and that 's the graue 570 Yet whilst we trauell fortune like the weather Doth alter faire or foule so doth our way If faire then friends like foules do flocke together If fowle each man doth shift a seuerall way Only our virtues or our vices stay And goe with vs whose endlesse memorie Doth make vs liue or die eternally 571 This is the fraight that men cannot vnload No not by death therefore mortalitie Worke for thy selfe whilst heere thou mak'st abode For on the present hath dependencie Thy fortunes endlesse blisse or miserie And death 's the Conuoy to conduct vs home Come death to me that I to rest may come 572 Perhaps thou fear'st me being great and high Oh death man were a thing intollerable Were he not mortall but eu'n kings must die No priuiledge doth against death enable Both fat and leane are dishes for his table The difference this the poore one hath his graue The great one he his Monument must haue 573 Our fates may be conceiu'd but not controul'd Before our dated time we cannot die Our daies are numbred and our minuts tould But life and death are destin'd from on high And when that God that rules th' imperiall skie Shall find it fit then thou shalt goe in peace Meane while with patience looke for thy release 574 Thus vnto care I pay his due complaint And ioyn'd with all my tributarie teares Such my lament for griefe finds no restraint As they at last did come vnto their eares That by the Castle past which caus'd such feares In their selfe guiltie soules that vs'd me so As they resolu'd by death to end my woe 575 To which effect came letters from the Court Written by Tarlton at the Queenes command In such a Clowdie and ambiguous sort That diuerse waies one might them vnderstand By pointing them that if they should be scand He and his Letters might be free from blame And they delinquent that abus'd the same 576 The words were these kill Edward doe not feare T is good which being comma'd diuerslie As please the reader double since may beare Oh Art thou art the worlds chiefe treasurie But being imploy'd to practise villanie What Monstrous births from thy fowle wombe do spring So Grammar heere is made to kill a king 577 Which to effect they first remoued me From forth the Vault where I before did lie And made a shew as if they seem'd to be Compassionated for my misery And would hereafter grant immunitie For such vnworthy vsage so we see The Sun shines hot before the shower will be 578 But being ouerwatch'd and wearied too Nature was much desirous of some rest Which gaue them oportunitie to do What they desir'd for being with sleepe opprest They Clapt a massie table on my brest And with great weight so kept me downe withall That breath I could not much lesse crie and call 579 And then into my fundament they thrust A litle horne as I did groueling lie And that my violent death might shun mistrust Through the same horne a red hot Spit whereby They made my gutts and bowells for to frie And so continu'd till at last they found That I was dead yet seem'd to haue no wound 580 And heere I pitch the pillars of my paine Now Ne plus ultra shall my posie be And thou which hast discrib'd my tragick raigne Let this at least giue some content to thee That from disastrous fortunes none are free Now take the worke out of the Loomes againe And tell the world that all the world is vaine FINIS Henry 4. Hen. 4.
borne about Whose golden Ewer is crack't with many a flaw Who hath no grinders left in either iawe Whose strong men bowe whose keepers shake and tremble Whose meager lookes pale death doth most resemble 241 But this ambition is a boyling ill Honor doth make dead Cinders grow againe What aged one so great but by his will Would faine grow greater age doth still retaine Two humors hope of life desire of gaine And this was that which made old Spencer clime When he had past the Autumne of his time 242 The younger Hugh the sonne of this old man Was of an actiue spirit and able Braine Who with the Barons at the first began To side himselfe they fauouring him againe For Gauestone made him Lord Chamberlaine That he in place so neere about the king Might alwaies serue their turnes in euery thing 243 Thinking because he was by them preferr'd He still would cleaue to them in their designes But ill aduised men herein they err'd A swelling spirit hates him by whom he climes As yute kills the Tree wherein it Proines So rising men when they are seated high Spurne at the meanes that first they mounted by 244 Because they thinke such fauors challenge still An equall correspondencie of loue Which ties them to be pliant to