portraiture 645 The Earth it selfe is wearie of my paine And like a tender Mother moanes for mee From me thou cam'st returne to me againe Within my wombe I 'le keepe the safe quoth she And from these vile abuses set thee free Never shall these fell Tyrants wrong thee more Hee that payes death dischargeth euery score 646 These bodyes that thou seest thy Brothers were Subject to many wants and thousand woes They now are clear'd from Care and free'd from feare And from the pressures of Insulting foes And now they liue in joy and sweet repose Thy selfe can'st witnesse that they feele no woe And as they rest eu'n thou shalt rest thee so 647 Their eyes that whil'st they liu'd oft Tyded teares Thou seest how sweetly they Injoy their rest Those harsh vnpleasing sounds that wrong'd their Eares Are turn'd to Angels tunes among the blest Their Soules that were w th pensiue thoghts possest Now in their Makers bosome without end Injoy that peace whereto thy Soule doth bend 648 And thou hast need of peace poore wretched Soule If euer any Soule had need of Peace God being in Armes against thee doth enroule All Nature in his list which doth not cease To fight against thee and doth still Increase Thy wretchednesse forbeare rebellious dust To warre with him who is most great and just 649 O would to God that I had dy'd ere this Then had my sinnes bin feweâ— then they are Then had my Soule long since repos'd in blisse That now Is wandring still in wayes of Care Lifes griefe exceeds lifes good with-out CoÌ„pare Each day doth bring a fresh supply to Sorrow Most wretched now yet shal be more to morrow 650 My carefull mother might haue helped mee When I lay sprawling in her tender wombe If she had made her burd'ned Bellie bee My fruit-lesse birth-bed and my fatall Tombe Sure had she knowne her Sonnes accursed doome She never would haue wrong'd her selfe so much To beare a wretch saue whom was never such 651 My tender Nurse is guilty of these paines Shee might haue put some poyson in my pap Or let me fall and so dash'd out my braines When she full oft did dance me on her lap A thousand wayes had freed me from mishap But he whom Heau'n ordaines to liue distrest Death will delay to set that wretch at rest 652 For Death's the wearie Pilgrims rest and joy This world of woes a hard and flintie way Our birth the path that leades to our annoy Our friends are fellowâ—passengers to day And gone to morrow Honour Is a stay That eyther stops or leades vs else amisse Pleasures are Theeues that Intercept our blisse 653 And in the passage as the way doth lye Wee meet with seuerall Innes wherein we rest Some at the Crowne are lodg'd and so was I Some at the Castle So am I distrest Some at the Horne That married folkes doe feast Though men haue divers Innes yet all men haue One home to which they go that 's the graue 564 Yet whil'st we trauaile Fortune like the weather Doth alter faire or foule so doth our way If faire then Friends like foules do flocke together If foule Each man doth shift a severall way Onely our vertues or our vices stay And goe with vs whose endlesse memorie Doth make vs liue or dye Eternally 655 This Is the freight that men cannot vnload No not by death Therefore Mortalitie Worke for thy selfe whil'st here thou hast abode For on the present hath dependancie Eyther thy endlesse blisse or miserie And death 's the Convoy to conduct vs home Come death to me that I to rest may Come 656 Perhaps thou fearst me being great and hye O death Man were a thing Intollerable Were he not mortall But eu'n Kings must dye No priuiledge doth against death Inable Both fat and leane are dishes for his Table The diff'rence this The poore-one hath his graue The great-one hee his Monument must haue 657 Our fates may be concein'd but not Controul'd Before our dated time we cannot dye Our dayes are numbred and our minutes told Both life and death are destin'd from on high And when that God that rules the Imperiall skye Shall find It fit then thou shalt goe in peace Meane while with patience looke for thy release 658 Thus vnto Care I pay'd his due Complaint And joynd withall my tributarie teares Such my laments 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-guilty soules that vs'd me so As they resolu'd by death to end my woe 659 To which effect came Letters from the Court Written by Tarleton at the Queenes command In such a cloudie and ambiguous sort That diuers wayes one might them vnderstand By pointing them That if they should be scann'd Hee and his Letters might be free from blame And they Delinquents that abus'd the same 660 The words were these * Kill Edward doe not feare 'T is good which being Comma'd diuersly As pleas'd the Reader double sence may beare O Art Thou art the Earths chiefe treasurie But being Imploy'd to practise villanie What monstrous births from thy faire wombe do spring So Grâ—mmar here is made to kill a King 661 Which to effect They first remoued mee From forth the place where I before did lye And made a shew as if they seem'd to bee Compassionated for my miserie And would hereafter graunt Immunitie From such vnworthy vsage So we see The Sunne shines hot before the shower wil bee 662 But being ouer-watch'd and wearied too Nature was much desirous of some rest Which gaue them opportunitie to doe What they desir'd for being with sleepe opprest They clap great massie Beds vpon my brest And with their weight so kept me down withall That breath I could not much lesse Cry or Call 663 And then into my Fundament they thrust A little horne as I did groueling lye And that my violent death might shun mistrust Through that same horne a red hot Spit whereby They made my guts and bowels for to fry And so Continu'd till at last they found That I was dead yet seem'd to haue no wound 664 And here I pitch the Pillars of my paine Now Ne plus vltra shall my Poesie bee And thou which hast describ'd my tragicke raigne Let this at least giue some content to thee That from disastrous fortunes none are free Now take thy web out of the Loomes againe And tell the world that all the world Is vaine THE AVTHORS Noli peccare 1 FOrbeare to Sinne God hath thee still in sight Nothing is hid from his all seeing Eye Though thou putt'st on the Sables of the night Thou canst not cloud thy selfe from him thereby All time all place all Ends and all thy meanes He better sees then thou the Suns bright beames 2 Forbeare to Sinne The Angels grieue for thee When by thy Sinne thou grieu'st thy louing Lord. Those noble natures our Attendants bee To whom both day and night they doe afford Theyr dearest seruice O vnkind too much To cause their griefe whose loue to thee is such 3 Forbeare to Sinne For eu'n that damned Fiend That mou'd thee first and sooth'd thee in thy Sin When hee hath once attayn'd his cursed End And made thee Act his ill will straight begin To aggrauate thy guilt Hee 'l vrge thy shame Against thy selfe that vrg'd thee to the same 4 Forbeare to Sinne For out of Sinne doth breed A biting worme that gnawes the Sinner still Deuouring wolfe that on thy selfe doest feed Blacke Register that do'st record our Ill. And makes the Soule the booke where thou dost write Sad thoughts by day and fearefull dreames by night 5 Forbeare to Sinne Death standeth at the Doore Ready to Enter on thy house of Earth One day being spent The lesser is thy store Of time to come Man dyes from his first birth Who euer writes or speakes of any-One Still ends his tale with Mortuus est Hee 's gone 6 Forbeare to Sinne There is a day of Doome There are Records where thy sinnes are Inrol'd There is a just and fearefull Iudge from whom Lyes no appeale Who cannot bee control'd Whom teares-almes prayers may here to mercy moue But theÌ„ there is no place for peace or loue 7 Forbeare to Sinne Because there is a Hell Where cease-lesse ease-lesse Endlesse torments be Where Diu'ls all the damned Soules doe dwell Whom Millions of yeares shall neuer free Where to remaine Is grieuous past Conceit And whence not any hope to make retreat Therefore to End as I did first begin Let these respects make thee forbeare to Sin Quorum si singula duram Flectere non possunt possunt tamen Omnia Mentem FRAN. HVBERT Miles Timens Deum non habet quod timeat vlterius FINIS IACOBVS 1 Tacitus Sardanapalus A transmigration of the soule froÌ„ one body to another Onâ— of Pythagoras his dreames Alexander magnus Themisâ—ocles Rich. 2. ALEXANDER Epiroâ— SARDANAPALVS ROVVEN HENRY 4. the Great The death of GAVESTON IACOB I. Da obuluâ—â—â— Bellisario vâ—â—â—ator queâ—â— Inuidia noâ—â— culpa cacâ—â—â—â—â—it formâ—â— suaepetitionâ—â— IACOB I. Tho. Plantaginet Earle of Lancaster Richard 〈◊〉 Earle of Warwicke 〈…〉 Constable of the Tower ADAM DE ORLETON or TARLTON Bâ—shâ—p of Hereford By Narwich in Essex HENRY 4. RICH. 2. Bishop of Winchester ALEXANDER Quid gloriâ—â—vis potens iâ—â— molitiâ—â—udâ— HENRY 1. Speaker of the Parliament Henry Earle of Lecester kept him at Kenelworth Tho. Gurney Iob. Maltrevers Knights â—linius Edward umâ—â— occidere nolitâ— timere bâ—num est Deus videt Angelâ— tristaÌ„tur Diabolus accusat Conscientiaterret Mors minatur â—â—dicium instat â—nferni â—crâ—ciant
