euen all things as it list And with vniust men to debate of lawes Is to giue power to hurt a rightfull cause vvhilst parlements must still redresse theyr wrongs And we must starue for what to vs belongs Our wealth but fuell to theyr fond excesse And we must fast to feast theyr wantonnesse Think'st thou our wrongs then insufficient are To moue our brother to religious war And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquytaine And if not that yet hath he broke the truce Thus all accur to put backe all excuse The sisters wrong ioynd with the brothers right Me thinks might vrge him in this cause to fight Be all those people sencelesse of our harmes vvhich for our country ought haue manag'd armes Is the braue Normans courage now forgot Or the bold Brittaines lost the vse of shot The big-bon'd Almaines and stout Brabanders Theyr warlike Pikes and sharp-edg'd Semiters Or doe the Pickards let theyr Crosbowes lie Once like the Centaurs of old Thessalie Or if a valiant Leader be theyr Lacke vvhere thou art present who should driue them backe I doe coniure thee by what is most deere By that great name of famous Mortimer By auncient VVigmors honourable Crest The Tombes where all thy famous Grandsires rest Or if then these what more may thee approue Euen by those vowes of thy vnfained loue That thy great hopes may moue the Christian King By forraine Armes some comfort yet to bring To curbe the power of traytors that rebell Against the right of princely Isabell. Vaine vvitlesse woman why should I desire To adde more heate to thy immortall fire To vrge thee by the violence of hate To shake the pillers of thine owne estate vvhen whatsoeuer we intend to doe To our misfortune euer sorts vnto And nothing els remaines for vs beside But teares and coffins onely to prouide VVhen still so long as Burrough beares that name Time shall not blot out our deserued shame And whilst cleere Trent her wonted course shall keepe For our sad fall her christall drops shall weepe All see our ruine on our backs is throwne And to our selues our sorrowes are our owne And Torlton now whose counsell should direct The first of all is slaundred with suspect For dangerous things dissembled sildome are vvhich many eyes attend with busie care VVhat should I say my griefes doe still renew And but begin when I should bid adiew Few be my words but manifold my woe And still I stay the more I striue to goe As accents issue forth griefes enter in And where I end mee thinks I but begin Till then fayre time some greater good affoords Take my loues payment in these ayrie words Notes of the Chronicle Historie O how I feard that sleepie drinke I sent Might yet want power to further thine intent MOrtimer beeing in the Tower and ordayning a feast in honour of his byrth-day as hee pretended and inuiting there-vnto sir Stephen Segraue Constable of the Tower with the â—est of the officers belonging to the same he gaue them a sleepie drinke prouided him by the Queene by which meanes he got libertie for his escape I steale to Thames as though to take the ayre And aske the gentle streame as it doth glide Mortimer being got out of the Tower swam the riuer of Thames into Kent whereof she hauing intelligence doubteth of his strength to escape by reason of his long imprisonment being almost the space of three yeeres Did Bulloyne once a festiuall prepare For England Almaine Cicile and Naeuarre Edward Carnaruan the first Prince of Wales of the English blood married Isabell daughter of Phillip the faire at Bulloyne in the presence of the Kings of Almaine Nauarre and Cicile with the chiefe Nobilitie of Fraunce and England which marriage was there solemnized with exceeding pompe and magnificence And in my place vpon his regall throne To set that girle-boy wanton Gaueston Noting the effeminacie luxurious wantonnesse of Gaueston the Kings Minion his behauiour and attire euer so womanlike to please the eye of his lasciuious Prince That a foule Witches bastard should thereby It was vrged by the Queene and the Nobilitie in the disgrace of Piers Gauestone that his mother was conuicted of witchcraft burned for the same and that Piers had bewitched the King Albania Gascoyne Cambria Ireland Albania Scotland so called of Albanact the second sonne of Brutus and Cambria Wales so called of Camber the third son the foure Realmes countries brought in subiection by Edward Longshankes When of our princely Iewels and our dowers We but enioy the least of what is ours A complaint of the prodigalitie of King Edward giuing vnto Gaueston the iewels treasure which was left him by the auncient Kings of England and enriching him with the goodly Manor of Wallingford assigned as parcel of the dower to the queens of this famous I le And ioyn'd with the braue issue of our blood Alie our kingdome to their crauand brood Edward the second gaue to Piers Gaueston in mariage the daughter of Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester begot of the Kings sister Ione of Acres maried to the said Earle of Glocester Should giue away all that his Father won To backe a stranger King Edward offered his right in Fraunce to Charles his brother in law and his right in Scotland to Robert Bruse to be ayded against the Barrons in the quarrell of Piers Gaueston And did great Edward on his death-bed giue Edward Longshanks on his death-bed at Carlile commanded yong Edward his sonne on his blessing not to call backe Gaueston which for the misguiding of the Princes youth was before banished by the whole counsell of the Land That after all this fearefull massaker The fall of Beuchamp Lasy Lancaster Thomas Earle of Lancaster Guy Earle of Warwick Henry Eaâ—le of Lincolne who had taken their oaths before the deceased King at his death to withstand his sonne Edward if hee should call Gauestone from exile being a thing which he much feared now seeing Edward to violate his Fathers coÌ„maundement rise in Armes against the king which was the cause of the ciuill war the ruine of so many Princes And gloried I in Gauestons great fall That now a Spenser should succeed in all The two Hugh Spensers the Father the sonne after the death of Gaueston became the great fauourites of the King the sonne beeing created by him lord Chamberlaine the father Earle of Winchester And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homaage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquitaine Edward Longshanks did homage for those Citties and Territories to the French King which Edward the second neglecting moued the French King by the subornation of Mortimer to cease those Countries into his hands By auncient Wigmors honourable Crest Wigmore in the marches of Wales was the auncient house of the Mortimers that noble and couragious familie That still so long as Borrough beares that name The Queene remembreth the great
Nor let the enuie of enuenom'd tongues vvhich still is grounded on poore Ladies wrongs Thy noble breast diasterly possesse By any doubt to make my loue the lesse My house from Florence I doe not pretend Nor from Giraldi claime I to descend Nor hold those honours insufficient are That I receiue from Desmond or Kyldare Nor adde I greater worth vnto my blood Than Irish milke to giue me Infant food Nor better ayre will euer boast to breathe Then that of Lenster Mounster or of Meathe Nor craue I other forraine farre alies Then VVindsor or Fitz-geralds families It is enough to leaue vnto my heires If they will but acknowledge me for theirs To what place euer did the Court remoue But that the house giues matter to my loue At VVindsor still I see thee sit and walke There mount thy courser there deuise there talk The roabes the garter and the state of Kings Into my thoughts thy hoped greatnes brings Nonsuch the name imports me thinks so much None such as thou nor as my Lord none such In Hamptons great magnificence I finde The liuely image of thy Princely minde Faire Richmonds towers like goodly pillers stand Rear'd by the power of thy victorious hand VVhitehalls tryumphing Galleries are yet Adorn'd with rich deuises of thy wit In Greenwich yet as in a glasse I view vvhere last thou badst thy Geraldine adiew vvith euerie little gentle breath that blowes How are my thoughts confus'd with ioyes and woes As through a gate so through my longing eares Passe to my hart whole multitude of feares O in a map that I might see thee show The place where now in daunger thou dost goe In sweet discourse to trauaile with our eye Romania Tuscaine and faire Lumbardy Or with thy penne exactly to set downe The modell of that Tempell or that Towne And to relate at large where thou hast beene And there there what thou there hast seen Or to describe by figure of thy hand There Naples lies and there doth Florence stand Or as the Grecians finger dip'd in wine Drawing a Riuer in a little line And with a drop a gulfe to figure out To modell Venice moted round about Then ading more to counterfet a Sea And draw the front of stately Genoa These from thy lips were like harmonious tones vvhich now doe sound like Mandrakes dreadfull grones Some trauell hence t' enrich their minds with skill Leaue heere their good and bring home others ill vvhich seeme to like all countries but their owne Affecting most where they the least are knowne Their leg their thigh their backe their necke their head