Additions the falles of such Princes as were before omitted and my Poem or Hymne of the late dead Queene of famous memorie In all which I require no other gratification for my paines but a gentle censure of my imperfections THE CONTENTS of the booke HOw King Albanact the yongest sonne of Brutus and first King of Albanie now called Scotland was slaine by King Humber Pag. 1. 2 How Humber the King of Huns minding to conquer Britain was drowned in the arme of sea now called Humber 18. 3 How King Locrinus the eldest son of Brutus liued viciously and was slaine in battell by his wife Queene Guendoline 22. 4 How Queene Elstride the Concubine of King Locrinus was miserablie drowned by Queene Guendoline 27. 5 How the Ladie Sabrine daughter of King Locrinus and Elstride was drowned by Queene Guendoline 38. 6 How King Madan for his euill life was slaine by wolues 44. 7 How King Malin was slaine by his brother King Mempricius 47. 8 How King Mempricius giuen all to lust was deuoured by wolues 50. 9 How King Bladud taking on him to flie fell vpon the Temple of Apollo and brake his necke 53. 10 How Queene Cordila in despaire slew her selfe 59. 11 How King Morgan of Albany was slaine at Glamorgan in Wales 69. 12 How King Iago died of the Lethargie 72. 13 How King Forrex was slaine by his brother King Porrex 74. 14 How King Porrex which slew his brother was slaine by his owne mother and her maidens 78. 15 How King Pinnar was slaine in battell by Mulmucius Donwallo 80. 16 How King Stater was slaine in battell by Mulmucius Donwallo 82. 17 How King Rudacke of Wales was slaine in battell by Mulmucius Donwallo 83. 18 How the noble King Brennus after many triumphant victories at the siege of Delphos in Greece slew himselfe 86. 19 How King Kimarus was deuoured by wilde beasts 103. 20 How King Morindus was deuoured by a monster 106. 21 How King Emerianus for his tyrannie was deposed 110. 22 How King Cherinnus giuen to drunkennesse raigned but one yeare 111. 23 How King Varianus gaue himself to the lusts of the flesh 112. 24 How the worthie Britaine Duke Nennius encountred with Iulius Caesar and was vnfortunately slaine 114. 25 How the Lord Irenglas cosin to King Cassibellane was slaine by the Lord Elenine cosin to Androgeus Earle of London 123. 26 How Caius Iulius Caesar which first made this Realme tributorie to the Romans was slaine in the Senate house 129. 27 How Claudius Tiberius Nero Emperour of Rome was poisoned by Caius Caligula 139. 28 How Caius Caesar Caligula Emperour of Rome was slaine by Cherea and others 145. 29 How Guiderius King of Britaine the elder sonne of Cimbaline was slaine in battell by a Roman 146. 30 How Lelius Hamo the Romane Captaine was slaine after the slaughter of Guiderius 148. 31 How Claudius Tiberius Drusus Emperour of Rome was poisoned by his wife Agrippina 149. 32 How the Emperour Domitius Nero liued wickedly and tyrannously and in the end miserablie slew himselfe 152. 33 How Sergius Galba the Emperour of Rome giuen to slaughter ambition gluttony was slaine by the souldiers 155. 34 How the vicious Siluius Otho Emperour of Rome slew himselfe 157. 35 How Aulus Vitellius Emperour of Rome came to an vnfortunate end 159. 36 How Londricus the Pict was slaine by King Marius of Britaine 161. 37 How Seuerus the Emperour of Rome and Gouernour of Britaine was slaine at Yorke fighting against the Picts 163. 38 How Fulgentius a Scythian or Pict was slaine at the siege of Yorke 167. 39 How Geta the yonger sonne of the Emperour Seuerus once Gouernour of Britaine was slaine in his mothers armes by his brother Anthonie Emperour of Rome 170. 40 How Aurelius Antonius Bassianus Caracalla Emperour of Rome was slaine by one of his owne seruants 174. 41 How Carrassus a Husbandmans son and after King of Britaine was slaine in battell by Alectus a Romane 185. 42 How Queene Helena of Britaine maried Constantius the Emperour and much aduanced the Christian faith through the whole world 289. 43 How Vortiger destroyed the yong King Constantine and how he obtained the crowne how after many miseries he was miserablie burnt in his Castle by the brethren of Constantine 203. 44 How Vter Pendragon was inamoured on the wife of Gorolus Duke of Cornewal whom he slew and after was poysoned by the Saxons 213. 45 How Cadwallader the last King of the Britaines was expelled by the Saxons went to Rome and there liued in a religious house 219. 46 How Sigebert for his wicked life was thrust from his throne and miserablie slaine by an heardsman 225. 47 How Ladie Ebbe did flea her nose and vpper lip away to saue her virginitie 235. 48 How King Egelred for his wickednes was diuersly distressed by the Danes and lastly died for sorrow 239. 49 How King Harrold had continuall warre with the Danes with the Norway King with his brother Tostius and was at last slaine in battell by William the Conquerour 245. From the Conquest 50 M. Sackuils Induction 255. 51 How the two Rogers surnamed Mortimers for their sundrie vices ended their liues vnfortunately 271. 52 The fall of Robert Tresillian Chiefe Iustice of England and other his fellowes for misconstruing the Lawes and expounding them to serue the Princes affections 276. 53 How Sir Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester vncle to King Richard the second was vnlawfully murthered 281. 54 How the Lord Mowbrey promoted by King Richard the second to the state of a Duke was by him banished the Realme and after died miserablie in exile 287. 55 How King Richard the second was for his euill gouernance deposed from his seat and murthered in prison 293. 56 How Owen Glendour seduced by false prophesies tooke vpon him to be Prince of Wales and was by Henrie Prince of England chased to the mountaines where he miserablie died for lacke of food 296. 