a Generall 90 Who weighing yet his force and theyr desire Turnes him about in priuate to his sonne A worthy sonne and worthy such a Sire Tells him the doubtfull ground they stood vpon Aduising him in secrete to retyre Seeing his youth but euen now begun Would make it vnto him at all no staine His death small fame his flight no shame could gaine 91 To whom th' agreeued sonne as if dysgrac'd Ah Father haue you then selected mee To be the man which you would haue displac'd Out of the role of immortalitie What haue I done thys day that hath defac'd My worth that my hands worke dispisd should bee God shield I should beare home a Cowards name I haue liu'd enough if I can dye with fame 92 At which the Father toucht with sorrowing-ioy Turnes him about shaking his head and sayes O my deere sonne worthy a better day To enter thy first youth in hard assayes And now had wrath impatient of delay Begun the fight and farther speeches stayes Fury thrusts on striuing whose sword should be First warmed in the wounds of th' enemie 93 Hotely these small but mighty minded Bands As if ambitious now of death doe straine Against innumerable armed hands And gloriously a wondrous fight maintaine Rushing on all what euer strength with-stands Whetting theyr wrath on blood and on disdaine And so far thrust that hard 't were to discry Whether they more desire to kill or dye 94 Franke of theyr owne greedy of others blood No stroke they giue but wounds no wound but kills Neere to theyr hate close to theyr worke they stood Hit where they would theyr hand obeyes their wills Scorning the blow from far that doth no good Loathing the crack vnlesse some blood it spills No wounds could let out life that wrath held in Till others wounds reueng'd dyd first begin 95 So much true resolution wrought in those That had made couenant with death before That theyr small number scorning so great foes Made Fraunce most happy that there were no more Sith these made doubtfull how Fate would dispose That weary day or vnto whom restore The glory of a conquest deerely bought Which scarce the Conqueror can think worth ought 96 For as with equall rdge and equa'll might Two aduers winds combat with billowes proude And neyther yeeld Seas skyes maintayne like fight Waue against waue opposd and clowd to clowd So war both sides with obstinate despight With like reuenge and neyther party bowd Fronting each other vvith confounding blowes No wound one sword vnto the other owes 97 Whilst Talbot whose fresh spirit hauing got A meruailous aduantage of his yeeres Carries his vnfelt age as if forgot Whirling about where any neede appeares His hand his eye his wits all present wrought The function of the glorious part he beares Now vrging here now cheering there he flyes Vnlocks the thickest troupes where most force lyes 98 In midst of wrath of wounds of blood and death There is he most whereas he may doe best And there the closest ranks he seueroth Driues back the stoutest powres that forward prest There makes his sword his way there laboureth Th'infatigable hands that neuer rest Scorning vnto his mortall wounds to yeeld Till Death became best muister of the field 99 Then lyke a sturdy Oake that hauing long Against the warrs of fiercest winds made head When with some forst tempestious rage more strong His downe-borne top comes ouer-maistered All the neere bordering Trees hee stood among Crusht with his waighty fall lye ruined So lay his spoyles all round about him slayne T' adorne his death that could not dye in vaine 100 On th' other part his most all-daring sonne Although the inexperience of his yeeres Made him lesse skyld in what was to be done Yet dyd it thrust him on beyond all feares Flying into the mayne Batallion Neere to the King amidst the chiefest Peeres With thousand wounds became at length opprest As if he scornd to dye but with the best 101 Who thus both hauing gaynd a glorious end Soone ended that great day that set so red As all the purple playnes that wide extend A sad tempestious season with essed So much a doe had toyling Fraunce to rend From vs the right so long inherited And so hard went we from what we possest As with it went the blood we loued best 102 Which blood not lost but fast layd vp with heed In euerlasting same is there held deere To seale the memory of thys dayes deed Th' eternall euidence of what we were To which our Fathers we and who succeed Doe owe a sigh for that it touch vs neere Who must not sinne so much as to neglect The holy thought of such a deere respect 103 Yet happy haples day blest-ill-lost breath Both for our better fortune and your owne For what soule wounds what spoyle what shamefull death Had by this forward resolution growne If at S. Albons Wakefield Barnet-heath It should vnto your in famie be showne Blest you that dyd not teach how great a faute Euen vertue is in actions that are naught 104 Yet would thys sad dayes losse had now been all That thys day lost then should we not much playne If hereby wee had come but there to fall And that day ended ended had our payne Then small the loste of Fraunce of Giuen small Nothing the shame to be turnd home againe Compard with other shames But now Fraunce lost Sheds vs more blood then all her winning cost 105 For loosing war abroad at home lost peace Be'ing with our vnsupporting selues close pent And no dissignes for pryde that did increase But our owne throats our owne punishment The working spyrit ceast not tho worke dyd cease Hauing fit time to practise dyscontent And styrre vp such as could not long lye still Who not imployd to good must needs doe ill 106 And now the greefe of our receiued shame Gaue fit occasion for ambitious care They draw