high glorious frame That frame whence God all earthly deeds descries That God that guerdons sin with death and shame Shall witnesse yea and will reuenge the same That you haue bin most cruell to your king Whose death his doome his doome your deaths will bring 550 Vnmanly men remember what I was And thinke withall what you your selues might be I was a king a powerfull king I was You see my fall and can your selues be free But you haue friends why you were friends to me And yet you see how much your loue is chang'd So others loues from you may be estrang'd 551 But you are young and full of able strength And am not I what boots my strength or youth Both now seeme firme but both shall faile at length Old age cold ache and both sad griefe ensueth But you are wise the more should be your ruth Of mine estate whose rack may teach you this That hateful chance may clowde your greatest blisse 552 You are not no you are not beasts by birth Nor yet am I made of a sencelesse stone We all were fram'd and all shall turne to earth You should haue feeling soules for I haue one Then seeme at least relenting to my moane I pittie craue and crauing let me haue it Because one day your selues may need to craue it 553 But these dead motiues could not worke at all In their sad steely hearts the least remorse They rather added wormwood to my gall And exercise of ills did make them worse So violent streames hold on their wonted course And being flesh't in crueltie before Vse made the habit perfect more and more 554 And least one torment should be left vntri'de They shut me in a vault and laid by me Dead carkasses of men that lately died That their foule stinck my fatall bane might be These were the obiects that mine eyes did see These smells I smelt with these I did conuerse And vnto these these words I did rehearse 555 Oh happy soules whose bodies here I see For you haue plaid your parts and are at rest Yet some way haplesse ye may seeme to be That with your bodyes I am thus distrest Perhaps you 'd grieue if that you knew at least That by your meanes your King is thus tormented Grieue not deare soules for I am well contented 556 'T is not your bodies senselesse as they are That doe inflictt these torments on your King But the fierce agents of proud Mortimer From them my plagues proceed as from their spring And oh iust heauen let them their tribute bring Backe to the Ocean whence they first did flow And in their passage still more greater grow 557 But what poore soule haue you deseru'd so ill That being dead you must want buriall Nothing but this I must my fates fulfill And still be plagu'd with woes vnnaturall My wretchednesse must still transcend in all The liuing and the dead must doe me spight And you poore soules for me must want your right 558 But you are happy free from sense of wrong Here be your bodies but your soules are well Death doe not you forbeare your stroke too long That with these happy soules my soule may dwell And soule be glad to goe here is thy hell And eu'n in this th' art happy that t is heere Oh better so then it should be else where 559 What seest thou now but obiects of disgrace What dost thou heare but scornes and termes of spight What dost thou touch that is not vile and base What dost thou smell but stench both day and night What dost thou tast that may procure delight Thy sight thy hearing touching tast and smell All crie for heauen for here is now their hell 560 This darksome vault the house of Acheron These wicked men like friends do torture me These verie Snakes resemble Phlegeion Mine acted sinnes like fearefull Iuries be And he that would a whole infernall see Let him obserue those torments I indure And he shall finde them hells true portraiture 561 The earthit selfe is wearie of my paine And like a tender mother moanes for me From me thou cam'st returne to me againe Within my wombe I le keepe thee safe quoth shee And from these vile abusers set thee free Neuer shall these fell Tyrants wrong thee more He that paies death dischargeth euerie score 562 These bodies that thou seest thy brothers were Subiect to many wants and thousands woes They now are clear'd from care and free'd from feare And from the pressing of insulting foes And now they liue in loue and sweet repose Thy selfe canst witnesse that they feele no woe And as they rest eu'n thou shalt rest thee so 563 Their eies that whilst they liu'd oft tided teares Thou seest how sweetly they enioy their rest Those harsh vnpleasing sounds that deaft their eares Are turn'd to Angels tunes amongst the blest Their soules that were with pensiue thoughts possest Now in their makers bosome without end Enioy that peace whereto thy soule doth bend 564 And thou hadst need of peace poore wretched