Is left alone forsaken quite No Sonne no friend to doe him his last right None that vouchsaf'd to giue him buriall But vnregarded lay despis'd of all 539 Nay more The ground where he should be Inter'd Anselme Fitz-Arthur his dead bones to spight Claim'd as his owne A thing not euer heard And for the Prince there dead by lawlesse might Had worm'd him out of that which was his right On Gods behalfe He did forbid them all Within his Earth to giue him buriall 540 Nor would he cease the challenge he had made Nor yet durst they interre his Corpes therein Vntill a summe of mony was defray'd With which they pay'd a ransome for his sinne So much a doe had this great Prince to winne That which none doth the poorest wretch deny A bed of peace where his dead bones might lye 541 Nor was the streame of miserie thus stay'd The date of our Affliction lasted still There is not yet sufficient ransome pay'd The Ill-got Scepter must be sway'd as Ill Rufus succeeds and still more bloud doth â—pill Still hauocks more and still doth Tyrannize Vntill by sodaine violence he dyes 542 Nor did the Crowne stand well on any head Till * Ben. Clarke got the Scepter in his hand Who to the Saxon Maude being married Some beames of coÌ„fort cheer'd the drooping Land And then our State in peacefull tearmes did stand Till Henry dy'd and Steephen vnjustly got The Crowne and set new troubles here on foot 543 Then burst there forth an all consuming flame The Empresse Maâ—de sought to require her right Steephen had the Crowne and he would keepe the same Vntill She could recouer It by fight Then followed all the hostile Acts of spight Sword fire Rapes murders leaguers wast and wrack And nothing of extreamest Ills did lacke 544 So hath vnjust Succession scourg'd this Realme At length Steephen dyes after a wretched Raigne Then Second Henry weares the Diadem In whom the rightfull Title did remaine And then our state did happy fortunes gaine Then did our strength encrease our bounds extend And many nations to our yoake did bend 545 And Richard his braue Sonne did next succeed In a just Course and all things prosper'd well In Sâ—ria hee did many a worthy deed The Easterne world of his exploits can tell And many thousand miscreants sent to Hell By his vnconquered Armes haue prou'd long since That Cure-De Lyon was a peerlesse Prince 546 He dead young Arthur should haue had the Crown The Sonne of Ieffrey who was Henries Sonne Had not King Iohn his Vnckle put him downe Who being hauld on by Ambition Diuerts the Course of true succession Makes himselfe King vsurpes the Princes name And murthers Arthur to secure the same 547 And now O now begins our Tragedie VVhere Death and horrour onely Actors are Iohn gouernes as hee got preposterously And doth both with his Peeres and Clergie jarre Then Ianus sets wideâ—ope the gates of warre And then the Land with blood was ouerflowne And none could safely call his owne his owne 548 Then were the Cities sack'd the fields lay'd wast The Virgins forc'd the Marriage bed defil'd Then were the auncient Monuments defac'd The Portes vntraffick'd landed vp and spoyl'd Eu'n God himselfe seem'd hence to bee exil'd The land was Curs'd all Sacred rights were bard And Six yeeres space no publike prayers were heard 549 Then did the King lease forth the Realme to Rome Then did the Peeres to France betray the Crowne O heau'ns great King how fearefull is thy doome How many mighty Plagues canst thou powre downe Vpon a Nation If thou please to frowne Arthur It was the wrong done thee of late That made just Heau'n so to afflict our State 550 But yet might not his death that did the deed Bee a Peace-offring to redeeme the Sinne Why should the Land of the one wound still bleed Or wherefore dy'd not his offence with him Was not the measure heap'd-vp to the brim Both of the Ills hee suffred and had done But that the guilt must prosecute the Sonne 551 O no Although third Henry was the man In whom The lawfull Title was Inuested For Arthur dead the right was then in Iohn And Iohn decea'sd the same in Henry rested Yet that the world should see â—ow God detested Such wrongfull meanes Acts so vniustly done The Fathers whip is made to lash the Sonne 552 For still did Ciuill furie wound the state During the time of Henries pupillage And still the Peeres swolne with Intestiâ—e hate Against theyr harmelesse Prince being vnder age CoÌ„bine themselues w th France wheÌ„ that rage Was spent the Barons-warre brake forth againe So full of troubles was third Henries raigne 553 Hee dead my Father Long-shankes then did raigne And in due Course succeeded next his Sire Then all afflictions did begin to waine And England did to peace and wealth aspire Nor did the streame of blisse flow euer higher Then when first Edward managed the State Prudent in Peace and in warres fortunate 554 That Noble Prince to mee my birth did giue Whom I succeeded in a rightfull line You all haue sworne Allegiance whilst I liue And will you now inforce mee to resigne Will you againe with wicked hands vnt wine That Sacred chayne whereon depends our good And drowne this Iland once againe in blood 555 O If you doe disorder thus the Crowne And turne the lawfull course another way If you vnjustly wring from mee mine owne You spinne a Thred to worke our owne decay And my propheticke Soule doth truely