glorious in her fruite Till by the sun clad in her Tinsell sute Nor doth shee euer smile him in the face Till in his glorious armes he her embrace vvhich proues she hath a soule sence delight Of generations feeling appetite vvell hipocrite in faith wouldst thou confesse vvhat ere thy tongue say thy hart saith no lesse Note but this one thing if nought els perswade Nature of all things male and female made Shewing herselfe in our proportion plaine For neuer made she any thing in vaine For as thou art should any haue beene thus Shee would haue left ensample vnto vs. The Turtle that 's so true and chast in loue Shewes by her mate something the spirit doth moue Th'arabian bird that neuer is but one Is onely chast because she is alone But had our mother Nature made them two They would haue done as Doues and Sparrowes doe But therefore made a Martyr in desire And doth her pennance lastly in the fire So may they all be rosted quicke that be Apostataes to nature as is shee Find me but one so young so faire so free vvoo'd su'd sought by him that now seekes thee But of thy minde and heere I vndertake Straight to erect a Nunry for her sake O hadst thou tasted of these rare delights Ordaind each where to please great Princes sights To haue their beauties and their wits admird vvhich is by nature of your sexe desired Attended by our traines our pompe our port Like Gods ador'd abroade kneeld to in Court To be saluted with the cheerefull cry Of highnes grace and soueraigne maiestie But vnto them that know not pleasures price Al 's one a prison and a Paradice If in a dungion closd vp from the light There is no difference twixt the day and night vvhose pallate neuer tasted daintie cates Thinks homely dishes princely delicates Alas poore girle I pitty thine estate That now thus long hast liu'd disconsolate VVhy now at length let yet thy hart relent And call thy Father back from banishment And with those princely honours heere inuest him That aukeward loue not hate hath dispossest him Call from exile thy deere alies and friends To whom the furie of my griefe extends And if thou take my counsaile in this case I make no doubt thou shalt haue better grace And leaue that Dunmow that accursed Cell There let black night and melancholie dwell Come to the Court where all ioyes shall receiue thee And till that howre yet with my griefe I leaue thee Notes of the Chronicle Historie THis Epistle of King Iohn to Matilda is much more poeticall then historicall making no mention at al of the occurrents of the time or state touching onely his loue to her the extremitie of his passions forced by his desires rightly fashioning the humour of this king as hath been truely noted by the best and most autenticall Writers whose nature and disposition is truliest discerned in the course of his loue first iesting at the ceremonies of the seruices of those times thē going about by all strong and probable arguments to reduce her to pleasures and delights next with promises of honor which he thinketh to be last and greatest meane to haue greatest power in her sexe with promise of calling home of her freends which he thought might be a great inducement to his desires Matilda to King Iohn NO sooner I reciu'd thy letters here Before I knew from whom or whence they were But suddaine feare my bloodlesse vaines doth fill As though diuining of some future ill And in a shiuering extasie I stood A chilly coldnes runnes through all my blood Opening thy letters I shut vp my rest And let strange cares into my quiet brest As though thy hard vnpittying hand had sent mee Some new deuised torture to torment me vvell had I hop'd I had beene now forgot Cast out with those things thou remembrest not And that proud beauty which inforst me hether Had with my name now perished together But ô I see our hoped good deceaues vs But what we would forgoe that sildome leaues vs Thy blamefull lines bespotted so with sin Mine eyes would clense ere they to reade begin But I to wash an Indian goe about For ill so hard set on is hard got out I once determin'd still to haue beene mute Onely by silence to refell thy sute But this againe did alter mine intent For some will say that silence doth consent Desire with small incouraging growes bold And hope of euery little thing takes hold I set me downe at large to write my mind But now nor pen nor paper can I find For dread and passion or so powerfull ore me That I descerne not things that stand before me Finding the pen the paper and the waxe This at commaund and now inuention lacks This sentence serues and that my hand out-strikes That pleaseth well and this as much mislikes I write indite I point I raze I quote I enterline I blot correct I note I hope dispaire take courage faint disdaine I make alledge I imitate I faine Now thus it must be and now thus and thus Bold shamefast fearelesse doubtfull timerous My faint hand writing when my full eye reedes From euery word strange passion still proceedes O when the soule is fettered once in wo T is strange what humors it doth force vs to A teare doth drowne a teare sigh sigh doth smother This hinders that that interrupts the other Th'ouer-watched weakenes of a sicke conceite Is that which makes small beauty seeme so great Like things which hid in troubled waters lie vvhich crook'd seeme straight if straight seeme contrarie And this our vaine imagination showes it As it conceiues it not as iudgement knowes it As in a Mirrhor if the same be true Such as your likenes iustly such are you But as you change your selfe it changeth there And showes you as you are not as you were And with your motion doth your shadow moue If frowne or smile such the conceite of loue VVhy tell me is it possible the mind A forme in all deformitie should finde VVithin the compasse of mans face we see How many sorts of seuerall fauours be And that the chin the nose the brow the eye If great if small flat sharpe or if awry Alters proportion altereth the grace And makes a mighty difference in the face And in the world scarce two so likely are One with the other which if you compare But being set before you both together A iudging sight doth soone distinguish eyther How woman-like a weakenes it it then O what strange madnes so possesseth men Bereft of sence such sencelesse wonders seeing vvithout forme fashion certaintie or being For which so many die to liue in anguish Yet cannot liue if thus they should not languish That comfort yeelds not yet hope denies not A life that liues not and a death that dies not That hates vs most when most it speakes vs faire Doth promise all things alwayes paies
to the Countesse of Salisburie And proues our acts of Parlement vniust In the next Parlement after Richards resignation of the Crowne Henry caused to be annihilated all the lawes made in the Parlament called the wicked Parlement helde in the twenty yeere of king Richards raigne FINIS Queene Katherine to Owen Tudor The Argument After the death of that victorious Henry the fift Queene Katherine the dowager of England and Fraunce daughter to Charles the French King holding her estate with Henrie her sonne then the sixt of that name falleth in loue with Owen Tuder a VVelshman a braue and gallant Gentleman of the VVardrope to the young King her son yet greatlie fearing if her loue shoulde bee discouered the Nobilitie would crosse her purposed marriage or fearing that if her faire princely promises should not assure his good successe this high and great attempt might perhaps daunt the forwardnesse of his modest and shamefast youth wherefore to breake the Ice to her intent shee writeth vnto him this Epistle following IVdge not a Princesse worth impeach'd heereby That loue thus tryumphs ouer maiestie Nor thinke lesse vertue in this royall hand vvhich now intreats that wonted to commaund For in this sort though humbly now it wooe The day hath beene thou would'st haue kneeld vnto Nor thinke that this submission of my state Proceedes from frailty rather iudge it fate Alcides nere more fit for wars sterne shock Then when for loue sate spinning at the rock Neuer lesse clowdes did Phoebus glory dim Then in a clownes shape when he couered him â—oues great commaund was neuer more obey'd Then when a Satyres anticke parts he plai'd He was thy King that sued for loue to mee Shee is thy Queene that sues for loue to thee VVhen Henry was what 's Tudors now was his vvhilst vet thou art what 's Henries Tudors is My loue to Owen him my Henry giueth My loue to Henry in my Owen liueth Henry woo'd me whilst wars did yet increase I wooe my Tudor in sweet calmes of peace To force affection he did conquest proue I fight with gentle arguments of loue Incampt at Melans In warres hote alarmes First saw I Henry clad in princely Armes At pleasant VVindsore first these eyes of mine My Tudor iudg'd for wit and shape diuine Henry abroade with puissance and with force Tudor at home with courtship and discourse He then thou now I hardly can iudge whether Did like me best Plantaginet or Tether A march a measure battell or a daunce A courtly rapier or a conquering Launce His princely bed hath strengthned my renowne And on my temples set a double crowne vvhich glorious wreath as Henries lawfull heire Henry the sixt vpon his brow doth beare At Troy in Champaine he did first enioy My bridal-rites to England brought from Troy In England now that honour thou shalt haue vvhich once in Champaine famous Henry gaueâ— I seeke not wealth three kingdoms in my power If these suffise not where shall be my dower Sad discontent may euer follow her vvhich doth base pelfe before true loue prefer If â—itles still could our affections tie vvhat is so great but maiestie might buy As I seeke thee so Kings doe me desire To what they would thou easily mai'st aspire That sacred fire once warm'd my hart before The fuell fit the flame is now the more And meanes to quench it I in vaine doe proue vve may hide treasure but not hide our loue And since it is thy fortune thus to gaine it It were too late nor will I now restraine it Nor these great titles vainely will I bring vvife daughter mother sister to a King Of grandsire father husband sonne brother More thou alone to me then all the other Nor feare my Tudor that this loue of mine Should wrong the Gaunt-borne great Lancastrian linâ— Nor stir the English blood the Sunne and Moone T'repine at Loraine Burbon Alansoon Nor doe I thinke there is such different ods They should alone be numbred with the Gods Of Cadmus earthly issue reckoning vs And they from â—oue Mars Neptune Eolus Of great Latonas of-spring onely they And we the brats of wofull Niobe Our famous Grandsires as theyr owne bestrid That horse of fame that God-begotten steed vvhose bounding hoofe plow'd that Boetian spring vvhere those sweet maides of memory doe sing Not onely Henries Queene but boast as well To be the childe of Charles and Isabell. Nor doe I know from whence their griefe should grow They by this match should be disparag'd so vvhen Iohn and Longshanks issue both affied And to the Kings of VVales in wedlocke tyed Showing the greatnes of your blood thereby Your race and royall consanguinitie And VVales as well as haughty England boasts Of Camilot and all her Penticosts A nephewes roome in great Pondragons race At Arthurs table held a princely place If by the often conquest of your land They boast the spoyles of theyr victorious hand If these our auncient Chronicles be true They altogether are not free from you VVhen bloody Rufus fought your vtter sack Twice entring VVales yet twice was beaten back VVhen famous Cambria wash'd her in the flood Made by th' effusion of the English blood And oft return'd with glorious victorie From VVorster Herford Chester Shrowesbury vvhose power in euery conquest so preuailes As once expuls'd the English out of VVales Although my beautie made my Countries peace And at my bridall former broyles did cease Yet more then power had not his person beene I had not come to England as a Queene Nor tooke I Henry to supply my want Because in Fraunce that time my choise was scant vvhen we had robd all Christendome of men And Englands flower remain'd amongst vs then Gloster whose counsels Nestor-like assist Couragious Bedford that great martiallist Clarence for vertue honoured of his foes And Yorke whose fame yet daily greater growes VVarwicke the pride of Neuels haughtie race Great Salisburie so fear'd in euery place That valiant Poole whom no atchiuement dares And Vere so famous in the Irish warres vvho though my selfe so great a Prince were borne The worst of these my equall neede not scorne But Henries rare perfections and his parts As conquering kingdoms so he conquer'd harts As chast was I to him as Queene might bee But freed from him my chast loue vow'd to thee Beautie doth fetch all fauour from thy face All perfect courtship resteth in thy grace If thou discourse thy lips such accents breake As loue a spirit foorth of thee seem'd to speake The Brittish language which our vowels wants And iarrs so much vpon harsh consonants Comes with such grace from thy mellifluous tongâ—e As doe the sweet notes of a well set song And runnes as smoothly from those lips of thine As the pure Thuskan from the Florantine Leauing such seasoned sweetnes in the eare As the voyce past yet still the found is there In Nisus Tower as when Apollo lay And on his golden viall vs'd to play vvhere
