Pageant featly playd Meane while the Royals and the Peeres they Practise to betray Some in the bloodie Massacre at Paris made away But what offend I Christian Eares with horror of that deede From Sarazens nor Sauages did euer like proceede Let that black Marrage-Feast when were so many Thousands slaine Oâ— Saints at peace with God and men be neuer nam'd againe Let be a Law in euery Land to punish such as speake That ChristiaÌ„s should like Hel-houÌ„ds so with God Nature breake Farre be it that Posterities should heare that Charles the King For such â—oule Murthers bon-fiers bod and caused Bels to ring Yeat tell the Popes Procession and his Iubilee for this For Popes be impudent and bads their blessings neuer mis To haue them Fathers of those Acts no Newes at all it is But more than twise sixe yeares ere this the ciuill Warres begun When on the Lambes of Vassie did the Guizian Butchers run 〈◊〉 when the Edict had giuen Peace vnto the Church reform'd And odious to the Papists seem'd that Peace who therefore storm'd And then the Duke of Guize who earst had figur'd for the Crowne Hence calculating hopes did set his bad Designements downe Alonly quarrelling till then the Princes of the blood Who partly quail'd were yet vnkild and to their tackling stood So with the Papists band 's the Duke himselfe not for Deuotion But aduantagious seem'd that Meane for blood-Drifts Promotion This Faction thus had Heart and Head the Other yet vnborne Till to the Prince of Condie flockt the Hugenotz forlorne And tolde the sauage Butcheries at Vassie newly made By ruthles and seditious Guize on Thousands whilst they prayde Like skathed Sheepe escaped from blood-sucking Dogs they quake Imploring his Protection which he then did vndertake Thus through Necessitie this Part had also Heart and Head Euen after hundreds thousands such good Christians so were dead This knowne to him from euery Part the Persecuted flie So was the Prince of vertuous Troopes possessed by and by CHAP. LVIII NOt Spayne this while that held for France great Signories did sleepe But through the Fingers into It with lusting Eyes did peepe At least by nourishing those Broyles all got She hopes to keepe For It whose Scituation so Spayns scattred Realmes disioynes Her Teeth had watred long and now to weaken France her Loynes Gainst France she France doth streÌ„gtheÌ„ with the Soother of her gold And for that Purchace to the Diuell is fear'd her Soule is sold. Directions also came from Rome that setteth all on fier That by what Right or wrong so ere the Guize should still aspier To send the royall Bloods to Heauen or Hell it skils not how Were Pardons sent for Murthers Buls to clear Alleageance vow That on Damnation none perswade much lesse of Peace allow And not alone gainst France this League was halowed but gainst all That worke the Gospell to erect whereby the Pope might fall Was more than time troe we to goe should not the Church vs call But call did they and come did we and to their labors fall When weare their Townes demolished with Slaughters thear not small This busie Head of that bad League for yet the monstrous Beath Of Sextus Quintus and the Diuell the grand League had not breath This Guize bereft vs Calice and in France our Peeces all Then fell in hand with Scotland thence with vs in hand to fall This in his Neece the Scottish Queene her Claime did all he might To dispossesse Elizabeth our Queene of regall right This on the infant-Person of his naturall King had seazde And prosecuted now in France what Violence him pleasde The Popes sworne Butcher and proud Spayns fore-Runner to prepare Her waies for France England which their Owners cannot spare This with the blood of Innocents made Channels ouer-floe Against this Cham and his Beau-Peeres inuited English goe Els saue that God can all was feard Religion should haue quaild And Spanyards nestling ouer neere had easlier vs assaild For on the Theator of France the Tragedie was ment Of England too Wherefore our Queene her Interruptors sent How Ambrose Earle of VVarwick did in FraÌ„ce high Feates not few How bloodie Claudie Duke of Guize a common Souldier slew How Francis sonne of that Guize did ciuill Broyles renew The persecuting Francis Charles and