There form'd there fetch'd there found there borrowed In their attire their iesture and their gate Fond in each one in all Italionate Italian French Dutch Spanish altogether Yet not all these nor one entirely neyther So well in all deformitie in fashion Borrowing a limme of euery seuerall Nation And nothing more then England hold in scorne So liue as strangers where as they were borne But thy returne in this I doe not reed Thou art a perfect Gentleman indeed O God forbid that Howards noble line From auncient vertue should so farre decline The Muses traine whereof your selfe are chiefe Onely with me participate their griefe To sooth their humours I doe lend them eares He giues a Poet that his verses heares Till thy returne by hope they onely liue Yet had they all they all away would giue The world and they so ill according bee That wealth and Poets neuer can agree Few liue in Court that of their good haue care The Muses friends are euery where so rare Some praise thy worth thy worth that neuer know Onely because the better sort doe so vvhose iudgement neuer further doth extend Then it doth please the greatest to commend So great an ill vpon desert doth chaunce vvhen it doth passe by beastly Ignorance VVhy art thou slacke whilst no man puts his hand To raise the Mount where Surreys Towers must stand Or who the groundsill of that worke doth lay vvhilst like a wandrer thou abroad doost stray Clip'd in the armes of some lasciuious Dame vvhen thou shouldst reare an Ilion to thy name VVhen shall the Muses by faire Norwich dwell To be the Citie of the learned VVell Or Phoebus Altars there with Incense heap'd As once in Cyrrha or in Thebae kept Or when shall that faire hoofe-plow'd spring distill From great Mount Surrey out of Leonards hill Till thou returne the Court I will exchaunge For some poore cottage or some countrey Grange vvhere to our distaues as we sit and spin My mayde and I will tell of things haue bin Our Lutes vnstrung shall hang vpon the wall Our lessons serue to wrap our Towe withall And passe the night whilst winter tales we tell Of many things that long agoe befell Or tune such homely Carrols as were song In Countrey sports when we our selues were yong In prittie Riddles to bewray our loues In questions purpose or in drawing gloues The noblest spirits to vertue most inclind These heere in Court thy greatest want doe find Other there be on which we feed our eye Like Arras worke or such like Imagerie Many of vs desire Queene Katheâ—ines state But very few her vertues imitate Then as Vlisses wife write I to thee Make no reply but come thy selfe to mee Notes of the Chronicle Historie Then Windsâ—re or Fitzgeralds families THE cost of many Kings which from time to time haue adorned the Castle at Windsor with their princely magnificence hath made it more noble then that it neede to be spoken of now as though obscure and I hold it more meet to refer you to our vulgar moniments for the founders and â—inishers thereof then to meddle with matter nothing neere to the purpose As for the family of the Fitz-geralds of whence this excellent Ladie was lineally descended the originall was English though the branches did spread themselues into distant places and names nothing consonant as in former times it was vsuall to denominate themselues of their manours or forenames as may pattly appeare in that which ensueth the light whereof proceeded from my learned and verie woorthy friend Maister Fraâ—cis Thynâ— Walter of Windsor the sonne of Oterus had issue William of whom Henry now Lord Windsor is descended and Robert of Windsor of whom Robert the now Earle of Essex and Gerald of Windsor his third sonne who married the daughter of Rees the great Prince of Wales of whom came Nesta paramour to Henry the first Which Gerald had issue Maurice Fitzgerald auncestor to Thomas Fitzmaurice Iustice of Iâ—eland buried at Trayly leauing issue Iohn his eldest sonne first Earle or Kildare ancestor to Geraldine and Maurice his second sonne first Earle of Desmond To rayse the mount where Surreys Towers must stand Alludeth to the sumptuous house which was afterward builded by him vpon Leonards hill right against Norwich which in the rebellion of Norfolke vnder Kett in King Edward the 6. time was
Troy And haue not strange euents diuin'd to vs That in our loue we should be prosperous VVhen in your presence I was call'd to daunce In lofty tricks whilst I my selfe aduaunce And in my turne my footing fail'd by hap vvas 't not my chaunce to light into your lap vvho would not iudge it fortunes greatest grace Sith he must fall to fall in such a place His birth from heauen your Tudor not deriues Nor stands on tip-toes in superlatiues Although the enuious English doe deuise A thousand iests of our hyperbolies Nor doe I claime that plot by auncient deedes where Phoebus pastures his fire-breathing steeds Nor do I boast my God-made Grandsires skars Nor Giants trophies in the Tytans wars Nor faine my birth your princely ears to please By three nights getting as was Hercules Nor doe I forge my long descent to runne From aged Neptune or the glorious Sunne And yet in VVales with them most famous bee Our learned Bards doe sing my pedigree And boast my birth from great Cadwallader From old Cair-septon in Mount Palador And from Eneons line the South-wales King By Theodor the Tudors name doe bring My royall mothers princely stock began From her great Grandam faire Gwenellian By true descent from Leolin the great As well from North-wales as faire Powslands seat Though for our princely Genealogie I doe not stand to make Apologie Yet who with iudgements true vnpartiall eyes Shall looke from whence our name at first did rise Shall find that Fortune is to vs in debt And why not Tudor as Plantaginet Nor that terme Croggen nick-name of disgrace Vs'd as a by-word now in euery place Shall blot our blood or wrong a VVelchmans name vvhich was at first begot with Englands shame Our valiant swords our right did still maintaine Against that cruell proud vsurping Dane And buckl'd in so many dangerous fights vvith Norwayes Swethens and with Muscouits And kept our natiue language now thus long And to this day yet neuer chang'd our tong vvhen they which now our Nation faine would tame Subdu'd haue lost their Country and their name Nor neuer could the Saxons swords prouoke Our Brittaine necks to beare their seruile yoke vvhere Cambrias pleasant Countries bounded bee vvith swelling Seuerne and the holy Dee And since great Brutus first arriu'd haue stood The onely remnant of the Troian blood To euery man is not allotted chaunce To boast with Henry to haue conquer'd Fraunce Yet if my fortunes thus may raised be This may presage a farther good to me And our S. Dauid in the Brittaines right May ioyne with George the sainted English Knight And old Caer-marden Merlins famous towne Not scorn'd by London though of such renowre Ah would to God that houre my hopes attend vvere with my wish brought to desired end Blame me not Madame though I thus desire vvhen eyes with enuie doe my hap admire Till now your beauty in nights bosome slept vvhat eye durst stir where awfull Henry keptâ— VVho durst attempt to saile but neere the bay vvhere that all-conquering great Alcides lay Thy beauty now is set a royall prize And Kings repaire to cheapen merchandize If thou but walke to take the breathing ayre Orithia makes me that I Boreas feare If to the fire Ioue once in lightning came And faire Egina make me feare the flame If in the sunne then sad suspition dreames Phoebus should spread Lucothoe in his beames If in a fountaine thou doo'st coole thy blood Neptune I feare which once came in a flood If with thy maides I dread Apollos rape vvho cusâ—ed Chion in an old wiues shape If thou doost banquet Bacchus makes me dread vvho in a grape Erigone did feede And if my selfe the chamber doore should kepe Yet feaâ—e I Hermes comming in a sleepe Pardon sweet Queene if I offend in this In these delayes loue most impatient is And youth wants power his hote spleene to suppresse vvhen hope alreadie banquets in excesse Though Henries fame in me you shall not find Yet that which better shall content your mind But onely in the title of a King vvas his aduantage in no other thing If in his loue more pleasure you did take Neuer let Queene trust Brittaine for my sake Yet iudge me not from modestie exempt That I another Phaetons charge attempt My mind that thus your fauours dare aspire Declare a temper of celestiall fire If loue a fault the more is beauties blame vvhen she her selfe is author of the same All men to some one quallitie incline Onely to loue is naturally mine Thou art by beauty famous as by birth Ordain'd by heauen to cheere the drouping earth Adde faithfull loue vnto your greater state And then a-like in all things fortunate A King might promise more I not denie But yet by heauen he lou'd not more then I. And thus I leaue till time my faith approue I cease to write but neuer cease to loue Notes of the Chronicle Historie And that the helme the Tudors ancient Crest THe Armes of Tudor was the Helmes of mens heads whereof hee speaketh as a thing prophetically fore told of Merlin When in thy presence I was call'd to daunce Owen Tudor being a courtly and actiue Gentleman commaunded once to daunce before the Queene in a turne not beeing able