of Straw of Lyster tag and rag Of Villains Of-skoms Clownes knaues that checkmate durst to brag With Richards self to their deaths his chiefest Princes drag Till VVal 〈…〉 ths girdle-Armor made the Armes of London more Because his courage chiefly gaue an end to that vprore And what-so-els Occurrants much may interrupt our Vayne Digesting Yorke Lancaster acquiring eithers Rayne Our Penne shall not endenizen Now drops it sacred blood Of Men-Gods English Potentates that in this Faction stood Richard begun that ciuill warre that till the Seauenth from him Did last though often fields with blood of Citizens did swim Against the Nobles the vphild innoble and his Peeres And Commons went alike to wracke nor God nor man he feares In fewe Ambition Auarice and Counsell lewd had wrought In him a nature worser than into the world he brought Whereby and thus himselfe and house at length a down-fal cought Twixt Mowbray D. of Norffolke and the D. of Hertford sonne To Iohn of Gaunt close Conference of better dayes begun The King sayd Henry Hertford more remisse than doth beseeme Leaues France to French Scotland to Scots and vs to woes extreeme His Flatterers doe fleece the Crowne and Commons not a State Doth or dares counsell ancient Coats that on the Crowne should wate Giue aime to bastard Armorie what resteth then but this Plucke downe those grating Harpies that seduce our King amis If worthles still set vp a King worthier than he that is The other saying little then immediatly reueales The secrete and before the King his Foe-made frend appeales Whose Gauntlet raysed by the Duke defendant at the last It grew to single Combate when the King his Warder cast And to the Duke of Norffolke iudg'd for euermore exile And selfe same law Duke Henry had saue for a lesser while Thus That did This but This and That their Iudge did thus begile And to his Coffers did escheate a world of wealth a Pray Vnto his Parasites which thriu'd by other mens decay Meane while whose actious life had lawd did Iohn of Gaunt decease So to the banisht Duke his Sonne fiue Cronets did increase But with his kindly aire the King withheld him all the same Till entring ayded by his friends he wonne beyond his clame For Richard was imprison'd and by Parlament put downe And Henry Duke of Lancaster elected to the Crovvne The Lyne Lancastrian frollicke but the house of Yorke did frowne For to those Hydra-kinded warres that after did ensue Those Families gaue name though first the Diadem was due Vnto the house of Clarence till to Yorke that interest gre we By marriage here omitted for we onely giue a viewe How Yorke mis-raigning Lancaster did enter then how This Was dispossest That repossest and how their Vnion is THE SIXT BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XXIX HEnry the fourth so named hild the King deposed strate In Pomfret Castell howebeit in honourable State And got an Act that who so wrought the Prisner to restore That Richards selfe to voyd their hope should dye the first therefore Whose birth brought Nature gentle Lord returning whence it straid Now altred him erst altring it and Richard mildly said I must not say I am and would I might not say I was Of great the greatest lesse they grieue from whom doth little passe Nor more it grieues to contrarie the same I haue been then To haue deserued not to be vnmaliced of men Thus humbled and full penitent liues he lesse mal-content Than was the Duke of Exeter his brother whose intent Was as at a lusts to haue destroyd King Henrie but descryed Himselfe fower such and many Knights the death of Traytors dyed And by these primer Yorkests thus King Richards date grew out But whether brayned famisht or exiled rests a doubt For often Vprores did ensue for him as vndeceast How beit solemnely inter'd himselfe or Signe at least Twise by confedrate Chiualrie the Pâ—ercies and their frends Did fight and fall for either warre to Henries honor ends He neuer had but warre and was victorious euermore Aswell at home as also of his Foes on forraine Shore Till lastly Armor ouercame all Enuie and he liues Of all beloued and his death a common sorrow giues HOt spur his Sonne Henry the fifth hung at his Fathers eyes To watch his Ghoste and catch his Crowne and that or ere he dyes And where the Father doubted if he got it well or noe The Sonne did sweare how so it came he would it not forgoe His bad did blisse the Bad the Good dispaire all good But neither Did aime aright for sodainly his chaunge deceiued either Of good becomming best that was of ill the baddest and The true perfection of a King was not but in this Land He lead good fortune in a line and did but warre and winne Fraunce was his Conquest Scots but brag and he did beate them in A friend vnto weldoings and an Enemie to sinne Yeat of the Yorkests neuer lackt he Princes that rebell Nor other than confusion to their still coniuring fell In fewe if any Homer should of this Achilles sing As of that Greeke Myâ—midon the Macedonian King