of ill Cursed and odious let such traitors be That howsoeuer to effect their will Regardlesse of all wrong against all right Dares to take armes against their King to fight So long too long with small or no regard I in that sanctuary did remaine Vntill at length for certaine truth I heard That princely Edward with a martiall traine At Rauensprugh neare Humber head was landed With many a gallant warlikly attended Which how it ioyd my soule no tongue can tell Then vnto God I did deuoutly pray To cast all Edwards foes as low as hell And giue to him a safe victorious day That he in triumph with hearts ioy might see His litle sonne presented him by me Whether my prayers were effectuall Or Edwards valor which the world renown'd But all his foes got such a heauie fall That he with victory againe was crown'd And many slaine the rest that reattempted Rebellious factions they such faults repented Warwicke and others of that traiterous faction Being slaine and ouerthrowne a iust reward For them that dealt in such rebellious action Their peacocks plumes were pluckt their brauerie mard Victorious Edward by the helpe of heauen Reign'd after this of yeares iust eleuen But then ô then for seldome good things last Fates enuious of earthly creatures good With swiftest speed and with a heedlesse haste Cruell in action glut themselues in bloud Of any one that cometh next to hand All men perforce within their furie stand But Atropos the cruelst of the three That spins and winds and cuts our threed of life As one inchanted seeing did not see When she did cut the threed that bred such strife For by his too soone death my woes began And tragicke fall of many a mightie man My forepast sorrowes might be termed ioyes And all my griefes were ioyes compard to this King Edward dide with him dide all my ioyes And I was banisht from all earthly blisse To the sad tortures of an earthly hell The least of all my woes no tongue can tell Seuen royall children to this King I bare Edward the fift by treason murthered Richard his brother had a deadly share For they were both together smothered Fiue daughters by this King I also had Wose fortunes some were good and others bad When palefac'd death had seiz'd vpon my King My Lord my loue the hope of all my ioy And by that stroake had blemisht euery thing That might preserue and keepe me from annoy The Nobles droopt the common people mournd And all my hopes to sad despaire were turnd Some sparke of future good I hop'd to see Since to the Crowne my sonne by due descent Was heire apparent but what state so free But trust in treason brings to hard euent Vsurping Richard such a plot laid downe To work their deaths and gain himself the Crown Such fearfull thoughts my senses so did fright That some mishap I feared would befall To the yong King sad visions in the night So troubled me I could not sleepe at all Deuouring beasts but most of all the Boare My tender child me thought with tusks did goare From Ludlow towards London the yong King Did go to haue his right the royall Crowne Litle suspecting trechery would spring Nor that his vnkle Gloc'ster would put downe The lawfull King the sonne of his owne brother But tyrannie regards ne one ne other To heape more sorrowes on my wounded heart My brother the Lord Riuers was arrested Sir Richard Gray and Vaughan bare a part As guiltie of the fact which they detested Whilst in Northampton in their Inne they stayed Vnwares alas they guiltlesse were betrayed The keyes of all the doores were safely kept By those that sought to worke their ouerthrow Whilst they nothing misdoubting soundly slept Litle suspecting vndeserued woe Would light on thē that to their Prince were loyal But truth by treason tript nere comes to triall Gloc'ster and Buckingham hauing effected Their bloudy plots gainst such as were my friends A warrant was with speed by them directed To bring those prisoners to vntimely ends And from Northampton vnto Ponfret they Like lambes to slaughter led were sent away Sir Richard Ratcliffe hauing the commission To him directed that by such a day He should be carefull with all expedition Those innocents most bloudily to slay He acted it without due course of lawes Or asking why or what should be the cause The cruell Dukes then poasted with all speed To Stony stratford where the King then lay The King alas not knowing of this deed Said Where 's my vnkle what doth cause him stay Gloc'ster replide my kinred traitors were As by due proofe his Maiestie should heare Saying they had conspir'd to rule the State To ouerthrow the Nobles of the land To rule the King and giue him the checke mate All the Nobilitie in great feare did stand Of them that had of late bene too much grac'd And now high time they should be all displac'd And that the Lord Gray brother to the King And with the King in presence at that time Might well be charged with the selfe same thing Thus did they plot the fall of me and mine The King replide that iustly he might sweare His brother Gray was innocent and cleare And with those words teares trickled from his eies But though that sight was pitifull to see It nought reclaimd them from their cruelties What sadder signe of griefe could euer be Then that a King whose word should be a law With teares should plead as though he stood in aw My father