chap. 10. pag. 45 The Storie of Iupiter and Calisto chap. 11. pag. 49 Of Cacus his secret Thefts and Tyrannies and how he was lastly discouered and slaine by Hercules pag. 53 Of the honour done to Hercules in Italie and of Queene Marica on whom he was supposed to beget Latinus Grandfather to Brute chap. 12. pag. 55 How Hercules vanquished King Picus and fell in loue with Iole p. 56 How Hercules ouercame the Tyrant Diomedes and gaue him to be eaten of his owne horses and how in Lycia hee betooke himselfe to ease and effeminacie pag 57 Of the tragicall end of Hercules and Deianira chap. 13 pag. 59 The occasion and circumstances of the third and last warre at Troy The destruction thereof and banishment of Aeneas pag. 61 Brute his petigree from either Parent his Exile from Italie and ariuall in this Isle then called Albion pag. 62 The third Booke HOw Brute named and manured this Iland built Troy-nouant or London and at his death deuided the Isse between his three Sonnes chap. 14. pag. 63 How Locrine ouercame Humbar and his Hunnes fell in loue with Estrild and of Queene Guendoleine her reuenge on him Estrild and Sabrin pag. 64 Of King Leir and his three Daughters pag. 65 Of Porrex and Ferrex and how Queene Iden murthered her sonne Porrex chap. 15. pag. 67 How and when the Scots and Pichts first entred Brutaine and of their Originals pag. 68 Of Belinus and Brennus their Contention Attonement renowmed Acts and death of Brennus chap. 16. pag. 69 Of the kindnes shewed by King Elidurus to his deposed Brother Archigallo pag. 76 How Iulius Caesar after two Repulses made the Brutaines tributarie to the Romaines chap. 17. pag. 77 The Fable of the old man the boy and the Asse pag. 80 The Birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. chap. 18. pag. 81 How Guiderius his brother Aruiragus ouercame the Romaines how Aruiragus was reconciled to the Romaines and married the Emperours Daughter pag. 81 How Queene Uoada vanquished the Romanes and of hers and her Daughters deaths pag. 82 Of the first Christian King in Brutaine how the Crowne thereof became Emperiall and of the Marriage and Holiday in Hell pag 85 Of the extreame distresse and thraldome that the Brutaines were brought vnto by the Scots and Pichts and how they were relieued by the King of little Britaine chap. 19. pag. 87 How King Vortiger intertained Hengistus and his Saxons how they droue Uortiger and the Brutaines into Wales and planted themselues in Britaine pag. 88 Of King Arthur and his Chiualrie pag. 90 How after the death of King Arthur the Saxons altogether subdued and expelled the Brutaines and of Cadwallader their last King pag. 91 The fourth Booke THe Storie of Curan and Argentile chap. 20. pag. 93 Of King Sigibert his tyrannie miserable end chap. 21. pa. 98 Of the amorous King Osbret slaine by the Danes who vnder Hungar and Hubba did warre and win much of England pag. 99 Of the politick and couragious Kings Alured and Adelstone and how they vanquished and chased the Danes pag. 100 How Egelred by treason of his mother became king and how all the Danes were murthered in one night pag. 101 Of the extreame thraldome wherein the English liued vnder the Danes How Swayne king of Denmarke and Canutus his sonne wholly subdued England to themselues chap. 22. pag. 102 Of the precepts that King Egelred on his death-bed gaue to his son Edmond Irneside pag. 103 Of the noble warre betwixt Edmond Irneside and Canutus of their Combat Attonement and friendly partition of England betwixt them c. pag. 105 Of the holy king Edward his vertuous and valiant gouernment Of the treacherous Earle Goodwin and of his End How king Harold was slaine and England Conquered by William Duke of Normandy chap. 22. pag. 107 Of the holy king Edward and of his sayings pag. 111 The fift Booke HOw king William Conqueror altered the lawes and gouernmet in England Of Edgar Athelstone and of his mother and Sisters entertainement in Scotland And of the restoring of the English royall blood chap. 23. pag. 113 Of King Henrie the second of Thomas Becket and of his death pag. 114 Of King Richard the first his Victories his imprisonment in Austrich his reuenge therfore and of his death chap. 24. pag. 117 Of King Iohn and how he was poysoned by a Monke pag. 118 A Tale of the beginning of Friers and Cloysterers pag. 119 Of a blunt Northerne man his speeches pag. 120 How king Edgar wowed the Nunne and of his pennance therefore pag. 121 Of the warres betwixt King Henrie the third and his Barons chap. 25. pag. 123 Of the vertuous and victorious Prince king Edward the first and of his counsell giuen to his Sonne c. pag. 124 Of king Edward the second his euill gouernment Of good Thomas Earle of Lancaster of his conference with an Hermit pa. 125 How lecherous Turgesius the Norwegane hauing conquered Ireland was by certaine young Gentlemen in the habites of Ladies slaine and Ireland so recouered chap. 26. pag. 126 Of amorous king Dermot and his Paramour the Queene of Meth in Ireland and of Ireland conquered to England pag. 129 Of the Hermits speeches to Earle Thomas of Lancaster chap. 27. pag. 131 How King Edward the second for his euill gouernement was deposed and his Parasites put to death chap. 28. 136 Of King Edward the third his Victories and noble Gouernement pag. 137 Of the magnanimitie of a Scottish Lady Sir Alexander Seitons wife at the besieging of Barwicke pag. 138 Of the troublesome Raigne of king Richard the second and how he was deposed by Henry surnamed Henry of Bolingbroke Duke of Hertford and Lancaster c. pag. 140 The sixt Booke OF king Henry the fourth of the Rebellions in his time and of Richard the seconds death chap. 29. pag. 142 Of the victorious Prince king Henry the fift Of Queene Katherine and Owen Tuder pag. 143 Of the wowing and wedding of Vulcan and Venus and of the strife betwixt Venus and Phoebus chap. 30. pag. 146 How Pan wowed and was deceiued chap. 31. pag. 152 Of Mercurie his successes loue pag. 154 Of Mars his Censure of loue and women and of Iupiters Sentence and sayings pag. 156. and 157 Of the troublesome Raigne of King Henrie the sixt how he was lastly deposed And of King Edward the fourth chap. 32. pa. 158 Of King Richard the third and of his Tyrannies pag. 160 How Henry Earle of Richmond ouercame and slew King Richard the third chap. 33. pag. 161 Of the vniting of the two hous 〈…〉 Lancaster and Yorke by intermariage pag. 163. The Seauenth Booke OF the great difficulties ouerpassed by Henrie the Seauenth heire of the Line of Lancaster or euer he attained to the Crowne chap. 34. pag. 164 Of the like great difficulties ouerpassed by his wife Queene Elizabeth heire of the Line of Yorke or euer the same two houses by their intermariage were vnited pag. 166 Of
Vpstarts and all Were ouercome So Spencers both from heauen to hell did fal Put to a fowle and shamefull death with others that misled The King in Out-rages more great than earst in England bred Prolers Blood-thirstie Parasites Make-shifts Bawdes did thriue Nor was an ancient English Peere vnbanisht or aliue For forraine and domesticke Swords Plague Famine and Exile Did more than tythe yea tythe the Tythe of men within this I le Of Baldricks Hoodes Tabrides and Furres from Knights disgraded tore Attaintures of Nobilitie and Armes reuersed store So many Spurres hewen off the heeles and Swords broke ouer head Were through a King so light and lewd a Councell neuer read The King in prison and depos'd tyrannised he dide By Trecheries of Mortimer that ruld the Roste that tide Whilst Edward in Minoritie his Fathers throne supplide CHAP. XXVIII THIS third of that same Name as yet in Nonage for a time Although a King was vnder-kept by some that ouer-clime Queene mother proude Mortimer familiar more than should Did and vndid more than they might not lesse than as they would Till Edward better counselled hong Mortimer the death Of many a Peere who Earle of March and haughtie for his birth Was Lord of nine skore dubbed Knights his other traynes except For greater pompe than did his Prince this Lord of VVigmore kept But more he had bene happie though lesse hautie in his Halls More honour in humilitie than safetie in walls Proud Climers proue not monuments saue onely in their falls The senselesse pride of Fooles therefore whome reuerently we ride Should lessen at the least because