vnwelcome Pages 32 But mindes not cast in any mortall mould Infus'd from Heau'n not tyed vnto succession Are freely left for so the Maker would Vnto his wise all-gouerning discretion Like softned wax apt to receiue impression But when the forme is once imprinted In 'T is hardly lost what Nature first did win 33 'T is somewhat to bee borne of vertuous seed An honest bellie beares a hopefull Sonne And yet we see goods Parents often breed A wild and wicked Issue which doe run Most impious courses till their liues be done As was the Sire the Sonne himselfe will fashion Is probable but yet no demonstration 34 That vertuous Romane great Germanicus One of the peerelesse worthies of that State Begets Caligula a Prince most vicious Most bloudie furious and vnfortunate How much Domitian did degenerate From his braue Sire warlike Vespatian Is not vnknowne to euery knowing man 35 The same is truly instanced in mee For I was farre vnlike my worthy Sire A sower Crab from sweetest Apple-tree A Cloudie smoake from Sun-bright shining fire And that small good that Nature did inspire By soothing tongues too soone was turn'd to Ill So smallest â—rost vntimely fruit doth kill 36 For when men did perceiue my youthfull Itch. To vaine delight and saw my mind affected Vnto the flight where pleasure made the pitch How all my noble studies were neglected My youth with ease my ease with Lust infected Streight some sow'd pillowes vnderneath my sin And prais'd that most I most delighted in 37 Vpon the earth where is that happie ground Wherein such answering Ecchoes are not heard But most of all such pleasing voyces sound About Kings Courts there find they best reward And that 's the chiefest end that they regard But that poore Prince which such flies blow vpoÌ„ Shall scarcely know his owne Complexion 38 Blest are those times saith an * Historian The grauest wisest worthiest of that kind Wherein 't is lawfull for an honest man Freely to thinke to speake to write his mind And you great earthly Gods shall euer find More truly louing hearts in such free tongues Then in th'impostum'd breath of flatt'ring lungs 39 Amongst the rest one Peirce of Gaueston Pleasing in speech and gracefull in behauiour One that Indeed was second vnto none In winding in himselfe to great mens fauour That by their hazards he might be the Sauer When he did spye the marke whereat I ment Streight gaue the meanes to giue my bow more bent 40 VVe liu'd together eu'n from prime of yeares VVhereby our joynt affections were combin'd The mutuall consort of our infant Pheeres Doth keepe a long possession of the mind And many deepe Impressions leaues behind VVouldst thou haue Loue to last beyond the tomb TheÌ„ let it take beginning at the wombe 41 So hunts the Hound and so the Hauke doth flye As at the first entrance they are made and man'd And so those springing humours seldome dye That in our first conceit Ingraued stand Though childish loue seeme to be built on sand Yet euery one eu'n in himselfe may proue He likes it still what he at first did loue 42 Princes that doe intend your Heires such good As shall enable them for to succeed And no way to disparage their high blood O let it be your most respectiue heed To sow their tender yeeres with vertues seed For so the well or ill-manured field As it is till'd doth Corne or Cocle yeeld 43 Inure their youth vnto their Peeres conuerse From whence some seeds of liking first will grow VVhich eu'n the Soule it selfe in time will peirce And proue a constant zeale from whence will flow All dutious offices that men may shew And then Designes of Princes happiest proue VVhen their great Peeres do serue because they loue 44 Besides there is a secret trust repos'd In those whom long assurance hath combin'd And when we know how humors are dispos'd VVe frame our councels fitter to the mind Vnsounded Natures sharpest judgements blind And those we entertaine with diffidence Of whom we haue but small experience 45 So that to win a trust to plant a Loue To gaine a settled Seruice of the Peeres It is the safest way that Kings can proue To glew them close eu'n in their Infant yeeres And here my Fathers Error much appeares VVho did ingrift me into Gaueston By so vniting both our youths in one 46 Hee was in face a Cupid or more faire A Mercurie in speech or else as much In actiue vigor hee was Mars his heire In wit Ioue bred Minerua was not such But O these guifts will not abide the touch Except with Inward vertues of the mind Both beautie speech strength wit are all refin'd 47 But why should Nature set so faire a Glosse Vpon a mind which sinne did so deforme Why should shee gild and polish such base drosse As if she did the Soules perfection scorne And onely would Impietie adorne Or else seduce those mindes from judging right Who doe conforme their censures to their sight 48 But oft we see a sweet and mild aspect A comely presence winning vpon all A face that seemes all vertue to affect Doth hide a heart of stone a mind of gall