From all disturbs to be so long kept free And with such glory to discharge that place And therefore if by such a power thou be Stopt of thy course reckon it no disgrace Sith shee alone being priuiledg'd from hie Hath thys large Patent of eternite 52 This charge the Goddesse gaue when ready straight The subtill messenger accompayned With all her crew of crafts that on her wayt Hastes to effect what shee was counsailed And out shee pours of her mimens conceit Vpon such searching spirits as trauailed In penetrating hidden secrecies Who soone these meanes of misery deuise 53 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde Into theyr mothers close-lockt Treasury They mineralls combustible doe finde Which in stopt concaues placed cunningly They fire and fire imprisoned against kind Teares out away thrusts out his enemy Barking with such a horror as if wroth With man that wrongs himselfe and nature both 54 And this beginning had this cursed frame Which Yorke hath now planted against his King Presuming by his power and by the same His purpose vnto good effect to bring When diuers of the grauest Counsell came Sent from the King to vnderstand what thing Had thrust him into these proceedings bad And what he sought and what intent he had 55 Who with words mildly-sharp gently-seuere Wrought on those wounds that must bee toucht with heed Applying rather salues of hope then feare Least corasiues should desperat mischiefes breed And what my Lord sayd they should moue you here In thys vnseemely manner to proceed Whose worth being such as all the Land admires Hath sayrer wayes then these to your desires 56 Will you whose meanes whose many friends whose grace Can work the world in peace vnto your wil Take such a course as shall your blood deface And make by handling bad a good cause ill How many harts hazard you in thys case That in all quiet plots would ayde you still Hauing in Court a Partie far more strong Then you conceiue prest to redresse your wrong 57 Fy fy forsake thys hatefull course my Lord Downe with these Armes that will but wound your cause What peace may do hazard not with the sword Fly from the force that from your force with-drawes And yeeld and we will mediat such accord As shall dispence with rigor and the lawes And interpose thys solemne fayth of our Betwixt your fault and the offended power 58 Which ingins of protests and proffers kinde Vrg'd out of seeming greese and shewes of loue So shooke the whole foundation of his minde As it dyd all his resolution moue And present seem'd vnto theyr course inclind So that the King would Sommerset remoue The man whose most intollerable pride Trode downe his worth and all good mens beside 59 Which they there vow'd should presently be done For what will not pence-louers willing grant Where dangerous euents depend thereon And men vnfurnisht and the state in want And if with words the conquest will be won The cost is small and who holds breath so scant As then to spare tho' against his dignity Better discend then end in maiestie 60 And here-vpon the Duke dissolues his force Submits him to the King on publique vow The rather to presuming on thys course For that his sonne the Earle of March was now With mightier powers abroad which would enforce His peace which els the King would not allow For seeing not all of him in him he hath His death would but gyue life to greater wrath 61 Yet comming to the King in former place Hys foe the Duke of Sommerset he finds Whom openly reproching to hys face Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kinds The Duke returnes lyke speeches of dysgrace And fiery words bewrayd theyr flaming minds But yet the tryall was for them deferd Till fitter tyme allow'd it to be heard 62 At Westminster a Counsell gathered Deliberats what course the cause should end Of th' apprehended Duke of Yorke whose head Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend Law fiercely vrgd his deed and found him dead Frends fayld to speake where they could not defend Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood As prodigall of lyse nyggard of blood 63 And as if angry with the Lawes of death And why should you sayd he vrge things so far You that invr'd with mercinary breath And hyred tongue so peremptory are Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth As if you dyd with poore affliction war And pray on frailty folly hath betrayd Bringing the lawes to wound neuer to ayd 64 Dispence sometyme with sterne seueritie Make not the lawes still traps to apprehend Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie Mercy may mend whom malice made offend Death giues no thanks but checks authority And lyfe doth onely maiestie commend Reuenge dyes not rigor begets new wrath And blood hath neuer glory mercy hath 65 And for my part and my part should be chiefe I am most willing to restore his state And rather had I win him with reliefe Then loose him with despight and get more hate Pitty drawes loue bloodshed as natures