To gaze vpon thee vntill they be blind Sweet face quoth shee how art thou changed thus Since beauty on this louely front thou bor'st Like the yong Hunter fresh Hipolitus VVhen in these curles my fauors first thou wor'st Now like great Ioue thy Iuno thou ador'st The Muses leaue theyr double-topped throne And on thy temples make theyr Helicon Come tell mee now what griefe and danger is Of paine and pleasure in imprisonment At euery breath the poynt shal be a kisse VVhich can restore consuming languishment A cordiall to comfort banishment And thou shalt find that pleasures long restraind Be farre more pleasant when they once be gaind Now sweeten all thy sorrowes with delight Teach man-hood courtshyp turne these broyles to loue The day's nere ill that hast a pleasing night Ther's other warrs in hand which thou must proue VVarrs which no blood shall shed nor sorrow moue And that sweet foe of whom thou winn'st the day Shall crowne thy tresses with tryumphant Bay And sith that tyme our better ease assures Let solace sit and rock thee on her brest And let thy sences say like Epicures Lets eate and drinke and lay vs downe to rest Like belly-Gods to surfet at the feast Our day is cleere then neuer doubt a shower Prince Edward is my sonne England my dower Possessing this inestimable Iem VVhat is there wanting to maintaine thy port Thy royall Mistresse wears a Diadem Thy high-pitchd pyneons sore beyond report I am thy VVigmore Fraunce shall be thy Court How canst thou want millions of Pearle and gold VVhen thou the Indies in thyne armes dost hold Thou art King Edward or opinion fayles Longshanks begot thee when in youth he rang'd Thou art Carnaruan thou the Prince of VVales And in thy Cradle falsely thou wert chang'd Hee Mortimer and thou hast beene estrang'd Pardon me deere what Mortimer sayd I Then should I loue him but my tongue doth lie As Fortune hath created him a King Had Nature made him valiant as thou art My soule had not beene tuch'd with torments sting Nor hadst thou now been plac'd so neere my hart But since by lot this falleth to thy part If such haue wealth as lewdly will abuse it Let those enjoy it who can better vse it Except to heauen my hopes can clime no hier Now in mine armes had I my little boy Then had I all on earth I could desier The King's as he would be God send him ioy Now with his mynions let him sport and toy His lemman Spenser and himselfe alone May sit and talke of Mistresse Gaueston VVhen first I of that wanton King was woo'd VVhy camst thou not vnto the Court of Fraunce Thou then alone should'st in my grace haue stood O Mortimer how good had been thy chaunce Then had I beene thine owne inheritance Now entrest thou by force and holds by might And so intrud'st vpon anothers right Honor that Idoll weomen so adore How many plagues hast thou in store to grieue vs VVhen in our selues we finde there yet is more Then that bare word of maiestie can giue vs VVhen of that comfort so thou canst depriue vs VVhich with our selues oft sett'st vs at debate And mak'st vs beggers in our greatest state Euen as a Trumpets liuely-sounding voyce Tryps on the winds with many a dainty trick VVhen as the speaking Ecchoes doe reioyce So much delighted with the rethorick Seeming to make the heauie dull ayre quick VVith such rare musick in a thousand kayes Vpon his hart-strings shee in consort playes On thys foundation whilst they firmely stand And as they wish so fitly all things vvent No worse their warrant then King Edwards hand VVho his owne Bow to his destruction bent The course of things to fall in true consent Giues full assurance of the happy end On which their thoughts now carefully attend And sith in payment all for currant passe And theyr proceedings were allow'd for such Although this peace against her stomack was And yet imports the Princes strength so much To carry all things cleerly without tuch VVith seeming care doth seemingly effect VVhat loue commaunds and greatnes should respect Charles waying well his lawfull Nephews right So mighty an Embassador as shee This meane to winne her grace in Edwards sight And so reclaime his vaine inconstancie VVith kindnes thus to conquer all these three VVhat loue the subiects to his Sister bore Heapes on desert to make this much the more Her expedition and thys great successe Of after-good still seeming to deuine Carnaruan should by couenant release And to the Prince the Prouinces resigne VVho dooing homage should reenter Guyne Safe-conduct sent the King to come with speed To seale in person what the Queene decreed But whilst he stood yet doubtfull what to doe The Spensers who his counsels chiefely guide Nor with theyr Soueraigne into Fraunce durst goe Nor in his absence durst at home abide His listning eares with such perswasions plyde As hee by them to stay at home is wonne And with Commission to dispatch his Sonne Now till thys howre all ioyes inwombed lay And in this howre now came they first to light Ad dayes to Months and howres vnto the day And as Ioue dyd so make a treble night And whilst delight is rauish'd