teach and we beleiue aright Yet mindes vnsetled sooner will be bent When they shall see your words and workes consent And therefore let your liues your faith expresse And preone by practise what you doe professe 420 Whilst I and my Queene and Tarleton plaild The Pageant thus the Current went so swift That I thought fit vntill the fury stai'd In some close priuate place a while to shift And for the Land seem'd crosse vnto my drift I did resolue by sea to seeke some clime Where I might harbour till some happier time 421 And so I left the land and tooke the seas But sea and land conspir'd vnto my taking For neither plaints nor prayers could appease The windes and waues which far'd as they were making Sharpe war betwixt themselues whilst I stood quaking For feare least I the subiect of their strife Should end their warre by ending of my life 422 And yet thrice happy had poore Edward beene If death had ended then his wearie dayes But cast on shoare in Wales I liu'd vnseene In pathes in woods in vnfrequented waies With those few friends which whilom I did raise Balduck and Redding young Spencer and no more Who in my fall their ruine did deplore 423 Of all the swarmes that follow'd kingly raigne Of all the friends that fawn'd on awfull pride Loe only this poore remnant did remaine A true loue knot with sad affliction tide Who suffering and who sorrowes were t' abide For wretched men compassionate each other And kinde compassion is afflictions mother 424 Oh see what quick sands honour treads vpon How Icie is the way that greatnes goes A mightie Monarch late attended on With supple hammes smooth browes submissiue shewes For many followers he hath many foes False fawning friends from falling fortunes runne As Persians vse to curse the setting Sunne 425 When Ioue had made the chiefe of all his Creatures Whom we call man a litle world indeede The gods did praise his well proportiond features Each in their functions seruing others neede But prying Momus taking better heed Obseru'd at last one error in his Art Because he made no windowes in his heart 426 Oh that the glorious Architect of man Had made transparent glasses in the brest What place should be for Politicians then How should dissembling growe in such request And Matchiauillian Atheisme prosper best But temporising is the way to clime There is no musick without keeping time 427 I shall not doe amisse if I do sing Those heauy Anthemes our sad consort made Whilst they did warble with their wretched king As we did sorrowing sit in silent shade The sudden downfall reeling greatnes had Balducke quoth I out of Philosophie Extract some medicine for our miserie 428 Deere Prince quoth he whom late our eies beheld In greatest glorie that the world could see Whilst thou with awfull maiestie didst wield The publicke State let it no wonder be If some few Stars proue opposite to thee Since in their fauour none so firmly stood But they haue giuen griefe as well as good 429 Do but obserue the fauorite of Chance Her chiefest Mynion highest in her Grace Philips great sonne whom shee did so aduance Who did subdue the East in litle space Vnto whose Armes th' amazed world gaue place Whose actions are the subiâ—ct of all stories He poyson'd dies amids the world of Glories 330 I list not wade in telling tragick tales Sufficeth this all greatnes is vnsure Stormes rage more fiercely on the hills then dales Shrubs better then high Cedars winds indure Those Collours soonest staine that are most pure Oh let him graspe the Clouds and span the skies That can assure himselfe felicities 431 In all that this same massie world doth hold There is a certaine mixture to be found Either of drie or moist or hot or cold Of which if any one too much abound The bodie oft afflicted proues vnsound But being kept in iust proportion They do maintaine a happy vnion 432 So fares it in our fortune and our State Nothing is simply sweet or simply sower Our wealth is mixt with woe our loue with hare Our hope with feare and weaknes with our power Bright moones breed mists the fairest morne a showre And as there is an Autumne and a spring So change by course is seene in euerie thing 433 The winde that 's now at South will change to Nore The greenest Groues will turne to witherd hay The Seas both ebbe and flow at euery shore The Moone doth wax and waine yet not decay Day drawes on night and night drawes on the day Our selues once babes now men then old straight none Do plainly proue a change in euery one 434 Wise Politicians and deepe sighted sages That haue discourst of Common wealths with care Both of our time and of precedent ages Obserue in them a birth when first they are A grouth which oft extendeth verie far A state wherein they stand so change withall And then at last a dismall fatall fall 435 Rome had her being first from Romulus Her growth from Consulls that were Annuall Her State most flourish'd in Octauius Many conuersions these most principall From kings to Consulls last Emperiall And who sees not she is novv ruined And in her Ruines now lies buried 436 The greatest and best grounded Monarchie Hath had a period and an ouer throw There is no constant perpetuitie The streame of things is carried to and fro And doth in euer-running Channells goe If then great Empires are to changes bending We weaker States