retyre but wordes were to no end The wilfull man pursuing blood Ioue ceaseth to perswade And rushing in amongst his foes so hote a skirmish made That euery blowe sets blood abroch and so in little space Euen he who late he did entreat is followed now in chace By Arcas and his company for Ioue resraind the flight Because against his countrey men he had no will to fight Whilest lucklesse Saturne did escape by flight and fortune then And wandred long in vncouth Seas depriude of wealth and men Victorious Iupiter was crownde with glory King of Create And Saturne now ariude at Troy for succour did entreat Ganymedes King Troys sonne was sent in Saturnes ayde A worthy Knight and valiant warre to Iupiter he made But he and his were chased backe euen to their Citie walles For whoso stoode with Iupiter by Iupiter he falles And theare the Troyan Paragon Ganymedes was taine Twixt whome and Iupiter thenceforth sound friendship did remaine Then Saturne did the second time to Seas with shame retire And neuer after durst by warre against his sonne conspire But sayling into lower Realmes in Italie did dwell And hereof it is said his sonne did chase him into hell MEane while lesse ioyous of his fame then ielous of his freakes Her wrong Queene Iuno on the Truls of Iupiter she wreakes Which was the cause that all too late he purposing returne To rescue Danae in whose loue he amorously did burne Was cast by stormes into the Seas that forthwith tooke the name Of him whom for his Piracies Ioue vanquisht in the same Ye might haue seene Aegeon theare with wreakfull wrath inflamde At sight of Ioue at whose decay he long in vaine had aimd And how that Ioue had now the worst and in a trise againe The Gyant with his twise three Barkes in hazard to be â—aine The Centaures shew them valerous so did Ixeon stout And braue Ganymaedes did deale his balefull dole about But when couragious Iupiter had beaten to the ground Aaegeon and in the selfesame Chaynes wherein he often bound The harmelesse soules that crost those Seas himselfe in fetters lay Ye might haue sayd and truly sayd that then did end the fray So many were his high exploits whereof such wonder bread That for the same the Heathen folke doe deifie him dead Which since they are so manifold I many ouerpasse And though Amphitrio blush to heare how he deceiued was And that Alcmena pinch my tongue possest with bashfull shame Yea though that Iupiter himselfe my lauish tongue shall blame Yeat since that iealous Iuno knowes already of the same I dare to tell how Iupiter so cunningly beguilde His loue Alcmena that by him she traueled with childe Of Hercules whose famous Acts we orderly shall tell Whereof the first but not the least in Cradle-time befell CHAP. IIII. QVeene Iuno not a little wroth against her husbands crime By whome shee was a Cockqueane made did therefore at the time In which Alcmena cride for helpe to bring her fruit to light Three nights and dayes inchaunt her throwes and of a Diuelish spight Intended both the Ladies death and that wherewith she went Till Galinthis vnwitching her did Iunos spels preuent Howbeit cankered Iuno still pursuing her intent Two poysoned Serpents got by charmes into the chamber brought Where Hercules in cradle lay and thinking to haue wrought A Tragedie did let them loose who smelling out their pray Skaerd Hercules his brother that in selfe same cradle lay But Hercules as Children vse with little whelpes to play Did dallie childishly with them and no whit did dismay Vntill at last his tender flesh did fecle their smarting stings And then displeasd betwixt his hands the Snakes to death he wrings Amphitrio and the Thebanes all of this same wonder tell And yeeres permitting Hercules did with Euristeus dwell This King by spitefull Iunos meanes did set him taske on taske But Hercules perfourmed more then both of them could aske Yea yet a Lad for Actiuenes the world did lack his like To Wrestle Ride Run Cast or Shoote to Swim to Shift or Strike As witnes his inuention first those solemne actiue Plaies That were on Mount Olimpus tride where he had prick and praise For which his Nouell and himselfe in those not hauing Peeres The Graecians by th'Olimpides kept reckning of their yeeres KIng Atlas daughters in the Isles of Hesperae did holde A many Sheepe and Poets faine their fleeces were of Golde For rarenes then of Sheepe and Wooll in figures so they faine Euristeus pricks his Puple on this nouile Prize to gaine The Greekes applie their sweating Oares and sailing doe persist Vntill they reach the wished shoare where ready to resist Their entrance to the closed Isles an armed Giant stayd Whose grim aspects at first approch made Hercules afraide Now buckle they and boysterous bloes they giue and take among A cruell fight But Hercules had victorie ere long The Giant slaine Philoctes tooke the vanquisher in hand An harder taske had Hercules then pausing now to stand Most dreadfull was their doubtfull fight both lay about them round Philoctes held the harder fight by keeping higher ground The Sonne of Ioue perceauing well that prowesse not auail'd Did faine to faint the other thought that he in deed had quaild And left th' aduantage of his ground and fiercely smites his Foe But Hercules whose policie was to contriue it so Renewing fight most eagerly so strikes and strikes againe That to endure the doubled force his valiant Foe had paine Who yeelding to his Victors will did finde in him such grace As Hercules did thenceforth vse his friendship in each place Hesperides the goodly Nimphs their Keepers chaunce lament But Hercules did comfort them and cure their discontent And shipping then of Rammes and Ewes a parcell thence he went IN coasting back by new-built Troy he saw a monefull sort Of people clustering round about their yet vnconquered Port. He musing much and striking Saile did boldlie aske wherefore They made such dole Laomedon then standing on the