Prince His gracious touch may gild without offence The greatest wants and make him for to soare A loftie Pitch that flagg'd the wing before 164 Not all the painfull passages one spends In serious Contemplation of deepe Arts Nor any-one Imployment so commends The Agent though a man of rarest parts As when the Prince but One sweet smile Imparts One Looke of Loue One Eye-glance of delight Hath power to change darke Clouds to Sunnes most bright 165 The Eyes of Kings are more then simply Eyes They are the Starres that doe predominate Th' affayres of men and in theyr Influence lyes The good or bad of euery-ones estate They are the Primum Mobile of Fate They whirle about our Fortunes as they list And as they fauour men are Curst or Blist 166 A Kings smooth brow Is the true dwelling place Of Honour wealth dependancie respect And in his frowning fore-head Liues disgrace Death Exile want a generall neglect A world of wrongs let that poore wretch expect Bee it All Riuers to the Sea must runne And euery Light receiue light from the Sunne 167 Let them bee great whom Kings resolue to grace It is a Priuiledge that is theyr owne To rayse such as they please to wealth or place Is truely proper to the Kingly throne And hath not bin deny'd to any-One Lewes th' eleuenth did say hee spent his Raigne In making and in marring men againe 168 Some by the Schoole some by the Lawes do mount Some by the Sword and some by Nauigation All streames haue heads though not the selfe-same fount Shall onely Kings admit a Limitation How high for what desert or of what Nation They shall advance It were a wretched thing On that Condition to become a King 169 To make new Creatures Is the Princes due And without murmur let him haue his owne The danger onely Is to him that 's new For Enuie euer waytes on such an-One Both from those men that are not so well growne And from great houses too who streight wil feare Lest such new Stars should thrust them froÌ„ theyâ— Spheare 170 And those which once haue got the highest staire Will keep them downe that mount with too much hast 'T is best say some to rise but soft and faire If thou wilt gaine thy journies end at last Tyre not thy meanes by posting ouer-fast Stirre like a Dyall vnperceiu'd to moue So shalt thou gather strength and purchase loue 171 And therefore they that found a Familie Must gather wealth liue vnder theyr estates Make great pretences of Humilitie Ally them-selues with grac'd Confederates Serue Great mens turnes so to avoyd theyr hates For Cerberus with Hony-sops was pleas'd And Malice must with Mildnes bee appeas'd 172 Then let It bee his worke that next succeeds To rayse him-selfe vnto a farther height By home-Imployments or by forreine deeds Or by vnlading some of that rich fraight Of wealth which he had stor'd And that wil streight Bring Honour to his house That golden key To all designes opens a ready way 173 Nor shall â—ee find such eager Opposition Time hauing worne out all his Fathers foes Or else perhaps altred theyr dispositions By Guifts by Matches by Obsequious showes Or else perchance for feare of future blowes And so some few discents from heyre to heyre The newnesse of the House will varnish faire 174 Where sodaine Greatnes ruin'd Gaveston Whom I too much preferr'd before my Peeres Who did possesse mee more then any One From whence grew many jealousies and feares Close discontents which at first appeares Of little moment worthlesse of respect But prou'd such skarres as wee did least expect 175 It is the praise and blessing of the Sunne To make his heate and light both generall Princes are Sunnes and both must freely runne An open Course and not bee seuerall Vnto some few but common vnto all The poorest he that breathes this Song may sing Wee all haue Interest in the Ayre and King 176 And this too much did speake my heady passion Who like pure water should haue had no tast This Error did my gouernment disfashion That Gaveston vnworthily was grac'd And made too great a monster huge and vast Who in this growth being vnproportionall Became offensiue to himselfe and all 177 The Court which in my Fathers life-time seem'd A Senate-house of siluer-headed Sages Might now a pompous Theater bee deem'd Pester'd with Panders Players and with Pages Of my ensuing fall too true presages And yet in shew It seemed fairer farre So Comets glister more then any Starre 178 But O the quiet of that happie Land Where aged Nestors beare the chiefest sway Where strength of mind more rules then force of hand Where Old men bid and Young men do obey Where Ages winter guideth youths sweet May. But when the foot or hand Commands the head The Body then is many wayes misled 179 Let siluer hayre and long-experienc'd Age Bee sole directors of each enterprize Let youth bee as an Actor on the Stage To execute what stayder-heads deuise For Youth is Actiue Age discreet and wise Youth is more daring but precipitate Age more Iudicious and considerate 180 Yet should not Statists bee too-aged men Because by too much time theyr spirits decay They Earthy grow and Melancloly then Heauie and dull theyr Edge being worne away Weyward and teachy wrangling all the day Full of moâ—ositie and which is worse Extreamly giu'n to gripe and fill the purse 181 Besides wee see some men are ripe betimes Like Summer fruit soone pleasing to the tast And if those Spirits in whom such vertue shines May bee with Greatnes and Imployments grac'd They Come to full maturitie at last Men of exceeding worth when they are growne Both for their Countries good for their owne 182 But to my Selfe Who did neglect my Peeres And only did divote my selfe to pleasure Lou'd I Why Loue it selfe loues youthfull yeres Spent I Why Kings should not be â—laues to treasure Heard I not Subiects suits I had no leisure Did I neglect my Peeres conuerse What then Ioue is not ty'd to sort him-selfe with men 183 When they did say that Scottish Bruce did burne My Northerne borders and did wast the same Then sighing I to Gaveston would turne And say sweet Pierce my selfe feels fancies flame I saw I loue I dye for such a Dame Cupid I feare to mee a Bruce will proue My Holds by him my heart is fir'd by Loue. 184 With these and many more fantasticke toyes I shifted-off my Councell when they came I had not time enough to spend in joyes Why should I spare one minute from the same Let them that list by warres goe out for fame I force it not giue mee those pleasing warres Where blowes are giu'n but such as cause no scarres 185 But when the field is to a field bed turn'd When Eyes like sharpest Lances pierce yet please WheÌ„ amorous Harts with equall flames are burn'd When Foes lye downe our furie to appease And lips on lips