griefe Compassion followes the vnfortunate And loosing him in him I loose my power We rule who liue the dead are none of our 66 And should our rigor lessen then the same Which we with greater glory should retaine No let hym lyue his lyfe must giue vs fame The chyld of mercy newly borne againe As often burials is Phisitions shame So many deaths argues a Kings hard raigne Why should we say the law must haue her vigor The law kills him but quits not vs of rigor 67 You to get more preferment by your wit Others to gaine the spoyles of misery Labour with all your power to follow it Shewing vs feares to draw on cruelty You vrge th' offence not tell vs what is fit Abusing wrong-informed maiestic As if our power were onely but to slay And that to sane were a most dangerous way 68 Thus out of pitty spake that holy King Whom mylde affections led to hope the best When Sommerset began to vrge the thing With words of hotter temper thys exprest Deare soueraigne Lord the cause in managing Is more then yours t' imports the publique rest We all haue part it touches all our good And lyfe's ill spard that 's spar'd to cost more blood 69 Compassion here is cruolty my Lord Pitty will cut our throats for sauing so What benefit shall we haue by the sword If mischiefe shall escape to draw on mo Why should we gyue what Law cannot afford To ' be ' accessaries to our proper wo Wisdom must iudge twixt men apt to amend And minds incurable borne to offend 70 It is no priuat cause I doe protest That moues me thus to prosecute his deede Would God his blood and myne had well releast The dangers that his pryde is lyke to breed Although at me he seemes to haue addrest His spight t is not his end he hath decreed I am not he alone hee doth pursue But thorow me
faire pretence Of Tilts and Turnements which they intend Prouide them horse and armour for defence And all things else conuenient for their end Besides they might hold sure intelligence Among themselues without suspect t' offend The king would think they sought but grace in court Withall their great preparing in this sort 34 A solemne oth religiously they make By intermutuall vowes protesting there This neuer to reueale nor to forsake So good a cause for daunger hope or feare The Sacrament the pledge of faith they take And euery man vppon his sword doth sweere By knighthood honor or what els should binde To assecure the more each others minde 35 And whenal this was done and thought welldone And euery one assures him good successe And easie seemes the thing to euery one That nought could crosse their plot or thē suppresse Yet one among the rest whole mind not wonne With th' ouerweening thought of hot excesse Nor headlong carried with the streame of will Nor by his owne election lead to ill 36 Sober milde Blunt whose learning valor wit Had taught true iudgement in the course of things Knew daungers as they were and th humerous fit Of ware-lesse discontent what end it brings Counsels their heat with calme graue words fit Words welfore thought that from experiēce springs And warnes a warier cariage in the thing Least blind presumption worke their ruining 37 My Lords saith he I know your wisedomes such As that of my aduise you haue no need I know you know how much the thing doth touch The maine of all your states your bloud your seed Yet since the same concernes my life as much As his whose hand is chiefest in this deed And that my foote must go as farre as his I thinke my tongue may speake what needfull is 38 The thing we enterprize I know doth beare Great possibility of good effect For that so many men of might there are That venter here this action to direct Which meaner wights of trust and credit bare Not so respected could not looke t' effect For none without great hopes will follow such Whose powre and honor doth not promise much 39 Besides this new and doubtfull gouernment The wauering faith of people vaine and light The secret hopes of many discontent The naturall affection to the right Our lawfull sou'raignes life in prison pent Whom men begin to pitty now not spight Our wel-laid plot and all I must confesse With our iust cause doth promise good successe 40 But this is yet the outward fairest side Of our disseigne within rests more of feare More dread of sad euent yet vndiscride Then ô most worthy Lords I would there were But yet I speake not this as to deuide Your thoughts from th' act or to dismay your cheere Onely to adde vnto your forward will A moderate feare to cast the worst of ill 41 Danger before and in and after th' act You needs must grant is great and to be waigh'd Before least while we doe the deed protract It be by any of our selues be wraid For many being priuy to the fact How hard it is to keepe it vnbetraid When the betrayer shall haue grace and life And rid himselfe of danger and of strife 42 For though some few contioue resolute Yet many shrinke which at the first would dare And be the formost men to execute If the act and motion at one instant