their will And as the lower spheres by those aboue Are whirl'd about so they by these must moue In all attempts still swaid by their direction And for no end nor measure of subiection 245 And such well-mettled men cannot digest To be obsequious to an others minde Their working spirits will not let them rest Till those precedent bands which did them bind By opposition are againe vntwin'd And such an open rupture doth restore Their libertie which was ingag'd before 246 And greatnesse houlds it needfull pollicie To rid his hands of them that did it raise By entring into open enmitie And so to cut them off without delayes These were and are the courses of our daies Who list obserue both old and modern times Shall finde I wright no fables though some times 247 I will not touch particulars at all I play the ball let others marke the chase The Spencers do my wandring muserecall Who being neere the king in chiefest place Did heape vp much and that in litle space For all things hid he from their passage then Who turn'd to gold all matters and all men 248 The chiefest Peeres were vnderhand kept downe The Mynions of the King got euery place Though Edward had yet Spencers rul'd the Crowne And being both made Earles in highest grace They built they bought they rais'd they did deface Whom what they would such was their powerfull lust And sodaine greatnesse growes to some vniust 249 Especially if like a Mole it workes Only in earth how greedy's such a man How closely he in Couert silent works To Compasse a whole Countrie if he can Still griping all that comes within his span What wealth wit friends force can do good or ill Shall must be practis'd for to please his will 250 The Princes fauours do for Pullies serue To draw on men to be at his command Eu'n seats of Iudgement shall from iustice swerue If they may bring a title to his hand And if some reuerend fathers shall withstand Then weed them out they will not serue our turne Such men are fit for Martits let them burne 251 His Agents must be of another mould Sharp-sighted into other mens estate Pliant to do what their great Masters would Close cunning to dissemble loue or hate Well spoken powerfull to insinuate Seemingly honest outwardly precise By which they may their close complots disguise 252 These are like pipes of Lead that do conuay Those practises that from their head do spring And let these seconds come to beare greatsway Are legg'd and crouch'd vnto for feare they sting These buy and build and beg and raise and wring Farmer Esquier Kinght and Baron too And Prince and all with whom they haue to doe 253 And this indeed was the most dangerous rocke Whereon I split and so at last did drowne This was mine Error this the stumbling block At which I fell and cast my fortunes downe This lost my peoples hearts and that my Crowne My Minions rapine and vniust oppression And my too much indulgent indiscretion 254 My Peeres were male content being vnrespected My Captaines mutinous for want of pay My Court with all incestuousnes infected My people poore with taxes par'd away And apt for innouation euery day All out of ioynt dejected and dismai'd Onely the Spencers and their Consorts swai'd 255 I sould they bought I wasted they did thriue They had aboundance I was indigent They suck'd the honey i the ransack't hiue Which made them grow bould tart and insolent And therby caus'd a common discontent Of all those crimes I did in curre the blame Because my heate gaue life vnto the same 256 Princes attend for I do speake in zeale 'T is not enough that you your selues are iust But you must looke into the common weale And see that those whom you doe put in trust Do gouerne by the law not by their lust For he indeed the wrong doth perpetrate That may redresse yet it doth tolerate 257 And so you make their wickednesse your owne By suffering them to sinne without controule But let no Widowes teares bedew your throne Nor poore mens sighes sent from a greeued soule Nor Orphans prayers which heauen doth still inrolle Nor common curses caus'd by publike greeuance Draw iudgment down on you for their mischieuance 258 Kings must vse some and may choose of the best But let them still remember what they are Let not all lawes be lock't vp in one brest Let no one only censure make or marre For men haue passions which oft straines them far The most sees least few best but none fees all Who hath not doth who doth not yet may fall 259 I do not barke against authoritie My heart did neuer lodge vnreuerend thought Heauen knowes how I adore iust Soueraigntie How oft my soule with vpheau'd hands