57 How Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland was for his couetous and trayterous attempt put to death at Yorke 303. 58 How Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge intending the Kings destruction was put to death at Southhampton 307. 59 How Thomas Montague Earle of Salisburie in the middest of his glory was vnfortunately slaine at Oleance with a peece of Ordnance 309. 60 How Dame Eleanor Cobham Duchesse of Glocester for practising of Witchcraft and sorcerie Suffered open penance and afterward was banished the Realme into the I le of Man 317. 61 How Humfrey Plantagenet Duke of Glocester Protector of England during the minoritie of his nephew King Henrie the sixt commonly called the good Duke by practise of enemies was brought to confusion 327. 62 How Lord William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke was worthily banished for abusing his King and causing the destruction of the good Duke Humfrey 340. 63 How Iack Cade naming himselfe Mortimer trayterously rebelling against his King was for his treasons and cruell doings worthily punished 345. 64 The tragedie
right may take his place without regard or meed Set apart all flatterie and vaine worldly dreed Set God before your eyes the most iust Iudge supreme Remember well your reckoning at the day extreme Abandon all affray be soothfast in your sawes Be constant and carelesse of mortals displeasure With eyes shut and hands close you should pronounce the lawes Esteeme not worldly goods thinke there is a treasure More worth then gold a thousand times in valure Reposed for all such as righteousnesse ensue Whereof you cannot faile the promise made is true If Iudges in our daies would ponder well in mind The fatall fall of vs for wresting Law and right Such statutes as touch life should not be thus defin'd By senses constrained against true meaning quite As well they might affirme the blacke for to be white Wherefore we wish they would our act and end compare And weighing well the case they will we trust beware G. Ferrers HOW SIR THOMAS OF WOODSTOCKE DVKE OF Glocester vncle to King Richard the second was vnlawfully murdered An. Dom. 1397. WHose state stablisht is in seeming most sure And so far from danger of Fortunes blasts As by the compasse of mans coniecture No brasen piller may be fixt more fast Yet wanting the stay of prudent forecast When froward Fortune list for to frowne May in a moment turne vpside downe In proofe whereof O Baldwine take paine To hearken a while to Thomas of Woodstocke Addresse in presence his fate to complaine In the forlorne hope of English flocke Extract by descent from the royall stocke Sonne to King Edward third of that name And second to none in glorie and fame This noble father to maintaine my state With Buckingham Earledome did me indow Both Nature and Fortune to me were great Denying me nought which they might allow Their sundrie graces in me did so flow As beautie strength high fauour and fame Who may of God more wish then the same Brothers we were to the number of seuen I being the sixt and yongest but one A more royall race was not vnder heauen More stout or more stately of stomacke and person Princes all peerelesse in each condition Namely Sir Edward call'd the blacke Prince When had England the like before or since But what of all this any man t' assure In state vncarefull of Fortunes variance Sith daily and hourely we see it in vre That where most cause is of affiance Euen there is found most weake assurance Let none trust Fortune but follow reason For often we see in trust is treason This prouerbe in proofe ouer true I tried Finding high treason in place of high trust And most fault of faith where I most affied Being by them that should haue been iust Trayterously entrapt ere I could mistrust Ah wretched world what it is to trust thee Let them that will learne now hearken to mee After King Edward the thirds decease Succeeded my nephew Richard to raigne Who for his glorie and honors encrease With princely wages did me entertaine Against the Frenchmen to be his Chieftaine So passing the seas with royall puissance With God and S. George I inuaded France Wasting the countrie with sword and with fire Ouerturning townes high castles and towers Like Mars god of warre enflamed with ire I forced the Frenchmen t' abandon their bowers Where euer we marcht I wan at all howers In such wise visiting both citie and village That alway my souldiers were laden with pillage With honor and triumph was my returne Was none more ioyous then yong King Richard Who minding more highly my state to adorne With Glocester Dukedome did me reward And after in mariage I was prefer'd To a daughter of Bohun an Earle honorable By whom I was of England high Constable Thus hoysed high on Fortunes wheele As one on a stage attending a play See'th not on which side the scaffold doth reele Till timber and poles and all flie away So fared it by me for day by day As honor encreased I looked still higher Not seeing the danger of my fond desier For Fortunes floud thus running with full streame And I a Duke descended of great Kings Constable of England chiefe officer of the Realme Abused with desperance in these vaine things I went without feete and flew without wings Presuming so far vpon my high state That dread set apart my Prince I would mate For whereas Kings haue counsell of their choice To whom they referre the rule of their Land With certaine familiars in whom to reioyce For pleasure or profit as the case shall stand I not bearing this would needs take in hand Maugre his will those persons to disgrace And for to settle others in their place But as an old booke saith who will assay About the Cats necke to hang on a bell Had first need to cut the Cats clawes away Lest if the Cat be curst and not tam'd well She with her