to recouer himselfe fell into her lappe as shee sate vppon a little stoole with many of her Ladies about her And yet with them in Wales most famous be Our learned Bards c. This Berdh as they call it in the Brittish tongue or as wee more properly say Bard or Bardus be their Poets which keepe the records of Petigrees and discents and sing in odes and measures to the Harps after the old manner of the Lirick Poets And boast my blood from great Cadwallader Cadwallader the last King of the Brittaines descended of the noble and auncient race of the Troyans to whom an Angell appeared commaunding him to goe to Rome to Pope Sergius where he ended his life Since faire Caer-Septon in mount Paladar Caer-Septon now called Shaftsbury at whose building it was said an Eagle prophecied or rather one named Aquila of the fame of that place and of the recouerie of the I le of the Brittaines bringing backe with them the bones of Cadwallader from Rome And from Eneons line the South-wales King From Theodor c. This Eneon was slaine by the Rebels of Gwentsland hee was a noble and worthy Gentleman who in his life did many noble acts and was Father to Theodor or Tudor Maur of whom descended the Princes of Southwales From her great Grandam faire Guenelliam Guenelliam the daughter of Rees ap Greffeth ap Theodor Prince of south-South-wales married Edniuet Vahan auncestor to Owen Tudor By true descent from Liolin the great This is the Lewhelin called Liolinus magnus Prince of north-Northwales Nor that word Croggen nick-name of disgrace In the voyage that Henry the second made against the VVelchmen as his Souldiours passed Offas ditch at Croggen Castle they were
it that time celestiall signes hath done 2 VVhilst our ill thriuing in those Scottish broyles Theyr strength and couâ—age greatly doth aduaunce That beeing made fat and wealthy by our spoyles vvhen we still weakned by the iarres in Fraunce And thus dishartned by continuall foyles Yeelds other cause whereat our Muse may glaunce And Herckleys treasons lastly brings to view vvhose power of late the Barrons ouerthrew 3 Now when the Scot with an inuasiue hand By daily inroads on the borders made Had spoyld the Country of Northumberland The buildings leuell with the ground weare layd And finding none that dare his power withstand vvithout controlement eu'ry where had pray'd Bearing with pride what was by pillage got As our last fall appointed to theyr lot 4 For vvhich false Herckley by his Soueraigne sent T' intreate this needfull though dishonored peace Cloking his treasons by this fayn'd intent Kinling the warre which otherwise might cease And with the Scot new mischiefes doth inuent T' intrap King Edward and their feare release For which their faith they constantly haue plight In peace and warre to stand for eithers right 5 For which the King his sister doth bestow Vpon this false Lord which to him affy'd Maketh too plaine and euident a show Of what before his trust did closely hide But beeing found from whence this match should grow By such as now into their actions pry'd Displayes the treasons which not quickly crost vvould shed more blood then all the warres had cost 6 VVhether the Kings weake counsels causes are That eu'ry thing so badly forteth out Or that the Earle did of our state despaire vvhen nothing prosper'd that was gone about And therefore carelesse how these matters fare I le not define but leaue it as a doubt Or some vaine title his ambition lackt Hatch'd in his breast this treasonable act 7 VVhich now reueal'd vnto the iealous King For apprehension of this tray't rous Peere To the Lord Lucy leaues the managing One whose knowne faith he euer held so deere By whose dispatch and trauell in this thing He doth well worthy of his trust appeare In his owne Castell carelesly defended The trecherous Herckley closely apprehended 8 For which ere long vnto his tryall led In all the roabes befitting his degree VVhere Scroope chiefe Iustice in King Edwards sted vvas now prepar'd his lawfull Iudge to be Vrging the proofes by his enditement red vvhere they his treasons euidently see vvhich now themselues so plainly doe expresse As might at first declare his bad successe 9 His honor'd title backe againe restord Noted with tearmes of infamie and scorne And then disarmed of his knightly sword On which his faith and loyaltie was sworne And by a varlet of his spurres dispur'd His coate of Armes in peeces hal'd and torne To tast deserued punishment is sent T'a trayterous death that trayterously had ment 10 VVhen such the fauorers of this fatall war vvhom this occasion doth more sharply whet Those for this cause thet yet impris'ned are Boldly attempt at liberty to set vvhose purpose frustrate by the others care Doth greater wounds continually beget vvarning the King more strictly looke about These secret fires still daily breaking out 11 And Hereford in Parlement accusd Of treasons which apparantly were wrought That with the Queene and Mortimers were vsd vvhereby subuersion of the Realme was sought And both his calling and his trust abusd vvhich now to aunswere when he should be brought Ceaz'd by the Clergy in the Kings despight Vnder the colour of the Churches right 12 VVhilst now the Queene from England day by day That of these troubles still had certaine word vvhose friends much blam'd her tedious long delay vvhen now the time occasion doth afford vvith better hast doth for herselfe puruay Bearing prouision presently abord Ships of all vses daily rigging are Fit'st for inuasion to transport a warre 13 The Earle of Kent by 's soueraigne brother plac'd As the great Generall of his force in Gwine vvho in his absence here at home disgra'st And frustrated both of his men and coyne By such lewd persons to maintaine theyr wast From the Kings treasúres ceas'd not to proloyne Th'lasciuious Prince though mou'd regardlesse still Both of his owne losse and his brothers ill 14 VVhos 's discontentment beeing quickly found By such as all aduantages await That still apply'd strong corsiues to the wound And by their sharpe and intricate deceit Hindred all meanes might possibly redound This fast-arising mischiefe to defeate Vntill his wrongs vvere to that fulnesse growne That they haue made him absolute their owne 15 VVhose selfe-like followers in these faithlesse warres Men most experienc'd and of worthiest parts vvhich for their pay receaued onely scarres vvhilst the inglorious reap'd their due desarts And Mineons hate of other hope debarres vvith too much violence vrg'd their grieued harts On Iohn of Henault wholy doe rely vvho led a great and valiant company 16 That in this conquest doe themselues combine The Lords Pocelles Sares and Boyseers Dambretticourt the young and valiant Heyn Estoteuill Comines and Villeers Others his Knights Sir Michaell de la Lyne Sir Robert Balioll Boswit and Semeers Men of great power whom spoile and glory warmes Such as were wholly dedicate to Armes 17 Three thousand souldiers mustred men in pay Of French Scotch Almaine Swiser and the Dutch Of natiue English fled beyond the Sea vvhose number neere amounted to asmuch VVhich long had look'd for this vnhappy day vvhom her reuenge did but too neerely tuch Her friends now ready to receaue her in And new commotions eu'ry day begin 18 VVhen she for England fitly setting forth Spreading her proud sayles on the watry plaine Shaping her course directly to the North vvith her young Edward Duke of Aquitaine vvith th' other three of speciall name and worth The destain'd scurges of his lawlesse raine Her souldier Beumount with the Earle of Kent And Mortimer that mighty malcontent 19 A for-wind now for Harwich fitly blowes Blow not too fast to kindle such a fire vvhilst with full saile and fairer tide she goes Turne gentle wind and force her to retire The fleet thou driu'st is fraughted with our woes But winds and seas doe Edwards wracke conspire For when iust heauen to chastice vs is bent All things conuert to our due punishment 20 Thy coasts be kept with a continuall ward Thy Beacons watch'd her comming to discry O had the loue of subiects beene thy guard T 'had beene t' effect that thou didst fortifie But whilst thou stand'st gainst for raine foes prepard Thou art betrayd by thy home enemy Small helpe by this thou art but like to win Shutting death out thou keep'st destruction in 21 VVhen Henry brother to that haplesse Prince The first great engine of this ciuill strife Deere Lancaster whom law did late conuince And that at Pomfret left his wretched life This Henry in whose great hart euer since Reuenge lay couer'd smoother'd vp in griefe Like fire in some fat
