now wil lend their hand To hould him vp seeing himselfe can stand 64 And thus he prospers whiles the King here spent Much time to leuie treasure to maintaine His charge abrode which with that discontent That murmure those denyals hee doth gaine As that hee findes it euen as turbulent To warre for it as with it all his Raigne Though hee had those inforcements of expence Both for offence retaynements and defence 65 For here beside these troubles in the Land His large Dominions held abrode require A plentiful and a prepared hand To guard them where so mightie men aspire T' assaile distract and trouble his Command With hopes with promises with sword and sire And then as deepe importes his Coastes to cleere Which by his neighbors much infested were 66 The Flemings Britaines with the French and all Attempt incursions and worke much despight Orleance for Guien and here the Conte Saint Paul For Calais labours and the I le of Wight Wherein though neither had successe at all Yet Cleremont ouercame and wonne by fight Important Holdes in Gasconie the-while And did the English much distresse and spoyle 67 All which require prouisions to withstand And all are succord with great prouidence A Nauie to secure the Seas is mann'd And forces sent to Calais for defence And wherein other parts defectiue stand They are supply'd with carefull diligence So that his subiects could not but well knowe That what they granted he did sure bestowe 68 Nor did hee spare himselfe nor his but bent All-wholly vnto actiue Worthynesse The Prince of VVales vnto his Prouince sent Where hee was sure hee should not take his ease His second sonne is with the Earle of Kent Imployd as Gouernour to keepe the Seas A third though very yong likewise sent forth With VVestmerland attends vnto the North. 69 Thus were they bred who after were to bee Men amongst men here with these graue Adioynts These learned Maisters they were taught to see Themselues to read the world and keep their points Thus were they entred in the first degree And Accedence of action which acquaints Them with the Rules of Worth and Nobleness Which in true Concord they learn'd well t' expresse 70 And whiles h'attends the State thus carefully The Earle of Marches children are conuay'd Out of the Towre of VVindsor secretly Being prisoners there not for their merit lay'd But for their Bloud and to the ende whereby This Chayne of Nature might be interlay'd Betweene the Father and his high intents To hold him backe to saue these innocents 71 For which attempt though it were frustrated By their recouerie who were got againe Aumarle now Duke of Yorke is chalenged By his owne sister to haue layd that trayne Who late her Lord with others ruined In secretly betraying them t' obtaine His grace and peace which yet contents him not For Who hath grace and peace by treason got 72 So much did loue t' her executed Lord Predominate in this faire Ladies hart As in that region it would not afford Nature a place to rest in any part Of her affections but that she abhord Her proper blood and left to doo the part Of sisterhood to doo that of a wife T' auenge a Husbands death by Brothers life 73 Vpon which accusation presently The Duke committed is without much stirre Or vulgar noyse for that it tenderly Did touch the secretst wounds of Lancaster When streight another new conspiracie As if it were a certaine successor Ally'd to this ingendred in the North Is by th'Archbishop Scroope with power brought forth 74 And with faire zeale and pietie approv'd To be forth vniuersall benefit And succour of the people who soone mov'd By such perswaders as are held vpright And for their zeale and charitie belov'd Vse not t' examine if the Cause be right But leap into the toyle and are vndon By following them that they rely'd vpon 75 Here new aspersions with new obloquies Are layde on old deserts and future ill On present suffrings bruted to aryse That farther grieuances ingender wil. And then concussion rapine pilleries Their Catalogue of accusations fill Which to redresse they doo presume to make Religion to auow the part they take 76 And euen as Canterburie did produce A Pardon to aduance him to the Crown The like now Yorke pronounces to induce His faction for the pulling of him down Whilst th' ignorant deceiv'd by this abuse Makes others ends to be as if their owne But what wold these haue don against the crimes Oppressions iyots wastes of other times 77 Since now they had a Monarch and a man Rays'd by his worth and by their owne consent To gouerne them and workes the best he can T' aduance the Crowne and giue the State cōtent Commits not all to others care nor ran An idle course or on his Minions spent But thus the Horse at first bites at the Bit That after is content to play with it 78 Growne to a mighty powre attending now Northumberland with his prepared ayde The Bishop by a parle is with a showe Of combination cunningly betrayde By Westmerland whose wit did ouerthrowe Without a sword all these great feares and stayd The mightiest danger that did euer yet Thy Crowne and State disturbed Henrie threat 79 For which this reuerent Priest with Mowbray dyes Who both drawne on with passion of despight To vndertake this fatall enterpise The one his brothers bloud-shed to requite The other for his fathers iniuries Did wrong themselues and did not others right For who through th' eyes of their affections looke And not of iudgement thus are ouer-tooke 80 Whereof when newes came to Northumberland Who seldome other then of miserie Seemes borne to heare being euer behind hand With Fortune and his opportunitie To Scotland flyes where giuen to vnderstand Of some intrapment by conspiracie Gets into VVales whence hee aduentured T' attempt another day and lost his head 81 Whereby once more those Parts are quieted When-as the King who neuer had his brow Seene free from sweat nor hart from trouble rid Was with suspicion that his sonne grew now Too popular and forward so much fed By wicked instruments who well knew how To gaine by Princes feares as he thereby Fell in his griefe to great extreamitie 82 Which when that vertuous Prince who borne to bee The module of a glorious Monarch heard With humble protestations did so free His fathers feares and his owne honor cleer'd As that he plainely made the world to see How base Detraction and Deceipt appeard And that a hart so nobly built could not Containe within a thought that wore a blot 83 Wherewith the king betakes him to some peace Yet to a peace much like a sicke-mans sleep Whose vnrelenting paines do neuer cease But alwayes watch vpon his weakenes keepe That neuer any Sabaoth of release Could free his trauailes and afflictions deepe But still his cares held working
he had raigned 13. yeares 1100. Hen. â— the youngest sonne of William â— raigned 35. yeares 4 monthes whose sonnes Wul Ricboâ—rg drowned on the Sâ—aâ— heleâ—â—â—â— the Crow to Maude first maried to the Emperour Hen. 4 and after to Goffrey Plantagenes E. of Anion 1135. Stephen son to the E. of Bloys Adela daughter to Wil I. inuades the kingdoÌ„e coÌ„teÌ„des with Maude the Empresse for the succession and raigned tumuleuarely 18. yeares and 10. monâ—thes 1154. Hen. 2. sonne of Geffry Plantagenet E. of Aiâ—s Maude the Empresse associated his sonne Hen. In the Crowne and gouerment which learned to his great disturbance and set all his sonnes Henry Richard Geffrey Iohn against hon lie raigned 34. yeares 7. months 1189. Richard went to the Holy warres was king of Ierusalem whiles his brother Iohn by the help of the King of France vsurpt the crown of England Hee was detained prisoner in Austria redeemed and reigned nine years 9. months 1199. K. Iohn vsurps the right of Arthur sonne to Goffrey his elder brother and raignes 17 yeares Hee had warres with his Barons who elected Lewis Sonne to the K. of France 1216. Hen. 3. at 9. yeares of age was Crowned King and raigned 6 yeares 1272. Ed. 1. had the dominion ouer this whole Iland of Britaine and raigned gloriously 34. yeeres 7. Moneths 1307. Edward 2. abused by his Minions debaushed by his owne weaknesse was deposed froÌ„ his gouernment when he had reigned 19. yeares 6. moneths and was murthered in prison 1326. Edw. 3 Edward the black prince who died before his father Richard 2. being but 11. yeares of age was crowned K. of England 1377 Richard the 2. son to the blacke prince The D. of Lancaster intitled K. of Castile in the right of his wise Constance eldest daughter to K. Peter Edmond Langly Earle of Cambridge after created D. of Yorke Thomas of Woodstocke after made D. of Glocester Robert Veere Duke of Ireland Ann. Reg. 11. the D. of Gloster with the E E. of Darby AruÌ„del Nottingham Warwicke other L I. hauing forced the K. to put from him all his officers of Court at this ParliameÌ„t caused most of theÌ„ to be executed as Iohn Beauchamp L. Steward of bâ—shâ—use Sir Simon Burley L. Chamberlaine with many other Also the L. chief Iustice was here executed and all the Iudges condeÌ„ned to death for maintaining the Kings prerogative against these L L. these constitutions of the last Parliament in Ann. 10 Ann. Reg. 18. Ann. 20. Isabel daughter to Charles 6. Vulovan E. of S. Paule who had maried the kingshalfe sister At the parliament in Anno 11. the L L. of the league with Gloster being pardoned for their opposing against the â—ings proceedings were quiet till Anno 21 when vpon report of a new confederacie they were surprised Mowbray E. Marshal after made Duke of Norfolie had the charge of dispatching the D. of Gloster at Calice The K. had by Parliament before pardoned the D and those two Earles yet was the pardon reuoked Nihil est quod credere de se non possit cum laudatur dijs quâ—â— potestas Hen. Bollingbroke of Hereford Tho. Mowbray D. of Norfolke Mowbray was banished the very day by the course of the yeere whereon he murthered the D. of Glocester An. Reg. 22. The D. being banished in SepteÌ„ber landed in the beginning of Iulie after at Rauenspurre in Yorkeshire some say but with 60. men other with 3000 and 8 shippes set forth and furnished by the Duke of Brittaine Ann. Reg. 22. The Genius of England appeares to Bullingbrooke The D. put to death VVilliaÌ„ Scroope E. of Wiltshire Treasurer of Eng. with Sir Hen. Greene Sir Iohn Bushy for misgouerning the king and the Realme Th. Arundel Archbish. of Canterburie Bis peccat qui pretextu Religionis peccat Edward D. of Aumerie Sonne to the D. of Yorke Conway Castle in Wales Montague E. of Salisburie This Percie was Earle of Worster brother to the Earle of Northumberland and steward of the Kings house The D. of Yorke left Gouernour of the Realm in the abseÌ„ce of the king hauing leuied a great Army as if to haue opposed against Bullingbrooke brought most of the Nobilitie of the kingdome to take his part The E. of NorthuÌ„berland sent to the king from Hen. Builingbrooke nor D. of Lancaster The Bishop of Carlile Montague Earle of Salisbury This was sir Peter Leighs Auncitor of Lime in Cheshire that now is Ienico a Artois a Gascoin The Earle of Salsbury his speech to K. Richard The Bishop of Carlile Lex Am. nestia The Owle is said to bee Mineruas bird The Archbishop of Cant. takes his text out of the first booke of the Kings cap. 9. Vir dominâ—â— bitur in populo The Nobilitie accused for the death of Thomas of Woodstocke D. of Gloster The Dukes of Surry Excester and Aumarle The Earles of Salesburie and Gloster the Bishop of Carlile Sir Thomas Blunt and other were the parties accused for the death of the D. of Gloster Thom. late Duke of Surry Sir Thom. Blunt This Knight was Sir Pierce of Exton Primus imperium communicauit posuit Dioclesianus inco ponendo dixisse fertur Recipe Iupiter imperium quod mihi commodasti The Corpe was coâ—â—â—easrons Ponâ—â—â—es to LondoÌ„ whereas say withoâ—â—â— sace in Pauâ—es â— dayes and after a sile nine aâ— sequ'e was had to Lingley and there meanely â—â—â—â—ed K. Ric. bruted to be alive asieâ— he was thus murthered which begar a conâ— Conspiracie for the which Sir Roger Clarindon supposed to be the base sonne of the blacke Prince was executed with diuers Frier Hee hâ—d in his Courte 1000. persone in ordinarie alowance of diet 300 soruitous sin his Kitchen aboue 100. Ladâ— Chambeteri and Landeoers Hâ—asswell Shomptueus and so was it generaly in his time bee lod one Core of gold and stone valued as 3000. markes One interuiew with the Fr. King at Arde when his wife Isabel was deliuered vnto him cost 300000. markers Hon. q. remeketh al letters patents of Anvitâ—â—gies granted by K. Ed. and K. Ric Ann. reg 6. When he was first surpris'd in Wales the D. of Lancaster had in Holt Castle â—00000 markes in coyne and 200000 markes in Iewels and at his Reignation in â—â— Towre 300000 pouÌ„d in coyne beside plates and Iewels A Prince excessiue in gifts makes his subiects excessiue in suces Commisioners are sect to forreine Princes to excuse iustifie the Kings proceedings In this time of Charles 6. began the ciuile warres Fraunce between he Dukes of Orlaus and Burgoigne The Truce made with Ric. 2. renewd for 30 yeares but broken the next yeare after vpon their part sending laques de Burbon with forces into Wales to the ayde of Glendour The King labors to haue Q. Isabel matcht to his sonne Henry Prince of Wales Queene Isabel was maried to Charles sonne to Loyse D. of Orleans Thom. Percy E. of Worcester was sent into Gascony with 200. men at Armes