nailes may claw him to the fell So putting the bell about the Cats necke I vnaduised caught a cruell checke Reade well the sentence of the Rat renown'd Which Pierce the plowman describes in his dreame And whoso hath wit the sense to expound Shall find that to curbe the Prince of a Reame Is euen as who saith to striue with the streame Note this all subiects and construe it well And busie not your braines 'bout the Cats bell But in that yee be Lieges learne t' obay Submitting your willes to your Princes Lawes It fits not a subiect t' haue his owne way Remember this prouerbe of the Cats clawes For Princes like Lions haue long large pawes That reach at randon and whom they once twitch They claw to the bone before the skin itch But to my purpose I being once bent Towards the atchieuing of my attemptate Foure bould Barons were of mine assent By oath and alliance fastly confederate First Henrie of Derby an Earle of estate Richard of Arundell and Thomas of Warwicke With Mowbray the Marshall a man most warlike At Ratecote Bridge assembled our band The Commons in clusters came to vs that day To dant Robert Veere then Duke of Ireland By whom King Richard was ruled alway We put him to flight and brake his array Then maugre the King his leaue or assent We by our power did call a Parlament Where not in Robes but with our Baslards bright We came to parle of the publique weale Confirming our quarell with maine and might With swords and no words we tried our appeale In stead of reason declaring out zeale And whom so we knew with the King in grace We plainly depriued of power and place Some with short processe were banisht the Land Some executed with capitall paine Whereof whoso list the whole t' vnderstand In the Parlament roll it appeareth plaine And further how stoutly we did the King straine The rule of his Realme wholly to resigne To the order of those whom we did assigne But note the sequele of such presumption After we had
the nip And fault who shall for all feele they the whip For when I was by Parliament attainted King Edwards euils all were counted mine No truth auailed so lies were fast and painted Which made the people at my life repine Crying Crucifige kill that butchers line That when I should haue gone to Blockham feast I could not passe so sore they on me preast And had not been the officers so strong I thinke they would haue eaten me aliue Howbeit hardly haled from the throng I was in Fleet fast shrouded by the Shriue Thus one daies life their maliee did me giue Which when they knew for spite the next day after They kept them calme so suffered I the slaughter Now tell me Baldwine what fault dost thou find In me that iustly should such death deserue None sure except desire of honor blind Which made me seeke in offices to serue What mind so good that honors make not swerue So maist thou fee it only was my state That caus'd my death and brought me so in hate Warne therefore all men wisely to beware What offices they enterprise to beare The highest alway most maligned are Of peoples grudge and Princes hate in feare For Princes faults his faultors all men teare Which to auoid let none such office take Saue he that can for right his Prince forsake HOW SIR RICHARD NEVILL EARLE OF WARWICKE AND HIS BROTHER IOHN Lord Marquise Montacute through their too much boldnes were slaine at Barnet the 14. of Aprill Anno 1471. AMong the heauie heape of happie Knights VVhom Fortune stal'd vpon her staylesse stage Oft hoist on high oft pight in wretched plights Behold me Baldwine A perse of my age Lord Richard Neuill Earle by mariage Of VVarwicke Duchie of Sarum by descent Which erst my father through his mariage hent VVould'st thou behold false Fortune in her kind Note well my selfe so shalt thou see her naked Full faire before but too too foule behind Most drowsie still when most she seemes awaked My fame and shame her shift full oft hath shaked By enterchange alow and vp aloft The Lysard like that changeth hue full oft For while the Duke of Yorke in life remaind Mine vncle deare I was his happy hand In all attempts my purpose I attaind Though King and Queene and most Lords of the land With all their power did often me withstand For God gaue Fortune and my good behauiour Did from their Prince steale me the peoples fauour So that through me in fields right manly fought By force mine vncle tooke King Henry twice As for my cosin Edward I so wrought When both our fires were slaine through rash aduice That he atchieu'd his fathers enterprise For into Scotland King and Queene we chased By meane whereof the Kingdome he embraced Which after he had held in quiet peace For shortly after was King Henry take And put in hold his power to encrease I went to France and match him with a make The French Kinges daughter whom hee did forsake For while with paine I brought this sute to passe He to a widow rashly wedded was This made the French King shrewdly to mistrust That all my treaties had but ill pretence And when I saw my King so bent to lust That with his faith he past not to dispence Which is a Princes honours chiefe defence I could not rest till I had found a meane To mend his misse or els to marre him cleane I me allied with his brother George Incensing him his brother to maligne Through many a tale I did against him forge So that through power that we from Calais bring And found at home we fraied so the King That he did flie to Freeselandward amaine Whereby King Henry had the Crowne againe Then put we th' Earle of Worcester to death King Edwards friend a man loe foule defamed And in the while came Edward into breath For with the Duke of Burgoine so he framed That with the power that he to him had named Vnlooked for he came to England streight And got to Yorke and tooke the towne by sleight And after through