the chiefe reproch of all the fame On such as naturally hated are Seeing them apt to beare the greatest blame That offices of greatest enuie beare And that in vulgar eares delight it breedes To haue the hated Authors of misdeodes 107 And therefore easily great Sommerset VVhom enuie long had singled out before VVith all the vollie of disgraces met As the maine marke Fortune had plac'd therefore On whose hard-wrought opinion spight dyd whet The edge of wrath to make it pierce the more Griefe being glad t' haue gotten now on whom To lay the fault of what must light on some 108 Whereon th'againe out-breaking Yorke beginnes To builde new models of his olde desire Se'ing the fayre bootie Fortune for him winnes Vpon the ground of thys enkindled ire Taking th' aduantages of others sinnes To ayde his owne and helpe him to aspire And doubting peace should better scanne deeds past Hee thinks not safe to haue his sword our last 109 Especially sith euery man now prest To innouation doe with rancor swell
states of the redeemed Earth Might thee admire and glorise thy birth 127 Thence might thy valor haue brought in despight Eternall Tropheis to Elizas name And laid downe at her sacred feete the right Of all thy deedes and glory of the same All that which by her powre and by thy might Thou hadst attaind to her immortall fame Had made thee wondred here admir'd a farre The Mercury of peace the Mars of warre 128 And thou my Lord the glorie of my muse Pure-spirited Mountiâ—â— th' ornament of men Hadst had a large and mighty field to vse Thy holie giftes and learned counsels then Whole landes and Prouinces should not excuse Thy trusty faith nor yet sufficient beene For those great vertues to haue ordered And in a calme obedience gouerned 129 Nor had I then at solitary brooke Sate framing bloudy accents of these times Nor told of woundes that grieued eies might looke Vpon the horror of their fathers crimes But rather a more glorious subiect tooke To register in euerlasting rimes The sacred glories of ELIZABETH T' haue kept the wonder of her worth from death 136 And like wise builded for your great designes O you two worthies bewties of our state Immortall tombes of vnconsuming lines To keepe your holic deedes inuiolate You in whose actions yet the image shines Of ancient honor neere worne out of date You that haue vertue into fashion brought In these neglected times respected nought 131 But whither am I carried with the thought Of what might haue beene had not this beene so O sacred Fury how was I thus brought To speake of glory that must tell of wo These acted mischiefes cannot be vnwrought Though men be pleasd to wish it were not so And therefore leaue sad Muse th' imagin'd good For we must now returne againe to bloud THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henry the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded doe rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Promfret Castle sent Is murthered there The Percies making head Against the king receiue the punishment And in the end a tedious troublous raigne A grieuous death concludes with care and paine I Tow risen is that head by which did spring The birth of two strong heads two crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchased thing What fild the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 Striuing at first to build a strong conceit Of his weake cause in apt-abused mindes He deckes his deed with colours of deceit And ornaments of right which now he findes Succession conquest and election straight Suggested are and prou'd in all three kindes More then inough he findes that findes his might Hath force ' to make all that he will haue right 3 All these he hath when one good would suffize The worlds applause and liking to procure But who his owne cause makes doth still deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise The doubtfull can no vsuall plots indure These selfe-accusing titles all he had Seeking to make one good of maine bad 4 Like foolish he that feares and saine would stop An inundation working on apace Runs to the breach heapes mighty matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Loades with huge waights the outside and the top But leaues the inner parts in feeble case Thinking for that the outward forme seemes strong T is sure inough and may continue long 5 But when the vnder working waues come on Searching the secrets of vnsenced waies The full maine Ocean following hard vpon Beares downe that idle frame skorning such staies Prostrates that frustrate paines as if not done And proudly on his silly labors plaies Whilst he perceiues his error and doth finde His ill proceeding contrary to kind 6 So fares it with our indirect diffeignes And wrong-contriued labors at the last Whilst working time or Iustice vndermines The feeble ground-worke craft thought laid so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioynd plots so fairely ouercast Turnes vp those strong pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouerthrowes 7 But wel he thought his powre made al seem plain And now t' his coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous fort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this error feedes Is furnisht with a stately-glorious traine Wherein the former kings he far exceeds And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what and how t was done to what is wrought 8 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne and who his part did take New officers new counsellours he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their desart Seeking all meanes t' oppresse the aduerse part 9 All Counsellers vnto the