towne so bent I could not lin but I must there lament And that the more fith dest'ny was so sterne As force perforce there might no force auaile But she must fall and by her fall we learne That cities towers wealth world and all shall quaile No manhood might nor nothing mought preuaile All were there prest full many a Prince and Peere And many a Knight that sold his death full deere Not worthie Hector worthiest of them all Her hope her ioy his force is now for nought O Troy Troy there is no boote but bale The hugie horse within thy walles is brought Thy turrets fall thy Knights that whilome fought In armes amid the field are slaine in bed Thy gods defil'd and all thy honor dead The flames vprising and cruelly they creepe From wall to roofe till all to cinders wast Some fire the houses where the wretches sleepe Some rush in heere some run in there as fast In euery where or sword or fire they tast The wals are torne the towers whurl'd to the ground There is no mischiefe but may there be found Cassandra yet there saw I how they haled From Pallis house with spercled tresse vndone Her wrists fast bound and with Greekes rout empaled And Priam eke in vaine how he did runne To armes whom Pyrrhus with despite hath done To cruel death and bath'd him in the baine Of his sonnes blood before the altar slaine But how can I describe the dolefull sight That in the shield so liuely faire did shine Sith in this world I thinke was neuer wight Could haue set forth the halfe not halfe so fine I can no more but tell how there is seene Faire Ilium fall in burning red gledes downe And from the soile great Troy Neptunus towne Here from when scarce I could mine eyes withdraw That fil'd with teares as doth the springing well We passed on so far forth till we saw Rude Acheron a lothsome lake to tell That boyles and bubs vp swelth as blacke as hell Where grieslie Charon at their fixed tide Still ferries ghosts vnto the farther side The aged God no sooner Sorrow spied But hasting straight vnto the bancke apace With hollow call vnto the rout he cried To swarue apart and giue the Goddesse place Straight it was done when to the shoare we pace Where hand in hand as wee then linked fast Within the boate wee are together plaste And forth we lanch full fraughted to the brinke When with th' vnwonted waight the rusty keele Began to cracke as if the same should sinke We hoise vp mast and saile that in a while We fet the shoare where scarsely we had while For to arriue but that we heard anone A three sound barke confounded all in one We had not long forth past but that we saw Blacke Cerberus the hideous hound of hell With bristles reard and with a three mouth'd Iaw Foredinning th' aire with his horrible yell Out of the deepe darke caue where he did dwell The Goddesse straight he knew and by and by He peast and couched while that we past by Thence come we to the horrour and the hell The large greate Kingdomes and the dreadful raigne Of Pluto in his throne where he did dwell The wide waste places and the hugie plaine The wailings shrikes and sundry sorts of paine The sighs the sobs the deepe and deadly groane Earth aire and all resounding plaint and moane Thence did we passe the three-fold emperie To th' vtmost bounds where Radamanthus raignes Where proud folke waile there woefull miserie Where dreadfull din of thousand dragging chaines And balefull shriekes of ghosts in deadly paines Tortur'd eternally are heard most brim Through silent shades of night so darke and dim From hence vpon our way we forward passe And through the groues and vncoth paths we goe Which leade vnto the Cyclops walles of brasse And where that maine-broad flood for aye doth floe Which parts the gladsome fields from place of woe Whence none shall euer passe t' Elizium plaine Or from Elizium euer turne againe With Sorrow for my guide as there I stood A troope of men the most in armes bedight In tumult clusterd 'bout both sides the flood ' Mongst whom who were ordaind t'eternall night Or who to blissefull peace and sweet delight I wot not well it seem'd that they were all Such as by deaths vntimely stroke did fall Some headlesse were some body face and hands With shamefull wounds despoil'd in euery part Some strangled some that dide in captiue bands Some smothred drown'd some stricken through the hart With fatall steele all drown'd in deadly smart Of hastned death with shrikes sobs sighs and teares Did tell the woes of their forepassed yeares We staid vs straight and with a rufull feare Beheld this heauie sight while from mine eies The vapored teares downe stilled here and there And Sorrow eke in far more wofull wise Tooke on with plaint vp heauing to the skies Her wretched hands that with her cry the rout Gan all in heapes to swarme vs round about Loe here quoth Sorrow Princes of renowne That whilome sate on top of Fortunes wheele Now laid full low like wretches whurled downe Euen with one frowne that staid but with a smile And now behold the thing that thou erewhile Saw only in thought and what thou now shalt heare Recount the same to Kesar King and Peere Then first came Henry Duke of Buckingham His cloake of blacke all pild and quite forworne Wringing his hands and Fortune oft doth blame Which of a Duke hath made him now her skorne With gastly lookes as one in maner lorne Oft spred his armes stretcht hands he ioines as fast With rufull cheare and vapored eyes vpcast His cloake he rent his manly brest he beat His haire all torne about the place it lay My heart so molt to see his griefe so great As feelingly me thought it dropt away His eyes they whurld about withouten stay With stormy sighes the place did so complaine As if his heart at each had burst in twaine Thrice he began to tell his dolefull tale And thrice the sighs did swallow vp his voice At each of which he shriked so withall As though the heauens riued with the noise Till at the last recouering his voice Supping the teares that all his brest beraind On cruell Fortune weeping thus he plaind FINIS HOW THE TWO ROgers surnamed Mortimers for their sundry vices ended their liues vnfortunately the one An. 1329. the other 1387. AMong the riders of the rolling wheele That lost their holds Baldwine forget not mee Whose fatall thred false Fortune needs would reele Ere it were twisted by the sisters three All folke be fraile their blisses brittle bee For proofe whereof although none other were Suffice may I Sir Roger Mortimer Not he that was in Edwards dayes the third Whom Fortune brought to boote and eft to bale With loue of whom the king so much she sturd That none but he was heard in any tale And whiles
vnfolded wrapt in deadly smarts VVhen he the death of Clitus sorowed so VVhom erst he murdred with the deadly blow Raught in his rage vpon his friend so deare For which behold loe how his pangs appeare The launced speare he writhes out of the wound From which the purple bloud spins in his face His heinous guilt when he returned found He throwes himselfe vpon the corps alas And in his armes how oft doth he imbrace His murdred friend and kissing him in vaine Forth flow the flouds of salt repentant raine His friends amaz'd at such a murder done In fearefull flocks begin to shrinke away And he therat with heapes of grief fordone Hateth himselfe wishing his latter day Now he likewise perceiued in like stay As is the wilde beast in the desert bred Both dreading others and him selfe adred He calles for death and loathing longer life Bent to his bane refuseth kindly food And plung'd in depth of death and dolours strife Had queld himselfe had not his friends withstood Loe he that thus hath shed the guiltlesse bloud Though he were King and Kesar ouer all Yet chose he death to guerdon death withall This Prince whose Peere was neuer vnder sunne Whose glistening fame the earth did ouerglide Which with his power welny the world had wonne His bloudy hands himselfe could not abide But folly bent with famine to haue dide The worthy Prince deemed in his regard That death for death could be but iust reward Yet we that were so drowned in the depth Of deepe desire to drinke the guiltlesse bloud Like to the Wolfe with greedy lookes that lepth Into the snare to feed on deadly food So we delighted in the state we stood Blinded so far in all our blinded traine That blind we saw not our destruction plaine We spared none whose life could ought forlet Our wicked purpose to his passe to come Foure worthy Knights we headed at Pomfret Guiltelesse God wot withouten law or dome My heart euen bleedes to tell you all and some And how Lord Hastings when he feared least Dispiteously was murdred and opprest These rocks vpraught that threatned most our wreck We seemd to saile much surer in the streame And Fortune faring as she were at becke Laid in our lap the rule of all the Realme The Nephues straight deposde were by the Eame And we aduanst to that we bought full deere He crowned King and I his chiefest Peere Thus hauing won our long desired pray To make him King that he might make me chiefe Downe throw we straight his silly Nephues tway From Princes pompe to wofull prisoners life In hope that now stint was all further strife Sith he was King and I chiefe stroke did beare Who ioied but we yet who more cause to feare The guiltles bloud which we vniustly shed The roiall babes deuested from their throne And we like traytours raigning in their stead These heauy burdens passed vs vpon Tormenting vs so by our selues alone Much like the felon that pursu'd by night Starts at ech bush as his foe were in sight Now doubting state now dreading losse of life In feare of wrack at euery blast of winde Now start in dreames through dread of murders knife As though euen then reuengement were assinde With restles thought so is the guilty minde Turmoild and neuer feeleth ease or stay But liues in feare of that which followes aye Well gaue that Iudge his doome vpon the death Of Titus Celius that in bed was slaine When euery wight the cruell murder laieth To his two sonnes that in his chamber laine The Iudge that by the proofe perceiueth plaine That they were found fast sleeping in their bed Hath deemd them guiltles of this bloud yshed He thought it could not be that they which brake The lawes of God and man in such outrage Could so forth with themselues to sleepe betake He rather thought the horrour and the rage Of such an heinous guilt could neuer swage Nor neuer suffer them to sleepe or rest Or dreadles breath one breth out of their brest So gnawes the griefe of conscience euermore And in the heart it is so deepe ygraue That they may neither sleepe nor rest therefore Ne thinke one thought but on the dread they haue Still to the death foretossed with the waue Of restles woe in terrour and despeare They lead a life continually in feare Like to the Deere that stricken with the dart Withdrawes himselfe into some secret place And feeling greene the wound about his hart Startles with pangs till he falt on the grasse And in great feare lies gasping there a space Forth braying sighes as though ech pang had brought The present death which 〈…〉 dread so oft So we deepe wounded with the bloodie thought And gnawing worme that grieu'd our conscience so Neuer tooke ease but as our heart out brought The stayned sighes in witnes of our woe Such restlesse cares our fault did well beknow Wherewith of our deserued fall the feares In euery place rang death within our eares And as ill graine is neuer well ykept So fared it by vs within a while That which so long with such vnrest we reapt In dread and danger by all wit and wile Loe see the fine when once it felt the whele Of slipper Fortune stay it might no stowne The wheele whurles vp but straight it whurleth downe For hauing rule and riches in our hand Who durst gaine say the thing that we auer'd Will was wisdome our lust for law did stand In sort so strange that who was not afeard When he the sound but of King Richard heard So hatefull waxt the hearing of his name That you may deeme the residue of the same But what auail'd the terrour and the feare Wherewith he kept his lieges vnder awe It rather wan him hatred euery where And fained faces forc'd by feare of law That but while Fortune doth with fauour blaw Flatter through feare for in their heart lurkes aye A secret hate that hopeth for a day Recordeth Dionysius the King That with his rigour so his Realme opprest As that he thought by cruell feare to bring His subiects vnder as him liked best But loe the dread wherewith himselfe was strest And you shall see the fine of forced feare Most Mirrour like in this proud Prince appeare All were his head with crowne of gold yspread And in his hand the royall scepter set And he with princely purple richly clad Yet was his heart with wretched cares orefret And inwardly with deadly feare beset Of those whom he by rigour kept in awe And fore opprest with might of tyrants law Against whose feare no heapes of gold and glie No strength of guard nor all his hired powre Ne proud high towres that preased to the skie His cruell heart of safetie could assure But dreading them whom he should deeme most sure Himselfe his beard with burning brand would seare Of death deseru'd so vexed him the feare This might suffice to represent the fine Of
to the morning mist And straight againe the teares how they down rold Alongst his cheekes as if the riuers hist Whose flowing streames ne were no sooner whist But to the stars such dreadfull shouts he sent As if the throne of mighty Ioue should rent And I the while with sprits welny bereft Beheld the plight and pangs that did him straine And how the bloud his deadly colour left And straight returnd with flaming red againe When suddenly amid his raging paine He gaue a sigh and with that sigh hee said Oh Banastaire and straight againe he staid Dead lay his corps as dead as any stone Till swelling sighs storming within his breast Vpraisd his head that downeward fell anon With lookes vpcast and sighs that neuer ceast Forth streamd the teares records of his vnrest When he with shrikes thus groueling on the ground Ybraied these words with shrill and dolefull sound Heauen and earth and ye eternall lamps That in the heauens wrapt will vs to rest Thou bright Phoebe that clearest the nights damps Witnesse the plaints that in these pangs opprest I wofull wretch vnlade out of my brest And let me yeeld my last words ere I part You you I call to record of my smart And thou Alecto feede mee with thy food Let fall thy serpents from thy snaky heare For such reliefe well fits mee in this mood To feede my plaint with horrour and with feare While rage afresh thy venomd worme areare And thou Sibylla when thou seest mee faint Addresse thy selfe the guide of my complaint And thou O Ioue that with the deepe fordoome Dost rule the earth and raigne aboue the skies That wreakest wrongs and giu'st the dreadful doome Against the wretch that doth thy name despise Receiue these words and wreake them in such wise As heauen and earth may witnesse and behold Thy heapes of wrath vpon this wretch vnfold Thou Banastaire gainst thee I clepe and call Vnto the Gods that they iust vengeance take On thee thy bloud thy stained stocke and all O Ioue to thee aboue the rest I make My humble plaint guide me that what I speake May be thy will vpon this wretch to fall On thee Banastaire wretch of wretches all O would to God the cruell dismal day That gaue me light first to behold thy face With foule eclipse had reft my sight away Th' vnhappy hower the time and eke the day The Sunne and Moone the Stars and all that was In their aspects helping in ought to thee The earth and aire and all accursed be And thou caitiffe that like a monster swarued From kind and kindnes hast thy master lorne Whom neither trueth nor trust wherein thou serued Ne his deserts could moue nor thy faith sworne How shall I curse but wish that thou vnborne Had beene or that the earth had rent in tway And swallowed thee in cradle as thou laie To this did I euen from thy tender youth Vouchsafe to bring thee vp did I herefore Beleeue the oth of thy vndoubted truth Aduance thee vp and trust thee euermore By trusting thee that I should die therfore O wretch and worse then wretch what shall I say But clepe and curse gainst thee and thine for aye Hated be thou disdaind of euery wight And pointed at where euer that thou goe A traiterous wretch vnworthy of the light Be thou esteemd and to encrease thy woe The sound be hatefull of thy name also And in this sort with shame and sharp reproch Lead thou thy life till greater griefe approch Dole and despaire let those be thy delight Wrapped in woes that cannot be vnfold To waile the day and weepe the weary night With rainy eine and sighes cannot be told And let no wight thy woe seeke to withhold But count thee worthy wretch of sorowes store That suffering much oughtst still to suffer more Deserue thou death yea be thou deem'd to die A shamefull death to end thy shamefull life A sight longed for ioifull to euery eye When thou shalt be arraigned as a theefe Standing at bar and pleading for thy life With trembling tongue in dread and dolours rage Lade with white lockes and fourscore yeares of age Yet shall not death deliuer thee so soone Out of thy woes so happy shalt not be But to th' eternall Ioue this is my boone That thou maist liue thine eldest sonne to see Reft of his wits and in a soule Bores stye To end his daies in rage and death distrest A worthy tombe where one of thine should rest Yet after this yet pray I more thou may Thy second sonne see drowned in a dike And in such sort to close his latter day As heard or seene erst hath not been the like Ystrangled in a puddle not so deepe As halfe a foot that such hard losse of life So cruelly chanst may be the greater griefe And not yet shall thy dolefull sorrowes cease Ioue shall not so withhold his wrath from thee But that thy plagues may more and more encrease Thou shalt still liue that thou thy selfe maist see Thy daughter strucken with the leprosie That she that erst was all thy whole delight Thou now maist loath to haue her come in sight And after that let shame and sorrowes griefe Feed forth thy yeares continually in woe That thou maist liue in death and die in life And in this sort forwaild and wearied so At last thy ghost to part thy bodie fro This pray I Ioue and with this latter breath Vengeance I aske vpon my cruell death This said he flung his retchlesse armes abroad And groueling flat vpon the ground he lay Which with his teeth he all to gnasht and gnaw'd Deepe grones he fet as he that would away But loe in vaine he did the death assay Although I thinke was neuer man that knew Such deadly paines where death did not ensue So stroue he thus a while as with the death Now pale as lead and cold as any stone Now still as calme now storming forth a breath Of smokie sighes as breath and all were gone But euery thing hath end so he anon Came to himselfe when with a sigh outbrayed With woefull cheere these woefull words he said Ah where am I what thing or whence is this Who rest my wits or how do I thus lie My limbes do quake my thought agasted is Why sigh I so or whereunto do I Thus groule on the ground and by and by Vprais'd he stood and with a sigh hath stai'd When to himselfe returned thus he said Sufficeth now this plaint and this regrete Whereof my heart his bottome hath vnfraught And of my death let Peeres and Princes were The worlds vntrust that they thereby be taught And in her wealth sith that such change is wrought Hope not too much but in the mids of all Thinke on my death and what may them befall So long as Fortune would permit the same I liu'd in rule and riches with the best And past my time in honor and in fame
