actiue cariage danger to preuent Quoth Colbrond English-man wilt thou forbeare And sue for mercy let the Fight alone Villaine quoth Guy I scorne thy Coward feare I le haue thy Life or it shall cost mine owne Wee le neuer part till one be soundly sped The King hath ventur'd England on my Head For twenty Denmarkes if they might be found And all the wealth that on the Ocean swimmes I will not yeeld an inch of English ground Thou shalt finde mettall in these aged limmes Although thy bodyes height be more then mine I haue a heart bigger by oddes then thine Thinke on thy ancient grand-fire Gogmagog Whom Corâ—neus delt withall at Douer How that same Lubber like a timber-log Was by the worthy Brittaine tumbled ouer For his bolde Challenge he had such a checke There was no Surgeon could amend his necke Thou art deceiu'd in me poore silly sot I am vntaught to bend submissions knees Holde me no Christian if I fayle a iot And for the world that tytle I le not leese Betake thee to thy tooles honour thy King Vpon thy man-hood lyes a mighty thing And thus I doe encounter thee afresh With that he lent him such a powerfull stroke It made wide rupture in the Gyants flesh And did his furious Choller much prouoke Laying about him in most cruell rage Till the next wound did all his heate asswage It was so mortall that it brought him downe To lye and groane vpon the bloody ground Forthwith a showte was heard from out the Towne That all the Sky did Eccho to the sound Great ioy was made by euery English heart And all the Danes with extreame griefe depart King Athelstone sent for his Champion then To doe him Honour for his famous deede Who was receiued by the Clergie men With all solemnity for such high meede Embraced by the Nobles and renown'd With Martiall musicke Drum and Trumpets sound But little pleasure Guy conceiues herein Refusing Iewels costly Ornaments Saying with these he out of loue hath bin For many yeares by true experiments Onely thankes God that blest him with an hower To free his Countrey from inuading power And so intreates that hee may passe vnknowne To liue where pouerty regards not weahh And be beholden to the helpe of none Seeing the world but now and then by stealth For true Content doth such a Treasure bring It makes the Begger richer then the King With true Content saith hee I will abide In homely Cottage free from all resout For I haue found Content cannot be spide To make abode within a Monarchs Court No there 's ambition pride and enuy seene And fawning flatt'ry stepping still betweene Yet gentle Palmer said the King agree Where euer thou resoluest to remaine Acquaint thy Name in priuate vnto me And this is all thy Sou'raigne will obtaine Tell me but who thou art I will conceale it As I am Englands King I le not reueale it Why then quoth he your Grace shall vnderstand I am your Subiect Guy of Warwicke named That haue these many yeares not seene your Land But bin where Youth by auncient Age is tamed Yea where experience taught me wit dread Prince The world of many follyes to conuince And now am come to bring my bones to Graue Within the Kingdome where I first tooke life Yet shall no Creature else the notice haue Of my arriuall not my dearest Wife Till sicknes come and doth my Death foretell Then I le acquaint her with my last farewell The King with ioy embrac'd him in his armes And with great admiration answers thus Most worthy Earle freer of Englands harmes It grieues my soule thou wilt not liue with vs Oh were thy resolutions thoughts but now That my perswasions might preuent thy Vow But 't is too late they are growne ripe I see Thou art too setled in determination Well Honourable man yet this ioyes mee Thou bringest thy bones vnto thy dearest Nation Where Monuments of thy great deeds shall last Till after Ages of the world be past In Warwicke Castle shall thy Sword be kept To witnes to the world what thou hast bin And least forgetfull time should intercept A President I present will begin The Castle-keeper shall receiue a fee To keepe thy Sword in memory of thee Thy Armour likewise and the martiall Speare That did thee seruice in thy high designes Shall be preserued very carefull there That all such men as haue distrustfull mindes May thinke if from a truth this did not grow A King would scorne to cousen people so And in thy Chappell distant thence a mile A bone shall hang of that most cruell Beast Which neare to Couentrey remain'd long while Whose Rib by measure is sixe foote at least Destroying many that did passe that way Vntill thy man-hood did the Saluage slay That by tradition men may speake and tell This was Guyes Armour this his massie Blade These bones of murdering Beasts which men did quell And this the Tombe wherein his Corpes was layde This the true Picture of his shape at length And this the Speare did oft expresse his strength For sure I holde it an vngratefull thing When thou by Natures course in dust shalt lye No Memory should cause some Muse to sing The Worthinesse of