the same intent Lyke Courtiers there in Court with me they stayde And all my stock were glad and well apayde For they of late which rulde the paynefull Plow Of Brittayne Lande they bee the Rulers now From Cart to Court a Countrye man to call With braue attyre to decke a dunghyll Dycke Is lyke a paynted Image in a wall Which dooth deceiue and seemeth to vee quicke Though woorkmanship most trimly dooth it tricke Yet of a stone a stone wyll still remayne A Clowne cannot from Clownish deedes refrayne As hard it is of quarryed Marble stone For man to make a liuely mouing wyght As of a Lout or els of such a one Who dayly doth imploy his whole delyght To digge and delue it passeth mortal myght To make him serue in Courte a kinges behest Turne hym to plowe the Cart for him is best For though thou canst by cunninge art compell Nature a tyme to leaue her wonted place She wyl returne in spight of heauen or hell No Alcumist Dame Nature can displace Except that God doth geue abundant grace The Caske wyl haue a taste for euermore With that wherewith it seasoned was before Why did I then my courtlesse court mayntayne With Hob and Ihon Rafe Royster and his mate Whose greedy iawes aye gaping after gayne Did â—olle and pil and bred bitter debate Men much vnmeete to mayntayne myne estate Why did I them so neare myne elâ—owe place Because my selfe by byrth was borne but bace Like wyl to lyke the Mule doth claw her mate With horned beastes the Ienite cannot iest Those bauling Houndes the haughty Harte doth hate With Beares the Beare in safety countes her best So I amongst my lyke did looke for rest Their dedes by me were alwayes wel alowde By them likewyse my doinges were avowd But as you see the Husbandman with care From new sowne feeldes the rauening Roâ—kes to driâ—â—e So dyd the Gentrie of my Realme prepare My Countrie Courte and mee for to depriue But Gentlemen were then to weake to striue With mee and mine for which they dyd prepare A new founde snache which dyd my feete insnare In surgelesse Seas of quiet rest when I Seauen yeares had sayld a perrye did arise The blastes whereof abrigde my liberty For whilste I dyd with busye brayne deuise Them to destroy which did my Courte despise The boystrous blastes of hatred blewe a gale My Cables crakte my Barke was bongd with bale For they I meane the Gentrie of my Lande Both mee and mine theirs and themselues had sold Subiects to Rome from whence a mighty bande They had conuaide to make my courage cold Into my Realme they could not be controlde But when they were ariude they quickly brought Both me and mine and all the rest to nought Alectus then the Chieftayne of the resâ— Spoyling my friendes he forst me to the feelde The daye was come we both in fight were prest His trustlesse trayne did seeme to me to yeelde But al the feeldes with great ambushmentes filde I coulde not flee Alectus had the day With his owne sworde for breath he made me bray As due desert did force my shippe to flote So vices vile me drencht in waues of woes O false suspect why didst thou make me dote Fearing my fall my friends I deemd my foes Fearing the worst the best I did depose And was deposde let other learne heereby The crooked Crabbe wyl alwayes walke awry And let them know which do not lothe to learne That kinges in Court be combred most with care The Pilotes charge who sitteth at the stearne Doth make him watche when other do prepare Them selues to sleep so kinges distressed are With doutful dread and many other thinges The sheepheardes life is better then the kinges The Induction CArassus hauing thus finished his Tragicall History Inquisition presented vnto Memory the Lady Hellina But Memorye hauing her at the fyrst sight in great admiration sayde as followeth Why haue you brought before vs the Goddesse Diana Our intent is to heare the complayntes of them who are smothered with Forgetfulnesse as for
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