Shoare Did tell the cause the cause was thus Laomedon ere than To reare the statelie walles of Troy a costly worke began And wanting pay to finish vp the worke he had begunne Of Neptunes and of Phoebus Priests the Godes of Sea and Sunne He borrowed money promising repaiment of the same By certaine time which thereunto he did expresly name The walles are built the time is come the Priests their money craue Laomedon forsweares the debt and naughtie language gaue Forthwith the Sea the Diuell then did many wonders showe Began to swell and much of Troy with violence ouerflowe And thereupon the swealtie Sunne the wastfull Sea retierd So vehementlie did shine vpon the Oosie plashes myerd That thereof noisome vapours rose and of those vapours spread Such plagues as scarce the liuing might giue buriall to the dead Repentant then their wretched king to diuell-god Delphos goes Where at the Oracle he knew his wrongs to cause
Lady Flood of Floods the Ryuer Thamis it Did seeme to Brute against the foe and with himselfe to fit Vpon whose fruitful bancks therefore whose bounds are chiefly said The want-les Counties Essex Kent Surrie and wealthie Glayde Of Hartfordshire for Citties store participating ayde Did Brute build vp his Troy-nouant inclosing it with wall Which Lud did after beautifie and Luds-towne it did call That now is London euermore to rightfull Princes trewe Yea Prince and people still to it as to their Storehouse drewe For plentie and for populous the like we no wheare vewe Howbe-it many neighbour townes as much ere now could say But place for people people place and all for sinne decay When Brute should dye thus to his Sonnes hee did the Isle conuay To Camber Wales to Albnact he Albanie did leaue To Locrine Brutaine whom his Queene of life did thus bereaue THe furious Hun that drowning theare to Humber left his name The King did vanquish and for spoyle vnto his Nauie came Where Humbars Daughter Parragon for beautie such a Dame As Loue himselfe could not but loue did Locrine so inflame That Guendoleyne the Cornish Duke his daughter Locrins Queene Grewe in contempt and Coryn dead his Change of Choyse was seene To Cornwall goes the wrothfull Queene to seaze her Fathers Land Frō whence she brought to worke reuenge of warriours stout a band And bids her husband battell and in battell is he slaine And for their Sonne in Nonage was she to his vse did raine The Lady Estrild Locrins Loue and Sabrin wondrous faire Her husbands and his Leimans impe she meaning not to spare Did bring vnto the water that the wenches name doth beare There binding both and bobbing them then trembling at her yre She sayd if Scythia could haue hild the wandring King thy Syre Then Brittish waters had not been to him deserued bayne But Estrild snout-fayre Estrild she was sparde forsooth to traine With whorish tricks a vicious King But neither of you twaine Thou stately Drab nor this thy Brat a bastard as thy selfe Shall liue in triumph of my wrong first mother and her Elfe Shall fish in Flood for Humbars soule and bring him newes to hell That Locrins wife on Locrins whore reuenged her so well They lifting vp their lillie hands from out their louely eyes Powre teares like Pearles wash those Cheekes where naught saue beautie lyes And seeking to excuse themselues mercie to obtaine With speeches good and praiers faire they speake and pray in vaine Queene Guendoleyne so bids and they into the Flood are cast Whereas amongst the drenching waues the Ladies breath their last As this his Grandame such appear'd Mempricius Madans sonne Whose brother Manlius traytrously by him to death was donne And since of noble Brute his line prodigious things I tell I skipping to the Tenth from him will shewe what then befell ABout a thirtie yeares and fiue did Leir rule this Land When doting on his Daughters three with them he fell in hand To tell how much they loued him The Eldest did esteeme Her life inferior to her loue so did the second deeme The yongest sayd her loue was such as did a childe behoue And that how much himselfe was worth so much she him did loue The formost two did please him well the yongest did not so Vpon the Prince of Albanie the First he did bestoe The Middle on the Cornish Prince their Dowrie was his Throne At his decease Cordellas part was very small or none Yeat for her forme and vertuous life a noble Gallian King Did her vn-dowed for his Queene into his Countrie bring Her Sisters sicke of Fathers health their husbands by consent Did ioyne in Armes from Leir so by force the Scepter went Yeat for they promise pentious large he rather was content In Albanie the quondam King at eldest Daughters Court Was setled scarce when she repines and lessens still his Port. His secōd Daughter thē he thought would shewe her selfe more kind To whom he going for a while did franke allowance finde Ere long abridging almost all she keepeth him so loe That of two bads for betters choyse he backe againe did goe But Gonorill at his returne not onely did attempt Her fathers death but openly did hold him in contempt His aged eyes powre out their teares when holding vp his hands He sayd O God who so thou art that my good hap withstands Prolong not life deferre not death my selfe I ouer-liue When those that owe to me their liues to me my death would giue Thou Towne whose walles rose of my welth stand euermore to tell Thy Founders fall and warne that none do fall as Leir fell Bid none affie in Friends for say his Children wrought his wracke Yea those that were to him most deare did lothe and let him lacke Cordella well Cordella sayd she loued as a Child But sweeter words we seeke than sooth and so are men beguild She onely rests vntryed yet but what may I expect From her to whom I nothing gaue when these doe me reiect Then dye nay trye the rule maye fayle and nature may ascend Nor are they euer surest friends on whom we most doe spend He ships himselfe to