and 400. Archers to a first Sir Robert knoles Lieutenant there where he pacified that Country being incensed by the French to reuolt upon their discontentment for the death of King Ric. whom they especially loued for being borne at Burdeux George Dunbar E. 〈…〉 Owen Glendour an Es. 〈◊〉 in North-Wales conâ—â—â—â— with the L. Gray of Ruthen for certaine â—audeâ— which hee laymed by inheritance and being not powerful enough by his owne meanes to recouer them procur'd force and onade war vpon the L. Gray and after atremoâ—â— for the principalitie of that Countrey Ann. Reg. 3. Ann Reg. 3. In this battell of Homeldon the L Hen. Percie surnamed Hot-spar accompanied with George Dunbar E. of March ouerthrew the Scottish forces where were slaine 23 Knights and 10000 of the CoÌ„ment the EE of Fise Murry Augus with 500. other of meaner degree taken prisoners In the 9. yeere of the raigne of King Richard 2. was by Parlement ordained Roger E. of March heir apparent to the Crowne This Roger was the sonne of Edmond Mortimer who married Phillippa the only daughter of Leonel D. of Clarence the third son of King Ed. 3. who by her had issue this Roger Elizabeth Roger had issue 4. children all which saue only Anne dyed without issue Anne was maried to Rich. E. of Cambridge second sonne to Edmond D. of Yorke This Rich. beheaded at South-hampton had issue by Anne Richard surnamed Plantagenet after Duke of Yorke The Percles article against Hen. 4. Ann. Reg. 4. The K. hastened forward by George Dunbar was in sight of his enemies lyinge Campenier so threw barie sooner then hee was exspected for the Percies supposed he would haue stayde longer then hee did at burie â— vpon Trent for the comming of his Councell with other forces which were there to meete him Whereupon they left to assaile the Towne of Shrewsbury and prepared to encounter the kings sorces Ann. Reg. 4. The Abbot of Shrewsbury and one of the Clearks of the primie seale were seÌ„t from the K. to the Percies to offer them pardon if they wold come to any reasonable agreement Wherupon the E. of Worcester commâ—ng to the K. receiued many kind proffers and promising to moue his Nephew therin did at his returne as is sayd conceale them and hastened on the battel which was fought neer Shrewsbury An. Reg. 4. Prince Henry at this Battel was now 17 yeares of age Edmond E of Stafford Constable of England The Percie E. of Worcester with Sir Richard Vernon and the Baron of Kinderton were taken in the Battell and beheaded The Fr. K. sendes aide to Owen Glendour with 140. shippes which landed at Milford Hauen An. Reg. 6. An. Reg. 6. with much adoe the Laitie granted 2 fifteenes vpon condition that the L. Furniuall should receive all the mony and see it to bee spent in the K. warres The D. of Orleans with in Army of 6000. men entred into Guien and besieged Vergi the space of 3 moneths return'd without obtaining 1. An. Reg. 5. The Conte Cleremont Sonne to the D. of Buâ—bon with Men de la Bret wonne diuers Castles in Gascouâ—â— The same time the Conte Sa. Paul innadeth the â—le of Wight with 1600 men An. Reg. 6. The Conte Saint Paule bâ—sie to the Castle of Marke within 3. miles of Calais The Britaine 's vnder the conduct of the L. of Caâ—â—ills spoyled and burnt the Towne of Plimmouth The K. sends 4000 men to Calais and 3000 to the Sâ—tâ— vnder the conduct of his second sonne Tho. of Lancaster after D. of Clarence Iohn after D. of Bedford sent with Ralph Newle E. of Westmerland â—nto the North. The Lady Spencer sister to Edward D. of Yorke daâ—e wife to The L. Spencer executed at Bristow An. Reg. 1 accused her brother to be the chief author of conuaying away the E. of Marches soâ— out of the Town of Windsor Hen. Percie E. of North againe conspirer against thâ— K. with Rich. Scroope Archbishop of Yorke The Mowbrâ—se E Marshal Tho. L Badoâ—pâ— and others They assembled the Cuiâ—ine of Yorke with the Country adioyning to take their part for the commodity of the Realme They divulge grieuous Articles against the King The Archb. of York offers pardon to all that take their part against the King The E. of Westmerland with Iohn D. of Lancaster gathered an Armes against the conspiratours whose power being too great for theÌ„ the E. made semblance to ioyne with the Archb. for redresse of such greuances as he pretended and so circumuented and disfurnisht him of his forces An. Reg. 6. The Archb. was brother to William Scroope E of Wiltshire Treasureâ— of England before beheaded The Mowbray E. Marshall sonne to the Duke of Narfolke ban shedaâ—ont the quarrell with H. Bullingbrooke The E. of North returning out of Wales recouers new forces in Yorkeshire and is with the L. Bardolph ouercome at Bramham Moore and slaine in the Battail An. Reg. 9 The K. growes iealous of his sunne Hen. Prince of Wales who with a better minde then fashion came to his Father and â—leâ—ed himself An. Reg. 13 Ann. dom 14. 12. the K. died in the 46. yeare of his age when he had raigned 13 yeeres 6 moneths and left 4 sonnes Hen. after him K. The D. of Clarence Iohn D. of Bedford and Humfrey D. of Gloster Henry S. began his raigne the 20 of March An. 1412 The Courtes of Iustice Docet tolerare leberes Non â—â—biâ— Richard E. of Cambridge the second sonne to Edmond Langly Duke of Yorke maried Anne the daughter of Roger Mortimer Earl of March descended from Lionell D. of Clarence the third sonne too K Ed. S. â— whose right Richard D. of Yorke sonne to this E. of Cambridge oftenwards câ—aymet the Crowne The E of CaÌ„bridge conspiring the death of the King was with Hen. Scroope Lord Treasurer Sir Thomas Gray executed as South-hampton Ann. 3. Reg. At Southhampton Richard Duke of Yorke sonne to the E. of Cambridge by Anne daughter in the Earle of March made his claime in 30. yeere of Hen. 6. Hen. 5. raigned 9. yeares and ten moneths and died in the 36 yeare of his age Hen. 6. scarce one yeere old when hee â—egon his raigne was committed to â—he charge of the â—wo good Dukes Bedford and Gloâ—â—er his Vncles The D. of Yorke made Regent in Fraunce after the death of the D. of Beds Edmond Duke of Sommerset a great enemie of the Duke of Yorke This Rayner was Duke of Aniou onely enioyed sicle of the K. of Siciba William de la Tole E. of Suffolke after created D. of Suff. the chiefest instrumeÌ„t in this mariages which was solemnized An. Reg. 23. betweene the King the Lady Margaret daughter to Rayner D. of Aniou to whom was deliuered vp the Duchy of Aniou the Conty of Maine vpon the conclusion of this match The pride and hautinesse of this Queene Margaret gaue the first originall to the mischiefs that followed by the death of Humfrey
THE WHOLE VVORKES OF SAMVEL DANIEL Esquire in Poetrie LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES for SIMON WATERSON and are to be sold at his shoppe in Paules Church-yard at the Signe of the Crowne 1623. TO THE HIGH and most Illustrious Prince CHARLES His Excellence SIR PResents to gods were offered by the hands of graces and why not those of great Princes by those of the Muses To you therefore Great Prince of Honor and Honor of Princes I ioyntly present Poesie and Musicke in the one the seruice of my defunct Brother in the other the duty of my selfe liuing in both the douotion of two Brothers your Highnes humble seruants Your Excellence then who is of such recommendable fame with all Nations for the curiosity of your rare Spirit to vnderstand and ability of Knowledge to iudge of all things I humbly inuite leauing the Songs of his Muse who liuing so sweetly chanted the glory of your High Name Sacred is the fame of Poets Sacred the name of Princes To which Humbly bowes and vowes Himselfe euer your Highnesse Seruant Iohn Daniel TO THE RIGHT NOBLE Lady the Lady Marie Countesse Dowager of Pembrooke MADAME THis Poëm of our last Ciuile Warres of England whereof the many Editions shewe what kinde of intertainement it hath had with the world I haue now againe sent-forth with the addition of two bookes the one continuing the course of the Historie the other making-vp a part which for haste was left vnfurnisht in the former Impressions And hauing nothing else to doo with my life but to worke whil'st I haue it I held it my part to adorne the best I could this Prouince Nature hath allotted to my Charge and which I desire to leaue after my death in the best forme I may seeing I can erect no other pillars to sustaine my memorie but my lines nor otherwise pay my debts and the recknings of my gratitude to their honour who haue donne me good and furthered this Worke. And whereas this Argument was long since vndertaken in a time which was not so well secur'd of the future as God be blessed now it is with a purpose to shewe the deformities of Ciuile Dissension and the miserable euents of Rebellions Conspiracies and bloudy Reuengements which followed as in a circle vpon that breach of the due course of Succession by the Vsurpation of Hen. 4 and thereby to make the blessings of Peace and the happinesse of an established Gouernment in a direct Line the better to appeare I trust I shall doo a gratefull worke to my Countrie to continue the same vnto the glorious Vnion of Hen. 7 from whence is descended our present Happinesse In which worke I haue carefully followed that truth which is deliuered in the Historie without adding to or subtracting from the general receiu'd opinion of things as we finde them in our common Annalles holding it an impietie to violate that publike Testimonie we haue without more euident proofe or to introduce fictions of our owne imagination in things of this nature Famae rerum standum est Though I knowe in these publike actions there are euer popular bruites and opinions which run according to the time the biass of mens affections and it is the part of an Historian to recite them not to rule thē especially otherwise then the circumstances may induce according to that modest saying Nec affirmare sustinco de quibus dubito nec subducere quae accepi I haue onely vsed that poeticall licence of framing speaches to the persons of men according to their occasions as C. Salustius and T. Liuius though Writers in Prose yet in that kinde Poets haue with diuers other antient and modern Writers done before me Wherein though they haue incroched vpon others rights and vsurpt a part that was not properly theirs yet seeing they hold so iust a proportion with the nature of men and the course of affayres they passe as the partes of the Actor not the Writer and are receiu'd with great approbation And although many of these Images are drawne with the pencil of mine owne conceiuing yet I knowe they are according to the portraiture of Nature and carrie a resemblance to the life of Action and their complexions whom they represent For I see Ambition Faction and Affections speake euer one Language weare like colours though in seuerall fashions feed and are fed with the same nutriments and only vary but in time Man is a creature of the same dimension he was and how great and eminent foeuer hee bee his measure and height is easie to be taken And all these great actions are openly presented on the Stage of the World where there are euer Spectators who will iudge and censure how men personate those parts which they are set to perform and so enter them in the Records of Memorie And if I haue erred somewhat in the draught of the young Q. Isabel wife to Ric. 2. in not suting her passions to her yeares I must craue fauour of my credulous Readers and hope the young Ladies of England who peraduenture will thinke themselues of age sufficient at 14 yeares to haue a feeling of their owne estates will excuse me in that point For the rest setting-aside those ornaments proper to this kinde of Writing I haue faithfully obserued the Historie Wherein such as loue this Harmony of words may finde that a Subiect of the greatest grauitie will be aptly exprest howsoeuer others seeing in what sort Verse hath beene idly abused hold it but as a language fitting Lightnes and Vanitie For mine owne part I am not so far in love with this forme of Writing nor haue I sworne Fealtie onely to Ryme but that I may serue in any other state of Inuention with what weapon of vtterance I will and so it may make good my minde I care not For I see Iudgement and Discretion with whatsoeuer is worthy carry their owne Ornaments and are grac't with their owne beauties be they apparayled in what fashion they will And because I finde the common tongue of the world is Prose I purpose in that kinde to write the Historie of England from the Conquest being incouraged thereunto by many noble worthy Spirits Although Madame I must not neglect to prosecute the other part of this Worke being thus reuiued by your Goodnes to whome and to whose Noble Family I hold my selfe euer bound and will labour to doo you all the honor and service I can SAM DANYEL THE FIRST BOOKE THE ARGVMENT What times fore-goe Richard the seconds Raigne The fatall causes of this ciuile VVarre His Vneles pride his greedy Minions gaine Glosters reuolt and death deliuered are Herford accus'd exil'd call'd back againe Pretendes t' amend what others Rule did morre The King from Ireland hastes but did no good VVhil'st strange prodigious signes fore-token blood 1 I Sing the ciuill Warres tumultuous Broyles And bloody factions of a mightie Land Whose people hautie proud with forraine spoyles Vpon themselues turn-backe their conquering hand