are warned from their ending 437 Ruines of kingdomes and their fatall harmes From one of these same causes do arise From Ciuill furie and from sorren Armes Or from some plague doom'd from the angrie skies Or worne by wasting time dissolued dies For as the fruit once ripe falls from the tree So common wealths by age subuerted be 438 If these be rocks that shipwrack Monarchies Are priuate States exempted from the same Where liues the man hath such immunities 'T is hard to scape vnscorch'd in common flame Or parts to stand when ruin'd is the frame Those publike harmes that Empires do decay In priuate states do beare a greater sway 439 Fiue hundred yeeres some that are curious wise Would haue the period of a publike State And they appoint for priuat families Some six or seauen discents the vtmost date I dare not so precisely calculate But without doubt there is a fixed time In which all states haue both their set and prime 440 Let these be motiues oh deiected great one To calme the tempest of thy stormie care And though I must confesse it well may fret one The past and present fortunes to compare Yet since in all things changes common are Think eb'd estats may grow and thinke withall What happs to one to euerie one may fall 441 Thus Baldocke chas'd and Reading thus began But first his eyes dewd downe a weeping raine Oh thou once glorious now eclipsed sunne Now thou art clouded yet
King Edward the 2 surnamed Carnaruen was crouned att westminster at the 22 yere of his age the 24 of febru 1â—03 he Raigned 19 yere 6 monethes was deposed the 25 of Ianuvarius 1326 he was slayne in the Castle of barkley in the 43 yere of his age THE DEPLORABLE LIFE AND DEATH of EDWARD the Second KING of ENGLAND Together with the Downefall of the two Vnfortunate Fauorits GAVESTONE and SPENCER Storied in an Excellent Poëm LONDON Printed for Roger Michell 1628. THE DEPLORABLE Life and Death of Edward the Second KING of ENGLAND 1 I Sing thy sad disaster fatall King Carnarvan Edward second of that name Thy Minions pride thy State ill managing Thy Peeres reuolt the sequell of the same Thy Life thy Death I sing thy sinne thy shame And how thou were depriued of thy Crowne In highest Fortune cast by Fortune downe 2 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 either Loue or Hate Contempt or Duty not the workes of Fate Much lesse of Fortune but of due respects Two causes which must needes produce effects 3 As if a Prince doe lay his platforme right And then with courage prosecutes the same His ends proue happy but by ouer-sight He that is weake wholy subuerts the frame Of his owne building and doth idly blame Fortune which wise men make to wait on them But for a way-ward Mistrisse fooles condemne 4 In which Discourse if I shall hap to touch Those faults that in our time are frequent growne Let not the gauld 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 might shun 5 Nor doe I meane to bound my selfe so much As onely for to tye me to those times The causes courses consequents I 'le touch Of latter ages and of their designes And if detractions breath doth blast my lines Be it for me I haue for my defence The priuy coate of harmlesse innocence 6 And thou great King that now dost weild our State Building on that which former times did square Oh let it not be thought to derogate From thy perfections admirable rare If I some errors of these times declare Sure neuer State was so precisely good But faults haue scap'd which could not be withstood 7 For men are not like God compleat Diuine Whom neither passions mooue nor errors blinde Who is not limitted with any time Nor tyde to meanes nor into place confinde But free in all no counter-check doth finde But worketh all in all and nothing ill To contradict the least part of his will 8 Whereas our humane actions are all mixt Men liue in motion so do their designes Nothing is simply good or firmely fixt All haue defects nature it selfe declines Darknesse oft clouds the clearest Sunne that shines Our purest streames are not without their mud And we mistake what oft we take for good 9 Besides Kings needs must see with others eies From whence mistaking cannot choose but spring And when th' offence from errors doth arise Why should men cast the enuy on the King And not on those that mis-informe the thing This is the gall most banes the Kingly Throne That of his faults the least part is his owne 10 For he himselfe is blamelesse oft God knowes Except it be because he doth not know The noted scandals that arise from those On whom he doth his fauours most bestow Which they abusing discontents may grow Against the Prince though not deseruing them So apr we are euen goodnesse to condemne 11 Nor must we with a coale straight marke or brand A Prince or State because of some defect Who can be free from Sulley if 't so stand But that same Prince or State deserues respect Whose actions doth in generall effect And ayme at good for in particulets None can be so compleate but often erres 12 And much are they deceiu'd that thinke to finde A State without a blemish or a stayne Conceite may cast Ideas in the minde And forge strange formes not practis'd in the braine But States consist of men and men retaine This natiue badge which vnto all doth cleaue That is to be deceiu'd and to deceiue 13 The warlike Trumpet