each day and each night to worke him despight That wearied with sorrowes he still might lament Good king thus abused he was at the last To Pomfret in Yorkeshire conuaid And there in a dungeon ful low in the grouÌ„d vnpitied he nightly was laied Not one for his miserie grieued that late was in place of royallest grace Where still the distressed he kindly relieu'd King Henry vsurping thus all his estate Could neuer in heart be content Till some of his friends in secrecy sought to kill him by cruell consent Who sooke to Pomfret hiâ—d where as the feare that toucht him so neare They finisht so soon as K. Richard there died Ther dyed this good king for murthereâ— he was That might well haue liued full long Had not ill counsell betraied his best good and done his hie fortunes this wrong But blood for blood still calls no bloody staind hand ran long in this land Stand surely but soone vnto misery falls Lankaster thus the Diadem gaind And won his title by blood Which after by heauens â—ight power not three generations stood But yeelded to Yorke againe thus fortune showes their proud ouer throwes That cunningly climes an imperial raigne FINIS A song of an English Knight that marryed the royall Princesse Lady Mary sister to King Henry the eight which Knight was afterward made Duke of Suffolke To the Tune of Who list to lead a Souldiers life EIght Henry ruling in this land he had a sister faire That was the widdowed King of France inricht with vertues eare And being come to Englandâ— Court She oft beheld a Kinght Charles Brandon namd in whose faire eyes she cheifly tooke delight And noting in her Princely minde His gallent swéet behauiour Shee daily drew him by degrees still more and more in fauour Which he perceiuing courteâ—us Knight Found fitting time and place And thus in amorous sort began his loue sure to her grace I ayme at loue faire Queene said he Sweet let your loue incline That by your grace Charles Brandon may on earth be made diuine If worthlesse I might worthy be To haue so good a lot To please your highnesse in true loue my fancy doubteth not Or if that gentry might conuey So great a grace to me I can maintaine the same by birth being come of good degree If wealth you thinke be all my want Your highnesse hath great â—â—ore And my supplyment shall be loue what can you wish for more It hath been known when hearty loue Did tye the true loue knot Though now if gold and siluer want the marriage proueth not The goodly Queene hereat did blusâ— But made a dumbe reply Which he imagind what she meant and kist her reuerently Brandon quoth she I greater am Then would I were for thee But can as little master loue as them of low degree My father was a King and so A King my husband was My brother is the like and he will say I do transgresse But let him say what pleaseth him His liking I le forgoe And choose a loue to please myselfe though all the world sayes no. If Plough-men make their marriages As best contents their mind Why should not princes of estâ—te the like contentment find But tell me Brandon am I not More forward then beseemes Yet blame me not for loue I loue where best my fancy deemes And long may liue quoth he to loue Nor longer liue may I Then when I loue your royall grace and then disgraced dye But if I do deserue your loue My mind desires dispatch For many are the eyes in Court that on your beauty watch But am not I sweet Lady now More fancy then behooues Yet for my heart forgiue my tongue that speakes for him that loues The Quéene and this braue Gentleman Together both did wed And after sought the kings good will and of their wishes sped For Brandon soone was made a Duke and graced so in court Then who but he did fâ—ant it forth amongst the noblest sort And so from princely Brandons line and Maries did procéed The noble race of Suffolks house as after did succéed From whose high blood the Lady Iane Lord Guilford Dudleyes wife Came by descent who with her Lord in London lost her life FINIS A Song of the life and death of King Richâ—â—d the third who after many murthers by him committed vpon the Princes and Nobles of this Land was slâ—ine at the battell of Bosworth in Lester shire by Henry the seuenth King of England To the tune of Who list to lead a Souldiers life IN England once there raignd a King A Tirant firâ—e and sell Who for to gaine himselfe a Crowne gaue sure his soule to hell Third Richard was this Tirants name the worst of all the three That wrought such deeds of deadly dole that worser could not be For his desires were still by blood to be made Endglands King Which here to gaine that goâ—den prize did many a wondrous thing He slaughtered vp our noble Péeres and chiefest in this Land With euery one that likely was his title to withstand Foure bloudy fields the Tyrant sought ere he could bring to passe What he made lawlesse claime vnto as his best liking was Sixt Henries Princely sonne he slew Before his fathers face And weeded from our English throne all his renowned race This King likewise in Londons Tower he murthering made away His brother Duke of Clarence life he also did betray With those right noble Princes â—waine King Edwards children deare Because to Englands royall Crowne he thought them both too neere His owne deare wife also he slew Incesâ—uousâ—y to wed His owne deare daughter which for feare away from him was fled And made such hauocke in this land Of all the Royall bloud That onely one was left vnslaine to haue his claimes withstood Earle Richmond he by heauen preseru'd To right his Countries wrong From France prepar'd full well to fight brought ore an Army strong To whom Lord Stanley nobly came With many an English Peere And ioynd their forces in one Earle Richmonds heart to cheare Which newes when as the Tyrant heard How they were come on shore And how their forces day by day increased more and more He frets he fumes and ragingly A madding fury showes And thought it but in vaine to stay and so to battell goes Earle Richmond he in order braue His fearelesse armie laid In midst of whom these noble words their valiant leader said Now is the time and place swéet friends And we the souldiers be That must bring Englands peace againe or loose our liues must we Be valiant then we fight for fame And for our countries good Against a Tyrant markt with shame for shedding Englands blood I am right heire of Lancaster Intituled to the Crowne Against this bloody Boare of Yoâ—ke then let vs win renowne Meane while had furious Richard set His army in array And with a gastly looke of feare he stoutly thuâ— did say Shall Henry Richmond with his