iust wise and sage In all things happy but in him his sonne For whom euen nature did herselfe engage More then in man in this Prince to haue done VVhose happy raigne recur'd the former rage By the large bounds he to his Empire wone As the first Edward had the second beene O what a flow of glory had we seene 58 Turning the leafe as finding vnawares vvhat day young Edward Prince of VVales was borne vvhich letters seeme like magique charracters Or to despight him they were made in scorne Marking the paper like dis-figuring stars O let that name quoth he from bookes be torne Least in that place the sad displeased earth Doe loathe it selfe as slandered with my birth 59 From thence heereafter humaine birth exil'd By th' earth deuour'd or swallowed by the sea And fame enquiring for that lucklesse child Say t was abortiue or else stolne away And least ô time thou be therewith defil'd In thy vnnumbred course deuoure that day Let all be done that power can bring to passe Onely forget that such there euer was 60 The troubled teares now standing in his eyes Through which as glasses he is forc'd to looke Make letters seeme as rondlets that arise By a stone cast into a standing brooke Appearing to him in such various wise And at one time such sundry fashions tooke vvhich like deluding Monsters doe affright And with their foule shapes teâ—rifie his sight 61 VVhen on his saint bed falling downe at last His troubled spirit foretelling danger nie vvhen forth the doores a fearefull howling cast To let those in by whom a King should die vvhereat he starts amazed and agast These ruthlesse villaines all vppon him flie Sweet Prince alas in vaine thou call'st for ayde By these accursed homecides betrayd 62 O be not authors of so vile an act My blood on your posteritie to bring which after times with horror shall distract vvhen fame euen hoarce with age your shame shall ring And by recounting of so vile a fact Mortalitie so much astonishing That they shall count theyr wickednes scarce sinne To that which long before their time hath beene 63 And if your hate be deadly let me liue For that aduantage angry heauen hath left That except life takes all that it could giue But for iust vengeance should not quite bereft Me yet with greater misery to grieue Reserue a while this remnant of their theft That that which spent from th' rest should interdict me Alone remaining doth withall afflict me 64 Thus spake this wofull and distressed Lord As yet his breath found passage to and fro vvith many a short pant many a broken word Many a sore grone many agrieuous throw vvhilst yet his spirit could any strength affoord Though with much paine disburd'ning of his woe Till lastly gasping by their maist'ring strength His kingly hart subiects it selfe at length 65 VVhen twixt two beds they close his wearied corse Basely vncou'ring of his secret part vvithout all humane pitty and remorce vvith burning yron thrust him to the hart O that my Muse had but sufficient force T'explane the torment in the which thou art vvhich whilst with words we coldly doe expresse Thy paine made greater that we make it lesse 66 VVhen those in dead and depth of all the night Good simple people that are dwelling neare From quiet sleepe whom care did now affright That his last shreeke and wofull cry doe heare Euen pittying that miserable wight As twixt compassion and obedient feare Lift theyr sad eyes with heauy sleepe opprest Praying to heauen to giue the soule good rest 67 Still let the buildings figh his bitter grones And euermore his sad complaints repeate And let the dull walls and the sencelesse stones By the impression of his torment sweat As wanting sounds where-with to shew his mones vvith all sharpe paine and agony repleate That all may thether come that shall be told it As in a mirror cleerely to behold it 68 VVhen now the Genius of this wofull place Beeing the guide to his affrightfull ghost vvith hayre disheueld and a gastly face Shall haunt the prison where his life was lost And as the denne of horror and disgrace Let it be fearefull vnto all the coast That those heereafter that doe trauell neere Neuer behold it but with heauy cheere The end of the fith Canto The sixth Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument Lord Mortimer made Earle of March when he And the faire Queene rule all things by their might The pompe wherein at Notting ham they be The cost wherewith their amorous court is dight Enuide by those their hatefull pride that see The King attempts the dreadfull Caue by night Entring the Castell taketh him from thence And March at London dies for the offence 1 INforc'd of other accidents to sing Bearing fayre showes of promised delite Somewhat to slacke this melancholy string That new occasions to our Muse excite To our conceit strange obiects fashioning Doth our free numbers liberally inuite Matter of moment much to be respected Must by our pen be seriously directed 2 And now the time more cunningly redeeming These fraudfull courses fitly to contriue How ill so ere to beare the fayrest seeming For which they now must diligently striue Casting all waies to gaine thesame esteeming That to the world it prosperously might thriue This farre gone on now with the hand of might Vpon this wrong to build a lasting right 3 The pompous synod of these earthly Gods At Salsbury selected by theyr King To set all euen that had beene at ods And into fashion their dissignes to bring And strongly now to settle their abodes That peace might after from their actions spring Firmly t' establish what was well begone Vnder which colour mighty things were done 4 VVhen Mortimer pursuing his desire VVhilst eu'ry engine had his temperate heate To b'Earle of March doth suddainly aspire T' increase the honour of his auncient seate That his commaund might be the more entire VVho now but onely Martimer is great vvho knew a kingdome as her lot was throwne vvhich hauing all would neuer starue her owne 5 Now stand they firme as those celestiall Poles Twixt which the starres in all their course doe moue vvhose strenght this frame of gouernment vpholds An argument their wisedomes to approue vvhich way so ere the time in motion roles So perfect is the vnion of their loue For might is still most absolute alone vvhere power and fortune kindly meete in one 6 VVhilst Edwards nonage giues a further speede To th' ancient foe-man to renew the warre vvhich to preuent they must haue speciall heede Matters so strangly manag'd as they are vvhich otherwise if their neglect should breede Nothing yet made it might not easily marre vvhich with the most reseruing their estate Inforc'd to purchase at the deerest rate 7 So much t'release the homage as suffic'd Mongst which that deed nam'd Ragman of renowne By which the Kings of Scotland had deuisd Their fealty vnto the English crowne
euer lou'd thee Notes of the Chronicle Historie Well knew'st thou what a monster I would bee When thou didst build this Labyrinth for mee IN the Cretean Labyrinth a monster was inclosed called a Minâ—taur the hystorie whereof is well knowne but the Labyrinth was framed by Daedalus vvith so many intricate wayes that being entred one could either hardlie or neuer returne being in manner of a maze saue that it was larger the waies being walld in on euery sideâ— out of the which Theseus by Ariadnes helpe lending him a clue of thred escaped Some report that it was a house hauing one halfe beneath the ground another aboue the chamber doores therein so deceitfullie enwrapped and made to open so manie lundry wayes that it was held a matter almost impossible to returne Some haue held it to haue beene an Allegory of mans life true it is that the comparison will hold for what liker to a Labyrinth then the maze of life But it is affirmed by antiquitie that there was indeede such a building though Daedalus being a name applyed to the workmans excellencie make it suspected for Daedalus is nothing els but ingenious or artificiall Heerevpon it is vsed among the auncient Poets for any thing curiouslie wrought Rosamonds Labyrinth whose ruins together with her vvell beeing paued with square stone in the bottome and also her Tower from which the Labyrinth did runne are yet remaining was altogether vnder ground beeing vaults arched and walled with brick and stone almost inextricably wounde one within another by which if at any time her lodging were layd about by the Queene shee might easilie auoyde perrill imminent and if neede be by secrete issues take the ayre abroade manie furlongs round about Woodstocke in Oxfordshire wherein it was situated Thus much for Rosamonds Labyrinth Whose strange Meanders turned euery way Meander is a riuer in Lycia a prouince of Natolia or Asia minor famous for the sinuositie and often turning thereof rising from certaine hils in Maeonia herevpon are intricate turnings by a transuâ—tiue and metonimicall kind of speech called Maeanders for this Riuer did so strangely path it selfe that the foote seemed to touch the head Rose of the world so doth import my name Shame of the world my life hath made the same It might be reported howe at Godstowe where this Rose of the world was sumptuously interred a certaine Bishop in the visitation of his Diocesse caused the monument which had beene erected to her honour vtterly to be demolished but be that seuere chastisement of Rosamond then dead at this time also ouerpassed least shee shoulde seeme to be the Shame of the world Henry to Rosamond WHen first the Post arriued at my Tent And brought the Letters Rosamond had sent Thinke froÌ„ his lips but what sweet coÌ„fort came vvhen in mine eare he softly breath'd thy name Straight I enioyne him of thy health to tell Longing to heare my Rosamond did well VVith new enquiries then I cut him short vvhen of the same he gladly would report That with the earnest hast my tongue oft trips Catching the words halfe spoke out of his lips This told yet more I vrge him to reueale To loose no time whild I vnript the seale The more I read still doe I erre the more As though mistaking somwhat said before Missing the poynt the doubtfull sence is broken Speaking againe what I before had spoken Still in a swound my hart reuiues and faints Twixt hopes dispaires twixt smiles and deepe complaints As these sad accents sort in my desires Smooth calmes rough stormes sharp frosts raging fires Put on with boldnes and put backe with feares My tongue with curses when mine eyes with teares O how my hart at that black line did tremble That blotted paper should thy selfe resemble O were there paper but neere halfe so white The Gods thereon their sacred lawes would write vvith pens of Angells wings and for their inke That heauenly Nectar their immortall drinke Maiesticke courage striues to haue supprest This fearefull passion stird vp in my brest But still in vaine the same I goe about My hart must breake within or woe breakes out Am I at home pursu'd with priuate hate And warre comes raging to my Pallace gate Is meager Enuie stabbing at my throne Treason attending when I walke alone And am I branded with the curse of Rome And stand condemn'd by dreadfull counsels dombe And by the pride of my rebellious sonne Rich Normandie with Armies ouer-runne Fatall my birth vnfortunate my life Vnkind my children most vnkind my wife Griefe cares old age suspition to torment me Nothing on earth to quiet or content me So many woes so many plagues to finde Sicknes of body discontent of mind Hopes left helps reft life wrong'd ioy interdicted Banish'd distress'd forsaken and afflicted Of all reliefe hath fortune quite bereft me Onely my loue vnto my comfort left me And is one beautie thought so great a thing To mittigate the sorrowes of a King Barr'd of that choise the vulgar often proue Haue we then they lesse priuiledge in loue Is it a King the wofull widdow heares Is it a King dries vp the Orphans teares Is it a King regards the Clyants cry Giues life to him by law condemnd to die Is it his care the Common-wealth that keepes As doth the Nurse her babie whilst it sleepes And that poore king of all these hopes preuented Vnheard vnhelp'd vnpitted vnlamented Yet let me be with pouertie opprest Of earthly blessings robd and dispossest Let me be scorn'd reiected and reuild From Kingdome Country and from Court exild Let the worlds curse vpon me still remaine And let the last bring on the first againe All miseries that wretched man may wound Leaue for my comfort onely Rosamond For thee swift time her speedie course doth stay At thy commaund the Destenies obay Pittie is dead that comes not from thines eyes And at thy feete euen mercie prostrate lyes If I were feeble rheumatick or cold These were true signes that I were waxed old But I can march all day in massie steele Nor yet my armes vnweldy weight doe feele Nor wak'd by night with bruise or bloody wound The tent my bed no pillow but the ground For very age had I laine bedred long One smile of thine againe could make me yong VVere there in Art a power but so diuine As is in that sweet Angell-tongue of thine That great Enchantresse which once tooke such paines To force young blood in AEsons wither'd vaines And from Groues Mountaines and the moorish Fen Vs'd all the hearbs ordayn'd to vse of men And in the powerfull potion that she makes Puts blood of men of birds of beasts of snakes Neuer had needed to haue gone so far To seeke the soiles where all those simples are One accent from thy lips the blood more warmes Then all her philters exorcismes and charmes Thy presence hath repaired in one day vvhat many yeeres and sorrowes did decay And made fresh beauties fairest