iust wise and sage In all things happy but in him his sonne For whom euen nature did herselfe engage More then in man in this Prince to haue done VVhose happy raigne recur'd the former rage By the large bounds he to his Empire wone As the first Edward had the second beene O what a flow of glory had we seene 58 Turning the leafe as finding vnawares vvhat day young Edward Prince of VVales was borne vvhich letters seeme like magique charracters Or to despight him they were made in scorne Marking the paper like dis-figuring stars O let that name quoth he from bookes be torne Least in that place the sad displeased earth Doe loathe it selfe as slandered with my birth 59 From thence heereafter humaine birth exil'd By th' earth deuour'd or swallowed by the sea And fame enquiring for that lucklesse child Say t was abortiue or else stolne away And least ô time thou be therewith defil'd In thy vnnumbred course deuoure that day Let all be done that power can bring to passe Onely forget that such there euer was 60 The troubled teares now standing in his eyes Through which as glasses he is forc'd to looke Make letters seeme as rondlets that arise By a stone cast into a standing brooke Appearing to him in such various wise And at one time such sundry fashions tooke vvhich like deluding Monsters doe affright And with their foule shapes teâ—rifie his sight 61 VVhen on his saint bed falling downe at last His troubled spirit foretelling danger nie vvhen forth the doores a fearefull howling cast To let those in by whom a King should die vvhereat he starts amazed and agast These ruthlesse villaines all vppon him flie Sweet Prince alas in vaine thou call'st for ayde By these accursed homecides betrayd 62 O be not authors of so vile an act My blood on your posteritie to bring which after times with horror shall distract vvhen fame euen hoarce with age your shame shall ring And by recounting of so vile a fact Mortalitie so much astonishing That they shall count theyr wickednes scarce sinne To that which long before their time hath beene 63 And if your hate be deadly let me liue For that aduantage angry heauen hath left That except life takes all that it could giue But for iust vengeance should not quite bereft Me yet with greater misery to grieue Reserue a while this remnant of their theft That that which spent from th' rest should interdict me Alone remaining doth withall afflict me 64 Thus spake this wofull and distressed Lord As yet his breath found passage to and fro vvith many a short pant many a broken word Many a sore grone many agrieuous throw vvhilst yet his spirit could any strength affoord Though with much paine disburd'ning of his woe Till lastly gasping by their maist'ring strength His kingly hart subiects it selfe at length 65 VVhen twixt two beds they close his wearied corse Basely vncou'ring of his secret part vvithout all humane pitty and remorce vvith burning yron thrust him to the hart O that my Muse had but sufficient force T'explane the torment in the which thou art vvhich whilst with words we coldly doe expresse Thy paine made greater that we make it lesse 66 VVhen those in dead and depth of all the night Good simple people that are dwelling neare From quiet sleepe whom care did now affright That his last shreeke and wofull cry doe heare Euen pittying that miserable wight As twixt compassion and obedient feare Lift theyr sad eyes with heauy sleepe opprest Praying to heauen to giue the soule good rest 67 Still let the buildings figh his bitter grones And euermore his sad complaints repeate And let the dull walls and the sencelesse stones By the impression of his torment sweat As wanting sounds where-with to shew his mones vvith all sharpe paine and agony repleate That all may thether come that shall be told it As in a mirror cleerely to behold it 68 VVhen now the Genius of this wofull place Beeing the guide to his affrightfull ghost vvith hayre disheueld and a gastly face Shall haunt the prison where his life was lost And as the denne of horror and disgrace Let it be fearefull vnto all the coast That those heereafter that doe trauell neere Neuer behold it but with heauy cheere The end of the fith Canto The sixth Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument Lord Mortimer made Earle of March when he And the faire Queene rule all things by their might The pompe wherein at Notting ham they be The cost wherewith their amorous court is dight Enuide by those their hatefull pride that see The King attempts the dreadfull Caue by night Entring the Castell taketh him from thence And March at London dies for the offence 1 INforc'd of other accidents to sing Bearing fayre showes of promised delite Somewhat to slacke this melancholy string That new occasions to our Muse excite To our conceit strange obiects fashioning Doth our free numbers liberally inuite Matter of moment much to be respected Must by our pen be seriously directed 2 And now the time more cunningly redeeming These fraudfull courses fitly to contriue How ill so ere to beare the fayrest seeming For which they now must diligently striue Casting all waies to gaine thesame esteeming That to the world it prosperously might thriue This farre gone on now with the hand of might Vpon this wrong to build a lasting right 3 The pompous synod of these earthly Gods At Salsbury selected by theyr King To set all euen that had beene at ods And into fashion their dissignes to bring And strongly now to settle their abodes That peace might after from their actions spring Firmly t' establish what was well begone Vnder which colour mighty things were done 4 VVhen Mortimer pursuing his desire VVhilst eu'ry engine had his temperate heate To b'Earle of March doth suddainly aspire T' increase the honour of his auncient seate That his commaund might be the more entire VVho now but onely Martimer is great vvho knew a kingdome as her lot was throwne vvhich hauing all would neuer starue her owne 5 Now stand they firme as those celestiall Poles Twixt which the starres in all their course doe moue vvhose strenght this frame of gouernment vpholds An argument their wisedomes to approue vvhich way so ere the time in motion roles So perfect is the vnion of their loue For might is still most absolute alone vvhere power and fortune kindly meete in one 6 VVhilst Edwards nonage giues a further speede To th' ancient foe-man to renew the warre vvhich to preuent they must haue speciall heede Matters so strangly manag'd as they are vvhich otherwise if their neglect should breede Nothing yet made it might not easily marre vvhich with the most reseruing their estate Inforc'd to purchase at the deerest rate 7 So much t'release the homage as suffic'd Mongst which that deed nam'd Ragman of renowne By which the Kings of Scotland had deuisd Their fealty vnto the English crowne
glorious in her fruite Till by the sun clad in her Tinsell sute Nor doth shee euer smile him in the face Till in his glorious armes he her embrace vvhich proues she hath a soule sence delight Of generations feeling appetite vvell hipocrite in faith wouldst thou confesse vvhat ere thy tongue say thy hart saith no lesse Note but this one thing if nought els perswade Nature of all things male and female made Shewing herselfe in our proportion plaine For neuer made she any thing in vaine For as thou art should any haue beene thus Shee would haue left ensample vnto vs. The Turtle that 's so true and chast in loue Shewes by her mate something the spirit doth moue Th'arabian bird that neuer is but one Is onely chast because she is alone But had our mother Nature made them two They would haue done as Doues and Sparrowes doe But therefore made a Martyr in desire And doth her pennance lastly in the fire So may they all be rosted quicke that be Apostataes to nature as is shee Find me but one so young so faire so free vvoo'd su'd sought by him that now seekes thee But of thy minde and heere I vndertake Straight to erect a Nunry for her sake O hadst thou tasted of these rare delights Ordaind each where to please great Princes sights To haue their beauties and their wits admird vvhich is by nature of your sexe desired Attended by our traines our pompe our port Like Gods ador'd abroade kneeld to in Court To be saluted with the cheerefull cry Of highnes grace and soueraigne maiestie But vnto them that know not pleasures price Al 's one a prison and a Paradice If in a dungion closd vp from the light There is no difference twixt the day and night vvhose pallate neuer tasted daintie cates Thinks homely dishes princely delicates Alas poore girle I pitty thine estate That now thus long hast liu'd disconsolate VVhy now at length let yet thy hart relent And call thy Father back from banishment And with those princely honours heere inuest him That aukeward loue not hate hath dispossest him Call from exile thy deere alies and friends To whom the furie of my griefe extends And if thou take my counsaile in this case I make no doubt thou shalt haue better grace And leaue that Dunmow that accursed Cell There let black night and melancholie dwell Come to the Court where all ioyes shall receiue thee And till that howre yet with my griefe I leaue thee Notes of the Chronicle Historie THis Epistle of King Iohn to Matilda is much more poeticall then historicall making no mention at al of the occurrents of the time or state touching onely his loue to her the extremitie of his passions forced by his desires rightly fashioning the humour of this king as hath been truely noted by the best and most autenticall Writers whose nature and disposition is truliest discerned in the course of his loue first iesting at the ceremonies of the seruices of those times thē going about by all strong and probable arguments to reduce her to pleasures and delights next with promises of honor which he thinketh to be last and greatest meane to haue greatest power in her sexe with promise of calling home of her freends which he thought might be a great inducement to his desires Matilda to King Iohn NO sooner I