Report almost of all the common rout Ran still that I was worthie praisde to be And often times they gaue me all a shout This made my foes to stare and looke about And often wish them ill aloude that cride * Such is the nature still of naughtie pride We twaine quoth he betweene our selues will trie Alone our manhoods both if thou consent We ought not breake the Prince his peace quoth I His grace would not therewith be well content And sith no hurt was heere nor malice ment You ought not so on choler take it ill Though I to win the prize put forth my skill With that quoth Elenine for so he hight That was the Earle his cosin then my foe I meane quoth he to trie the case in fight Before thou passe againe my presence froe And euen with that he raught to me a bloe My friends nor I could not this wrong abide We drew and so did those on th' other side But I was all the marke whereat he shot The malice still he meant to none but me At me he cast and drew me for the lot Which should of all reuenge the ransome bee Wherefore he set them at me franke and free Till me they tooke so compast round about As I could not scape from among them out To make it short I singled was therefore Euen as the Deere to find his fatall stroke I could not scape in number they were more My pageant was in presence there bespoke A pillow they prepared me of oke My hands they bound along my corps they led From off my shoulders quite they stroke my head If euer man that seru'd his Prince with paine And well deserued of his publique weale If euer Knight esteem'd it greatest gaine For Prince and Countrey in the warres to deale My selfe was such which venter'd life and heale At all assayes to saue my natiue soile With all my labour trauell paine and toile Yet heere you see at home I had my fall Not by my fiercest foes that came in warre But by my friend I gate this griping thrall When folly fram'd vs both at home to iarre Oh that my friend of yore should range so farre From wisdomes way to wed himselfe to will From reasons rule to wrest his wits to ill Well bid the rest beware of triumphes such Bid them beware for titles vaine to striue Bid them not trust such sullen friends too much Bid them not so their honours high atchieue For if they will preserue their names aliue There is no better way to worke the same Then to eschew of tyranny defame HOW CAIVS IVLIVS CAESAR which first made this Realme tributarie to the Romanes was slaine in the Senate house about the yeare before Christ 42. ALthough by Bocas I haue whilom told my mind And Lydgate haue likewise translated well the same Yet sith my place in order here againe I finde And that my facts deseru'd in Britaine worthy fame Let me againe renue to memory my name Recite my minde which if thou graunt to mee Thou shalt therefore receiue a friendly fee. If euer erst the fame of ancient Romane facts Haue come to pierce thine eares before this present time I thinke amongst the rest likewise my noble acts Haue shew'd themselues in sight as Phoebus faire in prime When first the Romane state began aloft to clime And wanne the wealth of all the world beside When first their force in warlike feates were tride I Caius Iulius Caesar Consull had to name That worthy Romane borne renownd with noble deeds What neede I here recite the linage whence I came Or else my greate exploites surelyt's more then needs But onely this to tell of purpose now proceedes Why I a Romane Prince no Britaine here Amongst these Britaine Princes now appeere And yet because thou maist perceiue the storie all Of all my life and so deeme better of the end I will againe the same to mind yet briefly call To tell thee how thou maist me praise or discommend Which when thou hast in briefe as I recite it pend Thou shalt confesse that I deserued well Amongst them heere my tragedie to tell What need I first recite my pedigree well knowne No noble author writes that can forget the same My praise I know in print through all the world is blowne Ther 's no man scarce that writes but he recites my fame My worthie father Lucius Caesar had to name Aurelia faire my mother also hight Of Caius Cotta daughter borne by right How I was trained vp in youth what need I tell Sith that my noble Aunt that Iulia hight me taught Who could with morall discipline instruct me well And saw the frame in me that natures skill had wrought By her instructions aye I wit and fauour sought I was accounted comely of my grace I had by natures gift a Princely face Of stature high and tall of colour faire and white Of bodie spare and leane yet comely made to see What need I more of these impertinent recite Sith Plutarch hath at large describ'd it all to thee And eke thy selfe that think'st thou seest and hearest me Maist well suppose the rest and write the truth Of all my noble actions from my youth In iourney swift I was and prompt and quicke of wit My eloquence was likte of all that heard me pleade I had the grace to vse my tearmes and place them fit My roling Rhetoricke stood my Clients oft in stead No fine conueyance past the compasse of my head I wan the spurres I had the laud and praise I past them all that pleaded in those daies At seuenteene yeares of age a Flamin was I chose An office great in Rome of Priesthood Princely hie I married eke Cossutia whereof much mischiefe rose Because I was diuorc'st from her so speedilie * Diuorcement breeds despite defame is got thereby For such as fancies fond by chance fulfill Although they thinke it cannot come to ill Of these the stories tell what need I more recite Or of the warres I waged Consul with the Galles The worthiest writers had desire of me to write They plac'st my life amongst the worthies and their falles So Fame me thinkes likewise amids the Britaines calles For Caesar with his sword that bare the sway And for the cause that wrought his swift decay When I in France had brought the valiant Galles to bend And made them subiect and obeysant vnto mee I then did thinke I had vnto the world his end By West subdued the Nations which were whilome free There of my famous warres I wrote an historie I did describe each places and sequels of my warre The Commentaries cal'd of Caesars acts that are At length I did perceiue there was an Island yet By West of France which in the Ocean sea did lie And that there was likewise no cause or time to let But that I might with them the chance of fortune trie I sent to them for hostage of assurance I And wil'd them