sounding to the fight Commands the hearing more then doth the reed Each eye is fixed on the Eagles flight When little Wrens deserue not any heed The greatest men shall haue the greatest meed Marke who so list and they shall finde it tride That all mens eares to Princes tongues are tide 14 Then let the World attend King Edwards words The second Edward matter fit for moane Whose smiles gaue life whose frownes did wound like swords Whilst hee did sit vpon the Kingly Throne Not minded now nor mean'd by any one So time cuts downe we see with fatall blow Aswell proud Oakes as humble shrubs below 15 Imagine with your selues you see him come From forth the deepe darke cauerns of the earth Starued and pin'd nothing but skin and bone In Princely plenty suffering want and dearth As naked as an infant at his birth So pinching need doth pluck what pride doth plant And wastfull ryot is repayd with want 16 And thus poore Prince begins his Tragicke plaint Am I the same that was first Edwards sonne By nature borne to liue without restraint Were there for me so many Trophies won By Long-shankes and such great atchiuements done I am the same and he so great did leaue me As none I thought of greatnesse could bereaue me 17 But now I finde by proofe that one there is And well it is that there is such a one Who is not hood-winckt vnto our amisse And he can pull vs from our Kingly Throne For all our Guards our Forts our Walls of Stone Know King how great and powerfull thou be The King of Kings still ruleth ouer thee 18 I know that nature apt to ouer-weene May easly straine a Princes thoughts too high I know it is and euermore hath beene A common course to flatter Maiesty Greatnesse is apt to swim in Surcudrie Yet though like hils we ouer-looke low grounds All vertuous Kings confesse they haue their bounds 19 And therefore though we haue Prerogatiues Yet there are certaine limits to the same Which hinders Kings to be Superlatiues To sway as Gods Lieutenants this faire frame And those Aspirers merit Death and shame That do repine against those Supreame powers Whom God hath made his vnderlings not ours 20 And yet although their State be free from force That giues not Lawlesse liberty in all Kings must obserue a iust and rightfull course God is their King by whom they stand or fall And euery Act vnto account will call Their oath their vertue and their owne renowne Are Dyamantine chaines to tye a Crowne 21 And such as are not moou'd with these respects
high glorious frame That frame whence God all earthly deeds descries That God that guerdons sin with death and shame Shall witnesse yea and will reuenge the same That you haue bin most cruell to your king Whose death his doome his doome your deaths will bring 550 Vnmanly men remember what I was And thinke withall what you your selues might be I was a king a powerfull king I was You see my fall and can your selues be free But you haue friends why you were friends to me And yet you see how much your loue is chang'd So others loues from you may be estrang'd 551 But you are young and full of able strength And am not I what boots my strength or youth Both now seeme firme but both shall faile at length Old age cold ache and both sad griefe ensueth But you are wise the more should be your ruth Of mine estate whose rack may teach you this That hateful chance may clowde your greatest blisse 552 You are not no you are not beasts by birth Nor yet am I made of a sencelesse stone We all were fram'd and all shall turne to earth You should haue feeling soules for I haue one Then seeme at least relenting to my moane I pittie craue and crauing let me haue it Because one day your selues may need to craue it 553 But these dead motiues could not worke at all In their sad steely hearts the least remorse They rather added wormwood to my gall And exercise of ills did make them worse So violent streames hold on their wonted course And being flesh't in crueltie before Vse made the habit perfect more and more 554 And least one torment should be left vntri'de They shut me in a vault and laid by me Dead carkasses of men that lately died That their foule stinck my fatall bane might be These were the obiects that mine eyes did see These smells I smelt with these I did conuerse And vnto these these words I did rehearse 555 Oh happy soules whose bodies here I see For you haue plaid your parts and are at rest Yet some way haplesse ye may seeme to be That with your bodyes I am thus distrest Perhaps you 'd grieue if that you knew at least That by your meanes your King is thus tormented Grieue not deare soules for I am well contented 556 'T is not your bodies senselesse as they are That doe inflictt these torments on your King But the fierce agents of proud Mortimer From them my plagues proceed as from their spring And oh iust heauen let them their tribute bring Backe to the Ocean whence they first did flow And in their passage still more greater grow 557 But what poore soule haue you deseru'd so ill That being dead you must want buriall Nothing but this I must my fates fulfill And still be plagu'd with woes vnnaturall My wretchednesse must still transcend in all The liuing and the dead must doe me spight And you poore soules for me must want your right 558 But you are happy free from sense of wrong Here be your bodies