Whil'st Kin their Kin Brother the Brother foyles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against Bowes the Crowne against the Crowne Whil'st all pretending right all right 's throwne downe 2 What furie ô what madnes held thee so Deare England too too prodigall of blood To waste so much and warre without a foe Whilst Fraunce to see thy spoyles at pleasure stood How much might'st thou haue purchast with lesse woe T' haue done thee honour and thy people good Thine might haue beene what-euer lies betweene The Alps and vs the Pyrenei and Rhene 3 Yet now what reason haue we to complaine Since hereby came the calme we did inioy The blisse of thee Eliza happie gaine For all our losse when-as no other way The Heauen could finde but to vnite againe The fatall sev'red Families that they Might bring foorth thee that in thy peace might growe That glorie which few Times could euer showe 4 Come sacred Virtue I no Muse but thee Inuoke in this great labour I intend Doo thou inspire my thoughts infuse in mee A power to bring the same to happie end Rayse vp a worke for later times to see That may thy glorie and my paynes commend Make me these tumults rightly to rehearse And giue peace to my life life to my verse 5 And thou Charles Montioy who didst once afford Rest for my fortunes on thy quiet shore And cheer'dst mee on these measures to record In grauen tones then I had vs'd before Beholde my gratitude makes good my word Ingag'd to thee although thou be no more That I who heretofore haue liv'd by thee Doo giue thee now a roome to liue with me 6 And MEMORIE preserv'resse of things done Come thou vnfold the woundes the wracke the waste Reueale to me how all the strife begunne Twixt Lancaster and Yorke in ages past How causes counsels and euents did runne So long as these vnhappie times did last Vnintermixt with fictions fantasies I versifie the troth not Poetize 7 And to the ende wee may with better ease Discerne the true discourse vouehsafe to showe What were the times foregoing neere to these That these we may with better profit knowe Tell how the world sell into this disease And how so great distemperature did growe So shall we see by what degrees it came How things at full do soone wex out of frame 8 Ten Kings had from the Norman Conqueror raign'd With intermixt and variable fate When England to her greatest height attain'd Of powre dominion glorie wealth and State After it had with much adoo sustain'd The violence of Princes with debate For titles and the often mutinies Of Nobles for their ancient liberties 9 For first the Norman conquering all by might By might was forc't to keepe what he had got Mixing our Customes and the forme of Right With foraine Constitutions he had brought Maistering the mightie humbling the poorer wight By all seuerest meanes that could be wrought And making the succession doubtfull rent This new-got State and left it turbulent 10 VVilliam his sonne tracing his fathers wayes The great men spent in peace or slaine in fight Vpon depressed weaknes onely preyes And makes his force maintaine his doubtfull right His elder brothers clayme vexing his dayes His actions and exactions still incite And giuing Beasles what did to Men pertaine Tooke for a Beast himselfe in th' end was slaine 11 His brother Henrie next commands the State Who Roberts title better to reiect Seekes to repacifie the peoples hate And with faire shewes rather then in effect Allayes those grieuances that heauie sate Reformes the lawes which soone hee did neglect And rest of sounes for whom he did prepare Leaues crowne and strife to Maude his daughters care 12 Whom Stephen his nephew falsifying his Oath Preuents assayles the Realme obtaines the â—â—owne Such tumults raysing as torment them both Whil'st both held nothing certainely their owne Th' afflicted State diuided in their troth And partiall faith most miserable growne Endures the while till peace and Stephens death Gaue some calme leasure to recover breath 13 When Henrie sonne to Maude the Empresse raignes And England into forme and greatnes brought Addes Ireland to this Scepter and obtaines Large Prouinces in Fraunce much treasure gote And from exaction there at home obstaynes And had not his rebellious children sought T' imbroyle his age with tumults he had beene The happiest Monarch that this State had seene 14 Him Richard followes in the gouernment Who much the glory of our Armes increast And all his fathers mighty treasure spent In that deuoutfull Action of the East Whereto whiles he his forces wholly bent Despight and treason his designes opprest A faithlessey brother and a fatall King Cut-off his growth of glory in the spring 15 Which wicked brother contrary to course False Iohn vsurpes his Nephew Arthurs right Gets to the Crowne by craft by wrong by force Rules it with lust oppression rigour might Murders the lawfull heire without remorse Wherefore procuring all the worlds despight A Tyrant loath'd a homicide conuented Poysoned he dyes disgrac't and vnlamented 16 Henrie his sonne is chosen King though young And Lewes of â—â—uce elected first beguil'd After the mighty had debated long Doubtfull to choose a straunger or a child With him the Barrons in these times growne strong Warre for their auncient Lawes so long exil'd He graunts the Charter that prentended ease Yet kept his owne and did his State appease 17 Edward his sonne a Martiall King succeedes Iust prudent graue religious fortunate Whose happy ordered Raigne most fertile breedes Plenty of mighty spirits to strength his State And worthy mindes to manage worthy deedes Th' experience of those times ingenerate For euer great imployment for the great Quickens the blood and honour doth beget 18 And had not his mis-led lasciuious Sonne Edward the second intermitted so The course of glory happily begunne Which brought him and his fauorites to woe That happy current without stop had runne Vnto the full of his sonne Edwards flowe But who hath often seene in such a State Father and Sonne like good like fortunate 19 But now this great Succeeder all repaires And reinduc't that discontinued good He builds vp strength greatnes for his heires Out of the virtues that adornd his blood He makes his Subiects Lords of more then theirs And sets their bounds farre wider then they stood His powre and fortune had sufficient wrought Could but the State haue kept what he had got 20 And had his heire surviu'd him in due course What limits England hadst thou found what barre What world could haue resisted so great force O more then men two thunderbolts of warre Why did not Time your ioyned worth diuorce T' haue made your seueral glories greater farre Too prodigall was Nature thus to doe To spend in one Age what should serue for two 21 But now the Scepter in this glorious
State Supported with strong powre and victorie Was left vnto a Child ordain'd by fate To stay the course of what might growe too hie Here was a stop that Greatnesse did abate When powre vpon so weake a base did lie For least great fortune should presume too farre Such oppositions interposed are 22 Neuer this Iland better peopled stood Neuer more men of might and minds addrest Neuer more Princes of the royall blood If not too many for the publique Rest Nor euer was more treasure wealth and good Then when this Richard first the Crowne possest The second of that name in two accurst And well we might haue mist all but the first 23 In this mans Raigne began this fatal strife The bloudie argument whereof we treate That dearely cost so many'a Prince his life And spoyld the weake and euen consum'd the great That wherein all confusion was so rife As Memory euen grieues her to repeat And would that time might now this knowledge lose But that t is good to learne by others woes 24 Edward the third being dead had left this child Sonne of his worthy sonne deceast of late The Crowne and Scepter of this Realme to wield Appointing the protectors of his State Two of his sonnes to be his better shield Supposing Vncles free from guile or hate Would order all things for his better good In the respect and honour of their bloud 25 Of these Iohn Duke of Lancaster was one Too great a Subiect growne for such a State The title of a King and glorie wonne In great exploits his mind did eleuate Aboue proportion kingdomes stand vpon Which made him push at what his issue gate The other Langley whose mild temperatness Did tend vnto a calmer quietnesse 26 With these did Woodstock interpose his part A man for action violently bent And of a spirit averse and ouer-thwart Which could not sute a peace-full gouernment Whose euer-swelling and tumultuous heart Wrought his owne ill and others discontent And these had all the manage of affayres During the time the King was vnder yeares 27 And in the first yeares of his gouernment Things past as first the warres in France proceed Though not with that same fortune and euent Being now not followed with such carefull heed Our people here at home growne discontent Through great exactions insurrections breed Priuate respects hindred the Common-weale And idle case doth on the mighty steale 28 Too many Kings breed factions in the Court◠The head too weake the members growne too great Which euermore doth happen in this sort When Children rule the plague which God doth threat Vnto those Kingdomes which he will transport To other Lynes or vtterly defeat For the ambitious once inur'd to raigne Can neuer brook a priuate state againe 29 And Kingdomes euer suffer this distresse Where one or many guide the infant King Which one or many tasting this excesse Of greatnesse command can neuer bring Their thoughts againe t' obay or to belesse From hence these insolencies euer spring Contempt of others whom they seek to foyle Then follow leagues destruction ruine spoyle 30 And whether they which vnder-went this charge Permit the King to take a youthfull vaine That they their priuate better might inlarge Or whether he himselfe would farther straine Thinking his yeeres sufficient to discharge The gouernment and so assum'd the raine Or howsoeuer now his eare he lends To youthfull counsell and his lustes attends 31 And Courts were neuer barren yet of those Which could with subtile traine and apt aduice Worke on the Princes weakenesse and dispose Of feeble frailtie easie to entice And such no doubt about this King arose Whose flatterie the dangerous nurse of vice Got hand vpon his youth to pleasures bent Which led by them did others discontent 32 For now his Vncles grew much a mislike These ill proceedings were it that they saw That others fauour'd did aspiring seeke Their Nephew from their counsels to withdrāw Seeing him of nature flexible and weake Because they onely would keepe all in awe Or that indeede they found the King and State Abus'd by such as now