hath sought Vnto that God whose precious blood vs bought For our right vertuous king this peacefull state And all those powers he doth subordinate 260 Oh if one beame of thy resplendent light Most faire all guiding Sun chance to descend Vpon this short abridgement which I write Let no conceipt thy sacred selfe offend For they were chiefly moulded to this end To shew how much our selues obliged stand For these good times as now do blesse our land 261 Which by collation of these wretched daies Appeare more full of comfort and content But I goe on Muse keepe the beaten wayes Whilst Spencers rul'd with common discontent Eu'n God himselfe inflicted punishment Vpon the Prince the people and the land Who felt the weight of his afflicting hand 262 The king himselfe was full of diffidence And thought to strengthen his partialitie The Lords not brooking Spencers insolence Did league
King Edward the 2 surnamed Carnaruen was crouned att westminster at the 22 yere of his age the 24 of febru 1â—03 he Raigned 19 yere 6 monethes was deposed the 25 of Ianuvarius 1326 he was slayne in the Castle of barkley in the 43 yere of his age THE DEPLORABLE LIFE AND DEATH of EDWARD the Second KING of ENGLAND Together with the Downefall of the two Vnfortunate Fauorits GAVESTONE and SPENCER Storied in an Excellent Poëm LONDON Printed for Roger Michell 1628. THE DEPLORABLE Life and Death of Edward the Second KING of ENGLAND 1 I Sing thy sad disaster fatall King Carnarvan Edward second of that name Thy Minions pride thy State ill managing Thy Peeres reuolt the sequell of the same Thy Life thy Death I sing thy sinne thy shame And how thou were depriued of thy Crowne In highest Fortune cast by Fortune downe 2 Did I say Fortune nay by Folly rather By vnrespect vnto the rules of State For let a Prince assure himselfe to gather As he hath planted either Loue or Hate Contempt or Duty not the workes of Fate Much lesse of Fortune but of due respects Two causes which must needes produce effects 3 As if a Prince doe lay his platforme right And then with courage prosecutes the same His ends proue happy but by ouer-sight He that is weake wholy subuerts the frame Of his owne building and doth idly blame Fortune which wise men make to wait on them But for a way-ward Mistrisse fooles condemne 4 In which Discourse if I shall hap to touch Those faults that in our time are frequent growne Let not the gauld offender winch or grudge For I intend a priuate wrong to none Onely I would haue those same errours knowne By which the State did then to ruine runne That warn'd by theirs our age like sins might shun 5 Nor doe I meane to bound my selfe so much As onely for to tye me to those times The causes courses consequents I 'le touch Of latter ages and of their designes And if detractions breath doth blast my lines Be it for me I haue for my defence The priuy coate of harmlesse innocence 6 And thou great King that now dost weild our State Building on that which former times did square Oh let it not be thought to derogate From thy perfections admirable rare If I some errors of these times declare Sure neuer State was so precisely good But faults haue scap'd which could not be withstood 7 For men are not like God compleat Diuine Whom neither passions mooue nor errors blinde Who is not limitted with any time Nor tyde to meanes nor into place confinde But free in all no counter-check doth finde But worketh all in all and nothing ill To contradict the least part of his will 8 Whereas our humane actions are all mixt Men liue in motion so do their designes Nothing is simply good or firmely fixt All haue defects nature it selfe declines Darknesse oft clouds the clearest Sunne that shines Our purest streames are not without their mud And we mistake what oft we take for good 9 Besides Kings needs must see with others eies From whence mistaking cannot choose but spring And when th' offence from errors doth arise Why should men cast the enuy on the King And not on those that mis-informe the thing This is the gall most banes the Kingly Throne That of his faults the least part is his owne 10 For he himselfe is blamelesse oft God knowes Except it be because he doth not know The noted scandals that arise from those On whom he doth his fauours most bestow Which they abusing discontents may grow Against the Prince though not deseruing them So apr we are euen goodnesse to condemne 11 Nor must we with a coale straight marke or brand A Prince or State because of some defect Who can be free from Sulley if 't so stand But that same Prince or State deserues respect Whose