cast no kinde of doubt How sayest thou Henry Hotspur do I ly For thou right manly gauest the Kinge a Fielde And there wast slayne because thou wouldst not flye Syr Thomas Percy thine Vncle forst to yeelde Did cast his head a wonder seene but seelde From Shrewsbury towne to the tope of London Bridge Lo thus fond hope did both their liues Abridge VVhan Kinge Henry this Victory had wonne Destroyed the Percies put their power to slight Hee did appoinct Prince Henry his eldest Sonne VVith all his power to meete mee if hee might But I discomfit through my Partners fight Had not the heart to meete him face to face But fled away and hee pursued the Chase Now Baldwin marke for I calde Prince of Wales And made beleeue I should bee hee in deede VVas made to fly amonge the Hilles and Dales VVhere all my men forsooke mee at my neede VVho trusteth Loyterers seeld hath lucky speede And whan the Captayne 's Courage doth him fayle His Souldiers hearts a litle thinge may quayle And so Prince Henry chased mee that lo I founde no place wherein I might abyde For as the Dogges pursue the sely Doe The Brache behinde the Houndes on euery side So traste they me amonge the Mountaynes wyde VVhereby I founde I was the heartlesse Hare And not the beast Colprophet did declare And at the last like as the little roche Mâ—st eyther be eat or leap vpon the shore VVhen as the hungery pickerell doth approche And there finde death which it escapt before So double death assaulted mee so sore That eyther I must vnto myne Enmy yeelde Or starue for hunger in the barrayne feelde Here shame and payne a while were at a strife Payne bad mee yeeld shame bad mee rather fast The one badad spare the other bad spend my life But shame shame haue it ouercame at last Than hunger stronge that doth the stonewale brast Forst mee to feede on Barke of trees and Wood And last of all to gâ—aw my flesh and bloud This was mine ende to horrible to beare Yet good enough for him that did so ill VVhereby O Baldwin warne men to forbeare The vayne desires when wâ—â— doth yeld to will Biâ— Princes flye Colprophetes lyinge skill And not presume to climbe aboue their states For they bee faultes that foyle men not their fates FINIS Th. Ph. WHan mayster Phaer had ended the Tragedy of thys hunger staruen Prynce of Wales it was well liked of all the company that a SaxoÌ„ would speake so mutch for a Bâ—ytton then sodenly one found a doubt worth the mouinge and that coÌ„cerning this title Thearle of March for as it appereth there were three men of three diuers nations together in one time entituled by that honour first sir Edmund Mortimer whom OweÌ„ kept in Prison an Englishman the second y Lord George of Dunbar a valiaunt Scot banished out of his countrey well esteemed of Henry the .iiij the third Lord Iames of Bourbon a Frenchman sent by the French king to helpe Owen Glendour These three men had this title all at once which caused him to aske how it was true that euery one of these coulde be Earle of Marche whereto was aunswered that euery countrey hath Marches belonging vnto them those so large that they were Earldomes the Lords thereof intituled thereby so the lord EdmuÌ„d Mortimer was Earle of Marche in England lorde Iames of BurboÌ„ of y Marches of Fraunce and Lord George of Dunbar Earle of the Marches in Scotland For otherwise neyther could haue interest in others title This dout thus dissolued maister Ferrers sayd if no maÌ„ haue affection to the Percies let vs passe the times both of Henry the fourth and the fift and come to Henry the sixt in whose time Fortune as she doth in the mynority of Princes bare a great stroke among the nobles And yet in Henry the fourths time are examples which I would wish Baldwin that you shoulde not forget as the conspiracy made by the Byshop of Yorcke and the Lord Mowbray sonne of him whom you late treated of pricked forward by the Earle of Northumberland father to sir Henry Hotspur who fled himselfe but his partners were apprehended put to death with Baynton and Blinkinsops which could not se their duty to their king but tooke parte wyth Percy that banished Rebell As he was proceedinge hee was desired to stay by one which had pondered the story of the Percies who briefly sayde To the ende Baldwin that you may knowe what to saye of the Percies whose story is not all out of memory and it is an notable story I wyll take vpon me the person of the Lord Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland father of Syr Henry Hotspur in whose behalfe this may be sayde as followeth * ⎠* ⧠HOVV HENRYE Percy Earle of Northumberlande was for his couetous and trayterous attempt put to death at Yorke Anno. 1407. O Moral Senec true finde I thy sayinge That neither kin riches strength or fauour Ace free from Fortune but are aye decayinge No worldly wealth is ought saue doubtful labour Mans life in Earth is like vnto a Tabour Which now to myrth doth mildly men prouoke And straight to Warre with a more sturdy stroke All this full true I Percy finde by proofe Which whilom was Earle of Northumberland And therefore Baldwin for my Piers behoofe To note mens falles sith thou hast tane in hande I would thou should my state well vnderstand For fewe Kinges were more than I redoubted Whom double Fortune lifted vp and louted As for my kinne their noblenesse is knowen My valiaunt actes were folly for to prayse Where through the Scots so oft were ouerthrowen That who but I was doubted in my dayes And that king Richard found at all assayes For neuer Scots rebelled in his raygne But through my force were eyther caught or slaine A Brother I had was Earle of Worcester Alwayes in Office and Fauour with the King And 〈◊〉 my Wâ—fe Daâ—e Elinor Mortimer A Sonne I had which so the Scots did sting That being yonge and but a very spring Henâ—y Hoâ—spur they gaue him unto name And though I say it hee did deserue the same We three triumphied in Kinge Richards tyme Tilâ— Fortune ought both him and vs a spite But chiefely mee whom clearely from any crime My Kinge did banishe from his fauour quite Proclayminge mee a traâ—terous Knight VVhere through false slaunder forced mee to bee That which before I did most deadly