THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE PRESERVATION OF King Henry the vij when he was but Earle of Richmond Grandfather to the Queenes maiesty Compiled in english rythmicall Hexameters Viuit in eternum post funera viuida virtus Vertue remaineth aliue after death liuely for euer Quo magis difficilior copulchrior Hoc opus hic labor est ¶ Imprinted at London by R. B. and are to be solde in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Bible 1599. To the Printer PRint with a good letter this booke and carefuly Printer Print each word legibill not a word nor a sillabil alter Keepe points and commas periodes the parenthesis obserue My credit and thy reporte to defend bothe safely to conserue To the Right honorabel worshipfull gentel and learned Readers whosoeuer that are bothe trew fauorits of poetry and of right ancient Heroicke Hexameters RIght honored worshipfull and gentell Reader these Hexameters and Pentameters in Englishe are misliked of many because they are not yet come to their full perfection and specially of some that are accounted and knowne to be Doctors and singularly well learned and great Linguistes but especially of the plaine Rythmer that scarce knowes the footed quantitie or metricall scanning thereof much lesse to reade them with a grace according to the same But for him I say thus Scientia nullum habet inimicum praeter ignorantem Whose bookes are stuft with lines of prose with a rythme in the end which euery fidler or piper can make vpon a theame giuen Neuerthelesse I confesse and acknowledge that we haue many excellent and singular good Poets in this our age as Maister Spencer that was Maister Gowlding Doctor Phayer Maister Harrington Daniell and diuers others whom I reuerence in that kinde of prose-rythme wherein Spencer without offence spoken hath surpassed them all I would to God they had done so well in trew Hexameters for they had then beautified our language For the Greekes and Latines did in a manner abolish quite that kinde of rythme-prose And why should not we doe the like in Englishe But the ignorant and aduerse part will say our speach is not copious enough But I say that it is and besides it would be the more inriched adorned and more eloquent if they would make triall thereof or could compose them artificially and eloquently to delight the Readers to resound with a grace in their eares Nam nihil difficile volenti But this is the trew cause why they doe not so Hoc opus hic labor est which the chiefe Doctors and best learned of them all cannot deny And perhappes some of the best of them that are curious carpers and reprehenders of this trew metrified verse though skilfull in other arts cannot formally compose the like as Fraunce did who obserued a better Prosodia then Stanihurst For Tully was not so good a Poetician as he was an Orator God bestoweth his gifts seuerally and more bountifully on some then on others For Homer in Greeke and Virgill in Latine surpassed all that euer were before or since in trew footed Hexameters but not in prose Neither were Homer and Virgill the first that versifyed in their naturall language But others did attempt to Poetize afore them in the like verse or else in truth I suppose they could not haue done so well Euery thing hath a beginning which at first cannot be made so perfect Those verses which Ennius made before Virgill made any were not so well liked as for example Vnus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem Yet Virgill most commonly had his booke about him Therefore I reuerence Stanihurst who being but an Irish man did first attempt to translate those foure bookes of Eneados which if he be liuing I desire him to refile them ouer againe and thus haue written in verse If the Poet Stanihurst yet liue and feedeth on ay-er I do request him as one that wisheth a grace to the meter With wordes significant to refile and finely to polishe Those fower Aenëis that he late translated in English I doe the man reuerence as a fine as an exquisit Author For that he first did atempt to translate verse as a Doctor For at the first Maister Askam had much ado to make two or three verses in English but now euery scholler can make some What language so hard harsh or barbarous that time and art will not amend As I haue written in an other place thus Naught can at once be begonne or present made to be perfect By trauel all hard thinges are brought to singular effect Yet