King committed many of his secrets in whom he reposed such trust that he durst commit his loue vnto his charge FINIS King Iohn to Matilda ¶ The Argument After that King Iohn had assaied by all meanes possible to win the faire chast Matilda to his vnchast and vnlawful bed and by vniust courses and false accusation had banished the Lord Robert Fitzwater her noble Father and many other of his allies who iustlie withstoode the desire of this wanton King seeking the dishonour of his faire and vertuous daughter this chast Lady still solicited by this lasciuious King flies vnto Dunmowe in Essex where in a Nunnery she becomes a Nunne whether the King still persisting in his sute solicites her by his Epistle her reply confirmes her vowed and inuincible chastitie making knowne to the King her pure vnspotted thoughts WHen these my Letters come vnto thy view Thinke them not forc'd or saind or strange or new Thou know'st no way no meanes no course exempted Left now vnsought vnproou'd or vnattempted All rules regards all secret helps of Art vvhat knowledge wit experience can impart And in the old worlds Ceremonies doted Good dayes for loue times howres minutes noted And where Arte left loue teacheth more to finde By signes in presence to expresse the minde Oft hath mine eye told thine eye beautie grieu'd it And begd but for one looke to haue relieu'd it And still with thine eyes motion mine eye mou'd Labouring for mercy telling how it lou'd If blush'd I blush'd thy cheeke pale pale was mine My red thy red my whitnes answered thine If sigh'd I sigh'd alike both passion proue But thy sigh is for griefe my sigh for loue If a word past that insufficient were To helpe that word mine eyes let forth a teare And if that teare did dull or sencelesse proue My hart would fetch a sigh to make it moue Oft in thy face one fauour from the rest I singled forth that likes my fancie best This likes me most another likes me more A third exceeding both those lik'd before Then one that doth deriue all wonder thence Then one whose rarenes passeth excellence VVhilst I behold thy Globe-like rowling eye Thy louely cheeke me thinks stands smiling by And tels me those but shadowes and supposes And bids me thether come and gather Roses Looking on that thy brow doth call to mee To come to it if wonders I will see Now haue I doâ—e and now thy dimpled chin Againe doth tell me I but new begin And bids me yet to looke vpon thy lip Least wondring least the great'st I ouerslip My gazing eye on this and this doth ceaze vvhich surfets yet cannot desire appease Then like I browne ô louely browne thy haire Onely in brownenes beautie dwelleth there Then loue I blacke thine eye-ball black as Iet Then cleere that ball is there in Christall set Then white but snow nor swan nor Iuorie please Then are thy teeth more whiter then all these In browne in black in purenes and in white All loue all sweets all rarenes all delight Thus thou vile theefe my stolne hart hence doo'st carry And now thou fliest into a Sanctuarie Fie peeuish girle ingratefull vnto nature Did she to this end frame thee such a creatureâ— That thou her glory should'st increase thereby And thou alone doost scorne societie VVhy heauen made beauty like herselfe to view Not to be lock'd vp in a smoky Mew A rosy-tainted feature is heanens gold vvhich all men ioy to touch all to behold It was enacted when the world begun That so rare beautie should not liue a Nun. But if this vow thou needs wilt vndertake O were mine armes a Cloister for thy sake Still may his paines for euer be augmented This superstition that at first inuented Ill might he thriue that brought this custome hether That holy people might not liue together A happy time a good world was it then vvhen holy women liu'd with holy men But Kings in this yet priuiledg'd may be I le be a Munke so I may liue with thee VVho would not rise to ring the mornings knell vvhen thy sweet lips might be the sacring bell Or what is he not willingly would fast That on those lips might feast his lips at last VVho vnto Mattens earely would not rise That might reade by the light of thy faire eyes On worldly pleasures who would euer looke That had thy curles his beades thy browes his booke VVert thou the Crosse to thee who would not creepe And wish the Crosse still in his armes to keepe Sweet girle I le take this holy habite on mee Of meere deuotion that is come vpon mee Holy Matilda thou the Saint of mine I le be thy seruaunt and my bed thy shrine VVhen I doe offer be thy brest the Altar And when I pray thy mouth shall be my Psalter The beads that we will bid shall be sweet kisses vvhich we will number if one pleasure misses And when an Auie comes to say Amen vve will begin and tell them or'e againe Now all good fortune giue me happy thrift As I should ioy t'absolue thee after shrift But see how much I doe my selfe beguile And doe mistake thy meaning all this while Thou took'st this vow to equall my desire Because thou wouldst haue me to be a Frier And that we two should comfort one another A holy sister and a holy brother Thou as a Votresse vnto me alone Shee is most chast that 's but enioyd of one Yea now thy true deuotion doe I find And sure in this I much commend thy mind Els heere thou doost but ill ensample giue And in a Nunry thus thou shouldst not liue Is 't possible the house that thou art in Should not be tucht though with a veniall sin vvhen such a she-priest comes her masse to say Twenty to one they all forget to pray vvel may we wish they would their harts amend vvhen we be witnes that theyr eyes offend All creatures haue desires or else some lie Let them thinke so that will so will not I. Doost thou not thinke our auncestors were wise That these religious Cels did first deuise As Hospitalls were for the sore and sicke These for the crook'd the hault the stigmatick Least that their seede mark'd with deformitie Should be a blemish to posteritie VVould heau'n her beautie should be hid from sight Nere would she thus herselfe adorne with light VVith sparkling lamps nor would she paint her throne But she delighteth to be gaz'd vpon And when the golden glorious sun goes downe vvould shee put on her star-bestudded crowne And in her masking sute the spangled skie Come forth to bride it in her reuelrie And gaue this gift to all things in creation That they in this should imitate her fashion All things that faire that pure that glorious beene Offer themselues of purpose to be seene In sinks and vaults the vgly Toades doe dwell The deuils since most vgly they in hell Our mother earth nere
euen all things as it list And with vniust men to debate of lawes Is to giue power to hurt a rightfull cause vvhilst parlements must still redresse theyr wrongs And we must starue for what to vs belongs Our wealth but fuell to theyr fond excesse And we must fast to feast theyr wantonnesse Think'st thou our wrongs then insufficient are To moue our brother to religious war And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquytaine And if not that yet hath he broke the truce Thus all accur to put backe all excuse The sisters wrong ioynd with the brothers right Me thinks might vrge him in this cause to fight Be all those people sencelesse of our harmes vvhich for our country ought haue manag'd armes Is the braue Normans courage now forgot Or the bold Brittaines lost the vse of shot The big-bon'd Almaines and stout Brabanders Theyr warlike Pikes and sharp-edg'd Semiters Or doe the Pickards let theyr Crosbowes lie Once like the Centaurs of old Thessalie Or if a valiant Leader be theyr Lacke vvhere thou art present who should driue them backe I doe coniure thee by what is most deere By that great name of famous Mortimer By auncient VVigmors honourable Crest The Tombes where all thy famous Grandsires rest Or if then these what more may thee approue Euen by those vowes of thy vnfained loue That thy great hopes may moue the Christian King By forraine Armes some comfort yet to bring To curbe the power of traytors that rebell Against the right of princely Isabell. Vaine vvitlesse woman why should I desire To adde more heate to thy immortall fire To vrge thee by the violence of hate To shake the pillers of thine owne estate vvhen whatsoeuer we intend to doe To our misfortune euer sorts vnto And nothing els remaines for vs beside But teares and coffins onely to prouide VVhen still so long as Burrough beares that name Time shall not blot out our deserued shame And whilst cleere Trent her wonted course shall keepe For our sad fall her christall drops shall weepe All see our ruine on our backs is throwne And to our selues our sorrowes are our owne And Torlton now whose counsell should direct The first of all is slaundred with suspect For dangerous things dissembled sildome are vvhich many eyes attend with busie care VVhat should I say my griefes doe still renew And but begin when I should bid adiew Few be my words but manifold my woe And still I stay the more I striue to goe As accents issue forth griefes enter in And where I end mee thinks I but begin Till then fayre time some greater good affoords Take my loues payment in these ayrie words Notes of the Chronicle Historie O how I feard that sleepie drinke I sent Might yet want power to further thine intent MOrtimer beeing in the Tower and ordayning a feast in honour of his byrth-day as hee pretended and inuiting there-vnto sir Stephen Segraue Constable of the Tower with the â—est of the officers belonging to the same he gaue them a sleepie drinke prouided him by the Queene by which meanes he got libertie for his escape I steale to Thames as though to take the ayre And aske the gentle streame as it doth glide Mortimer being got out of the Tower swam the riuer of Thames into Kent whereof she hauing intelligence doubteth of his strength to escape by reason of his long imprisonment being almost the space of three yeeres Did Bulloyne once a festiuall prepare For England Almaine Cicile and Naeuarre Edward Carnaruan the first Prince of Wales of the English blood married Isabell daughter of Phillip the faire at Bulloyne in the presence of the Kings of Almaine Nauarre and Cicile with the chiefe Nobilitie of Fraunce and England which marriage was there solemnized with exceeding pompe and magnificence And in my place vpon his regall throne To set that girle-boy wanton Gaueston Noting the effeminacie luxurious wantonnesse of Gaueston the Kings Minion his behauiour and attire euer so womanlike to please the eye of his lasciuious Prince That a foule Witches bastard should thereby It was vrged by the Queene and the Nobilitie in the disgrace of Piers Gauestone that his mother was conuicted of witchcraft burned for the same and that Piers had bewitched the King Albania Gascoyne Cambria Ireland Albania Scotland so called of Albanact the second sonne of Brutus and Cambria Wales so called of Camber the third son the foure Realmes countries brought in subiection by Edward Longshankes When of our princely Iewels and our dowers We but enioy the least of what is ours A complaint of the prodigalitie of King Edward giuing vnto Gaueston the iewels treasure which was left him by the auncient Kings of England and enriching him with the goodly Manor of Wallingford assigned as parcel of the dower to the queens of this famous I le And ioyn'd with the braue issue of our blood Alie our kingdome to their crauand brood Edward the second gaue to Piers Gaueston in mariage the daughter of Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester begot of the Kings sister Ione of Acres maried to the said Earle of Glocester Should giue away all that his Father won To backe a stranger King Edward offered his right in Fraunce to Charles his brother in law and his right in Scotland to Robert Bruse to be ayded against the Barrons in the quarrell of Piers Gaueston And did great Edward on his death-bed giue Edward Longshanks on his death-bed at Carlile commanded yong Edward his sonne on his blessing not to call backe Gaueston which for the misguiding of the Princes youth was before banished by the whole counsell of the Land That after all this fearefull massaker The fall of Beuchamp Lasy Lancaster Thomas Earle of Lancaster Guy Earle of Warwick Henry Eaâ—le of Lincolne who had taken their oaths before the deceased King at his death to withstand his sonne Edward if hee should call Gauestone from exile being a thing which he much feared now seeing Edward to violate his Fathers coÌ„maundement rise in Armes against the king which was the cause of the ciuill war the ruine of so many Princes And gloried I in Gauestons great fall That now a Spenser should succeed in all The two Hugh Spensers the Father the sonne after the death of Gaueston became the great fauourites of the King the sonne beeing created by him lord Chamberlaine the father Earle of Winchester And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homaage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquitaine Edward Longshanks did homage for those Citties and Territories to the French King which Edward the second neglecting moued the French King by the subornation of Mortimer to cease those Countries into his hands By auncient Wigmors honourable Crest Wigmore in the marches of Wales was the auncient house of the Mortimers that noble and couragious familie That still so long as Borrough beares that name The Queene remembreth the great
how euer you shall vse it Al 's one to this though you should bid dispaire This still intreates you this still speakes you faire Hast thou a liuing soule a humaine fence To like dislike proue order and dispence The depth of reason soundly to aduise To loue things good things hurtfull to despise The tuch of iudgement which should all things proue And hast thou touch'd yet not allow'st my loue Sound moues his sound voyce doth beget his voyce One Eccho makes another to reioyce One well-tun'd string set truly to his like Strooke neere at hand doth make another strike How comes it then that our affections iar vvhat opposition doth beget this war I know that nature franckly to thee gaue That measure of her bounâ—ie that I haue And with that sence she lent she likewise lent Each one his organ each his instrument But euery one because it is thine owne Doth prise it selfe vnto it selfe alone Thy daintie hand when it it selfe doth tuch That feeling tels it there was neuer such VVhen in thy glasse thine eye it selfe doth see That thinks there 's none like to it selfe can be And euery one doth iudge it selfe diuine Because that thou doost challenge it for thine And each it selfe Narcissus like doth smother And loues it selfe not like to any other Fie be not burnd thus in thine owne desire T is needlesse beautie should it selfe admire The sunne by which all creatures lightned be And seeth all it selfe yet cannot see And his owne brightnes his owne foile is made And doth become the cause of his owne shade VVhen first thy beautie by mine eye was prou'd It saw not then so much to be belou'd But when it came a perfect view to take Each looke of one doth many beauties make In little cerâ—lets first it doth arise Then somewhat larger seeming in mine eyes And in his Gyring compasse as it goes So more and more the same in greatnes growes And as it yet at libertie is set The motion still doth other formes beget Vntill at length looke any way I could Nothing there was but beautie to behold Art thou offended that thou art belou'd Remoue the cause th' effect is soone remou'd Indent with beautie how farre to extend Set downe desire a limmit where to end Then charme thine eyes theyr glaunces shall not wound Teach reason how the depth of loue to sound If thou doe this nay then thou shalt doe more And bring to passe what neuer was before Make anguish sportiue crauing all delight Mirth solemne sullen and inclind to night Ambition lowly enuie speaking well Loue his reliefe of nigardize to sell Our warlike fathers did these forts deuise As surest holds against our enemies The safest places for your sexe to rest Feare soone is setled in a womans brest Thy breast is of another temper farre And then thy Castle fitter for the warre Thou doost not safely in thy Castle rest Thy Castle should be safer in thy brest That keepes ouâ— foes but doth thy friends inclose But thy brest keepes out both thy friends and foes That may be batter'd or be vndermin'd Or by straite siege for want of succour pin'd But thy hart is inuinsible to all And more defensiue then thy Castle