former king All th' officers and iudges of the state He to disgrace or els to death did bring Lead by his owne or by the peoples hate Who euermore by nature mallicing Their might whom not their vertues but their fate Exalted hath who when kings do what 's naught Because t is in their powre t is thought their faut 10 And plac'd for these such as were popular Belou'd of him and in the peoples grace Learned graue Shirley he makes Chauncellor One of great spirit worthy his worthy race And Clifford he ordaines Lord Treasuror A man whose vertues well deseru'd that place Others to other roomes whom people hold So much more lou'd how much they loathd the old 17 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guilty thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor els could wel be wrought Law Iustice bloud the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drist shadowed 12 Here maine of the greatest of the land Accusd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleere their cause most resolutely stoute The king perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought about Desistes to vrge their death in anie wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 13 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernment To striue with bloud when lenity must gaine The mighty wight and please the discontent New kings do feare when old courts farther straine Establisht states to all things will consent He must dispence with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 14 Yet not to seeme but to haue something done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the
pretendant race t' haue laid full low If thou proceeded hadst with crueltie Not suffering anie fatall branch to grow But vnsuspicious magnanimitie Shames such effects of feare and force to show Busied in free and open Actions still Being great for being good hates to be ill 36 Which ô how much it were to be requir'd In all of might if all were like of mind But when that all depraued haue conspird To be vniust what saftie shall they find After the date of vertue is expird That do not practize in the selfe-same kind And countermine against deceite with guile But ô what mischiefe feeles the world the while 37 And yet such wronges are held meete to be don And often for the state thought requisite As when the publicke good depends thereon When most iniustice is esteemd most right But ô what good with doing ill is won Who hath of bloud made such a benefite As hath not fear'd more after then before And made his peace the lesse his plague the more 38 Far otherwise dealt this vndaunted king That cheerished the ofspring of his foes And his competitors to grace did bring And them his frendes for Armes and honors chose As if plaine courses were the safest thing Where vpright goodnes sure and stedfast goes Free from that subtile mask't impietie Which this depraued world calles policie 39 Yet how hath fate dispos'd of all this good What haue these vertues after times availd In what steed hath hy-raised valor stood When this continuing cause of greatnes faild Then when proud-growne the irritated bloud Enduring not it selfe it selfe assaild As though that Prowesse had but learnt to spill Much bloud abrode to cut her throte with skill 40 O doth th' Eternall in the course of thinges So mixe the causes both of good and ill That thus the one effects of th' other bringes As what seemes made to blisse is borne to spill What from the best of vertues glorie springes That which the world with miserie doth fill Is th' end of happines but wretchednesse Hath sin his plague and vertue no successe 41 Either that is not good the world holds good Or else is so confusd with ill that we Abused with th' appearing likelihood Run to offend whilst we thinke good to be Or else the heauens made man in furious bloud To torture man And that no course is free From mischiefe long And that faire daies do breed But storms to make more foule times that succeed 42 Who would haue thought but so great victories Such conquests riches land and kingdome gaind Could not but haue establish't in such wise This powreful state in state to haue remaind Who would haue thought that mischief could deuise A way so soone to loose what was attaind As greatnes were but shewd to grieue not grace And to reduce vs into far worse case 43 With what contagion France didst thou insect The land by thee made proud to disagree T'inrage them so their owne swords to direct Vpon themselues that were made sharpe in thee Why didst thou teach them here at home t' erect Trophees of their bloud which of thine should be Or was the date of thy affliction out And so was ours by course to come about 44 But that vntimely death of this Great King Whose nine yeares raign so mighty wōders wrought To thee thy hopes to vs despaire did bring Not long to keepe and gouerne what was gote For those that had th' affaires in managing Although their countries good they greatly sought Yet so ill accidents vnfitly fell That their desseignes could hardly prosper well 45 An infant king doth in the state succeed Skarse one yeare old left vnto others guide Whose carefull trust though such as shewd indeed They waighd their charge more then the world beside And did with dutie zeale and loue proceed Yet for all what their trauaile could prouide Could not woo fortune to remaine with vs When this her Minion was departed thus 46 But by degrees first this then that regaind The turning tide beares backe with flowing chaunce Vnto the Dolphin all we had attaind And fils the late low-running hopes of Fraunce When Bedford who our onely hold maintaind Death takes from vs their fortune to