his sharpe auenging sword Till his just plagues no breathing time afford Then I haue sinn'd Pray for me Let them goe And then who God Is Pharoh learnes to know 517 So doth the Sharpest bryer heare sweetest Rose And bittrest Poâ—ions purge the body best How woundrously doth God his workes dispose That eu'n by Crosses he can make vs blest And hatch our chiefest joy in sorrowes nest Then let vs not repine against his doome But weaue our web as he hath warp'd our loome 518 And Reading of the world thou read'st aright It is indeed but meerely temporall And those deare pleasures wherein men delight Friends honours riches all are Casuall And as they haue their honny so their gall There 's nothing certaine in the world but this That euery worldly thing vncertaine Is. 519 Whom Rosie Phoebus rising in the East Hath seene aloft in glory and renowne Before he tooke his lodging in the West Hath often seene as low dejected downe That man that in the morning wore the Crown Had not er'e night nor Crown nor head to weare So full of frailties are our fortunes here 520 These were our parlies as we sate alone These tearefull Tributes duely were defraid Now did we walke and weepe now sit groane Till faithlesse Welch me friendles wretch betrays Vnto their hands who streight waies me conueys To Kâ—nnelworth where I imprison'd lay And neuer after saw one happy day 521 The proofe whereof we doe not onely see But by a selfe experience we doe feele Others to vs haue taught others shall bee Inform'd by vs how that part of the wheele That 's now aloft doth streight wayes downward reele And never rests at any certaine stay But vp and downe weares out a wearie way 522 The Spencers both the Father and the Sonne Discended of an ancient worthy race By whose directions all designes were done And nothing past with-out their speciall grace They were so great in power so high in place Both dy'd such wretched deaths as men may say A gloomie night shut vp a glorious day 523 To vse the French-mans phrase vnder an Oake They both of them at seuerall times did dye Their Bodies quartered by the Hangmans stroake Their Heads cut off were placed very high As Spectacles for euery enuious Eye Which done sayes form of Law by lawlesse will Though they deseru'd It was vnjust and Ill. 524 The Sonne Glosters proud Earle so great before Had a white Paper fix'd vpon his head Wherein both to disgrace and grieue him more In * Capitall letters were Caractred Those words that in one of the Psalmes are read For so the two and fiftieth doth begin Thou Mightie Man why do'st thou boast iâ— Sinne 525 Vnhappie Lord It was enough to dye It was too much to dye with sâ—orne and shame Men should not trample vpon miserie Since euery Mothers Sonne may share the same I know he was in many things too blame Proud griping cruell Well Say what you can Yet giue me leaue to say Hee was a man 526 I write not Idly doe not read mee so I pray obserue vpon what slipperie way Greatnes that is too great doth euer goe How apt It is to catch a fall and they That so doe slip how readily they may Breake their own necks without especiall grace They fall not soft that fall from an high place 527 Besides who will obserue the Course of things From Conquering Williams Raigâ—e til this our age Shall find how those great Fauorites of Kings Haue by themselues bin brought to tragicke stage Or prou'd vnprosperous by the vulgar rage Or weeded vp by him that next succeeds Such dangerous humours swelling greatnesse breeds 528 Thou shalt not need to trauaile very farre To fetch in matter to informe thy mind Of which our Stories true relaters are Studie but them Thou shalt not faile to find Particuler Examples in each kind I am but as an Index to a Booke To point thee too 't Turne thou the leaues and looke 529 Aske Wolsey Aske Lord Cromwell Both will say That Princes Minions doe but hold at will That fauours neuer were Free holds but they Are soone transferr'd from one t' another still That as the wind doth change So must the Mill. Bee turn'd about and euery-one doth know Winds doe not alwayes in one quarter blow 530 Empson and Dudley flourish'd very faire And mightie were during seuenth Henries raigne But he being dead his next succeeding Heire Did cut them downe and they did fall againe They had their waxing and they had their wane And for the vulgar rage who doth not know How many mightie men haue perish'd so 531 I was my selfe depos'd by Parliament From Princely rule as one not fit to raigne Both Peeres and people all did giue consent That I vnking'd in durance should remaine And sent their Agents to me to explaine That if I would not to my Sonne resigne They 'd chuse a Prince out of some other Line 532 O Englands Peeres weigh what you take in hand Looke but with Iudgement into your designe That which you now attempt will wracke the Land The wounds whereof will bleed in after-time And Babes vnborne will Curse your hatefull crime For what so doth peruert the course of things Wrath Enuie death and desolation brings 533 There is a lawfull and a certaine right Which alwayes must be kept Inuiolate And being infring'd by practise or by might Drawes fearfull Iudgements downe vpon a State Then you or yours will wish although too late That I had kept my rightfull Int'rest still And you had not bin Agents in this Ill. 534 When your owne children shall each other wound And with accursed hands gore eythers brest When Ciuill furie shall your state confound Then will you say His Ghost is not at rest His whom vnjustly we haue dispossest The second Eâ—wards for whose Sacrifice Your Nâ—phews then shall pay a bloudie price 535 Neuer O neuer was the rightfull Course Of this our Crowne peruerted or supprest But still the same hath bin the fatall source Of many mischiefes and of much vnrest And as the Land hath bin therewith opprest So the vsurpers neuer kept it long In any quiet what they got with wrong 536 William who with his sword did get the Crowne Winning by Conquest what he kept with Care The true lawfull heire being shouldred down Like a wood-Lyon His owne word did fare Against the English whom he did not spare Or young or old that were of worth and place And for the rest He yoak'd with bondage base 537 And as he toyl'd the Land with his vnrest So tasted hee his share of miserie Robert rebels a Byrd of his owne nest The Normans breake forth into mutinie Tâ—â— ' opressed English hatch conspiracie Alwayes in Forreigne broyles or Ciuill strife And so wastes forth a wretched wearie life 538 Nay Death the Period-maker of all moane Eu'n against Nature followes him with spight The mightie Prince of thousands waited-on Being dead
King Edward the 2. surnamed Carnaruen was crouned att Westminster at the 22. yere of his age the 24. of febru 1308. he Raigned 19 yere 6 monethes was deâ—â—sed the 25 of Iaâ—â—â—â—rius 1326. he was slayne in the Castle of barkley in the 43 yere of his age THE HISTORIE OF EDWARD THE SECOND Surnamed CARNARVAN one of our English KINGS Together with the Fatall down-fall of his two vnfortunate Favorites GAVESTON and SPENCER Now Published by the Author thereof according to the true Originall Copie and purged from those foule Errors and Corruptions wherewith that spurious and surreptitious Peece which lately came forth vnder the same Tytle was too much defiled and deformed With the Addition of some other Observations both of vse and Ornament By F. H. Knight LONDON Printed by B. A. and T. F. for L. Chapman and are to be sold at his Shop at the vpper end of Chancery-Lane 1629. TO HIS VERY LOVING Brother Mr. RICHARD HVBERT the Author of this historicall Poëme F. H. Knight wisheth all Health and Happinesse WORTHY SIR I Know that noble Natures desire more to doe good then to hearâ— of the good they doe and therefore without all farther Complement you shall giue me leaue Onely to say thus much That if GOD and Nature had not yet your many kind and Constant fauours to mee and all mine haue made mee truely your owne which as I gladly acknowledge so I would haue the World take notice That I am both sensible of them and thankefull for them And now Sir being already deepe in your debt I must still runne farther vpon your score by committing to your Care and custodie this Innocent Child not of my Body but of my Braine It is surely of full Age for It was conceiued and borne in Queene Elizabeths time but grew to more maturitie in King IAMES's and therefore as wee vse to say It should be now able to shift for It selfe But I that gaue It life finding the weaknesse thereof was fully resolved to keepe It still at home vnder mine owne wing and not to let It see the Sunne when loe after Twenty yeares concealement when I thought the vnfortunate Babe like to It 's Father euen dead to the World I saw the false and vncomely Picture of my poore Child taken by a most vnskilfull hand offered to the publicke sight and censure of euery judicious Eye and though that could not yet truely I did blush for It to see It so nakedly so vnworthily so mangled and so maymed thrust into the world that I scarce knew It and was asham'd to owne It And therefore good Brother to vindicate both It and my Selfe from those grosse and sencelesse Errours wherewith that false Bastard was too foulie deformed I haue now sent It abroad to seeke It's fortunes in It 's own true shape and habite desiring your Selfe and euery vnderstanding Reader for I know It is not for the vse of euery Ordinarie Eye to lâ—oke vpon that former Peece with scorne and Contempt and once againe to take a resurvay of It as now It Appeares in It's owne true feature and posture