most should make it lesse Heere noble Herford Bohun breathes his last Crowne of true Knight-hood flower of Chiualrie But Lancaster their torment liues to tast VVho perrish now with endlesse obloquie O vanquisht conquest loosing victorie That where the sword for pittie leaues to spill There extreame iustice should begin to kill O subiect for some tragick Muse to sing Of fiue great Earledomes at one time possest Sonne Vnckle Brother Grandchild to a King VVith fauours friends and earthly honours blest But see on earth heere is no place of rest These Fortunes gyfts and she to shew her power Takes lyfe and these and all within an hower The wretched Mother tearing of her hayre Bewayles the time this fatall warre begunne Lyke graue-borne gosts amaz'd and mad with feare To view the quartered carkasse of her Sonne VVith hideous shreeks through streetes wayes doth runne And seeing none to help none heare her crye Some drownd some stabd some starud some strangled die Lyke gastly death the aged Father stands VVeeping his Sonne bemoning of his vvife Shee murthered by her owne blood-guiltie hands Hee flaughtered by the executioners knife Sadly sits downe to ende his hatefull life Banning the earth and cursing at the ayre Vpon his poyniard falleth in dispayre The wofull widdowe for her Lord distrest VVhose breathlesse body cold death doth benum Her little Infant leaning on her breast Rings in her eares when will my Father come Doth wish that she were deafe or it were dombe Clipping each other weeping both togeather Shee for her Lord the poore babe for his Father The ayre is poysned with the dampie stinck VVhich most contagious pestilence doth breed The glutted earth her fill of gore doth drinck VVhich from vnburied bodies doth proceede Rauens and dogs on dead men onely feede In euery Coast thus doe our eyes behold Our sinnes by iudgement of the heauens controld Lyke as a VVolfe returning from the foyle Hauing full stuft his flesh-engorged panch Tumbles him downe to wallowe in the soyle VVith cooling breath his boyling mawe to stanch Scarce able now to mooue his lustlesse hanch Thus after slaughter Edward breathlesse stood As though his sword had surfeted with blood Heere endeth life yet heere death cannot end And heere begins what Edwards woes begun Nor his pretence falls as he doth pretend Nor hath he wone what he by battell wone All is not done though almost all vndone VVhilst power hath raign'd still policie did lurke Seldome doth mallice want a meane to worke The King now by the conquering Lords consent VVho by this happie victorie grew strong Summons at Yorke a present Parliament To plant his right and helpe the Spensers wrong From whence agayne his minions greatnes sprung VVhose counsell still in all their actions crost Th'inraged Queene whom all misfortunes tost But miseries which seldome come alone Thicke in the necks one of another fell Meane while the Scots heere make inuasion And Charles of France doth thence our powers expell The grieued Commons more and more rebell Mischiefe on mischiefe curse doth followe curse Plague after plague and worse ensueth worse For Mortimer this wind yet rightly blewe Darckning their eyes which else perhaps might see VVhilst Isabell who all aduantage knewe Is closely plotting his deliuerie Now fitly drawne by Torltons policie Thus by a Queene a Bishop and a Knight To check a King in spight of all dispight A drowsie potion shee by skill hath made VVhose secret working had such wonderous power As could the sence with heauie sleepe inuade And mortifie the patient in one hower As though pale death the body did deuower Nor for two dayes might opened be his eyes By all meanes Arte or Phisicke could deuise Thus sits this great Enchauntresse in her Cell Inuironed with spyrit-commaunding charmes Her body censed with most sacred smell VVith holy fiers her liquors now shee warmes Then her with sorcering instruments she armes And from her hearbs the powerfull iuyce she wrong To make the poyson forcible and strong Reason might iudge doubts better might aduise And as a woman feare her hand haue stayd VVaying the strangenesse of the interprize The daunger well might haue her sex dismayd Fortune distrust suspect to be betrayd But when they leaue of vertue to esteeme They greatly erre which thinke them as they seeme Their plighted fayth when as they list they leaue Their loue is cold their lust hote hote their hate VVith smiles and teares these Serpents doe deceaue In their desires they be insatiate Their will no bound and their reuenge no date All feare exempt where they at ruine ayme Couering their sinne with their discouered shame Medea pittifull in tender yeares Vntill with Iason she would take her flight Then mercilesse her Brothers lymmes she teares Betrayes her Father flyes away by night Nor Nations Seas nor daungers could affright VVho dyed with heate nor could abide the wind Now like a Tigar falls vnto her kind Now waits the Queene fitt'st time as might behoue Their ghostly Father for their speed must pray Their seruants seale these secrets vp with loue Their friends must be the meane the guide