but your soules are well Death doe not you forbeare your stroke too long That with these happy soules my soule may dwell And soule be glad to goe here is thy hell And eu'n in this th' art happy that t is heere Oh better so then it should be else where 559 What seest thou now but obiects of disgrace What dost thou heare but scornes and termes of spight What dost thou touch that is not vile and base What dost thou smell but stench both day and night What dost thou tast that may procure delight Thy sight thy hearing touching tast and smell All crie for heauen for here is now their hell 560 This darksome vault the house of Acheron These wicked men like friends do torture me These verie Snakes resemble Phlegeion Mine acted sinnes like fearefull Iuries be And he that would a whole infernall see Let him obserue those torments I indure And he shall finde them hells true portraiture 561 The earthit selfe is wearie of my paine And like a tender mother moanes for me From me thou cam'st returne to me againe Within my wombe I le keepe thee safe quoth shee And from these vile abusers set thee free Neuer shall these fell Tyrants wrong thee more He that paies death dischargeth euerie score 562 These bodies that thou seest thy brothers were Subiect to many wants and thousands woes They now are clear'd from care and free'd from feare And from the pressing of insulting foes And now they liue in loue and sweet repose Thy selfe canst witnesse that they feele no woe And as they rest eu'n thou shalt rest thee so 563 Their eies that whilst they liu'd oft tided teares Thou seest how sweetly they enioy their rest Those harsh vnpleasing sounds that deaft their eares Are turn'd to Angels tunes amongst the blest Their soules that were with pensiue thoughts possest Now in their makers bosome without end Enioy that peace whereto thy soule doth bend 564 And thou hadst need of peace poore wretched soule If euer any soule had neede of peace God being in armes against thee doth inrowle All nature in his list which doth not cease To fight against thee and doth still encrease Thy wretchednesse forbeare rebellious dust To war with him who is both great and iust 565 Oh would to God that I had di'de ere this Then had my sinnes bin fewer then they are Then had my soule long since repos'd in blisse Which now is wandring still in wayes of care Lifes griefe exceeds lifes good without compare Each day doth bring a fresh supply of sorrow Most wretched now yet shall be more to morrow 566 My carefull mother might haue helped me When I lay sprawling in her tender wombe If she had made her burdened belly be My fruitlesse birth-bed and my fatall tombe Sure had she knowne her sonnes accursed doome Shee neuer would haue wrong'd her selfe so much To beare a wretch saue whom was neuer such 567 My tender nurse is guiltie of these paines Shee might haue put some poyson in my pappe Or let me fall and so dasht out my braines When she full oft did daunce me on her lap A thousand waies had freed me from mishap But he whom heauen ordaines to liue distrest Death will delay to set that wretch at rest 568 For Death's the wearie Pilgrims rest and Ioy This world of woes a hard and flintie way Our birth the path that leads to our annoy Our friends are fellow passengers to day And gone to morrow honor is a stay That either stopps or leads vs all amisse Pleasures are theeues that interrupt our blisse 569 And in our passage as the way doth lie We meete with seuerall Inns wherein we rest Some at the Crowne were lodg'd and so was I Some at the Castle that is now my nest Some at the horne there married folks do feast Though men haue diuerse Inns yet all men haue One home to which they goe
my hearts desire Longshankes is dead his water ayre and fire Are turn'd to earth and earthly might he be That on the earth did keepe the Crowne for me 109 Yet in that sad dismaifull houre of dying No griefe did him more feelingly distresse Then that his vicious Sonne al vertue flying Should ruine that by ryot and excesse VVhich he had built with so great carefulnesse And therefore for to weane me from such sinnes These well tun'd Notes this dying Swan-beginnes 110 My Sonne quoth he for in that name of zeale My words may proue of more effectuall power VVhy shouldst thou so with thy sicke Father deale As to torment him in his parting houre VVhose life hath had his portion full of sowre And yet to make my measure fuller still My Sonne doth daily adde vnto my will 111 I know what 't is by many dire extreames To keepe the Crowne vpright vpon the head I know the troublous sleeps and frightfull dreames That houer still about a Princely bed The worme of greatnesse iealousie is bred Out of it selfe yet this I know withall Our powerfull sway doth sweeten all our gall 112 But for thy selfe and for my heart-breake griefe That out of thy sin-shipt-wracke youth doth grow No circumstance yeilds colour of reliefe The cause excuselesse limitlesse the woe That doth from thy full sea of follies flowe For foulest faults proceede from powerfull ill And subiects sort themselues to Princes still 113 Thou dost not onely by thy vicious liuing Bereaue thy soule of blisse which virtue winnes But also by thy ill example giuing Thou dost attract weake mindes vnto like sinnes For certainly the Subiect euer swims Iust with the