A crabbed will a Soule to sinne most thrall And therefore he in Iudgment shootes awry That takes his leuell onely from his Eye 49 Because the glorious inside of the mind Hath no dependance on the outward forme In which if erring Nature proue vnkind And disproportions doe the shape deforme Shee commonly endeauours to reforme The bodies error with the mindes supply So richest Iemmes in Earths base entrailes lye 50 The face is false the looke is but a lyer The habite and the heart doe much discent For good pretences cloake a bad desire Faire complements varnish a foule entent Who doth relye on them may chance repent Which was my Case and caus'd my ouerthrow For I did prize the substance by the shew 51 If one may vse that word without controule If euer any* Metempsicosis was I thinke the last* Asâ—yrians Monarchs soule By due descent to Gaueston did passe For he a right Sardanapalus was Drown'd in delights if one may tearme them so That hatch in lust and breath their last in woe 52 This highest Scholler in the Schoole of Sinne This Centaure halfe a man and halfe a Best This pleasing Syren so my soule did win That he was deere to mee aboue the rest Looke what he said was Gospell at the lest Looke what he did I made my President So soone we learne what wee too late repent 53 This Angell-Diu'll thus shrined in my heart This Dragon hauing got the golden fruit My very Soule to him I did impart Nor was I euer deafe vnto his suit Hee acted all I was a silent mute My being seem'd to be in him alone Plantaginet was turn'd to Gaueston 54 And hauing seiz'd me thus into his hands For feare belike least he should bee diseased Hee thought to tye me
Common men More eager is the Itch To mount the top of One that 's vp halfe way Then his that still at lowest step doth stay 341 Therefore the Prince whose forces and whose Armes By other then himselfe Commanded bin Must for prevention of ambitious harmes Haue many Chiefetaines to Imploy therein So shall no One be able for to win So strong a partie but another may Serue for a Helpe to be crost in his way 342 But is there then No Cement for to joyne The Prince and pow'rfull Peere so close so fast That th' one shall not suspect nor th' other clime Or is the state of things so strangely plac'd That men cannot be good with greatnesse grac'd Must Princes feare the noblest vertues still Or must a Subject vse such vertues Ill 343 O no such mindes a glosse of vertue beare But no essentiall part of her partake A Kingly Nature cannot nourish feare And vertuous soules Loue good for goodnesse sake And onely that their Actions ayme doe make Where such as borrow vertues for a time Are dangerous men and very apt to clime 344 Especially If their designements bend To Compasse that which we dependance call If all their actions leuell at this end T' endeare themselues vnto the Generall They will bee easily drawne to throw at all When they haue got the dice into their hand By hauing often Conduct and Command 345 The Antidote for Princes to preserue Their States vndanger'd from such poysonous plattes Is onely Iustice which who doth obserue In all designes to men of all estates And is not swaid with Feares Hopes Loues or Hates Or any passion but goes eu'nly on That Prince is wise and doth secure his Throne 346 Let all the Politickes that breath this day Racke their conceits vntill they break their braine They never shall inuent a better way Whereby a Prince may with assurance raigne Then to be truely just and to retaine An eu'n proportion Arithmaticall Which giueth equall Iustice vnto all 347 This is the Mother both of Loue and Feare This doth ingender dutie and desire This doth the Prince from all suspition cleare Because it doth Cut-off the meanes to aspire This distributes to all deserued Hire Whereby the Subject hauing his just due Doth rest Contented and Contented true 348 And you great Starres whose powerfull Influence May worke so much be not Irregular Moâ—e fairely in your Orbes without offence Bee Nobles truely and not Titular But stay my Muse how apt art thou to erre From thy first path returne and make it plaine That Armes are safest for a Soveraigne 349 Not onely ro preuent aspyring harmes Would I haue Kings Commanders of their owne But chiefly I would haue them practise Armes That their great spirits might be the better shown And haue more vent to make their vertues known For greatnes doth much in opinions rest And that 's maintain'd by being in action best 350 Besides 't is certaine all men wish to serue Rather in the Kings eye then by his Eare Nothing inflames the Soule more to deserue More quickens honour more expelleth feare Then when the Prince in presence doth appeare To checke the Coward with praise and merit To grace the Actions of a gallant Spirit 351 This of all Causes that I can Conceiue Made Alexander Monarch of the East It is a mightie motiue not to leaue Theyr Soueraigne Prince in danger or distrest Ill thriue they heere on Earth in heau'n vnblest That thinke