God hath geuen to thee Be such as I can not thee greatly blame Though thou without desert disdaynest me Who for thy sake doth lothe al crueltie But for thy â—oue with Mars his cruel knife I could commaund thy Realme and reaue thy life But out alas whilst breath doth lend me life My hart shal hate to thrall thy happy state What though thou dost refuse to be my wyfe Thy hatred tho shal neuer cause me hate But whylâ—te I liue I wyl thee loue let Fate And Fortune fell poure on me al their spight To die for thee shal greatly me delight Then I replide O Duke without desert Thou doste me loue a little Ilandes Queene I know thou to the Emperour heyre art Thy valiaunt actes I diuers wayes haue seene I like thy deedes most noble which haue bene And thee I loue yet priuate pleasures luste May neuer make me throwe my Realme to duste If thou quothe he wylte dayne my Queene to be Thy Bryttaynes shal to Rome no tribute yeilde You if you please to Rome may go with me Your myghtie mate the world so wide may wielde Or if you please I here wyth you wyl bylde My byding place and in this littell lande I wyl remayne yours at your commaund His comely corps his friendly promise plight His famous actes his Noble royall race Some other thinges which here I could recite The Romans hart within my brest dyd place And when my wit had wayed well the case Then for the chiefe of all my Realme I sent And thus I spake to know the whole intent My louing Lordes and you my subiects see This Roman heyre whom I indeede do loue He will restore your ancient lybertie If I wyll bende my hest to his behoue Which benifites they chiefely do mee moue To loue at last a man by whom you may Receaue a Shielde to keepe you from decay Perhaps you think I loue because I see His comely corps and seemely sanguine face You be deceaude no outward brauery No personage no gallant courtly grace What though hee bee by birth of Royall race I recke it not but this I do regarde My common weale by him may bee preserude For if hee wyll from tribute set you free And ende the worke which I haue well begonne That Christes Gospell preached styll may bee God may by hym sende vnto me a sonne To you a King what wealth then haue you wonne What great renowme what honour wyll insue Speake you your mindes these thinges me think be true O Queene quoth they the Lorde preserue thy grace Do thou the thinge that semes to thee the best We do alowe the matche in euery case If by that meanes we may haue quiet rest With what great good shal this our Realme be blest Do thou therefore O noble Queeene we pray The thing which best may keepe vs from decay The Roman Duke he nothing would denye But graunted more then I could aske or craue So that there was proclaymed by and by A famous feast a banquet passing braue There to the Duke the Britayne Crowne I gaue With sacred spousall ryghtes as man and wyfe We wedded liude in loue for terme of lyfe And whylste we ment to rule this little I le A greater good vnlooked for befel Death did destroy his Syre with hateful hande For which we both at Rome must nowe go dwel And so we did thinges prospered passyng wel My Feere was made the Emperour Lorde and King Of al and I the Queene of euery thing His myghtie Mace did rule the Monarchie My wyt did rule some wryters say his Mace And to increase with ioye our merye glye I brought him forth a babe of Royal race The boy he had an amiable face O Rome thou maiste reioyce for this was he Which did at Rome erect Diuinitie Whilste thus in blesse I did at Rome remayne On Britaine stil my mind her care did cast For which I causde my husband to ordayne That euermore those ancient Lawes should last Whiâ—h heretofore amongst them there I past And that to Rome no Brittayne borne for aye Should taxe or toll or tenth or tribute pay Though there at Rome an Empresse life I led And had at hand what I could wishe or craue Yet stil me thought I was not wel bestead Because I was so farre from Brittayne braue Which when my louing Lorde did once perceiue He set a stay in al the Emperye To Brittayne then he did returne with me We raygnde of yeares thrice seuen with good successe Then Dolor and Debilitie did driue My louing Lord with faynting feeblenesse For vitall life with braying breath to striue He felt howe death of life would him depriue He calde his Lordes his childe and me his wife And thus he spake euen as he left his life The haughtye Pynes of loftye Libanus From earth to earth in tracte of time returne So I whose spreading prayse were marueilous Must now returne my fleshe to filthy slime On Fortunes wheele I may no longer clime Therefore my Lordes although my glasse be runne Yet take remorse on Constantine my sonne