aduaunce And then home strife that on it selfe did fall Neglecting forraine care did soone loose all 47 Nere three score years are past since Bullinbrooke Did first attaine God knowes how iust the crowne And now his race for right possessors tooke Were held of all to hold nought but their owne When Richard Duke of Yorke begins to looke Into their right and makes his title knowne Wakening vp sleeping-wrong that lay as dead To witnes how his race was iniured 48 His fathers end in him no feare could moue T' attempt the like against the like of might Where long possession now of feare and loue Seem'd to prescribe euen an innated right So that to proue his state was to disproue Time law consent oth and allegeance quight And no way but the waie of bloud there was Through which with all confusion he must passe 49 O then yet how much better had it beene T' indure a wrong with peace then with such toyle T' obtaine a bloudie right since Right is sinne That is ill sought and purchased with spoile What madnes vnconstrained to begin To right his state to put the state in broyle Iustice her selfe maie euen do wrong in this No war be'ing right but that which needfull is 50 And yet that oportunity which led Him to attempt seemes likewise him t' excuse A feeble spirited king that gouerned Vnworthy of the Scepter he did vse His enemies that his worth maliced Who both the land and him did much abuse The poeples loue and his apparant right May seeme sufficient motiues to incite 51 Besides the now ripe wrath deferd till now Of that sure and vnfailing Justicer That neuer suffers wrong so long to grow And to incorporate with right so farre That it might come to seeme the same in show T' incourage those that euill minded are By such successe but that at last he will Confound the branch whose root was planted ill 52 Else might the ympious say with grudging spright Doth God permit the great to riot free And blesse the mighty though they doe vnright As if he did vnto their wrongs agree And only plague the weake and wretched wights For smallest faults euen in the highest degree When he but vsing them others to scourge Likewise of them at length the world doth purge 53 But could not ô for bloudshed satisfie The now well-ruling of th'ill-gotten crowne Must euen the good receiue the penaltie Of former sinnes that neuer were their owne And must a iust kings bloud with miserie Pay for a bad vniustly ouerthrowne Then ô I see due course must rightly goe And th' earth must trace it or else purchase woe 54 And sure this king that now the crowne possest Henry the sixt was one whose life was free From that
craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 74 And manie ready hands shee straight doth find To aide her deede of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind That to himselfe th' affaires all wholly tooke And ruling all had neuer any minde T' impart a part with others that would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And grieu'd at such ingrossing of commaunds 75 And had he not had such a greedy loue Of still continuing of his charge too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life without shee did him wrong But hauing liu'd so manie yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to be lesse strong And kils that fame that vertue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 76 O could the mighty but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe fortune ere shee pull them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfide Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high spreading ouergrowne Whilst they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and dispight 77 Then should not ô so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloudy end Nor their disgrac'd confounded families From so hye pride to so low shame descend But planted on that ground where safety lies Their branches should to eternity extend But euer those that ouerlooke so much Must ouersee themselues their state is such 78 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towardes euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bread despight So that euen vertue seemes an Actor too To ruine those fortune prepares to vndoo 79 Those thus prouided whom the Queene wel knew Hated his might and glad to inoouate Vnto so great and strong a party grew As easie t' was to ouerthrow his state And onely hope of alteration drew Manie to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnes men grow discontent Where states are ripe to fall and vertue spent 80 And taking all the rule into her hand Vnder the shadowe of that feeble king The Duke sh' excludes from office and command And in the reach of enmity doth bring From that respected height where he did stand Whilst malice scarce durst mutter anything When straight the worst of him comes all reueald Which former feare or rigor kept conceald 81 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the land haue brought The ciuile forme in cases touching bloud And such poore crimes that shewd their spight was sound But yet bewraide their matter wanted ground 82 Yet seru'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shall obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose hainous faults his matter must deface For where powre hath decreed to find th' oftence The cause is better still then the defence 83 A Parlament at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or ought imagining of what befell Where as the matter is so followed That he conuented is ere he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 84 Which quicke and sodaine action gaue no time For men to weigh the