that Apelles could Cytheraeas beawty depolish Had not he time to delyne hir picture finely to finnysh This trew kinde of Hexametred and Pentametred verse well bring vnto vs foure commodities First it will enrich our speach with good and significant wordes Secondly it will bring a delight and pleasure to the skilfull Reader when he seeth them formally compyled And thirdly it will incourage and learne the good godly Students that affect Poetry and are naturally enclyned therunto to make the like Fourthly it will direct a trew Idioma and will teach trew Orthography For as gould surpasseth leade so the Hexameters surpasse rythme prose And as concerning the same this haue I written As yelo gould purified doth surmount euery mettell So fine verse metrifyed this rythme-prose greatly doth excell With wordes significant such rurall rythmery confound And metricall verses with a new rythme lawraly compound For sily Muse feare not since euery paltery Rythmor With wordes vnmetrifyed would seeme to be counted a Doctor Whose workes seeme to be good representing Tantalus appels Which did apeare to be gold but toucht were turned in ashes And in another place Clowde not your Orient fyne skyll with dregges of a drowzy Conterfaited prose This Romane verse hath a glory As redolent Gilyflowers perfumes a delight to the senses Mens memories to refresh So scanning Rythmery verses Bringes a delight to the mindes c. For these rybaud and baudy Poets be but the diuels agents and are to be detested but the vertuous and godly Poets are to be both reuerenced and regarded as I haue here written As domiport slug-y snayle his passage plainly to disclose Leaueth a print as he goes but a shining slyme to no purpose So doth a bawdy Poet his brainesicke folly to publish Write amorous madrigals some lewd loue-toy to recognise Aime at a trew Period Christ Iesus flee from al euil Roaue not aside to detract his praise learne rightly to leauell VVits misabus'd will apeare as a goulden ring in a swines snowte Gods worde such reprobate lewde wits doth worthily confute Shew me the tree by the fruite so saith Saint Luke that Euangel Do men gather grapes of thornes or fygges of a thystel Saint Luke ca. 6. verse 45. Saint Mathew ca. 13. verse 30.37.38 Christ shewes by parables who be tares and who be the good seede Th' one by the diuell sowen and th' other sowne by the goddhead Bothe to be reapt
fro thy word that I may in minde as a Christi'an Glorify Christ crucifi'd to detest that sect of a Pagan Sanctify me my Iehoue in Christ I repose al afiance Therefore I humbly beseech of thee my Lord an asistance Grant that I may Poetize that credibil history written By Sir Thomas Moore of an english story the maiden For why The learned knight wrote that that he knew to be certaine Trouth with his art to deline credit of both safely to maintaine For that he was then aliue in Court in prime of his young yeares And by that experience that he knew and learned of others By good inteligence he reseru'd for his historie faultlesse Thereby the truthe to deline quite voide of flattery doubtlesse Which when he had manupend in briefe prose skilfuly finnisht Streight he the same to be knowne in print did apoint to be publishâ— In which book I do meane by the grace of God to deliuer Nothing els but a trouthe gods name and glory to further Nor with a penne that is hyr'd I write verse smoothly to compile Similie Like glauering parasite with a veile lewde states to depensile If so that enuy repine and slaundring tongues do calmunize Trouth wil in end be my praise and shame the reward to the diuelish Feare not at all sil-y Muse to report so thankles an errant Boldly declare to the best their faults trouth shal be thy warrant This Knight Sir Thomas was made Lord Chaunceler after Who was knowne to be learn'd of a chiefe assembly the speaker Grafton He both lost his life of his office made a refusall For that he would not agree to the Kings supremacy regal My Muse incouraged first praising God as a giuer Of all good benefits these words she began to deliuer North Soueraigne Phoenix thou stout Queene famus Eliza Of grace and sapience peerelesse Prince sacred Idea Deigne with a gratius eye to peruse O Christian Empresse This prety booke manupend manumiz'd to thy gratius Highnesse Al you earthly Kings you Kings aduenturus hearken You States pontificall with atentiue eares to me listen You Lords imperiall of her Highnesse wise priuie