say The time will come when this vniust designe Will plague your selues your sonnes and mine owne line 556 For from my Stocke two branches shall arise From whom shall grow such great dis-union As many thousand liues shall not suffice To re-unite them both againe in One England shall wast more deare blood of her owne Against her selfe then would suffice t' obtaine All France and conquer Germany and Spaine 557 Thou wert too true a Prophet fatall King And thy Presages were too ominous From thee and from thy worthy Sonne did spring Those Families that so afflicted vs For Yorke and Lancaster litigious For the Crowne-right did make the Sword their plea And so white Albion grew to be a red-Sea 558 But when that men are bent to doe amisse Then all perswasions are but spent in vaine The Parliament was resolute in this That I their King no longer should remaine Whereto If I oppos'd my selfe 'T was vaine They were resolu'd And my peruersnes might Make them perhaps to doe my Son lesse right 559 Which when I heard thinke how my soule did war Within It selfe which way I should incline Deare was my Sonne my selfe was dearer farre By my Eclipse must I procure his shine Cannot hee raigne vnlesse I now resigne My Father dy'd e're I could get the Crowne I liue And yet my Sonne must put me downe 560 My Sonne Alas poore Prince It is not hee For many Wolues maske in that Lambes
King Edward the 2. surnamed Carnaruen was crouned att Westminster at the 22. yere of his age the 24. of febru 1308. he Raigned 19 yere 6 monethes was deâ—â—sed the 25 of Iaâ—â—â—â—rius 1326. he was slayne in the Castle of barkley in the 43 yere of his age THE HISTORIE OF EDWARD THE SECOND Surnamed CARNARVAN one of our English KINGS Together with the Fatall down-fall of his two vnfortunate Favorites GAVESTON and SPENCER Now Published by the Author thereof according to the true Originall Copie and purged from those foule Errors and Corruptions wherewith that spurious and surreptitious Peece which lately came forth vnder the same Tytle was too much defiled and deformed With the Addition of some other Observations both of vse and Ornament By F. H. Knight LONDON Printed by B. A. and T. F. for L. Chapman and are to be sold at his Shop at the vpper end of Chancery-Lane 1629. TO HIS VERY LOVING Brother Mr. RICHARD HVBERT the Author of this historicall Poëme F. H. Knight wisheth all Health and Happinesse WORTHY SIR I Know that noble Natures desire more to doe good then to hearâ— of the good they doe and therefore without all farther Complement you shall giue me leaue Onely to say thus much That if GOD and Nature had not yet your many kind and Constant fauours to mee and all mine haue made mee truely your owne which as I gladly acknowledge so I would haue the World take notice That I am both sensible of them and thankefull for them And now Sir being already deepe in your debt I must still runne farther vpon your score by committing to your Care and custodie this Innocent Child not of my Body but of my Braine It is surely of full Age for It was conceiued and borne in Queene Elizabeths time but grew to more maturitie in King IAMES's and therefore as wee vse to say It should be now able to shift for It selfe But I that gaue It life finding the weaknesse thereof was fully resolved to keepe It still at home vnder mine owne wing and not to let It see the Sunne when loe after Twenty yeares concealement when I thought the vnfortunate Babe like to It 's Father euen dead to the World I saw the false and vncomely Picture of my poore Child taken by a most vnskilfull hand offered to the publicke sight and censure of euery judicious Eye and though that could not yet truely I did blush for It to see It so nakedly so vnworthily so mangled and so maymed thrust into the world that I scarce knew It and was asham'd to owne It And therefore good Brother to vindicate both It and my Selfe from those grosse and sencelesse Errours wherewith that false Bastard was too foulie deformed I haue now sent It abroad to seeke It's fortunes in It 's own true shape and habite desiring your Selfe and euery vnderstanding Reader for I know It is not for the vse of euery Ordinarie Eye to lâ—oke vpon that former Peece with scorne and Contempt and once againe to take a resurvay of It as now It Appeares in It's owne true feature and posture It may bee you shall find somewhat in It both to informe the Vnderstanding and to rectifie the Affections and if in any of the Passages thereof It shall seeme eyther too light and remisse or too bold and free eyther too open and tart or too sparing and reseru'd That you must impute eyther to the matter that I handle or the parties that I personate which must of necessitie be drawne according to the true Life both in colours and proportion or else the Worke will bee of very little vse and of lesse Grace and Ornament eyther to my Selfe or others And so humbly desiring the Almighty to blesse You both in Soule Body and Estate I rest not your Servant according to the new and fine but false Phrase of the Time but in honest old English your loving Brother and true Friend for euer FRAN HVBERT THE AVTHORS PREFACE ⸫ 1 REbellious thoughts why doe you tumult so And striâ—e to breake from forth my troubled brest â—t not enough that I my selfe doe know The mouing Causes of mine owne vnrest