of Edmund Duke of Somerset slaine in the first battell at S. Albons in the 32. yeare of Henrie the sixt 350. 65 How Richard Plantagenet Duke of York was slaine through his rash boldnesse and his sonne the Earle of Rutland for his lacke of valiancie 360. 66 How the Lord Clifford for his strange and abominable crueltie came to as strange and sudden a death 365. 67 The infamous end of Lord Tiptoft Earle of Worcester for cruelly executing his Princes butcherly commandements 367. 68 How Sir Richard Neuil Earle of Warwicke and his brother Iohn Lord Marquesse Montacute through their too much boldnesse were slaine at Barnet 371. 69 How King Henry the sixt a vertuous Prince was after many other miseries cruelly murthered in the Tower of London 375. 70 How George Plantagenet third son of the Duke of Yorke was by his brother King Edward wrongfully imprisoned and by his brother Richard miserablie murthered 380. 71 How King Edward the fourth through his surfetting vntemperate life suddenly died in the midst of his prosperity 392. 72 How Sir Anthonie Wooduile Lord Riuers and Scales Gouernour of Prince Edward was with his nephew Lord Richard Grey and other causelesse imprisoned and cruelly murthered 394. 73 How the Lord Hastings was betraied by trusting too much to his euill counsellour Catesby and villanously murthered in the Tower of London by Richard Duke of Glocester 411. 74 The complaint of Henrie Duke of Buckingham 433. 75 How Colingborne was cruelly executed for making a Rime 455. 76 The wilfull fall of the Black-smith and the foolish end of the Lord Audley 463. 77 How the valiant Knight Sir Nicholas Burdet Chiefe Butler of Normandie was slaine at Pontoise 477. 78 How Shores wife King Edward the fourths Concubine was by King Richard despoiled of her goods and forced to do open penance 494. 79 How Thomas Woolsey did arise vnto great authoritie and gouernment his maner of life pompe and dignitie how he fell downe into great disgrace and was arrested of high treason 506. 80 How the Lord Cromwell exalted from meane estate was after by the enuie of the Bishop of Winchester and other his complices brought to vntimely end 520. The Additions 81 The life and death of King Arthur 561. 82 The life and death of King Edmund Ironside 585. 83 The life and death of Prince Alfred 603. 84 The life and death of Godwin Earle of Kent 617. 85 The life and death of Robert surnamed Curthose Duke of Normandie 631. 86 The life and death of King Richard the first surnamed Coeur de Lion 659. 87 The life and death of King Iohn 681. 88 The life and death of King Edward the second 703. 89 The life and death of the two yong Princes sonnes to Edward the fourth 736. 90 The life and death of King Richard the third 750. 91 The Poem annexed called Englands Eliza. 783. The end of the Contents THOMAS NEWTON TO THE Reader in the behalfe of this booke AS when an arming sword of proofe is made Both steele and iron must be tempred well For iron giues the strength vnto the blade And steele in edge doth cause it to excell As each good Blade-smith by his Art can tell For without iron brittle will it breake And without steele it will be blunt and weake So bookes that now their faces dare to show Must mettald be with nature and with skill For nature causeth stuffe enough to flow And Art the same contriues by learned quill In order good and currant method still So that if Nature frowne the case is hard And if Art want the matter all is mar'd The worke which heere is offred to thy view With both these points is full and fitly fraught Set forth by sundrie of the learned Crew Whose stately stiles haue Phoebus garland caught And Parnasse mount their worthy worke haue raught Their words are thundred with such maiestie As fitteth right each matter in degree Reade it therefore but reade attentiuely Consider well the drift whereto it tends Confer the times perpend the history The parties states and eke their dolefull ends With odde euents that diuine iustice sends For things forepast are presidents to vs Whereby we may things present now discusse Certes this world a Stage may well be call'd Whereon is plai'd the part of eu'ry wight Some now aloft anon with malice gal'd Are from high state brought into dismall plight Like counters are they which stand now in sight For thousand or ten thousand and anone Remoued stand perhaps for lesse then one Thomas Newtonus Cestreshyrius THE AVTHORS Induction WHen Sommer sweet with all her pleasures past And leaues began to leaue the shadie tree The winter cold encreased on full fast And time of yeare to sadnes moued me For moistie blasts not halfe so mirthfull be As sweet Aurora brings in spring-time faire Our ioyes they dimme as winter damps the aire The nights began to grow to length apace Sir Phoebus to th' Antarctique gan to fare From Libraes lance to th' Crab he tooke his race Beneath the line to lend of light a share For then with vs the daies more darkish are More short cold moist and stormie cloudie clit For sadnes more then mirths or pleasures fit Deuising then what bookes were best to reade Both for that time and sentence graue also For conference of friend to stand in stead When I my faithfull friend was parted fro I gate me straight the Printers shops vnto To seeke some worke of price I surely ment That might alone my carefull mind content Amongst the rest I found a booke so sad As time of yeare or sadnesse could require The Mirour nam'd for Magistrates he had So finely pen'd as heare could well desire Which when I read so set my heart on fire Eftsoones it me constrain'd to take the paine Not left with once to reade it once againe And as againe I view'd this worke with heed And marked plaine each partie paint his fall Me thought in mind I saw those men indeed Eke how they came in order Princely all Declaring well this life is but a thrall Sith those on whom for Fortunes gifts we stare Oft soonest sinke in greatest seas of care For some perdie were Kings of high estate And some were Dukes and came of regall race Some Princes Lords and Iudges great that sate In counsell still decreeing euery case Some other Knights that vices did embrace Some Gentlemen some poore exalted hie Yet euery one had plai'd his tragedie A Mirrour well it might be call'd a glasse As cleare as any crystall vnder Sun In each respect the Tragedies so passe Their names shall liue that such a worke begun For why with such Decorum is it done That Momus spight with more then Argus eies Can neuer watch to keepe it from the wise Examples there for all estates you find For Iudge I say what iustice he should vse The noble man to beare a noble mind And not himselfe ambitiously abuse The Gentleman vngentlenesse
famous in all Realmes A thousand times I mind you in my dreames And when I wake most griefe it is to mee That neuer more againe I shall you see In the night time when I should take my rest I weepe I waile I wet my bed with teares And when dead sleepe my spirits hath opprest Troubled with dreames I fantasie vaine feares Mine husbands voice then ringeth at mine eares Crying for helpe O saue me from the death These villaines heere do seeke to stop my breath Yea and sometimes me thinkes his drerie ghost Appeares in sight and shewes me in what wise Those fell tyrants with torments had embost His winde and breath to abuse peoples eyes So as no doubt or question should arise Among rude folke which little vnderstand But that his death came only by Gods hand I plaine in vaine where eares be none to heare But roring seas and blustering of the winde And of redresse am nere a whit the neare But with waste words to feed my mournfull minde Wishing full oft the Parcas had vntwinde My vitall strings or Atropose with knife Had cut the line of my most wretched life Oh that Neptune and Aeolus also Th' one god of Seas the other of weather Ere mine arriuall into that I le of woe Had sunke the ship wherein I sailed thither The shipmen saued so as I together With my good Duke might haue been dead afore Fortune had wroken her heart vpon vs so sore Or else that God when my first passage was Into exile along Saint Albons towne Had neuer let me further for to passe But in the street with death had strucke me downe Then had I sped of my desired bowne That my poore corps might there haue lien with his Both in one graue and so haue gone to blisse But I alas the greater is my griefe Am past that hope to haue my sepulture Neere vnto him which was to me most leefe But in an I le and countrie most obscure To pine in paine whilst my poore life will dure And being dead all honorlesse to lie In simple graue as other poore that die My tale is told and time it is to cease Of troubles past all which haue had their end My graue I trust shall purchase me such peace In such a world where no wight doth contend For higher place whereto all flesh shall wend And so I end vsing one word for all As I began that pride will haue a fall G. Ferrers HOW HVMFREY PLANTAGENET DVKE OF GLOCESTER Protector of England during the minoritie of his Nephew King Henry the sixt commonly called the good Duke by practise of enemies was brought to confusion AS highest hilles with tempests been most touched And tops of trees most subiect vnto winde And as great towers with stone strongly couched Haue heauie falles when they be vndermin'd Euen so by proofe in worldly things we find That such as climbe the top of high degree From feare of falling neuer can be free To proue this true good Baldwine hearken heere See and behold me Humfrey hight by name Englands Protector Duke of Glocester Who in the sixt King Henries rule with fame Twice ten yeares kept the troubled State in frame Note well the cause of my vnhappie case And'mongst thy mirrours let the same haue place In their most weale let men beware mishap And not to sleepe in slumbring sickernesse Whilst Fortune false doth lull them in her lap Drowned in dreames of brittle blessednesse But then to feare her freakes and ficklenesse Accounting still the higher they ascend More nigh to be to danger in the end And that vaine trust in blood or royall race Abuse them not with blind securitie To trust their state but weighing well my case When she most smiles to haue in memorie My sudden fall who in most certaintie Hauing most staies which men in state maintaine Haue found the same vntrustie and most vaine Better then I none may the same approue Who trusting all in height of high estate To bite on fawning flatteries bait did loue Which neuer Prince could banish from his gate Did little thinke on such a sudden mate Not heeding lesse dreading all vnaware By foes least fear'd was trapt in suddaine snare If noble birth or high autority Number of friends kinred or alliance If wisdome learning worldly policy Mought haue ben staiers to Fortunes variance None stood more strong in worldly countenance For all these helpes had I to high degree And yet in fine they all beguiled mee Of Henry fourth by name fourth sonne I was Brother to Henry fift of that same name To the sixt Henrie vncle but alas What cause had I to build vpon the same Or for vaine glory to aduance my fame My selfe to call in records and writings The brother sonne and vncle vnto Kings This was my boast which lastly was my bane Yet not this boast was it that brought me downe The very cause which made my weale to wane So neere of kin that I was to the Crowne That was the rock that made my ship to drowne A rule there is not failing but most sure Kingdome no kin doth know ne can indure When the fift Henry by his valiancie Wan by conquest the roiall Realme of France And of two Kingdomes made one Monarchy Before his death for better obeisance To his yong sonne not ripe to gouernance Protector of England I was by testament And Iohn my brother in France made Regent To whom if God had lent a longer life Our house t' haue kept from stormes of inward strife Or it had been the Lord Almighties will Plantagenet in state had standen still But deadly discord which all states do spill Bred by desire of high domination Brought our whole house to plaine desolation It is for truth in an history found That Henry Plantagenet first of our name Who called was King Henry the second Sonne of Dame Maude the Empresse of high fame Would oft report that his ancient Grandame Though seeming in shape a woman naturall Was a Feend of the kind that Succubae some call Which old fable so long time told before When this Kings sonnes against him did rebell He cald to minde and being greeued sore Loe now quoth he I see and proue full well The story true which folk of old did tell That from a feend descended all our race And now my children verify the case Whereof to leaue a long memoriall In minde of man for euermore to rest A Picture he made and hung it in his Hall Of a Pellicane sitting on his nest With foure yong birds three pecking at his brest With bloudy beakes and furder did deuise The yongest bird to pecke the fathers eyes Meaning hereby his rebell Children three Henry and Richard bet him on the breast Ieffrey onely from that offence was free Henry died of Englands Crowne possest Richard liued his father to molest Iohn the yongest pect his fathers eye Whose deeds vnkinde the sooner made him die This King