the way And he resolue on whom the burthen lay This is the summe the all if this neglected Neuer againe were meane to be expected Thus while hee liu'd a prysoner in the Towre The Keepers oft with feasts he entertaind VVhich as a stale serues fitly at this howre The tempting bayte wher-with his hookes were traind 〈◊〉 banquet now he had ordaind And after cates when they their thirst should quench He sawc'd their wine with thys approoued drench And thus become the keeper of the kayes In steele-bound locks he safely lodg'd the Guard Then lurking forth by the most secret wayes Not now to learne his compasse by the Card VVith corded ladders which hee had prepard Now vp these proude aspyring walls doth goe VVhich seeme to scorne they should be mastred so They soundly sleepe now must his wits awake A second Theseus through a hells extreames The sonne of Ioue new toyles must vndertake Of walls of gates of watches woods and streame And let them tell King Edward of their dreames For ere they wak'd out of this brainsick traunce He hopes to tell thys noble iest in Fraunce The sullen night in mistie rugge is wrapp'd Powting the day had tarryed vp so long The Euening in her darksome dungion clapp'd And in that place the swarty clowdes were hong Downe from the VVest the half-fac'd Cynthia flong As shee had posted forth to tell the Sonne VVhat in his absence in her Court was done The glymmering starr's like Sentinels in warre Behind the Clowdes as thieues doe stand to pry And through false loope-holes looking out a farre To see him skirmish with his destenie As they had held a counsell in the Sky And had before consulted with the night Shee should be darke and they would hide their light In deadly silence all the shores are hush'd Onely the Shreechowle sounds to the assault And Isis
force her to retyer But ô the winds doe Edwards wrack conspyre For when the heauens are vnto iustice bent All things be turnd to our iust punishment Shee is arriu'd in Orwells pleasant Roade Orwell thy name or ill or neuer was VVhy art thou not ore-burthend with thy loade VVhy sinck'st thou not vnder thys monstrous masse But what heauen will that needs must come to passe That grieuous plague thou carriest on thy deepe Shall giue iust cause for many streames to weepe Englands Earle-marshall Lord of all that Coast VVith bells and bonfires welcoms her to shore Great Leicester next ioyneth hoast to hoast The Cleargies power in readines before VVhich euery day increaseth more and more Vpon the Church a great taxation layd For Armes munition mony men and ayd Such as too long had looked for this hower And in their brests imprisoned discontent Their wills thus made too powerful by their power VVhose spirits were factious great and turbulent Their hopes succesfull by this ill euent Like to a thiefe that for his purpose lyes Take knowledge now of Edwards iniuries Young Prince of VVales loe heere thy vertue lyes Soften thy Mothers flintie hart with teares Then wooe thy Father with those blessed eyes VVherein the image of himselfe appeares VVith thy soft hand softly vniting theirs VVith thy sweet kisses so them both beguile Vntill they smyling weepe and weeping smile Bid her behold that curled silken Downe Thy fayre smooth brow in beauties fayrer pryme Not to be prest with a care-bringing Crowne Nor that with sorrowes wrinckled ere the time Thy feete too feeble to his seate to clime VVho gaue thee life a crowne for thee did make Taking that Crowne thou life from him doost take Looke on these Babes the seales of plighted troth VVhose little armes about your bodies cling These pretty imps so deere vnto you both Beg on their knees their little hands do wring Queenes to a Queene Kings kneele vnto a King To see theyr comfort and the crowne defac'd You fall to Armes which haue in armes embrac'd Subiects see these and then looke backe on these VVhere hatefull rage with kindly nature striues And iudge by Edward of your owne disease Chyldren by chyldren by his wife your wiues Your state by his in his life your owne liues And yeeld your swords to take your deaths as due Then draw your swords to spoyle both him and you From Edmondsbury now comes thys Lyonesse Vnder the Banner of young Aquitaine And downe towards Oxford doth herselfe adresse A world of vengeance vvayting on her traine Heere is the period of Carnaruans raigne Edward thou hast but King thou canst not beare Ther's now no King but great King Mortimer Now friendles Edward followed by his foes Needes must he runne the deuill hath in chase Poore in his hopes but wealthy in his woes Plenty of plagues but scarcitie of grace VVho wearied all now wearieth euery place No home at home no comfort seene abroad His minde small rest his body small aboad One scarce to him his sad discourse hath done Of Henalts power and what the Queene intends But whilst he speakes another hath begun Another straight beginning where he ends Some of new foes some of reuolting frends These ended once againe new rumors spred Of many which rebell of many fled Thus of the remnant of his hopes bereft Shee hath the sum and hee the silly rest Towards