â—â—s't not enough to know my selfe distrest O no Surcharged hearts must needs complaine Some ease it is though small to tell our paine 2 Yet weyward thoughts retire vnto your home â—nto my heart your proper home retire There rest in your vnrest till Death â—oth come And Death will come call'd by conceal'd desire For Coales rak'd vp glow more then open Fire And deepest streames doe run with smoothest speed And silent griefes are the true griefes Indeed 3 But if my heart bee so Inâ—r'd to groaning Or if my tongue must bee the voyce of Sorrow Or that my Pen bee still Injoyn'd to moaning Because my night of Care hath neuer morrow Yet of my griefe thus much at least I 'le borrow That for a time I may surcease mine owne And tune my Muse to tell anothers moane 4 Anothers moane to tell my Muse is tun'd If any tune can bee in jaâ—ring Griefe And I a King for subject haue assum'd An English King Whâ—â— whilst he liâ—'d was chiâ— In Honours height yet dyed without reliefe So true is that which SOLON once did say No man is Happie till his dying day F. H. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF EDVVARD the Second 5 IT is thy sad disaster which I sing Carnarvan EDVVARD Second of that name Thy Minions pride thy States ill-managing Thy Peeres revolt the sequell of the same Thy Life thy Death I sing thy Sin thy shame And how thou wert depriued of thy Crowne In highest fortunes cast by Fortune downe 6 Did I say Fortune Nay by Folly rather By vnrespect vnto the rules of State For let a Prince assure himselfe to gather As he hath planted eyther Loue or Hate Contempt or Dutie not the workes of Fate Much lâ—sse of Fortune but of due respects To Causes which must needs produce effects 7 As if a Prince doe draw his plat-forme right And then with courage builds vpon the same His ends proues happie But by ouersight Hee that is weake wholly subuerts the frame Of his owne building and doth Idly blame Fortune the seruant to deseruing merit But the Commander of the aâ—ject spirit 8 In which discourse if I shall hap to touch Those faults which in our time are frequent growne Let not the gall'd offender winch or grudge For I intend a priuate wrong to none Onely I would haue those same errours knowne By which the State did then to ruine runne That warn'd by theirs Our Age like sins mighâ— shunne 9 Nor doe I meane to bound my selfe so much As onely for to tye mee to those Times The causes courses consequents I 'le touch Of later Ages and of their designes And if detrâ—ctions breath doth blast my Lines Bee it for me I haue for my defence The priuie-Coat of harmlesse Innocence 10 And thou * great King that now do'st weild our State
fear'd w th future wrong Thus did this Syren tune his balefull song 230 O King no King but shadow of a King Nay doe not frowne but heare mee what I say I speake in Zeale though harshly I doe sing Thou op'st a gap vnto thine owne decay By suffring thy proud Peeres to beare such sway For look how much the shadowes length doth grow So much the Sunne declines and goes more low 231 Thy waxing is their waine Thy Ebbe their tide When they are strongest thou art weake and faint Turne euery stone to quell their growing pride It fits not Kings to brooke the least restraint Disgrace Exile close Durance or Attaint For seeming Crimes to bring them into hate These are the meanes to reassure thy State 232 Now thou art King in shew but not Indeed Those pettie Pawnes do check and mate thee too All is reverst that is by Thee decreed They doe injoyne Thee what thou hast to doe And what they will thou art Compell'd vnto But though thy pleasure bend another way Yet things must passe as they are pleas'd to sway 233 They haue Allyes to strengthen theyr dissignes They backe themselues with strong Conferates Theyr seeming Zeale the vulgar vndermines The wiser sort for feare insinuates And so they gaine assurance of all States Some by the glosse of faire deportment and Some by a hard and ouer-awing hand 234 Besides they raise men that are popular And by their meanes the Peoples hearts they steale Them-selues seeme just theyr courses regular They make pretences for the Common-weale Of Reformation of religious Zeale And by these Colours which they doe pretend They bring theyr complots to successefull end 235 But more then this The wealth of all thy Land Is in theyr hand or else at theyr dispose Whereby they haue an absolute Command Of many Liues which are maintayn'd by those Great bounties which froÌ„ their abundance flowes For they must needs remaine at their deuotion That haue from them their being their motion 236 These are the close Consumptions of thy State VVhich by these Antidotes thou must restore Bee seru'd by such as thou hast rays'd of late Aduance new Creatures of no note before And such will still depend on thee therefore For wanting means except thou grace them still They must remaine obliged to thy will 237 Let them bee stirring Spirits of ayre and fire Apt both to make and to maintaine a Faction Ambitious Actiue hungry to aspire Not fool'd with feare but bold for any action True to theyr ends but false in faith and paction And such being grac'd and fauour'd by the time VVill in despite of spightfull enuie Climbe 234 VVhos 's grouth thy Peeres will malice and detest And seeke to stop Which they not brooking well Will