in office sate 33 Or rather else they all were in the fault Th' ambitious Vncles th'indiscreete young King The greedie Councell and the Minions naught And altogether did this tempest bring Besides the times with all iniustice fraught Concurr'd with such confus'd misgouerning That wee may truely say This spoyld the State Youthfull Counsaile priuate Gaine partiall Hate 34 And then the King besides his iealousies Which nourisht were had reason to be led To doubt his Vncles for their loyalties Since Iohn of Gaunt as was discouered Had practised his death in secret wise And Gloster openly becomes the head Vnto a league who all in armes were bent T' oppose against the present gouernement 35 Pretending to remoue such men as were Accounted to abuse the king and State Of whome the chiefe they did accuse was Veere Made Duke of Ireland with great grace of late And diuerselfe who for the place they beate Obnoxious are and subiect vnto hate And these must be sequestred with all speed Or else they vow'd their swordes should doo the deed 36 The King was forc't in that next Parliament To grant them what he durst not well refuse For thither arm'd they came and fully bent To suffer no repulse nor no excuse And here they did accomplish their intent Where Iustice did her sword not Ballance vse For euen that sacred place they violate Arresting all the Iudges as they sate 37 And here had many worthy men their ende Without all forme or any course of Right For still these broyles that publike good pretend Worke most iniustice being done through spight For those aggrieued euermore do bend Against such as they see of greatest might Who though they cannot helpe what will go ill Yet since they may doo wrong are thought they will 38 And yet herein I meane not to excuse The Iustices and Minions of the King Who might their office and their grace abuse But blame the course held in the managing For great-men ouer-grac't much rigor vse Presuming fauorits discontentment bring And disproportions harmonie do breake Minions too great argue a king too weake 39 Now that so much was granted as was sought A reconcilement made although not ment Appeas'd them all in shewe but not in thought Whilst euery one seem'd outwardly content Though hereby king nor peeres nor people got More loue more strength or easier gouernment But euery day things still succeeded worse For good from Kings is seldome drawne by force 40 And thus it loe continued till by chaunce The Queene which was the Emperours daughter di'de◠When-as the King t' establish peace with Fraunce And better for home-quiet to prouide Sought by contracting marriage to aduance His owne affayres against his Vncles pride Tooke the young daughter of King Charles to wife Which after in the end rays'd greater strife
41 For now his vncle Gloster much repin'd Against this French alliance and this peace As either out of a tumultuous minde Which neuer was content the warres should cease Or that he did dishonorable finde Those articles which did our State decrease And therefore storm'd because the Crowne had wrong Or that he fear'd the King would growe too strong 42 But whatsoeuer mov'd him this is sure Hereby he wrought his ruine in the end And was a fatall cause that did procure The swift approching mischiefes that attend For loe the King no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T'attache the Duke when he thought least of it 43 And Fortune to set forward this intent The Cont S. Paule from France doth hither bring Whom Charles The sixt imploy'd in complement To see the Queene and to salute the King To whom he shewes his Vncles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his Subiectes sought to sulleuate And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 44 To whom the Cont most cunningly replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such iealousies And rid you of such mutiners as these By cutting off that which might greater rise And now at first preuenting this disease And that before he shall your wrath disclose For who threats first meanes of reuenge doth lose 45 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guiltie by your lawes You easier shall with him your quarrell trie Dead then aliue who hath the better cause For in the murmuring vulgar vsually This publique course of yours compassion drawes Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat 46 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes blood-shed much How iust-soeuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse As so shall you obseruing formall right Be held still as vniust and win more spight 47 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard For thereby shall you scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world too afterward What neede you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compar'd And therefore if you will be rul'd by me In secret sort let him dispatched bee 48 And then arraigne the chiefe of those you finde Were of his faction secretly compact Who may so well be handled in their kinde As their confessions which you shall exact May both appease the aggrieued peoples minde And make their death to aggrauate their fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 49 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest wayes Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easily to any course obayes For euery Prince seeing his daunger neere By any meanes his quiet peace assaies And still the greatest wrongs that euer were Haue then been wrought when Kings were put in feare 50 Call'd in with publique pardon and release The Duke of Gloster with his complices All tumults all contentions seem to cease The land rich people pleas'd all in happinesse When sodainely Gloster came caught with peace VVarwicke with profered loue and promises And Arundell was in with cunning brought Who else abrode his safetie might haue wrought 51 Long was it not ere Gloster was conuayd To Calice and there strangled secretly VVarwicke and Arundell close prisoners laid Th' especiall men of his confederacie Yet VVarwickes teares and base confessions staide The doome of death and came confin'd thereby And so prolongs this not long base-begg'd breath But Arundell was put to publique death 52 Which publique death receiv'd with such a cheare As not a sigh a looke a shrink bewrayes The least felt touch of a degenerous feare Gaue life to Enuie to his courage prayse And made his stout-defended cause appeare With such a face of Right as that it layes The side of wrong t'wards him who had long since By Parliament forgiuen this offence 53 And in the vnconceiuing vulgar sort Such an impression of his goodnes gaue As Sainted him and rays'd a strange report Of miracles effected on his Graue Although the Wise whome zeale did not transport Knew how each great example still must haue Something of wrong a taste of violence Wherewith the publique quiet doth dispense 54 The King foorth-with prouides him of a Guard A thousand Archers daily to attend Which now vpon the act he had prepar'd As th' argument this actions to defend But yet the world hereof conceiu'd so hard That all this nought auaild him in the end In vaine with terror is he fortified That is not guarded with firme loue beside 55 Now storme his grieued Vncles though in vaine Not able better courses to aduise They might their grieuance inwardly complaine But outwardly they needes must temporise The King was great and they should nothing gaine T' attempt reuenge or offer once to rise This league with Fraunce had made him now so strong That they must needes as yet indure this wrong 56 For like a Lion that escapes his boundes Hauing beene long restrain'd his vse to stray Ranges the restless woods stayes on no groūd Riots with blood-shed wantons on his praie Seekes not for neede but in his pride to wound Glorying to see his strength and what he may So this vnbridled King freed of his feares In liberty himself thus wildely beares 57 For standing now alone he sees his might Out of the compasse of respectiue awe And now beginnes to violate all right While no restraining feare at hand he saw Now he exacts of all wastes in delight Riots in pleasure and neglects the law He thinkes his Crowne is licenst to do ill That lesse should list that may do what it wil. 58 Thus b'ing transported in this sensuall course No friend to warne no counsell to withstand He still proceedeth on from bad to worse Sooth'd in all actions that he tooke in hand By such as all impietie did nurse Commending euer what hee did command Vnhappie Kings I that neuer may be taught To know themselues or to discerne their fault 59 And whilst this course did much the kingdome daunt The Duke of Herford being of courage bolde As sonne and heire to mighty Iohn of Gaunt Vtters the passion which he could not holde Concerning these oppressions and the want Of gouernment which he to Norfolke told To th' end he being great about the king Might do some good by better counselling 60 Hereof doth Norfolke presently take hold And to the king the whole discourse relate Who not conceipting it as it was told But iudging it proceeded out of hate Disdeigning deepely to be
so controwl'd That others should his Rule preiudicate Charg'd Herford thesewithall who re-accus'd Norfolke for words of treason he had vs'd 61 Norfolke denies them peremptorily Herford recharg'd and supplicates the king To haue the combate of his enemie That by his sword hee might approue the thing Norfolke desires the same as earnestly And both with equall courage menacing Reuenge of wrong that none knew which was free For times of faction times of slaunder bee 62 The combate granted and the day assign'd They both in order of the field appeare Most richly furnisht in all Martiall kinde And at the point of intercombate were When lo the king chang'd sodainely his minde Casts downe his warder to arrest them there As being aduis'd a better way to take Which might for his more certaine safetie make 63 For now considering as it likely might The victorie should hap on Herfords side A man most valiant and of noble sprite Belov'd of all and euer worthy tri'd How much he might be grac't in publique sight By such an act as might aduance his pride And so become more popular by this Which he feares too much he already is 64 And therefore he resolues to banish both Though th' one in chiefest fauour with him stood A man he dearely lov'd and might be loth To leaue him that had done him so much good Yet hauing cause to do as now he doth To mitigate the enuie of his blood Thought best to lose a friend to rid a foe And such a one as now he doubted so 65 And therefore to perpetuall exile hee Mowbray condemnes Herford but for ten yeares Thinking for that the wrong of this decree Compar'd with greater rigour lesse appeares It might of all the better liked bee But yet such murmuring of the fact he heares That he is faine foure of the ten forgiue And iudg'd him sixe yeares in exile to liue 66 At whose departure hence out of the Land How did the open multitude reueale The wondrous loue they bare him vnder-hand Which now in this hote passion of their zeale They plainely shew'd that all might vnderstand How deare he was vnto the common weale They feard not to exclaime against the King As one that sought all good mens ruining 67 Vnto the shore with teares with sighes with mone They him conduct cursing the bounds that stay Their willing feete that would haue further gone Had not the fearefull Ocean stopt their way Why Neptune Hast thou made vs stand alone Diuided from the world for this say they Hemd-in to be a spoyle to tyrannie Leauing affliction hence no way to flie 68 Are we lockt vp poore soules heere to abide Within the waterie prison of thy waues As in a fold where subiect to the pride And lust of Rulers we remaine as slaues Here in the reach of might where none can hide From th' eye of wrath but onely in their Graues Happie confiners you of other landes That shift your soyle and oft scape tyrants hands 69 And must we leaue him here whom here were fit We should retaine the pillar of our State Whose vertues well deserue to gouerne it And not this want on young effeminate Why should not he in Regall honour sit That best knowes how a Realme to ordinate But one day yet we hope thou shalt bring backe Deare Bullingbrooke the Iustice that we lacke 70 Thus muttred loe the male contented sort That loue Kings best before they haue them still And neuer can the present State comport But would as often change as they