reciu'd thy letters here Before I knew from whom or whence they were But suddaine feare my bloodlesse vaines doth fill As though diuining of some future ill And in a shiuering extasie I stood A chilly coldnes runnes through all my blood Opening thy letters I shut vp my rest And let strange cares into my quiet brest As though thy hard vnpittying hand had sent mee Some new deuised torture to torment me vvell had I hop'd I had beene now forgot Cast out with those things thou remembrest not And that proud beauty which inforst me hether Had with my name now perished together But ô I see our hoped good deceaues vs But what we would forgoe that sildome leaues vs Thy blamefull lines bespotted so with sin Mine eyes would clense ere they to reade begin But I to wash an Indian goe about For ill so hard set on is hard got out I once determin'd still to haue beene mute Onely by silence to refell thy sute But this againe did alter mine intent For some will say that silence doth consent Desire with small incouraging growes bold And hope of euery little thing takes hold I set me downe at large to write my mind But now nor pen nor paper can I find For dread and passion or so powerfull ore me That I descerne not things that stand before me Finding the pen the paper and the waxe This at commaund and now inuention lacks This sentence serues and that my hand out-strikes That pleaseth well and this as much mislikes I write indite I point I raze I quote I enterline I blot correct I note I hope dispaire take courage faint disdaine I make alledge I imitate I faine Now thus it must be and now thus and thus Bold shamefast fearelesse doubtfull timerous My faint hand writing when my full eye reedes From euery word strange passion still proceedes O when the soule is fettered once in wo T is strange what humors it doth force vs to A teare doth drowne a teare sigh sigh doth smother This hinders that that interrupts the other Th'ouer-watched weakenes of a sicke conceite Is that which makes small beauty seeme so great Like things which hid in troubled waters lie vvhich crook'd seeme straight if straight seeme contrarie And this our vaine imagination showes it As it conceiues it not as iudgement knowes it As in a Mirrhor if the same be true Such as your likenes iustly such are you But as you change your selfe it changeth there And showes you as you are not as you were And with your motion doth your shadow moue If frowne or smile such the conceite of loue VVhy tell me is it possible the mind A forme in all deformitie should finde VVithin the compasse of mans face we see How many sorts of seuerall fauours be And that the chin the nose the brow the eye If great if small flat sharpe or if awry Alters proportion altereth the grace And makes a mighty difference in the face And in the world scarce two so likely are One with the other which if you compare But being set before you both together A iudging sight doth soone distinguish eyther How woman-like a weakenes it it then O what strange madnes so possesseth men Bereft of sence such sencelesse wonders seeing vvithout forme fashion certaintie or being For which so many die to liue in anguish Yet cannot liue if thus they should not languish That comfort yeelds not yet hope denies not A life that liues not and a death that dies not That hates vs most when most it speakes vs faire Doth promise all things alwayes paies
As many minutes as in the houres there be So many houres each minute seemes to me Each houre a day morne noone-tide and a set Each day a yeare with miseries complet A vvinter spring-time sommer and a fall All seasons varying but vnseasoned all In endlesse woe my thred of life thus weares By minutes houres dayes monthes and ling'ring yeares They praise the Sommer that enioy the South Pomfret is closed in the Norths cold mouth There pleasant Sommer dwelleth all the yeere Frost-starued-winter doth inhabite heere A place wherein dispaire may fitly dwell Sorrow best suting with a clowdie Cell VVhen Herford had his iudgement of exile Saw I the peoples murmuring the while Th' vncertaine Commons touch'd with inward care As though his sorrowes mutually they bare Fond women and scarse speaking children mourne Bewaile his parting wishing his returne Then being forc'd t' abridge his banish'd yeeres vvhen they bedew'd his footsteps with their teares Yet by example could not learne to know To what his greatnes by this loue might grow vvhilst Henry boasts of our atthieuements done Bearing the trophies our great fathers wone And all the storie of our famous warre Now grace the Annalls of great Lancaster Seuen goodly siens in their spring did flourish vvhich one selfe root brought forth one stocke did nourish Edward the top-braunch of that golden tree Nature in him her vtmost power did see vvho from the bud still blossomed so faire As all might iudge what fruit it meant to beare But I his graft of eu'ry weede ore-growne And from the kind as refuse forth am throwne From our braue Grandsire both in one degree Yet after Edward Iohn the young'st of three Might princely VVales beget an Impe so base That to Gaunts issue should giue soueraigne place That leading Kings from Fraunce returned home As those great Caesars brought their spoyles to Rome vvhose name obtayned by his fatall hand vvas euer fearefull to that conquered land His fame increasing purchasd in those warres Can scarcely now be bounded with the starres VVith him is valour quite to heauen fled Or else in me is it extinguished vvho for his vertue and his conquests sake Posteritie a demie God shall make And iudge this â—ile and abiect spirit of mine Could not proceed from temper so diuine VVhat earthly humor or what vulgar eye Can looke so low as on our miserie VVhen Bulling brook is mounted to our throne And makes that his which we but call'd our owne Into our Counsels he himselfe intrudes And who but Henry with the multitudes His power disgrad's his dreadfull frowne disgraceth He throwes them downe whom our aduancement placeth As my disable and vnworthie hand Neuer had power belonging to command He treads our sacred tables in the dust And proues our acts of Parlament vniust As thougâ— he hated that it should be said That such a law by Richard once was made VVhilst I depresd before his greatnes lie Vnder the waight of hate and infamie My back a foot-stoole Bulling brook to raise My loosenes mock'd and hatefull by his praise Out-liu'd mine honour buried my estate And nothing left me but the peoples hate Sweet Queene I le take all counsell thou canst giue So that thou bid'st me neither hope nor liue Succour that comes when ill hath done his worst But sharpens greefe to make vs more accurst Comfort is now vnpleasing to mine eare Past cure past care my bed become my Beere Since now misfortune humbleth vs so long Till heauen be growne vnmindfull of our wrong Yet they forbid my wrongs shall euer die But still remembred to posteritie And let the crowne be fatall that he weares And euer wet with wofull mothers teares Thy curse on Percie angry heauens preuent vvho haue not one cuise left on him vnspent To scourge the world now horrowing of my store As rich of woe as I a King am poore Then cease deere Queene my sorrowes to bewaile My wounds too great for pittie now to heale Age stealeth on whilst thou complainest thus My greefes be mortall and infectious Yet better fortunes thy fayre youth may trie That follow thee which still from me doth flie Notes of the Chronicle Historie This tongue which first denounc'd my regall flate RIchard the second at the resignation of the Crowne to the Duke of Herford in the Tower of London deliuering the lame with his owne hand there confessed his disabilitie to gouerne vtterly denouncing all kingly dignitie And left'st great Burbon for thy loue to me Before the Princesse Isabell was married to the King Lewes Duke of Burbon sued to haue had her in mariage which was thought hee had obtained if this motion had not fallen out in the meane time This Duke of Burbon sued againe to haue receiued her at her comming into Fraunce after the imprisonment of King Richard but King Charles her Father then crost him as before and gaue her to Charles sonne to the Duke of Orleance When Herford had his iudgement of exile When the combate should haue beene at Couentrie betwixt Henâ—ie Duke of Herford and Thomas Duke of Norfolke where Herâ—ord was adiudged to banishment for tenne yeares the Commons exceeding lamented so greatly was he euer fauoured of the people Then being forc'd t' abridge his banish'd yeeres When the Duke came to take his leaue of the King being then at Eltham the King to please the Commons rather then for any louâ— he beare to Herford repleaded foure yeeres of his banishment Whilst Henry boasts of our atchieuements done Henry the eldest Sonne to Iohn Duke of Lancaster at the first Earle of Darby then created Duke of Herford after the death of the Duke Iohn his Father was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford Earle of Darby Leicester and Lincolne and after he had obtained the Crowne was called by the name of Bullingbrooke which is a towne in Lincolneshire as vsually all the Kings of England bare the name of the places where they were borne Seauen goodly syens in their spring did flourish Edward the third had seuen Sonnes Edward Prince of Wales after called the blacke Prince William of Hatfield the second Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke the Fifth Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Gloster the sixth William of Windsore the seuenth Edward the top-branch of that golden tree Truly boasting himselfe to bee the eldest Sonne of Edward the blacke Prince Yet after Edward Iohn the young'st of three As disabling Henry Bullingbrooke being but the sonne of the fourth brother William and Lionell beeing both before Iohn of Gaunt That leading Kings from Fraunce returned home Edward the black Prince taking Iohn King of Fraunce prisoner at the battell of Poictâ—â—s brought him into England where at the Sauoy he died Whose name atchiued by his fatall hand Called the black Prince not so much of his complexion as of the famous battell hee fought as is shewed before in the Glosse vppon the Epistle of Edward
