crowne 53 Here in the bodies likenes whilst it liues Appeare the thoughts proceeding from the mind To which the place a forme more glorious giues And there they be immortally deuin'd By vertue there more heauenly refin'd And when the earthly body once doth perrish There doth this place the minds true Image cherish 54 My beauty neuer fades but as new borne As yeares encrease so euer waxing young My strength is not diminished nor worne VVhat weakneth all things euer makes me strong Nor from my hand my Scepter can be wroong Times sacriligious rapine I defie A tributarie to eternitie 55 The face of heauen my chronicles containe Where I erect the Tropheis of my fame VVhich there in glorious characters remaine The gorgeous feeling of th'immortall frame The constellations letters of my name VVhere my memorialls euermore abide In those pure bodies highly glorified 56 FAme ending thus Fortune againe began Further to vrge what she before had said And loe quoth she Duke Robert is the man VVho by my might and pollicie's betraid Then let vs see how thou canst lend him aide I tooke from him his libertie and crowne Raise thou him vp whō I haue thus thrown downe 57 Quoth Fame a fitter instance is there none Then Robert is then Fortune doe thy worst Here may thy weaknes and my power be showne Here shall I blesse whom thou before hast curst Begin thou then since thus thy turne comes first And thou shalt see how great a power I haue Ouer the world proud Fortune and the graue 58 Quoth Fortune then my hand did point the Star The seale wherwith heauen sign'd his vtmost date Which markt his birth with brands of bloody war Rash mutinys rude garboiles harsh debate His forrain plagues home wrongs priuate hate And on the height of his great Fathers glory First laid the ground work of his Sonnes sad story 59 Nature which did her best at Roberts birth I most vndid in his natiuitie This friend I made his greatest foe on earth Her gifts I made his greatest enemie Framing such mildnes in Nobilitie Differing so far from haughtie Williams straine That thus hee iudg'd his Sonne vnfit to raigne 60 And yet that courage which he did inherit And from the greatnes of his blood had taken Stird vp with griefe awakes this greater spirit VVhich more and more did Williams hate awaken Hee thus forsaken as hee had forsaken Yet to his will so partiallie inclind As now his rage his reason quite doth blind 61 Now doe I leane to him whom all haue left Laughiug on him on whom dispaire doth lowre Lending him hope of former hope berest Giuing his youth large wings wherwith to towre Ayding his power to crosse great Williams power That so his might in countermaunding might By his owne wrong might hinder his owne right 62 That whilst his Fathers sierie tempered sword Through Albions cleeues that fatall entrance made With Germaine power returnes this youthfull Lord VVith others Armes his owne bounds to inuade And Normandy lyes coucht vnder his blade Thinking to make a present meane of this To make his owne yet doubtfull to be his 63 Towards Williams end now Williams hate begun VVhom he begot doth now beget his woe He scarse a Father Robert scarse a Sonne His Sonne the Father fo his ouerthrowe Youth old in will age young in hate doth growe He nursing that which doth all mischiefe nurse He by his blessing causing his owne curse 64 And yet least age might coole Duke Williams blood VVith warrs in Fraunce I still the heate suppli'd That whilst young Robert yet disgrace stood Iustly condemn'd of insolence and pride In this confirm'd the famous Conqueror di'd Setting proud Rufus on his regall throne VVhilst Norman Robert striues but for his owne 65 Much trust in him a carelesnes first bred His courage makes him ouer-confident Blinding reuenge besides his course him led VVhen lost his wits in errors darknes went Rashnes sees all but nothing can preuent VVhat his mind loth'd disgrace did vrge him to Making his will the cause of his owne woe 69 This buried trunck of William is the roote From which these two world-shadowing branches spred This factious body standing on this foote These two crosse currents springing frō one head And both with one selfe nutriment are fed Vpon themselues their owne force so should spend Till in themselues they both themselues shold end 67 Thus the old conquest hath new conquests made And Norman Ensignes shaddow English fields The brother now the brother must muade The conquerors shield against y e conquerors shield Right wounding right nor wrong to wrong will yield One arme beare off the others furious stroke Scepter with Scepter sword with sword be broke 68 The hatefull soiles where death was sown in blood Encreasing vengeance one against the other And now the seede of wrath began to bud Which in their bosoms they so long did smother These but as bastards England their step mother Weakning her selfe by mallice giues them strength With murdring hands to spoile thēselues at length 69 This Williams death giues Roberts troubls life VVhose life in death made lucklesse Robert liue This end of strife beginneth greater strife Giuing to take what it did take to giue Liuing depriu'd which dead doth him depriue Euill brought good that good conuerts to ill Thus life and death breed Roberts mischiefe still 70 VVhen first King William entred on this Ile Harrold had friends but then the Norman none But Rufus liued here as an exile And Robert hop'd to raigne of many a one Onely my hand held vp his slyding throne William but weake beats Harold down by wrong William supplanting Robert Robert strong 71 Odo the prop which Rufus power vpheld Reuolting then inrag'd with Lansrancks spight And on this hope grounding his faith rebell'd might In bloody letters writing Roberts right Great Mortayns power and strong Mountgomeres Mangling this Ile with new deformed scars Ere peace had cur'd the wounds of former wars 72 The Normans glory in the conquest won The English bruzed with their battred Armes The Normans followed what they had begun The English fearefull of their former harmes What cooles the English Norman corage warms The Normans entred to new victorie The English for their fight already flie 73 VVhilst Rufus hopes thus freshly bleeding lay And now with ruine all things went to wrack Destruction hauing found the perfect way Were not proud Robert by some meanes kept back By fond delayes I forc'd him time to slack And stopt the mischiefe newly thus begun To vndoe all what he before had done 74 Thus first by counsell spurr'd I on the rage Forcing the streame of their distempred blood Then by my counsaile did againe aswage VVhen this great Duke secure of conquest stood Pyning his force giuing aduantage foode That first by taking Arms he strength might loose And making peace giue strength vnto his foes 75 A peace concluded to destroy their peace A suddaine truce to breed
wit wit courage arms This is the thred which leadeth on his will This is the steere which guides him in these storms To see his good and to foresee his harms Not flying life in fortune so content Not fearing death as truly valient 144 He feasts desire with sweetest temperance Greatnes he decks in modesties attire Honor he doth by humblenes aduance By sufferance he raiseth courage hier His holy thoughts by patience still aspire To fashion vertue strangely he doth seeke Making poore hope impatient sorrow meeke 145 Then in his ioy he nothing lesse inioyes Still of him selfe the worser part he is What most shold please him him the most annoyes Of his there's nothing can be called his And what he hath that doth he euer misse His thought of conquest so doth rest inuade Thus is he made as vnto others made 146 All things to him be prosperous as he would Not trusting Fortune nor distrusting Fate Resolu'd to hope hap what soever could Ioying in woe in ioy disconsolate Ioy lightneth woe woe ioy doth moderate Carelesse of both indifferent twixt either VVooed of both yet yeelding vnto neither 147 Endlesse his toyle a figure of his fame And his life ending giues his name no end Lasting that forme where vertue builds the frame Those sums vnnumbred glory giues to spend Our bodies buried then our deeds ascend Those deeds in life to worth cannot be rated In death with life our fame euen then is dated 148 VVilling to doe he thinketh what to doe That what he did exactly might be done That due foresight before the act might goe VVhich wisely warning might all errors shun That care might finish what he had begun Iustly directed in the course of things By that straight rule which sound experience brings 149 From famous Godfrey and the Christian hoast Vnto the migty Grecian Emperor Now is he sent through many perrils tost This Norman Duke the braue Ambassador His royall spirit so much ne're seene before As with his princely traine when he doth come Before the towne of faire Bizantium 150 From forth the holy Region is he sent Bending his coure through Macedon and Thrace Yet neuer would he sleepe but in his Tent Till he return'd vnto that hallowed place Till he beheld that famous Godfreis face Nor neuer rest his body in a bed Till Palaestine were free deliuered 151 Triumphall prowesse true disposed care Cleare-shining courage honourable intent Vertuous-apparreld manhood thoughts more rare Mind free as heauen imperiall gouernment Numbers of vertues in one sweet consent Gyfts which the soule so highly beautifie Humble valour valiant humilitie 152 Sweet ayre with Angels breath be thou refin'd And for his sake be made more pure then ayre And thether let some gentle breathing wind From Paradice bring sweets which be most rare Let Sommer sit in his imperiall chayre And clothe sad Winter in the cheerefull prime Keeping continuall Sommer in the clime 153 Delight be present in thy best attire And court his eyes with thy delightfull change Oh warme his spirit with thy soule-feasting fire To base delight-abusers be thou strange Such as in vainest pleasures boundlesse range For pleasure he all pleasures quite forsooke And arm'd with zeale these toiles first vndertooke 154 O let Danubius in her watry roome VVhere she the name of Ister first did take VVith threescore riuers swelling in her wombe With seauen large throats her greedy thirst to slake Doth swallow in the great worlds vastie lake Vnto all regions which doe know her name In Roberts glory tell our countries fame 155 And broad-brim'd Strymon as she vaulteth on Slyding along the fertill Thracian shore Kissing the stronds of famous Macedon Which once the name of old Aemathia wore Whose fame decay'd her drops do now deplore May raise another Orpheus with her mones To sing his praise vnto her trees and stones 156 Time on his life thy gathered store disburse VVhich may enrich thee with eternall gaine VVhich art a beldame now become a nurse And in his end begin his glorious raigne That yet truth may of truth be forc'd to faine That of his praise thy selfe a part maist be VVhich praise remaines the better part of thee 157 O thou immortall Tasso Aestes glory VVhich in thy golden booke his name hast left Enrold in thy great Godfreis liuing story VVhose lines shall scape vntoucht of ruins thest Yet vs of him thou hast not quite bereft Though thy large Poems onely boast his name Ours was his birth and we will haue his fame 158 The curious state of greatnes he doth scorne Carelesse of pomp to be magnificent Deeming the noblest minded noblest borne Him worthiest honor which the furthest went His blood most pure whose blood in wars most spent Esteeming all fond titles toyes of naught Most honoring those which were with peril bought 159 His richest roabes are his approoued Armes His sports were deeds of peerelesse chiualrie He flies all pleasures as the Syrens charmes To his great mind no pleasing harmonie Not touch't with childish imbecillitie As sacriledge to his religious mind To mix base thoughts with those of heauenly kind 160 A mind which of it selfe could rightly deeme Keeping a straight way in one certaine course As a true witnes of his owne esteeme Feeding it selfe from his owne springing source And by himselfe increasing his owne force Desirous still him daylie to enure To endure that men thought none could endure 161 Deuinest touch instinct of highest heauen Most gracefull grace purest of puritie To mortall man immortall vertue giuen Manhood adorn'd with powerfull dietie Discreetfull pitty hallowed pietie In secret working by itselfe confest In silent admiration best exprest 162 Not spur'd with honor dearely louing peace Constant in any course to which he fell A spirit which no asffliction could oppresse Neuer remou'd where once his thought did dwell Opynionate that what he did was well VVhich working now vpon so good a cause Approueth his conceit the surest lawes 163 No braggarts boast nor ostentacious word Out of his mouth is euer heard proceed But on his foe-mans curats with his sword In characters records his valiant deed That there vnpartiall eyes might plainly reed In modest silence by true vertue hid That though he dumb his deeds told what he did 164 He cheres his Souldiers with sweet honied words His princely hand embalmes the maimeds wound Vnto the needie gold he still affords To braue attempts encouraging the sound Neuer dismaid in perrill is he found His Tent a seate of iustice to the greeu'd A kingly court when need should be releeu'd 165 His life each hower to danger he doth giue Yet still by valour he with perrill striues In all attempts as he did scorne to liue Yet lyuing as his life were many liues Oft times from death it seemes that he reuiues Each hower in great attempts he seemes to die Yet still he liues in spight of ieopardie 166 Euen by that town o're which his Lord did weepe Whose precious tears were shed