soule If euer any soule had neede of peace God being in armes against thee doth inrowle All nature in his list which doth not cease To fight against thee and doth still encrease Thy wretchednesse forbeare rebellious dust To war with him who is both great and iust 565 Oh would to God that I had di'de ere this Then had my sinnes bin fewer then they are Then had my soule long since repos'd in blisse Which now is wandring still in wayes of care Lifes griefe exceeds lifes good without compare Each day doth bring a fresh supply of sorrow Most wretched now yet shall be more to morrow 566 My carefull mother might haue helped me When I lay sprawling in her tender wombe If she had made her burdened belly be My fruitlesse birth-bed and my fatall tombe Sure had she knowne her sonnes accursed doome Shee neuer would haue wrong'd her selfe so much To beare a wretch saue whom was neuer such 567 My tender nurse is guiltie of these paines Shee might haue put some poyson in my pappe Or let me fall and so dasht out my braines When she full oft did daunce me on her lap A thousand waies had freed me from mishap But he whom heauen ordaines to liue distrest Death will delay to set that wretch at rest 568 For Death's the wearie Pilgrims rest and Ioy This world of woes a hard and flintie way Our birth the path that leads to our annoy Our friends are fellow passengers to day And gone to morrow honor is a stay That either stopps or leads vs all amisse Pleasures are theeues that interrupt our blisse 569 And in our passage as the way doth lie We meete with seuerall Inns wherein we rest Some at the Crowne were lodg'd and so was I Some at the Castle that is now my nest Some at the horne there married folks do feast Though men haue diuerse Inns yet all men haue One home to which they goe
my selfe to enuy open lay To disaduantage wanting their aduise Whom long imployment had made deeply wise 131 Besides I did the publique State some wrong So to cast off those grounded Polliticians VVho knew to gouerne by commaunding long Had seene and well obseru'd mens dispositions And so could tell when where how impositions Where to be rais'd how to auoide offence How to gaine men and ends with faire pretence 132 VVho likewise knew how other Kingdomes stood The concordances of each Neighbouring state How Realmes best correspond for eithers good How to make Leagues how to negotiate VVhen to breake off and when to incorporate How farre remote and neere confiners too Are to be weigh'd as they haue meanes to doe 133 T is not the practice of a day or twaine T is not the Schooles or Sophisters debate T is not the foame of euery working braine T is not the start into a neighbouring state That workes men fit to beare a Kingdomes weight VVhen men are fully made imploy them then For 't is an arte of artes to gouerne men 134 Therefore I hold it for a certaine ground VVhich new made Princes must not violate Except they will the Common-wealth confound Not to discard those men that knew the State VVhose long experience ingenerate A true and perfect method to commaund Both for the Princes good and for the Land 135 Besides this fault scaree setled in my State I straight recal'd exiled Gauestone VVho by my many fauours grew so great That I did seeme to him to liue alone I Alexander hee Stephestion Oh no I wrong them to vsurpe their names Our loues were like but farre vnlike their fames 136 Heere I did violate my Fathers will And all respect of duty did despise To wrong the dead is sacriligious ill A clog which endlesse on the conscience lies And at the latest gaspe for vengance cries And lo the feares and doubts lurkes close within That restlesse soule that 's guilty of such sinne 137 VVhen all his ioynts are rack't with dying paine VVith cold dead sweat all couer'd ouer quite What thorney thoughts will then distract his braine How shall he dare t' approach his fathers fight Whose dying words he lately set so light He 'le feare his friends suspect his wife est-soone And sighing thinke they 'le do as I haue done 108 It is too common to betray the trust That by testators is in friends repos'd But marke Gods iudgement how seuere how iust How to the nature of the sinne dispos'd Euen I my selfe was by my sonne depos'd I that infring'd my fathers dying hest Was in my life by my owne sonne distrest 139 Mee that a Siere did wrong a sonne did wrong I that did shew my selfe degenerate As I had sowne so did I reape ere long Such sinne it is our faith to violate Oh deepest doome of all fore-seeing fate How wisely are thy fearefull iudgements fitted To punish sinne as snne was first committed 140 The Giants heap'd vp Hils to climbe the Skie I honors heap'd that Gauestone might clime They did contend with Ioue and fell