My Monarche Court my Kingdomes all O stately Rome farewell to them and thee Farewell my Lordes which see my finall fall Farewell my Childe my Wyfe more deare to mee Then all the world we must depart I see And must we needes depart O Fortune fye We must depart adue farewell I dye Wherewith he sighte and senslesse dyd remayne Then I his death as women doo dyd wayle But when I viewd that weeping was but vayne â–ª I was content to beare that bitter bale As one who founde no meanes for her auayle His corps at Yorke in Princely Tombe I layde When Funerall sacred solemne rights were payde And when report his death about had blowne Maxentius then the triple Crowne to weare Dyd challenge all the Empire as his owne And for a time that mighty Mace dyd beare Which when my Sonne my Constantine dyd heare The youthfull Lad indeuourd by and by To Claime his right by Mars his crueltie I then his tender youthfull yeares to guyde Went with my sonne to see his good successe He being Campt by fruitfull Tybers side To spoyle his foe he dyd hymselfe addresse Hee knew that God dyd geue all happinesse Therefore to God euen then the Youth dyd pray With mightie hande to keepe hym from decay Beholde how God doth godly men defend And marke how he doth beate Usurpers downe Maxentius nowe he al his force dothe bende For to defend his Diade me and Crowne But frowarde Fate vpon the Prince did frowne For why his men were scattered euery where In Tyber he did drowne him selfe for feare To Rome then we and all our host did hie The Romans they with ioy did vs receiue To Constantine they gaue the Emperie But he of them most earnestly did craue That I the rule of al the worlde myght haue It is quoth he my mothers ryght to rayne Til dreadful death hath shred her
twyst in twayne I graunt my sonne the Monarchie is myne For at his death thy father gaue it me For terme of life but let it nowe be thine I aged must goe pay the earth her fee I am content to liue with lesse degree O louing sonne geue eare vnto my hest I wyl not rule that charge for thee is best And when he myght not rule his mothers minde Agaynst his wyll he wylling did assent That al should be as I had then assignde To rule the worlde he greued was content And whilste that there my happie dayes I spent Reioycing much to see my sonnes successe I dyde and had a heauenly happinesse Thrice happye I who ranne this Royal race And in the ende my wished Goale did get For by my meanes al people did imbrace The fayth of Christ the orders I did set They were obayd with ioy which made me iet Euen in this blesse a better blesse befel I dyde and nowe my soule in heauen doth dwel So now you see the happye hap I had Learne then thereby to do as I haue done To prayse gods name let euery Prince be glad To persecute the truth let al men shunne By vertuous wayes great honor maye be wonne But he who doth to vices vile incline May be comparde vnto a filthie swine Who doth not loue the playne nor pleasant way He can not feare to sleepe amidst the greene But in the mire he doth delyght to lay So Princes such as vile and vicious beene Do tumble aye amidst a sinke of sinne Whose names on earth whose soules in hel remayne In infamye the other pincht with payne Let them that seeke for euerlasting fame Tread in the steppes that I before haue trod And he who would avoyd reprochful shame And flee the smart of Plutoes ruthful rod Let him not cease to learne the law of God Which onely lawe mans stumbling steppes doth 〈◊〉 Who walkes therein his feete can neuer slide The Induction BEholde quoth Memorye the effect of vertue and godlynesse If the contentatioÌ„ of the mind be perfecte happinesse as some Philosophers haue defynde it then no doubt this Queene was most happy and happp is hee who can imitate her in her happynesse But not long time after her there lyued a King named Vortiger who for his vice was as diuerslye afflicted as this Woman for her vertue was blessed I doo remember the wickednesse of this man was exceeding great Haue you founde hym out Inqusition is not this he good Memory quoth Inqusition I founde hym both sitting and sighing amongst the miserable and it would appeare that hee is ashamed to make rehearsall of thinges past It is euen he quoth Memorie you may know him by his fyry lookes for though it be long since hee liued yet