shamefull death no earthly wight bemones For in thy life thy workes were hated so That euery man did wish thy ouerthro Wherefore I may though partiall now I am Curse euery cause whereof thy bodie came Woe worth the man that fathered such a child Woe worth the houre wherein thou wast begate Woe worth the brests that haue the world beguil'd To nourish thee that all the world did hate Woe worth the gods that gaue thee such a fate To liue so long that death deseru'd so oft Woe worth the chance that set thee vp aloft Yee Princes all and Rulers euery chone In punishment beware of hatreds ire Before yee scourge take heed looke well thereon In wroths ill will if malice kindle fire Your hearts will burne in such a hot desire That in those flames the smoke shall dim your sight Yee shall forget to ioyne your iustice right You should not iudge till things be well discerned Your charge is still to maintaine vpright lawes In conscience rules ye should be throughly learned Where clemencie bids wrath and rashnes pause And further saith strike not without a cause And when ye smite do it for iustice sake Then in good part each man your scourge wil take If that such zeale had mou'd this tyrants mind To make my plague a warrant for the rest I had small cause such fault in him to find Such punishment is vsed for the best But by ill will and powre I was opprest He spoil'd my goods and left me bare and poore And caused me to beg from dore to doore What fall was this to come from Princes fare To watch for crums among the blind and lame When almes were delt I had an hungrie share Because I knew not how to aske for shame Till force and need had brought me in such frame That starue I must or learne to beg an almes With booke in hand to say S. Dauids Psalmes Where I was wont the golden chaines to weare A paire of beads about my necke was wound A linnen cloth was lapt about my heare A ragged gowne that trayled on the ground A dish that clapt and gaue a heauie sound A staying staffe and wallet therewithall I bare about as witnesse of my fall I had no house wherein to hide my head The open streete my lodging was perforce Full oft I went all hungrie to my bed My flesh consum'd I looked like a corse Yet in that plight who had on me remorse O God thou know'st my friends forsooke me then Not one holpe me that succred many a man They froun'd on me that faun'd on me before And fled from me that followed me full fast They hated me by whom I set much store They knew full well my fortune did not last In euery place I was condemn'd and cast To pleade my cause at barre it was no boote For euery man did tread me vnder foote Thus long I liu'd all wearie of my life Till death approcht and rid me from that woe Example take by me both maid and wife Beware take heed fall not to follie so A mirour make by my great ouerthro Defie the world and all his wanton waies Beware by me that spent so ill her daies Tho. Churchyard HOW THOMAS WOLSEY DID ARISE VNTO GREAT authoritie and gouernment his manner of life pompe and dignitie and how he fell downe into great disgrace and was arrested of high treason Anno 1530. SHall I looke on when States step on the stage And play their parts before the peoples face Some men liue now scarce fourescore yeares of age Who in time past did know the Cardnals Grace A gamesome world when Bishops run at bace Yea get a fall in striuing for the gole And bodie lose and hazard silly sole Ambitious mind a world of wealth would haue So scrats and scrapes for scorfe and scornie drosse And till the flesh and bones be hid in graue Wit neuer rests to grope for mucke and mosse Fie on proud pompe and gilded bridles bosse O glorious gold the gaping after thee So blinds mine eyes they can no danger see Now note my birth and marke how I began Behold from whence rose all this pride of mine My father but a plaine poore honest man And I his sonne of wit and iudgement fine Brought vp at schoole and prou'd a good Diuine For which great gifts degree of schoole I had And Batchler was and I a little lad So tasting some of Fortunes sweete concaits I clapt the hood on shoulder braue as Son And hopte at length to bite at better baits And fill my mouth ere banquet halfe were don Thus holding on the course I thought to ron By many a feast my belly grew so big That Wolsey streight became a wanton twig Loe what it is to feed on daintie meate And pamper vp the gorge with suger plate Nay see how lads in hope of higher seate Rise early vp and studie learning late But he thriues best that hath a blessed fate And he speeds worst that world will nere aduance Nor neuer knowes what meanes good lucke nor chance My chance was great for from a poore mans son I rose aloft and chopt and chang'd degree In Oxford first my famous name begon Where many a day the scholers honor'd mee Then thought I how I might a courtier bee So came to Court and feathred there my wing With Henrie th' eight who was a worthie King He did with words assay me once or twice To see what wit and readie sprite I had And when he saw I was both graue and wise For some good cause the King was wondrous glad Then downe I lookt with sober countnance sad But heart was vp as high as hope could go That suttle fox might win some fauour so We worke with wiles the minds of men like wax The fawning whelp gets many a piece of bred We follow Kings with many cunning knacks By searching out how are their humours fed He haunts no Court that hath a doltish hed For as in gold the pretious stone is set So finest wits in Court the credit get I quickly learn'd to kneele and kisse the hand To wait at heele and turne like top about To stretch out necke and like an Image stand To taunt to scoffe and face the matter out To prease in place among the greatest rout Yet like a Priest my selfe did well behaue In faire long gowne and goodly garments graue Where Wolsey went the world like Beeswould swarme To heare my speech and note my nature well I could with tongue vse such a kind of charme That voice full cleare should sound like siluer bell When head deuis'd a long discourse to tell With stories strange my speech should spised be To make the world to muse the more on me Each tale was sweet each word a sentence waid Each eare I pleas'd each eye gaue me the view Each Iudgement markt and paused what I said Each mind I fed with matter rare and new Each day and houre my
refuse The rich and poore and eu'ry one may see Which way to loue and liue in due degree I wish them often well to reade it than And marke the causes why those Princes fell But let me end my tale that I began When I had read these Tragedies full well And past the winter euenings long to tell One night at last I thought to leaue this vse To take some ease before I chang'd my Muse Wherefore away from reading I me gate My heauie head waxt dull for want of rest I laid me downe the night was waxed late For lacke of sleepe mine eyes were sore opprest Yet fancie still of all their deaths encreast Me thought my mind from them I could not take So worthie wights as caused me to wake At last appeared clad in purple blacke Sweet Somnus rest which comforts each aliue By ease of mind that weares away all wracke That noysome night from wearie wits doth driue Of labours long the pleasures we atchieue Whereat I ioy'd sith after labours past I might enioy sweet Somnus sleepe at last But he by whom I thought my selfe at rest Reuiued all my fancies fond before I more desirous humblie did request Him shew th' vnhappie Albion Princes yore For well I wist that he could tell me more Sith vnto diuers Somnus erst had told What things were done in elder times of old Then straight he forth his seruant Morpheus call'd On Higins heere thou must quoth he attend The Britaine Peeres to bring whom Fortune thral'd From Lethean lake and th' ancient shapes them lend That they may shew why how they tooke their end I wil quoth Morpheus shew him what they were And so me thought I saw them straight appeare One after one they came in strange attire But some with wounds and blood were so disguis'd You scarcely could by reasons aid aspire To know what warre such sundrie deaths deuis'd And seuerally those Princes were surpris'd Of former state these States gaue ample show Which did relate their liues and ouerthrow Of some the faces bold and bodies were Distain'd with woad and Turkish beards they had On th' ouer lips mutchatoes long of haire And wilde they seem'd as men despairing mad Their lookes might make a constant heart full sad And yet I could not so forsake the view Nor presence ere their minds I likewise knew For Morpheus bad them each in order tell Their names and liues their haps and haplesse daies And by what meanes from Fortunes wheele they fell Which did them erst vnto such honors raise Wherewith the first not making moe delaies A noble Prince broad wounded brest that bare Drew neere to tell the cause of all his care Which when me thought to speak he might be bold Deepe from his brest he threw an vnquoth sound I was amaz'd his gestures to behold And blood that freshly trickled from his wound With echo so did halfe his words confound That scarce a while the sense might plaine appeare At last me thought he spake as you shall heare Faults escaped PAge 555. lin 17. browes reade bowes p. 566. l. 10. left r. let p. 579. l. 3. sh r. shore p. 583. l. 13. speele r. steele p. eadem l. 15 vaines flow r. vaines did flow p. 588. l. 3. nor r. not p. 599. l. 28. approth r. approch p. 600. l. 11. t' abate r. to abate p. 629. l. 23. this r. his p. 636. l. 5. foe r. woe p. 657. l. 16. soee r. loare p. 671. l 32. with Austrian r. with th' Austrian p. 682. l. 7. let r. le ts p. 683. l. 37. to obtaine r. t' obtaine p. 706. l. 15. I r. O. p. 728. l. 15. But r. Blunt in some copies p. 793. marg Anno Reg. 51. r. 15. p. 834. l. 13. recoil'd r. recoile p. 855. l. 30. throne r. chaire 866. l. 25. house tops r. houses tops HOW KING ALBANACT THE YOVNGEST SONNE OF BRVTVS AND FIRST KING OF Albany now called Scotland was slaine by king Humber the yeere before Christ 1085. SIth flattering Fortune slily could beguile Mee first of Britaine Princes in this land And yet at first on mee did sweetely smile Behold mee here that first in presence stand And when thou well my wounded corps hast scand Then shalt thou heare my hap to penne the same In stories called Albanactae by name Lay feare aside let nothing thee amaze Ne haue despaire ne scuse the want of time Leaue off on mee with fearefull lookes to gaze Thy pen may serue for such a tale as mine First I will tell thee of my fathers line Then why he flying from the Latin land Did saile the seas and found the Briton strand And last I minde to tell thee of my selfe My life and death a Tragedy so true As may approue your world is all but pelfe And pleasures sweete whom sorrowes aye ensue Hereafter eke in order comes a crue Which can declare of worldly pleasures vaine The price we all haue bought with pinching paine When Troy was sackt and brent and could not stand Aeneas fled from thence Anchises sonne And came at length to King Latinus land He Turnus slew Lauinia eke he wonne After whose death Ascanius next his sonne Was crowned King and Siluius then his heire Espoused to a Latine Lady faire By her had Siluius shortly issue eke A goodly Prince and Brutus was his name But what should I of his misfortune speake For hunting as he minded strike the game He strook his father that beyond it came The quarrell glaunst and through his tender fide It flew where through the noble Siluius dide Lo thus by chance though princely Brutus slew His father Siluius sore against his will Which came too soone as he his arrow drew Though he in chace the game did mind to kill Yet was he banisht from his countrey still Commanded thither to returne no more Except he would his life to lose therefore On this to Greece Lord Brutus tooke his way Where Troians were by Grecians captiues kept Helenus was by Pirrhus brought away From death of Troians whom their friends bewept Yet he in Greece this while no busines slept But by his facts and feates obtain'd such fame Seuen thousand captiue Troians to him came Assaracus a noble Grecian eke Who by his mother came of Troian race Because he saw himselfe in Greece too weake Came vnto him to aide him in this case For of his brother he could finde no grace Which was a Greeke by both his parents sides His Castles three the Troian Brutus guides While he to be their Captaine was content And as the Troians gathered to his band Ambassage to the Grecian King he sent For to entreate they might depart his land Which when King Pandrasus did vnderstand An armie straight he did therefore addresse On purpose all the Troians to suppresse So as King Pandrasus at Spartane towne Thought them in deserts by to circumuent The Troians with three thousand beate them downe Such fauour loe them Ladie Fortune
faithfull men so valiant bold and stout What pleasures more on earth could lightly be Then win an Ile and liue deuoid of doubt An Ile said I nay nam'd the world throughout Another world sith sea doth it diuide From all that wants not all the world beside What subiects eke more happie were then these Had such a King of such a noble heart And such a land enioyd and liu'd at ease Whereof ech man almost might chuse his part No feare of foes vnknowne was treasons art No faining friends no fauning Gnatoes skill No Thrasoes brags but bearing ech good will But as ech summer once receiues an end And as no State can stable stand for aye As course of time doth cause things bow and bend As euery pleasure hath her ending day As will can neuer passe the power of may Euen so my father happie daies that spent Perceiu'd he must by sicknesse last relent As doth the shipman well foresee the storme And knowes what danger lies in Syrtes of sand Eke as the husbandman prouides beforne When he perceiues the winter cold at hand Euen so the wise that course of things haue scand Can well the end of sicknes great presage When it is ioyn'd with yeeres of stooping age His sonnes and Counsell all assembled were For why he sent for vs and them with speed We came in hast this newes did cause vs feare Sith so he sent we thought him sick indeed And when we all approcht to him with speed Too soone alas his Grace right sick we found And him saluted as our duties bound And casting of his wofull eyes aside Not able well to moue his painfull head As silent we with teares his minnde abide He wild himselfe be reared in his bed Which done with sight of vs his eyes he fed Eke pausing so a while for breath he staid At length to them and vs thus wise he said No maruaile sure though you here with be sad You noble Britaines for your Brutus sake Sith whilom me your captaine stout you had That now my leaue and last farwell must take Thus nature willes me once an ende to make And leaue you here behinde which after mee Shall die as me depart before you see You wot wherefore I with the Grecians fought With dint of sworde I made their force to flie Antenors friends on Tuscane shores I sought And did them not my promist land denie By Martiall powre I made the Frenchmen flie Where you to saue I lost my faithfull frend For you at Tours my Turnus tooke his end I need not now recite what loue I bare My friendship you I trust haue found so well That none amongst you all which present are With teares doth not record the tale I tell Eke whom I found for vertues to excell To them I gaue the price thereof as due As they deseru'd whose facts I found so true Now must I proue if paines were well bestow'd Or if I spent my gratefull gifts in vaine Or if these great good turnes to you I ow'd And might not aske your loyall loues againe Which if I wist what tongue could tell my paine I meane if you vngratefull mindes doe beare What meaneth death to let me linger here For if you shall abuse your Prince in this The gods on you for such an hainous fact To take reuenge be sure will neuer misse And then too late you shall repent the act When all my Realine and all your wealths are sackt But if you shall as you begun proceed Of kingdomes fall or foes there is no dreed And to auoid contention that may fall Because I wish this Realme the Britans still Therefore I will declare before you all