of Yorke and other sought at home to put me downe Bellona rang the bell at home and all abroad With whose mishaps amaine fell Fortune did me load In France I lost my forts at home the foughten field My kinred slaine my friends opprest my selfe enforst to yeeld Duke Richard tooke me twice and forst me to resine My Crowne and titles due vnto my fathers line And kept mee as a ward did all things as him list Till that my wife through bloudy sword had tane me from his fist But though we slew the Duke my sorowes did not slake But like to Hydraes head still more and more awake For Edward through the aid of Warwicke and his brother From one field draue me to the Scots and toke me in another Then went my friends to wrack for Edward ware the Crowne For which for nine yeares space his prison held me downe Yet thence through Warwickes worke I was againe releast And Edward driuen fro the realme to seeke his friends by East But what preuaileth paine or prouidence of man To helpe him to good hap whom destiny doth ban Who moileth to remoue the rocke out of the mud Shall mire himselfe and hardly scape the swelling of the flud This all my friends haue found and I haue felt it so Ordain'd to be the touch of wretchednesse and woe For ere I had a yeare possest my seat againe I lost both it and liberty my helpers all were slaine For Edward first by stelth and sith by gathred strength Arriu'd and got to Yorke and London at the length Tooke me and tied me vp yet Warwicke was so stout He came with power to Barnet field in hope to helpe me out And there alas was slaine with many a worthy knight O Lord that euer such luck should hap in helping right Last came my wife and sonne that long lay in exile Defied the King and fought a field I may bewaile the while For there mine only sonne not thirteene yeares of age Was tane and murdred straight by Edward in his rage And shortly I my selfe to stint all further strife Stab'd with his brothers bloodie blade in prison lost my life Lo heere the heauie haps which hapned me by heape See heere the pleasant fruits that many Princes reape The painfull plagues of those that breake their lawfull bands Their meed which may and will not saue their friends from bloodie hands God grant my woful haps too grieuous to rehearce May teach all States to know how deepely dangers pierce How fraile all honors are how brittle worldly blisse That warned through my fearefull fate they feare to do amisse HOW GEORGE PLANTAGENET THIRD SONNE OF THE DVKE OF Yorke was by his brother King Edward wrongfully imprisoned and by his brother Richard miserably murdered the 11. of Ianuarie An. Dom. 1478. THe fowle is foule men say that files the nest Which makes me loth to speak now might I chuse But seeing time vnburdened hath her brest And fame blowne vp the blast of all abuse My silence rather might my life accuse Then shroud our shame though faine I would it so For truth will out although the world say no. And therefore Baldwine I do thee beseech To pause a while vpon my heauie plaint And vnneth though I vtter speedie speech No fault of wit nor folly makes me faint No headie drinkes haue giuen my tongue attaint Through quaffing craft Yet wine my wits confound Not that I dranke but wherein I was drown'd What Prince I am although I need not shew Because my wine bewrayes me by the smell For neuer man was soust in Bacchus dew To death but I through Fortunes rigour fell Yet that thou maist my storie better tell I will declare as briefely as I may My wealth my woe and causers of decay The famous house surnam'd Plantagenet Whereat Dame Fortune frowardly did frowne While Bolenbroke vniustly sought to set His Lord King Richard quite beside the Crowne Though many a day it wanted due renowne God so prefer'd by prouidence and grace That lawfull heires did neuer faile the race For Lionel King Edwards eldest child Both Eame and heire to Richard issulesse Begot faire Philip hight whom vndefil'd The Earle of March espous'd and God did blesse With fruit assign'd the kingdome to possesse I meane Sir Roger Mortimer whose heire The Earle of Cambridge maried Anne the faire This Earle of Cambridge Richard clept by name Was sonne to Edmund Langley Duke of Yorke Which Edmund was fift brother to the same Duke Lionel that all this line doth korke Of which two houses ioyned in a forke My father Richard Prince Plantagenet True Duke of Yorke was lawfull heire beget Who tooke to wife as ye shall vnderstand A mayden of a noble house and old Ralph Neuils daughter Earle of Westmerland Whose sonne Earle Richard was a Baron bold And had the right of Salisbury in hold Through mariage made with good Earle Thomas heire Whose earned praises neuer shall appaire The Duke my father had by this his wife Foure sonnes of whom the eldest Edward hight The second Edmund who did lose his life At Wakefield slaine by Clyfford cruell Knight I George am third of Clarence Duke by right The fourth borne to the mischiefe of vs all Was Glocesters Duke whom men did Richard call VVhen as our fire in sute of right was slaine VVhose life and death himselfe declared earst My brother Edward plied his cause amaine And got the Crowne as Warwicke hath rehearst The pride whereof so deepe his stomacke pearst That he forgot his friends despis'd his kin Of oath or office passing not a pin VVhich made the Earle of Warwicke to maligne My brothers state and to attempt a way To bring from prison Henrie sillie King To helpe him to the kingdome if he may And knowing me to be the chiefest stay My brother had he did me vndermine To cause me to his treasons to encline VVhereto I was prepared long before My brother had been to me so vnkind For sure no canker fretteth flesh so sore As vnkind dealing doth a louing mind Loues strongest bands vnkindnes doth vnbind It moueth loue to malice zeale to hate Chiefe friends to foes and brethren to debate And though the Earle of Warwicke subtill fire Perceiu'd I bare a grudge against my brother Yet toward his feate to set me more on fire He kindled vp one firebrand with another For knowing fancie was the forcing rother VVhich stirreth youth to any kind of strife He offered me his daughter to my wife Where through and with his craftie filed tongue He stole my heart that erst vnsteadie was For I was witlesse wanton fond and yongue Whole bent to pleasure brittle as the glasse I cannot lie In vino veritas I did esteeme the beautie of my bride Aboue my selfe and all the world beside These fond affections ioynt with lacke of skill Which trap the heart and blind the eyes of youth And pricke the mind to practise any ill So tickled me
French King erst that fled To Poyssy where he lay with Lords of French renowne Before which towne the Duke his noble armie led The French King durst not out of Poyssy put his head And yet there came to skirmish out French gentlemen Of which some slaine foure tane the rest retir'd agen The Duke to bid him battell did pretend If he could there encounter with him tho But forth againe he durst not come nor send For feare he should receiue the foile and ouerthro On which the Duke dislodg'd departing Poyssy fro To Maunt and Roane from thence his grace did hie T' appease the broiles of strife in Normandie But then the French King calling vnto mind his losse His charges in the siege his bastiles trenches made How erst we did them thence sans bag and bagage tosse Eke how from siege he durst not stay the store to lade And how their Fortunes oft in fight went retrograde How neighbours ill to Paris we of Pontoise were He cast aside his French and fainting feare The rather yet for why Parisiens aye did raile They said he wanted courage good he durst not fight He lackt no souldiers good his feeble heart did faile Le Roy quoth they du France les Anglois point nennit Le Roy ne ose pas pour Pontoise faire pour suit Le Roy est Lourd sans cueur car peu de gens Fait nostre Roy pais faire grande dispens On this King Charles return'd with mightie host To vindicate this great reproch and shame And vnto Pontoise gaue assault in post Full hotly when we feared least the same Whereon to fight against him all our force we frame But number great at th' entrie got such hand We could not forth againe their force aband VVith trumpets sounding tan tan-tar'aloud The larum bell we rung our selues to trie dispose To make them pay the price of our distresse we vow'd Before we would possession got of Pontoise lose In euery street we met the strength of all our foes And made them passe by deadly dint away VVhich ventured first our English mates to slay VVhy now my friends for England fight I cri'd If euer English hearts your noble brests possest I promise you to make them flinch if I may bide Mates follow me Amongst my foes I rusht before the rest O heere come on quoth I now fight we for the best And therewithall I vs'd such courage force and might As made my foes to fall and souldiers fitly fight If we do leese quoth I the French men shall not gaine So if we win t is worth the while to keepe array If ye stand stifly to 't wee le make them peaze the paine And leade with losse of liuely limbes the laud away Although they fiercely fight in hope vs all to slay Loe sixe to one they fall and dead they lie We English men in triumph fight and honor die With bloodie broiles of warre the haplesse towne did smoke The children saw their fathers deare to bleed their last The wiues be wailed much the fatall stroke Which forst their husbands bleed fall die so fast Helas the women cri'd the wofull streets that past When so they saw the channels bloodie streame What plague is this that pesters so our Reame Is no remorce of life but kill kill kill he lasse Kill kill the English ctie and valiantly they fight What hap had we to see these mischiefes come to passe Helas le sang de nous amis la mort helas The maidens crie the widowes waile and aged mourne With wringing hands vplift and wish themselues vnborne Of vs one thousand English men within the towne Sustain'd the force the powre and puissance of their King And of the French that fought we beate three thousand downe We slew no lesse for all the number he did bring If this vntrue shall seeme disere dit mine to ring A French Historian writing for themselues shall say Three thousand French men there were slaine that day Foure hundred English men that time were slaine in fight My selfe was one with losse they wan the towne perdie But if I might haue liu'd t' haue tri'd our right With one for euery seuen by ods as we did die I doubt not so the rest would done their parts as I. But that King Charles his Lords nor all his men Should scarce haue tane the towne of Pontoise then VVhat need I more debate of these things here In England was the fault though we did feele the smart VVhile they at home at bate and strife for honors were They lost abroad of Normandie the greater part To thinke on this torments againe my wounded hart That Lords at home should striue about the name And lose abroad their countries weale and fame Let English Peeres abandon such contentious strife It hurts the publike weale decayes the State It reaues the yeares too soone of longer life It frets the brest with rust of baend debate It giues the checke to him that giues the mate Then thus I end that wight of all is blest VVhich liues in loue with God his Prince and countrie best So Higins if thou write how this my fall befell Place it in Baldwines Mirrour with the rest From crazed scull sith heere my mind I tell Sith bleeding heart these rufull rimes exprest This mangled tale beseemes my person best Do so quoth he and let it passe euen thus Viuit quoth I post funer a virtus Iohn Higins HOW SHORES WIFE KING EDWARD THE FOVRTHS CONCVBINE WAS by King Richard despoiled of all her goods and forced to doe open penance AMong the rest by Fortune ouerthrowne I am not least that most may waile her fate My fame and brute abroad the world is blowne VVho can forget a thing thus done so late My great mischance my fall and heauie state Is such a marke whereat each tongue doth shoot That my good name is pluckt vp by the root This wandring world bewitched me with wiles And won my wits with wanton sugred ioyes In Fortunes frekes who trusts her when she smiles Shall find her false and full of fickle toyes Her triumphes all but fill our eares with noise Her flattring gifts are pleasures mixt with paine Yea all her words are thunders threatning raine The fond desire that we in glorie set Doth thirle our hearts to hope in slipper hap A blast of pompe is all the fruit we get And vnder that lies hid a sudden clap In seeking rest vnwares we fall in trap In groping flowres with nettles stung we are In labring long we reape the crop of care Oh darke deceit with painted face for sho Oh poisned bait that makes vs eager still Oh fained friend deceiuing people so Oh world of thee we cannot speake too ill Yet fooles we are that bend so to thy skill The plague and scourge that thousands daily feele Should warne the wise to shun thy whirling wheele But who can stop the streame that runnes full swift Or quench the