that earth their earth shall hide The Countrie purg'd of Fleecers and of Flatterers the Court The King became a Mars for Armes a Iupiter for Port Th Olympâ—ds the Pythea and the prowesse of the Earth Did seeme euen now and not but now to haue in him their birth East South and North gaue ayme farrc off admiring so the West As if that Mars discarding them had set our Realme his Rest. Philip Valois Dauid Bruz of power and courage more Than any French or Scottish Kings since or of long before Confedrate with three other Kings and Princes farre and neere Warre all at once on Edward but did buy their warring deere Dauid debelled left his land but lastly did returne And whilst our King did war in France much did he spoyle burne And proud of mightie Troopes of men of vnresisted prayes And Edwards absence prosperously he on aduantage playes Vntill not sending hence for helpe the Queene did muster Knights And with the Foe though tripled-wise victoriously she fights The Scots for most did perish and their King was Prisner taine And Scotland wholly for a pray to England did remaine Meane while was Paris scarcely left to rescue Philips Goale Whom Edward ferrits so from hold to hold as Fox from hoale That Melancholie he deceast and valiant Iohn his sonne Was crowned King of France and then the wars afresh begonne But after many fieldes vnto the Foes continuall wracke The French King captiuated to the English Monarke backe His Victor sayles the Prince of VVales Edward surnamed blacke The flower of Chiualrie the feare of France and scourge of Spaine Wheare Peter dispossest of Crowne was crownde by him againe Fower yeeres the French eleuen yeres was the Scotch K. prisners heere Whose the Dolphines ransomes were as great as good their cheere PRince Edw. Iohn of Gaunt all their Fathers sonnes might boaste Of famous Sier and he of sonnes matchlesse in any Coaste Howbeit King and Prince at last misled by counsell ill Through Taxes lost a many hearts that bore them earst good will Thence finding Fortune contrary to that she was before Yeat either dying seaz'd of French and Scottish Conquests store Yea Callice late and Barwick yet of their Exployts is lest Though Sonne before the Sier and both of liues long since bereft When Barwick was besieged and stood brauely at defence Sir Alexander Seiton theare chiefe Captaine had pretence To linger forth the Siege till Scots should draw the English thence In rescue of Northumberland and therefore sent his sonne A Pledge of treated Truce and when the guile-got Truce was done And Barwick not releeued nor resigned as it ought Two sonnes of Seiton were before the walls besieged brought They ready for the Iybbet and their Father for his Graue For eyther he must yeeld the Towne or them he might not saue In griefe he then his Countries cause and Childrens case reuolues But partiall vnto either he on neither Choyce resolues To be a loyall Subiect and a louing Father too Behooued him but both to bee was not in him to doo Nature and honour wrought at once but Nature ouer-wrought And but his Ladie it preuents to yeeld the Towne he thought O what pretend you Sir quoth she is Barwick woorth no more Than error of such loue I ioy that I such Children bore Whom cruell Edward honoureth with such a cause of death For that especiall cause for which we all receaue our breath Euen for their Countries cause they dye whose liues for it be dewe Why see their faces constantly she did their faces viewe The same my Seiton seeme so farre from dreading any woe As if they skornde that Barwicke should redeeme them from the Foe Full deere they were to me vnborne at birth and borne and now And Mother like I moane their death and yet their death allow Moe Sonnes and such you may beget your honour if you staine Defected honour neuer more is to be got againe Preuent not then your selfe your Sonnes and me so great a blis Adiew dye sweet Sonnes your soules in heauen shall liue for this With such perswasions did she win her husband from the walls And Edward executes their Sonnes and to assault he falls So long that Barwicke yeelds at length and still vs master calls THese were the dayes when English armes had eu'rie where request And Edw. knights throughout the world had prick praise for best Not Knights alone but Prelates too Queenes whereof were twain The quondam in esse Queenes by Armour honour gain By Warre the Queene that was did cease her husbands tragicke Rayn And by the Queene then being was the Scotch King Prisnet tayne It followes then that as the Pawnce doth circkle with the Sonne So to the vice or vertue of the Prince are people wonne O that our Muse might euermore on such a Subiect ronne But Vulcan forgeth other Tooles and sharpneth deadlier swords For little els then ciuill warres our following Penne affords French Expeditions badly thriue whereof we cease to speake Not forraine but Domestick warres grew strong to make vs weake Melpomen here might racke her wits Sylla Marius hate Pharsalian Fields were gentle Frayes regarding this debate The second Richard sonne vnto the blacke Prince Edward dead Was crownde an Infant and from him the Stratagem was bread The bace attempts of Ball
of Straw of Lyster tag and rag Of Villains Of-skoms Clownes knaues that checkmate durst to brag With Richards self to their deaths his chiefest Princes drag Till VVal 〈…〉 ths girdle-Armor made the Armes of London more Because his courage chiefly gaue an end to that vprore And what-so-els Occurrants much may interrupt our Vayne Digesting Yorke Lancaster acquiring eithers Rayne Our Penne shall not endenizen Now drops it sacred blood Of Men-Gods English Potentates that in this Faction stood Richard begun that ciuill warre that till the Seauenth from him Did last though often fields with blood of Citizens did swim Against the Nobles the vphild innoble and his Peeres And Commons went alike to wracke nor God nor man he feares In fewe Ambition Auarice and Counsell lewd had wrought In him a nature worser than into the world he brought Whereby and thus himselfe and house at length a down-fal cought Twixt Mowbray D. of Norffolke and the D. of Hertford sonne To Iohn of Gaunt close Conference of better dayes begun The King sayd Henry Hertford more remisse than doth beseeme Leaues France to French Scotland to Scots and vs to woes extreeme His Flatterers doe fleece the Crowne and Commons not a State Doth or dares counsell ancient Coats that on the Crowne should wate Giue aime to bastard Armorie what resteth then but this Plucke downe those grating Harpies that seduce our King amis If worthles still set vp a King worthier than he that is The other saying little then immediatly reueales The secrete and before the King his Foe-made frend appeales Whose Gauntlet raysed by the Duke defendant at the last It grew to single Combate when the King his Warder cast And to the Duke of Norffolke iudg'd for euermore exile And selfe same law Duke Henry had saue for a lesser while Thus That did This but This and That their Iudge did thus begile And to his Coffers did escheate a world of wealth a Pray Vnto his Parasites which thriu'd by other mens decay Meane while whose actious life had lawd did Iohn of Gaunt decease So to the banisht Duke his Sonne fiue Cronets did increase But with his kindly aire the King withheld him all the same Till entring ayded by his friends he wonne beyond his clame For Richard was imprison'd and by Parlament put downe And Henry Duke of Lancaster elected to the Crovvne The Lyne Lancastrian frollicke but the house of Yorke did frowne For to those Hydra-kinded warres that after did ensue Those Families gaue name though first the Diadem was due Vnto the house of Clarence till to Yorke that interest gre we By marriage here omitted for we onely giue a viewe How Yorke mis-raigning Lancaster did enter then how This Was dispossest That repossest and how their Vnion is THE SIXT BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XXIX HEnry the fourth so named hild the King deposed strate In Pomfret Castell howebeit in honourable State And got an Act that who so wrought the Prisner to restore That Richards selfe to voyd their hope should dye the first therefore Whose birth brought Nature gentle Lord returning whence it straid Now altred him erst altring it and Richard mildly said I must not say I