Sith you are come my whole intent and will Which if you keepe and wrest it not to ill There is no doubt but euermore with fame You shall enioy the Britans Realme and name You see my sonnes that after me must raigne Whom you or this haue lik'd and counsail'd well You know what erst you wisht they should refraine Which way they might all vices vile expell Which way they might in vertues great excell Thus if you shall when I am gone insue You shall discharge the trust repos'd in you Be you their fathers with your counsell wise And you my children take them euen as me Be you their guides in what you can deuise And let their good instructions teach you three Be faithfull all as brethren ought agree For* concord keepes a Realme in stable stay But discord brings all kingdomes to decay Record you this to th' eldest sonne I giue This middle part of Realme to hold his owne And to his heires that after him shall liue Also to Camber that his part be knowne I giue that land that lies welnigh oregrowne With woods Northwest and mountaines mightie hie By South whereof the Cornish sea doth lie And vnto thee my yongest sonne that art Mine Albanact I giue to thee likewise As much to be for thee and thine apart As North beyond the arme of sea there lies Of which loe heere a Mappe before your eies Loe heere my sonnes my kingdome all you haue For which remember nought but this I craue First that you take these fathers graue for me Imbrace their counsell euen as it were mine Next that betweene your selues you will agree And neuer one at others wealth repine See that yee bide still bound with friendly line And last my subiects with such loue retaine As long they may your subiects eke remaine Now faint I feele my breath begins to faile My time is come giue each to me your hand Farewell farewell to mourne will not preuaile I see with Knife where Atropos doth stand Farewell my friends my children and my land And farewell all my subiects farewell breath Farewell ten thousand times and welcome death And euen with that he turn'd himselfe aside Vpyeelding gasping gaue away the ghost Then all with mourning voice his seruants cri'd And all his subiects eke from least to most Lamenting fil'd with wailing plaints each coast And so the Britans all as nature bent Did for their King full dolefully lament But what auailes to striue against the tide Or else to driue against the streame and winde What booteth it against the Cliues to ride Or else to worke against the course of kind Sith Nature hath the end of things assign'd There is no nay we must perforce depart Gainst dint of death there is no ease by art Thus raign'd that worthie King that found this land My father Brutus of the Troian blood And thus he died when he full well had man'd This noble Realme with Britans fierce and good And so a while in stable state it stood Till we diuided had this Realme in three And I too soone receiu'd my part to mee Then straight through all the world gan Fame to flie A monster swifter none is vnder Sun Encreasing as in waters we descry The circles small of nothing that begun Which at
men that did Iehouaes sonne refuse The King of Iewes the Lord of life and health Were gouern'd thus Tiberius thus did vse The men that were the Gods in Commonwealth Forsaking so their heauenly sauing health The Emprour I which should their liues defend Sought all the meanes to bring their liues to end Yet to religion I was nothing bent Dissembled things that least I fauour'd still I neuer vsde to speake the things I ment But bare in mind the waies to worke men ill I seem'd to some to beare them great good will And those I tooke away as time did serue Inconstant vnto each yet seldome seem'd to swerue To drunkennesse and riot sports and ease And pleasure all I gaue my studie then Nought more then subtill shiftings did me please With bloodshed craftie vndermining men My Court was like a Lions lurking den The Iesters nam'd me Caldius Biberius Mero In stead of this my name Clandius Tiberius Nero. I will no more my life describe this time For why my facts at last deseru'd defame Infected with so many a fulsome crime As may not heere repeated be for shame I haue no cause the Ladie blind to blame But mine owne selfe who did abuse my place Which might full well haue vsde the gifts of grace Three things in fine I tell that wrought my fall First vile dissembling both with God and man For bloodshed then which hauocke made of all Blood cries to him that well reuenge it can For filthie life I much offended than Wherefore aliue thus poysoned with these three Caligula at last did poyson me To Princes this I say and worthie Peeres I wish them wisely weigh that heare me shall And poise my first exploits with latter yeeres And well consider one thing in my fall * Abuse of power abaseth Princes all In throne on earth a Prince as God doth sit And as a God no iustice should omit HOW CAIVS CAESAR CALIGVLA EMPEROVR OF Rome was slaine by Cherea and others the yeare of Christ 42. VNhappie Princes haue in wealth no grace To see how soone their vices bring them vnder But run vnruly reckelesse of their race Till at the length they make themselues a wonder When from aloft their traces fall asonder There is no hope to hold aright the trace They cannot keepe aloft th' Emperiall place Beholde my hap on whom the Romane rout With ioy did gaze when bloudy slaine I lay Here lies quoth they thrust thirtie times throughout The monster vile that beast Caligula Which did so many guiltlesse Romanes slay The nobles now the matrons need not doubt The worthy writers may their works set out I was I grant full leaudly led by lust I forced nought of vertue faith nor law In power I put my confidence and trust Regarding right nor Iustice strict a straw My facts infarst my life with many a flawe Did me to deedes of foule lust incest draw Which had of God nor natures hests the awe To make my selfe a God I did deuise That Iupiter to name my selfe did dare For incests vile which all good wights despise Nam'd Bacchus eke a drunken shrine I bare To call me God some flatterers did not spare By message I commanded them likevise My statue in the Temple to comprise I would not haue my slaughters here enrolde And murdrous mischieues mingled with the rest Without regard of sexe of yong or olde For which the Romanes did my life detest To vices vile my deedes were all addrest Which mine owne seruants loathing at the last With their owne hands my timelesse death did hast My life was naught and thus at last I dide My life procur'd both Gods and men my foes Let Princes then beware of pompe and pride And not themselues to vices such dispose The throne will soone a Princely minde disclose The tyrants heart at once in throne is tride The Princely robe no tyrant thoughts can hide HOW GVIDERIVS KING of Britaine and the elder son of Cimbaline was slaine in battaile by a Romane the yeare of Christ 44. or as some write 46. TAke Higgins now in hand thy pen for me Let not my death and story lie forgote Good cause there is I should remembred be If thou the falles of Britaine Princes note Aloft I sate in Princely place aflote I had the sword I bare the scepter right I was accounted aye a worthy wight Guiderius was my name the sonne of yore Of noble Cimbaline and after King The Romane tribute I would pay no more Me thought it was too base a seruile thing No Romane should me in subiection bring I stoutly did deny what they did claime Though many counseld me to yeeld the same When Claudius sent this tribute for to haue I sent him word againe I would not pay I would not graunt vniustly he did craue That might in time procure my Realmes decay He should not beare our freedome so away By force and fraude proud Caesar heere did raigne But now by might my right I would maintaine On this addrest himselfe in warlike sort The noble Claudius came to trie the case Which had before receiued high report Both of my wealth my force and noble grace So thinking well he might my fame deface From Rome he came to Britaine with his hoast And landed here vpon my Southerne coast Now marke my tale and hereby shalt thou know The subtill sleights of Romanes in their war The slie deceits of such doe make a show Whereby to trie the people what they are Note well such foes in dealing neere and far Amidst the field in scout or fight alone Of all the rest example take by one Amongst his men a Captaine stout he had With whom in fight I made my party good Hamonius men him cal'd who for his blade In single fight so often I withstood At last did worke a wile to shed my blood He clad himselfe as he a Britaine weare Like armour sword and target did he beare He marcht with vs as he a friend had been And when we came to fight he shew'd a face Of comfort and bold courage gainst his men And when they fled and we pursu'd the chace Pursue quoth he the Romans flie apace In British tongue he cride they flie they flie Our hostages had taught him so to crie As we pursude in me he thrust his blade Betweene my armour splints he gaue the wound And fast away for life to shift he made Thus by deceits my life hee did confound Of my decay this was the fatall ground Which thou must pen that I a miror be For men to shun the flights of trecherie HOW LAELIVS HAMO THE ROMANE CAPTAINE was slaine after the slaughter of Guiderius about the yeare of Christ 46. A Romane Captaine I in Britaine armour clad Disguisde therfore in field did slay their noble King I ventred in their host and I my purpose had To venture so for Countries sake a worthy thing But whoso weenes to win by slaughter high renowne Hath often
procure in th' end my fatall fall Maternian at Rome should search for all He should enquire my fate of all wise men And write hereof what was their mindes agen What he did write againe I wote not I From Carras I to Lunaes Temple went And for because it neere the Campe did lie To sacrifice with few was mine intent For why to towne from thence returne I ment And so from thence to Campe likewise againe I might retire without a greater traine Amongst the which one Martiall of my garde Whose brother not conuinst accusde I slew Thus wise my caytiue corps did watch to warde For when therefore conuenient time hee knew While I apart mee gate for natures due And bad the rest aside a space depart He came and stabde me stifly through the heart Seuerus seruants I corrupted oft Them fee'd to make their Lord my fire away With Getaes men the like attempts I wrought To bane their Lord and brother mine to slay How I the Alexandrians did betray And Parthians eke before to you I told Deseruing death for those a thousand fold But sith those faithfull seruants I did kill Which would not sley their noble Lords for gold I worthy was to haue a gard so ill As should to pierce my hatefull heart be bold The Iustice great of Ioua here behold * Vniustly who so seekes to slay the good The sword at length shall iustly shed his bloud FINIS HOW CARASSVS A HVSBANDMANS SONNE AND AFTER King of Britaine was slaine in battell by Alectus a Roman Anno Dom. 293. SIth men be borne by Nature naked all With their estates why are not men content Why doe they deeme the want of wealth a thral Why should they loath the lot which God hath sent Adam himselfe I finde at first was sent As one who did disdaine his poore estate To disobey with God to be a mate Thou maist be made a God quoth satan than If on the fruite forbidden thou wilt feede The senselesse wight the feeble forcelesse man Did taste thereof supposing that with speed He should in hast haue beene a God indeed He not content hoping for higher place Brought bitter bale to him and all his race And I the sonne of Adam by descent Did seeke to set my selfe in princely seate With mine estate I could not be content For which I felt the force of hatreds heat As at the first my good successe was great So at the last by fancies fond desires I groapt for grapes amidst the bramble briers Let such as would by vertue them aduance Marke by what meanes I did my selfe addresse To flie at first my poore allotted chance By honest meanes let them from wickednesse Which faine would flie learne this by my distresse That he who doth from right and reason stray Destruction shall destroy him with decay For I by birth borne next to beggers dore Was stai'd aloft with staffe of high estate But whil'st that I so high a pitch did sore I left the meanes which made me rise of late I vices lou'd I did all vertues hate For which Carassus ran a race in vaine And nothing got but death and deepe disdaine When ciuill strife had Britaine quite vndone So that her strength was now of none auaile The faithlesse Picts with ruth did ouerrunne That royall Realme and did so far preuaile That sorrow did on euery side assaile My natiue soile and being thus dismai'd To Rome we sent for succour helpe and aid Seuerus then by Bassianus sent To bring this Realme vnto some quiet stay The Romans and the Britaines both were bent To bring the barbarous Picts to their decay Them to returne againe to Scythia And at the last by good Seuerus aid We them destroi'd when we were most afraid Whose force though twice the Romans felt too strong Yet at the last we got a goodly day Euen by my meanes who thrust into the throng Of th' armed Picts I desperate there did play The part of him whom feare did neuer fray And at the last to end this mortall strife I did depriue King Lodricke of his life And when the Picts did see their king depriu'd Of vitall life Lord how they fled the field They made me muse to see how fast they striu'd With stailesse steppes ech one his life to shield Who could not flie he there with care was kilde So by my meanes my countrey did obtaine Her ancient state and liberty againe At my returne I to Seuerus said See here how I with woundes am all bestead I cannot liue I feele how life doth fade Lodricke himselfe did carue and cut my head For which my blade his luke warme blood hath shed He cut my cap and I haue got his crowne He lost his life and I haue found renowne Seuerus then vnto his Surgion said Heale him and bring him safe and sound againe Thou for thy paines with poundes shalt wel be paid And he shall haue such honour for his paine As vnto him for euer shal remaine For by the Gods which rule the skies aboue His noble acts deserue eternall loue When by the skill of Surgions curious art My hurts were heal'd and holesome health ensude Seuerus then reioicing at the hart Made me a Lord with wealth hee me indude Yea he although my learning were but rude Sent me to Rome as Legate of this land To make report how here our state did stand My deedes at Rome inricht me with renowne My talke abroad with proper filed phrase Adornd my head euen with a Laurell crowne The Emperour did much commend my waies So that I was bedeckt with double praise I could not reade my learning was but weake Yet they of Rome did muse to heare me speake As learned Art doth giue a goodly grace To some so some by natures gifts doe get Eternall fame and purchase them a place Aboue the place where learned men do sit We finde the fine dexteritie of wit In them which be both wise and ful of skill Yet neuer striu'd to clime Pernassus hill So I with praise a time at Rome did stay And tract of time returnd mee backe againe The Emperour he gaue my right away Within a while which made me storme amaine I had great cause me thought for to complaine Seuerus he was made the king of all The gifts hee gaue to me were very small I was but made the Captaine of the coast From Forraine force to keepe my realme in rest Seuerus he was crowned king in post Which did so boile within my warrelike brest That I with griefe most strangely was distrest Shall hee said I thus reape the high renowne Which I deserue Shall he enioy the Crowne I wonne the wreath and he wil weare the same I got the goale and he will get the gaine For me in faith it were a deadly shame If I in this his regall royall raigne Without repulse should suffer him remaine Which if I do then let the dreadfull dart Of Vulcans wrath torment in