iustice of the deed Whilst looking only on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drift they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Sacietie makes passions still lesse strong 85 And yet they seem'd some mutiny to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Seeing he was most popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither dye 86 Reekning it better since his end is ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft things done perhaps doe lesse anoy Then may the doing handled with delay 87 And so they had it straight accomplished For that day after his committing he Is dead brought foorth being found so in his bed Which was by sodaine sicknes said to bee That had vpon his sorrowes gathered As by apparant to kens men might see And thus ô Sicknes thou art oft belide When death hath many waies to come beside 88 Are these the deedes hye forraine wits inuent Is this that wisedome whereof they so boast O then I would it neuer had beene spent Here amongst vs nor brought from out their coast O let their cunning in their limits pent Remaine amongst themselues that like it most And let the North they count of colder bloud Beheld more grosse so it remaine more good 89 Let them haue fairer citties goodlier soiles And sweeter fields for beautie to theeie So long as they haue these vngodly wiles Such detestable vile impietie And let vs want their vines their fruites the whiles So that we want not faith and honestie We care not for those pleasures so we may Haue better harts and stronger hands then they 90 Neptune keepe out from thy imbraced Ile This foule contagion of iniquitie Drowne all corruptions comming to defile Our faire proceedings ordred formally Keepe vs mere English let not craft beguile Honor and Iustice with strang subtiltie Let vs not thinke that that our good can frame Which ruinde hath the Authors of the same 91 But by this impious meanes that worthy man Is brought vnto this lamentable end And now that current with maine fury ran The stop remou'd that did the course defend Vnto the full of mischiefe that began T' a vniuersall ruine to extend That Isthmus failing which the land did keepe From the intire possession of the deepe 92 And now the king alone all open lay No vnderprop of bloud to stay him by None but himselfe standes weakely in the way Twixt Yorke and the affected sou'raignty Gone is that barre that would haue beene the stay T' haue kept him backe from mounting vp so hie But ô in what a state stand these men in That cannot liue without nor with their kin 93 The Queene hath yet by this her full desire And now she with her minion Suffolke raignes Now shee hath all authority intire And all affaires
vnto her selfe retaines And only Suffolke is aduanced hyre He is the man rewarded for his paines He that did her insteed most chiefly stand And more aduanc'd her then he did the land 94 Which when they saw who better did expect Then they beganne their error to descry And well perceiue that only the defect Was in their iudgements passion-drawne awry Found formall rigour fitter to direct Then pride and insolent inconstancie Better seuerity that 's right and iust Then impotent affections led with lust 95 And there upon in sorrow thus complaine O what great inconuenience do they feele Where as such imbecility doth raigne As so neglectes the care of common weale Where euer one or other doth obtaine So high a grace thus absolute to deale The whilst th'aggreieued subiect suffers still The pride of some predominating will 96 And euer one remou'd a worse succeedes So that the best that we can hope is warre Tumults and stirres that this disliking breedes The sword must mend what insolence doth marre For what rebellions and what bloudy deedes Haue euer followed where such courses are What oft remoues what death of counsailers What murder what exile of officers 97 Witnes the Spencers Gaueston and Vere The mighty minions of our feeblest kings Who euer subiects to their subiects were And only the procurers of these things When worthy Monarches that hold honor deare Maister themselues and theirs which euer brings That vniuersall reuerence and respect For who waighes him that doth himselfe neglect 98 And yet our case is like to be farre worse Hauing a king though not so bent to ill Yet so neglecting good that giuing force By giuing leaue doth all good order kill Suffring a violent woman take her course To manage all according to her will Which how she doth begin her deeds expresse And what will be the end our selues may gesse 99 Thus well they deem'd what after followed When now the shamefull losse of Fraunce much Which vnto Suffolke is attributed As who in all mens sight most hatefull liues grieues He with the enemy consedered Betraies the state and secret knowledge giues Of all our strength that all which we did hold By his corruption is or lost or sold. 100 And as he deales abroad so likewise here He robs at home the treasurie no lesse Here where he all authorities doth beare And makes a Monopoly of offices He is inricht h 'is raisd and placed neere And only he giues counsaile to oppresse Thus men obiect whilst many vp in armes Offer to be reuenged of these harmes 101 The Queene perceiuing in what case shee stood To loose her minion or ingage her state After with long contention in her bloud Loue and ambition did the cause debate Shee yeeldes to pride and rather thought it good To sacrifice her loue vnto their hate Then to aduenture else the losse of all Which by maintaining him was like to fall 102 Yet seeking at the first to temporize She tries if that some short imprisonment would calme their heat when that would not suffize