not so And grant O dearest Lord That men and Angels to my prayers accord 352 Wise was that State and very well advis'd Whose forces being often put to flight Still finding bad successe at length devis'd To bring theyr Infant Prince into the fight Eu'n in his Cradle that his very sight Might giue them better heart which prou'd most true For they did fight and fighting did subdue 353 Besides those vnder-Officers that are Imploy'd according to each seuerall place Will with more Faith and more respectiue Care Intend their Charge before the Princes face So to auoyd both danger and disgrace And then the Common Souldier serueth best When hee 's respected most and fleeced least 354 And though I know Examples doe not proue Yet is the state of things not so Confounded But that those selfe-same motiues still may moue On which their resolutions then were grounded Therfore since Nor-man William first was Crowned Who list suruey our Kings caÌ„not but yield Their states thriu'd best who most did keep yâ— field 355 Yet if the Prince by Age disabled bee Or otherwise by any like defect Or if the Sex with Armes doth not agree Then let them make fit choyse with much respect Of men of greatest vertues to direct Their martiall forces and the more they traine In such Designes The safer is their Raigne 356 Because that Prince with more assurance liues That doth rely on many then on One. For nothing sooner apt occasion giues To swelling Spirits for to worke vpon Then if they often haue Command alone Especially If men doe hold them such As without them The State cannot doe much 357 Besides it causeth Enuie on all parts Many malignant humours will bee bred If that the Prince all powerfulnesse Imparts Solely to One which eu'nly quartered Sets many Spirits on worke Who all are fed At least with hopes which else perhaps might fall To practice If one hand ingrossed all 358 Nor would I haue the Prince to nourish feares Or jealousies of such as well deserue But let them make and keepe great spirits theirs And let their fauours and their bounties serue As chaines to bind them that they may not swerue From loyall Dutie Stronger is that Tye Then Cunning practice or sterne Crueltie 359 And since they must haue Agents of their will For Execution of their enterprizes Or bee themselues Ingag'd in action still Let nor vngrounded feares and false surmises Vnapt theyr meanes and crosse their own deuises For who suspects when no cause doth appeare Doth giue a cause to that which he doth feare 360 So Commodus and Bassiaâ—â—â— so Two Princes of a most mistrustfull braine Did spinne the thrid of their owne ouerthrow By diffidence which they did entertaine Of theyr own Creatures by whoÌ„ they were slaine Onely to saue themselues Whilst causlesse feare Did make them guiltie which before were cleare 361 Where liues the man that may in peace possesse The happie blessings of a priuate state Yet prostitutes him-selfe to wretchednesse To Care of mind to bodies Toyle to hate Of Enuie to the violence of Fate To teachy times To dangers imminent If vertue findes no grace but discontent 362 Therefore let Princes weigh their Seruants merits And grace them most that haue deserued best So shall respected vertue raise new spirits And euery noble heart and gentle brest Will boile with Zeale which will not let them rest Till they haue rob'd of blood each seuerall veyne To doe due seruice to theyr Soueraigne 363 But if the Prince
too much distrustfull bee Sad sowre and of a melancholy mind Hard of accesse close-handed nothing free To best deseruers euer most vnkind Let such an One assure himselfe to find False hearts and feeble hands but certaine hate If any danger threatens his estate 364 Besides the foule defacing of his glory And the remembance of his liuing shame Which will recorded bee in euery storie And euery Annall will report the same And taxe with hatefull tyrannie his Name And why should Kings bee so Ill-gouerned That their blacke deeds should liue when they dead 365 A Thousand yeares and more are gone and past Since that Iustinian did the Empire sway And yet his foule dishonour still doth last And will doe still whilst there is night and day Because hee did vnworthily repay Thy Seruices good BELLISARIVS To whom hee was vnjustly Tyrannous 366 What though hee did plucke forth those Eyes of thine The chearfull Lamps yâ— lightned those dark dayes Yet thy great Acts maugre his malice shine As bright and glorious as the Sunnie rayes And Time both sees and speakes thy lasting praise What though hee made thee * beg from doore to doore Thou shalt be rich in honor he but poore 367 Besides God doth Ingratitude detest But loues kind offices from man to man For sweetnes goodnes priuate States are blest And much more Kings Because indeed they can Do much more good They measure not by th' span But by the Ell And as their meanes are more With abler winges so must they higher sore 368 And O deare God the fountaine of all good How much oblâ—ged are these