and creepe and bow Our hearts our heads we sauage were but now Yet by and by such was the good successe In fiery flames the truth we did professe Then flitting Fame the truth to testifie Against my wil at Rome made such report That Constatinus thence did hither hie And being come vnto my Britaine Court With louers lookes he striu'd to scale the Fort Of my good will but when it would not bee He sighing thus addrest his talke to me O Queene quoth he thy deeds deserue great fame The goodly gifts that God hath giu'n to thee Be such as I cannot thee greatly blame Though thou without desert disdainest me Who for thy sake doth lothe all crueltie But for thy loue with Mars his cruell knife I could command thy Realme and reaue thy life But out alas whil'st breath doth lend me life My heart shall hate to thrall thy happie state What though thou dost refuse to be my wife Thy hatred tho shall neuer cause me hate But whil'st I liue I will thee loue let Fate And Fortune fell powre on me all their spight To die for thee shall greatly me delight Then I repli'd O Duke without desert Thou dost me loue a little Ilands Queene I know thou to the Emperour heire art Thy valiant acts I diuers waies haue seene I like thy deeds most noble which haue been And thee I loue yet priuate pleasures lust May neuer make me throw my Realme to dust If thou quoth he wilt daine my Queene to be Thy Britaines shall to Rome no tribute yeeld You if you please to Rome may go with me Your mightie mate the world so wide may wield Or if you please I heere with you will bilde My biding place and in this little land I will remaine yours heere at your command His comely grace his friendly promise plight His famous actes his Noble royall race Some other things which heere I could recite The Romans heart within my brest did place And when my wit had weighed well the case Then for the chiefe of all my Realme I sent And thus I spake to know the whole intent My louing Lords and you my subiects see This Roman heire whom I indeed do loue He will restore your ancient libertie If I will bend my hest to his behoue Which benefits they chiefely do me moue To loue at last a man by whom you may Receiue a Shield to keepe you from decay Perhaps you thinke I loue because I see His comely shape and seemely sanguine face You be deceiu'd no outward brauery No personage no gallant courtly grace What though he be by birth of royall race I recke it not but this I do regard My Commonweale by him may be preseru'd For if he will from tribute set you free And end the worke which I haue well begonne That Christs Gospell preached still may bee God may by him send vnto me a sonne To you a King what wealth then haue you wonne What great renowne what honor will insue Speake you your minds these things me thinke be true O Queene quoth they the Lord preserue thy grace Do thou the thing that seemes to thee the best We do allow the match in euery case If by that meanes we may haue quiet rest With what great good shal this our Realme be blest Do thou therefore O noble Queene we pray The thing which best may keepe vs from decay The Roman Duke he nothing would deny But granted more then I could aske or craue So that there was proclaimed by and by A famous feast a banquet passing braue There to the Duke the Britaine crowne I gaue With sacred spousall rights as man and wife We wedded liu'd in loue for terme of life And whil'st we ment to rule this little I le A greater good vnlooked for befell Death did destroy his Sire with hateful hand For which we both at Rome must now go dwell And so we did things prospered passing well My Feere was made the Emperour Lord and king Of all and I the Queene of euery thing His mightie Mace did rule the Monarchie My wit did rule some writers say his Mace And to increase with ioy our merrie glie I brought him forth a babe of Royall race The boy he had an amiable face O Rome thou maist reioyce for this was he Which did at Rome erect Diuinitie Whil'st thus in blisse I did at Rome remaine A Britaine still my mind her care did cast For which I caus'd my husband to ordaine That euermore those ancient Lawes should last Which heretofore amongst them there I past And that to Rome no Britaine borne for aye Should taxe or toll or tenth or tribute pay Though there at Rome an Empresse life I led And had at hand what I could wish or craue Yet still me thought I was not wel bestead Because I was so farre from Britaine braue Which when my louing Lord did once perceiue He set a stay in all the Emperie To Britaine then he did returne with me We raign'd of yeeres thrice seuen with good successe Then Dolor and Debilitie did driue My louing Lord with fainting feeblenesse For vitall life with braying breath to striue He felt how death of life would him depriue He cal'd his Lords his child and me his wife And thus he spake euen as he left his life The haughtie Pines of loftie Libanus From earth to earth in tract of time returne So I whose spreading praise were maruellous Must now returne my flesh to filthie slime On Fortunes wheele I may no longer clime Therefore my Lords although my glasse be runne Yet take remorse on Constantine my sonne My Monarch Court my Kingdomes all O stately Rome farewell to them and thee Farewell my Lords which see my finall fall Farewell my child my wife more deare to mee Then all the world we must depart I see And must we needs depart O Fortune fie We must depart adue farewell I die Wherewith he sigh'd and senselesse did remaine Then I his death as women do did waile But when I view'd that weeping was but vaine I was content to beare that bitter bale As one who found no meanes for her auaile His corps at Yorke in Princely Tombe I laid When funerall sacred solemne rites were paid And when report his death about had blowne Maxentius then the triple crowne to weare Did challenge all the Empire as his owne And for a time that mightie Mace did beare Which when my sonne my Constantine did heare The youthfull Lad indeuour'd by and by To claime his right by Mars his crueltie I then his tender youthfull yeares to guide Went with my sonne to see his good successe He being Campt by fruitfull Tybers side To spoile his foe he did himselfe addresse He knew that God did giue all happinesse Therefore to God euen then the youth did pray With mightie hand to keepe him from decay Behold how God doth godly men defend And marke how he doth beate Vsurpers downe Maxentius now
he all his force doth bend For to defend his Diadem and Crowne But froward Fate vpon the Prince did frowne For why his men were scattered euery where In Tyber he did drowne himselfe for feare To Rome then we and all our host did hie The Romans they with ioy did vs receiue To Constantine they gaue the Emperie But he of them most earnestly did craue That I the rule of all the world might haue It is quoth he my mothers right to raigne Till dreadfull death hath shred her twist in twaine I grant my sonne the Monarchie is mine For at his death thy father gaue it me For terme of life but let it now be thine I aged must go pay the earth her fee I am content to liue with lesse degree O louing sonne giue eare vnto my hest I will not rule that charge for thee is best And when he might not rule his mothers mind Against his will he willing did assent That all should be as I had then assign'd To rule the world he grieued was content And whil'st that there my happie daies I spent Reioycing much to see my sonnes successe I di'd and had a heauenly happinesse Thrice happie I who ran this royall race And in the end my wished Goale did get For by my meanes all people did embrace The faith of Christ the orders I did set They were obey'd with ioy which made me ier Euen in this blisse a better blisse befell I di'd and now my soule in heauen doth dwell So now you see the happie hap I had Learne then thereby to do as I haue done To praise Gods name let euery Prince be glad To persecute the truth let all men shunne By vertuous waies great honor may be wonne But he who doth to vices vile incline May be compar'd vnto a filthie swine Who doth not loue the plaine nor pleasant way He cannot feare to sleepe amidst the greene But in the mire he doth delight to lay So Princes such as vile and vidious beene Do tumble aye amidsta sinke of sinne Whose names on earth whose soules in hel remaine In infamie the other pincht with paine Let them that seeke for euerlasting fame Tread in the steps that I before haue trod And he who would auoid reprochfull shame And flee the smart of Plutoes ruthfull rod Let him not cease to learne the law of God Which only law mans stumbling steps doth guide Who walkes therein his feete can neuer slide HOW VORTIGER DESTROYED THE YONG KING CONSTANTINE and how hee obtained the Crowne and how after many miseries he was miserablie burnt in his Castle by the brethren of Constantine Anno Dom. 446. BY quiet peace of Ianus iollitie Their happie hauens some with forewinds haue By wrackfull warre of Mars his crueltie With much adoe some get the Goale they craue But subtill sleights and fetches bolstred braue My haplesse hand did hit with leuelled line The aimed marke the more mishap was mine By gifts of grace some men haue happy hap By blessed birth to Kingdomes borne some be Succession sets some men in Fortunes lap By wisedome wit and prudent policie Some clime aloft by trustlesse treacherie And courage doth a multitude aduance Drifts finely filde they did my state inhance I Vortiger by birth was borne a Lord King Constantine his Cosin did me call I cride amaine and clapt his crowne abord And for a time til Fortune forst my fall With restlesse blisse I sate in stately stall But men of warre of much more might then I For my desert my carefull corps did fry As furions force of fiery flashing fame With Cinders brought my body to decay So smuldering smokes of euerlasting shame Choakt my renowne and wipte my fflame away What may I more of my misfortune say I sigh to see I silent ccase to tell What me destroid and drownd my soule in hel Here to repeat the parts that I haue plaid Were to vnrippe a trusse of trumpery For me to shew how I aloft was staid Were to erect a schoole of Trechery Silence is best let no man learne by me Nor by my meanes how they by wicked waies From low estate aloft themselues may raise As good men can by wicked workes beware So wicked men by wicked workes be wise If ill men read my deedes which wicked were They by my meanes will compasse their surmise For wicked workers daily doe deuise To make examples vile and vitious To stand in stead to serue their lawlesse lust The Serpent thence his venim vile doth draw From whence the Bee her hony sweet doth get Leaud liuers learne to breake the written law By that whereby good men do learne much wit For wicked men each fetch is thought most fit To serue their turne therefore I count it best To leaue my faults and follies vnconfest Giue leaue therefore good Memory I may Not heere repeate my tedious Tragedie Inquirie let me now depart away My Commonweale subuerted was by me I leaudly liu'd and di'd in miserie And for my faults I felt disdainfull smart Let this suffice and let me now depart With that he seem'd as one that would away But Memory stay stay thy steps quoth she Let wicked men procure their owne decay We recke it not if warned once they be Let that suffice and let thy miserie Make iust report how vaine and vile a thing It is to liue as a vsurping King Sith needs I must repented faults forerunne Repeat and tell the fall and foile I felt Patience perforce to speake shame bids me shunne To thinke thereof doth make my heart to melt But sith I needs must shew how heere I delt I am content to tell the truth of all Let wise men learne to stand which reade my fall For first I causde the yong King Constantine Of faithlesse Scots and Picts to make his guard They by my meanes did kill their King in fine For which with speed I sent them all to ward And hang'd them all their cause was neuer heard So I who first did cause them kill their King To stop their mouthes the mall to death did bring Where Rancor rules where hatreds heate is hot The hurtlesse men with trouble be turmoil'd Where malice may send forth her Cannon shot There might is right there reasons rules are foil'd For ruthfull Rancor euermore hath boyl'd With griping griefe her smuldring smokes of spite Would gladly choke all iustice law and right So might not right did thrust me to the Throne I sixteene yeares did weare the royall Crowne In all which time with griefe I aye did grone As one who felt the fall from high renowne My Noble men deuisde to thrust me downe In all this time and many did protest I laid the King in his vntimely chest At last my foes my friends were made and I Had quiet peace and liu'd a happie King Yea God who rules the haughtie heauen a high Inricht my Realme with foyson of each thing Abundant store did make my people
the East Redwallus rul'd as King Then Ethelbert was King of all the coast of Kent In Southsex Ethelwolfus wore the regall crowne Then Quincillinus was a Saxon King by West Of Martia in the mid'st King Penda was the Prince And Edwin in Northumberland did rule and raigne How did my Grandsire grand renowned Arthur he These seuen destroy with deadly field of wrackfull warre But Mordred made the meane that brought them in againe Vortiporus with warre almost consum'd them all Then Malgo he with peace restor'd againe their state Cariticus the sinne of ciuill strise did loue For which Gurmundus did the Britaines much annoy Then Cadwin out of Wales King Etheldred did spoile Cadwalline then did force King Penda to a foile And I Cadwallader at last did presse in place Then Lothar king of Kent in warre that wretch I slue And Ethiwolne the king of South saxons I spoilde The other fiue did me inuade with cruel fight With whom in diuers warres I diuersly did speed Somtime Bellona blew a blessed blast for me And changed chance somtime did force my men to flee Whilst thus I wag'd my warres in secret silent night The very voice of God it thus to me did speake Thou striu'st against the streame the tide doth beate thee back Strike thou thy sailes take ancor hold els must thou feele a wrack Which saying did indeed amaze me more by much Then all the force that man against my will might bend For who the will of God with weapons may resist And when as sinne hath sold a countrey to decay Then praier must preuaile for weapons will not help And when the end is come when all the glasse is runne Who can resist the force of Fate and destinies Who things forerun to fall from falling can refraine It passeth mortall might to bring such things about Let man content himselfe to do what best he may By trying too too much no man his God may tempt But mortall man must thinke that God the best doth know Who can depresse to dust and raise when best him please And as I thus amidst my musings did remaine I did resigne my crowne and deem'd al honours vaine And though it greeu'd me much to feele the fall I selt Yet was I well content I could not as I would For which I left my land my people and my place The Saxons they obtain'd the wage for which they war'd When I three yeares had raign'd without one day of rest Euen then in mourning robes at Rome I did arriue And there contemning all the world and worldly things I made my selfe a Monke cease Memory to muse A Monke I made my selfe thou knowest it passing plaine Amongst the Friers there I led my lingring life And til my dying day I daily did deuise How by my meanes it might to all the world be knowne That mortall flesh is fraile and euery thing must fade And euen amongst those things which Nature doth create Nothing so vile as man amongst the rest is found Which made Heraclitus with ceaslesse sighes to waile He to his dying day did nothing els but weepe Affirming all the world vnder the heauen to be A path of penitence maze of misery What is the life of man but care and daily toile Bearing alwaies about a burthen of mishappes All his delights repentance daily doth pursue Nothing but death doth bring him peace and quiet rest Yet that which brings him blisse he most of all doth hate Which made Democritus with mirth to spend his daies He laughing aie did mocke the madnesse of mankinde Whose loue is long to liue and feareth much to die Death reaues vs from disease Death ends the feare of death When Midas did demaund Silenus what was best For mortall man to wish the Satyr thus did say Not to bee borne if borne not long our liues to lead For life I most doe lothe and death I least doe dread And how did Timon leade with sauage beasts his life How did that Hermite poore his lothsome life detest Affirming with the wise Aurelius Emperour That if a man should make a true discourse of all The wretched woes he felt from birth to dying day The feeble flesh would faint to feele so sharpe a fight The hart would quake to heare Dame Fortunes sharpe assaults And I Cadwallader a king can make report That nothing may content the minde of mortall man The more my selfe did eate the hungrier ay I was The more I dranke the more thirst did me stil distresse The more I slept the more I sluggish did remaine The more I rested me the more I wearied was The more of wealth I had the more I did desire The more I still did seeke the lesse I aye did finde And to conclude I found I neuer could obtaine The thing but in the end it causde me to complaine My present good successe did threaten thrall to come And changing chance did still with sorow me consume For which my royall robes my crowne I laid aside Meaning to proue by proofe the paines of pouertie Which pouertie I felt all riches to exceede It beareth much more blisse then high and courtly state Codrus and Irus poore for wealth did farre surpasse Midas and Croesus king for wealth who did surpasse And I amongst my mates the Romish Friers felt More ioy and lesse annoy then erst in Britaine braue For there I doubted still the Saxons subtile sleights I feared there the fall from royall regall seat But here at Rome I liu'd not fearing force of foe I had for mine estate what I could wish or craue And this I there did finde they of the Clergie be Of all the men that liue the least in misery For all men liue in care they carelesse do remaine Like buzzing Drones they eate the hony of the Bee They only do excell for fine felicitie The king must wage his warres he hath no quiet day The noble man must rule with care the common-weale The Countreyman must toile to till the barren soile With care the Merchant man the surging seas must saile With trickling droppes of sweat the handcrafts man doth thriue With hand as hard as boord the woorkeman eates his bread The souldier in the field with paine doth get his pay The seruing man must serue and crouch with cap and knee The Lawyer he must pleade and trudge from bench to barre Who Physicke doth professe he is not void of care But Churchmen they be blest they turne a leafe or two They sometime sing a Psalme and for the people pray For which they honour haue and sit in highest place What can they wish or seeke that is not hard at hand They labour not at all they know no kind of paine No danger doth with dread their happy liues distresse Cease you therefore to muse what madnesse made me leaue The Court and courtly pompe of wearing royal crowne No madnesse did that deed but wisedome wisht it so I gaind thereby the blisse which