am and would I might not say I was Of great the greatest lesse they grieue from whom doth little passe Nor more it grieues to contrarie the same I haue been then To haue deserued not to be vnmaliced of men Thus humbled and full penitent liues he lesse mal-content Than was the Duke of Exeter his brother whose intent Was as at a lusts to haue destroyd King Henrie but descryed Himselfe fower such and many Knights the death of Traytors dyed And by these primer Yorkests thus King Richards date grew out But whether brayned famisht or exiled rests a doubt For often Vprores did ensue for him as vndeceast How beit solemnely inter'd himselfe or Signe at least Twise by confedrate Chiualrie the Pâ—ercies and their frends Did fight and fall for either warre to Henries honor ends He neuer had but warre and was victorious euermore Aswell at home as also of his Foes on forraine Shore Till lastly Armor ouercame all Enuie and he liues Of all beloued and his death a common sorrow giues HOt spur his Sonne Henry the fifth hung at his Fathers eyes To watch his Ghoste and catch his Crowne and that or ere he dyes And where the Father doubted if he got it well or noe The Sonne did sweare how so it came he would it not forgoe His bad did blisse the Bad the Good dispaire all good But neither Did aime aright for sodainly his chaunge deceiued either Of good becomming best that was of ill the baddest and The true perfection of a King was not but in this Land He lead good fortune in a line and did but warre and winne Fraunce was his Conquest Scots but brag and he did beate them in A friend vnto weldoings and an Enemie to sinne Yeat of the Yorkests neuer lackt he Princes that rebell Nor other than confusion to their still coniuring fell In fewe if any Homer should of this Achilles sing As of that Greeke Myâ—midon the Macedonian King Once noted would I note both Prince and Poet happiest men That for deseruing prayse and This for well imployed pen For well this Subiect might increase the Worthies vnto ten He aged thirtie sixe deceast and left his infant Sonne His Kingdome Conquests and his Queene whose Fathers Realme he wonne To graue protection Regents and so royall for the port As that his Orphants Cradle seem'd an Alexanders Court Queene Katherin Daughter of the French King Henryes wife of late The fayrest Ladye in the West hild with her sonne Estate She oft behild and hild her peace a braue Esquier of VVailes That tyde her fancie to his forme till fancied forme preuailes All liking was reuersed Loue saue Owen Tuder all Saue him that durst not dreame such good to her was lesse than small She formally by quaint degrees attracting him to fauor Did nourish burnings in her selfe by noting his behauor She pitched Tewe he masshed She vncompaned To flie He bids her solitary moodes She askes the remedie Disclosed pangues sometimes quoth he in Phisicke Phisick is Which sometimes to obserue quoth she doth Patients patience mis Cureles to Aesculapius and Apellos selfe am I The latter felt my languor and immortall wisht to die And yeat saue one no one disease lay hidden to his Art For you were bootlesse then to gesse how to vngreeue my smart Had Daphne to Apollo beene Apollo Tuder said His might haue beene and so may be your Graces humor staid He other Gods and Goddesses found more contented Loue Beloe in diffring bosomes than in equall beddes aboue I aime at Loue for thereto your Aenigma doth incline And aime to him a Deity for whome I so deuine But gladly doubt I of the Man for if I doubted not I should but massacer my lacke in enuy of his lot Yeat are vnworthie
nor till her our humbled sailes we strike For should we at her Grandsier reare our Colome yet too poore We could not write as Hercules on his Beyond no more For he lackt search our Muse hath Kend an Ocean is in store Euen matter that importeth worth coparing all before THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XXXIV NOw let vs poste-alone to Mars and Mercury repaâ—r At least so farforth as wee maye without controwlment daer Richard the third Henry the Seauenth last subiects of our pen Was slaine was crownde with hate with loue as worste as best of men So not with Yorke and Lancaster doth wonted enuie raigne Nor can Aeneas Off-springs now of Orphansie complaine But that Cadwalladers Fore-doomes in Tuders should effect Was vnexpected saue that God doth destinies direct Els Owen Tuder had not wiu'd Fift Henries noble Queene Nor had they of their bodies Earles Penbrooke and Richmon seene Nor Margret Somersets sole heire to Richmon had beene weade Nor they the heire of Lancaster Henry the Seuenth had bread Nor he of Yorks Inheritrix Elizabeth had sped Nor they vnited either house all other titles dead Yeat eare this vnion Either so ariued to their right As Psiches on an errant sent to Hell by Venus spight Worse Ferrymen than Charon Hoods contagious more than Styx Worse Porters than fowle Cerberus were pleas'd past stood betwix How therefore Either dangerously their Labyrinth did passe Shall not be ouerpassed Thus their seuerall fortune was Henries the fourth the fifte and sixt successiuely did raigne Vntill fourth Edwards sword to him did lawfull Empier gaine Lancastrians droupe the Yorkests had their long expected day Sixt Henry and the Prince his sonne by stabbes were made away The foresaid Margaret sole heire of Somerset earst wife Of Tuder Earle of Richmond had by him a Sonne in life To whom from her the Crowne-right of LancastriaÌ„s did accrewe He from his English foes himselfe by secrete stealth withdrewe To little Brutaine wheare he found the Duke a frendfull trewe This Henry Earle of Richmond now poore Lancasters Remaine Was by fourth Edward practis'd home by many a subtell traine Whome once the gentle Duke beguilde with promises vnment Deliuered to the English-men with whome he homewards went Forsaken Ladd for yet he was a Ladd what did remaine But certaine death so to assure his foes vncertaine raine Which to establish many a Prince of his Allies weare slaine But him eare broughta-boorde the Duke aduised better stayd And him as if by câ—â—â—nce escapte to Sanctuarie conuaid The Lambe so rescued from the Wolfe that priuiledged place Assured him till Edwards death and then he hoped grace But he that was Protector of his murthered Nephewes than Vsurped England and became a Monsture not a man Richard the third omitting all his tyrannies beside To be possessed of the Earle by many a message tride Great wealth was sent greater assum'de but nothing might preuail The gracious Duke abhord to set his guiltles frend to sayle But furnished with money men and armor shipt him thence To winne his right yeat churlish Seas did lett such kind pretence Full hardly Richmonds threatned Ship escapt our armed Shoore For Richard of the Riuall got intelligence before Return'de the Duke did sicken and Landoise did beare the sway And he for Masses great was brib'de Earle Henry to betray Yeat through wise Bishop Murtons meanes by stealth he scap'te away In trauell then from Brutaine to his Grome himselfe was Grome By interchaunged rayment till to Anger 's they weare come The French King pittying his distresse pretended asked aide And secrete platformes for his weale his English friends had laide Henry in France at home his Friends bester them and the Foe Meane time with hope with fraud with feare imployde his witts also Now of the Earles conspiracy the totall drift was this Elizabeth the daughter of fourth Edward vow'd he his And she was vow'd to him if God with victory him blisse Our wounded Englands healing balme for thus thereof ensew'de The factious Families vnite the Tyrant was subdew'de And thence the surname Tuder doth Plantagenet include AS hardly as her husband did Elizabeth escape For why like Stratageme for both did bloody Richard shape Whilste that her Father liued now a King and now exilde Her Crosses then did happen from such victors as weare milde But now the same that murthered her Brothers to be King That did withfraud begin and then with bloud conclude ech thing That flattred friends to serue his turne and then destroyde the same That was her Vncle yeat did hate her Mothers very name That thought he liued not because his Neeces weare vndead Theis now and blame her not in her a world of terror bread But of vnpriuiledged bloud yet had