were But intermission suffers men dispute What dangers are and cast with farther care Cold doubt cauils with honor skorneth fame And in the end feare waighes down faith with shame 43 Then in the act what perils shall we finde If either place or time or other course Cause vs to alterth ' order now assign'd Or that then we expect things happen worse If either error or a fainting minde An indiserect amazement or remorse In any at that instant should be found How much it might the act and all confound 44 After the deed the daungers are no lesse Least that our forwardnes not seconded By our owne followers and accomplices Being kept backe or flow or hindered The hastie multitude rush on t' oppresse Confused weaknes there vnsuccored Or raise another head of that same race T' auenge his death and prosecute the case 45 All this my Lords must be considered The best and worst of that which maie succeed That valour mixt with feare boldnes with dread May march more circumspect with better heed And to preuent these mischiefes mentioned Is by our faith our secrefie and speed For euen already is the worke begun And we rest all vndone till all be done 46 And ô I could haue wisht another course In open field t' haue hazarded my bloud But some are heere whose loue is of that force To draw my life whom zeale hath not withstood But like you not of your disseigne the worse If the successe be good your course is good And ending well our honor then begins No hand of strife is pure but that which wins 47 This said a sad still silence hold their minds Vpon the fearefull proiect of their woe But that not long ere forward fury finds Incouraging perswasions on to go We must said they we will our honour bindes Our safety bids our faith must haue it so We know the worst can come t is thought vpon We cannot shift being in we must goe on 48 And on indeed they went but ô not sarre A fatall stop trauersd their headlong course Their drist comes knowne and they discouered are For some of many will be False of force Aumarle became the man that all did marre Whether through indisoretions chance or worse He makes his peace with offring others bloud And shewes the king how all the matter stood 49 Then lo dismaid confusion all possest Th' afflicted troupe hearing their plot discride Then runnes amazd distresse with sad vnrest To this to that to flie to stand to hide Distracted terror knew not what was best On what determination to abide At last despaire would yet stand to the sword To trie what friends would doe or fate afford 50 Then this then that mans ayd they craue implore Post here for helpe seeke there their followers Coniure the frendes they had labor for more Sollicite all reputed fauorers Who Richards cause seem'd to affect before And in his name write pray send messengers To try what faith was left if by this art Anie would step to take afflictions part 51 And some were found some againe draw backe Vncertaine power could not it selfe retaine Intreat they may autority they lacke And here and there they march but all in vaine With desp'rat course like those that see their wracke Euen on the Rockes of death and yet they straine That death maie not them idly find t' attend Their certaine last but worke to meet their end 52 And long they stand not ere the chiefe surprizd Conclude with their deare bloud their tragedie And all the rest disperst run some disguisd
THE POETICALL ESSAYES OF SAM DANYEL Newly corrected and augmented AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus AT LONDON Printed by P. Short for Simon Waterson 1599. The Argumentes of these Essayes following THe ciuill wars betweene the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke Musophilus or a defence of learning The Epistle of Octauia to Antonius The Tragedy of Cleopatra corrected The complaint of Rosamond To the Right honorable Sir Charles Blunt Knight Lord Mountioy and Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter and his most worthy Lord. I Do not plant thy great respected name Here in this front to th' end thou shouldst protect These my endeuors from contempt or blame Which none but their own forces must effect Nor do I seeke to win thy more respect Most learned Lord by these Essaies of mine Since that cleere iudgement that did first elect To fauor me will alwaies keepe me thine Nor do I this more honor to assigne Vnto thy worth that is not more hereby Since th' offrings made vnto the powers deuine Enrich not them but shew mens pietie But this I do to th' end if destinie Shall any monument reserue of me Those times should see my loue how willing I That liu'd by thee would haue thee lius with me S. D. THE CIVIL WARS OF ENGLAND BEtween the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus SAM DANIELL AT LONDON Printed by P. S. for Symon Waterson 1599. THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE What times forgoe Richard the seconds raigne The fatall causes of this ciuile warre His Vnckles pride his greedte