streame so growing like to thee A generall deluge of all sinne will be 114 Much better had it beene thou hadst not beene Then that thy being should so ruine all Oh wherefore was thy birth-day euer seene If by thy life the State it selfe doth fall To those soule sinnes which wrath from Heauen do call By whose iust doome such States confounded are By Forraine fury or domesticke ware 115 For when the seed of sinne to ripenesse growes Then Iustice with a Sithe doth mowe it downe This that it is that Kingdomes ouer-throwes Layes wast the field vnpeoples euery towne Or if not so disorders yet the Crowne Although it prooue no generall desolation Yet many dangers grow by innovation 116 When my Heauen-seeking soule shall leaue her Inne And this my flesh clos'd in a house of clay Then will my shame suruiue me in thy sinne And Babes vnborne will ban my births and say His wretched life gaue life to our decay And had no other ill by him bin done He sinn'd too much in getting such a sonne 117 Did I for this indure the dust and Sunne Dis-lodg'd at mid-night march in mid-day heate Where Turkish French and Scottish trophies wonne Was all my care imploy'd to make thee great That some might dispossesse thee of thy Seate Oh then I see that greatnesse soone is gone When God drawes not the plot men builds vpon 118 And my diuining soule doth sadly see Thy ruine in thy riot oh my Ned When I am gone a King then shalt thou be But if thou still beest with thy passions led Thou wilt not keep thy crown vpon thy head My soule now parting from the earthly cage Fore-tels thee so in her propheticke rage 119 Well Sonne I feele my faltring tongue doth faile Therefore this short abridgement I doe make Feare God loue virtue let the right preuaile Shunne suddaine courses Parasites forsake Dis-fauour not thy Peeres their Counsels take For thy designes reuoke not GÃ uestone For he will prooue the canker of thy throne 120 Pursue those Scottish warres I haue in hand And for because my soule did make a vow Vnto my God to serue in holy Land From which this sicknes interdicts me now Though Death disable me effect it thou Embowell me and thither heare my heart That I therein at last may haue some part 121 And you my Lords speaking vnto his Peâ—res Whose wealth and greatnesse I haue much increast Be Fathers to my sonnes vntuter'd yeares Loue him for me though Longshankes be deceast Let not Gauestones exile be releast Least his repeale occasion ciuill strife And so first Edward ends both speech and life 122 Thus Death that Herald that euen Kings doth summon The Purseuant that doth attach great Peeres The City Seriant whose arrest is common The errant-bayliffe that a Processe beares And no place bounds but serues it in all Shieres The generall Surueior of each one Did bring my Father to his longest home 123 The Obsequies and Ceremonies done Then I was Crown'd me thought the Sun did dance And that the Thames with siluer stteames did runne Likewise the Starres did all applaud my chance That did my State vnto a Crowne aduance Smile Starres dance Sunne and Riuer run with mirth Carnarvan Edward is a god on earth 124 But all the Starres to blazing Commets turn'd Whose sad vprise presag'd my dreiry fate The Riuers seem'd as if they wept and mourn'd The Sunne did neuer shine vpon my State Starres Streames and Sunne saw me vnfortunate Disastrous man so borne to suffer wracke As is the Aethiop to be alwayes blacke 125 Obserue the man whom Fates haue slau'd to griefe See how the wretch that 's destin'd Fortunes foe Wil be a rub to turne away reliefe Euen from himselfe and weaue his owne wrought woe Harme after him he after harme shall goe Forspoken man neuer but successelesse Himselfe his hurt and yet his hurt redresseksse 126 Nay euen those very meanes which he shall vse In good discretion to preuent the clap Shal be returned vnto his abuse And serue for pullies of his owne mishap So though he see he shall not shun the trap And if his ruine were not ripe before His owne designes shall hasten it the more 127 Thâ— King of Epire fearing death home Fore-warn'd thereof by formet Prophecie To Italy forth-with must needes begon So to preuent his fault by pollicy But still he 's follow'd by his destiny In Italy he findes an Acharon The fatall floud from which he would be gon 128 Fourth Henry was by some blinde Bard fore-told That he should neuer dye till he had seene Ierusalem fourth Henry wil be old Ierusalem for him shal be vnseene No he shal see it when he least doth weene He sounds at prayers and by religious men Is straight conuey'd vnto Ierusalem 129 For so the place was call'd where he was lay'd And shortly after did the Noble King In vaine men striue the heauens wil be obay'd We may fore-know but not preuent a thing Our selues will neuer cease till we do bring Our fates to full effect and all we do Shal be but lines to lead vs thereunto 130 For first I doe those Councellors remoue That in my Fathers raigne had borne most sway Whereby I did disarme me of their loue To practizes and discontents made way Expose