count their counsell vicious That note their faults and therefore call it treason All grace and goodnesse with the leaud is geason This is the cause why they good things do wrest Whereas the good take ill things to the best And therefore Baldwine boldly to the good Rebuke their fault so shalt thou purchase thankes As for the bad thou shalt but moue their mood Though pleasantly thou touch their naughty prankes Warne Poets all no wise to passe the bankes Of Helicon but keepe within the bound So shall their freedome to no harme redound THE WILFVLL FALL OF THE BLACK-SMITH AND THE foolish end of the Lord Awdeley in Iune Anno Dom. 1496. WHo is more bold then is the Bayard blind Where is more craft then in the clouted shone Who catch more harme then do the bold in mind Where is more guile then where mistrust is none No plaisters helpe before the griefe be knowne So seemes by me who could no wisdome leare Vntill such time I bought my wit too deare Who being boystrous stout and brainlesse bold Puft vp with pride with fire and furies fret Incenst with tales so rude and plainly told Wherein deceit with double knot was knit I trapped was as silly fish in net Who swift in swimming carelesse of deceit Is caught in gin wherein is laid no bait Such force and vertue hath this dolefull plaint Set forth with sighes and teares of Crocodile Who seemes in sight as simple as a Saint Hath laid a baite the warelesse to beguile And as they weepe they worke deceit the while Whose rufull cheere the rulers so relent To worke in haste that they at last repent Take heed therefore yee Rulers of the Land Be blind in sight and stop your other care In sentence slow till skill the truth hath scand In all your doomes both loue and hate forbeare So shall your iudgement iust and right appeare It was a southfast sentence long agoe That hastie men shall neuer lacke much woe Is it not truth Baldwine what saiest thou Say on thy mind I pray thee muse no more Me thinke thou star'st and look'st I wot not how As though thou neuer saw'st a man before Belike thou musest why I teach this lore Else what I am that heere so boldie dare Among the prease of Princes to compare Though I be bold I pray thee blame not mee Like as men sow such corne needs must they reape And nature planted so in each degree That Crabs like Crabs will kindly crawle and creepe The suttle Fox vnlike the silly sheepe It is according to my education Forward to prease in rout and congregation Behold my coate burnt with the sparkes of fire My leather apron fild with horse shooe nailes Behold my hammer and my pinsers here Behold my lookes a marke that seldome failes My cheekes declare I was not fed with quailes My face my cloathes my tooles with all my fashion Declare full well a Prince of rude creation A Prince I said a Prince I say againe Though not by birth by crafty vsurpation Who doubts but some men princehood do obtaine By open force and wrongfull domination Yet while they rule are had in reputation Euen so by me the while I wrought my feate I was a Prince at least in my conceite I dare the bolder take on me the name Because of him whom here I leade in hand Tychet Lord Awdley one of birth and fame Which with his strength and power seru'd in my band I was a Prince while that I was so mand His Butterfly still vnderneath my shield Displaied was from Welles to Blackeheath field But now behold he doth bewaile the same Thus after wits their rashnes do depraue Behold dismaid he dare not speake for shame He lookes like one that late came from the graue Or one that came forth of Trophonius caue For that in wit he had so litle pith As he a Lord to serue a traytour Smith Such is the courage of the noble hart Which doth despise the vile and baser sort He may not touch that sauours of the cart Himlisteth not with each Iack lout to sport He lets him passe for pairing of his port The iolly Eagles catch not litle flees The courtly silkes match seeld with homely frees But surely Baldwine if I were allow'd To say the troth I could somewhat declare But clerkes will say this Smith doth waxe too proud Thus in precepts of wisdome to compare But Smiths must speake that Clerkes for feare ne dare It is a thing that all men may lament When Clerkes keepe close the truth lest they be shent The Hostler Barbar Miller and the Smith Heare of the sawes of such as wisdome ken And learne some wit although they want the pith That Clerkes pretend and yet both now and then The greatest Clerkes proue not the wisest men It is not right that men forbid should bee To speake the truth all were he bond or free And for because I vs'd to fret and some Not passing greatly whom I should displease I dare be bold a while to play the mome Out of my sacke some others faults to lease And let mine owne behind my backe to pease For he that hath his owne before his eie Shall not so quicke anothers fault espie I say was neuer no such wofull case As is when honor doth it selfe abuse The noble man that vertue doth embrace Represseth pride and humblenes doth vse By wisdome workes and rashnesse doth refuse His wanton will and lust that bridle can Indeed is gentle both to God and man But where the Nobles want both wit and grace Regard no rede care not but for their lust Oppresse the poore set will in reasons place And in their words and doomes be found vniust Wealth goeth to wracke till all lie in the dust There Fortune frownes and spite begins to grow Till high and low and all be ouer throw Then fith that vertue hath so good reward And after vice so duely waiteth shame How hap'th that Princes haue no more regard Their tender youth with vertue to inflame For lacke whereof their wit and will is lame Infect with folly proue to lust and pride Not knowing how themselues or theirs to guide Whereby it hapneth to the wanton wight As to a ship vpon the stormie seas Which lacking sterne to guide it selfe aright From shore to shore the winde and tide to tease Finding no place to rest or take his ease Till at the last it sinke vpon the sand So fare they all that haue no vertues scand The plowman first his land doth dresse and tourne And makes it apt or ere the seed he sow Whereby he is full like to reape good corne Where otherwise no seed but weed would grow By which ensample men may easely know When youth haue wealth before they can well vse it It is no wonder though they do abuse it How can he rule well in a commonwealth Which knoweth not himselfe in rule to frame How should he rule himselfe in