and my brethren murthered In this might well be seene the future hap Of ill presaged fortune furthered By those two bloudie Dukes that sought to wrap In sad despaire and death me and my friends And bring vs quickly to vntimely ends When I had heard of this vnlookt for lot This vndeserued crueltie inflicted Vpon my brother who without all spot Had cleare remaind and could not be conuicted Of any one conceiued thought of ill Against his King in heart in mind or will Vnto the Sanctuary then I fled My friends and children I did take with me To scape their hands that sought our blouds to shed Cleare out of hope that euer I should see My son receiue the Crowne my feare prou'd true Which shortly after I had cause to rue The litle King was brought vnto the Tower As surest place of safetie for his person Accursed be that day and fatall hower That ere he entred there for his subuersion Was by the Dukes in cruell fashion wrought When least of death alas he had a thought And to cut off Edwards posteritie From sitting in their Fathers regall seate My yonger sonne with me in Sanctuarie They plotted how they might by false deceit Take him from me that to augment my paine Euen at one instant they might both be slaine Which to effect the Cardinall was sent To deale with me to get my second sonne Into their hands which deed I now repent I thought
full litle that they would haue done In action or in thought the smallest thing That any way might preiudice their King The Cardinall alledg'd the Kings desire To haue his brother in his companie And that it kindled had the Nobles ire That I should doubt or be in iealousie Of them that were the rulers of the land And were allide to them in natures band I not denide but that I thought it fit For brethren then in their minoritie To be together if that were onely it That caused them of the nobilitie To wish to haue my sonne sent to his brother That they might sport and play one with another My trembling heart did inwardly so quake That I did feare as then I knew not what My inward thoughts enforc'd my ioynts to shake As fearing this and then misdoubting that But what to feare alas I could not tell But that my sonne was sickly and not well I told the Card'nall that not long before A dangerous sicknesse had afflicted him And that cold aire would aggrauate it more And therefore I being nearest of his kin Was fittest yet to keepe him there with me For then his mother who could dearer be And to the Card'nall I with teares did say Recall to mind my Lord the grace and loue The King my husband gaue you many yeares As by experience you did daily proue Requite that loue to his posteritie When most you thinke them in extremitie And as I here deliuer vnto you This litle Duke the brother to your King If you to him hereafter proue vntrue Rest most assur'd that such a hainous thing Shall euer be a blemish to your fame And vtterly extinguish your good name And though perhaps you thinke my words are vaine And that I vndertake a needlesse taske To giue aduice where I should entertaine Your sacred counsell and of you should aske What I should do in such a case as this Whereon depends the hope of all my blisse The sacred reuerence and the great esteeme I beare to you forbids me to mistrust Your loyaltie and yet you must not deeme My feare is causlesse my misdoubts vniust For many men to gaine themselues a Crowne Haue bene regardlesse whom they did cast downe But you vpon your soule do here protest You will defend to th' vtmost of your power My sonnes if any seeme them to molest Their yeares are yong yet springing is their flower Long may they liue increase of ioyes to see It fits them die that old and withered be I know you may and doubt not but you will Be a strong stay to the vnsure estate Of both my sonnes if any seeke to spill Their blouds you may in time preuent the hate And crueltie of such if you haue care With watchfull eye for to discerne the snare Since on your trust I do my hopes repose And all my future good doth now rely On the performance of your vowes and oathes Feare still the worst lest all too suddenly Their deaths be wrought ô let no foule corruption Make you consent to innocents destruction Yet since the King and Councell did require And sent for him I would not say them nay But gaue consent to that they did desire And to the Cardinall without longer stay My litle sonne I gaue and with a kisse Tooke leaue of him and of all earthly blisse Whole seas of teares did ouerflow my face Griefe stopt my tongue I could not speake at all The little child distild salt teares apace And on his mothers name he oft did call I was chiefe mourner he to beare a part Sent sighs and teares from his lamenting heart Richard the third When thus the Boare had seiz'd into his hand Them whom he thought were obiects in his way He did not long in doubtfull censure stand But fell to action without all delay Foreknowing well that he that acts an euill Must neither thinke on God nor feare the deuill And hauing found a meanes and instrument That dared speake vntruths in any thing One Doctor Shaw with scandalous intent Preach'd at Pauls crosse that my deceassed King A bastard was vnlawfully begotten What hel-hound would such infamie haue spoken And that the Duke then being but Protector He was the perfect