Once noted would I note both Prince and Poet happiest men That for deseruing prayse and This for well imployed pen For well this Subiect might increase the Worthies vnto ten He aged thirtie sixe deceast and left his infant Sonne His Kingdome Conquests and his Queene whose Fathers Realme he wonne To graue protection Regents and so royall for the port As that his Orphants Cradle seem'd an Alexanders Court Queene Katherin Daughter of the French King Henryes wife of late The fayrest Ladye in the West hild with her sonne Estate She oft behild and hild her peace a braue Esquier of VVailes That tyde her fancie to his forme till fancied forme preuailes All liking was reuersed Loue saue Owen Tuder all Saue him that durst not dreame such good to her was lesse than small She formally by quaint degrees attracting him to fauor Did nourish burnings in her selfe by noting his behauor She pitched Tewe he masshed She vncompaned To flie He bids her solitary moodes She askes the remedie Disclosed pangues sometimes quoth he in Phisicke Phisick is Which sometimes to obserue quoth she doth Patients patience mis Cureles to Aesculapius and Apellos selfe am I The latter felt my languor and immortall wisht to die And yeat saue one no one disease lay hidden to his Art For you were bootlesse then to gesse how to vngreeue my smart Had Daphne to Apollo beene Apollo Tuder said His might haue beene and so may be your Graces humor staid He other Gods and Goddesses found more contented Loue Beloe in diffring bosomes than in equall beddes aboue I aime at Loue for thereto your Aenigma doth incline And aime to him a Deity for whome I so deuine But gladly doubt I of the Man for if I doubted not I should but massacer my lacke in enuy of his lot Yeat are vnworthie
conclude by Combacy to winne or loose the Game Within a little Island neare round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trie their Force by fighting hand to hand They spur their Horses breake their Speares beat at Barriars long And then dismounting did renew a Battell braue and strong Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus said we both I see shall end Eâ—e Empire shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or part With it their Knights crie out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of Fight And so the Champions did embrace forgetting malice quite Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And Brother-like they liue and loue till by a deu'lish traine Earle Edricus a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne Did murther Edmund and his head supposing to haue wonne The fauour of Canutus so presenting sayd O King For loue of thee I thus haue done Amazed at the thing Canutus sayd and for that thou hast headed him for me Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall be The Earle was headed and his head poold vp for all to see Of England Danske Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord Harold Hardi-knought his sonnes each th' other did succeede Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raigns to Englâ—sh-men did grieuous thraldoÌ„ breede But after Hardt-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the state of England euersince CHAP. XXII OF foresaid Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwins guile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout francke and milde was hee And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did set his Kingdome free By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issuelesse he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire howbeit by consent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this maiden-wife he sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp to spring Did laughing say the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd His meaning was the Stumblers feete And haddest thou so pleas'd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traitrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am guiltlesse of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke His sonne Harold by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary winds in Normandie ariues Where Goodwins sonne did take an oth Duke VVilliam vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should go The Crowne of England claimed by Adoption and by blood But Harold after Edwards death not to his promise stood And for he was in wealth in friends in blood and Armor strong And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong But arming him against the Duke so vrged vnto wroth Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe contrary to his oth Whil'st VVilliam therfore works for war King Harold had not rest For Harold Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his puissant Bands But Harold him assailes And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes And with the Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all When for deuision of the