he store to spill Yet sanctuaries weare not forc'te yet but expecting ill Theareofte the Queene her Mother Shee and Sisters would reporte Their happie and vnhappie daâ—es the fewer of first sorte Happy was I the olde Queene said when as a Maide vnweade Nor Husbands weale nor Childrens woe mistempered my head Yeat I beloued loued and so left that free estate And thought me happyer than before for louely was my Mate Iohn Gray a sweet Esquier for his prowysse dubbed Knight Was as behoued all my ioy who slaine in factious fight Your Father Daughters late my Lord and Husband now in earth From me had many a secrete curse as motyue of his death Lancastrian was my husband and that faction had the wourste So to releeue my Widdowhood I kneel'd to whom I curste Edward for Henry was depoes'de and Edward seaz'd the Crowne I wot not for what forme of mine did raise me kneeled downe And gaue me chearefull wordes and tooke me curteously aside And playd the ciuell Wanton and me amoroufâ—y he eide His plea was loue my sute was Land I plie him he plies me Too baece to be his Queene too good his Concubine to be I did conclude and on that point a while we disagree But when I was his Queene sweete King not for I was his Queene But for himselfe and for the loue that passed vs betweene I held me happiest vnderheauen yea when his aduerse Line Discrowned him I had inough that I was his he mine Then after fortunes often change he died and I suruiue A life exceeding death for griefe and greefes Superlatiue My heart ah Sonnes my heart deare Hearts was dead eare yee did die Too yong weare yee to censure of your vncles tyranny Then wept shee and her daughters wept their onely talke alwaies Was passed ioyes or present woes nor hope they better daies But in Earle Richmonds good successe that now a power did raise Too soone had Richard notice that Earle Henry would ariue By precontract his eldest Neece Elizabeth to wiue And well he knew in Yorks descent she was immediate heire And Henry like in Lancaster a Match for him to feare Which to preuent he flattered his Neeces from their mother Who fearefull Ladies
lingring Torments who Fault to their Inquisition oâ— their Damned Rytes must doe Then better Bodies perish than should soules miscarrie too Of neither which hath Rome or Spaine remorse but thristing Sway Regard not whome by whom or how they treacherously berray How oft haue they the rest ore past subborn'd our Queenes decay By wars wiles witchcrafts daggers dags Pope poyson what not To her haue they attempted death for liewe the Traytors lot Vouchsafe O God those loues of thine be neuermore forgot Was neuer any thryued yet that threatned her amis For of anoynted Princes God sole Iudge and Rector is And if Examples might preuaile then Traytors might perceaue They perish in their purpose or but Spyders webbes doe weaue And heere occasion apteth that we catalogue awhile And vnto English Dukes from first to last addresse our Style Though numbers greater as great of power did pryde begyle Yeat in this one degree obserue what headding and exile Yf then such Mighties felt Gods frowne shal Meaners hope his smile CHAP. XLV EDward surnam'd the blacke Prince and third Edwards eldest sonne Third Thomas Duke of Norffolke This did ende and That begonne From Normaine VVilliams Conqueste heere of Dukes the Title hie Of fortie seuen but twentie two a naturall death did die Edward y e Duke of Yorke that lead fifth Henries Vaward Knightly Then slaine at Agencourt with fame we ouerpasse him lightly Nor Humfrey Duke of Glocester heere catalogue we rightly Nor VVilliam Duke of Suffolke who exilde on seas was met And hated headded howbeit sixt Henries Fauoret Nor Edmund Duke of Somerset that Henries loued Peere Nor Humfrey Duke of Buckingham to that same King as deere Nor sweet yong Richard Duke of Yorke of Glosters kyn too neere We also two Plantagenets both Dukes of Clarence cleere Of which was Thomas slaine in France George drownd in Malmsie heere For though these Eight remembred Dukes deceast not in their beads Yeat none of these had traytrous hearts that forfetted their heads Howbeit otherwise of these weare some that erred so That stomack't for such Errors did their ends vntimely groe Nor was the Duke of Ireland Vere in second Richards time A Traytor but a Parasite which proude no lesse a crime He as ambitious as he was enuious and enuied Was banisht by the Nobles and in banishment he died Mowbreie of Norffolke right or wrong by foresaid Richard was Exiled and in Italie did hence to nature pas When second Richard was deposde and Henrie wore the Crowne Two Hollands to restore the one and put the other downe Conspiring weare detected and at Cercester they both Of Excester and Surrey Dukes found death in Vulgar wroth Richard Plantagenet the Duke of Yorke fourth Edwards father Sought to depose fixt Henrie and was heard therein the rather For that to him by law-Descents the Scepter did acrew But they compound howbeit warres were reard and him they slew Iohn Holland Duke of Excester fourth Edwards sentence fleade And was long after in the sea suspuicusly found dead Then Henry Duke of Somerset rebelling lost his heade Of Edmund Duke of Somerset the like is also reade So Henrie Duke of Buckingham third Richards friend-foe speade And that tyrannous Richard Duke of Glocester his Raigne Vsurped was suppressed he for blood payd blood againe Iohn Duke of Norffolk fought and fell at Bosworth field His sonne Duke Thomas in Eight Henries daies did heading hardly shonne Adiudg'd perpetuall Durance in Queene Maries raigne vn-donne VVolsey that slye officious and too Lordly Cardnall wrought Who could would effect his wil that to the blocke was brought Eight Henrie raigning Edward Duke of Buckingham whose end That Prelate ioyde the people moend because his foe their friend Seimer the Duke of Somerset enuied more than reason By one that came the next to Blocke though mightie at that season Sixt Edward in Minoritie dide quit although of treason No sooner Marie got the crowne more liklie to be gon But Iohn Duke of Northumberland beheaded was anone Who wrought to set the Diedeme Iane Dudlies heade vpon Her Father Henrie Gray the Duke of Suffolke was also A friend vnto that Faction the Spanish Wowers foe But by that act he lost his heade as did too many moe In blessed Queene Elizabeth her happie Raigne of peace The Tragedies and Tytles too of English Dukes did cease Which Thomas Duke of Norffolke laste Tragedian did increase All theis weare mightie in their times yeat being Male-contents Both they and hundreds powerfull Peeres for like found like Euents Howbeit of the common wealth none worser did desarue Than such as flattred Princes faults who faulting all did swarue Which in their Pollicie the States of Hell did then fore-see When as they ioyned others Aydes vnto the Furies three Narcissus Shadowe and the Voice of Eccho than which twaine How fabulous so-ere it seeme nought hath or more doth baine Wherefore to such as know them not we either thus explaine CHAP. XLVI WHeare Cadmus old Agenors sonne did reste and plant his Raigne Narcissus of his Of spring theare for beautie fame did gaine His Mother was Lyriope faire Thetis fairer Daughter Whome cheefest as the choisest wowde and braue Cephisus caught her Boeotia was the fertile Realme Parnassus Plaine the place Whear this admired Youth was borne this Lass-Lad forme and face No Nymph so faire but wisht him hers howbeit all in vayne His selfe-loue wrought his selfe-losse his beauty prou'd his baine Who proud of Natures plentie hild all others in disdaine Till God who had created Man the fairest Creature Howbeit but a shadow of his proper Feature More differing far than Sun-shine froÌ„ the Suns selfe-substance pure Narcissus ouer-scornfull pride not longer would indure But froÌ„ his forme that pleas'd him most his plague did thus procure As this same fond selfe-pleasing Youth stood at a Fountaynes brym And proudly sees his shadow theare admiring euery lym Eccho an amiable Nymph long amorous of hym But louing vnbeloued now at least to please her Eye Conuaies her selfe vnseene into a Thicket ioyning by And thear as much ore-gone with loue as he ore-gone with pride She hears and sees and would haue pleas'd three Senses more beside And nothing more than euery part thus stealth-seene liked her And nothing lesse than hidden with vnhidden to conferre For well it had contented then in more then sight to erre Although not meanely did his scorne gainst it her stomacke sterre Meane while the Lad such power hath pride mens Senses to subdue Doats on his Shadow now suppos'd to be a Substance tâ—ue And lastly wowes so formally in words and gestures sweete That Eccho found his error and he saying Let vs meete Let 's meete quoth Eccho mockingly which hearing he with speed Beleeuing that his shadow was a Nymph and spake in deed Did leape into the Fountaine whear that Gallant drowning thus Hath left example how like pride may cause like plague to vs. How smooth-tongu'd Eccho that for him