the sufferance of my brother Which like a beast occasion foulely lost He came to London safe with many other And tooke the towne to good King Henries cost Who was through him from post to piller tost Till th' Earle of Oxford I and other more Assembled power his freedome to restore Whereof King Edward warned came with speed And camped with his host in Barnet towne Where we right fierce encountred him indeed On Easter day right earely on the downe There many a man was slaine and stricken downe On either side and neither part did gaine Till that I and my brother both were slaine For we to heart our ouermatched men Forsooke our steeds and in the thickest throng Ran preasing forth on foot and fought so then That downe we draue them were they nere so strong But we ere lucke had lasted very long With force and number were so foulely cloyed And rescue fail'd that quite we were destroyed Now tell me Baldwine hast thou heard or read Of any man that did as I haue done That in his time so many armies led And victorie at euery voyage won Hast thou ere heard of subiect vnder sun That plac'd and bac'd his Soueraignes so oft By enterchange now low and then aloft Perchance thou think'st my doings were not such As I and other do affirme they were And in thy mind I see thou musest much What meanes I vs'd that should me so prefer Wherein because I will thou shalt not erre The truth of all I will at large recite The short is this I was no Hypocrite I neuer did nor said saue what I ment The commonweale was still my chiefest care To priuate gaine or good was I nere bent I neuer past vpon delicious fare Of needfull food my boord was neuer bare No creditour did curse me day by day I vsed plainnesse euer pitch and pay I heard poore souldiers and poore workemen whine Because their duties were not truly pai'd Againe I saw how people did repine At those through whom their payment was delai'd And proofe did oft assure as Scripture said That God doth wreake the wretched peoples greeues I saw the polles cut off from polling theeues This made me alway iustly for to deale Which when the people plainly vnderstood Because they saw me mind the Commonweale They still endeuoured how to do me good Readie to spend their substance life and blood In any cause whereto I did them moue For sure they were it was for their behoue And so it was For when the Realme decayed By such as good King Henrie sore abused To mend the state I gaue his enemies aide But when King Edward sinfull prankes still vsed And would not mend I likewise him refused And holpe King Henrie better of the twaine And in his quarell iust I thinke was slaine And therefore Baldwine teach by proofe of mee That such as couet peoples loue
Englishmen did meete Then secretly my friends and I did frame That Englishmen the Danes should friendly greete And at the feast that they should do their feate And that they might the better worke their will They thus were plast according vnto skill Two before one and three before fiue Here two and there two and foure then beliue Here one and there one and three at a cast Then one and twice two and one at the last They mingled thus the watch word wisely giuen And Englishmen with weapons well bestead The Danes amidst their cups were shauen and shriuen Fiue hundred thousand in one day were dead Now note the end of blood so heastly shead For Swane the king of Denmarke did arriue He for reuenge did me to Richard driue Marke here how lawlesse polices preuaile Their good successe do promise present paine What May mans vaine deuices ought auaile Dishonest deeds no honour can obtaine Al murthering Massacres be vile and vaine Such suttle slights haue neuer good successe The proofe whereof with paine I here expresse For Swane with sword and fire did here destroy Both man and beast and euery earthly thing He did that noble London much annoy He won the Realme and was the English king When tract of time him to his beare did bring Canutus then his sonne did him succeed Whom to displace I did dispatch with speed My brother Richard Duke of Normandy Of Normans gaue to me a goodly band By help of whom Canutus forst to flee I got againe the kingdome of England But out alas what thing may firmely stand Whose vnder-prop is of so little might That want of strength doth let things drop downright Canutus did from Denmarke now returne The wrathfull wight appointed passing strong My subiects slue my Cities he did burne Which when I heard I liu'd not very long My fainting heart was thronged with a throng Of cares which broke it in my fearfull brest And so at last death brought my bones to rest Twice tenne and eight I ranne my ruthfull race And then in Pauls my cursed corps was laid Canutus did my common-weale deface The Danes were kings my kingdome was decaid This world is fraile and euery thing must fade But alwaies that which wanteth gouernment That first doth feele the force of dangers dent Thomas Blener Hasset HOW EDRICVS EARLE OF MERCIA DESTROYED THE VALIANT KING EDMVND IRON side in hope of aduancement and how he was rewarded Anno Dom. 1018. YOu hellish hags of Limbo Lake below Which daily do my cursed corps torment Come forth come forth come forth I say and shew How I on earth my dismall daies haue spent And wil you not you wretched wights assent To helpe me here to tell that drierie tale Which may amongst men liuing much preuaile O cursed ghost condemn'd to endlesse thrall Sith they refuse to aid thee in this need Do thou declare and tel the truth af all That men aliue my wretched works may read And see the fruite of suttle Satans seed Auoiding vice and fancies fond delight Note well my tale the truth I shall recite When Etheldred had giuen Canutus place Edmund his sonne surnamed Ironside Deuising how he might his foe deface By wrath of warre the cause