he beareth about with hym the badge of his destruction Note you his story with dilygeÌ„ce good Inquisition for this is hee who subuerted the common weale of Brirtayne And you Sir Prince I doo coniure you by the duty you owe vnto mee who doo know all thinges that you doo heere repeate vnto vs the whole Story of your estate Wherewith he with smoking sighes greatly against his wyl saide as followeth ⧠The Complaynt of Vortiger ¶ How Vortiger destroyed the young kyng Constantine and howe he obteyned the Crowne howe the abusyng of his prosperitie brought hys Realme so lowe that he was constrayned to hyre souldyers to defend hym selfe from hys enimyes and howe after many miseries he was miserably burnt in his Castle by the brethren of Constantine BY quiet peace of Ianus ioylitie Their happy hauens with forewinds forst some haue By wrackful warres of Mars his crueltie With much adoo some get the Goale they craue By subtyl sleightes and fetches boulstred braue My haplesse hand dyd hyt with leueled lyne The aymed marke the more mishap was myne By gyftes of grace some men haue happy hap By blessed byrth to Kyngdomes borne some be Succession sets some men in Fortunes lap By wisedome wyt and prudent policie Some clyme aloft by trustlesse treacherie And courage dooth a multitude aduaunce Driftes finely filde they dyd my state inhaunce I Vortiger by byrth was borne a Lorde Kyng Constantine his Coosin did me call I cride amayne and clapt his crowne a borde And for a tyme til Fortune forst my fall With restlesse blesse I sate in stately stall But men of warre of much more might then I For my desert my carefull corpes did fry As furious force of fiery flashing flame With Cinders brought my body to decay So smulderyng smokes of euerlasting shame Reude my renowne and wipte my fame away What may I more of my misfortune say I sigh to see I silent ceasse to tell What me destroide and drownd my soule in hel Here to repeate the partes that I haue playd Were to vnâ—ippe a trusse of trumpery For me to shew how I aloft was stayde Were to erect a schoole of Trechery Silence is best let no man learne by me Nor by my meanes how they by wicked waies From low estate aloft them selues may rayse As good men can by wicked workes beware So wicked men by wicked workes be wise If ill men reade my deedes which wicked were They by my meanes will compasse their surmise For wicked workers dayly do deuise To make examples vile and vicious To stand in stead to serue their lawlesse lust The Serpent thence his venym vile dooth drawe From whence the Bee her honny sweete dooth get Leawd liuers learne to breake the written lawe By that whereby good men doo learne much wit. For wicked men eche fetche is thought most fyt To serue their turne therefore I compt it best To leaue my faultes and follyes vnconfest Geue leaue therefore good Memory I may Not here repeate my tedious Tragedy Inquiry let me nowe departe away My common weale subuerted was by me I leawdly liude and dyde in misery And for my faultes I felt disdayneful smarte Let this suffice and let me nowe departe With that he seemde as on that would away But Memory stay stay thy steppes quoth she Let wicked men procure their owne decay We recke it not if warned once they be Let that suffice and let thy misery Make iust report how vayne and vile a thing It is to liue as a vsurping King. Sith needes I must repented faultes forerunne Repeat and tel the fal and foyle I felt Patience perforce to speake shame bids me shunne To thinke thereof dooth make my harte to melte But sith I needes must shewe howe here I delt I am contente to tell the truth of al Let wise men learne to stande which reade my fal For first I causde the young king Constantine Of faythlesse Scots and Pictes to make his garde They by my meanes did kil their kyng in fine For which with speede I sent them al to warde And hangde them al their cause was neuer harde So I who fyrst did cause them kil their king To stop their mouthes them al to