Minions gaine Glosters reuolt and death dcliuered are Herford accusd exild calld backe againe Pretends t' amend what others Rule did marre The King from Ireland hastes but did no good Whilst strange prodigious signes foretoken bloud 1 I Sing the ciuil warrs tumultuous broyles And bloudy factions of a mighty land VVhose people hauty proud with forain spoyles Vpon themselues turne back their conquering hand VVhilst Kin their Kin brother the brother foyles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against bowes the Crowne against the crowne vvhil'st all pretending right all right throwen downe 2 What furie ô what madnes held you so Deare people to too prodigall of bloud To wast so much and warre without a foe Whilst France to see your spoyles at pleasure stood How much might you haue purchasd with lesse wo Thaue done you honor and your Nephewes good Yours might haue beene what euer lies betweene The Perenei and Alps Aquitayne and Rbeine 3 And yet ô God wee haue no cause to plaine Since hereby came the quiet calme we ioye The blisse of thee ELIZA happie gaine For all our losse for that no other waye The heauens could find then vnite againe The fatall seu'red families that they Might bring forth thee that in thy peace might grow That glory which no age could euer show 4 O sacred Goddesse I no muse but thee Invoke in this great worke I now entend Do thou inspire my thoughts infuse in mee A power to bring the same to happie end Raise vp a worke for latter times to see That may thy glorie and my paines commend Strengthen thy subiect strang thinges to rehearse And giue peace to my life life to my verse 5 And thou Charles Mountioy borne the worldes That hast receiu'd into thy quiet shore delight Me tempest-driuen fortune-tossed wight Tir'd with expecting and could hope no more And cheerest on my better yeares to write A sadder Subiect then I tooke before Receiue the worke I consecrate to thee Borne of that rest which thou dost giue to mee 6 And MEMORIE preseruresse of thinges done Come thou vnfold the wounds the wracke the wast Reucale to me how all the strife begunne Twixt Lancaster and Yorke in ages past How causes counsels and euents did runne So long as these vnhappie times did last Vnintermixt with fictions fantasies I versifie the troth not poetize 7 And to the end we maie with better ease Iudge the true progresse here bigin to showe What weare the times fore going nere to thease That these we maie with better profit knowe Tell how the world fell into this disease And how so great distemperature did growe So shall we see by what degrees it came How thinges grown full do sone grow out of frame 8 Ten kings had now raignd of the Norman race With variable fortune turning chaunce All in two hundreth sixtie one yeares space When Edward third of name and first of Fraunce Possest the crowne in fortunes highest grace And did to greatest state his state aduaunce When England might the largest limits see That euer any king attaind but hee 9 For most of all the rest toyld in vnrest What with wrong titles what with inward broyl Hardlie a true establishment possest Of what they sought with such exceeding toyle For why their power within it self opprest Scarce could breake forth to greatnes al that while Such wo the childhood of this state did passe Before it could attaine to what it wasse 10 For first the Norman conquering all by might By might was forst to keepe what hee had got Altring the lawes chaunging the forme of Right And placing barbarous Customes he had brought Maistring the mighty humbling the poorer wight With grieuous taxes tyranie had sought Scarce laide th' assured groundes to build vpon The chaunge so hatefull in such course begon 11 William his sonne tracing the selfesame wayes The great outworne with war or slaine in peace Onely vpon depressed weakenes prayes And treades down what was likeliest to increase Those that were left being left to wofull daies Had onely powre to wish for some release Whilst giuing beastes what did to men pertaine Tooke for a beast himselfe was after slaine 12 Henrie his brother raignes when he had donne Who Roberts title better to reiect The Norman Duke the Conquerours first sonne Lightens in shew rather then in effect Those greeuances his fatall race begunne Reformes the lawes which soone he did neglect Whose sons being drownd for whō he did prepare Leaues crowne strif to Maud his daughters care 13 Whom Stephen his Nephew falsifying his oath Preuents assailes the Realm obtaines the crown Raising such tumults as torment them both Whil'st both held nothing certainlie their owne Th' afflicted Realme deuided in their troth And partiall faith most miserable growne Endures the while till peace and Stephens death Conclude some hope of quiet to take breath 14 The sonne of Maud from Saxon bloud deriu'd By mothers line succeeds th'vnrightfull king Henrie the second in whose raigne reuiu'd Th' oppressed state and first began to spring And ô if he had not beene too long liu'd T' haue seene th'affliction that his age did bring By his vngodly sonnes then happie man For they against him warr'd for whom hewan 15 All Ireland Scotland th'Iles of Orcades Poytiers Guienna Brittany hee got And leades forth