grace and credit grew So that the King in hearing of this newes Deuised how he might my seruice vse He made me then his Chaplaine to say Masse Before his grace yea twice or thrice a weeke Now had I time to trim my selfe by glasse Now found I meane some liuing for to seeke Now I became both humble milde and meeke Now I appli'd my wits and senses throw To reape some corne if God would speed the plow Whom most I saw in fauour with the King I follow'd fast to get some hap thereby But I obseru'd another finer thing That was to keepe me still in Princes eye As vnder wing the hawke in winde doth lie So for a prey I prowled heere and there And tried friends and fortune euery where The King at length sent me beyond the seas Embastour then with message good and great And in that time I did the King so pleas By short dispatch and wrought so fine a feat That did aduance my selfe to higher seat The Deanrie then of Lincolne he me gaue And bountie shew'd before I gan to craue His Amner too he made me all in haste And threefold gifts he threw vpon me still His counsler straight likewaies was Wolsey plaste Thus in short time I had the world at will VVhich passed far mans reason wit and skill O hap thou hast great secrets in thy might VVhich long lie hid from wily worldlings sight As shewres of raine fall quickly on the grasse That fading flowres are soone refresht thereby Or as with Sun the morning dew doth passe And quiet calme makes cleare a troubled skie So Princes powre at twinkling of an eye Sets vp aloft a fau'ret on the wheele When giddy braines about the streets doe reele They are but blind that wake where Fortune sleepes They work in vaine that striue with streame and tide In double gard they dwell that destny keepes In simple sort they liue that lacke a guide They misse the marke that shoot their arrowes wide They hit the pricke that make their flight to glance So neere the white that shaft may light on chance Such was my lucke I shot no shaft in vaine My bow stood bent and brased all the yeere I waited hard but neuer lost my paine Such wealth came in to beare the charges cleere And in the end I was the greatest peere Among them all for I so rulde the land By Kings consent that all was in my hand Within on yeare three Bishoprickes I had And in small space a Cardnall I was made With long red robes rich Wolsey then was clad I walkt in Sun when others sate in shade I went abroad with such a traine and trade With crosses borne before me where I past That man was thought to be some God at last With sonnes of Earles and Lords I serued was An hundred chaines at least were in my traine I daile dranke in gold but not in glas My bread mas made of finest flowre and graine My dainty mouth did common meates disdaine I fed like Prince on fowles most deare and strange And bankets made of fine conceits for change My hall was full of Knights and Squires of name And gentlemen two hundred told by pole Tale yeomen too did hourely serue the same Whose names each weeke I saw within check role All went to church when seruice bell did knole All dinde and supt and slept at Cardnals charge And all would wait when Wolsey tooke his barge My household stuffe my wealth and siluer plate Might well suffice a Monarke at this day I neuer fed but vnder cloth of state Nor walkt abroad till Vshars cleard the way In house I had musitions for to play In open streete my trumpets loud did sound Which pearst the skies and seem'd to shake the ground My men most braue marcht two and two in ranke Who held in length much more then halfe a mile Not one of these but gaue his master thanke For some good turne or pleasure got some while I did not feed my seruants with a smile Or glosing words that neuer bring forth fruite But gaue them gold or els preferd their suite In surety so whiles God was pleasd I stood I knew I must leaue all my wealth behinde I saw they lou'd me not for birth or blood But seru'd a space to try my noble minde The more men giue the more indeed they finde Of loue and troth and seruice euery way The more they spare the more doth loue decay Iioide to see my seruants thriue so well And go so gay with little that they got For as I did in honour still excell So would I oft the want of seruants note Which made my men on master so to dote That when I said let such a thing be done They would indeed through fire and water ronne I had in house so many off'cers still Which were obaid and honourd for their place That carelesse I might sleepe or walke at will Saue that sometime I weigh'd a poore mans case And salu'd such sores whose griefe might breed disgrace Thus men did wait and wicked world did gaze On me and them that brought vs all in maze For world was whist and durst not speake a word Of that they saw my credit curbd them so I waded far and passed ore the foord And minded not for to returne I troe The world was wise yet scarce it selfe did knoe When wonder made of men that rose by hap For Fortune rare fals not in each mans lap I clim'd the clouds by knowledge and good wit My men sought chance by seruice or good lucke The world walkt low when I aboue did sit Or downe did come to trample on this mucke And I did swim as dainty as a ducke When water serues to keepe the body braue And to enioy the gifts that Fortune gaue And though my pompe surpast all Prelates now And like a Prince I liu'd and pleasure tooke That was not fure so great a blur in brow If on my workes indiffrent eyes doe looke I thought great scorne such â—â—uings heere to brooke Except I built some houses for the poore And order tooke to giue great almes at doore A Colledge faire in Oxford I did make A sumptuous house a stately work indeede I gaue great lands to that for learning sake To bring vp youth and succour scholers neede That charge of mine full many a mouth did feede When I in Court was seeking some good turne To mend my torch or make my candell burne More houses gay I built then thousands do That haue enough yet will no goodnes shoe And where I built I did maintaine it to With such great cost as few bestowes I troe Of buildings large I could rehearse a roe That by mischance this day haue lost my name Whereof I do deserue the only fame And as for sutes about the King was none So apt as I to speake and purchase grace Though long before some say Shores wife was one That oft kneeld downe before the