Henries hence a-dew Which Kings as said to work themselues French Monarchs Atheists playd Or doting ouermuch on Rome their Realme selues betrayd The skarlet Borbone whom the Guize a painted French King made Salcedo fayling Monsiurs Death which did the League conspier The Prince of Orenge murthred through Farnesian Parmas hier Renoumed Condie poysned in his time the Leaguers feare How Pope-sent Saunders gainst our Queene in Ireland Armes did beare For Leaguers then in Pollicie preuented Lettes each-wheare By Armies or Armadas or their scattred Iesuists who Haue had small cause to brag that they with England had to doe The often sworne and for-sworne Peace that hapned in the while Queene-Mother Phillip Pope and Guise the French Kings did begile Queene-Mother for Ambition of imployment King of Spayne To make his Vsurpations sure yea France it selfe to gaine The Pope to keepe his pompe in plight Guise for the regall Ring How all though drifting dâ—ffringly at length to ende did bring The House Valoys of Capets Stocke which Stocke had quite decaide But that it pleaseth God the Crowne in Bâ—rbons House is staide How till the Barricados Feast when Guise vn-vizard was Vnder Religions Cloake the Routes in wasted France did pas And after then both Hugenote and Papist too if frend Vnto Valoys or Burbon sound like Enmitie or end Of Sauoy hoping France his Aydes and â—ll successe in all How Guise and Lorraine in the Pit for Henrâ—e dig'd did fall How Frier Iames Pope-blest and brib'd of Mayâ—e did Henrie kill How vnto Mayne pursewing Broyles it wrought not to his will The Massacres and Stratagems did in these Tumults chance How God in all his Warres did blesse Nauar now King of France And how next God that FraÌ„ce is French our Queene is Author cheef All These thus blanch't we leaue and shall of Belgick be as breefe But be it first remembred how euen for the Parents sinne God plagueth in Posteritie as came to passe I winne In second Henries of the Church reform'd a bloudie Foe Though otherwise a worthie Prince nor tache we him but so And Katherine de Medâ—â—â—s whose Athisme wrought much woe These had sowre Sonnes not one of which did die a naturall death All 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Males none extant on the Earth No maruell euen to Dauids Seede for Dauid sinne hap't such And though the holy Writ containes that Storie yeat to tuch This Purpose let vs heare it here Example vrgeth much CHAP. LIX OF holy Dauid and his House the Man approu'd to be By Gods owne Mouth to Gods owne heart the â—y Troubles see His Soule was euer godly firme though fraile in flesh as Man For who
chap. 10. pag. 45 The Storie of Iupiter and Calisto chap. 11. pag. 49 Of Cacus his secret Thefts and Tyrannies and how he was lastly discouered and slaine by Hercules pag. 53 Of the honour done to Hercules in Italie and of Queene Marica on whom he was supposed to beget Latinus Grandfather to Brute chap. 12. pag. 55 How Hercules vanquished King Picus and fell in loue with Iole p. 56 How Hercules ouercame the Tyrant Diomedes and gaue him to be eaten of his owne horses and how in Lycia hee betooke himselfe to ease and effeminacie pag 57 Of the tragicall end of Hercules and Deianira chap. 13 pag. 59 The occasion and circumstances of the third and last warre at Troy The destruction thereof and banishment of Aeneas pag. 61 Brute his petigree from either Parent his Exile from Italie and ariuall in this Isle then called Albion pag. 62 The third Booke HOw Brute named and manured this Iland built Troy-nouant or London and at his death deuided the Isse between his three Sonnes chap. 14. pag. 63 How Locrine ouercame Humbar and his Hunnes fell in loue with Estrild and of Queene Guendoleine her reuenge on him Estrild and Sabrin pag. 64 Of King Leir and his three Daughters pag. 65 Of Porrex and Ferrex and how Queene Iden murthered her sonne Porrex chap. 15. pag. 67 How and when the Scots and Pichts first entred Brutaine and of their Originals pag. 68 Of Belinus and Brennus their Contention Attonement renowmed Acts and death of Brennus chap. 16. pag. 69 Of the kindnes shewed by King Elidurus to his deposed Brother Archigallo pag. 76 How Iulius Caesar after two Repulses made the Brutaines