pleasures fro And brought from wealth to need distresse and miserie From Pallace proud in prison poore to lie From Kingdomes twaine to dungeon one no more From Ladies waiting vnto vermine store From light to darke from holesome aire to lothsome smell From odour sweet to smart from ease to grieuous paine From sight of Princely wights to place where theeues do dwell From daintie beds of downe to be of straw full faine From bowers of heauenly hew to dens of daine From greatest haps that worldly wights atchiue To more distresse then any wretch aliue When friends I left in France that did me first exalt And eke my noble King mine Aganippus true And came to England for their heinous facts and fault Which from his right and kingdome quite our father threw To take his Realme to raigne and treason knew I thinke of all misfortunes was the worst Or else I deeme the causers all accurst For marke my haplesse fall that fortune did me send As thus in prison vile aliue I lingring lay When I had mourned long but found no faithfull friend That could me helpe or aide or comfort any way Was seru'd at meat as those that Kings betray With fare God wot was simple bare and thin Could not sustaine the corps it entred in And when the sighes and teares and plaints nigh burst my heaâ—â— And place and stench and fare nigh poyson'd euery pore For lacke of friends to tell my seas of guiltlesse smart And that mine eies had sworne to take sweet sleepe no more I was content sith cares oppresse me sore To leaue my food take mourning plaints and crie And lay me downe let griefe and nature trie Thus as I pining lay my carcasse coucht on straw And felt the paine erst neuer earthly creature knew Me thought by night a grizely ghost in darkes I saw Eke nearer still to mee with stealing steps shee drew Shee was of colour pale and deadly hew Her clothes resembled thousand kinds of thrall And pictures plaine of hastened deathes withall I musing lay in paines and wondred what she was Mine eies stood still mine haire rose vp for feare an end My flesh it shooke and trembled yet I cride alas What wight art thou a foe or else what fawning frend If death thou art I pray thee make an end But th' art not death Art thou some fury sent My woefull corps with paines to more torment With that she spake I am quoth shee thy friend Despaire Which in distresse each worldly wight with speede do aide I rid them from their foes if I to them repaire Too long from thee by other captiues was I staide Now if thou art to die no whit afraide Here shalt thou choose of Instruments behold Shall rid thy restlesse life of this bee bold And therewithall shee threw her garments lap aside Vnder the which a thousand things I saw with eies Both kniues sharpe swords poinadoes all bedide With bloud and poisons prest which shee could well deuise There is no hope quoth shee for thee to rise And get thy Crowne or Kingdome refte againe But for to liue long lasting pining paine Lo here quoth shee the blade that Did ' of Carthage hight Whereby she was from thousand pangs of paine let passe With this shee slew her selfe after Aeneas flight When hee to Sea from Tirian shoares departed was Doe choose of these thou seest from woes to passe Or bide the end prolong thy painefull daies And I am pleasde from thee to packe my waies With that was I poore wretch content to take the knife But doubtfull yet to die and fearefull faine would bide So still I lay in study with my selfe at bate and strife What thing were best of both these deepe extreames vntride Good hope all reasons of Despaire denide And shee againe replide to proue it best To die for still in life my woes increast Shee cal'd to mind the ioyes in Fraunce I whilome had Shee told me what a troupe of Ladies was my traine And how the Lords of Fraunce and Britaines both were glad Of late to wait on mee and subiects all were faine Shee told I had bin Queene of kingdomes twaine And how my kinsmen had my seat and Crowne I could not rise for euer fallen downe A thousand things beside recited then Despaire Shee told the woes in warres that I had heapt of late Rehearst the prison vile in steede of Pallace faire My lodging low and mouldy meates my mouth did hate Shee shewd me all the dongeon where I sate The dankish walles the darkes and bade mee smell And bide the sauour if I likt it well Whereby I wretch deuoid of comfort quite and hope And pleasures past compard with present paines I had For fatall knife slipt forth my fearefull hand did grope Despaire in this to aide my senseles limmes was glad And gaue the blade to end my woes she bad I will quoth I but first with all my hart I le pray to Gods reuenge my woefull smart If any wrong deserue the wrecke I pray you skies And starres of light if you my plight doe rue O Phoebus cleere I thee beseech and pray likewise Beare witnes of my plaints well knowne to Gods are true You see from whence these iniuries they grue Then let like vengeance hap and light on those Which vndeserued were my mortall foes God grant immortall strife betweene them both may fall That th' one the other may without remorce destroy That Conidagus may his cosin Morgan thrall Because he first decreast my wealth bereft my ioy I pray you Gods he neuer be a Roy But caytife may be pai'd with such a friend As shortly may him bring to sudden end Farewell my Realme of France farewell Adieu Adieu mes nobles tous and England now farewell Farewell Madames my Ladies car ie suis perdu Il me fault aler desespoir m'adonne consell De me tuer no more your Queene farewell My cosins me oppresse with maine and might A captiue poore gainst Iustice all and right And there withall the sight did faile my dazeling eyne I nothing saw saue sole Despaire bad me dispatch Whom I beheld she caught the knife from me I weene And by her elbow carian death for me did watch Come on quoth I thou hast a goodly catch And therewithall Despaire the stroke did strike Whereby I di'd a damned creature like Which I too late bewaile Let those aliue beware Let not the losse of goods or honors them constraine To play the fooles and take such carefull carke and care Or to despaire for any prison pine and paine If they be guiltlesse let them so remaine Farre greater follie is it for to kill Themselues despairing then is any ill Sith first thereby their en'mies haue that they desire By which they proue too deadly foes vnwares a friend And next they cannot liue to former blisse t'spire If God do bring their foes in time to sudden end They lastly as the damned wretches send Their
smile As though she did not turne her selfe within a while When with my Picts I came first to the Scotish shore I bare my selfe in hand that I could Britaine win Because that Scythes of whom I came had won before Right many noble Realmes which they had entred in Yet I no sooner could my conquest here begin But straight King Marius came with all his warlike band And met with me and mine in fruitfull Westmerland I trusted sure that Fortune would me guide so well As she before had done in battailes whilome fought But proofe doth teach me now the certaine truth to tell What I by Fortune false with death so dearely bought Whom she sometimes sets vp she bringeth soone to nought As I that thought this land from Britaines to regaine In field with all my Picts were vanquished and slaine T' is folly or the end for men to praise their chaunce Or brag what luck they haue or tell their happie fate Or boast how Lady Fortune doth their deedes aduance For vnto change of chaunce subiected is their state Whom first she loues she afterward doth hate She flings them headlong downe whom erst she made excell She makes them bare and poore whom she enriched well HOW SEVER VS THE EMPEROR of Rome and gouernour of Britaine was slaine at Yorke fighting against the Picts about the yeare after Christ 206. after others 213. THe stay of stately throne is nothing sure Where great estates on bribes or bloodshed build As Didius Iulian put for proofe in vre Th' Emperiall seate he bought and soone was kild So Niger after him assaide the same Albinus then from Britaine armed came These three stood in my way to high estate Which I sore thirsted for but yet at last I made therto by bloudshed bold a gate And vnresisted to the throne I past The souldiers Iulian slew for insufficient pay My seruants eke at Antioch Niger slay Then was my seate me thought assur'd to bide There could no tempest teare my sailes adowne No shower could cause my fixed foote to slide Nor vndercreeper take from me the Crowne Which had the guide of all Europaes might He needed not to feare the force of fight Encouraged with loue of lasting fame I entred with an armie into th' East Armenia can full well report the fame Whereas my warlike glory first increast Angarus I subdude by fight the noble King And did his sonnes to Rome for hostage bring Arabia foelix felt my force likewise Although those warres had not so good successe Yet made I them with bowes goood archers rise Or else they had ben driuen to greate distresse Their shafts from Arras shot made vs to smart They poysoned of my men by policie and art To Parthia thence against the law of armes We gate forgot the truce before was plight And when occasion fit we found to worke our harmes King Artabane we did subdue in fight With fire and sword we brent and spoil'd his land Tooke captiues slew his men that did withstand To Rome I came and caused mappes be drawne Of iournies mine by land and seas the plats Not erst before such expedition sawne Nor of those Countries seene so perfect maps The world did wonder at my heapes of haps Rome honourd mee with triumphs when I came They vnto me of Parthique gaue to name But when can princes best assure themselues What state without the stormes of strife doth stand What barke beares saile in tempest on the shelues What blisse abides and lasts by sea or land Who takes to raigne the scepter in his hand Is like to him in sterne to stirre that sits Commanding all the rest their race he fits For while that I abroad for glorie hunt My sonnes at home in pleasures spent the time And as their father erst before was wont Endeuourd how aloft they both might clime The elder fierce and cruell Antonine The yonger Geta far more milde then hee Could not at any time in peace agree So I endeuoured to appeaze the strife But nought at all I could therein preuaile This made me woe and weary of my life Which erst so many Kingdomes did assaile I had the hap mine enmies force to quaile To rule the Romanes well and all the rest But for to rule my sonnes I was vnblest Perceiuing then some persons leaud there were Which counsell'd oft my sonnes embracing vice As still is seene in Court enueiglers are Procurers of despite and auarice That flattery hold for gaine a gift of price I causde be put to death those Thrasoes vile And some were sent or banisht to exile My elder sonne did thinke my life too long The yonger lou'd the elders life as ill They studied both to make their parties strong Which griefe my griped heart well neere did kill Such are the mischiefes of the stately still In Britaine eke the Picts rebelling rose Some Britaines there became our secret foes First to be absent from the force at home And partly greater glorie to attaine My wicked children sought my death in Rome But chiefely Antonine tooke herein paine I should by guard or Physicke drugs be slaine That by my death the Empire he might sway T' obtaine the same he often gaue th' assay Yet no man would accomplish his intent For my Physitions bare me loyall hearts My seruants eke full true no treason ment But plai'd in each respect their faithfull parts They knew themselues so bound by due deserts They ought not seruants such a Lord betray That gaue so great rewards and gifts alway To Britaine ouer seas from Rome went I To quaile the Picts that ruffled in that I le And tame the stout that tribute did denie Which were withheld from Romans there a while And to be absent from my sonnes so vile But see what haps befall vs in the end Which so in throne to raigne alone contend For when I was to Britaine come that land Where people stout vntam'd vnuanquisht dwelt Although once Caesar Fortunes fauour fand That erst before their valiant valour felt I found the people nothing prest to pelt To yeeld or hostage giue or tributes pay Or couenants to accept or fearefully to fray They said that we did tributes sore exact Whereby their Isle impouerisht greatly was The Picts likewise them rob'd and spoil'd and sackt Whereof the Romans seemed nought to pas We ought they said to tame the Galloglasse The ranging Scythian Pict that them did spoile If we would reape our tribute of their toile On which at length I did conclude a peace And ioyn'd in league with them against the Pict But yet the wilfull people did not cease My Britaines good by inroads to afflict Whereon to wall them out I made edict Long six score miles and twelue the banke I made From sea to sea that Picts should not inuade By helpe of this I chaste the Picts away And draue them into Albany to dwell Whereon Fulgentius stout without delay To Scythia sail'd and there his chance did
tell And with an host of Picts appointed well He did returne with speed to Britaine strand That time I lay by North to guide the land At length to Yorke with all his host he came Besieging it full sharpe assaults he gaue Where I likewise for to defend the same And from our foes the castell good to saue Came with my power as destnies on me draue But in that field it was my chance to fall I tooke my deadly wound there ended all The Scythian eke receiu'd a deadly wound Which came to conquer vs and lost his feeld Thus fortune fares her children to confound Which on her wheele their bastiles brauely beeld Let noble Princes then to reason yeeld The dainefull Ladie daintie and demure Dame Fortunes fauour fickle and vnsure Some say that I return'd to Rome againe Sore troubled with the gout desiring death And that I would haue taken poison faine Which me deni'd to reaue my vitall breath I tooke a surfet great which wrought my death The Britaines say at Yorke my bones do lie The Romans say at Rome in Italie But this I wish all noble wights to view How I by slaughter gate the throne at first My souldiers noble men for Empire slew This way to rise of all I proued worst For why his hand of gods and men is curst To rise aloft that layes the ground with blood The states of such vnstable still haue stood HOW FVLGENTIVS A SCYTHIAN OR PICT WAS slaine at the seige of Yorke about the yeare of Christ 206. or 213. I Am that valiant Scythian Prince the Pict That vanquisht oft the Britaines in this I le Against the noble Romans power I kickt And kept them play in Britaine both long while I forst them make a wall an hundred mile From sea to sea with towers to keepe me out Which of vs Picts did daily stand in doubt Our ancient race as I can shew with skill Had right by due descent to claime this land Of which repeate some proofe therefore I will That so thou maist our title vnderstand When all mankind felt Ioues almightie hand That drencht all nations quite for their foule sin Then straight in Scythia did the world begin Th' Egyptians hold forsooth that they restord The world againe but how vnlikely see For Scythiaes site is high as all accord From vs the fountaines great'st deriued bee The ancient writers all likewise agree That on Armenia mount the Arke did rest Till Ioue againe the earth