troopes Ore-match vs thus by might That comes with fearefull cowardice with vs thiâ— day to fight Shall Tudor from Plantaginet Win thus the crowne away No Richards noble wind foretells that ours will be the day For Golden crownes we brauely fight And gold shall be their gaine In great abundance giuen to them that liues this day vnslaine These words being spoke the battles ioynd Where blowes they brauely change And Richmond like a Lyon bold performed wonders strange And made such slaughters through the camp Till he King Richard spiâ—s Who fighting long together there at last the Tyrant dyes Thus ended Englands wofull Warre Usurping Richard dead King Henry faire Elizabeth in princely sort did wed For he was then made Englands King And she his crowned Quéene So twixt these houses long at strife a vnity was séene FINIS A Lamentable Song of Lady Elinor daughter to the Duke of Buckingham who dyed for loue of one Captaine Ienkenson that had been a Prentise of London who went to the siege of Ierusalem with Edward the first then King of England To the tune of Rogero IN England liued once a Duke That had a daughter braue To whom his Dukedome and estate he from all others gaue And dying left faire Elinor To be his onely heire Whâ—se minde vpon a Captaines loue was setled deepe and deare This Captaine gallant Ienkenson By name then called so In prison lay for want of meanes and money he did owe. But loue so deare assailed her That she must loue or dye And none but onely he aliue within her heart did lie So watching fit conuenient time She to the prison went And vnderneath his window then full many a teare she spent But entring in her eyes beheld The image of her heart To whom her loue and liking soone She friendly did impart And hauing made her purpose knowne My dearest friend quoth she I haue tane order for thy debts and here I set thee free With all my land my loue and life And whatsoere is mine Take all and giue me liberty that here haue caused thine No sooner was he got at large And wealth relieu'd his woe But thence vnto Ierusalem did Englands Edward goe With whom this Captaine Ienkenson Was nobly entertainde And so vnkindly went from her as one whom he disdaind Which when she heard she tore her hayre And cast her on the ground And being ouerprest with griefe she fell into a sownd But afterward recouering sence This Letter she did write And sent it after him to read as héere I will recite FINIS The Letter To the same tune WHat faults of mine haue caused this My dearest friend tell me If I haue been the meanes thereof then mournfull may I be My loue thou knowest deare Ienkenson Full many a Lord hath sought Yet all haue mist saue thou alone and thou setst me at naught If thy deâ—â—res be so to warres Then warre sweet loue with me For Cupids gallant soldiers still the sweetest warriers be With thée I le liue with thee I le dye With thée I le loose or gaine Returne sweet loue for in thy life Consists the liues of twaine Most wisely valiant are those men That backe their armed steeds In Courtly tilts in time of peace to breake their staues like reeds Where not the dint of wounding swords But some deuice of loue They may their manhoods courteously before their Ladies prooue Where Ladies doffe their louers helmes And kisse where Beauers hid And parley vnder Canopies how well or ill they did Retire therefore retire sweetheart Where if thou wilt be armd Come fight vpon my bosome heere and so escape vnharmd But now me thinkes I see thy lookes Quite changed in thy face Me thinkes thy comlinesse and gate hath lost their wonted grace Me thinkes I see thy manly limbes With Armors burthen lame And warlike weapons wounding deepe thy noble bosome maime I see thee faint with Summers heate And droope with winters cold I see thee not as late thou wast for young thou art growne olde And sorrow greatly for to know What now I would not see Thy dearest Lady thus in vaine to plead for loue to thee Thus when my griefes my sighes teares Shall come vnto thy view Then wilt thou find by these my paines my loue is deare and true But these my words thou carst not for I sée thou art vnkind Yet here to ease my dying heart in letters take my minde Captaine Ienkinsons Answere I haue perusd I know not what forsooth thy scroule of loue In hope by these thy flattering lines My setled minde to moue But I disdaine to talke of loue much lesse in loue to be For martiall druins and warlike stéeds more better pleaseth me The Bées that sweetest hony beares haue likwise smarting stings And thou no whit dost want a bait that to repentance brings Content thee therefore Elinor thou temperst loue by art Although it come vnto mine eyes it shall not touch my heart When sea shal flame when Sun shal fréeâ—e and mortall men shall die And riuers ouerflow their bankes in loue will then be I. When these shall be and I not be then may I chance to loue And then the strangest change you le see that I a louer proue Let beauers hide not kisses hurt my lippes for lippes vnfit Let wounded limbes not silken loues on top of honour sit I scorne a Souldier that should stoope to please a louers mind That fights for Fame in fields of blood should alter thus from kind Yet some there be whose maiden hayres no sooner buds on chin But they to loue our Ladies faire doe wantonly begin And wins them soone who would be won and being won with speed They gained haue a crop of corne that scarce is worth the seed These loue in sport but leaue in spight as I haue found it true And being thus so easily won are changed for a new But kindnesse must haue kindâ—st vse though kind be hardly one Their kindnesse then I must refuse because I will haue none And strange it were a Souldier I should loue this English maid The wonders seuen should then be eight could loue me so perswade But loue er hate fare ill or well I thus conclude my minde My welcome when I come to thée Shall surely proue vnkinde This Answer brought to Elinor such inward sorrow bred That she in reading of these lines poore Lady fell downe dead Where her deare loue and gentle life Had both together end And as we may suppose in death her soule did liue his friend For she by Will did him bequeath Her substance and estate Thus loue bâ—ing grounded in the heart can neuer turne to hate Her wealth her meanes and all she had This Captaine did possesse Which brought vnto his grieued soule much woe and wretchednesse For comming from Ierusalem And entring on the same To view what wealth the Lady left he to her Chamber came Where as the Ladies picture hung With which he