tributarie to the Romaines chap. 17. pag. 77 The Fable of the old man the boy and the Asse pag. 80 The Birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. chap. 18. pag. 81 How Guiderius his brother Aruiragus ouercame the Romaines how Aruiragus was reconciled to the Romaines and married the Emperours Daughter pag. 81 How Queene Uoada vanquished the Romanes and of hers and her Daughters deaths pag. 82 Of the first Christian King in Brutaine how the Crowne thereof became Emperiall and of the Marriage and Holiday in Hell pag 85 Of the extreame distresse and thraldome that the Brutaines were brought vnto by the Scots and Pichts and how they were relieued by the King of little Britaine chap. 19. pag. 87 How King Vortiger intertained Hengistus and his Saxons how they droue Uortiger and the Brutaines into Wales and planted themselues in Britaine pag. 88 Of King Arthur and his Chiualrie pag. 90 How after the death of King Arthur the Saxons altogether subdued and expelled the Brutaines and of Cadwallader their last King pag. 91 The fourth Booke THe Storie of Curan and Argentile chap. 20. pag. 93 Of King Sigibert his tyrannie miserable end chap. 21. pa. 98 Of the amorous King Osbret slaine by the Danes who vnder Hungar and Hubba did warre and win much of England pag. 99 Of the politick and couragious Kings Alured and Adelstone and how they vanquished and chased the Danes pag. 100 How Egelred by treason of his mother became king and how all the Danes were murthered in one night pag. 101 Of the extreame thraldome wherein the English liued vnder the Danes How Swayne king of Denmarke and Canutus his sonne wholly subdued England to themselues chap. 22. pag. 102 Of the precepts that King Egelred on his death-bed gaue to his son Edmond Irneside pag. 103 Of the noble warre betwixt Edmond Irneside and Canutus of their Combat Attonement and friendly partition of England betwixt them c. pag. 105 Of the holy king Edward his vertuous and valiant gouernment Of the treacherous Earle Goodwin and of his End How king Harold was slaine and England Conquered by William Duke of Normandy chap. 22. pag. 107 Of the holy king Edward and of his sayings pag. 111 The fift Booke HOw king William Conqueror altered the lawes and gouernmet in England Of Edgar Athelstone and of his mother and Sisters entertainement in Scotland And of the restoring of the English royall blood chap. 23. pag. 113 Of King Henrie the second of Thomas Becket and of his death pag. 114 Of King Richard the first his Victories his imprisonment in Austrich his reuenge therfore and of his death chap. 24. pag. 117 Of King Iohn and how he was poysoned by a Monke pag. 118 A Tale of the beginning of Friers and Cloysterers pag. 119 Of a blunt Northerne man his speeches pag. 120 How king Edgar wowed the Nunne and of his pennance therefore pag. 121 Of the warres betwixt King Henrie the third and his Barons chap. 25. pag. 123 Of the vertuous and victorious Prince king Edward the first and of his counsell giuen to his Sonne c. pag. 124 Of king Edward the second his euill gouernment Of good Thomas Earle of Lancaster of his conference with an Hermit pa. 125 How lecherous Turgesius the Norwegane hauing conquered Ireland was by certaine young Gentlemen in the habites of Ladies slaine and Ireland so recouered chap. 26. pag. 126 Of amorous king Dermot and his Paramour the Queene of Meth in Ireland and of Ireland conquered to England pag. 129 Of the Hermits speeches to Earle Thomas of Lancaster chap. 27. pag. 131 How King Edward the second for his euill gouernement was deposed and his Parasites put to death chap. 28. 