change will For this good Duke had wonne them in this sort By succ'ring them and pittying of their ill That they supposed streight it was one thing To be both a good Man and a good King 71 When-as the grauer sort that saw the course And knew that Princes may not be controld Lik't well to suffer this for feare of worse Since many great one Kingdome cannot hold For now they saw intestine strife of force The apt-diuided State intangle would If he should stay whom they would make their head By whom the vulgar body might be led 72 They saw likewise that Princes oft are faine To buy their quiet with the price of wrong And better 't were that now a few complaine Then all should mourne aswell the weake as strong Seeing still how little Realmes by chaunge do gaine And therefore learned by obseruing long T' admire times past follow the present will With for good Princes but t' indure the ill 73 For when it nought auailes what folly then To striue against the current of the time Who will throwe downe himselfe for other men That make a ladder by his fall to clime Or who would seeke t' imbroyle his Country when He might haue rest suffering but others crime Since wise men euer haue preferred farre Th'vniustest peace before the iustest warre 74 Thus they considered that in quiet sate Rich or content or else vnfit to striue Peace-louer wealth hating a troublous State Doth willing reasons for their rest contriue But it that all were thus considerate How should in Court the great the fauour'd thriue Factions must be and these varieties And some must fall that other-some may rise 75 But long the Duke remain'd not in exile Before that Iohn of Gaunt his father dies Vpon whose state the king seis'd now this while Disposing of it as his enemies This open wrong no longer could beguile The world that saw these great indignities Which so exasperates the mindes of all That they resolv'd him home againe to call 76 For now they saw t' was malice in the King Transported in his ill-conceiued thought That made him so to prosecute the thing Against all law and in a course so naught And this aduantage to the Duke did bring More sit occasions whereupon he wrought For to a man so strong and of such might He giues him more that takes away his right 77 The King in this meane time I know not how Was drawne into some actions foorth the Land T' appease the Irish that reuolted now And there attending what he had in hand Neglects those parts from whence worse dangers growe As ignorant how his affayres did stands Whether the plot was wrought it should be so Or that his fate did draw him on to go 78 Most sure it is that hee committed here An ignorant and idle ouersight Not looking to the Dukes proceedings there Being in the Court of Fraunce where best he might Where both the King and all assured were T' haue stopt his course being within their right But now he was exil'd he thought him sure And free from farther doubting liv'd secure 79 So blindes the sharpest counsels of the wise This ouershadowing Prouidence on hie And dazleth all their clearest sighted eyes That they see not how nakedly they lie There where they little thinke the storme doth rise And ouercasts their cleare securitie When man hath stopt all wayes saue onely that Which as least doubted Ruine
former acts did run Vnto that course they see th' effects relate Whil'st still too short they come or cast too far And make these great men wiser then they ar 100 But by degrees he ventures now on blood And sacrifiz'd vnto the peoples loue The death of those that chiefe in enuie stood As th'Officers who first these dangers proue The Treasurer and those whom they thought good Bushy and Greene by death he must remoue These were the men the people thought did cause Those great exactions and abus'd the lawer 101 This done his cause was preacht with learned skill By Arundel th'Archbishop who there show'd A Pardon sent from Rome to all that will Take part with him and quit the faith they ow'd To Richard as a Prince vnfit and ill On whom the Crowne was fatally bestow'd And easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught With what the mouth of grauity had taught 102 O that this power from euerlasting giuen The great alliance made twixt God and vs Th' intelligence that earth doth hold with heauen Sacred Religion ô that thou must thus Be made to smooth our wayes vniust vneuen Brought from aboue earth-quarrels to discusse Must men beguile our soules to winne our wils And make our Zeale the furtherer of ils 103 But the ambitious to aduance their might Dispense with heauen and what Religion would The armed will finde right or els make right If this meanes wrought not yet an other should And this and other now do all incite To strength the faction that the Duke doth hold Who easily obtained what he sought His vertues and his loue so greatly wrought 104 The King still busied in this Irish warre Which by his valour there did well succeed Had newes how here his Lords reuolted are And how the Duke of Herford doth proceede In these affaires he feares are growne too farre Hastes his returne from thence with greatest speed But was by tempests windes and seas debarr'd As if they likewise had against him warr'd 105 But at the length though late in Wales he lands Where thoroughly in form'd of Henries force And well aduertis'd how his owne case stands Which to his griefe be sees tends to the worse He leaues Auwâ—rie at Milford all those bandes He brought from Ireland taking thence his course To Conway all disguis'd with fourteene more To th' Earle of Salisburie thither sent before 106 Thinking the Earle had rays'd some Armie there Whom there he findes forsaken all alone The forces in those parts which leuied were Were closely shrunke away disperst and gone The king had stayd too long and they in feare Resolued euerie man to shift for one At this amas'd such fortune he laments Foresees his fall whereto each thing consents 107 In this disturb'd tumultuous broken State Whil'st yet th' euent stood doubtfull what should bee Whilst nought but headlong running to debate And glittering troupes and armor men might see Furie and feare compassion wrath and hate Confus'd through all the land no corner free The strong all mad to strife to ruine bent The weaker waild the aged they lament 108 And blame their many yeeres that liue so long To see the horrour of these miseries Why had not we said they di'd with the strong In forraine fieldes in honourable wise In iust exployts and noble without wrong And by the valiant hand of enemies And not thus now reserued in our age To home-confusion and disordered rage 109 Vnto the Temples flocke the weake deuout Sad wayling Women there to vow and pray For husbands brothers or their sonnes gone out To blood-shed whom nor teares nor loue could stay Here graue religious Fathers which much doubt The sad euents these broyles procure them may As Prophets warne exclaime disswade these crimes By the examples fresh of other times 110 And ô what do you now prepare said they Another Conquest by these fatall wayes What must your owne hands make your selues a pray To desolation which these tumults rayse What Dane what Norman shall prepare his way To triumph on the spoyle of your decayes That which nor Fraunce nor all the world could do In vnion shall your discord bring you to 111 Conspire against vs neighbour nations all That enuie at the height whereto w' are growne Coniure the barbarous North and let them call Strange furie from farre distant shores vnknowne And let them altogether on vs fall So to diuert the ruine of our owne That we forgetting what doth so incense May turne the hand of malice to defence 112 Calme these tempestuous spirits O mighty Lord This threatning storme that ouer-hangs the Land Make them consider ere they'vnsheath the sword How vaine is th' earth this point where on they stand And with what sad calamities is stor'd The best of that for which th' Ambitious band Labor the ende of labor strife of strife Terror in death and horrour after life 113 Thus they in zeale whose humbled thoughts were good Whil'st in this wide-spread volume of the skies The booke of Providence disclosed stood Warnings of wrath foregoing miseries In lines of fire and characters of blood There fearefull formes in dreadfull flames arise Amazing Comets threatning Monarchs might And new-seene Starres vnknowne vnto the night 114 Red fierie Dragons in the ayre do flye And burning Meteors pointed-streaming lightes Bright Starres in midst of day appeare in skie Prodigious monsters ghastly fearefull sights Strange Ghostes and apparitions terrifie The wofull mother her owne birth affrightes Seeing a wrong deformed infant borne Grieues in her paines deceiv'd in shame doth mourne 115 The earth as if afeard of blood and wounds Trembles in terrour of these falling bloes The hollow concaues giue out groning sounds And sighing murmures to lament our woes The Ocean all at discord with his boundes Reiterates his strange vntimely flowes Nature all out of course to checke our course Neglects her worke to worke in vs remorse 116 So great a wracke vnto it selfe doth lo Disorder'd proud mortalitie prepare That this whole frame doth euen labour so Her ruine vnto frailty to declare And trauailes to fore-signifie the wo That weake improuidence could not beware For heauen and earth and ayre and seas and all Taught men to see but not to shun their fall 117 Is man so deare vnto the heauens that they Respect the wayes of earth the workes of sinne Doth this great All this Vniuersall weigh The vaine designes that weakenesse doth begin Or doth our feare father of zeale giue way Vnto this errour ignorance liues in And deeme our faults the cause that moue these powres That haue their cause from other cause then ours 118 But these beginnings had this impious Warre Th'vngodly blood-shed that did so defile The beautie of thy fields and euen did marre The flowre of thy chiefe pride thou fairest Ile These were the causes that incenst so farre The ciuill wounding hand in rag'd with spoyle That now the liuing with afflicted eye Looke backe with griefe
we iudg'd with an vnpartiall hart 39 And first for you my Lord in griefe we see The miserable case wherein you stand Voyde here of succour helpe or maiestie On this poore promontorie of your Land And where how long a time your Grace may be Expecting what may fall into your hand Wee know not since th' euent of things do lie Clos'd vp in darkenes farre from mortall eye 40 And how vnfit it were you should protract Long time in this so dangerous disgrace As though that you good spirit and courage lackt To issue out of this opprobrious place When euen the face of Kings do oft exact Feare and remorse in faultie subiects base And longer stay a great presumption drawes That you were guilty or did doubt your cause 41 What Subiects euer so inrag'd would dare To violate a Prince t' offend the blood Of that renowmed race by which they are Exalted to the height of all their good What if some things by chaunce misguided were Which they haue now rebelliously withâ—â—ood They neuer will proceed with that despight To wracke the State and to confound the right 42 Nor doe I thinke that Bullingbrooke can bee So blind-ambitious to affect the Crowne Hauing himselfe no title and doth see Others if you should fayle must keepe him downe Besides the Realme though mad will neuer gree To haue a right succession ouerthrowne To rayse confusion vpon them and theirs By preiudicing true and lawfull heires 43 And now it may be fearing the successe Of his attemptes or with remorse of minde Or else distrusting secret practises He would be glad his quarrell were resign'd So that there were some orderly redresse In those disorders which the Realme did finde And this I thinke he now sees were his best Since farther actions further but vnrest 44 And for th'impossibilitie of peace And reconcilement which my Lord obiects I thinke when doying iniurie shall cease The cause pretended then surcease th' effects Time and some other Actions may increase As may diuert the thought of these respects Others law of forgetting iniuries May serue our turne in like calamities 45 And for his oath in conscience and in sense True honour would not so be found vntrue Nor spot his blood with such a foule offence Against his soule against his God and you Our Lord forbid that euer with th' expence Of heauen and heauenly ioyes that shall insue Mortalitie should buy this little breath T' indure the horror of eternall death 46 And