wall Of all the shapes that euer Ioue did proue vvhere-with he vs'd to entertaine his loue That likes me best when in a golden shower He raind himselfe on Danae in her Tower Nor did I euer enuie his commaund In that he beares the thunder in his hand But in that showrie shape I cannot be And as he came to her I come to thee Thy tower with foes is not begert about If thou within they are besieg'd without One haire of thine more vigor doth retaine To binde thy foe then with an yron chaine VVho might be gyu'd in such a golden string vvould not be captiue though he were a King Hadst thou all India heap'd vp in thy Fort And thou thy selfe besieged in that sort Get thou but out where they can thee espie They 'le follow thee and let the treasure lie I cannot think what force thy tower should win If thou thy selfe doost guard the same within Thine eye retaines artillarie at will To kill who euer thou desir'st to kill For that alone more deeply wounds theyr harts Then they can thee though with a thousand darts For there entrenched little Cupid lies And from those turrets all the world defies And when thou letst downe that transparant lid Of entrance there an Armie doth forbid And as for famine thou needs neuer feare vvho thinks of want when thou art present there Thy onely sight giues spirit vnto the blood And comforts life though neuer tasting foode And as thy souldiers keepe theyr watch and ward So chastitie thy inward breast doth guard Thy modest pulse serues as a larum bell VVhich watched by a wakefull Sentinell Is stirring still with euery little feare vvarning if any enemie be neere Thy vertuous thoughts when all the others rest Like carefull skouts passe vp and downe thy brest And still they round about that place doe keepe VVhilst all the blessed garison doe sleepe But yet I feare if that the truth were told That thou hast robd and fliest vnto this hold I thought as much and didst this Fort deuise That thou in safety heere might'st tyrannize Yes thou hast robd the heauen and earth of all And they against thy lawlesse theft doe call Thyne eyes with mine that wage continuall warrs Borrow their brightnes of the twinckling starrs Thy breath for which mine still in sighes consumes Hath rob'd sweet flowers rich odors and perfumes Thy cheeke for which mine all this penance proues Steales the pure whitnes both from Swannes and Doues Thy lips from mine that in thy maske be pent Haue filch'd the blushing from the orient O mightie Loue bring hether all thy power And fetch this heauenly theefe out of her Tower For if she may be suffered in this sort Heauens store will soone be hoarded in this Fort. VVhen I arriu'd before that state of loue And saw thee on the battlement aboue I thought there was no other heauen but there And thou an Angell didst from thence appeare But when my reason did correct mine eye That thou wert subiect to mortalitie I then excus'd the Scot before had done No maruaile though he would the fort haue wone Perceiuing well those enuious walls did hide More wealth then was in all the world beside Against thy foe I came to lend thee ayde And thus to thee my selfe my selfe betrayd He is besieg'd the siege that came to raise There 's no assault that not my brest assayes Loue growne extreame doth finde vnlawful shifts The Gods take shapes and doe allure with gifts Commaunding loue that by great Stix doth sweare Forsworne in loue with Louers oathes doth beare Loue causelesse still doth aggrauate his cause It is his lawe to violate all lawes His reason is in onely wanting reason And were vntrue not deeply tuch'd with
treason Th'vnlawfull meanes doth make his lawfull gaine Hee speakes most true when he the most doth faine Pardon the faults that haue escap'd by mee Against fayre vertue chastitie and thee If Gods can theyr owne excellence excell It is in pardoning mortalls that rebell VVhen all thy tryalls are enroul'd by fame And all thy sexe made glorious by thy name Then I a captiue shall be brought hereby To adorne the tryumph of thy chastitie I sue not now thy Paramore to be But as a husband to be linck'd to thee I am Englands heyre I thinke thou wilt confesse VVert thou a Prince I hope I am no lesse But that thy birth doth make thy stocke diuine Else durst I boast my blood as good as thine Disdaine me not nor take my loue in scorne vvhose brow a crowne heereafter may adorne But what I am I call mine owne no more Take what thou wilt and what thou wilt restore Onely I craue what ere I did intend In faithfull loue now happily may end Farewell sweet Lady so well maist thou fare To equall ioy with measure of my care Thy vertues more then mortall tongue can tell A thousand thousand times farewell farewell Notes of the Chronicle Historie Receaue these papers from thy wofull Lord. BAndello by whom this history was made famous being an Italian as it is the peoples custome in that climbeâ— rather to faile sometime in the truth of circumstance then toforgoe the grace of their 〈◊〉 in like manner as the Grecians of whom the Satyrist Et quicquid Graecia mendax Audet in historia Thinking it to be a greater tryall that a Countesse should be sude vnto by a King then by the sonne of a King and consequently that the honor of her chastitie should be the more hath causd it to be generally taken so but as by Polidore Fabian and Froisard appeares the contrarie is true Yet may Bandello be very well excused as beeing a stranger whose errors in the truth of our historie are not so materiall that they should neede an inuectiue least his wit should be defrauded of any part of his due which were not lesse were euery part a fiction Howbeit least a common errour should preuaile against a truth these Epistles are conceiued in those persons who were indeed the actors to wit Edward surnamed that Black Prince not so much of his complexion as of the dismall battels which he fought in Fraunce in like sence as we may say a black day for some tragicall euent though the sunne shine neuer so bright therein And Alice the Countesse of Salisbury who as it is certaine was beloued of Prince Edward so it is as certaine that many points now current in the receiued story can neuer hold together with likelihood of such enforcement had it not been shewed vnder the title of a King And when thou let'st downe that transparent lid Not that the lid is transparent for no part of the skin is transparent but for the gemme which that closure is sayd to containe is transparent for otherwise how could the mind vnderstand by the eye should not the images slide through the same and replenish the stage of the fantasie but this belongs to Opticks The Latines call the eye lid cilium I will not say of celande as the eye brow supercilium and the haire on the eye lyds palpebra perhaps quod palpitet all which haue their distinct and necessary vses Alice Countesse of Salisburie to the blacke Prince AS one would grant yet gladly would denie Twixt hope and feare I doubtfully reply A womans weakenes least I should discouer Answering a Prince and writing to a louer And some say loue with reason doth dispence And wrest our plaine words to another sence Thinke you not then poore women had not neede Be well aduis'd to write what men should reede vvhen being silent moouing but awry Giues cause of scandall and of obloquy vvhilst in our harts our secret thoughts abide Th'inuenom'd tongue of slaunder yet is tide But if once spoke deliuered vp to fame Hers the report but ours returnes the shame About to write yet newly entring in Me thinks I end ere I can well begin VVhen I would end then somthing makes me stay And then me thinks I should haue more to say And some one thing remaineth in my brest For want of words that cannot be exprest vvhat I would say and said to thee I faine Then in thy person I reply againe Then in thy cause vrge all I can obiect Then what againe mine honour must respect O Lord what sundry passions doe I try Striuing to hate you forcing contrarie Being a Prince I blame you not to proue The greater reason to obtaine your loue That greatnes which doth challenge no deniall The onely rest that doth allow my triall Edward so great the greater were his fall And my offence in this were capitall To men is granted priuiledge to tempt But in that charter women be exempt Men win vs not except we giue consent Against our selues except our selues are bent VVho doth impute it is a fault to you You proue not false except we be vntrue It is your vertue being men to trie And it is ours by vertue to denie Your fault it selfe serues for the faults excuse And makes it ours though yours be the abuse Beauty a begger fie it is too bad vvhen in it selfe sufficiencie is had Not made a lure t' intice the wandring eye But an attire t' adorne sweet modestie If modestie and women once doe seuer Farewell our fame farewell our name for euer Let Iohn and Henry Edwards instance be Matilda and faire Rosamond for me A like both woo'd alike â—u'd to be wonne Th' one by the Father th' other by the Sonne Henry obtaining did our weakenes wound And layes the fault on wanton Rosamond Matilda chaâ—t in life and death all one By her deniall layes the fault on Iohn By these we proue men accessarie still But women onely principals of ill VVhat prayse is ours but what our vertues get If they be lent so much we be in debt vvhilst our owne honours vertue doth defendâ— All force too weake what euer men pretend If all the world else should suborne our fame T is we our selues that ouerthrow the same And how so ere although by force you win Yet on our weakenes still returnes the sin You are a vertuous Prince so thought of all And shall I then be guiltie of your fall Now God forbid yet rather let me die Then such a sinne vpon my soule should lie VVhere is great Edward whether is he led At whose victorious name whole Armies fled Is that braue spirit that conquer'd so in France Thus ouercome and vanquish'd with a glance Is that great hart that did aspire so hie So soone transpersed with a womans eye He that a King at Poycters battell tooke Himselfe led captiue with a wanton looke Twice as a bride to Church I haue beene led Twice haue two Lords enioy'd
As many minutes as in the houres there be So many houres each minute seemes to me Each houre a day morne noone-tide and a set Each day a yeare with miseries complet A vvinter spring-time sommer and a fall All seasons varying but vnseasoned all In endlesse woe my thred of life thus weares By minutes houres dayes monthes and ling'ring yeares They praise the Sommer that enioy the South Pomfret is closed in the Norths cold mouth There pleasant Sommer dwelleth all the yeere Frost-starued-winter doth inhabite heere A place wherein dispaire may fitly dwell Sorrow best suting with a clowdie Cell VVhen Herford had his iudgement of exile Saw I the peoples murmuring the while Th' vncertaine Commons touch'd with inward care As though his sorrowes mutually they bare Fond women and scarse speaking children mourne Bewaile his parting wishing his returne Then being forc'd t' abridge his banish'd yeeres vvhen they bedew'd his footsteps with their teares Yet by example could not learne to know To what his greatnes by this loue might grow vvhilst Henry boasts of our atthieuements done Bearing the trophies our great fathers wone And all the storie of our famous warre Now grace the Annalls of great Lancaster Seuen goodly siens in their spring did flourish vvhich one selfe root brought forth one stocke did nourish Edward the top-braunch of that golden tree Nature in him her vtmost power did see vvho from the bud still blossomed so faire As all might iudge what fruit it meant to beare But I his graft of eu'ry weede ore-growne And from the kind as refuse forth am throwne From our braue Grandsire both in one degree Yet after Edward Iohn the young'st of three Might princely VVales beget an Impe so base That to Gaunts issue should giue soueraigne place That leading Kings from Fraunce returned home As those great Caesars brought their spoyles to Rome vvhose name obtayned by his fatall hand vvas euer fearefull to that conquered land His fame increasing purchasd in those warres Can scarcely now be bounded with the starres VVith him is valour quite to heauen fled Or else in me is it extinguished vvho for his vertue and his conquests sake Posteritie a demie God shall make And iudge this â—ile and abiect spirit of mine Could not proceed from temper so diuine VVhat earthly humor or what vulgar eye Can looke so low as on our miserie VVhen Bulling brook is mounted to our throne And makes that his which we but call'd our owne Into our Counsels he himselfe intrudes And who but Henry with the multitudes His power disgrad's his dreadfull frowne disgraceth He throwes them downe whom our aduancement placeth As my disable and vnworthie hand Neuer had power belonging to command He treads our sacred tables in the dust And proues our acts of Parlament vniust As thougâ— he hated that it should be said That such a law by Richard once was made VVhilst I depresd before his greatnes lie Vnder the waight of hate and infamie My back a foot-stoole Bulling brook to raise My loosenes mock'd and hatefull by his praise Out-liu'd mine honour buried my estate And nothing left me but the peoples hate Sweet Queene I le take all counsell thou canst giue So that thou bid'st me neither hope nor liue Succour that comes when ill hath done his worst But sharpens greefe to make vs more accurst Comfort is now vnpleasing to mine eare Past cure past care my bed become my Beere Since now misfortune humbleth vs so long Till heauen be growne vnmindfull of our wrong Yet they forbid my wrongs shall euer die But still remembred to posteritie And let the crowne be fatall that he weares And euer wet with wofull mothers teares Thy curse on Percie angry heauens preuent vvho haue not one cuise left on him vnspent To scourge the world now horrowing of my store As rich of woe as I a King am poore Then cease deere Queene my sorrowes to bewaile My wounds too great for pittie now to heale Age stealeth on whilst thou complainest thus My greefes be mortall and infectious Yet better fortunes thy fayre youth may trie That follow thee which still from me doth flie Notes of the Chronicle Historie This tongue which first denounc'd my regall flate RIchard the second at the resignation of the Crowne to the Duke of Herford in the Tower of London deliuering the lame with his owne hand there confessed his disabilitie to gouerne vtterly denouncing all kingly