picture of his father And therefore he was true and right successor Vnto the Crowne the hearers straight did gather The falshood of the words that he did teach And went their way wold not heare him preach And with his tongue the touchstone of defame He most vntruly there to them did say My children bastards were thus voide of shame He sought to worke the ruine and decay Of me and mine ô let his soule in hell For euermore in endlesse torments dwell And more then that if more then that may be Let those that liue of his posteritie Hatefull to all of high or low degree Leade odious liues in depth of miserie Where neither Sunne nor Moone may giue them light Loe this shall be my prayer day and night But whither wade I now I must not rage Though extreame griefe doth make my heart to vexe And passe decorum for a pensiue stage It 's but the imperfection of my sexe A woman hath no meanes to right her wrong But by the sharpe and bitternesse of tongue Which if too much I seeme herein to vse Condemne me not but passion that doth cause Me thus the bounds of mildnesse to refuse And vse my tongue the weapon of our lawes And scourge for them that wrongfully offend vs And onely refuge left for to defend vs. When this was bruted by this slandering Doctor And that with bastardie my bloud was tainted For he was fit to be the diuels Proctor Or tell a tale of Belsabub new painted By some magitian lately came from hell Such fained things he spared not to tell Then did vsurping Richard claime the Crowne And by the helpe of Buckingham he gaind The regall Seate not caring who went downe So he might hit the marke whereat he aimd The Crowne by bloud and tyrannie he won To friend or foe regardlesse what was done Yet though King Richard did desire to see The death of both my children whom he thought Did dim his title to the Crowne yet he Could not deuise by whom to haue it wrought The fact so odious was that neuer any Would vndertake it though he proued many New meanes to trie a letter was directed To him that was Lieutenant of the Tower One Brackenbury that as he respected King Richards fauour at the instant hower And sight thereof he then with speed should slay The two yong Princes without all delay Sir Robert Brackenbury hauing read The letter he did presently reply Their bloud should neuer by his meanes be shed Though for refusing he were sure to die Which answer when the King did heare he then Did deeply sweare there was no trust in men I see quoth he this world is full of euill Promotions soone forgotten fauors vaine I would haâ—e sent my
man vnto the deuill But he will giue me leaue to take that paine My selfe but yet I hope to find some friends That will not faile to bring them to their ends And at the last he did find out a mate No man a monster of some tygers kind Hoping to raise by crueltie his state When he perceiu'd King Richards bloudy mind Voide of all grace possest with villanie Offerd himselfe to worke their tragedie But now prepare your eares to heare the sound Of saddest woe and extreame crueltie Was euer such a bloudy butcher found That euer dared act such tyrannie As was this traitor Terrill was his name That gaue consent to worke his Princes bane A strict command the King by Terrill sent To Brackenbury charging him thereby That all the keyes he should incontinent Deliuer vp to Terrill willingly For that one night he did the King obay Yeeld the keyes and sadly went his way Night being come that shrowdeth many a sinne From eyes of men but not from sight of God He knowes the thoughts before the deeds begin And will reuenge and punish with his rod Without respect of persons all alike The mightiest King he will in iustice stâ—ike Into the Tower by secret dores that night Terrill with such as were wrought to his will Forrest and Dighton entered by slight Into their chamber resolute to kill The sleeping Princes who being voide of feare Did litle thinke their deaths had bene so neare And when the Princes both within one bed Together slept embracing one the other Those cruell villaines by the diuell led The litle brethren in their beds did smother Thus from the sleepe that nature forc'd them to They neuer wak'd to tell who wrought their wo. Whether in water or in sacred ground They cast or laid the bodies murthered It 's yet vnknowne the place was neuer found But in their beds they thus were smothered O neuer villaines acted such a deed The thought wherof doth make my soule to bleed This murther done this most detested fact Being once performed by that damned crew Vpon the litle Princes Terrill packt And like some fury to the Court he slew The maner how vnto the King to tell And euery accident as it befell They had no wounds by which it might appeare That violently so their blouds were shed But as by natures course they perisht were And that their bodies being scarcely dead Vnder a paire of stayres within the Tower Were cast a prey for Serpents to deuoure The bloudy King was pleased with the deed But did dislike the basenesse of the place Where they had cast the bodies and with speed Terror of conscience or some sparke of grace Did worke remorse in him and therefore he Gaue charge their bodies should remoued be But whither where or to what place assign'd No history doth to this age relate A Priest some say their bodies