therefore as I thinke you safely may Accept this proffer that determine shall All doubtfull courses by a quiet way Needfull for you fit for them good for all And here my Sov'raigne to make longer stay T' attend for what you are vnsure will fall May slippe th' occasion and incense their will For Feare that 's wiser then the truth doth ill 47 Thus he perswades out of a zealous minde Supposing men had spoken as they ment And vnto this the King likewise inclin'd Avwholly vnto peace and quiet bent And yeeldes himselfe to th' Earle goes leaues-behind His safetie Scepter Honor Gouernement For gone all 's gone he is no more his owne And they rid quite of feare he of the Crowne 48 A place there is where proudly rais'd there stands A huge aspiring Rock neighb'ring the Skies Whose surly brow imperiously commaund The Sea his boundes that at his proud feete lies And spurnes the waues that in rebellious bands Assault his Empire and against him rise Vnder whose craggy gouernment there was A niggard narrow way for men to pasle 49 And here in hidden cliffes concealed lay A troope of armed men to intercept The vnsuspecting King that had no way To free his foote that into danger stept The dreadfull Ocean on the one side lay The hard-incroching Mountaine th' other kept Before him he beheld his hateful foes Behind him trayterous enemies inclose 50 Enuiron'd thus the Earle begins to cheere His al-amased Lord by him betrayde Bids him take courage ther 's no cause of feare These troopes but there to guard him safe were layd To whom the King What neede so many here This is against your oath my Lord he said But now hee sees in what distresse he stood To striue was vaine t' intreat would do no good 51 And therefore on with careful hart he goes Complaines but to himselfe sighes grieues and freats At Rutland dines though feedes but on his woes The griefe of minde hindred the minde of meats For sorrow shame and feare scorne of his foes The thought of what he was and what now threats Then what he should and now what he hath done Musters confused passions all in one 52 To Flint from thence vnto a restless bed That miserable night he comes conuayd Poorely prouided poorely followed Vncourted vnrespected vnobayd Where if vncertaine sleepe but hoouered Ouer the drooping cares that heauy weigh'd Millions of figures fantasie presents Vnto that sorrow wakened griefe augments 53 His new misfortune makes deluding sleepe Say 't was not so False dreames the trueth denie Wherewith he starts feels waking cares do creepe Vpon his soule and giues his dreame the lie Then sleepes againe and then againe as deepe Deceites of darknes mocke his miserie So hard believ'd was sorrow in her youth That he thinks truth was dreams dreams were truth 54 The morning light presents vnto his view Walking vpon a turret of the place The trueth of what hee sees is prov'd too true A hundred thousand men before his face Came marching on the shore which thither drew And more to aggrauate his great disgrace Those he had wrongd or done to them despight As if they him vpbrayd came first in sight 55 There might hee see that false forsworne vile crue Those shameless agents of vnlawfull lust His Pandars Parasites people vntrue To God and man vnworthy any trust Preacing vnto that fortune that was new And with vnblushing faces formost thrust As those that still with prosperous fortune sort And are as borne for Corte or made in Cort. 56 There hee beheld how humbly diligent New Adulation was to be at hand How ready Falsehood slept how nimbly went Basepick-thank Flattery and preuents Command Hee saw the great obay the graue consent And all with this new-rays'd Aspirer stand But which was worst his owne part acted there Not by himselfe his powre not his appeare 57 Which whilst he view'd the Duke he might perceiue Make towards the Castle to an interview Wherefore he did his contemplation leaue And downe into some fitter place withdrew Where now he must admitte without his leaue Him who before with all submission due Would haue beene glad t' attend and to prepare The grace of audience with respectiue care 58 Who now being come in presence of his king Whether the sight of Maiestie did breed Remorse of what he was in compassing Or whether but to formalize his deed He kneeles him downe with some astonishing Rose kneeles againe for craft wil still
seene our Princes slaughtred Peeres destroyd Then hadst not thou deare Countrie com'n to vvage Warre vvith thy selfe nor those afflictions try'd Of all consuming discorde here so long Too mightie novv against thy selfe too strong The ende of the second Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henrie the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded do rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Pomfret Castle sent Is by a cruell Knight there murthered After the Lords had had their punishment His Corps from thence to London is conuayd And there for all to view is open layd 1 NOw risen is that Head by which did spring The birth of two strong Heads two Crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchast thing That fill'd the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 First he attends to build a strong conceipt Of his vsurped powre in peoples mindes And armes his cause with furniture of weight Which easily the sword and Greatnesse findes Succession Conquest and election straight Suggested are and prov'd in all their kindes More then ynough they finde who finde their might Hath force to make all that they will haue Right 3 Though one of these might verie well suffise His present approbation to procure But who his own cause makes doth stil deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise No vsuall plots the doubtfull can secure And all these disagreeing Claymes he had With hope to make one good of many bad 4 Like vnto him that fears and faine would stop An inundation working-on apace Runs to the Breach heapes mightie matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Lodes with huge weights the out-side the top But leaues the inner partes in feeble case Whil'st th'vnder-searching water working-on Beares proudly downe all that wasidly don 5 So fares it with our indirect desseignes And wrong contriued labors at the last Whil'st working Time and iustice vndermines The feeble frame held to be wrought so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioyn'd plots so fayrely ouer-cast Turnes vp those huge pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouer-throwes 6 But after hauing made his title plaine Vnto his Coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous sort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this splendor feeds Is stately furnisht with a glorious traine Wherein the former Kings he far exceedes And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what how 't was done to what is wrought 7 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne who his part did take New Officers new Councellors he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their deseart And rayses them by crushing th' aduerse part 8 So that hereby the vniuersall face Of Court with all the Offices of State Are wholly chang'd by death or by disgrace Vpon th' aduantage of the peoples hate Who euer enuying those of chiefest place Whom neither worth nor vertue but their fate Exalted hath doo when their Kings doo naught Because it 's in their powre iudge it their faute 9 And in their steed such as were popular And wel-deseruing were aduanc't by grace Graue Shirley he ordaines Lord Chancelor Both worthy for his vertues and his race And Norburie hee appoints for Treasurer A man though meane yet fit to vse that place And others t'other roomes whom people hold So much more lov'd how much they loath the old 10 And it behoues him now to doo his best T' approue his vow and oath made to the State And many great disorders he redrest Which alwayes Vsurpation makes the gate To let it selfe into the peoples brest And seekes the publike best t'accommodate Wherein Iniustice better doth then Right For who reproues the lame must go vpright 11 Though it be easie to accuse a State Of imperfection and misgouernment And easie to beget in people hate Of present Rule which cannot all content And fewe attempt it that effect it not Yet t'introduce a better gouernment In steed thereof if we t'example looke The vnder-takers haue beene ouer-tooke 12 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guiltie thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor else could well be wrought Law Iustice blood the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drift coloured 13 Here many of the greatest of the Land Accus'd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleare their Cause most resolutely stout The King perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought-about Desists to vrge their death in any wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 14 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernement To striue with blood when lenitie must gaine The mightie men and please the discontent New Kings do feare when old Courts farther straine Establisht States to all things will consent He must dispense with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 15 Yet not to seeme but to haue some thing done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the people that begun Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect He caus'd be put to execution one Who to performe this murther was elect A base companion few or none would misse Who first did serue their turne and now serues his 16 And to abase the too high state of those That were accus'd and lessen their degrees Aumarle Surry Exceter must lose The names of Dukes their titles dignities And whatsoeuer profits thereby rise The Earles their titles and their Signories And all they got in th' end of Richards raigne Since Glosters death they must restore againe 17 By this as if by Ostracisme t' abate That great presumptiue wealth whereon they stand For first hereby improv'rishing their state He killes the meanes they might haue to withstand Then equals them with other whom they hate Who by their spoyles are rais'd to hie command That weake and enuied if they should conspire They wracke themselues and he hath his desire 18 Yet by this grace which must be held a grace As both they and the world are made beleeue He thinks t' haue dealt benignly in this case And left them state ynough to let them liue And that the taking from thē meanes place Was nothing in respect what hee did giue But they that knowe how their owne reckning goes Account not what they