to the Countesse of Salisburie And proues our acts of Parlement vniust In the next Parlement after Richards resignation of the Crowne Henry caused to be annihilated all the lawes made in the Parlament called the wicked Parlement helde in the twenty yeere of king Richards raigne FINIS Queene Katherine to Owen Tudor The Argument After the death of that victorious Henry the fift Queene Katherine the dowager of England and Fraunce daughter to Charles the French King holding her estate with Henrie her sonne then the sixt of that name falleth in loue with Owen Tuder a VVelshman a braue and gallant Gentleman of the VVardrope to the young King her son yet greatlie fearing if her loue shoulde bee discouered the Nobilitie would crosse her purposed marriage or fearing that if her faire princely promises should not assure his good successe this high and great attempt might perhaps daunt the forwardnesse of his modest and shamefast youth wherefore to breake the Ice to her intent shee writeth vnto him this Epistle following IVdge not a Princesse worth impeach'd heereby That loue thus tryumphs ouer maiestie Nor thinke lesse vertue in this royall hand vvhich now intreats that wonted to commaund For in this sort though humbly now it wooe The day hath beene thou would'st haue kneeld vnto Nor thinke that this submission of my state Proceedes from frailty rather iudge it fate Alcides nere more fit for wars sterne shock Then when for loue sate spinning at the rock Neuer lesse clowdes did Phoebus glory dim Then in a clownes shape when he couered him â—oues great commaund was neuer more obey'd Then when a Satyres anticke parts he plai'd He was thy King that sued for loue to mee Shee is thy Queene that sues for loue to thee VVhen Henry was what 's Tudors now was his vvhilst vet thou art what 's Henries Tudors is My loue to Owen him my Henry giueth My loue to Henry in my Owen liueth Henry woo'd me whilst wars did yet increase I wooe my Tudor in sweet calmes of peace To force affection he did conquest proue I fight with gentle arguments of loue Incampt at Melans In warres hote alarmes First saw I Henry clad in princely Armes At pleasant VVindsore first these eyes of mine My Tudor iudg'd for wit and shape diuine Henry abroade with puissance and with force Tudor at home with courtship and discourse He then thou now I hardly can iudge whether Did like me best Plantaginet or Tether A march a measure battell or a daunce A courtly rapier or a conquering Launce His princely bed hath strengthned my renowne And on my temples set a double crowne vvhich glorious wreath as Henries lawfull heire Henry the sixt vpon his brow doth beare At Troy in Champaine he did first enioy My bridal-rites to England brought from Troy In England now that honour thou shalt haue vvhich once in Champaine famous Henry gaueâ— I seeke not wealth three kingdoms in my power If these suffise not where shall be my dower Sad discontent may euer follow her vvhich doth base pelfe before true loue prefer If â—itles still could our affections tie vvhat is so great but maiestie might buy As I seeke thee so Kings doe me desire To what they would thou easily mai'st aspire That sacred fire once warm'd my hart before The fuell fit the flame is now the more And meanes to quench it I in vaine doe proue vve may hide treasure but not hide our loue And since it is thy fortune thus to gaine it It were too late nor will I now restraine it Nor these great titles vainely will I bring vvife daughter mother sister to a King Of grandsire father husband sonne brother More thou alone to me then all the other Nor feare my Tudor that this loue of mine Should wrong the Gaunt-borne great Lancastrian linâ— Nor stir the English blood the Sunne and Moone T'repine at Loraine Burbon Alansoon Nor doe I thinke there is such different ods They should alone be numbred with the Gods Of Cadmus earthly issue reckoning vs And they from â—oue Mars Neptune Eolus Of great Latonas of-spring onely they And we the brats of wofull Niobe Our famous Grandsires as theyr owne bestrid That horse of fame that God-begotten steed vvhose bounding hoofe plow'd that Boetian spring vvhere those sweet maides of memory doe sing Not onely Henries Queene but boast as well To be the childe of Charles and Isabell. Nor doe I know from whence their griefe should grow They by this match should be disparag'd so vvhen Iohn and Longshanks issue both affied And to the Kings of VVales in wedlocke tyed Showing the greatnes of your blood thereby Your race and royall consanguinitie And VVales as well as haughty England boasts Of Camilot and all her Penticosts A nephewes roome in great Pondragons race At Arthurs table held a princely place If by the often conquest of your land They boast the spoyles of theyr victorious hand If these our auncient Chronicles be true They altogether are not free from you VVhen bloody Rufus fought your vtter sack Twice entring VVales yet twice was beaten back VVhen famous Cambria wash'd her in the flood Made by th' effusion of the English blood And oft return'd with glorious victorie From VVorster Herford Chester Shrowesbury vvhose power in euery conquest so preuailes As once expuls'd the English out of VVales Although my beautie made my Countries peace And at my bridall former broyles did cease Yet more then power had not his person beene I had not come to England as a Queene Nor tooke I Henry to supply my want Because in Fraunce that time my choise was scant vvhen we had robd all Christendome of men And Englands flower remain'd amongst vs then Gloster whose counsels Nestor-like assist Couragious Bedford that great martiallist Clarence for vertue honoured of his foes And Yorke whose fame yet daily greater growes VVarwicke the pride of Neuels haughtie race Great Salisburie so fear'd in euery place That valiant Poole whom no atchiuement dares And Vere so famous in the Irish warres vvho though my selfe so great a Prince were borne The worst of these my equall neede not scorne But Henries rare perfections and his parts As conquering kingdoms so he conquer'd harts As chast was I to him as Queene might bee But freed from him my chast loue vow'd to thee Beautie doth fetch all fauour from thy face All perfect courtship resteth in thy grace If thou discourse thy lips such accents breake As loue a spirit foorth of thee seem'd to speake The Brittish language which our vowels wants And iarrs so much vpon harsh consonants Comes with such grace from thy mellifluous tongâ—e As doe the sweet notes of a well set song And runnes as smoothly from those lips of thine As the pure Thuskan from the Florantine Leauing such seasoned sweetnes in the eare As the voyce past yet still the found is there In Nisus Tower as when Apollo lay And on his golden viall vs'd to play vvhere
sencelesse stones were with such musick drownd As many yeeres they did retaine the sound Let not the beames that greatnes doth reflect Amaze thy hopes with timerous respect Assure thee Tudor maiestie can be As kinde in loue as can the mean'st degree And the embraces of a Queene as true As theyrs might iudge them much aduaunc'd by you vvhen in our greatnes our affections craue Those secret ioyes that other women haue So I a Queene be soueraigne in my choyse Let others fawne vpon the publique voyce Or what by this can euer hap to thee Light in respect to be belou'd of mee Let peeuish worldlings prate of right and wrong Leaue plaints and pleas to whom they doe belong Let old men speake of chaunces and euents And Lawyers talke of titles and discents Leaue fond reports to such as stories tell And couenaunts to those that buy and sell Loue my sweet Tudor that becomes thee best And to our good successe referre the rest Notes of the Chronicle Historie Great Henry sought to accomplish his desire Armed c. HEnry the fift making clayme vnto the Crowne of Fraunce first sought by Armes to subdue the French and after sought by marriage to confirme what he got by conquest the heate and furie of which inuasion is alluded to the fixtion of Semele in Ouid which by the craftie perswasion of Iuno requested Ioue to come vnto her as he was wont to come vnto his wife Iuno who at her request hee yeelding vnto destroyed her in a tempest Incamp'd at Melans in wars hote alarmes First c. Neere vnto Melans vpon the Riuer of Scyne was the appoynted place of parley betweene the two Kings of England and Fraunce to which place Isabell the Queene of