It may bee you shall find somewhat in It both to informe the Vnderstanding and to rectifie the Affections and if in any of the Passages thereof It shall seeme eyther too light and remisse or too bold and free eyther too open and tart or too sparing and reseru'd That you must impute eyther to the matter that I handle or the parties that I personate which must of necessitie be drawne according to the true Life both in colours and proportion or else the Worke will bee of very little vse and of lesse Grace and Ornament eyther to my Selfe or others And so humbly desiring the Almighty to blesse You both in Soule Body and Estate I rest not your Servant according to the new and fine but false Phrase of the Time but in honest old English your loving Brother and true Friend for euer FRAN HVBERT THE AVTHORS PREFACE ⸫ 1 REbellious thoughts why doe you tumult so And striâ—e to breake from forth my troubled brest â—t not enough that I my selfe doe know The mouing Causes of mine owne vnrest â—â—s't not enough to know my selfe distrest O no Surcharged hearts must needs complaine Some ease it is though small to tell our paine 2 Yet weyward thoughts retire vnto your home â—nto my heart your proper home retire There rest in your vnrest till Death â—oth come And Death will come call'd by conceal'd desire For Coales rak'd vp glow more then open Fire And deepest streames doe run with smoothest speed And silent griefes are the true griefes Indeed 3 But if my heart bee so Inâ—r'd to groaning Or if my tongue must bee the voyce of Sorrow Or that my Pen bee still Injoyn'd to moaning Because my night of Care hath neuer morrow Yet of my griefe thus much at least I 'le borrow That for a time I may surcease mine owne And tune my Muse to tell anothers moane 4 Anothers moane to tell my Muse is tun'd If any tune can bee in jaâ—ring Griefe And I a King for subject haue assum'd An English King Whâ—â— whilst he liâ—'d was chiâ— In Honours height yet dyed without reliefe So true is that which SOLON once did say No man is Happie till his dying day F. H. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF EDVVARD the Second 5 IT is thy sad disaster which I sing Carnarvan EDVVARD Second of that name Thy Minions pride thy States ill-managing Thy Peeres revolt the sequell of the same Thy Life thy Death I sing thy Sin thy shame And how thou wert depriued of thy Crowne In highest fortunes cast by Fortune downe 6 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 eyther Loue or Hate Contempt or Dutie not the workes of Fate Much lâ—sse of Fortune but of due respects To Causes which must needs produce effects 7 As if a Prince doe draw his plat-forme right And then with courage builds vpon the same His ends proues happie But by ouersight Hee that is weake wholly subuerts the frame Of his owne building and doth Idly blame Fortune the seruant to deseruing merit But the Commander of the aâ—ject spirit 8 In which discourse if I shall hap to touch Those faults which in our time are frequent growne Let not the gall'd 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 mighâ— shunne 9 Nor doe I meane to bound my selfe so much As onely for to tye mee to those Times The causes courses consequents I 'le touch Of later Ages and of their designes And if detrâ—ctions breath doth blast my Lines Bee it for me I haue for my defence The priuie-Coat of harmlesse Innocence 10 And thou * great King that now do'st weild our State
Building on that which former times did square O let it not be thought to derogate From thy perfections admirably rare If I some errours of these Times declare Since neuer State was so precisely good But faults haue scap'd which could not be with stood 11 For men are not like God compleat divine Whom neither passions moue nor errors blind Who is not limited with any time Nor tyde to meanes nor into place confin'd But free in all no counter checke doth find To contradict the least part of his will But worketh all in all and nothing Ill. 12 Whereas our humaine actions all are mixt Men liue in motion so doe theyr designes Nothing is simply good or firmely fix'd All haue defects Nature it selfe declines Darknes oft clouds the clearest Sun that shines Our purest streames are not without their mud And we mistake what oft we take for good 13 Besides Kings needs must see with others Eyes From whence mistakings caÌ„not choose but spring And when the offence from Error doth arise Why should men cast the Enuie on the King And not on those that mis-informe the thing It is the gall most banes the Kingly throne That of his faults the least part is his owne 14 For hee him-selfe is blamelesse oft God knowes Except it bee because hee doth not know The noted Scandals that arise from those On whom hee doth his fauours most bestow Which they abusing discontents may grow Against the Prince though not deseruing them So apt wee are eu'n Goodnes to condemne 15 Nor must we with a blacking Coale streight brand A Prince or State because of some defect Who can be free from Sulley if so scan'd But that same Prince or State deserues respect Whose actions doe in generall affect And ayme at good for in particulers None can be so compleat but often erres 16 And much they are deceiu'd that thinke to find A State without some blemish or a staine Conceit may cast Ideas in the mind And forge strange formes in th'inuentiue braine But States consist of men and men retaine One natiue badge which vnto all doth cleaue That is to be deceiu'd and to deceiue 17 It is the sole Prerogatiue of Heau'n Not to be tainted with the smallest error But that Immunitie was neuer giu'n To Earth wise Soloman be thou the mirrour Where all may see their frailties euen with terror Thou mouing in perfections higest Spheare Fell from thy orbe who hath not cause to feare 18 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 find it try'd That all mens eares to Princes tongus are ty'd 19 Then let the world attend King Edwards words The second Edwards matter fit for moane Whose smiles gaue life whose frownes did wound like swords Whilst he did sit vpoÌ„ the Kingly throne Nor minded now nor moan'd by any One. So time we see cuts down with fatall blow As wel proud oakes as humble shrubs below 20 Imagine with your selues you see him come From forth the deep darke Cauernes of the earth Starued and pin'd Nothing but skin and bone In Princely plentie suffering want and dearth As naked as an Infant at his birth So pinching need doth pluck what Pride did plant And wastfull Ryot is repay'd with want 21 And thus pâ—ore Prince begins his tragick plaint Am I the same that was first Edwards Sonne By Nature borne to liue without restraint Were there for me so many Trophies wonne By Long-shanks and such great atchiuements done I am the same and he so great did leaue me As none I thought of Greatnes could bereaue me 22 But now I find by proofe that One there is And well it is that there is such an 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 walles of â—â—one Know King how great-soeuer that thou be The King of Kings still ruleth ouer thee 23 Thou do'st command on Earth well be it so That Earth which thou coÌ„mand'st his foot-stoole is Thy power but reacheth things that are below Heau'n Earth and Hell are subiect vnto his Th' Infernall Agents and the spirits of blisse His Seruants are to execute his will What wants nor might nor means to punish Ill. 24 I know that Nature apt to ouer-weene May easily straine a Prince his thoughts to high I know it is and euermore hath beene A common course to flatter Maiestie Greatnesse is apt to sinne in surcudrie Yet thogh like Hils we ouer-look low grounds All vertuous Kings doe know they haue their bounds 25 And therefore though we haue Prerogatiues Yet there are certaine limits to the same Which keepes not Kings from being Superlatiueâ— To sway as Gods-Lieue-tenants this faire frame And those Aspirers merit death and shame That doe repine against those supreame powers Whom God hath made his vnderlings not ours 26 Yet grant their State free from coerciue force That giues not lawlesse libertie in all Kings must obserue a just and rightfull course God is their King by whom they stand or fall Who all their acts to strickt acccount will call Besides their Oath their vertue their Renownâ— Are Diamantine chaines to tye a Crowne 27 And such as are not mou'd with these respects But make their power to serue their will in all Leaue them to God who ruine sand erects Sets vp a Dauid