actions doth in generall effect And ayme at good for in particulets None can be so compleate but often erres 12 And much are they deceiu'd that thinke to finde A State without a blemish or a stayne Conceite may cast Ideas in the minde And forge strange formes not practis'd in the braine But States consist of men and men retaine This natiue badge which vnto all doth cleaue That is to be deceiu'd and to deceiue 13 The warlike Trumpet sounding to the fight Commands the hearing more then doth the reed Each eye is fixed on the Eagles flight When little Wrens deserue not any heed The greatest men shall haue the greatest meed Marke who so list and they shall finde it tride That all mens eares to Princes tongues are tide 14 Then let the World attend King Edwards words The second Edward matter fit for moane Whose smiles gaue life whose frownes did wound like swords Whilst hee did sit vpon the Kingly Throne Not minded now nor mean'd by any one So time cuts downe we see with fatall blow Aswell proud Oakes as humble shrubs below 15 Imagine with your selues you see him come From forth the deepe darke cauerns of the earth Starued and pin'd nothing but skin and bone In Princely plenty suffering want and dearth As naked as an infant at his birth So pinching need doth pluck what pride doth plant And wastfull ryot is repayd with want 16 And thus poore Prince begins his Tragicke plaint Am I the same that was first Edwards sonne By nature borne to liue without restraint Were there for me so many Trophies won By Long-shankes and such great atchiuements done I am the same and he so great did leaue me As none I thought of greatnesse could bereaue me 17 But now I finde by proofe that one there is And well it is that there is such a one Who is not hood-winckt vnto our amisse And he can pull vs from our Kingly Throne For all our Guards our Forts our Walls of Stone Know King how great and powerfull thou be The King of Kings still ruleth ouer thee 18 I know that nature apt to ouer-weene May easly straine a Princes thoughts too high I know it is and euermore hath beene A common course to flatter Maiesty Greatnesse is apt to swim in Surcudrie Yet though like hils we ouer-looke low grounds All vertuous Kings confesse they haue their bounds 19 And therefore though we haue Prerogatiues Yet there are certaine limits to the same Which hinders Kings to be Superlatiues To sway as Gods Lieutenants this faire frame And those Aspirers merit Death and shame That do repine against those Supreame powers Whom God hath made his vnderlings not ours 20 And yet although their State be free from force That giues not Lawlesse liberty in all Kings must obserue a iust and rightfull course God is their King by whom they stand or fall And euery Act vnto account will call Their oath their vertue and their owne renowne Are Dyamantine chaines to tye a Crowne 21 And such as are not moou'd with these respects
rather My hopefull Haruest proues but Thistles weedes And for the bloud I gaue my heart now bleeds 87 For oh how neere a touch doth Nature giue How searching are the sufferings of our bloud How much the Fathers soule doth ioy or grieue When he doth see his issue bad or good It 's hard of any to be vnderstood Except of those whose feelings bowels find What deepe impressions doe proceed from kind 88 Wise was the Prince who playing with his Sonne And teaching him to ride vpon a Reede To whom a great Ambassador did come And seem'd to blush at his so childish deede Doe not quoth he to iudgement yet proceed I onely craue a respit of thy doome Till thou thy selfe art Father of a Sonne 89 Inferring that there is a secret loue Which vntouch't hearts can hardly comprehend Would God the same reciprocall might proue Oh that kinde Nature would sometimes ascend Fathers too oft in indulgence offend But Sonnes more oft in duty proue defectiue These way ward times are growne so vnrespectiue 90 Nature so wrought that Cressus sonne cried out Who from his birth before had not spoke word When he did see a Souldier goe about To kill the King his Father with a sword Could Nature then such presidents afford Was she so powerfull then now weakned so That Sonnes themselues now work their Fathers woe 91 But foolish man why doe I blame my Sonne Whose yet vnknowing yeares by ill aduise Being led away a dangerous course doth runne For youths hot bloud forgets cold ages yee And whilst his hand is in doth throw the Dice At all that pleasure sets and thinkes to gaine If with the bye he can discharge the maine 92 Sweete Ned I blame not thee but Gauestone For he it is that sitteth at the