not trust his talke nor message sent beforne On this I expedition made the third and last For he did warrant me my purpose to obtaine I shipt my men and hide me thitherward full fast Had winde at will and came to see the shining shores againe And of my comming so the Earle was glad and faine We ioined hands and league and armies for the fight And sought and put Cassibellane the noble King to flight Yet he repaird his hoste againe that fiercely faught And oft assaid to slay or take the Earle or mee And when hee saw at length his labour vailed naught And Britanes with the Romanes linked so to bee Great griefe he had in them such treason for to see His losse in doubtfull war not grieu'd him halfe so sore His peoples base reuolt he chiefely did deplore To make it short the King was faine at length to yeeld The tribute granted was three thousand pound a yeere We bare away the price we wan the worthy field And made them friends againe that bought our fauour deere I need no longer stay to tell the story heere Nor yet to giue my friend the Earle of London blame Sith by his meanes I wan to Rome eternall fame From France I after sent to Rome reporting how Amongst the warlike Galles and Britaines I had sped I made request by friends I might be Consull now On my returne againe but Pompeyes hautie hed Did ioyne himselfe with Peeres and armies which he led Alledging plaine I meant the publique weale t' inuade They would represse my pride with might and dint of blade With speed I came and force which made them all to flie To Greece from Rome in haste where they prepared war For in Epyrus then with souldiers they did lie This Pompey proud that made the Romans with me iar He at Dyrrachium staid to which though it were far I led my conquering host I skirmisht often there But from the fight to flie we soone contented were On this he followed fast in hope to win the field To Thessalie he came where I did stay therefore Our armies met and fiercely faught not bent to yeeld Till fifteene hundred men were slaine in fight or more But in the end they fled we tooke of prisoners store They durst not dare t' abide the chance of Mars to trie But either fell in fight or from the field did flie Thence Pompey fled the field and into Egypt came To Ptolemie the King as then but yong of age Where of his slaughter foule Septimius hath the blame He was his end that did these warres against me wage Euen so by course we come to play vpon the stage Our trauels haue an end when we do feele the fall For all our life is but a race of miserie and thrall But Pompeyes friends and sonnes by might did oft assay When he was done to death to take reuenge on me And I by dint of sword repel'd their force away Gate offices of rule and gouern'd each degree At Caesars beck and call obeysant all they bee Enacted lawes directed each estate Emperially the first aloft I sate But glorie won the way to hold and keepe the same To hold good fortune fast a worke of cunning skill Who so with prudent art can stay that stately dame Which sets vs vp so high vpon her hautie hill And constant aye can keepe her loue and fauour still He wins immortall fame thrice blessed is the crowne If once misfortune kicke and cast the scepter downe For when in Rome I was alone Dictator chose And Emperour or Captaine sole to be for ay My glorie did procure me many secret foes Because aboue the rest I bare the soueraigne sway By sundrie meanes they sought my ruine and decay For why there could no thing in state determin'd be Vnlesse it likte me first and were approu'd by me This they enui'd at me that su'd aloft to clime As hautie Cassius which the Pretorship did craue And Brutus eke his friend which bare the chiefest crime Of my dispatch and death for they did first depraue My life mine acts my raigne and sought my blood to haue Full secretly amongst themselues conspir'd decreed To be attemptors of that cruell bloodie deed Yet I forewarned was by Capis fatall tombe His Epitaph my death did long before foreshow Cornelius Balbus saw mine horses headlesse ronne Without the guide of man forsaking food for woe Spurina warned me that sooth of things did know A little wren in beake with Laurell greene that flew Foreshew'd my dolefull death as after all men knew The night before my fall in slumber I did dreame I caried was from earth and flew the clouds aboue And somtime hand in hād I thought I walkt with Ioue supreame My wife Calphurnia Caesars only loue Did dreame she saw her crest of house to fall Her husband thrust through breast a sword withall Eke that same night her chamber dores thēselues flew open all These things did make me much that mourning to mislike And Iacrazed was and thought at home to stay But who is he can void deaths dart when he doth strike Where so great number seekes his life for to betray The traytor bloodie Brutus bad me not delay Nor yet to frustrate there