VVales he flyes of England being left To rayse an Armie there himselfe adrest But of his power shee fully is possest Shee hath the East her rising there-withall And he the VVest I there goes downe his fall VVhat plagues doth Edward for himselfe prepare Alas poore Edward whether doost thou flie Men change the ayre but seldome change their care Men flie from foes but not from miserie Griefes be long-liu'd and sorrowes seldome die And whē thou feel'st thy conscience tuch'd with griefe Thy selfe pursues thy selfe both rob'd and thiefe Towards Lundy which in Sabryns mouth doth stand Carried with hope still hoping to finde ease Imagining thys were his natiue Land Thys England and Seuerne the narrow seas VVith this conceit poore soule himselfe doth please And sith his rule is ouer-rul'd by men On byrds and beasts he'll king it once agen Tis treble death a freezing death to feele For him on whom the sunne hath euer shone VVho hath been kneel'd vnto can hardly kneele Nor hardly beg which once hath been his owne A fearefull thing to tumble from a throne Fayne would he be king of a little Ile All were his Empyre bounded in a myle Aboard a Barke now towards the Ile he sayles Thinking to find some mercy in the flood But see the weather with such power preuailes Not suffring him to rule thys peece of vvood VVho can attaine by heauen and earth with-stood Edward thy hopes but vainly doe delude By Gods and men vncessantly pursu'd At length to land his carefull Barke he hales Beaten with stormes ballast with misery Thys home-bred exile on the Coast of VVales Vnlike himselfe with such as like him bee Spenser Reading Baldock these haplesse three They to him subiect he subiect to care And he and they to murther subiect are To ancient Neyth a Castell strongly built Thether repayre thys forlorne banish'd crew VVhich holdeth them but not contaynes theyr guilt There hid from eyes but not from enuies view Nor from theyr starrs themselues they yet with-drew VValls may awhile keepe out an enemie But neuer Castle kept out destenie Heere Fortune hath immur'd them in this hold VVilling theyr poore imprisoned liberty Liuing a death in hunger want and cold VVhilst murtherous treason entreth secretly All lay on hands to punish cruelty And when euen might is vp vnto the chin VVeake frends become strong foes to thrust him in MElpomine thou dolefull Muse be gone Thy sad complaints be matters farre too light Heere now come plagues beyond comparison You dreadfull Furies visions of the night VVith gastly howling all approch my sight And let pale ghosts with sable Tapers stand To lend sad light to my more sadder hand Each line shall be a history of woe And euery accent as a dead mans cry Now must my teares in such aboundance flow As doe the drops of fruitfull Castaly Each letter must containe a tragedy Loe now I come to tell this wofull rest The drerest tale that euer pen exprest You sencelesse stones as all prodigious Or things which of like solid substance be Sith thus in nature all grow monsterous And vnto kinde contrary disagree Consume or burne or weepe or sigh with mee Vnlesse the earth hard-harted nor can moane Makes steele and stones more hard then steele and stone All-guiding heauen which so doost still maintaine VVhat ere thou moou'st in perfect vnitie And bynd'st all things in friendshyps sacred chayne In spotles and perpetuall amitie VVhich is the bounds of thy great Emperie VVhy sufferest thou the sacriligious rage Of thys rebellious hatefull yron age Now ruine raignes God
the Bridge these desperate Armies goe Now must our famous and victorious bowes VVith which our Nation Kingdoms did subdue First send their darting arrowes against those VVhose sinewed armes against their foes them drew These winged weapons mourning as they flew Cleaue to the strings with very terror slack As to the Archers they would faine turne back The battered Caskes with Battel-Axes strokes Besnow the soyle with drifts of scattered plumes The trampling presse stirre vp such duskie smokes VVhich choke the ayre with reekie smothering fumes VVhich rising vp into a clowde consumes As though the heauen had muffled her in black Lothing to see this lamentable sack Behold the remnant of Troyes famous stocke Laying on blowes as Smithes on Anuiles strike Grappling together in this fearfull shock The like presse forth t'incounter with the like And then reculing to the push of pyke Yet not a foote doth eyther giue to eyther Now one the ods then both alike then neither Euen as you see a field of standing Corne VVhen in faire Iune some easie gale doth blow How vp and downe the spyring eares are borne And with the blasts like Billowes come and goe As golden streamers wauing to and fro Thus on the suddaine runne they on amaine Then straight by force are driuen backe againe Heer lyes a heap halfe slaine halfe chok'd halfe drownd Gasping for breth amongst the slymie seggs And there a sort falne in a deadly swound Scrawling in blood vpon the muddy dreggs Heere in the streame swim bowels armes and leggs One kills his foe his braine another cuts Ones feet intangled in anothers guts One his