matchles English Guy Thy Countrey-men would proue too farre vnkinde When out of sight they leaue thee out of minde This said in humble duty wondr'ous meeke Guy reuerenceth the King and so departs Some solitary den or Caue to seeke Which he vnto his mansion house conuerts And so liues poorely in the hollow ground Making his meate of rootes and hearbes he found Sometimes he would to Warwicke Castle goe And craue an Almes at his deere Ladyes hand Who vnto Pilgrims did more bounty show Then any Noble woman in the Land And she would aske all Palmers that came there If at the Holy Land they neuer were Or in their trauels if they had not seene An English-man was Lord of that same Tower Who many yeares away from thence had beene A Knight ne're conquer'd yet by humane power But there 's a Tyrant whom I onely feare They call him Death that murders euery where If he haue met him O my dearest Lord I neuer shall behold thy face againe Till that same Monster doe asmuch afford Vnto my heart and so release all paine Which gracious Heauens grant if Guy be dead Vpon this earth let me no longer treade Thus did he often heare his Wife enquire With deep complaints from extream passions flowing Yet by no meanes would grant her kinde desire The comfort of a hopefull word bestowing But looke vpon her as his heart would breake Then turne away for feare his tongue would speake And so depart with weeping to his Cell Setting a dead-mans Head before his eyes Saying with thee I shortly come to dwell This sinfull Flesh I constantly despise My soule is weary of so bad a guest And doth desire to bee at home in rest My feeble limbes weakenes
Guy takes Earles Terryes Fathers part And kills the Duke his Foe Destroyes a cruell sauage Bore Preuenting dangers so Canto 8. NOw Titans Horses with his fiery Carre Had brought the Day to darknes in the West And Vesper that same siluer shining Starre Which doth adorne the sky at Euening best Appear'd as bright as Cynthia in her Sphaere To welcome sable Nights approaching neare When Terry Guy and Osile wanting guide Didst stray about the vnfrequented Wood Hearing the saluage noyse on eu'ry side Of Beasts that thirsted after humane blood As Bores and Beares and Lyons and the like Which to their hearts did some amazement strike On euery side they cast a heedfull eye Still doubting on the sodaine some surprize At length two Armed men they did espy That also listen to those fearefull cryes Each had his sword in hand being ready drawne Knowing that place did yeeld no Dogs would fawne Comming more neare Sir Heraud was the one The other euen as dearely Terryes friend Who with imbracements made their gladnes knowne And then the Earle demaunded to what end His louing Cousen pass'd the Defert so My Lord quoth he to bring thee newes of woe Thy noble Father is besleged now In this strong Castle by Duke Ottons power Who hath protested by a solemne vow About his eares he will pull downe the Tower In a reuenge that thou his Loue hast got He sweares thy Fathers life escapeth not His Loue quoth Terry preethee Osile speake Acquaint this Worthy man with thy soules thought Haue I procur'd thee any Faith to breake Or bin the instigater vnto ought That is vniust in righteous Heauens sight Neuer quoth Osile thou hast bin vpright That wretched man would force my Loue away In clayming that I ne're intend to giue I will bee thine vntill my dying day Thou shalt inioy me all the howers I liue And when I alter this determination Let Gods and men holde mee in detestation Well spoke said Guy Lady be constant euer And Honours blemish then thou needst not doubt Keepe Loues foundation firme alter it neuer It is for Loue I raunge the world about And doe expose my Life to mortall danger In this exiled state an vnknowne Stranger But Terry wherefore are thy lookes so sad That hast thy Loue in person to imbrace As farre as England mine is to be had And many yeares I haue not seene her face It were enough to bring my hopes to end But that my Patience is a trusty friend My Lord said Terry know you not my griefe And heard this Messenger relate the cause Oh my distressed Father wants reliefe I were a rebell vnto Natures lawes Not to condole with him in his extreame Making his troubles my true sorrowes Theame If that be all quoth hee thou art too blame There is no cause to spend a sigh thereon I le terrifie Duke Otton with my Name Let him but heare I come and he 'le be gon Something betweene vs may not be forgot He felt my Sword in France but lik't it not Since that against my life a plot hee layde By villaines that surpriz'd me in a Wood But treachery with vengeance was repayd Who euer knew a Traytors end proue good Accursed haps attend them euermore In brasen Bull Perillus first did rore I will goe with thee to defend thy Father For the oppressed I haue vow'd to right And reason moues me to it so much rather Mine owne abuses therewith to requite This oportunity wee le not omit In that occasion falleth out so fit Let 's hasten on with