peerlesse Pearle appeare Duke Garelus wife whose gallant gate and grace Stealing myne harte my honour did deface When Vortiger my brother did oppresse In exile then my youthful yeares were spent At my retourne his fault he did confesse And from his crowne the crowne in haste I sent Then my delight was in the diery dent Of wrackful warre but nowe transformde I stande The auncient Oke must growe nowe lyke a wande I marueilde muche how Cireus songes might please But now I muse that Circes sorcery Doth not from euery man bereaue his ease Calipsoes cuppes with poysoned Trechery Can not so much abridge mans liberty As Circus songes and Circes suttle art Whose chaunting charmes inwrapt with wo my hart Vlisses sayling by the perilous place Where these to please the passours by did play Where Lady Loue doth vante with garishe grace Her daynty Damsels gallant Gyrles and gaye Intysyng trulles they causde the Greeke to say With Cables come and tye me to this Mast Lest I my selfe to Pleasures Court me cast Muse not therefore though feature fine of face Though comely corps and trim intysing cheere Made me obay Sir Cupids mightie Mace The force whereof Vlisses wise did feare He saild aloffe he from these bankes did beare His shaking shippe but other many moe Did there ariue and weaud the web of woe There Salomon did reape the croppe of care There Dauid loude as I Vrias wife There Samson strong was snarled in the snare There Paris liude euen there he lost his life There Helens hate brought Troy her final strife Alcides he the myghtie Herculus There to ariue did finde it dangerous And I did learne with losse of lyfe at laste That he who doth delyght in lawelesse loue Must play the foole eare al the partes be past And taste the sauce preparde for his behoue Let men take heed how they there fancies moue Let man beware where he doth cast his eie The lymed byrde doth proue in vayne to flye O ancient Rome thou didst ordayne of yore That women should no banqueting frequent At Rome she was esteemde a harlot whoore If from her house without her veyle she went Which lawes no doubt were made to good intent â–ª For why the beames of Beauties sanguynde sight Like Basilisco spoyles the gazing wyght Therefore the maydes and Roman Matrons all A shadowing veyle before there face did weare Their heauenly hewe did throwe no man to thrall They were content with playne and decent geare They husâ—e it not wyth paynted frisled heare The marryed wyfe the matron and the mayd They of there veyles were glad and wel apayde If women thus had walked in my time I had not stoopte vnto that paynted lure Which did intice me to committe the crime Which to the pearch of leudnesse tide me sure For her disport my Ladye coulde procure The wretched winges of this my muting minde Restlesse to seeke her emptie fiste to finde I thus ariude in Pleasures cursed Courte I lothed Mars I hated Mercury It was me thought a passing pleasant sporte Leauinge the feeldes at Bacchus brauery Sometime to sit vpon my Mistresse knee Where that I might be at my pleasure plaste I sent the noble Duke to warres in hast You which haue playd with pleasures banding bales You knowe the life which lingring louers lead You know how sweete it is to scale the walles Of her good wyl who liude in feare and dreade You know right wel how wel those wightes haue sped Who haue at last by driftes of long delay Their hoped meede and wished pleasant praye Which pray when I by tract of time obtaynde And had my wyl when best it did me please As I three monthes amidst my blesse remaynde The Dukes returne returnd me from my ease No promise myght his raging wrath appease But when he knewe the drâ—fte of my delayes To cause my death he sought an hundred wayes Then I the wrath of rash reuenge to flye Thinking that time myght mitigate his moode To Troynouant in hast I did me hye Which when the wrathful Duke once vnderstoode He raysde my Realme and by his myght and powre I lost my lyfe my Crowne and Princely bowre Learne they which liue in high or lowe degree To flee the foyle which I by Folly felt Let them refrayne those lofty Dames to see They know howe lofty lookes with me haue deâ—â— You se how sight did make my honor melte Let al men know mans hart did neuer rue The thing which he with sight did neuer vewe But how may men the sight of Beautie shunne In England at this present dismal daye All voyde of veyles like Layes where Ladyes runne And rome about at euerye feast and playe They wanderyng walke in euery streete and way With lofty luering lookes they bounsing braue The highest place in al mens sight must haue With pride they pranke to please the wandring