dignitie And left'st great Burbon for thy loue to me Before the Princesse Isabell was married to the King Lewes Duke of Burbon sued to haue had her in mariage which was thought hee had obtained if this motion had not fallen out in the meane time This Duke of Burbon sued againe to haue receiued her at her comming into Fraunce after the imprisonment of King Richard but King Charles her Father then crost him as before and gaue her to Charles sonne to the Duke of Orleance When Herford had his iudgement of exile When the combate should haue beene at Couentrie betwixt Henâ—ie Duke of Herford and Thomas Duke of Norfolke where Herâ—ord was adiudged to banishment for tenne yeares the Commons exceeding lamented so greatly was he euer fauoured of the people Then being forc'd t' abridge his banish'd yeeres When the Duke came to take his leaue of the King being then at Eltham the King to please the Commons rather then for any louâ— he beare to Herford repleaded foure yeeres of his banishment Whilst Henry boasts of our atchieuements done Henry the eldest Sonne to Iohn Duke of Lancaster at the first Earle of Darby then created Duke of Herford after the death of the Duke Iohn his Father was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford Earle of Darby Leicester and Lincolne and after he had obtained the Crowne was called by the name of Bullingbrooke which is a towne in Lincolneshire as vsually all the Kings of England bare the name of the places where they were borne Seauen goodly syens in their spring did flourish Edward the third had seuen Sonnes Edward Prince of Wales after called the blacke Prince William of Hatfield the second Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke the Fifth Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Gloster the sixth William of Windsore the seuenth Edward the top-branch of that golden tree Truly boasting himselfe to bee the eldest Sonne of Edward the blacke Prince Yet after Edward Iohn the young'st of three As disabling Henry Bullingbrooke being but the sonne of the fourth brother William and Lionell beeing both before Iohn of Gaunt That leading Kings from Fraunce returned home Edward the black Prince taking Iohn King of Fraunce prisoner at the battell of Poictâ—â—s brought him into England where at the Sauoy he died Whose name atchiued by his fatall hand Called the black Prince not so much of his complexion as of the famous battell hee fought as is shewed before in the Glosse vppon the Epistle of Edward
Troy And haue not strange euents diuin'd to vs That in our loue we should be prosperous VVhen in your presence I was call'd to daunce In lofty tricks whilst I my selfe aduaunce And in my turne my footing fail'd by hap vvas 't not my chaunce to light into your lap vvho would not iudge it fortunes greatest grace Sith he must fall to fall in such a place His birth from heauen your Tudor not deriues Nor stands on tip-toes in superlatiues Although the enuious English doe deuise A thousand iests of our hyperbolies Nor doe I claime that plot by auncient deedes where Phoebus pastures his fire-breathing steeds Nor do I boast my God-made Grandsires skars Nor Giants trophies in the Tytans wars Nor faine my birth your princely ears to please By three nights getting as was Hercules Nor doe I forge my long descent to runne From aged Neptune or the glorious Sunne And yet in VVales with them most famous bee Our learned Bards doe sing my pedigree And boast my birth from great Cadwallader From old Cair-septon in Mount Palador And from Eneons line the South-wales King By Theodor the Tudors name doe bring My royall mothers princely stock began From her great Grandam faire Gwenellian By true descent from Leolin the great As well from North-wales as faire Powslands seat Though for our princely Genealogie I doe not stand to make Apologie Yet who with iudgements true vnpartiall eyes Shall looke from whence our name at first did rise Shall find that Fortune is to vs in debt And why not Tudor as Plantaginet Nor that terme Croggen nick-name of disgrace Vs'd as a by-word now in euery place Shall blot our blood or wrong a VVelchmans name vvhich was at first begot with Englands shame Our valiant swords our right did still maintaine Against that cruell proud vsurping Dane And buckl'd in so many dangerous fights vvith Norwayes Swethens and with Muscouits And kept our natiue language now thus long And to this day yet neuer chang'd our tong vvhen they which now our Nation faine would tame Subdu'd haue lost their Country and their name Nor neuer could the Saxons swords prouoke Our Brittaine necks to beare their seruile yoke vvhere Cambrias pleasant Countries bounded bee vvith swelling Seuerne and the holy Dee And since great Brutus first arriu'd haue stood The onely remnant of the Troian blood To euery man is not allotted chaunce To boast with Henry to haue conquer'd Fraunce Yet if my fortunes thus may raised be This may presage a farther good to me And our S. Dauid in the Brittaines right May ioyne with George the sainted English Knight And old Caer-marden Merlins famous towne Not scorn'd by London though of such renowre Ah would to God that houre my hopes attend vvere with my wish brought to desired end Blame me not Madame though I thus desire vvhen eyes with enuie doe my hap admire Till now your beauty in nights bosome slept vvhat eye durst stir where awfull Henry keptâ— VVho durst attempt to saile but neere the bay vvhere that all-conquering great Alcides lay Thy beauty now is set a royall prize And Kings repaire to cheapen merchandize If thou but walke to take the breathing ayre Orithia makes me that I Boreas feare If to the fire Ioue once in lightning came And faire Egina make me feare the flame If in the sunne then sad suspition dreames Phoebus should spread Lucothoe in his beames If in a fountaine thou doo'st coole thy blood Neptune I feare which once came in a flood If with thy maides I dread Apollos rape vvho cusâ—ed Chion in an old wiues shape If thou doost banquet Bacchus makes me dread vvho in a grape Erigone did feede And if my selfe the chamber doore should kepe Yet feaâ—e I Hermes comming in a sleepe Pardon sweet Queene if I offend in this In these delayes loue most impatient is And youth wants power his hote spleene to suppresse vvhen hope alreadie banquets in excesse Though Henries fame in me you shall not find Yet that which better shall content your mind But onely in the title of a King vvas his aduantage in no other thing If in his loue more pleasure you did take Neuer let Queene trust Brittaine for my sake Yet iudge me not from modestie exempt That I another Phaetons charge attempt My mind that thus your fauours dare aspire Declare a temper of celestiall fire If loue a fault the more is beauties blame vvhen she her selfe is author of the same All men to some one quallitie incline Onely to loue is naturally mine Thou art by beauty famous as by birth Ordain'd by heauen to cheere the drouping earth Adde faithfull loue vnto your greater state And then a-like in all things fortunate A King might promise more I not denie But yet by heauen he lou'd not more then I. And thus I leaue till time my faith approue I cease to write but neuer cease to loue Notes of the Chronicle Historie And that the helme the Tudors ancient Crest THe Armes of Tudor was the Helmes of mens heads whereof hee speaketh as a thing prophetically fore told of Merlin When in thy presence I was call'd to daunce Owen Tudor being a courtly and actiue Gentleman commaunded once to daunce before the Queene in a turne not beeing able to recouer himselfe fell into her lappe as shee sate vppon a little stoole with many of her Ladies about her And yet with them in Wales most famous be Our learned Bards c. This Berdh as they call it in the Brittish tongue or as wee more properly say Bard or Bardus be their Poets which keepe the records of Petigrees and discents and sing in odes and measures to the Harps after the old manner of the Lirick Poets And boast my blood from great Cadwallader Cadwallader the last King of the Brittaines descended of the noble and auncient race of the Troyans to whom an Angell appeared commaunding him to goe to Rome to Pope Sergius where he ended his life Since faire Caer-Septon in mount Paladar Caer-Septon now called Shaftsbury at whose building it was said an Eagle prophecied or rather one named Aquila of the fame of that place and of the recouerie of the I le of the Brittaines bringing backe with them the bones of Cadwallader from Rome And from Eneons line the South-wales King From Theodor c. This Eneon was slaine by the Rebels of Gwentsland hee was a noble and worthy Gentleman who in his life did many noble acts and was Father to Theodor or Tudor Maur of whom descended the Princes of Southwales From her great Grandam faire Guenelliam Guenelliam the daughter of Rees ap Greffeth ap Theodor Prince of South-wales married Edniuet Vahan auncestor to Owen Tudor By true descent from Liolin the great This is the Lewhelin called Liolinus magnus Prince of Northwales Nor that word Croggen nick-name of disgrace In the voyage that Henry the second made against the VVelchmen as his Souldiours passed Offas ditch at Croggen Castle they were
he conuayed to South-hampton Queene Margaret to William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke WHat newes sweet Pole look'st thou my lines should tell But like the tolling of the dolefull bell Bidding the deaths-man to prepare the graue Expect from me no other newes to haue My brest which once was mirths imperiall throne A vast and desart wildernes is growne Like that cold Region from the world remote On whose breeme seas the Icie mountaines flote vvhere those poore creatures banish'd from the light Doe liue imprison'd in continuall night No ioy presents my soules eternall eyes But diuination of sad tragedies And care takes vp her solitarie In vvhere youth and ioy their Court did once begin As in September when our yeare resignes The glorious Sunne vnto the watrie signes vvhich through the clouds lookes on the earth in scorne The little bird yet to salute the morne Vpon the naked branches sets her foote The leaues now lying on the mossie roote And there a silly chirripping doth keepe As though she faine would sing yet faine would weepe Praysing faire Sommer that too soone is gone Or sad for VVinter too fast comming on In this strange plight I mourne for thy depart Because that weeping cannot ease my hart Now to our ayde who stirs the neighbouring Kings Or who from Fraunce a puissant Armie brings VVho moues the Norman to abet our war Or stirs vp Burgoyne to ayde Lancaster VVho in the North our lawfull claime commends To win vs credite with our valiant friends To whom shall I my secret griefe impart vvhose breast I made the closet of my hart The ancient Heroes fame thou didst reuiue And didst from them thy memory deriue Nature by thee both gaue and taketh all Alone in Pole shee was too prodigall Of so diuine and rich a temper wrought As heauen for him perfections deepe had sought VVell knew King Henry what he pleaded for vvhen he chose thee to be his Orator vvhose Angell-eye by powrefull influence Doth vtter more then humaine eloquence That when Ioue would his youthfull sports haue tride But in thy shape himselfe would neuer hide VVhich in his loue had beene of greater power Then was his nimph his flame his swan his shower To that allegiance Yorke was bound by oath To Henries heires and safety of vs both No longer now he meanes record shal beare it He will dispence with heauen and will vnsweare it He that 's in all the worlds blacke sinnes forlorne Is carelesse now how oft he be forsworne And now of late his title hath set downe By which he makes his claime vnto the crowne And now I heare his hatefull Dutches chats And rips vp their descent vnto her brats And blesseth them as Englands lawfull heires And tels them that our Diadem is theirs And if such hap her Goddesse fortune bring If three sonnes faile she 'le make the fourth a King He that 's so like his Dam her youngest Dicke That foule ill-fauoured crook-back'd stigmaticke That like a carcas stolne out of a Tombe Came the wrong way out of his mothers wombe VVith teeth in 's head his passage to haue torne As though begot an age ere he was borne VVho now will curbe proud Yorke when he shall rise Or Armes our right against his enterprize To crop that bastard weede which dayly growes To ouer-shadow our vermilian Rose Or who will muzzell that vnrulie Beare vvhose presence strikes our peoples harts with feare VVhilst on his knees this wretched King is downe To saue them labour reaching at his Crowne vvhere like a mounting Cedar he should beare His plumed top aloft into the ayre And let these shrubs sit vnderneath his shrowdes vvhilst in his armes he doth embrace the clowdes O that he should his Fathers right inherit Yet be an alien to that mightie spirit How were those powers disperc'd or whether gone Should sympathize in generation Or what apposed influence had force To abuse kinde and alter natures course All other creatures follow after kinde But man alone doth not beget the minde My Daysie-flower which erst perfum'd the ayre vvhich for my fauours Princes once did weare Now in the dust lyes troden on the ground And with Yorkes garlands euery one is crownd VVhen now his rising waytes on our decline And in our setting he begins to shine Now in the skies that dreadfull Comet waues And who be starres but VVarwicks bearded staues And all those knees which bended once so low Grow stiffe as though they had forgot to bow And none like them pursue me vvith despite vvhich most haue cryde God saue Queene Margarite VVhen fame shall brute thy banishment abrode The Yorkish faction then will lay on loade And when it comes once to our VVesterne coast O how that hag Dame Elinor will boast And labour straight by all the meanes she can To be call'd home out of the I le of Man To which I know great VVarwicke will consent To haue it done by act of Parlement That to my teeth my birth shee may defie Slaundring Duke Rayner with base beggerie The onely way she could deuise to grieue me vvanting sweet Suffolke which should most relieue me And from that stock doth sprout another bloome A Kentish Rebell a base vpstart groome And this is hee the vvhite-rose must prefer By Clarence daughter match'd with Mortimer Thus by Yorkes meanes this rascall pesant Cade Must in all hast Plantaginet be made Thus that ambitious Duke sets all on worke To sound what friends affect the claime of Yorke VVhilst he abroad doth practise to commaund And makes vs weake by strengthning Ireland More his owne power still seeking to increase Then for King Henries good or Englands peace Great VVinchester vntimely is deceas'd That more and more my woes should be encreas'd Beuford whose shoulders proudly bare vp all The Churches prop that famous Cardinall The Commons bent to mischiefe neuer let vvith Fraunce t' vpbraid that valiant Sommerset Rayling in tumults on his souldiours losse Thus all goes backward crosse comes after crosse And now of late Duke Humfreys old alies vvith banish'd Elnors base accomplices Attending theyr reuenge grow wondrous crouse And threaten death and vengeance to our house And I alone the wofull remnant am â— endure these stormes with wofull Buckingham I pray thee Pole haue care how thou doost passe Neuer the Sea yet halfe so dangerous was And one fore-told by water thou should'st die Ah foule befall that foule tongues prophecie And euery night am troubled in my dreames That I doe see thee tost in dangerous streames And oft-times shipwrackt cast vpon the land And lying breathlesse on the queachy sand And oft in visions see thee in the night vvhere thou at Sea maintain'st a dangerous sight And with thy proued Target and thy sword Beat'st backe the Pyrate which vvould come abord Yet be not angry that I warne thee thus The truest loue is most suspitious Sorrow doth vtter what vs still doth grieue But hope forbids vs sorrow to belieue And in