spoyle did much contention fall Betwixt the King and English-men and many a noble Knight Not onely murmur and maligne but did forsake him quight Such malice growing VVilliam with his Normanes taking land Found hot hot spur Harold prest in Armes his puissance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild See valiant War-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agentes of our Enemies they hencefoorth cannot call Supplies for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe Then Conquer these would Conquer you and dread no further Foe They are no stouter than the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes or victory er while Not Saxoâ—â—e could once containe or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerate take courage by discent And by their burialles not abode their force and flight preuent Ye haue in hand your Countries cause a Conquest they pretend Which were ye not the same ye be euen Cowards would defend I graunt that part of vs are fled and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth Mal-content I prize the minde aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yeat troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which neretheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuaile But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yeat wot I neuer Traytour did his Treasons Sâ—ipend mis. Shrinke who wil shrinke let Armor's wayte presse downe the burdned earth My Foes with wondring eyes shal see I ouer prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a like affected bee Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from sâ—â—uitude to free Are Armed both in shew and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home brought Spoyles of Victorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spendes As Harold hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lie within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Souldiers one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor be ye Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pikes to hewe your honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by law Ye come I say in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye Since Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead ye Or Turchus Sonne of Troylus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Seede of Pryams sonne Exployt this businesse Rollons do that which ye wish be done Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more Fot Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away â—efore vs are our armed Foes behind vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour and for ease But that Aduantage
default that might his health impaer And Damsell quoth she for it seemes this houshold is but three And for thy Parents Age that this shall chiefely rest on thee Doe me that good else would to God he hither come no more So tooke she horse and ere she went bestowed gould good store Full little thought the Countie that his Countesse had done so Who now return'd from farre affaires did to his sweet-Heart go No sooner set he foote within the late deformed Cote But that the formall change of things his woondring Eies did Note But when he knew those goods to be his proper goods though late Scarce taking leaue he home returnes the Matter to debate The Countesse was a bed and he with her his lodging tooke Sir welcome home quoth she this Night for you I did not looke Then did he question her of such his Stuffe bestowed so Forsooth quoth she because I did your Loue and Lodging knoe Your Loue to be a proper Wench your Lodging nothing lesse I hild it for your health the house more decently to dresse Well wot I notwithstanding her your Lordship loueth me And greater hope to hold you such by queat then brawles I see Then for my duetie your delight and to retaine your fauour All done I did and patiently expect your better Hauour Her Patience Witte Aunswere wrought his gentle teares to fall When kissing her a score of times Amend sweete wise I shall He said and did it And your Grace may Phillip so recall But he whoso he was that thus had dubled Tales to cease Queene Maries griefe for Phillips guile as well had hild his peace Her no perswading might disswade from peâ—siuenes of hart Vntill that his Vnkindnes in her Deaths-Scene acts it part But howsoere or whatsoere her cause of death might seeme Her death did many a good mans life from Tyrannie redeeme For as in Passion so was she in Papistrie extreame And were not the abodement bad at her to end our Theame Our Cattell vnto stronger draughts we should and would vnteame But to the Head land shall our Plough vnles we breake our Beame Yeat ere we eare to it for it shall be our Holly-day Of somwhat sayd and somwhat scapt rests thus much by the way CHAP. XLIIII BEFORE we toucht little els what Courses hapt at home But now in few at forren Acts of Natiue Kings we rome Of Briâ—tish and of English