Gallia then but maketh knowne before Vnto Cordella his estate who rueth him so poore And kept his theare ariuall close till she prouided had To furnish him in euery want Of him her King was glad And nobly entertayned him the Queene with teares among Her duetie done conferreth with her father of his wrong Such duetie bountie kindnes and increasing loue he found In that his Daughter and her Lord that sorrowes more abound For his vnkindly vsing her then for the others crime And King-like thus in Agamps Court did Leir dwell till time The noble King his Sonne-in-lawe transports an Armie greate Of forcie Gawles possessing him of dispossessed Seate To whom Cordella did succeede not raigning long in queate Not how her Nephewes warre on her and one of thē slew th' other Shall followe but I will disclose a most tyrannous mother CHAP. XV. GOrbodugs double Issue now when eighteene Kings were past Hild ioyntly Empyre in this land till Porrex at the last Not tyed so by brotherhood but that he did disdaine A fellowe King for neuer can one Kingdome brooke of twaine Did leuie secrete bands for dread whereof did Ferrex flye And out of Gallia bringeth Warre in which himselfe did dye Then Porrex only raigned heere and ruled all in peace Till Iden mother Queene to both her furie did increase So fearcely as she seekes reuenge euen in the highest degree Why liueth this quoth she a King in graue why lyeth he Dye Iden dye nay dye thou wretch that me a wretch hast made His ghost whose life stood in thy light commaundeth me of ayde Nor want I Ferrex will to ayde for why the Gods I see Deferre reuenge nor with a Deuill the Deuils disagree The heauens me thinks with thūderbolts should presse his soule to hell
Vnto Ixeon stood their Sprights that had their lusts for law Rebellants to a common good and sinning without awe To Titius lastly ioyned Ghosts whose hearts did emptie hate As Todes their poyson growing when it seemeth to abate About flie Apples Stones and Tubs the wheele was tumbled downe The Vultur girds no Ghoste but had at least a broken crowne This skufling and confedracie in hell made such a reare That wontles of such braules and blowes Proserpine did feare But Pluto laughing told his Bride to Ela it was Fa To morrowes dinne should prooue that same to be a ciuill day In peace these were their practises on earth and here in hell Saue that their Soules haue neuer peace we finde them as they fell They worke to me each of these fiue though dailie count I aske Doe newlie number Million Soules whose torments is their taske The Queene of such not free of fear replied thus againe And yeat me thinks that Pluto should haue pittie on their paine He lowers and Feast with Fray had end and drinke did euery soule Of Lethe who their ioyes forgot euen yet in torments houle Nay Pluto must be Pluto still and so I will quoth he For this same onely day the Ghosts indebted are to thee For as the like shall neuer come so neuer like befell But henceforth all yea Prince and Pope shall euer find it hell So dreamed one but ouer-long on fantazies I dwell CHAP. XIX THe Cosen of great Constantine in Rome and here succeeds Betwixt the Brutes the Scots and Pichtes continuall trouble breeds And long the reg'ment of this Land the Romanes did inioy Transmitting Captaines euermore as Foes did here anoy But Rome it selfe declined now and Brutaine was opprest No longer were the Scottish Spoyles by Romaine Swords redrest Then ends the Tribute then began new troubles worser farre Then Tribute for the Scots and Pichtes inferre consuming warre The Brutons vnder Rome secure as men that did relie On others were disabled now by Martiall meanes to trie The fame of fight but Captainelesse confusedly they deale And giue a wretched instant of an headles Common-weale And whom so many Romaine Peers grand-Captaines of such might Of whome nine Emperors themselues in persons here did fight Could hardly foyle were fronted now euen of a barbarous Foe And at the point a wondrous change their Country to forgoe Such fruit hath ease such pollicie did serue the Romaines turne Who waining Martiall minds themselues the quietlier here soiorn The Brutons thus dispoy'ld of Armes and courage in effect Of Prince of Captaines and aduise their busines to direct Dispatch their Legate to the Land Diminutiue in name To Brutaine where the Legate thus his Ambassie did frame The back-slide of our helplesse friends the down-fall of our flate Our lacke of Prince of people and our wealth not now as late The sauage dealing of our Foes consuming outs and vs Is cause right mightie King that we approach thy presence thus Not for we are in blood allied or that whil'st Fortune smil'd Your Ancestors had rule from vs not for the Dames defil'd At Cullin who withstanding lust for it did loose their liues That els to Conon and his Knights had liued noble wiues We are emboldned in our suit though all of these might mooue But for our former wants O King and for thine owne behooue Great Brutaine doth submit it selfe thy Subiect if thou please Or els dispose it at thy will Prouided we haue ease Against such Foes as would not saue our liues to haue our Land Whom to conclude except thou helpe we neuer may withstand The King Aldroen pittying much the cause of his Allies Arm'd thence his brother Constantine a Captaine stout and wise He chasing hence the Scottes Pichtes with glory wore the Crowne And through his vertue stayed vp a Kingdome sinking downe WIthin a while did Vortiger the Duke of Cornewalle raigne When Constans Sonne of Constantine he traitrously had slaine The Scotts did ruffle then anew nor did the King affye In Brutones for they hated him and reason had they why And Saxon Fleetes from Germanie in Armor here arriue Through whose support the King in wars against the Scots did thriue The Foe by Hengest foyled thus he and his brother git The chiefest credit with the King but few gaine-saying it Necessitie