nourish mutuall hatred in theyr brest And rankerous Enuie in theyr soules will swell From whence reuenge and greedy thrist to quell The aduerse partie Cannot but proceed And so Confusion to them all Indeed 239 Meane while thou vnderhand must feed the flame And secretly giue heart to eyther side And which is weakest leane thou to the same Whereby thou shalt Confound the aduerse pride And if thy doubling chance to bee espy'd Make it an open quarrell and bee sure To rid them first that may most harme procure 240 This lesson was by Tarquine well exprest When with his wand he did behead those flowers That any way did ouer-grow the rest As who should say Bee jealous of great Powers And Cut them downe whose growth neare equals ours For that same Throne is but a slipp'ry Seat That suffers any to bee ouer-Great 241 Make penall Lawes to Cut off their retainers Wrest from their hands all publick great coÌ„mand Grace them in shew but not to make them gainers Keepe them aloofe let them not vnderstand The Passages of State at any hand Doe not Commit thy forces to theyr trust Least hauing minds th 'aue meanes to be vnjust 242 Where e're they liue though they be far remou'd Yet let them bee survay'd with carefull Eye Such as are neare to them and dearely lou'd To whom their Inward thoughts most open lye VVinne them by guifts and by close pollicie To serue thy turne with true Intelligence Of any thing that may procure offence 243 Gaine to thy selfe by all meanes if thou can His bosome friend the Consort of his life So did Sejanus that deepe knowing man Obtaine the Loue of Livia Drusus wife VVith whom he liu'd in jealousie and strife And by that course found meanes to make away His Opposite who labour'd his decay 244 If they doe sue doe not thou favour then Let all advancements bee deriu'd from thee So shalt thou weane from them the hearts of men And they will onely thy dependants bee For there men serue where they preferment see Lastly what Stratagem thou dost Intend Let shewes of vertue colour still thy end 245 These are the baites to fish for wisest Peeres The yonglings may be caught with easier meanes Let Syren pleasure loue theyr youthfull yeeres Let Lust expence and riotous extreames To which their youth by course of Nature leanes Let followers change of beauties pompous pride Infect their minds and wrack their states beside 246 Yet If thou see a likely growing Plant great VVhose spreading branches may in time grow Lodge him at home let him Imployment want And vselesse wither in his Natiue seate For Ease and rest will Chill his actiue heate And lull'd in pleasures of a safe delight Relinquish mounting thoughts of honour quite 247 But if his Temper soare so high a Pitch As that his working vertue must haue vent Ingage him in some Action by the which Hâ—s haruest may bee Death or Discontent Yet make a shew to grace his hardiment With highest honours and so thrust him on To such Attempts as death still waytes vpon 248 Which if hee misse as Heau'n may blesse him so Yet will the managing of such designes Afford fit matter for his ouerthrow If prosperous fortune any wayes declines For Commonly the vulgar sort repines Against all Actions that doe want successe And in theyr humours weigh the Agents lesse 249 And so they lye more open to their wracke When they haue once Incurr'd a Common hate And then some faire occasion cannot lacke Eyther by Death to cancell their liues date Or at the least to weaken so their state As that the Prince need feare no future harme That may proceed from theyr vnjoynted arme 250 And hauing cleer'd thy selfe of such Yet then That thou must keepe thy Maiestie and State Thou needs must entertaine some Noble men But froathy bubbles full of Idle prate Who study fashions know their place scarce that All whose sweet worth is fetch'd from dead mens Tombes And they them-selues lesse worthy then theyr Groomes 251 Let them discourse of Kindred and Allies My Vncle Earle my Cosiâ—â— Duke or so Who liuing did this or that enterprize And tell how his great Grandsires horse did goe When hee
Into the deepest secrets of the Soule Vnjust attempts in Iustice doth Controule 407 Great * Lancaster then whom No greater Earle This greatest Isle of Europe had before Good Lancaster in goodnes such a Pearle That him the vulgar sort did long adore Had then his head strucke off and many more Eu'n of the greatest felt the selfe-same stroake So lightning spares the shrub rends the Oake 408 And here be pleas'd to make this obseruation The Popular and ouer-powerfull Peere That doth Command too much in any Nation Breeds in his Prince both Iealousie and feare Is enuy'd eu'n of those of his owne Spheare Vntunes the vulgar tumults the whole State And to himselfe proues most vnfortunate 409 That make-king * Warwicke hauing th' English Crown Pinn'd on his sleue to place where he thoght best Who set vp * Princes and did pull them downe How did he toyle the Land with his vnrest How did his sword rip vp his Mothers brest Whose greatnesse and his popularitie Wrought both his owne and others Tragedie 410 O that we could not Instance in our dayes Then some of match-lesse vertues had not so By popular dependancie and praise Bin drawne to fatall courses full of woe Which caus'd their owne and others ouerthrow But wishes come too late when things are