Kings more famous than the rest This sparing Catalogue ensewes whose deedes we thus digest * Aeâ—eas Off-spring famous Brute did set from Greekish thrall Sixe thousand Phrygâ—an Knights by him did Guyan Guffer fall He conquering this Ile his Name vnto his Conquest gaue And of his Cornish Cambries men couragious yet we haue * Torkes Builder Ebranke that subdu'de the â—imbrians and the Gawles And built the best of Scottish Townes next in our Nomber falls * When Brennus and Belynus had Eight spacious Kingdomes wonne Had slaine two Consulls sacked Rome and matchles Armes had done And built ten Cities best that be in Italie this day Those Kinglie Brothers as must all their debt to Nature pay * Gâ—rgâ—â—nus slew the Dactan King wonne Tribute and the same Gaue Spanish Exiles Ireland whence our Scottish Nation came * Câ—ssiâ—â—lane did twice beate backe from Brittish Seas and Shore The worthie Coesar that but then was victor euermore And thirdly had preuailed but for Luds reuolted Sonne When as braue Nennius hand to hand of Caesar honor wonne * Guydar and Aruiragus wonne of Claudius Caesar spoyle The former in a second Field did sâ—out Vaspasian foyle * When as the wandring Scots and Pichts King Marâ—us had subdude He gaue the Liuers dwellings lesse than where they since intru'de * Constantiâ—s wedding Coyls heyre was Monarke of the West Who with this Ilands Scepter of Romes Empire was possest * Great Constantine that worthely a Worthie might be said The Brittish Romaine Emperour throughout the world obayd He made his Siege Bizantium that retaines his name ere since And made but so vnwitting marde the Priest of Rome a Prince * Maximian as Emperiall and as valerous as any With Brittish armour did subdue both Kings and Kingdomes many * What speake we of great Arthur of his Chiualrie or Court Precelling all sole President of vertue prow's and port A King of many Kings his Knights in all Exploits were seene He was in deede a Worthie and the Worthiest of the Neene * Fiue Crownes King Malgo prized * And in Battells fiftie fiue Against the Misâ—reants valiantly did King Alured thriue â—ollo whose Seede should conquer vs he hence did brauely beate That maâ—ger Fraunce in Normandie his Scythian Troopes did seate * He that re-monarchiz'd our Ile King Athelstone did slay Sixe Kings twelue Dukes and countlesse tale of Heathen in one day The one of Nyne his Knight Sir Guy we touch but by the way Omitting other Kings and Knights too long in few to say Of Brittish race a many and of Saxon Princes some Whose blood by Normaine Mixture now is tripartite become Oâ— For perhaps from such Consort the Brutes casseerd will be Three blended blouds of Nations three hath giuen vs Natures three The Saxon prowesse Danâ—sh pompes and Normaine Pollicee And of the Romanes and the Picâ—ts we are no portion small Foure of which Nations Scythia bred we thriuing in them all * KIng VVilliam Englands Conquerour from Rollo sixt with pray Of twice fiue hundred Townes in Fraunce vn-â—o-met sayld away * Henry the second vpon whom the scotch-Scotch-King tendant was Which Scots their often ouerthrowes we henceforth ouerpasse Who to our Kings Lords Parramounts not warres but vprores bring Spoylde Frauncè wonne Ireland and deceast of Iuda chosen King * Next Lyon-harted Richard he wonne Cypris Siria and Ierusalem debelling quite the Sowldan from his Land He skalde the strong Aegyptian Oste and king'd his Sisters sonne And plagued Fraunce and Austrich for the wrongs they had him don * First Edward made the Turks Sauoies the French Flemings treÌ„ble * The third so nam'd to them and moe did Mars himselfe resemble Whose Knights in 2. Richards dayes so tickeld France and Spaine And parts Lugdinian that no King but Richard seem'd to raine Ten thousand were his housholde Scotch digests we here disdayne * The fourth and * fifth of Henries were as actious as the rest Especially the latter was the formost with the best * Not yeat Fourth Edwards honor from his Ancestors digrest On these doo vulgar Eares and Eyes so brimlie waite and gaze As they distaske our priuate Penne notorious Laudes to blaze Our Catalogue omitteth some for Artes and Iustice good Some natur'de well aduised ill some worthie Laethe flood Not one fore-cited but deserues at least an Homers Muse Although with Agamemnons Vaile Apelles shift I vse But colours to that Painter Art vnto that Poet none So good to paint and prayse at ful our following Crowns saue one Since Tuders Seede Henry the Seauenth ariued Englands