And chaind thy hearts liking my seruant to proue That am but a stranger in this thy kind loue Owen Tudor If but a stranger yet loue hath such power To lead me heere kindly vnto a Queenes bower Then doe not sweet Princesse my good will forsake When nature commands thee a true loue to take Queene Katherine So royall of calling and birth I am knowne That matching vnequall my state is ore-throwne My titles of dignity thereby I loose To wed me and bed me my equall I le choose Owen Tudor No honours are lost Quéene in chusing of me For I am a gentleman borne by degrée And fauours of Princes my sâ—ate may aduance In making me noble by fortunate chance Queene Katherine My robes of rich honours most braue to behold Are all ore imbossed with siluer and gold Not therewith adorned I loose my renowne With all the braue titles that waits on a Crowne Owen Tudor My Countrey sweet Princesse more pleasure affords Then can be expressed heere by me in words Such kindly contentments by nature there springs That hath beene well liked of Queenes of Kings Queene Katherine My courtly attendants are traines of delight Like stars of faire heauen all shining most bright And those that liue daily such pleasures to see Suppose no such comforts in countrey can be Owen Tudor In Wales we haue fountains no christal more cleare Where murmuring musick we daily may heare With gardens of pleasure and flowers so sweet UUhere true loue with true loue may merrily meet Queene Katherine But there is no tilting nor tornaments bold Which gallant yong Ladies desire to behold No maskes nor no reuels where fauours are worne By Knights or by Barons without any scorne Owen Tudor Our May-poles at Whitsontide maketh good sport And moues as sweet pleasure as yours doe in court UUhere on the green dancing for garland and ring Maidens make pastime and sports for a King Queene Katherine But when your braue yong men maidens do meet Your musicke is clownish and soundeth not sweet UUhilest siluer-like melody murmuring keepes And rocks vp our senses in heauenly sicepes Owen Tudor Our Harps our Tabors sweet humming drones For thee my sweet Princesse make musicall moanes Our Morris-Maid Marrians desire for to see A True-loue-knot tyed betwixt thee and me Queene Katherine No pleasures in Countrey by me can be seene That haue beene mainteined so long heere a Queene And fed on the blessings that dayly were giuen Into my braue Pallace by Angels from heauen Owen Tudor Our greene leaued trees will dance with the winde Where birds sit reioycing according to kinde Our sheepe with their Lambes wil skip it ful round To see thee come tripping along on the ground Queene Katherine What if a kind Princesse should so be content By meeknesse thus mooued to giue her consent And humble her honors imbace her degree To tye her best fortunes braue Tudor to thee Owen Tudor If to a Kingdome I borne were by birth And had at commandment all nations on earth Their crownes their scepters should lie at thy feet And thou be made Empresse my darling so swéet Queene Katherine I feare yet to fancy thy loue tempting tongue For Cupid is cunning his bow very strong Queen Venus once mistris of heart wishing pleasure We ouer kind women repent vs at leasure Owen Tudor May neuer faire morning shew forth his bright beames But couer my falsehood with darkest extreames If not as the Turtle I liue with my Doue My gentle kind Princesse my Lâ—dy my Loue. Queene Katherine Hye then into Wales and our wedding prouide For thou art my Bridegroome I le be thy Bride Get gloues and fiue ribbons with bridelaces faire Of silke and of siluer for Ladies to weare Owen Tudor With garlands of Roses our huswifely wiues To haue thee adorned all louingly striues Their bride-cakes be ready our bag-pipes do play Whilst I stand attending to lead thee the way Both together Then marke how the notes of our merry towne bels Our dingdong of pleasure most cheerefully tels Then dingdong faire Ladies and louers all true This dingdong of pleasure may satisfie you FINIS A Princely song of King Richard Cordelion King of England of his bold courage and lamentable death To the tune of You Batchelers that braue it OF a noble Christian Warriour King Richard of this Land For fame amongst our worthies braue now orderly may stand The God of battels gaue him still a gallant great command To fight for our Sauiour Iesus Christ Richard Cordelion in this Land a noble English name That fils the world with wonders great with honour and with fame Then gallantly good Souldiers all come thunder out the same That fights for our Sauiour Iesus Christ When as faire Hierusalem the City of our Lord Lay mourning all in heauinesse consumed by the sword To succour her all Christendome did willingly accord And to fight for our Saviour Iesus Christ. Then marched forth most braue and bold King Richard from this land Of noble Knights and Gentlemen with him a warlike band To fight for Iesus Christ his name so long as they could stand All souldiers of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. But by the way such chances then King Richard did betide That many of his soldiers for want of victuall dyed A new supply this noble King waâ— forced to prouide To fight for our Sauiour Iesus Christ The mighty Duke of Austria to whome he came for ayd For all his Kingly curtesies his succors were denayd But tooke him prisoner cowardly where ransome must be paid And not fight for our Sauiour Iesus Christ His noble Knights and Soldiers then with sorrow went away Wofully complaining all that ere they saw that day That such a Noble King as he a prisoner there should stay And not fight for our Sauiour Iesus Christ. While they were here prouiding a ransome for his Grace The Dukes owne Sonne vnreuerently King Richard did abase For which with one small boxe o th eare he kild him in that place In honour of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. UUith that into a Dungeon deepe this noble King was cast UUhile as a Lyon all in rage prouided was in haste To combate with this famous King so long as life did last The souldier of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. But gentle pitty moued much the Daughter of the Duke Whom deepely wounded was with loue proceeding from his looke For which to saue his Princely life she kindly vndertooke In honour of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. A rich imbroydered scarfe of silke she secretly conuaid Into the Dungeon where the King his execution staid The which to saue his gentle life an instrument was made In honor of our Sauiour Iesus Christ For when the hunger starued beast into the Dungeon came With open mouth to swallow him he nimbly tooke the same And stoutly thrust it downe his throat the Lyon thus to tame In honor of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. And so with valiant courage he puld