136 Of King Edward the third his Victories and noble Gouernement pag. 137 Of the magnanimitie of a Scottish Lady Sir Alexander Seitons wife at the besieging of Barwicke pag. 138 Of the troublesome Raigne of king Richard the second and how he was deposed by Henry surnamed Henry of Bolingbroke Duke of Hertford and Lancaster c. pag. 140 The sixt Booke OF king Henry the fourth of the Rebellions in his time and of Richard the seconds death chap. 29. pag. 142 Of the victorious Prince king Henry the fift Of Queene Katherine and Owen Tuder pag. 143 Of the wowing and wedding of Vulcan and Venus and of the strife betwixt Venus and Phoebus chap. 30. pag. 146 How Pan wowed and was deceiued chap. 31. pag. 152 Of Mercurie his successes loue pag. 154 Of Mars his Censure of loue and women and of Iupiters Sentence and sayings pag. 156. and 157 Of the troublesome Raigne of King Henrie the sixt how he was lastly deposed And of King Edward the fourth chap. 32. pa. 158 Of King Richard the third and of his Tyrannies pag. 160 How Henry Earle of Richmond ouercame and slew King Richard the third chap. 33. pag. 161 Of the vniting of the two hous 〈…〉 Lancaster and Yorke by intermariage pag. 163. The Seauenth Booke OF the great difficulties ouerpassed by Henrie the Seauenth heire of the Line of Lancaster or euer he attained to the Crowne chap. 34. pag. 164 Of the like great difficulties ouerpassed by his wife Queene Elizabeth heire of the Line of Yorke or euer the same two houses by their intermariage were vnited pag. 166 Of
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
for thee the hope that to our House doth rest Now all are tryed we can trust if now we faile we fall Thy death is in the same request as is thy Fathers thrall And which I would it were the worst the Foe doth thirst my life To end his Triumph in the deaths of Husband Sonne and Wife Though thy great-Grandsier Grandsier thy Father wonne wore The King-ring which thy Father hild yeares thirtie eight and more Though by the cappitall Remote of Lancaster withstood Yeat fayle prescription and discents now lacke they but our blood Then learne against thou proue a man ah hardly hope I so The Line Lancastrian naturally doth labour of that Foe The Queene concluding thus in teares did then to Armor goe Fierce was the Field and either part did valiantly offend But Edward ouercomming when the Battell was at end The Queene was carried Captiue thence And Edwards men did bring Her Sonne the Prince sole sonne and heire vnto the captiue King Before the Victor whose demaunds receiuing answers stout He thrusts the manly Boy from him whom Glocester about The King Churle that he was did stab So tragicke was the spight Betwixt those Linages that oft each others so requite His death was more than death vnto his Parents but not long His Father moned vndispatcht alike for death and wrong By foresaid Duke of Glocester of whom succeedes our song THus won the Yorkestes ancient Raigne sixe bloodie Fields did seate Edward the Fourth in Englands Throne possest a while in queate He wonne his Subiects loue and loue was debt to his desarts But as must ours so lastly his vn-bodied Soule departs He left his Kingdome to his Sonne his Sonne to be protected By Richard Duke of Glocester Who pietie reiected Grew treble-wise tyrannicall malicious to the blood Of his deceased brothers Queene And what so Yorkest stood Betwixt the Scepter and himselfe aliue he pricked dead A Foe to all Lancastrians as the same by nature bread This common Deaths-man of those Kinnes and euery Nobles fall Whom he but gest Coriuall or might crosse him near so small This stoope-Frog Aesops Storke alike tyrannous vnto all To giltie giltlesse friend or foe was not secure one day But Either dyes as eithers death might fit him any way Yea euen whilst his Brother rulde when all Lancastrians and His Brothers twaine his Nephewes twaine Neeces three did stand Betwixt himselfe and home euen then by blood he hunted Raine For when his owne and ruthles hands King Henries heire had â—â—ayue Then Henries selfe Henrie the sixt a giltles King in bands He stabd his brother Clarence dide through him by other hands But now Protector as doe Wolues the Lambes protected he And fared as if fearing that one wickedder might be Queene mother and her kindred hild the Orphant King a while Her Kinne hee murdred and from her he got the King by gile Whom though vncrowned tituled fist Edward rest his mother He made be murdred with the Duke of Yorke the yonger brother When neither Yorkest his Allies and of Lancastrians none Were left to let it who should let but he might leape the Throne He wore indeede the wrested Palme But yeat to better bad By murder of his wife he sought new marriage to be had With that Elizabeth that was the Eldest daughter to Edward the fourth But all in vaine the King his Neece did wowe For