times to thee For our most blessed * Prince of greatest blood And yet of greater vertue Happie wee Yea ten times happie that haue liu'd to see So many rare perfections joyn'd in One. And that same-One to sit vpon our Throne 369 I doe not purpose to perâ—ume my Rimes With the false â—ash of seruile Flatterie I rather 〈◊〉 too bold with these our Times But I appeale to Gods All-seeing Eye To which our closest drifts doe open lye How my true Pen writes from my feeling heart When I Great King out shadow what thou art 370 And O how blest how deare the heau'ns do loue That happie State where vertuous Princes sway O sweet Experience now by thee wee proue Wee taste wee touch that blessing euery day And graunt All-guiding God that long we may Long in him-selfe and so long in his Race Till Time vnto Eternitie giue place 371 But whither hath my Zeale my Soules desire With feruent passion led my Pen astray To my first subiect now I will retire And bring my Muse into the beaten way And â—ing of thy disaster and decay O fatall Edward whose Ill-gouern'd Crowne Both ruin'd others and thy selfe cast downe 372 But yet of all the multiplicitie Of seuerall Ills that doe vnhappie life There was no greater Infelicitie Then was the false-hood of his faultie Wife That bosome wound that deadly-poyson'd knife That stabs the Soule and neuer finds reliefe But kils with outward shame inward griefe 373 O what a Chaos of Confused ill Is in the Compasse of this Sinne Contain'd First violation of GODS Sacred will Next Parents Brothers Sisters are defam'd The Common-wealth by Bastardy is stayn'd Inheritances wrongfully possest The Husband scorn'd 6 Wife loath'd 7 And babes vnblest 374 The festrous Sore growes to a dangerous head Now Mortimer begins to play his prise A brauer spirit Nature neuer bred Of goodly presence to attract the Eyes Of sweet Discourse wherein great Influence lyes Of high resolue and of a noble heart No want of Nature and all Ayde of Art 375 This was the Paris which my Hellen wonne And this Promethius stole my heau'nly fire This was the Eagle ayring in the Sunne Hee 's more then man that can restraine desire Especially being wag'd by such a hire A Queene and young and faire he 's halfe a Ioue Whom honour youth beautie cannot moue 376 And though there bee no just excuse for sinne Yet ISABELL This will I say for thee 'T is hardly kept what many striue to winne The finest Cloath doth soonest staine we see Perhaps thou took'st thy President from mee 'T was like for like though in thee wrong It were Yet was It right and just for mee to beare 377 Besides Hee did imploy all potent meanes To vndermine the bulwarke of her brest And O that Sexe too much by Nature leanes To Change of loues What need it bee opprest With winning Art But men will doe their best To scale the Fort And till the same be wonne It is vndone desir'd Repented done 378 And after many sweet intising baytes When hee had something diu'd into her heart Hee then fit opportunitie awaytes To act the last and best of all his part Wherein hee was to shew his Master Art Which hauing got Thus hee begins the field To conquer her that of her selfe did yeeld 379 Faire Queene qd He may I behold thy beautie Why not quoth she The Sunne is seene of all And shall I speake respecting still my duty Why not qd she Ioue heares the Captiue thrall Shall not disdaine on my endeauours fall Feare not qd she great minds take all in worth Not Pearle but Flint sends sparkes of fire forth 380 Then beautious Queene my words shall vent my woe I loue how sweet were that same sound froÌ„ thee For once qd she I am pleas'd to play the Eccho I loue It is no perfect point quoth he The sentence wants except your Grace addes Me You said not so I made but repitition To greatest summes faire Queene needs no addition 381 Why then qd shee what is 't that I should adde Adde fancie to affection gracious Queene Let not desire in tawny weeds bee clad No suite becomes sweet Loue so well as greene Adde Loue to loue Loue will more louely seeme Beleeue me sweet stolne fruit contenteth most Then spare not that which being spar'd is lost 382 Ah Mortimer Thou know'st qd she I may not Madame qd he I know you may but will not What if I will Why then sweet Queen delay not Edward will know why say he doth It skils not Fame wil defame fame wel may hurt but kils not Danger may grow That will indeere delight So darkest grounds make white to shew more white 383 Thou wilt be false then Sun leese thou thy light Why being Eclips'd thou know'st it oft doth so Let water burne I know thou hitt'st It right From Englands Bathes such boyling waters flow Bee Constant Moone when I vnconstant grow That fitteth well Shee changing You vntrue Nay you the Moone and I the man in you 384 I 'le cry Doe Madam Shed some teares for joy You wrong me much yet wrong'd you will not tell I pray thee leaue 'T is but an Idle Toy 'T is true and Toyes please Ladies passing well I cannot yield No women must but spell Men put together That 's my part