Fraunce and the Duke of Burgoyne brought the young Princesse Katherine where King Henry first saw her And on my temples set a double Crowne Henry the fift and Queene Katherine vvere taken as King and Queene of Fraunce and during the life of Charles the French King Henry was called King of England and heire of Fraunce after the death of Henry the fift Henry the sixt his son then being very young was crowned at Paris as true and lawfull king of England Fraunce At Troy in Champaine he did first enioy Troy in Champayn was the place where that victorious king Henrie the fift maried the Princesse Katherine in the presence of the chiefe nobilitie of the Realmes of England and Fraunce Nor these great tytles vainely will I bring Wife daughter Mother c. Few Queenes of England or Fraunce were euer more princelie alied then this Queene as it hath been noted by Historiographers Nor thinke so Tudor that this loue of mine Should wrong the Gaunt-borne◠c. Noting the descent of Henry her husband frō Iohn Duke of Lancaster the fourth son of Edward the third which Duke Iohn was sirnamed Gaunt of the citty of Gaunt in Flaunders where he was borne Nor stir the English blood the sunne and Moone T'repine c. Alluding the greatnes of the English line to Phoebus Phoebe fained to be the children of Latona whose heauenly kind might scorne to be ioyned with any earthlie progenie yet withall boasting the blood of Fraunce as not inferiour to theirs And with this allusion followeth on the historie of the strife betwixt Iuno and the race of Cadmus whose issue was afflicted by the wrath of heauen The chyldren of Niobe slaine for which the wofull mother became a Rock gushing forth continually a fountaine of teares And Iohn and Longshanks issue both affied Lhewellin or Leolin ap Iorwerth married Ioane daughter to King Iohn a most beautifull Lady Some Authours affirme that shee was base borne Lhewellin ap Gryfith maried Ellenor daughter to Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester and Cosin to Edward Longshanks both which Lhewellins were Princes of Wales Of Camilot and all her Pentecosts A Nephewes roome c Camilot the auncient Pallace of King Arthur to which place all the Knights of that famous order yeerely repaired at Penticost according to the lawe of the Table and most of the famous home-borne Knights were of that Countrie as to this day is perceiued by theyr auncient monuments When bloody Rufus sought your vtter sacke Noting the ill successe which that William Rufus had in two voyages he made into Wales in which a number of his chiefe Nobilitie were slaine And oft return'd with glorious victorie Nothing the diuers sundry incursions that the Welchmen made into England in the time of Rufus Iohn Henry the second Longshankes Owen Tudor to Queene Katherine WHen first mine eyes beheld your princely name And found from whence this friendly letter came As in excesse of ioy my selfe forgot vvhether I saw it or I saw it not My panting hart doth bid mine eyes proceede My dazeled eye inuites my tongue to reede Mine eye should guide my tongue amazed mist it My lips which now should speake are dombe and kist it And leaues the paper in my trembling hand vvhen all my sences so amazed stand Euen as a mother comming to her child vvhich from her presence hath beene long exil'd vvith tender armes his gentle necke doth straine Now kissing him now clipping him againe And yet excessiue yoy deludes her so As still she doubts if this be hers or no At length awak'ned from this pleasing dreame vvhen passion som-what leaues to be extreame My longing eyes with their faire obiect meete vvhere euery letter 's pleasing each word sweete It was not Henries conquests nor his Court That had the power to win me by report Nor was his dreadfull terror-striking name The cause that I from VVales to England came For Christian Rhodes and our religious truth To great atchieuements first had wone my youth Before aduenture did my valour proue Before I yet knew what it was to loue Nor came I hether by some poore euent But by th' eternall Destinies consent vvhose vncomprised wisedomes did fore-see That you in marriage should be linck'd to mee By our great Merlin was it not fore-told Amongst his holy prophecies enrold vvhen first he did of Tudors fame diuine That Kings and Queenes should follow in our line And that the Helme the Tudors auncient Crest Should with the golden Flower-delice be drest And that the Leeke our Countries chiefe renowne Should grow with Roses in the English Crowne As Charles fayre daughter you the Lilly weare As Henries Queene the blushing Rose you beare By Fraunce's conquest and by Englands oth You are the true made dowager of both Both in your crowne both in your cheeke together Ioyne Tethers loue to yours and yours to Tether Then make no future doubts nor feare no hate vvhen it so long hath beene fore-told by Fate And by the all-disposing doome of heauen Before our births vnto one bed were giuen No Pallas heere nor Iuno is at all vvhen I to Venus giue the golden ball Nor when the Graecians wonder I enioy None in reuenge to kindle fire in
euer Michaell Drayton Henry Howard Earle of Surrey to Geraldine The Argument Henry Howard that true noble Earle of Surrey and excellent Poet falling in loue with Geraldine descended of the noble family of the Fitzgeralds of Ireland a faire modest Lady and one of the honourable maids to Quene Katherine Dowager eternizeth her prayses in many excellent Poems of rare and sundrie inuentions and after some few yeares beeing determined to see that famous Italy the source and Helicon of all excellent Arts first visiteth that renowned Florence from whence the Geralds challence their descent from the ancient familie of the Geraldi there in honour of his mistresse be aduanceth her picture and challengeth to maintaine her beauty by deeds of Armes against all that durst appeare in the lists where after the proofe of his braue and incomparable valour whose arme crowned her beauty with eternall memorie he writeth this Epistle to his deerest Mistres FRom learned Florence long time rich in same From whence thy race thy noble Grandsires came To famous England that kind nurse of mine Thy Surrey sends to heauenly Geraldine Yet let not Thuscan thinke I doe her wrong That I from thence write in my natiue tongue That in these harsh-tun'd cadences I sing Sitting so neere the Muses sacred spring But rather thinke her selfe adorn'd thereby That England reads the praise of Italy Though to the Thuscans I the smoothnes grant Our dialect no maiestie doth want To set thy prayses in as hie a key As Fraunce or Spaine or Germany or they That day I quit the Fore-land of faire Kent And that my ship her course for Flandersbent Yet thinke I with how many a heauy looke My leaue of England and of thee I tooke And did intreat the tide if it might be But to conuey me one sigh backe to thee Vp to the decke a billow lightly skips Taking my sigh and downe againe it slips Into the gulfe it selfe it headlong throwes And as a Post to England-ward it goes As I sit wondring how the rough seas stird I might far off perceiue a little bird vvhich as she faine from shore to shore would flie Hath lost her selfe in the broad vastie skie Her feeble wing beginning to deceiue her The seas of life still gaping to bereaue her Vnto the ship she makes which she discouers And there poore foole a while for refuge houers And when at length her flagging pineon failes Panting she hangs vpon the ratling failes And being forc'd to loose her hold with paine Yet beaten off she straight lights on againe And tost with flawes with stormes with wind with wether Yet still departing thence still turneth thether Now with the Poope now with the Prow doth beare Now on this side now that now heerâ— now there Me thinks these stormes should be my sad depart The silly helpelesse bird is my poore bart The ship to which for succour it repaires That is your selfe regardlesse of my cares Of euery surge doth fall or waue doth rise To some one thing I sit and moralize VVhen for thy loue I left the Belgick shore Diuine Erasmus and our famous Moore vvhose happy presence gaue me such delight As made a minute of a winters night vvith whom a while I stai'd at Roterdame Now so renowned by Erasmus name Yet euery houre did seeme a world of time Till I had seene that soule-reuiuing clime And thought the foggy Netherlands vnfit A watry soyle to clog a fiery wit And as that wealthy Germany I past Comming vnto the Emperors Court at last Great learn'd Agrippa so profound in Art vvho the infernall secrets doth impart vvhen of thy health I did desire to know Me in a glasse my Geraldine did shew Sicke in thy bed and for thou couldst net sleepe By a watch Taper set thy light to keepe I doe remember thou didst read that Ode Sent backe whilst I in Thanet made abode vvhere as thou cam'st vnto the word of loue Euen in thine eyes I saw how passion stroue That snowy Lawne which couered thy bed Me thought look'd white to see thy cheeke so red Thy rosie cheeke oft changing in my sight Yet still was red to see the Lawne so white The little Taper which should giue thee light Me thought wax'd dim to see thy eye so bright Thine eye againe supplies the Tapers turne And with his beames doth make the Taper burne The shrugging ayre about thy Temple hurles And