Helme And steeres the Sterne at pleasure thou art blowne Nor will he leaue till he doth ouer-whelme In deepest gulfe thy selfe and all thy Realme For stirring spirits do troubl'd streames desire And then thriue best when all are set on fire 93 Obserue those wasted States that do decline How apt they are for innouation How much they doe 'gainst publick good repine And hopefully expect an alteration That whilst things are vnsetl'd out of fashion They may close vp the wounds they had before And by that meanes their priuate wants restore 94 Therefore let those that haue a grounded State And may liue well ioyne close in any wise Against all such as seeke to innouate If not in duty yet in good aduise To keep such downe as hope perhaps to rise Vpon their ruines whose reuenewes may Cut short their liues sure proue the spoilers pray 95 And with these linkes such spirits as would rise But are by former great ones still supprest And such do dangerous Stratagems deuise Not will their egar hopes afford them rest But mount they must who euer be deprest And little do they force the States confusion May they thereby to greatnesse make intrusion 96 And to this end they are obsequious still They sooth they fawne they seeme officious They fit themselues to their great mouers will Be 't good or bad iust or iniurious They serue euen turnes base and luxurious But I 'le prouide a wholesome Methridate So to preuent these poisons of the State 97 And firmely setled in this resolution By strict command was Gauestone exil'd I begg'd of him to stop th' execution But then my Father shak'd his head and smil'd Oh Ned quoth he how much art thou beguil'd To foster that which will thy downefall be And warme the Snake that will inuenome thee 98 I wish my selfe an Eccho at that word That I might then haue boldly answer'd thee For neuer was there sharpest edged sword That wounded more then that same wounded me But go he must that was the Kings decree And when he went then dy'd my bloudlesse heart So doth the body from my soule depart 99 The former times haue held it good aduise That some offender should abiure the Land But 't is a course both dangerous and vnwise And with no rules of Regiment can stand For if the matter be with iudgement scand It will appeare to men considerate That abiuration hurts both Prince and State 100 I do not meane of men that are not mist For who respects the humming of a Gnat Such Attomes may wander where they list Their muddy pates can neither frame the plat Nor feeble hands worke danger to the State Let men of note be mark'd and wary heed Be had of them that may disturbance breed 101 And 't is not safe to banish such a one As may finde meanes to worke his owne returne So Bullingbrooke stept in to Richards throne And he had leasure afterwards to mourne His foolish fault such Med'cines may adiourne The present paine a while but makes the sore To raue more selly then it did before 102 Mild drugs may stirre the humors that abound But will not quite expell the growing ill The roote and body both remaining sound Although the Tree be lopt yet thriues it still But when thou hast the Axe to vse at will Strike at the roote and fell it to the ground Rather then pare the boughes and branches round 103 For 't is lost labour to beginne with them They needes must wither if the other die And do not feare though vulgar breath condemne Thy carriage in such courses whose weake eie Lookes at the present only and thereby Values the rest do thou make good thy end The common sort will euer be thy friend 104 Wise Longshankes yet in this thou wert vnwise If thou hadst tooke the head of Gauestone Those subsequent disasters that did rise From him had beene preuented euery one Thy Sonne had not beene shouldred from his Throne Thy Peeres not slaine nor Realmes to ruine brought But so God workes till all his will be wrought 105 My Gauestone thus driuen into Exile My selfe committed like a Captiue thrall For so my Father kept me short a while VVith bitter curses I did ban them all I dranke my teares and fed vpon my gall I chaf'd and fround yet could I not preuaile Needs must wil be faine would doth often faile 106 Then were my colours turn'd to mournfull blacke I did put on the liuery then of care Like to the hopelesse Sea-man in a wracke That sees the greedy waues deuoure his share No otherwise did thoughtfull Edward fare When sad remembrance in my soule did plant His lot my losse his woe my pleasures want 107 The chiefest Cordiall of my grieuedsoule The one and onely period of my paine Was this that Death admitting no controule Would end my Fathers wrath his Life his Raigne And then thought I Ned will haue Pierce againe When Englands Crowne shall make a Ioue of me Then Gaueston my Ganimed shal be 108 As I did hope so had my hopes successe For shortly after did my Noble Sire VVhilst he prepar'd the Scots for to suppresse Loe now quoth I I haue