thereby He with my Peeres and perish'd in his prime They thriu'd at first but fell in after time His Prologue sweet but sad was his last act So fairest glasse men say is soonest crackt 141 These were the honors that he did attaine The Earle of Cornwell and the Lord of Man Chiefe Secretary Lord great Chamberlaine And for his wife the Glousters sister wan Aspiring men see how great Monarchs can Aduance their States whom they do please to afauour Who serues the King doth seldome leese his labour 142 Though Poëts fictions seeme to sauour much Of idle errors yet they haue their sence King Midas turn'd to gold all he did touch The Morrall thus the fauour of the Prince His gracious touch may guild without offence His greatest wants and make him for to sore A lofty pitch that did but creepe before 143 Not all the painefull passages one spends In serious contemplation of deepe artes Nor any one imployment so commends The Agent though a man of rarest parts As when the Prince but one sweete smile imparts One looke of loue one eye-glance of delight Hath power to change dark clouds to Suns most bright 144 The eyes of Kings are more then simple eies They are the Starres that do predominate Th' affaires of men and in their influence lies The good or bad of euery ones estate Th' are the primum-mobile of fate They whirle about their fortunes as they list And as they fauour we are curst or blest 145 A Kings smooth brow is the true dwelling place Of honour weakh dependancy respect And in this wrinckled fore-head liues disgrace Death exile want a generall neglect A world of ills let that poore wretch expect Be it all Riuers to the Sea must runne And euery light receiue light from the Sunne 146 Let them be great whom Kings resolue to grace It is a priuiledge that is their owne To raise such as they please to wealth or place Is truely proper to the Princely throwne And hath not beene denide to any one Lewes of France did say he spent his Raigne In making and in marring men againe 147 Some by the Schoole some by the Lawes do mount Some by the Sword and some by Nauigation As streames haue had though not the selfe same fount Shali only Kings admit a limitation How high for what desert or of what Nation They shall aduance it were a wretched thing On this condition to become a King 148 To make new Creatures is the Princes due And without murmur let him haue his owne The danger only is to him that 's new For enuy euer waites on such a one Both from those men that are not so well growne And from great Houses to who straight will feare Least such new stars should thrust him from the sphaere 149 For those which once haue got the highest staire Will keep them downe that mount with too much hast T is best some say to rise but soft and faire If thou wilt gaine thy iournies end at last Tire not thy meanes by posting ouer-fast Stirre like a Diall vnperceiu'd to mooue So shalt thou gather strength and purchase loue 150 And therefore they that sound a family Must gather wealth and vnder their estates Make great pretences of humility Allie themselues with strong confederates Serue great mens turnes so to auoide their hates For Cerberus with hony sops was pleas'd And malice must with mildnesse be appeas'd 151 Then let it be his work that next succeeds To raise himselfe vnto a greater height Who by imployments or by Martiall deeds Or by vnlading some of that rich fraight Which he hath stor'd perhaps with the conceipt Which he much better then the first may do Whose meanes he hath and adds his owne thereto 152 Nor shall he finde such eager opposition Time hauing worne out all his fathers foes Or els perhaps alter'd their disposition By gifts by fauours
rather My hopefull Haruest proues but Thistles weedes And for the bloud I gaue my heart now bleeds 87 For oh how neere a touch doth Nature giue How searching are the sufferings of our bloud How much the Fathers soule doth ioy or grieue When he doth see his issue bad or good It 's hard of any to be vnderstood Except of those whose feelings bowels find What deepe impressions doe proceed from kind 88 Wise was the Prince who playing with his Sonne And teaching him to ride vpon a Reede To whom a great Ambassador did come And seem'd to blush at his so childish deede Doe not quoth he to iudgement yet proceed I onely craue a respit of thy doome Till thou thy selfe art Father of a Sonne 89 Inferring that there is a secret loue Which vntouch't hearts can hardly comprehend Would God the same reciprocall might proue Oh that kinde Nature would sometimes ascend Fathers too oft in indulgence offend But Sonnes more oft in duty proue defectiue These way ward times are growne so vnrespectiue 90 Nature so wrought that Cressus sonne cried out Who from