them on the easie ground Their sober eyes cast with a modest grace Vpon my swarth and melancholy face Next twixt two Ladies came a goodly Knight As newly brought from some distressefull place To me who seemed some right worthy wight Though his attire were miserable base Many deepe furrowes in his manly face And though cold age had frosted his faire haires It rather seemde with sorrow then with yeares The one a Lady of a pâ—incely port Leading this sad Lord scarcely that could stand The other fleering in disdainefull sort with scornefull iestures drew him by the hand who lame and blinde yet bound with many a band which I perceiued nearer as they came That this was Fortune that more constant fame Fame on the right hand in a robe of golde whose traine old Time obsequiously did beare whereon in rich Embraudry was enrolde The acts of all the worthies euer weare which all might reade depainted liuely there Set downe in loftie well composed verse Fiâ—st the great deedes of Heroes to rehearse On her faire breast she two broad Tablets wore Of cristall th' one the other Ebony where were ingrauen all the names of yore In the large Toombe of lasting memory Or the blacke booke of endlesse obloquy The first with Poets and with Conquerours pilde That with base worldlings euery where defilde And in her words appeared as a wonder Her instant force and after-during might which softly spoke farre off were heard to thunder About the world that quickly tooke their flight And brought the most obscurest things to light That still the farther off the greater still Did sound our good or manifest our ill Fortune as blinde as he whom she did leade Her feature often changing in an hower Fantastically carying her head Soone would she smile and sodainely would lower And with one breath her words both sweete sower Vpon her foes she amorously would glance And on her followers coily looke askance About her necke in manner of a chaine Torne diadems and broken scepters hung If any on her stedfastly did leane Them to the ground diâ—dainefully she flung And in this order as shee passt along Great bags of gold out of her bosome drew Which to the vnworthiest euermore she threw A duskie vaile which hid her sightlesse eyes Like clowdes that couer our vncertaine liues wherein were portraide direfull tragedies Fooles wearing Crownes and wise-men clogg'd in giues All things how she preposterously contriues That as a map her regency discouers In Camps in Courts and in the fate of louers An easie bancke neere to this place there was A seate faire Flora vsde to sit vpon Curling her faire lockes in this liquid glasse Putting her rich gems and attirings on Fitter then this about vs was there none Heere set they downe this poore distressed man And in this sort prowd Fortune thus began Behold this Duke of Normandie quoth shee The heire of William Conqueror of this I le Appealing to be iustifi'd by thee whose tragedy this Poet must compile He of all other that I hold most vile His birth being markde with my vnluckie brand For whom I see thou com'st preparde to stand What art thou but a tumor of the minde A bubble blowne vp with deceitfull breath Which neuer yet exactly wert definde In whom no wise man t'rereposed faith Speaking of few well vntill after death That from loose humor hast thy timelesse birth Vnknowne to heauen and lesse esteemde on earth First in opinion hadst thou thy creation On whom thou still doost seruilely attend Like whom thou long retainst not any fashion But with the world vncertainely doost wend Which as a poste doth vp and downe thee send Without prophane tongs thou could'st neuer rise Nor be vpholden were it not with lies In euery corner prying like a theefe And through each cranny subtilely doost creepe Apt to report and easie of beleefe What 's he whose counsell thou didst euer keepe That into clossets sawcily darste peepeâ— Telling for truth what thou canst but suppose And that divulging thou shouldst not disclose With extreame toile and labour thou art sought The way is danger leadeth to thy Cell Onely with blood thy fauour must be bought And who would haue thee fetcheth thee from hell Where thou impalde with fire and sword dost dwell And when thou art in all this perill found What art thou onely but a tinckling sound Such as the world holds of all other base And of the rest reproachfully doth scorne That amongst men sit in the seruilst place These be the creatures which thou doost subborne Those waite on fame whose weedes be neerely worne Yet these poore wretches come not vnto thee Vnlesse preferrde and dignifide by mee Thy trumpe such men supposed to aduance Is but as those fantastically deeme Whom folly youth or vanity intrance Onely to sound sufficing but to seeme Which the wise sort a dotage but esteeme And with this toy the humerous abusing Their wilfull error and thy fault excusing Except in perill thou doost not appeare And yet not then but with intreates and wooing Flying oft times when thou art very neare At hand diminishd and augmented going On slightest things the greatest cost bestowing In promising their losses to repaire When the performance is but