there did find And mou'd with pitie did commiserate Such royall babes of life and Crowne bereft Should in so vile a filthy place be left And did remoue them where he thought more fit And sacred place for princely obsequies Which reu'rent deed deserueth to be writ In golden letters that posterities May learne of him that Christians ought to haue A decent place to lay their dead in graue Then if a generall regard be had Of those that die although they be but such Whose births were base whose liues were thought but bad The honor due to Princes is so much As gods on earth they honor'd ought to be Of all estates of high or low degree When I had heard of this extremest ill Griefe stopt my speech sorrowes opprest my heart I was enforc'd although against my will From all delights and pleasures to depart Nothing was left but sorrow griefe and care Thus all my hope was turnd to sad despaire Let neuer heauens yeeld such a chearfull smile That may yeeld comfort to that damned soule That did not feare to do a deed so vile Let hellish furies all their names inrole In that blacke book which to augment their paine As record of their deeds doth still remaine Let vgliest shape of most abhorred deuill Fire-spitting fiends in that infernall lake Dayly torment them that deuisde this euill Or gaue consent or the least part did take To murther him that was their lawfull King And crop his flower whilst it was in the spring To breake the branch that did but newly bud Nay more then so to plucke vp by the roote The springing plant next of the royall bloud Though this to tell my griefe is litle boote And all in vaine I do my woes repleate Because in me all sorrowes are compleate Yet needs I must nature enforceth me I was their mother they the royall seed Of my deare Lord whom yet me thinkes I see Vrging reuenge for this most wicked deed And shall not I with him still beare a part In prayer in woe in ioy or griefe of heart O needs I must and euer gladly will Follow his ghost with seruiceable loue And euermore be prest and ready still With sighes and teares t' importune mightie loue To grant the prayers of my beloued King For his desires were iust in euery thing If more I speake then well be cometh me In curious eye and eare if I too farre Forget my selfe let this my answer be He was my glorious Sun no twinkling starre They that on earth do beare the Scepter royall To them their subiects hearts ought to be loyall Then if a subiect must adore his King If he that is the King of Kings command Faith dutie loue of all in euery thing To be performd if firme his act shall stand Why then much more should I that was his wife Performe my dutie in and after life For after life the ghost hath libertie Of ioyes or griefe to beare a feeling part And though some women through infirmitie Their frailtie or their ficklenesse of heart When death once seizeth on their dearest friend Their former loues are quickly at an end Yet what of that my thoughts were pitcht on hie I lou'd no meaner person then a King Then with his life why should my fancies die Why should succeeding ages after sing To my reproch that I that was a Queene In baser choice to sport was euer seene Richard the third rightly cald th' vsurper Requited those that were his trustie friends With sodaine death and his deuice to further Plotted vntruths to bring them to their ends Then wheÌ„ they thought their fortunes were at hiest Then was their woe their fall and death the niest But good or bad this tyrant being King Who so he hated or did stand in doubt Would not consent to him in euery thing To take their liues all wayes he cast about By sodaine action or surmisde pretence Without their heads he sent them packing thence In this extreame alas what way was left For wretched me but to despaire and die Of hope and hap of friends and all bereft
FORTVNES FASHION Pourtrayed in the troubles of the Ladie Elizabeth Gray wife to EDWARD the fourth Written by Tho. Sampson ANCHORA SPEI LONDON Printed for William Iones and are to be sold at his shop at White-crosse streete end by the Church 1613. TO HIS MANY WAIES INDEERED FRIEND Mr. Henry Pilkington of Gadsby in the Countie of Leicester Gentleman SIR this Tragicall history being no fiction but a true relation of the many troubles of a distressed Queene I offer to your patronage for two especiall causes the one for the long continued loue betweene vs the other for that I know your name is a sufficient protection for it and me against the many find-faults that this age is pestered with who themselues being not able or too idle to do any thing worth the reading yet are composed of such a snarling substance that nothing can escape their eye or eare without a scoffe how euer it displeaseth such I care not if it content you I haue my desire not doubting but when you are wearied with more serious studies you will at some times peruse this And so I leaue you to liue happily Your assured friend THO. SAMPSON The Argument for the better vnderstanding of the Readers WHen Henry the sixt king of that name in England was by the Earle of Warwicke and others thought vnmeete to gouerne the kingdome and Edward the fourth claimed the Crowne in a battell neare to Saint Albans Henry the sixt was taken prisoner in the 39 yeare of his reigne Anno Dom. 1461. All king