Henrie Earle of Richmonds friends such doings did vndoe Which Henry and Elizabeth by secrete Agents were Contracted he of Lancaster and she of Yorke the heire Of which letigious Famelies heer mapped be the Lines Euen till the Heire of these two Heires both Stockes in one combines CHAP. XXXIII HEnrie as if by myracle preseru'd by Forraines long From hence-ment Treasons did arriue to right his Natiues wrong And chiefly to Lord Stanlie and some other Succors as Did wish and worke for better dayes thâ— Riuall welcome was Now Richard heard that Richmond was assisted and a shore And like vnkenneld Cerberus the crooked Tyrant swore And all complexions act at once confusedly in him He studieth striketh threates intreates and looketh mildly grim Mistrustfully he trusteth and he dreadingly did dare And fortie passions in a trice in him consort and square But when by his conuented force his foes increased more He hastned Battell finding his Coriuall apt therefore When Richmond orderly in all had battelled his ayde Inringed by his Complices their chearefull Leader sayde Now is the time and place sweete Frends and we the Persons be That must giue England breath or els vnbreath for her must we No Tyrannie is fabled and no Tyrant was in deede Worse thaÌ„ our Foe whose workes wil act my words if wel he speede For ill to ills Superlatiue are easely intist But intertaine amendment as the Gergesites did Christ. Be valiant then he biddeth so that would not be out-bid For courage yeat shall honor him though bace that better did I am right heire Lancastrian he in Yorkes destroyed right Vsurpeth But through Either ours for neither Claime I fight But for our Countries long-lackt weale for Englands peace I warre Wherein he speed vs vnto whom I all Euents refarre Meane while had furious Richard set his Armies in array And then with lookes euen like himselfe this or the like did say Why Lads shall yonder Welshman with his Straglers ouer-match Disdaine ye not such Riualles and deferre yee their dispatch Shall Tuder from Plantagenet the Crowne by craking snatch Know Richards very thoughts he toucht the Diademe he wore Be mettall of this mettall Then beleeue I loue it more Than that for other law than Life to super sead my Clame And lesser must not be his Plea that counter-pleads the same The weapons ouer-tooke his words blowes they brauely change When like a Lion thirsting bloud did moody Richard range And made large slaughters where he went till Richmond he espied Whom singling after doubtfull Swords the valerous Tyrant died THus ended Englands warre and woe vsurping Richard dead When Henry and Elizabeth vniting titles wed Of which two Heires th' vndoubted Heire of either Line did cum The Epilogue vnto these wounds digested in this sum Fourth Henry first Lancastrian King put second Richard downe Fourth Edward of the House of Yorke re-seazd sixt Henries Crowne Lad-Princes twaine were stabd in Field of either Linage one Foure Kings did perish Sundry times now-Kings anon were none Sixe three of either faction helde successiuely the Throne But from the second Richard to seuenth Henry we pretend Eight Kings this Faction to begin continue and to end The Princes Earles Barons and Knights this quarrell did deuour Exceede the tale of Gentry best and bacest at this houre So plagueth ciuill Warre so from Robe to Ragge dooth scoure Then luckiest of the Planets weare Predominants say we When by this Bedmatch either Heire that Bloud-mart did agree When Seuenth begot the Eight and Eight the First and Last for like Our now Pandora
nor till her our humbled sailes we strike For should we at her Grandsier reare our Colome yet too poore We could not write as Hercules on his Beyond no more For he lackt search our Muse hath Kend an Ocean is in store Euen matter that importeth worth coparing all before THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XXXIV NOw let vs poste-alone to Mars and Mercury repaâ—r At least so farforth as wee maye without controwlment daer Richard the third Henry the Seauenth last subiects of our pen Was slaine was crownde with hate with loue as worste as best of men So not with Yorke and Lancaster doth wonted enuie raigne Nor can Aeneas Off-springs now of Orphansie