conclude by Combacy to winne or loose the Game Within a little Island neare round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trie their Force by fighting hand to hand They spur their Horses breake their Speares beat at Barriars long And then dismounting did renew a Battell braue and strong Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus said we both I see shall end Eâ—e Empire shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or part With it their Knights crie out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of Fight And so the Champions did embrace forgetting malice quite Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And Brother-like they liue and loue till by a deu'lish traine Earle Edricus a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne Did murther Edmund and his head supposing to haue wonne The fauour of Canutus so presenting sayd O King For loue of thee I thus haue done Amazed at the thing Canutus sayd and for that thou hast headed him for me Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall be The Earle was headed and his head poold vp for all to see Of England Danske Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord Harold Hardi-knought his sonnes each th' other did succeede Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raigns to Englâ—sh-men did grieuous thraldoÌ„ breede But after Hardt-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the state of England euersince CHAP. XXII OF foresaid Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwins guile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout francke and milde was hee And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did set his Kingdome free By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issuelesse he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire howbeit by consent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this maiden-wife he sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp to spring Did laughing say the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd His meaning was the Stumblers feete And haddest thou so pleas'd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traitrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am guiltlesse of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke His sonne Harold by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary winds in Normandie ariues Where Goodwins sonne did take an oth Duke VVilliam vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should go The Crowne of England claimed by Adoption and by blood But Harold after Edwards death not to his promise stood And for he was in wealth in friends in blood and Armor strong And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong But arming him against the Duke so vrged vnto wroth Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe contrary to his oth Whil'st VVilliam therfore works for war King Harold had not rest For Harold Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his puissant Bands But Harold him assailes And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes And with the Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all When for deuision of the spoyle did much contention fall Betwixt the King and English-men and many a noble Knight Not onely murmur and maligne but did forsake him quight Such malice growing VVilliam with his Normanes taking land Found hot hot spur Harold prest in Armes his puissance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild See valiant War-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agentes of our Enemies they hencefoorth cannot call Supplies for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe Then Conquer these would Conquer you and dread no further Foe They are no stouter than the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes or victory er while Not Saxoâ—â—e could once containe or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerate take courage by discent And by their burialles not abode their force and flight preuent Ye haue in hand your Countries cause a Conquest they pretend Which were ye not the same ye be euen Cowards would defend I graunt that part of vs are fled and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth Mal-content I prize the minde aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yeat troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which neretheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuaile But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yeat wot I neuer Traytour did his Treasons Sâ—ipend mis. Shrinke who wil shrinke let Armor's wayte presse downe the burdned earth My Foes with wondring eyes shal see I ouer prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a like affected bee Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from sâ—â—uitude to free Are Armed both in shew and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home brought Spoyles of Victorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spendes As Harold hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lie within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Souldiers one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor be ye Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pikes to hewe your honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by law Ye come I say in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye Since Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead ye Or Turchus Sonne of Troylus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Seede of Pryams sonne Exployt this businesse Rollons do that which ye wish be done Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more Fot Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away â—efore vs are our armed Foes behind vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour and for ease But that Aduantage
trust no friend Not one I knewe that wisht me ill nor any workt me well To lose lacke liue time frends in yncke an hell an hell an hell Then happie we quoth Robin Hood in merry Sherwood that dwell Thus sayd the Out lawe But no more of him I list to tell Grammarian-like in order wordes significant to speake Logitian-like to reason pro and contra am I weake Rhetoricall I am not with a fluant tongue to ster Arithmatieke in numbring hath substracted me from her Geometrie her Plattes Bownes and Proportions passe my strayne Not Musick with her Concords or her Discords breakes my braine Nor yeat Astronomie whose Globes doth Heauen and earth containe Let faire Mnemosine her broode their thrise three selues explaine Expect not here Anatomies of Lands Seas Hell and Skyes Such length bredth depth height I balke nor would I be so wise Least knowing all thing els I should not knowe my selfe precise The Skyes containe the fierie Lights Clowdes moysture the ayre Windes Birds Vapors men Beasts the vpper Earth doth beare Her Bowels Wormes and Mettals Seas to Fishes properare Whom this Astrologie and this Cosmographie mislike Beneath the Earth beyond the Moone further then farre must seeke Signes workings Planets Iunctures and the eleuated Ponle With thousand toyes and tearmes wherein our curious Artists roule Be strangers to my Cell yeat loe as sound a minde and heart As theirs that calculate their times eate sleepe and wake by arte What was the world before the world or God ere he was God Why this he did or doth not that his bidden or forbod I dare not thinke or arrogate such Misteries deuine Faith with her Fruites significant suffice these wittes of mine To loue God and