Henries forces were slaine or put to flight amongst whom was slain on king Henries part one Sir Iohn Gray husband of this Lady Elizabeth Gray of whose troubles this historie now discourseth This Lady was after maried to king Edward the fourth she was daughter to the Lady Iaquet daughter to Peter Earle of Saint Paul neece to the Lord Lewis of Leutzenbrugh which Lady Iaquet was first married to Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France and afterward she was married to Sir Richard Woodvile Lord Riuers by whom she had this Lady Elizabeth and others When king Edward was setled in his kingdome and had imprisoned Henry the sixt in the Tower of London the Earle of Warwicke was sent into France to intreate a marriage betweene King Edward the fourth and the Lady Bona daughter to Lewis Duke of Sauoy and sister to the Lady Carlot then wife to the French King in whose Court this Lady Bona then was which motion was well liked of by the French King and all things sorted to the Earle of Warwicks desire But in the meane time while these things were working in France King Edward going to his Mannor of Grafton in the countie of Northampton in the time of the Kings remaining there this Lady Gray was an humble suter to the King that she might haue her Ioynter giuen her which because her husband was slaine on King Henries part was since his death detained from her King Edward liked her so well that after many amorous discourses she was married to him at Grafton where first he fancied her The Kings mother and many of the Nobilitie did dislike of this mariage because she was a widow and his subiect This King was married to this Lady Gray before the Earle of Warwicke was returned from France which some say who will talke much and know little was the cause of the warres afterwards betweene the King and the Earle But the Earles hatred against the King was for another cause as in the Chronicles you may reade What troubles and griefe happened to this Queene in the time of her husband the Kings life and after his death you may imagine You see her newly risen out of her graue and in the extremity of her griefe speaking as followeth The troubles of the Ladie Elizabeth Gray wife to Edward the fourth SOmetime I was vnhappie was that time Wherein I liu'd and neuer tasted ioyes That did not wither ere they were in prime Honors are such vncertaine fading toyes I was king Edwards wife a wofull Queene As in this history may plaine be seene O had my loue in my first choice remaind How happie had I bene from griefe how free Of wofull haps I neuer had complaind But that must needs be that the fates decree The Cottage seated in the dale below Stands safe when highest towers do ouerthrow My youth was blest in loue with equall choice The matter fit prepared for loues fier In which while I consum'd nere did my voice Nor thoughts consent to wish my fortunes higher Thus in the valley whil'st my loue did rest My loue though lowly none more highly blest But fatall powers with vnreuersd decree Whom hecatombs of prayers may not perswade To adde one minute to the blisse they see Or spare one day what but a day was made Their course is fixt and cannot be preuented They best abide their might that are contented Whose power in me distressed erst was knowne When Edward fourth of name obtaind the Crowne And put sixt Henry from his regall throne Raising himselfe by casting others downe Greedy Ambition endlesse in desiring On others ruine foundeth her aspiring There first began the groundworke of my woe There lost I him that had my prime of loue And then the prime of sorrowes I did know In prime of ioy which did more sorrowes moue The daintiest palate with exactest skill Distasts the relish of the bitter pill There was my husband slaine on Henries part Then was I left a widow desolate Yet once againe loue chose another dart Whose golden head I thought would raise my fate King Edwards loue I meane but what ensude The Crowne I gain'd I euer after rewde To Witchwood forrest when this King did go For his delight to hunt the fearfull Deere He went to Grafton thence my second woe Did spring it was my hap then to be there Attendant on my mother in which space I was an humble Suter to his Grace That he would please to pitie my estate That I might haue my Ioynter giuen me Seeing my hopes were then so ruinate That I was like to taste of miserie Such was my case except it were relieued At my complaint he very much was grieued And mou'd with pitie did commiserate My cause my selfe he seem'd to fancie then With gracious words lamenting my estate Bad me take comfort ô the wiles of men He courted me and I at last did yeeld My honor sau'd that he should win the field A King to woo his subiect in such sort As no dishonor by his loue might rise Blame me not then if to that princely port I was contented to be led as prize Where honor grac'd with regall maiestie Was Pilot to my ship in ieopardie Though long he sude I granted at the last To be his wife such shew of honest loue His princely heart did seeme to haue embrac'd I was content the nuptiall sports to proue No wanton lust did harbour in my thought