they did decide And in the end the Realme they did diuide Edmund had halfe Canutus had the rest Then they with peace and quietnesse were blest O blind beleefe O hope of higher hope Why did you moue my minde to meditate How I in woe king Edmund might in wrap And how I might depresse my kings estate Thou blind beleefe thou breeder of debate I wanting grace did let thee moue my mind Causelesse to kil a courteous king and kinde He being kild I to Canutus went To whom I sayd See here a faithfull friend I for thy loue with bloody blade haue hent And brought my King to his vntimely end Thou by that meanes shalt rule thy realme with rest My friendly â—ist with happie good successe Hath thee inricht with blisse and happinesse Hast thou quoth he destroy'd thy soueraigne King Thou faithlesse sawning friend for loue of me Thou verlet vile and could'st thou doe the thing The which might more a bridge my libertie O heinous act O bloodie crueltie But sith that loue did moue thee doe that deede Thou for thy paines shalt be preferd with speede Wherewith in haste he to the hangman said Let this mans head the highest place obtaine On London walles wherewith I neuer staid But on a block my neck was cut in twaine In all mens sight my head did long remaine See here what wit the grape of hope doth yeeld See on what sand such busie braines do build O hatefull thing that fancies fond delight The sense of mortall man should senselesse make When vices vaunts with vertues deeds dare fight Then doth the soule the happie heauens forsake Then man makes haste to Plutoes lothsome lake Why should man loue that sugred sowre sweet Which wisedoms lore to lothe hath thought most meet Thomas Blener Hasset HOW KING HAROLD RAIGNING BVT NINE MONETHS had continuall warre with the Danes with the Norway King with his brother TOSTIVS and was at last slaine in battell by William the Conquerer An. Dom. 1095. WOuld he haue warre and we to warre proclame O Bastand Duke and dost thou dare to fight My Noble men come forth and purchase fame Ciue me my sword let me defend my right Steppe forth with speed my Martiall men of might With Bowes and Billes let vs their course restraine And teach them that their vanting vowes be vaine But that we may with wisdome wisely worke It vs behoues in Normandie to fight With him and not to let his souldiers lurke Heere in my Realme we shall thereby atchiue No noble act though hence we him do driue But if we deale with him in Normandie We shall receiue renowne and victorie It is the best with forren foes to fight Abroad as did the haughtie Hannibal And not at home to feele their hatefull spight Of all the rest it is the greatest thrall That foes arriu'd should spoile our subiects all And for a truth this alwaies hath been found He speedeth best which fights on forren ground My men of warre were mustred out of hand But all my haste was then of none auaile My brother Tostius with his rebell band In euery place my subiects did assaile And euery where did cause their hearts to quaile Whose wretched state from farther spoile to shield I by my power did force him flie the field He fled to Norway whence a cloud did rise That did obscure the shine of my content When loe the Norman Duke did then deuise If I to yeeld my Scepter would assent For which betwixt vs to and fro there went Despightfull letters which I will recite Wherein he claimes and I defend my right WILLIAM DVKE OF NORMANDIE AND RIGHT heire to the English Crowne to Harold the Vsurper THough birthright cannot cause thee yeeld
famous in all Realmes A thousand times I mind you in my dreames And when I wake most griefe it is to mee That neuer more againe I shall you see In the night time when I should take my rest I weepe I waile I wet my bed with teares And when dead sleepe my spirits hath opprest Troubled with dreames I fantasie vaine feares Mine husbands voice then ringeth at mine eares Crying for helpe O saue me from the death These villaines heere do seeke to stop my breath Yea and sometimes me thinkes his drerie ghost Appeares in sight and shewes me in what wise Those fell tyrants with torments had embost His winde and breath to abuse peoples eyes So as no doubt or question should arise Among rude folke which little vnderstand But that his death came only by Gods hand I plaine in vaine where eares be none to heare But roring seas and blustering of the winde And of redresse am nere a whit the neare But with waste words to feed my mournfull minde Wishing full oft the Parcas had vntwinde My vitall strings or Atropose with knife Had cut the line of my most wretched life Oh that Neptune and Aeolus also Th' one god of Seas the other of weather Ere mine arriuall into that I le of woe Had sunke the ship wherein I sailed thither The shipmen saued so as I together With my good Duke might haue been dead afore Fortune had wroken her heart vpon vs so sore Or else that God when my first passage was Into exile along Saint Albons towne Had neuer let me further for to passe But in the street with death had strucke me downe Then had I sped of my desired bowne That my poore corps might there haue lien with his Both in one graue and so haue gone to blisse But I alas the greater is my griefe Am past that hope to haue my sepulture Neere vnto him which was to me most leefe But in an I le and countrie most obscure To pine in paine whilst my poore life will dure And being dead all honorlesse to lie In simple graue as other poore that die My tale is told and time it is to cease Of troubles past all which haue had their end My graue I trust shall purchase me such peace In such a world where no wight doth contend For higher place whereto all flesh shall wend And so I end vsing one word for all As I began that pride will haue a fall G. Ferrers HOW HVMFREY PLANTAGENET DVKE