flee Let men beware how they true folke defame Or threaten on them the blame of vices nought For Infamy breedeth wrath wreke followeth shame Eke open slaunder oftentimes hath brought That to effect that erst was neuer thought To bee misdeemed men suffer in a sort But noue can beare the griefe of misreporte Because my Kinge did shame mee wrongfully I hated him and so became his foe And while hee did at Warre in Ireland lye I did conspire to turne his Weaie to woe And through the Duke of Yorcke and other moe All Royall power from him wee quickly toke And gaue the same to Henry Bolenbroke Neither did wee this onely for this cause But to say truth force draue vs to the same For hee despisinge God and all his lawes Slewe whom hee woulde made sinne a very game And seeinge neyther age nor counsayle could him tame VVee thought it well done for the Kingdomes sake To leaue his rule that did all rule forsake But when sir Henry had attaynd his place Hee straight became in all poynctes worse than hee Destroyed the Piers and slewe Kinge Richardes grace Against his othe made to the Lordes and mee And seeking Quarels howe to disagree Hee shamelesly required mee and my Sonne To yelde him Scots which wee in Fielde had wonne My Nephew also Edmonde Mortimer The very heyre apparaunt to the Crowne VVhom Owen Glendour helde as prisoner Vilely bound in Dungeon deepe cast downe Hee would not Raunsome but did selly frowne Against my Brother and mee which for him spake And him Proclaymed Traytour for our sake This foule despite did cause vs to conspire To put him downe as wee did Richard erst And that wee might this matter set on fire From Owens Iayle our Coosin wee remeerst And vnto Glendour all our griefes reherst VVho made a bond with Mortimer and mee To priue the Kinge and part the Realme in three But when king Henry heard of this deuise Toward Owen Glendour he sped him very quicke My â—ding by force to stop hur enterpryse And as the deuil would than fel I sicke Howbeit my brother and sonne more pollitike Than prosperous with an host from Scotland brought Encountred him at Shrewesbury where they fought The one was tane and â—yld the other slaine And shortly after was Owen put to flight By meanes whereof I forced was to fayne That I knew nothing of the former fight Fraud oft auayles more than doth sturdy might For by my fayning I brought him in belife I knew not that wherein my part was chiefe And while the kyng thus toke me for his frend I sought all meanes my former wrong to wreake Which that I might bring to the soner end To the bishop of Yorke I did the matter breake And to th' earle Marshall likewise did I speake Whose father was through Henryes cause exiled The bishops brother with trayterous death defiled These strayt assented to do what they could So did the Lord Hastings and Lord FaucoÌ„bridge Which altogether promised they would Set all their power the kinges dayes to abridge But see the spite before the byrdes were flydge The Kinge had word and seasoned on the nest Whereby alas my frendes were all opprest The bloudye Tyraunt brought them all to end Excepted me which into Scotland skapt To George of Dunbar th
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Mortimers Fol. 4 3. Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester murdred in prisoÌ„ Fol. 8. 4. Thomas Moâ—bray Duke of Northfolk banished and died in exile Fol. 12. 5. King Richard the secoÌ„d deposed miserably murdred Fol. 16 6. Owen Glendour Prince of Wales was chased to y mouÌ„taynes where he miserably died for lacke of foode Fol. 19 7. Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland taken in battaile and put to death Fol. 25. 8. Richarde Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge put to death at Southampton Fol. 28 9. Thomas Montague Earle of Salisburye chaunceablye slaine at Orliaunce with a peece of ordinaunce Fol. 30 10. Iames the first King of Scotts â—ruelly murdred by hys owne subiects Fol. 36. 11. Humphrey Plantagenet Duke of Glocester Protector of England by practyse of Enemies was broughte to confusion Fol. 40. 12. Lord William Delapole Duke of Suffolke worthelye banished and beheaded Fol. 56 13. Iackâ— Caâ—e worthely punished for rebellion Fol. 60. 14. Edmonde Duke of Somerset slaine in the firste battayle at S. Albanes Fol. 65. 15. Richard Plantagenet D. Of Yorke slaine through his ouer rashe boldnesse and hys youngest sonne the Earle of Rutland being a child cruelly murdred Fol. 77. 16. The Lord Clifford for his abhominable cruelly came to a sodaine death Fol. 80 17. The infamous end of the Lorde Tiptofte Earle of Worcester Fol. 82. 18. Richard Neuil Earle of Warwicke his brother Iohn Marquise Montacute slaine at Barnet field Fol. 86. 19. The vertuous kinge Henry the sixt cruelly murdred in the Tower of London Fol. 89. 20. George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence Brother to K. Edware the fourth cruelly drowned in a Vessell of Malâ—sye Fol. 93. 21. A lamentacion vpon the death of King Edvvarde the 4. Fol. 100. 22. Sir Anthony Woduile Lord Riuers with his Nephewe Lord Richarde Graye and others causles imprisoned and cruelly beheaded at Pomfret Fol. 102 23. The Lord Hastings betrayed by his counsailour Caâ—esâ—y and murdred in the tower of London Fol. 114. 24. Mayster Sackuils Induction Fol. 129. The Tragedy of H. duke Buckingham Fol. 138. 25. Collingbourne cruelly executed for making a fosish rime Fol. 153. 26. King Bichard the third slaine at Bosworth Fol. 159. 27 The fall of the blacke Smith and fatall end of the Lorde Awdeley Fol. 166. 