zeale one murmure findes In vndistinguisht voice to tell their mindes 69 He that in glorie of his fortune fate Admiring what he thought could neuer be Did feele his bloud within salute his state And lift vp his reiouicing soule to see So manie hands and harts congratulate Th' aduancement of his long-desir'd degree When prodigall of thankes in passing by He resalutes them all with cheerefull eie 70 Behind him all aloofe came pensiue on The vnregarded king that drooping went Alone and but for spight scarce lookt vpon Iudge if he did more enuy or lament O what a wondrous worke this daie is done Which th' image of both fortunes doth present In th' one to shew the best of glories face In th' other worse then worst of all disgrace 71 Now I Sabell the young afficted Queene Whose yeares had neuer shew'd her but delights Nor louely eies before had euer seene Other then smiling ioies and ioyfull sights Borne great matcht great liu'd great and euer beene Partaker of the worlds best benefits Had plac'd her selfe hearing her Lord should passe That way where shee vnseene in secret was 72 Sicke of delay and longing to behold Her long mist loue in fearfull ieoperdies To whom although it had in fort beene told Of their proceeding and of his surprize Yet thinking they would neuer be so bold To lead their Lord in any shamefull wise But rather would conduct him as their king As seeking but the States reordering 73 And forth shee looks and notes the form oft traine And grieues to view some there she wisht not there Seeing the chiefe not come staies lookes againe And yet she sees not him that should appeare Then backe she stands and then desires was saine Againe to looke to see if he were nere At length a glittring troupe farre off shee spies Perceiues the thronge and heares the shoots cries 74 Lo yonder now at length he comes saith shee Looke my good women where he is in sight Do you not see him yonder that is hee Mounted on that white courser all in white There where the thronging troupes of people bee I know him by his seate he sits s' vpright Lo now he bows deare Lord with what sweet grace How long haue I longd to behold that face 75 O what delight my hart takes by mine eie I doubt me when he comes but something neare I shall set wide the window what care I Who doth see me so him I may see cleare Thus doth false ioy delude her wrongfully Sweet lady in the thing she held so deare For nearer come shee findes shee had mistooke And him shee markt was Henrie Bullingbrooke 76 Then Enuie takes the place in her sweet eies Where sorrow had prepard herselfe a feat And words of wrath from whēce complaints should rise Proceed from egar lookes and browes that threat Traytor faith shee i' st thou that in this wise To braue thy Lord and king art made so great And haue mine eies done vnto me this wrong To look on thee for this staid I so long 77 O haue they grac'd a periur'd rebell so Well for their error I will weepe them out And hate the tongue defilde that praisde my so And loath the minde that gaue me not to doubt O haue I added shame vnto my woe I le looke no more Ladies looke you about And tell me if my Lord bee in this traine Least my betraying eies should erre againe 78 And in this passion turnes her selfe away The rest looke all and carefull note each wight Whilst she impatient of the least delay Demaunds againe and what not yet in fight Where is my Lord what gone some other way I muse at this O God graunt all go right Then to the window goes againe at last And sees the chiefest traine of all was past 79 And sees not him her soule desir'd to see And yet hope spent makes her not leaue to looke At last her loue-quicke eies which ready be Fastens on one whom though shee neuer tooke Could be her Lord yet that sad cheere which he Then shew'd his habit and his wofull looke The grace he doth in base attire retaine Causd her she could not from his sight refraine 80 What might be she said that thus alone Rides pensiue in this vniuersall ioy Some I perceiue as well as we doe mone All are not pleasd with euery thing this day It maie be he laments the wronge is done Vnto my Lord and grieues as well he may Then he is some of ours and we of right Must pitty him that pitties our sad plight 81 But stay it s not my Lord himselfe I see In truth if t were not for his base araie I verily should thinke that it were he And yet his basenes doth a grace bewray Yet God forbid let me deceiued be O be it not my Lord although it may And let desire make vowes against desire And let my sight approue my sight a liar 82 Let me not see him but himselfe a king For so he left me so he did remoue This is not he this feeles some other thing A passion of dislike or els of loue O yes t is he that princely face