Whil'st Kin their Kin Brother the Brother foyles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against Bowes the Crowne against the Crowne Whil'st all pretending right all right 's throwne downe 2 What furie ô what madnes held thee so Deare England too too prodigall of blood To waste so much and warre without a foe Whilst Fraunce to see thy spoyles at pleasure stood How much might'st thou haue purchast with lesse woe T' haue done thee honour and thy people good Thine might haue beene what-euer lies betweene The Alps and vs the Pyrenei and Rhene 3 Yet now what reason haue we to complaine Since hereby came the calme we did inioy The blisse of thee Eliza happie gaine For all our losse when-as no other way The Heauen could finde but to vnite againe The fatall sev'red Families that they Might bring foorth thee that in thy peace might growe That glorie which few Times could euer showe 4 Come sacred Virtue I no Muse but thee Inuoke in this great labour I intend Doo thou inspire my thoughts infuse in mee A power to bring the same to happie end Rayse vp a worke for later times to see That may thy glorie and my paynes commend Make me these tumults rightly to rehearse And giue peace to my life life to my verse 5 And thou Charles Montioy who didst once afford Rest for my fortunes on thy quiet shore And cheer'dst mee on these measures to record In grauen tones then I had vs'd before Beholde my gratitude makes good my word Ingag'd to thee although thou be no more That I who heretofore haue liv'd by thee Doo giue thee now a roome to liue with me 6 And MEMORIE preserv'resse of things done Come thou vnfold the woundes the wracke the waste Reueale to me how all the strife begunne Twixt Lancaster and Yorke in ages past How causes counsels and euents did runne So long as these vnhappie times did last Vnintermixt with fictions fantasies I versifie the troth not Poetize 7 And to the ende wee may with better ease Discerne the true discourse vouehsafe to showe What were the times foregoing neere to these That these we may with better profit knowe Tell how the world sell into this disease And how so great distemperature did growe So shall we see by what degrees it came How things at full do soone wex out of frame 8 Ten Kings had from the Norman Conqueror raign'd With intermixt and variable fate When England to her greatest height attain'd Of powre dominion glorie wealth and State After it had with much adoo sustain'd The violence of Princes with debate For titles and the often mutinies Of Nobles for their ancient liberties 9 For first the Norman conquering all by might By might was forc't to keepe what he had got Mixing our Customes and the forme of Right With foraine Constitutions he had brought Maistering the mightie humbling the poorer wight By all seuerest meanes that could be wrought And making the succession doubtfull rent This new-got State and left it turbulent 10 VVilliam his sonne tracing his fathers wayes The great men spent in peace or slaine in fight Vpon depressed weaknes onely preyes And makes his force maintaine his doubtfull right His elder brothers clayme vexing his dayes His actions and exactions still incite And giuing Beasles what did to Men pertaine Tooke for a Beast himselfe in th' end was slaine 11 His brother Henrie next commands the State Who Roberts title better to reiect Seekes to repacifie the peoples hate And with faire shewes rather then in effect Allayes those grieuances that heauie sate Reformes the lawes which soone hee did neglect And rest of sounes for whom he did prepare Leaues crowne and strife to Maude his daughters care 12 Whom Stephen his nephew falsifying his Oath Preuents assayles the Realme obtaines the â—â—owne Such tumults raysing as torment them both Whil'st both held nothing certainely their owne Th' afflicted State diuided in their troth And partiall faith most miserable growne Endures the while till peace and Stephens death Gaue some calme leasure to recover breath 13 When Henrie sonne to Maude the Empresse raignes And England into forme and greatnes brought Addes Ireland to this Scepter and obtaines Large Prouinces in Fraunce much treasure gote And from exaction there at home obstaynes And had not his rebellious children sought T' imbroyle his age with tumults he had beene The happiest Monarch that this State had seene 14 Him Richard followes in the gouernment Who much the glory of our Armes increast And all his fathers mighty treasure spent In that deuoutfull Action of the East Whereto whiles he his forces wholly bent Despight and treason his designes opprest A faithlessey brother and a fatall King Cut-off his growth of glory in the spring 15 Which wicked brother contrary to course False Iohn vsurpes his Nephew Arthurs right Gets to the Crowne by craft by wrong by force Rules it with lust oppression rigour might Murders the lawfull heire without remorse Wherefore procuring all the worlds despight A Tyrant loath'd a homicide conuented Poysoned he dyes disgrac't and vnlamented 16 Henrie his sonne is chosen King though young And Lewes of â—â—uce elected first beguil'd After the mighty had debated long Doubtfull to choose a straunger or a child With him the Barrons in these times growne strong Warre for their auncient Lawes so long exil'd He graunts the Charter that prentended ease Yet kept his owne and did his State appease 17 Edward his sonne a Martiall King succeedes Iust prudent graue religious fortunate Whose happy ordered Raigne most fertile breedes Plenty of mighty spirits to strength his State And worthy mindes to manage worthy deedes Th' experience of those times ingenerate For euer great imployment for the great Quickens the blood and honour doth beget 18 And had not his mis-led lasciuious Sonne Edward the second intermitted so The course of glory happily begunne Which brought him and his fauorites to woe That