out the Lions heart Which made the Duke and all his Lords in fearefull manner start To see this royall English King to play so braue a part In honor of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. I am no prisoner said the King for I am now set free The country and our law of Armes commands it so to be And thus to Englanâ— blessed Land most ioyfully went he In honor of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. But left hi◠〈…〉 loue behind that 〈…〉 his life With 〈…〉 returne againe to 〈…〉 then his wife But fel◠〈…〉 and bloudy warre did breed them further strife In fighting for our Sauiour Iesus Christ The noble hearts of Englishmen that could indure no wrong For good King Richard mustred then a vailant Army strong To passe the seas to Aâ—on Walls to lay the same along In honor of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. So first consuming fire and sword into that countrey came Destroying all their Cities braue and townes of ancient fame Till those the wrongs King Richard had were righted by the same In honour of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. But in his prime of Martiall wâ—rth this noble King was slaine For wounded with a poysoned shaft that pierst his Princely braine Much sorrowing mone was long 〈◊〉 amongst his warlike traine Stil fighting for our Sauiour Iesu But chiefly by his Lady faire so loyall and so kinde That nothing but reuenge thereof possessed still her minde To know the causer of his death were rich rewards assingd Thus to honour our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Upon the murtherer being fowâ—d much cruelty was showne By her command his skinne aliue was flead from flesh and bone And after vnto ayery fowles his body it was throwne In honour of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Yet ended not this Ladies griefe for him she loude so deare Deepe sorrowes euen broke her heart as plainely did appeare And both were buried in one graue thus true loues end you heare That dyed for our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Did euer Lady for her loue more strangely vndertake Did euer Daughter in this kind a grieued father make Did euer Princesse end her life thus for her true loues sake And for our Sauiour Iesus Christ. FINIS A gallant Song of the Garter of England and how it was made first an honour to this Kingdome by King Edward the third To the tune of When Arthur first c. WHen as third Edward ruld this Land And was our English king He had good speed in all his fight braue conquest home to bring Two Kingly Crownes vpon his sword In sumptuous sort was borne Most gallantly to grace the third that on his head was worne Thus three in one made Englands same through all the world to shine Which well might clame a titled grace amongst our worthies nine Seauen princely Sonnes he likewise had whose vertues wonne him prayse From one fayre Queene descended all in beauties blooming dayes His Earles and Barons brauely â—ent to practise Knightly déeds To breake the Launce to runne at Ring to backe their barbed stéedes Which made the world thinke Mars his Court was kept in England here UUhen Englands Péeres made forraine lands to quake with trembling feare King Edwards raigne rung ecchoâ—ng thus through euery Christian Court Of whom the noblest Prince that liued gaue sounds of braue report Right valiant King himselfe likewise his Country to aduance UUith many of his Péeres ariud within the Court of France And there by Tilts and Tourniâ—s braue such honours did obtaine As Mars himselfe in glistering stéele the prize from them would gaine So braue and bold his Barons were and so successefull then That none of all the Lords of Framâ— were like our English men Thus many moneths he with his Peeres spent there with braue delights Whose dayly sports concluded were by reueling at nights Where Measure and Carantoes fine so gract the Court of France As if Quéene Iuno with her Ioue had brauely led the daunce Amongst which glorious troope of Dames that richly sate to sée The French Quéene there aboue the rest the fairest séemd to be Whom English Edward by the hand in curteous manner tooke To dance withall at which the French gaue many a scornefull looke But Edward still like Mars himselfe with countenance and grace By Courtship won great liking there from all within that place King Edward pleasd the Princely Queene the Queene king Edward well But as they daunct there from her leg by chance her garter fell The which king Edward soone tooke vp And it in kindnesse wore For fauour and for curtesies he to her vertues bore But some there present gaue forth words The Queene of purpose lost Her garter there for him to find whom she affected most But when she heard these ill conceits And speeches that they made Hony soyt qui maly pens the noble Princes said Ill hap to them that euill thinke In English it is thus Which words so wise quoth Englands King shall surâ—ly goe with vs And for her sake shall Englands Peeres In honour of our land A Garter weare and in the same these words in gold shall stand That all the world may nobly speake Our garter came from France In Princely manner named thus our Countrey to aduance The Tilts and Reuels thus had end That long had lasted there And home our King and Nobles came with mirth and meery cheere Where soone he brauely did create Full many a Lordly Knight To weare this golden Garter faire So sumptuous and so bright And named them S. Georgies knights And of this Garter braue As noble an order of estate as any King can haue Which Knights vpon S. Georges day Still their precession goes Through Englands Court in robes of gold and most delightfull shoes At Windsor is this Order kept Where kings be of the same And forraigne Princes much desire the honours of that name Third Edward first began this grace of knight-hood to his praise Which still is kept with high renowne in our King Iames his dayes Ten English Kings haue been thereof of Princes and of Peeres A number great whose honors liu'd most braue in ancient yeares And at this day of Dukes and Lords our land hath honoured store Whose names and fames the Lord increase and make them more and more FINIS A lamentable Ditty on the death of the Lord Guilford Dudley and the Lady Iane Gray that for their parents ambition in seeking to make these two yong Princes King and Queene of England were both beheaded in the Tower of London To the tune of Peter and Parnell WHen as King Edward left this life In yong and tender blooming yeeres Began such deadly hate and strife That filled England full of feares Ambition in those ancient dayes More then ten thousand thousand thousand thousand troubles did arise Northumberland being made a Duke Ambitiously doth seeke the crowne And Suffolke for the same did looke To put Queene Maries title downe That was King Henries daughter bright And Queen of England England