haue had by th'ouerthrowne And th'wounds we make might not haue beene our owne 44 Yet since that other mens iniquitie Calles-on the sword of wrath against my will And that themselues exact this crueltie And I constrayned am this bloud to spill Then on braue followers on courageously True-harted subiects against traytors ill And spare not them who seeke to spoyle vs all Whose foul confused end soone see you shal 45 Forth-with began these fury-mouing sounds The notes of wrath the musicke brought from Hell The ratling Drums which trumpets voyce confounds The cryes th'incouragements the shouting shrill That all about the beaten ayre rebounds Confused thundring-murmurs horrible To robbe all sense except the sense to fight Well hands may worke the minde hath lost his sight 46 O warre begot in pride and luxurie The child of malice and reuengeful hate Thou impious good and good impietie That art the foul refiner of a State Vniust-iust scourge of mens iniquitie Sharpe-easer of corruptions desperate Is there no meanes but that a sin-sicke Land Must be let bloud with such a boysterous hand 47 How well mightst thou haue here beene spar'd this day Had not wrong-counsaild Percy beene peruerse Whose forward hand inur'd to woundes makes way Vpon the sharpest fronts of the most fierce Where now an equall furie thrusts to stay And backe-repell that force and his disperse Then these assaile then those re-chase againe Till stayd with new-made hils of bodies slaine 48 There lo that new-appearing glorious starre Wonder of Armes the terror of the field Young Henrie laboring where the stoutest are And euen the stoutest forceth backe to yeeld There is that hand boldned to bloud and warre That must the sword in wondrous actions wield Though better he had learnd with others bloud A lesse expence to vs to him more good 49 Yet here had he not speedy succour lent To his indangered father neere opprest That day had seene the full accomplishment Of all his trauailes and his finall rest For Mars-like Dowglas all his forces bent T' incounter and to grapple with the best As if disdayning any other thing To doo that day but to sub due a King 50 And three with fierie courage he assailes Three all as kings adornd in royall wise And each successiue after other quailes Still wondring whence so many Kings should rise And doubting lest his hand or eye-sight fayles In these confounded on a fourth hee flyes And him vnhorses too whom had hee sped He then all Kings in him had vanquished 51 For Henrie had diuided as it were The person of himselfe into foure parts To be lesse knowne yet known euery where The more to animate his peoples harts Who cheered by his presence would not spare To execute their best and worthyest parts By which two special things effected are His safetie and his subiects better care 52 And neuer worthy Prince a day did quit With greater hazard and with more renowne Then thou didst mightie Henry in this fight Which onely made thee owner of thine owne Thou neuer proov'dst the Tenure of thy right How thou didst hold thy easie-gotten Crown Till now and now thou shew'st thy selfe Chiefe Lord By that especial right of kings the Sword 53 And deare it cost and much good bloud is shed To purchase thee a sauing victorie Great Stafford thy high Constable lyes dead With Shorly Clifton Gawsell Caluerly And many more whose braue deathes witnessed Their noble valour and fidelitie And many more had left their dearest bloud Behind that day had Hotspur longer stood 54 But he as Dowglas with his furie ledde Rushing into the thickest woods of speares And brakes of swordes still laying at the Head The life of th' Army whiles he nothing feares Or spares his owne comes all inuironed With multitude of powre that ouer-beares His manly worth who yeeldes not in his fall But fighting dyes and dying kils withall 55 What Arke what trophey what magnifence Of glory Hot-spurre hadst thou purchas 't here Could but thy Cause as fayre as thy pretence Be made vnto thy Country to appeare Had it beene her protection and defence Not thy ambition made thee sell so deare Thy selfe this day shee must haue here made good An euerlasting Statüe for thy bloud 56 Which thus misspent thy Army presently As if they could not stand when thou wert downe Disperst in rout betooke them all to flie And Dowglas faint with wounds ouer-throwne Was taken who yet wonne the enemie Which tooke him by his noble valour showne In that dayes mighty worke and was preserv'd With all the grace and honor he deserv'd 57 VVorc'ster who had escap't vnhappily His death in battel on a Scaffold dyes The next day after in the company Of other chiefest of that enterprise And so the tempest of this mutinie Became allay'd and those great ieoperdies Blowne-ouer in this sort the Coasts well cleer'd But for one threatuing cloud that yet appear'd 58 Northumberland recouered still out-stands The principall of this great family And faction hauing Berwike in his hands With other holdes strong by confed'racie With Scotland mighty by his owne command And likely now his vtmost powre to trie T' auenge him on the ruine of his Bloud And ioyne with Wales which yet vndanted stood 59 Which mov'd the king who had too much indur'd In this dayes worke to hazard new againe By all the aptest meanes could be procur'd To lay to draw him in by any traine And write he did and vow'd and him assur'd Vpon his princely word to intertaine With former grace if hee would but submit And come to yeeld th' obedience that was fit 60 The Earle be'ing now by this defeat dismay'd And fearing his confederates would fayle With Fortune and betray rather then ayde Those who are downe being for their owne auayle Relying on his Sov'raignes oath obay'd Which with his tender griefs did much preuaile And in hee came and had no detryment But for a shew some short imprisonment 61 The Parlement that afterward insu'd Restor'd him t' all his dignities and landes And now none but the Welsh seem'd to seclude The king from hauing wholly in his hands All peace within and them he had pursu'd Whiles this braue army with these ready bands Were yet on foot could he but haue got pay To hold them and his charge of war defray 62 But that hee could not gaine though all the wayes That might be wrought he labours to procure Meanes to effect the same But those delayes And long protraction which he must indure By way of Parlement so much betrayes The opportunitie that might secure His vndertaking as the occasion lost Draue both the State and him to greater cost 63 For now the Rebell thus forborne growes strong Both in his reputation and successe For hauing with his powre held out so long Many aduenture with more forwardnesse To yeeld him ayd and to support his wrong And forraine Princes in his businesse Whom hee sollicites
commaund and they direct our grace 104 Must they our powre thus from our will diuide And haue wee might but must not vse our might Poore Maiestie which other men must guide Whose discontent can neuer looke aright For euer-more wee see those who abide Gracious in ours are odious in their sight Who would all-maistring Maiestie defeat Of her best grace that is to make men Great 105 But well We see although the King be Head The State will be the Heart This Soueraigntie Is but in place not powre and gouerned By th'equall Scepter of Necessitie And we haue seene more Princes ruined By their imoderat fauouring priuatly Then by seuerity in generall For best h 'is lik't that is alike to all 106 Thus stormes this Lady all disquieted When-as farre greater tumults now burst out Which close and cunningly were practiced By such as sought great hopes to bring about For vp in Armes in Kent were gathered A mighty insolent rebellious rout Vnder a dangerous Head who to deterr The State the more himselfe nam'd Mortimer 107 The Duke of Yorke that did not idle stand But seekes to worke on all aduantages Had likewise in this course a secret hand And hartned on their chiefest complices To try how here the people of the Land Would if occasion serv'd b'in readiness To aide that Line if one should come in deed To moue his Right and in due course proceed 108 Knowing himselfe to be the onely one That must attempt the thing if any should And therefore le ts the Rebell now run-on With that false Name t' effect the best he could To make a way for him to worke vpon Who but on certaine ground aduenture would For if the Traitor sped the gaine were his If not yet he stands safe and blamelesse is 109 T' attempt with others dangers not his owne He counts it wisedome if it could be wrought And t' haue the humour of the people knowne Was now that which was chiefely to be sought For with the best he knew himselfe was growne In such account as made him take no thought Hauing observ'd in those he meant to proue Their wit their wealth their cariage and their loue 110 With whome and with his owne alliances He first begins to open in some wise The Right he had yet with such doubtfulnes As rather sorrow then his drift descries Complayning of his Countries wretchednes In what a miserable case it lies And how much it imports them to prouide For their defence against this womans pride 111 Then with the discontented he doth deale In sounding theirs not vttering his intent As be'ing aduis'd not so much to reueale Whereby they might be made againe content But when they grieued for the Common-weale He doth perswade them to be patient And to indure there was no other course Yet so perswades as makes their malice worse 112 And then with such as with the time did run In most vpright opinion he doth stand As one that neuer crost what they begun But seem'd to like that which they tooke in hand Seeking all causes of offence to shun Prayses the Rule and blames th'vnruly Land Works so with gifts and kindely offices That euen of them he serues his turne no lesse 113 Then as for those who were his followers Being all choyce men for virtues or desearts He so with grace and benefits prefers That he becomes the Monarch of their hearts He gets the learned for his Counsaylers And cherishes all men of rarest parts To whom good done doth an impressiō strike Of ioy and loue in all that are alike 114 And now by meanes of th'intermitted warre Many most valiant men improv'rished Onely by him fed and relieued are Onely respected grac't and honoured Which let him in vnto their hearts so farre As they by him were wholly to be led He onely treads the sure and perfect path To Greatnesse who loue and opinion hath 115 And to haue one some certaine Prouince his As the maine body that must worke the feate Yorkeshire he chose the place wherein he is By title liuings and possessions great No Country hee preferres so much as this Here hath his Bountie her abiding seat Here is his Iustice and relieuing hand Ready to all that in distresse do stand 116 What with his tenants seruants followers friends And their alliances and amities All that Shire vniuersally attends His hand held vp to any enterprize And thus farre Virtue with her power extends The rest touching th' euent in Fortune lies With which accomplements so mightie growne Forward he tends with hope t' attaine a Crowne The ende of the fift Booke THE SIXT BOOKE THE ARGVMENT The bad successe of Cades rebellion Yorkes open practise and conspiracie His comming in and his submission Th' effect of Printing and Artillerie Burdeux reuolts craues our protection Talbot defending ours dyes gloriously The French warres end and Yorke begins againe And at S. Albones Sommerset is slaine 1 THE furious traine of that tumultuous rout Whom close sub-ayding power and good successe Had made vnwisely proud and fondly stout Thrust headlong on oppression to oppresse And now to fulnesse growne boldly giue out That they the publique wrongs meant to redresse Formelesse themselues reforming doe pretend As if Confusion could Disorder mend 2 And on they march with their false-named Head Of base and vulgar birth though noble fayn'd Who puft with vaine desires to London led His rash abused troupes with shadowes train'd When-as the King thereof ascertained Supposing some small power would haue restrain'd Disordred rage sends with a simple crew Sir Humfrey Stafford whom they ouer-threw 3 Which so increast th' opinion of their might That much it gaue to do and much it wrought Confirm'd their rage drew on the vulgar wight Call'd foorth the timorous fresh partakers brought For many though most glad their wrongs to right Yet durst not venture their estates for nought But see'ing the Cause had such aduantage got Occasion makes them stirre that else would not 4 So much he erres that scornes or else neglects The small beginnings of arysing broyles And censures others not his owne defects And with a selfe-conceite himselfe beguiles Thinking small force will compasse great effects And spares at first to buy more costly toyles When true-obseruing prouidence in warre Still makes her foes farre stronger then they are 5 Yet this good fortune all their fortune mard Which fooles by helping euer doth suppresse For wareless insolence whil'st vndebard Of bounding awe runnes on to such excesse That following lust and spoyle and blood so hard Sees not how they procure their owne distresse The better lothing courses so impure Rather will like their wounds then such a cure 6 For whil'st this wilde vnrained multitude Led with an vnfore-seeing greedy mind Of an imagin'd good that did delude Their ignorance in their desires made blind Ransacke the Cittie and with hands imbru'd Run to all out-rage in th' extreamest kind Heaping-vp wrath and horrour more