so great assemblie sate At last I went and there did meet vntimely sate To Senate as I went behold a Roman stood Presenting me a scrole of euery traytors name And all their whole deuice that sought to spill my blood That presently decreed to execute the same But I blind wretch supposde that for some suite he came I heedlesse bare this scrole in my vnhappie hand For which I lost my life as you shall vnderstand Spurina as I came at sacrifices was Neere to the place where I was after slaine Of whose diuinings true I then did little passe To warne me of my death the Priest did seeke in vaine My hautie heart growne proud these warnings all disdaine Quoth I the Ides of March be come yet harme is none Quoth he the Ides of March be come yet th' are not gone Assoone as I was set the traytors all arose And one approched neere as to demand some thing To whom as I gaue eare at once my cruell foes Beset me round about their weapons hid they bring Then I too late perceiu'd my deaths approching sting O this quoth I is violence then Cassius pierst my brest And Brutus thou my sonne quoth I whom erst I loued best Yee Princes all and noble men beware of pride Wracke not the Commonwealth for wealthie kingdomes sake Be warn'd by me that see my selfe the world to guide Beware what bloodie warres for rule you vndertake Ere three and twentie wounds had made my heart to quake How many thousands fell for Pompeyes pride and mine How many valiant Knights did loued life resigne Full many nobie men to rule alone I slew And some themselues againe for griefe of heart did slay For they would neuer yeeld though I
man directs his eye Euen so among my captiue mates that were When I did speake or make my plaints with crie Then all on me they stared by and by Bemoning of my fates and fortune so As they had bin partakers of my woe My forme did praise my plea my sighes they sued My teares enti'st their hearts some ruth to take My sobs in sight a seemely hue renew'd My wringing hands wan suiters shift to make My sober soothes did cause them for my sake Me to commend vnto their noble King Who wild they should me into presence bring T' whom when I came in cords as captiue bound O King quoth I whose power we feele too strong O worthie wight whose fame to skies doth sound Doe pitie me that neuer wisht thee wrong Release me one thy captiues all among Which frō my friends by fraud am brought away A Prince his daughter drown'd in deepe decay Now as thou art a Prince thy selfe of might And maist do more then I do dare desire Let me O King find fauour in thy sight Asswage somewhat thy deadly wrath and ire No part of knighthood t is for to require A Ladies death thee neuer did offend Sith that thy foe hath brought her to this end But let me rather safely be conuay'd O gratious King once home before I die Or let me liue thy simple wayting maid If it may please thy royall Maiestie Or let me ransome pay for libertie But if you mind reuenge of vnwraught ill Why spare you Britaines my deare blood to spill With that the King Good Ladie faire what i st Thou canst desire or aske but must obtaine Eke would to God with all my heart I wist Best way to ease thee of thy wofull paine But if thou wilt do heere with me remaine If not content conductors shalt thou haue To bring thee home and what thou else wilt crau◠O King quoth I the gods preserue thy grace The heauens requite thy mercie shew'd to me And all the starres direct thy regall race With happie course long length of yeares to see The earth with fertill fruits enrich so thee That thou maist still like Iustice heere dispose And euermore treade downe thy deadly foes The noble King commanded to vnbind Mine armes and giue me libertie at will With whom such fauour I did after find That as his Queene I was at elbow still And I enioy'd all pleasures at my fill So that they quite had quenched out my thrall And I forgat my former Fortunes all Thus loe by fauour I obtain'd my suite So had my beautie set his heart on fire That I could make Locrinus euen as mute Or pleasant as my causes did require And when I knew he could no way retire I prai'd he would his fauour so extend As I might not be blamed in the end For if quoth I you take me as your owne And eke my loue to you hath constant beene Then let your loue likewise againe be showne And wed me as you may your spoused Queene If since in me misliking you haue seene Then best depart betime before defame Begin to take from Elstride her good name No wauering heart said he Locrinus beares No fained flatterie shall thy faith deface Thy beautie birth fame vertue age and yeares Constraineth me mine Elstride to imbrace I must of force giue thy requests a place For as they do with reason good consent Euen so I grant thee all thy whole intent Then was the time appointed and the day In which I should be wedded to this King But in this case his Counsell causde a stay And