complaine But that Cadwalladers Fore-doomes in Tuders should effect Was vnexpected saue that God doth destinies direct Els Owen Tuder had not wiu'd Fift Henries noble Queene Nor had they of their bodies Earles Penbrooke and Richmon seene Nor Margret Somersets sole heire to Richmon had beene weade Nor they the heire of Lancaster Henry the Seuenth had bread Nor he of Yorks Inheritrix Elizabeth had sped Nor they vnited either house all other titles dead Yeat eare this vnion Either so ariued to their right As Psiches on an errant sent to Hell by Venus spight Worse Ferrymen than Charon Hoods contagious more than Styx Worse Porters than fowle Cerberus were pleas'd past stood betwix How therefore Either dangerously their Labyrinth did passe Shall not be ouerpassed Thus their seuerall fortune was Henries the fourth the fifte and sixt successiuely did raigne Vntill fourth Edwards sword to him did lawfull Empier gaine Lancastrians droupe the Yorkests had their long expected day Sixt Henry and the Prince his sonne by stabbes were made away The foresaid Margaret sole heire of Somerset earst wife Of Tuder Earle of Richmond had by him a Sonne in life To whom from her the Crowne-right of LancastriaÌ„s did accrewe He from his English foes himselfe by secrete stealth withdrewe To little Brutaine wheare he found the Duke a frendfull trewe This Henry Earle of Richmond now poore Lancasters Remaine Was by fourth Edward practis'd home by many a subtell traine Whome once the gentle Duke beguilde with promises vnment Deliuered to the English-men with whome he homewards went Forsaken Ladd for yet he was a Ladd what did remaine But certaine death so to assure his foes vncertaine raine Which to establish many a Prince of his Allies weare slaine But him eare broughta-boorde the Duke aduised better stayd And him as if by câ—â—â—nce escapte to Sanctuarie conuaid The Lambe so rescued from the Wolfe that priuiledged place Assured him till Edwards death and then he hoped grace But he that was Protector of his murthered Nephewes than Vsurped England and became a Monsture not a man Richard the third omitting all his tyrannies beside To be possessed of the Earle by many a message tride Great wealth was sent greater assum'de but nothing might preuail The gracious Duke abhord to set his guiltles frend to sayle But furnished with money men and armor shipt him thence To winne his right yeat churlish Seas did lett such kind pretence Full hardly Richmonds threatned Ship escapt our armed Shoore For Richard of the Riuall got intelligence before Return'de the Duke did sicken and Landoise did beare the sway And he for Masses great was brib'de Earle Henry to betray Yeat through wise Bishop Murtons meanes by stealth he scap'te away In trauell then from Brutaine to his Grome himselfe was Grome By interchaunged rayment till to Anger 's they weare come The French King pittying his distresse pretended asked aide And secrete platformes for his weale his English friends had laide Henry in France at home his Friends bester them and the Foe Meane time with hope with fraud with feare imployde his witts also Now of the Earles conspiracy the totall drift was this Elizabeth the daughter of fourth Edward vow'd he his And she was vow'd to him if God with victory him blisse Our wounded Englands healing balme for thus thereof ensew'de The factious Families vnite the Tyrant was subdew'de And thence the surname Tuder doth Plantagenet include AS hardly as her husband did Elizabeth escape For why like Stratageme for both did bloody Richard shape Whilste that her Father liued now a King and now exilde Her Crosses then did happen from such victors as weare milde But now the same that murthered her Brothers to be King That did withfraud begin and then with bloud conclude ech thing That flattred friends to serue his turne and then destroyde the same That was her Vncle yeat did hate her Mothers very name That thought he liued not because his Neeces weare vndead Theis now and blame her not in her a world of terror bread But of vnpriuiledged bloud yet had he store to spill Yet sanctuaries weare not forc'te yet but expecting ill Theareofte the Queene her Mother Shee and Sisters would reporte Their happie and vnhappie daâ—es the