of Souldiers here so well for them did fit And Hengests Daughter intertain'd King Vortiger so well That to misliking of his wife and liking her he fell And sotted thus in forren Loue did wed the Saxon Wench Which wrought vnto the Saxons weale but to the Brutes offence For whatsoere the Queene did aske the King would not deny Vntill his Subiects ran to Armes and made the Saxons flie They putting downe the Father then did set vp Vortimer He poisoned by his Stepdame they restored Vortiger With this condition that he should no Saxons intertaine But Hengest hearing from the Queene that Vortimer was slaine And Vortiger his Sonne-in-lawe re-kinged did resaile With Saxon forces though with fraud not force he did preuaile For thus by pollicy he did the Brutons circumuent He craued Parlie as a man that were to quietnes bent The place appoynted Parlantes him in simple meaning meet Farre from their Armie all vnarm'd whom Saxon Traitors greet With deadly wounds by hidden kniues held the King with them Confounding so the Brittish Oste. Nor cease they to contemne Both Christian rights and ciuill Rule subuerting either twaine And what they would of Vortiger through feareâ—ull threats they gaine And plant themselues in Southfolke Kent and elsewhere at their will And ruffling runne throughout the Land oppressing Brutons still The King and Brutons fled to Wales and Feend-got Marlin theare Bewraied more then I beleeue or credit seemes to beare As shewing how the Castell worke rear'd daily fell by night By shaking of two Dragons great that vnderneath it fight With other wonders tedious if not trothlesse to resight Aurelius Ambrose brother to King Constans murdred late From either Bruton hauing aid wonne so the kingly state And ere that Hengest or his Sonne stout Octa he subdew'd First to reuenge his Brothers death he Vortiger pursew'd In vaine the Welsh wild Mountaines fence the Flier from his Foe Or Gerneth Castell when as flames throughout the buildings goe In midst whereof the wretched King did end his dayes in woe THe Brutons thus had peace a while till Vortigerus Sonne And Gutllamour the Irish King in new Conflicts begonne Whom whil'st that Vter valiantly in VVales to wracke did bring His Brother Ambrose did decease and Vter then was King What Vter did by Marlins Art in compassing his will Vpon the Wife of Garolus transfigured by skill Into the likenesse of her Lord on whom he got a Sonne Renowmed Arthur or to name the Acts by Vter donne Were much and needlesse onely note he was a valiant Prince But such as was his noble Sonne was not before or since Yeat blazing Arthur as haue some
for thee the hope that to our House doth rest Now all are tryed we can trust if now we faile we fall Thy death is in the same request as is thy Fathers thrall And which I would it were the worst the Foe doth thirst my life To end his Triumph in the deaths of Husband Sonne and Wife Though thy great-Grandsier Grandsier thy Father wonne wore The King-ring which thy Father hild yeares thirtie eight and more Though by the cappitall Remote of Lancaster withstood Yeat fayle prescription and discents now lacke they but our blood Then learne against thou proue a man ah hardly hope I so The Line Lancastrian naturally doth labour of that Foe The Queene concluding thus in teares did then to Armor goe Fierce was the Field and either part did valiantly offend But Edward ouercomming when the Battell was at end The Queene was carried Captiue thence And Edwards men did bring Her Sonne the Prince sole sonne and heire vnto the captiue King Before the Victor whose demaunds receiuing answers stout He thrusts the manly Boy from him whom Glocester about The King Churle that he was did stab So tragicke was the spight Betwixt those Linages that oft each others so requite His death was more than death vnto his Parents but not long His Father moned vndispatcht alike for death and wrong By foresaid Duke of Glocester of whom succeedes our song THus won the Yorkestes ancient Raigne sixe bloodie Fields did seate Edward the Fourth in Englands Throne possest a while in queate He wonne his Subiects loue and loue was debt to his desarts But as must ours so lastly his vn-bodied Soule departs He left his Kingdome to his Sonne his Sonne to be protected By Richard Duke of Glocester Who pietie reiected Grew treble-wise tyrannicall malicious to the blood Of his deceased brothers Queene And what so Yorkest stood Betwixt the Scepter and himselfe aliue he pricked dead A Foe to all Lancastrians as the same by nature bread This common Deaths-man of those Kinnes and euery Nobles fall Whom he but gest Coriuall or might crosse him near so small This stoope-Frog Aesops Storke alike tyrannous vnto all To giltie giltlesse friend or foe was not secure one day But Either dyes as eithers death might fit him any way Yea euen whilst his Brother rulde when all Lancastrians and His Brothers twaine his Nephewes twaine Neeces three did stand Betwixt himselfe and home euen then by blood he hunted Raine For when his owne and ruthles hands King Henries heire had â—â—ayue Then Henries selfe Henrie the sixt a giltles King in bands He stabd his brother Clarence dide through him by other hands But now Protector as doe Wolues the Lambes protected he And fared as if fearing that one wickedder might be Queene mother and her kindred hild the Orphant King a while Her Kinne hee murdred and from her he got the King by gile Whom though vncrowned tituled fist Edward rest his mother He made be murdred with the Duke of Yorke the yonger brother When neither Yorkest his Allies and of Lancastrians none Were left to let it who should let but he might leape the Throne He wore indeede the wrested Palme But yeat to better bad By murder of his wife he sought new marriage to be had With that Elizabeth that was the Eldest daughter to Edward the fourth But all in vaine the King his Neece did wowe For Henrie Earle of Richmonds