happy current without stop had runne Vnto the full of his sonne Edwards flowe But who hath often seene in such a State Father and Sonne like good like fortunate 19 But now this great Succeeder all repaires And reinduc't that discontinued good He builds vp strength greatnes for his heires Out of the virtues that adornd his blood He makes his Subiects Lords of more then theirs And sets their bounds farre wider then they stood His powre and fortune had sufficient wrought Could but the State haue kept what he had got 20 And had his heire surviu'd him in due course What limits England hadst thou found what barre What world could haue resisted so great force O more then men two thunderbolts of warre Why did not Time your ioyned worth diuorce T' haue made your seueral glories greater farre Too prodigall was Nature thus to doe To spend in one Age what should serue for two 21 But now the Scepter in this glorious
we iudg'd with an vnpartiall hart 39 And first for you my Lord in griefe we see The miserable case wherein you stand Voyde here of succour helpe or maiestie On this poore promontorie of your Land And where how long a time your Grace may be Expecting what may fall into your hand Wee know not since th' euent of things do lie Clos'd vp in darkenes farre from mortall eye 40 And how vnfit it were you should protract Long time in this so dangerous disgrace As though that you good spirit and courage lackt To issue out of this opprobrious place When euen the face of Kings do oft exact Feare and remorse in faultie subiects base And longer stay a great presumption drawes That you were guilty or did doubt your cause 41 What Subiects euer so inrag'd would dare To violate a Prince t' offend the blood Of that renowmed race by which they are Exalted to the height of all their good What if some things by chaunce misguided were Which they haue now rebelliously withâ—â—ood They neuer will proceed with that despight To wracke the State and to confound the right 42 Nor doe I thinke that Bullingbrooke can bee So blind-ambitious to affect the Crowne Hauing himselfe no title and doth see Others if you should fayle must keepe him downe Besides the Realme though mad will neuer gree To haue a right succession ouerthrowne To rayse confusion vpon them and theirs By preiudicing true and lawfull heires 43 And now it may be fearing the successe Of his attemptes or with remorse of minde Or else distrusting secret practises He would be glad his quarrell were resign'd So that there were some orderly redresse In those disorders which the Realme did finde And this I thinke he now sees were his best Since farther actions further but vnrest 44 And for th'impossibilitie of peace And reconcilement which my Lord obiects I thinke when doying iniurie shall cease The cause pretended then surcease th' effects Time and some other Actions may increase As may diuert the thought of these respects Others law of forgetting iniuries May serue our turne in like calamities 45 And for his oath in conscience and in sense True honour would not so be found vntrue Nor spot his blood with such a foule offence Against his soule against his God and you Our Lord forbid that euer with th' expence Of heauen and heauenly ioyes that shall insue Mortalitie should buy this little breath T' indure the horror of eternall death 46 And therefore as I thinke you safely may Accept this proffer that determine shall All doubtfull courses by a quiet way Needfull for you fit for them good for all And here my Sov'raigne to make longer stay T' attend for what you are vnsure will fall May slippe th' occasion and incense their will For Feare that 's wiser then the truth doth ill 47 Thus he perswades out of a zealous minde Supposing men had spoken as they ment And vnto this the King likewise inclin'd Avwholly vnto peace and quiet bent And yeeldes himselfe to th' Earle goes leaues-behind His safetie Scepter Honor Gouernement For gone all 's gone he is no more his owne And they rid quite of feare he of the Crowne 48 A place there is where proudly rais'd there stands A huge aspiring Rock neighb'ring the Skies Whose surly brow imperiously commaund The Sea his boundes that at his proud feete lies And spurnes the waues that in rebellious bands Assault his Empire and against him rise Vnder whose craggy gouernment there was A niggard narrow way for men to pasle 49 And here in hidden cliffes concealed lay A troope of armed men to intercept The vnsuspecting King that had no way To free his foote that into danger stept The dreadfull Ocean on the one side lay The hard-incroching Mountaine th' other kept Before him he beheld his hateful foes Behind him trayterous enemies inclose 50 Enuiron'd thus the Earle begins to cheere His al-amased Lord by him betrayde Bids him take courage ther 's no cause of feare These troopes but there to guard him safe were layd To whom the King What neede so many here This is against your oath my Lord he said But now hee sees in what distresse he stood To striue was vaine t' intreat would do no good 51 And therefore on with careful hart he goes Complaines but to himselfe sighes grieues and freats At Rutland dines though feedes but on his woes The griefe of minde hindred the minde of meats For sorrow shame and feare scorne of his foes The thought of what he was and what now threats Then what he should and now what he hath done Musters confused passions all in one 52 To Flint from thence vnto a restless bed That miserable night he comes conuayd Poorely prouided poorely followed Vncourted vnrespected vnobayd Where if vncertaine sleepe but hoouered Ouer the drooping cares that heauy weigh'd Millions of figures fantasie presents Vnto that sorrow wakened griefe augments 53 His new misfortune makes deluding sleepe Say 't was not so False dreames the trueth denie Wherewith he starts feels waking cares do creepe Vpon his soule and