Desires so prosperously did frame That now the chiefest Quere was this One. Whether were worse my Selfe or Gaveston 98 It is a certaine truth Men doe not touch The highest point of wickednesse at first Habites or good or bad proue to bee such By often vse Sinne thriues as It is nurst And therefore kill this Cocatrice accurst Whil'st 't is an Egge for if It hatch and grow It will at last proue a commanding Foe 99 This did my aged Father well perceiue And with sad teares the Messengers of moane He did bâ—wayle himselfe that he should leaue His Crowne to me and me to Gaueston I in my sonne saith he am ouerthrowne My blisse my bane my peace procures my strife First Edward dyes in Second Edwards life 100 To bee a Father was my onely Ioy And now my griefe it is to bee a Father Why should my solace turne to mine annoy Why planted I Harts-ease and Rue must gather As I did sow I should haue reaped rather My hopefull haruest proues but baleful weeds And for the bloud I gaue my heart now bleeds 101 For Oh how neere a touch doth Nature giue How searching are the sufferings of our blood How much the Fathers soule doth joy or grieue When he doth see his Issues bad or good Is hard of any to bee vnderstood Except by such whose feeling bowels find What deepe Impressions do proceed from kind 102 Wise was the Prince who playing with his Son And teaching him to ride vpon a Reed To whom a great Ambassador did come And seem'd to blush at his so childish deed Doe not quoth he to censure it proceed I onely craue a respite of thy doome Till thou thy selfe art Father of a Sonne 103 Inferring that there is a secret loue Which vntouch'd hearts can hardly comprehend Would God the same reciprocall might proue Oh that kind Nature did sometimes ascend Parents too oft in Indulgence offend But Sonnes more oft in duty proue defectiue These weyward times are grown so vnrespectiue 104 Nature so wrought that Cressas Sonne cry'd out Who from his birth before had not spoke word When he did see a Souldier goe about To kill the King his Father with a sword Could Nature then such Presidents afford Was she so powerfull then now weakned so That Sonnes themselues do work their Fathers woe 105 Or was he not my Sonne did brutish lust So fire the affections of my deerest Queene That shâ— vnto my bed should proue vniust And by some other not my selfe should teeme O farre bee 't from my soule so to misdeeme Sweet flower of Castile sacred was thy vow If euer wife were true that wiâ—e wert thou 106 O Elianor thou wert too good a piece Once to admit the smallest shew touch Take all the chastest Dames of Rome or Greece VVhereof fore-going Ages speake so much They can but say at best That they were such As I knew thee to bee and perhaps too Time more then Truth permits them so to doe 107 Ill gouern'd Ned although my soule doth hate Thy vitious Errors as the Stigian floud Which will proue dangerous to thy selfe State Yet Nature workes so much vpon my blood As that I cannot choose but wish thy good If euer thou in Himens bands be ty'd Such as thy Mother was such be thy Bride 108 And in that onely wish Included is The chiefest choysest good that thou can'st find Summa Totalis of all earthly blisse Is such a wise as is both wise and kind Chast sober silent faire in face and mind And such was she when therfore thou dost erre 'T is from thy selfe alone and not from her 109 But foolish man why doe I blame my Sonne Whose yet vnknowing yeeres by Ill adâ—ice Being led away A dangerous course doth run For Youths hot bloud forgets old Ages yee And while his hand is in doth throw the dice At all that pleasure sets and thinks to gaine If with the Bye he can discharge the maine 110 Sweet Ned I blame not thee but Gaueston For he it is that sitteth at the helme And steeres thy course with his wind thou art blowne Nor will he leaue till he doth ouerwhelme In deepest gulfe thy selfe and all this Realme For stirring spirits doe troubled streames desire And then thriue best when all is set on fire 111 Obserue with all those States that doe decline How apt they alwayes are for Innouation How much they doe 'gainst publike good repine And hopefully expect an Alteration That whil'st things are vnsetled out of fashion They may close vp the wounds they had before And by that meanes their priuate wants restore 112 Therefore let those that haue a grounded State And may liue well joyne close in any wise Against all such as seeke to Innouate If not in duty yet in sound aduice To keepe such downe as hope perhaps to rise Vpon their ruines whose reuenewes may Cut short their liues sure proue the spoilers pray 113 And with these linke such Spirits as faine would rise But are by former great Ones still supprest And such doe dangerous Stratagems deuise Nor will their Eager hopes affor'd them rest But mount they must who-euer be deprest And little doe they force the States confusion So thereby they to greatnes make Intrusion 114 And to this End they are obsequious still