friends such doings did vndoe Which Henry and Elizabeth by secrete Agents were Contracted he of Lancaster and she of Yorke the heire Of which letigious Famelies heer mapped be the Lines Euen till the Heire of these two Heires both Stockes in one combines CHAP. XXXIII HEnrie as if by myracle preseru'd by Forraines long From hence-ment Treasons did arriue to right his Natiues wrong And chiefly to Lord Stanlie and some other Succors as Did wish and worke for better dayes thâ— Riuall welcome was Now Richard heard that Richmond was assisted and a shore And like vnkenneld Cerberus the crooked Tyrant swore And all complexions act at once confusedly in him He studieth striketh threates intreates and looketh mildly grim Mistrustfully he trusteth and he dreadingly did dare And fortie passions in a trice in him consort and square But when by his conuented force his foes increased more He hastned Battell finding his Coriuall apt therefore When Richmond orderly in all had battelled his ayde Inringed by his Complices their chearefull Leader sayde Now is the time and place sweete Frends and we the Persons be That must giue England breath or els vnbreath for her must we No Tyrannie is fabled and no Tyrant was in deede Worse thaÌ„ our Foe whose workes wil act my words if wel he speede For ill to ills Superlatiue are easely intist But intertaine amendment as the Gergesites did Christ. Be valiant then he biddeth so that would not be out-bid For courage yeat shall honor him though bace that better did I am right heire Lancastrian he in Yorkes destroyed right Vsurpeth But through Either ours for neither Claime I fight But for our Countries long-lackt weale for Englands peace I warre Wherein he speed vs vnto whom I all Euents refarre Meane while had furious Richard set his Armies in array And then with lookes euen like himselfe this or the like did say Why Lads shall yonder Welshman with his Straglers ouer-match Disdaine ye not such Riualles and deferre yee their dispatch Shall Tuder from Plantagenet the Crowne by craking snatch Know Richards very thoughts he toucht the Diademe he wore Be mettall of this mettall Then beleeue I loue it more Than that for other law than Life to super sead my Clame And lesser must not be his Plea that counter-pleads the same The weapons ouer-tooke his words blowes they brauely change When like a Lion thirsting bloud did moody Richard range And made large slaughters where he went till Richmond he espied Whom singling after doubtfull Swords the valerous Tyrant died THus ended Englands warre and woe vsurping Richard dead When Henry and Elizabeth vniting titles wed Of which two Heires th' vndoubted Heire of either Line did cum The Epilogue vnto these wounds digested in this sum Fourth Henry first Lancastrian King put second Richard downe Fourth Edward of the House of Yorke re-seazd sixt Henries Crowne Lad-Princes twaine were stabd in Field of either Linage one Foure Kings did perish Sundry times now-Kings anon were none Sixe three of either faction helde successiuely the Throne But from the second Richard to seuenth Henry we pretend Eight Kings this Faction to begin continue and to end The Princes Earles Barons and Knights this quarrell did deuour Exceede the tale of Gentry best and bacest at this houre So plagueth ciuill Warre so from Robe to Ragge dooth scoure Then luckiest of the Planets weare Predominants say we When by this Bedmatch either Heire that Bloud-mart did agree When Seuenth begot the Eight and Eight the First and Last for like Our now Pandora
of Adams Seede from sinne acquite them could or can Our walls of flesh that close our Soules God knew too weak gaue A further Guard euen euery Man an Angell Guide to haue And Men to vs be Angels whilst they worke our Soules to saue For eare his Fall Man was not left vnto himselfe so free But that he had a Law and Those that should his Temptors be And tempted then the Spirit that for God himselfe was made Was dared by the Flesh that to the Spirit earst obayde The Soule by either laboured to thriue or be betraide To erre is proper then to Men but brutish to persist With Praise and Praier still to God as Dauid thriu'd or mist He plied more in louing God than liuing godly blist Vâ—gratefull Saule distressing him or what eare then befell Or afterwards nor other then Domestick Greefes we tell The troublous Sequels Nathan tould of Dauids House when as To wanton it with Bethsabe Vrias murthred was Effecting now is onely it whereto our Pen shall pas Thamar Ammon Absolom Adoniah also wrought Vnto their Father woe enough let these on Stage be brought Now to the Tribes was Dauid as the Zodiack to the Signes Euen Signifer to euery Prince that circled his Confines A Monarche great in Acts and Fame more great but great'st of all In that he was belou'd of God nor ceast on him to call Who raiâ—d him often falling for his Crosses weare not small Loue 〈…〉 M 〈…〉 〈…〉 King of Geshurs Daughter baire To Dauid 〈…〉 Ab 〈…〉 m and Thamar peereles faire Noâ—â—aâ—rer yeâ—â— than viâ—â—uous though disastrously she speade Suâ—â— is admyred Bewtie that hath Worlds of Mischiefes breade A 〈…〉 mon whom Ahinoam bore to Dauid was the cause Of hers and his owne griefe in that he gaue his Eyes no lawes For Loue is but a Terme like as is Eccho but a Voyce That This doth babble That doth breed or not is ours the choyce And Virtue curbs Affection and for Conscience flyeth sinne To leaue for imperfection feare or shame no praise doth winne But not so happy he as feare or shame or ought might stay His rankled thoughts but sicke luste sicke for Thamar Ammon lay And subtell Ionadabs Aduise did her to him betray For neuer was Pretence so fowle but some would flatter it No any thing so pestilent as mis-applied Wit Seeme feeble sicke and when the King thy Father visits thee Then faine an Appetite to Meate by Thamar drest quoth he Aske that she dresse it in thy sight and of her hand to take