giues his dreame the lie Then sleepes againe and then againe as deepe Deceites of darknes mocke his miserie So hard believ'd was sorrow in her youth That he thinks truth was dreams dreams were truth 54 The morning light presents vnto his view Walking vpon a turret of the place The trueth of what hee sees is prov'd too true A hundred thousand men before his face Came marching on the shore which thither drew And more to aggrauate his great disgrace Those he had wrongd or done to them despight As if they him vpbrayd came first in sight 55 There might hee see that false forsworne vile crue Those shameless agents of vnlawfull lust His Pandars Parasites people vntrue To God and man vnworthy any trust Preacing vnto that fortune that was new And with vnblushing faces formost thrust As those that still with prosperous fortune sort And are as borne for Corte or made in Cort. 56 There hee beheld how humbly diligent New Adulation was to be at hand How ready Falsehood slept how nimbly went Basepick-thank Flattery and preuents Command Hee saw the great obay the graue consent And all with this new-rays'd Aspirer stand But which was worst his owne part acted there Not by himselfe his powre not his appeare 57 Which whilst he view'd the Duke he might perceiue Make towards the Castle to an interview Wherefore he did his contemplation leaue And downe into some fitter place withdrew Where now he must admitte without his leaue Him who before with all submission due Would haue beene glad t' attend and to prepare The grace of audience with respectiue care 58 Who now being come in presence of his king Whether the sight of Maiestie did breed Remorse of what he was in compassing Or whether but to formalize his deed He kneeles him downe with some astonishing Rose kneeles againe for craft wil still
Yet most it seem'd the French King to import As sharer in his daughters iniurie Though bloud in Princes links not in such sort As that it is of any powre to tye Where their estates may seeme t'aduenture hurt Or where there is not a necessitie That doth combine them with a stronger chaine Then all these great Alliances containe 5 For though this King might haue resentiment And will t' auenge him of this iniurie Yet at that time his State being turbulent Factious and full of partialitie And oftentimes he him selfe impotent By meanes of his Phreneticque maladie It was not likely any good could rise By vndertaking such an enterprise 6 And therefore both sides vpon entercourse As fitted best their present termes agreed The former truce continue should in force According as it had beene fore-decreed Vpon the match with Richard and a course For Isabel with all conuenient speed Prouided with an honorable Traine Suting her state to be sent home againe 7 Whome willingly they would haue still retain'd And matcht vnto the Prince but shee though yong Yet sensible of that which appertain'd To honor and renowne scornd any tongue That offred such a motion and disdaynd To haue it thought she would but heare that wrong Mov'd to her of her Lord and husband dead To haue his murtherers race inioy his bed 8 Besides the French doubting the Gouernment Thus gotten would be subiect still to strife Not willing were to vrge her to consent T' accept a troublous and vncertaine life And being returnd she grew in th' end content To be at home a Duke of Orleance wife Scap't from such stormes of powre holding it best To be belowe her selfe to be at rest 9 And so hath Henrie assecur'd that side And therewithall his State of Gasconie Which on th' intelligence was notifi'd Of Richards death were wrought to mutinie And hardly came to be repacifi'd And kept to hold in their fidelitie So much to him were they affectioned For hauing beene amongst them borne and bred 10 These toyles abtode these tumults with his owne As if the frame of all disioynted were With this disordred shifting of the Crowne Fell in the reuolution of one yeare Beside the Scotte in discontentment growne For the detayning and supporting here The scourge of all that kingdome George Dunbar With sire and sword proclaymes an open war 11 Taking their time in these disturbances And newneâ—â—e of a wauering Gouernment T' auenge them of their former grieuances And by our spoyles their fortunes to augment Against whose forces Henry furnishes A powrefull Army and in person went But warres with a retyring enemy With much more trauaile then with victorie 12 And being by sharp deformed Winters force Caus'd to retire he sindes new stormes at home From other Coasts arysing that prov'd worse Then those which now hee was returned from In VVales a Cause of Law by violent course Was from a variance now a warre become And Owen Glendour who with Gray of late Contests for priuate landes now seekes a State 13 Whom to represse he early in the Spring With all prouisions fit doth forward set When straight his enemies not purposing To hazard battaile to the mountaines get Where after long and weary trauayling Without performing any great defeat He onely their prouisions wastes and burnes And with some prey of Cattell home returnes 14 Wherewith the Rebell rather was the more Incourag'd then addaunted and begun T'aduenture farther then he did before Seeing such a Monarch had so little done Being com'n in person with so great a powre And sodainely againe retyr'd and gone For in this case they helpe who hurt so small And he hath nothing done that doth not all 15 But now behold other new heads appeare New Hidra's of rebellion that procure More worke to doo and giue more cause of feare And shew'd that nothing in his State stood sure And these euen of his chiefest followers were Of whome he might presume him most secure Who had th' especiall ingins beene to reare His fortunes vp vnto the State they were 16 The Percies were the men men of great might Strong in alliance and in courage strong