must stay to woe Thy absence bringeth horrors presence still Thou going staiest and staying I doe goe Thou leau'st me leau'st with me leau'st me to ill Thy flight my fight thy safety me doth kill Thou tak'st my fall with thee in me forsaking Forsake me then away me with thee taking 88 ON shyp-bord now w t hands rear'd to the skyes All sigh'd and wept could sigh nor weepe no more He turns his sad eclipsed teareful eyes As retrograde vnto the blessed shore Rich Ile quoth he once Garner of my store Taken from me by yonder Tyrants theft And I as poore as ere was Irus left 89 Tis not my wealth that I esteeme as light Nor yet my Country though so deere to mee But thou alone Matilda my delight My life my soule all my felicitie Left as a pray vile Monster vnto thee Yet my laments are wasted all in vaine And to these winds and billows must cōplaine 90 Pittie if in thy drop be-dewed eye Thou hast one teare of wonder to let fall That one drop spent be euer after dry But keepe that one to comfort me withall Sweet honny teare sweeten my bitter gall But if thine eye whith mine eyes be drawn dry Trans-forme me then euen all into an eye 91 But now the Wolfe is got into my fold God help the Lambe that's in the Lyons power Alas poore Maid thus art thou bought and sold Prepared for the slaughter euery howre This Minataure must all my hopes deuoure Yet forc'd by Fortune to endure this woe And vnreueng'd vnto my graue shall goe 92 Liue in mee Death and I in thee will liue Be thou my selfe and I will still be thee Giue thou to mee and I to thee will giue And in perpetuall vnion let vs bee Thou I I thou one vndeuided wee Death giue life strength life thou to death lend breath Death be my life and life be thou my death 93 VVithin the furrowes of my aged browes My ioyes must theyr vntimelie buriall haue Thys fatall Tombe proud Fortune them allowes VVhich thus with-holds me frō my wished graue The heauens are deafe although I iustly craue My teares with griese are frozen in mine eyes Yet God nor man regards my miseries 94 Immortall Hate for pittie sit and weepe And VVoe for woe seeke from thy selfe to flye Dyre Passion be thou drown'd in passions deepe And Death for sorrow in my sorrows dye He be my selfe if thou wilt not be I In the attire of my pale Image dight thee If shape of my sad griefes doe not affright thee 95 Thrice famous Romaine fortunate to me By whose owne hands thy deerest child was slaine Deliuer'd so from slauish tyrannie But liuing mine dishonor'd shall remaine Blotting my name with an immortall staine VVhose black reproch for euer shall endure Ah vile disease that neuer time can cure 96 The soules departure giues the body rest My bodies parting giues my soule new care My soule of his abode is dispossest My body endles banisht to despaire My soule and body soule nor body are My soule with hers hers killing mine alone My body hers hers mine neither our owne 97 Euen as the kinde sleep-breaking Nightingale The cruell Merlin ceaz'd her little one Vnto the thickets tells a wofull tale VVearying the woods with her continuall mone This pore bird chirpeth he pore Lord doth grone Shee weeps all night by day complaineth hee Shee for her young one he laments for mee 98 Looke how a Sea the tyde once beeing past VVhose surges stroue the Continent to clime And bounding backe vnto the Gulfe at last Vpon the Sands doth leaue a clammie slime Teares in his cheeks such gutters worne in time VVash'd w t the floods of his still-trobled braine His eyes brim full as furrows after raine 99 And thus my Father vnawares betray'd A thousand sorrowes mee at once assaile What might I doe a silly helplesse Mayde Tost and turmoild in this tempestious gale These boysterous flaws haue brokē down my saile My succours thus like shadows now are gone Not one remaines to whom to make my mone 100 Now like a Roe before the hounds imbost VVhen ouer-toyl'd his swiftnes doth aslake Forsakes the Plaines to which he trusted most And to the couert doth himselfe betake Where doubling still creeps on frō brake to brake Thus doe I flie before the Princes face VVho day and night pursues mee still in chase 101 THE Coast is cleere suspitious eyes at rest And all things fadge which further his desire Now royall hope keepes reuels in his brest The coales are quick and Fancie blowes the fire His loue expects his long deserued hire No clowde discern'd to hinder this his sun The watch discharg'd he hopes y e towne is won 102 The Princes armes are stretcht from shore to shore Kings sleeping see with eyes of other men Craft findes a kay to open euery doore VVhat might I do or what auailes me then The silly Lambe liues in the Lyons Den. Loues wakeful eyes too soone alas discri'd me And found me wher I surest thought to hide me 103 My Ioue like Ioue now seekes mee to inuade And roysting comes in thunder-bolts and raine A Beast a Bird a Satyre in the shade A flood a fire a Serpent and a Swaine Camelion-like as fitt'st my loue to gaine Now like great Phoebus in his golden Carre And then like Mars the fearefull God of war 104 Hee makes the ayre to wooe mee whilst I talke The winde to whistle many a pleasant Dittie The dainty Grasse make musick as I walke The pretty flowers to moue me still to pitty All sencelesse things with reason seeming witty Before mine eyes hee euer doth appeare And if I call still aunswers I am heere 105 My steps are told my paths by Spyes are noted Mine eyes by Night-spells shut within the watch My words are way'd by iealous loue that doted And at my thoughts Ill-meaning still doth catch Into my counsells Treason drawes the latch And at my gates Suspition still doth ward Sorrow my hand-maid Falshood on my gard 106 He weeps his words but words could win no tears The raine doth cease or ere the floods doe rise His wofull words his tongue a while forbeares Then doth he his harts arrant with his eyes His eyes eclipz'd he then with sighes supplies Sighes faile w t smiles he then bewraies his paine Smiling he weeps yet weeping laughs againe 107 Looke how the Peacock ruffs his flaunting tayle And struts vnder his mooned Canapie And how he quiuers with his plumed sayle Yet when his Lead-pale leggs he haps to see With shame abates his painted iolitie The King as proude as Peacock in my loue yet droups again whē words nor tears could moue 108 My breast of Flint a rock impenitrable My hart that stone which neuer toole could perce My thoughts a Center and vnsearchable My words iudgment w c law could not reuerse My frownes such clowds as no ioy could disperse Tygars are tam'd with patience and with skill All
soonest pry Whose nature thus I chose to be the mould Therein to worke what forme of hap I would 98 His owne compassion cause of his owne care Vpon his thought his constant promise stood Vertue in him most naturally rare No vile base humor tainted his pure blood His bounty still gaue good desert her food His mind so great and honorably free Made him too prone to loose credulitie 99 His counsels thus are combred by his care In nothing certaine bnt vncertaintie His friends resolu'd on nothing but dispaire Yet shewes he greatnes in most misery Each place become a stage for Tragedy By error wandring far beyond his scope Strong in desire but weakest in his hope 100 In publique shame oft counsell seemes disgrac'd No priuiledge can from the Fates protect In desperation counsell hath no taste Vntamed rage doth all aduise reiect Hiding the course which reason should direct Making himselfe the author of his harms VVithout experience valor wants his arms 101 Now I whose power in Williams wars was seene VVhen first on Williams conquest he begun To shew my selfe the worlds imperious Queene Now turne my selfe against his warlike son To lose by me by me his Father won On Englands part gainst Normandy to stand Which Normandy had conquered by my hand 102 The conquest William made vpon this Ile VVith Norman blood be-peopling Brittany Euen now as Brittons made within a while Turne with reuenge to conquer Normandy Thus victory goes back to victory That his own blood wins what before he won His conquering son subdu'd his conquering son 103 Thus Norman townes begirt with English arms The furious brother dealing wrathfull blowes Both pressing in where deadly perrill swarms These English-Norman Norman-English foes At last doe get what they at first did lose As Normandy did Englands fall prouoke Now Norman necks must beare the English yoke 104 The flood of mischiefe thus comes in againe VVhat Fortune works not alwaies seems pretéded The wind thus turn'd blows back the fire amaine VVhere first mischance began she will be ended And he defend him from those he offended For this we find the course of fatall things Is best discern'd in states of Realms Kings 105 On whom of late in Palaestine I smild In ciuill warrs now dreadfully I frowne He call'd from exile I from him exil'd To leaue his crowne who had refus'd a crowne Who beat all down now heare is beaten down Here to lose all who there had gotten all To make his fall more grieuous in his fall 106 To England now a prisoner they him bring Now is he hers which claim'd her for his owne A Captiue where he should haue been a King His dūgeon made wher shold haue been his throne Now buried there wheras he shold haue growne In one poore tower mew'd vp within one place Whose Empires bounds the Ocean shold embrace 107 Could mortall sence containe immortall hate Or reason sound the depth of things diuine Iudgement might stand amaz'd at Roberts state And thinke no might to be compar'd with mine That all power may vnto my power resigne And that in Roberts fall the world may see Amongst the starrs what power remaines in mee 108 That sword which on his fortune hath such power Yet powerles is to end his wretched dayes Those daies w c in their course all things deuoure To his swift griefe makes slow and lazie staies To Tyrannies long raigne he thus obaies That he in life a thousand deaths might die Onely in mercy rackt with crueltie 109 He hath no ioy but in his miseries His greatest comfort is the blessed light For which as I were angry with his eyes I make the King depriue him of his sight To sute his daies so iustly with the night That sencles stones to mone he should not see Yet sencles stones behold his misery 120 And this he felt that Fortune made him blinde Least his eyes obiects yet might lighten care That y e light wanting more might light his minde VVhose eyes might see how great his sorrows are That euery sence that sences woe might share And so that sence depriu'd of ioy alone Might more increase the griefe of euery one 111 These griefes and horrors enemies of rest VVhich murther life where they do harbor long Kill humors which his body oft opprest Vnnaturally thus making nature strong As out of deaths dead stock new life still sprong As life with death had tempted him till now Yet death to life no ease would er'e allow 112 Death he fear'd not is taught his end to feare Life once he lou'd with him now fall'n in loue That foe a friend to hurt him doth forbeare That friend a foe he cannot now remoue Twixt them he all extremities doth proue Aged in youth to pine his ioy thereby Youthfull in age to suffer misery 113 Courage forbids that he himselfe should kill His life too proud to be constrain'd to die His will permits not death now when he will VVhat would dispaire true valor doth deny Thus life's life foe death is deaths enemy VVilling to die by life him double killing Vrging to die twice dying he vnwilling 114 So many yeeres as he hath worne a crowne So many yeeres as he hath hop'd to rise So many yeeres he liues thus quite thrown downe So many yeeres he liues without his eyes So many yeeres in dying ere hee dyes So many yeeres lockt vp in prison strong Though sorrow make the shortest time seeme long 115 Thus sway I in the course of earthly things That Time might worke him euerlasting spite To shew that power yet euer makes not kings Nor that conceit can compasse my deceit In fined things such meruails infinite Nor any wonder is to be supposed In that wherein all wonders are inclosed 116 AT Fortuns speech they stand as all amaz'd Whilst Fame herselfe doth wonder at his woe And all vpon this deadly Image gaz'd VVhose misery shee had discribed so But in reuenge of this dispightfull foe Fame from a slumber as it seem'd awake On his behalfe thus for herselfe be-spake 117 What time I came frō world-renowned Rome To waken Europe from her drouzie traunce Summoning the Princes of great Christendome To Palaestine their Ensignes to aduaunce Soūding my trump in England Spaine Fraunce To moue the Christians to religious war Frō Pagans hands to free CHRISTS sepulchar 118 That holy Hermit Peter then as one VVhich as a Saint bewaild so great a losse With Bulloigne Godfrey Christs strong champion Vnder the Banner of the bloody CROSSE Now on the Alps the conquering collours tosse Leading along the brauest Christian band To reare their Tropheys in the HOLY LAND 119 Hether the flocks of gallant spirits do throng The place whence immortalitie doth spring To whom the hope of conquest doth belong Nor any thought lesse then to be a King Hether doth Fame her deerest children bring And in this Camp shee makes her treasury The rarest Iems of Europs Chiualry 120 This conquering lord