owne hands in his owne blood defiles Another from the Bridges height doth fall Some dash'd to death vpon the stony pyles Some in theyr gore vpon the pauement sprall The carkasses lye heaped like a wall Such hideous shreeks the bedlam Souldiers breath As though the Spirits had howled from beneath The mangled bodies diuing in the streame Now vp now downe like tumbling Porpose swim The water couer'd with a bloody creame To the beholder horrible and grim Heere lies a head and there doth lye a lym VVhich in the sands the swelling waters souse That all the shores seeme like a slaughter-house It seem'd the very wounds for griefe did weepe To feele the temper of the slicing blade The sencelesse steele in blood it selfe did steepe To see the wounds his sharpe-ground edge had made VVhilst kinsman kinsman friend doth friend inuade Such is the horror of these ciuill broyles VVhen with our blood we fat our natiue soyles This faction still defying Edwards might Edmond of VVoodstock famous Earle of Kent Charging the foe againe renewes the fight Vpon the Barrons forces almost spent VVho now againe supplying succours sent And now a second conflict doth begin The English Lords like Tygars flying in Like as an exhalation hote and dry Amongst the ayre-bred moyftie vapors throwne Spetteth his lightning forth outragiously Renting the thick clowdes with a thunder-stone As though the huge all-couering heauen did grone Such is the garboyle of this conflict then Braue Englishmen encountring Englishmen Euen as proude Pyrrhùs entring Iltion Couragious Talbot with his shield him bare Clifford and Moubray seconding anon Audley and Gifford thrunging for their share Elmbridge and Balsmer in the thickest are Pell-mell together flyes this furious power Like to the falling of some mighty Tower Mountfort and Teis your worths faine would I speake But that your valure can but ill deserue Braue Denuile heere I from thy prayse must breake And from thy prayses VVillington must swarue Great Damory heere must thy glory starue Concealing many most deseruing blame Because their acts doe quench my sacred flame O that those Armes in conquests had been borne And that that battered fame-engrauen shield Should in those ciuill massacres be torne VVhich bare the marks of many a bloody field O that our armes had power their Armes to weeld That since that time the stones for very dreed Against foule stormes could teary moisture sheed O had you shap'd your valures first by them VVho summon'd Akon with an English drum Or marched on to faire Ierusalem T'inlarge the bounds of famous Christendome Or with Christs warriors slept about his toombe Then ages had immortaliz'd your fame VVhere now my song can be but of your shame Death following on feare euer in their eyes Grieued with wounds the conquered Barrons fled And now the King enrich'd with victories Hath in the field his glorious Ensignes spred This in his thoughts againe fresh courage bred And somwhat drawes th'vnconstant peoples harts VVho equall peyz'd yet way'd to neither parts And wanting ground they vnresolued are King Edwards friends agaynst the rebels cry The Barrons plead their Countries onely care Exclayming on the Princes tyrannie Hee vrg'd obedience they their libertie Both vnder colour carefull of the state Hee right and they their wrongs expostulate Some fewe them selues in Sanctuaries hide In mercie of the priuiledged place Yet are their bodyes so vnsanctifide As scarce their soules can euer hope for grace A poore dead lyfe this draweth out a space Hate stands without and horror sits within Prolonging shame yet pard'ning not their sinne At fatall Pomfret gathering head at length VVhen they of all extreamities had tasted VVhere yet before they could recouer strength King Edward followeth whilst his fortune lasted Vnto whose ayde the Earle of Carlell hasted VVith troupes of bow-men and ranck-riding bands Of VVestmer Cumber and Northumberlands Mad and amaz'd nor knowing what to doe Surpriz'd by this late mischieuous euent Seeing at hand their vtter ouerthrowe And in despight how crossely all things went Fortune her selfe to their destruction bent In all disorder head-long on they runne To end with blood what was with blood begunne Lyke as a heard of silly hartlesse Deare VVhom hote-spurd Huntsmen fiercely doe pursue In brakes and bushes falling heere and there Yet when no way the hounds they can eschew Now flying back from whence of late they flew Hem'd on each side with hornes rechating blast Head-long them selues into the toyles doe cast To Borough bridge by fate appoynted thus VVhere lyke false Raynard falser Herckley lay Bridges to Barrons euer ominous There to renewe this latest deadly fray O heere begins the blackest dismall day The birth of horror hower of wrath that yet The very soyle seemes to remember it Heere is not Death contented with the dead Nor vengeance is with vengeance satisfied Blood-shed by blood-shed still is nourished And mischiefe meanes no more her store to hide Strange sorts of torments heauen doth now prouide That dead men should in miserie remayne And in lyuing death should dye with payne Thus rules the world a world why sawe I so VVorst is the world yet worser must I name it Nights vgli'st night hells bitter'st hell of woe So ill as slaunder neuer can defame it That shame her selfe is sham'd seeking to shame it Could enuie speake what enuie can expresse In saying most that