surprisde King Edwards tent neare Wolney where the King Litle suspecting what his foe deuisde Securely slept but then oh piteous thing Hearing a noise he cald vnto his guard But they were slaine and he was clapt in ward And thence from Warwicke in the night conueyed To Midlam Castle where he did remaine There in the Bishops charge a while he stayed Vntill he did for want of aire complaine And by that meanes had leaue for pleasure sake To hawke or hunt the change of aire to take Which being once obtaind King Edward thought It was the high way to his libertie Plotting how this and that might best be wrought And not procure his keepers iealousie Ought to mistrust t is hard for to deuise A secret slight to circumuent the wise Whether the Bishop of himselfe did giue So large a scope vnto the captiue King Or Warwicks conscience inwardly did grieue That he had done so trecherous a thing And therefore will'd the Bishop let him haue What libertie soeuer he did craue I le not dispute how it did come to passe Though many thinke that Warwicke did consent To set him free but be it as it was All doubts to cleare the King did soone preuent The fury of his foes with heedfull care To tread the path that might escape the snare And by good fortune it did happen so Sir William Stanley with a troupe of men Met with the King as he to hunt did go It was in vaine to argue where or when He should be redeliuered for decree Had cleare resolu'd to set King Edward free And those that had the charge of his returne Vnto whose care the Bishop did commit The guarding of the King were loth to spurne Against the pricke accounting it no wit To offer force where such attempts were vaine Which rash resistance might procure their paine Determinately therefore they agreed With swiftest speed vnto their Lord to tell How euilly their sport that day did speed Which newes they knew would nothing please him well But well or ill there was no remedie The King was gone past their recouerie To Lancaster where then Lord Hastings lay The King made thither with all speed he might From thence assur'd of friends he tooke his way To London whence although his cause was right He was enforc'd to Lin to shape his course Of raging seas t' abide good hap or worse To Burgondie with wind and saile he plide There to recouer forces helpe and aide Of that great Duke now marke what did betide The boisterous waues and aduerse winds delayd His direct course the Easterlings at sea Thought to haue made K. Edwards ship their prey His ship being small with helpe of saile did beare Such forewind speed that in despite of foe It ranne so neare the shore at Alquemare Their ships drew deeper that they could not go So neare the towne but were compeld to ride At ancor there attending the next tide In the meane time Lord Gronture gouernor In humblest maner welcomed the King And charg'd the Easterlings to touch no shore Commanding them not to attempt the thing That to the English might offensiue be Thus was the King from dangerous foes set free But when the rumor through the land was blowne That Edward was inforc'd to flie the land And that the certaintie thereof was knowne O in what desperate state did all they stand That were his friends but vnto me his wife No hope was left of safetie friends or life Now to the hardest censure I appeale What world of woes opprest my soule with griefe How could I hide my sorrowes or conceale My horror for no hope of my reliefe On any side I no way could descrie But gloomy death and endlesse miserie Which sad prospect did threaten hard euent To wretched me of all good hap forsaken Despaire attended me no way I went But by sad thoughts my thoughts were ouertaken Pale death my master was and at my helme Stood terror all my ioyes to ouerwhelme In this red sea which was not nauigable My weather-beaten barke was runne aground I thought to find some place auaileable Where I might strike my saile and not be drownd The sanctuary a most sacred place I fled vnto hoping to find some grace Such grace I meane as to a wretched soule Yeelds comfort in extremes neare drownd in griefe There willingly my selfe I did inrole ' Mongst miserable soules voide of reliefe But that the reuerence of that holy place Was a protection to them in that case And in that place I had not long remaind But to the world Edward the fift I brought Where like a poore mans child I not disdaind To haue him Christned though so meane a thought Did nothing fit the mind of any Queene Who chuseth least of ils we wise esteeme The poorest man whose labour gets his pay Whose court a cottage is doth at such time More cost bestow on such a solemne day Then I had meanes to giue that child of mine The Gossips and chiefe credit of the troope Were th'Abbot Prior and the Lady Scroope Where was my cloth of state my canopie Ladies of honor to attend my will Where my rich hangings of rare tapestrie The stateliest banquets that deuice or skill Could set before vs where the songs of mirth To tell the world we ioyd a Princes birth My state and grace of all the world neglected Onely a naked name of Queene then left me My nearest friends arrested or suspected With traitors blot from which they were as free As new borne babes yet were they ouerthrowne Was euer such a cruell tyrant knowne The troope of gallants that once fawn'd on me My fortune-followers now they all are gone My pompe and complements for my degree Are vanisht cleane and I am cast vpon The rocke