England and King Edwards heire by right Lord Guilford and the Lady Iane Were wedded by their parents wils The right from Mary so was tane Which drew them on to further ils But marke the end of this misdeed Mary was crowned crowned crowned and they to death decreed And being thus adiudged to die For these their parents haughty aimes That thinking thus to mount on high Their children King Queene proclaimes But in such aymes no blessings be When as ten thousand thousand thousand their shamefull endings see Sweet Princes they deserud no blame That thus must die for fathers cause And bearing of so great a name To contradict our English lawes Let all men then conclude in this That they are haples haples haples whose parents doe amisse Now who more great then they of late Now who more wretched then they are And who more lofty in estate Thus sodenly consumd with care Then Princes all set downe this rest And say the golden golden golden golden meane is alwayes best Prepard at last drew on the day Whereon these Princes both must die Lord Guilford Dudley by the way His dearest Lady did espye Whilst he vnto the blocke did goe She in her window weeping weeping did lament his woe Their eyes that lookt for loue ere-while Now blubberd were with pearled teares And euery glance and loners smile Where turnd to dole and deadly feares Lord Guilfords life did bleeding lie Expecting Angels Angels Angels siluer wings to mount on hie His dearest Lady long did looke When she likewise to blocke should goe Where sweetly praying on her booke She made no signe of outward woe But wisht that she had Angels wings To see that golden golden golden sight of heauenly things And mounting on the Scaffold then Where Guilfords liuelesse body lay I come quoth she thou flower of men For death shall not my soule dismay The gates of heauen stand open wide To rest for euer and euer and euer and thus these gentle Princes dyed Their parents likewise lost their heads For climing thus one step too high Ambitious towers haue slippery leades And fearefull to a wise mans eye For onee amisse great houses fall Therfore take warning warning warning by this you gallants all FINIS A ioyfull song of the deserued praises of good Queene Elizabeth how Princely she behaued her selfe at Tilbury Campe in 88. when the Spaniards threatned the inuasion of this Kingdome To the tune of King Henries going to Bullaine OF a Noble Noble Princesse Englands late commanding Mistris King Henries daughter faire Elizabeth She was such a maiden Queene As her like was neuer seene of any woman-kind vpon the earth Her name in golden numbers May written be with wonders that liude beloued foure and forty yeares And had the guift of nature all That to a Princesse might befall as by her noble vertues well appeares With Maiesty admired Her subiects she required that loue for loue might equally be shown Preferring a publique peace Then any priuate mans increase that quietly we stil may keepe our owne UUen Ambassies did come From any Prince in Chrisâ—endome her entertainments were so Princely sweet She likewise knew what did belong To euery language speech and tongue where grace vertue did together meet No Princesse more could measure Her well beseeming pleasure in open Court amongst her Ladies faire For musicke and for portly gate The world afforded not her mate so excellent her carriage was and faire Kingly states oppressed And such as were distressed with meanes and mony daily shee relieud As law of Nations did her bind To strangers she was euer kind and such as with calamities were grieueâ— And when into this kingdome Bloudy warres did threatning come her highnes would be ready with good wil As it in eighty eight was séene UUhen as this thrice renowned Quéene gaue noble courage to her soldiers still This more then worthy woman Like to a noble Amazon in siluer plated Armour brauely went Unto her Campe at Tilbery With many Knights of Chiualry coragiously her Army to content But being there ariued With noble heart she striued to giue them all what they desird to haue A louely grace and countenance Smiling with perseuerance to whom so swéet a countenance she gaue Upon a Drumhead sitting As it was best besitting for such a royall Princes thus to speake A Soldier I will liue and dye Feare shall neuer make me â—â—ye nor any danger leaue to vndertake With that amidst the Battle The Musquetires did rattle a peale of powder flaming all in fire The Cannons they did lowdly play To please her Maiesty that day which she in heart did louingly desire Her highnes thus delighted She roially requited the noble captaines and the souldâ—ers all For golden Angels flew amaine Round about the warlike traine each one rewarded was both great smal With that in noble manner To Englands fame and honour the thundring shot began to play againe And for this royall princes sake Ratling made the ground to shake in spight of all their enemies of Spaine The more to be commended She graciously befriended full many a worthy gentlemen that day By knighting them in noble sort As it had bin in Englands court such gallant graces had she euery way So fréely kind and louing She was by her approuing to rich poore that came vnto her grace Not any one but found her still A friend to good a foe to ill and euer vertue swéetly would imbrace But now in heauens high Pallace She liues in ioy and solace committing all her charge vnto the King Of whose admired Maiesty Ruling vs so quietly reioycingly we Subiects all doe sing FINIS A new Song of the strange liues of two yong Princes in England who became two Shepherds vpon Salisbury Plaine and after restored to their former estates To the Tune of the Merchants man IN Kingly Stephens raigne Two royall Dukes there was That all our other English Lords for greatnesse far did passe The one of Deuonshire namdâ— that had a daughter faire Which he appointed at his death to be his only heire And her in loue commits Unto the Cornewall Duke Whom he with tendernes and care most kindly vndertâ—oke The promise being made The Duke of Deuonshire dyes And all that Cornewall vow'd to doe he afterwards denies Yet well he educates the Maid That Maudlin she was growne The fairest Lady vnder Heauen for beauty being knowne And many Princes sought for loue But none might her obtaine For couetous Cornewall to himselfe the dukedome sought to gaine So on a time Prince Raymond chanc't This comely dame to see With whom he fell so deepe in loue as any Prince might be Unhappy youth what should he do She still was kept in mew Nor he nor any of his friends admitted to her view One while he melancholly pines Himselfe with griefe away Anon he thinkes by force of Armes to win her if he may Untill at length commanding loue Became to be his Iudge And changâ—d