wraps thy breath in little clouded curles And as it doth ascend it straight doth ceaze it And as it sinks it presently doth raise it Canst thou by sicknes banish beauty so VVhich if put from thee knowes not where to goe To make her shift and for her succour seeke To euery riueld face each bankrupt cheeke If health preseru'd thou beauty still doost cherish If that neglected beauty soone doth perish Care drawes on care woe comforts woe againe Sorrow breeds sorrow one griefe brings forth twaine If liue or die as thou doost so doe I If liue I liue and if thou die I die One hart one loue one ioy one griefe one troth One good one ill one life one death to both If Howards blood thou hold'st as but too vile Or not esteem'st of Norfolks Princely stile If Scotlands coate no marke of fame can lend That Lion plac'd in our bright siluer bend vvhich as a Trophy beautifies our shield Since Scottish blood discoloured Floden field VVhen the proud Cheuiot our braue Ensigne beare As a rich iewel in a Ladies haire And did faire Bramstons neighbouring valies choke vvith clouds of Canons fire disgorged smoke Or Surreys Earldome insufficient be And not a dower so well contenting thee Yet am I one of great Apollos heires The sacred Muses challenge me for theirs By Princes my immortall lines are sung My flowing verses grac'd with euery tung The little children when they learne to goe By painefull mothers daded to and fro Are taught my sugred numbers to rehearse And haue their sweet lips season'd with my verse vvhen heauen would striue to doe the best it can And put an Angels spirit into a man The vtmost power in that great worke doth spend vvhen to the world a Poet it doth intend That little difference twixt the Gods and vs By them confirm'd distinguish'd onely thus vvhom they in birth ordaine to happie daies The Gods commit their glory to our praise To eternall life when they dissolue that breath vve likewise share a second power by death VVhen time shall turne those Amber curles to gray My verse againe shall guild and make them gay And trick them vp in knotted curles anew And in the autumne giue a sommers hue That sacred power that in my Inke remaines Shall put fresh blood into thy wither'd vaines And on thy red decay'd thy whitenes dead Shall set a white more white a red more red VVhen thy dim sight thy glasse cannot discry Thy crazed mirrhor cannot see thine eye My verse to tell what eye what mirrhor was Glasse to
much desaced by that impure rable Betwixt the hill and the Citie as Alexander Neuell describes it the Riuer of Yarmouth runnes hauing West and South thereof a wood and a little Village called Thorp and on the North the pastures of Moushol which containes about sixe miles in length and breadth So that besides the stately greatnes of Mount-Surrey which was the houses name the prospect and site thereof was passing pleasant and commodious and no where else did that encreasing euill of the Norfolke furie enkennell it selfe but then there as it were for a manifest token of their intent to debase all high things and to prophane all holy Like Arras worke or other imagerie Such was he whom Iuvenall taxeth in this manner truncoque similimus Herme Nullâ— quippe alio vincis discrimine quamquod Illi marmoreum caput est tua viuit imago Beeing to be borne for nothing else but apparell and the outward appearance intituled Complement with whom the ridiculous fable of the Ape in Esope sorteth sitly who comming into a Caruers house and viewing many Marble works tooke vp the head of a man very cunningly wrought who greatly in praising did seeme to pittie it that hauing so comly an outside it had nothing within like emptie figures walke and talke in euery place at whom the noble Geraldiâ—e modestly glanceth FINIS To the vertuous Ladie the Lady Frauncis Goodere wife to Sir Henry Goodere Knight MY verie gracious and good Mistres the loue and dutie I bare to your Father whilst hee liued now after his deceasase is to your hereditarie to whom by the blessing of your birth he left his vertues VVho bequeathed you those which were his gaue you whatsoeuer good is mine as deuoted to his he being gone whom I honoured so much whilst hee liued which you may iustly challenge by all lawes of thankefulnes My selfe hauing beene a witnes of your excellent education and mild disposition as I may say euer from your Cradle dedicate this Epistle of this vertuous and goodly Ladie to your selfe so like her in all perfection both of wisedome and learning which I pray you accept til time shall enable me to leaue you some greater monument of my loue Mich Drayton The Ladie Iane Gray to the Lord Gilford Dudley The Argument After the death of that vertuous young Prince King Edward the sixt the sonne of that famous King Henry the eight Iane the daughter of Henry Gray Duke of Suffolke by the consent of Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland was proclaimed Queene of England being married to Gilford Dudley the fourth sonne of the fore-said Duke of Northumberland which match was concluded by their ambitious Fathers who went about by this meanes to bring the Crowne vnto their children and to dispossesse the Princesse Mary eldest daughter of King Henry the eight â—eire to King Edward her brother Queene Mary rising in Armes to claime her rightfull crowne taketh the said Iane Gray and the Lord Gilford her husband beeing lodged in the Tower for their more safetie which place being lastly their Pallace by this meanes became their prison where being seuered in sundry prisons they write these Epistles one to another MIne own deere Lord sith thou art lock'd from mee In this disguise my loue must steale to thee Since to renue all loues all kindnes past This refuge scarcely left yet this the last My Keeper comming I of thee enquire vvho with thy greeting aunswers my desire vvhich my tongue willing to returne againe Griefe stops my words and I but striue in vaine vvhere-with amaz'd away in hast he goes vvhen through my lips my hart thrusts forth my woes vvhen as the doores that make a dolefull sound Driue backe my words that in the noyse are drownd vvhich some-what hush'd the eccho doth record And twice or thrice reiterates my word vvhen like an aduerse winde in Isis course Against the tyde bending his boystrous force But when the flood hath wrought it selfe about He following on doth head-long thrust it out Thus striue my sighes with teares ere they begin And breaking out againe sighes driue them in A thousand formes present my troubled thought Yet proue abortiue when they forth are brought From strongest woe we hardly language wrest The depth of griefe with words are sounded least As teares doe fall and rise sighes come and goe So doe these numbers ebb so doe they flow These briny teares doe make my Incke looke pale My Inck clothes teares in this sad mourning vaile The letters mourners weepe with my dim eye The paper pale greeu'd at my misery Yet miserable our selues why should we deeme Sith none is so but in his owne esteeme VVho in distresse from resolution flies Is rightly said to yeeld to miseries They which begot vs did beget this sin They first begun what did our griefe begin vvee tasted not t' was they which did rebell Not our offence but in theyr fall we fell They which a Crowne would to my Lord haue linck'd Aâ—ll hope all life all libertie extinct A subiect borne a Soueraigne to haue beene Hath made me now nor subiect nor a Queene Ah vile ambition how doost thou deceaue vs vvhich shew'st vs heauen and yet in hell doost leaue vs Sildome vntouch'd doth innocence escape vvhen error commeth in good counsailes shape A lawfull title counterchecks proude might The weakest things become strong props to right Then my deere Lord although affliction grieue vs Yet let our spotlesse innocence relieue vs. Death but an acted passion doth appeare vvhere truth giues courage and the conscience cleere And let thy comfort thus consist in mine That I beare part of vvhatsoere is thine As when we liu'd vntouch'd with these disgraces vvhen as our kingdome was our sweet embraces At Durham Pallaceâ— where sweet Hymen sang vvhose buildings with our nuptiall musick rang vvhen Prothalamions praysd that happy day vvherein great Dudley match'd with noble Gray vvhen they deuisd to linck by wedlocks band The house of suffolke to Northumberland Our fatall Dukedom to your Dukedome bound To frame this building on so weake a groundâ— For what auailes a lawlesse vsurpation vvhich giues a scepter but not rules a nation Onely the surfeit of a vaine opinion vvhat giues content giues what exceeds dominion VVhen first mine eares were persed with the fame Of Iane proclaimed by a Princesse name A suddaine fright my trembling hart appalls The feare of conscience entreth yron walls Thrice happy for our Fathers had it beene If what we fear'd they wisely had fore-seene And kept a meane gate in an humble path To haue escap'd these furious tempests wrath The Cedar-building Eagle heares the wind And not the Faulcon though both Hawkes by kind That kingly bird doth from the clowdes commaund The fearefull foule that moues but neere the Land Though Mary be from mightie Kings descended My blood not from Plantaginet pretended My Gransire Brandon did our house aduaunce By princely Mary Dowager of Fraunce The fruite of that faire stocke which did