helpe the Land the while All prysons freed to make all mischiefes free Traytors and Rebels called from exile All things be lawfull but what lawfull bee Nothing our owne but our owne infamie Death which ends care yet carelesse of our death VVho steales our ioyes but stealeth not our breath London which didst thys mischiefe first begin Loe now I come thy tragedy to tell Thou art the first thats plagued for this sin VVhich first didst make the entrance to this hell Now death and horror in thy walls must dwell VVhich should'st haue care thy selfe in health to keepe Thus turn'st the vvolues amongst the carelesse sheepe O had I eyes another Thames to weepe Or words expressing more then words expresse O could my teares thy great foundation steepe To moane thy pride thy wastfull vaine excesse Thy gluttonie thy youthfull wantonnesse But t'is thy sinnes that to the heauens are fled Dissoluing clowdes of vengeance on thy head The place prophan'd where God should be adord The stone remou'd whereon our faith is grounded Aucthoritie is scornd counsell abhord Religion so by foolish sects confounded VVeake consciences by vaine questions wounded The honour due to Magistrates neglected VVhat else but vengeance can there be expected VVhen fayth but faynd a faith doth onely fayne And Church-mens liues giue Lay-men leaue to fall The Ephod made a cloake to couer gayne Cunning auoyding what's canonicall Yet holines the Badge to beare out all VVhen sacred things be made a merchandize None talke of texts then ceaseth prophicies VVhen as the lawes doe once peruert the lawes And weake opinion guides the common weale VVhere doubts should cease doubts rise in euery clawse The sword which wounds should be a salue to heale Oppression vvorks oppression to conceale Yet being vs'd when needfull is the vse Right clokes all wrongs and couers all abuse Tempestious thunders teare the fruitlesse earth The roring Ocean past her bounds to rise Death-telling apparisions monstrous birth Th'affrighted heauen with comet-glaring eyes The ground the ayre all fild with prodigies Fearefull eclipses fierie vision And angrie Planets in coniunction Thy channels serue for inke for paper stones And on the ground write murthers incests rapes And for thy pens a heape of dead-mens bones Thy letters vgly formes and monstrous shapes And when the earths great hollow concaue gapes Then sinke them downe least shee we liue vpon Doe leaue our vse and flye subiection Virgine but Virgine onely in thy name Now for thy sinne what murtherer shall be spent Blacke is my inke but blacker is thy shame VVho shall reuenge my Muse can but lament VVith hayre disheueld words and tears halfe spent Poore rauish'd Lucrece stands to end her lyfe VVhlist cruell Tarquin whets the angrie knyfe Thou wantst redresse and tyrannie remorce And sad suspition dyes thy fault in graine Compeld by force must be repeld by force Complaints no pardon penance helpes not payne But blood must vvash out a more bloody stayne To winne thine honour with thy losse of breath Thy guiltlesse lyfe with thy more guiltie death Thou art benumd thou canst not feele at all Plagues be thy pleasures feare hath made past feare The deadly sound of sinnes nile-thundering fall Hath tuned horror setled in thine eare Shreeks be the sweetest Musicke thou canst heare Armes thy attyer and weapons all thy good And all the wealth thou hast consist in blood See wofull Cittie on thy ruin'd wall The verie Image of thy selfe heere see Read on thy gates in charrecters thy fall In famish'd bodies thine Anatomie How like to them thou art they like to thee And if thy teares haue dim'd thy hatefull sight Thy buildings are one fier to giue thee light For world that was a wofull is complayne VVhen men might haue been buried when they dyed VVhen Children might haue in their cradels layne VVhen as a man might haue enioy'd his bride The Sonne kneeld by his Fathers death-bed side The lyuing wrongd the dead no right now haue The Father sees his Sonne to vvant a graue The poore Samarian almost staru'd for food Yet sawced her sweet Infants flesh with tears But thou in child vvith murther long'st for blood VVhich thy wombe wanting casts the fruite it bears Thy viperous brood their lothsome prison teyrs Thou drinkst thy gore out of a dead-mans scull Thy stomack hungry though thy gorge be full Is all the world in sencelesse slaughter dround No pittying hart no hand no eye no eare None holds his sword from ripping of the wound No sparke of pittie nature loue nor feare Be all so mad that no man can forbeare VVill you incur the cruell Neros blame Thus to discouer your owne Mothers shame The man who of the plague yet rauing lyes Heares yeelding gosts to giue their latest grone And from his carefull window nought espyes But dead-mens bodies others making moane No talke but