our neighouer as our selfe is all in fine One Law and Gospell was and is and eithers drist is thus To shewe vs how the law doth kill and Gospell quicken vs Which Corasiue ahd Lenatiue of Simples made compound Doe rather cure he kindly heales that alsh feeles his wonnd This is my rest if more I knewe I should but know too much Or build in my eonceited brayne too high aboue my touch Or else against the hare in all proue toyous euen such As be too many blockish Clerkes and bookish Clownes extaceme In all things saue in honesty that haue no zeale but seeme As for the Court it is you knowe become a skittish Coult Of wise men hardlier mannaged than of the glorious doult Vice rides on horse backe vertue doth from out the saddell boult Theare all deformities in forme in some one man wee see More garded than regarded franke not to continue free When as the Marchants booke the Map of al his wealth shal be The Muses bacely begge or bibbe or both and must for why They finde as bad Bestoe as is their Portage beggerly Yea now by melancholie walkes and thred bare coates we gesse At Clyents and at Poetes none worke more and profite lesse None make too more vnmade of more the good of other men For those inrich our Gownests these eternize with their pen. Yeat soothly nodds to Poets now weare largisse and but lost Since for the nodant they obserue no pen-note worth the cost For pallace Hermites liue secure obscure in roufes imbost Some few there be much honored well worthy of so much Once wanting wealthie then and now in either fortune such But many a bace stoute blood theare is more lordly than be Lords Who wheare himself once coucht bowde nor cap or beck affords But should we sinne God sheild wee should in smallest sinnes offend What smaller sinne then skoffe such fooles so skornefull to no end The Souldiers qaue nor pay nor pray but if I may be bolde Themselues be prayed vpon by some that doe it vncontroulde And whilst the same on shore or sâ—as be ouer set or pine Or Cuppes on Cushions full secure we victorie define We cast what may bee done but keep the helps meane time awaye And diet thriftly our friends to giue our foes a pray The Citizens like ponned Pikes the lessers feede the greate The rich for meate seeke stomackes the poore for stomackes meate And euery wheare no Gospell is more gospelled than this To him that hath is giuen from him that hath not taken is Court Citie Countrie Campe and I at ods thus euen bee I intermeddle not with them they intercept not mee For still I tether thence mine eyes so heere my heart is free Beleeue mee Sir such is this world this crosse-blisse world of ours That Vertue hardly hides her selfe in poore and desart Bowres And such be best that seeme not best Content exceeds a Crowne They may be richer but more sweete my pennie than their powne For wrest they cark they build they sport they get they worlds together At first or last they die froÌ„ al passe they wot not whether Then comes their pelfe in plea themselues not praysed at a feather And then for so the Princes of great Alexander did Greedie of his they striue and let the dead-man stinke vnhid Or he that had a Countrie hath perhaps a Coffen now Perhaps lesse Cost a Sheete and corse perhaps his heires allow The toombe himselfe aliue had build els toombles might he lye As saue for fashion tearelesse And it matters not for why Testators and Executors so giue and so receaue As doubtfull whethers ioy or griefe is more to take or leaue For as do hogges their troughes to hounds so these giue and get place Death not the Dier giues bequests and therefore but Graue-grace Nor all die testate if they doe yet wieles may wills preuent Or what by rigor was misgot in ryote is mispent Then Churles why are they Churles vnto themselues and others too The good that commeth of their goods is good themselues shall doo But men doe walke in shadoes and disquiet themselues in vaine To gather Riches ignorant to whom they shall remaine The world thus brooding Vanities and I obseruing it Here in the world not of the world such as you see me sit The Earle did well allow his words and would haue liu'd his life Durst he haue stayd for whom pursute in euerie place was rife He reconuenting armes therefore and taken Prisner so Died to his Countries friends a friend and to her foes a foe NOr might y e Queene Kings own Son escape the SpeÌ„cers pride But fearing fled to France and there as banished abide Til thence supplanted safetie at Henaude they prouide Iohn brother to the Earle a Knight of Chiualrie the chiefe With little but a luckie band was shipte for their reliefe No sooner had the Zealand ships conuaide their men ashoare But English Succors daylie did increase their Standerds more Yeat first the Queene Prince Edward and the Nobles humbly crauc Theirs and their Countries enemies but no redresse might haue And then Sir Iohn of Henaude shewde himselfe a warrior braue The King his wicked Councellors his big
than needeth that we kisse as stands the cace Rid hence yonn same your knauish Page you sent him with a Mouse To spie my secretes or belike to braue me in my house Gods pretious would you knew I beare a mind lesse bace then that I can disgest your Drudge with me so saucely should chat Iacke Napes forsooth did chase because I eate my Slaue the Bat. O what a world is this that we can nothing priuate haue Vncensur'd of our Seruants though the simplest Gill or Knaue Well rid him of your seruice Nay it skils not if of life At least if so you meane that we shall loue as man and wife For such Colecarriers in an house are euer hatching strife The Cuckooe hearing this complaint flew on his trusty Page And vndiscreatly gaue him strokes that kild him in that rage Yeat eare he left his life he thus vnto his Maister sayd Thus many honest Seruants in their Masters hastie brayd Are Dog-like handled either yeat like deare in Ioues iust eyes Of Harlots and of hastines beware sayd he and dyes When now her gluttony and spight had thus dispatched twaine The Cuckooe plying amorously her fauour to obtaine Euen then and looking very bigge in came the Buszard who Did sweare that he would kill and slay I mary would he doe If any Swad besides himselfe faire Madam Owle did wowe The Cuckooe seeing him so bog waxt also wondrous wroth But thus the Owle did stint the strife Shee cals them husbands both Now fie quoth she if so you could betwixt your selues agree Yee both should haue your bellies full and it no hurt to me The Buszard faintly did consent the Cuckooe sayd Amen And so was Hen inough for Cocke not Cocke inough for Hen For she deceyues them both and had besides them other game The Gende Buszard dying soone for sorrow of the same The Cuckooe wisely saw it and did say but little to it As nooting she was set on it and knowing she would doe it But what the Swallow warned him of Harlots proued trew For as was gessed also him by trecherie she slew The Goddesse Pallas to giue end vnto these tragicke deedes Descended and the dead reuiu'd to Sentence thus proceedes The Bat because begild of Dis See pittieth partly and Permits him Twy-light flight to giue thereby to vnderstand That to aspire is lawfull if betwixt a Meane it stand The Swallow for that he was trew and slaine for saying well Shee doomb'd a ioyfull Sommers Bird in Winter time to dwell Euen with Mineruas secrete store as learned Clarkes doe tell The Buszard for he doted more and dared lesse than reason Through blind bace Loue induring wrong reuengeable in seasō She eie-blur'd and adiudged Praies the dastard'st and least geason Vnto the Cuckooe ouerkinde to brooke Coriuals she Adiudg'd a Spring-times changeles note and whilst his yong ones be By others hatcht to name and shame himselfe in euery Tree But liue quoth she vnto the Owle ashamed of the light Be wondred at of Birds by day fly filch and howle all night Haue lazie wings be euer leane in fullen corners rucke When thou art seene be thought a signe to folke of euill lucke Nor shall thine odious forme vile Witch be longer on my Shield Whence racing forth her Figure so the Goddesse left the field IVst Guerdons for Ambition for poore Soules opprest for well For dastard Dotards Wittolrie and Harlots nice you tell Said Perkens Wife But thus now of her husbands pride befell At last when sundry Armes had end Henry victorious still