the Conquerors eldest sonne Whose hand did then the Norman scepter weld In Armes to win what once his Father won To Englands conquest is againe compeld Whose crown frō him proud William Rufus held An exile thence by's angry Father driuen By Fortune robd of all by Nature giuen 121 VVith fame of this once Roberts eares possest With heauenly wonder doth his thoughts inspire Leauing no place for wrong in his faire brest Giuing large wings vnto his great desire VVarming his courage w t more glorious fire As thus to fight for his deere Sauiours sake Of Englands crowne he no account doth make 122 Of kingdoms tytles he casts off the toyle VVhich by proude Rufus tyranny is kept Deere as his life to him that hallowed soile VVherein that God in liuely manhood slept At whose deere death the rocks for pitty wept A crown of gold this Christian knight doth scorne so much he lou'd those temples crown'd w t thorne 123 Those grieuous wants whose burthen weyed him downe The sums w c he in Germany had spent In gathering power to gaine the English crowne Garded with princly troopes in his rich Tent Like William Conquerors sonne magnificent Now by his need he greeuously doth find VVeakning his might what neuer could his mind 124 This braue high spirited Duke this famous Lord VVhose right of England Rufus held away To set an edge vpon his conquering sword In gage to Henry Normandy did lay Thus to maintaine his valiant souldiers pay Rather of Realms himselfe to dispossesse Then Christendome should be in such distresse 125 Eternall sparks of honors purest fire Vertue of vertues Angels angeld mind VVhere admiration may it selfe admire VVhere mans diuinest thoughts are more diuin'd Saint sainted spirit in heauēs own shrine enshrind Endeared dearest thing for euer liuing Receiuing most of Fame to Fame more giuing 126 Such feruent zeale doth from his soule proceed As those curl'd tresses which his browes adorne Vntill that time Ierusalem were freed Hee makes a vow they neuer should be shorne But for a witnes of that vow be worne True vow strōg faith great lord most happy howr Perform'd increasd blest by effecting power 127 True vow so true as truth to it is vowed Vowing all power to help so pure a vow Allowing perfect zeale to be allowed If zeale of perfect truth might ere allow Then much admir'd but to be wondred now Faith in it selfe then wonder more concealing Faith to the world then wonder more reuealing 128 Disheueld locks what names might giue you grace VVorne thus disheueld for his deere Lords sake Sweet-flowring twists valors engirdling lace Browe-decking fringe faire golden curled flake Honors rich garland beauties meshing brake Arbors of ioy which nature once did giue VVhere vertue should in endles Sommer liue 129 Faire Memory awaken Death from sleepe Call vp Times spirit of passed things to tell Vnseale the secrets of th'vnsearched deepe Let out the prisoners from Obliuisions Cell Inuoke the black inhabitants of hell Into the earths deepe dungeon let the light And with faire day cleere vp his clowdy night 130 Eternitie bee prodigall a vvhile VVith thine immortall arms imbrace thy loue Diuinest Powers vpon your image smile And from your star-encircled thrones aboue Earths misty vapors from his sight remoue And in the Annals of the glorious fun Enrole his worth in Times large course to run 131 Truth in his life bright Poesie vphold His life in truth adorning Poesie VVhich casting life in a more purer mold Preserues that life to immortalitie Both truly working eyther glorifie Truth by her power Arts power to iustifie Truth in Arts roabs adorn'd by Poesie 132 To his victorious Ensigne comes from far The Redshanck'd Orcads toucht with no remorse The light-foote Irish which with darts make war Th'ranck-ryding Scot on his swist running horse The English Archer of a Lyons force The valiant Norman all his troupes among In bloody conquests tryed in Arms train'd long 133 Remote by nature in thys colder Clyme Another nature he new birth doth bring And by the locks he haleth aged Tyme As newly he created euery thing Shewing the place where heauens eternall King Our deere blood-bought redemption first began Man couering God earth heauen God in man 134 Poore Ilanders which in the Oceans chaine Too long imprisoned from the cheerfull day Your warlike Guide now brings you to the maine VVhich to your glory makes the open way And his victorious hand becomes the kay To let you in to famous victories The honor of your braue posterities 135 Be fauourable faire heauen vnto thine owne And with that Bethelem birth-foretelling star Still goe before this Christian Champion In fiery pillers lead him out from far Let Angels martch with him vnto this war VVith burning-bladed Cherubins still keepe Encompasse him with clowds when he doth sleep 136 VVhen heauen puts on her glittering vaile of stars And with sweet sleep the souldiers sences charms Then are his thoughts working these holy wars Plotting assaults watchful at all alarms Rounding the Campe in rich apparreld Arms His sleep their watch his care their safeties kay Their day his night his night he makes their day 137 Valors true valor honours liuing crowne Inspired thoughts desert aboue desert Greatnes beyond imaginations bound Nature more sweet then is exprest by Art A hart declaring a true princly hart Courage vniting courage vnto glory A subiect fit for an immortall story 138 Why shold not heauen by night when forth he went Conuert the stars to Sunnes to giue him light And at his prayers by day in his close Tent The Tapers vnto starrs to help his sight That in his presence darknes might be bright That euery thing more purer in his kind Might tell the purenes of his purer mind 139 Yet Letters but like little Ilands bee And many words within this world of fame VVhose Regions rise and fall in their degree Large volumes short descriptions of his name Like little Maps painting his Globes great fame VVit lost in wonder seeking to expresse His vertues sum his praises vniuerse 140 In greeuous toyles consisteth all his rest In hauing most of most enioyeth none Most wanting that whereof he is possest A King ordain'd ne're to enioy his throne That least his own which richly is his own In this deuision from himselfe deuided Himselfe a guide for others safety guided 141 His one poore lyfe deuided is to many Dead to his comfort doth to others liue Vnto himselfe he is the least of any All from him taken vnto all doth giue Depriu'd of ioy of care his to depriue Who al controuleth now that all controules Body of bodyes his soule of their soules 142 Religious war more holy pilgrimage Both Saint souldier Captaine Confessor A deuout youth a resolute old age A warlike States-man peacefull Conqueror Graue Consull true autentique Senator Feare-chasing resolution valiant feare Hart bearing nought yet patient all to beare 143 Skill valour guides and valour armeth skill Courage emboldneth
for her own sinne Euen by that towne this zealous Lord did weepe To see her now defil'd with others sinne He wept he weepes for sinne and he for sinne He first shed teares he lastly sheddeth teares Those sacred drops the others drops endeares 167 What prince was found within the Christian hoast That carried marke of honor in his shield That with braue Roberts Lyons once durst boast Raging with furie in the bloody field VVhose mighty pawes a piller seem'd to weild Which froÌ„ their nostrhils breath'd a seeming flame VVhen he in pride amongst the Pagans came 168 His life with blood how dearely did he prize And neuer did he brandish his bright sword But many Pagan soules did sacrifize And all the ground with liuelesse truncks he stor'd Such was his loue vnto his dearest Lord That were true loue more purer then is loue Here in this loue his purenes he might proue 169 Who from his furie latelie fled away VVhen in the field far off they him espied Pursu'd in his faire presence make a stay As of his hand they willing would haue died His beautie so his feircenes mollified As taking death by valiant Roberts name Should to their liues giue euerlasting fame 170 The cruell Panyms thirsting after blood VVith his sweet beauty doe their hates a slake Yet when by him in danger they haue stood And that his valour did their rage awake And with their swords reuenge wold deeply take The edges turne as seeming to relent To pitty him to whom the blowes were sent 171 At feirce assaults where thousand deaths might fall His cheerfull smiles made death he could not kill Imperiously his sword commaunds the wall As stones should be obedient to his will The yeelding blood his blood did neuer spill His fury quencht with teares as with a flood And yet like fire consuming all that stood 172 When in the morne his Courser he bestrid The trumpets sound vnto his thoughts gaue fire But from the field he euer dropping rid As he were vanquisht onely in retire The neerer rest farther from his desire In bootie still his Souldiers share the crowns They rich in gold he onely rich in wounds 173 At this returne now in this sad retreate From heathens slaughter from the Christians fled This is not he which in that raging heate On mighty heapes laid Pagan bodies dead Whose plumed helme empaled in his head Mild as some Nimphlike â—â—â—gin now he seem'd VVhich some in fight a fearefull spirit deem'd 174 No tryumphs doe his victories adorne But in his death who on the Crosse had died No lawrell nor victorious wreath is worne But that red Crosse to tell him crucified This death his life this pouertie his pride His feast is fast his pleasure pennaunce is His wishes prayers his hope is all his blisse 175 Great Caluary whose hollow vaulted womb In his deere Sauiours death afunder riuen That rock-rent Caue that man-god burying tomb VVhich was vnto his blessed body giuen VVhose yeelding Ghost did shake the power of heauen Here as a Hermit could he euer liue Such wondrous thoughts vnto his soule they giue 176 Thus a poore Pilgrim he returnes againe His sumptuous roabes be turn'd to Palmers gray Leauing his Lords to lead his warlick traine Whilst he alone comes sadly on the way Dealing abroad his deare bloods purchas'd pray A hermits staffe his caresull hand doth hold VVhose charged Launce the beathen foe controld 177 Most louing zeale borne of more zealous loue Cares holy care faiths might ioyes food hopes kay The groundwork worlds bewitching cannot moue Of true desires the neuer failing stay The cheerfull light of heauens ne're-ending day Vertue which in thy selfe most vertuous art The fairest gyft of the most fairest part 178 But now to end this long continued strife Henceforth thy malice takes no further place Thy hate began and ended with his life His spirit by thee can suffer no disgrace Now in mine armes his vertues I imbrace His body thine his crosses witnes be His mind is mine and from thy power is free 179 Thou gau'st vp rule when he gaue vp his breath And at his end then did I first begin Thy hate was buried in his timelesse death Thou going out first did I enter in Thou loosing him thy losse then did I win And when the Fates did vp their right resigne Thy right his wrong thy hate his hap was mine 180 To the vnworthie world then get thee back Stuft with deceits and fawning flatteries There by thy power bring all things vnto wrack And fill the times with fearefull Tragedies And since thy ioy consists in miseries Heare his complaint who wanting eyes to see May giue thee sight which art as blind as hee 181 AT her great words whilst they in silence stand Poore haplesse Robert now remembring him Holding one bloody eye in his pale hand VVith countenance all dead and gastly grim As in a feauer shaking euery lim Euen with a pitteous lamentable grone Vailing his head thus breakes into his mone 182 Poore teare dim'd taper which hast lost thy brother And thus art lest to twinkle here alone Ah might'st thou not haue perrisht with the other And both together to your set haue gone You both were one one wanting thou not one Poore twins which like true friends one watch did keepe Why seuer'd thus y t so you shold not sleepe 183 And thou pore eye oh why sholdst thou haue light The others black eclipse thus soone to see And yet thy fellow be depriu'd of sight For thy sad teares the while to pitty thee Equall your griefes your haps vnequall be Take thou his darknes and thy sorrow hide Or he thy light his griefe so well espied 184 Let that small drop out of thy iuicie ball Canded like gum vpon the moist'ned thrid There still be fixed that it neuer fall But as a signe hang on thine eyes staind lid A witnes there what inward griefe is hid Like burning glasses sired by the Sonne Light all mens eyes to see what there is done 185 Now like to conduits draw my body drie By which is made the entrance to my blood Streame-gushing sluces plac'd in eyther eye VVhich shalbe fed by this continuall flood Whirlpooles of tears where pleasures citty stood Deuouring gulfes within a vastie land Or like the dead Sea euer hatefull stand 186 Where stood the watch-towers of my cheerful face Like Vestall Lamps lighted with holy flame Is now a dungeon and a lothed place The dark some prison of my hatefull shame That they themselues doe most abhor the same Through whose foule grates griefe full of miserie Still begging vengeance ceaseth not to crie 187 VVith dire-full seales death hath shut vp the dores VVhere he hath taken vp his dreadfull Inne In bloody letters shewing those fell sores That now doe raigne wherioy mirth haue beene This mortal plague the iust scourge of their sinne From whose contagion comfort quite is fled And they themselues in their selues buried 188 Poore