th' other side the Knight doth work my wracke The other points with Pawnes be all possest And here the Rooke of ruth doth reaue my rest And beeing brought into this strange estate I do confesse my selfe to haue a mate Sith sorow so hath seasde vpon my bones That now too late I do lament my losse And sith no meanes may turne my gastfull grones To ioyfull glie sith trouble still doth tosse Me to and fro in waltring waues of woe Death is my friend and life I count my foe Which death though once my feeble flesh did feare Yet now I faine would feele his murdring speare In gurging gulfe of these such surging seas My poorer soule who drownd doth death request I wretched wight haue sought mine owne disease By mine owne meanes my state it was distrest For whilst I meant to make my lust a law Iustice me from my high estate did draw So that I find and feele it now with paine All worldly pompe al honour is but vaine Which honour I to fiery flames compare For when they flash and flourish most of all Then suddainely their flamings quenched are For proofe whereof to minde now let vs call Antigonus and Ptolemeus Great Caesar and Mithridate we may repeat With Darius and great Antiochus Cambises eke and conquering Pyrrhus And I the last might first haue had my place They all as I with flaming fierie show Were quenched quite Dame Fortune did deface Yea hatefull hap euen then did ouerthrow Vs most when most we had our hearts desire When most we flourisht like the flames of fire Euen then the seas of sorow did preuaile And made vs weare a blacke lamenting saile And heere before my death I will repeate To thee the thing which I of late did dreame That thou and all the world may see how great A care it is to rule a royall realme My dreame shal shew that blisse doth not consist In wealth nor want but he alone is blest Who is content with his assigned fate And neuer striues to clime to higher state When seemely Sol had rest his glittering gleames And night the earth did with her darkenesse vaile Dame Cinthia then with her bright burnisht beames The shadowed shades of darkenesse did assaile Then Somnus caus'd my senses all to quaile On carefull couch then being laid to rest With doubtfull dreames I strangely was distrest In cottage cold where care me thought did keepe With naked need and want of wherewithall Where pouertie next beggers doore did creepe And where expences were so passing small That all men deem'd that man forethrong'd with thrall Which there did dwell euen there from bondage free I view'd a man all void of miserie And whil'st I musde how he in bliue of blisse Could lead his life amid'st that caue of care From Princely Court proceeded ere I wist A man with whom there might no man compare His wealth his wit his courage were so rare That none before nor since were like to him Yet he me thought in waues of woe din swim This man had all that men could wish or craue For happie state yet nought he had in deed The other he had nought that men would haue Yet had he all beleeue it as thy Creed This saying of that happie man I reade That hauing nought yet all things so I haue That hauing nought I nothing more do craue The King me thought with all his Courtly traine Past to the place where pouertie did dwell With frowning face and with a troubled braine With woe and want his vexed veines did swell With mirth and ioy the poore man did excell And being come vnto his house ymade Of one poore hogshead thus to him he said Diogenes thou lead'st a lothsome life Me thinke thou might'st much better spend thy time Within my Court both thou and eke thy wife Thou by that meanes to high estate maist clime I haue the wealth and thou art void of crime And loe before thy face I heere am prest To giue thee that which thou shalt now request Stand backe Sir King thy vaunting vowes be vaine I nothing recke thy promise goods nor land And Titans stately streames would me sustaine With heate if thou from this my doore wouldst stand Thou takst away much more then thy commaund Can giue againe thy gifts so vile I deeme That none but fooles such follies do esteeme With conquest thou hast wone the world so wide And yet thou canst not win thy wandring wil Thou wouldest win an other world beside But tush that fact doth farre surpasse thy skill Thou neuer wilt of Conquest haue thy fill Til death with daunting dart hath conquer'd thee Then must thou leaue behind thy Monarchie With great assaults my selfe I haue subdude In all respects I haue my hearts desire With a contented minde I am endude To higher state I neuer wil aspire More like a Prince then any poore Esquire I leade my life and sith my state is such Aske thou of me for I can giue thee much All dasht with dread mee thought in fuming heate He said departing thence in hast with speede If I were not Alexander the Great I would become Diogenes indeed Who leades his life all void of wofull dread He hath the wealth which I cannot obtaine I haue the wealth which wise men do disdaine I liue in feare I languish all in dread Wealth is my woe the causer of my care With feare of death I am so ill bestead That restlesse I much like the hunted Hare Or as the canuist Kite doth feare the snare Ten hundred cares haue brought me to the baie Ten thousand snares for this my life men laie When Philip he of Macedon the King One Realme me left I could not be content Desier prickt mee to an other thing To win the world it was my whole intent Which done an other world to win I ment When least I had then most I had of blesse Now all the world and all vnquietnesse No woe to want of contentation No wealth to want of riches and renowne For this is seene in euery nation The highest trees be soonest blowen downe Ten kings do die before one clubbish Clowne Diogenes in quiet Tunne doth rest When Caesar is with carking care distrest Wherewith me thought he was departed quite And Morpheus that sluggish God of sleepe Did leaue my limmes wherewith I stood vpright Deuising long what profit I could reape Of this my dreame which plainly did expresse That neither want nor wealth doth make mans blesse Who hath the meane with a contented minde Most perfect blisse his God hath him assignde But I who liu'd a crowned King of late And now am forc'd of thee to beg my bread I cannot be content with this estate I lothe to liue I would I wretch were dead Despaier she doth feede me with decay And patience is fled and flowne away Doe thou therefore O Heardsman play thy part Take thou this blade and thrust it to my hart O
burnt they pluckt the Abbies downe Yet not content vs Nunnes they did annoy O cruell deed our belts they did vnbind With rapine they did rauish and destroy Deflowring all that euer they could find I seeing then what sorrow was assign'd To me and mine my vowed virgins I Did call then thus I spake with weeping eye Alas alas my louing Ladies all These hard mishaps do presse vs too too neere What shall we do how may we scape the thrall Which hath destroyd the Nunries euery where Alas my feeble flesh doth quake for feare Alas how shall we scape their cruelties Which thus be plaste amidst extremities For if we do their hatefull hests denie Then dreadfull death shall presentlie insue And if we grant vnto their villanie Our sinfull soules in hell that deed shall rue Beleeue me then my Ladies this is true Much better 't were for vs to die with fame Then long to liue with euerlasting shame And for because the faces forme doth moue With beauties beames and comely countenance The minde of man to lust and lawlesse loue I haue deuis'd my honour to aduance With face deform'd to try my hard mischance For these my hands from this my face shall rip Euen with this knife my nose and ouerlip They which will flie reprochfull infamie To do the like will them beseeme the best You shall preserue your vow'd virginitie Thereby and liue perhaps with quiet rest My daughters deare giue eare vnto my hest Wherewith with Rasors sharp I first then they Each one her nose and lip did flea away Whilst thus we liu'd deform'd to outward show Yet vessels garnisht gay before Gods sight The Danes did vs inuade who straight did know Our feate them to defeate of their delight For which they wrackt on vs their wicked spight With fiery flames they burnt our Nunnerie And vs therein O wretched crueltie The eare of man the like hath neuer heard No penne nor tongue the like hath euer told Had euer man a hart that was so hard That with his yron brest durst be so bold To do the like against the Femine kind Not one in faith that euer I could heare But these all void of mercy loue and feare Thus we content to leaue this present life In hope to haue hereafters better blesse Were brent and broild and so did stint the strife Which might haue made vs liue in wretchednesse We gainde therby a heauenly happinesse Which happinesse they doubtlesse shall obtaine Which do from sinne and wickednesse abstaine Thomas Blener Hasset HOW KING EGELRED FOR HIS WICKEDNESSE WAS diuersly distressed by the Danes and lastly died for sorrow Anno Dom. 1016. THe minde and not the Man doth make or marre For as the stearne doth guide the Argocy So by their mindes all men they guided are From out the mind proceedeth fantasie All outward acts vertue or vanitie Not from the man but from the minde proceede The mind doth make the man to do each deed For Phalaris with beastly bloudy mind And Nero did in murther much delight To mercy Antoninus was inclin'd Midas for gold extended all his might For worldly pompe how did Pompeius fight The mounting minde of Alexander made Him win the world his fame can neuer fade How did the minde moue Calicratides Xerxes Cyrus and Argantonius Philip of Macedon Theramines Aiax Iason and Aurelianus Achilles and the old king Priamus Hector and Hercules with false Sino Their minds did make them weaue the web of wo. The twig doth bend as Boreas blasts doe blow So man doth walke euen as his mind doth moue Then happie he who hath a mind to know Such things as be the best for his behoue No doubt the mind which vertuous acts doth loue Doth make a man euen Caesar to surpasse For noble deeds who Prince of prowesse was But he who hath his mind to mischiefe bent All his delight from vertue doth decline Like me too late he shall his faults repent His sinfull soule shall feele the fall in fine That I haue felt which makes me to repine Against my mind for Nature did her part My mind enclin'd to ill did spoile my hart What though I were of comely personage Iointly my ioints were ioin'd with perfect shape Adorned eke with so sweet a visage That neuer yet from Natures hands did scape A worke ymade of such a perfect shape But what of that these gifts for want of grace Deformed quite the feature of my face For why my mind to ruthfull ruine bent I did delight in lothsome lecherie I neuer did my odious deeds repent In drunkennesse in extreme crueltie I did delight in all impietie As for delight in princely exercise The feates of armes I did them most despise By meanes whereof my subiects did me hate And forraine foes to burne my Realme were bold With warre the Danes did alter straight the state First Fortune did my common-weale vnfold Then pestilence did make my courage cold And last of all my foes the dreadfull Danes Did make me pay them tribute for their paines Euen now the Realme of England did decay For when the Danes their tribute had consum'd Forthwith they made vs greater summes to pay From ten to fifteene thousand they presum'd Of pounds to make vs pay so I redeem'd With money bags my carefull common-wealth The onely meanes reserued for my health When thus the want of courage on my part Had giuen my foes so sure a footing here And when disease with her destroying dart Had wipte away my subiects euery where Euen then too late my wisemen did appeere Whom heretofore I alwayes did detest Their counsaile graue at last they thus exprest O Egelred the fruite of fearefulnesse Of riot thou the right reward dost reape But if thou wilt auoid this wretchednesse Be wise and looke about before you leape Of hatefull haps you see a hideous heape Before your face therefore in time giue eare And wisely waigh the words which thou shalt heare That noble Duke Richard of Normandy A Sister hath whom thee we wish to wed By meanes whereof from this captiuity We may be brought and that without bloodshed For why these Danes these Normans so do dread That if from thence an ayd we can procure Thy foes no doubt can neuer long indure The mayd she may a Princes fancie please Her brother is a man of great renowne This way O King may make thy subiects ease It may restore the freedome of thy Crowne This onely way will bring thy fomen downe If thou thy Crowne and common-weale dost loue Do thou the thing so much for thy behoue So by their meanes I maried the maid She Emma hight the floure of Normandie Of whom I was so glad and well apaid That all the world with my prosperitie Could not compare and in that iollitie I did deuise by traines of secret treason To bring the Danes to death in a good season I did a feast through all my Realme proclame At which both Danes and
she smooth blew on this pleasant gale He was created Earle of March alas Whence enuy sprang which his destruction was For wealth breeds wrath in such as wealth doe want Pride folly breeds in such as it possesse Among a thousand shall you find one skant That can in wealth his lofty heart represse Which in this Earle due proofe did plaine expresse For whereas he was somewhat haut before His high degree hath made him now much more For now alone he ruleth as him lust Ne recks for reade saue of king Edwards mother Which forced enuy foulder out the rust That in mens hearts before did lie and smother The Peeres the people th' one as well as th' other Against him made so hainous a complaint That for a traytour he was soone attaint Then all such faults as were forgot afore They skowre afresh and somwhat to them adde For enuy still hath eloquence in store When Fortune bids to worse things meanly bad Fiue hainous crimes against him soone were had First that he caus'd the King to yeeld the Scot To make a peace townes that were from him got And therewithall the Charter call'd Ragman That of the Scots he bribed priuy gaine That through his meanes sir Edward of Carnaruan In Barkely Castle traiterously was slaine That with his Princes mother he had laine And finally with polling at his pleasure Had rob'd the King and Commons of their treasure For these things loe which erst were out of mind He was condemn'd and hanged at the last In whom Dame Fortune fully shewed her kind For whom she heaues she hurleth downe as fast If men to come would learne by other past My cosin then might cause them set aside High climing bribing murdering lust and pride The finall cause why I this processe tell Is that I may be knowen from this the other My like in name vnlike mee though he fell Which was I thinke my grandfire or his brother To count my kin dame Philip was my mother Daughter and heire of douty Lionell The third King Edwards sonne as stories tell My father hight sir Edmund Mortimer True Earle of March whence I was after Earle By iust descent these two my parents were Of which the one of Knighthood bare the fearle Of womanhood the other was the pearle Through their desert so cal'd of euery wight Till death them tooke and left mee in their right For why th' attainter of the elder Roger Whose shamefull death I told you but oflate Was found to bee vniust and passed ouer Against the law by those that bare him hate For where by law each one of free estate Should personally be heard ere iudgement passe They bard him this where through destroid he was Wherefore by doome of court in Parliament When we had prou'd our Cosin ordered thus The King the Lords and Commons of assent His lawlesse death vnlawfull did discusse And both to bloud and good restored vs. A preside at most worthy shewed and left Lords liues to saue that lawlesse might bee reft While Fortune vnto me her grace did deigne King Richards grace the second of that name Whose looser life did soone abridge his reigne Made me his mate in earnest and in game The Lords themselues so well allow'd the same That through my titles duely comming downe I was made heire apparent to the Crowne Who then but I was euery where esteemd Well was the man that might with me acquaint Whom I allow'd as Lords the people deemd To whatsoeuer folly had me bent To like it well the people did assent To mee as Prince attended great and small I hopte a day would come to pay for all But seldome ioy continueth trouble void In greatest charge cares greatest doe ensue The most possest are euer most annoid In largest seas sore tempests lightly brue The freshest colours soonest fade the hue In thickest place is made the deepest wound True proofe whereof my self too soone haue found For whilst faire Fortune Iuld mee in her lap And gaue me gifts more then I did require The subtile dame behind mee set a trap Whereby to dash and lay all in the mire The Irish men against mee did conspire My lands of Vlster from me to haue reft Which heritage my mother had mee left And whiles I there to set all things in stay Omit my toiles and trouble thitherward Among mine owne with my retinue lay The wilder men whom I did not regard And had therefore the reckles mans reward When least I thought set on mee in such number That from my corps my life they rent asunder Nought might auaile my courage nor my force Nor strength of men which were alas too few The cruell folke assaulted so my horse That all my helps in peeces they to hew Our bloud distaines the ground as drops of dew Nought might preuaile to flie nor yet to yeeld For whom they take they murder in the field They know no law of Armes nor none will learne They make not warre as other doe a play The Lord the boy the Gallowglas the Kerne Yeeld or not yeeld whom so they take they slay They saue no foes for ransome nor for pay Their chiefest boote is th' aduersaries head They end not wâ—â—â—e till th' enemie be dead Amongst these men or rather sauage beasts I lost my life by cruell murder slaine And therefore Baldwine note thou well my geasts And warne all Princes rashnes to refraine Bid them beware their foes when they doe faine Nor yet presume vnequally to striue Had I thus done I had been left aliue But I despis'd the naked Irish men And for they flew I feared them the lesse I thought one man enough to match with ten And through this carelesse vnaduisednes I was destroid and all my men I gesse At vnawares assaulted by our fone Which were in number forty to vs one See here the stay of fortunate estate The vaine assurance of this brittle life For I but yong-proclamed Prince of late Right fortunate in children and in wife Lost all at once by stroke of bloudy knife Whereby assur'd let men themselues assure That wealth and life are doubtfull to endure FINIS THE FALL OF ROBERT Tresilian chiefe Iustice of England and other his fellowes for misconstruing the Lawes and expounding them to serue the Princes affections Anno 1388. IN the sad register of mischiefe and mishap Baldwine we beseech thee with our names to begin Whom vnfriendly Fortune did train vnto a trap When as wee thought our state most stable to haue bin So lightly leese they all which all do weene to win Learne by vs ye Lawyers and Iudges of this Land Vpright and vncorrupt in doome alway to stand And print ye this president to remaine for euer Enroll and record it in Tables made of Brasse Engraue it in Marble that may be raced neuer Where Iudges of the Law may see as in a Glasse What guerdon is for guile and what our wages was Who for our Princes will