Death and execution Poore silly women from their houses fled Crying ô helpe my husbands murthered Thames turne thee backe to Belgias frothie mayne Fayre Tame and Isis hold backe both your springs Nor on thy London spread thy siluer trayne Nor let thy Ships lay forth their silken wings Thy shores with Swans late dying Dirgies rings Nor in thy armes let her imbraced bee Nor smile on her which sadly weepes on thee Time end thy selfe here let it not be sayd That euer Death did first begin in thee Nor let this slaunder to thy fault be layd That ages charge thee with impietie Least feare what hath beene argue what may be And fashioning so a habite of the mind Make men no men and alter humaine kind But yet this outrage hath but taken breath For pittie past she meanes to make amends And more enrag'd she doth returne to death And next goes downe King Edward and his frends VVhat she hath hoarded now she franckly spends In such strange action as was neuer seene Clothing reuenge in habite of a Queene Now Stapleton's thy turne from France that fled The next the lot vnto the Spensers fell Reding the Marshall marshal'd with the dead Next is thy turne great Earle of Arundell Then Mochelden and wofull Daniell VVho followed him in his lasciuious wayes Must goe before him to his blackest dayes Carnaruan by his Countrie-men betrayd And sent a Prisoner from his natiue Land To Knelworth poore King he is conuayd To th'Earle of Leister with a mighty band And now a present Parliament in hand Fully concluding what they had begunne T'vncrowne King Edward and inuest his Sonne A scepter's lyke a pillar of great height VVhereon a mighty building doth depend VVhich when the same is ouer-prest with weight And past his compasse forc'd therby to bend His massie roofe down to the ground doth send Crushing the lesser props and murthering all VVhich stand within the compasse of his fall VVhere vice is countenanc'd with nobilitie Arte cleane excluded ignorance held in Blinding the world with mere hipocrisie Yet must be sooth'd in all their slauish sinne Great malcontents to growe they
starre Stopping the wheele of Fortunes giddie carre O thus quoth he had gracelesse Edward done He had not now beene Subiect to his Sonne Then to Henry Plantagine he goes Two Kings at once two Crown'd at once doth find The roote from whence so many mischiefes rose The Fathers kindnes makes the Sonne vnkind Th'ambitious Brothers to debate inclind Thou crown'st thy Sonne yet liuing still do'st raigne Mine vncrownes me quoth he yet am I slaine Then of couragious Lyon-hart he reeds The Souldans terror and the Pagans wrack The Easterne world fild with his glorious deeds Of Ioppas siege of Cipres wofull sack Richard quoth hee turning his dull eyes back Thou did'st in height of thy felicitie I in the depth of all my miserie Then by degrees to sacriligious Iohn Murthering young Arthur hath vsurp'd his right The Cleargies curse the poors oppression The greeuous crosses that on him did light To Rooms proud yoke yeelding his awfull might Euen by thy end he sayth now Iohn I see Gods iudgements thus doe iustly fall on mee Then to long-raigning VVinchester his Sonne VVith whom his people bloody vvarre did wage And of the troubles in his time begunne The head-strong Barrons wrath the Commons rage And yet how he these tumults could aswage Thou liuest long quoth he longer thy name And I dye soone yet ouer-liue my fame Then to great Longshanks mighty victories VVho in the Orcads fix'd his Countries mears And dar'd in fight our fayths proud Enemies VVhich to his name eternall Trophies rears VVhose gracefull fauors yet faire England wears Bee't deadly sinne quoth he once to defile This Fathers name with me a Sonne so vile Following the leafe he findeth vnawars VVhat day young Edward Prince of VVales was borne VVhich Letters seeme lyke Magick Charrecters Or to dispight him they were made in scorne O let that name quoth he from Books be torne Least that in time the very greeued earth Doe curse my Mothers woombe and ban my birth Say that King Edward neuer had such child Or was deuour'd as hee in cradle lay Be all men from my place of birth exil'd Let it be sunck or swallowed with some sea Let course of yeeres deuoure that dismall day Let all be doone that power can bring to passe Onely be it forgot that ere I was The globy tears impearled in his eyes Through which as glasses hee is forc'd to looke Make letters seeme as circles which arise Forc'd by a stone within a standing Brooke And at one time so diuers formes they tooke VVhich like to vglie Monsters doe affright And with their shapes doe terrifie his sight Thus on his carefull Cabin falling downe Enter the Actors of his tragedy Opening the doores which made a hallow soune As they had howl'd against theyr crueltie Or of his paine as they would prophecie To whom as one which died before his death He yet complaynes whilst paine might lend him breath O be not Authors of so vile an act To bring my blood on your posteritie That Babes euen yet vnborne doe curse the fact I am a King though King of miserie I am your King though wanting Maiestie But