had commission to commaund his crowne In all his course conducted by this star This with a smile could cleere each clowdy frown This conquered him which conquered al in war This calm'd his thoughts in many a bloody iar This taught his eyes their due attendance still This held the raines which rul'd his princly wil. 27 Controuling Loue proud Fortunes busie Factor The gaule of wit sad Melancholies schoole Hart-killing corsiue golden times detractor Life-fretting Canker mischiefes poysoned toole The Ideots Idoll but the wisemans foole A foe to friendship enemie to truth The wrong misleader of our pleasing youth 28 MY vertuous Father famous then in Court Who liu'd in pompe Lorded with the best Whose mind was trobled with this strange report As one enshrining honor in his brest And as a man who euer lou'd mee best Foresaw the danger by such secret spyes VVho still attended on the Princes eyes 29 And he who in the Kings own bosome slept Experience taught his deepest thoughts to sound Yet in his brest the same he secret kept Nor would disclose the thing which he had found VVho being hurt must needs conceale the wound For why he knew it was a dangerous thing In rule or loue but once to crosse a King 30 And finding lust had kindled all this fire And his affection in extreams consisted He greatly fear'd his youthfull vaine desire Might grow impatient being once resisted Yet in his humor sith he still persisted VVith me his child thought fittest to perswade Ere further he into the deepe durst wade 31 SWeet gyrle quoth he the glory of my life The blessed and sole obiect of mine eyes For whom the Heauens with Nature fell at strife On whom the hope of all my fortune lies Whose youth my age with comfort still supplies Whose very sight my drouping hart doth raise And doth prolong thy aged fathers dayes 32 Thou seest a world vpon thy youth awaite That Paradice where all delights do growe Thy peerlesse Beautie made so faire a baite The Bursle where Nature sets her ware to show Where blushing Roses sleep in beds of snow The heauēs haue fring'd thy fore-head with their gold That glasse wher heauē her-selfe may wel behold 33 All gaze at Comets choysest things be best The rarest pearles are euer dearest prized Seldom wants guests where Beautie bids the feast Mens eyes with wonders neuer are suffised At fairest signes best welcome is surmised The shrine of Loue doth seldom offrings want Nor with such counsell Clyents neuer scant 34 Honor is grounded on the tickle Ice The purest Lawne most apt for euery spot The path to hell doth seeme a paradice Vices be noted vertues oft forgot Thy fame once foild incurable the blot Thy name defac'd if toucht with any staine And once supplanted neuer growes againe 35 The Lechors tongue is neuer voyd of guile Nor Crocodile wants teares to win his pray The subtil'st Temptor hath the sweetest stile VVith rarest musick Syrens soon'st betray Affection will like fire himselfe bewray Time offers still each hower to do amisse And greatest dangers promise greatest blisse 36 Deceit still with a thousand sleights is fraught Art hath a world of secrets in her power Who hopes a Conquest leaues no means vnsought Soft golden drops once peirc'd the brazen tower Care and Suspition is faire Beauties dower Guile like a Traytor euer goes disguis'd Lust oft is fild but neuer is suffic'd 37 This wanton Prince whose soule doth swim in vice VVhose lawlesse youth time neuer hath restrained He leaues no meanes vnprou'd which may entice The rytes of wedlock wantonly profained His hands with blood of innocents distained This Lyon would thy chastity deuoure VVhich kept by Vertue lyes not in his power 38 Laciuious will the sences doth abuse Birth is no shaddow vnto tyranny No scepter serues dishonor to excuse Nor kinglie vaile can couer villanie Fame is not subiect to authoritie No plaister heales a deadly poysoned sore No secret hid where slaunder keepes the dore 39 No subtile plea reuokes dishonors error No law can quite where Fame is once endited No armour proofe against the conscience terror Gainst open shame no Text can well be cyted The blow once giuen cannot be euited If once the fire be to the powder got Tis then too late to seeke to flie the shot 40 His youthfull loue is like a sudden fire VVhose heate extreame of force decay it must The cause proceeding from his lewd desire Is quickly out and sooner turn'd to dust Yet frets the life as iron frets with rust Sinne in a chaine leads on her sister Shame And both in Giues fast fettered to Defame 41 The stately Eagle on his pitch doth stand And from the maine the fearfull foule doth smite Yet scornes to touch it lying on the land VVhen he hath felt the sweet of his delite But leaues the same a pray to euery Kite With much we surfet plenty makes vs poore The wretched Indian spurns the golden Ore 42 Kings vse their Loues as garments they haue worne VVeake stomacks loath if once but fully fed The Saint once stolne who doth the shrine adorne Or what is Nectar if it once be shed What Princes wealth can prize thy Maiden-head Which should be held as precious as thy breath VVhich once dissolu'd of force ensueth death 43 Loe here he makes a period with his teares Which from his eyes now make a sudden breach By which the weight of all his speech appeares In words so graue as seemed still to preach This Idioma with such power doth teach VVhose tuned cadence doth such rules impart As deepely fixt each sentence in my hart 44 O sacred counsell true hart suppling balme Soule-curing plaster time preseruing blisse VVater of life in euery suddaine qualme The heauens rich store-house where all treasure is True guide by whom foule Errors den we misse Night-burning Beacon watch against mishaps Fore-sight auoyding many after claps 45 The King deluded in his loue the while His soule tormented in this quenchlesse fire VVith flattering hope his sences doth beguile Quickning the coales vnto his fond desire Affection growne too head-strong to retire Controles his silence hating to be mute And still doth vrge him to commence his sute 46 Thus carried on by his vnbridled thought He leaues no baite vnprou'd that might allure Deceit a schoole of common fleights hath taught Desire hath philters which desires procure Lust puts most vnlawfull things in vre Nor yet in limmets euer could be bounded Till he himselfe himselfe haue quite consounded 47 But still perceiuing all deuises faile His traines in Court yet neuer tooke effect Now with his tongue determin'd to assaile And to this end doth all his thoughts direct Too much abused by his vaine suspect Too further daies no longer would be posted But finding time me brauely thus accosted 48 GOddesse quoth he when Nature thee engrayned With colours fetcht frō heauens eternall spring Little thought she herselfe she could haue stayned Or grae'd
restraine Affections subiect to his mind should be Then absolute is it absolute he His mind commaunding kingly by abstaining As his commaund is absolute in raigning 132 His thoughts be pure as Christall without spot He is wisdom honour valure chastitie VVhat excellence is there that he is not Or what may be by him which cannot be He's Vertues true superlatiue degree From his affections neuer can proceed One little thought of this so vile a deed 133 Kings be the Gods Vizgerents here on earth The Gods haue power Kings frō that power haue might Kings should excell in vertue as in birth Gods punish wrongs kings shold maintain right They be the Suunes from which we borrow light And they as Kings should still in iustice striue With Gods from whō their beings they deriue 134 Empire euen like the Sunne doth draw all eyes And his Eclipse the soonest doth appeare Small vapours seeme great lights drawn to the skies Things ouer-head though far shew euer neare Small staines be great in things shold be most cleare Nothing so soone discernd by humaine sight As is the cloud which hides the cheerfull light 135 Inrag'd with this in greefes extremitie Minion quoth he tis now no time to prate Dispatch or els Ile drench you presently Of this nor that I stand not to debate Expects thou loue where thou reward'st with hate I passe not I how ere thou like the motion Haue done at once and quickly take the Potion 136 THis sudden terror makes me pause for breath Till sighing out at length this sad reply If it be so welcom to me my death This is the vtmost of extremitie And yet when all is done I can but die His will be done sith he will haue it so And welcome Death the end of all my woe 137 My loue is his whilst loue to him is due Allegiance binds that loue that loue tyes truth Vntrue to him if to my selfe vntrue Suspect is still a Page that waites on Youth Ensuing that which of it selfe ensu'th Plasters cure wounds nothing a wounded name Kings pardon death but cannot pardon shame 138 And thou my Deaths-man slaue vnto his lust Th' executioner of his lawlesse will In whom the Tyrant doth repose such trust Detract no time his murthering mind fulfill Doe what thou dar'st the worst thou canst but kill And tell the Tyrant this when I am dead I loath'd his beastly and adulterous bed 139 Nor let the King thy Maister euer thinke A vertuous Maid so cowardly and base As to be frighted with a poysoned drinke And liue an abiect in the worlds disgrace All eyes with shame to gaze me in the face That ages which heer-after shall succeede Shall hold me hatefull for so vile a deede 140 Strange be effects strange things in loue to proue He would take from me what he cannot take He loues my hate and doth but hate my loue And would vnmake what he doth striue to make And thus must loue be punisht for loues sake And would compell by force so to be held VVhich is nor was nor can be if compeld 141 To make that his which then cannot be his VVhich if once had is perisht being had Nor is not then the same that now it is Striuing to get what he to loose is glad VVhen pleasure with extreame excesse is mad Poore in the riches which haue spoiled me I rich in that in which I poore should be 142 Is this the greatest gyft he could bestowe Is this the Iewell wher-with he doth present me I am his friend what gives he to his foe If this in token of his loue be sent me Remedilesse I am it must content me Yet afterward a prouerb this shall proue The gyft King Iohn bestow'd vpon his Loue. 143 Then of this conquest let thy Soueraigne boast And make report with shame what he hath done A thing more easie then subdue an Hoast Or conquer Kingdoms as his Father wonne O haplesse Sire of this vnhappy Sonne And he more shame shall carrie to his graue Then Fortune honors to his Father gaue 144 Thus spoke my mind as women vse to doe Hoping thereby som-what to ease my hart But words I found did but increase my woe Augment his rage not mittigate my smart And now comes in the reckoning ere we part And now my valure must be try'd or neuer Or famous now or infamous for euer 145 Taking the poyson from his deadly hand Vnto the King caroust my latest draught Goe wretch quoth I now let him vnderstand He hath obtayn'd what he so long hath sought Though with my blood my fame I deerly bought And though my youth he basely haue betrayd Yet witnes Heauen I liu'd and dyed a Mayd 146 This cup the pen this poyson is the inke And in this vntoucht table of my brest To him I'le freely write what I doe thinke Where he shall find it feelingly exprest And what I doe omit tell thou the rest Yet rather then in any thing we'le varie VVe iointly will become one Secretarie 147 Then why repine I sith he thinks it meete He is my Soueraigne and my life is his Death is not bitter spyc'd with such a sweet Which leads the way to euerlasting blis He's all my ioy he all my glory is He is the tuch by whom my gold is tryed Onely by him my death is glorified 148 For could my life haue giuen life to me My youths faire flower yet blooming had not died Then how should this but meritorious be When by my death my life is sanctified Could euer thing more fitly be applied In this is loue in this his care I find My Lord is iust my Lord is only kind 149 Then let these teares th'Elixars of my loue Be to his soule a pure preseruatiue And let my prayers be of such force to moue That by my death my Soueraigne may suruiue And from his raigne let Fame herselfe deriue His glory like the Sunnes translucent rayes And as the heauen eternall be his dayes 150 And thou my carefull kind Phisition For phisick now thy patients patient be Appeale to heauen with true contrition And in thy conscience glasse thy foule sinne see To thee I'le be as thou hast beene to mee This potion take to rid thee from dispaire Euen as thy potion shall rid me of care 151 Faith finds free passage to Gods mercy seat Repentance carries heauens eternall kayes The greater sinnes bewept mercy more great A harty will makes straight th' offenders wayes Heauen rings for ioy when once a sinner prayes Of these sweet simples is my drink compounded VVhich shall cure both our soules both deeplie wounded 152 This mortall poyson now begins to rage And spreads his vigor thorough all my vaines There is no phisick can my greefe aswage Such is the torment which my hart destraines Boyling my intrales in most hellish paines And Nature weakned of her wonted force Must yeeld to death which now hath no remorce 153 And those pure thoughts which