28. The complaint of Shores wife one of the Concubins of King Edward the fourth Fol. 176. ⧠A BRIEFE MEMOriall of sundry vnfortunate Englishmen VVILLIAM BALDVVIN to the Reader WHEN the Printer had purposed with himself to Print Lidgates translation of Bochas of the fal of Princes hauinge made priuy thereto many both honourable and Worshippefull hee was couÌ„sayled by dyuers of them to procure a continuance of the Storye from whereas Bochas left vnto this preseÌ„t time chiefly of such as Fortune had abused here in this Island which might bee as a Myrrour for men of all estates and degrees aswell Nobles as other to behold the slippery deceiptes of the wauering Lady the due reward of all kinde of vices Which aduice liked him so well that he required mee to take paynes therein but because it was a matter passing my wit skill and more thancklesse than gaynefull to enterprise I refused vtterly alone to vndertake it without the helpe of sutch as in wit were apt in learninge allowed and in iudgemente and estimation able to wield and discharge the weight of sutch a burden thinkinge so to shift my handes But hee earnest and diligent in hys affayres procure me an Athlas to laye the burden vppon my shoulders which I would not haue undertaken but that shortly after diuers learned men whose many giftes nede few prayses consented to take vpon them part of the trauaile And when certayne of them to the numof seuen were through a generall assent at an appoyncted time and place gathered together to deuise thereuppon I resorted vnto them bringinge with mee the booke of Bochas translated by Dan Lidgate for the better obseruation of his order which although wee did not mislyke yet would it not conueniently serue seing that both Bochas Lidgate were dead neither were there any alyue that had medled with like argumeÌ„t to whom the vnfortunate might make their moane To make therfore a state meete for the matter they al agreed that I shoulde vsurpe Bochas rome and the wretched Princes complaine vnto me and toke vpon themselues euery man for his part to be sundry personages and in their behalfes to bewaile vnto me their sundry chaunces heauy destenies and wofull misfortunes This done wee opened sutch Bookes of Chronicles as wee had there present and Maister Ferrers after hee had founde where Bochas left which was about the ende of Kinge Edward the thirdes raigne to begin the matter sayd thus I maruayle ê™ hee what Bochas meaneth to forget among his myserable Princes such as were of our Nation whose number is as great as theyr Aduentures wonderfull For to let passe all both Britaynes Danes and Saxons and to come to the last Conquest what a sort are they and some also in the time of Bochas himselfe or not much before As for example William Rufus the second kinge of Englande after the CoÌ„quest eyther by malice or misaduenture slayne hunting in the new forest by Walter Tirrell with the shot of an arrow Robert Duke of Normandy eldest sonne to William Conquerour depriued of his inheritaunce of England by Henry his youngest brother hauing both his eyes put out and after myserably imprisoned in Cardiffe Castel whereas hee died The most Lamentable case of William Rychard and Mary children of the sayde Henry the first called Beauclerke drowned vpon y Sea by the negligence of drunken Mariners and Kynge Rychard the fyrst slaine with a quarel in his chiefe prosperity The most vnnaturall murther of Artur Duke of Britayne right Heyre of Englande by king Ihon his vncle with the death of Isabell his Sister by Famyne The myserable ende of the sayd king Ihon their vncle by Surfet or as some write poysoned by a Monke of the Abbey of Swinsted in Lyncolneshrye Are not their Histories ruful and of rare Example But as it should appeare Bochas being an Italian minded most the Romayne and Italike Story or els perhaps hee wanted the knowledge of ours It were therefore a goodly and notable matter to search and discourse our whole story from the first beginninge of the inhabiting of the Isle But seeinge the Printers mynde is to haue vs supply where Lidgate left we wilâ— leaue that great labour to other that may intende it and as one being bold fyrst to breake the Ise I will begin at y reigne of Rychard the secoÌ„d a time as troublesome to the people as vnlucky to y Prince And for asmutch frende Baldwin as it shall be your charge to penne orderly the whole processe I will so far as my memory and iudgement serueth somewhat further you in the truth of the story And therefore omittinge the ruffle made by Iacke Straw his Lewd meiney with the
His atteindre appering erroneous The King the Lordes and Cammons of assent His lawlesse death vnlawful did discusse And both to bloud and good restored vs A president worthy in record left Lordes lygnes to saue by lawles meanes bereft Whyle Fortune thus did frendly me reteyne Rychard the king that second was by name Hauing none heire after him to reigne Made me his mate in earnest and in game The Lordes themselues so wel allowd the same That through my titles â—ulye comming downe I was made heire apparaunt to the crowne Who then but I was euery where esteemed Wel was the man that vnderstoode my â—ert Whom I allowed as Lordes the People deemed And me to serue was euery mannes entent With all that wyt or cunning could inuent To me as prince attended great and small In hope a day would come to pay for all But seeldome ioye continueth trouble voyde In greatest charge cares greatest do ensue The most possest are euer most anoyed In largest seas sorâ— tempestes lightly brue The freshest colours soonest chaunge their hue In thickest place is made the diepest wounde True proofe whereof my selfe to soone haue found For whiles Fortune so luld me in her lap And gaue me giftes more than I did require The double Dame behynde me set a trap To dash me downe and laye all in the myre The Irish Kernes agaynst mee did conspyre My Landes of Vlster vniustly to bereaue Which my mother for heritage did me leaue And whyles I there to set all thinges in staye Omit my toyles and troubles thytherwarde Among mine owne with my retinue laye The wylder sort whom I did least regard And therfore the rechlesse mannes reward When least I thought set on me in such number That fro my corps the lyfe they set asunder Nought might auayle my courage nor my force Nor helpe of frendes which were alas to few The cruel folke assaulted so my horse That all my helpes in pieces they to hew Our bloud distaind the ground as drops of dewe Nought might preuayle to flye or yet to yelde For whom they take they murther in che fielde No law of Armes they know nor none wil learne They make not warre as other do a play The Lord the Boy the Gallowglasse the Kerne Yeeld or not yelde whom so they take they slaye They