with delight Swound in these sweets in pleasures pleasing paine And as they die so brought to life againe Now Clowd-borne care hence vanish for a time The Sunne ascending hath the yeere renew'd And as the Halkes in hotest Sotherne clime Their halfe-sick hopes their crazed flags haue mew'd A world of ioyes their brests doe now include The thoughts whereof thoughts quicknes doth benum In whose expression pens and tongues be dumbe In fayre Lauinium Troy is built againe And on thys shore her ruins are repard Nor Iunos hate such vigor doth retaine The Fates appeas'd who with theyr fortune squard The remnant of the shypwrackt nauie spard Though torne with tempests yet ariu'd at last May sit and sing and tell of sorrowes past If shee doe sit he leanes on Cynthias throne If shee doe walke he in the circle went If shee doe sport he must be grac'd alone If shee discourse he is the argument If shee deuise it is to his content From her proceeds the light he beares about him And yet she sets if once shee be without him Still with his eares his soueraigne Goddesse hears And with his eyes shee graciously doth see Still in her breast his secret thoughts she bears Nor can her tongue pronounce an I but vvee Thus two in one and one in two they bee And as his soule possesseth head and hart Shee's all in all and all in euery part Like as a well-tund Lute thats tucht with skill In Musicks language sweetly speaking playne VVhen euery string it selfe with sound doth fill Taking their tones and giuing them againe A diapazon heard in euery strayne So their affections set in kayes so like Still fall in consort as their humors strike Shee must returne King
starre Stopping the wheele of Fortunes giddie carre O thus quoth he had gracelesse Edward done He had not now beene Subiect to his Sonne Then to Henry Plantagine he goes Two Kings at once two Crown'd at once doth find The roote from whence so many mischiefes rose The Fathers kindnes makes the Sonne vnkind Th'ambitious Brothers to debate inclind Thou crown'st thy Sonne yet liuing still do'st raigne Mine vncrownes me quoth he yet am I slaine Then of couragious Lyon-hart he reeds The Souldans terror and the Pagans wrack The Easterne world fild with his glorious deeds Of Ioppas siege of Cipres wofull sack Richard quoth hee turning his dull eyes back Thou did'st in height of thy felicitie I in the depth of all my miserie Then by degrees to sacriligious Iohn Murthering young Arthur hath vsurp'd his right The Cleargies curse the poors oppression The greeuous crosses that on him did light To Rooms proud yoke yeelding his awfull might Euen by thy end he sayth now Iohn I see Gods iudgements thus doe iustly fall on mee Then to long-raigning VVinchester his Sonne VVith whom his people bloody vvarre did wage And of the troubles in his time begunne The head-strong Barrons wrath the Commons rage And yet how he these tumults could aswage Thou liuest long quoth he longer thy name And I dye soone yet ouer-liue my fame Then to great Longshanks mighty victories VVho in the Orcads fix'd his Countries mears And dar'd in fight our fayths proud Enemies VVhich to his name eternall Trophies rears VVhose gracefull fauors yet faire England wears Bee't deadly sinne quoth he once to defile This Fathers name with me a Sonne so vile Following the leafe he findeth vnawars VVhat day young Edward Prince of VVales was borne VVhich Letters seeme lyke Magick Charrecters Or to dispight him they were made in scorne O let that name quoth he from Books be torne Least that in time the very greeued earth Doe curse my Mothers woombe and ban my birth Say that King Edward neuer had such child Or was deuour'd as hee in cradle lay Be all men from my place of birth exil'd Let it be sunck or swallowed with some sea Let course of yeeres deuoure that dismall day Let all be doone that power can bring to passe Onely be it forgot that ere I was The globy tears impearled in his eyes Through which as glasses hee is forc'd to looke Make letters seeme as circles which arise Forc'd by a stone within a standing Brooke And at one time so diuers formes they tooke VVhich like to vglie Monsters doe affright And with their shapes doe terrifie his sight Thus on his carefull Cabin falling downe Enter the Actors of his tragedy Opening the doores which made a hallow soune As they had howl'd against theyr crueltie Or of his paine as they would prophecie To whom as one which died before his death He yet complaynes whilst paine might lend him breath O be not Authors of so vile an act To bring my blood on your posteritie That Babes euen yet vnborne doe curse the fact I am a King though King of miserie I am your King though wanting Maiestie But he who is the cause of all this teene Is cruell March the Champion of the Queene He hath my Crowne he hath my Sonne my wyfe And in my throne tryumpheth in my fall Is't not inough but he will haue my lyfe But more I feare that yet this is not all I thinke my soule to iudgement he will call And in my death his rage yet shall not dye But persecute me so immortallie And