and puls downe a Saul Hee prospers Houses rise he frownes they fall 'T is not discents nor fortune force nor fate But God supports and God supplants a State 28 Nine Kings had raigned since the Conquest here Whom I succeeded in a rightfull line My Father all domesticke tumults clere Did warre and win in fruitfull Palestine This Northerne Sunne eu'n to the East did shine The French were fearfull hearing but his name French Scots and Turkes aeternized his fame 29 No Realme but did resound first Edwards praise No praise was euer wonne with more deserts And no deserts though great could counterpoise Much lesse out-balance his Heroyicke Parts Mars taught him Armes the Muses taught him Arts Whereby so great he grew that might there bee A Ioue on Earth that earthly Ioue was he 30 A King may leaue his name vnto his Sonne But to his Sonne no King can leaue his nature In outward forme and shape they may seeme one Hiâ— posture speech his Countenance and feature May make the Son be thoght the selfsame creature 'T is true in face Sonnes may be like their Sires But faces like haue oft vnlike desires 31 For why our Bodies made of humaine seed Resemble them whose matter was our making Yea so farre forth as often times we read Of many griefes hereditarie taking First roote from Parents loines and not forsaking Their Issues issue vntill many Ages To wofull masters most
much Increas'd Bee Fathers to my Sonnes vntored yeeres Loue him for me though Long-shanks be deceas'd Let Gauestons exile be not releas'd Lest his repeale occasion ciuill strife And so first Edward ends both speech and life 142 Thus death that Herald that eu'n Kings doth summon The Pursiuan◠that doth attatch proud Peeres The Cittie-Sergeant whose arrest is Common The errant-Bayliffe that one Processe beares And no place bounds but serues it in all shires The generall Surueyor of each-one Did bring my Father to his longest home 143 Whose obsequies and Ceremonies done Thē I was crown'd me thought the Sun did dance And that faire Thames with siluer streams did run Me thought the Stars did all applaud the chance That did my State vnto a Crowne aduance Smile Starres dance Sunne and Riuer run with mirth Carnaruan Edward is a God on Earth 144 But all the Starres to blazing Comets turn'd Whose sad vprise presag'd my dreatie fate The Riuers seem'd as if they wept and Mourn'd The Sun did neuer shine vpon my state Starres streames and Sun saw me vnfortunate Disastrous man so borne to suffer wracke As is the Aethiop to be alwayes blacke 145 Obserue the man whom fates haue slau'd to griefe See how the wretch that 's destin'd Fortunes foe Will be a rub to turne away reliefe Eu'n from himselfe and worke his owne-wrought woe Harme after him he after harme shall goe Fore-spoken man he 's neuer but succeslesse Himselfe his hurt and yet his hurt redreslesse 146 Nay eu'n those very meanes which he shall vse In good discretion to preuent the clap Shal be returned vnto his abuse And serue for pullies of his owne mishap So though he see he shall not shun the trap And if his ruine were not ripe before His owne designes shall hasten It the more 147 The King of * Epire fearing death at home Fore-warn'd thereof by former Prophesie To Italie forthwith must needs be gone So to preuent his fate by policie But Still hee 's followed by his destinie In Italie he findes an Acharon The fatall flood from which he would be gone 148 Fourth Henrie was by some blind Bard fore-told That he should neuer dye till he had seene Ierusalem fourth Henry will be old Ierusalem for him shall be vnseene No he shall see it when he least doth weene He sownes at prayers and by religious men Is streight conuey'd vnto Ierusalem 149 So was the Chamber cal'd where he was lay'd And shortly after dy'd the noble King In vaine man striues the heau'ns will be obay'd We may fore-know but not preuent a thing Our selues will neuer cease vntill we bring Our Fates to full effect and what we doe Shall be but lines to leade vs thereunto 150 For first I doe those Counsellors remoue That in my Fathers time had borne most sway Whereby I did disarme me of their Loue To practices and discontents made way Expose my selfe to Enuy open lay To disaduantage wanting their aduice Whom long experience had made deeply wise 151 Besides I did the publike State some wrong So to cast off those grounded Polititians Who knew to gouerne by commanding long Had seene and well obseru'd mens dispositions And so could tell when where how Impositions Were to be rais'd how to auoyd offence How to gaine men ends with faire pretence 152 Who likewise knew how other Kingdomes stood The concordances of each neighbouring state How Realmes best correspond for eythers good How to make Leagues how to negotiate When to breake off when to Incorporate How farre Remotes and neere-Confiners too Are to be weigh'd as they haue meanes to doe 153 'T is not the practice of a day or twaine 'T is not the Schoole or Sophisters debate 'T is not the froth of euery working braine 'T is not the start into a neighbouring State That works men fit to beare a Kingdomes weight When men are fully made imploy them then For 't is an Art of Arts to gouern men 154 Therefore I lay It for a certaine ground Which new-made Princes must not violate Except they will the Common-wealth confound◠Not to discard those men that know the State Whose long experience doth ingenerate A true and readie Method to command Both for the Princes good and for the Land 155 What got the youthfull Sonne of Soloman By his neglect of that Sage-sound aduice VVhich from his Fathers Councellors did come Did It not turne vnto his prejudice Did not ten Tribes fall from him in a trice VVhich neuer could be glew'd againe in one After that rupture and disunion 156 Besides this fault scarce settled in my State I streight recall'd exiled Gaueston Who by my many fauours grew so great That I did seeme for him to liue alone I Alexander He Hephestion O no I wrong them to vsurpe their names Our loues were like but farre vnlike our fames 157 Here I did violate my Fathers will And all respect of dutie did despise To wrong the dead is Sacraligious Ill A clog which on the Conscience euer lyes And at the latest gaspe for vengeance cryes VVhat fears how many doubts lurk close wthin That restlesse soule that 's guiltie of this Sinne 158 VVhen all his joynts are rack'd with dying paine VVith cold dead sweat all couer'd ouer quite What thorny thoughts will thē distract his brain How shall he dare t' approach his fathers sight VVhose dying words he liuing set so light He 'l feare his friends suspect his wife and Son And sighing thinke They 'l doe as I haue done 159 It is too Common to betray the trust That is in friends by Testators repos'd But marke Gods Iudgements how seuere how just How to the Nature of the Sinne dispos'd Eu'n I my selfe was by my Sonne depos'd I that infring'd my dying Fathers best Was in my life by my owne Sonne distrest 160 Me that did wrong a Sire a Sonne did wrong I that did shew my selfe degenerate As I had sowen so did I reape er'e-long Such sinne It is our Faith to violate O deepest doome of all fore-seeing fate How wisely are thy fearefull Iudgements fitted To punish sinne as Sinne was first Committed 161 The Gyants heap't vp hills to climbe the Sky I honours heap'd that Gaueston might climbe They did contend with Ioue and fell thereby He with my Peeres and perish'd in his prime They thriu'd at first but fell in after time His Prologue sweet but sad was his last Act. So fairest glasse men say is soonest crackt 162 These were the honours that he did attaine The Earle of Cornewall and the Lord of Man Chiefe Secretarie Lord great Chamberlaine And for his wife he Glosters sister wan Aspiring men see how great Monarchs Can. Aduance their states whom they do daine to fauor Who serues y◠King doth seldom lose his labor 163 Though Poets fictions seeme to sauour much Of Idle Errour yet they haue their sence King Midas turn'd to Gold all hee did touch The Morall this The fauour of a