once I choisly fed Now when pale death my sences doth surprize I offer her vpon my dying bed This precious sweet perfumed sacrifice Hallowed in my almighty Makers eyes Which from this Alter lends me heauenly light Guiding my soule amid this darksome night 154 My glorious life my spotlesse Chastitie Now at this hower be all the ioyes I haue These be the wings by which my fame shall flye In memorie these shall my Name engraue These from obliuion shall mine honour saue VVith Laurell these my browes shall coronize And make me liue to all posterities 155 Our fond preferments are but childrens toyes And as a shaddow all our pleasures passe As yeeres increase so wayning are our ioyes And beautie crazed like a broken glasse A prettie tale of that which neuer was All things decay yet Vertue shall not dye This onely giues vs immortalitie 156 My soule thus from her pryson set at large And gently freed from this poluted roome This prize vnladen from this lothsome Barge Such is the Heauens ineuitable doome My body layd at Dunmow in my Toombe Thus Baynards-Castle boasts my blessed birth And Dunmow kindly wraps me in her earth 157 NOW scarcely was my breathlesse body cold But euery where my Tragedy was spred And Fame abroad in euery Coast had told My resolution being lately dead The glorious wonder of all women-head And to my Father flyes with this report VVho liu'd an Exile in the French-Kings Court 158 His griefe too great to be bewail'd with teares VVords insufficient to expresse his woe His soule assaulted with a thousand feares As many sundry passions come and goe His thoughts vncertaine wandring too and froe At length this fearefull extasie ore-past Grones from his soule this passion at the last 159 O Heauens quoth he why was I borne accurst This onely comfort to mine age was left But to despite me you haue done your worst And me of all my worldly ioyes bereft I quite vndone by your deceitfull theft This was the Iewell I esteemed most And loosing this now all my treasurs lost 160 Yee powers Diuine if you be cleane and chast In whom alone consists eternitie VVhy suffer you your owne to be disgras't Subiect to death and black impuritie If in your shield be no securitie If so for Vertue these rewards be due VVho shall adore or who shall honour you 161 VVhat ment you first to giue her vitall breath Or make the world proud by her blessed birth Predestinating this vntimelie death And of her presence to depriue the earth O fruitlesse age now staru'd with Vertues dearth Or if you long'd to haue her companie O why by poyson would you let her die 162 O Soile with drops of mercy once bedew'd When iust men were instauled in thy throne But now with blood of Innocents imbrew'd Stayning the glory of fayre Albion O lustfull Monster ô accursed Iohn O heauens to whom should men for iustice cry When Kings themselues thus raigne by tyrannie 163 O gyue me wings Reuenge I will ascend And fetch her soule againe out of their power From them proceeded this vntimely end VVho tooke her hence before her dying hower And rays'd that clowd which rayn'd this bloodie shower And frō the graue Ile dig her body vp VVhich had her bane by that vile poysoned cup 164 O pardon Heauens these sacriligious words This irreligious open blasphemie My wretched soule no better now affords Such is the passion of mine agonie My desperate case in this extremitie You harbour those which euer like you best With blessed Angels let her spirit rest 165 No no Ile practise by some secret Art How to infect his pure life-breathing ayre Or else Ile sheath my poyniard in his hart Or with strong poyson Ile annoynt his Chayre Or by inchauntment will his dayes impayre O no reuenge to God alone belongs And it is he which must reuenge my wrongs 166 Griefe would'st thou wound a world of humaine harts And yet not furnish'd with artillerie Of my care-dryed bones then make thee darts And point them with my sorrow poysoned eye Which hitting right shall make euen death to dye That thou thine Ebon bowe shalt neuer drawe But black despaire himselfe shall stand in awe 167 O heauens perforce we must attend your time Our succours must awaite vpon you still In your iust waights you ballance euery crime For vs you know what's good and what is ill VVho vnderstands your deepe and secret skill In you alone our destenies consist Then who is he which can your power resist 168 O could my sighes againe but giue thee breath Or were my tears such balme as could restore thee Or could my life redeeme thee from this death Or were my prayers but inuocations worthy Sighs tears life prayers were all to little for thee But since the heauen thus of my child disposeth Ah me thy Tombe now all my ioyes incloseth 169 But Death is proud and scorneth to be Death Her smiling beautie did his heate aswage And is so much enrich'd with her sweet breath As he doth scorne mine o're-worne wrinkled age Though with contempt I moue him still to rage But as thou lou'st her death for her sweet sake As thou took'st her from me me to her take 170 O what a wonder shall thy valure bring VVhat admiration to posteritie VVhat rare examples from thy vertues spring O what a glorie to thy Progenie To be engrau'd in lasting memorie VVhen as applauding Fame in euery Coast Shall thus in honor of Fitzwaters boast 171 England when peace vpon thy shores shall flourish And that pure Maiden sit vpon thy Throne VVhich in her bosome shall the Muses nourish Whose glorious fame shall through the world be blowne O blessed Ile thrice happy Albion Then let thy Poets in their stately rimes Sing forth her praises to succeeding times 182 Euen like the roote of some large branched Oake VVhose body by some storme is ouer-borne Euen with such horror be mine entrailes broke As when that roote out of the ground is torne And with such wofull horror let them mourne As with y e shreeks each liuing thing may wound Euen as the Mandrake torne out of the ground 183 BY this the Kings vile bloody rage is past And gentle time his choller dooth digest The fire consumes his substance at the last The griefe asswag'd which did his spirit molest That fiend cast out wherewith he was possest And now he feeles thys horror in his soule Whē lothsome shame his actions doth cōtroule 174 Black hell-bred-humor of reuenging sin By whose inticements murder we commit The end vnthought of rashlie we begin Letting our passion ouer-rule our wit Missing the marke which most we ayme to hit Clogging our soules with such a masse of care As casts vs downe oft times to deepe Dispaire 175 Traytor to Vertue Reprobate quoth hee As for a King no more vsurpe the name Staine to all honor and gentilitie Mark'd in the face with th'yron of Defame The Picture of
all infamie and shame Dispis'd of men abhord in euery place Hate to thy selfe the very worlds disgrace 176 VVhen all thy race shall be in tryumph set Their royall conquests and atchiuements done Henrie thy Father braue Plantaginet Thy conquering Brother Lyon-hart his sonne The crownes spoiles these famous Champions won This still shall be in thy dishonour said Loe this was Iohn the murderer of a Maid 177 Looke I to heauen her purenes tells my sin Looke I on man hee frownes with hatefull sight Looke I on earth I see my fault therein The light to view my shame doth giue me light The night puts me in mind of my fames night I read my shame in all things as a booke And yet most grieu'd when on my selfe I looke 178 This act enrold in booke of black Defame Where men of death tragick murders reed Recorded in the Register of shame In lines whose letters freshly euer bleed VVhere all the world shall wonder my misdeed And quote the place thus euer passing by Note heere King Iohns vile damned tyranny 179 Her blood exhal'd from earth vnto the sky A fearfull Meteor still hangs ore my head Stayning the heauens with her Vermilion dye Changing the Sunnes bright rayes to gorie red Prognosticating death and fearfull dread Her soule with howling reuengfull steuen Shreeking before the christall gates of Heauen 180 VVhose sacred Counsell now in iudgment set And shee before them stands to plead her case Her drearie words in bloodie tears are wet The euidence appears before my face And I condemn'd a catife wanting grace Iustice cryes out vpon this sinfull deed And to my death the fatall starrs proceed 181 Earth swallow me and hide me in thy wombe O let my shame in thy deepe Center dwell Wrap vp this murder in my wretched tombe Let tender mercy stop the gates of hell And with sweet drops this furious heat expell O let repentance iust reuenge appease And let my soule in torment find some ease 182 O no her tears are now become a flood And as they rise increasing mine offence And now the shedding of her guiltlesse blood Euen like a Cankar gnawes my conscience O ther's my griefe my paine proceeds frō thence Yet neuer time wears out this filthy staine And I dishonor'd euer shall remaine 183 Fame in her death shame in me tooke her birth That shame in dying till her fame be dead My sinne on earth whilst shee is in the earth And by her fall my fault will still be fed My black more black my red be made more red Her no my I her was my wicked is Her good my ill my basenes be her blisse 184 Then doe I vow a solemne pylgrimage Before my wretched miserable end This doone betake me to some Hermitage VVhere I the remnant of my daies will spend VVhere almes and prayer I euer will attend And on the Tombe at last where thou dost lie VVhen all is done Ile lay mee downe and die 185 And for his pennance lastly he deuis'd Monthly to Dunmow would he take his way And in a simple Palmers weede disguis'd VVith deep deuotion kneele him downe to pray Kissing the place whereas my body lay Washing my Tombe with his repentant tears And being wet yet dry'd it with his hairs FINIS THE ARGVMENT OF PEIRS GAVESTON PEIRS Gaueston borne in Gascoyne at a place of that name his Father a valiant Gentleman and a souldiour seruing vnder Edward Longshancks in his warres in Fraunce Scotland and Wales This Peirs Gaueston then beeing a child of singuler beautie and no lesse towardnesse was preferd to the place of a Page to Edward of Carnaruan the young Prince of Wales with whom hee became so highlie in fauour as neuer any thing could remooue his inviolable loue Gaueston as he grew in yeers became most licentious by his inticments drew this toward young Prince following this his youthfull Minion into hate with the Noblemen and disgrace with the King his Father who banished this lasciuious corrupter of his Sonne But after the death of this good King Edward of Carnaruan comming to the Crowne calls him home creating him Earle of Cornwall making him Lord Chamberlaine Treasurer Secretarie Lord Deputie of Ireland and Lord Protector of the Land in his absence in Fraunce giuing him the Ile of MAN with all Queene Elinors dowrie Hee thus established by the King becommeth a hater of the Noble men drowned in pride and ambition setting mortall debate betwixt the Barrons and the King who subborned him in all his actions as a man bewithced by this wicked and vile man Hee was twice banished the Realme by meanes of the Barrons who deadly hated him and yet still the King founde meanes to restore him At length the Barrons seeing no remedy rise in Armes taking Gaueston at Scarborough in the North thether fled as to a refuge frō their furie They bring him to Warwicke where by Guy Beuchamp the great Earle of Warwicke he was beheaded at Blacklow bill THE LEGENDE OF Piers Gaueston Entituled To the vvorthie and Honourable Gentleman Ma. Henrie Cauendish Esquire 1 FRom gloomy shaddow of eternall night Where cole-black darknes keeps his lothsom cel And frō those ghosts whose eyes abhor y e light From thence I come a wosull tale to tell Prepare the Stage I meane to act my part Sighing the Scenes from my tormented hart 2 From Stygian Lake to gracelesse soules assign'd And from the flood of burning Acheron VVhere sinfull spirits are by fire refin'd The fearfull ghost of wofull Gaueston With black-fac'd Furies frō the graues attended Vntill the tenor of my tale be ended 3 Wing-footed Fame nowe summons me frō death In Fortunes triumph to aduaunce my glory The blessed Heauens againe doe lend me breath VVhilst I report this dolefull Tragick storie That soule body which death once did sunder Now meete together to report a wonder 4 O purple-buskind Pallas most diuine Let thy bright Fauchion lend me Cypresse bowes Be thou assisting to this Poet of mine And with thy tragick garland girt his browes Pitying my case when none would hear me weep To tell my cares hath layd his owne to sleepe 5 You mournfull Maidens of the sacred nine You Destenies which haunt the shades beneath To you fayre Muses I my plaints resigne To you black spirits I my woes bequeath VVith sable penns of direfull Ebonie To pen the processe of my tragedie 6 Drawe on the lines which shall report my life VVith weeping words distilling from thy pen Where woes abound and ioyes are passing rife A verie meteor in the eyes of men Wherein the world a wonder-world may see Of heauen-bred ioy and hell-nurst miserie 7 Declare my ebb my often swelling tyde Now tell my calmes and then report my showres My Winters storms and then my Sommers pride False Fortunes smiles then her dissembling lowres The height wherto my glory did ascend Then point the period where my ioyes did end 8 When famous Edward wore the