onely ayre On balefull hearses as the fittest grounds Written with blood thy sad memorialls lie Whose letters are immedicable wounds Onely fit obiects for the weeping eye And from the dust thou worth doost only try And what sometime thou falsly didst depraue Thou doost acknowledge onely in the graue The mighty Orbe is witnesse of my power And how I raigne with the eternall fates With whom I sit in councell euery howre On th'alterations of the times and states Them setting downe their changes and their dates In fore-apointing euery thing to come Vntill the great and vniuersall doome The starres to me an euerlasting booke In that eternall register the skie Whose mighty volumes I do ouer-looke Still turning o're the leaues of destinie which man I to inuiolate denie And his fraile will imperiously controle By such strong clauses as I there enrole Predestination giuing me a being whose depth mans wit could neuer throughly sound Into those secrets haue I onely seeing wherein wise Reason doth herselfe confound Searching where doubts do more and more abound where sacred texts vnlocke the way to mee To lighten those that will my glory see What names old Poets to their gods did giue were ouely figures to expresse my might To shew the vertues that in medo liue And my great power in this all-moouing wight And all their altars vnto me were dight Vp alterations euermore did bring Matter whereon continually they sing Still most vncertaine varying in my course Yet in all changes aime one certaine end Crossing mans fore-cast he may know my force Still foe to none to none a perfect friend To him least thought of soonest I do send That all should finde I worthily bestow Nor reasonvrge but that I hold it so
all things disagreeing So out of order disproportionate From her faire course preposterously flying Whilst others as themselues and onely wee Are not held those we would but seeme to bee 27 Then to what end hath our great conquest seru'd Those acts achiued by the Norman sword Our Charters patents or our deeds reseru'd Our offices and tytles to record The crests that on our monuments are caru'd If they to vs no greater good affoord Thus doe they murmure euery one apart With many a vext soule many a grieued hart 28 Whilst this sad Queene to depth of sorrow throwne Wherein she wastes her flower of youth away Beyond beliefe to all but heauen vnknowne This quickning sparke where yet it buried lay By the sharpe breath of desperate faction blowne Conuerts her long night to the wished day The wofull winter of misfortune cheering As the darke world at the bright sunnes appearing 29 Yet ill perplex'd amid these hard extreames All meanâ—s deprest her safety to preferre Depriu'd of those late comfortable beames Whose want might make her the more easly erre Her hopes relinquisht like deceiptfull dreames Which in her breast such sundry passions stirre Where strugling which ech other should controule Worke strange confusion in her troubled soule 30 That now disabled of all soveraigne state That to her graces rightly did belong To be reiected and repudiate So true a Lady goodly faire and yoong Which with more feruor still dooth intimate Her too-deepe-setled and inveterate wrong What wisedome would a womans will denies With arguments of her indignities 31 When to effect the angry Fates pursue In heauens high Court that long time did depend When these full mischiefes to a ripenesse grew And now the haruest hastning in the end And all these lines into one centre drew Which way soe're they seemingly extend All these together in proportion laide Each breath of hope a gale of certaine aide 32 Now is the time when Mortimer doth enter Of great imployment in this tragicke act His youth and courage boldly bid him venter And tell him still how strongly he was backt And at this instant in due season sent her When the streight course to her desire is tract And but vpon more certaintie doth stay By a direct what though a dangerous way 33 This dreadfull Commet drew her wondring eie Which now beganne his golden head to reare Whose glorious fixure in so faire a skie Strikes the beholder with a chilly feare And in a Region eleuate and hie And by the forme wherein it did appeare As the most skilfull seriously divine Foreshew'd a kingdome shortly to decline 34 Yet still recoyling at the Spencers power As often checkt with their intemperate pride Th'vnconstant Barrons wauering euery howre The fierce incounter of this boysterous tide That easily might their liuelihoode deuoure Had she not those that skilfully could guide She from suspition craftily retires Carelesse in shew of what she most desires 35 Dissembling griefe as one that knew not ill So can she rule the greatnes of her mind As a most perfect Rectoresse of her will Aboue the vsuall weakenes of her kind For all this storme immooueable and still Her secret drift the wisest misse to find Nor will she know what yet these factions meant With a pleasd eie to sooth sad Discontent 36 The least suspition cunningly to heale Still in her lookes humilitie she beares The safest way with mightinesse to deale So Policie Religions habite weares T is now