it When priuate so thy Market bee as thou doest mar or make it Well pleasde this Counsell Ammon askes and Dauid yeelds anon Nor readier Dauid to bid goe than Thamar to be gone Like Philâ—mela â—â—attering 〈…〉 on she might go With Tereus that prepos'd her shame was Thamar forward so When either Virgin was surprisde wheare least they look't a Foe So gratious portly â—resh and faire and which no lesse attract So modest wittie affable had Nature her compact That such as in his Canticles her Brother hath purtrayde His Loues Idea litrally might Thamar such be saide Goodly thus and gladly then and not suspecting harme She entring wheare he lodged did afresh the Leacher warme His leasing Sicknes then to acte by Arte was more thau neede For seeing her imagine all his Senses sick in deede More could she nor more should she not than she in kindnes did All adding Fewell to the Fier which yet from her lay hid Now saue of him and her the Roome was cleard by his deuise When he did aske to eate which she did bring him in a trise Full glad good Soule her Cookerie might please him any whit When not her Cookrie but her selfe his appetite did fit Concerning which he breakes with her indeuoring her consent Whereto amaz'de she counter-works nor would for ought relent How pretious her Virginitie what sinne it to defile How for their Fathers Luste much woe was prophesied ere-while How Incest was much more a sinne she wished him to way How permanent the Shame to both Enough did Thamar say To haue preseru'd Virginitie if lust had brook't a Nay But pleading teares and words lackt waite by force he rauisht her And hauing forst he forced not to hide how he did erre Nor more he loued her ere while but hates her now as much Of Lust and vnchast Coiture still is the Sequell such Her now vn-virgin'd Eyes did shame to view the common Light She therefore would haue stayde at least not come in coÌ„mon Sight Supposing by her Blusshings all would ayme her altred Plight But out his Doores by violence he shutteth her wherefore Aloude she cride with bitter teares her faire attier she tore And did all Signes of sorrow whilst the cause admired was But when her Brâ—ther Absolom found how had come to pas He comforts her in all he might and to his house conuaies His wofull Sister wheare thenceforth as desolate she states Like Prognes sister pensiue but her moodes weare milder still This wanting will not speech to rayle That wanting speech not will Contrary-wise thought Absolom of nothing but Reuenge And with his choler thinke ye him these thoughts among to menge Did Cadmus for his Sister rapt'e so many Countries rome And shall I sleepe my Sisters Rape that may be quit at home For Rape of one scarce honest was at Troy such tenne-years Fight And shall one easie bloe seeme much sweet Thamers wrong to right Simean and Leui worthy Sonnes of Israel our grand Sier Yee in reuenging Dinas Rape haue set mine heart on fier Euen mine that for a greater wrong should greater things acquier Poore Sychem thou didst loue in deede and Marriage Rites affect Lewde Ammon thou did'st lust in deede and then thy Rape reiect Poore Sichem she a Stranger was whom thou so much didst wowe Lewde Ammon she thy Sister was with whome thou hadst to doe Poore Sichem thou to prize thy loue didst leaue thy Godes for hers Lewde Ammon thou to please thy luste no God at all prefers But howsoeare in these in this no diffrence shall remaine Poore Sichem he was slaughtred lewd Ammon shall be slaine Nor more Maachas goodly Sonne in stomaking did threate Then did this Newes his Father now offensiuely disqueatâ— At poynt almost to act as much as Absolom did plot Euen Ammons death had not he been his Isiue first-begot For which he earst had hild him Deare and present Nature wrought And that himselfe had amorous Slyps is likely too hee thought But howsoeare in woe enough he ouerpafseth it Which Absolom in wroth enough nor could nor would forgiâ— Two yeares in silence neartheles he labord of that fit To his Sheep-shearing Dauid and his Brethren he inuites Such as our Wakes conuenting Kinnes to Feastings and Delightes Now listen what Catastropha this Stratagem behightes The King excus'd his comming whome his Sonne importunes so As Ammon and his other Sonnes had leaue and will to goe
was indeed a wonder for this Virgin so was bent To Chastitie that by selfe-selfe-death she Marrage did preuent Here Mandeuil perhaps had bin and tooke occasion heere To feare least Flenor in like might imitate too neere Euen Toyes in Loue discourage Loue froÌ„ Toyes resumeth cheere Of him therefore whilst Ienkinson rests at his Iornies end With Obdolowcans Sonne that on the Sophie did attend CHAP. LXVIII SO Knightly Mandeuil demeanes himselfe against the Foes Of Melek Mandibron that he in Aegypt famous groes And of himselfe that Soldan did to Mandeuil commend A greater Match than els his Thoughts with hope could apprehend For vertuous beautious Birth Wealth a Match for none to meÌ„d This Ladie also of the blood and heire vnto her Father A mightie Prince in those same Parts he courteth now the rather To intermit that home-bred Loue which seaz'd on him indeed As for to proue how such as he with such as she might speede And there experimented here to cease or els proceede Fye Mandeuil how good so ere thy Merits otherwise In making Loue vnmeant thou didst thy selfe but mis-aduise Though thou could'st buzze about the flame keepe vnskorcht thy wings Few safely play with edge-Tooles sin to iest at holy things With women made for Men therefore soone won yeat edging Sute With Marrage praisde enough in him did first it institute With Women who when all was made and Man of all possest Yeat lacketh Man an Helpe sayd God and Man with Woman blest With marrage that legitimates our Propagation and Two Hearts in one transplants in all befalne or taine in hand With women that no lesse attract our Senses them to leeke Than Hunger