Then to exile him shee must needes consent Hoping that time would salue it in such wise As yet at length they might become content And shee againe might haue him home at last When the first fury of this rage was past 103 But as he to his iudged exile went Hard on the shore he comes incountered By some that so far off his honor sent As put his backe-returne quite out of dread For there he had his rightfull punishment Though wrongly done and there he lost his head Part of his bloud hath Neptune part the sand As who had mischiefe wrought by sea and land 104 Whos 's death when swift-wingd fame at full conuaid Vnto the trauaild Queen misdoubting nought Despight and sorrow such affliction laid Vpon her soule as wondrous passions wrought O God saith she and art thou thus betraid And haue my fauours thy destruction brought Is this their gaine whom highnes fauoureth Who chiefe preferd stand as preferd to death 105 O fatall grace without which men complaine And with it perish what preuailes that we Thus beare the title of a soueraigne And suffred not to be that which we be O must our subiects limit and constraine Our sauors where as they themselues decree Must we our loue at their appointment place Do we commaund and they direct our grace 106 O will they then our powre and will deuide And haue we might but must not vse our might Poore maiestie that other men must guide Whose discontent can neuer looke aright For euermore we see those that abide Gracious in ours are odious in their sight Who would all-maistring maiesty defeat Of her best grace that is to make men great 107 Decre Suffolke ô I saw thy wofull cheere When thou perceiu'dst no helpe but to depart I saw that looke wherein did plaine appeare The lamentable message of thy heart That seemd to say O Queene and canst thou beare My ruine so the cause whereof thou art Canst thou indure to see them worke their will And not defend me from the hand of ill 108 Haue I for thee aduentured so much Made ship wracke of my honor faith and fame And doth my seruice giue no deeper touch To thy hard heart better to feele the same Or dost thou feare or is thy weakenes such As not of force to keepe me from this shame Or else now hauing seru'd thy turne of me Art well-content my ouerthrow to see 109 As if my sight did read vnto thy minde The lecture of that shame thou wouldst forget And therefore peraduenture glad to finde So fit occasion dost it forward set Or else thy selfe from dangerous toile t'vnwinde Downe on my necke dost all the burthen let Since kings must haue some hated worse then they On whom they may the waight of enuy lay 114 No Suffolke none of this my soule is cleere Without the thought of such impiety Yet must I needes confesse that too much feare Made me defend thee lesse couragiously Seeing more Princes euer ruind were By their immoderate fauoring priuately Then by seueritie in generall For best h 'is lik't that is alike to all 111 Thus in her passion lo shee vttered When as far greater tumults now burst out Which close and cunningly were practised By such as sought great hopes to bring about For vp in armes in Kent were gathered A mighty insolent rebellious rout Vnder a daungerous head who to deter The state the more himselfe nam'd Mortimer 112 The Duke of Yorke that did not idle stand But seekes to worke on all aduantages Had likewise in this course a secret hand And hartned on their chiefe accomplices To try how that the people of the land Would if occasion seru'd b' in readines To aide that line if one should come indeed To moue his right and in due course proceed 113 Knowing himselfe to be the onely one That must attempt the thing if any should And therefore lets the
From all disturbs to be so long kept free And with such glory to discharge that place And therefore if by such a power thou be Stopt of thy course reckon it no disgrace Sith shee alone being priuiledg'd from hie Hath thys large Patent of eternite 52 This charge the Goddesse gaue when ready straight The subtill messenger accompayned With all her crew of crafts that on her wayt Hastes to effect what shee was counsailed And out shee pours of her mimens conceit Vpon such searching spirits as trauailed In penetrating hidden secrecies Who soone these meanes of misery deuise 53 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde Into theyr mothers close-lockt Treasury They mineralls combustible doe finde Which in stopt concaues placed cunningly They fire and fire imprisoned against kind Teares out away thrusts out his enemy Barking with such a horror as if wroth With man that wrongs himselfe and nature both 54 And this beginning had this cursed frame Which Yorke hath now planted against his King Presuming by his power and by the same His purpose vnto good effect to bring When diuers of the grauest Counsell came Sent from the King to vnderstand what thing Had thrust him into these proceedings bad And what he sought and what intent he had 55 Who with words mildly-sharp gently-seuere Wrought on those wounds that must bee toucht with heed Applying rather salues of hope then feare Least corasiues should desperat mischiefes breed And what my Lord sayd they should moue you here In thys vnseemely manner to proceed Whose worth being such as all the Land admires Hath sayrer wayes then these to your desires 56 Will you whose meanes whose many friends whose grace Can work the world in peace vnto your wil Take such a course as shall your blood deface And make by handling bad a good cause ill How many harts hazard you in thys case That in all quiet plots would ayde you still Hauing in Court a Partie far more strong Then you conceiue prest to redresse your wrong 57 Fy fy