line O heedlesse trust vnware of harme to come O malice headlong swift to serue fond will Did euer madnesse man so much benome Of prudent forecast reason wit and skill As me blind Bayard consenting to spill The blood of my cosin my refuge and stay To my destruction making open way So long as the Duke bare the stroke and sway So long no Rebels quarels durst begin But when the post was pulled once away Which stood to vphold the King and his kin Yorke and his banders proudly preased in To challenge the Crowne by title of right Beginning with law and ending with might Abroad went bruits in countrey and towne That Yorke of England was the heire true And how Henrie had vsurped the Crowne Against all right which all the Realme might rue The people then embracing titles new Irkesome of present and longing for change Assented soone because they loue to range True is the text which wee in scripture read Va terra illi cuius rex est puer Woe to that land whereof a child is head Whether child or childish the case is one sure Where Kings bee yong we dayly see in vre The people awlesse by weakenes of their head Leade their liues lawlesse hauing none to dread And no lesse true is this text againe Beata terra cuius rex est nobilis Blest is the land where a stout King doth raine Where in good peace ech man possesseth his Where ill men feare to fault or do amisse Where a stout Prince is prest with sword in hand At home and abroad his enemies to withstand In case King Henry had beene such a one Hardy and stout as his fathers afore Long mought he haue sate in the royall throne Without any feare of common vprore But dayly his weakenesse shewed more and more Which boldnesse gaue to the aduersary band To spoile him at last both of life and land His humble heart was nothing vnknowen To the gallants of Yorke and their retinue A ground lying low is soone ouerflowen And shored houses cannot long continue Ioints cannot knit where as is no sinew And so a Prince not dread as well as loued Is from his place by practise soone remoued Well mought I see had I not wanted braine The worke begun to vndermine the state When the chiefe linke was loosed from the chaine And that some durst vpon bloud royall grate How tickle a hold had I of mine estate When the chiefe post lay flat vpon the flore Mought not I thinke my staffe then next the dore So mought I also dame Margaret the Queene By meane of whom this mischiefe first began Did she trow ye her selfe not ouer weene Death to procure to that most worthy man Which she and hers afterward mought well ban On whom did hang as I before haue said Her husbands life his honour and his ayd For whilst he liued which was our stable stay Yorke and his impes were kept as vnder yoke But when the Piller remoued was away Then burst out flame that late before was smoke The traytour couert then cast off his cloke And from his den came forth in open light With titles blind which he set forth for right But this to bring about him first behoued The King and his kin asunder for to set Who being perforce or practise remoued Then had they avoided the principall let Which kept the sought pray so long from the net The next point after was themselues to place In rule aboue the rest next vnto his Grace Therefore was I first whom they put out of place No cause pretending but the common-weale The Crowne of England was the very case Why to the Commons they burned so in zeale My faults were clokes their practise to conceale In counsaile hearing consider the intent For in pretence of truth treason oft is ment So their pretence was only to remoue Counsaile corrupt from place about the King But O ye Princes you it doth behoue This case to construe as no fained thing That neuer traytour did subdue his King But for his plat ere he could surder wade Against his friends the quarell first hee made And if by hap he could so bring about Them to subdue at his owne wish and will Then would hee wax so arrogant and stout That no reason his outrage might fulfill But to proceed vpon his purpose still Til King and counsaile brought were in one case Such is their folly to rebels to giue place So for the fish casting forth a net The next point was in driuing out the plat Commons to cause in rage to fume and fret And to rebell I cannot tell for what Requiring redresse of this and of that Who if they speed the stander at receit Grasp will the pray for which he doth await Then by surmise of some thing pretended Such to displace as they may well suspect Like to withstand their mischiefe intended And in their roomes their banders to elect The aduerse party proudly to reiect And then with reports the simple to abuse And when these helps faile open force to vse So this Dukes traines were couert and not seene Which ment no lesse that he most pretended Like to a Serpent couert vnder greene To the weale publique seemed wholly bended Zealous hee was and would haue all things mended But by that mendment nothing els he ment But to be King to that marke was his bent For had he beene plaine as he ment indeed Henry to depose from the royall place His haste had been waste and much worse his speed The King then standing in his peoples grace This Duke therefore set forth a goodly face As one that ment no quarell for the Crowne Such as bare rule he only would put downe But all for nought so long as I bare stroke Serued these drifts and proued all vaine The best help then was people to prouoke To make commotion and vprores amaine Which to appease the King himselfe was faine From Blacke Heath in Kent to send me to the Tower Such was the force of rebels in that hower The troublous storme yet therewith was not ceased For Yorke was bent his purpose to pursue Who seing how speedily I was released And ill successe of sufferance to ensue Then like Iudas vnto his Lord vntrue Esteeming time lost any longer to defarre By Warwickes ayd proclaimed open warre At S. Albanes towne both our hostes did meete Which to try a field was no equall place Forst we were to fight in euery lane and streete No feare of foes could make me shun the place There I and Warwicke fronted face to face At an Inne dore the Castle was the signe Where with a sword was cut my fatall line Oft was I warned to come in Castle none Hauing no mistrust of any common signe I did imagine a Castle built with stone For of no Inne I could the same diuine In Prophets skill my wit was neuer fine A foole is he that such vaine dreames doth dred And more foole he
lings brest Whom not desire of raigne did driue to field But mothers pride who longd the Realme to wield But straight my death shall shew my worthie meed If first to one other murther I proceed VVhile Edward liued dissembled discord lurked In double hearts yet so his reuerence worked But when succeeding tender feeble age Gaue open gap to tyrants rushing rage I holpe the Boare and Bucke to captiuate Lord Riuers Gray sir Thomas Vaughan and Hawte If land would helpe the sea well earnd that ground It selfe to be with conquering waues surround Their speedie death by priuie dome procured At Pomfret tho my life short while endured My selfe I slue when them I damned to death At once my throate I riued and reft them breath For that selfe day before or neere the hower That withred Atropos nipt the springing flower VVith violent hand of their forth running life My head and body in Tower twinde like knife By this my paterne all ye peeres beware Oft hangth he himselfe who others weenth to snare Spare to be each others butcher Feare the Kite VVho soareth aloft while frog and mouse do fight In ciuil combat grappling void of feare Of forreine foe at once al both to beare Which plainer by my pitied plaint to see A while anew your listning lend to mee Too true it is two sundrie assemblies kept At Crosbies place and Baynards Castle set The Dukes at Crosbies but at Baynards we The one to crowne a king the other to be Suspicious is secession of foule frends When eithers drift to th' others mischief tends I fear'd the end my Catesbies being there Discharg'd all doubts Him held I most entire Whose great preserment by my meanes I thought Some spurre to pay the thankfulnesse hee ought The trust he ought me made me trust him so That priuie he was both to my weale and wo. My hearts one halfe my chest of confidence Mine only trust my ioy dwelt in his presence I lou'd him Baldwine as the apple of mine eye I loath'd my life when Catesby would me die Flie from thy chanel Thames forsake thy streames Leaue the Adamant Iron Phoebus lay thy beames Cease heauenly Sphears at last your weary warke Betray your charge returne to Chaos darke At least some ruthlesse Tiger hang her whelp My Catesby so with some excuse to help And me to comfort that I alone ne seeme Of all dame natures workes left in extreeme A Golden treasure is the tried frend But who may Gold from Counterfaits defend Trust not too soone nor yet too soone mistrust With th' one thy selfe with th' other thy friend thou hurt'st VVho twin'th betwixt and steareth the golden meane Nor rashly loueth nor mistrusteth in vaine In friendship soueraigne it is as Mithridate Thy friend to loue as one whom thou maist hate Of tickle credit ne had bin the mischiefe What needed Virbius miracle doubled life Credulity surnamed first the Aegean Seas Mistrust doth reason in the trustiest raise Suspicious Romulus stain'd his Walls first reard With brothers bloud whom for light leape he feard So not in brotherhood ielousie may be borne The ielous Cuckold weares the Infamous Horne A beast may preach by triall not foresight Could I haue shund light credit nere had light The dreaded death vpon my guilty head But Fooles aye wont to learne by after read Had Catesby kept vnstaind the truth he plight Yet had yet enioied me and I yet the light All Derbies doubts I cleared with his name I knew no harme could hap me without his blame But see the fruites of tickle light beleefe The ambitious Dukes corrupt the Traitor theefe To grope mee if allured I would assent To bin a Partner of their cursed intent Whereto when as by no meanes friendship vail'd By Tyrant force behold they me assail'd And summond shortly a Counsell in the Tower Of Iune the fifteenth at appointed hower Alas are Counsels wried to catch the good No place is now exempt from sheading bloud Sith counsels that were carefull to preserue The guiltelesse good are meanes to make them starue VVhat may not mischiefe of Mad man abuse Religious cloake some one to vice doth chuse And maketh God Protectour of his crime Omonstrous world well ought we wish thy fine The fatall skies roll on the blackest day VVhen doubled bloudshed my bloud must repay Others none forceth To me sir Thomas Haward As spurre is buckled to prouoke me froward Derbie who feared the parted sittings yore Whether much more he knew by experience hoare Or better minded clearelier truth could see At midnight darke this message sends to mee Hastings away in sleepe the gods foreshow By dreadfull dreame fell fates vnto vs two Me thought a Bore with tuske so raced our throate That both our shoulders of the blood did smoake Arise to horse straight homeward let vs hie And seeth our foe we cannot match O flie Of Chanteclere you learne dreames sooth to know Thence wisemen construe more then the cock doth crow While thus he spake I held within mine arme Shores wife the tender piece to keepe me warme Fie on adulterie fie on leacherous lust Marke in me ye Nobles all Gods iudgements iust A Pander Murderer and Adulterer thus Only such death I die as I ne blush Now lest my dame might thinke appall'd my hart With eager mood vp in my bed I start And is thy Lord quoth I a Sorcerer A wiseman now become a dreame reader What though so Chanteclere crowed I reck it not On my part pleadeth as well dame Partelot Vniudg'd hang'th yet the case betwixt them tway Nay was his dreame cause of his hap I say Shall dreaming doubts from Prince my seruing slack Nay then might Hastings life and liuing lacke He parteth I sleepe my mind surcharg'd with sinne As Phoebus beames by mistie cloud kept in Ne could misgiue ne dreame of my mishap As blocke I tumbled to mine enemies trap Securitie causelesse through my fained frend Reft me foresight of my approching end So Catesby clawed me as when the Cat doth play Dallying with Mouse whom straight she meanes to slay The morow come the latest light to me On Palfray mounted to the Tower I hie Accompanied with that Haward my mortall foe To slaughter led thou God didst suffer so O deepe dissemblers honoring with your cheare Whom in hid heart you trayterously teare Neuer had Realme so open signes of wrack As I had shewed me of my heauie hap The vision first of Stanley late descried Then mirth so extreame that neare for ioy I died Were it that Swanlike I foresong my death Or merrie mind foresaw the losse of breath That long it coueted from this earths annoy But euen as siker as th' end of woe is ioy And glorious light to obscure night doth tend So extreame mirth in extreame mone doth end For why extreames are haps rackt out of course By violent might far swinged forth perforce Which as they are piercing'st while they violent'st moue For that they
loose thy breath that yet but yongly bloweth Happie thrice happie who so loos'th his breath That life he gaineth by his godly death As Hastings heere Whom time and truth agree To engraue by fame in strong eternitie Who spareth not speaking with danger of his blood Yet loe this noble Lord did thinke it good To cleare the innocent not to spare to speake Although his shoulders with his blood should reake Worthie to liue who liu'd not for himselfe But prised his same more then this worldly pelfe Whose name and line if any yet preserue We wish they liue like honor to destrue Whether thou seeke by martiall prowese praise Or Pallas policie high thy name to raise Or trustie seruice honor to attaine Hastings foreled tracke heere his bloodie traine FINIS Master D. THE COMPLAINT OF HENRIE DVKE of Buckingham WHo trusts too much to honors highest throne And warily watch not slie dame Fortunes snares Or who in Court will beare the swing alone And wisely weigh not how to weild the care Behold he me and by my death beware Whom flattering Fortune falsely so beguilde That loe she slew where erst full smooth shee smilde And Sackuill sith in purpose now thou hast The wofull fall of Princes to descriue Whom Fortune both vplift and eke downe cast To shew thereby th' vnsuretie in this life Marke well my fall which I shall shew beliue And paint it forth that all estates may know Haue they the warning and be mine the woe For noble blood made me both Prince and Peere Yea peerelesse too had reason purchast place And God with gifts endow'd me largely heere But what auailes his gifts where failes his grace My mothers sire sprung of a kingly race And call'd was Edmund Duke of Sommerset Bereft of life ere time by nature set Whose faithfull heart to Henrie sixt so wrought That he him nere in weale or woe forsooke Till lastly he at Tewkesbury field was cought Where with an axe his violent death he tooke He neuer could King Edwards partie brooke Till by his death he voucht that quarrell good In which his Sire and Grand-sire spilt their blood And such was erst my fathers cruell chance Of Stafford Earle by name that Humfrey hight Who euer prest did Henries part aduance And neuer ceast till at Saint Albones fight He lost his life as then did many a Knight Where eke my Grandsire Duke of Buckingham Was wounded sore and hardly scapt vntane But what may boote to stay the Sisters three When Atropos perforce will cut the thred The dolefull day was come when you might see Northampton field with armed men orespred VVhere fate would algates haue my Grandsire dead So rushing forth amids the fiercest fight He liu'd and di'd there in his Masters right In place of whom as it befell my lot Like on a stage so stept I in straightway Enioying there but wofully God wot As he that had a slender part to play To teach thereby in earth no state may stay But as our parts abridge or length our age So passe we all while others fill the stage For of my selfe the dreerie fate to plaine I was sometime a Prince withouten peere VVhen Edward fift began his rufull raigne Ay me then I began that hatefull yeare To compasse that which I haue bought so deare I bare the swinge I and that wretched wight The Duke of Glocester that Richard hight For when the fates had reft that Roiall Prince Edward the fourth chiefe mirrour of that name The Duke and I fast ioined euer since In faithfull loue our secret dristes to frame VVhat he thought best to me so seem'd the same My selfe not bent so much for to aspire As to fulfill that greedy Dukes desire Whose restlesse minde sore thirsting after rule When that he saw his nephewes both to bin Through tender yeares as yet