doth bring The euidence of maiestie to proue That face I haue conferr'd which now I see With that within my hart and they agree 83 Thus as shee stoode assur'd and yet in doubt Wishing to see what seene she grieud to see Hauing beliefe yet saine would be without Knowing yet striuing not to know t was he Her hart relenting yet her hart so stout As would not yeeld to thinke what was could be Till quite condemnd by open proofe of sight Shee must confesse or else denie the light 84 For whether loue in him did sympathize Or chance so wrought to manifest her doubt Euen iust before where she thus secret prize He staies and with cleare face lookes all about When she tis ô too true I know his eies Alas it is my owne deare Lord cries out And with that crie sinkes downe vpon the flore Abundant griefe lackt words to vtter more 85 Sorrow keepes full possession in her soule Lockes him within laies vp the key of breath Raignes all alone a Lord without controule So long till greater horror threatneth And euen in daunger brought to loose the whole His forst come forth or else to stay with death Opens a sigh and le ts in sence againe And sence at legth giues words leaue to complaine 86 Then like a torrent had beene stopt before Teares sighes and words doubled togither flow Confusdly striuing whether should do more The true intelligence of griefe to show Sighes hindred words words perisht in their store Both intermixt in one together grow One would do all the other more then 's part Being both sent equall agents from the hart 87 At length when past the first of sorrowes worst When calm'd confusion better forme affords Her hart commands her words should past outfirst And then her sighes should interpoint
her words The whiles her eies out into teares should burst This order with her sorrow she accords Which orderles all forme of order brake So then began her words and thus she spake 88 O dost thou thus returne againe to mee Are these the triumphs for thy victories Is this the glory thou dost bring with thee From that vnhappy Irish enterprise O haue I made so many vowes to see Thy safe returne and see thee in this wise Is this the lookt for comfort thou dost bring To come a captiue that wentst out a king 89 And yet deare Lord though thy vngratefull land Hath left thee thus yet I will take thy part I do remaine the same vnder thy hand Thou still dost rule the kingdome of my hart If all be lost that gouernment doth stand And that shall neuer from thy rule depart And so thou be I care not how thou be Let greatnes goe so it goe without thee 90 And welcome come how so vnfortunate I will applaud what others do dispise I loue thee for thy selfe not for thy state More then thy selfe is what without thee lies Let that more go if it be in thy fate And hauing but thy selfe it will sussize I married was not to thy crowne but thee And thou without a crowne all one to mee 91 But what doe I heere lurking idlie mone And waile a part and in a single part Make seuerall griefe which should be both in one The touch being equall of each others hart Ah no sweete Lord thou must not mone alone For without me thou art not all thou art Nor my teares without thine are fullie teares For thus vnioyn'd sorrow but halfe appeares 92 Ioine then our plaints make our griefe ful griefe Our state being one ô le ts not part our care Sorrow hath only this poore bare reliefe To be bemon'd of such as wofull are O should I rob thy griefe and be the thiefe To steale a priuate part and seuerall share Defrauding sorrow of her perfect due No no my Lord I come to helpe thee rue 93 Then forth shee goes a close concealed way As grieuing to be seene not as shee was Laborst ' attaine his presence all shee maie Which with most hard a doe was brought to passe For that night vnderstanding where he laie With earncst treating she procur'd her passe To come to him Rigor could not deny Those teares so poore a suite or put her by 94 Entring the chamber where he was alone As one whose former fortune was his shame Loathing th' obraiding eie of anie one That knew him once and knowes him not the same When hauing giuen expresse commaund that none Should presse to him yet hearing some that came Turnes angerly about his grieued eies When lo his sweet afflicted Queene he spies 95 Straight cleeres his brow with a borrowed smile What my dere Queene ô welcome deare he faies And striuing his owne passion to beguile And hide the sorrow which his eie betraies Could speake no more but wrings her hands the while And then sweetlady and againe he staies Th' excesse of ioy and sorrow both affords Affliction none or but poore niggard words 96 Shee that was come with a resolued hart And with a mouth full stoor'd with words wel chose Thinking this comfort will I first impart Vnto my Lord and thus my speech dispose Then thus I le say thus looke and with this art Hide mine owne sorrow to relieue his woes When being come all this prou'd nought but winde Teares lookes and sighes doe only tell