with drowth addrest But they alledge againe their Zone is milde And fertill temperate meete to foster men Our Scythian hilles they say are frostie wilde Which cannot breed but ruder people then To which I may well answere make agen As God did make the Zones hot milde and cold So did he make like men the same to hold They say we are nigh neighbours to the Pole Or frozen point more neere the fire are they What poysons breed with them and Lybians sole In parching sands the writers wise display Can nature fraine mankind more deepe decay Where parching heat where serpents vglie breed Is no fit clime whence man should first proceed But now I le tell why Scythians should possesse This noble Isle first Lord Neptunus gaue The Islands to his sonnes both more and lesse Eke Albion first of all this Isle should haue He not with this content the Firme did craue Wherefore in France him Hercules dispatcht When as he would a Kingdome there haue catcht Now as from Noah of Scythia by descent Downe vnto Albions time they held the land From Scythe to Scythian as of right it went And after him no Scythian Prince it fand When as vsurpers tooke the raigne in hand Was it not reason we should vndertake This noble Realme our owne againe to make The Romans this deny but euen themselues likewise If they from vertue stray as they do vse And do Iehouaes lawes and hests despise And right and truth and iustice so refuse Shall find how much their Scepter they misuse The Scythian shall their loftie seate assaile The Prince of Picts against them shall preuaile But of Proud Romes Seuerus now I tell When he the wall had made to keepe me out To Scythia hence I sail'd and stor'd me well With men munition good a warlike rout Of youthfull Picts full strong in armout stout A Nauie good I brought and taking land Of stately Yorke I tooke the siege in hand The Emperour great Seuerus Parthique proud With Romans Galles and Britaine souldiers came To make me raise the siege of Yorke he vow'd And I likewise to win and race the same To win the prize we both our armies frame But he was slie his souldiers skilfull train'd My men to flie by ambush he constrain'd Againe to fight we fell afresh the battell grew About I brought my wings and now they sound Tantara teares alarme the fluits fight fight anew And there a while the Romans fell to ground The cries and shouts of men to skies resound They fall fall flie the fluits downe downe the droms do crie Whereon the Romans sound retraite and saine to flie My souldiers all too rash had broke array The Romane rereward cast about with speed And both their wings enclosed vs each way Their maine likewise to keepe array gaue heed Which when I saw it made my heart to bleed And to Seuerus selfe I made my way Where with my Picts the Parthique I did stay So when the Emperour fell a shout arose The Romans blancke amazed wofull were Fulgentius fast recoil'd death wounded goes And of my crew a troupe to aide me there I bought my British conquest all too deere No conquest yet for as I conquest sought With my life blood the conquest deare was bought You noble men yee see what trust there is In Fortunes gifts how mischiefe makes the marts And how our hoped haps in warres do misse When backe the braue and blinded Ladie starts High reaching heads swim oft in seas of smarts The man content is blest and best at ease Which in meane state both God and man do please HOW GETA THE YONGER SONNE OF THE EMPErour Seuerus once Gouernour of Britaine was slaine in his mothers armes by his brother ANTONINE Emperour of Rome about the yeare of Christ 214. IF euer Prince had cause his state to rue Or by his end might moue men mone his chance My wofull tale may shew the like to you Whom fortune erst and birth did high aduance In Rome in Britaine Germanie and France I fauour had and liu'd belou'd alway I Emprour was what need I more to say In Britaine while my father waged fight By North against the Picts I rul'd the South Seuerus so appointed it my right And Britaine Iustice had from Getaes mouth I gaue not then my selfe to idle slouth But gaue an end to causes great of strife With doome so iust that men reioyst my life The Senate honor'd me for vertues sake Abroad the Britaines blest me
procure in th' end my fatall fall Maternian at Rome should search for all He should enquire my fate of all wise men And write hereof what was their mindes agen What he did write againe I wote not I From Carras I to Lunaes Temple went And for because it neere the Campe did lie To sacrifice with few was mine intent For why to towne from thence returne I ment And so from thence to Campe likewise againe I might retire without a greater traine Amongst the which one Martiall of my garde Whose brother not conuinst accusde I slew Thus wise my caytiue corps did watch to warde For when therefore conuenient time hee knew While I apart mee gate for natures due And bad the rest aside a space depart He came and stabde me stifly through the heart Seuerus seruants I corrupted oft Them fee'd to make their Lord my fire away With Getaes men the like attempts I wrought To bane their Lord and brother mine to slay How I the Alexandrians did betray And Parthians eke before to you I told Deseruing death for those a thousand fold But sith those faithfull seruants I did kill Which would not sley their noble Lords for gold I worthy was to haue a gard so ill As should to pierce my hatefull heart be bold The Iustice great of Ioua here behold * Vniustly who so seekes to slay the good The sword at length shall iustly shed his bloud FINIS HOW CARASSVS A HVSBANDMANS SONNE AND AFTER King of Britaine was slaine in battell by Alectus a Roman Anno Dom. 293. SIth men be borne by Nature naked all With their estates why are not men content Why doe they deeme the want of wealth a thral Why should they loath the lot which God hath sent Adam himselfe I finde at first was sent As one who did disdaine his poore estate To disobey with God to be a mate Thou maist be made a God quoth satan than If on the fruite forbidden thou wilt feede The senselesse wight the feeble forcelesse man Did taste thereof supposing that with speed He should in hast haue beene a God indeed He not content hoping for higher place Brought bitter bale to him and all his race And I the sonne of Adam by descent Did seeke to set my selfe in princely seate With mine estate I could not be content For which I felt the force of hatreds heat As at the first my good successe was great So at the last by fancies fond desires I groapt for grapes amidst the bramble briers Let such as would by vertue them aduance Marke by what meanes I did my selfe addresse To flie at first my poore allotted chance By honest meanes let them from wickednesse Which faine would flie learne this by my distresse That he who doth from right and reason stray Destruction shall destroy him with decay For I by birth borne next to beggers dore Was stai'd aloft with staffe of high estate But whil'st that I so high a pitch did sore I left the meanes which made me rise of late I vices lou'd I did all vertues hate For which Carassus ran a race in vaine And nothing got but death and deepe disdaine When ciuill strife had Britaine quite vndone So that her strength was now of none auaile The faithlesse Picts with ruth did ouerrunne That royall Realme and did so far preuaile That sorrow did on euery side assaile My natiue soile and being thus dismai'd To Rome we sent for succour helpe and aid Seuerus then by Bassianus sent To bring this Realme vnto some quiet stay The Romans and the Britaines both were bent To bring the barbarous Picts to their decay Them to returne againe to Scythia And at the last by good Seuerus aid We them destroi'd when we were most afraid Whose force though twice the Romans felt too strong Yet at the last we got a goodly day Euen by my meanes who thrust into the throng Of th' armed Picts I desperate there did play The part of him whom feare did neuer fray And at the last to end this mortall strife I did depriue King Lodricke of his life And when the Picts did see their king depriu'd Of vitall life Lord how they fled the field They made me muse to see how fast they striu'd With stailesse steppes ech one his life to shield Who could not flie he there with care was kilde So by my meanes my countrey did obtaine Her ancient state and liberty againe At my returne I to Seuerus said See here how I with woundes am all bestead I cannot liue I feele how life doth fade Lodricke himselfe did carue and cut my head For which my blade his luke warme blood hath shed He cut my cap and I haue got his crowne He lost his life and I haue found renowne Seuerus then vnto his Surgion said Heale him and bring him safe and sound againe Thou for thy paines with poundes shalt wel be paid And he shall haue such honour for his paine As vnto him for euer shal remaine For by the Gods which rule the skies aboue His noble acts deserue eternall loue When by the skill of Surgions curious art My hurts were heal'd and holesome health ensude Seuerus then reioicing at the hart Made me a Lord with wealth hee me indude Yea he although my learning were but rude Sent me to Rome as Legate of this land To make report how here our state did stand My deedes at Rome inricht me with renowne My talke abroad with proper filed phrase Adornd my head euen with a Laurell crowne The Emperour did much commend my waies So that I was bedeckt with double praise I could not reade my learning was but weake Yet they of Rome did muse to heare me speake As learned Art doth giue a goodly grace To some so some by natures gifts doe get Eternall fame and purchase them a place Aboue the place where learned men do sit We finde the fine dexteritie of wit In them which be both wise and ful of skill Yet neuer striu'd to clime Pernassus hill So I with praise a time at Rome did stay And tract of time returnd mee backe againe The Emperour he gaue my right away Within a while which made me storme amaine I had great cause me thought for to complaine Seuerus he was made the king of all The gifts hee gaue to me were very small I was but made the Captaine of the coast From Forraine force to keepe my realme in rest Seuerus he was crowned king in post Which did so boile within my warrelike brest That I with griefe most strangely was distrest Shall hee said I thus reape the high renowne Which I deserue Shall he enioy the Crowne I wonne the wreath and he wil weare the same I got the goale and he will get the gaine For me in faith it were a deadly shame If I in this his regall royall raigne Without repulse should suffer him remaine Which if I do then let the dreadfull dart Of Vulcans wrath torment in
and creepe and bow Our hearts our heads we sauage were but now Yet by and by such was the good successe In fiery flames the truth we did professe Then flitting Fame the truth to testifie Against my wil at Rome made such report That Constatinus thence did hither hie And being come vnto my Britaine Court With louers lookes he striu'd to scale the Fort Of my good will but when it would not bee He sighing thus addrest his talke to me O Queene quoth he thy deeds deserue great fame The goodly gifts that God hath giu'n to thee Be such as I cannot thee greatly blame Though thou without desert disdainest me Who for thy sake doth lothe all crueltie But for thy loue with Mars his cruell knife I could command thy Realme and reaue thy life But out alas whil'st breath doth lend me life My heart shall hate to thrall thy happie state What though thou dost refuse to be my wife Thy hatred tho shall neuer cause me hate But whil'st I liue I will thee loue let Fate And Fortune fell powre on me all their spight To die for thee shall greatly me delight Then I repli'd O Duke without desert Thou dost me loue a little Ilands Queene I know thou to the Emperour heire art Thy valiant acts I diuers waies haue seene I like thy deeds most noble which haue been And thee I loue yet priuate pleasures lust May neuer make me throw my Realme to dust If thou quoth he wilt daine my Queene to be Thy Britaines shall to Rome no tribute yeeld You if you please to Rome may go with me Your mightie mate the world so wide may wield Or if you please I heere with you will bilde My biding place and in this little land I will remaine yours heere at your command His comely grace his friendly promise plight His famous actes his Noble royall race Some other things which heere I could recite The Romans heart within my brest did place And when my wit had weighed well the case Then for the chiefe of all my Realme I sent And thus I spake to know the whole intent My louing Lords and you my subiects see This Roman heire whom I indeed do loue He will restore your ancient libertie If I will bend my hest to his behoue Which benefits they chiefely do me moue To loue at last a man by whom you may Receiue a Shield to keepe you from decay Perhaps you thinke I loue because I see His comely shape and seemely sanguine face You be deceiu'd no outward brauery No personage no gallant courtly grace What though he be by birth of royall race I recke it not but this I do regard My Commonweale by him may be preseru'd For if he will from tribute set you free And end the worke which I haue well begonne That Christs Gospell preached still may bee God may by him send vnto me a sonne To you a King what wealth then haue you wonne What great renowne what honor will insue Speake you your minds these things me thinke be true O Queene quoth they the Lord preserue thy grace Do thou the thing that seemes to thee the best We do allow the match in euery case If by that meanes we may haue quiet rest With what great good shal this our Realme be blest Do thou therefore O noble Queene we pray The thing which best may keepe vs from decay The Roman Duke he nothing would deny But granted more then I could aske or craue So that there was proclaimed by and by A famous feast a