To helpe to bring him to his Requiem masse Which sith it could for no crime come to passe His life and doings were so right and clere Through priuy murder we brought him to his bere Thus righteousnesse brought Humfrey to rebuke Because he would no wickednesse allow But for my doings I was made a Duke So Fortune can both bend and smooth her brow On whom she list not passing why or how O Lord how high how soone she did me raise How fast she fill'd me both with prayes and praise The Lords and Commons both of like assent Besought my soueraigne kneeling on their knees For to record my deeds in the Parlament As deeds deseruing euerlasting fees In which attempt they did no labour leese For they set not my praise so fast in flame As he was readie to reward the same But note the end my deeds so worthie deemed Of King of Lords and Commons all together Were shortly after treasons false esteemed And all men curst Queene Margets comming lither For Charles the French King in his feats not lither When we had rendred Rayner Maunts and Maine Found meane to win all Normandie againe This made the people curse the mariage Esteeming it the cause of euery losse Wherefore at me with open mouth they rage Affirming me t' haue brought the Realme to mosse When King and Queene saw things thus go acrosse To quiet all a Parlament they called And caused me in prison to be thralled And shortly after brought me forth abrode Which made the Commons more then double wood And some with weapons would haue laid on lode If their grand Captaine Blewberd in his mood Had not in time with wisdome been withstood But though that he and more were executed The people still their worst against me bruted And so applied the Parliament with billes Of hainous wrongs and open traiterous crimes That King and Queene were forst against their willes From place to place t'adiourne it diuers times For Princes power is like the sandie slimes Which must perforce giue place vnto the waue Or sue the windie sourges when they raue Their life was not more deare to them then I Which made them search all shifts to saue me still But aye my foes such faults did on me trie That to preserue me from a worser ill The King was faine full sore against his will For fiue yeares space to send me in exile In hope to haue restor'd me in a while But marke how vengeance waiteth vpon vice To shun this storme in sayling towards France A Pirats Barke that was of little price Encountred me vpon the feas by chance Whose Captaine there tooke me as in a trance Let passe my ships with all their frait and load And led me backe againe to Douer road Where vnto me recounting all my faults As murthering of Duke Humfrey in his bed And how I had brought all the Realme to naughts Causing the King vnlawfully to wed There was no grace but I must lose my head Wherefore he made me shriue me in his bote And on the brinke my necke in two he smote This was mine end which was by reason due To me and such as others deaths procure Therefore be bold to write for it is true That whoso doth such practise put in vre Of due reward at last shall be most sure For God is iust whose stroke delayed long Doth light at last with paine more sharpe and strong W. Baldwine HOW IACK CADE NAMING HIMSELFE MORTIMER TRAYTEROVSLY rebelling against his King in Iune Anno 1450. was for his treasons and cruell doings worthilie punished SHall I it Fortune call or my froward folly That rais'd me vp and laid me downe below Or was it courage that made me so iolly Which of the starres and bodies greement grow What ere it were this one point sure I know Which shall be meete for euery man to marke Our lust and willes our euils chiefely warke It may be well that Planets doe encline And our complexions moue our mindes to ill But such is reason that they bring to fine No worke vnayded of our lust and will For heauen and earth are subiect both to skill The will of God rul'th all it is so strong Man may by skill guide things that to him long Though lust be stout and will enclin'd to nought This forst by mixture that by heauens course Yet through the grace God hath in reason rought And giuen man no lust nor will to course But may be staied or swaged of the sourse So that it shall in nothing force the minde To worke our woe or leaue the proper kind But though this grace be giuen to some man To rule the will and keepe the mind aloft Yet few there be'mongst men that vse it can These worldly pleasures tickle vs so oft The spirit weake and will strong flesh is soft And yeeldes it selfe to pleasure that it loueth And hales the mind to that it most reproueth Now if this hap whereby we yeeld our mind To lust and will be Fortune as we name her Then is she iustly called false and blind And no reproch can be too much to blame her Yet is the shame our owne when so we shame her For sure this hap if it be rightly knowne Comes of our selues and so the blame our owne For whoso liueth in the schoole of skill And medleth not with any worlds affaires Forsaketh pomps and honors that doe spill The minds recourse to Graces quiet staires His state no Fortune by no meane appaires For Fortune is the only foe of those Which to the world their wretched willes dispose Among which fooles marke Baldwine I am one That would not stay my selfe in mine estate I thought to rule but to obay to none And therefore fell I with my King at bate And to the end I might him better mate Iohn Mortimer I caus'd my selfe be called Whose kingly bloud the Henries nigh had thrall'd This shift I vs'd the people to perswade To leaue their Prince on my side more to sticke Whereas indeed my fathers name was Cade Whose noble stocke was neuer worth a sticke But touching wit I was both ripe and quicke Had strength of limmes large stature comely face Which made men weene my linage were not base And seeing stoutnes stucke by men in Kent Whose valiant hearts refuse none enterprise With false perswasions straight to them I went And said they suffered too great iniuries By meane whereof I caused them to rise And battaile-wise to come to Blacke Heath plaine And thence their griefes vnto the King complaine Who being deafe as men say on that eare For we desired release of subsidies Refused roughly our requests to heare And came against vs as his enemies But we to stay him sought out subtilties Remou'd our Campe and backe to Senock went After whom the Staffords with their power were sent See here how Fortune setting vs a flote Brought to our nets a portion of our pray For why the Staffords with