by obsequious shewes Or els perchaunce for feare of future blowes And so some few discents from higher to higher The newnesse of the house will varnish faire 153 Where sodaine greatnesse ruin'd Gaueston Whom I too much prefer'd before my Peeres Who did possesse me more then any one From whence grew many jelousies and feares Close discontentments which at first appeares Of little moment worthlesse of respect But prov'd such skars as we did least expect 154 It is the praise and blessing of the sonne To make his heate and light both generall Princes are sonnes and both must freely runne In open course and be not seuerall Vnto some few but common vnto all The poorest he that breaths this song may sing Wee all haue interest in the Aire and King 155 And this too much did spread abroad my passion Who like pure water should haue had no taste This error did my gouernment dis-fashion That Gaueston vnworthily was grac't And made too great a monster huge and vaste Who in his growth was vnproportionall Became offensiue to himselfe and all 156 My Seale my Court my Realme was rul'd by him That neither knew to rule nor to obay I car'd not though my Peeres did sinke or swim Nor what my other Counsellors did say For he did stearne my compasse night and day Whilst I being sunke in sinne and drown'd in lust Had almost wrack't the Realme with such a gust 157 The Court which in my Fathers life time seem'd A Senate house of siluer-headed Sages Might now a pompous Theater be deem'd Pester'd with Panders Players and with Pages Of my ensuing fall too true presages And yet in shew it seemed fairer farre So Comets glifter more then any starre 158 But oh the quiet of that happy land Where aged Nestors beare the chiefest sway Where strength of mind rules more then force of hand Where old men bid and yong men doe abey Where Ages winter guideth youths sweete May But when the foote or hand commands the head The body then is many wayes misled 159 Let siluer haires and long experienc'd age Be sole directors of each enterprise Let youth be as an Actor on the Stage To execute what staider heads deuise For youth is actiue age discreete and wise Youth is more daring but precipitate Age more judiciall and considerate 160 Yet should not States-men be too aged men Fer euery yeare their spirits much decay They earthy grow and melancholy then Heauy and dull their edge being worne away Wayward and teachy wrangling all the day Full of Morosity and which is worse Extremely giuen to gripe and fill the purse 161 Besides we see some men are ripe betimes Like sommer fruit some pleasing to the tast And if those spirits in whom such vertue shines May be with greatnesse and imployments grac't They come to full maturity at last Men of exceeding worth they being growne Both for their countries good and for their owne 162 But to my selfe who did neglect my Peeres And onely did deuote my selfe to pleasure Lou'd I why loue it selfe loues youthful yeares Spent I why Kings should not be slaues to treasure Heard I not Subjects suits I had no leysure Did I forbeare my Peeres conuerse What then loue is not tide to sort himselfe with men 163 When they did say that Scottish Bruce did burne My Northerne borders and did wast the same Then sighing I to Gauestone would turne And say sweet Peeres my selfe feeles fancies flame I saw I loue I dye for such a dame Cupid I feare a Bruce to me will proue My hold's by him my heart is fier'd with loue 164 With thsee and many more fantasticke toyes I shifted off my Councell when they came I haue not time enough to spend in ioyes Why should I spare one minute from the same Let them that list by wars go hunt for same I force it not giue me these pleasing warres Where blowes are giu'n but neuer cause no skarrer 165 But when the field is to a field-bed turn'd When eyes like sharpest Launces pierce yet please When amorous hearts with equall flames are burn'd When Foes sinke downe our furies to appease And lips on lips redouble blowes of ease When braue assaults are not by Death contrould In such a band who would not be inroul'd 166 The Roman monster Heliogabilus And Persian Xerxes neuer fortunate Might well be thought to liue againe with vs We priz'd our pleasures at so high a rate Which was our sad and still successelesse fate In peace our fault procured our dâ—caies In warres our Fortunes made vs run-awayes 167 The lucklesse battailes fought whilst I did Raigne With Robert Bruce that Noble English Scot Sad monuments vnto the World remaine That vicious life with Monarchies thriue not For sinne and shame are ti'd with Gordians knot And those designes do proue successelesse quite That are contriu'd by men drown'd in delight 168 Marke but the Maps of all antiquity True Registers vnfalsefi'd records The race of time which we call History And 't will be found that euery age affords Plenty of proofe to fortifie my words Each leafe each time do pregnant witnesse beare Who riot most to ruine are most neere 169 When sinne did ouer-flow the Deluge came Th' Assirians then did loose their Monarchy When their last king did liue most out offrame And was ore-whelm'd with sensuality The Persians then did wrecke their Empery When wealth and ease and lust did most abound Which also did the Romaine State confound 170 The Danes did first set footing in this Land Because Lord Buerâ—â— wife was rauish't here The Saxons forces got the vpper hand When Vortiger held Hengests daughter deere And still our Realme to ruine hath bin neere When ripned sin hath gather'd strongest head So stalled Steeres are to the Shambels led 