Who now conspire vnder pretence to right Such wrongs as to the Common wealth belong Vrg'd either through their conscience or despight Or finding now the part they tooke was wrong Or else Ambition hereto did them call Or others enuy'd grace or rather all 17 And such they were who might presume t' haue done Much for the king and honour of the State Hauing the chiefest actions vnder-gone Both forraine and domesticall of late Beside that famous day of Homeldon Where Hotspur gaue that wonderfull defeat Vnto the Scottes as shooke that kingdome more Then many Monarchs armies had before 18 Which might perhaps aduance their mindes so farre Aboue the leuell of subiection as T'assume to them the glory of that war Where all things by their powre were brought to passe They being so mightie and so popular And their command so spacious as it was Might in their State forget how all these things That subiects doo effect must be their Kings 19 And so sell after into discontent For that the king requir'd to haue as his Those Lords were taken prisoners whome they ment To hold still as their proper purchases Then that he would not at their sute consent To worke their Cosin Mortimers release Out of the Rebell Owen Glendour's hands Who held him prisoner in disgracefull bands 20 But be what will the cause strong was their plot Their parties great meanes good the season fit Their practise close their faith suspected not Their states far off and they of wary wit Who with large promises so wooe the Scot To aide their Cause as he consents to it And glad was to disturne that furious streame Of warre on vs that else had swallowed them 21 Then ioyne they with the Welsh who now wel train'd In Armes and action dayly grew more great Their Leader by his wiles had much attaynd And done much mischiefe on the English State Beside his prisoner Mortimer he gain'd From being a foe to b'his confederate A man the King much fear'd and well he might Least he should looke whether his Crowne stood right 22 For Richard for the quiet of the State Before he tooke those Irish warres in hand About Succession doth deliberate And finding how the certaine Right did stand With full consent this man did ordinate The heyre apparent to the Crowne and Land Whose competencie was of tender touch Although his might was small his right was much 23 With these the Percies them confederat And as three heads conioyne in one intent And instituting a Triumuirate Do part the Land in triple gouernment Diuiding thus among themselues the State The Percies should rule all the North from Trent And Glendour VVales the Earle of March should be Lord of the South from Trent and so they'gree 24 Then
those faire bayts these Trouble-States still vse Pretence of common good the Kings ill Course Must be cast forth the people to abuse And giue their Cause and them the better force The king for tyranny they doo accuse By whom the State was growne from bad to worse A periur'd man who held all faith in scorne Whose trusted Oathes had others made forsworne 25 And therewithal the execrable act On their late murthered King they aggrauate How he imploy'd the dooers of the fact Whom afterwards hee did remunerate And dayly such taxations did exact As were against the Order of the State Presuming those great summes hee did impose About his priuate vses to dispose 26 And how he was inuironed with such As had possest him and in slanderous sort Accus'd them so as they durst not approche To cleare themselues of such vniust report And thereupon they flatly disauouch To yeld him more obedience or support And as t' a periurd Duke of Lancaster Their Cartell of Defiance they preferre 27 Protesting these obiections to make good With sword in hand and to confirme and seale Their vndertaking with their dearest bloud As Procurators for the Common-weale And that vpon their Consciences it stood And did import their dutie and their zeale Vnto the State as Peeres to see redrest Those miseries wherewith it was opprest 28 Great seem'd their Cause and greatly too did adde The peoples loue thereto these crymes impos'd That many gathered to the troupes they had And many sent them aide though vndisclos'd So that the King with all maine speed was glad Both by his remonstrances well compos'd And with his sword his best defence prouide To right himselfe and to correct their pride 29 Divulging first a fayre Apologie Of his cleere heart touching the foule report Of that assassinate which vtterly He doth abiure protesting in no sort T' agree thereto in will or priuitie And how he had beene vsed to extort The State could witnesse best by whose consent Was granted what he had in Parlement 30 Which neuer was but onely one supply In foure yeares troublous and expensiue Raigne And that vpon extreame necessitie The safetie of the publicke to maintaine And that the Percies best could testifie How most that mony issued was againe To whom the same was rendred to the end To warre the Scot and Borders to defend 31 And that the rest was to the same effect For which it was obtaynd in like sort spent And where-as they did slanderously obiect How that they durst not hazard to present In person their defences in respect He was incenst by some maleuolent It was most false for he knew no defence They were to make till now they made offence 32 And how far he had been from cruelty Both VVales and Scotland could him witnes beare Where those effects of his great clemencie In sparing bloud do to his cost appeare Much more his subiects finde his lenitie Whose loue he seekes to haue and not their feare But thus said he they euer do pretend To haue receiv'd a wrong who wrong intend 33 Not to giue time vnto th' increasing rage And gathering furie foorth hee marcht with speed Least more delay or giuing longer age To th' euill growne it might the cure exceed All his best men at Armes and Leaders sage