to play I 'le cry I 'le kisse and so begin the fray 385 You will Nay then I must because you will Women are weak poore soules and dare not fight Who-euer rises we goe downward still And yet fond men will say that we are light Well 't is our Fortunes and the destines spight I am Content because I cannot chuse 'T is best to take what bootes not to refuse 386 Thus Mortimer did steale this fleece of gold That storie so apply'd doth Ill agree Shee rather was Medea fierce and bold And gaue away that golden fleece 'T was shee That let another griffe vpon my Tree The fruit of sin and shame whence did proceed Matter that made me both to blush and bleed 387 O woman Thou art euer in extreames Eyther an Aetna or a Caucasus Or burning like the Dog-starres fierie gleames Or like North windes too bleake and boysterous Eyther too mirthfull or too mischieuous Yet of the twaine since needs thou wilt be such Thy fire is better then thy frost by much 388 Thy ouer-louing may proue Iealousie And that 's an amorous sicknesse a kind paine But hatred Is the Dame of Crueltie And at the very Life-bloud still doth Ayme But leauing this Goe to thy Loomes againe Vnwearied Muse till thou hast wou'n at will The wofull storie of poore Edwards Ill. 389 'T is not the Ayre whereby we liue and breath 'T is not the Earth the Mother of vs all Nor Starres aboue nor is it Hell beneath Nor yet those Spirits which we our Demons call Nor chance which seemes to sway things casuall That are the sole-efficients of our Euils We to our selues are eyther Gods or Deuils 390 But I was still the latter of the twaine My selfe-wrought woe beares witnes of the same And you great Lords yâ— liu'd whil'st I did raigne And were consumed with the furious flame Of my enraged wrath I will not blame Your wayward Pride nor yet my wiues vntruth My seed was Sin my Crop was shame and ruth 391 And when did euer that accursed field Beare other haruest then such thriflesse weed Can poyson'd fountaines wholsome waters yield Or doe not wormes out of corruption breed Mischiefe the Dâ—m pregnant with sinfull seed Brings forth her daughter Miserie at last And they are alwayes glew'd together fast 392 There can be no divorce betweene these twaine They mix or rather they incorporate Like to the Poles of Heau'n it doth remaine Constant and fix'd Sinne is vnfortunate Still drawing Iudgements downe on each estate which somtimes are defer'd not following streight But what time looseth is repay'd with weight 393 How many houses haue bin rais'd by Sinne And flourish'd faire for one or two discents But still the third vnprosperous hath bin And God hath crost them with some strange euents Whereof these times yield many presidents But stay my Muse If thou wilt shun offence Thou must not meddle with the present Tence 394 Speake of the Spencers mightie in their dayes Let Edward be the Subject of thy Pen. Who did his Minions to such greatnesse rayse That the whole State was by them manag'd then As men with Counters So doe Kings with men Sometimes they stand for halfe-pence and anon What was but so becomes a Million 395 But when my Peeres did see how I was bent To make base waxen wings to mount the skye Whil'st their faire Plumes were pluck't which vile coÌ„tempt And they deprest with scorne and Injury To late-left Armes they got them by and by They moved warre the Spencers to remoue Hate armed them and I was arm'd by Loue. 396 They leuied men I likewise men did leuie Both raised all the Forces wee could make A Tyrants hand they say was too too heauie A traytors head I said became a stake They vow'd redresse I vow'd revenge to take We met and meeting fought fighting found No hurt more grieues then doth a selfe-wrought wound 397 O English Peeres relinquish Impious Armes Build not your weightiest actions vpon sand 'T is not the Colour 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 398 These are and euer haue bin those smooth Oyles With which foule treason seekes to paint her face That she might seeme faire pleasing full of smiles So to win loue and gaine the peoples grace Who silly Gudgions euer bite apace Vntill the fatall hooke be swallowed downe Where-with Ambition Angles for a Crowne 399 Who euer practis'd against Prince or State But alwayes did pretend the Common good Thereby to draw into contempt or hate The course of governement as then it stood This hath beene still the marrow life and blood Of such Attempts But here the rule stands fast What 's thought-on first Is executed last 400 For when that once their priuate turne is seru'd The care of Common-wealth Is layd aside That did but whâ—t the knife with which they caru'd For their owne good That vizor did but hide Some Secret ends not fit to be discry'd Vntill accomplish'd which once brought to passe The Common State stands as before it was 401 And for to angle men Crimes must be made Against the Prince I if he be without touch So that no just exceptions can be had Then must the Imputation rest on such Who being neare the Prince are vsed much For this is certaine They that stand on high Are fairest markes for foulest obloquie 402 But though the Arrow seemeth at them aym'd Yet through their sides it wounds the Princes brest Whose reputation cannot be but stain'd By their reproach whom they doe fauour best And they that kill the birds would spoile the nest But what 's intended must be closely wrought And that pretended which was neuer thought 403 Why should vaine man still daube his actions thus With outward whit-lime that are pitch'd within Eu'n wicked Kings must be Indur'd by vs. What e're the cause be Treason is a sinne Rebellious Armes cannot true honour win The sword is not the Subjects His defence In all extreames Is Prayer and Patience 404 Therefore deare spirits dye not your silver Armes Into a Sanguine with your Mothers bloud Let not vnciuill hands cause ciuill harmes For priuate griefe confound not publike good Not all the water in the Ocean flood Can wash the Sin from you and your Allyes For Treason liues although the Traitor dyes 405 Sweet Trent How were thy Christall-waters stain'd With English-bloud that was at Burton shed Let Burrow-bridge a Golgotha bee nam'd A field of death wherein lay buried So many people and all Natiues bred 'Gainst forreigne foes had those liues bin Imploy'd We had not grieu'd though they had nobly dy'd 406 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 seldom thriues That great all-seeing God whose knowledge diues
attire Proud Mortimer 'T is thou vncrownest mee Luxurious Queene This is thy foule desire And moodie Tarleton bellowes of this fire 'T is you that are the marrow of this sinne My Sonne doth serue but for the outward skin 561 You are the wheeles that make this Clock to strike My fatall hower The last of all my good For this is not the height of your dislike Death is the fruit when Treason is the bud Such practices doe alwayes end in blood WheÌ„ others stumble Kings fall headlong down There is no meane betwixt a Graue Crown 562 For this is certaine Sinne doth alwayes find Within It selfe sufficient cause of feare 'T is dangerous to trust a guiltie mind The Creditor remou'd the debt 's thought cleare Men hate whoÌ„ they haue wrong'd hating feare And fearing will not cease till they haue prou'd All meanes by which the cause may be remou'd 563 Therefore would I might leade a priuate life In some sequestred place which none might see Where I may seeke to reconcile the strife That Sinne hath made betwixt my God and mee For if the ransome of my Crowne might free My life from slaughter little would I grieue There 's none so wretched but desires to liue 564 And yet why should I loose or life or Crowne Are liues or Crownes so light and easie losses 'T is vaine to aske why fortune list to frowne Or to dispute the causes of our Crosses When Ships at Sea stormes winds and billowes tosses It boots not ask why winds and stormes should rise All ruling heau'n respects not humaine whyes 565 Cato would know a reason of the Gods Why Pompey should by Caesar vanquish'd bee Whose cause was better as he thought by oddes Cato thou seest Euents thou canst not see Their causes They are kept reseru'd from thee In Gods close Cabinet being safely layd And hee must not bee question'd but obey'd 566 The stately Steed that champs the steely bit And proudly seemes to menace friend and foe Doth fling and foame and boundeth oft and yet Poore beast perforce hee is inforc'd to goe Eu'n so far'd I and since It must bee so As good the same should seeme to come from me 'T was best to will what gainst my will would be 567 And so I made a solemne resignation Of all my right and Title to my Sonne And there withall an earnest Protestation Which was with sighes weeping teares begun How much I grieu'd that I had so misdone As to procure thereby my Peoples hate And so bee thought vnworthy of the State 568 Which since I was I willingly would giue Vnto my Sonne my