forsake thys hatefull course my Lord Downe with these Armes that will but wound your cause What peace may do hazard not with the sword Fly from the force that from your force with-drawes And yeeld and we will mediat such accord As shall dispence with rigor and the lawes And interpose thys solemne fayth of our Betwixt your fault and the offended power 58 Which ingins of protests and proffers kinde Vrg'd out of seeming greese and shewes of loue So shooke the whole foundation of his minde As it dyd all his resolution moue And present seem'd vnto theyr course inclind So that the King would Sommerset remoue The man whose most intollerable pride Trode downe his worth and all good mens beside 59 Which they there vow'd should presently be done For what will not pence-louers willing grant Where dangerous euents depend thereon And men vnfurnisht and the state in want And if with words the conquest will be won The cost is small and who holds breath so scant As then to spare tho' against his dignity Better discend then end in maiestie 60 And here-vpon the Duke dissolues his force Submits him to the King on publique vow The rather to presuming on thys course For that his sonne the Earle of March was now With mightier powers abroad which would enforce His peace which els the King would not allow For seeing not all of him in him he hath His death would but gyue life to greater wrath 61 Yet comming to the King in former place Hys foe the Duke of Sommerset he finds Whom openly reproching to hys face Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kinds The Duke returnes lyke speeches of dysgrace And fiery words bewrayd theyr flaming minds But yet the tryall was for them deferd Till fitter tyme allow'd it to be heard 62 At Westminster a Counsell gathered Deliberats what course the cause should end Of th' apprehended Duke of Yorke whose head Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend Law fiercely vrgd his deed and found him dead Frends fayld to speake where they could not defend Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood As prodigall of lyse nyggard of blood 63 And as if angry with the Lawes of death And why should you sayd he vrge things so far You that invr'd with mercinary breath And hyred tongue so peremptory are Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth As if you dyd with poore affliction war And pray on frailty folly hath betrayd Bringing the lawes to wound neuer to ayd 64 Dispence sometyme with sterne seueritie Make not the lawes still traps to apprehend Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie Mercy may mend whom malice made offend Death giues no thanks but checks authority And lyfe doth onely maiestie commend Reuenge dyes not rigor begets new wrath And blood hath neuer glory mercy hath 65 And for my part and my part should be chiefe I am most willing to restore his state And rather had I win him with reliefe Then loose him with despight and get more hate Pitty drawes loue bloodshed as natures griefe Compassion followes the vnfortunate And loosing him in him I loose my power We rule who liue the dead are none of our 66 And should our rigor lessen then the same Which we with greater glory should retaine No let hym lyue his lyfe must giue vs fame The chyld of mercy newly borne againe As often burials is Phisitions shame So many deaths argues a Kings hard raigne Why should we say the law must haue her vigor The law kills him but quits not vs of rigor 67 You to get more preferment by your wit Others to gaine the spoyles of misery Labour with all your power to follow it Shewing vs feares to draw on cruelty You vrge th' offence not tell vs what is fit Abusing wrong-informed maiestic As if our power were onely but to slay And that to sane were a most dangerous way 68 Thus out of pitty spake that holy King Whom mylde affections led to hope the best When Sommerset began to vrge the thing With words of hotter temper thys exprest Deare soueraigne Lord the cause in managing Is more then yours t' imports the publique rest We all haue part it touches all our good And lyfe's ill spard that 's spar'd to cost more blood 69 Compassion here is cruolty my Lord Pitty will cut our throats for sauing so What benefit shall we haue by the sword If mischiefe shall escape to draw on mo Why should we gyue what Law cannot afford To ' be ' accessaries to our proper wo Wisdom must iudge twixt men apt to amend And minds incurable borne to offend 70 It is no priuat cause I doe protest That moues me thus to prosecute his deede Would God his blood and myne had well releast The dangers that his pryde is lyke to breed Although at me he seemes to haue addrest His spight t is not his end he hath decreed I am not he alone hee doth pursue But thorow me
he meanes to shoote at you 71 For this course euer they deliberate Which doe aspyre to reach the gouernment To take aduantage of the peoples hate Which euer hate those that are eminent For who can manage great affayres of state And all a wayward multitude content And then these people-minions they must fall To worke out vs to worke themselues int'all 72 But note my Lord first who is in your hand Then how he hath offended what 's his end It is the man whose race would seeme to stand Before your right and doth a right pretend Who Traytor-like hath raysd a mighty band With coullor your proceedings to amend Which if it should haue hapned to succeed You had not now fate to adiudge hys deed 73 If oftentimes the person not th' offence Haue beene sufficient cause of death to some Where publique safety puts in euidence Of mischiefe likely by theyr lyfe to come Shall he whose fortune and his insolence Haue both deseru ' d to