saue no prisoners for raunsome nor for paye Their booty chiefe they coumpt a deadmans heade Their end of warre 's to see their enemie dead Amongest these men or rather sauage beasts I lost my lyfe by cruel murther slayne And therfore Baldwin note thou well my gestes And warne all princes rashnes to refrayne Bid them beware their enemies when they fayne Nor yet presume to make their match amisse Had I not so done I had not come to this At naught I set a sort of naked men And much the lesse seeming to flye away One man me thought was good ynough for ten Making small account of number more or lesse Madnesse it is in warre to goo by gesse At vnwares assaulted by our fone Which were in number fourtie to vs one See here the slay of pompe and highe estate The feeble hold of this vncerteyn lyfe For I but young proclaymed Prince but late Hauing fayre fruict by my belooued wyfe Lost all at once by stroake of bloudy knife Whereby assurde let men themselues assure That wealth and lyfe are doubtful to endure FINIS T. Ch. AFter this Tragedye ended Maysâ—er Ferrers sayde seeinge it is beste to place eche person in his order Baldwin take you the Chronicles marke them as they come for there are many worthye to bee noted thoughe not treated of First the Lorde Murrey a Scottish man who tooke his deathes wound through a stroake lent him by the Earle of Notingham whom he chalenged at the Tylt But to omit him and also the fatte Pryor of Typtre pressed to death with thronge of People vppon London Bridge at the Queenes entrye I wyll come to the Duke of Glocester the kinges vncle a man mynding the common wealth and yet at length miserably made away in whose person if ye wil geeue eare ye shal heare what I thinke meete to be sayd HOVVE SIR THOMAS of VVoodstocke Duke of Glocestre Vncle to King Rychard the second was vnlawfully murdered Anno. 1397. WHo stablisht is in State seeming most sure And so far from daunger of Fortunnes blast As by the compasâ—â— oâ— mannes coniecture No brasen pylter may be fyxt more fast Yet wanting the stay of prudent forecast Whan froward Fortune list for to frowne May in a moment turne vpside downe In proofe whereof O Baldwin take payne Turne thine care to Thomas of Woodstocke Prest in presence on Fortune to complaine In the forlorne hope of English flocke Who by discent was of the royall stocke Sonne to king Edward third of that name And second to none in glorye and fame This noble father to maynteyn my state With Buckingham Earledome did me iâ—dowe Both Nature and Fortune to me were grate Denying mee nothing which they might allow Their sundrye graces in me did so flowe As beautye strength high fauour and fame Who may of God more wish then the same Brothers we were to the number of seuen I beeing the sixt and youngest but one A more royall race was not vnder heauen More stoâ—t or more stately of stomacke person Princes al peerelesse in ech condition Namelye syr Edward called the blacke Prince When had England the like before or euer since But what of all this any man to assure In state vncarefull of Fortunes variaunce Syth daylye and hourelye wee see it in vre That where most cause is of affiaunce Euen there is found most weake assuraunce Let none trust Fortune but folow reason For often wee see in trust is treason This prouerbe in proofe ouer true I tryed Fynding high treason in place of high trust And most false fayth where I most affyed Beinge by them that should haue bene iust Trayterouslye entrapt ere I could mistrust Ah wretched world what is it to trust thee Let them that wil learne now harken to mee After king Edward the thirdes decease Succeeded my Nephewe Richard to raigne Who for his glory and honours encrease Wich princely wages did me entertaine Against the Frenchmen to be his Chieftayne So passing the Seas with royall puissaunce With God and S. George I inuaded Fraunce Wastinge the country with sword and with fyre Ouer turning townes high Castles and towers Like Mars God of warre enflamed with ire I forced the Frenchmen t' abandon their bowers Where euer we matcht I wan at all howers In such wise visiting both Cittie ad village That alway my souldiers were laden with pyllage With honour and tryumph was my returne Was none more ioyous than young king Richard Who minding more highlye my state to adourne With Glocestre Dukedome did me reward And after in mariage I was prefarde To a daughter of Bohun an Earle honourable By whom I was of England
high Constable Thus hoysted high on Fortunes whyrling wheele As one on a stage attending a playe Seeth not on which syde the scaffold doth reele Til timber and poales and al flye awaye So fared it by me for day by daye As honour encreased I looked stil higher Not seing the daunger of my fond desier For Fortunes floud thus running with ful streame And I a Duke descended of great kinges Constable of England chiefe officer in the realme Abused with assuraunce in these vayne thinges I went without feete and flew without winges Presuming so faire vpon my high estate That dread set apart my Prince I would mate For whereas all kinges haue counsel of their choyse To whom they referre the rule of their Land With certein familiers in whom to reioyce For pleasure or profite as the case shall stand I not hearing this would needes take in hand Maugre his will those persons to disgrace And such as I thought â—â—tie to settle in their place But as an old Booke sayth who so wil assay About the Cats necke to hang on any Bell Had first neede to cut the Cats clawes awaye Least if the Cat be curst and not camed well She happly with her nayles may clawe him to the fell So putting on the Bel about the Cats necke By being too busie I caught a cruel checke Reade wel the sentence of the Rat of renowne Which Pierce the Plowman describes in his Dreame And who so hath wyâ— the sence to expoune Shal fynde that to brydle the Prince of a Realme Is euen as who sayth to stryue with the streame Note this all subiectes and construe it well And busie not your Braynes about the Cats bel But in that ye be Lieges learne to obay Submitting your willes to your Princes Lawes It sitteth not a subiect to haue his owne waye Remember