Counsel Whose sapient wisdomes to record my wits are vnabel You Lords in generall that atend in Court on a Princesse Only the worlds Soueraigne lend listning eares to my verses You Catholike Diuines graduat diuinity Doctors Which be the sauory salt of Gods word liuely professors You sapient Senators of Innes of Court that are ordain'd To minister Iustice by the Queenes authoritie constrain'd Arts reuerent amatists of both * Figure Vniuersity famus Whose Orient fine wits of Romane verse be desirus Deigne to beholde this verse although it seeme but a trifel For many times you see that a pearle is found in a Muskel Similie Here I do meane to recite how our Queenes Grandfather Henry That King magnanimus with a stout and conquerus armie With valerus chiuisance did a tyrrant manfuly conquer Richard lately the King that vile and shameful vsurper Henries fame to report in scanning verse as I purpose Prince Edward stratagiz'd and Richards tyrrany disclose Grafton When stout King Edward at a field neere Teuxbury gotten Where Queene Marg'ret was with her eld'st sonne forcibly taken Nam'd to be Prince Edward which was there bluddily murdred By tyranus Richard And she sent prisoner to London where she remained Till that her owne father had that french Duke nam'd to be Reiner Of Sicyl also the King with a raunsome kindely redeem'd her When Iasper stout Earle of Pembrooke natural vncle Vnto this Earle Richmond when he knew how stoutly the battel Was fought and manupriz'd and saw all things to go backward How stout Earle Warwick was slaine by conquerus Edward And how Henry the sixt in Towre safe kept was abiding How London citizens disdain'd him now to be their King How his confederates and frieends grew weaker on each side And how King Edward himselfe and his cosen enui'd Wittily considering as a wise Earle sought to preuent it Both their liues to preserue where they might safer inhabit In peril ambiguus that course is best to be taken Sentence Which shal auaile to do good In time priuy danger is holpen As by the sequel apeares Mindfuly Muse memorize first how this vertuus Henry Saued aliue many times by the Lords protection only Came to the Crowne as a King here sent by the Lord his apointment Sent to the Realme as a Prince that should here make an atonement Exampels in diuers places of the Bibel For Gods sacred elect are straungely preseru'd by the Lord God Our Lord and Sauiour was sau'd from murtherus Herod From the Lyons Daniel from strength of mighty Golias Holy Dauid Ioseph from brethren faithful Elias From wicked Iesabel that younger godly Tobias Sau'd by the Lords Angell and was not trustily Ionas Kept in a whales bely safe three nights God sau'd Machabeus Noe with his owne families was sau'd from destiny grieuus Exod. ch 2. v. 6.7.8.9 Moses throwne in a flagge to be drown'd was sau'd by the daughter Of tyranus Pharaoh manumiz'd to be nurst by the mother Israel and Shadrach Meshach with Abednego likewise Grafton fol. 712. Edw 4. Gods diuine prouidence his blessed will wil acomplish First when he was but an Earle he being then but of young yeares Was by the Lords prouidence preserued from many dangers And peril of losing his life and life of his vncle Martial Earle Pembrocke who behau'd himselfe as a nobel And valiant Chiuali'r when they were like to be taken By Roger hight Vaghan whose craft was speedily foreseene And he the said Vaghan who thought them surely to murder Grafton fol. eodem Rightly receiued a death that he purpos'd falsely for other Those fraudulent Iudges that acused falsly Susanna Rightfuly were condemn'd by the Prophet sent by Iehoua Worthily ston'd to death as they had wrongfuly iudged Godly Susanna to die thus God th'vngodly rewarded History of Susanna Ester And on a Gallow tree that proud presumptuus Hamon Rightly was hang'd that aledg'd to guiltlesse Mardoche treason This foresaid Vaughan was charg'd by the King his apointment For to aprehend those Earles but he therein mist of his intent Each self-will of a King or commaund is not a godly Thing to be done For a Prince enraged fiercely with enuy Seekes to do wrong causelesse which God will auenge in his anger For God on high God aboue knowes all for he plagues an ofender Marke what a chaunce foloed These Earles fled thence to the Castel Grafton Of Pembrooke who were eftsoones pursu'd by the subtil Fierce Morgan Thomas who the Castel strongly besieged Enuironed with a trench yet they were safely preserued By Dauid ap Tbomas who the siege rais'd yet very brother Vnto the said Morgan Can men gods purposes alter 1. Sam. ch 20. ver 35 c. Was not godly Dauid by the meanes and faithful atonement Of Ionathan preseru'd from