for to labour Foode or Anguish Ease to seeke VVith Marrage that preferreth vs and stayes vs in content Vnanimieth weale or woe as either vs is sent In Nature Women Marrage by Tradition either twaine So sacret and autentick as we naither should profaine To trifle then or Them or This were not so slight a sin As that thy Vertues Mandeuil would fault think I therein But for she was a Pagan and thy selfe a Christian theare And she the Soldans Tender thou didst forme a Loue for feare For that thou should'st reny thy Faith and her thereby possesse The Soldan did capitulat in vaine the more thy blesse For than a VVoman euermore the Diuell tempteth lesse Yeat that they tempt not theirs but ours the sinne for if I see And steale a pretious Gemme the Gemme faults not the Theft in me Howbeâ—t when to actiue and to passiue loue it groes And VVomen then shall alter them as Diuels then suppose And like of Men if Men alike shall Reputation lose This faire Aegyptian Ladie of the English Toy in this To wit in forward Loue to whom the farthest Commer is Might easly haue bin wonne of him not at an easie rate If to his Faith a Recreant had Miscrent bin his state But he immoueable aswell in Faith as former Loue Did there so well as he from thence with honor did remoue On Elenor he still deuisde yeat sometimes to allay Those Moodes by mustring in his mind these thoughts did thus assay Full soone the fairest Face thought he would cease from being such If not preserued curiously with tendring more than much Or age at least and that not old so alters it that was That Helen did disclaime her selfe for Helen in her Glas. That great Phisition that had liu'd in health an age admirde Did answer askt the cause not he had done as Flesh desirde Then Mandeuil bethinks him of the Labyrinth of Cares Incumbring married Men and neer that life and loue forswares How tedious were a Shroe a Sloy a Wanton or a Foole All foure a-like threatning Mislike when time should Dotage coole How seldome Women come vndow'd with one or some or all Or answerable Faults to these to men not Crosses small The Flattries and the Fooleries whereby are women wonne With fishing long to catch perhaps a Frog when all is done And all that Sexs Infirmities his Thoughts did ouer-runne But like as Mothers beate their Babes sing them when they crie Loues Incantations so did he with Malice such defie The Amorous with the sea-Crabs gaet doe angring Amours flie This humour and the honor by this Knight in Aegypt wonne Ore-passe we and in Persia see what Ienkinson hath done CHAP. LXIX AT Casben hild the Shawgh his Court who thirtie yeares and odd Had not been seene abroade thereof by Prophe sie foâ—bodd Like Maiestie he kept as those great Monarchs did before The Macedons subdewed them of Wiues he had like store Besides most bewtious Concubines not lesse than fifteene score And yearely of the fairest Maides Wiues doth make new choyce When much the Friends and Husbands of those chosen doe reioyce Him blesseth he to whome doth he one of his Relicts giue Yeat Persian Shaughs esteeme themselues the holiest Kings that liue For when a Christian whom they call an Infidel because He not beleeues in Mahomet nor Mortezalies Lawes Is cal'd to audience least the same prophaine wheare he doth stand Must doffe his Shooes and to and fro treade on new-sifted sand Our Soueraignes Letters to the Shaugh so Ienkinson presents Who being ask't his arrant said those Letters like Contents But new-made Peace with Turkie him of new-sought Trade preueÌ„ts The Turkish Marchants fearing least their Traffique might decrease Had by that Basha mard his Mart that then had made that Peace The Shâ—ugh did also question his Beleefe and quarrell it So well appaid is â—enkinson if well away he git Whome with our letters to the Turke the Shaugh to send was bent Had not the Hyrcane Murzey Posts vnto his Father sent And Obdolowcans Letters then disswaded that intent When with a Present for himselfe he Thence to Hyrcan went And theare did him the heart-trew King most kindly intertayne And thence dismisse with Gifts when he no longer would remayne Nor onely his Ambassadors vnto his care Commends But moment of that Ambassie which he to Mosco sends There now suppose them well ariu'd and bringing gratefull newes Of waightie Messages whearin the Mosick him did vse Conuenient time he nerethelesse for Persian Trade attends Which Arthur Edwards thither sent succesfully theare ends This Edwards and a many here vnnam'd deserued well In these Imployments but of All weare tedious al to tell For sauing of Discouerers we purpose not to dwell Els would we here reuiue but that through Hakluits Pen they liue To him your Fames sweet Trumpetor Yee English Garlands giue A Catalogue of Names that in this North and Northeast Clymes Haue more obseru'd and more deseru'd than perish shall with times Nor be my Father here forgot for he amongst the rest Deserueth in this Generall remembrance with the best And here from out those churlish Seas with Ienkinson we sayle To London theare an aged Man to tell this youthfull Taile How he had past All Europe seene all Leuant Ilands and