And Perkens passage was fore-stald he yeelds of his owne will Himselfe from Churches Priuiledge to Henries Mercy who Did onely limitte his abode and lesse he could not doe But when he sought escapes he then had petite punishment And after for some new attempts to Tower was he sent Whence practising escape t' was sayd he won to his intent Young Edward Earle of Warwicke that indeed was Clarenes son And euer had been Prisner theare eare Henries raigne begon And now by law too strickt me seemes for this to death was don Perken was hang'd and hang may such but that the Earle should die Some thought hard law saue that it stood with present pollicie Sir VVilliam Stanley dide for this oft King-law is doe thus Deseruing better of the King but what is that to vs The last of our three Phaetons was tuter'd of a Fryer Who being fitted now by Art and nature to aspier The foresaid name of VVarwicke fain'd seduced folke thereby As I my selfe in Essex heard and saw a Traitor dye That fain'd himselfe sixt Edward and to grace-out such his lye Lookes bodie words and gesture seem'd heroycall to view He had like age like markes and all that might inforce it trew Whereby to him assisting minds of simple Folke he drew Our Cowle-mans foresayd Actor so preuailed that the Fryer In Pulpets durst affirme him King and Aydes for him requier But lastly both were taken both did fault in one same ill Yeat rope-law had the Youth the Frier liu'd Clergie-knaued still VVHen Armour ended Auarice began for then begins The slye Mercuriles◠and more by wyles then valour wins Beneuolences Taxes and sore Fines for penall lawes To Henry hoords from Henry hearts of many a Subiect drawes Empson Dudly fur'd Esquiers more harmefull being gown'd To Englands friends than Englands foes through Auarice profound In such exacting chiefly Act applaused of the King To whom their ciuill Thefts not Thrifts exceeding wealth did bring Yeat whē the gracious King found out their tacking Rich Poore He then did pardon much and much did purpose to restore But dying those two Harpies lost their hated heads therefore So hardly fauoured of Kings themselues in bownes containe That they securely stout at length doe perish through disdaine So hardly too some Princes are from priuate Lucar wonne As though their bags ore-flow they think no harme abroad vndone Henry acquite his latter dayes of Auarice fore named Deceast for Prowesse Policie and Iustice highly famed THE EIGHT BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XXXIV EIGHT Henry heire indubitate of Yorke and Lancaster Succeeded and with Kingly rites his Father did interr His mind his words his lookes his gaet his lynaments and Stature Weare such for Maiesties as shew'd a King compos'd by Nature All Subiects now of ciuill strife all counter-minds for Raigne All enuious of his Empier now weare rid weare pleas'd or slaine Rich weare his sundrie Tryumphs but his cost had foyzen than When Terwin and strong Turnay in resisting France he wan When Maximilian Emperour did vnder Henry fight When English Ships did often put the French Sea-powre to flight And that the French King was inforc'st to craue and buy his peace Who wiuing louely Mary so the warres for then did cease This sister to our King and then the French Kings goodly Queene Was welcommed with Tryumphs such as erst in France vnseene Iustes Barriers Tylts Turneyes were proclaymed
each wheare for All Whereforeto Paris at the time flockt Caueliers ful tall With Princes braue and Ladies faire of euery Realme about And hence with moe Charles Brandon in fine Chiualrie most stout Whose bodie fitted to his mind whose mind was puesant and Whose puesance yeelded not to Mars this Mars in France did laÌ„d With whoÌ„ incouÌ„tred valiaÌ„t knights but none might him withstaÌ„d The English-French Queene standing theare admir'd for beautie rare Behild the Tryumphs in the which high Feates performed ware But Brandon yet no Duke he was the Knight aboue the rest That in her eye nor did she erre acquited him the best For whether that he trots or turnes or bounds his barded Steede Did runne at Tylt at Randon or did cast a Speare with heede Or fight at Barriers he in all did most her fancie feede Weake on a Couch her King lay theare whoÌ„ though she loued well Yeat likte she Brandon and the same lou'd her ere this befell For chastly had they fancied long before she came to Fraunce Or that from meane estate to Duke Henry did him aduaunce The dayes of Triumph weare expir'd and English Peeres with praise Come home and Lewes King of France decea'st within few daies Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke then with honour furnisht hence Was sent to France for to returne the widow Queene from thence Who had been wed scarce thâ—ice three weekes vnto a sickly King To her a fayre young Queene therefore smal time might solace bring Yet lesse did timethaÌ„ braue Duke Charles asswage fair Maries griefe He chats she cheers he courts she coyes he wowes she yeelds in briefe No windes thought she assist those Sayles that seeke no certain Shore Nor find they constant liues that but they liue respect no more Let each ones life ayme some one end as if it be to marrie Then see heare loue and soone conclude it betters not to tarrie To cast too many doubts thought she weare oft to erre no lesse Than to be rash And thus no doubt the gentle Queene did gesse That seeing This or That at first or last had likelyhood A man so much a manly Man weare dastardly withstood Then Kisses reuel'd on their Lips to eithers equall good And least King Henry should dissent they secretly did wead And then sollicet his good will and of their wishes spead The periut'd valiaÌ„t Scotch-King Iames slayn at braue Flodons Slaughter Had also left in widowhood Englands fayre elder Daughter She also weds a Scottish Earle vnlicenc'st of her Brother And was to her Sons Daughters Sonne now sixt Iames great-Grandmother A Scruple after twentie yeares did enter Henries mind For wedding of Queene Katherin a Ladie fayre and kind Spaynes Daughter then the Emperours Aunt and for her vertuous life Well worthie Henry But for she had beene his Brothers wife And also of their coiture surmise directed Lawes He seem'd in conscience toucht and sought to rid him of the Cause Then was the matter of Deuorse through Christendome disputed The Match of all adiudged voyd and so the Queene non-suted She after teares to him from whom she was to be deuorste Did humbly say and am I not my Lord to be remorste That twentie yeeres haue bene your Wife borne your Children and Haue lou'd and liu'd obediently and vnsuspected stand I am ah too too sweetly err'd I was poore Soule the same Whom once you did preferre nor now of me you neede to shame The blossomes of my beautie was your Bootie nor my fauour Now alters so to alter so from me your late behauour But Conscience is the colour of this quarrell well I wot I also haue a conscience that in this accuseth not But as the same perhaps might say that me succeedes say I That for the pleasure of a Prince goe many things awry Which her Fore-doomes seem'd to effect in her that her succeeded In Queene Anne Bullyn who for she in Lutherâ—sme proceeded Was hated of the Papists and enui'd because preferr'd And through the Kings too light beleefe for Kinges haue sometimes err'd She lost her head and might haue sayd some thought ere she did dye That for the pleasure of the Prince goe many things awry So dyde the gracious Mother of our now most glorious Queene Whose zeale in reuerent Fox his works autenticall is seene The Kings foure other Queenes for why he dide a Sexamus Shall passe though Iane did beare a Sonne to him a King to vs Edward the Sixt and of the same we shall deliuer thus CHAP. XXXV SVCH as was Loue in Figure of Ascanius wheÌ„ the same In kisses slie did sheade himselfe into the Tyrian Dame Or such as was sweete Hyacint Apollos louely Boy Or Iupiters Ganymaedes rapt vp to heauen from Troy Or rather like young Salomon in sentencing betwixt Two mothers claiming one same Child was young Edward the Sixt. Now Rome fell sicke in England but how long she lay in traunce We list not write alonly death to her did neuer chaunce For old Rome neuer lackt that durst their liues for her bestoe Not new Rome that to Hell for her dare soules and bodies goe Then true Religion