OF GLOCESTER Protector of England during the minoritie of his Nephew King Henry the sixt commonly called the good Duke by practise of enemies was brought to confusion AS highest hilles with tempests been most touched And tops of trees most subiect vnto winde And as great towers with stone strongly couched Haue heauie falles when they be vndermin'd Euen so by proofe in worldly things we find That such as climbe the top of high degree From feare of falling neuer can be free To proue this true good Baldwine hearken heere See and behold me Humfrey hight by name Englands Protector Duke of Glocester Who in the sixt King Henries rule with fame Twice ten yeares kept the troubled State in frame Note well the cause of my vnhappie case And'mongst thy mirrours let the same haue place In their most weale let men beware mishap And not to sleepe in slumbring sickernesse Whilst Fortune false doth lull them in her lap Drowned in dreames of brittle blessednesse But then to feare her freakes and ficklenesse Accounting still the higher they ascend More nigh to be to danger in the end And that vaine trust in blood or royall race Abuse them not with blind securitie To trust their state but weighing well my case When she most smiles to haue in memorie My sudden fall who in most certaintie Hauing most staies which men in state maintaine Haue found the same vntrustie and most vaine Better then I none may the same approue Who trusting all in height of high estate To bite on fawning flatteries bait did loue Which neuer Prince could banish from his gate Did little thinke on such a sudden mate Not heeding lesse dreading all vnaware By foes least fear'd was trapt in suddaine snare If noble birth or high autority Number of friends kinred or alliance If wisdome learning worldly policy Mought haue ben staiers to Fortunes variance None stood more strong in worldly countenance For all these helpes had I to high degree And yet in fine they all beguiled mee Of Henry fourth by name fourth sonne I was Brother to Henry fift of that same name To the sixt Henrie vncle but alas What cause had I to build vpon the same Or for vaine glory to aduance my fame My selfe to call in records and writings The brother sonne and vncle vnto Kings This was my boast which lastly was my bane Yet not this boast was it that brought me downe The very cause which made my weale to wane So neere of kin that I was to the Crowne That was the rock that made my ship to drowne A rule there is not failing but most sure Kingdome no kin doth know ne can indure When the fift Henry by his valiancie Wan by conquest the roiall Realme of France And of two Kingdomes made one Monarchy Before his death for better obeisance To his yong sonne not ripe to gouernance Protector of England I was by testament And Iohn my brother in France made Regent To whom if God had lent a longer life Our house t' haue kept from stormes of inward strife Or it had been the Lord Almighties will Plantagenet in state had standen still But deadly discord which all states do spill Bred by desire of high domination Brought our whole house to plaine desolation It is for truth in an history found That Henry Plantagenet first of our name Who called was King Henry the second Sonne of Dame Maude the Empresse of high fame Would oft report that his ancient Grandame Though seeming in shape a woman naturall Was a Feend of the kind that Succubae some call Which old fable so long time told before When this Kings sonnes against him did rebell He cald to minde and being greeued sore Loe now quoth he I see and proue full well The story true which folk of old did tell That from a feend descended all our race And now my children verify the case Whereof to leaue a long memoriall In minde of man for euermore to rest A Picture he made and hung it in his Hall Of a Pellicane sitting on his nest With foure yong birds three pecking at his brest With bloudy beakes and furder did deuise The yongest bird to pecke the fathers eyes Meaning hereby his rebell Children three Henry and Richard bet him on the breast Ieffrey onely from that offence was free Henry died of Englands Crowne possest Richard liued his father to molest Iohn the yongest pect his fathers eye Whose deeds vnkinde the sooner made him die This King
their army hote Assailed vs at Senocke where we lay From whence aliue they parted not away Which when the Kings retinue vnderstood They all affirm'd my quarell to be good Which caus'd the King and Queene whom all did hate To raise their campe and suddenly depart And that they might the peoples grudge abate T' imprison some full sore against their hart Lord Saye was one whom I made after smart For when the Staffords and their host was slaine To Black-heath field I marched backe againe And where the King would nothing heare before Now was he glad to send to know my mind And I thereby enflamed much the more Refus'd his grants so folly made me blind For this he flew and left Lord Scales behind To helpe the Towne and strenghten London Tower Towards which I marched forward with my power And found there all things at mine owne desire I entred London did there what I list The Treasurer Lord Saye I did conspire To haue condemned whereof when I mist For he by law my malice did resist By force I tooke him in Guildhall from th' heape And headed him before the crosse in Cheape His sonne in law Iames Cromer Shrief of Kent I caught at Mile-end where as then he lay Beheaded him and on a pole I sent His head to London where his fathers lay With these two heads I made a prety play For pight on poles I bare them through the street And for my sport made ech kisse other sweet Then brake I prisons let forth whom I wold And vs'd the City as it had been mine Tooke from the Merchants money ware and gold From some by force from other