All he prepar'd hee could and all did need For to a mighty worke thou goest ô King That equall spirits and equall powres shal bring 34 There shall young Hotspur with a fury led In grapple with thy sonne as fierce as hee There Martiall VVorster long experienced In forraine armes shall come t' incounter thee There Dowglas to thy Stafford shall make head There Vernon for thy valiant Blunt shall be There shalt thou finde a doubtfull bloudy day Though sicknesse keep Northumberland away 35 Who yet reserv'd though after quit for this Another tempest on thy head to rayse As if still wrong-reuenging Nemesis Meant to afflict all thy continuing dayes And here this field hee happely doth misse For thy great good and therefore well hee stayes What might his force haue done being brought thereto When that already gaue so much to doo 36 The swift approche and vnexpected speed The King had made vpon this new-rays'd force In th' vnconfirmed troupes much feare did breed Vntimely hind'ring their intended course The ioyning with the Welsh they had decreed Was hereby dasht which made their Cause the worse Northumberland with forces from the North Expected to be there was not set forth 37 And yet vndaunted Hotspur seeing the King So neere arriv'd leauing the worke in hand With forward speed his forces marshalling Sets forth his farther comming to withstand And with a cheerefull voyce incouraging His well experienc't and aduentrous Band Brings on his Army eger vnto fight And plac't the same before the King in sight 38 This day saith he my valiant trusty friendes What-euer it doth giue shal glory giue This day with honor frees our State or endes Our misery with fame that still shal liue And doo but thinke how well the same he spends Who spends his blood his Country to relieue What haue we hands and shall we seruile bee Why were swordes made but to preserue men free 39 Besides th' assured hope of victorie Which we may even fore-promise on our side Against this weake constrayned company Whom force and feare not will and loue doth guide Against a Prince whose foul impiety The heauens doo hate the earth cannot abide Our number being no lesse our courage more No doubt we haue it if wee worke therefore 40 This sayd and thus resolv'd euen bent to charge Vpon the King who well their order view'd And wary noted all the course at large Of their proceeding and their multitude And deeming better if he could discharge The day with safetie and some peace conclude Great proffers sendes of pardon and of grace If they would yeeld and quietnesse imbrace 41 Which though his feares might driue him to propose To time his businesse for some other ende Yet sure hee could not meane t' haue peace with those Who did in that supreame degree offend Nor were they such as would bee wonne with showes Or breath of oathes or vowes could apprehend So that in honor th'offers he doth make Were not for him to giue nor them to take 42 And yet this much his courses doo approue He was not bloudy in his Naturall And yeeld he did to more then might behoue His dignitie to haue dispenst with all And vnto VVorster hee himselfe did moue A reconcilement to be made of all But VVorster know'ing it could not be secur'd His Nephews on-set yet for all procur'd 43 Which seeing the King with greater wrath incenst Rage against furie doth with speede prepare And though sayd he I could haue wel dispenst With this dayes bloud which I haue sought to spare That greater glory might haue recompenst The forward worth of these that so much dare That we might good
fit Soone to be wrought and easie to befed Swolne full with enuie that the Crowne should sit There where it did as if established And whom it toucht in Blood to grieue at it They with such hopes and helps sollicited That this great Earle was drawne t' attempt the thing And practiseth how to depose the King 27 For being of mightie meanes to do the deed And yet of mightier hopes then meanes to do And yet of spirit that did his hopes exceed And then of Blood as great to adde thereto All these with what the gold of France could breed Being powers enow a clyming minde to woo He so imploy'd that many he had wonne Euen of the chiefe the King reli'd vpon 28 The well-knowne right of th' Earle of March allur'd A leaning loue whose Cause he did pretend Whereby he knew that so himselfe procur'd The Crowne for his owne children in the ende For the Earle beeing as hee was assur'd Vnapt for isâ—ue it must needes descend On those of his being next of Clarence race As who by course of right should hold the place 29 It was the time when-as the forward Prince Had all prepar'd for his great enterprize And ready stand his troupes to part from hence And all in stately forme and order lyes When open Fame giues out intelligence Of these bad complots of his enemies Or else this time of purpose chosen is Though knowne before yet let run on till this 30 That this might yeeld the more to aggrauate Vpon so foul a deed vntimely sought Now at this point t' attempt to ruinate So glorious a designe so forward brought Whil'st careful Virtue seekes t' aduance the State And for her euerlasting honor sought That though the Cause seem'd right and title strong The time of dooing it yet makes it wrong 31 But straight an vnlamented death he had And straight were ioyfully the Anchors weighd And all flocke fast aboord with visage glad As if the sacrifice had now beene payd For their good speed that made their stay so sad Loathing the least occasion that delayd And now new thoughts great hopes calme seas fair windes With present action intertaine their mindes 32 No other crosse ô Henry saw thy dayes But this that toucht thy now possessed hold Nor after long till this mans sonne assayesâ— To get of thine the right that he controll'd For which contending long his life he payes So that it fatal seem'd the father should Thy