might be sayd with vs in Primatiue The Preachers and the people both then practiuely did thriue Our decent Church-Rites still in print not practise worthie those Whose reuerent heads collected them froÌ„ whence true wisedoÌ„ groes Not mangled then of Nouesses and curious Doults which now Would haue they know not what would reform they know not how Omitting or admitting as their owne Conceits allow Did then put forth her Braunches and weare fruitfull in the bood And weare our Church-Lords now for zeale as Church-lawes now for good Soone might like vnion be now by indifferencie withstood For giue to vulgar Heads the head and looke for all confused At once they publish and repeale al els saue Order vsed And as Kytts Campe ill-form'd good forme at their reforming Tree Sonnes ost by aime consorting voice their Fathers hang'd should be So wheare the Multitude preuaile they censure ere they see But might I be so bould to speake to them should speake to mee A good example would doe good in Church-men seeing thay In saying â—â—oth are lesse beleeu'd not doing as the say I know our Churchmen know that Faith is dead where lack good works Yeat know I not what pollicie in Almes vnpreached lurks Some teach wel that these concurre but few doe vrge the Theame Of charitie affeard perhaps our More should vrge their Beame But feare not Fathers preach at full Loue good workes Remorse More will your bad Examples let than shall your words inforce To preach by halfes is to be worse than those tongue-holly Iauells That cite good words but shift off works and Discipline by Cauells Oft haue ye handled pithily not preached without neede What good to giue what hurt to take froÌ„ those that Soules do feede But so obscurely hath beene blancht of good workes elsewheare done As many boasting only
to the fatall Blocke she praying on her booke Wence hauing made a godly end he was return'd whilst Shee Prepard for like and of her Lord the senceles Tronke did see A sight more deathful than her death that should consort him straite And for the which her feareles eies did euery moment waite She vnabashed mounting now the Skaffold theare attends The fatall Stroke-and vnto God her better parte commends And as she liu'd a vertuous life so vertuously she ends CHAP. XLI OMitting Knights three Dukes three Lords also a Queene elect Then perisht thus and somewhat some of Edwards death suspect All which fell out a Stratagem in God his secre Dome That should induce a Tragedie to England meant by Rome For when these mighty Protestants through Ones Ambition fell Queene Mary seem'd to shut vp Heauen and set wide open Hell Whence swarmed papish Tyrants that false doctrine did erect Whilst that seduced Mary did Gods threatned cause neglect Blamelesse she was not for a Crowne that could her Foes ore-goe Nor all too blame for mightie States do and haue erred so To Whome the Scriptures weare obscur'd by Christs Italian Foe Her courage was not common yeat abused ouer much By Papists cheefly She her selfe too naturally such Heere hence she is reprooued of a moste tyrannous Raigne And of a thriftles Mariage with the trustles King of Spaine But when rich Brabants supreame Faire the Bakers daughter staide The King in dalliance and the Queene had newes that false he plaide T is thought his tarriance greeu'd told that one should counsel this Haue patience Madam so it was and wil be as it is Fourth Edward did the like yeat lou'd his Queene no whit the lesse Nor did the like vnpatient her that knew him to transgresse As guiltie of a Leash of Loues Shores wife and other twaine She knew as Streams if stopt surrownd so Kings wil shew they raign As did our second Henry whome his Queene oft crost in vain◠Which and one other Story if it please you that I tell I shall Yea doc quoth she Then thus quoth he it once befell NOt knowen of Rosamund his eie had stoed her in his heart Faire Maide quoth he beleeue me faire and all so faire thou art That weare I Henry Englāds King thou shouldst be Englāds Queene But so must fayle for Elenour already is betweene He bod me buy thy loue if so it might be bought with Golde If not he bod me sweare he loues in fayth he loues be bolde He bod me aske if so he came what should his welcome be And if perhaps he lated weare if he should lodge with thee Protesting secreasie thereof to all vnlesse to me With promise to performe at full each promise as I make it I promise Loue Wealth Secresie then promise thou to take it Content you Sir quoth Ro amund you aime your markes amis I am not for his Highnes nor for me his Highnes is And should he know I shame he should of this your Brokage bace He would acquaint you what it weare your Soueraigne to disgrace Whoso you be be still the same or better if you may Think not Lord Cliffords daughter will vn-maiden her for pay But know if Henryes selfe were heere himselfe should haue a nay Then know quoth he which being knowen well maist thou know I loue thee I am the King and for I am the rather let it moue thee In sooth sweet Wench thou saiest nay thou knowest not whereto For weare my wish at work lesse good wy wish than work would do What fearst thou shame no shame to be beloued of a King Or dread'st thou sinne The Pope for pay absolueth euery thing Or doubt'st thou iealous Elenour I will remoue that doubt At Woodstock shall she finde thy bower but neuer finde thee out Theare shalt thou passe a pleasant life commanding me and mine Then loue beloued Rosamund a King subiects him thine He kist She blusht and long it was ere loue from her he wroung For whilst vp played in her heart it paused on her toung Not Sibils Caue at Cuma nor the Labyrinth in Creat Was like the Bower of Rosamund for intricate and great The Pellicane theare neasts his Bird and sporteth oft with her Conducted by a Clew of thread els could he not but err Besides her Maydes a Knight of trust attended on her theare Who suffred for her Beautie long concealing it for feare At length at full and formally he courted her for grace But all in vaine nought booted him to haue both time and place Henry quoth she begonne and he shall end my thoughts vnchast Nor peach't she him nor he dismist did hold himselfe disgrac'st The Kings three Sonnes had notice of their Fathers Leiman now So had the Queene and the yof such coriuing disallowe Came I from France Queene Dowager quoth she to pay so deere For bringing him so great a wealth as to be Cuckquean'd heere Am I so old a woman he so young a wanton growen As that I may not please that pleas'd and still might with his owen What is the Drab or tempting Diuell or wherefore doteth he The French King once himselfe euen now for faire preferred me And hath he toyled vp his Game and settels he to loue her Nor Heauen nor hell shall crosse my course but that I will remoue her Like Phrogne seeking Philomel she seeketh for and found The Bower that lodg'd her Husbands Loue built partly vnder ground She entred but so intricate weare Turnings to and fro That welneere she had lost her selfe but could not finde her Foe Yeat out she got and backe she goes with her Attendants who Admire their furious Mistresse and mislike what she would doe With her Confedrates oft she went preuented of her will Howbeit lastly did preuaile For hap did hit so ill That whilst the Knight did issue out suspecting no assaut He was assailed from his giding Clewe they caught So wonne they vnto Rosamund Whom when the Queene did vew Most brauely clad in rich Attire her selfe more rich of hew The beautie and the brauenes of the Person and the place Amazed her and hers who stoode at gaze a certaine space No maruell quoth the Queene that oft the Court did mis the King Soone such an Hebe hither such a Iupiter might bring Now trust me weare she not a Whoore or anies Whoore but his She should be pardon'd But in faith I must not pardon this A Queane coriuall with a Queene Nay kept at Racke Manger A Husband to his honest bed through her become a Stranger Abide who list abye she shall how so I buy the daunger Faire Rosamund surprised thus eare thus she did suspect Fell on her humble Knees and did her fearefull hands erect She blush't out beauty whilst the tears did wash her pleasing face And begged Pardon meriting no lesse of common grace So farforth as it lay in me I did quoth she withstand But what may not so great a