warres the dance And wan the palme the praise renowne and fame Leaue in thy booke a place to put my name I will be briefe and truly tell thee all The cause why I from graue do now appeare I will recite to thee my sudden fall And what in life mine exercises were To which since I do see thee set thine eare Marke now my tale and beare it well away Marke what me brought so sudden in decay Let who so stands trust to a stedfast hold If stedfast hold he thinke that he may find Presume not on thy strength nay yet be bold On Fortunes gifts nay let her guide thy mind In hope of hap for she is counted blind To praise her prankes occasion giues no cause Do wisely or you praise her take the pause Some loue to boast what fortune they haue had Some other blame misfortune theirs as fast Some tell of fortunes there be good and bad Some fooles of fortune make themselues agast Some shew of fortune comming present past And say there is a fate that ruleth all But sure it seemes their wisdome is but small No fortune is so bad but we it frame There is no chaunce at all hath vs preseru'd There is no fate whom we haue need to blame There is no destiny but is deseru'd No lucke that leaues vs safe or vnpreseru'd Let vs not then complaine of Fortunes skill For all our good descends from Gods good will If so a man might stay on Fortunes holde Or else on Prince as pillar of defence Then might my selfe t' haue done the same be bolde In euery perill purpose or pretence Cassibellane as much as any Prince Lou'd me his Cosin Irenglas by name For feates in armes for fauour and for fame I came by parents of his regall race Liu'd happie daies if happy mortall be Had as I said his fauour bare the grace I was his loyall seruant franke and free But what of this at all preuailed mee Yet furthermore the feates of armes I knew I fought in field when mighty Caesar flew Shall I for this praise Fortune ought at all Did Fortune ought in this no whit be sure Or shall I blame her after for my fall That neuer could me any hurt procure T' was glory vaine did sweetely me allure Wherefore giue eare and then with pen disclose How seeming friends did prooue my chiefest foes Full happy were our Countrey men that dide As noble Nennius in the field that sought When first both Britaines and the Romanes tride With dint of sword if titles theirs were ought They dide in their defence no pompe they sought They liu'd to see their Countrey conquer still They dide before they felt of priuate ill When Caesar so with shamefull flight recoil'd And left our Britaine land vnconquer'd first Which only thought our Realme and vs t' haue spoil'd We came to see of all our field the worst Our souldiers slaine O cruell Caesar curst Quoth we by thee did all these Britaines die That durst not bide but like a dastard flie But then to see them in array to lie And for to see them wounded all before Not one but in his place his life did trie To see the Romans bloodie backes that bore Their wounds in flight all scattered on the shore What thousand tongues our ioy to light could bring This made our hearts reuiue this pleasde our King With trompets mourning tune and wayling cries And drums and fluits and shawmes we sound adieu And for our friends we watred all our eyes As loth to lose the liues of such a crew To th' earth we bare them all in order dew According vnto each mans noble name And as their birth requir'd and worthie fame Of noble triumphes after was no spare We Britaines erst were neuer halfe so glad That so we made the Romans hence to fare No tongue can tell the heartie ioyes we had We were therewith for battaile bent as mad Our fingers tickled still which came from fight We had before our eyes our foes foule flight So fares it when the meaner giue the spoile And make the mightie all their force reuoke So fares it when great victours feele the foile And men lesse deem'd do giue the conquering stroke That pierceth euen the hardest heart of oke For where the weaker win the wage of fame The victours hearts a thousand ioyes enflame A solemne Iusts proclaimed was for those Who would to win renowne their valour trie Where th' Earle of Londons cosin did expose Himselfe to purchase praise against whom I To win the prize did all my powers applie But fatall was the scope I did intend Th' effects bewray'd my folly in the end For why when glorie vaine stirres men to strife When hope of praise prouokes them once to ire Then they at all regard no goods nor life From faithfull friendship rudely they retire They are so set with glories glose on fire That quite they rule and reason wrest awrie They turne away their former friendly eie O God that workest all the wonder wrought And hast the power to turne the hearts aliue Grant grace to those that labour so for nought But flitting fame and titles hautie striue Let not ambition so the earth depriue Of worthie wights giue them some better grace That they may run for countries weale their race Let them not breake the bond of friendly loue In broiles of bate but friendly faults redresse Let not them so their manhood seeke to proue By priuate hate to worke their owne distresse So shall they need their foes to feare the lesse Friends worse then forren foes themselues do make That fall at oddes for fond vaine glories sake But what need I on those aliue to stay They haue examples good before their eyes By which if they haue grace beware they may * The happiest men by others harmes are wise Let them not then our warning words despise Do will them wisely of these things debate For why the foolish aye the warning hate We spent the day in iusting as I said Appointed erst among our selues before And all the feats of armes in field we plaid Aenaeas taught our ancestors of yore What need I fill thine eares with talking more My men and I had put those feats in vre And he likewise but nothing yet so sure For as with fortune still I gaue the foile To him that thought the glorie all to haue When he perceiu'd he could not keepe the coile Nor yet with equall match himselfe to saue Occasion of dissension great he gaue In stead of iest he offered earnest play In lieu of sport he spite did still display The traytour vile the tyrant so he prou'd With coward canker'd hatefull hastie ire And caytife dealing shew'd how me he lou'd When as he could not to his hope aspire To win the praise of triumph his desire He challeng'd me and heere began the broile He thought with banding braue to keep the coile And that because mens iudgement favour'd me