whereon alas I was vndone Before my prime of pleasure was begun O all was gone and I my selfe deiected From Court and Crowne to fatall miserie Of Lord nor Lady graced nor respected But headlong throwne into aduersitie Oh let no creature liue secure of state For Kings themselues are subiects vnto fate Let meane mens wiues imagine what it is To want things fitting them in such a case I of all princely ornaments did misse Was glad of such as seruile were and base Thus fortunes wheele some vp some downe doth tosse And I enforc'd perforce did beare this crosse O that I had a world of willing eares That patiently would heare my sorrowes told And in this sad discourse to lend me teares When they the map of my mishaps behold But ô the world shrowds in obliuion Their name and fame that to the earth are gone My King was fled my friends themselues did shrowd Vnder the couert of my enemies The new made gouerner insolent and proud Hatefull to me and all my progenie Ten thousand deaths yea trebled mischiefe fall Vpon his head that sowrd my sweet with gall Nay more then so that wrongd not onely me But to their King were instruments
What should I do or whither should I flie But still in danger of my mortall foe To wish for death the end of earthly woe Two yeares he reign'd in feare and bloudie strife In which meane time in Sanctuarie I Did shroud my selfe to saue my wretched life And linger out my dayes in miserie Though death farre better was in such a case My womans heart could hardly death embrace His breach of faith his odious cruelties First caused Buckingham to leuie armes And in the North it caused mutinies Men sought to ' venge the many grieuous harmes That wrongfully they saw him dayly do To all estates as well to friend as foe This made Earle Richmond find so many friends When he layd claime vnto the English Crowne Who doth not wish all tyrants speedie ends Who will not helpe to cast a tyrant downe The King of Kings that all mens acts doth see Will neuer let such men vnpunisht be Not long before Earle Richmond came to shore King Richard sent to me perswading men To make excuse for what was done before With promises of gracious proffers then They layd long siege vnto my weake defence With vowes and oaths to cleare him from offence With kindest promises of future good To me or any one that I could name I well considering in what case I stood Grew milder and at last did seeme to frame My selfe as pliant to their masters will Yet was my heart free from one thought of ill The Eagle towring in the loftie skie If he vnto his prey do kindnesse vse Vnder whose stroake their life or death doth lie Were it not madnesse in them to refuse His profferd fauour since they must obay His will because they cannot scape away Such was my case although not so considered He was the Eagle that was mounted hie I and my friends the prey discomforted Stood at his will to liue or else to die Our safeties he did proffer gold and loue I was content our better haps to proue He did desire but that I would conceiue A good opinion of his deeds to come And not my selfe so fondly to deceiue Mistaking things that then were past and done Alas I knew it was then in his power To date our liues one day or but an hower My secret foes if any such there were They knew or at the least they might haue knowne I wisht Earle Richmond well and ioyd to heare That Richards state should soone be ouerthrowne I did procure my friends with power and will To aide the Earle King Richards bloud to spill Which though in secret to my friends I said I durst not but seeme pleased to forgiue All former faults although in heart I praid That cruell Richard might no longer liue To bathe in bloud full oft on bended knee With teares I praid that I his death might see What should I hold you in a long discourse Faire words preuaild and I did giue consent Knowing our fortunes hardly could be worse I with my daughters to his pallace went Where he did giue cōmand and straightly charge Our welcome should be great our freedome large I knew the time was neare and then at hand That Henry Earle of Richmond meant to trie In warlike battell with a valiant band Either to winne the Crowne or else to die I knew what Noble men would take his part I gaind him friends and gaue to his my heart I ioyd to heare that Richard lost the field Who did not pray to see his ouerthrow He being slaine who did not freely yeeld Each man was glad and wisht it might be so Of Yorke and Lancaster then grew the vnion Whose former strife wrought many mens cōfusion The conquering King according to his oath Was married to my daughter presently Which to helpe forward no man seemed loth But all were aiders as fidelitie Did bind them to performe this being done I ioyd once more to haue a King my sonne Foole that I was to glorie in the thing Which prou'd to me vnpleasant in the end I like the swan before my death did sing As litle knowing what they did intend That secretly conspir'd to worke my fall And sodainly did turne my sweete to gall Henry the 7. The second yeare of this King Henries raigne The Councell did decree that wretched I The more to aggrauate my griefe and paine Should lose my lands and liue in penurie Because I did accept in outward show Of Richards kindnesse They did litle know How easily a captiuated