him soone from Lordly state into a kitching drudge And so accesse had he good Prince Her purpose to bewray But still faire Maudlins answere was she husbandlesse would stay Mean while her Gardiant beat his braines Her dukedome to atchiue Nor caring wat became of her so he by her might thriue And so resoluing that she should Unto some peasant wed And Raymond then supposâ—d a drudge should stand him in that stead But Maudlin marking his intent Unkindly takes that he Should bar the noblest match from her thus for a base degree The Lady shifting cut of dorâ—â— Departed thence by stealth Then thus with basenes for a match that might haue liu'd in wâ—alth When Raymond heard of her escape With sad and grieâ—eâ— heart He left the pallace of the Dukâ— and after did depart Forgetfull of himselfe and birth His country friends and all And minding onely her to seeke that thus had prouâ—d his thrall Nor meanes he after to frequent The court of stately townes But liu'd with pinchings cares and griefe among the country grounds A brace of yeares vpon that plaine Neere Salisburie that lies In great content with feeding flockeâ— a sheepeheards life he tries In hope his loue thereby to wast But then began againe Withâ—â— his heart a second loue the worser of the twaine A country wench a Neatheards maid Where Raymond kept his sheepe Did feed her droue with whom this prince in loue was wounded deepe Where sitting on the downy plaine And hauing small to do These sheepeheards there in friendly sort thus plainely gan to woe I know faire maid quoth Raymond then And thou aswell as I No maid there is that willingly with maidenhead would dye The Ploughmans labour hath no end And he will churlish proue The tradesman hath more woâ—ke inhand then doth belong to loue The Merchant venturing abroud Suspects his wife at home A youth will still the wanton play an old man proue a mome Then choose a sheepeheard honny girle Whose life is merriest still For merrily he spends his daies thus on the faire gréene hill And then at night when day is done Goes home from thence betime And in the fier turnes a craâ— and sings some merry rime Nor lackes he tales whiles round about The nut-drowne bowle doth trot And sitteth singing care away till he to bed be got There sléepes he soundly all the night Forgetting morrowes cares Nor feares the blasting of his corne nor vttering of his wares And this I know full well faire Lasse More quiet nights and daies The shéepeheard sléepes and wakes then he whose cattle he doth graze A King I see is but a man And so swéet Lasse am I Content is worth a Monarchy and mischiefes shoot ful hye As late it did vnto a Duke Not dwelling far from hence Who had a daughter saue thy selfe on earth the fairest wench With that good soule he stayd and sight Speake on quoth she and tell How faire she was and who she was that thus did heare the bell She was quoth he of stately grace Of countenance most faire No maid aliue for beauties prize may well with her compare A Globe-like head a golden hayre A forehead smooth and hie A seemely nose on either side did shine a graish eie Two rosie cheekes and ruddy lips White Iuory teeth within A mouth in meane and vnderneath a round and dimpled chin A snow-white necke with blewish vaines To make her seeme more faire Yea all her body framd so fine that earth had none more rare For life for loue for forme and face None fairer was then she And none but only she alone so faire a maid could be I knew the Lady well quoth she But worthlesse of such praise But credit we no sheepheard thou thy speeches so be wraies With that he wept and she was woe And both did silence keepe And equally perplext in loue they sate them downe to weepe In sooth quoth he I am not such As sâ—eming I professe To be a princes sonne by birth my liking shewes no lesse In Scotland is my fathers court And Raymond is my name With Cornewals duke I liu'd in pomp till loue controld the same And did this Lady dearely loue Though she not loued me But all that loue is wasted quite and now I die for thée I grant quoth she you lou'd her well If that your loue were such Yet thinke of me your second loue in loue to be as much Your twice beloued Maudlin heere Submits herselfe to thée And what she could not at the first the second time shall be In fortune not in person chang'd For I am still the same In heart and mind as chast and true as first to me you came Thus swéetly surfetting in ioy They tenderly imbrace And for their wished wedding day found fitting time and place And so these louely princes both Each other did befriend Where after many a hard mishap there loues had ioyfull end FINIS A Song of the deposing of King Richard the second and how after many miseries hee was murthered in Pomphret Castle To the tune of regard my sorrowes WHen Richard the second in England was King And raigned with honor state Sixe vncles he had his Grandfathers sons King Edwards that ruled of late All Counsellors noble and sage yet would he not heare their precepts deare So wilfull he was in this his young age A sort of braue gallants he kept in his court That traind him to wanton delight Which parasites pleased him better in mind then all his best Nobles and Knights Ambition and auarice grew so great in this land that still from his hand A masse of rich treasure his parasites drew His péeres and his barons dishonored were And vpstarts thus mounted on hie His commons sore taxed his cities opprest good subiects were nothing set by And what to his Coffers did come he wantonly spent to please with content His flattering vpstarts stil sporting at home When thus vnto ruine this kingdom began To fall from the highest estate The Nobles of England their Princes amisse by parliament soone did rebate And likewise those flatterers all they banisht the court that made but a sport To sée this so famous a Kingdome to fall But after these galltaÌ„s disgraded were thus King Richard himselfe was put downe And Bullenbrooke Lankasters noble borne Duke by pollicie purchast his crowne Thus ciuill warres héere begun that could haue no end by foe nor by friend Till 7. kings raignes with their liues were out run But Richard the breeder of all these same broyles In prison was wofully cast Where long he complained in sorrowful sort of Kingly authority past No Lords nor no subiects bad he no glory no state that earely and late Upon him attending had wont for to be His robes were conuerted to garments so old That beggers would hardly them weare His dyet no comfort at all to him brought for he fed vpon sorrow and care And from prison to prison was sent