English crowne Victorious Longshanks flower of chiualrie First of his name that raign'd in Albion Through worlds renown'd to all posteritie My youth began and then began my blis Euen in his daies those blessed daies of his 9 O daies no daies but little worlds of mirth O yeeres no yeeres time slyding with a trice O world no world a very heauen on earth O earth no earth a verie Paradice A King a man nay more then this was hee If earthly man more then a man might be 10 Such a one hee was as Englands Beta is Such as shee is euen such a one was hee Betwixt her rarest excellence and his VVas neuer yet so neere a simpathy To tell your worth and to giue him his due I say my Soueraigne hee was like to you 11 His Court a schoole where Arts were dailie red And yet a Campe where Armes are exercised Vertue and learning heere were nourished And stratagems by souldiers still deuised Heere skilfull Schoolmen were his Counsailors Schollers his Captains Captains Senators 12 Here sprang the roote of true gentilitie Vertue was clad in gold crown'd with honor Honor intitled to Nobilitie Admired so of all that looked on her Wisdom not wealth possessed wisemens roomes Vnfitting base insinuating Groomes 13 Then were vile worldlings loth'd as filthy toades And good men as rare pearls were richly prized The learned were accounted little Gods The hatefull Atheist as the plague despised Desert then gaynd what vertues merit craues And Artles Pesants scornd as basest slaues 14 Pride was not then which all things ouerwhelms Promotion was not purchased with gold Men hew'd their honor out of steeled helms In those daies fame with blood was bought sold No petti-fogger pol'd the poore for pence These dolts these dogs as traytors banisht hence 15 Then was the Souldier prodigall of blood His deeds eterniz'd by the Poets pen VVho spar'd his life to doe his Countrie good VVhen after death his fame remain'd with men Then learning liu'd with liberalitie And men were crownd with immortalitie 16 Graunt pardon then vnto my wandring ghost Although I seeme lasciuious in my praise And of perfection though I vainlie boast VVhilst here on earth I troad this wearie maze VVhilst yet my soule in body did abide And whilst my flesh was pampred here in pride 17 My valiant Father was in Gascoygne borne A man at Arms and matchlesse with his launce A Souldier vow'd and to King Edward sworne VVith whom he seru'd in all his warrs in Fraunce His goods and lands he pawnd layd to gage To follow him the wonder of that age 18 And thus himselfe hee from his home exil'd Who with his sword sought to aduaunce his fame VVith me his ioy but then a little chyld Vnto the Court of famous England came Whereas the King for seruice he had done Made me a Page vnto the Prince his sonne 19 My tender youth yet scarce crept from the shell Vnto the world brought such a wonderment That all perfection seem'd in mee to dwell And that the heauens me all their graces lent Some sware I was the quintessence of Nature And some an Angel and no earthly creature 20 The heauens had limm'd my face with such a die As made each curious eye on earth amazed Tempring my lookes with loue and maiestie A miracle to all that euer gazed So that it seem'd some power had in my birth Ordained me his Image heere on earth 21 O beautious varnish of the heauens aboue Pure grain-dy'd colour of a perfect birth O fairest tincture Adamant of loue Angell-hewd blush the prospective of mirth O sparkling luster ioying humaine sight Liues ioy harts fire loues nurse y e soules delight 22 As purple-tressed Titan with his beames The sable clowdes of night in sunder cleaueth Enameling the earth with golden streames VVhen he his crimson Canapie vpheaueth Such where my beauties pure translucent rayes Which cheer'd y e Sun cleerd y e drouping daies 23 My lookes perswading Orators of loue My speech diuine infusing harmonie And every word so well could passion moue So were my icstures grac'd with modestie As where my thoughts intended to surprize I easly made a conquest with mine eyes 24 A gracious minde a passing louelie eye A hand that gaue a mouth y e neuer vaunted A chast desire a tongue that would not lye A Lyons hart a courage neuer daunted A sweet conceit in such a cariage placed As with my iesture all my words were graced 25 Such was the work which Nature had begun As promised a Iem of wondrous price This little starre fore-told a glorious Sunne This curious plot an earthly Paradice This Globe of beauty wherein all might see An after world of wonders heere in mee 26 As in th' Autumnall season of the yeere Some death-presaging Comet doth arise Or some prodigious meteor doth appeare Or fearefull Chasma vnto humaine eyes Euen such a wonder was I to behold Where heauen seem'd all her secrets to vnfold 27 If cunnings't pensill-man that euer wrought By skilfull Arte of secret Sumetrie Or the diuine Idea of the thought VVith rare descriptions of high Poesie Should all compose a body and a minde Such one was I the wonder of my kinde 28 VVith this faire bayte I fisht for Edwards loue My daintie youth so pleasd his princlie eye Heere grewe the league which time could not remoue So deeplie grasted in our infancie That frend nor so nor life nor death could sunder So seldom seene and to the world a wonder 29 O heauenlie concord musick of the minde Touching the hart-strings with such harmonie The ground of nature and the law of kinde Which in coniunction doe so well agree VVhose reuolution by effect doth proue That mortall men are made diuine by loue 30 O strong combining chayne of secrecie Sweet ioy of heauen the Angels oratorie The bond of faith the seale of sanctitie The soules true blisse youths solace ages glorie And endles league a bond thats neuer broken A thing diuine a word with wonder spoken 31 With this faire bud of that same blessed Rose Edward surnam'd Carnaruan by his birth VVho in his youth it seem'd that Nature chose To make the like whose like was not on earth Had not his lust and my lasciuious will Made him and me the instruments of ill 32 With this sweet Prince the mirror of my blisse My souls delight my ioy my fortunes pride My youth enioyd such perfect happines Whilst Tutors care his wandring yeeres did guide As his affections on my thoughts attended And with my life his ioyes began and ended 33 Whether it were my beauties excellence Or rare perfections that so pleasd his eye Or some diuine and heauenly influence Or naturall attracting simpathy My pleasing youth became his sences obiect Where all his passions wrought vpō this subiect 34 Thou Arke of heauen where wonders are inroled O depth of nature who can looke on thee O who is he that hath thy doome controuled Or
blind or wink and will not see Or doe you sport at my calamitie 87 O happy climat what so ere thou be Cheerd with those sunnes the fair'st that euer shon Which hast those Starrs which guide my destenie The brightest Lamps in all the Horizon O happy eyes that see what most I lack The pride and beautie of the Zodiack 88 O blessed Fountaine source of all delight O sacred spark that kindlest Vertues fier The perfect obiect of the purest sight The superficies of true loues desire The very tuchstone of all sweet conceite On whom all graces euer-more awaite 89 Thus whilst his youth in all these storms was tost And whilst his ioyes lay speechlesse in a trance His sweet content with such vnkindnes crost And lowring Fortune seem'd to looke a skance Too weake to swim against the streamfull time Fore-told their fall w c now sought most to clime 90 Camelion-like the world thus turnes her hue And like to Proteus puts on sundry shapes One hastes to clime another doth ensue One falls another for promotion gapes Flockmell they swarme like flies about the brim Some drown whilst others w t great danger swim 91 And some on whom the Sunne shone passing faire Yet of their Sommer nothing seeme to vaunt They sawe their fall presaged by the ayre If once this Planet were predominant Thus in their gate they flew with wings of feare And still with care doe purchase honor deare 92 Thus restlesse Time that neuer turnes againe VVhose winged secte are slyding with the Sunne Brings Fortune in to act another Scene By whom the Plot already is begunne The argument of this black tragedie Is vertues fall to raise vp infamie 93 The brute is blowne the King doth now pretend A long-look'd voyage to the Holy-land For which his Subiects mighty sums doe lend And whilst the thing is hotly thus in hand Blind Fortune turnes about her fickle wheele And breaks y e prop which maks y e building reele 94 I feare to speake yet speake I must perforce My words be turn'd to teares euen as I write Mine eyes doe yet behold his dying course And on his Hearse me thinks I still indite My paper is hard sable Ebon wood My pen of Iron and my Inke is blood 95 Loe here the time drew on of Edwards death Loe here the dolefull period of his yeares O now he yeeldeth vp that sacred breath For whom the Heauens do shower down floods of teares For whom the Sun euen mourning hides his face For whom the earth was all too vile and base 96 May I report his dolefull obsequie VVhen as my Ghost doth tremble at his name Faine would I vvrite but as I vvrite I die My ioynts apald vvith feare my hand is lame I leaue it to some sacred Muse to tell Vpon whose life a Poets pen might dwell 97 No sooner was his body vvrapt in lead And that his mournfull Funerals vvere done But that the Crowne vvas set on Edwards head Sing I-o now my Ghost the storme is gone The wind blows right loe yonder breaks my day Caroll my Muse and now sing care away 98 Carnaruan now calls home vvithin a vvhile Whom vvorthy Long-shanks hated to the death Whom Edward swore should dye in his exile He vvas as deere to Edward as his breath This Edward lou'd that Edward loued not Kings wils perform'd dead mens words forgot 99 Now waft me wind vnto the blessed Ile Rock me my ioyes loue sing me with delight Now sleepe my thoughts cease sorrow for a while Now end my care come day farwell my night Sweet sences now act euery one his part Loe here the balme that hath recur'd my hart 100 Loe now my Ioue in his ascendant is In the Aestiuall solstice of his glorie Now all the Stars prognosticate my blis And in the Heauen all eyes may read my storie My Comet now worlds wonder thus appeares Foretelling troubles of ensuing yeares 101 Now am I mounted with Fames golden wings And in the tropick of my fortunes height My flood maintayned with a thousand springs Now on my back supporting Atlas weight All tongues and pens attending on my prayse Surnamed now the wonder of our dayes 102 VVho euer sawe the kindest Romaine dame VVith extreame ioy yeeld vp her latest breath VVhen from the wars her Sonne triumphing came And stately Rome had mourned for his death Her passion here might haue exprest a right VVhen once I came into the Princes sight 103 VVho euer had his Lady in his arms Which hath of loue but felt the miserie Touching the fire that all his sences warms Now clips with ioy her blushing Iuorie Feeling his soule in such delights to melt Ther's none but he can tell the ioyes we felt 104 Like as when Phoebus darting forth his rayes Glydeth along the swelling Ocean streams And whilst one billow with another playes Reflecteth back his bright translucent beams Such was the conflict then betwixt our eyes Sending forth looks as tears doe fall and rise 105 It seem'd the ayre deuisd to please my sight The whistling wind makes musick to my tale All things on earth doe feast me with delight The world to me sets all her wealth to sale VVho now rules all in Court but I alone VVho highly grac'd but onely Gaueston 106 Now like to Mydas all I touch is gold The clowds doe showre downe gold into my lap If I but winck the mightiest are controld Plac'd on the turret of my highest hap My Cofers now euen like to Oceans are To whom all floods by course doe still repare 107 With bountie now he franckly seales his loue And to my hands yeelds vp the Ile of Man By such a gift his kingly mind to proue Thys was the earnest where-with he began Then Wallingford Queene Elnors stately bower With many a towne and many a goodly tower 108 And all those summs his Father had prepard By way of taxes for the Holy-land He gaue me franckly as my due reward In bountie thus it seem'd he pleasd his hand Which made the world to wonder euery howre To see me drowned in this golden showre 109 Determin'd now to hoyse my saile amaine The Earle of Cornwall he created me Of England then the Lord high Chamberlaine Cheese Secretarie to his Maiestie VVhat I deuisd his treasure euer wrought His bountie still so answered to my thought 110 Yet more to spice my ioyes with sweet delight bound by his loue apprentice to my pleasure VVhose eyes still leueld how to please my sight VVhose kindnes euer so exceeded measure Deuisd to quench my thirst with such a drink As from my quill drops Nectar to my inck 111 O sacred Bountie mother of Content Prop of renowne the nourisher of Arts The Crowne of hope the roote of good euent The trump of Fame the ioy of noble harts Grace of the heauens diuinitie in nature Whose excellence doth so adorne the creature 112 Hee giues his Neece is marriage vnto me Of royall blood for beautie