corrupt with meed and awe Gainst Iustice wretchedly did wrest the sense of Lawe A change more new or strange when was there euer seene Then Iudges from the Bench to come downe to the Barre And Counsellours that were most nigh to King and Queene Exiled their Countrie from Court and Counsell farre But such is Fortunes play which can both make and marre Exalting to most high that was before most low And turning taile againe the loftie downe to throw And such as late afore could stoutly speake and plead Both in Court and Countrey carelesse of the triall As mummers mute do stand without aduice or read All to seeke of shifting by trauerse or deniall Which haue seene the day when for a golden Ryall By finenes and cunning could haue made blacke seeme white And most extorted wrong to haue appeared right Whilst thus on bench aboue we had the highest place Our reasons were too strong for any to confute But when at barre beneath we came to plead our case Our wits were in the wane our pleading very brute Hard it is for prisoners with Iudges to dispute When all men against one and none for one shall speake Who weenes himself most wise may chance be too too weake To you therefore that sit these few words will I say That no man sits so sure but he may haply stand Wherefore whilst you haue place and beare the swing and sway By fauour without force let points of Law be skand Pity the poore prisoner that holdeth vp his hand Ne lade him not with law who least of law hath knowne Remember ere ye die the case may be your owne Behold me one vnfortunate amongst this flocke Tresilian cald sometime chiefe Iustice of this Land A gentleman by birth no staine was in my stocke Locketon Holte Belknap with other of my band Which the Law and Iustice had wholly in our hand Vnder the second Richarda Prince of greate state To whom and vs also blind Fortune gaue the mate In all our Common Lawes our skill was so profound Our credit and autority such and so high esteemd That what wee did conclude was taken for a ground Allowed was for Law what so to vs best seemd Both life death lands and goods and all by vs was deemd Whereby with easie paine great gaine we did in fet And euery thing was fish that came vnto our net At Sessions and Sises we bare the stroke and sway In patents and commission of Quorum still chiefe So that to whether side soeuer we did way Were it by right or wrong it past without repriefe The true man we let hang some whiles to saue a thiefe Of Gold and of Siluer our hands were neuer empty Offices Farmes and Fees fell to vs in great plenty But what thing may suffice vnto the greedie man The more he hath in hold the more he doth desire Happie and twice happie is he that wisely can Content himselfe with that which reason doth require And moileth for no more then for his needfull hire But greedinesse of mind doth seldome keepe the sise To whom enough and more doth neuer well suffice For like as dropsie patients drinke and still be drie Whose vnstanch'st greedie thirst no liquor can allay And drinke they nere so much yet thirst they by and by So catchers and snatchers do toile both night and day Not needie but greedie still prolling for their pray O endlesse thirst of gold corrupter of all lawes What mischiefe is on mould whereof thou art not cause Thou madest vs forget the saith of our profession When Sergeants we were sworne to serue the common law Which was that in no point we should make digression From approued principles in sencence nor in sawe But we vnhappie wights without all dread and awe Of the Iudge eternall for worlds vaine promotion More to man then God did beare our whole deuotion The Lawes we did interpret and statutes of the Land Not truly by the text but newly by a glose And words that were most plaine when they by vs were skand We turned by construction to a Welchmans hose Whereby many a one both life and land did lose Yet this we made our meane to mount aloft on mules And seruing times and turnes peruerted lawes and rules Thus climing and contending alway to the top From high vnto higher and then to be most hie The hony dew of Fortune so fast on vs did drop That of King Richards counsell we came to be most nie Whose fauour to attaine we were full fine and flie Alway to his profit where any thing might sound That way all were it wrong the lawes we did expound So working Law like waxe the subiect was not sure Of life of land nor goods but at the Princes will Which caused his kingdome the shorter time to dure For claiming power absolute both to saue and spill The Prince thereby presumed his people for to pill And set his lusts for Law and will had reasons place No more but hang and draw there was no better grace Thus the King outleaping the limits of his Law Not raigning but raging as youth did him entice Wise and worthie persons from Court did daily draw Sage counsell set at naught proud vanters were in price And roysters bare the rule which wasted all in vice Of riot and excesse grew scarcitie and lacke Of lacking came taxing and so went wealth to wracke The Barons of the Land not bearing this abuse Conspiring with the Commons assembled by assent And seeing neither reason nor treatie could induce The King in any thing his rigour to relent Maugre his Kingly might they call'd a Parlament Franke and free for all men without checke to debate As well for weale publique as for the Princes state In this high assemblie great things were proponed Touching the Princes state his regaltie and crowne By reason that the King which much was to be moued Without regard at all of honor or renowne Misled by ill aduice had turn'd all vpside downe For suretie of whose state them thought it did behoue His Counsellours corrupt by reason to remoue Among whom Robert Veer call'd Duke of Ireland With Michael Delapole of Suffolke new made Earle Of Yorke also then Archbishop dispatcht out of hand With Brembre of London a full vncurteous churle Some learned in the Law in exile they did hurle But I poore Tresilian because I was the chiefe Was damned to the gallowes most vilely as a thiefe Lo the fine of falshood stipend of corruption The fee of double fraud the fruits it doth procure Yee Iudges vpon earth let our iust punition Teach you to shake off bribes and keepe your hands still pure Riches and promotion be vaine things and vnsure The fauour of a Prince is an vntrustie stay But Iustice hath a fee that shall remaine alway What glorie can be greater before God or man Then by paths of Iustice in iudgement to proceed So duely and so truly the Lawes for to scan That