done And men are borne to that they cannot shuâ— 411 Yet prudent men a present vse may make Of errors past And they are truely wise That doe from others their Instructions take Not from themselues It is too deare a price So to buy wit Bee rul'd by my aduice Learne to be wise yet not at thine owne cost But shun those waies where thou seest others lost 412 The sword was sharp and wounded euery where Many great men of noble qualitie In seuerall places were beheaded here For being Actors in that treacherie Which alwayes proues a mournefull Tragedie And though I know The sword is due to such Yet should a Prince forbeare to strike too much 413 For often Executions in a State Especially of men of fashion First stirre vp pittie then dislike then hate Then close complaint then combination Then followes practise for some Alteration And that Indaungers all if not withstood And though vnprosperous yet It spils much bloud 414 And that same Throne that 's often wet w th bood Is very slipp'rie apt to catch a fall Yielding no howers rest no pleasures good Sleeping on Thornes and feeding vpon gall Still thinking and still thinking Ill of all Haâ—â—â—ed with restlesse feares whilst day doth last And then at night with fearefull dreames agast 415 Our Stories doe report third Richard so And without doubt Hee did too much let bloud Alwayes mistrustfull both of friend and foe Ready to strike them that but neere him stood Fearefull to all such was his furious moode And fearing all as one that knew too well How many soules did wish his soule in hell 416 O that a Prince might see a Tyrants mind What Monsters what Chimeraes therein are What horrours in his Soule hee still doth find How much him-selfe is with himselfe at warre Euer diuided full of thoughtfull Care What Pistols Ponyards Poysons he conceites And thinks each one for his destruction waites 417 Besides It is indeed no Policie Except it bee in a meere Turkish state To make the Crowne a Common Butcherie To gouerne all by feare which breedeth hate In noble mindes and doth exasperate A free-borne People Where the Turkish race Feare best CoÌ„mands being seruile poore base 418 Princes rewards should fall like gentle Raine Which comming softly doth the longer last That theyr sweet relish might still fresh remaine Their Executions should bee done in hast Like sodaine furious stormes that soone are past Because when once the violence Is done Th' offence thereof might bee forgot and gone 420 One limbe of that great body that did band It selfe against mee in their factious frayes Was Mortimer Who yet vpon Command Cameâ— In before the fight and I streight-wayes Sent to the Tower to spend his wearie dayes In wretched bands restrayn'd from libertie But walles of stone keepe not out Destinie 421 Which eyther finds or makes it selfe away For Mortimer thus sent vnto the Tower To free himselfe doth labour night and day And by a sleepie Potion which had power To make men slumber till a certaine hower Hee found the meanes his Keepers so made fast To make escape and got to France at last 422 This was not done without my Queenes consent Whose head and hand were working in the same Little thought I That that way the Hare went But Sir Stephen Segraue * onely I did blame Wretched mankind how bold wee are to frame Hopes to our selues How blind to see our ill That least we feare what most doth hurt vs still 423 Doe but Conceiue how much we straine at Gnats And swallow Camels downe without respect How hood-winck'd are we to discerne those plats That hurt vs most how ready to suspect Our friends for foes how apt wee are t' effect Our owne disaster Mortimer goes free And others dye that lesse had wronged mee 423 Obserue the weaknesse of Mortalitie It sees but little and It can doe lesse Yet I allow not of fatalitie Except that word bee vsed to expresse That all Commanding Power that doth suppresse Support set vp pull downe doth all in all Eu'n in those Actions that seeme casuall 424 Now did I thinke my selfe my State as sure As if great Atlas did vphold the same The drosse being purg'd my gold must needs bee pure The smoake once gone my fire must brightly flame Their Eyes were out the mark'd marr'd my game They had no hearts to dare nor tongus to preach Nor hands to fight nor busie heads to reach 425 But heartlesse haplesse yea and headlesse too Are those disturbers of our awfull Raigne Who would prescribe their Prince what he should doe And when and where and why whom refraine Like 〈◊〉 whom their Tutors doe restraine To play with Edg tooles Is a dangerous thing And 't is no May â—game to Controule a King 426 Thus in a Calme I fear'd no storme at all But yet too soone a sodaine Cloud did rise From whence such store of wintry stormes did fall As for my shrowd no shelter might suffice Vntill pale Death had clos'd my tearefull Eyes O bring with you who-euer reads my fall Sad thoughts wet Eyes and wailing words withall 427 And thus It was I sent my Queene to France And after her The Prince my Sonne I sent To treate a Peace but see the fatall chance They brought home War although for Peace they went Th' Ambitious woman she was fully bent To haue sole rule and meant to put me downe So Ninus once did loose both life and Crowne 428 There is more mercy in the Tygers claw Lesse venome in the Scorpions sting doth lye More pitie in the hungry Lyons paw Lesse danger in the Basiliske his Eye Hiaena that