shall returne their Disaduantage thus If ye obserue no shore is left the which may shelter vs And so hold out amidst the Rough whil'st they hale in for Lee Whereas whil'st men securely sayle not seldome shipwracks bee What should I cite your passed Acts or tediously incence To present Armes your faces shewe your hearts conceiue offence Yea euen your courages deuine a Conquest not to faile Hope then your Duke doth prophecie and in that hope preuaile A People braue a terren Heauen both Obiects wroth your warres Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's and mount your fame to Starres Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne exâ—rude vs from our right He dyes to liue a famous life that doth for Conquest fight By this the furious Battels ioyne a bloody day to eyther And long they fight the victory inclining vnto neyther At length the English had the ods who keeping close aray Vnto the Duchie Forces gaue no entraunce any way Who fayning feare and Martially retyring as opprest The English so became secure and follow on disperst To which aduantage furiously the Normanes did returne And got a bloody victorie In vayne the English spurne Amidst the Pikes against the pricke King Harold then was slayne From whom began the Normanes sole but soone conioyned rayne For second Henry Mawd her Sonne freed Englands blood agayne Since when and euer may they so that Of-spring ruled vs Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne the Genalogue is thus King Edmund Irn-side Issue had Edward the Out-law he Had Margaret Mawd by Malcolme theÌ„ the King of Scots had she Mawd to the Conqueror his Sonne first Henry Mawd did beiâ—e This second Mawd the Angeos wife had second Henry heire EDward King Harolds Preregnant of the same Change foretold Who present and succeeding times thus dying did vnfold It is a world to note quoth he the wayes that men adore And how Hypocrisie hath bred of Godlike Deuils store That speake to seeme that seeme to shift that shift to spoyle by guile That smooth sooth yeat deceiue with Scriptum est meane while But let them heaue their hands to Heauen they haue their hier in Hell That seeme deuout to cloake deceit and say but doe not well The Rich are retchles in their willes their liking is for law The Poore repine and Goods not theirs by idle shiftings claw The Lords and Landed ouer-rent and cunningly the same The Parasite doth ouer-reach and beares away the game One riseth by anothers fall and some doe clime so fast That in the Clowdes they doe forget what Climates they haue past But Eagle-winged mindes that fly to nestle in the Sunne Their lofty heads haue leaden heeles and end where they begun It is a common point on which the aged grossely ronne Once to haue dared sayd and seene more then was euer done The Youth are foolish-hardie or lesse hardie then they ought Effeminate phantasticall in few not few are nought At Cyprus not the wanton Saint nor yeat her wylie Sonne Did want her Orgies nor at Rome did Vesta lacke her Nonne The Lampsacens gaue Pryapus his filthie Rites and Create To Ioue his Bulles and Siâ—ilie to Ceres tithed Wheat The Thracians with their Bacchanales did Lybers Temple fill And Italie did blood of Babes on Saturnes Altars spill And fatall wreathes of Myrâ—ill boughes were sacred vnto Dys In fewe there was no Pagane God his Sacrifice did mis. But English-men nay Christian men not onely seeme prophane But Man to Man as Beast to Beast holds ciuill dueties vayne Yea Pulpits some like Pedlers packs yeeld forth as men affect And what a Synode shall conclude a Sowter will correct The rude thus boasting Litrature one Schisme begets another And grossely though a Sehisâ—â—e yeat hath cach Schismatike his Soother Meane while the learned want their Meed none with profit heares The tedious Doult whose artles tongue doth preach to weary eares Here could I enter in a Field of matter more than much But gesse that all is out of frame and long time hath bin such And what shall be let time disclose This onely will I touch A Greene Tree cut from withered Stock deuided Furlongs three From proper Roote it shall reioyne and after fruitfull bee Thus sayd the King And thus doe some expound that Prophesee The Tree this Land the Stock and Roote the thralled English line King Harâ—ld and the VVilliams twaine the Furlongs some define Henry the Normane that begot on Mawde his English Queene Mawde second Henries Mother was the Trees Returne to greene King Stephen first though not so firme did in this Turne proceede But second Henrie perfectly restalled VVodens Seede THE FIFTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XXIII ASsisted by the former Bowne persist my Muse and tell How by the Normane Conquest here an other world befell New lawes not Labyrinths as now through wrested Quirkes came in New Lords also at whom for most our auncient Crests begin The English sinke the Normanes swimme all topsie turute was Vntill the Conquerour had brought his whole command to pas Then was one Edgar sonne vnto the out-law Edward he To holy Edward had been heire had not King Harold be And VVilliam pleading too by sword admits no milder law So Edgar in his soonest flight his safest issue saw Who with his mother daughter to the King of Hungarie And Sisters did attempt into his Grandsiers Realme to flie Thus Englands hope with Englands heir in one same Barke did sayl When desprate from their villanage was English blood of baile 〈◊〉 