past compare Borne of his Sister was this Bellamie Daughter to Gilbert thrice renowned Clare Cheefe of his house the Earle of Glocester For princly worth that neuer had his Peere 113 Like heauen-dy'd Andromeda the faire In her embrodered Mantle richly dight With starrie traine inthronis'd in the ayre Adorns the Welken with her glittering light Such one shee was who in my bosome rested w t whose sweet loue my youthful yeres wer fested 114 As when faire Ver dight in her flowrie rayle In her new-coloured liuerie decks the earth And glorious Tytan spreads his sun-shine vaile To bring to passe her tender infants birth Such was her beautie which I then possest With whose imbracings all my youth was blest 115 Whose purest thoughts and spotles chast desire To my affections still so pleasing were Neuer yet toucht with sparke of Venus fire As but her breast I thought no heauen but there To none more like then faire Idea she The perfect Image of pure chastitie 116 O chastitie thou gyft of blessed souls Comfort in death a crowne vnto the life VVhich all the passions of the minde controuls Adorns the mayde and beautifies the wife That grace the w c nor death nor time attaints Of earthly creaturs making heauenly Saints 117 O Vertue which no Muse can poetize Faire Queene of England which w t thee doth rest VVhich thy pure thoughts doe onely exercize And is impressed in thy royall brest VVhich in thy life disciphred is alone VVhose name shall want a fit Epitheron 118 The Heauens now seeme to frolick at my feast The Starrs as hand-mayds seruing my desiers Now loue full fed with beautie takes his rest To whom content for safetie thus retiers The ground was good my footing passing sure My dayes delightsome and my life secure 119 Loe thus ambition creeps into my breast Pleasing my thoughts with this emperious humor And with this deuill beeing once possest Mine ears are fild with such a buzzing rumor As onely pride my glorie doth await My sences sooth'd with euery selfe-conceit 120 Selfe-loue Prides thirst vnsatis-fied desire A flood that neuer yet had any bounds Times pestilence thou state-consuming fire A mischiefe which all Common weals confounds O plague of plagues how many kingdōs rue thee Happy those Empires which yet neuer knew thee 121 And now reuenge which had been smothred long Like piercing lightning flasheth from mine eyes This word could sound so sweetly on my tonge And with my thoughts such stratagems deuise Tickling mine eares with many a pleasant storie VVhich promise wonders a world of glorie 122 For now began the bloody-rayning broyles Betweene the Barrons of the Land and me Labouring the state with Ixion-endles toyles Twixt my ambition and their tyrannie Such was the storme this deliuge first begun With which this Ile was after ouer-run 123 O cruell discord foode of deadly hate O mortall corsiue to a common weale Death-lingring consumption to a state A poysned sore that neuer salue could heale O foule contagion deadly killing feuer Infecting oft but to be cured neuer 124 By courage now imboldned in my sinne Finding my King so surely linckt to mee By circumstance I finely bring him in To be an actor in this Tragedie Perswading him the Barrons sought his blood And on what tearms these earth-bred giants stood 125 And so aduauncing to my Princes grace The baser sort of factious qualitie As beeing raised vnto such a place Might counterpoize the proude Nobilitie And as my Agents on my part might stand Still to support what ere I tooke in hand 126 Suborning Iesters still to make me mirth Vile Sycophants at euery word to sooth me Time-fawning Spaniels Mermayds on the earth Trencher-fed fooles with flatteries to smooth me Base Parasits these elbow-rubbing mates A plague to all lasciuious wanton states 127 O filthy Monkies vile and beastly kinde Foule pratling Parrats byrds of Harpie broode A corasiue to euery noble minde Vipers that suck your mothers decrest blood Mishapen Monster worst of any creature A foe to Art an enemie to nature 128 His presence grac'd what ere I went about Best pleasd with that which most contented me VVhat ere I did his powre still bare mee out And where I was there euer-more was hee By birth my Soueraigne but by loue my thrall King Edwards Idoll all men did mee call 129 Oft would hee set his crowne vpon my head And in his chayre sit dovvne vpon my knee And when his eyes with loue were fully fed A thousand times hee sweetly kissed mee When did I laugh and he not seene to smile If I but frownd he silent all the while 130 But Fortune now vnto my ouer-throw Intic'd me on with her alluring call And still deuising how to worke my woe One baite tane vp shee let another fall Thus Syren-like she brings me to the bay VVhere long before shee plotted my decay 131 For now the King to Fraunce doth him prepare For marriage with the Princesse Isabell Daughter to Phillip then surnam'd the faire And shee like him in beautie did excell Of tylts and tryumphs euery man reports And the vniting of these famous Courts 132 To raise me now to honors highest stayre Hee makes mee Lord-protector of the Land And placing me in his imperiall chayre Yeelds vp his Scepter wholy to my hand Deuising still how hee to passe might bring That if hee died I might succeed as King 133 His treasure now stood absolute to mee I dranck my pleasurs in a golden cup I spent a world I had aboundantlie As though the earth had throwne her bowels vp My reckonings cast my summes were soone enroled I was by no man once to controled 134 Now being got as high as I could clime And Fortune made my foot-cloth as I gest I paint mee braue with Tagus golden slime Because I would enioy what I possest Alluding still that he is mad and worse Which playes the nyggard w t a Princes purse 135 And now the King returning with his traine I summond all the chiefe Nobilitie And in my pompe went soorth to entertaine The Peers of Fraunce in all thys ioylitie Where in my carriage were such honors placed As with my presence all the showes were graced 136 Guarded with troupes of gallants as I went The people crouching still with cap and knee My port and personage so magnificent That as a God the Commons honored mee And in my pride loe thus I could deuise To seeme a wonder vnto all mens eyes 137 In richest Purple rode I all alone VVith Diamonds imbrodered and bedight VVhich like the starrs in Gallaxia shone VVhose luster still reflecting with the light Presented heauen to all that euer gazed Of force to make a world of eyes amazed 138 Vpon a stately Iennet soorth I rode Caparizond with Pearle-enchased plumes Trotting as though the Measures he had trode Breathing Arabian Ciuit-sweet perfumes Whose rarenes seem'd to cast men in a traunce Praised of England but admir'd of Fraunce 139 Like trident-maced
more therby he may increase his gayne Loe thus proud Fortune feeds me for the knife For which it seemes she had prepard my life 217 For thus ere long betweene the King and me Euen as before our Reuels thus begin And now the Barrons tast their miserie Opening their eyes which makes them see their sin The plague once past they neuer felt the sores Till now againe it haps within their dores 218 Times old transgression light-beleeuing trust Too late repentance follies fonds forecast Our minds foule surfeit and our humors lust Our goods consumption our good fortunes wast Euen by my spirit here let your griefes be showne Who haue been gracelesse to foresee mine owne 219 By patient sufferance could we midly beare VVith Fortune yet we equally might share And ouer-comming that which all doe feare By present cure preuent ensuing care Vaine sounds of pleasure we delight to heare But counsell iarre as discords in our care 220 The Horse hath raines to rule him in his course The Ship an Ankor to with-stand the flood The wrestler sleight which counterchecketh force The battering Engine is by strength with-stood The Hound a lease wherby to hold him in But we no meanes once to controle our sin 221 Like as a man made drunk with foule excesse Drowning his soule in this vile lothlie vice Once being sober sees his beastlinesse Buying repentance with so deere a price Thus they perceiue the bondage they possest In condiscending to the Kings request 222 The damned Furies here vnbong the source From whence the Lethe of my vertues burst The black-borne Fates here labour in that course By which my life and fortune came accurst My death in that star-guiders doome conceled Now in the browes of heauen may be reueled 223 My youth spurs on my fraile vntam'd desire Yielding the raines to my lasciuious will Vpon the Ice I take my full careyre The place too slippery and my mannage ill Thus like a Colt in danger to be cast Yet still runne on the deuill driues so fast 124 Now wandring in a Labyrinth of error Lost in my pride no hope of my returne Of sin and shame my life a perfect mirror No sparke of vertue once is seene to burne Nothing there was could be discernd in me But beastly lust and sensualitie 225 Black Hecate chaunts on her night-spell charmes VVhich cast me first into this deadly sleep VVhilst fier-eyd Ate clips me in his armes And hales me downe to the infernall deep Foule sleep-god Morpheus curtains vp the light And shuts my fame in euerlasting night 226 The fixed starres in their repugnacie Had full concluded of these endlesse iarres And Nature by some strange Antipathie Had in our humors bred continuall warres Or the star-ceeled heauens by fatall doome Ordaind my troubles in my Mothers woomb 227 Some hellish hag in this inchaunted cup Out of the Tun of pride this poyson drew And those hote cinders which were raked vp Into the nostrils of the Nobles blew VVho now carroused to my Funerall And with a vengeance I must pledge them all 228 And now brake out that execrable rage Which long before had boyled in their blood Which neither time nor reason could aswage But like to men growne lunatick and vvood My name and fame they seeke to scandalize And roote the same from all posterities 229 They all affirme my Mother was a Witch A filthie hag and burnt for sorcerie And I her Sonne and fitting with her pitch She had bequeath'd her damned Art to me This rumor in the peoples eares they ring That for my purpose I bewitcht the King 230 They say that I conuayd beyond the Sea The Table and the tressels of pure gold King Arthurs reliques kept full many a day The which to Windsor did belong of old In whose faire margent as they did surmize Merlin ingraued many prophecies 231 Some slaunderous tongues in spightful maner said That here I liu'd in filthy Sodomie And that I was King Edwards Ganimed And to this sinne he was intic'd by mee And more to wreck their spightfull deadly teene Report the same to Isabell the Queene 232 A Catalogue of tytles they begun With which I had the Noble men abused VVhich they auoucht I neuer durst haue done If by the King I had not been excused And vrg'd that he maintaind against the state A monster which both God and man did hate 233 They swore the King subbornd my villanie And that I was his instrument of vice The means whereby he wrought his tyranny That to his chaunce I euer cast the dice And with most bitter exerations ban The time in which our friendship first began 234 Loe here drawes on my drery dismall hower The dolefull period of my destinie Heere doth approch the black and vglie shower Hence flowes the Deluge of my misery Heere comes the clowde y t shuts vp all my light My lowring Winter and eternall night 235 The angry Barrons now assembled were And no man left that on my side durst stand Before the Popes pernitious Legate there They forced me thus to abiure the Land Vrging the King to further their intent By solemne oth vpon the Sacrament 236 Vpon the holy Sacrament hee swears Although God knowes ful much against his will So ouer-come with silence sighs and tears To make a sword the which himselfe should kill And beeing done in doing then not long He seemes to curse his hand his hart his tongue 237 Like to a man which walking in the grasse Vpon a Serpent suddainly doth tread Plucks backe his foote turns away his face His culler fading pale as hee were dead Thus he the place thus hee the act doth shun Lothing to see what hee before had done 238 Or as a man mistaking a receite Some death-strong poyson happilie doth tast And euery howre the vigor doth await Appald with feare now standeth all agast Thus stands he trembling in an extasie Too sick to liue and yet too strong to die 239 Hee takes his Crowne and spurns it at his feete His princly roabs hee doth in peeces teare He straight cōmaunds the Queene out of his sight He tuggs and rents his golden-tressed haire He beats his breast sighs out pittious grones Spending the day in tears the night in mones 240 Like as the furious Palidine of Fraunce Forsaken of Angelica the saire So like a Bedlam in the fields doth daunce VVith shouts and clamors filling all the ayre Tearing in peeces what so ere hee caught VVith such a furie is the King distraught 241 Or when the wofull Thrace-borne Hecuba Saw Troy on fire and Pryams fatall doome Her sonnes all slaine her deere Polixina There sacrifized on Achilles tombe Euen like a Bore her angry tusks doth wher Scratching and byting all that ere shee met 242 VVith fearfull visions frighted in his bed VVhich seemes to him a very thornie brake VVith vgly shapes which way he turns his head And when from sleepe he euer doth awake Hee then again