eye With garishe grace they smyle they Iet they Iest O English Dames your lightnesse veryly The Curtizantes of Rome do much deteste In Closets close to liue they count it best They geue not grace to euery wandring wight Your smiling chere doth euery man delight The Poets goddes Saturne and Iupiter To Beauties becke their highnesse did obay Pluto of hel did plead at Beauties barre And Phillis causde Demophoon to stay Pasiphae a Bull brought to the baye So Goddes and Diuilles both men and beastes they all â–ª By womens wyles are slaues to Beauties thrall What gayne is got by lyght and wanton wayes You reape reproche a guerdon got thereby Men by your meanes do cause their owne decay And you your selues al souste in sinne muste die Refrayne therefore to please mans gazing eie Let men like wise the bayted hookes refrayne Of luering lookes their vaunting vowes be vayne The Induction VErye well sayde quoth Memory I would I had habilitie to redeeme this princes soule out of Lymbo lake I wyl insuer you the shorte Tragedie of this mans life hath made along discourse of the present estate of EnglaÌ„d in which ther be more by three parts which serue like Carpite Knightes Venus her darlinges then god and their Prince who I feare are so fast seazed vpon Beauties fiste that this example wyl be little auailable vnto them But let it be as it wil warned folkes may liue and happie are they whome other mens harmes do make to beware But good Inquisition whome haue you there what haue you brought vs in steede of a Prince a Prieste It woulde appeare by his shauen Crown that he hath bin a Monke or a Frier What shal we alowe tippet wearers to pleade amongst Princes me thinke by the deformitie of his apparel he shoulde not be of the Religion nor of the reformed Church yea I wyl insuer you his precise lookes maketh me to suspect that he is one of them which do cry out O these indifferent thinges do not edifye Speake therfore Inquisition if he be one of that precise order he get no
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
place here O Memorie quoth Inquisition they of the reformed Church be the most zelous Pastoures of the world moste of theÌ„ both godly good liuers and wise and in my fancye in many poyntes greatly deseruing the name of reformed But this man was both a Prince and a Prelate whome I refused oftentimes to heare because he looked so deuoutly yet he beeing importunate did ouercome me with his prayers and when I gaue eare vnto him I reioyced And not without a cause good Memorye for it is euen he whom you sent me to seeke Let me see quoth Memorie is it Cadwallader In good time it is euen he in deede O se what the alteration of apparel doth in good fayth I had almost forgotten the man he was the last King of the Brittaynes and when thinges would not fal out after his desire he went to Rome and there he became a Frier But we wyl not accuse him of anye thing let him do the thing that he commeth for you may perswade your selfe that seing he is of the Church his conscience wyl constrayne him in euery thing to tel the truth Then he stepped forthe booted and spurde al in blacke with a long priestes Gowne a square cappe a Scala Caeli in his hande and a longe payre of Beades by his side then he sighing proceeded vnto his purpose and said as followeth ⧠The Complaynt of Cadwallader How Cadwallader the last King of the Brittaynes â–ª after he had behaued him selfe very valiantly against the Saxons resigned his Crowne and went to Rome where he liued in a religious house This storye contayneth in it the estate of al estates You mourning Muses al where euer you remayne Assist my sobbing soule this drierye tale to tell You furious Furies fearce of Lymbo Lake belowâ— Helpe to vnlade my brest of al the bale it beares And you who felte the falle from honors high renowne FroÌ„ graues you grizie ghosts seÌ„d forth to help me mourn O Pallas geue thou place that mourning Clio may On Lute lamenting sound and sing my doleful dumpes Let riming metered lines and and pleasant Musike cease Let Satyres sollome sound sende forth the fall I felt And when the truth of al my Tragedie is knowne Let them that liue then learne al things must haue an end The Persian Monarch and Medes it downe did fal That of Assiria in tracte of time did end Yea Alexanders force in