life but a blob but a blossom When death strikes with a dart what auaileth a King or a Kingdom â—mus in â—a de morâ— That Platonist Socrates did afirme that a mans bodie liuing Was but a graue to the soule which to felicitie lasting Should by deserts demigrade most diuine speach of an heathen For by the faith in Christ we come to the kingdome of heauen â—ilie As radiant rud-y Phoebe exhales his vapory moysture Vnto the firme Element with his ardent hote sun-y lusture So the God omnipotent our soules with sinnes heuie loden Freely by mercy benigne extolles to the kingdom of heauen â—ilie Death bringes euery thing to decay For like as a fresh flower Springs for a time redolent but can not possibil endure So doth a king for a while reigne with great dignitie present Whose great glorie decaies whose prowde pompe dures but a moment Like as a man doth in yeares wax ould so should he be wiser And as he groweth in age so should his life be the beter Thinke this world to be vaine and thinke this life to be mortal And to the King of Kings let vs yeald out selues to be loyal Who to redeeme our soules ordained his only begotten Only beloued sonne to be sent downe freely from heauen And to be here crucifi'd as a sinlesse man for a sinner To mitigate Gods wrath t' appease his infinit anger Who by the death that he di'd hath cleans'd vs freely from euill For that he conquered hath sinne death and also the Diuel Whiles we do liue let vs al liue wel Time stailes away leapes Similies Like as a cloud vanisheth For as euery steppe that a mans steppes Is but a steppe to the graue so plodding age pedetentim Stouping creepes on a pase Age is to death as a pilgrim Which for a time dothabroad wander but in end he returnes home Similie So for a time we do liue but in end death will be the bridegroome â—tence â—ilie No body can stay time Time staies for no body Time swift Flyeth away on apase as a bird that flyes from a mans sight Therefore Princely Regents both vice and tyrranny forgoe â—k ch 8. 〈◊〉 36. For what auaileth a King what auaileth an Emperor also If that he lose his soule to liue here fortunat alway As patient Iob said each mortall King to thy selfe say 〈◊〉 ch 1 ver Naked I came to the world fro the world hence naked I shall go Formed of earth was I first to the earth yet againe shall I turne to â—lesiastes 1. That sapient Salomon naught here but vanitie could finde With manyfould miseries with great vexation of minde What man aliue can afourd as gods word plainly doth expresse â—t 6.27 â—rouerbe One cubit vnto his height by carking eares that ar endlesse Let not a man be to bolde though God be mercifull and staies For when he strikes his stroke is a stroke importabil alwaies And then he plagues when he strikes For where th' almighty Iehoua Rightfuly plagues for ofense what auaileth a mans cataplasma For with a slouthfull pase gods anger goes to reuengement But when he comes he rewards eternall paines for a torment Here I wil end O Queen O Lord our only creator Our Lord Emmanuel our Christ and sole mediator Adde to thy life many yeares as he did to the King Ezechias 2. of Kings ch 20. ver 6. Safely defend thee from harme as he safely preserued Elias And that he graunt to thy Grace after this life as a chosen Vessel of his purify'd ioyes in Celestiall heauen Ioyfuly there to remaine with Iesus Christ the Redeemer Imparadiz'd as a Saint with Saints in glory for euer As two Greeke letters in Grecian Alphabet Alpha First letter plaste is but placed last is Omega So wil I continuall first and last praise thee for euer If that I could Poetize as I would thy glory to further Your Graces Subiect in faith loue duty to commaund THE FIRST BOOKE OF The preseruation of King Henry the vij when he was but Earle of Richmond O Father Omnipotent our Lord and only Redeemer Which on a throne deifi'd there sits and shines as a Iasper And as a Sardine stone incompast round with a Raine-bow The first part of the Reuelation of Saint Iohn in effect verbatim Like to the bright Emeraud with thy grace my spirit endow From which throne lightnings voices with lowde flashy thunders Duly proceed Where fowre and twenty colaudabil Elders Seated in as many seats all cloth'd