Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A11433
|
Fortunes fashion pourtrayed in the troubles of the Ladie Elizabeth Gray, wife to Edward the fourth. Written by Tho. Sampson.
|
Sampson, Thomas, poet.
|
1613
(1613)
|
STC 21686; ESTC S104563
|
18,630
|
48
|
FORTVNES FASHION Pourtrayed in the troubles of the Ladie Elizabeth Gray wife to EDWARD the fourth Written by Tho. Sampson ANCHORA SPEI LONDON Printed for William Iones and are to be sold at his shop at White-crosse streete end by the Church 1613. TO HIS MANY WAIES INDEERED FRIEND Mr. Henry Pilkington of Gadsby in the Countie of Leicester Gentleman SIR this Tragicall history being no fiction but a true relation of the many troubles of a distressed Queene I offer to your patronage for two especiall causes the one for the long continued loue betweene vs the other for that I know your name is a sufficient protection for it and me against the many find-faults that this age is pestered with who themselues being not able or too idle to do any thing worth the reading yet are composed of such a snarling substance that nothing can escape their eye or eare without a scoffe how euer it displeaseth such I care not if it content you I haue my desire not doubting but when you are wearied with more serious studies you will at some times peruse this And so I leaue you to liue happily Your assured friend THO. SAMPSON The Argument for the better vnderstanding of the Readers WHen Henry the sixt king of that name in England was by the Earle of Warwicke and others thought vnmeete to gouerne the kingdome and Edward the fourth claimed the Crowne in a battell neare to Saint Albans Henry the sixt was taken prisoner in the 39 yeare of his reigne Anno Dom. 1461. All king Henries forces were slaine or put to flight amongst whom was slain on king Henries part one Sir Iohn Gray husband of this Lady Elizabeth Gray of whose troubles this historie now discourseth This Lady was after maried to king Edward the fourth she was daughter to the Lady Iaquet daughter to Peter Earle of Saint Paul neece to the Lord Lewis of Leutzenbrugh which Lady Iaquet was first married to Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France and afterward she was married to Sir Richard Woodvile Lord Riuers by whom she had this Lady Elizabeth and others When king Edward was setled in his kingdome and had imprisoned Henry the sixt in the Tower of London the Earle of Warwicke was sent into France to intreate a marriage betweene King Edward the fourth and the Lady Bona daughter to Lewis Duke of Sauoy and sister to the Lady Carlot then wife to the French King in whose Court this Lady Bona then was which motion was well liked of by the French King and all things sorted to the Earle of Warwicks desire But in the meane time while these things were working in France King Edward going to his Mannor of Grafton in the countie of Northampton in the time of the Kings remaining there this Lady Gray was an humble suter to the King that she might haue her Ioynter giuen her which because her husband was slaine on King Henries part was since his death detained from her King Edward liked her so well that after many amorous discourses she was married to him at Grafton where first he fancied her The Kings mother and many of the Nobilitie did dislike of this mariage because she was a widow and his subiect This King was married to this Lady Gray before the Earle of Warwicke was returned from France which some say who will talke much and know little was the cause of the warres afterwards betweene the King and the Earle But the Earles hatred against the King was for another cause as in the Chronicles you may reade What troubles and griefe happened to this Queene in the time of her husband the Kings life and after his death you may imagine You see her newly risen out of her graue and in the extremity of her griefe speaking as followeth The troubles of the Ladie Elizabeth Gray wife to Edward the fourth SOmetime I was vnhappie was that time Wherein I liu'd and neuer tasted ioyes That did not wither ere they were in prime Honors are such vncertaine fading toyes I was king Edwards wife a wofull Queene As in this history may plaine be seene O had my loue in my first choice remaind How happie had I bene from griefe how free Of wofull haps I neuer had complaind But that must needs be that the fates decree The Cottage seated in the dale below Stands safe when highest towers do ouerthrow My youth was blest in loue with equall choice The matter fit prepared for loues fier In which while I consum'd nere did my voice Nor thoughts consent to wish my fortunes higher Thus in the valley whil'st my loue did rest My loue though lowly none more highly blest But fatall powers with vnreuersd decree Whom hecatombs of prayers may not perswade To adde one minute to the blisse they see Or spare one day what but a day was made Their course is fixt and cannot be preuented They best abide their might that are contented Whose power in me distressed erst was knowne When Edward fourth of name obtaind the Crowne And put sixt Henry from his regall throne Raising himselfe by casting others downe Greedy Ambition endlesse in desiring On others ruine foundeth her aspiring There first began the groundworke of my woe There lost I him that had my prime of loue And then the prime of sorrowes I did know In prime of ioy which did more sorrowes moue The daintiest palate with exactest skill Distasts the relish of the bitter pill There was my husband slaine on Henries part Then was I left a widow desolate Yet once againe loue chose another dart Whose golden head I thought would raise my fate King Edwards loue I meane but what ensude The Crowne I gain'd I euer after rewde To Witchwood forrest when this King did go For his delight to hunt the fearfull Deere He went to Grafton thence my second woe Did spring it was my hap then to be there Attendant on my mother in which space I was an humble Suter to his Grace That he would please to pitie my estate That I might haue my Ioynter giuen me Seeing my hopes were then so ruinate That I was like to taste of miserie Such was my case except it were relieued At my complaint he very much was grieued And mou'd with pitie did commiserate My cause my selfe he seem'd to fancie then With gracious words lamenting my estate Bad me take comfort ô the wiles of men He courted me and I at last did yeeld My honor sau'd that he should win the field A King to woo his subiect in such sort As no dishonor by his loue might rise Blame me not then if to that princely port I was contented to be led as prize Where honor grac'd with regall maiestie Was Pilot to my ship in ieopardie Though long he sude I granted at the last To be his wife such shew of honest loue His princely heart did seeme to haue embrac'd I was content the nuptiall sports to proue No wanton lust did harbour in my thought