sought out meanes at discord vs to bring Eke Corinaeus claim'd a former thing A precontract was made and full accord Between his daughter and my soueraigne Lord. And yet the King did giue me comfort still He said he could not so forsake my loue He euermore would beare me all good will As both my beautie and deserts did moue Yet faithlesse in his promise he did proue His Counsell at the last did him constraine To marrie her vnto my grieuous paine At which I could not but with hate repine It vexed me his mate that should haue beene To liue in hate a Prince his concubine That euer had such hope to be his Queene The steps of state are full of woe and teene For when we thinke we haue obtain'd the throne Then straight our pompe and pride is quite orethrowne Lo twice I fell from hope of Princely crowne First when vnhappie Humber lost his life And next I laid my peacocks pride adowne When I could not be King Locrinus wife But oft they say the third doth end the strife Which I haue prou'd therefore the sequell view * The third paies home this prouerbe is too true The King could not refraine his former minde But vsde me still and I my doubtfull yeares Did linger on I knew no shift to finde But past the time full oft with mourning teares * A concubine is neuer void of feares For if the wife her at aduantage take In rage reuenge with death she seekes to make Likewise I wist if once I sought to flie Or to intreat the King depart I might Then would he straight be discontent with me Yea if I were pursued vpon the flight Or came deflour'd into my fathers sight I should be taken kept perforce or slaine Or in my countrey liue in great disdaine In such a plight what might a Ladie doe Was euer Princesse poore in such a case O wretched wight bewrapt in webs of woe That still in dread wast tost from place to place And neuer foundest meane to end thy race But still in doubt of death in carking care Didst liue a life deuoid of all welfare The King perceiuing well my chaunged cheare To ease my heart with all deuis'd deceates By secret wayes I came deuoyde of feare In vaults by cunning Masons craftie feates Whereas we safely from the Queene her threats So that the King and I so vsde our art As after turn'd vs both to paine and smart By him I had my Sabrine small my childe And after that his wife her father lost I meane he died and she was strayght exilde And I made Queene vnto my care and cost For she went downe to Cornwall strayght in post Anc caused all her fathers men to rise With all the force and strength they might deuise My King and hers with me gainst her prepar'd An army strong but when they came to fight Dame Guendoline did wax at length too hard And of our King vs both deposed quight For from her campe an arrow sharp did light Vpon his brest and made him leaue his breath Lo thus the King came by vntimely death Then I too late began in vaine to flye And taken was presented to the Queene Who me beheld with cruell Tigers eie O queane quoth she that cause of warres hast beene And deadly hate the like was neuer seene Come on for these my hands shall ridde thy life And
from the world thou get'st no land of mine And sith likewise of Gods we came a Nation free We owe no tribute aide or pledge to Rome or thee Retract thy will or wage thy warre as likes thee best We are to fight and rather then to friendship prest To saue our countrey from the force of forren strife Each Britaine heere is well content to venter life We feare not of the end or dangers thou dost tell But vse thy pleasure if thou maist thus fare thou well Cassibellane When Caesar had receiu'd his answere so It vext him much he thereupon decreed To wage vs warre and worke vs Britaines woe Wherefore he hasted hitherward with speed The Britaines eke prepar'd themselues with heed To meete the Romans all in warlike guise With all the force and speed they might deuise And heere the wiser deem'd it meeter much T' assaile them first at th' entry on this land Then for to giue arriuall heere to such Might with our victuals aide our selues withstand T' is better far the enemies t'aband Quite from thy borders to a forren soile Then he at home thee and thy countrie spoile Wherefore we met him at his entrie in And pitcht our camps directly in his way We minded sure to lose or else to win The praise before we past from thence away So when that both the armies were in ray And trumpets blast on euery side was blowne Our minds to either each were quickly knowne We ioyned battaile fiercely both we fought The Romanes to enlarge their Empires fame And we with all the force and might we mought To saue our countrie and to keepe our name O worthie Britaines learne to do the same We brake the rayes of all the Romane hoast And made the mightie Caesar leaue his boast Yet he the worthiest Captaine euer was Brought all in ray and fought againe a new His skilfull souldiers he could