some by fine This at the length did cause them to repine So that Lord Scales consenting with the Maire For bad vs to their City to repaire For all this while mine host in Southwarke lay Who when they knew our passage was denied Came boldly to the bridge and made a fray For in we would the townesmen vs defied But when with strokes we had the matter tried We wan the bridge and set much part on fire This done to Southwarke backe we did retire The morow after came the Chancellour With generall pardon for my men halfe gone Which heard and read the rest within an houre Shranke all away each man to shift for one And when I saw they left me post alone I did disguise me like a Knight of the post And into Sussex rode all hope was lost And there I lurked till that cursed coyne That restlesse begle sought and found me out For straight the King by promise did enioyne A thousand marke to whomsoeuer mought Apprend my corps which made them seeke about Among the which one Alexander Iden Found out the hole wherein the Foxe was hidden But ere I fell I put him to his trumps For yeeld I would not while my hands would hold But hope of money made him stir his stumps And to assault me valiantly and bold Two houres and more our combat was not cold Till at the last he lent me such a stroke That downe I fell and neuer after spoke Then was my carcase caried like a hog To Southwarke borow where it lay a night The next day drawne to Newgate like a dog All men reioycing at the rufull sight Then were on poles my perboil'd quarters pight And set aloft for vermine to deuour Meete graue for rebels that resist the power Full little know we wretches what we do When we presume our Princes to resist We warre with God against his glorie to That placeth in his office whom he list Therefore was neuer traytour yet but mist The marke he shot and came to shamefull end Nor neuer shall till God be forst to bend God hath ordain'd the power all Princes be His Lieutenants or deputies in Realmes Against their foes therefore fighteth he And as his enmies driues them to extreames Their wise deuices proue but doltish dreames No subiect ought for any kind of cause To force the Prince but yeeld him to the lawes Wherefore O Baldwine warne men follow reason Subdue their willes and be not Fortunes slaues A shamefull end doth euer follow treason There is no trust in rebels rascall knaues In Fortune lesse which worketh as the waues From whose assaults who listeth to stand free Must follow skill and so contented bee W. Baldwine THE TRAGEDIE OF EDMVND DVKE OF SOMMERSET SLAINE IN THE FIRST battaile at Saint Albanes the 23. day of May in the 32. yeare of Henrie the sixt Anno Dom. 1454. SOme I suppose are borne vnfortunate Else good endeuours could not ill succeed What shall I call it ill fortune or fate That some mens attempts haue neuer good speed Their trauell thanklesse all bootlesse their heed Where other vnlike in working or skill Out wrestle the world and weald it at will Of the first number I count my selfe one To all mishap I weene predestinate Beleeue me Baldwine there be few or none To whom Fortune was euer more ingrate Make thou therefore my life a caueate That whose with force will worke against kind Saileth as who saith against the streame and winde For I of Sommerset Duke Edmund hight Extract by descent from Lancaster line Were it by follie or Fortunes despite Or by ill aspect of some crooked signe Of mine attempts could neuer see good fine What so I began did seldome well end God from such Fortune all good men defend Where I thought to saue most part I did spill For good hap with me was alway at warre The linage of Yorke whom I bare so ill By my spite became bright as the morning star Thus some whiles men make when faine they would mar The more ye lop trees the greater they grow The more ye stop streames the higher they flow Maugre my spite his same grew the more And mine as the Moone in the wane waxt lesse For hauing the place which he had before Gouernour of France needs I must confesse That lost was Normandie without redresse Yet wrought I alwaies that wit might contriue But what doth it boote with the streame to striue Borne was I neither to warre ne to peace For Mars was maligne to all my whole trade My birth I beleeue was in Ioues decrease When Cancer in his course being retrograde Declined from Sol to Saturnus shade Where aspects were good opposites did marre So grew mine vnhap both in peace and warre A strange natiuitie in calculation As all my liues course did after well declare Whereof in briefe to make relation That other by me may learne to beware Ouerlight credence was cause of my care And want of foresight in giuing assent To condemne Humfrey that Duke innocent Humfrey I meane that was the Protectour Duke of Glocester of the royall blood So long as he was Englands directour King Henries title to the Crowne was good This Prince as a piller most stedfastly stood Or like a prop set vnder a vine In state to vphold all Lancasters