They sooth they fawne they seeme officious They fit themselues to their great mouers will Bee 't good or bad just or Iniurious They serue eu'n turnes base and luxurious But I 'le prouide a wholesomâ— Mithredate So to preuent the poysons of the State 115 And firmely settled in this resolution By strict command was Gaueston exil'd 〈◊〉 begg'd of him to stop the Execution But then my Father shak'd his head and smil'd O Ned saith he how much art thou beguil'd To foster that which will thy downe-fall be And warme the Snake that will inuenom thee 116 â— wish'd my selfe an Eccho at that word That I might boldly then haue answered Thee For neuer was there sharpest-edged sword That wounded more theÌ„ that same wounded me But goe he must such was the King decree And when he went then dy'd my bloud-lesse heart So doth the Body from the soule depart 117 The former times haue held it policie That some offendors should abjure the Land But 't is indeed an idle vanitie And with no rules of regiment can stand For if the matter be with Iudgement scann'd It will appeare to men considerate That Abiuration hurts both Prince and State 118 I doe not meane of men that are not mist For who respects the hummings of a Gnat Such atomy may wander where they list Their muddie paâ—es can neither frame the plat Nor feeble hands worke danger to the State Lâ—t men of Note be mark'd and wary heed Be had of them that may disturbance breed 119 And 't is not safe to banish such an-One As may find meanes to worke his owne returne So * Bolenbroke stept into * Richards throne Hen And hee
were still attendant Though at my birth Ioue smil'd with sweet aspect Yet froward Saturne did my life direct 274 For though distasted Gaveston was dead Yet Edward liu'd and liu'd to farther Ill For still I was by my affections led I will'd no Law yet vs'd no Law but will My Peeres disgrac'd my people grieued still The Spencers hey succeeded Gaveston Ill chang'd to worse and worst two Ills for one 275 These Spencers now the Subject of my Song Discended of a Race of great esteeme The elder Hugh the Father liued long A man of worth and happie dayes had seene Till his ambitious Sonne did over-weene Whose greatnesse caus'd the Father to aspire And at the last did wracke both Sonne and Sire 276 O what hast thou Old man to doe with Court Thy Bookes and Beads had better beene for thee Liue still retyr'd and doe not now resort To stormie tempest Age doth Ill agree With great Concourses and vulgar mutinee It rather craues Immunitie and rest And peacefull ease with tumults not distrest 277 Whose joynts being rack't and tortur'd with the Gout Can scarce endure the stirring of a straw Who being vnweildie must be borne about Whose golden Ewre is crack't with many a flaw Who hath no grinders left in either jaw Whose strong men bow whose keepers shake tremble Whose meager lookes pale death doth most resemble 278 But this Ambition is a boyling Ill. Honour doth make dead Cinders glow againe What aged One so great but by his will Would faine grow greater Age doth still retaine Two Humours Hope of Life Desire of Gaine And this was that which made Old Spencer clime When he was past the Autumne of his time 279 The younger Hugh the Sonne of this old man Was of an actiue Spirit and able braine Who with the Barrons at the first began To side himselfe They fauouring him againe For Gaveston made him Lord Chamberlaine That he in place so neare about the King Might giue them notice still of euery thing 280 Thinking because he was by them preferr'd He still would cleaue to them in their designes But vnjudiciall men herein they erâ—'d A swelling Spirit hates him by whom he climes As Iuie kils the tree whereon It twines So rising men when they are mounted high Spurne at the means that first they mounted by 281 Because they thinke such fauours challenge still An equall correspondencie of Loue. Which tyes them to be plyant to their will And as the lower Spheares by those aboue Are whirl'd about so they by them must moue And doe what they insultingly obtrude Or else be censur'd for Ingratitude 282 And such well mettled men cannot disgest To be obsequious to anothers mind Their haughtie Spirits will not let them rest Till those precedent bands which did them bind By open opposition are vntwin'd And such a publike rupture doth restore Their libertie which was lngag'd before 283 And greatnesse holds it needfull policie To rid his hands of them that did it raise By entring into open Enmitie And so to cut them off without delayes These were and are the Courses of our dayes Who list obserue both old and moderne times Shall find I write no fables though some Rimes 284 I will not touch particulars at all I play the ball let others marke the chase The Spencers doe my wandring muse recall Who being neare the King in chiefest place Did heape vp much and that in little space For all things had from them their passage then Who turn'd to gold all matters and all men 285 The chiefest Peeres