his Fortune any way declines For commonly the vulgar sort repines Against all actions that do want successe And in their humors weigh the agents lesse 219 And so they lye more open to their wracke VVhen they haue once manur'd a common hate And then some faire occasion cannot lacke Either by death to cancell their liues hate Or at the least to weaken so their State As that the Prince need feare no future harme That may proceed from their vnioynced arme 220 And hauing cleer'd thy selfe of such yet then That thou might'st keep thy Maiesty and State Thou needes must intertaine some Noble men But frothy bubbles full of idle prate Who study fashions know their place scarce that Al whose sweet worth is fetch'd from bad mens toombe And they themselues lesse worthy then their Groomes 221 Let them discourse of Kindred and Allies My vnckle Earle my cousen Duke or so Who liuing did this or that interprise And tell how his great Grand-fires house did go VVhen he in France incountred with his foe Grace these sweet Prince these thy Courts Comets be And pray for them the 'ile neuer pray for thee 222 Thus must thy twigs be lim'd thy nets display'd To catch these birds that sore vp to the Sunne And when these wise foundations once are layd T is almost ended that is well begunne Then art thou King indeede then hast thou wonne Vnto thy selfe an absolute estate Meane while thou liu'st but in a golden grace 223 Thus did this hellish Ate cast the ball Of discontent betwixt me and my Peeres Whose damned Counsels flowing from the gall Fill'd them with fury me with needlesse feare And set vs all together by the eares For straight to armes they get to venge the wrong And vow'd his head should answere for his tongue 224 I wish'd the trees were turn'd to armed troopes And all the boughes were pikes their hearts to wound All other birds the Princely Eagle stoopes The Lyon roares the beasts shake at the sound Why should not I their daring pride confound That saucily vsurp vppon my right But Lyons are no Lyons wanting might 225 But they did strike whilst that the Steele was hot And still came on to seize vpon their pray VVhat should we do complaine it booted not Go leauy men our men did dis-obay Sue for a Truce they would not grant a day Submit ourselues and so some pitty craue Me hurt they would not him they would not saue 226 That Prince indeede is to be held most wise VVho by his virtues doth his slate secure But he 's a foole that meanes to tyrannise And doth not seeke by forces to assure His owne designes for let him be most sure A Prince that 's weake and yet doth gouerne ill Is subiect to a thousand dangers still 227 Nothing remain'd but flight and flye we did So silly Doues before proud Falcons flye Till Gauestone in Scarborow Castle hid My Peeres surpris'd whom Warwicke Earle Sir Guy Beauchamp beheaded so my Pierce did dye A gloomy night concluded this faire morne And Fortunes Minion ended Fortunes scorne 228 Oh what is honor but an exhalation A fierye Meteor soone extinct and gone A breach of people and the tongues relation That straight is ended when the voice is done A morning dew dri'd vp with mid-day sunne A ceasing sweete like Danaës golden shower Which both began and ended in an houre 229 There breeds a little Beast by Nilus streames Which being borne when Phoebus first doth rise Growes old when he reflects his hottest beames And when at night to Westerne Seas he hies Then life begins to faile and straight it dyes Borne old and dead and all but in a day Such honor is so soone it weares away 230 How much more happy is that sweete estate That neyther creepes to low nor soares too high Which yeelds no matter to content or hate Which others not disdaine nor yet enuy Which neither does nor takes an iniury But liuing to it seke in sweete content Is neither fordide nor yet insolent 231 Hee liues indeede and spends his course of time In truest pleasure that this life can yeald He hath set houres to pray at euen and prime He walkes abroad into his quiet field And studies how his home affaires to weild His soule and body make one Common-wealth His Counsels care to keepe them both in health 232 He feares no poysons in his meates nor drinkes He needes no Guard to watch about his bed No treacher vndermines him