banquet passing braue There to the Duke the Britaine crowne I gaue With sacred spousall rights as man and wife We wedded liu'd in loue for terme of life And whil'st we ment to rule this little I le A greater good vnlooked for befell Death did destroy his Sire with hateful hand For which we both at Rome must now go dwell And so we did things prospered passing well My Feere was made the Emperour Lord and king Of all and I the Queene of euery thing His mightie Mace did rule the Monarchie My wit did rule some writers say his Mace And to increase with ioy our merrie glie I brought him forth a babe of Royall race The boy he had an amiable face O Rome thou maist reioyce for this was he Which did at Rome erect Diuinitie Whil'st thus in blisse I did at Rome remaine A Britaine still my mind her care did cast For which I caus'd my husband to ordaine That euermore those ancient Lawes should last Which heretofore amongst them there I past And that to Rome no Britaine borne for aye Should taxe or toll or tenth or tribute pay Though there at Rome an Empresse life I led And had at hand what I could wish or craue Yet still me thought I was not wel bestead Because I was so farre from Britaine braue Which when my louing Lord did once perceiue He set a stay in all the Emperie To Britaine then he did returne with me We raign'd of yeeres thrice seuen with good successe Then Dolor and Debilitie did driue My louing Lord with fainting feeblenesse For vitall life with braying breath to striue He felt how death of life would him depriue He cal'd his Lords his child and me his wife And thus he spake euen as he left his life The haughtie Pines of loftie Libanus From earth to earth in tract of time returne So I whose spreading praise were maruellous Must now returne my flesh to filthie slime On Fortunes wheele I may no longer clime Therefore my Lords although my glasse be runne Yet take remorse on Constantine my sonne My Monarch Court my Kingdomes all O stately Rome farewell to them and thee Farewell my Lords which see my finall fall Farewell my child my wife more deare to mee Then all the world we must depart I see And must we needs depart O Fortune fie We must depart adue farewell I die Wherewith he sigh'd and senselesse did remaine Then I his death as women do did waile But when I view'd that weeping was but vaine I was content to beare that bitter bale As one who found no meanes for her auaile His corps at Yorke in Princely Tombe I laid When funerall sacred solemne rites were paid And when report his death about had blowne Maxentius then the triple crowne to weare Did challenge all the Empire as his owne And for a time that mightie Mace did beare Which when my sonne my Constantine did heare The youthfull Lad indeuour'd by and by To claime his right by Mars his crueltie I then his tender youthfull yeares to guide Went with my sonne to see his good successe He being Campt by fruitfull Tybers side To spoile his foe he did himselfe addresse He knew that God did giue all happinesse Therefore to God euen then the youth did pray With mightie hand to keepe him from decay Behold how God doth godly men defend And marke how he doth beate Vsurpers downe Maxentius now
their states For they bee faults that foile men not their fates Th. Phaer HOW HENRY PERCY Earle of NORTHVMBERLAND was for his couetous and traiterous attempt put to death at Yorke Anno 1407. O Morall Senec true finde I thy saying That neither kinne riches strength or fauour Are free from Fortune but are aie decaying No worldly wealth is ought saue doubtfull labour Mans life in Earth is like vnto a tabour Which now to mirth 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 Baldwine for our peeres behoofe To note mens falles sith thou hast tane in hand I would thou should my state well vnderstand For few there were that were so much redoubted Whom double Fortune lifted vp and louted As for my kinne their noblenesse is knowen My valiant acts were folly for to praise Where through our foes so oft were ouerthrowen That who but I was doubted in my daies And that King Richard found at all assaies For neuer foes rebelled in his raigne But through my force were either caught or slaine A brother I had was Earle of Worcester Alwaies in office and fauour with the King And by my wife Dame Elenor Mortimer A sonne I had which so the foes did sting That being yong and but a very spring Henry Hotspur they gaue him vnto name And though I say it he did deserue the same We three triumphed in King Richards time Till Fortune ought both him and vs a spite But chiefly mee whom cleere from any crime My King did banish from his fauour quite Proclaiming mee a most disloyall Knight Where through false slander 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 slander often times hath brought That to effect that erst was neuer thought To bee misdeem'd men suffer in a sort But none can beare the griefe of misreport Because my King did shame mee wrongfully I hated him and soone became his foe And while he did at warre in Ireland lie I did conspire to turne his weale to woe And through the Duke of Yorke and other moe All royall power from him wee quickly tooke And gaue the same to Henry Bolenbrooke Neither did we this onely for this cause But to say truth force draue vs to the same For he despising God and all his lawes Slew whom hee would made sinne a very game And seeing nor age nor consell could him tame We thought it well done for the Kingdomes sake To leaue his rule that did all rule for sake But when Sir Henry had attaind his place Hee straight became in all points worse then he Destroied the Peeres and slew King Richards grace Against his oth made to the Lords and me And seeking quarrels how to disagree He shamelesly requir'd me and my sonne To yeeld him foes which we in field had wonne My nephew also Edmund Mortimer The very heire apparent to the crowne Whom Owen Glendour held as prisoner With chaines fast bound in dungeon deepe cast downe He would not ransome but did felly frowne ' Gainst Mortimer and me which for him spake And him proclaimed traytour for our sake Thus foule despite did cause vs to conspire To put him downe as we did Richard erst And that we might this matter set on fire From Owens Iaile our cosin we remerst And vnto Glendour all our griefes rehearst Who made a bond with Mortimer and mee To priue the King and part the Realme in three But when King Henrie heard of this deuice To Owen Glendour he sped him very quicke Minding by force to stop our enterprise And as the diuell would then fell I sicke Howbeit my brother and sonne more politicke Then prosperous with an host from Scotland brought Encountred him at Shrewesbury where they fought The one was tane and kill'd the other slaine And shortly after was Owen put to flight By meanes whereof I forced was to faine That I knew nothing of the former fight Fraud oft auailes more then doth sturdie might For by my faining I brought him in beliefe I knew not that wherein my part was chiefe And while the King thus tooke me for his friend I sought all meanes my former wrong to wreake Which that I might bring to the sooner end To the Bishop of Yorke I did the matter breake And to th' Earle Marshall likewise did I speake Whose father was through Henries cause exiled The Bishops brother with trayterous death defiled These straight assented to do what they could So did the Lord Hastings and Lord Faueonbridge Which altogether promised they would Set all their power the Kings daies to abridge But see the spite before the birds were flidge The King had word and seased on the nest Whereby alas my friends were all opprest The bloodie tyrant brought them all to end Excepted me which into Scotland fled To George of Dunbar th' Earle of March my friend Who in my cause with many more made head And when on hope of greater aid I fed Both at the Frenchmen and the Flemmings hand And could get none I tooke such as I fand And with the helpe of George my very friend I did inuade Northumberland full bold Whereas the folke drew to me still on end Bent to death my partie to vphold Through helpe of these full many a fort and hold The which the King right manfully had man'd I easely wonne and seased in my hand Not so content for vengeance draue me on I entred Yorkshire there to waste and spoile But ere I had far in the countrie gone The Shiriffe thereof Raph Rokesbie did assoile My troubled host of much part of our toile For he assaulting freshly tooke through power Me and Lord Bardolph both at Bramham moore And thence conueyed vs to the towne of Yorke Vntill he knew what was the Kings intent There loe Lord Bardolph kinder then the Storke Did lose his head which was to London sent With whom for friendship mine in like case went This was my hap my fortune or my faut This life I led and thus I came to naught Wherefore good Baldwine will the Peeres take heed Of slander malice and conspiracie Of couetise whence all the rest proceed For couetise ioynt with contumacie Doth cause all mischiefe in mens hearts to breed And therefore this to esperance my word Who causeth bloodshed shall not scape the sword HOW RICHARD PLANTAGENET EARLE OF CAMBRIDGE INTENding the Kings destruction was put to death at Southhampton Anno Dom. 1415. HAste maketh waste hath commonly been said And secret mischiefe selde hath luckie speed A murdering mind with proper poyze is way'd All this is true I find it in my creed And therefore Baldwine warne all states take heed How they conspire another to betrap Lest mischiefe ment light in
his Realmes berest His silly infant did receiue his power Poore little babe full yong in cradle left Where Crowne and Scepter hurt him with the heft Whose worthie vncles had the gouernance The one at home the other abroad in France And I which was in peace and warre well skilled With both these Rulers greatly was esteemed Bare rule at home as often as they willed And fought in France when they it needfull deemed And euery where so good my seruice seemed That English men to me great loue did beare Our foes the French my force fulfill'd with feare I alwaies thought it fitly for a Prince And such as haue the regiment of Realmes His subiects hearts with mildnes to conuince With Iustice mixt auoiding all extreames For like as Phoebus with his cheerefull beames Doth freshly force the fragrant flowres to florish So rulers mildnesse subiects loue doth norish This found I true for through my milde behauiour Their hearts I had with me to liue and die And in their speech be wrayer of their fauour They call'd me still good Earle of Salisburie The Lords confesse the Commons did not lie For vertuous life free heart and lowly mind With high and low shall alwaies fauour find Which vertues chiefe become a man of warre Whereof in France I found experience For in assaults due mildnes passeth farre All rigour force and sturdie violence For men will stoutly sticke to their defence When cruell Captaines couet after spoile And so enforst oft giue their foes the foile But when they know they shall be friendly vsed They hazard not their heads but rather yeeld For this my offers neuer were refused Of any towne or surely very seeld But force and furies fit be for the field And there indeed I vsed so the same My foes would flie if they but heard my name For when Lord Steward and Earle Vantadors Had cruelly besieged Crauant towne Which he had won and kept long time before Which lieth in Awxer on the Riuer Youne To raise the siege the Regent sent me downe Whereas I vsde all rigour that I might I killed all that were not sau'd by flight When th' Earle of Bedford then in France Lord Regent Knew in what sort I had remoued the siege In Brye and Champaine he made me Vicegerent And Lieutenant for him and for my Liege Which causde me go to Brye and there besiege Mountaguillon with twentie weekes assaut Which at the last was yeelded me for naught And for the Duke of Britaines brother Arthur Both Earle of Richmond and of Yuerie Against his oath from vs had made departure To Charles the Dolphin our chiefe enemie I with the Regent went to Normandie To take his towne of Yuerie which of spight Did to vs daily all the harme they might They at the first compounded by a day To yeeld if rescues did not come before And while in hope to fight we at it lay The Dolphin gathered men two thousand score With Earles with Lords and Captaines iolly store Of which the Duke of Alanson was guide And sent them downe to see if we would bide But they left vs and downe to Vernoile went And made their vaunt they had our armie slaine And through that lie that towne from vs they hent Which shortly after turned to their paine For there both armies met vpon the plaine And we eight thousand whom they flew before Did kill of them ten thousand men and more When we had taken Vernoile thus againe To driue the treacherous Dolphin out of France The Regent sent me t' Aniow and to Mayne Where I besieg'd the warlike towne of Mawns There Lord of Toysers Baldwins valiance Did well appeare which would not yeeld the towne Till all the Towres and walles were battered downe But heere now Baldwine take it in good part Though that I brought this Baldwine there to yeeld The Lion fierce for all his noble heart Being ouermatch'd is forst to flie the field If Mars himselfe there had been with his shield And in my stormes had stoutly me withstood He should haue yeeld or else haue shed my blood This worthie Knight both hardie stout and wise Wrought well his feat as time and place require When Fortune failes it is the best aduise To strike the saile lest all lie in the mire This haue I said to th' end thou take no ire For though no cause be found so nature frames Men haue a zeale to such as beare their names But to returne in Mayne wan I at length Such townes and sorts as might or helpe or hurt I manned Mayne and Suzans towne of strength Fort Barnard Thanceaur and S. Cales the curt With