for you deadly hate me let me liue For that aduantage angrie heauen hath left Fortune hath taken all that she did giue Yet that reuenge should not be quite bereft Shee leaues behind this remnant of her theft That miserie should find that onely I Am far more wretched then is miserie Betwixt two beds these deuils straight enclos'd him Thus done vncouering of his secrete part VVhen for his death they fitly had disposd him VVith burning yron thrust him to the hart O payne beyond all paine how much thou art VVhich words as words may verbally confesse But neuer pen precisely could expresse O let his tears euen freezing as they light By the impression of his monstrous payne Still keepe this odious spectacle in sight And shew the manner how the King was slaine That it with ages may be new againe That all may thether come that haue beene told it And in that mirror of his griefes behold it Still let the building sigh his bitter grones And with a hollow cry his woes repeate That sencelesse things euen mouing sencelesse stones VVith agonizing horror still may sweat And as consuming in their furious heate Like boyling Cauldrons be the drops that fall Euen as that blood for vengeance still did call O let the wofull Genius of the place Still haunt the pryson where his life was lost And with torne hayre and swolne ilfauored face Become the guide to his reuengefull ghost And night and day still let them walke the Coast And with incessant howling terrifie Or mooue with pitty all that trauell by TRue vertuous Lady now of mirth I sing To sharpen thy sweet spirit with some delight And somwhat slack this mellancholie string VVhilst I of loue and tryumphs must indite Too soone againe of passion must I write Of Englands wonder now I come to tell How Mortimer first rose when Edward fell Downe lesser lights the glorious Sunne doth clime His ioyfull rising is the worlds proude morne Now is he got betwixt the wings of Tyme And with the tyde of Fortune forwards borne Good starrs assist his greatnes to subborne VVho haue decreed his raigning for a while All laugh on him on whom the heauens doe smile The pompous sinode of these earthly Gods At Salsbury appointed by their King To set all euen which had been at ods And into fashion their dissignes to bring That peace might now froÌ„ their proceedings spring And to establish what they had begun Vnder whose cullour mighty things were done Heere Mortimer is Earle of March created Thys honor added to his Barronie And vnto fame heere is he consecrated That titles might his greatnes dignifie As for the rest he easely could supply VVho knew a kingdom to her lap was throwne VVhich hauing all would neuer starue her owne A pleasing calme hath smooth'd the troubled sea The prime brought on with gentle falling showers The misty breake yet proues a goodly day And on their heads since heauen her â—argesse powers That onely ours which we doe vse as ours Pleasures be poore and our delights be dead VVhen as a man doth not enioy the head Tyme wanting bounds still wanteth certainty Of dangers past in peace wee loue to heare Short is the date of all extreamity Long wished things a sweet delight doth beare Better forgoe our ioyes then still to feare Fortune her gifts in vaine to such doth gyue As when they liue seeme as they did not
force her to retyer But ô the winds doe Edwards wrack conspyre For when the heauens are vnto iustice bent All things be turnd to our iust punishment Shee is arriu'd in Orwells pleasant Roade Orwell thy name or ill or neuer was VVhy art thou not ore-burthend with thy loade VVhy sinck'st thou not vnder thys monstrous masse But what heauen will that needs must come to passe That grieuous plague thou carriest on thy deepe Shall giue iust cause for many streames to weepe Englands Earle-marshall Lord of all that Coast VVith bells and bonfires welcoms her to shore Great Leicester next ioyneth hoast to hoast The Cleargies power in readines before VVhich euery day increaseth more and more Vpon the Church a great taxation layd For Armes munition mony men and ayd Such as too long had looked for this hower And in their brests imprisoned discontent Their wills thus made too powerful by their power VVhose spirits were factious great and turbulent Their hopes succesfull by this ill euent Like to a thiefe that for his purpose lyes Take knowledge now of Edwards iniuries Young Prince of VVales loe heere thy vertue lyes Soften thy Mothers flintie hart with teares Then wooe thy Father with those blessed eyes VVherein the image of himselfe appeares VVith thy soft hand softly vniting theirs VVith thy sweet kisses so them both beguile Vntill they smyling weepe and weeping smile Bid her behold that curled silken Downe Thy fayre smooth brow in beauties fayrer pryme Not to be prest with a care-bringing Crowne Nor that with sorrowes wrinckled ere the time Thy feete too feeble to his seate to clime VVho gaue thee life a crowne for thee did make Taking that Crowne thou life from him doost take Looke on these Babes the seales of plighted troth VVhose little armes