fell in loue And so the shaddow wrought the thing the substance could not moue Her courtesie and his despight He calleth then to minde And of her beauty being dead a sodaine change did finde Remembring then his low degree And reckoning her desert He could not thinke but that he â—ore in loue too proud a heart Now loue qd â—he though breathlesse she Doth such a fâ—ame contriue The which shall soone consume me quite for I doe burne aliue Alas then did he pause in teares Oh take it from mine eye This picture hath procurde my death and for the same must dye For she that was the owner liuâ—e And dyed a louer true Whose Ghost at parting could not choose but say sweet loue adue Adue indeed kind gentle Dame For lacke of loue that dyed And left off liuing in that eye her of my loue denied Thus by her picture prickt with loue He felt continuall woe And bearing it still in his hand he to her graue did goe Where sitting on the same he said He loues the shadow now Whose heart vnto the substance late would rather breake then bow Oh gods I grant for this contempt I must indure your doome And sacrifice mine owne false heart vpon my true loues tombe Whose onely beauty worthy was To match without a dower Yet she in vaine did beg my loue full many a weary houre And hauing spoke these mournefull words A Tragedy to make His dagger from his side in hast he desperately did take And to his heart he strooke the same With all his manly force And so vpon his true loues graue was made a liuelesse coarse Finis A Courtly new Song of the Princely wooing of the faire Maide of London by K. Edward To the tune of Bâ—nny sweet Robin FAire Angell of England thy beauty so bright Is all my hearts treasure my ioy and delight Then grant me sweet Lady thy true loue to be That I may say welcome good fortune to me The Turtle so pure and chaste in her loue By gentle perswasions her fancy will moue Then â—e not intreated sweet Lady in vaine For nature requireth what I would obtaine What Phenix so famous that liueth alone Is vowed to chastity being but one But be not my Darling so chaâ—â— in desire Lest thou like the Phenix doe penance in fire But alas gallant Lady I pitty thy state In being resolued to liue withâ—ut mate For if of our Courting the pleasures you knew You would haue a liking the same to ensue Long time haue I sued the same to obtaine Yet am I requited with scornefull disdaine But if you will grant your good fauour some You shall be aduanced to Princely degree Promotions and honours may often intice The chastest that liueth though neuer so nice What woman so worthy but will be content To liue in the Pallace where Princes frequent Two brides young Princely to Church I haue led Two Ladies most louely haue decked my bed Yet hath thy loue taken more root in my heart Then all their contentments whereof I had part Your gentle hearts cannot mens teares much abide And women least angry when most they doe chide Then yeeld to me kindly and say that at length Men doe want mercy and poore women strength I grant that faire Ladies may poore men resist But Princes will conquer and loue whom they list A King may command her to sleepe by his side Whose feature deserueth to be a Kings Bride In granting your loue you shall purchase renowne Your head shall be deckt with Englands fair Crowne Thy garmeÌ„ts most gallant with gold shal be wrought If tâ—ue loue for treasure of thee may be bought Great Ladies of honour shall tend on thy traine Most richly attyred with Scarlet in graine My chamber most princely thy person shall keepe Where virgins with musicke shall rock thee asléepe If any more pleasures thy heart can inuent Command them sweet Lady thy mind to content For Kings gallant courts wâ—ere Princes do dwell Afford such swéet pastimes as Ladies loue well Then be not resolued to die a true maide But print in thy bosome the words I haue said And grant a King fauour thy true loue to be That I may say welcome swéet virgin to me FINIS The faire maide of Londons answer to King Edwardâ— wanton Loue. To the same tune Oâ— wanton King Edward t is labour in vaine To follow the pleasure thou canst not attaine â—â—ich getting thou loosest and hauing dost wast it The which if thou purchase is spoild if thou hast it But if thou obtainst it thou nothing hast won And I loosing nothing yet quite am vndone But if of that Iewell a King do deceiue me No King can restore though a Kingdome he giue me My colour is changed since you saw me last My fauour is vanisht my beauty is past The Rosie red blushes that sate on my cheekes To palenesse are turned which all men mislikes I passe not what Princes for loue do protest The name of a Uirgin contenteth me best I haue not deserued to sleepe by thy side Nor to be accounted for King Edwards Bride The name of a Princes I neuer did craue No such type of honour thy handmaide will haue My brest shall not harbour so lofty a thought Nor be with rich proffers to wantonnesse brought If wild wanton Rosamond one of our sort Had neuer frequented King Henries braue Court Such heapes of deepe sorrow she neuer had séen Nor tasted the rage of so iealous a Quéene All men haue their freedome to shew their intent They win not a woman except she consent Who then can impute vnto them any fault Who still go vpright vntill women do hault T is counted a kindnesse in men for to trye And vertue in women the sawe to deny For women vnconstant can neuer be prou'd Untill by their betters therein they be mou'd If women and modelly once do but seuer Then farewell good name and credite for euer And Royall King Edward let me be exilde Ere any man know that my body 's defilde No no my old fathers reuerend teares Too deepe an impression within my soule beares Nor shall his bright honour that blâ—â— by me haue To bring his gray haâ—res with griefe to his graue The heauens forbid that when I shall dye That any such sinne vpon my soule lie If I haue thus kept we from doing this sinne My heart shall not yeeld with a Prince to begin Come rather with pitty to weepe on my tombe Then for my birth curse my deare mothers wombe That broght forth a blossome which stained the trée With wanton desires to shame her and me Leaue me most noble King tempt not in vaine My milke-white affections with lewdnesse to staine Though England will giue me no comfort at all Yet England will giue me a sad buriall FINIS The most cruell murther of Edward the fift and his brother Duke of Yorke in the Towre by their Vncle Richard Duke of Gloster To the tune