nor him a friend esteeme Whom firme as to thy selfe thy selfe thou darest not to deeme Say some But Mandeuil I see of you accompteth so As of his firme and choycest Friend then least I tedious groe I tell thee Stafford next to one is Mandeuil the Man I could haue loued but I loue whom not vn-loue I can Yeat if you aske me whom or where that one beloued is I cannot answer whom or where yeat am and will be his Madame quoth Stafford yet your speech hath head nor foote nor Middle Not naming him you end a Sphynx and tie me to a Riddle Well friend you are to Mandeuil nor foe she sayd to me The greene-Knight Victor at the Iusts a few yeares past is he In sooth quoth Stafford if for him be resolute your Choyce Chuse not againe with you for him consort I also Voyce Nor thinke in that I him prefer I Mandeuil reiect Friendship may brooke Triplicitie and shall in this respect For your owne sake and for his sake than Mandeuil no lesse My Friend I shall his Soules desire you of that Knight possesse Almost an Extasie of Ioy her from her selfe did seuer Hearing of him for whom her heart did hunt and els should euer And though she did obserue his soone Reuolt from friend to friend And him thereof had tacht weare not her priuate Cause to end Yeat was she silent touching it and modestly pursewes In Quest of her beloued Knight But tarrie yet that Newes First Burrough Ienkinson and what by them was done peâ—use CHAP. LXVII IT is no common Labour to the Riuer Ob to sayle Howbeit Burrough did therein not Dangerles preuaile He through the foresayd frozen Seas in Lapland did ariue And thence to expedite for Ob his Labours did reuiue What he amongst the Vaigats and the barbarous Samoeds notes Their Idols Deer-skin TeÌ„ts how on their backs they bare their Botes In which but Hides securely they doe fish those Seas all day And how on Deere they ride and all on Sleds by Deere conuay Do eate their Dead to feast their friends their Children sometime slay Their store of Sables Furres and Pealts fetcht thence from farre away How at our â—raâ— and Lion Signes their Frost and Snow is greate Let be and many things we might of this new Tract intreate By Burrough found whose Praise not much is Chancelors behinde As Master in that Ship with him that first did Russia finde And in this Northeast Trade with Praise do Pet Iackman mind Yeat longer for not largelier One yeelds Matter let vs dwell Of Ienkinson But where shall we begin his Lawdes to tell In Europe Asia Affrick For these all he saw in all Imployd for Englands common good Nor my reioycing small That from Elizabeth to Raigne and I to liue begunne Hath hapned that Commerce and Fame he to his Natiues wonne NOw vnder his Conduct was hence vnto his Home conuaide The Russian first Ambassadour Heere honor'd whilst he staide Nor Captaine Ienkinson was there lesse graced where he wrought That all things to a wished end were for our Traffique brought Here-hence also a friendly League twixt either Prince effected Nor little is their Amitie of vs to be respected For though the Moscouites from vs be People farre remote Yeat if how Danes and Norses haue inuaded vs we note And how the Russies in the like Attempts might hold them back For only it were thence no Trade ill might their Friendship lack From Mosco then by Iournies long the Caspian Sea he crost Himselfe and Goods by Tartars oft in danger to be lost Their Hordes of carted Tents like Towns which Camels drew their Kings By names of Murses Seltans Cans to whoÌ„ for Passe he brings The Russian King his Letters how and royally they troe With Wild-horse flesh and Mares milke him the Kings did banquet tho Their hawking for the Wild-horse For their Hawks will seaze vpon The horses neck who chaffing tiers and so is kild anon Their oft Remoues for Pastures fresh nor Grasse their Pasture is But heathie Brush few Cattell though doe thriue as theirs with this Their naither vse of Coyne or Corne for Tillage none is theare Such Warriors and Horse-Archers as they liue not whom they feare Their crosse-leg eating on the ground Pluralitie of wiues In Turkeman So the whole is sayd and more of their rude liues And how the Marchants trauailing by Carauan that is Great Droues of laden Camels Meate and VVater often mis And how for vs did Ienkinson in Bactra Mart begin Let passe to passe to it for vs he did in Persia win VVith this Memento in Returne from Bactra diuers Kings Sent in his charge their Legates whom to Mosco safe he brings Thence did he sayle for England Hence for Mosco back againe And with our Queene Elizabeth her Letters did obtaine The Mosicks Letters to the Kings by whom he then should pas For Persian Traffique And for this he thence imbarked was NOw in Hyrcana Shyruan or Media all as one Suppose our â—enkinson before King Obdolowcans Throne Though sumptious Citties he possest yeat for the Summers heate On airesome Mountaines held he then his Court in Pleasures greate Of silke and gold imbroyderie his Tents his Robes inchac't With Pearles and pretious Stones and Looks of Maiestie him grac't On Carpets rich they trode rich Traines on him attendance gaue With sixe score Concubines that seem'd so many Queenes for braue Before his faire Pauilion was of Water cleere a Fount Drinke for himselfe and his for most of Water they account Scarce Cleopatras Anthony was feasted with more cheere Of varied Meates and spice-Conceits than â—enkinson was heere In formall Hawking Hunting Chace not theÌ„ came Tristram â—eere Such was this King for stately such for affable and kinde There and abroad so lou'd and feard as like was rare to finde Yeat notwithstanding such his Wealth his Signorie and State He of the Persian Sophie held his Land subdued late But in such friendship as the Shaugh the Sophie so is saide Would yeeld to Obdolowcan in what so he should perswaide Which well in Ienkinsons behalfe but shortly after made Him often questoned this King of Vs and Europs strength And him with Gifts and Priuiledge for Mart dismist at length Silks raw wrought Spices Drugs more-els worth the Mart Our Marchants fetch from thence and there our Marchandize coÌ„uart Things wisely thus dispatched there with men for his defence And Letters from that King vnto the Shaugh he traueld thence In trauell thitherwards he grieues in wonder to behold The down-Fals of those stately Townes and Castles which of old Whilst Persia held the Monarchie were famous ouer all Nor Alexander wonne of those one Peece with labour small The mightie Citties Tauris and Persipolis he past Two ruin'd Gates sundred twelue miles yet extant of this last The Gyants Wonders on the Hill of Quiquiffs heard he tolde And of the yearely Obit which their Maides to Channa holde This