he who is the cause of all this teene Is cruell March the Champion of the Queene He hath my Crowne he hath my Sonne my wyfe And in my throne tryumpheth in my fall Is't not inough but he will haue my lyfe But more I feare that yet this is not all I thinke my soule to iudgement he will call And in my death his rage yet shall not dye But persecute me so immortallie And for you deadly hate me let me liue For that aduantage angrie heauen hath left Fortune hath taken all that she did giue Yet that reuenge should not be quite bereft Shee leaues behind this remnant of her theft That miserie should find that onely I Am far more wretched then is miserie Betwixt two beds these deuils straight enclos'd him Thus done vncouering of his secrete part VVhen for his death they fitly had disposd him VVith burning yron thrust him to the hart O payne beyond all paine how much thou art VVhich words as words may verbally confesse But neuer pen precisely could expresse O let his tears euen freezing as they light By the impression of his monstrous payne Still keepe this odious spectacle in sight And shew the manner how the King was slaine That it with ages may be new againe That all may thether come that haue beene told it And in that mirror of his griefes behold it Still let the building sigh his bitter grones And with a hollow cry his woes repeate That sencelesse things euen mouing sencelesse stones VVith agonizing horror still may sweat And as consuming in their furious heate Like boyling Cauldrons be the drops that fall Euen as that blood for vengeance still did call O let the wofull Genius of the place Still haunt the pryson where his life was lost And with torne hayre and swolne ilfauored face Become the guide to his reuengefull ghost And night and day still let them walke the Coast And with incessant howling terrifie Or mooue with pitty all that trauell by TRue vertuous Lady now of mirth I sing To sharpen thy sweet spirit with some delight And somwhat slack this mellancholie string VVhilst I of loue and tryumphs must indite Too soone againe of passion must I write Of Englands wonder now I come to tell How Mortimer first rose when Edward fell Downe lesser lights the glorious Sunne doth clime His ioyfull rising is the worlds proude morne Now is he got betwixt the wings of Tyme And with the tyde of Fortune forwards borne Good starrs assist his greatnes to subborne VVho haue decreed his raigning for a while All laugh on him on whom the heauens doe smile The pompous sinode of these earthly Gods At Salsbury appointed by their King To set all euen which had been at ods And into fashion their dissignes to bring That peace might now froÌ„ their proceedings spring And to establish what they had begun Vnder whose cullour mighty things were done Heere Mortimer is Earle of March created Thys honor added to his Barronie And vnto fame heere is he consecrated That titles might his greatnes dignifie As for the rest he easely could supply VVho knew a kingdom to her lap was throwne VVhich hauing all would neuer starue her owne A pleasing calme hath smooth'd the troubled sea The prime brought on with gentle falling showers The misty breake yet proues a goodly day And on their heads since heauen her â—argesse powers That onely ours which we doe vse as ours Pleasures be poore and our delights be dead VVhen as a man doth not enioy the head Tyme wanting bounds still wanteth certainty Of dangers past in peace wee loue to heare Short is the date of all extreamity Long wished things a sweet delight doth beare Better forgoe our ioyes then still to feare Fortune her gifts in vaine to such doth gyue As when they liue seeme as they did not
Proud Mars is bound within an yron-net Alcides burnt in Nessus poysned flame Great Ioue can shake the vniuersall frame He that was wont to call his sword to ayde Tis hard with him when he must stand to plead O hadst thou in thy glory thus beene slayne All thy delights had beene of easie rate But now thy fame yet neuer tuch'd with stayne Must thus be branded with thy haplesse fate No man is happie till his lyfes last date His pleasures must be of a dearer price Poore Adam driuen out of Paradice Halfe drownd in tears she followes him ô tears Elixar like turne all to pearle you weet To weepe with her the building scarce forbears Stones Metamorphizd tuch'd but with her feete And make the ayre for euerlasting sweet VVringing her hands with pittious shreeking cries Thus vtters shee her hard extreamities Edward quoth shee let not his blood beshed Each drop of it is more worth then thy Crowne VVhat Region is in Europe limitted VVhere doth not shine the Sunne of his renowne His sword hath set Kings vp thrown them downe Thou knowst that Empires neuer haue confind The large-spred bounds of his vnconquer'd mind And if thou feed'st vpon thy Fathers wrongs Make not reuenge to bring reuenge on thee VVhat torture thou inflict'st to me belongs And what is due to death is due to mee Imagine that his wounds fresh bleeding bee Forget thy birth thy crowne thy loue thy Mother And in this breast thy sword in vengeance smother O let my hands held vp