God that to the hopeles is not helples if he please Did driue the storm-beate English ship into the Scottish seas Wheare cast a shore King Malcolme soone had notice of the wracke And did become a gracious Lord vnto their present lacke And Agatha a Votarisse tooke Margaret to Queene Protects her brother euen by Armes against King Williams teene Vntill by warre and wise conuay he so to passe did bring That Edgar reconciled was vnto the English King In credit though withheld his Crowne and thus at least did good His flight Scotch-queen'd his Sister she regraded Englands blood For let we Edgar gainst the haer preserued as exprest And either VVilliam luckie Knight at armes interred rest And set first VVilliams yongest sonne first Henry on the Throne Through him the royall English and the Normane bloods grew one On Mawd Scotch Malcomes daughter by the foresaid Margaret he Had Mawd that solie did suruiue her drowned brothers three Her Empresse to the Emperour then newly being ded Did Geffrey Plantaganet the Earle of Anioy wed And she vnto Plantaganet did second Henry beire Of England Angeo Gascoyne and of Normandie the heire Yeat Stephen first VVilliams daughters son whoÌ„ th' Earle of Bloys did marrie Did with the Empresse and her son now King now Captiue varrie But lastly tyred and inter'd all England by his death Was quietly second Henries who was lawfulst heire by birth With Hengests blood our droupen Muse it
faith not one of them was so for by this drinke I sweare Requarrelling the Cup whose Lippes and it vnparted weare When th' other Beldamme great with chat for talkatiue be Cups The formers Prate not worth the while thus fondly interrups WHen I quoth she the Countrie left to be a London Las I was not fayrer than my selfe beleeued faire I was Good God how formall prankt and peart became I in a trice As if vnto the Place it weare a Nature to be Nice Scarce entred I the Teenes but that to Wed my will was hot Ye that be married and intend to marrie well I wot The Priest no sooner sayde but I vpon my typ-toes stand As if that Lesson had concerned my selfe euen out of hand The same proportion with my heart my groeth nor age did hold Dayes seeming yeares when I Vn-wead was sixteene winters olde And growing was the greene Disease which men in Maides doe cure When came a Louer I for-sooth becomming full demure For earst I had obseru'd this Arte Delay giues men Desier Yeat lothe to hurt my haste and least the Hansell should retyer I was not ouer coye nor he to warme him at my Fier I 'le blab for why for it and more that I in youth did doe Long since I passed ghostly shriftes pennance and pardons too Such match we made that Maide nor Wife nor Widowe left he me But with my Maiden-head he crost the Seas and farewell he For from my fault could not as chan'st the Somner prole a fee My belly did not blab so I was still a Mayde and free It comfort should in losse to thinke we had not once to lose And what we haue as euer to be hild should none suppose But not in me this sentence hild more eagerly than earst I on the brydell byte as loath to fast that late did feaste Swift gallops tier both man and horse soone-hot is soone-cold loue No Man I meane Loue-hot as mine loues as the Turtell Doue And in good soothe a Sott is she that cog'd-with cannot cogge As readily my Loue did gad as did my Louer iogge Tush in those times weare no such toyes as Gagate stones to trie By toysting them in Potions if a Maide had trode awrie But this was rather currant yea each holy Fathers lore That therefore Nature sweetneth Loue that it the world might store Which made me thinke it then a sinne so tender hearted I Beloued not to Loue againe indangring men to die For so they swore they would nor then beleeu'd I men would lye Whom now I know Camelions whil'st to pray on vs they plye Yeat better times were those than these for our auayle for why Euen for good-fellowship at least then wert they roundly to it Now eare they loue if euer loue sententiously they doc it Who loues not for the Person but the Portion loues no whit But he that loues for onely Loue doth reason quite forgit Say men and article the Match lesse by trew Loue than Wit Vngratefull Men what would yee more than Loue for Loue than we Be close neate bountious bucksome and our bodies Masters yee Too curious pettish ielous too imperious too vnstable Are Men say WomeÌ„ but to beat such Fooles with their own bable As when that I was yong our Sex is now troe I as able Old doting Foole one foote in graue what prattell I of youth Contrition not Shrift-pennance cure if preach our Vicar truth Heere after little pause they prate confusedly I wot Whose talke had often ended had the Period been the Pot. They tould how forward Maidens weare how proude if in request How brybed praysed promisd fayre men baddest out the best They talked of a Widowes teares her haste againe to weade He gone forgot his Orphant wrong'd she spoyld an Vnthrift speade They pratteld too of London Youthes