his birth before had not spoke word When he did see a Souldier goe about To kill the King his Father with a sword Could Nature then such presidents afford Was she so powerfull then now weakned so That Sonnes themselues now work their Fathers woe 91 But foolish man why doe I blame my Sonne Whose yet vnknowing yeares by ill aduise Being led away a dangerous course doth runne For youths hot bloud forgets cold ages yee And whilst his hand is in doth throw the Dice At all that pleasure sets and thinkes to gaine If with the bye he can discharge the maine 92 Sweete Ned I blame not thee but Gauestone For he it is that sitteth at the Helme And steeres the Sterne at pleasure thou art blowne Nor will he leaue till he doth ouer-whelme In deepest gulfe thy selfe and all thy Realme For stirring spirits do troubl'd streames desire And then thriue best when all are set on fire 93 Obserue those wasted States that do decline How apt they are for innouation How much they doe 'gainst publick good repine And hopefully expect an alteration That whilst things are vnsetl'd out of fashion They may close vp the wounds they had before And by that meanes their priuate wants restore 94 Therefore let those that haue a grounded State And may liue well ioyne close in any wise Against all such as seeke to innouate If not in duty yet in good aduise To keep such downe as hope perhaps to rise Vpon their ruines whose reuenewes may Cut short their liues sure proue the spoilers pray 95 And with these linkes such spirits as would rise But are by former great ones still supprest And such do dangerous Stratagems deuise Not will their egar hopes afford them rest But mount they must who euer be deprest And little do they force the States confusion May they thereby to greatnesse make intrusion 96 And to this end they are obsequious still They sooth they fawne they seeme officious They fit themselues to their great mouers will Be 't good or bad iust or iniurious They serue euen turnes base and luxurious But I 'le prouide a wholesome Methridate So to preuent these poisons of the State 97 And firmely setled in this resolution By strict command was Gauestone exil'd I begg'd of him to stop th' execution But then my Father shak'd his head and smil'd Oh Ned quoth he how much art thou beguil'd To foster that which will thy downefall be And warme the Snake that will inuenome thee 98 I wish my selfe an Eccho at that word That I might then haue boldly answer'd thee For neuer was there sharpest edged sword That wounded more then that same wounded me But go he must that was the Kings decree And when he went then dy'd my bloudlesse heart So doth the body from my soule depart 99 The former times haue held it good aduise That some offender should abiure the Land But 't is a course both dangerous and vnwise And with no rules of Regiment can stand For if the matter be with iudgement scand It will appeare to men considerate That abiuration hurts both Prince and State 100 I do not meane of men that are not mist For who respects the humming of a Gnat Such Attomes may wander where they list Their muddy pates can neither frame the plat Nor feeble hands worke danger to the State Let men of note be mark'd and wary heed Be had of them that may disturbance breed 101 And 't is not safe to banish such a one As may finde meanes to worke his owne returne So Bullingbrooke stept in to Richards throne And he had leasure afterwards to mourne His foolish fault such Med'cines may adiourne The present paine a while but makes the sore To raue more selly then it did before 102 Mild drugs may stirre the humors that abound But will not quite expell the growing ill The roote and body both remaining sound Although the Tree be lopt yet thriues it still But when thou hast the Axe to vse at will Strike at the roote and fell it to the ground Rather then pare the boughes and branches round 103 For 't is lost labour to beginne with them They needes must wither if the other die And do not feare though vulgar breath condemne Thy carriage in such courses whose weake eie Lookes at the present only and thereby Values the rest do thou make good thy end The common sort will euer be thy friend 104 Wise Longshankes yet in this thou wert vnwise If thou hadst tooke the head of Gauestone Those subsequent disasters that did rise From him had beene preuented euery one Thy Sonne had not beene shouldred from his Throne Thy Peeres not slaine nor Realmes to ruine brought But so God workes till all his will be wrought 105 My Gauestone thus driuen into Exile My selfe committed like a Captiue thrall For so my Father kept me short a while VVith bitter curses I did ban them all I dranke my teares and fed vpon my gall I chaf'd and fround yet could I not preuaile