their army hote Assailed vs at Senocke where we lay From whence aliue they parted not away Which when the Kings retinue vnderstood They all affirm'd my quarell to be good Which caus'd the King and Queene whom all did hate To raise their campe and suddenly depart And that they might the peoples grudge abate T' imprison some full sore against their hart Lord Saye was one whom I made after smart For when the Staffords and their host was slaine To Black-heath field I marched backe againe And where the King would nothing heare before Now was he glad to send to know my mind And I thereby enflamed much the more Refus'd his grants so folly made me blind For this he flew and left Lord Scales behind To helpe the Towne and strenghten London Tower Towards which I marched forward with my power And found there all things at mine owne desire I entred London did there what I list The Treasurer Lord Saye I did conspire To haue condemned whereof when I mist For he by law my malice did resist By force I tooke him in Guildhall from th' heape And headed him before the crosse in Cheape His sonne in law Iames Cromer Shrief of Kent I caught at Mile-end where as then he lay Beheaded him and on a pole I sent His head to London where his fathers lay With these two heads I made a prety play For pight on poles I bare them through the street And for my sport made ech kisse other sweet Then brake I prisons let forth whom I wold And vs'd the City as it had been mine Tooke from the Merchants money ware and gold From some by force from other some by fine This at the length did cause them to repine So that Lord Scales consenting with the Maire For bad vs to their City to repaire For all this while mine host in Southwarke lay Who when they knew our passage was denied Came boldly to the bridge and made a fray For in we would the townesmen vs defied But when with strokes we had the matter tried We wan the bridge and set much part on fire This done to Southwarke backe we did retire The morow after came the Chancellour With generall pardon for my men halfe gone Which heard and read the rest within an houre Shranke all away each man to shift for one And when I saw they left me post alone I did disguise me like a Knight of the post And into Sussex rode all hope was lost And there I lurked till that cursed coyne That restlesse begle sought and found me out For straight the King by promise did enioyne A thousand marke to whomsoeuer mought Apprend my corps which made them seeke about Among the which one Alexander Iden Found out the hole wherein the Foxe was hidden But ere I fell I put him to his trumps For yeeld I would not while my hands would hold But hope of money made him stir his stumps And to assault me valiantly and bold Two houres and more our combat was not cold Till at the last he lent me such a stroke That downe I fell and neuer after spoke Then was my carcase caried like a hog To Southwarke borow where it lay a night The next day drawne to Newgate like a dog All men reioycing at the rufull sight Then were on poles my perboil'd quarters pight And set aloft for vermine to deuour Meete graue for rebels that resist the power Full little know we wretches what we do When we presume our Princes to resist We warre with God against his glorie to That placeth in his office whom he list Therefore was neuer traytour yet but mist The marke he shot and came to shamefull end Nor neuer shall till God be forst to bend God hath ordain'd the power all Princes be His Lieutenants or deputies in Realmes Against their foes therefore fighteth he And as his enmies driues them to extreames Their wise deuices proue but doltish dreames No subiect ought for any kind of cause To force the Prince but yeeld him to the lawes Wherefore O Baldwine warne men follow reason Subdue their willes and be not Fortunes slaues A shamefull end doth euer follow treason There is no trust in rebels rascall knaues In Fortune lesse which worketh as the waues From whose assaults who listeth to stand free Must follow skill and so contented bee W. Baldwine THE TRAGEDIE OF EDMVND DVKE OF SOMMERSET SLAINE IN THE FIRST battaile at Saint Albanes the 23. day of May in the 32. yeare of Henrie the sixt Anno Dom. 1454. SOme I suppose are borne vnfortunate Else good endeuours could not ill succeed What shall I call it ill fortune or fate That some mens attempts haue neuer good speed Their trauell thanklesse all bootlesse their heed Where other vnlike in working or skill Out wrestle the world and weald it at will Of the first number I count my selfe one To all mishap I weene predestinate Beleeue me Baldwine there be few or none To whom Fortune was euer more ingrate Make thou therefore my life a caueate That whose with force will worke against kind Saileth as who saith against the streame and winde For I of Sommerset Duke Edmund hight Extract by descent from Lancaster line Were it by follie or Fortunes despite Or by ill aspect of some crooked signe Of mine attempts could neuer see good fine What so I began did seldome well end God from such Fortune all good men defend Where I thought to saue most part I did spill For good hap with me was alway at warre The linage of Yorke whom I bare so ill By my spite became bright as the morning star Thus some whiles men make when faine they would mar The more ye lop trees the greater they grow The more ye stop streames the higher they flow Maugre my spite his same grew the more And mine as the Moone in the wane waxt lesse For hauing the place which he had before Gouernour of France needs I must confesse That lost was Normandie without redresse Yet wrought I alwaies that wit might contriue But what doth it boote with the streame to striue Borne was I neither to warre ne to peace For Mars was maligne to all my whole trade My birth I beleeue was in Ioues decrease When Cancer in his course being retrograde Declined from Sol to Saturnus shade Where aspects were good opposites did marre So grew mine vnhap both in peace and warre A strange natiuitie in calculation As all my liues course did after well declare Whereof in briefe to make relation That other by me may learne to beware Ouerlight credence was cause of my care And want of foresight in giuing assent To condemne Humfrey that Duke innocent Humfrey I meane that was the Protectour Duke of Glocester of the royall blood So long as he was Englands directour King Henries title to the Crowne was good This Prince as a piller most stedfastly stood Or like a prop set vnder a vine In state to vphold all Lancasters