winning seeke to stay and then his sonne Should be the cause to lose when thou hadst won 33 Yet now in this so happy a meane-while And interlightning times thy Virtues wrought That Discord had no leasure to defile So faire attempts with a tumultuous thought And euen thy selfe thy selfe didst so beguile With such attention vpon what was sought That time affoords not now with feare or hate Others to seeke thee to secure thy State 34 Or else how easie had it beene for thee All the pretendant race t' haue layd full lowe If thou proceeded hadst with crueltie Not suffering any fatall branch to growe But vnsuspicious Magnanimitie Shames such effectes of feare and force to showe Busied in free and open Actions still Being great for being good hates to be ill 35 And yet such wrongs are held meete to be done And often for the State thought requisite As when the publike good depends thereon When great iniustice is esteem'd great right But yet what good with doing ill is won Who hath of blood made such a benefite As hath not fear'd more after then before And made his peace the lesse his plague the more 36 Farre otherwise dealt this vndaunted King That cherished the ofspring of his foes And his Competitors to grace did bring And them his friendes for Armes and honors chose As if plaine courses were the safest thing Where vpright goodnesse sure and stedfast goes Free from that subtile maskt impietie Which this depraued world calles policie 37 Yet how hath Fate dispos'd of all this good What haue these Virtues after times auail'd In what stead hath hy-raised Valour stood When this continuing cause of Greatnes fail'd Then when proud-growne the irritated blood Enduring not it selfe it selfe assail'd As though that Prowesse had but learnd to spill Much blood abrode to cut her throat with skill 38 How doth th' Eternall in the course of things Immix the causes both of Good and Ill That thus the one effects of th' other brings As what seemes made to blisse is borne to spill What from the best of Virtues glorie springs That which the world with miserie doth fill I th' end of happinesse but wretchednesse Hath Sinne his plague and Virtue no successe 39 Either that is not good the world holdes good Or else is so confus'd with ill that we Abused with th' appearing likelihood Run to offend whil'st we thinke good to bee Or else the heauens made man in furious blood To torture man Allotting no course free From mischiefe long Sending faire dayes that breed But stormes to make more foul times that succeed 40 Who would haue thought that so great victories Such conquests riches Land and Kingdome gain'd Could not but haue establisht in such wise This powrefull State in state to haue remain'd Who would haue thought that Mischiefe could deuise A way so soone to lose what was attain'd As if powre were but shew'd to grieue not grace And to reduce vs into farre worse case 41 With what contagion Fraunce didst thou infect This Land by thee made proud to disagree T'inrage them so their owne swordes to direct Vpon them-selues that were made sharp in thee Why didst thou teach them here at home t' erect Trophees of their blood which of thine should bee Or was the date of thine affliction out And so by course was ours to come about 42 But that vntimely death of this great King Whose nine yeeres Raigne so mightie wonders wrought To thee thy hopes to vs despaire did bring Not long to keepe and gouerne what was got For those that had th'affayres in managing Although their Countries good they greatly sought Yet so ill accidentes vnfitly fell That their dessignes could hardly prosper wel 43 An infant King doth in the State succeed Scarce one yeere old left vnto others guide Whose careful trust though such as shew'd indeed They weigh'd their charge more then the world beside And did with dutie zeale and loue proceed Yet for all what their trauaile could prouide Could not woo Fortune to remaine with vs When this her Minion was departed thus 44 But by degrees first this then that regain'd The turning tide beares backe with flowing chaunce Vnto the Dolphin all we had attain'd And filles the late lowe-running hopes of Fraunce When Bedford who our onely hold maintain'd Death takes from vs their fortune to aduance And then home-strife that on it selfe did fall Neglecting forraine care did soone lose all 45 Neere three score yeeres are past since
ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft things done perhaps do lesse annoy Then may the doing handled with delay 85 And so they had it straight accomplished For next day after his commitment he Is dead brought forth being found so in his bed Which was by sodaine sickenesse sayd to bee That had vpon his sorrowes newly bred As by apparant tokens men might see And thus ô Sickenesse thou art oft beli'd When death hath many wayes to come beside 86 Are these the deedes high forraine wittes inuent Is this that Wisedome whereof they so boast Well then I would it neuer had beene spent Heere amongst vs nor brought from out their coast Let their vile cunning in their limits pent Remaine amongst themselues that like it most And let the North they count of colder blood Be held more grosse so it remaine more good 87 Let them haue fairer citties goodlier soyles And sweeter fieldes for beautie to the eye So long as they haue these vngodly wyles Such detestable vile impietie And let vs want their Vines their Fruites the-whyles So that wee want not fayth and honestie We care not for those pleasures so we may Haue better hearts and stronger hands then they 88 Neptune keepe-out from thy imbraced Ile This foul contagion of iniquitie Drowne all corruptions comming to defile Our faire proceedings ordred formally Keepe vs meere English let not craft beguile Honor and Iustice with strange subtiltie Let vs not thinke how that our good can frame Which ruin'd hath the Authors of