his sharpe auenging sword Till his just plagues no breathing time afford Then I haue sinn'd Pray for me Let them goe And then who God Is Pharoh learnes to know 517 So doth the Sharpest bryer heare sweetest Rose And bittrest Poâ—ions purge the body best How woundrously doth God his workes dispose That eu'n by Crosses he can make vs blest And hatch our chiefest joy in sorrowes nest Then let vs not repine against his doome But weaue our web as he hath warp'd our loome 518 And Reading of the world thou read'st aright It is indeed but meerely temporall And those deare pleasures wherein men delight Friends honours riches all are Casuall And as they haue their honny so their gall There 's nothing certaine in the world but this That euery worldly thing vncertaine Is. 519 Whom Rosie Phoebus rising in the East Hath seene aloft in glory and renowne Before he tooke his lodging in the West Hath often seene as low dejected downe That man that in the morning wore the Crown Had not er'e night nor Crown nor head to weare So full of frailties are our fortunes here 520 These were our parlies as we sate alone These tearefull Tributes duely were defraid Now did we walke and weepe now sit groane Till faithlesse Welch me friendles wretch betrays Vnto their hands who streight waies me conueys To Kâ—nnelworth where I imprison'd lay And neuer after saw one happy day 521 The proofe whereof we doe not onely see But by a selfe experience we doe feele Others to vs haue taught others shall bee Inform'd by vs how that part of the wheele That 's now aloft doth streight wayes downward reele And never rests at any certaine stay But vp and downe weares out a wearie way 522 The Spencers both the Father and the Sonne Discended of an ancient worthy race By whose directions all designes were done And nothing past with-out their speciall grace They were so great in power so high in place Both dy'd such wretched deaths as men may say A gloomie night shut vp a glorious day 523 To vse the French-mans phrase vnder an Oake They both of them at seuerall times did dye Their Bodies quartered by the Hangmans stroake Their Heads cut off were placed very high As Spectacles for euery enuious Eye Which done sayes form of Law by lawlesse will Though they deseru'd It was vnjust and Ill. 524 The Sonne Glosters proud Earle so great before Had a white Paper fix'd vpon his head Wherein both to disgrace and grieue him more In * Capitall letters were Caractred Those words that in one of the Psalmes are read For so the two and fiftieth doth begin Thou Mightie Man why do'st thou boast iâ— Sinne 525 Vnhappie Lord It was enough to dye It was too much to dye with sâ—orne and shame Men should not trample vpon miserie Since euery Mothers Sonne may share the same I know he was in many things too blame Proud griping cruell Well Say what you can Yet giue me leaue to say Hee was a man 526 I write not Idly doe not read mee so I pray obserue vpon what slipperie way Greatnes that is too great doth euer goe How apt It is to catch a fall and they That so doe slip how readily they may Breake their own necks without especiall grace They fall not soft that fall from an high place 527 Besides who will obserue the Course of things From Conquering Williams Raigâ—e til this our age Shall find how those great Fauorites of Kings Haue by themselues bin brought to tragicke stage Or prou'd vnprosperous by the vulgar rage Or weeded vp by him that next succeeds Such dangerous humours swelling greatnesse breeds 528 Thou shalt not need to trauaile very farre To fetch in matter to informe thy mind Of which our Stories true relaters are Studie but them Thou shalt not faile to find Particuler Examples in each kind I am but as an Index to a Booke To point thee too 't Turne thou the leaues and looke 529 Aske Wolsey Aske Lord Cromwell Both will say That Princes Minions doe but hold at will That fauours neuer were Free holds but they Are soone transferr'd from one t' another still That as the wind doth change So must the Mill. Bee turn'd about and euery-one doth know Winds doe not alwayes in one quarter blow 530 Empson and Dudley flourish'd very faire And mightie were during seuenth Henries raigne But he being dead his next succeeding Heire Did cut them downe and they did fall againe They had their waxing and they had their wane And for the vulgar rage who doth not know How many mightie men haue perish'd so 531 I was my selfe depos'd by Parliament From Princely rule as one not fit to raigne Both Peeres and people all did giue consent That I vnking'd in durance should remaine And sent their Agents to me to explaine That if I would not to my Sonne resigne They 'd chuse a Prince out of some other Line 532 O Englands Peeres weigh what you take in hand Looke but with Iudgement into your designe That which you now attempt will wracke the Land The wounds whereof will bleed in after-time And Babes vnborne will Curse your hatefull crime For what so doth peruert the course of things Wrath Enuie death and desolation brings 533 There is a lawfull and a certaine right Which alwayes must be kept Inuiolate And being infring'd by practise or by might Drawes fearfull Iudgements downe vpon a State Then you or yours will wish although too late That