line O heedlesse trust vnware of harme to come O malice headlong swift to serue fond will Did euer madnesse man so much benome Of prudent forecast reason wit and skill As me blind Bayard consenting to spill The blood of my cosin my refuge and stay To my destruction making open way So long as the Duke bare the stroke and sway So long no Rebels quarels durst begin But when the post was pulled once away Which stood to vphold the King and his kin Yorke and his banders proudly preased in To challenge the Crowne by title of right Beginning with law and ending with might Abroad went bruits in countrey and towne That Yorke of England was the heire true And how Henrie had vsurped the Crowne Against all right which all the Realme might rue The people then embracing titles new Irkesome of present and longing for change Assented soone because they loue to range True is the text which wee in scripture read Va terra illi cuius rex est puer Woe to that land whereof a child is head Whether child or childish the case is one sure Where Kings bee yong we dayly see in vre The people awlesse by weakenes of their head Leade their liues lawlesse hauing none to dread And no lesse true is this text againe Beata terra cuius rex est nobilis Blest is the land where a stout King doth raine Where in good peace ech man possesseth his Where ill men feare to fault or do amisse Where a stout Prince is prest with sword in hand At home and abroad his enemies to withstand In case King Henry had beene such a one Hardy and stout as his fathers afore Long mought he haue sate in the royall throne Without any feare of common vprore But dayly his weakenesse shewed more and more Which boldnesse gaue to the aduersary band To spoile him at last both of life and land His humble heart was nothing vnknowen To the gallants of Yorke and their retinue A ground lying low is soone ouerflowen And shored houses cannot long continue Ioints cannot knit where as is no sinew And so a Prince not dread as well as loued Is from his place by practise soone remoued Well mought I see had I not wanted braine The worke begun to vndermine the state When the chiefe linke was loosed from the chaine And that some durst vpon bloud royall grate How tickle a hold had I of mine estate When the chiefe post lay flat vpon the flore Mought not I thinke my staffe then next the dore So mought I also dame Margaret the Queene By meane of whom this mischiefe first began Did she trow ye her selfe not ouer weene Death to procure to that most worthy man Which she and hers afterward mought well ban On whom did hang as I before haue said Her husbands life his honour and his ayd For whilst he liued which was our stable stay Yorke and his impes were kept as vnder yoke But when the Piller remoued was away Then burst out flame that late before was smoke The traytour couert then cast off his cloke And from his den came forth in open light With titles blind which he set forth for right But this to bring about him first behoued The King and his kin asunder for to set Who being perforce or practise remoued Then had they avoided the principall let Which kept the sought pray so long from the net The next point after was themselues to place In rule aboue the rest next vnto his Grace Therefore was I first whom they put out of place No cause pretending but the common-weale The Crowne of England was the very case Why to the Commons they burned so in zeale My faults were clokes their practise to conceale In counsaile hearing consider the intent For in pretence of truth treason oft is ment So their pretence was only to remoue Counsaile corrupt from place about the King But O ye Princes you it doth behoue This case to construe as no fained thing That neuer traytour did subdue his King But for his plat ere he could surder wade Against his friends the quarell first hee made And if by hap he could so bring about Them to subdue at his owne wish and will Then would hee wax so arrogant and stout That no reason his outrage might fulfill But to proceed vpon his purpose still Til King and counsaile brought were in one case Such is their folly to rebels to giue place So for the fish casting forth a net The next point was in driuing out the plat Commons to cause in rage to fume and fret And to rebell I cannot tell for what Requiring redresse of this and of that Who if they speed the stander at receit Grasp will the pray for which he doth await Then by surmise of some thing pretended Such to displace as they may well suspect Like to withstand their mischiefe intended And in their roomes their banders to elect The aduerse party proudly to reiect And then with reports the simple to abuse And when these helps faile open force to vse So this Dukes traines were couert and not seene Which ment no lesse that he most pretended Like to a Serpent couert vnder greene To the weale publique seemed wholly bended Zealous hee was and would haue all things mended But by that mendment nothing els he ment But to be King to that marke was his bent For had he beene plaine as he ment indeed Henry to depose from the royall place His haste had been waste and much worse his speed The King then standing in his peoples grace This Duke therefore set forth a goodly face As one that ment no quarell for the Crowne Such as bare rule he only would put downe But all for nought so long as I bare stroke Serued these drifts and proued all vaine The best help then was people to prouoke To make commotion and vprores amaine Which to appease the King himselfe was faine From Blacke Heath in Kent to send me to the Tower Such was the force of rebels in that hower The troublous storme yet therewith was not ceased For Yorke was bent his purpose to pursue Who seing how speedily I was released And ill successe of sufferance to ensue Then like Iudas vnto his Lord vntrue Esteeming time lost any longer to defarre By Warwickes ayd proclaimed open warre At S. Albanes towne both our hostes did meete Which to try a field was no equall place Forst we were to fight in euery lane and streete No feare of foes could make me shun the place There I and Warwicke fronted face to face At an Inne dore the Castle was the signe Where with a sword was cut my fatall line Oft was I warned to come in Castle none Hauing no mistrust of any common signe I did imagine a Castle built with stone For of no Inne I could the same diuine In Prophets skill my wit was neuer fine A foole is he that such vaine dreames doth dred And more foole he