Lile sues Bolton standing in the durt Eke Gwerland Suze Loupeland and Mount sure With Malycorne these wan I and kept full sure Besides all this I tooke neere fortie holds But those I raced euen with the ground And for these deeds as sillie sheepe in folds Do shrinke for feare at euery little sound So fled my foes before my face full round Was none so hardie durst abide the fight So Mars and Fortune furthered me their Knight I tell no lie so gastfull grew my name That it alone discomfited an host The boldest Frenchmen well confesse the same Else will the towne which they like cowards lost For when they sieged Beauron with great boast Being fortie thousand well arm'd in field Fiue hundred men enforced them to yeeld For while the Frenchmen fresh assaulted still Our Englishmen came boldly forth at night Crying Saint George Salisbury kill kill And offered freshly with their foes to fight And they as Frenchly tooke themselues to flight Supposing surely that I had been there See how my name did put them all in feare Thus was the Dolphins power discomfited Foure thousand slaine their Campetane as it stood Whereby our towne and souldiers profited For there were vitailes plentifull and good This while was I in England by the rood T' appease a strife that was right foule befall Betweene Duke Humfrey and the Cardinall The Duke of Exeter soone after died Which of the King at home had gouernance Whose roome the Earle of Warwicke then supplied And I tooke his and sped me into France Where in good hope to conquer Orliance With much adoe I got the Regents aid And marched forth and siege about it laid But in the way I tooke the towne of Yaine Where murdered were for stoutnes many a man But Baugencey I tooke with little paine For which to shew them fauour I began This causde the townes of Mewne and Iargeman That stood on Loyer to profer me the keyes Ere I came neere them welnigh by two daies See heere how Fortune froward can allure What baits she layeth to bring men to their ends Who hauing hap like this but hopeth sure To bring to bale what euer he entends But soone is sower the sweet that Fortune sends When hope and hap when health and wealth is highest Then woe and wracke disease and need
their army hote Assailed vs at Senocke where we lay From whence aliue they parted not away Which when the Kings retinue vnderstood They all affirm'd my quarell to be good Which caus'd the King and Queene whom all did hate To raise their campe and suddenly depart And that they might the peoples grudge abate T' imprison some full sore against their hart Lord Saye was one whom I made after smart For when the Staffords and their host was slaine To Black-heath field I marched backe againe And where the King would nothing heare before Now was he glad to send to know my mind And I thereby enflamed much the more Refus'd his grants so folly made me blind For this he flew and left Lord Scales behind To helpe the Towne and strenghten London Tower Towards which I marched forward with my power And found there all things at mine owne desire I entred London did there what I list The Treasurer Lord Saye I did conspire To haue condemned whereof when I mist For he by law my malice did resist By force I tooke him in Guildhall from th' heape And headed him before the crosse in Cheape His sonne in law Iames Cromer Shrief of Kent I caught at Mile-end where as then he lay Beheaded him and on a pole I sent His head to London where his fathers lay With these two heads I made a prety play For pight on poles I bare them through the street And for my sport made ech kisse other sweet Then brake I prisons let forth whom I wold And vs'd the City as it had been mine Tooke from the Merchants money ware and gold From some by force from other some by fine This at the length did cause them to repine So that Lord Scales consenting with the Maire For bad vs to their City to repaire For all this while mine host in Southwarke lay Who when they knew our passage was denied Came boldly to the bridge and made a fray For in we would the townesmen vs defied But when with strokes we had the matter tried We wan the bridge and set much part on fire This done to Southwarke backe we did retire The morow after came the Chancellour With generall pardon for my men halfe gone Which heard and read the rest within an houre Shranke all away each man to shift for one And when I saw they left me post alone I did disguise me like a Knight of the post And into Sussex rode all hope was lost And there I lurked till that cursed coyne That restlesse begle sought and found me out For straight the King by promise did enioyne A thousand marke to whomsoeuer mought Apprend my corps which made them seeke about Among the which one Alexander Iden Found out the hole wherein the Foxe was hidden But ere I fell I put him to his trumps For yeeld I would not while my hands would hold But hope of money made him stir his stumps And to assault me valiantly and bold Two houres and more our combat was not cold Till at the last he lent me such a stroke That downe I fell and neuer after spoke Then was my carcase caried like a hog To Southwarke borow where it lay a night The next day drawne to Newgate like a dog All men reioycing at the rufull sight Then were on poles my perboil'd quarters pight And set aloft for vermine to deuour Meete graue for rebels that resist the power Full little know we wretches what we do When we presume our Princes to resist We warre with God against his glorie to That placeth in his office whom he list Therefore was neuer traytour yet but mist The marke he shot and came to shamefull end Nor neuer shall till God be forst to bend God hath ordain'd the power all Princes be His Lieutenants or deputies in Realmes Against their foes therefore fighteth he And as his enmies driues them to extreames Their wise deuices proue but doltish dreames No subiect ought for any kind of cause To force the Prince but yeeld him to the lawes Wherefore O Baldwine warne men follow reason Subdue their willes and be not Fortunes slaues A shamefull end doth euer follow treason There is no trust in rebels rascall knaues In Fortune lesse which worketh as the waues From whose assaults who listeth to stand free Must follow skill and so contented bee W. Baldwine THE TRAGEDIE OF EDMVND DVKE OF SOMMERSET SLAINE IN THE FIRST battaile at Saint Albanes the 23. day of May in the 32. yeare of Henrie the sixt Anno Dom. 1454. SOme I suppose are borne vnfortunate Else good endeuours could not ill succeed What shall I call it ill fortune or fate That some mens attempts haue neuer good speed Their trauell thanklesse all bootlesse their heed Where other vnlike in working or skill Out wrestle the world and weald it at will Of the first number I count my selfe one To all mishap I weene predestinate Beleeue me Baldwine there be few or none To whom Fortune was euer more ingrate Make thou therefore my life a caueate That whose with force will worke against kind Saileth as who saith against the streame and winde For I of Sommerset Duke Edmund hight Extract by descent from Lancaster line Were it by follie or Fortunes despite Or by ill aspect of some crooked signe Of mine attempts could neuer see good fine What so I began did seldome well end God from such Fortune all good men defend Where I thought to saue most part I did spill For good hap with me was alway at warre The linage of Yorke whom I bare so ill By my spite became bright as the morning star Thus some whiles men make when faine they would mar The more ye lop trees the greater they grow The more ye stop streames the higher they flow Maugre my spite his same grew the more And mine as the Moone in the wane waxt lesse For hauing the place which he had before Gouernour of France needs I must confesse That lost was Normandie without redresse Yet wrought I alwaies that wit might contriue But what doth it boote with the streame to striue Borne was I neither to warre ne to peace For Mars was maligne to all my whole trade My birth I beleeue was in Ioues decrease When Cancer in his course being retrograde Declined from Sol to Saturnus shade Where aspects were good opposites did marre So grew mine vnhap both in peace and warre A strange natiuitie in calculation As all my liues course did after well declare Whereof in briefe to make relation That other by me may learne to beware Ouerlight credence was cause of my care And want of foresight in giuing assent To condemne Humfrey that Duke innocent Humfrey I meane that was the Protectour Duke of Glocester of the royall blood So long as he was Englands directour King Henries title to the Crowne was good This Prince as a piller most stedfastly stood Or like a prop set vnder a vine In state to vphold all Lancasters
friend Which brought himselfe to an infamous end For when King Henrie of that name the fift Had tane my father in his conspiracie He from Sir Edmund all the blame to shift Was faine to say the French King Charles his alley Had hired him this trayterous act to trie For which condemned shortly he was slaine In helping right this was my fathers gaine Thus when the linage of the Mortimers Was made away by his vsurping line Some hang'd some slaine some pined prisoners Because the Crowne by right of law was mine They gan as fast against me to repine In feare alwaies lest I should stir some strife For guiltie hearts haue neuer quiet life Yet at the last in Henries dayes the sixt I was restored to my fathers lands Made Duke of Yorke where through my mind I fixt To get the Crowne and Kingdome in my hands For aide wherein I knit assured bands With Neuils stocke whose daughter was my make Who for no woe would euer me forsake O Lord what hap had I through mariage Foure goodly boyes in youth my wife she bore Right valiant men and prudent for their age Such brethren shee had and nephues in store As none had erst nor any shall haue more The Earle of Salisbury and his sonne of Warwicke Were matchlesse men from Barbary to Barwicke Through helpe of whom and Fortunes louely looke I vndertooke to claime my lawfull right And to abash such as against me tooke I raised power at all points prest to fight Of whom the chiefe that chiefly bare me spight Was Sommerset the Duke whom to annoy I alway sought through spite spite to destroy And maugre him so choice lo was my chance Yea though the Queene that all rul'd tooke his part I twice bare rule in Normandy and France And last Lieutenant in Ireland where my hart Found remedy for euery kinde of smart For through the loue my doings there did breed I had their helpe at all times in my need This spitefull Duke his silly King and Queene With armed hosts I thrice met in the field The first vnsought through treaty made betweene The second ioind wherein the King did yeeld The Duke was slaine the Queene enforst to shield Her selfe by flight The third the Queene did fight Where I was slaine being ouer matcht by might Before this last were other battailes three The first the Earle of Salisbury led alone And fought on Bloreheath and got victory In the next I with kinsfolke euery one But seeing our souldiers stale vnto our fone We warely brake our company on a night Dissolu'd our host and tooke our selues to flight This Boy and I in Ireland did vs saue Mine eldest sonne with Warwicke and his father To Calais got whence by the read I gaue They came againe to London and did gather An other host whereof I spake no rather And met our foes flewe many a Lord and Knight And took the King and draue the Queene to flight This done I came to England all in haste To make a claime vnto the Realme and Crowne And in the house while parliament did last I in the Kings seate boldly sate me downe And claimed it whereat the Lords did frowne But what for that I did so well proceed That all at last confest it mine indeed But sith the King had raigned now so long They would he should continue till he died And to the end that then none did me wrong In ech place heire apparant they me cried But sith the Queene and others this denied I sped me towards the North where then shee lay In minde by force to cause her to obay Whereof she warnd prepard a mighty powre And ere that mine were altogether ready Came swift to Sandale and besieged my bowre Where like a beast I was so rash and heady That out I would there could be no remedy With scant fiue thousand souldiers to assaile Foure times so many encampt to most auaile And so was slaine at first and while my child Scarce twelue yeare old sought secretly to part That cruell Clifford Lord nay Lorell wilde While th' infant wept and prayed him rue his smart Knowing what he was with dagger cloue his heart This done he came to th' campe where I lay dead Despoil'd my corps and cut away my head Which with a painted paper Crowne thereon He for a present sent vnto the Queene And she for spite commanded it anon To Yorke fast by where that it might be seene They placed it where other traytours beene This mischiefe Fortune did me after death Such was my life and such my losse ofbreath Wherefore see Baldwine that thou set it forth To th' end the fraud of Fortune may be knowen That eke all Princes well may weigh the worth Of things for which the seeds of warre be sowen No state so sure but soone is ouerthrowen No worldly good can counterpoize the prise Of halfe the paines that may thereof arise Better it were to lose a piece of right Then limbes and life in striuing for the same It is not force of friendship nor of might But God that causeth things to fro or frame Not wit but lucke doth wield the winners game Wherefore if we our follies would refraine Time would redresse all wrongs we void of paine Wherefore warne Princes not to wade in war For any cause except the Realmes defence Their troublous titles are vnworthie far The blood the life the spoile of innocence Of friends of foes behold my foule expence And neuer the neere best therefore tarie time So right shall raigne and quiet calme each crime HOW THE LORD CLIFFORD FOR HIS STRANGE and abominable crueltie came to as strange and sudden a death Anno 1461. OPen confession asketh open penance And wisdome would a man his shame to hide Yet sith forgiuenes commeth through repentance I thinke it best that men their crimes ascride For nought so secret but at length is spide For couer fire and it will neuer linne Till it breake forth in like case shame and sinne As for my selfe my faults be out so plaine And published abroad in euery place That though I would I cannot hide a graine All care is bootlesse in a curelesse case To learne by others griefe some haue the grace And therefore Baldwine write my wretched fall The briefe whereof I briefely vtter shall I am the same that slue Duke Richards child The louely babe that begged life with teares Whereby mine honor foully I defil'd Poore silly Lambes the Lion neuer teares The feeble mouse may lie among the beares But wrath of man his rancour to requite Forgets all reason ruth and vertue quite I meane by rancour the parentall wreake Surnam'd a vertue as the vicious say But little know the wicked what they speake In boldning vs our enmies kin to slay To punish sin is good it is no nay They wreake not sinne but merit wreake for sinne That wreake the fathers fault vpon his kinne Because my father Lord Iohn Clyfford