vnfit to rule And rather ruled by their Mothers kin There sought he first his mischiefe to begin To pluck from them their Mothers friends assinde For well he wist they would wistand his minde To follow which he ran so headlong swift With eagre thirst of his desired draught To seeke their deaths that sought to dash his drift Of whom the chiefe the Queenes allies he thought That bent thereto with mounts of mischiefe fraught He knew their liues would be so sore his let That in their deaths his onely help he set And I most cursed caitiffe that I was Seeing the state vnstedfast how it stood His chiefe complice to bring the same to passe Vnhappie wretch consented to their blood Yee Kings and Peeres that swim in worldly good In seeking bloud the end aduert you plaine And see if bloud ay aske not bloud againe Consider Cyrus in your cruell thought A matchlesse Prince in riches and in might And weigh in minde the bloudy deedes he wrought In sheading which he set his whole delight But see the guerdon lotted to this wight He whose huge power no man might ouerthrow Tamiris Queene with great despite hath slow His head dismembred from his mangled corps Her selfe she cast into a vessell fraught VVith clottered bloud of them that felt her force And with these words a iustreward she taught Drinke now thy fill of thy desired draught Loe marke the fine that did this Prince befall Marke not this one but marke the end of all Behold Cambises and his fatall day Where murders mischiefe mirrour like is left While he his brother Mergus cast to slay A dreadfull thing his wits were him bereft A sword he caught wherewith he pierced eft His bodie gor'd which he of life benoomes So iust is God in all his dreadfull doomes O bloodie Brutus rightly didst thou rue And thou O Cassius iustly came thy fall That with the sword wherewith thou Caesar slue Murdredst thy selfe and reft thy life withall A Mirrour let him be vnto you all That murdrers be of murder to your meed For murder cries out vengeance on your seed Loe Bessus he that arm'd with murdrers knife And traytrours heart against his royall King With bloodie hands bereft his masters life Aduert the fine his foule offence did bring And lothing murder as most lothly thing Behold in him the iust deserued fall That euer hath and shall betide them all What booted him his false vsurped raigne Whereto by murder he did so ascend When like a wretch led in an iron chaine He was presented by his chiefest friend Vnto the foes of him whom he had slaine That euen they should auenge so foule a gilt That rather sought to haue his blood yspilt Take heed ye Princes and ye Prelats all Of this outrage which though it sleepe a while And not disclos'd as it doth seld befall Yet God that suffereth silence to beguile Such guilts wherewith both earth and aire ye file At last descries them to your foule disgrace You see th' examples set before your face And deeply graue within your stony harts The dreerie dole that mightie Macedo With tears
Vpon my legend publikely shall lay Would you forbeare to blast me with defame Might I so meane a priuiledge but pray He that three ages hath endur'd your wrong Heare him a little that hath heard you long Since Romes sad ruine heere by me began Who her Religion pluckt vp by the root Of the false world such hate for which I wan Which still at me her poisned'st darts doth shoot That to excuse it do the best I can Little I feare my labour me will boot Yet will I speake my troubled heart to ease Much to the mind her selfe it is to please O powerfull number from whose stricter law Heart-mouing musicke did receiue the ground Which men to faire ciuilitie did draw With the brute beast when lawlesse he was found O if according to the wiser saw There be a high diuinitie in sound Be now abundant prosp'rously to aide The pen prepar'd my doubtfull case to pleade Putney the place made blessed in my brith Whose meanest cottage simplie me did shrowd To me as dearest of the English earth So of my bringing that poore village prou'd Though in a time when neuer lesse the dearth Of happie wits yet mine so well allow'd That with the best she boldly durst confer Him that his breath acknowledged from her Twice flow'd proud Thames as at my comming wood Striking the wondring borderers with feare And the pale Genius of that aged flood Vnto my mother labouring did appeare And with a countenance much distracted stood Threatning the fruit her pained wombe should beare My speedie birth being added thereunto Seem'd to foretell that much I came to do That was reserued for those worser daies As the great ebbe vnto so long a flow VVhen what those ages formerly did raise This when I liu'd did lastly ouerthrow And that great'st labour of the world did seaze Only for which immedicable blow Due to that time me dooming heauen ordain'd VVherein confusion absolutely raign'd Vainly yet noted this prodigious signe Often predictions of most fearefull things As plagues or warre or great men to decline Rising of Commons or the death of Kings But some strange newes though euer it diuine Yet forth them not immediatly it brings Vntill th' effects men afterward did learne To know that me it chiefly did concerne VVhil'st yet my father by his painfull trade VVhose laboured Anuile only was his fee VVhom my great towardnesse strongly did perswade In knowledge to haue educated mee But death did him vnluckily inuade Ere he the fruits of his desire could see Leauing me yong then little that did know How me the heauens had purpos'd to bestow Hopelesse as helpelesse most might me suppose Whose meannesse seem'd their abiect breath to draw Yet did my breast that glorious fire inclose VVhich their dull purblind ignorance not saw VVhich still is setled vpon outward showes The vulgars iudgement euer is so raw VVhich the vnworthiest sottishly do loue In their owne region properly that moue Yet me my fortune so could not disguise But through this cloud were some that did me know VVhich then the rest more happie or more wise Me did relieue when I was driuen low Which as the staier by which I first did rise When to my height I afterward did grow Them to requite my bounties were so hie As made my fame through euery eare to flie That height and Godlike puritie of minde Resteth not still where titles most adorne With any nor peculiarly confinde To names and to be limited doth scorne Man doth the most degenerate from kinde Richest and poorest both alike are borne And to be alwaies pertinently good Followes not still the greatnes of our blood Pitie it is that to one vertuous man That marke him lent to gentrie to aduance Which first by noble industrie he wan His baser issue after should inhance And the rude slaue not any good that can Such should thrust downe by what is his by chance As had not he been first that him did raise Nere had his great heire wrought his grandsires praise How weake art thou that makest it thy end To heape such worldly dignities on thee When vpon Fortune only they depend And by her changes gouerned must bee Besides the dangers still that such attend Liuel'est of all men purtraied out in mee When that for which I hated was of all Soon'st from me fled scarse tarrying for my fall You that but boast your ancestors proud stile And the large stem whence your vaine greatnes grew When you your selues are ignorant and vile Nor glorious thing dare actually pursue That all good spirits would vtterly exile Doubting their worth should else discouer you Giuing your selues vnto ignoble things Base I proclaime you though deriu'd from Kings Vertue but poore God in this earth doth place Gainst the rude world to stand vp in his right To suffer sad affliction and disgrace Not ceasing to pursue her with despight Yet when of all she is accounted base And seeming in most miserable plight Out of her power new life to her doth take Least then dismai'd when all do her forsake That is the man of an vndaunted spirit For her deare sake that offereth him to dye For whom when him the world doth disinherit Looketh vpon it with a pleased eye What 's done for vertue thinking it doth merit Daring the proudest menaces defie More worth then life how ere the base world rate him Belou'd of heauen although the earth doth hate him Iniurious time vnto the good vniust O how may weake posteritie suppose Euer to haue their merit from the dust Gainst them thy partialitie that knowes To thy report ô who shall euer trust Triumphant arches building vnto those Allow'd the longest memorie to haue That were the most vnworthie of a graue But my cleere mettle had that powerfull heat As it not turn'd with all that Fortune could Nor when the world me terriblest did threat Could that place win which my hie thoughts did hold That waxed still more prosperously great The more the world me stroue to haue control'd On my owne Columnes constantly to stand Without the false helpe of anothers hand My youthfull course thus wisely did I steere T' auoid those rockes my wracke that else did thret Yet some faire hopes from farre did still appeere If that too much my wants me did not let Wherefore my selfe aboue my selfe to beare Still as I grew I knowledge stroue to get To perfect that which in the Embryon was Whose birth I found time well might bring to passe But when my meanes to faile me I did finde My selfe to trauell presently betooke As much distastfull to my noble minde That the vile world into my wants should looke And of my selfe industriously inclinde To measure others actions with my booke I might my iudgement rectifie thereby In matters that were difficult and hie When loe it hapt that fortune as my guide Of me did with such prouidence dispose That th' English Merchants then who did reside At Antwerpe me their
the miners lap For I Lord Richard heire Plantagenet Was Earle of Cambridge and right fortunate If I had had the grace my wit to set To haue content me with mine owne estate But O false honors breeders of debate The loue of you our leaud hearts doth allure To lose our selues by seeking you vnsure Because my brother Edmund Mortimer Whose eldest sister was my wedded wife I meane that Edmund that was prisoner In Wales so long through Owens busie strife Because I say that after Edmunds life His rights and titles must by law be mine For he ne had nor could encrease his line Because the right of Realme and Crowne was ours I searched meanes to helpe him thereunto And where the Henries held it by their powers I sought a shift their tenures to vndoe Which being force sith force or sleight must doe I void of might because their power was strong Set priuie fleight against their open wrong But sith the death of most part of my kin Did dash my hope throughout the fathers daies I let it slip and thought it best begin When as the sonne should dread least such assayes For force through speed sleight speedeth through delayes And seeld doth treason time so fitly find As when all dangers most be out of mind Wherefore while Henrie of that name the fist Prepar'd his armie to go conquer France Lord Scroope and I thought to attempt a drift To put him downe my brother to aduance But wer 't Gods will my lucke or his good chance The King wist wholly whereabout we went The night before to shipward he him bent Then were we straight as traytours apprehended Our purpose spi'd the cause thereof was hid And therefore loe a false cause we pretended Where through my brother was from danger rid We said for hire of French Kings coine we did Behight to kill the King and thus with shame We stain'd our selues to saue our friend from blame When we had thus confest so foule a treason That we deseru'd we suffered by the law See Baldwine see and note as it is reason How wicked deeds to wofull ends do draw All force doth faile no craft is worth a straw To attaine things lost and therefore let them go For might rules right and will though truth say no. W. Baldwine HOW THOMAS MONTAGVE EARLE OF SALISBVrie in the middest of his glorie was chanceably slaine at Orleaunce with a piece of Ordinance the third of Nouember Anno Dom. 1428. WHat fooles be we to trust vnto our strength Our wit our courage or our noble fame Which time it selfe must needs deuour at length Though froward Fortune could not foile the same But seeing this Goddesse guideth all the game Which still to change doth set her only lust Why toile we so for things so hard to trust A goodly thing we deeme of good report Which noble hearts do seeke by course of kind But seeing the date so doubtfull and so short The way so rough whereby we do it find I cannot chuse but praise the Princely mind That preaseth for it though we find opprest By foule defame those that deserue it best Concerning whom marke Baldwine what I say I meane the vertuous hindred of their brute Among which number recken well I may My valiant father Iohn Lord Montacute Who lost his life I iudge through iust pursute I say the cause and not the casuall speed Is to be waighed in euery kind of deed This rule obseru'd how many shall we find For vertues sake with infamie opprest How some againe through helpe of Fortune blind For ill attempts atchieu'd with honor blest Successe is worst oft times when cause is best Therefore say I God send them sory haps That iudge the causes by their afterclaps The end indeed is Iudge of euery thing Which is the cause or latter point of time The first true verdict at the first may bring The last is slow or slipper as the slime Oft changing names of innocence and crime Duke Thomas death was Iustice two yeares long And euer since sore tyrannie and wrong Wherefore I pray thee Baldwine weigh the cause And praise my father as he doth deserue Because Earle Henry King against all lawes Endeuoured King Richard for to starue In iayle wherby the regall Crowne might swarue Out of the line to which it then was due Whereby God knowes what euill might ensue My Lord Iohn Holland Duke of Excester Which was deare cosin to this wretched King Did moue my Sire and th' Earle of Glocester With other Lords to ponder well the thing Who seeing the mischiefe that began to spring Did all consent this Henry to depose And to restore King Richard to the Rose And while they did deuise a prety traine Whereby to bring their purpose well about Which was in maske this Henry to haue slaine The Duke of Aumerle blew their counsaile out Yet was their purpose good there is no doubt What cause can be more worthy for a Knight Than saue his King and helpe true heires to right For this with them my father was destroid And buried in the dunghill of defame Thus euill chance their glory did auoid Whereas their cause doth claime eternall fame When deeds therefore vnluckily doe frame Men ought not iudge the authors to be naught For right through might is often ouerraught And God doth suffer that it should be so But why my wit is feeble to decise Except it be to heape vp wrath and we On wicked heads that iniuries deuise The cause why mischiefs many times arise And light on them that would mens wrongs redresse Is for the rancour that they beare I gesse God hateth rigour though it further right For sinne is sinne how euer it be vsed And therefore suffereth shame and death to light To punish vice though it bee well abused Who furthereth right is not therby excused If through the same he doe some other wrong To euery vice due guerdon doth belong What preach I now I am a man of warre And that my lims I dare say doth professe Of cured wounds beset with many a skarre My broken iaw vnheald can say no lesse O Fortune Fortune cause of all distresse My father had great cause thy fraud to curse But much more I abused ten times worse Thou neuer flatteredst him in all thy life But me thou dandledst like thy darling deare Thy gifts I found in euery corner rife Where ere I went I met thy smiling cheare Which was not for a day or for a yeare But through the raigne of three right worthy Kings I found thee forward in all kind of things The while King Henry conquered in France I sued the warres and still found victory In all assaults so happy was my chance Holds yeeld or won did make my enemies sory Dame Prudence eke augmented so my glory That in all treaties euer I was one When weighty matters were agreed vpon But when this King this mightie conquerour Through death vnripe was both