Needs must wil be faine would doth often faile 106 Then were my colours turn'd to mournfull blacke I did put on the liuery then of care Like to the hopelesse Sea-man in a wracke That sees the greedy waues deuoure his share No otherwise did thoughtfull Edward fare When sad remembrance in my soule did plant His lot my losse his woe my pleasures want 107 The chiefest Cordiall of my grieuedsoule The one and onely period of my paine Was this that Death admitting no controule Would end my Fathers wrath his Life his Raigne And then thought I Ned will haue Pierce againe When Englands Crowne shall make a Ioue of me Then Gaueston my Ganimed shal be 108 As I did hope so had my hopes successe For shortly after did my Noble Sire VVhilst he prepar'd the Scots for to suppresse Loe now quoth I I haue
by obsequious shewes Or els perchaunce for feare of future blowes And so some few discents from higher to higher The newnesse of the house will varnish faire 153 Where sodaine greatnesse ruin'd Gaueston Whom I too much prefer'd before my Peeres Who did possesse me more then any one From whence grew many jelousies and feares Close discontentments which at first appeares Of little moment worthlesse of respect But prov'd such skars as we did least expect 154 It is the praise and blessing of the sonne To make his heate and light both generall Princes are sonnes and both must freely runne In open course and be not seuerall Vnto some few but common vnto all The poorest he that breaths this song may sing Wee all haue interest in the Aire and King 155 And this too much did spread abroad my passion Who like pure water should haue had no taste This error did my gouernment dis-fashion That Gaueston vnworthily was grac't And made too great a monster huge and vaste Who in his growth was vnproportionall Became offensiue to himselfe and all 156 My Seale my Court my Realme was rul'd by him That neither knew to rule nor to obay I car'd not though my Peeres did sinke or swim Nor what my other Counsellors did say For he did stearne my compasse night and day Whilst I being sunke in sinne and drown'd in lust Had almost wrack't the Realme with such a gust 157 The Court which in my Fathers life time seem'd A Senate house of siluer-headed Sages Might now a pompous Theater be deem'd Pester'd with Panders Players and with Pages Of my ensuing fall too true presages And yet in shew it seemed fairer farre So Comets glifter more then any starre 158 But oh the quiet of that happy land Where aged Nestors beare the chiefest sway Where strength of mind rules more then force of hand Where old men bid and yong men doe abey Where Ages winter guideth youths sweete May But when the foote or hand commands the head The body then is many wayes misled 159 Let siluer haires and long experienc'd age Be sole directors of each enterprise Let youth be as an Actor on the Stage To execute what staider heads deuise For youth is actiue age discreete and wise Youth is more daring but precipitate Age more judiciall and considerate 160 Yet should not States-men be too aged men Fer euery yeare their spirits much decay They earthy grow and melancholy then Heauy and dull their edge being worne away Wayward and teachy wrangling all the day Full of Morosity and which is worse Extremely giuen to gripe and fill the purse 161 Besides we see some men are ripe betimes Like sommer fruit some pleasing to the tast And if those spirits in whom such vertue shines May be with greatnesse and imployments grac't They come to full maturity at last Men of exceeding worth they being growne Both for their countries good and for their owne 162 But to my selfe who did neglect my Peeres And onely did deuote my selfe to pleasure Lou'd I why loue it selfe loues youthful yeares Spent I why Kings should not be slaues to treasure Heard I not Subjects suits I had no leysure Did I forbeare my Peeres conuerse What then loue is not tide to sort himselfe with men 163 When they did say that Scottish Bruce did burne My Northerne borders and did wast the same Then sighing I to Gauestone would turne And say sweet Peeres my selfe feeles fancies flame I saw I loue I dye for such a dame Cupid I feare a Bruce to me will proue My hold's by him my heart is fier'd with loue 164 With thsee and many more fantasticke toyes I shifted off my Councell when they came I haue not time enough to spend in ioyes Why should I spare one minute from the same Let them that list by wars go hunt for same I force it not giue me these pleasing warres Where blowes are giu'n but neuer cause no skarrer 165 But when the field is to a field-bed turn'd When eyes like sharpest Launces pierce yet please When amorous hearts with equall flames are burn'd When Foes sinke downe our furies to