Beheaded vs before we were condemned My cosin Richard could not be content To leaue his life because he wist not why Good gentleman that neuer harme had ment Therefore he asked wherefore he should die The Priest his ghostly father did replie With weeping eyes I know one wofull cause The Realme hath neither righteous Lords not lawes Sir Thomas Vaughan chasing cried still This tyrant Glocester is the gracelesse G That will his brothers children beastly kill And lest the people through his talke might see The misciefes toward and thereto not agree Our tormentour that false periured Knight Bad stop our mouthes with words of high despight Thus di'd we guiltlesse processe heard we none No cause alleag'd no Iudge nor yet accuser No Quest empanel'd passed vs vpon That murdrer Ratcliffe law and rights refuser Did all to flatter Richard his abuser Vnhappie both that euer they were borne Through guiltlesse blood that haue their soules forlorne In part I grant I well deserued this Because I caus'd not speedie execution Be done on Richard for that murder of his When first he wrought King Henries close confusion Not for his brothers hatefull persecution These cruell murders painfull death deserued Which had he suffred many had been preserued Warne therefore all that charge or office beare To see all murdrers speedily executed And spare them not for fauour or for feare By guiltlesse blood the earth remaines polluted For lacke of Iustice kingdomes are transmuted They that saue murdrers from deserued paine Shall through those murdrers miserably be slaine HOW THE LORD HASTINGS WAS BETRAYED BY TRVSTING TOO MVCH to his euill Counseller Catesby and villanously murdered in the Tower of London by Richard Duke of Glocester the 13. of Iune Anno 1483. I Am that Hastings whose too hastie death They blame that know wherefore I lost my breath With others fearing lest my headlesse name Be wrong'd by partiall brute of flattering Fame Hearing O Baldwine that thou mean'st to pen The liues and falles of English Noblemen My selfe heere present do present to thee My life my fall and forced destinie Ne feare to staine thy credit by my tale In Laethes floud long since in Stigian vale Selfe loue I drown'd What time hath fin'd for true And ceaseth not though stale still to renue Recount I will whereof take this for proofe That blase I will my praise and my reproofe We naked ghosts are but the very man Nor of our selues more then we ought we scan The Heauens high and Earthly vale belowe Yet ring his Fame whose deedes so great did grow Edward the fourth ye know vnnam'd I meane Whose noble nature so to me did leane That I his staffe was I his onely ioy And euen what Pandare was to him of Troy VVhich mou'd him first to make me Chamberlaine To serue his sweets to my most sower paine VVherein to iustly prais'd for secretnesse For now my guilt with shriking I confesse To him too true too vntrue to the Queene Such hate I wan as lasted long betweene Our families Shores wife was my Nice cheat The holy whore and eke the wily peat I fed his lust with louely peeces so That Gods sharp wrath I purchast my iust wo. See here the difference of a noble minde Some vertue raiseth some by vice haue climde The first though onely of themselues begon Yet circlewise into themselues do ron VVithin themselues their force vnited so Both endlesse is and stronger gainst their foe For when end'th it that neuer hath begon Or how may that that hath no end b' vndone Th' other as by wicked meanes they grue And raigned by flatterie so soone they rue First tumbling step fro honours old is vice VVhich once stept downe some linger none arise To former type But they catch vertues spray VVhich raiseth them that climbe by lawfull way Beware to rise by seruing princely lust Surely to stand one meane is rising iust 〈◊〉 learne by me whom let it helpe t' excuse 〈◊〉 â—â—â—hfull now my selfe I do accuse 〈…〉 my Prince I euer pleas'd with such As harmed none and him contented much In vice some fauour or lesse hate let win That I ne wried to worser end my sin But vsde my fauour to the helpe of such As death in later warre to liue did grutch For as on durt though durtie shin'th the Sunne So euen amidst my vice my vertue shoane My selfe I spared with his cheate to staine For loue or reuerence so I could refraine Gisippus wife erst Titus would desire With friendships breach I quencht that brutish fire Manly it is to loth the pleasing lust Small vant to flie that of constraint thou must These faults except if so my life thou scan Lo none I hurt but furdred euery man My Chamber England was my staffe the law Whereby saunce rigour all I held in awe So kind to all and so belou'd of all As what ensued vpon my bloodie fall Though I ne felt yet surely this I thinke Full many a trickling teare their mouthes did drinke Disdaine not Princes easie accesse meeke cheare We know then Angels statelier port ye beare Of God himselfe too massie a charge for sprits But then my Lords consider he delights To vaile his grace to vs poore earthly wants To simplest shrubs and to the dunghill plants Expresse him then in might and mercies meane So shall ye win as now ye rule the Reame But all too long I feare I do delay The many meanes whereby I did bewray My zealous will to earne my Princes grace Lest thou defer to thinke me kind percase As nought may last so Fortunes changing cheare With pouting lookes gan lower on my sire And on her wheele aduanst high in his rome The Warwick Earle admir'd through Christendome Besides the tempting prowesse of the foe My Princes brother did him then forgoe The cause was lik'd I was his link'd allie Yet nor the cause nor brothers treacherie Nor enmies force nor band of mingled blood Made Hastings beare any other mind then good But tane and scap'd from Warwickes griping pawes With me he fled through Fortunes froward flawes To London come at large we might haue seemed Had not we then the Realme a prison deemed Each bush a bar each spray a banner splayed Each house a fort our passage to haue stayed To Lin we leape where while w'await the tide My secret friends in secret I suppli'd In mouth to further Henrie sixt their King And vse my best meanes Edward in to bring The restlesse tide to bar the emptie bay With waltring waues roames wambling forth Away The merrie Mariner hales The bragging boy To masts high top vp hies In signe of ioy The wauering flag is vanst The surging seas Their swelling cease to calmest euen peace Sinkes downe their pride With drunkennesse ' gainst all care The Seamen arm'd await their noble fare On bord we come The massie anchors wai'd One English ship two hulks of Holland aid In such a pinch So small though was the traine
lings brest Whom not desire of raigne did driue to field But mothers pride who longd the Realme to wield But straight my death shall shew my worthie meed If first to one other murther I proceed VVhile Edward liued dissembled discord lurked In double hearts yet so his reuerence worked But when succeeding tender feeble age Gaue open gap to tyrants rushing rage I holpe the Boare and Bucke to captiuate Lord Riuers Gray sir Thomas Vaughan and Hawte If land would helpe the sea well earnd that ground It selfe to be with conquering waues surround Their speedie death by priuie dome procured At Pomfret tho my life short while endured My selfe I slue when them I damned to death At once my throate I riued and reft them breath For that selfe day before or neere the hower That withred Atropos nipt the springing flower VVith violent hand of their forth running life My head and body in Tower twinde like knife By this my paterne all ye peeres beware Oft hangth he himselfe who others weenth to snare Spare to be each others butcher Feare the Kite VVho soareth aloft while frog and mouse do fight In ciuil combat grappling void of feare Of forreine foe at once al both to beare Which plainer by my pitied plaint to see A while anew your listning lend to mee Too true it is two sundrie assemblies kept At Crosbies place and Baynards Castle set The Dukes at Crosbies but at Baynards we The one to crowne a king the other to be Suspicious is secession of foule frends When eithers drift to th' others mischief tends I fear'd the end my Catesbies being there Discharg'd all doubts Him held I most entire Whose great preserment by my meanes I thought Some spurre to pay the thankfulnesse hee ought The trust he ought me made me trust him so That priuie he was both to my weale and wo. My hearts one halfe my chest of confidence Mine only trust my ioy dwelt in his presence I lou'd him Baldwine as the apple of mine eye I loath'd my life when Catesby would me die Flie from thy chanel Thames forsake thy streames Leaue the Adamant Iron Phoebus lay thy beames Cease heauenly Sphears at last your weary warke Betray your charge returne to Chaos darke At least some ruthlesse Tiger hang her whelp My Catesby so with some excuse to help And me to comfort that I alone ne seeme Of all dame natures workes left in extreeme A Golden treasure is the tried frend But who may Gold from Counterfaits defend Trust not too soone nor yet too soone mistrust With th' one thy selfe with th' other thy friend thou hurt'st VVho twin'th betwixt and steareth the golden meane Nor rashly loueth nor mistrusteth in vaine In friendship soueraigne it is as Mithridate Thy friend to loue as one whom thou maist hate Of tickle credit ne had bin the mischiefe What needed Virbius miracle doubled life Credulity surnamed first the Aegean Seas Mistrust doth reason in the trustiest raise Suspicious Romulus stain'd his Walls first reard With brothers bloud whom for light leape he feard So not in brotherhood ielousie may be borne The ielous Cuckold weares the Infamous Horne A beast may preach by triall not foresight Could I haue shund light credit nere had light The dreaded death vpon my guilty head But Fooles aye wont to learne by after read Had Catesby kept vnstaind the truth he plight Yet had yet enioied me and I yet the light All Derbies doubts I cleared with his name I knew no harme could hap me without his blame But see the fruites of tickle light beleefe The ambitious Dukes corrupt the Traitor theefe To grope mee if allured I would assent To bin a Partner of their cursed intent Whereto when as by no meanes friendship vail'd By Tyrant force behold they me assail'd And summond shortly a Counsell in the Tower Of Iune the fifteenth at appointed hower Alas are Counsels wried to catch the good No place is now exempt from sheading bloud Sith counsels that were carefull to preserue The guiltelesse good are meanes to make them starue VVhat may not mischiefe of Mad man abuse Religious cloake some one to vice doth chuse And maketh God Protectour of his crime Omonstrous world well ought we wish thy fine The fatall skies roll on the blackest day VVhen doubled bloudshed my bloud must repay Others none forceth To me sir Thomas Haward As spurre is buckled to prouoke me froward Derbie who feared the parted sittings yore Whether much more he knew by experience hoare Or better minded clearelier truth could see At midnight darke this message sends to mee Hastings away in sleepe the gods foreshow By dreadfull dreame fell fates vnto vs two Me thought a Bore with tuske so raced our throate That both our shoulders of the blood did smoake Arise to horse straight homeward let vs hie And seeth our foe we cannot match O flie Of Chanteclere you learne dreames sooth to know Thence wisemen construe more then the cock doth crow While thus he spake I held within mine arme Shores wife the tender piece to keepe me warme Fie on adulterie fie on leacherous lust Marke in me ye Nobles all Gods iudgements iust A Pander Murderer and Adulterer thus Only such death I die as I ne blush Now lest my dame might thinke appall'd my hart With eager mood vp in my bed I start And is thy Lord quoth I a Sorcerer A wiseman now become a dreame reader What though so Chanteclere crowed I reck it not On my part pleadeth as well dame Partelot Vniudg'd hang'th yet the case betwixt them tway Nay was his dreame cause of his hap I say Shall dreaming doubts from Prince my seruing slack Nay then might Hastings life and liuing lacke He parteth I sleepe my mind surcharg'd with sinne As Phoebus beames by mistie cloud kept in Ne could misgiue ne dreame of my mishap As blocke I tumbled to mine enemies trap Securitie causelesse through my fained frend Reft me foresight of my approching end So Catesby clawed me as when the Cat doth play Dallying with Mouse whom straight she meanes to slay The morow come the latest light to me On Palfray mounted to the Tower I hie Accompanied with that Haward my mortall foe To slaughter led thou God didst suffer so O deepe dissemblers honoring with your cheare Whom in hid heart you trayterously teare Neuer had Realme so open signes of wrack As I had shewed me of my heauie hap The vision first of Stanley late descried Then mirth so extreame that neare for ioy I died Were it that Swanlike I foresong my death Or merrie mind foresaw the losse of breath That long it coueted from this earths annoy But euen as siker as th' end of woe is ioy And glorious light to obscure night doth tend So extreame mirth in extreame mone doth end For why extreames are haps rackt out of course By violent might far swinged forth perforce Which as they are piercing'st while they violent'st moue For that they