171 Thus Edward sayd and this our age hath seene Like instance of a neere confining State Neuer was France more deadly sicke of sinne Neuer was goodnesse growne more our of date Neuer did Princes more preposterate Their priuate liues and publique regiment And as they liu'd so died impenitent 172 Neuer Religion seru'd for more pretences Neuer were Nobles more ambitious Neuer like inundations of offences Neuer were Church-men lesse religious Neuer were Commons more seditious Such plotting counter-plotting pollicies Such Massacres such Barbarous cruelties 173 Such impious courses such impunity Neuer was seene lesse blushing and more shame Neuer had sinne so great imunity Neuer was euer all so out of frame As in these latter times till the fiery flame Of ciuill fury and of Forraine foe Did make poore France the Stage of tragicke woe 174 And without doubt had not the Man of men The mighty Atlas of that sinking State Bin rais'd by God to giue new life euen then That famous Kingdome of so ancient date By home ambition and by Forraine hate Had breath'd her last being sin-sicke vnto death And much a doe there was to giue her breath 175 For still the eye of
saiest there is no God Thou wilt confesse one when thou feel'st his rod. 464 Let Pharoe liue at rest and he will wage War against Heauen and aske who is the Lord Nay more and more the Tyrant still shall rage Till God draw forth his sharpe auenging sword Till his iust plagues no breathing time afford Then I haue sinn'd pray for me let them goe And then who goe's as Pharoe learnes to know 465 So doth the sharpest bryer beare sweetest rose And bitterst medicines purge the bodie best How wondrously doth God his works dispose That eu'n by crosses he can make vs blest And hath our chiefest ioy in sorrowes nest Then let vs not repine against his doome But weaue our web as we haue warp'dour loome 466 And Reading of the world thou readest right It is indeed but meerly temporall Eu'n those deare pleasures wherein men delight Friends honours riches all are casuall And as they haue their honey so their gall Ther 's nothing certaine in the world but this That euery worldly thing vncertaine is 467 These were our parlies as we sat alone These tearfull tributes daily were defrayd Now did we walke and weepe now sit and groane Till faithlesse Walsh me friendly wretch betraid Into their hands who straight waies me conuaid To Kenelworth where I imprison'd lay And neuer after saw one blisfull day 468 For first I was 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 the same resigne Thai'd choose a Prince out of some other line 469 Oh English Peeres weigh what you take in hand Looke but with iudgement into your designe That which you now attempt will wrack 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 enuy death and desolation brings 470 There is a lawfull and a certaine right Which alwaies must be kept inviolate And being infring'd by practise or by might Drawes fearefull iudgements downe vpon the Stare Then you or yours will wish although too late That I had kept my rightfull intrest still And you had not beene agents in this ill 471 When your owne children shall each other wound And with accursed hands gore others brest When ciuill fury shall your State confound Then will you say his ghost is not at rest He 'tis whom vainely we haue dispossest The second Edward for whose sacrifice Your nephewes then shall play a bloudy prize 472 Neuer oh neuer was the rightfull course Of this our Crowno perverted or supprest But still the same hath beene a fatall source Of many mischiefs and of much vnrest And as the land hath beene therewith opprest So the Vsurper neuer kept it long In any quiet what he got with wrong 473 William who with his sword did win the Crowne Getting by conquest what he kept with care The true and lawfull heire being shoulderd downe Like a wood Lion his owne word did fare Against the English whom he did not spare Or young or old that were of worth or place And for the rest he yoak'd with bondage base 474 And as he toild the land with his vnrest So tasted he his share of miserie Robert rebels a bird of his owne nest The Normans brake forth into iniury The oppressed English hatcht conspiracie Alwaies inforreine brawles or ciuill strife Aud so wasts forth a wretched weary life 475 Nay death the period-maker of all moane Eu'n against nature followes him with spight The mightie Prince by thousands waited on Being dead is left alone forsaken quite No sonne no friend to doe him his last right None that vouchsaf'de to giue him buriall But vnregarded lay despis'd of all 476 Nay more the ground where he should be inten'd Anselme fitz Arthur his dead bones to spight Claim'd as his owne a thing scarce 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 477 Nor would he cease the challenge he had made Nor yet durst they inter his corps therein Vntill a summe of money was defraid With which they paid the ransome for his sinne So much adoe had this great Prince to win That which none doth the poorest wretch deny A bed of peace where his dead bones might be 478 Nor was the streame of miserie thus staied The date of our affliction lasted still There is not yet sufficient ransome paied The ill got Scepter must be swaid as ill Rufus succeeds and still more blood doth spill Still