appease And lips on lips redouble blowes of ease When braue assaults are not by Death contrould In such a band who would not be inroul'd 166 The Roman monster Heliogabilus And Persian Xerxes neuer fortunate Might well be thought to liue againe with vs We priz'd our pleasures at so high a rate Which was our sad and still successelesse fate In peace our fault procured our dâ—caies In warres our Fortunes made vs run-awayes 167 The lucklesse battailes fought whilst I did Raigne With Robert Bruce that Noble English Scot Sad monuments vnto the World remaine That vicious life with Monarchies thriue not For sinne and shame are ti'd with Gordians knot And those designes do proue successelesse quite That are contriu'd by men drown'd in delight 168 Marke but the Maps of all antiquity True Registers vnfalsefi'd records The race of time which we call History And 't will be found that euery age affords Plenty of proofe to fortifie my words Each leafe each time do pregnant witnesse beare Who riot most to ruine are most neere 169 When sinne did ouer-flow the Deluge came Th' Assirians then did loose their Monarchy When their last king did liue most out offrame And was ore-whelm'd with sensuality The Persians then did wrecke their Empery When wealth and ease and lust did most abound Which also did the Romaine State confound 170 The Danes did first set footing in this Land Because Lord Buerâ—â— wife was rauish't here The Saxons forces got the vpper hand When Vortiger held Hengests daughter deere And still our Realme to ruine hath bin neere When ripned sin hath gather'd strongest head So stalled Steeres are to the Shambels led 171 Thus Edward sayd and this our age hath seene Like instance of a neere confining State Neuer was France more deadly sicke of sinne Neuer was goodnesse growne more our of date Neuer did Princes more preposterate Their priuate liues and publique regiment And as they liu'd so died impenitent 172 Neuer Religion seru'd for more pretences Neuer were Nobles more ambitious Neuer like inundations of offences Neuer were Church-men lesse religious Neuer were Commons more seditious Such plotting counter-plotting pollicies Such Massacres such Barbarous cruelties 173 Such impious courses such impunity Neuer was seene lesse blushing and more shame Neuer had sinne so great imunity Neuer was euer all so out of frame As in these latter times till the fiery flame Of ciuill fury and of Forraine foe Did make poore France the Stage of tragicke woe 174 And without doubt had not the Man of men The mighty Atlas of that sinking State Bin rais'd by God to giue new life euen then That famous Kingdome of so ancient date By home ambition and by Forraine hate Had breath'd her last being sin-sicke vnto death And much a doe there was to giue her breath 175 For still the eye of
themselues with strong formalitie The best were guiltie of neutralitie The vulgar sort was tided vp and downe As fortune list to fauour or to frowne 263 The earth her selfe as sorrowing for her sonnes Or wearie of their foule misgouernment Grieue out of heart and barren straight becomes Not yeelding men sufficient to be spent But seem'd to drop away with languishment So may we see how God vnfructifies A fruitfull land for mens impieties 264 The lowring Heauens did seeme to drop down teares As if they wept to wash the sinfull earth Infectious foggs and gloomie clouds appeares Which choke the growth of all things in their birth Heauen earth and all conspir'd to make a dearth Oh see when God takes armes against a land He can Inroll all creatures in his band 265 Great was the want of that vnhappie time The Earth not yeelding her accustom'd store And that which was whilst greedy men purloyne And hord it vp they make the famine more Grinding thereby the faces of the poore As if Gods heauie hand were too too light Vnlesse eu'n man should studie mans despight 266 Such men are traitors euen to natures Law And do conspire against the common good They wring the bread out of the poore mans iawe Whose verie soule doth starue for want of foode But without doubt God will require their blood Their guiltlesse blood which from the earth shall cry And beg reuenge of him that is most high 267 If but one sparke of grace in them did dwell Did they respect humane societie Had they a hope of Heauen a feare of hell Or anie litle sence of pietie Did they in heart conceiue a Deitie And that most iust most wise most powerfull too They would forbeare what God forbids to doe 268 But neither feare of God nor loue of men Nor iust compassion of a publique ill Can worke vpon their brawnie hearts and then Coerciue meanes best fites a stubborne will Else they 'le be hardned in their malice still For oftentimes we see where nature