of Fortune my foe WHen God had â—ane away true wisdomes King Edward the fourth whose fame shal alwayes ring Which raigned had full two and twenty yeares And ruled well amongst his noble Peeres When as he dyed two sonnes he left behinde The Prince of Wales Duke of Yorke most kind The Prince the eldest but eleuen yeares old The Duke more yong as Chronicles haue told The dead Kings brother Duke of Glocester Was chosen for the Prince his Protecter Who straightway plotted how to get the Crowne And pull his brother Edwards children downe Edward the fift the Prince was cald by name Who by succession did that title gaine A prudent Prince whose wisedome did excell Which made his vncles heart with hatred swell Then did the Duke vse all the meanes he might By dambd deuises for to worke their spight At length the diuell put it in his head How all his plots should be accomplished With sugred words which had a poysond sting He did intice the Duke and the yong King For safeties sake to lodge them in the Towre A strong defence and Londons chiefest Flower His faire spoke speeches and bewitching charme Who told them 't would secure them from all harme Thus by faire words yet cruell treachery Le won their hearts within the Tower to lye Great entertainment he these Princes gaue And causâ—e the Tower to be furnisht braue With sumptuous cheare he feasted them that day Thus subtile Wolues with harmeles lambs do play With musicke sweet he filde their princely eares And to their face a smiling countenance beares But his foule heart with mischiefe was possest And treacherous thoughts were alwaies in his bresâ— When as bright Phoebus had possest the West And tâ—at the time was come for all to rest The Duke of Gloster the two Princes led Into a sumptuous chamber to their bed When these sweet children thus were laid in bed And to the Lord their hearty prayers hâ—d said Swéet slumbring sleepe then closing vp their eyes Each folded in each others arme then lies The bloody vncle to these children sweet Unto a Knight to breake his mind thought méeâ— One sir Iames Tirrill which did thinke it beâ—t For to agree to his bloody request Sir Iames he said my resolutions this And for to do the same you must not misse This night so that the King be murthered And the yong Duke as they lie in their bed So when these branches I haue pulled downe There 's none yâ— which can keep me from the Crowne My brother Duke of Clarence he was found i th Tower within a But of Malmesey drownd It was my plot that he should drowned be Because that none should claime the Crowne but me And when these children thou hast murdered I le weare the Royall Crowne vpon my head And know thou Tirrill when that I am King I le raise thy state and honours to thee bring Then be resolu'd tut be not thou afraid My Lord I le do 't this bloody Tirrill said He got two villaines for to act this price Hell-hearted murtherers and did them disguise The one Miles Forrest which there keeper was The other Dighton kéeper of his horse At midnight then when all things they were husht These bloody slaues into the chamber crusht And to the bed full softly did they creepe Where these sweet babes did lie full fast asleepe And presently did wrap them in the cloathes And stopt their harmelesse breath with the pillowes Yet did they striue and struggle what they might Untill the slaues had stifeled both them quite When as the murderers saw that they were dead They tooke their bodies forth the cursed bed And then they buryed these same little ones At the staire foot vnder a heape of stones But marke how God did scourge them for this deed As in the Chronicles you there may reade Blood deserueth blood for so the Lord hath said So at the length their blood was truely paid For when their Uncle he had raign'd two yeares He fell at variance then amongst his Péeres In Lestershire at Bosworth he was slaine By Richmonds Earle as he did rightly gaine In pieces was he hewed by his foes And kickt and spurned with their feet and toes They stript him then and dragd him vp and downe And on stout Richmonds head they put the Crowne The bloody murtherer Sir Iames Tirrilâ— For treason lost his head on Towre-hill And to Miles Forrest befell no worse a Lot For he in pieces aliue away did câ—t And Iohn Dighton the other bloody fiend No man can tell how he came to his end Thus God did pay these murtherers their â—ire And hell-bred Pluto plagued them with fire A excellent Song entituled A penny-worth of Wit To the tune of Labandelasâ—ot IN ancient yeares as bookes expresse Of old done deeds both more and lesse A Merchant yong of tender yeares As by the sequell well appeares a worthy woman tooke to wife right well brought vp and void of strife Could he with her haue been content Great blessings might the Lord haue sent But he an harlot loued more Wherewith his friends were vexed sore In tract of time his chance it was In Merchants wise the seas to passe In lands right strange was his intent With merchandize he forward went and at his parting thought it méet his concubine and quéene to gréet And of her loue did sweetly pray And fauour for to part away With sighing semblance then quoth she My deare â—â—ll you depart from me Then to his wedded wife he went Saying dame what thing most excellent You are desirous for to haue Of any thing that heart can craue giue me your money to bestow then from her purse she forth did draw A faire coinâ—e penny verily Wherewith she wild him Wiâ— to buy Of other toyes small mind had she But Iesu blesse your long iourney This said she wept then parted he Thinking great scorne of her penny But past â—he Seas and tooke â—he shore And sped right well what would we more in many wares he did abound of merchandize both good and sound His ships well fraught he homward sent So well had he his substance spent And for his concubine alacke He had bestowed many a knacke Then last his wife remembred he And with his mates of merry glée Unto a Tauerne forth they go In ieasting sort the truth is so he said he should be much vnkind her merchandiâ—e to leaue behind But said the substance was so small That it would buy notâ—ing at all And thereat made a iâ—asting sport To all that thither did resort Not farre from thence on a feat right nigh There was an old man sitting by Who said good sir I can you shew How you that penny shall bestow for if you haue a wedded wife I wish you haue her during life A wife I haue indeed quoth he And a Lemman faire and bright of blee Whom I do trust and euer shall So constant is her loue withall The old man