the same 89 But by this impious meanes that worthy man Is brought vnto this lamentable end And now that Current with maine furie ran The stop remov'd that did the course defend Vnto the full of mischiefe that began T' a vniuersall ruine to extend That Isthmus fayling which the Land did keep From the intire possession of the Deepe 90 And now the King alone all open lay No vnder prop of Blood to stay him by None but himselfe stands weakely in the way Twixt Yorke and the affected sov'raignty Gone is that barre that would haue beene the stay T' haue kept him backe from mounting vp so hie But see ah I see What state stand these men in That cannot liue without nor with their kin 91 The Queene hath yet by this her full desire And now she with her Minion Suffolke raigns Now she hath hath all authoritie intire And all affayres vnto her selfe retains And onely Suffolke is aduaunced hier He is the man rewarded for his pains He that did her in stead most chiefly stand And more aduanc't her then hee did the Land 92 Which when they saw who better did expect Then they began their error to descry And well perceiue that onely the defect Was in their iudgements passion-drawne awry Found formall rigor fitter to direct Then pride and insolent inconstancie Better seueritie that 's right and iust Then impotent affections led with lust 93 And thereupon in sorrow thus complaine What wondrous inconuenience do they feele Where as such imbecillitie doth raigne As so neglects the care of Common-weale Where euer one or other doth obtaine So high a grace thus absolute to deale The-whilst th'aggreeued subiect suffers stil The pride of some predominating will 94 And euer one remov'd a worse succeedes So that the best that we can hope is Warre Tumults and stirres that this disliking breedes The sword must mend what Insolence doth marre For what rebellions and what bloody deedes Haue euer followed where such courses are What oft-remoues what death of Counsailers What murder what exile of Officers 95 Witnesse the Spencers Ganestone and Vere The mighty Minions of our feeblest Kings Whoeuer Subiects to their subiects were And onely the procurers of these things When worthy Monarchs that hold honour deare Maister themselues and theirs vvhich euer brings That vniuersall reuerence and respect For who waighes him that doth himselfe neglect 96 And yet our case is like to be farre worse Hauing a King though not so bent to ill Yet so neglecting good that giuing force By giuing leaue doth all good order kill Suffring a violent Woman take her course To manage all according to her will Which how she doth begin her deedes expresse And what will be the end our selues may ghesse 97 Which after followed euen as they did dread When now the shamefull losse of Fraunce much grieues Which vnto Suffolke is attributed As who in all mens sight most hatefull liues And is accus'd that he with lucre led Betraies the State and secret knowledge giues Of our designes and all that we did hold By his corruption is or lost or sold. 98 And as hee deales abroad so likewise here He robs at home the Treasurie no lesse Here where he all authorities doth beare And makes a Monopoly of Offices He is inricht His rais'd and placed neare And onely he giues counsaile to oppresse Thus men obiect whil'st many vp in Armes Offer to be reuenged of these harmes 99 The Queene perceiuing in what case she stoode To lose her Minion or ingage her State After with long contention in her blood Loue and Ambition did the Cause debate Shee yields to Pride and rather thought it good To sacrifice her Loue vnto their hate Then to aduenture else the losse of all Which by maintaining him was like to fall 100 Yet seeking at the first to temporize Shee tries if that some short Imprisonment Would calme their heat when that would not suffize Then to exile him she must needs consent Hoping that time would salue it in such wise As yet at length they might become content And shee againe might haue him home at last When this first furie of their rage was past 101 But as he to his iudged exile went Hard on the shore he comes incountered By some that so farre off his Honour sent As put his backe-returne quite out of dread For there he had his rightfull punishment Though wrongly done and there he lost his head Part of his blood hath Neptune part the Sand As who had mischiefe wrought by sea and land 102 Whos 's death when swift-wingd Fame at full conuaid To this disturbed Queene misdoubting nought Despight and Sorrow such affliction laid Vpon her soule as wondrous passions wrought And art thou Suffolke thus said she betraid And haue my fauours thy destruction brought Is this their gaine whom Highnesse fauoureth Who chiefe preferd stand as preferd to death 103 O fatall grace without which men complaine And with it perish what preuailes that we Must weare the Crowne and other men must raigne And cannot stand to be that which we be Must our owne Subiects limit and constraine Our fauours wher-as they themselues decree Must we our loue at their appointment place Do we