were vnderhand kept downe The Minions of the King got euery place Though Edward had yet Spencers rul'd the Crown And being both made Earles in highest grace Did heape vp much and that in little space They wrong'd they car'd not whoÌ„ such was their lust And sodaine greatnes growes too soone vniust 286 Especially If like a mole it workes Only in Earth how greedy's such a Man How slyly he in close advantage lurkes To compasse a whole Country if he can Still griping all that Comes within his span What wealth wit friends force can doe good or Ill Shall must be practis'd for to please his will 287 The Princes fauours doe for Pulleys serue To draw on men to be at his command Eu'n Seats of Iudgement shall from Iustice swerue If they may bring a Title to his hand And if some Reverend Fathers shall with-stand Then weed them out They will not serue a turn Such men are fit for Marryres Let them burne 288 His Agents must bee of another mould Sharpe-sighted into other mens estate Plyant to doe what their great Master would Close cunning to dissemble loue or hate VVell-spoken powerfull to Insinuate Seemingly honest out wardly precise By which they may their close complots disguise 289 These are the Pipes of lead that doe Conuey Those practices that from their head doe spring And so these seconds come to beare great sway Are legg'd and crouch'd vnto for feare they sting These buy and build and beg and raise wring Farmer Esquire Knight and Baron too And Prince and all with whom they haue to do 290 And this Indeed was the most dangerous Rocke VVhereon I split and so at last did drowne This was my Error This the stumbling blocke At which I fell and cast my Fortunes downe This lost my peoples hearts and that the Crown My Minions rapine and vniust oppression And my too much Indulgent Indiscretion 291 My Peeres were male-content being vnrespected My Souldiers mutinous for want of Pay My Court with all Licentiousnesse infected My People poore with Taxes par'd away And apt for Innouation euery day All out of joynt deiected and dismay'd Onely the Spencers and their Consort sway'd 292 I sold they bought I wasted they did thriue They had abundance I was Indigent Their's was the honey mine the ransack'd hiue Which made them grow bold tart and insolent And thereby caus'd a Common discontent Of all whose Crimes I did Incurre the blame Because my heate gaue life vnto the same 293 Princes attend for I doe speake in Zeale 'T is not enough that you your selues bee just But you must Looke into the Common-weale And see that those whom you doe put in trust Doe gouerne by the Law not by their Lust. For hee indeed the wrong doth perpetrate That may redresâ—e yet doth It tollerate 294 And so you make their wickednesse your owne By suffring them to sinne without Controule But let not Widowes teares bedew your Throne Nor poore mens sighes sent from a grieued Soule Nor Orphans prayers which heau'n doth still enroll Nor common curses caus'd by publick grieuance Draw Iudgements down on you for their mischieuance 295 Kings must vse some And may chuse of the best But let them still remember what men are Let not all Lawes bee lock'd vp in one brest Let not ones onely Censure make or marre For men haue passions which oft strain them farre The most sees least few
Is left alone forsaken quite No Sonne no friend to doe him his last right None that vouchsaf'd to giue him buriall But vnregarded lay despis'd of all 539 Nay more The ground where he should be Inter'd Anselme Fitz-Arthur his dead bones to spight Claim'd as his owne A thing not euer heard And for the Prince there dead by lawlesse might Had worm'd him out of that which was his right On Gods behalfe He did forbid them all Within his Earth to giue him buriall 540 Nor would he cease the challenge he had made Nor yet durst they interre his Corpes therein Vntill a summe of mony was defray'd With which they pay'd a ransome for his sinne So much a doe had this great Prince to winne That which none doth the poorest wretch deny A bed of peace where his dead bones might lye 541 Nor was the streame of miserie thus stay'd The date of our Affliction lasted still There is not yet sufficient ransome pay'd The Ill-got Scepter must be sway'd as Ill Rufus succeeds and still more bloud doth â—pill Still hauocks more and still doth Tyrannize Vntill by sodaine violence he dyes 542 Nor did the Crowne stand well on any head Till * Ben. Clarke got the Scepter in his hand Who to the Saxon Maude being married Some beames of coÌ„fort cheer'd the drooping Land And then our State in peacefull tearmes did stand Till Henry dy'd and Steephen vnjustly got The Crowne and set new troubles here on foot 543 Then burst there forth an all consuming flame The Empresse Maâ—de sought to require her right Steephen had the Crowne and he would keepe the same Vntill She could recouer It by fight Then followed all the hostile Acts of spight Sword fire Rapes murders leaguers wast and wrack And nothing of extreamest Ills did lacke 