hauecks more and still doth tyrannize Vntill by sudden violence he dies 479 Nor did the Crowne stand well on any head Till Beuclark got the Scepter in his hand Who to the Saxon Maude being married Some beames of comfort cheer'd the drooping land And then our State in peacefull tearmes did stand Till Henry di'd and Stephen vniustly got The Crowne and set new troubles here on foot 480 Then burst there forth an all consuming flame The Empresse Maude sought to acquire her right Stephen had the Crowne and he would keepe the same Vntill she could recouer it by fight Then follow'd all the hostile Acts of might Sword fire rapes murthers leagers wast and wrack And nothing of extreamest ills did lack 481 So hath iniust succession scourg'd this Realme At length Stephen dies 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 bands extend And many Nations to our yoake did bend 482 Then Richard his braue sonne did next succeed In a iust course of all things prosper'd well In Syria he did many a worthy deed The Easterne world of his exploits can tell And many thousand miscreants sent to hell By those vnconquer'd armes haue prou'd long since That Cordelion was a Peerelesse Prince 483 He dead young Arthur should haue had the Crowne The sonne of Ieffrey who was Henries sonne Had not King Iohn his vncle put him downe Who being hal'don by ambition Diuerts the course of true succession Makes himselfe King vsurps the Princes name And murthers Arthur to secure the same 484 And now oh now begins our Tragedie where death and horror onely actors are Iohn gouerns as he got prepostrously And doth both with his Peeres and Clergie iarre Then Ianus sets wide ope the gates of warre And then the land with bloud was ouerflowne And none could safely call his owne his owne 485 Then were the Cities sackt the fields laid waste The virgins forc'd the marriage bed defil'd Then were the ancient Monuments defac'd The Ports vntraffick'd landed vp and spoil'd Eu'n God himselfe seem'd heere to bee exil'd The land was curs'd all sacred
and that 's the graue 570 Yet whilst we trauell fortune like the weather Doth alter faire or foule so doth our way If faire then friends like foules do flocke together If fowle each man doth shift a seuerall way Only our virtues or our vices stay And goe with vs whose endlesse memorie Doth make vs liue or die eternally 571 This is the fraight that men cannot vnload No not by death therefore mortalitie Worke for thy selfe whilst heere thou mak'st abode For on the present hath dependencie Thy fortunes endlesse blisse or miserie And death 's the Conuoy to conduct vs home Come death to me that I to rest may come 572 Perhaps thou fear'st me being great and high Oh death man were a thing intollerable Were he not mortall but eu'n kings must die No priuiledge doth against death enable Both fat and leane are dishes for his table The difference this the poore one hath his graue The great one he his Monument must haue 573 Our fates may be conceiu'd but not controul'd Before our dated time we cannot die Our daies are numbred and our minuts tould But life and death are destin'd from on high And when that God that rules th' imperiall skie Shall find it fit then thou shalt goe in peace Meane while with patience looke for thy release 574 Thus vnto care I pay his due complaint And ioyn'd with all my tributarie teares Such my lament 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 guiltie soules that vs'd me so As they resolu'd by death to end my woe 575 To which effect came letters from the Court Written by Tarlton at the Queenes command In such a Clowdie and ambiguous sort That diuerse waies one might them vnderstand By pointing them that if they should be scand He and his Letters might be free from blame And they delinquent that abus'd the same 576 The words were these kill Edward doe not feare T is good which being comma'd diuerslie As please the reader double since may beare Oh Art thou art the worlds chiefe treasurie But being imploy'd to practise villanie What Monstrous births from thy fowle wombe do spring So Grammar heere is made to kill a king 577 Which to effect they first remoued me From forth the Vault where I before did lie And made a shew as if they seem'd to be Compassionated for my misery And would hereafter grant immunitie For such vnworthy vsage so we see The Sun shines hot before the shower will be 578 But being ouerwatch'd and wearied too Nature was much desirous of some rest Which gaue them oportunitie to do What they desir'd for being with sleepe opprest They Clapt a massie table on my brest And with great weight so kept me downe withall That breath I could not much lesse crie and call 579 And then into my fundament they thrust A litle horne as I did groueling lie And that my violent death might shun mistrust Through the same horne a red hot Spit whereby They made my gutts and bowells for to frie And so continu'd till at last they found That I was dead yet seem'd to haue no wound 580 And heere I pitch the pillars of my paine Now Ne plus ultra shall my posie be And thou which hast discrib'd my tragick raigne Let this at least giue some content to thee That from disastrous fortunes none are free Now take the worke out of the Loomes againe And tell the world that all the world is vaine FINIS Henry 4. Hen. 4.