this prouer be of the Cats clawes For Princes like Lyons haue long and large pawes That reach at Randon and whom they once twitch They claw to the boane before the skinne itch But to my purpose I being once bent Towardes the atchieving of my attemptate Foure bold Barons were of myne assent By oath and aliaunce fastlye confederate First Henry of Derby an Earle of estate Richard of Arundel and Thomas of Warwicke With Mowbray the Marshal a man most warlike At Ratecote bridge assembled our band The commons in clusters came to vs that day To daunt Robert Veer then Duke of Ireland By whom King Richard was ruled alway We put him to flight and brake his array Then Maugre the king his leaue or assent By Constables power we cald a Parliament Where not in Roabes but with Baslardes bright We came for to parle of the Publique weale Confirming our quarel with maine and with might With swordes and no wordes we tryed our appeale In steede of reason declaring our zeale And whom so we knew with the king in good grace We playnly depriued of power and of place Some with short processe were bannisht the Land Some executed with capitall payne VVherof who so lisâ— the whole to vnderstand In the Parliament rolle it appeareth playne And further how stoutly we did the king straine The rule of his realme wholy to resigne To the order of those whom we did assigne But note the sequele of such presumption Afâ—er we had these Myracles thus wrought The kinge inflamed with indignation By Subiectes thus in bondage to bee brought Suppressâ—â—ge the Ire of his inward thought Studied nought els but how that he might Be highly reuenged of this high dispight Agreeued was also this later offence With former cause of 〈◊〉 to renewe For once at Wyndsor I brought to his presence The Maior of London with all his retinewe To aske accoumpt of the Realmes reuenew And the Souldiers of Brest by me were made bold To clayme their wages when the towne was solde These griefes remembred with all the remnaunt Fulfyld his hart with hate out of measure Yet openly in shew made he no semblaunt By word or by deede to beare displeasure But Frendship fayned in proofe is found vnsure And who so trusteth a foe reconcilde Is for the most part alwayes beguilde For as fier ill quencht will vp â—at a start And sores not wel salued do breake out of new So hatred hidden in an ireful hart Where it hath not had long season to brew Vpon euery occasion doth easely renew Not fayling at last if it be not let To pay large vsurie besides the due deâ— Euen so it fared by this frendship fayned Outwardly sound and inwardly rotten For when the kings fauour in seeming was gayned All olde displeasures forgeeuen and forgotten Euen than at a soden the shaft was shotten Which pearced my hart voyd of mistrust Alas that a Prince should be so vniust For lyinge at Plashey my selfe to repose With long sicknessâ— diseased very sore The King espying me apart from those With whom I was confedered before Thought it not meete to tract the time more But glad 'to take me at such aduauntage Came to salute mee with frendly visage Who hauing a Band bound to his bent By colour of kindnesse to visite his Eame Tooke tyme to accomplish his cruel entent And in a small vessel downe by the streame Conueid me to Calais out of the realme Where without processe or doome of my peares Not nature but murder abridged my yeares This act was odious to God and to man Yet rigour to cloake to haâ—it of reason By craftye compasse deuise they can Articles nine of right haynous treason But doome after death is sure out of season For who euer saw so straunge a president As execution to goe before iudgement Thus hate harboured in depth of mynde By sought occasion burst out of new And câ—uâ—lâ—ye abused the lawe of kinde When that the Nephue the vncle slew Alas King Richard sore maist thou rue Which by this fact preparedst a playne waye Of thy hard destenye to hasten the daye For bloud axeth bloud as guerdon due And vengeaunce for vengeaunce is iust rewarde O righteous God thy iudgementes are true For looke what measure to others we awarde The same for vs againe is preparde Take heede ye princes by examples past Bloud wil haue bloud eyther first or last FINIS G. F. WHen maister Ferrers had ended this fruictfull Tragedye because no maÌ„ was readye with an other hauing perused the storie which came next sayde because you shall not saye my maysters but that I will somewhat doe my parte I wyll vnder your correction declare the tragedye of Thomas Mowbrey Duke of Northfolke the chiefe worker of the Duke of Glocesters destruction who to admonish all counsaylours to bâ—ware of Flattring Princes or falsely enuying or accusing their Peregalles may lameÌ„t his vyces in maner folowinge HOVV THE LORDE Mowbray promoted by Kynge Rychard the seconde to the State of a Duke was by him Banished the Realme in the yeare of Christe 1398. and after died myserably in exile THough sorrowe
and shame abash me to reherce My lothsome lyfe and death of due deserued Yet that the paynes thereof may other pearce To leaue the like least they be likewise serued Ah Baldwin marke aud see how that I swerued Dissemblinge enuy and Flattery bane that bee Of al their Hosts haue shewed their power on mee A blame not fortune though she did her part And true it is she can do little harme She guideth goods she hampreth not the hart A minde well â—ent is safe from euery charme Vice onely vice with her stout strengthlesse arme Doth cause the heart from good to ill encline Whych I alas do finde to true by myne For where by birth I came of noble race The Mowbreys heyre a famouse house and olde Fortune I thanke gaue me so good a grace That of my Prince I had what so I wolde Yet neyther was to other greatly holde For I through flattery abusd his wanton youth And his fond trust augmented my vntruth Hee made mee first the Earle of Notingham And Marshall of England in which estate The Pieres and people ioyntly to mee came With sore complaint against them that of late Made officers had brought the kinge in hate By makinge sale of Iustice right and Lawe And liuinge naught without all dreade or awe I gaue them ayde these