fewer of first sorte Happy was I the olde Queene said when as a Maide vnweade Nor Husbands weale nor Childrens woe mistempered my head Yeat I beloued loued and so left that free estate And thought me happyer than before for louely was my Mate Iohn Gray a sweet Esquier for his prowysse dubbed Knight Was as behoued all my ioy who slaine in factious fight Your Father Daughters late my Lord and Husband now in earth From me had many a secrete curse as motyue of his death Lancastrian was my husband and that faction had the wourste So to releeue my Widdowhood I kneel'd to whom I curste Edward for Henry was depoes'de and Edward seaz'd the Crowne I wot not for what forme of mine did raise me kneeled downe And gaue me chearefull wordes and tooke me curteously aside And playd the ciuell Wanton and me amoroufâ—y he eide His plea was loue my sute was Land I plie him he plies me Too baece to be his Queene too good his Concubine to be I did conclude and on that point a while we disagree But when I was his Queene sweete King not for I was his Queene But for himselfe and for the loue that passed vs betweene I held me happiest vnderheauen yea when his aduerse Line Discrowned him I had inough that I was his he mine Then after fortunes often change he died and I suruiue A life exceeding death for griefe and greefes Superlatiue My heart ah Sonnes my heart deare Hearts was dead eare yee did die Too yong weare yee to censure of your vncles tyranny Then wept shee and her daughters wept their onely talke alwaies Was passed ioyes or present woes nor hope they better daies But in Earle Richmonds good successe that now a power did raise Too soone had Richard notice that Earle Henry would ariue By precontract his eldest Neece Elizabeth to wiue And well he knew in Yorks descent she was immediate heire And Henry like in Lancaster a Match for him to feare Which to preuent he flattered his Neeces from their mother Who fearefull Ladies
to the fatall Blocke she praying on her booke Wence hauing made a godly end he was return'd whilst Shee Prepard for like and of her Lord the senceles Tronke did see A sight more deathful than her death that should consort him straite And for the which her feareles eies did euery moment waite She vnabashed mounting now the Skaffold theare attends The fatall Stroke-and vnto God her better parte commends And as she liu'd a vertuous life so vertuously she ends CHAP. XLI OMitting Knights three Dukes three Lords also a Queene elect Then perisht thus and somewhat some of Edwards death suspect All which fell out a Stratagem in God his secre Dome That should induce a Tragedie to England meant by Rome For when these mighty Protestants through Ones Ambition fell Queene Mary seem'd to shut vp Heauen and set wide open Hell Whence swarmed papish Tyrants that false doctrine did erect Whilst that seduced Mary did Gods threatned cause neglect Blamelesse she was not for a Crowne that could her Foes ore-goe Nor all too blame for mightie States do and haue erred so To Whome the Scriptures weare obscur'd by Christs Italian Foe Her courage was not common yeat abused ouer much By Papists cheefly She her selfe too naturally such Heere hence she is reprooued of a moste tyrannous Raigne And of a thriftles Mariage with the trustles King of Spaine But when rich Brabants supreame Faire the Bakers daughter staide The King in dalliance and the Queene had newes that false he plaide T is thought his tarriance greeu'd told that one should counsel this Haue patience Madam so it was and wil be as it is Fourth Edward did the like yeat lou'd his Queene no whit the lesse Nor did the like vnpatient her that knew him to transgresse As guiltie of a Leash of Loues Shores wife and other twaine She knew as Streams if stopt surrownd so Kings wil shew they raign As did our second Henry whome his Queene oft crost in vain◠Which and one other Story if it please you that I tell I shall Yea doc quoth she Then thus quoth he it once befell NOt knowen of Rosamund his eie had stoed her in his heart Faire Maide quoth he beleeue me faire and all so faire thou art That weare I Henry Englāds King thou shouldst be Englāds Queene But so must fayle for Elenour already is betweene He bod me buy thy loue if so it