bring to passe At once for why his traynings all they knew No sooner I his noble corps did view But in I brake amongst the captaines band And there I faught with Caesar hand to hand O God thou might'st haue giuen a Britaine grace T' haue slaine the Roman Caesar noble then Which sought the noble Britaines to deface And bring in bondage valiant worthie men He neuer should haue gone to Rome agen To fight with Pompey or his peeres to slay Or else to bring his countrie in decay It ioy'd my heart to strike on Caesars crest O Caesar that there had been none but wee I often made my sword to trie thy brest But Ladie fortune did not fauour mee I able was me thought with Caesars three To trie the case I made thy heart to quake When on thy crest with mightie stroke I strake The strokes thou strook'st me hurt me nought at all For why thy strength was nothing in respect But thou had'st bath'd thy sword in poyson all Which did my wound not deadly else infect Yet was I or I parted thence bewreckt I gate thy sword from thee for all thy fame And made thee flie for feare to eate the same For when thy sword was in my target fast I made thee flie and quickly leaue thy hold Thou neuer wast in all thy life so gast Nor durst againe be euer halfe so bold I made a number Romans hearts ful cold Fight fight you noble Britaines now quoth I We neuer all will vnreuenged die What Caesar though thy praise and mine bee od The ancient stories scarce remember me Though Poets all of thee doe make a God Such simple fooles in making Gods they bee Yet if I had my quarell try'd with thee Thou neuer hadst returnde to Rome againe Nor of thy faithfull friends bin beastly slaine A number Britaine 's mightst thou there haue seene Wounded in fight and spoile their spitefull foes My selfe maimde slew and mangled mo I weene When I was hurt then twenty more of those I made the Romanes stout their courage lose In all the campe no Romane scarce I spide Durst halfe the combate gainst a Britaine bide At length I met a noble man they cald Him Labienus one of Caesars friends A Tribune erst had many Britaines thrald Was one of Caesars Legats forth he sends Well met quoth I I minde to make th' amends For all thy friendships to our Country crew And so with Caesars sword his friend I slew What neede I name you euery Britaine here As first the King the nobles all beside Full stout and worthy wights in warre that were As euer erst the stately Romanes tride We fought so long they durst no longer bide Proude Caesar he for all his bragges and boast Flew backe to ships with halfe his scattered hoast If he had bene a God as sots him nam'd He could not of vs Britaines taken foile The Monarch Caesar might haue been asham'd From such an Iland with his ships recoile Or else to flie and leaue behind the spoile But life is sweete he thought it better flie Then bide amongst vs Britaines here to die I had his sword was named Croceamors With which he gaue me in the head a stroke The venime of the which had such a force It able was to pierce the heart of oke No medcines might the poyson out reuoke Wherefore though scarce he pierced had the skin In fifteene daies my braines it ranckled in And then too soone alas therefore I dide Yet would to God he had returnde againe So that I might but once the dastard spide Before he went I had the serpent slaine He plaide the coward cutthrote all too plaine A beastly serpents heart that beasts detects Which or he fight his sword with bane infects Well then my death brought Caesar no ronowne For both I gate thereby eternall fame And eke his sword to strike his friends adowne I slew therewith his Labiene by name With Prince against my Countrey foes I came Was wounded yet did neuer faint nor yeeld Till Caesar with his souldiers fled the field Who would not venture life in such a case Who would not fight at Countries whole request Who would not meeting Caesar in the place Fight for life Prince and Countrey with the best The greatest courage is by facts exprest Then for thy Prince with fortitude as I And Realmes defence is praise to liue or dy Now write my life when thou hast leasure and Will all thy countrymen to learne by me Both for their Prince and for their natiue land As valiant bold and fearelesse for to be A paterne plaine of fortitude they see To which directly if themselues they frame They shall preserue their Countrey faith and fame HOW THE LORD IRENGLAS COSIN TO KING CASSIBELLANE was slaine by the Lord Elimine cosin to Androgeus Earle of London about the yeare before Christ 51. AMongst the rest that whilome sate aloft Amongst the rest that once had happie chance Amongst the rest that had good fortune oft Amongst the rest that could themselues aduance Amongst the rest that led in