of his layre Pursue the chase through vastie forrest grounds So like a thunder ratling in the ayre Thus doe they hunt vs still from Coast to Coast Most hated now of those we fauored most 270 This gracious Prince loe thus becoms my guide And with a conuoy of some chosen friends Brings me to Yorke where being fortified To Balioll the King of Scots hee sends And to the Welchmen crauing both their ayde That by their help the Barrons might be staid 271 But they which in their busines neuer slept And as it seem'd had well fore-seene this thing Cause all the Ports and Marches to be kept That none should enter to assist the King And by disswasiue Letters still deuise To stay their neighbours from this enterprize 272 Loe in this sort the King and I betrayd And to their wills thus left as wofull thrals And finding now no further hope of ayde VVee shut vs vp within Yorks aged walls Vntill we knew the Barrons full intent And what all thys rude hurly burlie ment 273 This gracious King wanting his wonted rest And toyling still in this perplexitie VVith greeuous sicknes is so sore opprest And growne by this to such extremitie As hee is forced to depart away A while to purge this humor at the sea 274 From Bedford now the synod of their shame The counsell-house of all their villanie These bloody Barrons with an Armie came Downe vnto Yorke where they besieged mee VVhere now not able to resist their might Am forst persorce to flye away by night 275 To Scarborough with speed away I post With that small force the Citty then could lend me The strongest Castell there in all the Coast And as I thought the surest to defend mee VVhereas I might with-stand thē by my power Hoping the Kings returning euery howre 276 But now like to a sousing suddaine raine Forc'd by a strong and sturdie Easterne blast Or like a hayle storme down they come amaine And in the Castell girt mee now so fast No way to scape no hope for mee to flye My choyse was hard or yeeld my selfe or dye 277 Away thus like a prysoner am I led My costlie roabs in peeces rent and torne Bound hand and foote my haire disheuiled Naked and bare as euer I was borne Saue but for shame to stop the peoples cryes Am basely clothed of mine enemies 278 Along the Land toward Oxford they conuay mee Like bauling curres they all about me houle VVith words of foule reproch they now repay mee VVondring my shame as byrds doe at an Owle Cursing my life my manners and my birth A scourge of God ordain'd to plague the earth 279 The King now hearing how I was arested And knew my quarrell cause of all this strife Hee writes he sends he sues he now requested Vsing all meanes he could to saue my life VVith vowes othes that al should be amended If that my death alone might be suspended 280 And being brought to Dedington at last By Aymer Valence Earle of Pembrooke then VVho toward King Edward rode in all the haft And left me guarded safely by his men This gentle Earle w t meere compassion moued For Edwards sake whom he so deerely loued 281 But now Guy Beuchamp whom I feared still The Earle of VVarwick whom I called curre Hauing fit time to execute his will The Fox thus caught he vowes to teare my furre And hee for whom so oft hee set the trap By good ill luck is fallen into his lap 282 This bloody Beuchamp I may tearme him so For this was he which onely sought my blood Now at the vp-cast of mine ouer-throw And on the chaunce whereon my fortune stood To Dedington by night came where I lay And by his power conuay'd me thence away 283 To Warwick thus fast bound he doth me bring Imprisoning me within the Castell there And doubting now my succor from the King Hee raiseth vp the power of VVarwickshire By whom forth-with to Blacklow I was led And on a scaffold there I lost my head 284 LOe heere the poynt and sentence of my time My liues full stop my last Catastrophe The stipend of my death-deseruing crime The Scene that ends my wofull Tragedie My latest farwell knitting my conclusion Mine vtter ruine and my fames confusion 285 Like as Adonis wounded with the Bore From whose fresh hurt the life-warme blood doth spin Now lieth wallowing in his purple gore Stayning his faire and Allablaster skin My headles body in the blood is lest Heere lying brethles of all life bereft 286 O now my Muse put on thy Eagles wings O lend some comfort to my tyred ghost And with Apollos dolefull-tuned strings Now helpe at need for now I need thee most Sorrow possesse my hart myne eyes mine eares My breth consume to sighs my braine to teares 287 My soule now in the heauens eternall glasse Beholds the scarrs and botches of her sin How filthy vglie and deformd shee was The lothsome dunghill that she wallowed in Her pure Creator sitting in his glory VVith eyes of iustice to peruse her story 288 Like as a Stagge at bay amongst the hounds The bloody Moat sounding in his eares Feeling his breth diminish by his wounds Poures downe his gummy life-preseruing tears Euen thus my soule now bayted by my sin Consuming shewes the sorrow shee is in 289 Thus comfortles forsaken and alone All worldly things vnstable and vnsure By true contrition flyes vnto his throne In whose compare the heauens are most impure By whose iust doome to blessed soules reuealed She gets her pasport to his mercy sealed 290 And by repentance finds a place of rest Where passing to the faire Elisian plaine Shee is alow'd her roome amongst the blest In those Ambrosian shadowes to remaine Till summond thus by Fame she is procur'd To tell my life which hath been long obscur'd 291 Thys Monster now thys many-headed beast The people more vnconstant then the wind VVho in my life my life did so detest Now in my death are of another mind And with the fountains from their tearfull eyes Doe honour to my latest obsequies 292 Star-holding heauen hath shut vp all her light Nature becom a step-dame to her owne The mantled truch-man of the Rauen-hu'd night In mournfull sables clad the Horizon The sky-borne Plannets seeming to conspire Against the ayre the water earth and fire 293 Pearle-paued Auon in her streamfull course VVith heauie murmure floting on the stones Mou'd with lament to pitty and remorse Attempering sad musick to my mones Tuning her billowes to sweet Zephyrs breath In watrie language doth bewaile my death 294 Oke-shadowed Arden fild with bellowing cryes Resounding through her holts and hollow grounds To which the Eccho euer-more replyes And to the fields sends forth her hidious sounds And in her Siluan rude vntuned songs Makes birds beasts for to expresse my wrongs 295 The heauen-dyed slowers in this happy clime Mantling the Medowes in their Sommers pride As in the wofull frostie winter
time Drouping with faintnes hold their heads aside The boistrous storms dispoile y e greenest greues Stripping the Trees staik naked of their leaues 296 Death cald in liueries of my louely cheeks Layd in those beds of Lillies and of Roses Amaz'd with meruaile here for wonders seeks VVere he alone a Paradice supposes Grew male content and with himselfe at strife Not knowing now if he were death or life 297 And shutting vp the casements of those lights Which like two suns so sweetly went to rest In those faire Globes he saw those heauenly sights In which alone he thought him onely blest Cursing himselfe who had depriued breath From that which thus could giue a life in death 298 VVith palenes touching that faire rubied lip Now waxing purple like Adonis flower Where Iuory walls those rocks of Currall keep From whence did slow y t Nectar streaming shower There earth-pale Death refresht his tyred lims Where Cupid bath'd him in those Christall brims 299 And entring now into that house of glory That Temple with sweet Odors long perfumed VVhere Nature had ingraued many a story In Letters which by death were not consumed Accursed now his crueltie he curst That Fame should liue when death had done his worst 300 Now when the King had notice of my death And that he saw his purpose thus preuented In greeuous sighes he now consumes his breath And into teares his very eyes relented Cursing that vile and mercy-wanting age And breakes into this passion in his rage 301 O heauens quoth he lock vp the liuing day Cease Sunne to lend the world thy glorious light Starres flye your course and wander all astray Moone lend no more thy siluer shine by night Heauen Stars Sun Moone coÌ„ioyne you al in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 302 Earth be thou helplesse in thy creatures birth Sea breake thou sorth from thy immured bound Ayre with thy vapours poyson thou the earth Wind break thy Caue all the world confound Earth Sea Ayre Wind conioyne you all in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 303 You Sauage beasts which haunt y e waylesse woods You Birds delighted in your Siluan sound You scaly Fish which swim in pleasant floods You hartlesse Wormes which creep vpon y u ground Beasts birds fish worms each in your kind alone Bewaile the death of my sweet Gaueston 304 Faire Medowes be you withered in the prime Sun-burnt and bare be all the goodly Mountains Groues be you leauelesse in the Sommer time Pitchy and black be all the Christall Fountains All things on earth each in your kind alone Bewaile the death of my sweet Gaueston 305 You damned Furies breake your Stigian Cell You wandring spirits in water earth and ayre Lead boyled Ghosts which liue in lowest hell Gods deuils men vnto mine ayde repayre Come all at once conioyne you all in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 306 Eyes neuer sleepe vntill you see reuenge Head neuer rest vntill thou plot reuenge Hart neuer think but tending to reuenge Hands neuer act but acting deepe reuenge Iust-dooming heauens reuenge me from aboue That men vnborne may wonder at my Loue. 307 You peerlesse Poets of ensuing times Chaunting Herioque Angell-tuned Notes Or humble Pastors Nectar-filled lines Driuing your flocks with musick to their Cotes Let your high-flying Muses still bemone The wofull end of my sweet Gaueston 308 My earth-pale body now enbalmd with tears To famous Oxford solemnly conuaid There buried by the ceremonious Friers Where for my soule was many a Trentall said With all those rites my obsequies behoued Whose blind deuotion time truth reproued 309 But ere two yeeres were out and fully dated This gracious King who still my fame respected My wasted bones to Langley thence translated And ouer me a stately Tombe erected VVhich world-deuouring Time hath now out-worne As but for Letters were my name forlorne FINIS The vision of Matilda ME thought I saw vpon Matildas Tombe Her wofull ghost which Fame did now awake And crâ—â—â—'d her passage froÌ„ Earths hollow wombe To view this Legend written for her sake No sooner shee her sacred Name had seene Whom her kind friend had chose to grace her story But wiping her chast teares from her sad eyne Shee seem'd to tryumph in her double glory Glory shee might that his admired Muse Had with such method fram'd her iust complaint But proud she was that reason made him chuse To patronize the same to such a Saint In whom her rarest vertues may be shown Though Poets skil shold faile to make theÌ„ known H. G. Esquire TEares in your eyes and passions in your harts With mournfull grace vouchsafe Matildas story The subiect sad a King to act the parts Of his owne shame to others endlesse glory But such is sinne where lawlesse lust is raigning Sweet to the tast till all turnes to infection VVhen count is cast a reckoning is remayning VVhich must be payd but not at our election Perrill and Greefe the interest of Pleasure Spending the stock that Danger long was gayning Makes soule and body banckrupt of that treasure Which vainly spent what helps our fond coÌ„plaining O that my lines could so the Author grace As well his vertues merit prayse and place R. L. Esquire To M. Drayton MIchaell which dost great Roberts fame compile Thy subiects worth thy wit thy Ladies glory Cheere vp thy Muse add lyfe vnto thy stile VVhile thou assaist to write his worthy story Whose boundlesse spirit whose high chiualrie And vertuous deeds must needs haue buried beene By ages enuie and times tirannie And neuer had with mortall eyes been seene Had not thy Muse restor'd his former fame The twise dead Norman to his speaking sight Euen when his eyes had lost their shyning flame Like vnto Lamps that wanting oyle want light By thee he sees he liues he speaks againe TheÌ„ chere thee Michaell Fame rewards thy paine Mirocinius