euils to redresse And went to London with an army strong And caused the king against his will oppresse By cruell death all such as led him wrong The Lord chiefe Iustice suffered these among So did the Steward of his houshold head The Chauncellor scapt for he aforehand fled These wicked men thus from the king remoued Who best vs pleased succeeded in their place For which both Kinge and Commons mutch vs loued But chiefly I with all stoode high in grace The Kinge ensued my rede in euery case Whence selfe loue bred for glory maketh proude And pryde ay looketh alone to bee allowde Wherefore to th' ende I might alone enioy The Kinges fauour I made his lust my lawe And where of late I laboured to destroy Sutch flatteringe folke as thereto stode in awe Now learned I amonge the rest to clawe For pride is sutch if it be kindly caught As stroyeth good and stirreth vp euery naught Pryde prouoketh to flatter for the pray To poll and oppresse for maintenaunce of the same To malice such as match vnethes it may And to be briefe pride doth the hart enflame To fyre what mischiefe any fraud may frame And euer at length the euils by it wrought Confound the worker and bring him vnto nought Behold in me due proofe of euery part For pryde prickt me first my prince to flatter So much that who so euer pleased his hart Were it neuer so euil I thought it a lawfll matter Which caused the Lordes afresh against him clatter Because of Holdes beyond the sea that â—e solde And seene his souldiers of their wages polde Though all these ills were done by myne assent Yet such was lucke that ech man deemed no For see the Duke of Glocestre for me sent With other Lordes whose hartes did bleede for woe To see the Realme so fast to ruine goe In fault whereof they sayd the two Dukes were The one of Yorke the other of Lancaster On whose remoue from place about the king We all agreed and sware a solemâ—ne oth And whilst the rest prouided for this thing I flatterer I to wyn the prayse of troth Wretch that I was brake fayth and promise both For I bewrayed the King their whole intent For which vnwares they all were tane and shent Thus was the warder of the Common weale The Duke of Glocester giltlesse made away With other moe more wretch I so to deale Who through vntruth their trust did ill betraye Yet by this meanes obteyned I my praye Of king and Dukes I found for this such fauour As made me Duke of Northfolke for my labour But see how pryde and enuye ioyntly runne Because my Prince did more then me preferre Syr Henry Bolenbroke the Eldest sonne Of Iohn of Gaunt the Duke of Lancaster Proude I that would alone be blazing sterre Enuied this Duke for nought saue that the shyne Of his desertes did glister more then mine To thend therfore his light should be the lesse I slylye sought al shiftes to put it out But as the poyze that would the palmetree presse Doth cause the bowes sprede larger round about So spite and enuye causeth glory sproute And aye the more the toppe is ouer trode The deeper doth the sound roote spreade abrode For when this Henrye Duke of Hereford sawe What spoyâ—e the King made of the noble blood And that without al Iustice cause or lawe To suffer him so be thought not sure nor good Wherefore to me twofaced in one hood As touching this he fully brake his mynde As to his frend that should remedye fynde But I although I knewe my Prince did ill So that my heart abhorred sore the same Yet mischiefe so through malice led my will To bringe this Duke from honour vnto shame And toward my selfe my Soueraygne to enflame That I bewrayeâ— his Words vnto the King Not as a reade but as a most haynous thing Thus where my duty bounde me to haue tolde My Prince his fault and wild him to refrayne Through flattery loe I did his ill vpholde VVhich turnd at length both him and mee to payne VVo wo to Kinges whose counsaylours do fayne VVo wo to Realmes where sutch are put in trust As leaue the lawe to serue the Princes lust And wo to him that by his flatteringe rede Maynteyns a Prince in any kinde of vice VVo worth him eke for enuy pryde or mede That misreportes any honest enterprise Because I beast in all these poynctes was nice The plagues of all together on me light And due for ill All doers doth acquite For when the Duke was charged with my plaint Hee flat denied that any part was true And claymde by Armes to aunswere his attaint And I by vse that Warly feates well knewe To his desire incontinently drewe VVherewith the Kinge did seeme right well content As one that past not mutch with whom it went. At time and place appoyncted wee appeard At all poynctes Armed to proue our Quarelles Iust And whan our Freendes on ech part had vs cheard And that the Harolds had vs do our lust With speare in rest we toke a course to iust But ere our horses had runne halfe theyr way A shoute was made the Kâ—ng commaunded staye And for to auoyde the sheddinge of our bloud VVith shame and death which one must needes haue had The Kinge through counsayle of the Lordes thought good To banishe both wich iudgement strait was rad No maruayle than though both were wroth and sad But chiefly I that was Exild for aye My Enmy straungd but for ten yeares daye The date expird whan by this doubtfull dome I should depart to liue in banisht hand On payne of death to