with a white lily garment Crown'd with Crownes of gould on their heads stately refulgent Seauen Lampes of fire ar there eternaly burning Gods very godly spirits on God there faithful atending Neare to the throne is a sea of glasse which shin'd as a Crystal There fowre beasts ful of eyes ar about that stately Tribunal First was like a Lyon next seemed a calfe to resembel Third had a face of a man fourth beast was form'd as an eagel Euery beast of them six wings had them to belonging And ful of eyes ar within day and night ioyfuly singing Three times holy be God th' almightie that euer is holy Holy before which was which is which shal be God only And when those fowre beasts gaue praise to the Lord God Iesus Which on that throne sate who for euer liu'd who redeem'd vs Those reuerent Elders their Crownes commendably threw downe And fell flatly before that Lord that sate on a Tribune Worshiped him that liu'd and liues with glory for euer For thou glory deseru'st that made all things by thy power Vnto whom Archangels and Angels greatly reioycing With Cherubins Seraphins are there eternaly singing Thou father only my God which art wast shalt be for euer Gen. ch 1. ver 1.2 c. Who the terestriall Orbe which staies it selfe by the Center Quadruply partiting fire ayre earth watery substance Out of an vgly Chaos did'st frame and store with abundance Of seuerall creatures and made man last as an image Like to thy selfe vpright to behold this globe with a visage Gen. ch 1. v. â— â—7 Placed him in Paradice in a sacred garden in Eden Where by the fondnes of Eue they lost those ioyes then of heauen Thou Lord only for aye whose power and glory supernall Genesis ca. 2. vers 2. This star-y spang'd Element and this whole world vniuersal Made as a mightie Monarche n six daies only the seauenth Day he reseru'd to be kept as a sacred day as a Saboth Which God by Moyses did apoint and consecrat holy And that day to be kept by the cou'nant from labor only Thou he the same very God three persons one God in essence Exod. ca. 20. ver 8.9.10 Raise vp aloft to thy selfe my weake spirit hale to thy presence Leauy the lines that I write let thy law still be my load-starre Still to direct mee my course here trewly to write that I differ No not a word
this answer he gaue that he was content to deliuer Henry that Earle not a sheepe to the wolfe but a sonne to the father Similie And in a letter he wrote how th' Earle was much had in honor Both for his owne wisdome valiaunce and witty behaui'our They then seiz'd of a prey which they had greatly desired Thankfuly tooke their leaue and from thence quickly departed Vnto the towne of Saint Malo bord'ring neare to the sea shore Minding thence to depart when ships were made ready Wherefore Th' Earle when he knew that he should be return'd home for very sorrow Since that he was so betrai'd he fell sore sicke of an ague Imagining that he should as soone as he landed in England Be stratagiz'd but see who can Gods dignity withstand Gods diuine prouidence and sacred dignity supreame Ruleth al humane cause though humane causes ar extreame Sentence Marke gods omnipotence whose workes ar wonderus extant Still to be seene who preseru'd this venturus Earle at an instant Sau'd as a strange miracle by the faithfull loue of a stranger For many times men ar helpt and sau'd by the meanes of another Like as a Physition doth seeke mans health to recouer So wil a friend for a friend in trubbels stand a defender Vulcan against Troy was but Troians friend was Apollo And Venus indiferent Pallas not mortaly Iuno Malliced Aeneas as alyed wholy to Turnus Yet was he by Venus helpe preseru'd from her enmitie grieuus Vndubitate Pylades was a friend to woful Orestes To Damon Pythias Patrocles friended Achilles Diuers examples Virg. Alcyde ayded Hylas Aeneas friend was Acbates Eurialus Nisus Diomedes friended Vlisses And to be chiefe memoriz'd that firme and trusty Zopirus * Who cut his owne eares off Babilon to procure Darius Darius stout King in his hand faire Pomegranat hauing Plâ—tarch in Apo One of his especial friends askt him merrily iesting What things especiall if he might haue that that he wished Would he request for his owne As there were graines to be counted So many friendly Zopyres as a wise King wisely did answer For what more pretius then a friend that friendeth another Pluta in Apo As fire and heate both cannot be parted asonder So loue and friendship cannot