no time her greeuance to reueale Hee 's mad which takes a Lyon by the eares This knew the Queene exampled by the wise This must they learne that rightly temporize 37 The learnedst Bishop Torleton in the land Vpon a text of Politickes to preach Which he long studying well did vnderstand And by a methode could as aptly teach That was a Prelate of a potent hand Wise were the man could goe beyond his reach This subtile Tutor Isabell had taught In nicer poynts than euer Edward sought 38 Rage which no limits longer can containe Lastly breakes foorth into a publique flame Then slipp'd occasion better to regaine When to their purpose things sofitly frame And now discerned visibly and plaine When treason boldly dare it selfe proclaime Casting aside all secular disguise Leading prowd legions furiously to rise 39 As Severne lately in her ebbes that sanke Vast and forsaken leaues th'vncouered sands Fetching full tides luxurious hie and ranke Seemes in her pride t' inuade the neighbouring lands Breaking her limits couering all the banks Threatning the prowde hilles with her watry handes As though she meant her Empery to haue Where euen but lately she beheld her graue 40 Through all the land from places farre and neere Led to the field as Fortune lots their side With th'auntient weapons vsde in warre to beare As those directed whom they chose their guide Or else perhaps as they affected were Or as by friendship or by duetie tide Swayde by the strength and motion of their blood No cause examin'd be it bad or good 41 From Norfolke and the countries of the East That with the long pyke best could mannage fight The men of Kent vnconquer'd of the rest That to this day maintaine their ancient right And for their strength that we account the best The Cornishmen most actiue bold and light Those neere the plaine that gleaue and polax weeld And claime for due vaward of the field 42 The noble Britton sprung of Illyon race From Lancashiere most famous for their bowes With those of Cheshiere chiefest for their place Men of such bone as onely made for blowes That for their faith are had in speciall grace And as the guard vnto the Soueraigne goes Those of the North in feuds so deadly fell That for their speare and horsemanship excell 43 For euery vse experience could espy Such as in Fens and Marsh-lands vse to trade The doubtfull foards and passages to try With stilts and loapstaues that do aptliest wade And fit'st for scowts and Currers to discry Those from the Mines with pickaxe and with spade For Pyoners best that for intrenching are Men chiefly needefull in the vse of war 44 O noble Nation furnished with Armes So full of spirit so eminent alone Had heauen but blest thee to foresee these harmes And as thy valiant Nephewes to haue gone Paris â—oan Orleance shaking with alarmes As the bright Sunne thy glorie then had shone To other Realmes thou hadst transferd this chance Nor had your sons been first that conquerd France 45 And thus on all hands making for their rest And now set forward for this mightie day Where euery one prepares to do his best When in successe their liues and fortunes lay No crosse euent their purposes to wrest Where now they stand in so direct a way And whilst they play this strange doubtfull game The Queene stands by and onely giues the ayme 46 When this braue Lord his foote had scarcely set Into the road where Fortune had to deale But
behold From whence by coynesse of their chaste disdaines Subiection is imperiously controld Their earthly weaknesse euermore explaines Exalting whom they please not whom they should When their owne fall showes how they â—ondlyer'd Procur'd by those vnworthily prefer'd 62 Merit goes vnregarded and vngrac'd When by his fauters ignorance held in And Parasites in wise mens roomes are plac'd Onely to sooth the great ones in their sin From such whose gifts and knowledge is debac'd There 's many strange enormities begin Forging great wits into most factious tooles When mightiest men oft proue the mightiest fooles 63 But why so vainely doe I time bestow The fowle abuse of th'wretched world to childe Whose blinded iudgement eu'ry howre doth show What follie weake mortalitie doth guide Wise was the man that laugh'd at all thy woe My subiect still more sorrow doth prouide And this late peace more matter still doth breede To hasten that which quickly must succeede The end of the fourth Canto ⧠The fifth Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument Th' imprisoned King his gouernement for sakes And to the Peeres his weakenesse so excused Who him ere long from Leisters keeping takes That with much woe his soueraigne Lord refused His torturers of him a mockery makes And basely and reproachfully abused By secret waies to Berckley being led And cruelly in prison murthered 1 THe wretched King vnnaturally betrayd By lewd coruption of his natiue Land From thence with speede to Kennelworth conuayd By th' Earle of Leister with a mightie band Some few his fauorers quickely ouer-wayd And now a present Parlement in hand To ratifie the generall intent His resignation of the gouernment 2 Falne through the frailtie of intemperate will