away loue if you take iealousie VVhen Henry Turwin and proud Turnay won Little thought I the end when this begun vvhen Maximilian to those wars adrest vvare Englands Crosse on his imperiall brest And in our Armie let his Eagle flie And had his pay from Henries treasurie Little thought I when first began these wars My marriage day should end those bloody iars From which I vow I yet am free in thought But this alone by VVoolseys wit was wrought To his aduise the King gaue free consent That will I nill I I must be content My virgins right my state could not aduance But now enriched with the dower of Fraunce Then but poore Suffolkes Dutches had I beene Now the great Dowager the most Christian Queene But I perceiue where all thy griefe doth lie Lewes of Fraunce had my virginitie He had indeed but shall I tell thee what Beleeue me Brandon he had scarcely that Good feeble King he could not doe much harme But age must needs haue something that is warme Smal drops God knowes doe quench that heatlesse fire vvhen all the strength is onely in desire And I could tell if modesty might tell There 's somewhat else that pleaseth Louers well To rest his cheeke vpon my softer cheeke vvas all he had and more he did not seeke So might the little babie clip the nurse And it content she neuer a whit the worse Then thinke this Brandon if that makes thee frowne For mayden-head he on my head set a Crowne vvho would exchaunge a Kingdome for a kisse Hard were the hart that would not yeeld him this And time yet halfe so swiftly doth not passe Not full fiue months yet elder then I was VVhen thou to Fraunce conducted was by fame vvith many Knights which from all Countries came Installed at S. Dennis in my throne vvhere Lewes held my coronation VVhere the proud Dolphin for thy valour sake Chose thee at tilt his princely part to take vvhen as the staues vpon thy caske did light Greeued there-with I turn'd away my sight And spake aloud when I my selfe forgot T is my sweet Charles my Brandon hurt him not But when I fear'd the King perceiued this Good silly man I pleas'd him with a kisse And to extoll his valiant sonne began That Europe neuer bred a brauer man And when poore King he simply praised thee Of all the rest I ask'd which thou should'st be Thus I with him dissembled for thy sake Open confession now amends must make VVhilst this old King vpon a pallet lies And onely holds a combat with mine eyes Mine eies from his by thy sight stolne away vvhich might too well their Mistres thoughts bewray But when I saw thy proud vnconquered Launce To beare the prize from all the flower of Fraunce To see what pleasure did my soule imbrace Might easily be discerned in my face Looke as the dew vpon a Damaske-Rose How through that clearest pearle his blushing showes And when the soft ayre breathes vpon his top From those sweet leaues falls easilly drop by drop Thus by my cheeke downe rayning from mine eyes One teare for ioy anothers roome supplies Before mine eye like touch thy shape did proue Mine eye condemn'd my too too partiall loue But since by others I the same doe trie My loue condemnes my too too partiall eye The precious stone most beautifull and rare vvhen with it selfe we onely doe compare vvee deeme all other of that kind to be As excellent as that we onely see But when we iudge of that with others by Too credulous we doe condemne our eye vvhich then appeares more orient more bright As from their dimnes borrowing great light Alansoon a fine timbered man and tall Yet wants the shape thou are adornd withall Vandon good carriage and a pleasing eye Yet hath not Suffolkes Princely maiestie Couragious Burbon a sweet manly face But yet he wants my Brandons courtly grace Proud Long auile our Court iudg'd had no peere A man scarce made was thought whilst thou wast heere County S. Paule brau'st man aâ— armes in Fraunce vvould yeeld himselfe a Squire to beare thy Launce Galleas and Bounearme matchlesse for their might Vnder thy towring blade haue coucht in fight If with our loue my brother angrie bee I le say for his sake I first loued thee And but to frame my liking to his mind Neuer to thee had I beene halfe so kind Should not the sister like as doth the brother The one of vs should be vnlike the other VVorthy my loue the vulgar iudge no man Except a Yorkist or Lancastrian Nor thinke that my affection should be set But in the line of great Plantaginet I passe not what the idle Commons say I pray thee Charles make hah and come away To thee what 's England if I be not there Or what to me is Fraunce if thou not heere Thy absence makes me angry for a while But at thy presence I must needlsy smile VVhen last of me his leaue my Brandon tooke He sware an oath and made my lips the booke He would make hast which now thou doo'st deny Thou art forsworne ô wilfull periury Sooner would I with greater sinnes dispence Then by intreaty pardon this offence But yet I thinke if I should come to shriue thee Great were the fault that I should not forgiue thee Yet wert thou heere I should reuenged be But it should be with too much louing thee I that is all that thou shalt feare to tast I pray thee Brandon come sweet Charles make hast Notes of the Chronicle Historie The vtmost date expired of my stay When I for Douer did depart away KIng Henry the 8. with the Queene and Nobles in the 6. yeere of his raigne in the moneth of September brought this ladie to Douer where she tooke shipping for Fraunce Think'st thou my loue was faithfull vnto thee When young Castile ' to England su'd for me It was agreed and concluded betwixt Hen. the 7. and Phillip King of Castile Sonne to Maximilean the Emperour that Charles eldest sonne of the said Phillip should marry the Lady Mary daughter to King Henry when they came to age which agreement was afterward in the 8. yeere of Henry the 8. annihilated When he in triumph of his victory Vnder a rich embrodered Canapy Entred proud Turney which did trembling stand c. Henry the 8. after thâ— long siege of Turnay which was deliuered to him vpon composition entred the Citty in triumph vnder a Canâ—py of cloth of gold borne by foure of the chiefe and most noble Citizens the King himselfe mounted vpon a gallant courser barbed with the Armes of England Fraunce and Ireland When Charles of Castile there to baâ—quet came With him his sister that ambitious Dame Sauoys proud Dutches. The King beeing at Tournay there came to him the Prince of Castile the Lady Margaret Dutches of Sauoy his sister to whom King Henry gaue great entertainment Sauoys proude Dutches knowing how long shee By her
loue sought to win my loue from mee At this time there was speech of a marriage to be concluded betweene Charles Brandon then L. Lisle the Dutches of Sauoy the L. Lisle being highly fauoured exceedingly beloued of the Dutches. When in King Henrieâ— Tent of cloth of gold The King caused a rich Tent of cloth of gold to be erected where he feasted the Prince of Castile the Dutches and entertained them with sumptuous maskes and banquets during their aboad When Maximilian to those wars addrest Wâ—re Englands Crosse on his imperiall breast Maximilian the Emperour with all his souldiours which serued vnder King Henry wore the crosse of S. George with the Rose on their breasts And in our Armiâ— let his Eagle flie The blacke Eagle is the badge imperiall which here is vsed for the displaying of his ensigne or standard And had his pay from Henries treasurie Henry the 8. at his wars in Fraunce retained the Emperour all his Souldiours in wages which serued vnder him during those warres But this alone by Wolseys wit was wrought Thomas Wolsey the Kings Almoner then Bishoppe of Lincolne a man of great authoritie with the king afterward Cardinall was the thiefe cause that the Lady Mary was married to the old French king with whom the French King had dealt vnderhand to be friend him in that match When the proude Dolphin for thy valour sake Chose thee at tylt his prâ—ncely part to take Frauncis Duke of Valoyes and Dolphin of Fraunce at the mariage of the Lady Mary in honour thereof proclaimed a Iusts where hee chose the Duke of Suffolke and the Marques Dorset for his aydes at all martiall exercises Galeas and Bounarme matchles for their might This County Galeas at the Iusts ran a course with a Speare which was at the head fiue inches square on euery side and at the But nine inches square whereby here shewed his wondrous force and strength This Bounarme a Gentleman of Fraunce at the same time came into the field armed at all points with tenne speares about himâ— in each stirrop three vnder each thigh one one vnder his left arme and one in his hand and putting his horse to the careere neuer stopped him till he had broken euery staffe Hall Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk to Mary the French Queene BVt that thy fayth commaunds me to forbeare The fault thine owne if I impatient were vvere my dispatch such as should be my speed I should want time thy louing lines to reede Heere in the Court Camelion like I fare And as that creature onely liue by ayre All day I waite and all the night I watch And starue mine eares to heare of my dispatch If Douer were th'Abydos of my rest Or pleasant Callice were my Maries Cest Thou should'st not neede fayre Queene to blame me so Did not the distance to desire say no No tedious night from trauell should be free Till through the waues with swimming vnto thee A snowy path I made vnto thy Bay So bright as is that Nectar-stayned way The restlesse sunne by trauailing doth weare Passing his course to finish vp the yeare But Paris locks my loue within the maine And London yet they Brandon doth detaine Of thy firme loue thou put'st me still in mind But of my faith not one word can I finde VVhen Longauile to Mary was affied And thou by him wast made King Lewis bride How oft I wish'd that thou a prize might'st bee That I in Armes might combat him for thee And in the madnes of my loue distraught A thousand times his murther haue â—ore-thought But that th'all-seeing powers which sit aboue Regard not mad mens oathes nor faults in loue And haue confirm'd it by the graunt of heauen That Louers sinnes on earth should be forgiuen For neuer man is halfe so much distrest As he that loues to see his loue possest Comming to Richmond after thy depart Richmond where first thou stol'st away my hart Me thought it look'd not as it did of late But wanting thee forlorne and desolate In whose fayere walkes thou often hast beene seene To sport with Katherine Henries beautious Queeneâ— Astonishing sad vvinter with thy sight As for thy sake the day hath put back night That the byrds thinking to approach the spring Forgot themselues and haue begun to sing So oft I goe by Thames so oft returne Me thinks for thee the Riuer yet doth mourne vvho I haue seene to let her streame at large vvhich like a Hand-maide waited on thy Barge And if thou hapst against the flood to row vvhich way it ebd before now would it flow vveeping in drops vpon thy labouring oares For ioy that it had got thee from the shoares The Swans with musick that the Roothers make Ruffing theyr plumes come gliding on the lake As the fleet Dolphins by Arions strings were brought to land with their sweet rauishings The flocks heards that pasture neer the flood To gaze vpon thee haue forborne theyr food And sate downe sadly mourning by the brim That they by nature were not made to swimâ— VVhen as the Post to Englands royall Court Of thy hard passage brought the true report How in a storme thy well rigg'd ships were tost And thou thy selfe in danger to be lost I knew t was Venus loth'd that aged bed vvhere beautie so should be dishonoured Or fear'd the Sea-Nimphs haunting of the Lake If thou but seene theyr Goddesse should forsake And whirling round her Doue-drawne Coach about To view thy Nauie now in launching out Her ayrie mantle loosely doth vnbind VVhich fanning forth a rougher gale of winde vvafted thy failes with speede vnto the land And runnes thy ship on Bullins harbouring strand How should I ioy of thy ariue to heare But as a poore sea-faring passenger After long trauaile tempest-torne wrack'd By some vnpitting Pyrat that is sack'd Heare 's the false robber that hath stolne his wealth Landed in some safe harbour and in health Enriched with inualuable store For which he long hath trauailed before VVhen thou to Abuile held'st th' appointed day vvee heard how Lewes met thee on the way vvhere thou in glittering Tissue strangely dight Appear'dst vnto him like the Queene of light In cloth of siluer all thy virgine traine In beautie sumptuous as the Northerne waine And thou alone the formost glorious star vvhich lead'st the teame of that great VVagoner VVhat could thy thought be but as I doe thinke vvhen thine eyes tasted what mine eares did drinke A cripple King layd bedrid long before Yet at thy comming crept out of the dore T' was well he rid he had no legs to goe But this thy beautie forc'd his body to For whom a cullice had more fitter beene Then in a golden bed a gallant Queene To vse thy beauty as the miser gold vvhich hoards it vp but onely to behold Still looking on it with a iealous eye Fearing to lend yet louing vsurie O Sacriledge if beautie be diuine The prophane hand