be without one another For when on Iohn Chewlet that was for a Courtier only Counted a stout man at armes who lou'd this gratius Henry Heard that he was very sick and from thence like to be conueigh'd Grafton fol. 738. Edw. 4. Shortly to King Edward he therewith wofuly dismaid Posted amaine to the Court and present stept to the Kings Grace Heauily perplexed who looking sad with a pale face Stood as amased afore this Duke with a stearne heuy count'nance And not a word did speake as a man that wanted his vttrance Therewithal astonied to behold so feareful an obiect Like as a Prince vigilant he did some treachery suspect Yet when he considered this Knights state chearefuly thus spake Shew me the cause good Iohn that thou so monefuly dost looke Therewithal he to the Duke reuerent with an humbel obeysance Boldly declar'd what he meant and spake with a treatibel vttrance Sentence Pardon I craue Soueraigne if I speake Truth verily neuer Shameth his owne master What auailes then fondly to flatter Heare then a truth O Duke for like as Cynthia shining Inueloped with a clowde obscures her selfe from ilustring Similie Semblably truth for a time obscur'd many times lieth hidden Truth yet in end wil apeare truth neuer permaneth vnknowne O my renowned Duke wilt thou now falsify promisse Firmely betroth'd to this Earle What a fault is this what a blemmish O that I were buried Shal I liue to know thy dishonor Truly my minde O Duke is vext with an infinit honor Similie For that I greatly do grieue that this stout Earle to the slaughter Should as a lambe be betrai'd and there to be slaine of a Butcher This wil bring thy renowne O Prince which euery mans mouth Extols vp to the clowdes to decay For plainely to tell trouth If so be my Soueraigne thou wilt so shamefuly suffer Henry this Earle to depart thou stain'st thy glory for euer Thy former valiance and fame that shine to the worlds end Shall as a smoake pas away Shal a Prince such craftines intend Similie Peace good Iohn quoth the Duke peace peace I pray thee beleeue mee For these Embasadors do protest and say that he shal be Grafton fol. â—38 Edw. 4. Spows'd to the Kings daughter which their King faithfuly promist And to be next to the King plaste in authority chiefest Well said Iohn to the Duke in whom shall shame be reputed If that he dye by the way or in English Realme be beheaded For that I dare venture my life that it is but a practice This sily soule to deceiue this sicke Earles life to relinquish If that he shal be beguil'd in such sort let me no longer Liue to repaire to thy Court if he should dye dye had I rather Laertius lib. 4 chap. 2. When Dionise the tyrant would needes haue Plato beheaded Zenocrates answer'd not afore that mine be depriued But many say that a King that knowes not how to disembel Knowes not at all to rule such sleights be deuis'd by the Diuell If that I may be so bould to speake but a word in his absence O my benigne Soueraigne lend eare and giue to me credence For why This Earle of a truth lyes sick and likely to perish Similie If fro thy Realme he depart what Prince will trust to thy promise Nothing more perilus then a compound poysonus honny No body more trecherus then a foe that seemes to be friendly With tunes harmonicall sweete singing merrily Meremaides Similie Falsly betray Mariners So these men sent as aforesaid Smoothly deceiue your Grace with faire speach and mony giuen Vnder a cloake of loue lies concea'ld craftines hidden Sentences O fond discrecion on faire wordes wholly relying Experiment best is where wordes and deedes are agreeing Craft hath a godly pretence but a murderus end Similie For a fowler Merrily playes on a pipe when he craftily taketh a plouer Iscariot Iudas that false and wicked Apostel Falsely betrai'd with a kisse and sould our Lord for a trifel Laomedons falshood Priamus father and son of Ilus Caused his owne bludy death and losse of Troy city famus 1 Macha ch 11 Was not Alexander by craft of King Ptolemaeus His false fath'r in law depriu'd of his Empery famus Bluddy Polymnestor which of gould was so desirus Beastly did obtruncate Priamus sonne young Polidorus Virg. More to recite what auailes Therefor I humbly beseech your Grace O Duke to remember Grafton fol. 739. Edw 4. This disconsolate Earle that lyes neare dead of a feauer Send that he may be retain'd Let not thy glory be blemmisht Keepe faith inuiolate let a prince performe what he promist Thus this