the Court a Kings behest Turne him to plow the cart for him is best For though thou canst by cunning art compell Nature a time to leaue her wonted place She will returne in spight of heauen or hell No Alcumist Dame Nature can displace Except that God doth giue abundant grace The Caske will haue a taste for euermore With that where with it seasoned was before Why did I then my courtlesse court maintaine With Hob and Iohn Ralph Royster and his mate Whose greedie iawes aye gaping after gaine Did pole and pill and bred such sterne debate Men much vnmeet to maintaine mine estate Why did I them so neere mine elbow place Because my selfe by birth was borne but bace Like will to like the Mule doth claw her mate With horned beasts the Ienite cannot iest Those bauling Hounds the haughtie Hart doth hate With Beares the Beare in safetie counts her best So I amongst my like did looke for rest Their deeds by me were alwaies well allow'd By them likwise my doings were auow'd But as you see the Husbandman with care From new sowne fields the rauening rookes to driue So did the Gentrie of my Realme prepare My countrie Court and me for to depriue But Gentlemen were then too weake to striue With me and mine for which they did prepare A new found snach which did my feet insnare In surgelesse seas of quiet rest when I Seuen yeares had sail'd a perrie did arise The blasts whereof abrig'd my libertie For whil'st I did with busie braine deuise Them to destroy which did my Court despise The boistrous blasts of hatred blew a gale My cables crakt my Barke was bong'd with bale For they I meane the Gentrie of my land Both me and mine theirs and themselues had sold Subiects to Rome from whence a mightie band They had conuey'd to make my courage cold Into my Realme they could not be controld But when they were arriu'd they quickly brought Both me and mine and all the rest to nought Alectus then the Chiefetaine of the rest Spoiling my friends he forst me to the field The day was come we both in fight were prest His trustlesse traine did seeme to me to yeeld But all the fields with great ambushments fill'd I could not flee Alectus had the day With his owne sword for breath he made me bray As due desert did force my ship to flote So vices vile me drencht in waues of woes O false suspect why did'st thou make me dote Fearing my fall my friends I deem'd my foes Fearing the worst the best I did depose And was deposde let other learne hereby The crooked Crab will alwaies walke awry And let them know which do not lothe to learne That Kings in Court be combred most with care The Pilots charge who sitteth at the stearne Doth make him watch when other do prepare Themselues to sleepe so Kings distressed are With doubtfull dread and many other things The sheepheards life is better then the Kings By Thomas Blener Hasset HOW QVEENE HELENA OF BRITAINE MARried CONSTANTIVS the Emperour and much aduanced the Christian faith through the whole world An. Dom. 289. MEns due deserts each Reader may recite For men of men do make a goodly show But womens workes can neuer come to light No mortall man their famous facts may know No writer will a little time bestow The worthy workes of women to repeat Though their renowne and due deserts be great For Iby birth to Coel daughter deere King Lucy was my good Grand-mothers sonne My father dead I rull'd his kingdome heere And afterward the World so wide I wonne I Empresse was of all vnder the Sunne I liued long I di'd with perfect blisse Yet writers will repeate no word of this But now at last I haue obtained leaue My spotlesse life to paint in perfect white Though writers would all honor from me reaue Of all renowne they would depriue me quite Yet true report my deeds shall burnish bright And rub the rust which did me much disgrace And set my name in her deserued place From Roman rule who Britaine did redeeme Who planted first Gods word in Britaine land Who did so much virginitie esteeme Who did the force of forren foes withstand Who all the world subdu'd without a band Of Martiall men who did these noble acts I Helena haue done these famous facts And now haue heere the storie of my state The Britaine Queene inheritage me crown'd Euen then when Romans had so great debate Amongst themselues for Caracallas wound An Emperour who highly was renown'd As then at Rome whose death vndoubtedly Diminisht much the Roman Emperie The Romans then were stor'd with ciuill strife And many Realmes against them did rebell Their trouble turn'd me to a quiet life My Commonweale did prosper passing well When all the world agreed like diuels in hell Then I and mine becalm'd from hatreds blast In happie hauen harboured wee at last Then I a maid of tender youthfull yeares Report did say of beautie fresh and faire Refusde the sute of many noble Peeres Which daily did vnto my court repaire What thought there were vnto my crowne no heire Yet I who did regard my Commons good Refusde to linke my selfe with forren blood On forren coasts on kingdomes to incroch With wrath of