I had kept my rightfull Int'rest still And you had not bin Agents in this Ill. 534 When your owne children shall each other wound And with accursed hands gore eythers brest When Ciuill furie shall your state confound Then will you say His Ghost is not at rest His whom vnjustly we haue dispossest The second Eâ—wards for whose Sacrifice Your Nâ—phews then shall pay a bloudie price 535 Neuer O neuer was the rightfull Course Of this our Crowne peruerted or supprest But still the same hath bin the fatall source Of many mischiefes and of much vnrest And as the Land hath bin therewith opprest So the vsurpers neuer kept it long In any quiet what they got with wrong 536 William who with his sword did get the Crowne Winning by Conquest what he kept with Care The true lawfull heire being shouldred down Like a wood-Lyon His owne word did fare Against the English whom he did not spare Or young or old that were of worth and place And for the rest He yoak'd with bondage base 537 And as he toyl'd the Land with his vnrest So tasted hee his share of miserie Robert rebels a Byrd of his owne nest The Normans breake forth into mutinie Tâ—â— ' opressed English hatch conspiracie Alwayes in Forreigne broyles or Ciuill strife And so wastes forth a wretched wearie life 538 Nay Death the Period-maker of all moane Eu'n against Nature followes him with spight The mightie Prince of thousands waited-on Being dead
portraiture 645 The Earth it selfe is wearie of my paine And like a tender Mother moanes for mee From me thou cam'st returne to me againe Within my wombe I 'le keepe the safe quoth she And from these vile abuses set thee free Never shall these fell Tyrants wrong thee more Hee that payes death dischargeth euery score 646 These bodyes that thou seest thy Brothers were Subject to many wants and thousand woes They now are clear'd from Care and free'd from feare And from the pressures of Insulting foes And now they liue in joy and sweet repose Thy selfe can'st witnesse that they feele no woe And as they rest eu'n thou shalt rest thee so 647 Their eyes that whil'st they liu'd oft Tyded teares Thou seest how sweetly they Injoy their rest Those harsh vnpleasing sounds that wrong'd their Eares Are turn'd to Angels tunes among the blest Their Soules that were w th pensiue thoghts possest Now in their Makers bosome without end Injoy that peace whereto thy Soule doth bend 648 And thou hast need of peace poore wretched Soule If euer any Soule had need of Peace God being in Armes against thee doth enroule All Nature in his list which doth not cease To fight against thee and doth still Increase Thy wretchednesse forbeare rebellious dust To warre with him who is most great and just 649 O would to God that I had dy'd ere this Then had my sinnes bin feweâ— then they are Then had my Soule long since repos'd in blisse That now Is wandring still in wayes of Care Lifes griefe exceeds lifes good with-out CoÌ„pare Each day doth bring a fresh supply to Sorrow Most wretched now yet shal be more to morrow 650 My carefull mother might haue helped mee When I lay sprawling in her tender wombe If she had made her burd'ned Bellie bee My fruit-lesse birth-bed and my fatall Tombe Sure had she knowne her Sonnes accursed doome She never would haue wrong'd her selfe so much To beare a wretch saue whom was never such 651 My tender Nurse is guilty of these paines Shee might haue put some poyson in my pap Or let me fall and so dash'd out my braines When she full oft did dance me on her lap A thousand wayes had freed me from mishap But he whom Heau'n ordaines to liue distrest Death will delay to set that wretch at rest 652 For Death's the wearie Pilgrims rest and joy This world of woes a hard and flintie way Our birth the path that leades to our annoy Our friends are fellowâ—passengers to day And gone to morrow Honour Is a stay That eyther stops or leades vs else amisse Pleasures are Theeues that Intercept our blisse 653 And in the passage as the way doth lye Wee meet with seuerall Innes wherein we rest Some at the Crowne are lodg'd and so was I Some at the Castle So am I distrest Some at the Horne That married folkes doe feast Though men haue divers Innes yet all men haue One home to which they go that 's the graue 564 Yet whil'st we trauaile Fortune like the weather Doth alter faire or foule so doth our way If faire then Friends like foules do flocke together If foule Each man doth shift a severall way Onely our vertues or our vices stay And goe with vs whose endlesse memorie Doth make vs liue or dye Eternally 655 This Is the freight that men cannot vnload No not by death Therefore Mortalitie Worke for thy selfe whil'st here thou hast abode For on the present hath dependancie Eyther thy endlesse blisse or miserie And death 's the Convoy to conduct vs home Come death to me that I to rest may Come 656 Perhaps thou fearst me being great and hye O death Man were a thing Intollerable Were he not mortall But eu'n Kings must dye No priuiledge doth against death Inable Both fat and leane are dishes for his Table The diff'rence this The poore-one hath his graue The great-one hee his Monument must haue 657 Our fates may be concein'd but not Controul'd Before our dated time we cannot dye Our dayes are numbred and our minutes told Both life and death are destin'd from on high And