appease this stryfe O let these knees at which thou oft hast stood Now kneele to thee to beg my lyues true lyfe This wombe that bare thee breast that gaue thee food Or let my blood yet purchase his deere blood O let my tears which neuer thing could force Constraynd by this yet moue thee to remorce But all in vaine still Edwards ghost appears And cryes reuenge reuenge vnto his Sonne And now the voyce of wofull Kent hee hears And bids him followe what he had begun Nor will they rest till execution done The very sight of him he deadly hated Sharpens the edge his Mothers tears rebated To London now a wofull prisoner led London where he had tryumph'd with the Queene He followeth now whom many followed And scarce a man who many men had beene Seeing with greefe who had in pompe been seene Those eyes which oft haue at his greatnes gazed Now at his fall must stand as all amazed Oh misery where once thou art possest How soone thy faynt infection alters kind And lyke a Cyrce turnest man to beast And with the body do'st transforme the mind That can in fetters our affections bind That he whose back once bare the Lyons skin VVhipt to his taske with Iole must spin Edward and March vnite your angry spirits Become new friends of auncient Enemies Hee was thy death and he thy death inherits How well you consort in your miseries And in true time tune your aduersities Fortune gaue him what shee to Edward gaue Not so much as thy end but he will haue At VVestminster a Parliament decreed Vnder pretence of safetie to the Crowne VVhere to his fatall end they now proceed All working hard to dig this Mountayne downe VVith his owne greatnes that is ouer-growne The King the Earle of Kent the Spensers fall Vpon his head with vengeance thundring all The death of Edward neuer is forgot The signe at Stanhope to the Enemies Ione of the Towers marriage to the Scot The Spensers coyne seaz'd to his treasuries Th'assuming of the wards and Lyueries These Articles they vrge which might him greeue VVhich for his creed he neuer did beleeue Oh dire reuenge when thou in time art rak'd From out the ashes which preserue thee long And lightly from thy cinders art awak'd Fuell to feed on and reuiu'd with wrong How sonne from sparks the greatest flames are sprong VVhich doth by Nature to his top aspire VVhose massie greatnes once kept downe his fier Debar'd from speech to aunswere in his case His iudgment publique and his sentence past The day of death set downe the time and place And thus the lot of all his fortune cast His hope so slowe his end draw on so fast VVith pen and ynke his drooping spirit to wake Now of the Queene his leaue he thus doth take MOst mighty Empresse daine thou to peruse These Swan-like Dirges of a dying man Not like those Sonnets of my youthfull Muse In that sweet season when our loue began VVhen at the Tylt thy princely gloue I wan VVhereas my thundring Courser forward set Made fire to flie from Herfords Burgonet Thys King which thus makes hast vnto my death Madam you know I lou'd him as mine owne And when I might haue grasped out his breath I set him easely in his Fathers throne And forc'd the rough stormes backe when they haue blowne But these forgot all the rest forgiuen Our thoughts must be continually on heauen And for the Crowne whereon so much he stands Came bastard VVilliam but himselfe on shore Or had he not our Fathers conquering hands VVhich in the field our houses Ensigne bore VVhich his proude Lyons for theyr safety wore VVhich rag'd at Hastings like that furious Lake From whose sterne waues our glorious name we take Oh had he charg'd me mounted on that horse VVhereon I march'd before the walls of Gaunt And with my Launce there shewd an English force Or vanquisht me a valiant combattant Then of his conquest had he cause to vaunt But he whose eyes durst not behold my shield Perceiu'd my Chamber fitter then the field I haue not serued Fortune like a slaue My minde hath suted with her mightines I haue not hid her tallent in a graue Nor burying of her bounty made it lesse My fault to God and heauen I must confesse He twise offends who sinne in flattery beares Yet euery howre he dyes which euer feares I cannot quake at that which others feare Fortune and I haue tugg'd together so VVhat Fate imposeth we perforce must beare And I am growne familiar with my vvoe Vsed so oft against the streame to row Yet my offence my conscience still doth grieue VVhich God I trust in mercy will forgiue I am shut vp in silence nor must speake Nor Kingdoms lease my life but I must die I cannot weepe and if my hart should breake Nor am I sencelesse of my misery My hart so full hath made mine eyes so dry I neede not cherrish griefes too fast they grow VVoe be to him that dies of his owne woe I pay my life and then the debt is payd VVith the reward th'offence is purg'd and gone The stormes will calme when once the spirit is layd Enuy doth cease wanting to feede vpon VVe haue one life and so our death is one Nor in the dust mine honor I inter Thus Caesar dyed and thus dies Mortimer Liue sacred Empresse and see happie dayes Be euer lou'd with me die all our