Where you would bee with hauing which you sought Through all these hazards of distresse a King Of your owne making and establishing 94 And now my Lord I trust you will sit downe And rest you after all this passed thrall And be your selfe a Prince within your owne Without aduent'ring any more at all Your state in others Bottomes hauing knowne The dangers that on mighty Actors fall Since in the foot of your accompts your gaynes Come-short to make-euen reck'ning with your paines 95 Inioy now what you wrought-for in this sort If great-mens Endes be to enioy their Endes And knowe the happiest powre the greatest port It onely that which on it selfe depends Heere haue you State inough to be a Cort Vnto your selfe here where the world attends On you not you on it obserued sole You else-where but a part are heere the whole 96 Th' aduantages of Princes are we see But things conceiu'd imaginarily For euery state of fortune in degree Some image hath of principalitie Which they inioy more naturall and free Then can great Powers chain'd with observancie And with the fetters of respect still ty'd Being easier far to follow then to guide 97 And what are Corts but Camps of misery That doo besiege mens slates and still are prest T' assaile prevent complot and fortifie In hope t' attaine in feare to be supprest Where all with shewes and with apparancie Men seeme as if for stratagems addrest Where Fortune as the Woolfe doth still prefer The fowlest of the traine that followes her 98 And where fayre hopes are lay'd as ambushments To intercept your life and to betray Your liberty to such intanglements As you shal neuer-more get cleare away Where both th' ingagement of your owne intents And others recknings and accounts shall lay Such waights vpon you as you shal not part Vnlesse you breake your credit or your heart 99 Besides as exiles euer from your homes You liue perpetuall in disturbancy Contending thrusting shuffling for your roome Of ease or honor with impatiency Building your fortunes vpon others tombes For other then your owne posterity You see Corts few aduance many vndoo And those they do aduance they ruine too 100 And therefore now my Lord since you are heere Where you may haue your rest with dignitie Worke that you may continue so and cleare Your selfe from out these streights of misery Hold your estate and life as things more deare Then to be throwne at an vncertainty T is time that you and England haue a calme And time the Oliue stood aboue the Palme 101 Thus the good Father with an humble thought Bred in a Cellularie lowe retyre According to his quiet humor sought T'auert him from his turbulent desire When the great Earle began Father I note What you with zeale aduise with loue require And I must thanke you for this care you haue And for those good aduertisements you gaue 102 And truely Father could I but get free Without being rent and hold my dignitie That Sheep-cot which in yonder vale you see Beset with Groues and those sweet Springs hard-by I rather would my Palace wish to bee Then any roofe of proudest Maiestie But that I cannot dooe I haue my part And I must liue in one house with my hart 103 I knowe that I am fixt vnto a Sphere That is ordayn'd to moue It is the place My fate appoints me and the region where I must what-euer happens there imbrace Disturbance trauaile labor hope and feare Are of that Clime ingendred in that place And action best I see becomes the Best The Starres that haue most glorie haue no rest 104 Besides it were a Cowards part to fly Now from my Holde that haue held out so well It be'ing the Station of my life where I Am set to serue and stand as Sentinell And must of force make good the place ordy When Fate and Fortune those great States compell And then we Lords in such case euer are As peace can cut our throats as well as war 105 And hath her griefes and her incombrances And doth with idle rest deforme vs more Then any Magha can or sorceresse With basely wasting all the Martiall store Of heat and spirit which graceth Manlinesse And makes vs still false images adore Besides profusion of our faculties In grosse dull glutt'ny vap'rous gourmandise 106 And therefore since I am the man I am I must not giue a foote least I giue all Nor is this Bird within my breast so tame As to be fed at hand and mockt with-all I rather would my state were out of frame Then my renowne should come to get a fall No no th' vngratefull boy shall neuer think That I who him inlarg'd to powre will shrink 107 What is our life without our dignitie Which oft we see comes lesse by liuing long Who euer was there worth the memorie And eminent indeed but still dy'd young As if worth had agreed with destinie That time which rightes them should not doo theÌ„ wrong Besides Old-age doth giue by too long space Our soules as many wrinkles as our face 108 And as for my inheritance and state What euer happen I wil so prouide That Law shall with what strength it hath collate The same on mine and those to mine ally'd Although I knowe she serues a present State And can vndoo againe what shee hath ty'd But that we leaue to him who poynts-out heyres And howsoeuer yet the world is theirs 109 Where they must worke it out as borne to run Those Fortunes which as mightie Families As euer they could be before haue donne Nor shall they gaine by mine indignities Who may without my courses be vndonne And who-so makes his State and life his tyes To doo vnworthily is borne a slaue And let him with that brand go to his Graue 110 Here would the reuerent Father haue reply'd That it were far more Magnanimitie T' indure then to resist that we are ty'd As well to beare the inconueniencie And straynes of Kings and States as to abide Vntimely raynes tempests sterilitie And other ills of Nature that befall Which we of force must be content withall 111 But that a speedy messenger was sent To shewe the D. of Clarence was hard-by And thereupon VVarwicke breakes-off and went With all his traine attending formally To intertaine him with fit complement As glad of such an opportunitie To worke vpon for those high purpose He had conceiv'd in discontentednes The ende of the eightth Booke Which mat in the space of 160. years 1967. Wâ—'id 1. surnamed the Conqueror the base sonne to Robert the sixt Duke of Normande raigned 20. years and 8 monthes and lost the Croane of England to William his third sonne contrary to the custome of succession 1087. WilliaÌ„â— had ware with his older brother Robert D. of Normandie with whom his Vncle Otho and many of the Nobletis of Eng. tooke part He was slune hunting in the new sorrest by Sir Walter Tivell shooting at a Deere when
Duke of Gloster Protector Niltamvtiâ—e quà m breuem potestatem esse qua magna sit The Virtues of Humfrey D. Gloceâ—â—er The D of Glocester comming to this Parlement from his Castle of the Viez in Wiltshire was arrested by Iohn L. Beaumont high Constable the Dukes of Buckingham and Somerset with others 〈◊〉 appointed certaine of the Kings houshold to attend vpon him but he died before he was brought to his answere some say of sorrow others of a Pâ—lâ—â—e or an â—nposlume An. Reg. 25. The D. of Suffolke was a principall instrument in this businesse Dela Pole is created D of Suffolke Ann. Reg. 26 and is banished and murthered the next yeare after The Duchy of Normandy was lost in the yeere 1449 after it had been hold 30 yeeres conquoredly Hen. 5. Ann. Reg. 27. Articles obiected against de la Poule Duke of Suffolke At the ParliameÌ„t at Leicester the lower House besought the K. that such persons as assenâ—â—d to the rendring of Anâ—ou and Maine might bee duelie punished of which fact they accused as principals the D. of Suffolke the L. Say Treasurer of Eng. with others Wherevpon the K. to appease the Commons sequestred them from their office rooms and after banished the D. for 5 yeeres As the D. vvas sayling into France hee was incouÌ„tered with a ship of Warre appertaining to the D. of Excester who tooke him brought him back to Deuer where his head was striken off and his body left on the sands Ann. reg 27. The Commons of Kent assembled theÌ„selues in great â— uÌ„bar and had to their Captaine lack Cade who named himselfe Mortimer Cosen to the Duke of Yorke vvith purpose to redresse the abuses of the gouernement The Commons of Kent with their Leader lacke Cade diutâ—â—ge their many grieuances amongst which That the King was driuen to live onely on his Commons other men to inioy the Reuenues of the Crowne which câ—â—sed sudpenerâ—â—c in his Maiestie and the great payments of the people now late granted to the King in Parlement Also they desire that the King would remoue all the false progeny and affinitie of the late D. of Suffolke which he openly knowne and them to punish and to take about his person the true Lords of his royall bloud to wit the mightie Prince the D. of Yorke late exiled by the traytrous motion of the false D. of Suffolke and his affinitie c. Also they craue that they who contriued the death of the high and mighty Prince Humfrey D of Glocetter might haue punishment Anno Reg. 29. The D. of York who at this time was in Ireland sent thither to appease a Rebellion which hee affected in such sort as got him his image exceeding loue and liking with that people euer after returning home and pretending great iniuries to be offered him both while shee was in the K. seruice likewise vpon his landing in North-wales combines himself with Ric. Neuile E. of Salis. secoÌ„d son to Ralph E. of Westmerland whose daughter hee had maried with Ri. Neuile the son E. of Warw. with other his especiall frieÌ„ds with whoÌ„ he consults for the reformation of the gouernment after hee had complained of the great disorders therein Laying the blame for the losse of NormaÌ„dy vpoÌ„ the D. of Sommers whom vpon his returning thence hee caused to be arrested and committed The D. of Yorke raiseth an Army in the marches of Wales vnder pretext to remoue diuers CouÌ„sellers about the King and to reuenge the manifest iniuries do to the Commonwealth withal he publisheth a declaratioÌ„ of his loyalty and the wrongs done him by his aduersaries offering to take his oath vpoÌ„ the blessed Sacrament to haue been euer true liege-man to the K. and so euer to continue Which declaration was written from his Castle of Ludlow the 9 of Ianua An. reg 30. The 16 of Febru the K. vvith the D. of SoÌ„merset other LL. set forward towards the Marches but the D. of Yorke took other waies and made vp towards London The vse of Guns and great Ordinance began about this time or not long before This principall part of Europe which contained the most florishing state of Christendom was at this time in the hands of many seuerall Princes and Commonwealths which quietly gouerned the same for being so many and none ouer-great they were lesse attemptiâ—â— to disturbe others more carefull to keepe their owne with a mutuall correspondeÌ„ce of amitie As Italy had theÌ„ many more principalities Commonwealths then it hath Spaine was diuided into many kingdoms France consisted of diuers free Princes Both the Germanies of many more Gouernments The Church The many States of Christendome reduced to a few The D. of Yorke being not admitted into the Câ—â—â—â— passed ouer King â—â—aÌ„ Bridge and so into Kâ—â—â— an on Brent heath neere Dart â—pight his fielde The K. makes after and imbatteled vpon Blacke heath from whence he sendes the B.B. of Winchester and Ely with the E E. of Salisbury Warwike to mediat a peace And finding the Kâ—â—â—th men not to answere his expectation and the kings forces farre moreâ— then his he willingly condescend to conditions of peace Edmond D. of Sommerset of the house of Lancaster descended from Iohn of Gante was the especiall men against whom he pretended his quarrell The D. was suffred so go to his Castle of Wigmore The Cittie of Burdeux send their Ambassadore offring to remose from the French part of ayd might be sent vnto them whereupon Iohn L. Talbot E. of Shrewiburie was imployed with a power of 3000 men and surprised the Cittie of Burdeux The Dukes of Britany and Burgundy ' were great meanes 〈◊〉 spaâ—â— for the conquering of France The E. of Shrewsburie accompayned with his sonne Sir Iohn Talbot L. Lisle â—â—y the right of his wise with the L L. Mohm Harrington and Cameâ— Sir Iohn Howard Sir Iohn Vernon others recouered diuers townes in Gascony amongst other the towne and Castle of Chassillon in ' Perigent which the French soone after besieged The Lord Lisle was aduised by his father to retire him out of the best 〈◊〉 The death of Iohn L. Talbot E. of Shrewesburie who had serued in the warres of Frauncâ— most valiantly for the space of 30. yeares The death of the Lâ— Lisle Sonne to this worthy E. of Shrowesburie 1453 An. reg 32. Thus was the Duches of Aquitaine lost which had remained in the possession of the Crown of England by the space almost of 300 yeares The right whereof came by the mariage of K. Hen. 2. with Elonor daughter to Williâ— D. of Aquitaine In this Durbiâ— are 4. Archbishops 24. Bishops 50. Earledomes 202. Barowins and aboue a 1000. Captainshippes and Bayliwakes Yorke procures the hatred of the people against the Duke of Sommerset and so wrought in a time of the Kings sicknes that hee caused him to be arrested in the Qu. great ChaÌ„ber and sent to the Towre of LoÌ„don accusing him to have