dye escape that doome When you shall saue your Land your Crowne therby And since you cannot lyue vnlesse he dye 74 Thys spake th' agreeued Duke that grauely saw Th' incompatible powers of Princes minds And what affliction his escape might draw Vnto the state and people of all kinds And yet the humble yeelding and the aw Which Yorke there shew'd so good opinion finds That with the rumor of his sonnes great strength And French affayres he there came quit at length 75 For euen the feare t' exasperat the heat Of th' Earle of March whose forward youth might Well followd seem'd a proude reuenge to threat If any shame should on his Father light And then desire in Gascoyne to reget The glory lost which home-broyles hinder might Aduauntaged the Duke and sau'd his head Which question lesse had els been hazarded 76 For now had Burdeux offered vpon ayd Present reuolt if we would send with speed Which fayre aduantage to haue then delayd Vpon such hopes had been a shamefull deed And therfore this all other courses stayd And outwardly these inward hates agreed Giuing an interpause to pride and spight Which breath'd but to break out with greater might 77 Whilst dreadfull Talbot terror late of Fraunce Against the Genius of our fortune stroue The down-throwne glory of our state t' aduaunce Where Fraunce far more then Fraunce hee now doth proue For frends opinion succeeding chaunce Which wrought the weak to yeld the strong to loue Were not the same as he had found before In happyer tymes when lesse would haue done more 78 For both the Britayne and Burgonian now Came altred with our luck won with theirs Those bridges and the gates that dyd allow So easie passage vnto our affayres Iudging it safer to endeuour how To linke with strength then leane vnto dispayres And who wants frends to back what he begins In Lands far of gets not although he wins 79 Which too well prou'd thys fatall enterprize The last that lost vs all we had to lose Where though aduantag'd by some mutenies And petty Lords that in our cause arose Yet those great fayld whose ready quick supplyes Euer at hand cheerd vs and quaild our foes Succours from far come seldom to our mind For who holds league with Neptune or the wind 80 Yet worthy Talbot thou didst so imploy The broken remnants of discattered power That they might see it was our destiny Not want of spirit that lost vs what was our Thy dying hand sold them the victory With so deere wounds as made the conquest sowre So much it cost to spoyle who were vndon And such a doe to win when they had won 81 For as a fierce couragious mastiue fares That hauing once sure fastned on his foe Lyes tugging on that hold neuer forbeares What force soeuer force hym to forgoe The more he feeles his wounds the more he dares As if his death were sweet in dying so So held his hold thys Lord whilst he held breath And scarce but with much blood le ts goe in death 82 For though he saw prepard against his side Both vnlike fortune and vnequall force Borne with the swelling current of theyr pryde Downe the mayne streame of a most happy course Yet stands he stiffe vndasht vnterrified His minde the same although his fortune worse Vertue in greatest dangers being best showne And though opprest yet neuer ouerthrowne 83 For reskuing of besieg'd Chatillion Where hauing first constraind the French to flye And following hard on theyr confusion Comes loe incountred with a strong supply Of fresh-ariuing powers that back thrust on Those flying troupes another chaunce to try Who double Arm'd with shame and fury straine To wreake their foyle and win theyr fame againe 84 Which seeing th' vndaūted Talbot with more might Of spirit to will then hands of power to doe Preparing t' entertaine a glorious fight Cheeres vp his wearied souldiers thereunto Courage sayth he those brauing troupes in sight Are but the same that now you dyd vndoe And what if there be come some more then they They come to bring more glory to the day 85 Which day must eyther thrust vs out of all Or all with greater glory back restore Thys day your valiant worth aduenture shall For what our Land shall neuer fight for more If now we faile with vs is like to fall All that renowne which we haue got before Thys is the last if we discharge the same The same shall last to our eternall fame 86 Neuer had worthy men for any fact A more fayre glorious Theater then we VVhereon true magnanimity might act Braue deeds which better witnessed could be For loe from yonder Turrets yet vnsackt Your valiant fellowes stand your worth to see T' auouch your valour if you liue to gaine And if we die that we dyde not in vaine 87 And euen our foes whose proud powrefull might VVould seeme to swallow vp our dignitie Shall not keepe backe the glory of our right Which theyr confounded blood shall testifie For in theyr wounds our gored swords shall write The monuments of our eternitie For vile is honor and a tytle vayne The which true worth and danger doe not gayne 88 For they shall see when we in carelesse sort Shall throw our selues on theyr despised speares T is not dispaire that doth vs so transport But euen true fortitude that nothing feares Sith we may well retire vs in some sort But shame on him that such a foule thought beares For be they more let Fortune take theyr part We'ill tugge her to and scratch her ere we part 89 Thys sayd a fresh infusd desire of fame Enters theyr warmed blood with such a will That they deem'd long they were not at the same And thogh they march'd they thought they yet stood still And that their lingring foes too slowly came To ioyne with them spending much time so ill Such force had words fierce humors vp to call Sent from the mouth of such