how late their headie gaer Might haue inuited to a Sacke wheare they prepos'd no shaer They talk't of times when Beastes could speake of Foxes and of Apes Much needles prattel what through Drinke and Dotage them escapes Yeat Ecchos and Narcissus Voyce and Shadowe now as then Working against humilitie of wantes the worst in men Caus'd them as thus to vse their prate and me of this my penne And to these glorious Follies too those Furies say Amen CHAP. XLVIII THE Monarch of that Continent that doth in one contayne Fiue auncient Scepters for he would the world weare wholy Spayne As Castile Aragon Nauarr Granado Portugaile Be newly nam'd yea India wheare Castillian Powres preuaile These States in Affricke Lumbardie Peru Assores and Both Cicells Austra Barbarie Naples with Netherland And many other Prouinces by such ambition gott As giueth his Impressa life to verefie the Mot Him not sufficing for it saith the VVorld sufficeth not Euen he I say affecting Raygne in England Almaine Fraunce And all Europa lately did an holy League aduaunce The Pope Him-selfe Sauoy and Guise therein Confedrates cheefe â—ome wroght by Bulls Sauoy by Sword Spayne yeilded Guise releefe Guise did religious Treason act but all did fayle in briefe Geneua is vnsacked Fraunce yeilds Rome small profit Spayne By coste hath loste England through God tryumphant doth remayne Nauar hath meanes to haue Nauar and when shall God so please The rightfull heire of Pertagale his Empyre shall re-seaze Ye Christian Princes pittie him in punishing his Fo That now afflicteth him and would on you tyrannize so If one selfe-same Religion if Religion Romistes haue If Natures Line or Natiue Lawes the Pope that so did craue If to haue had possest the Crowne with Portagales applause Might haue preuailed these and more had helpt Antonius cause But brybed Traytors fraude and force have made the Spaniard such That Castile from a Cronet leapt thinksmany Crownes not much The great Nauarrois Sampson stauld the first Castilian King But badly Castile quits his loue whence did that honor spring And from his Line by trecherie the Diademe doth wring So by what right or wrong so-eate Spayne cloureth Crownes together And aimeth euen from Portugale as is supposed hether Not wanting English willing to be hopled in that Teither But Traytors Fooles Fugitiues Whom prouendor doth pricke Ensew your proper sorow leane vpon that rotten sticke Your kindnes shall not mis at least this kindly Spanish Tricke WHen Spaniards and their Partizens eare-while should vs inuaide In plotting of that Stratageme in Councell much was said Some of our Queene to be destroyde of murthering vs some spake Some this some that but all of all an altred World to make Least English Papistes then shut vp in Elie and els-wheare Meane time by vs might lose their liues some One by chaÌ„ce did feare Which scruple was remoued soone by one that well did know Not for religion but a Realme did Spayne that cost bestow Our drift quoth he a Conquest is the Profit meant to Spaine Not that the English Papists should be Sharers of the gaine So hope they but so helpe me God
her Homager may England Scotland call Which ouer-passe not now possest in this Accompt we shall Of either Land the Marches and much more for most now Ours The warlike Picts possessing Here built Castles Towns Towers 〈…〉 tes Scots and Romaines then our Lords oft daunting with their Powers Tâ—â—â—â—stly ciuil Strife Scots disskingdom'd theÌ„ froÌ„ Hence Whom Orkney Ilands as is sayd haue harbour'd euer sence The Brâ—â—aines by these Picts of long opprest with thraldome sore To be deliu'red of such Foes did Saxon Aides implore So playing as did Aesops Horse that angrie with the Hart To be reueng'd did craue in ayde of Man to take his part Till when the Horse was neuer back't nor bitted Either now He hauing suffered would haue helpt but then he knew not how The Brataines hauing called so the Saxons to their aide Could not be rid of them to whom they had themselues betraide But by the same were they at length debelled into VVailes Each of whose Kings of long time Three in Englands Monarch failes The Saxons getting Brutaine thus which they did England name At once of them in seuerall Parts Seauen Kings did rule the same All which by VVesterne Adelstane in Monarchie was got Which since saue Iron-sids the Danes once DeuideÌ„t chang'd not Fiue Irish KingdoÌ„s likewise add now drown'd in Englands Crowne The Seauenteenth was the Isle of Man in Ours now also downe Our Mandeuil here cited of Earle Mandeuil exact In Stephens Raigne so famous Man in Scots Possession sack't And with the Spoyle of al that Isle thence and his Brother pack't Consent of times Names and Records affirme may seeme no lesse But Monteacute Count Salsburie it wonne and did possesse Of Percies after Stanlies next and still gesse I holds Man From honorable long Descents and from they first began All loyall hospitalious lou'd still powre-full and I pray That in that Noble