throne of Maiestie Desiring them to giue mee leaue to Liue And not too much tread on my miserie For I had once their Faith and fealtie Which though I now discharg'd set them free Though not obey yet should they pitie mee 569 The Crowne had often made my head to Ake And I pray'd God my Sonne felt not the same Whom they should not lesse value for my sake Since by his vertue hee might salue my shame And well I hop'd my President would tame All youthfull humours which are easily led Vnto those courses which Confusion bred 570 And here though griefe my sences did o'rewhelm And I did swoâ—ne e're formes could finished bee Yet * Thomà s Trussell Knight for all the Realme Did then renounce Allegiance vnto mee And of all Faith and Seruice set men free My Steward brake his staffe my State before Was now discharg'd and I was King no more 571 Marke what pretences wrong can make of right How loath men seeme 'gainst Iustice â—o offend O Sacred vertue Thou art full of might When eu'n thy foes thy Title will pretend As if thy onely shadow could amend All Impious Acts But now 't is growne an vse Thou must bee made a Bawd vnto abuse 572 Well well wise Politickes With formall shewes Your lawlesse Actions you haue gilded ouer And now the streame in a smooth channell goes My resignation now doth fairely Couer Your foule Abuse But Time will truth discouer That 's current now that will not alwayes goe Formes serue for men God Is not serued so 573 Your hands can not wipe off the holy-Oyle Which hee hath layd on Kingly Maiestie Nor your deuices wash away the soyle From your owne Soules of wilfull Periurie To God To mee of Infidelitie Vse all your Art you neuer can get free From that just Oath you gaue to God and mee 574 When I had thus departed from my Crowne I did bewayle the wayning of my State Poore Prince sayd I how low art thou cast down From that high Heau'n which thou inioy'dst of late Thou hast no prospect but an Iron-grate Thy costly Hangings ragged walles of stone And all thy solace solitarie moane 575 Now of a Cushion thou must make a Crowne And play the mock-king with it on thy head And on the Earth thy chaire of State sit downe And why not so Since thou art Earthly bred But for a Scepter how wilt thou bee sped Why take a brand and shake it in thy hand And now thou art a King of high Command 576 All guiding Heau'n what change doe I indure Once wealth at will But wealthy now in want Then men my pleasure now my paine procure Then sumptuous houses now one Chamber scant Then thoughts of rest now restlesse thought doth plant The sad remembrance of my wretched fate What now I am and what I was of late 577 Mee thinkes the Birds vpbraid me in their songs And earely sing my shame in euery place Me thinks the waters murmure forth my wrongs And in their course discourse of my disgrace Me thinkes the Sunne doth blush to see my face The whistling winds me thinks do witnes this No griefe so great as to haue liu'd in blisse 578 When I complaine to Eccho of head-aking Shee sounds a King And yet no King am I. In silent night when I my rest am taking I dreame of Kings yet I vnking'd doth lye And till sweet sleepe seales-vp my weary Eye I cannot fixe my thought on any thing Buâ— tels mee straight that once I was a King 579 That once I was aye me that now I am not And now I am not would I had bin neuer Lesse feeles he want that yet to plenty came not To haue bin happie Is vnhappy euer But to forget my selfe I will endeauour One of the Soules perfections Memorie Is vnto me a Cause of miserie 580 Restlesse remembrance how dost thou torment The feeling Soule with a sad apprehension Of former pleasure present discontent Of many wrongs in Act more in Intention And they without all compasse of preuention It is some Comfort though a wretched one To know Our sorrows are at their high-noone 581 But to feele miserie in a high degree And sure I am not sencelesse of my smart Yet still to feare that It will worser be Is a most eating Corr'siue to the heart But O my
working in the same I wot not that but this poore Edward knowes Men ebbe and flow as Fortune list to frame Whose smiles or frownes doe make or marre our game Then since we all must stoope vnto her lure When shee is false how may our states be sure 604 But cease faire Phoebe cease thy beautious shine Spend not thy rayes on such a wretch as I 'Gainst whō the very Heau'ns themselues repine Whose presence All good-boading stars doe flye Then giue me leaue that I obscure may dye And suffer me vnsought vnseene to goe Some ease It is not to be knowne in woe 605 And that the humid vapours of the night Might be of force to make weake nature faile They made me ride cold and bare-headed quite To whom both hats heads were wont to vaile Whil'st I with prosperous wind at will did sayle But now I was reproach'd with hatefull Crimes O Times O Men O Change of men and Times 606 Thinke not that I was Marble not to haue A sence of Ill after a feeling fashion Which made me sometimes for to fret and raue Sometimes to weepe and humbly beg compassion As I was sway'd by variable passion Remembring what I was some storms did passe And streight a calme remembring what I was 607 Traytors quoth I Why doe you vse me thus Know you not me Forget you whom I am Was not great Long-shanks Father vnto vs I Kingly Edward Second of that name Why kneele you not Oft haue you done the same Why shold you not since you are sworn to do It And by our birth-right wee are borne vnto It. 608 From forth the Loines of many Kings came I This head hath beene Impaled with a Crowne And will you now a simple Hat deny I 'le be reueng'd They doe not feare my frowne Too well too well they know my Sun is down My day is done Now doth my night begin And Owles not Eagles vse to flye therein 609 I haue bin Grac'd let me be gracious now I haue Commanded Let me now request Your sometime King hath humble knees to bow And weeping Eyes to craue some little rest Mans heart is flesh He hath no flintie brest One * Aristomines had a hayrie heart But you are stones else would you rue my smart 610 And that I might be wretched euery way That euery sence might haue his proper paine The Byrd to whom Promethius was a prey The waking Serpent that doth rest restraine Hunger I meane did gnaw on me amaine Hunger which often forc'd me eate such food As weak'ned Nature and corrupted blood 611 I that Lucullus-like was seru'd at will With whatsoeuer Sea or Land affords Would now be glad of Crumes to feed my fill Such want doth often follow wastfull boards Better the frugall fare of Rootes and gourdes Which keepes the Soule and body both in health And God doth blesse w th great encrease of wealth 612 Camelions feede vpon the peircing Ayre O that kind Nature had but made mee such The Salamander doth It's strength repaire Amid'st the fire when It the flame doth touch Against whose happie state I did not grudge But onely wish'd my selfe to haue like meanes For hunger is th' Extreamest of Extreames 613 I thought sometimes to Eate my very flesh My brawn-lesse armes would do some little good But still my stomacke loathed such a messe And would not serue mee to digest my blood My teeth should rather teare the stones for food I 'de soften them with teares ceaslesse moanes But stones were hard and men more hard then stones 614 And for to make me fret my selfe to death They crost and thwarted me in euery thing Sweete-sugred words like to the Panthers breath You pleasing Tongues whose Chimes so sweetly ring Where are you now why sooth you not your King Yea so you will But that is not my Case And flatterers tune not to the meane or base 615 How deadly Is the venome of faire toungs Whose Nectar-tearms do seeme more smooth then oyle And all the breath that commeth from their lungs Is sweet in shew but full of gall and guile Beleeue me There 's more danger in their smile Then in their frowne for seene is soone detected But they hurt most that are the least suspected 616 O why are Princes like to brazen Pots Which being great are lifted by the Eares Little see they their reaches and their plots Whose tongus are tun'd to sooth them many yeres Till turnes are seru'd then It streight appeares That Hony gone the Combes are soone rejected And wanting meanes the man is lesse respected 617 May it please your Highnes was my wonted stile Whose pleasure now is lesse esteem'd then mine Did I looke Cloudy Who durst seeme to smile Or was I pleasant Who durst then repine Spake I Apolloes words were