speed vnto the place Preuenting mischiefe ere too farre it runne Take holde of Time before he turne his face Good proueth best when it is soonest done Goe like Eneas with a filiall ioy To fetch thine olde Anchises out of Troy Couragious Knight quoth Terry thy bolde hart Cannot be daunted I perceiue with feare Compos'd of Mars his element thou art Of powerfull limbes to mannage sword and speare My melancholy thou hast banish'd hence And with strong hope arm'd me in recompence Now all in poste they speede themselues away And in short time vnto the Castle come Whereas Duke Otton with his forces lay Relying on his Soldiers ample somme But when the Captaines of Guyes comming knew They fled by night and neuer bad adew This was discouragement to all the rest To see their Leaders thus giue ground and flye Yet did the Duke most resolute protest If each man in the Castle were a Guy He would not leaue it basely and retire Though life be deare yet honours place is hyer Terry said Guy we must not tedious bee Experience often hath my tutor bin And taught that when aduantage I doe see To fasten on occasion and begin The enemie by feare himselfe subdues Adde force to that and victorie ensues We will not make our Prison of this place As long as there is Field-roome to be got T is my desire to meete the Dukes good grace And combate him because he loues me not If that you will not leaue this house of stone I le leaue you all and goe my selfe alone And with those wordes Heraud and he depart Which when the Castle-soldiers did perceiue They gaue a showte our Generall thou art Thy Honourable steps we will not leaue Wee are resolued to attend thee still Let Fortune vse vs euen as Fortune will And thus most Valiant they doe march along Giuing the onset fearelesse to their Foe Making those multitudes that seem'd so strong Retire themselues with slaughtered ouerthrow But when the Duke perceiu'd his Soldiers flye Perish quoth he base villaines heere I le dye Where is this English-man that haunts my Ghost And thus pursueth me from place to place I challenge him to come and leaue the Host And meete with resolution face to face Let equall enuy make this equall match All controuersies wee will soone dispatch Agreed quoth Guy proude Foe I yeeld consent Repent thy wrongs and make thy Conscience cleare For thou hast liu'd to see thy honour spent Which worthy men of all thinges holde most deare The noble minded censure him with shame That liues to see the Death of his good name Then toward each other they did mainely make And brake their Launces very violent Which being done their Swords in hand they take Fighting vntill great store of blood was spent For Enuy did the Duke's keene weapon whet And on Guyes sword Reuenge an edge did set At length through losse of blood the Duke fell downe And said Now fond felicity farewell I am betray'd by Fortunes angry frowne And this experience to the world doe tell There 's nothing constant that the earth containes Death deales with Monarchs as with simple Swaines Bewitching Vanities seducing blinde vs Greatnes hath great accounts thereon depending As Death doth leaue vs so shall Iudgement finde vs There is no peace vnto a happy ending My Dying houre yeelds more repentant Grace Then in my Life I euer could imbrace Th' immortall soule
good Take no more care for drinke before I end thee And then wee le haue carouses of thy blood Heer 's at thee with a butchers downe-right blow To please my fury with thine ouerthrow Infernall false obdurate fiend Guy said That seem'st a lumpe of cruelty from Hell Ingratefull Monster since thou hast denay'd The thing to me wherein I vsde thee well With more reuenge then ere my Sword did make On thy accursed head Reuenge I le take Thy Gyants longitude shall shorter shrinke Except thy Sun-scorcht skin be weapon proofe Farwell my thirst I doe disdaine to drinke Streames keepe your water to your owne behoofe Or let wilde Beasts be welcome thereunto With those pearle drops I will not haue to doe Holde tyrant take a tast of my good will For thus I doe begin my bloody bout You cannot chuse but like the greeting ill It is not that same Club will beare you out And take this payment on thy shaggie crowne A blow that brought him with a vengeance downe Then Guy set foote vpon the Monsters brest And from his shoulders did his Head deuide Which with a yawning mouth did gape vnblest No Dragons jawes were euer seene more wide To open and to shut till life was spent So Guy tooke's Keyes and to the Castle went Where many wofull Captiues hee did finde That had bin tyred with extremities Whom he in ftiendly manner did vnbinde And reason'd with them of their miseries Each tolde a tale with teares and sighes and cryes All weeping to him with complaining eyes There tender Ladyes in darke dungeon lay That were surprized in the desart Wood And had no other dyet euery day Then flesh of humane Creatures for their food Some with their Louers bodyes had bin fed And in their wombes their