wrackfull warres I did despise And fearing aye the ruth of rude reproch With carking care I daily did deuise How I with peace might make my kingdome rise And how by law of God and man I might Giue Caesar his and vnto God his right No God of heauen no Christ my people knew Wherefore to Rome for learned men I sent King Lucies lawes decay'd I did renew Then preaching made my people so repent Their former faults that all incontinent Were baptised and so within a space The faith of Christ they firmely did embrace That nothing seemed currant in their sight But that which holie writers would allow And that they would imbrace with all their might To shed their bloud the same for to auow They did not feare at Verolane euen now Amidst the force of fiery flashing flame Albon the Protomartyr prou'd the same As carefull merchant men do much reioice When from those Iles Molocchi they haue brought Their fraighted ships for then they haue great choice Of Merchandize which trafficke long hath sought To finde the ware which trial true hath taught Wil get most gaine which being got they giue And cast their care how they thereby may liue So I whom both Sir Neptunes surging Seas And Eoles windes euen God himselfe aboue Did fauour much my labouring minde to please Giuing those things were best for my behoue Gods word I meane which all my men did loue The Pearles which Christ commanded to be bought Must here be found and no where els be sought Then they and I made haste post hast to leade Our sinful liues as Scripture did allow We knowing God him lou'd with feare and dreade Deuotion made vs crouch
few before me felt I nine yeares led my life and neuer felt annoy And certainely if now I might bee king againe Refusing all that pompe I would become a priest A Deacon or a Deane Prebend or Minister For these men leade their liues with liuings two or three Some haue their substitutes in Vniuersities Some leade the brauest liues that any man may haue They feede vpon the fleece they force not of the flocke Three houres in the yeere with beastly bosomde stuffe They spend and that is all that law of them requires Muse not though many thrust and shoulder for degrees For happy man is he who hath a Preachers sees But let me now returne vnto my Romish rout Who fed like Bacon fat did nought but play and pray With whom for nine yeares space when I my life had led I song my Requiem and paid the earth her fee. Then in Saint Peters Church at Rome they did me lay Booted and spurd euen as you see me here this day So now you haue the whole of all my Tragedie Of Brutus blood the last I liu'd that rul'd as king My Britaine 's driuen to Wales they Welchmen then were cal'd And I at Rome their king a mumbling Monke instal'd The Saxons had the day for which they longed long They England cal'd the Ile of Brute which tooke her name Some men be borne to blisse and some to hatefull hap Who would haue thought that I in warre a raging king Should by the force of Fate at Rome haue dide a Monke Let all the world then know that nothing is so sure That can afford and say I thus wil aye endure For that which seemeth best is soonest brought to naught Which plainly doth appeare by that which I haue taught The worthiest in the world princes philosophers Will teach that I haue taught and proue it passing plaine Paulus Aemilius did die but wretchedly And was not Scipio euen to his dying day Constraind to helpe his need the painfull plow to ply Caesar and Silla both did not they taste the whippe And made not Hannibal a miserable end And how was Socrates before his time destroy'd And Anaxagoras imprisoned long with paine For cruell beastly coyne diuine Plato was sold And Aristotle sent to exile where he di'd And so was Solon sage and that Lycurgus wise And many more which heere I could at large repeat But let these few suffice to teach for certaine truth That all the men that liue are subiects all to ruth And seeing so it is then let them learne the meane That if the barke do breake they safe may swimme to land Thomas Blener Hasset HOW SIGEBERT FOR HIS WICKED LIFE was thrust from his Throne and miserablie slaine by a Heardsman Anno Dom. 755. TWo parts in one a Heardsman heere must play My tale must tend each Princes life to mend And this my talke most plainly must display How far a subiect may himselfe defend Against his Liege his Soueraigne Lord and King If his default his Commonweale doth bring To miserie therefore a little while Attend and know the tenour of my stile A subiect I of base and low degree This headlesse corps of life I did depriue King Sigebert it was with crueltie Whose lust was law whil'st he was heere aliue To feele my force it was his destinie Then crueltie I wrackt with crueltie And to reuenge the wrong that earst he wrought With losse of life his lawlesse lust he bought This Sigebert the Saxons rulde by West Their ancient lawes he at his list