insolencie was punished in him his posterity as if it were fatall to the conquerour to doe his soueraigne such loyall seruice as a thousand such seuere censurers were neuer able to performe Since Scottish blood discoloured Floden field The battell was fought at Bramstone neere to Flodden hill beeing a part of the Cheuiot a mountaine that exceedeth all the mountaines in the North of England for bignes in which the wilfull periurie of Iames the fifth was punished from heauen by the Earle of Surrey being left by King Henry the eyght then in Fraunce before Turwin for the desence of his Realme Nor beautious Stanhope whom all tongues report To be the glory c. Of the beautie of that Lady he himselfe testifies in an Elegie which he writ of her refusing to daunce with him which he seemeth to alegorize vnder a Lyon and a Wolfe And of himselfe he saith A Lyon saw I late as white as any snow And of her I might perceiue a Wolfe as white as Whalls bone A fairer beast of fresher hue beheld I neuer none But that her lookes were coy and froward was her grace And famous Wyat who in numbers sings Sir Thomas Wyat the elder a most excellent Poet as his Poems extant doe witnes besides certaine Encomions written by the Earle of Surrey vpon some of Dauids Psalmes by him translated What holy graue what worthy Sepulcher To wyats Psalmes shall Christians purchase then And afterward vpon his death the said Earle writeth thus What vertues rare were tempred in thy brest Honour that England such a Iewell bred And kisse the ground whereas thy corps did rest At Honsdon where those sweet celestiall eyne It is manifest by a Sonnet written by this noble Earle that the first time he beheld his Lady was at Hunsdon Honsdon did first present her to mine eyne Which Sonnet beeing altogether a description of his loue I do alledge in diuers places of this glosse as proofes of what I write Of Hampton Court and Windsore where abound All pleasures c. That hee enioyed the presence of his faire and vertuous mistris in those two places by reason of queene Katherines vsuall aboad there on whom this Lady Geraldiue was attending I proue by these yerses of his Hampton me taught to wish her first for mine Winsor alas doth chase me from her sight And in another Sonnet following When Winsor walls sustaind my wearied arme My hand my chin to ease my restles head And that his delight might draw him to compare Winsor to Paradice an Elegy may proue where he remembreth his passed pleasures in that place With a Kings sonne my childish yeeres I pass'd In greater feast then Priams sonne of Troy And againe in the same Elegie Those large greene Courts where we were wont to roue With eyes cast vp vnto the maydens Tower With easie sighs such as men draw in loue And againe in the same The statelie seats the Ladies bright of hue The dances short long tales of sweet delight And for the pleasantâ—es of the place these verses of his may tosusie in the same Elegie before recited The secret groues which we haue made resound With siluer drops the meads yet spread for ruth As goodly flowers from Thamisis doe grow c. I had thought in this place not to haue spoken of Thames beeing so oft remembred by me before in sundry other places on this occasion but thinking of that excellent Epigram which as I iudge either to be done by the said Earle or Sir Frauncis Brian for the woorthinesse thereof I will heere insett which as it seemes to me was compiâ—ed at the Authors beeing in Spayne Tagus farewell which Westward with thy streames Turn'st vp the graines of gold already tride For I with spur and sayle goe seeke the Thames Against the sun that shewes her wealthy pride And to the towne that Brutus sought by dreames Like bended Moone that leanes her lustie side To seeke my Country now for whom I liue O mighty Ioue for this the winds mee giue FINIS Geraldine to Henry Howard Earle of Surrey SVch greeting as the noble Surrey sends The same to thee thy Geraldine commends A maydens thoughts doe check my trembling hand On other termes or complements to stand vvhich might my speech be as my hart affords Should come attired in farre richer words But all is one my faith as firme shall proue As hers that makes the greatest show of loue In Cupids Schoole I neuer read those bookes vvhose lectures oft we practise in our lookes Nor euer did suspitions riuall eye Yet lie in waite my fauours to espie My virgine thoughts are innocent and meeke As the chast blushes sitting on my cheeke As in a Feauer I doe shiuer yet Since first my penne was to the paper set If I doe erre you know my sexe is weake Feare proues a fault where mayds are forc'd to speakeâ— Doe I not ill ah sooth me not heerein O if I doe reproue me of my sinne Chide me infaith or if my fault you hide My tongue will teach my selfe my selfe to chide Nay noble Surrey blot it if thou wilt Then too much boldnes should returne my guilt For that should be euen from our selues conceal'd vvhich is disclosd if to our thoughts reueal'd For the least motion more the smallest breath That may impeach our modestie is death The Page that brought thy Letters to my hand Me thinks should meruaile at my strange demaund For till he blush'd I did not yet espie The nakednes of my immodestie vvhich in my face he greater might haue seene But that my fanne I quickly put betweene Yet scarcely that my inward guilt could hide Feare seeing all feares it of all espide Like to a Taper lately burning bright Now wanting matter to maintaine his light The blaze aâ—cending forced by the smoke Liuing by that which seekes the same to choke The flame still hanging in the ayre doth burne Vntill drawne downe it back againe returne Then cleere then dim then spreadeth and then closeth Now getteth strength and now his brightnes looseth As well the best discerning eye may doubt VVhether it yet be in or whether out Thus in my cheeke my diuers passions show'd Now ashy pale and now againe it glow'd If in your verse there be a power to moue It 's you alone who are the cause I loue It 's you bewitch my bosome by mine eare Vnto that end I did not place you there Ayres to asswage the bloody Souldiors mind Poore women we are naturally kind Perhaps yow 'll thinke that I these termes enforce For that in Court this kindnes is of course Or that it is that honey-steeped gall vve oft are said to bayte our loues withall That in one eye we carry strong desire The other drops which quickly quench the fire Ah what so false can Enuie speake of vs But shall finde some too vainly credulous I doe not so and to adde proofe thereto I loue in faith in faith sweet Lord I do
Nor let the enuie of enuenom'd tongues vvhich still is grounded on poore Ladies wrongs Thy noble breast diasterly possesse By any doubt to make my loue the lesse My house from Florence I doe not pretend Nor from Giraldi claime I to descend Nor hold those honours insufficient are That I receiue from Desmond or Kyldare Nor adde I greater worth vnto my blood Than Irish milke to giue me Infant food Nor better ayre will euer boast to breathe Then that of Lenster Mounster or of Meathe Nor craue I other forraine farre alies Then VVindsor or Fitz-geralds families It is enough to leaue vnto my heires If they will but acknowledge me for theirs To what place euer did the Court remoue But that the house giues matter to my loue At VVindsor still I see thee sit and walke There mount thy courser there deuise there talk The roabes the garter and the state of Kings Into my thoughts thy hoped greatnes brings Nonsuch the name imports me thinks so much None such as thou nor as my Lord none such In Hamptons great magnificence I finde The liuely image of thy Princely minde Faire Richmonds towers like goodly pillers stand Rear'd by the power of thy victorious hand VVhitehalls tryumphing Galleries are yet Adorn'd with rich deuises of thy wit In Greenwich yet as in a glasse I view vvhere last thou badst thy Geraldine adiew vvith euerie little gentle breath that blowes How are my thoughts confus'd with ioyes and woes As through a gate so through my longing eares Passe to my hart whole multitude of feares O in a map that I might see thee show The place where now in daunger thou dost goe In sweet discourse to trauaile with our eye Romania Tuscaine and faire Lumbardy Or with thy penne exactly to set downe The modell of that Tempell or that Towne And to relate at large where thou hast beene And there there what thou there hast seen Or to describe by figure of thy hand There Naples lies and there doth Florence stand Or as the Grecians finger dip'd in wine Drawing a Riuer in a little line And with a drop a gulfe to figure out To modell Venice moted round about Then ading more to counterfet a Sea And draw the front of stately Genoa These from thy lips were like harmonious tones vvhich now doe sound like Mandrakes dreadfull grones Some trauell hence t' enrich their minds with skill Leaue heere their good and bring home others ill vvhich seeme to like all countries but their owne Affecting most where they the least are knowne Their leg their thigh their backe their necke their head There form'd there fetch'd there found there borrowed In their attire their iesture and their gate Fond in each one in all Italionate Italian French Dutch Spanish altogether Yet not all these nor one entirely neyther So well in all deformitie in fashion Borrowing a limme of euery seuerall Nation And nothing more then England hold in scorne So liue as strangers where as they were borne But thy returne in this I doe not reed Thou art a perfect Gentleman indeed O God forbid that Howards noble line From auncient vertue should so farre decline The Muses traine whereof your selfe are chiefe Onely with me participate their griefe To sooth their humours I doe lend them eares He giues a Poet that his verses heares Till thy returne by hope they onely liue Yet had they all they all away would giue The world and they so ill according bee That wealth and Poets neuer can agree Few liue in Court that of their good haue care The Muses friends are euery where so rare Some praise thy worth thy worth that neuer know Onely because the better sort doe so vvhose iudgement neuer further doth extend Then it doth please the greatest to commend So great an ill vpon desert doth chaunce vvhen it doth passe by beastly Ignorance VVhy art thou slacke whilst no man puts his hand To raise the Mount where Surreys Towers must stand Or who the groundsill of that worke doth lay vvhilst like a wandrer thou abroad doost stray Clip'd in the armes of some lasciuious Dame vvhen thou shouldst reare an Ilion to thy name VVhen shall the Muses by faire Norwich dwell To be the Citie of the learned VVell Or Phoebus Altars there with Incense heap'd As once in Cyrrha or in Thebae kept Or when shall that faire hoofe-plow'd spring distill From great Mount Surrey out of Leonards hill Till thou returne the Court I will exchaunge For some poore cottage or some countrey Grange vvhere to our distaues as we sit and spin My mayde and I will tell of things haue bin Our Lutes vnstrung shall hang vpon the wall Our lessons serue to wrap our Towe withall And passe the night whilst winter tales we tell Of many things that long agoe befell Or tune such homely Carrols as were song In Countrey sports when we our selues were yong In prittie Riddles to bewray our loues In questions purpose or in drawing gloues The noblest spirits to vertue most inclind These heere in Court thy greatest want doe find Other there be on which we feed our eye Like Arras worke or such like Imagerie Many of vs desire Queene Katheâ—ines state But very few her vertues imitate Then as Vlisses wife write I to thee Make no reply but come thy selfe to mee Notes of the Chronicle Historie Then Windsâ—re or Fitzgeralds families THE cost of many Kings which from time to time haue adorned the Castle at Windsor with their princely magnificence hath made it more noble then that it neede to be spoken of now as though obscure and I hold it more meet to refer you to our vulgar moniments for the founders and â—inishers thereof then to meddle with matter nothing neere to the purpose As for the family of the Fitz-geralds of whence this excellent Ladie was lineally descended the originall was English though the branches did spread themselues into distant places and names nothing consonant as in former times it was vsuall to denominate themselues of their manours or forenames as may pattly appeare in that which ensueth the light whereof proceeded from my learned and verie woorthy friend Maister Fraâ—cis Thynâ— Walter of Windsor the sonne of Oterus had issue William of whom Henry now Lord Windsor is descended and Robert of Windsor of whom Robert the now Earle of Essex and Gerald of Windsor his third sonne who married the daughter of Rees the great Prince of Wales of whom came Nesta paramour to Henry the first Which Gerald had issue Maurice Fitzgerald auncestor to Thomas Fitzmaurice Iustice of Iâ—eland buried at Trayly leauing issue Iohn his eldest sonne first Earle or Kildare ancestor to Geraldine and Maurice his second sonne first Earle of Desmond To rayse the mount where Surreys Towers must stand Alludeth to the sumptuous house which was afterward builded by him vpon Leonards hill right against Norwich which in the rebellion of Norfolke vnder Kett in King Edward the 6. time was