at Lord Stanley whose braine he had surely cleft Had he not downe beneath the table crept But Ely Yorke and I were taken straight Imprisoned they I should no longer wait But charged was to shriue me and shift with hast My Lord must dine and now midday was past The Bores first dish not the bores head should be But Hastings head the borish beast would see VVhy stay I his dinner vnto the chappel ioineth A greenish hil that body and soule oft twineth There on a blocke my head was stricken off As Baptists head for Herod bloudy gnoffe Thus liu'd I Baldwine thus dide I thus I fel This is the summe which al at large to tel VVould volumes fil whence yet these lessons note Ye noble Lords to learne and ken by rote By filthie rising feare your names to staine If not for vertues loue for dread of paine VVhom so the mindes vnquiet state vpheaues Be it for loue or feare when fancie reaues Reason her right by mocking of the wit If once the cause of this affection flit Reason preuailing on the vubridled thought Downe falth he who by fancie climbe aloft So hath the riser foule no staie from fall No not of those that raisd him first of all His suretie stands in mainteining the cause That heau'd him first which rest by reasons sawes Not onely falth he to his former state But liueth for euer in his princes hate And marke my Lords God for adulterie sleath Though ye it thinke too sweete a sinne for death Serue trulie your Prince and feare not rebels might On Princes halues the mightie God doth fight O much more then forsweare a forrein foe Who seeketh your realme and country to vndo Murther detest haue hands vnstaind with bloud Aie with your succour do protect the good Chace treason where trust should be wed to your frend Your heart and power to your liues last end Flie tickle credit shun alike distrust Too true it is and credit it you must The iealous nature wanteth no stormie strife The simple soule aye leadeth a sower life Beware of flatterers friends in outward show Best is of such to make your open foe What all men seeke that all men seeke to saine Some such to be some such to seeme them paine Marke Gods iust iudgements punishing sin by sinne And slipperie state wherein aloft we swimme The prouerbe all day vp if we ne fall Agreeth well to vs high heaued worldlings all From common sort vprais'd in honors weed We shine while Fortune false whom none erst feed To stand with stay and forsweare ticklenesse Sowseth vs in mire of durtie brittlenesse And learne ye Princes by my wronged sprite Not to misconster what is meant aright The winged words too oft preuent the wit When silence ceaseth afore the lips to sit Alas what may the words yeeld worthie death The words worst is the speakers stinking breath Words are but winde why cost they then so much The guiltie kicke when they too smartly touch Forth irreturnable flieth the spoken word Be it in scoffe in earnest or in bourd Without returne and vnreceiu'd it hangs And at the takers mercie or rigour stands Which if he sowerly wrest with wrathfull cheare The shiuering word turnes to the speakers feare If friendly courtefie do the word expound To the speakers comfort sweetly it doth redound Euen as the vapour which the fire repels Turnes not to earth but in mid aire dwels Where while it hangeth if Boreas frostie flawes With rigour rattle it not to raine it thawes But thunder lightnings ratling haile or snow Sends downe to earth whence first it rose below But if faire Phoebus with his countenance sweete Resolue it downe the dew or Manna sleete The Manna dew that in the Easterne lands Excell'th the labour of the bees small hands Else for her Memnon gray Auroras teares On the earth it stilleth the partener of her feares Or sendeth sweet showers to glad their mother earth Whence first they tooke their first inconstant birth To so great griefes ill taken words do grow Of words well taken such delights do flow This learned thus be heere at length an end What since ensued to thee I will commend Now farewell Baldwine shield my torne name From slanderous trumpe of blasting blacke defame But ere I part hereof thou record beare I claime no part of vertues reckoned heere My vice my selfe but God my vertues take So hence depart I as I entred nak'd Thus ended Hastings both his life and tale Containing all his worldly blisse and bale Happie he liued too happie but for sinne Happie he died whom right his death did bring Thus euer happie For there is no meane Twixt blissefull liues and mortall deaths extreame Yet feared not his foes to staine his name And by these slanders to procure his shame In rustie armour as in extreame shift They clad themselues to cloake their diuellish drift And forth with for substantiall citizens sent Declaring to them Hastings forged intent Was to haue slaine the Duke and to haue seised The Kings yong person slaying whom he had pleas'd But God of Iustice had withturn'd that fate Which where it ought light on his proper pate Then practised they by proclamation spread Nought to forget that mought defame him dead Which was so curious and so clerkely pend So long withall that when some did attend His death so yong they saw that long before The shroud was shaped then babe to die was bore So wonteth God to blind the worldly wise That not to see that all the world espies One hearing it cried out A goodly cast And well contriued foule cast away for hast Whereto another gan in scoffe replie First pend it was by enspiring prophecie So can God rip vp secret mischiefes wrought To the confusion of the workers thought My Lords the tub that dround the Clarence Duke Dround not his death not yet his deaths rebuke Your politique secrets gard with trustie loyaltie So shall they lurke in most assured secrecie By Hastings death and after fame ye learne The earth for murder crieth out vengeance sterne Flie from his faults and spare to hurt his fame The eager hounds forbeare their slaine game Dead dead auaunt Curs from the conquered chase Ill might he liue who loueth the dead to race Thus liued this Lord thus died he thus he slept Mids forward race when first to rest he stept Enuious death that bounceth as well with mace At Kesars courts as at the poorest gates When nature seem'd too slow by this sloape meane Conueighed him sooner to his liues extreame Happie in preuenting woes that after happ'd In slumber sweete his liuing lights he lapp'd Whose hastie death if it do any grieue Know he he liu'd to die and dide to liue Vntimely neuer comes the liues last met In cradle death may rightly claime his det Straight after birth due is the fatall beere By deaths permission the aged linger heere Euen in the swathbands out commission goeth To
ghostly health Which neuer learn'd one lesson for the same If such catch harme their parents are too blame For needs must they be blind and blindly led Where no good lesson can be taught or read Some thinke their youth discreet and wisely taught That brag and boast and weare their feather braue Can roist and rout both loure and looke aloft Can sweare and stare and call their fellowes knaue Can pill and poll and catch before they craue Can card and dice both cog and foist at fare Play on vnthriftie till their purse be bare Some teach their youth to pipe to sing and dance To hauke to hunt to choose and kill their game To wind their horne and with their horse to praunce To play at tenis set the lute in frame Run at the ring and vse such other game Which feats although they be not all vnfit Yet cannot they the marke of vertue hit For noble youth there is nothing so meete As learning is to know the good from ill To know the tongues and perfectly endite And of the lawes to haue a perfect skill Things to reforme as right and iustice will For honour is ordeined for no cause But to see right maintained by the lawes It spites my heart to heare when noble men Cannot disclose their secrets to their frend In sauegard sure with paper inke and pen But first they must a secretary find To whom they shew the bottome of their mind And be he false or true a blab or close To him they must their counsaile needs disclose And where they rule that haue of law no skill There is no boote they needes must seeke for ayd Then rul'd are they and rule as others will As he that on a stage his part hath plaid But he was taught nought hath he done or said Such youth therfore seek science of the sage As thinke to rule when that ye come to age Where youth is brought vp in feare and obedience Kept from ill company bridled of their lust Do serue God duly and know their allegiance Learne godly weale which time nor age can rust There Prince people and Peers needes prosper must For happy are the folke and blessed is that land Where truth and vertue both haue got the ouer hand I speake this Baldwine of this rufull Lord Whom I perforce do heere present to thee He faints so sore he may not speake a word I pleade his cause without reward or fee And am enforc'd to speake for him and mee If in his youth he had been wisely tought He should not now his wit so deare haue bought For what is he that hath but halfe a wit But may well know that rebels cannot speed Marke well my tale and take good heed to it Recount it well and take it for good reed Proue it vntrue I will not trust my creed Was neuer rebell heretofore or since That could or shall preuaile against his Prince For ere the subiect purpose to rebell Within himselfe let him consider well Foresee the danger and beare in his braine How hard it is his purpose to obtaine For if he once be entred to the breares He hath a raging wolfe fast by the eares And when he entred is to rule the rout Although he would he can no way get out He may be sure none will to him resort But such as are the vile and rascall sort All honest men as well the most as lest To taste of treason vtterly detest Then let him waigh how long he can be sure Where faith nor friendship may no while endure He whom he trusteth most to gaine a groate Will fall him from and seeke to cut his throate Among the knaues and slaues where vice is rooted There is no other friendship to be looked With foolish men so falsehood is in price That faith is sinne and vertue counted vice And where the quarell is so vile and bad What hope of aid then is there to be had Thinkes he that men will run at this or that To do a thing they know not how or what Nor yet what danger may thereof betide VVhere wisdome would they should at home abide Rather then seeke and know not what to find VVise men will first debate this in their mind Full sure they are if that they go to wrecke Without all grace they lose both head and necke They lose their lands and goods their child and wife VVith griefe and shame shall leade a wofull life If he be slaine in field he dieth accurst VVhich of all wreckes we should account the worst And he that dieth defending his liege Lord Is blest and blest againe by Gods owne word And where the souldiers wages is vnpai'd There is the Captaine slenderly obey'd And where the souldier 's out of feare and dreed He will be lacke when that there is most need And priuately he seekes his ease and leasure And will be rul'd but at his will and pleasure And where some draw forth other do draw backe There in the end must needs be woe and wracke To hope for aid of Lords it is but vaine Whose foretaught wit of treason knoweth the paine They know what powre a Prince hath in his hand And what it is with rebels for to stand They know by treason honor is defaced Their ofspring and their progenie disgraced They know to praise is not so worthie a thing As to be true and faithfull to their King Aboue cognisance or armes or pedigree a far An vnsported coat is like a blasing star Therefore the rebell is accurstand mad That hopes for that which rebell neuer had Who trusting still to tales doth hang in hope Till at the last he hang fast by the rope For though that tales be told that hope might feed Such foolish hope hath still vnhappie speed Is is a custome neuer will be broken In broiles the bag of lies is euer open Such lying newes men daily will inuent As can the hearers fancie best content And as the newes do run and neuer cease So more and more they daily do encrease And as they ' ncrease they multiplie as fast That ten is ten hundred ten thousand at the last And though the rebell had once got the field Thinkes he thereby to make his Prince to yeeld A Princes power within his owne region Is not so soone brought to confusion For Kings through God are strong and stoutly harted That they of subiects will not be subuerted If Kings would yeeld yet God would them restraine Of whom the Prince hath grace and power to raigne Who straitly chargeth vs aboue all thing That no man should resist against his King Who that resisteth his dread soueraigne Lord Doth damne his soule by Gods owne very word A Christian subiect should with honor due Obey his Soueraigne though he were a Iew Whereby assur'd when subiects do rebell Gods wrath is kindled and threatneth fire and hell It is soone knowne when Gods fierce wrath is kindled How they shall speed