That with his fortunes it so weakely farde To vndergoe that vnexpected ill For his deserued punishment preparde The measure of that wretchednesse to fill To him alotted as a iust reward Armes all with malice either lesse or more To strike at him that strooke at all before 3 And being a thing the commons daily craue To which the great are resolutely bent Such forward helpes on eu'ry side to haue T' effect their strong and forcible intent Which now that speede vnto their action gaue That ratifi'd by generall consent Still hastned on to execute the thing Which for one ill two worse should shortly bring 4 Bishops Earles Abbots and the Barrons all Each in due order as becomes the state Set by the Heraults in that goodly hall The Burgesses for places corporate Whom this great busnes at this time doth call For the Cinque-ports the Barrons conuocate And other Knights for the whole body sent Both on the South and on the North of Trent 5 From his impris'ning chamber clad in blacke Before th' assembly sadly he is brought A dolefull hearse vpon a dead mans backe whose heauy lookes might tell his heauier thought In which there doth no part of sorrow lacke Nor fained action needes to grieue be taught His funerall solemniz'd in his cheere His eyes the mourners and his legs the Beere 6 Torleton as one select to this intent The best experienc'd in this great affaire A man graue subtile stowt and eloquent First with faire speech th' assembly doth prepare Then with a voyce austere and eminent Doth his abuse effectually declare As winnes each sad eye with a reuerent feare With due attention drawing eu'ry eare 7 The great exactions raised by the King With whose full plenty he is Mineons fed Himselfe and subiects so impou'rishing And that deere blood he lauishly had shed Which desolation to the land should bring And the chiefe cause by his lewd riots bred The losse in warre sustained through his blame The during scandall to the English name 8 Proceeding forward to the future good That their dissignements happily intend And with what vpright policie it stoode No after hopes their for tunes to amend The resignation to his proper blood That might the action lawfully defend The present neede that willd it strictly so Whose imposition they might not sorslowe 9 Pardon me Art that striuing to be short To this intent a speech deliuering And that at full I doe not heere report Matters that tuch deposing of the King My faithfull Muse O doe not thou exhort The after times to so abhorr'd a thing To shew the reasons forcibly were laide Out of thy feelings what hee might haue saide 10 The strong deliu'ry of whose vehement speech Borne with a dauntlesse and contracted brow That with such steme seueritie did teach His reasons more authentique to allow Which the more easly made the dang'rous breach By the remembrance of a generall vow To which they heere must openly contest When Edward comes to consumate the rest 11 His faire cheeke couerd in pale sheets of shame And as a dumbe shew in a swowne began Where passion dooth such sundry habites frame As eu'ry sence a right Tragedian Truely to shew from whence his sorrow came Beyond the compasse of a common man where Nature seemes a practiser in Art Teaching Dispaire to act a liuely part 12 Ah Pitty dost thou liue or wert thou not Mortalls by such sights haue to flint bin turned Or what men haue beene hath their seed forgot Or was it neuer knowne that any mourned In what so strangely are we ouershot Against our owne selfe hath our frailtie spurned Or teares hence forth abandon humane eies And neuer-more to pitâ—y miseries 13 He takes the Crowne yet scornefully vnto him With slight regarde as scarcely thinking on it As though not sencelesse that it should forgoe him And sildome casts a scornefull eie vpon it would seeme to leaue it and would haue it woe him Then snatching it as loath to haue forgone it Yet puts it from him yet he will not so would faine retaine what faine he would forgoe 14 In this confused conflict of the minde Teares drowning sighes and sighs confounding teares Yet whenas neither libertie could finde Oppressed with the multitude of â—eares Stands as a man affrighted from his kinde Griefe becomes senslesse when too much it beares whilst speech sileÌ„ce striues which place shuld take From his ful bosome thus his sorrowee brake 15 If that my title rightfully be planted Vpon a true indubitate succession Confirmd by nations as by nature granted That freely hath deliuerd me possession Impute to heauen sufficiencie t' haue wanted which must deny it power or you oppression which into question by due course may bring The grieued wrongs of an annointed King 16 That halowed vnction by a sacred hand which once was powrde on this emperious head which wrought th'iudument of a strict command And round about me the rich verdure spred Either my right in greater stead must stand Or why in vaine was it so idely shed whose prophanation and vnreueret tuch Iust heauen hath often punisht alwayes much 17 When from the bright beames of our soueraine due Descends the strength of your enated right And prosperously deriues it selfe to you As from