did change For which his Commons did him much detest The Duke of Cornwall would not let him range Thus at his will but wisht him like a friend To mend his faults or els his life to end Then he in rage this Duke my masters life His cruel hands bereau'd with bloodie knife A lawlesse life to lawlesse death doth hale When witlesse will wil passe the power of may Then ill mishap doth drowne in dolours dale The peruerse Prince whose wit doth beare the sway Iust Abels blood to God for vengeance cald For blood with blood the Bloodsheader is thrald And him whom here before you I present For sheading blood my blade his life hath hent As he three yeares his people did oppresse Then they whose backe that burden could not beare With one consent they did his state distresse To reaue him of his Crowne they did not feare They him deposde from honour and renowne His hatefull hap so frowardly did frowne That he who had a kingdome but of late Forlorne he now must beg from gate to gate Do nothing muse at his deserued hap For many more as he their liues haue led Ioues vengeance iust such wretches doth inwrap With change most strange when he their blood will shed Of Dionyse of Syracusia Of Neroes death of Phalaris decay Who list to reade he passing plaine shall finde That he of heauen their sorrow hath assignde And out of doubt God did ordaine the fall Of him whom here I headlesse haue in hand Who wandring in a wood amidst his thrall I met by chance of whom I did demand His name and place who thus replide with feare O friend I am for meate now staruen wel neare Giue me therfore I thee beseech and pray Some meate to keepe my carcase from decay Some Pilgrim poore or waifaring man him straight Liudg'd and gaue him what my scrippe would yeeld And whilst we both thus on a banke did baite From sighes and sobbes himselfe he could not wield Which made me aske againe his name and place But silent he did mourne with frowning face Yet at the last by vrging to and fro He thus declar'd the cause of all his woe O miser I more wretch then thee by much I neuer could compare with thine estate This heard of Swine against thee neuer grutch I kept a heard which did their Heardsman hate A hateful heard of murmuring men I meane Which did depriue me of mine honour cleane And now I leade my lothsome life you see Impal'd amidst a maze of misery With changed chance aye me I chased am And frowning Fate such sorrow hath assignd That lothing life most like a quiet Lambe My naked necke to blocke of bale I bind With cruell knife O care come shread my twist So shall my soule by corps decay be blist But sith that Care nor Fate wil doe this deed Doe thou the same I thee beseech with speed First hatefull hope with flattering face did fawne With dread when deepe despaier would me haue drownd Then changed chance did checke me with the pawne Of wofull want when good successe did sound A blessed blast and now to tell the truth I haue the mate by raging Rooke of truth Lo thus I liue which daily wish to die And life alas doth make my miserie If lothsome life of this my corps the king Doth moue one way the Bishop bids me backe If to that point the Queene me backe doth bring On
of Yorke and other sought at home to put me downe Bellona rang the bell at home and all abroad With whose mishaps amaine fell Fortune did me load In France I lost my forts at home the foughten field My kinred slaine my friends opprest my selfe enforst to yeeld Duke Richard tooke me twice and forst me to resine My Crowne and titles due vnto my fathers line And kept mee as a ward did all things as him list Till that my wife through bloudy sword had tane me from his fist But though we slew the Duke my sorowes did not slake But like to Hydraes head still more and more awake For Edward through the aid of Warwicke and his brother From one field draue me to the Scots and toke me in another Then went my friends to wrack for Edward ware the Crowne For which for nine yeares space his prison held me downe Yet thence through Warwickes worke I was againe releast And Edward driuen fro the realme to seeke his friends by East But what preuaileth paine or prouidence of man To helpe him to good hap whom destiny doth ban Who moileth to remoue the rocke out of the mud Shall mire himselfe and hardly scape the swelling of the flud This all my friends haue found and I haue felt it so Ordain'd to be the touch of wretchednesse and woe For ere I had a yeare possest my seat againe I lost both it and liberty my helpers all were slaine For Edward first by stelth and sith by gathred strength Arriu'd and got to Yorke and London at the length Tooke me and tied me vp yet Warwicke was so stout He came with power to Barnet field in hope to helpe me out And there alas was slaine with many a worthy knight O Lord that euer such luck should hap in helping right Last came my wife and sonne that long lay in exile Defied