what he thinkes No dangerous proiects hammer in his head He sits and sees how things are mannaged And by obseruing what hath erst beene done He leuels oft how future things will runne 233 If he would deale with Kings and mighty men He doth conuerse with them in History If he would know the Heauenly motions then He takes his Globe he reads Astronomy His Maps and Charts doe teach Cosmography And whilst in his safe Cell he studying stands In one short houre he sailes both Sea and Lands 234 And tir'd perhaps with the Discouery Of Forraine things he comes more neerer home He lookes into himselfe with curious eye That little World that is indeede his owne He trauels in which being truely knowne Affords enough for wonder and delight When he hath learn'd to know himselfe aright 235 The Earle of Cornwall causer of the warre Thus being dead they layd their weapons downe Protesting all they would not goe so farre As to be thought disloyall to the Crowne But they did seeke the Realmes and my renowne Which was eclipst in him which they had slaine But Englands Sphaere would not grow cleare againe 236 Oh still darke clouds doth shaddow Englands sphaere And bitter stormes on gloomy clouds dependant Vnfortunate and fatall euery yeare Whilst haplesse Edward was chiefe Lord ascendant Malignant starres were still on me attendant Though at my birth loue smil'd with sweere aspect Yet froward nature did my life direct 237 For though disasted Gauestone was dead Yet Edward liu'd and liu'd to farther ill For still I was by my â—ffections led I will'd no Law yet had no Law but will My Peeres disgrac'd my Councell grieued still The Spencers they succeeded Gauestone He chang'd for worse and worse two ills for one 238 These Spencers now the subiect of my Song Discended of a race of good esteeme The elder Hugh the father liued long In great accompt and happy daies had seene Till his ambitious sonne did ouer-weene VVhose greatnesse caus'd the Father to aspire And at the last did wracke both Sonne and Syre 239 Oh what hast thou old man to do with Court Thy bookes and beads had better beene for thee Liue still retir'd and do not now resort To stormie tempest age doth ill agree With great concourse and vulgar mutinie It rather craues immunity and rest And powerfull case with tumult not distrest 240 Whose ioynts being wrack't torturd with the gowte Can scarce endure the stirring of a straw Who being vn-wildie must be
armes they got them by and by They moued warre the Spencers to remoue Hate armed them and I was arm'd by loue 354 They leui'd men I likewise men did leuie Both raised all the forces we could make A tyrants hand they say was too too heuy A traytors head I said became a stake They vow'd redresse I vow'd reuenge to take We met and meeting fought and fighting found No hurt more grieues than doth a selfe-wrought wound 355 Oh English Peeres relinquish impious Armes Build not your weightiest actions vpon Sand T is not the collout of-pretended harmes Nor seeming zeale vnto your natiue land Nor reformation though you beare in hand The people so of some abuse of lawes That can make lawfull your vnlawfull cause 356 These haue and euer haue bin those smoth oyles With which foule treason seekes to paint her face That shee might seeme faire pleasing full of similes So to win loue and gaine the peoples grace Who sillie Gudgions euer bite apace Vntill the fatall hooke be swallow'd downe Which by ambition Angles for a Crowne 357 Who euer practiz'd against Prince or State But alwayes did pretend the common good Therby to draw into Contempt or hate The course of gouernment as then it stood This hath bin still the marrow life and bloud Of such attempts but heare the rule stands fast What 's thought on first is executed last 358 For when that once their priuat turne is seru'd The cares of common wealth is lai'd a side That did but whet the knife with which they caru'd For their owne good that Vizor did but hide Some secret ends not fit to be descride Vntill accomplish'd which once brought to passe The publicke state stands as before it was 359 And for to Angle men crimes must be made Against the Prince if he be without touch If that no iust exceptions can be had Then must the imputation rest on such As being neere the Prince are vsed much For this is certaine they that stand on hie Are fairest marks for fowlest obloquie 360 But though the Arrow seemeth at them aym'd Yet through their sides it wounds the Princes brest Whose reputation cannot be but maym'd By their reproach whom they do fauour best And they that kill the birds would spoyle