fight subdude them both And brought the worlde so wide into one Monarchie What though the fretting force of Fate did him dismâ—y He felt at laste the foyle his vaunting was in vayne He dead the worlde it was deuided as before The Roman Emperie came tumbling downe at last And where is Troy and Greece and mightie Macedon They flourishte for a tyme like this my little I le The Soldian brought them downe and did theyr states destroy Euen so the Saxons brought the Britayns to the bay Euen these mine eyes did see that hateful â–ª hidious sight These feeble handes when long they labourde had in vaine Dyd yeeld their interest then thus I did complayne Who can refrayne the force of mightye mounting Seas When bellowes make a breache and beate the banckes adown Doth not the saltish surge then beate the bankes adown Then man may not withstand the the rigor of their rage But wisedome would haue kept the waues within their boundes Counsayle doth come to late when hope of helpe is past Such was my filthye fate my lewde and lothsome lucke I sought a salue to cure and helpe the helpelesse wound For long before my tyme seuen Kings were setled here The Saxons such as dwelt by East Sibertus rulde The Angles in the East Redwallus â—ulde as king Then Ethelbert was king of all the coast of Kent In Southsex Ethelwolfus wore the regall crowne Then Quincillinus was a Saxon king by west Of Martia in the midst king Penda was the Prince And Edwin in Northumberland did rule and raygne How dyd my Grandsire grand renowmed Arthur he These seuen destroye wyth deadly field of wrackfull warre â–ª But Mordred made the meane that brought them in agayne Vorâ—iporus wyth warre almost consumde them all Then Malgo he with peace restorde agayne their state Cariticus the synne of Ciuil stryfe did loue For which Gurmundus did the Britaynes much annoy Then Cadwin out of Wales kyng Etheldred did spoyle Cadwalline then did force king Penda to a foyle And I Cadwallader at last did presse in place Then Lothar king of Kent in warre that wretch I slue And Ethiwolne â—he king of Southsaxons I spoylde The other fiue did me inuade with cruel fight With whom in diuers warres I diuersly did speed Somtime Bellona blewe a blessed blaste for me And changed chaunce somtime did farce my men to flee Whilst thus I wagde my warres in secrete silent night The very voyce of God it thus to me did speake Thou striust ageinst the streame the tide doth beate thee backe Strike thou thy Sailes take Ancor hold els must thou feele a wracke â–ª Which saying did in deede amaze me more by muche Then al the force that man against my wil might bende For who the wyll of God with weapons may resist And when as sinne hath solde a countrye to decay Then prayer must preuayle for weapons will not helpe And when the end is come when all the glasse is runne Who can resist the force of Fate and destinies Who things forerunne to fal from falling can refraine It passeth mortall might to bring such thinges about Let man content himselfe to do what best he may By trying too to much no man his God may tempte But mortall man must thinke that God the best doth knowe Who can depresse to dust and cayse when best him please And as I thus amidst my musinges did remayne I did resigne my crowne and deemde al honoures vayne And though it greeude me muche to feele the fall I felte Yet was I well content I could not as I would For which I left my lande my people and my place The Saxons they obtaynde the wage for which they warrde When I three yeares had raygnd without one day of rest Euen then in mourning robes at Rome I did ariue And there contemning all the worlde and worldly thinges I made my selfe a Monke ceasse Memory to muse A Monke I made my selfe thou knowst it passing playne Amongste the Friers there I led my lyngring life And tyll my dying day I daily did deuise How by my meanes it might to all the worlde be knowne That mortall flesh is frayle and euery thing must fade And euen amongst those thinges which Nature doth create Nothing so vile as man amongst the rest is founde Which made Heraclitus with ceasslesse sighes to wayle He to hys dying day did nothing els but weepe Affirming all the worlde vnder the heauen to be A path of penitence a maze of misery What is the life of man but care and daily toyle Bearyng alwayes about