544 So hath vnjust Succession scourg'd this Realme At length Steephen dyes after a wretched Raigne Then Second Henry weares the Diadem In whom the rightfull Title did remaine And then our state did happy fortunes gaine Then did our strength encrease our bounds extend And many nations to our yoake did bend 545 And Richard his braue Sonne did next succeed In a just Course and all things prosper'd well In Sâ—ria hee did many a worthy deed The Easterne world of his exploits can tell And many thousand miscreants sent to Hell By his vnconquered Armes haue prou'd long since That Cure-De Lyon was a peerlesse Prince 546 He dead young Arthur should haue had the Crown The Sonne of Ieffrey who was Henries Sonne Had not King Iohn his Vnckle put him downe Who being hauld on by Ambition Diuerts the Course of true succession Makes himselfe King vsurpes the Princes name And murthers Arthur to secure the same 547 And now O now begins our Tragedie VVhere Death and horrour onely Actors are Iohn gouernes as hee got preposterously And doth both with his Peeres and Clergie jarre Then Ianus sets wideâ—ope the gates of warre And then the Land with blood was ouerflowne And none could safely call his owne his owne 548 Then were the Cities sack'd the fields lay'd wast The Virgins forc'd the Marriage bed defil'd Then were the auncient Monuments defac'd The Portes vntraffick'd landed vp and spoyl'd Eu'n God himselfe seem'd hence to bee exil'd The land was Curs'd all Sacred rights were bard And Six yeeres space no publike prayers were heard 549 Then did the King lease forth the Realme to Rome Then did the Peeres to France betray the Crowne O heau'ns great King how fearefull is thy doome How many mighty Plagues canst thou powre downe Vpon a Nation If thou please to frowne Arthur It was the wrong done thee of late That made just Heau'n so to afflict our State 550 But yet might not his death that did the deed Bee a Peace-offring to redeeme the Sinne Why should the Land of the one wound still bleed Or wherefore dy'd not his offence with him Was not the measure heap'd-vp to the brim Both of the Ills hee suffred and had done But that the guilt must prosecute the Sonne 551 O no Although third Henry was the man In whom The lawfull Title was Inuested For Arthur dead the right was then in Iohn And Iohn decea'sd the same in Henry rested Yet that the world should see â—ow God detested Such wrongfull meanes Acts so vniustly done The Fathers whip is made to lash the Sonne 552 For still did Ciuill furie wound the state During the time of Henries pupillage And still the Peeres swolne with Intestiâ—e hate Against theyr harmelesse Prince being vnder age CoÌ„bine themselues w th France wheÌ„ that rage Was spent the Barons-warre brake forth againe So full of troubles was third Henries raigne 553 Hee dead my Father Long-shankes then did raigne And in due Course succeeded next his Sire Then all afflictions did begin to waine And England did to peace and wealth aspire Nor did the streame of blisse flow euer higher Then when first Edward managed the State Prudent in Peace and in warres fortunate 554 That Noble Prince to mee my birth did giue Whom I succeeded in a rightfull line You all haue sworne Allegiance whilst I liue And will you now inforce mee to resigne Will you againe with wicked hands vnt wine That Sacred chayne whereon depends our good And drowne this Iland once againe in blood 555 O If you doe disorder thus the Crowne And turne the lawfull course another way If you vnjustly wring from mee mine owne You spinne a Thred to worke our owne decay And my propheticke Soule doth truely say The time will come when this vniust designe Will plague your selues your sonnes and mine owne line 556 For from my Stocke two branches shall arise From whom shall grow such great dis-union As many thousand liues shall not suffice To re-unite them both againe in One England shall wast more deare blood of her owne Against her selfe then would suffice t' obtaine All France and conquer Germany and Spaine 557 Thou wert too true a Prophet fatall King And thy Presages were too ominous From thee and from thy worthy Sonne did spring Those Families that so afflicted vs For Yorke and Lancaster litigious For the Crowne-right did make the Sword their plea And so white Albion grew to be a red-Sea 558 But when that men are bent to doe amisse Then all perswasions are but spent in vaine The Parliament was resolute in this That I their King no longer should remaine Whereto If I oppos'd my selfe 'T was vaine They were resolu'd And my peruersnes might Make them perhaps to doe my Son lesse right 559 Which when I heard thinke how my soule did war Within It selfe which way I should incline Deare was my Sonne my selfe was dearer farre By my Eclipse must I procure his shine Cannot hee raigne vnlesse I now resigne My Father dy'd e're I could get the Crowne I liue And yet my Sonne must put me downe 560 My Sonne Alas poore Prince It is not hee For many Wolues maske in that Lambes