the nest But what 's intended must be closely wrought And that pretended which was neuer thought 361 Why should vaine man still doubt his actions thus With outward whitelime which are pitch'd within Eu'n wicked kings must be endur'd by vs. What ere the cause be Treason is a sinne Rebellious armes cannot true honour win The Sword is not the Subiects his defence In all extreames is prayer and patience 362 Therefore deere spirits die not your siluer armes Into a Sanguine with your mothers blood Let not vnciuell hands cause ciuill harmes For priuat greefe confound no publicke good Not all the water in the Ocean flood Can wash the sinne from you and your allies For treason liues although the traitor dies 363 Sweet Trent how were thy Christ all waters stain'd With English blood that was at Burton shed Let Burrow-bridge a Golgotha be nam'd A field of Death wherein lay buried So many people and all natiues bred Had those deere liues gainst Frenchmen beene imployed We had not greeu'd though they had liu'd or di'de 364 At last the doubtfull victorie prou'd mine The Barons lost the day and lost their liues Their heads went off whose hearts did so repine Against their Prince for Treason seldome thriues That great all-seeing God whose knowledge Diues Into the deepest secret of the soule Vniust contempts in Iustice doth controle 365 Great Lancaster then whom no greater Earle This greatest Ile of Europe had before Good Lancaster in goodnesse such a pearle That him the vulgar sort did long adore Had then his head strooke off and many more Euen of the greatest felt the selfe same stroke So lightning spares the shrub and teares the Oake 366 The sword was sharpe and wounded euery where Many great men of noble qualitie In seuerall Cities were beheaded there For beinst Actors in that trecherie Which alwaies proues a mournfull Tragedy For though I know the sword is due to such Yet should a Prince forbeare to strike too much 367 For often executions in a state especiallie of men of fashion First stir vp pitie then dislike then hate Then close Complaint then Combination Then followes practise for some alteration And that indangers all if not withstood Although vnprosperous yet it spills much blood 368. And the same Throne that 's often wet with blood Is very slippry apt to catch a fall Yeelding no howres rest nor pleasures good Sleeping on thornes and feeding vpon gall Still thinking meditating ill of all Haunted with restles feares whilst day doth last And then at night with fearfull dreamesagast 369 Our Stories do report third Richard so And without doubt he did too much let blood Alwaies mistrustfull both of friend and foe Readie to strike them that but neere him stood Fearfull to all such was his furious moode And fearing all as one that knew too well How manie soules did wish his soule in hell 370 Oh that a Prince might see a Tyrants minde What Monsters what Chimeraes therein are What horrors in his soule he still doth finde How much himselfe is with himselfe at war Euer diuided full of thought and Care With Pistolls Poniards poysons he conceipts And thinks each one for his destruction waits 371 Besides indeed it is no policie Except it be in a meere Turkish state To make the Crowne a Common butcherie To gouern all by feare which breedeth hate In noble minds and doth exasperate A freeborne people where the Turkish race Feare best commands being seruile poore base 372 Princes rewards should fall like gentle raine Which coming softly doth the longer last That their sweet relish might still fresh remaine Their executions should be done in hast Like sudden furious stormes that soone are past Because when once the violence is done Th' offence thereof may be forgot and gone 373 One limbe of the great bodie that did band It selfe against me in these factious fraies Was Mortimer who yet vpon command Came in before the fight then straight waies Sent to the Tower to spend his wearie dayes In wretched bands restrain'd from libertie But walls of stone kept not out destinie 374 Which either finds or maks it selfe away For Mortimer thus sent vnto the Tower To free himselfe still labors night and day And by a sleepy potion which had power To make men slumber till a certaine howre He found the meanes his keeper being fast To make escape and got to France at last 375 This was not done without my Queenes consent Whose head and hand were working in the same Litle thought I that that way the hare went But Steeuen Segraue only I did blame Wretched mankind how bould we are to frame Hopes to our selues how blind to see our ill That least