failes Law interposes and indeed preuailes 269 The ancient Roman state in its chiefe pride When it was gouern'd with most sound aduise Had Leges frumentarias to prouide That graine should not grow to too high a price Our times such lawes our Lawes need such aduise Some men are growne so monstrous in their kinde We must like monsters them inclose and binde 270 Me thinks this sinne hath in 't some tast of bloud And what if Dracoes lawes did match this sinne Which is not onely opposite to good And all good offices what soeuer beene But doth also infringe the common kinne Whereby one soule is linck'd vnto another As seuerall sonnes descending from one mother 271 But oh what times are these wherein we liue In which we neither can indure the sore Nor yet the salue the causes why we grieue Nor yet the meanes which should our state restore Once Pharoes kyne which were but leane and poore Deuour'd the fat those times are alter'd cleane For now we see the fat deuoures the leane 272 But whilst impatient hunger did constraine The vulgar sort to eat vnhealthy foode A great mortalitie began to reigne Spilling too much but most plebeian blood And after death came war with angrie moode Loe wretched man how woe still comes in grosse And after one succeeds a second crosse 273 When God seuerely scourgeth any land He seconds plagues with plagues and woes with woes He taketh his three stringed whip in hand Of dearth of death of home of farraigne foes And from these three all desolation growes What true Content what rest to men remaines When ills by ounces Good scarce comes by graines 274 And to encrease the current of my eare A slauish Groome Iohn Pordras was his name Borne in the west at Exeter did dare To bruit abroad that he from Longshanks came And I a Changling but suppos'd the same That he in truth was Edwards lawfull sonne And by a nurse this trecherie was done 275 But afterwards of his vntruth conuicted He did confesse that he was mou'd vnto it By those foule Arts that God had interdicted And by a spirit in likenesse of a Cat Who did assure him by this damned plot He should vnto the Soueraigntie attaine But hanging did indeede preuent his reigne 276 Heere giue me leaue a litle while to dwell Vpon the nature of this accident First I obserue the Diu'll cannot foretell Before things come what will be their euent If that they be not properly contingent This is that may be and not be as well And such no Deuill nor spirit can foretell 277 All future things that haue or may be tould Are in themselues or by their causes knowne Things in themselues God only can vnfould And yet sometimes he doth impart his owne And proper knowledge of such things to come Vnto such Agents as he lift inspire With some small sparkles of his heauenly fire 278 Such were the holy Prophets in their daies Who only by th'infusion of his grace Foretold strange things such likewise did he raise At seu'rall times euen from the gentle race And in that ranck some do the Sybills place Who by the glimmering of his glorious light Of things to come did oft diuine aright 279 Those things that by their causes are concein'd Do either follow of necessitie Therefore in them eu'n men are not deceiu'd Or grounded else on probabilitie Or they do hit by meere contingencie The first the Diu'l must certenly conceaue Ones at the second in the least deceaue 280 And yet because of long experience And by their wondrous knowledge in all Arts And for no earthie substance dimmes their sence And by their speedy motion which imparts A present knowledge from the farthest parts I grant they fully comprehend those things Which vnto vs great admiration brings 281 But when in truth the things are so conceal'd That neither causes nor th' effects appeare Then those occurrents are by them reueal'd In such a sort as double sence may beare Alwaies ambiguous cloudy neuer cleare And such were those same Oracles of old Which were by Phoebus or by Haman told 282 I will be no Retailor of such wares For they are cheape and common vnto all But I obserue what comes to such mens shares I note the fearefull Iudgements that doe fall Vpon such Artists as do vse to call Which both the ancient Annalls do record And modern stories of our time afford 283 Some burnt with fire as Zoroastes was And some the earth did swallow vp aliue As Amphoraus when that he did passe To Thebes some did their owne spirits depriue Of breath And so Pope Benedict did thriue The ninth of that same name whose vitall sine The deuill himselfe by strangling did vntwine 284 Nicephorus and so Abbidoes tells How Simon Magus flying in the Airē By Magick Art and by inchanting spells Fell downe and brake his bones at Peters prayer And so he di'd in horror and despaire Oh God how