when that God that rules the Imperiall skye Shall find It fit then thou shalt goe in peace Meane while with patience looke for thy release 658 Thus vnto Care I pay'd his due Complaint And joynd withall my tributarie teares Such my laments for griefe finds no restraint As they at last did come vnto their Eares That by the Castle past which caus'd such feares In their selfe-guilty soules that vs'd me so As they resolu'd by death to end my woe 659 To which effect came Letters from the Court Written by Tarleton at the Queenes command In such a cloudie and ambiguous sort That diuers wayes one might them vnderstand By pointing them That if they should be scann'd Hee and his Letters might be free from blame And they Delinquents that abus'd the same 660 The words were these * Kill Edward doe not feare 'T is good which being Comma'd diuersly As pleas'd the Reader double sence may beare O Art Thou art the Earths chiefe treasurie But being Imploy'd to practise villanie What monstrous births from thy faire wombe do spring So Grâ—mmar here is made to kill a King 661 Which to effect They first remoued mee From forth the place where I before did lye And made a shew as if they seem'd to bee Compassionated for my miserie And would hereafter graunt Immunitie From such vnworthy vsage So we see The Sunne shines hot before the shower wil bee 662 But being ouer-watch'd and wearied too Nature was much desirous of some rest Which gaue them opportunitie to doe What they desir'd for being with sleepe opprest They clap great massie Beds vpon my brest And with their weight so kept me down withall That breath I could not much lesse Cry or Call 663 And then into my Fundament they thrust A little horne as I did groueling lye And that my violent death might shun mistrust Through that same horne a red hot Spit whereby They made my guts and bowels for to fry And so Continu'd till at last they found That I was dead yet seem'd to haue no wound 664 And here I pitch the Pillars of my paine Now Ne plus vltra shall my Poesie bee And thou which hast describ'd my tragicke raigne Let this at least giue some content to thee That from disastrous fortunes none are free Now take thy web out of the Loomes againe And tell the world that all the world Is vaine THE AVTHORS Noli peccare 1 FOrbeare to Sinne God hath thee still in sight Nothing is hid from his all seeing Eye Though thou putt'st on the Sables of the night Thou canst not cloud thy selfe from him thereby All time all place all Ends and all thy meanes He better sees then thou the Suns bright beames 2 Forbeare to Sinne The Angels grieue for thee When by thy Sinne thou grieu'st thy louing Lord. Those noble natures our Attendants bee To whom both day and night they doe afford Theyr dearest seruice O vnkind too much To cause their griefe whose loue to thee is such 3 Forbeare to Sinne For eu'n that damned Fiend That mou'd thee first and sooth'd thee in thy Sin When hee hath once attayn'd his cursed End And made thee Act his ill will straight begin To aggrauate thy guilt Hee 'l vrge thy shame Against thy selfe that vrg'd thee to the same 4 Forbeare to Sinne For out of Sinne doth breed A biting worme that gnawes the Sinner still Deuouring wolfe that on thy selfe doest feed Blacke Register that do'st record our Ill. And makes the Soule the booke where thou dost write Sad thoughts by day and fearefull dreames by night 5 Forbeare to Sinne Death standeth at the Doore Ready to Enter on thy house of Earth One day being spent The lesser is thy store Of time to come Man dyes from his first birth Who euer writes or speakes of any-One Still ends his tale with Mortuus est Hee 's gone 6 Forbeare to Sinne There is a day of Doome There are Records where thy sinnes are Inrol'd There is a just and fearefull Iudge from whom Lyes no appeale Who cannot bee control'd Whom teares-almes prayers may here to mercy moue But theÌ„ there is no place for peace or loue 7 Forbeare to Sinne Because there is a Hell Where cease-lesse ease-lesse Endlesse torments be Where Diu'ls all the damned Soules doe dwell Whom Millions of yeares shall neuer free Where to remaine Is grieuous past Conceit And whence not any hope to make retreat Therefore to End as I did first begin Let these respects make thee forbeare to Sin Quorum si singula duram Flectere non possunt possunt tamen Omnia Mentem FRAN. HVBERT Miles Timens Deum non habet quod timeat vlterius FINIS IACOBVS 1 Tacitus Sardanapalus A transmigration of the soule froÌ„ one body to another Onâ— of Pythagoras his dreames Alexander magnus Themisâ—ocles Rich. 2. ALEXANDER Epiroâ— SARDANAPALVS ROVVEN HENRY 4. the Great The death of GAVESTON IACOB I. Da obuluâ—â—â— Bellisario vâ—â—â—ator queâ—â— Inuidia noâ—â— culpa cacâ—â—â—â—â—it formâ—â— suaepetitionâ—â— IACOB I. Tho. Plantaginet Earle of Lancaster Richard 〈◊〉 Earle of Warwicke 〈…〉 Constable of the Tower ADAM DE ORLETON or TARLTON Bâ—shâ—p of Hereford By Narwich in Essex HENRY 4. RICH. 2. Bishop of Winchester ALEXANDER Quid gloriâ—â—vis potens iâ—â— molitiâ—â—udâ— HENRY 1. Speaker of the Parliament Henry Earle of Lecester kept him at Kenelworth Tho. Gurney Iob. Maltrevers Knights â—linius Edward umâ—â— occidere nolitâ— timere bâ—num est Deus videt Angelâ— tristaÌ„tur Diabolus accusat Conscientiaterret Mors minatur â—â—dicium instat â—nferni â—crâ—ciant