might be bought with Golde If not he bod me sweare he loues in fayth he loues be bolde He bod me aske if so he came what should his welcome be And if perhaps he lated weare if he should lodge with thee Protesting secreasie thereof to all vnlesse to me With promise to performe at full each promise as I make it I promise Loue Wealth Secresie then promise thou to take it Content you Sir quoth Ro amund you aime your markes amis I am not for his Highnes nor for me his Highnes is And should he know I shame he should of this your Brokage bace He would acquaint you what it weare your Soueraigne to disgrace Whoso you be be still the same or better if you may Think not Lord Cliffords daughter will vn-maiden her for pay But know if Henryes selfe were heere himselfe should haue a nay Then know quoth he which being knowen well maist thou know I loue thee I am the King and for I am the rather let it moue thee In sooth sweet Wench thou saiest nay thou knowest not whereto For weare my wish at work lesse good wy wish than work would do What fearst thou shame no shame to be beloued of a King Or dread'st thou sinne The Pope for pay absolueth euery thing Or doubt'st thou iealous Elenour I will remoue that doubt At Woodstock shall she finde thy bower but neuer finde thee out Theare shalt thou passe a pleasant life commanding me and mine Then loue beloued Rosamund a King subiects him thine He kist She blusht and long it was ere loue from her he wroung For whilst vp played in her heart it paused on her toung Not Sibils Caue at Cuma nor the Labyrinth in Creat Was like the Bower of Rosamund for intricate and great The Pellicane theare neasts his Bird and sporteth oft with her Conducted by a Clew of thread els could he not but err Besides her Maydes a Knight of trust attended on her theare Who suffred for her Beautie long concealing it for feare At length at full and formally he courted her for grace But all in vaine nought booted him to haue both time and place Henry quoth she begonne and he shall end my thoughts vnchast Nor peach't she him nor he dismist did hold himselfe disgrac'st The Kings three Sonnes had notice of their Fathers Leiman now So had the Queene and the yof such coriuing disallowe Came I from France Queene Dowager quoth she to pay so deere For bringing him so great a wealth as to be Cuckquean'd heere Am I so old a woman he so young a wanton growen As that I may not please that pleas'd and still might with his owen What is the Drab or tempting Diuell or wherefore doteth he The French King once himselfe euen now for faire preferred me And hath he toyled vp his Game and settels he to loue her Nor Heauen nor hell shall crosse my course but that I will remoue her Like Phrogne seeking Philomel she seeketh for and found The Bower that lodg'd her Husbands Loue built partly vnder ground She entred but so intricate weare Turnings to and fro That welneere she had lost her selfe but could not finde her Foe Yeat out she got and backe she goes with her Attendants who Admire their furious Mistresse and mislike what she would doe With her Confedrates oft she went preuented of her will Howbeit lastly did preuaile For hap did hit so ill That whilst the Knight did issue out suspecting no assaut He was assailed from his giding Clewe they caught So wonne they vnto Rosamund Whom when the Queene did vew Most brauely clad in rich Attire her selfe more rich of hew The beautie and the brauenes of the Person and the place Amazed her and hers who stoode at gaze a certaine space No maruell quoth the Queene that oft the Court did mis the King Soone such an Hebe hither such a Iupiter might bring Now trust me weare she not a Whoore or anies Whoore but his She should be pardon'd But in faith I must not pardon this A Queane coriuall with a Queene Nay kept at Racke Manger A Husband to his honest bed through her become a Stranger Abide who list abye she shall how so I buy the daunger Faire Rosamund surprised thus eare thus she did suspect Fell on her humble Knees and did her fearefull hands erect She blush't out beauty whilst the tears did wash her pleasing face And begged Pardon meriting no lesse of common grace So farforth as it lay in me I did quoth she withstand But what may not so great a