about your bodies cling These pretty imps so deere vnto you both Beg on their knees their little hands do wring Queenes to a Queene Kings kneele vnto a King To see theyr comfort and the crowne defac'd You fall to Armes which haue in armes embrac'd Subiects see these and then looke backe on these VVhere hatefull rage with kindly nature striues And iudge by Edward of your owne disease Chyldren by chyldren by his wife your wiues Your state by his in his life your owne liues And yeeld your swords to take your deaths as due Then draw your swords to spoyle both him and you From Edmondsbury now comes thys Lyonesse Vnder the Banner of young Aquitaine And downe towards Oxford doth herselfe adresse A world of vengeance vvayting on her traine Heere is the period of Carnaruans raigne Edward thou hast but King thou canst not beare Ther's now no King but great King Mortimer Now friendles Edward followed by his foes Needes must he runne the deuill hath in chase Poore in his hopes but wealthy in his woes Plenty of plagues but scarcitie of grace VVho wearied all now wearieth euery place No home at home no comfort seene abroad His minde small rest his body small aboad One scarce to him his sad discourse hath done Of Henalts power and what the Queene intends But whilst he speakes another hath begun Another straight beginning where he ends Some of new foes some of reuolting frends These ended once againe new rumors spred Of many which rebell of many fled Thus of the remnant of his hopes bereft Shee hath the sum and hee the silly rest Towards VVales he flyes of England being left To rayse an Armie there himselfe adrest But of his power shee fully is possest Shee hath the East her rising there-withall And he the VVest I there goes downe his fall VVhat plagues doth Edward for himselfe prepare Alas poore Edward whether doost thou flie Men change the ayre but seldome change their care Men flie from foes but not from miserie Griefes be long-liu'd and sorrowes seldome die And whē thou feel'st thy conscience tuch'd with griefe Thy selfe pursues thy selfe both rob'd and thiefe Towards Lundy which in Sabryns mouth doth stand Carried with hope still hoping to finde ease Imagining thys were his natiue Land Thys England and Seuerne the narrow seas VVith this conceit poore soule himselfe doth please And sith his rule is ouer-rul'd by men On byrds and beasts he'll king it once agen Tis treble death a freezing death to feele For him on whom the sunne hath euer shone VVho hath been kneel'd vnto can hardly kneele Nor hardly beg which once hath been his owne A fearefull thing to tumble from a throne Fayne would he be king of a little Ile All were his Empyre bounded in a myle Aboard a Barke now towards the Ile he sayles Thinking to find some mercy in the flood But see the weather with such power preuailes Not suffring him to rule thys peece of vvood VVho can attaine by heauen and earth with-stood Edward thy hopes but vainly doe delude By Gods and men vncessantly pursu'd At length to land his carefull Barke he hales Beaten with stormes ballast with misery Thys home-bred exile on the Coast of VVales Vnlike himselfe with such as like him bee Spenser Reading Baldock these haplesse three They to him subiect he subiect to care And he and they to murther subiect are To ancient Neyth a Castell strongly built Thether repayre thys forlorne banish'd crew VVhich holdeth them but not contaynes theyr guilt There hid from eyes but not from enuies view Nor from theyr starrs themselues they yet with-drew VValls may awhile keepe out an enemie But neuer Castle kept out destenie Heere Fortune hath immur'd them in this hold VVilling theyr poore imprisoned liberty Liuing a death in hunger want and cold VVhilst murtherous treason entreth secretly All lay on hands to punish cruelty And when euen might is vp vnto the chin VVeake frends become strong foes to thrust him in MElpomine thou dolefull Muse be gone Thy sad complaints be matters farre too light Heere now come plagues beyond comparison You dreadfull Furies visions of the night VVith gastly howling all approch my sight And let pale ghosts with sable Tapers stand To lend sad light to my more sadder hand Each line shall be a history of woe And euery accent as a dead mans cry Now must my teares in such aboundance flow As doe the drops of fruitfull Castaly Each letter must containe a tragedy Loe now I come to tell this wofull rest The drerest tale that euer pen exprest You sencelesse stones as all prodigious Or things which of like solid substance be Sith thus in nature all grow monsterous And vnto kinde contrary disagree Consume or burne or weepe or sigh with mee Vnlesse the earth hard-harted nor can moane Makes steele and stones more hard then steele and stone All-guiding heauen which so doost still maintaine VVhat ere thou moou'st in perfect vnitie And bynd'st all things in friendshyps sacred chayne In spotles and perpetuall amitie VVhich is the bounds of thy great Emperie VVhy sufferest thou the sacriligious rage Of thys rebellious hatefull yron age Now ruine raignes God