the King and fought a field I may bewaile the while For there mine only sonne not thirteene yeares of age Was tane and murdred straight by Edward in his rage And shortly I my selfe to stint all further strife Stab'd with his brothers bloodie blade in prison lost my life Lo heere the heauie haps which hapned me by heape See heere the pleasant fruits that many Princes reape The painfull plagues of those that breake their lawfull bands Their meed which may and will not saue their friends from bloodie hands God grant my woful haps too grieuous to rehearce May teach all States to know how deepely dangers pierce How fraile all honors are how brittle worldly blisse That warned through my fearefull fate they feare to do amisse HOW GEORGE PLANTAGENET THIRD SONNE OF THE DVKE OF Yorke was by his brother King Edward wrongfully imprisoned and by his brother Richard miserably murdered the 11. of Ianuarie An. Dom. 1478. THe fowle is foule men say that files the nest Which makes me loth to speak now might I chuse But seeing time vnburdened hath her brest And fame blowne vp the blast of all abuse My silence rather might my life accuse Then shroud our shame though faine I would it so For truth will out although the world say no. And therefore Baldwine I do thee beseech To pause a while vpon my heauie plaint And vnneth though I vtter speedie speech No fault of wit nor folly makes me faint No headie drinkes haue giuen my tongue attaint Through quaffing craft Yet wine my wits confound Not that I dranke but wherein I was drown'd What Prince I am although I need not shew Because my wine bewrayes me by the smell For neuer man was soust in Bacchus dew To death but I through Fortunes rigour fell Yet that thou maist my storie better tell I will declare as briefely as I may My wealth my woe and causers of decay The famous house surnam'd Plantagenet Whereat Dame Fortune frowardly did frowne While Bolenbroke vniustly sought to set His Lord King Richard quite beside the Crowne Though many a day it wanted due renowne God so prefer'd by prouidence and grace That lawfull heires did neuer faile the race For Lionel King Edwards eldest child Both Eame and heire to Richard issulesse Begot faire Philip hight whom vndefil'd The Earle of March espous'd and God did blesse With fruit assign'd the kingdome to possesse I meane Sir Roger Mortimer whose heire The Earle of Cambridge maried Anne the faire This Earle of Cambridge Richard clept by name Was sonne to Edmund Langley Duke of Yorke Which Edmund was fift brother to the same Duke Lionel that all this line doth korke Of which two houses ioyned in a forke My father Richard Prince Plantagenet True Duke of Yorke was lawfull heire beget Who tooke to wife as ye shall vnderstand A mayden of a noble house and old Ralph Neuils daughter Earle of Westmerland Whose sonne Earle Richard was a Baron bold And had the right of Salisbury in hold Through mariage made with good Earle Thomas heire Whose earned praises neuer shall appaire The Duke my father had by this his wife Foure sonnes of whom the eldest Edward hight The second Edmund who did lose his life At Wakefield slaine by Clyfford cruell Knight I George am third of Clarence Duke by right The fourth borne to the mischiefe of vs all Was Glocesters Duke whom men did Richard call VVhen as our fire in sute of right was slaine VVhose life and death himselfe declared earst My brother Edward plied his cause amaine And got the Crowne as Warwicke hath rehearst The pride whereof so deepe his stomacke pearst That he forgot his friends despis'd his kin Of oath or office passing not a pin VVhich made the Earle of Warwicke to maligne My brothers state and to attempt a way To bring from prison Henrie sillie King To helpe him to the kingdome if he may And knowing me to be the chiefest stay My brother had he did me vndermine To cause me to his treasons to encline VVhereto I was prepared long before My brother had been to me so vnkind For sure no canker fretteth flesh so sore As vnkind dealing doth a louing mind Loues strongest bands vnkindnes doth vnbind It moueth loue to malice zeale to hate Chiefe friends to foes and brethren to debate And though the Earle of Warwicke subtill fire Perceiu'd I bare a grudge against my brother Yet toward his feate to set me more on fire He kindled vp one firebrand with another For knowing fancie was the forcing rother VVhich stirreth youth to any kind of strife He offered me his daughter to my wife Where through and with his craftie filed tongue He stole my heart that erst vnsteadie was For I was witlesse wanton fond and yongue Whole bent to pleasure brittle as the glasse I cannot lie In vino veritas I did esteeme the beautie of my bride Aboue my selfe and all the world beside These fond affections ioynt with lacke of skill Which trap the heart and blind the eyes of youth And pricke the mind to practise any ill So tickled me