liueth As smiles in teares and teares in gladnes giuethâ— Yet thinke not Iane that cowardly I faint As begging mercy by this sad complaint Or yet suppose my courage daunted so That thou shouldst stand betwixt me and my so That grim-aspected death should now controule And seeme so fearefull to my parting soule For were one life a thousand lifes to me Yet were all those too few to die with thee vvhen thou my woes so patiently dost beare As if in death no cause of sorrow were And no more doost lifes dissolution shunne Then if cold age his longest course had runne Thou which didst once giue comfort in my woe Now art alone becom my comforts foe Not that I leaue wherein I did delight But that thou art debarr'd my wished sight For if I speake and would complaine my wrong Straight-waies thy name doth come into my tongâ— And thou art present as thou still didst lye Or in my hart or in my lips or eye No euill plannet raigned at thy birth Nor was that houre prodigious heere on earth No fatall marke of froward destinie Could be diuin'd in thy natiuitie T is onely I that did thy fall deuise And thou by me art made a sacrifice As in those Countries where the louing wiues Doe with their husbands euer end their liues And crown'd with garlands in their brides attire Goe with their husbands to that holy fire And she vnworthy thought to liue of all vvhen feare of death or danger doth appall I boast not of Northumberlands great name Nor of Kets conquest which adornes the same vvhen he to Norfolke led his troupes from far And yok'd the rebels in the chaine of war vvhen our white Beare did furiously respireâ— The flames that sing'd their Villages with fire And brought sweet peace in safety to our doores Yet left our fame vpon the Easterne shores Nor of my princely brothers which might grace And plant true honour in the Dudleys race Nor of Grayes match my children borne by thee Alied to great Plantaginet should bee But of thy vertues proudly boast I dare That she is mine whom all perections are I crau'd no Kingdome though I thee did craue And hauing thee I wish'd no more to haue Yet let me say how euer it befell Me thinks a Crowne should haue becom'd thee well Me thinks thy wisedome was ordain'd alone To blesse a Scepter beautifie a throme Thy lips a sacred Oracle retaine vvherein all holy prophecies remaine More highly priz'd thy vertues were to me Then crownes then Kingdomes or then Scepters bâ— So chast thy loue so innocent thy life A wiued virgine and a mayded wife The greatest gifts that heauen could giue me heere Nothing on earth to me was halse so deere This was the ioy wherin we liu'd of late Ere worldly cares did vs excruciate Before these troubles did our peace confound By war by weapon massacre or wound Ere dreadfull Armies did disturbe our shores Or walls were shaken with the Cannons roares Suspect bewrayes our thoughts bewrayes our words One Crowne is guarded with a thousand swords To meane estate but common woes are showne But Crownes haue cares that euer be vnknowne And we by them are to those dangers led Of which the least we are experienced VVhen Dudley led his Armies to the East Of all the bosome of the land possest vvhat Earthly comfort was it that he lack'd That with a Counsels warrantie was back'd That had a Kingdome and the power of lawes Still to maintaine the iustnes of his cause And with the Clergies helpe the Commons ayd In euery place the peopled Kingdome swayd But what alas can Parliaments auaile vvhen Maries right must Edwards acts repealeâ— VVhen suffolks power doth Suffolks hopes withstand Northumberland doth leaue Northumberland And those which should our greatnes vnder prop Raze our foundation ouerthrow our top Ere greatnes come we wish it with our hart But being come desire it would depart And indiscretly follow that so fast which when it comes brings perrill at the last If any man doe pittie our offence Let him be sure to get him far from hence Heere is no place no comfort heere at all For any one that shall bewaile our fall And we in vaine of mercy should but thinke Our briny teares the fullen earth doth drink O that all teares for vs should be forlorne And all should die so soone as they be borne Mothers that should their childrens fortunes rue Fathers in death too kindly bid adue Friends of their friends a kind farwell to take The faithful seruant mourning for our sake Brothers and sisters waiting on our Beere Mourners to tell what we were liuing heere Those eares are stopt which should bewaile our fall And wee the Mourners and the dead and all And that which first our Pallace was ordain'd The prison which our libertie restrain'd And where our Court we held in princely state There now alone are left disconsolate Thus then resolu'd as thou resolu'd am I. Die thou for me and I for thee will die And yet that heauen Elizabeth may blesse Be thou sweet Iane a faithfull Prophetesse VVith that health gladly resaluting thee VVhich thy kind farwell wish'd before to mee Notes of the Chronicle Historie Nor of Kets conquest which adornes the same IOhn Duke of Northumberland when before he was Earle of Warwicke in his expedition against Ket ouerthrew the rebels of Norfolk and suffolk encamped at Mount-Surrey in Norfolke Nor of my princely brothers which might grace Gilford Dudley as remembring in this place the towardnesse of his brothers which were all likely indeed to haue raised that house of the Dudleyes of which he was a fourth brother if not suppressed by their Fathers ouerthrow Nor of Grayes match my children borne by thee Noting in this place the alliance of the Ladie Iane Gray by her mother which was Frauncis the daughter of Charles Brandon by Mary the French Queene daughter to Henry the seuenth and sister to Henry the eight To blesse a Septer beautifie a threne Sildome hath it euer been known of any woman endued with such wonderfull gifts as was this Ladie both for her wisedome and learning of whose skill in the tongues one reporteth by this Epigram Miraris Ianam Graio sermone â—alere Quâ— primum nata est tempore Graia Fuit When Dudley led his armies to the East The Duke of Northumberland prepared his power at London for his expedition against the Rebels in Norfolke and making hast away appointed the rest of his forces to meete him at Newmarket Heath of whom this saying is reported that passing through Shorditch the Lord Gray in his company seeing the people in great numbers came to see him hee said the people presse to see vs but none bid God speede vs. That with the Counsels warranty was back'd Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland when he went out against Queene Mary had his Commission sealed for the generalship of the Armie by the consent of the whole Counsell of the Land
reade at last the storie of my woe The drery abstracts of my endlesse cares vvith my lifes sorrow enterlined so Smok'd with my sighes and blotted with my teares The sad memorialls of my miseries Pend in the griefe of mine afflicted ghost My lifes complaint in dolefull Elegies vvith so pure loue as time could neuer boast Receaue the Incense which I offer heere By my strong faith ascending to thy fame My zeale my hope my vowes my praise my prayer My soules oblations to thy sacred name VVhich name my Muse to highest heauen shall raise By chast desire true loue and vertues praise Sonnet 55 MY Faire if thou wilt register my loue More then worlds volumes shall thereof arise Preserue my teares and thou thy selfe shalt proue A second flood downe rayning from mine eyes None but my sighs and thine eyes shall behold The sun-beames smothered with immortall smoke And if by thee my prayers may be enrold They heauen and earth to pittie shall prouoke Looke thou into my breast and thou shalt see Chast holy vowes for my soules sacrifice That soule sweete Maide which so hath honored thee Erecting Trophies to thy sacred eyes Those eyes to my hart shining euer bright vvhen darknes hath obscur'd each other light An alusion to the Eaglets Sonnet 56. MY thoughts bred vp with Eagle-birds of loue And for their vertues I desir'd to know Vpon the nest I set them forth to proue If they were of the Eagles kinde or no. But they no sooner saw my sunne appeare But on her rayes with gazing eyes they stood vvhich proou'd my birds delighted in the ayre And that they came of this rare kingly brood But now their plumes full sumd with sweet desire To shew their kind began to clime the skyes Doe what I could my Eaglets would aspire Straight mounting vp to thy celestiall eyes And thus my Faire my thoughts away be flowne And from my breast into thine eyes be gone Sonnet 57. MY Faire had I not erst adorn'd my Lute vvith those sweet strings stolne from thy golden haire Vnto the world had all my ioyes beene mute Nor had I learn'd to descant on my Faire Had not mine eye seene thy celestiall eye Nor my hart knowne the power of thy name I had beene buried to posteritie Thy beauties yet vnregistred by same But thy diuine perfections by their skill This miracle loe on my Muse haue tried And haue inspir'd a furie in my quill That in my verse thou liuest deified That from thy selfe the cause is thus deriued That by thy selfe thy selfe shall be suruiued To Prouerbe Sonnet 58. AS Loue and I late harbour'd in one Inne VVith Prouerbs thus each other intertaine In loue there is no lacke thus I beginne Faire words makes fooles replieth he againe That spares to speake doth spare to speed quoth I As well saith he too forward as too slow Fortune assists the boldest I replie A hasty man quoth he nere wanted woe Labour is light where loue quoth I doth pay Saith he light burthens heauy if farre borne Quoth I the maine lost cast the by away You haue spunne a faire thred he replies in scorne And hauing thus a while each other thwarted Fooles as we met so fooles againe we parted Sonet 59. DEfine my loue and tell the ioyes of heauen Expresse my woes and shew the paines of hell Declare what Fate vnluckie starres haue giuen And aske a world vpon my life to dwell Make knowne that faith vnkindnes could not moue Compare my worth with others base desert Let vertue be the tuch-stone of my loue So may the heauens reade wonders in my hart Behold the clouds which haue eclips'd my sunne And view the crosses which my course doth let Till me if euer since the world begunne So faire a rising had so foule a set And by all meanes let foule vnkindnes proue And shew the second to so pure a loue Sonnet 60. WHen first I ended then I first began The more I trauell further from my rest vvhere most I lost there most of all I wan Pined with hunger rising from a feast Me thinks I flee yet want I legs to goe vvise in conceite in act a very sot Rauisht with ioy amidst a hell of woe vvhat most I seeme that surest am I not I build my hopes a world aboue the skie Yet with the Mole I creepe into the earth In plenty am I staru'd with penurie And yet I surfet in the greatest dearth I haue I want dispaire and yet desire Burn'd in a Sea of Ice and drown'd amidst a fire Sonnet 61. TRuce gentle Loue a parley now I craue Me thinks t is long since first these wars begun Nor thou nor I the better yet can haue Bad is the match where neither party wone I offer free conditions of faire peace My hart for hostage that it shall remaine Discharge our forces heere let malice cease So for my pledge thou giue me pledge againe Or if nothing but death will serue thy turne Still thirsting for subuersion of my state Doe what thou canst raze massacre and burne Let the world see the vtmost of thy hate I send defiance since if ouer-throwne Thou vanquishing the conquest is mine owne A Cansonet Sonnet 62. EYes with your teares blind if you bee vvhy haue these teares such eyes to see Poore eyes if your teares cannot moue My teares eyes then must mone my loue Then eyes since you haue lost your sight vveepe still and teares shall lend you light Till both desolu'd and both want might No no cleere eyes you are not blind But in my teares discerne my mind Teares be the language which you speake which my hart wanting yet must breake My tongue must cease to tell my wrongs And make my sighs to get them tongs Yet more then this to her belongs To the high and mighty Prince Iames King of Scots Sonnet 63. NOt thy graue Counsells nor thy Subiects loue Nor all that famous Scottish royaltie Or what thy soueraigne greatnes may approue Others in vaine doe but historifie vvhen thine owne glory from thy selfe doth spring As though thou did'st all meaner prayses scorne Of Kings a Poet and the Poets King They Princes but thou Prophets do'st adorne VVhilst others by their Empires are renown'd Thou do'st enrich thy Scotland with renowne And Kings can but with Diadems be crown'd But with thy Laurell thou doo'st crowne thy Crowne That they whose pens euen life to Kings doe giue In thee a King shall seeke them selues to liue To Lucie Countesse of Bedford Sonnet 64. GReat Lady essence of my chiefest good Of the most pure and finest tempred spirit Adorn'd with gifts enobled by thy blood vvhich by discent true vertue do'st inherit That vertue which no fortune can depriue vvhich thou by birth tak'st from thy gracious mother vvhose royall minds with equall motion striue vvhich most in honour shall excell the other Vnto thy same my Muse her selfe shall taske vvhich rain'st vpon me thy sweet golden showers And but thy selfe no subiect will I aske Vpon whose praise my soule shall spend her powers Sweet Lady yet grace this poore Muse of mine vvhose faith whose zeale whose life whose all is thine To the Lady Anne Harington Sonnet 65. MAdam my words cannot expresse my mind My zealous kindnes to make knowne to you vvhen your desarts all seuerally I find In this attempt of me doe craue their due Your gracious kindnes first doth claime my hart Your bounty bids my hand to make it knowne Of me your vertues each doe challenge part And leaue me thus the least that is mine owne vvhat should commend your modesty and wit Is by your wit and modesty commended And standeth dumbe in most admiring it And where it should begin is onely ended Returning this your prayses onely due And to your selfe say you are onely you To the Lady L.S. Sonnet 66. BRight starre of Beauty on whose eye lids sit A thousand Nimph-like and enamoured Graces The Goddesses of memory and wit vvhich in due order take their seuerall places In whose deare bosome sweet delicious loue Layes downe his quiuer that he once did beare Since he that blessed Paradice did proue Forsooke his mothers lap to sport him there Let others striue to entertaine with words My soule is of another temper made I hold it vile that vulgar witaffords Deuouring time my faith shall not inuade Still let my praise be honoured thus by you Be you most worthy whilst I be most true To Sir Anthonie Cooke Sonnet 67. VOuchsafe to grace these rude vnpolish'd rimes vvhich but for you had slept in sable night And come abroad now in these glorious times Can hardly brooke the purenes of the light But sith you see their destenie is such That in the world their fortune they must try Perhaps they better shall abide the tuch vvearing your name their gracious liuerie Yet these mine owne I wrong not other men Nor trafique â—urther then this happy Clime Nor filch from Portes nor from Petrarchs pen A fault too common in this latter time Diuine Sir Phillip I auouâ—h thy writ I am no Pick-purse of anothers wit FINIS