her minde 97 Thus both stood silent and confused so Their eies relating how their harts did morne Both bigge with sorrow and both great with woe In labour with what was not to be borne This mighty burthen where withall they goe Dies vndeliuered perishes vnborne Sorrow makes silence her best oratore Where words may make it lesse not shew it more 98 But he whom longer time had learn'd the art T' indure afflicton as a vsuall touch Straines forth his wordes and throwes dismay apart To raise vp her whose passions now were such As quite opprest her ouerchardged hart Too small a vessell to containe so much And cheeres and mones and fained hopes doth frame As if himselfe belieu'd or hop'd the same 99 And now the while these Princes sorrowed Forward ambition come so nere her ende Sleepes not nor slippes th' occasion offered T' accomplish what it did before intende A parlament is foorthwith summoned In Richards name whereby they might pretend A forme to grace disorder and a shew Of holie right the right to ouerthrow 100 Ah could not Maiestie bee ruined But with the fearefull powre of her owne name And must abusd obedience thus be led With powerfull titles to consent to shame Could not confusion be established But forme and order must confirme the same Must they who his authority did hate Yet vse his stile to take away his state 101 Order ô how predominant art thou That if but only thou pretended art How soone deceiu'd mortality doth bow To follow thine as still the better part T is thought that reuerent forme will not allow Iniquity or sacred right peruart Within our soules since ô thou dwell'st so strong How ill do they that vse thee to do wrong 102 So ill did they that in this formall course Sought to establish a deformed right Who might as well effected it by force But that men hold it wrong what 's wrought by might Offences vrg'd in publique are made worse The shew of iustice aggrauates despight The multitude that looke not to the cause Rest satisfied so it be done by lawes 103 And now doth enuie articles obiect Of rigor malice priuate fauourings Exaction riot falshood and neglect Crimes done but not to b' answered by kings Which subiectes maie complaine but not correct And all these faults which Lancaster now brings Against a king must be his owne when he By vrging others sinnes a king shall be 104 For all that was most odious was deuisd And publisht in these articles abrode All th' errors of his youth were here comprisd Calamitie with obloquie to lode And more to make him publikely dispisd Libels inuectiues rayling rimes were sow'd Among the vulgar to prepare his fall With more applause and good consent of all 105 Looke how the day-hater Mineruas bird Whil'st priuiledg'd with darknes and the night Doth liue securet ' himselfe of others feard But if by chance discouered in the light O how each little soule with enuy stirr'd Cals him to iustice vrges him with spight Summons the feathered flockes of all the wood To come to scorne the tyrant of their blood 106 So fares this king layd open to disgrace Whilst euery mouth full of reproch inuaies And euery base detractor in this case Vppon th' aduantage of misfortune plaies Downe-falling greatnes vrged on a pace Was followed hard by all disgracefull waies Now in the point t' accelerate an end Whilst misery had no meanes to
againe Till staid with new-made hils of bodies slaine 110 There lo that new-appearing glorious starre Wonder of Armes the terror of the field Young Henrie laboring where the stoutest are And euen the stoutest forces backe to yeild There is that hand boldned to bloud and warre That must the sword in woundrous actions weild But better hadst thou learnd with others bloud A lesse expence to vs to thee more good 111 Hadst thou not there lent present speedy ayd To thy indaungerde father nerely tyrde Whom fierce incountring Dowglas ouerlaid That day had there his troublous life expirde Heroycall Couragious Blunt araid In habite like as was the king attirde And deemd for him excusd that fate with his For he had what his Lord did hardly misse 112 For thought a king he would not now disgrace The person then supposd but prince like shewes Glorious effects of worth that fit his place And fighting dyes and dying ouerthrowes Another of that forward name and race In that hotte worke his valiant life bestowes Who bare the standard of the king that day Whose colours ouerthrowne did much dismaie 113 And deare it cost and ô much bloud is shed To purchase thee this loosing victory O trauayld king yet hast thou conquered A doubtfull day a mightie enemy But ô what woundes what famous worthlyes dead That makes the winner looke with sorrowing eye Magnanimous Stafford lost that much had wrought And valiant Shorly who great glory gote 114 Such wracke of others bloud thou didst behold O furious Hotspur ere thou lost thine owne Which now once lost that heate in thine waxt cold And soone became thy Armie ouerthrowne And ô that this great spirit this courage