lesse diuine What e're I did Applause grac'd every thing And this the cause Because I was a King 618 But now the Spring-time of my Blisse is done Those Nightingales that did so sweetly sing In this my winter all are fled and gone Nay turn'd to Serpents that both hisse and sting So Bels to Marriage-Feasts and Burials ring A King No King Hap and mishap doth bring And none so haplesse as a King no King 619 And that my words might vnrespected be And neither they nor I regarded ought They gaue it out my senses failed me And I was mad and helpelesly distraught 'T is true I haue beene mad and dearely bought My madnes I was mad when I did blot My Soule with Sinne When I my God forgot 620 But now my sences are restor'd againe And I begin to see how mad I was To put my trust in things that are so vaine To change my heau'nly gold for earthly glasse To dote on shadowes letting substance passe And now my God hath purg'd that Lunacie With bitter Potions of Calamitie 621 And O this sicknesse is too generall The world doth groane vnder this mad disease This franticke humour doth distract vs all We onely seeke the present sence to please And whil'st we liue so we may float at ease We quite forget the place where we must Land The Throne of Iudgment where we al must stand 622 Why should mankind be so extreamely mad As for the short fruition of base pleasure Which often Is repented when 't is had To loose a soule more worth then Worlds of treasure This is Indeed a madnes aboue measure Thus once I rau'd and therefore now I rue Thus raue you now and therefore so shall you 623 And least my Torments should but seeme to cease Or breath a while They would not let moe rest Of quiet sleepe The harbinger of peace The Common Inne both vnto man and beast My weary Eyes could neuer bee possest My head waxt light yet heauie was my heart Two Contraries One Cause but no desert 624 I that had once so many Princly bowers And in the same so many beds of state With sweete Perfumes and
beautious Paramouts And melodie such as at Plutoes gate Once Orpheus play'd and all most delicate To charme the sences and bewitch the Soule Must now not sleepe one hower with-out Controule 625 O Iustice what a Tallie do'st thou keepe Of all our sinnes and how thou pay'st them right Though God doth winke yet doth he neuer sleep The Eye of heau'n sees in the darkest night My wast of Time in sleep then thought but light Was chalked vp and now hee payes the score With want of that which I abus'd before 626 Fond men quoth I you haue in all bin cruell But yet in this you are too much vnwise If to my Torments you would adde more fewell You should permit some slumber to mine Eyes That being wak'd fresh sorrow might arise Nor can I last my strength with watching spent For bowes grow weak that neuer stand vnbeÌ„t 627 Besides Continuall thinking of my woe So duls my sences that I feele It lesse As Paths grow plaine whereon we alwayes goe So Hearts grow hard that neuer find redresse And you will make mee sencelesse by excesse I know you hate mee shew your hate therfore And let mee slumber for to vex mee more 628 And that my greife might worke on mee the more By apprehension of my present fall And sad remembrance of my state before They wreath'd a Crowne of Hay therewithall They Crowned me and King eft-soones did call Phurp Phurp say they God saue this jolly King O saue me God! whom Div'ls to death would bring 629 And thou meek Lamb that by thy precious blood Hast made Atonement twixt my God and mee Which was more Soueraigne for a sinners good Then sweetest mirrhe or purest balme could bee In my weake steppes I somewhat follow thee The Spunge the Speare the Crosse yâ— Crowne of Thorne Thy ensignes are and may not else bee borne 630 Thy head was Crown'd with Thorn mine but w th Hay Thou knew'st no sin my sinnes the sands exceed Well may I follow when thou lead'st the way And O that I might follow thee Indeed Then of the Tree of Life my soule should feed My soule that hath no other hope but this Who will be thine Thou alwayes wilt bee his 631 Sweet Sauiour Christ these are the hopes I haue Though they afflict me yet my Soule is thine A Tyrant cannot reach beyond the graue These fierie tryals make me brighter shine Thou wilt relieue me when thou see'st thy time Or I shall end 6 Or they at last will cease Thou wilt giue patience till thou giu'st release 632 And that I might eu'n of my selfe be hated They shau'd off all my beard in my disgrace The Instrument a Razor blunt rebated And from a muddy ditch neere to that place They fetch'd cold filthy water for my face To whom I said that eu'n in their despight I would haue warme My teares should doe that right 633 These drops of brine that poure down froÌ„ mine eyes Mine eyes cast vp to heau'ns high glorious frame That from whence God all earthly deeds descryes That God that guerdons sin with death shame Shall witnesse yea and will reuenge the same That you haue bin most cruell to your King Whose death his Doome His doome your deaths will bring 634 Vnmanly men Temember what I was And thinke withall what you your selues may be I was a King A powerfull King I was You see my tall and can your selues be free But you haue friends why you were friends to me And yet you see how much your loue is chang'd So others loues from you may bee estrang'd 635 But you are young and full of able strength And am not I What bootes my strength or youth Both now seem firme but both shall faile at length Old Age cold Ache and both sad griefe pursu'th But you are wise the more should be your ruth Of mine estate whose wracke may teach you this That balefull chance may clowd your greatest blisse 636 You are not No you are not Beasts by birth Nor yet am I made of a seneclesse stone We all are fram'd and all shall turne to Earth You should haue feeling Soules for I haue one Then see me at least relenting to my moane I Pittie craue and crauing let me haue It Because one day your selues may need to craue It. 637 But these sad motiues could not worke at all In their hard steelie hearts the least remorse They rather added wormewood to my gall And exercise of Ills did make them worse So violent streames hold an their wonted course And being flesh'd in Crueltie before Vse made the habite perfect more and more 638 And least one torment should be left vntry'd They shut me in a vaâ—lt and layd by mee Dead Carkasses of men who lately dy'd That their foule stincke my fatall bane might bee These were the Objects that mine eyes did see These smels I felt with these I did conuerse And vnto these These plaints I did rehearse 639 O happie Soules whose bodies here I see For you haue play'd your parts and are at rest Yet somewayes haplesse you may seeme to bee That wich your bodies I am thus distrest Perhaps you grieue If that you know at least That by your means your King is thus tormented Grieue not deare soules for I am well coÌ„tented 640 'T is not your bodies sencelesse as they are That doe inflict these Torments on your King But the fierce Agents of proud Mortimer FroÌ„ them my plagues proceed as from their spring And O just Heau'n Let them their tribute bring Backe to the Ocean whence they first did flow And in their passage still more greater grow 641 But what poore soules haue you deseru'd so ill That being dead you must want buriall Nothing but this I must my fates fulfill And still be plagu'd with woes vnnaturall My wretchednesse must still transcend in all The liuing and the dead must doe me spight And you alas for me must want your right 642 But you are happy free from sence of wrong Here are your bodies but your soules are well Death doe not thou forbeare thy stroake too long That with these happie soules my soule may dwel And soule be glad to goe Here is thy Hell And eu'n in this th' art happie that 't is here O better so Then it should be else-where 643 What seest thou now but Objects of disgrace What do'st thou heare but scornes and words of spight What do'st thou touch that Is not vile and base What do'st thou smell but stench both day and night What do'st thou tast that may procure delight Thy sight thy hearing touching tast and smell All cry for Heau'n for here is now thy Hell 644 This darke-some Vault the house of Acharon These wicked men like Fiends doe torture me This miseries sinke resembles Phlegeton My acted Sinnes like fearefull furies bee And he that would a whole Infernall see Let him obserue the plagues that I endure And hee shall find them Hells true