house those Termes may neuer-more decay This Man was diuers hundred yeares a Kingdome and not small Rul'd Hebrides the Orcades to Thul the Islands all And chances there and Changes worth the note did oft befall As how the naturall Incolants the Iselanders subdew Them Norses â—rish them them Scots and English them in few Beauchamp the Earle of VVarwick first and last and but a while Was King of VVight Sixt Henries Gift that Honor and that I le VVhich added Eighteene Kingdoms al possest ieke Englands Stile These now thus couched all in One saue Parcell Scots withhold Of Penthland and some barren Isles subdu'd to Man of old Since hath one Monarch ruled vs hath rendered secure VVhereas Pluralitie of Kings did euer Losse procure Twise ioyn'd our Ilanders in one when twise did Caesar faile Disioyning He Picts Saxons Danes and Normaines did preuaile The Spanyard in Conceit deuoures our Countrie in no hope But of Disiunctiues who thinks he lesse loue their Prince than Pope Let France admonish England turn'd Religion turnes not Spayne From thirsting France Neutralitie brought late-lost Calice Baine And Spanish't-French liue Peasants-like that French did Princes raign Our Elders illy did they well for so should not be done Much lesse to causeles Armes against their Prince ought Subiects ron So badly brook't this Spanyards fam'd Espousall with their Queene That euen at VVestminsters Law-Barres were harnest Pleaders seene Fear'd with the trooped Bands y t wold that Banes with swords forbid Of which were pittied those that dide the Rest winkt-at and hid Their meaning had it Praise had not the Manner bin in fault The Manner now doth hold may none in selfe-same Meaning hault But arm'd be euery hand and heart hence Englishly to beate Spayn that our Bodies wold inthral Rome that our Soules doth threat Yeat which hath blinded bridled and beguil'd them many a day Their Inquisition wish I from the Spanyards rid away What good remaines to wish the Pope this that had none bin borne From him to steale his ill-got Coyne from vs to ship our Corne. The best things brought from Rome to vs conuert troe I to ill But new Rome left of old Rome now abreuiat we will CHAP. LXXIV WHen Stafford and his double Charge to Italie were come In health and rich for hence brought they in Coine no little Some With Iewels of rare estimate and else-what of great worth For Mandeuil they seeke and him at last did listen forth That in Constantinople yet he was a Marchant saide And thither Staffords Letter was to him with speed conuaide Purporting only that himselfe at Rome his comming staide Meane while in Rome the Mistris once of all the world they view Such wonders couch't in Ruins as vnseene might seeme vntrew Once was it compast as is read with fiftie miles of wall Now some to twentie some to lesse in that accompt doe fall It hauing Towers so many as the yeare hath dayes in all From fortie miles was water brought in Pipes oâ— Arches thether Were vaulted walkes through euery Streete gainst Sunne and rainy weather The sumptious Bathes with Pallaces thereto of rare delight The roomesome Ponds where very Ships some Festiuals did fight The Trophie Arches where to life Triumphants were purtraide The Statures huge of Porphyrie and costlier matters made The Theaters Pyramides the Hill of halfe a mile Raisde but of tribute Pot-sheards so to boast their Power long while The Obelisks of one whole Stone neere fortie yards or more Huge Pillers caru'd in Masonrie with Prowse of Knights before The stately Bridges sometimes Eight now fewer Tyber crosse The Thirtie goodly Gates of which is now of number losse The huge Colosses Conduites and else-what that shew'd a State Beyond beleefe of ruin'd Rome in part repair'd of late They wonder at how the world could yeeld such Pomp debate Though some the seauen inclosed Hils did ancient Rome containe Lye waste or Vine-yards more doth yeat of Maiestie remaine Euen in the Rubble of the old than in the now renew'd Though Rome retaines a Statelines nor fairer Pyles are view'd The round Pantheon once the House of all the Heathen Gods Stands yet a Temple but lesse deckt for rich by too much ods On Auentine the down-fals are of Temples store to see On Tarpie of the Capitol were wont their Guild to bee On Palantine of Pallaces on Caelius signes of Playes Quirinall Exquell Viminall of Bathes shew braue decayes These Hils with Vatican and old Ianiculum ore-past Shew we how Rome did rule was rul'd and ruin'd at the last FRom Ianus called Noe of some â—aphet of some Noes Sonne And Iaphets sonne of others Rule in Tuscan first begonne Raign'd in sixe hundreth twentie yeares of Latines Twentie one Son of the Eight of which was Brute first Soueraign of our Throne The last of these Numitor was whome Romulus did kill And building Rome slew Remus there to lord-it at his will * This Citie then Receptacle for all how vile skils not Of Italie by one and one the Sixteene State-Lands got Tarquinius raign'd the Seauenth in Rome