that will by them be led My life I lost in that vnluckly place With many Lords that leaned to my part The stout Earle Percy had no better grace Clyfford couragious could not shun the dart Buckingham heir was at this mortall mart Babthorp th' Atturney with his skill in law In pleading heere appeared very raw King Henrie thus disarmed of his bands His friends and followers wanting assistence Was made a prey vnto his enemies hands Depriued of power and Princely reuerence And as a pupill void of all experience Innocent plaine and simplie witted Was as a Lambe vnto the Wolfe committed A Parliament then was called with speed A Parliament nay a plaine conspiracie When against right it was decreed That after the death of the sixt Henrie Yorke should succeed vnto the regaltie And in his life the charge and protection Of King and Realme at the Dukes direction And thus was Yorke declared Protectour Protectour said I nay Proditor plaine A rancke rebell the Princes directour A vassall to leade his Lord and Soueraigne What honest heart would not conceiue disdaine To see the foot surmount aboue the head A monster is in spite of nature bred Some happily heere will moue a farther doubt And as for Yorkes part alledge an elder right O brainelesse heads that so run in and out When length of time a state hath firmely pight And good accord hath put all strife to flight Were it not better such titles still to sleepe Then all a Realme about the triall weepe From the female came Yorke and all his seed And we of Lancaster from the heire male Of whom three Kings in order did succeed By iust descent this is no fained tale Who would haue thought that any storme or gale Our ship could shake hauing such anker hold None I thinke sure vnlesse that God so would After this hurle the King was faine to flee Northward in post for succour and releefe O blessed God how strange it was to see A rightfull Prince pursued as a theefe To thee O England what can be more repreefe Then to pursue thy Prince with armed hand What greater shame may be to any land Traytours did triumph true men lay in dust Reuing and robbing roifled euery where VVill stood for skill and law obeyed lust Might trode downe right of King there was no feare The title was tried only by shield and speare All which vnhaps that they were not foreseene Suffolke was in fault who ruled King and Queene Some heere perhaps do looke I should accuse My selfe of sleight or subtiltie vniust VVherein I should my Princes eares abuse Against the Duke to bring him in mistrust Some part whereof though needs confesse I must My fault only consisted in consent Leaning to my foes whereof I do repent If I at first when brands began to smoke The sparkes to quench by any way had sought Neuer had England felt this mortall stroke VVhich now too late lamenting helpeth nought Two points of wit too dearely haue I bought The first that better is timely to foresee Then after ouer late a counsellour to bee The second is not easily to assent To aduice giuen against thy faithfull friend But of the speaker ponder the intent The meaning full the point and finall end A Saint in shew in proofe is found a Feend The subtill man the simple to abuse Much pleasant speech and eloquence doth vse And so was I abus'd and other moe By Suffolkes sleights who sought to please the Queene Forecasting not the miserie and woe VVhich therefore came and soone was after seene VVith glosing tongue he made vs fooles to weene That Humfrey did to Englands Crowne aspire VVhich to preuent his death they did conspire VVhat should I more of mine vnhaps declare VVhereof my death at last hath made an end Not I alone was void of all this care Some besides me there were that did offend None I accuse nor yet my selfe defend Faults I know I had as none liues without My chiefe fault was folly I put thee out of doubt Folly was the chiefe the naughtie time was next VVhich made my Fortune subiect to the chiefe If England then with strife had not been vext Glorie might haue growen whereas ensued griefe Yet one thing is my comfort and reliefe Constant I was in my Princes quarrell To die or liue and spared for no parrell VVhat though Fortune enuious was my foe A noble heart ought not the sooner yeeld Nor shrinke abacke for any weale or woe But for his Prince lie bleeding in the feeld If priuie spight at any time me helde The price is paid and grieuous is my guerdon As for the rest me God I trust will pardon G. Ferrers HOW RICHARD PLANTAGENET DVKE OF YORKE was slaine through his ouer rash boldnes and his sonne the Earle of Rutland for his lacke of valiance An. Dom. 1460. TRust not in chance in whom was neuer trust Of foolish men that haue no better grace All rest renowne and deeds lie in the dust Of all the sort that sue her slipper trace What meanest thou Baldwine for to hide thy face Thou needest not feare although I misse my head Nor yet to mourne for this my sonne is dead The cause why thus I lead him in my hand His skin with blood and teares so sore bestain'd Is that thou maist the better vnderstand How hardly Fortune hath for vs ordain'd In whom her loue and hate be whole contain'd For I am Richard Prince Plantagenet The Duke of Yorke in royall race beget From Lionel the third begotten sonne Of Kingly Edward by descent I came From Philip hight his heire we first begun The crowne as due to vs by right to clame And in the end we did obtaine the same She was sole heire by due descent of line Whereby her rights and titles all were mine But marke me now I pray thee Baldwine marke And see how force oft ouerbeareth right Way how vsurpers tyrannously warke To keepe by murther that they get by might And note what troublous dangers do alight On such as seeke to repossesse their owne And how through rigour right is ouerthrowne The Duke of Herford Henrie Bolenbroke Of whom Duke Mowbray told thee now of late When void of cause he had King Richard toke He murdered him vsurped his estate Without all right or title sauing hate Of others rule or loue to rule alone These two excepted title had he none The Realme and Crowne was Edmund Mortimers Whose father Roger was King Richards heire Which caused Henrie and the Lancasters To seeke all shift our housholds to appaire For sure he was to sit beside the chaire Were we of power to claime our lawfull right Against vs therefore he did all he might His cursed sonne ensued his cruell path And kept my guiltlesse cosin strait in durance For whom my father hard entreated hath But liuing hopelesse of his liues assurance He thought it best by politike procurance To slay the King and so restore his