England not to come I went my way the Kinge seaâ—d in his hand Myne Offices my Honours Good and Land To paye the due as openly hee tould Of mighty summes which I had from him pold See Baldwin see the salary of sinne Marke with what meede vile vices are regarded Through Pride and Enuy loose both kith and kinne And for my flatteringe plaint so well rewarded Exile and slaunder are iust to mee awarded My Wyfe and Heire lacke Laudes and lawfull Right And mee theyr Lord made Dame Dianais Knight If these mishaps at home bee not enough Adioyne to them my Sorrowes in Exile I went to Almayne first a Land right rough In which I founde sutch churlishe Folke and vile As made mee lothe my life ech otherwhile There lo I learnd what it is to bee a gest A broade and what to liue at home in rest For they esteeme no one man more than ech They vse as well the Lackey as the Lorde And like their maners churlishe in their spech Their lodging hard theyr bourd to bee abhord Their pleityd Garments herewith well accord All Iagde and Frounst with diuers coulours deckt They sweare they curse and drincke till they be flekt They hate all such as these their maners hate VVhich reason would no Wiseman should allowe VVith these I dwelt lamentinge myne estate Till at the length they had got knowledge howe I was exilde because I did auowe A false complaint agaynst my trusty freende VVhich made them thinke mee worse then any feende That what for shame and what for other griefe I parted thence and went to Venice towne VVhereas I found more pleasure and reliefe VVhich was not longe for now the great renowne Of Bolenbroke whom I would haue put downe VVas waxt so great in Britayne and in Fraunce That Venice through ech man did him Auaunce Loo thus his Glory grewe great by my dispite And I thereby increased in defame So enuy euer her hatred doth acquite VVith Trouble Anguishe Sorrowe and selfe Shame VVhereby her Foes do shine in higher Fame Lyke Water waues which clense the Muddy stone And soyle themselues by beatinge thereupon Or eare I had soiourned there a yeare Straunge tidings came he was to England gone Had taâ—e the Kinge and that which touched him neare Emprisoned him with other of his Fone And made him yeelde him vp his Crowne and Throne VVhen I these thinges for true by search had tryed Griefe griped me so I pined a way and died Note here the ende of pryde see Flatteries fyne Marke the rewarde of enuy and false complaynt And warne all people from them to decline Least likely fault do finde the like attaynte Let this my lyfe to them be a restraynt By others harmes who listeth take no hede Shall by his owne learne other better rede FINIS T. CH. THis tragical example was of al the company wel liked howbeit a doubt was fouÌ„d therin that by means of the diuersity of the Chronicles for whereas Hall whose Chronicle in this woorke was chiefelye folowed maketh Mowbrâ—y appellant and Bolenbroke defendant Fabian reporteth the matter quite contrarye and that by recorde of the Parliament rolle wherein it is plain that Bolenbroke was appellant Morobrey defendant wherfore whatsoeuer shal be sayde in the persoÌ„ of Mowbrey who being a most noble prince had to much wrong to be so causeles defamed after his death imagine the same to be spoken agaynste his accuser Which matter syth it is more harde to decide than nedefull to our yurpose which mynde only to disswade froÌ„ vices exalt vertue we refer to such as may come by the Recordes of the Parliament contented in the meane while with Mayster Halles iudgement which maketh best for our foreshewed purpose This doubt thus let passe I would sayd M Ferrers saye somwhat for K. Rich. the 2. after whose depriuing his brother diuers other made a maske mynding by K. Henries destructioÌ„ to haue restored him which maskers matter so runneth in this that I doubt which ought to goe before but seeing no maÌ„ is ready to say ought in their behalfe I wyll geue who so listeth leasure to think thereon in the meane time to further your enrerprise I will in K. Richards behalfe recount such part of his storye as I thinke most necessary And therfore imagin Baldwin y you see y corps of this Prince al to be maÌ„gled with bloudy woundes lyinge pale and wanne naked vpon a Beere in Paules Church the People standing round about him and making his complaint in maner as foloweth HOWE KINGE RICHARDE the second was for his euil gouernaunce deposed from his seate in the yeare 1399. miserably murthered in prison the yeare folowing HApyye is the Prince that hath in wealth the grace Vertue to folow and vyces to keepe vnder But woe to him whose wyl hath wisdomes place For who so renteth right and law asunder On him at length all the world shall wonder Boast of high byrth sword scepter ne mace Can warrant King or Keyser fro the case Shame sueth sinne as rayne do drops of thunder Let kinges therfore the Lawes of God embrace That vayne delightes cause them not to blunder Beholde my hap see how the seely route On me do gaze and ech to other say See where he lyeth but late that was so stoute Loe how the power the Pride and rich aray Of mighty Princes lightly fade away The King which earst kept all the realme in doubt Dead and least dread to graue is caryed out What would be Kinges made of but earth and clay Behold the woundes his body all about Whe liuing here thought neuer to decay Mee thinke I heare the people thus deuise Wherefore Baldwin sith thou wilt now declare How Princes fell to make the liuinge wise My lawlesse life in no poynct see thou spare But paint it out that rulers may beware Good counsayle Lawe or vertue to dispise For Realmes haue rulers and rulers haue a sise Which if they breake thus mutch to say I dare That eythers griefes the other shall agrise Till one be lost the other brought to care I was a Kinge who ruled all by Lust Without respect of Iustice Right or Lawe In false Flatterers reposinge all my trust Embracinge sutch as could my vices clawe Fro counsell sage I did alwayes withdrawe As pleasure prickt so nedes obay I must Hauinge delite to feede and serue the gust Of God or man I stood no wise awe Mee liked least to Torney or to Iust To Venus games my Fansy did more drawe Which to mayntayne I gathered heapes of golde By Fines Fiftenes and loanes by way of prest Blanke Charters Othes and shiftes not knowen of olde For which the people my doinges did detest I also sould the noble towne of Brest My fault wherein because mine vncle tolde For Princes actes may no wise he controld His lyfe I tooke vntried without Quest And all sutch Lordes as did his cause vphold Wyth long exile or cruell