bold Had in some good cause bene rightly showne So had not we thus violently then Haue termd that rage which valor should haue ben 115 But now the king retires him to his peace A peace much like a feeble sickemans sleepe Wherein his waking paines do neuer cease Though seeming rest his closed eyes doth keepe For ô no peace could euer so release His intricate turmoiles and sorrowes deepe But that his cares kept waking all his life Continue on till death conclude the strife 116 Whos 's harald sicknes being sent before With full commission to denounce his end And paine and griefe enforcing more and more Besiegd the hold that could not long defend And so consum'd all that imboldning store Of hote gaine-striuing bloud that did contend Wearing the wall so thin that now the mind Might well looke thorow and his frailty find 117 When lo as if the vapours vanisht were Which heate of boyling bloud health did breed To cloude the sence that nothing might appeare Vnto the thought that which it was indeed The lightned soule began to see more cleere How much it was abusd notes with heed The plaine discouered falsehood open laid Of ill perswading flesh that so betraid 118 And lying on his last afflicted bed Where death conscience both before him stand Th' one holding out a booke wherein he red In bloudie lines the deedes of his owne hand The other shewes a glasse which figured An ougly forme of fowle corrupted sand Both bringing horror in the hyest degree With what he was and what he straight should bee 119 Which seeing all confusd trembling with feare He lay a while as ouerthrowne in sprite At last commaunds some that attending were To fetch the crowne and set it in his sight On which with fixed eye and heauy cheere Casting a looke O God saith he what right I had to thee my soule doth now conceiue Thee which with bloud I gote with horror leaue 120 Wert thou the cause my climing care was such To passe those boundes nature and law ordaind Is this that good which promised so much And seemd so glorious ere it was attaind Wherein was neuer ioye but gaue a touch To checke my soule to thinke how thou wert gaind And now how do I leaue thee vnto mine Which it is dread to keepe death to resigne 121 With this the soule rapt wholy with the thought Of such distresse did so attentiue weigh Her present horror whilst as if forgote The dull consumed body senceles lay And now as breathles quite quite dead is thought When lo his sonne comes in and takes awaie The fatall crowne from thence and out he goes As if vnwilling longer time to lose 122 And whilst that sad confused soule doth cast Those great accounts of terror and distresse Vppon this counsell it doth light at last How she might make the charge of horror lesse And finding no way to acquit that 's past But onely this to vse some quicke redresse Of acted wrong with giuing vp againe The crowne to whom it seem'd to appertaine 123 Which found lightned with some small ioy shee hyes Rouses her seruaunts that dead sleeping lay The members of hir house to exercise One feeble dutie more during her stay And opening those darke windowes he espies The crowne for which he lookt was borne awaie And all-agrieu'd with the vnkind offence He causd him bring it backe that tooke it thence 124 To whom excusing his presumteous deed By the supposing him departed quite He said ô Sonne what needes thee make such speed Vnto that care where feare exceeds thy right And where his sinne whom thou shalt now succeed Shall still vpbraid thy ' inheritance of might And if thou canst liue and liue great from wo Without this carefull trauaile let it go 125 Nay father since your fortune did attaine So hye a stand I meane not to descend Replyes the Prince as if what you did gaine I were of spirit vnable to defend Time will appease them well that now complaine And ratefie our interest in the end What wrong hath not continuance quite outworne Yeares makes that right which neuer was so borne 126 If so God worke his pleasure said the king And ô do thou contend with all thy might Such euidence of vertuous deeds to bring That well may proue our wrong to be our right And let the goodnes of the managing Race out the blot of foule attayning quite That discontent may all aduauntage misse To wish it otherwise then now it is 127 And since my death my purpose doth preuent Touching this sacred warre I tooke in hand An action wherewithall my soule had ment T' appease my God and reconcile my land To thee is left to finish my intent Who to be safe must neuer idly stand But some great actions entertaine thou still To hold their mindes who else will practise ill 128 Thou hast not that aduantage by my raigne To riot it as they whom long descent Hath purchasd loue by custome but with payne Thou must contend to buy the worlds content What their birth gaue them thou hast yet to gaine By thine owne vertues and good gouernment And that vnles thy worth confirme the thing Thou canst not be the father to a king 129 Nor art thou