man Will yeeld to him that is his conqueror And gladly please in any thing he can The fury of a sauage tormenter Especially in such a case as this Where wil might hurt but could not help my wish I had too lately knowne his bloudy mind I was vnable to withstand his force I knew no place of safetie where to find My state was like to grow from bad to worse Which made me willingly accept the good That he did vow to me and to my blood Alas what could a silly woman do My female frailtie might haue colourd this I feard to taste the furie of my foe Because my strength was all too weake for his I timorously did feare the bloudie slaughters That he might do to me and to my daughters What hurt or danger to Earle Richmonds plot Could my dissembled peace with Richard be What face so faire but that a fault or spot A partiall Iudge will say he there doth see It 's better die and not to liue at all Then be so weake with euery blast to fall When I was grac'd with fauour of my King Whilst he did liue that did support and stay Those whom I pleasde into his grace to bring All then was iust that I would do or say He being gone and that I was declining At my estate how many were repining Had I bene cruell couetous or strange When poore distressed suters to me cride From good conceit to bad then might they change Had I the needy naked soule denide Of any helpe that then was in my power Then had I liu'd too long if but an hower But if my heart did pitie widowes teares The fatherlesse if I did helpe to right And set the needie free from many feares Wherewith they were opprest by men of might To all estates since I was then a friend Why should their gratefulnesse so quickly end And more then so not onely to forget Good turnes once done but to requite them ill That well deseru'd of all in each respect So farre so blindly to be led by will Or vile ingratitude the filthiest sinne That euer humane creatures liued in If this had hapned in a land vnknowne Where I had neuer liued as a Queene Had this bene done by any but my owne My griefes should lesse in all respects haue beene What made the mightie Caesar wish to die The griefe that Brutus was his enemie I thought all stormes of misery were past My daughter being married to the King I thought my pleasures then would euer last I neuer lookt for any change of thing My innocencie would not let me feare The grieuous censure that was then so neare Bermondsey Abbey in Southwarke neare London With wounded heart the remnant of my dayes In th'Abbey of Bermondsey in teares I spent Still death I wisht and hated those delayes That fearfull frailtie did to me present I cald for death and weary was to liue For well I knew life could no pleasures giue And when the end of all my griefes drew nie And that my date of life was neare expired With willing heart I was content to die And Atropos I earnestly desired To cut the threed that did prolong my life Because in me all sorrowes were so rife My corps being dead to Windsor was conuaid And there interred fitting my degree Euen in that place where my deare Lord was laid There at this day the tombe is yet to see Vnto which place now I my griefes haue told I must returne and shroud my selfe in mold Then did this Queene returne vnto her rest And vanisht leauing to my memorie Here to relate what she to me rehearst In which recitall if infirmitie Cause me forget that which I should haue spoken Imagine that which I haue now forgotten If such the world in former times hath beene That highest states most subiect were to fall How true said she that late was Englands Queene When she her selfe at that time was in thrall Loe yonder milk-maid liues more merrily It was the saying of Queene Elizabeth when she was prisoner in the time of Queen Mary Then I that am of noble progenie Not to be great is therefore to be sure From fortunes wracke for this we dayly see The highest trees do sharpest stormes endure When those that planted in the valley be Do seldome feare and neuer feele the frowne Of boisterous stormes that others doth cast downe A vertuous life suruiues when cruell death Hath soule from earthly body seuered And hath bereft vs of our vitall breath Yet worthy deeds should be remembered Succeeding ages should them deifie Whose liues and deaths were full of pietie But what auaileth it to haue bene great Or what to haue bene friendly vnto many When they shall come to sit in sorrowes seate Themselues shall seldome be relieu'd by any For misery hath many lookers on And some that pitie but adiutors none This Queene was by descent of noble blood Of vertuous life yet in obliuions graue How long hath she in darke obscurenesse stood Shall good deserts such cold requitall haue Vngratefull minds that were by dutie bound Her name and fame vnto the world to sound Queenes Colledge which of her did take the name In Cambridge as a monument doth stand A worthy deed deseruing endlesse fame VVhich to maintaine she gaue sufficient land And some which in that Colledge haue bene bred Might wel haue raisd her fame though she be dead Thus haue you heard although abruptly pend The fortunes of this Queene and of her friends Princes as well as beggers do depend On the Almighties will what ere he sends None can preuent or alter his decree So firme so sure his secret iudgements be FINIS