death opprest None ayde I lackt in any wicked deede For gayinge Gulles whom I promoted had Would further all in hoope of higher â—eede There can no Kinge ymagin ought so bad But shall fynde some to do the same most glad For sicknesse seldome doth so swiftly breede As humours ill do growe the griefe to feede Thus Kinges estatas bee worst of all bestad Aâ—usde to wealth abandoned at neede And nearest harme when they be least adrad My lyfe and death the truth of this hath tryed For whyle I sought in Ireland with my foes Myne vncle Edward whom I left to guide My Realme at home rebelliously arose Traytors to helpe which plied my depose And cald fro Fraunce Earle Bolenkroke whom I Exiled had for ten yeares there to lye VVho tyrantlike did execute all those That in mine ayde durst looke but once awry Of which sort sooneafter some their liues did lose For comming backe this soden stur to staye My Steward false to whom I trusted most VVhiles I in Wales at Flint my castle laye Both to refresh and multiply myne Oste There in any Hall mindinge to fly the Coast His Staffe did breake which was my household stay Bad ech make shift and rode himselfe away See Princes see the strength whereof wee boast VVhom most wee trust at neede do vs Betray No better stay then in a rotten Post My Steward false thus being fled and gone My seruantes slye shrancke of on euery syde Then caught I was end led vnto my soen Who for their Prince no Pallaice did prouide But prison strong where Henry puft with pryde Causde we resigne abandonig my throane And so forsaken and left as post alone These holow frendes â—y Henrye sone espyed Became suspect and faith was geeuen to none Which caused them from fayth agayn to slyde Conspiring streight their new Prince to put downe Which to performe a solempne othe they swore To tender me my sceâ—ter and my crowne Wherof themselues depriued me before But â—ate medcines can helpe no festred sore When swelling flouds haue ouerflowen the towne To late it is to saue them that shal drowne Tyl sayles he spred a shyppe may keepe the shore No anchor hold can keepe the vessel downe When winde and streame hath set the seas in rore For though the Pâ—eres set Henrye in such state Yet could they not dispiace him thence agayne And where with ease my pride they did abate They â—ere to weake to set me vp agayne Thinges hardly mend but may be mard amayne And when a man is fallen by froward fate Stil mischiefes â—ight one on anothers pace And meanes wâ—l ment al mishaps to restraine Waxe wretched moanes whereby his ioyes a bate Due proofe whereof in this appeared playne For whan the kinge did know that for my cause His Lordes in Maske would murder him by â—ight To daâ—h al doubtes he tooke no further pause But Piâ—rs of Extoâ— a cruel cutt throate knight To Pâ—â—fret Castel sent with great dispite Who reft my lyfe by force against al Lawes Thus lawlesse lyfe to lawlesse death ay drawes Wherfore 〈◊〉 kinges be rulde and rule by right And so I end concluding with this clause That God though sate at last wil surely smyte FINIS G. F. WHen Maister Ferrers had ended this so woful a Tragedye and to all Princes a right worthy instruction hauing passed through a miseable time full of piteous Tragedies we paused a while And seeing the reign of Henry the fowerth ensued a Prince more ware and Prosperous in his doinges although not vntroubled with warres both of outfoorth and inward enemies we began to search what Peerâ—s were fallen therein where of the nomber was not small And yet because their examples were not much to be noted for our purpose we passed ouer all the Maskeâ—s of whom king Richardes brother was chiefe which were al slaine and put to Death for their trayterous attempt And fynding Owen Glendour a great Prince in Wales next in succesion of ill Fortune with the stout Percies his confederates I thought it not meete to ouerpasse so great persons with silence and therefore sayd thus to the sylent company What my maisters is euery man at once in a browne study hath no maÌ„ affectioÌ„ to any of these stories you minde so much some other belike that these do not moue you and to say the truth there is no special cause why they should Howe be it Owen Glendour because he was one of Fortunes owne darlingrs and affected to bee Monark of Wales although to his owne mischiefe and destruction rather then he should be forgotteÌ„ I wil pray Maister Phaer who of late hath placed hymselfe in that country haply hath met with his ghost in the forest of Kylgarran that he wil say somwhat in his person which Owen comming out of the wylde Mountaines of Wales like the image of Death in al pointes his harte onely excepted as a ghost forpined with extreame famine cold and hunger may lamente his great misfortune in sutch maner as you maister Phaer are able most aptly to vtter and set forth HOVV OVVEN GLENdour seduced by false Prophecies tooke vpon him to be Prince of VVales was by Henry Prince of England chased to the Mountaynes where he most miserably starued for hunger Anno. 1401. I Pray thee Baldwin sith thou dost entend To shewe the fall of sutch as climbe to hye Remember mee whose miserable ende May teach all men Ambition to flye Oh false Fortune Fortune vengeaunce on thee I crye VVhich offeringe a Sop of sweete receyt Haste made me byte the Hooke in steede of Bayt A Brytton borne and of the Tropan bloud But ill brought vp whereby full well I finde That neyther byrth nor Linage make vs good Though it be true that Cat will after kinde Fleshe gendreth fleshe but not the Soule or Minde They gender not but fouly do degender When men to vice from vertue they surrender Eche thinge by nature tendeth to the same Whereof it came and is disposed like Downe sincks the mould vp mountes the fiery flame With Horne the Hart with Hoofe the Horse doth strike The Wolfe doth spoyle the suttle Foxe doth pike And to conclude no fishe fleshe foule or plant Of their true dame the property doth want But as for men syth seuerally they haue A minde whose maners are by learninge made Good bringinge vp al onely doth them saue In honest actes which with their Parentes fade So that true gentry standeth in the trade Of vertues life not in the fleshly lyne For bloud is brute but Gentry is deuine Experience doth cause me thus to say And that the rather for my countrey men Which vaunt boast themselues aboue the day If they may straine their stocke fro worthy men VVhich let be true are they the better then Nay farre the worse if so they bee not good For why they stayne the beuty of ther blood How would we mocke the burden bearinge Mule If hee would brag he were