his Realmes berest His silly infant did receiue his power Poore little babe full yong in cradle left Where Crowne and Scepter hurt him with the heft Whose worthie vncles had the gouernance The one at home the other abroad in France And I which was in peace and warre well skilled With both these Rulers greatly was esteemed Bare rule at home as often as they willed And fought in France when they it needfull deemed And euery where so good my seruice seemed That English men to me great loue did beare Our foes the French my force fulfill'd with feare I alwaies thought it fitly for a Prince And such as haue the regiment of Realmes His subiects hearts with mildnes to conuince With Iustice mixt auoiding all extreames For like as Phoebus with his cheerefull beames Doth freshly force the fragrant flowres to florish So rulers mildnesse subiects loue doth norish This found I true for through my milde behauiour Their hearts I had with me to liue and die And in their speech be wrayer of their fauour They call'd me still good Earle of Salisburie The Lords confesse the Commons did not lie For vertuous life free heart and lowly mind With high and low shall alwaies fauour find Which vertues chiefe become a man of warre Whereof in France I found experience For in assaults due mildnes passeth farre All rigour force and sturdie violence For men will stoutly sticke to their defence When cruell Captaines couet after spoile And so enforst oft giue their foes the foile But when they know they shall be friendly vsed They hazard not their heads but rather yeeld For this my offers neuer were refused Of any towne or surely very seeld But force and furies fit be for the field And there indeed I vsed so the same My foes would flie if they but heard my name For when Lord Steward and Earle Vantadors Had cruelly besieged Crauant towne Which he had won and kept long time before Which lieth in Awxer on the Riuer Youne To raise the siege the Regent sent me downe Whereas I vsde all rigour that I might I killed all that were not sau'd by flight When th' Earle of Bedford then in France Lord Regent Knew in what sort I had remoued the siege In Brye and Champaine he made me Vicegerent And Lieutenant for him and for my Liege Which causde me go to Brye and there besiege Mountaguillon with twentie weekes assaut Which at the last was yeelded me for naught And for the Duke of Britaines brother Arthur Both Earle of Richmond and of Yuerie Against his oath from vs had made departure To Charles the Dolphin our chiefe enemie I with the Regent went to Normandie To take his towne of Yuerie which of spight Did to vs daily all the harme they might They at the first compounded by a day To yeeld if rescues did not come before And while in hope to fight we at it lay The Dolphin gathered men two thousand score With Earles with Lords and Captaines iolly store Of which the Duke of Alanson was guide And sent them downe to see if we would bide But they left vs and downe to Vernoile went And made their vaunt they had our armie slaine And through that lie that towne from vs they hent Which shortly after turned to their paine For there both armies met vpon the plaine And we eight thousand whom they flew before Did kill of them ten thousand men and more When we had taken Vernoile thus againe To driue the treacherous Dolphin out of France The Regent sent me t' Aniow and to Mayne Where I besieg'd the warlike towne of Mawns There Lord of Toysers Baldwins valiance Did well appeare which would not yeeld the towne Till all the Towres and walles were battered downe But heere now Baldwine take it in good part Though that I brought this Baldwine there to yeeld The Lion fierce for all his noble heart Being ouermatch'd is forst to flie the field If Mars himselfe there had been with his shield And in my stormes had stoutly me withstood He should haue yeeld or else haue shed my blood This worthie Knight both hardie stout and wise Wrought well his feat as time and place require When Fortune failes it is the best aduise To strike the saile lest all lie in the mire This haue I said to th' end thou take no ire For though no cause be found so nature frames Men haue a zeale to such as beare their names But to returne in Mayne wan I at length Such townes and sorts as might or helpe or hurt I manned Mayne and Suzans towne of strength Fort Barnard Thanceaur and S. Cales the curt With Lile sues Bolton standing in the durt Eke Gwerland Suze Loupeland and Mount sure With Malycorne these wan I and kept full sure Besides all this I tooke neere fortie holds But those I raced euen with the ground And for these deeds as sillie sheepe in folds Do shrinke for feare at euery little sound So fled my foes before my face full round Was none so hardie durst abide the fight So Mars and Fortune furthered me their Knight I tell no lie so gastfull grew my name That it alone discomfited an host The boldest Frenchmen well confesse the same Else will the towne which they like cowards lost For when they sieged Beauron with great boast Being fortie thousand well arm'd in field Fiue hundred men enforced them to yeeld For while the Frenchmen fresh assaulted still Our Englishmen came boldly forth at night Crying Saint George Salisbury kill kill And offered freshly with their foes to fight And they as Frenchly tooke themselues to flight Supposing surely that I had been there See how my name did put them all in feare Thus was the Dolphins power discomfited Foure thousand slaine their Campetane as it stood Whereby our towne and souldiers profited For there were vitailes plentifull and good This while was I in England by the rood T' appease a strife that was right foule befall Betweene Duke Humfrey and the Cardinall The Duke of Exeter soone after died Which of the King at home had gouernance Whose roome the Earle of Warwicke then supplied And I tooke his and sped me into France Where in good hope to conquer Orliance With much adoe I got the Regents aid And marched forth and siege about it laid But in the way I tooke the towne of Yaine Where murdered were for stoutnes many a man But Baugencey I tooke with little paine For which to shew them fauour I began This causde the townes of Mewne and Iargeman That stood on Loyer to profer me the keyes Ere I came neere them welnigh by two daies See heere how Fortune froward can allure What baits she layeth to bring men to their ends Who hauing hap like this but hopeth sure To bring to bale what euer he entends But soone is sower the sweet that Fortune sends When hope and hap when health and wealth is highest Then woe and wracke disease and need
Such his constraint that now that one with paine Command he might who late might many moe Then ghastly Greekes erst brought to Tenedo So nought is ours that we by hap may lose What nearest seemes is farthest off in woes As banished wights such ioyes we might haue made Eas'd of aye threatning death that late we drade But once our countries sight not care exempt No harbour shewing that might our feare relent No couert caue no shrub to shroud our liues No hollow wood no flight that oft depriues The mightie his prey no sanctuarie left For exil'd Prince that shrouds each slaue for theft In prison pent whose woodie walles to passe Of no lesse perill then the dying was With th' Ocean moated battred with the waues As chain'd at oares the wretched galley slaues At mercie sit of sea and enmies shot And shun with death that they with flight may not But greenish waues and heauie lowring skies All comfort else forclosed our exiled eies Lo lo from highest top the slauish boy Sent vp with sight of land our hearts to ioy Descries at hand a fleete of Easterlings As then hot enmies of the British Kings The Mouse may sometime helpe the Lion in need The bittle Bee once spilt the Aegles breed O Princes seeke no foes In your distresse The earth the seas conspire your heauinesse Our foe descried by flight we shun in hast And laid with canuas now the bending mast The ship was rackt to trie her sailing then As Squirels climbe the troupes of trustie men The steersman seekes a readier course to run The souldier stirs the Gunner hies to gun The Flemmings sweate the English ship disdaines To wait behind to beare the Flemmings traines Forth flieth the Barke as from the violent Goone The pellet breakes all staies and stops eftsoone And swift she swindg'th as oft in Sunnie day The Dolphin fleetes in seas in merrie May. As we for liues so th' easterlings for gaine Thwack on the sailes and after make amaine Though heauie they were and of burthen great A King to master yet what Swine nold sweat So mid the vale the Greyhound seeing start The fearefull Hare pursueth before she flert And where she turn'th he turn'th her there to beare The one prey pricketh th' other safeties feare So were we chas'd so fled we 'fore our foes Bet flight then fight in so vneuen close I end Some thinke perhaps too long he staieth In perill present shewing his fixed faith This ventred I this dread I did sustaine To trie my truth my life I did disdaine But loe like triall ' gainst his ciuill foe Faiths worst is triall which reserues to woe I passe our scape and sharpe returning home Where we were welcom'd by our wonted fone To battell maine descends the Empires right At Barnet ioyne the hosts in bloodie fight There ioyn'd three battels ranged in such array As might for terror Alexander fray What should I stay to tell the long discourse Who wan the Palme who bare away the worse Sufficeth say by my reserued band Our enemies fled we had the vpper hand My iron armie held her steadie place My Prince to shield his feared foe to chase The like successe befell in Tewkesbury field My furious force their force perforc'd to yeeld My Princes foe and render to my King Her only sonne lest he more bate might bring Thus hast a mirrour of a Subiects mind Such as perhaps is rare againe to find The caruing cuts that cleaue the trusty steele My faith and due allegeance could not feele But out alas what praise may I recount That is not stain'd with spot that doth surmount My greatest vaunt bloudy for VVarre to feete A Tiger was I all for peace vnmeete A souldiers hands must oft be died with goare Lest starke with rest they finewd waxe and hoare Peace could I win by VVarre but peace not vse Few daies liue he who VVarlike peace doth chuse VVhen Crofts a Knight presented Henries Heiro To this our Prince in furious moode enquere Of him he gan what folly or phrensy vaine With Arms forst him t' inuade his Realme againe Whom answering that he claim'd his fathers right With Gauntlet smit commanded from his sight Glocester Clarence I and Dorset slewe The guilt whereof we shortly all did rue Clarence as Cyrus drown'd in bloud like Wine Dorset I furthered to his speedy pine Of me my selfe am speaking president Nor easier fate the bristled Boare is lent Our blouds haue paid the vengeance of our guilt His bones shall broile for bloud which he hath spilt O deadly murther that attaint'th our fame O wicked Traytours wanting worthy name Who as mischieuously of men deserue As they merit well who doe mens liues preserue If those therefore we recken heauenly wights These may we well deeme Feendes and damned Sprits And while on earth they walke disguised deuils Sworne foes of vertue factours for all euils Whose bloudy hands torment their goared harts Through bloudsheds horrour in sound sleepe he starts O happy world were the Lions men All Lions should at least be spared then No suerty now no lasting league is bloud A meacocke is he who dreadth to see bloud shed Old is the Practise of such bloudy strife While ij weare Armies ij the Issues of first Wife With armed hart and hand the one bloudy brother With cruell chase pursueth and murdreth th' other Which who abhorreth not yet who ceaseth to sue The bloudy Caines their bloudy sire renue The horror yet is like in common fraies For in ech murther brother brother slaies Traytours to nature countrey kin and kinde Whom no band serueth in brothers loue to bind O simple age when slaunder slaughter was The tongues smal euil how doth this mischief passe Hopest thou to cloake thy couert mischiefe wrought Thy conscience Caitif shal proclaime thy thought A vision Chaucer sheweth difcloasd thy crime The Foxe descrie the crowes and chattring pien And shal thy fellow felons not bewray The guiltelesse death whom guiltie hands do slay Vnpunished scaped for hainous crime some one But vnaduenged in minde or body none Vengeance on minde the freating furies take The sinful corps like earth quake agues shake Their frowning lookes their troubled minds bewray In hast they runne and mids their race they staie As gidded Roe Amids their speech they whist At meate they muse No where they may persist But some feare netleth them Ay hang they so So neuer wanteth the wicked murtherer wo. An infant rent with Lions ramping pawes Why slaunder I Lions They feare the sacred lawes Of royall bloud Ay me more brute then beast With infants sides Lycaons pie to feast O tyrant Tigers O insaciate woolues O English courtesie monstrous mowes and gulfes Onely because our Prince displeas'd we saw With him we slue him straight before all law Before our Prince commanded once his death Our bloudie swords on him we did vnsheath Preuenting law and euen our Princes hest We hid our weapons in the young
I could the King perswade And make him pause and take therein a breath Till I with suite the faultors peace had made I knew what way to vse him in his trade I had the art to make the Lion meeke There was no point wherein I was to seeke If I did frowne who then did looke a wrie If I did smile who would not laugh outright If I but speake who durst my words denie If I pursude who would forsake the flight I meane my powre was knowne to euery wight On such a height good hap had built my bowre As though my sweete should nere haue turnd to sowre My husband then as one that knew his good Refusde to keepe a Princes Concubine Forseeing th' end and mischiefe as it stood Against the King did neuer much repine He saw the grape whereof hee dranke the wine Though inward thought his heart did still torment Yet outwardly he seemd he was content To purchase praise and win the peoples zeale Yea rather bent of kinde to do some good I euer did vphold the common weale I had delight to saue the guiltlesse blood Each suters cause when that I vnderstood I did prefer as it had bene mine owne And help them vp that might haue been orethrowne My powre was prest to right the poore mans wrong My hands were free to giue where need required To watch for grace I neuer thought it long To do men good I need not bee desired Nor yet with gifts my heart was neuer hired But when the ball was at my foote to guide I plaid to those that Fortune did abide My want was wealth my woe was ease at will Ny robes were rich and brauer then the sunne My Fortune then was far aboue my skill My state was great my glasse did euer runne My fatall threed so happely was spunne That then I sate in earthly pleasures clad And for the time a Goddesse place I had But I had not so soone this life possest But my good hap began to slip aside And Fortune then did me so sore molest That vnto plaints was turned all my pride It booted not to row against the tide Mine oares were weake my heart and strength did saile The winde was rough I durst not beare a saile What steps of strife belong to high estate The climing vp is doubtfull to endure The seat it selfe doth purchase priuie hate And honors fame is fickle and vnsure And all she brings is flowres that be vnpure Which fall as fast as they do sprout and spring And cannot last they are so vaine a thing We count no care to catch that we do wish But what we win is long to vs vnknowen Till present paine be serued in our dish We scarce perceiue whereon our griefe hath growen What graine proues well that is so rashly sowen If that a meane did measure all our deeds In steed of corne we should not gather weeds The setled mind is free from Fortunes power They need not feare who looke not vp aloft But they that climbe are carefull euery hower For when they fall they light not very soft Examples haue the wisest warned oft That where the trees the smallest branches bere The stormes do blow and haue most rigour there Where is it strong but neere the ground and roote Where is it weake but on the highest sprayes Where may a man so surely set his foote But on those bowes that groweth low alwayes The little twigs are but vnstedfast stayes If they breake not they bend with euery blast Who trusts to them shall neuer stand full fast The winde is great vpon the highest hilles The quiet life is in the dale below Who treads on ice shall slide against their willes They want not cares that curious arts would know VVho liues at ease and can content him so Is perfect wise and sets vs all to schoole VVho hates this lore may well be call'd a foole VVhat greater griefe may come to any life Then after sweete to taste the bitter sowre Or after peace to fall at warre and strife Or after mirth to haue a cause to lowre Vnder such props false Fortune builds her bowre On sudden change her flittering frames be set Where is no way for to escape the net The hastie smart that Fortune sends in spite Is hard to brooke where gladnesse we embrace She threatens not but suddenly doth smite Where ioy is most there doth she sorow place But sure I thinke this is too strange a case For vs to feele such griefe amid our game And know not why vntill we taste the same As erst I said my blisse was turn'd to bale I had good cause to weepe and wring my hands And shew sad cheare with countenance full pale For I was brought in sorowes wofull bands A pirrie came and set my ship on sands What should I hide or colour care and noy King Edward di'd in whom was all my ioy And when the earth receiued had his corse And that in tombe this worthie Prince was laid The world on me began to shew his force Of troubles then my part I long assai'd For they of whom I neuer was afrai'd Vndid me most and wrought me such despite That they berest me from my pleasure quite As long as life remain'd in Edwards brest Who was but I who had such friends at call His bodie was no sooner put in chest But well was he that could procure my fall His brother was mine enmie most of all Protector then whose vice did still abound From ill to worse till death did him confound He falsely fain'd that I of counsell was To poison him which thing I neuer ment But he could set thereon a face of brasse To bring to passe his leaud and false intent To such mischiefe this tyrants heart was bent To God ne man he neuer stood in awe For in his wrath he made his will a law Lord Hastings blood for vengeance on him cries And many moe that were too long to name But most of all and in most wofull wise I had good cause this wretched man to blame Before the world I suffred open shame Where people were as thick as is the sand I penance tooke with taper in my hand Each eye did stare and looke me in the face As I past by the rumours on me ran But patience then had lent me such a grace My quiet lookes were prais'd of euery man The shamefast blood brought me such colour than That thousands said which saw my sober cheere It is great ruth to see this woman heere But what preuail'd the peoples pitie there This raging wolfe would spare no guiltlesse blood Oh wicked wombe that such ill fruit did beare Oh cursed earth that yeeldeth forth such mud The hell consume all things that did thee good The heauens shut their gates against thy spreete The world tread downe thy glorie vnder feete I aske of God a vengeance on thy bones Thy stinking corps corrupts the aire I know Thy