Husbands buryed Now he bethinkes him of his comming there T' inlarge the wronged bretheren from their woes And as he searcheth doth great clamours heare By which sad sounds direction on he goes Vntill he findes a darksome obscure Gate Arm'd strongly ouer all with Yron plate That he vnlockes and enters where appeares The strangest obiect that hee euer saw Men that with famishment of many yeares Were like Death's picture which the Painters draw Diuers of them were hanged by each thumbe Others head downe-ward by the middle some With diligence hee takes them from the walles Where liberty their thraldome to acquaint Then the perplexed Knight their Father calles And sayes receiue thy Sonnes though poore faint I promist you their liues accept of that But did not warrant you they should be fat The Castle I doe giue thee heer 's the Keyes Where tyranny for many yeares did dwell Procure the gentle tender Ladyes ease For pitty-sake vse wronged Women well Men easily may reuenge the deedes men doe But poore weake Women haue not strength thereto The good olde man euen ouer-ioy'd with this Fell on the ground and would haue kist Guyes feet Father quoth he refraine so base a kisse For Age to honour Youth I holde vnmeete Ambitious pride hath hurt me all it can I goe to mortifie a sinfull man Guy on his Iourney doth proceede With painefull Pilgrim life While Warwick Countesse liues in tears A Chaste and loyall Wife Canto 11. BEhold the man that sought Contentions out Whose recreation was in angry armes And for his Venus raung'd the world about To finde out dreadfull Combats fierce allarmes From former disposition allienate Shun's all occasions may procure debate In his owne wrongs by vow he will not strike Let iniury impose what strife can doe Abuses shall not force him to dislike For he hath now fram'd Nature thereunto And taken Patience by the hand for 's guide To leade his thoughts where meeknes doth abide No worldly ioy can giue his minde content Delights are gone as they had neuer bin His onely care is how hee may Repent His spending youth about the seruing sinne And fashion age to looke like contrite sorrow That little time to come which life doth borrow His lookes were sad complexion pale and wan His dyet of the meanest hard and spare His life he led like a Religious man His habite poore and homely thin and bare His Dignities and Honour were forgot His Warwicke Earledome he regarded not Sometime he would goe search into a Graue And there finde out a rotten dead-mans Scull And with the same a conference would haue Examining each Vanity at full And then himselfe would answer for the Head His owne obiections in the Dead-mans stead If thou hast bin some Monarch where 's thy Crowne Or who in feare of thy sterne lookes doe stand Death hath made conquest of my great renowne My golden Scepter in a fleshly hand Is taken from me by another King And I in dust am made a rotten thing Hast thou bin some great Counsailer of state Whose potent wit did rule a mighty Realme Where is the pollicy thou hadst of late Consum'd and gone euen like an idle dreame I haue not so much wit as will suffice To kill the Wormes thar in my Coffin lyes Perhaps thou wast some beautious Ladyes face For whom right strange aduentures haue bin wrought Euen such as when it was my louing case For my deere kindest Phelice I haue fought Perhaps about this Scull there was a skin Fairer then Hellens was inclosed in And on this scalp so wormy eaten bare Where nothing now but bone we may behold Were Natures ornaments such lockes of Hayre As might induce the eye to deeme them golde And christall Eyne in these two hollow caues And heere such Lips as Loue for kissing craues But where 's the substance of this Beauty spent So louely precious in the sight of men With powerfull Death vnto the dust it went Grew loathsome filthy came to nothing then And what a Picture of it doth remaine To tell the wise all Beauty is but vaine Such memories hee often would preferre Of mortall frailty and the force of Death To teach the Flesh how apt it is to erre And post repentance off till latest breath Thus would he in the worlds contempt reproue All that seduc'd the soule from Heauenly loue Now for a while reuerse your view of woe For one sad subiect to behold another To see new sorrow backe to England goe And to long absent yeares commit the tother Leaue dolefuil Guy to aged griefe and cares And looke on Phelice how his Lady fares Like to a Widdow all in blacke attire She doth expresse her inward dolefull minde A Chamber-prison is her chiefe desire Where she to passions wholy is inclin'd She that of late was pride of English Court With Maiesty no longer will consort But liues a life like one despisde lifes being And euery day vnto the world did dye With iudgements eyes farre into folly seeing And noting well how fast false pleasures flye Leauing for eu'ry taste of vaine Delight A huger heape of Cares then Pen can write Her thoughts ranne after her departed Lord And trauail'd