in the region of my hart I raigne sole Queene no King can force a part 74 Here Feare a little interpos'd a touch To warne her violence to temporize With Powre and State and she concludes her speach With crauing pardon in more humble wise Yet in proud humble wise which shew'd how much She did her honor aboue Greatnes prise And so being full of what she did conceiue Desires to be dismist and takes her leaue 75 Here Mary Pembrooke by whose generous brow And noble graces I delineat These shapes of others virtues could I showe In what a desperat and confus'd estate She left this disappointed King and how Loue and Ambition in their glory sate And tyranniz'd on his diuided hart Warring each other with a powrefull part 76 How first Loue vnderneath his Colours brought The strength of all her gracefull worthinesse And sets them in th' aduantage of his thought Vpon the side of Youth and Wantonnesse Then how Ambition that for glory wrought Comes with his State his Crowne and Powrfulnes And plants her on the side of prouidence To beat vnfit Affections off from thence 77 But I must ouer-goe these passages And hasten-on my way to ouer-take Mine endes in sad and grauer businesses Wherof I shall to you relation make And yet my zeale here forc't mee thus t' expresse Elizabeth for our Elizaes sake Who grac't the Muses which her Times became For they who giue them comfort must haue fame 78 And I must tell you now when this great fight Of counter-passions had beene throughly try'd How in the ende the victorie did light Vpon Loues forces as the stronger side And beat downe those respects of benefite Of honor greatnes strength and all beside And neuer graunted rest vnto his strife Till mariage rites had her confirm'd his wife 79 Which that place where he saw her first saw donne Ere he remov'd his foot for Loue is stil In haste and as a Lord that rules alone Admittes no Counseller in good nor ill For He and Kings gladly giue eare to none But such as smooth their wayes and sooth their will And who will not desire to giue his voyce Be what it will to prayse a Princes choyce 80 Which was indeed in virtue beautie grace And all but fortune worthy of his bed And in that too had hee but liv'd the space T' haue seene her plentious issue fully bred That they might haue collated strength and grace On her weake side which scornd and maliced Lay-open vndefenc't apt to b'vndon By proud vsurping Powre when he was gon 81 But now when fame of this home-chosen Match Arriu'd in France for there it did arriue Ere they could heere attend to make dispatch T' impart the same to Warwick or contriue Some colour that in any sort might fetch Him fayrely off and no dishonor giue It so much stird the humors in those parts As marr'd the whole complexion of their hearts 82 The French King scornes such an indignity VVarwick disdaines imployment in this case The Queene inrag'd with extreame vehemency Stormes at her sisters and her owne disgrace The Lady Bona takes most tenderly To be so mockt with hope of such a Place And all blame Warwick and his fraud condem Whil'st he himself deceiu'd suffers with them 83 And could not by all meanes might be deuiz'd Vntaste them of this violent disgust But that they still held something lay disguis'd Vnder this treaty So that now he must Bring home his reputation cauteris'd With th' idle marke of seruing others lust In friuolous imployments or be sent Out of the way to colour some intent 84 Which to himselfe made him with griefe inueigh Against distemp'red kings who often are Ill warrants for their owne affaires and waigh Their lusts more then their dignity by far And what a miserie they haue that sway Their great designes what danger and what care And often must be forc't be'ing at their becks To crack their reputation or their necks 85 How their high fauours like as fig-treeâ— are That growe vpon the sides of rocks where they Who reach their fruit aduenture must so far As t'hazard their deep down-fall and decay Their grace not fixt but as a blazing star Burnes out the present matter and away And how the world could too wel witnesse beare That both their loues and hates like dangerous were 86 Thus he complaynes and makes his home-retire All disappointed of his purposes For hoping by this Match to hold intire That Lady with her great alliances And haue the King more firm to his desire By managing of both their bus'nesses He by this Match thus made without his mean Comes barr'd from al those tying int'rests cleane 87 For well he knew that all his seruice past Was past and would not be a future tye To hold him in vnlesse that he could cast To introduce some neere necessity Of his imployment that were like to last And shut-out all other concurrency Without which nor his Greatnes nor his Wits Could ward him from the Kings vnconstant fits 88 Which more perplext him and in neerer sort Then what France might by his ambassage ghesse Or England deeme But being arriu'd at Cort He drawes a Trauerse 'twixt his greeuances Lookes like the time his eye made not report Of what he felt within nor was he lesse Then vsually he was in euery part Wore a cleere face vpon a clowdy hart 89 Congratulates the Queene commends the King For his rare choice protesting her to be Far beyond all the world beside could bring To fit his liking and that he did see The Lady Bona was a peeuish thing Sullayne and proud and would in no degree Haue pleas'd his humor or in any sort Haue satisfi'd the Ladies of this Cort. 90 And after hauing finisht all the rite Of complement and interuisiting He humbly craues dismission that he might Retyre a while t' attend the managing And setting of his country-bus'nesse right Whereby the better to attend the King From whom he parts and neuer seem'd more deere More grac't nor yet himselfe of fre'er cheere 91 First VVarwick-Castle that had seldome knowne The Maister there he visits and from thence Goes t'other goodly Mannours of his owne Where seene with ioy with loue with reuerence King of him selfe he findes that there is show'n The vse of life the true magnificence T' inioy his Greatnesse which at Corte in vaine Men toyle-for and yet neuer doo attaine 92 Which his religious Confessor who best Could cast with what a violent accesse This feuer of Ambition did molest His still-sick minde takes hold-on to addresse Vpon th' aduantage of this little rest Some lenitiues t' allay the firynesse Of this disease which as a maladie Seiz'd in the Spirits hath seldom remedy 93 And thus sets on him See my Lord how heere Th' eternall Prouidence of God hath brought You to the Shore of safetie out of feare From all the waues of misery that wrought To ouer-whelm you and hath set you cleare