and on the shore Reacht yet vnto the centre of the Land Searcht all those humors that were bred before Shakes the whole frame whereon the State did stand Affection pittie fortune feare being more Farre off and absent then they are at hand Pittie becomes a traytor with th' opprest And many haue beene rays'd by being supprest 49 For they had left although themselues were gone Opinion and their memorie behinde Which so preuayles that nought could here be done But straight was knowne as soone as once design'd Court Councell-chamber Closet all were won To be reuealers of the Princes minde So false is Faction and so smooth a lyer As that it neuer had a side entire 50 Whereby th'exil'd had leasure to preuent And circumuent what-euer was deuiz'd Which made that Faulconbridge to Sandwich bent That Fortresse and the Gouernour surpriz'd Who presently from thence to Calais sent Had his vnguiltie blood there sacrifiz'd And Faulconbridge returning backe relates Th' affection here and zeale of all estates 51 Drawne with which newes and with a spirit that dar'd T' attempt on any likelihood of support They take th' aduantage of so great regard Their landing here secur'd them in such sort By Faulconbridge the fatall bridge prepar'd To be the way of blood and to transport Returning furie to make greater wounds Then euer England saw within her bounds 52 And but with fifteene hundred men do land Vpon a Land with many millions stor'd So much did high-presuming Courage stand On th' ayde home-disobedience would afford Nor were their hopes deceiv'd for such a hand Had Innouation ready for the sword As ere they neere vnto the Cittie drew Their powre beyond all former greatnesse grew 53 Muse what may we imagine was the Cause That Furie workes thus vniuersally What humor what affection is it drawes Sides of such powre to this Nobilitie Was it their Conscience to redresse the Lawes Or malice to a wrong-plac't Sov'raintie That caus'd them more then wealth or life desire Destruction ruine bloud-shed sword and fire 54 Or was the Powre of Lords thus inter-plac't Betwixt the height of Princes and the State Th' occasion that the people so imbrac't Their actions and attend on this Debate Or had their Greatnesse with their Worth imbas't The Touch of Royaltie to so lowe rate As their opinion could such tumults moue Then Powre and Virtue you contagious proue 55 And Perianders leuell'd Eares of Corne Shew what is fittest for the publique Rest And that the hyest Minions which adorne A Common-weale and doo become it best Are Zeale and Iustice Law and Customes borne Of hye descent that neuer do infest The Land with false suggestions claymes affrights To make men lose their owne for others rights 56 But now against this disproportion bends The feeble King all his best industrie And from abrode Skales Louell Kendall sends To hold the Cittie in fidelitie The Cittie which before for others ends Was wrought to leaue the part of Royaltie Where though the Kings commaund was of no powre Yet worke these Lords so that they tooke the Towre 57 And from thence labour to bring-in againe The out-let will of disobediencie Send terror threates intreaties but in vaine VVarwicke and March are with all iollitie And grace receiv'd The Citties loue did gaine The best part of a Crowne for whose defence And intertaining still stayes Salsburie Whil'st March and VVarwicke other fortunes try 58 Conducting their fresh troupes against their King Who leaues a woman to supply his steed And neere Northhampton both imbattailing Made now the very heart of England bleed Where what strange resolutions both sides bring And with what deadly rancour they proceed Witnesse the blood there shed and fowlly shed That cannot but with sighes be registred 59 There Buckingham Talbot and Egremont Bewmont and Lucy parts of Lancaster Parts most important and of chiefe account In this vnhappy day extinguisht are There the Lord Grey whose fayth did not amount Vnto the trust committed to his care Betrayes his King borne to be strangely tost And late againe attain'd againe is lost 60 Againe is lost this out-side of a King Ordain'd for others vses not his owne Who to the part that had him could but bring A feeble body onely and a Crowne But yet was held to be the dearest thing Both sides did labor-for so much to crowne Their Cause with the apparency of might From whom and by whom they must make their Right 61 When he himselfe as if he nought esteem'd The highest Crowne on earth continues one Weake to the world which his Religion deem'd Like to the breath of man vaine and soone gone 〈◊〉 the stout Queene by speedy flight redeem'd The safety of her selfe and of her Sonne And with her Sommerset to Durham fled Her powres supprest her heart vnuanquished 62 So much for absent Yorke is acted here Attending English hopes on th' Irish coast Which when vnlookt-for they related were Ambition still on horse-backe comes in poast And seemes with greater glory to appeare As made the more by be'ing so long time lost And to the Parlement with state is led Which his associates had fore-summoned 63 And com'n into the Chamber of the Peeres He sets himselfe downe in the chayre of State Where such an vnexpected face appeares Of an amazed Court that gazing sate With a dumbe silence seeming that it feares The thing it went about t'effectuate As if the Place the Cause the Conscience giue Barres to the words their forced courso should haue 64 T is strāge those times which brought such hāds for blood Had not bred tongues to make good any side And that no prostituted conscience stood Any iniustice to haue iustifid As men of the forelone hope onely good In desperatest acts to be imploy'd And that none in th' assembly there was found That would t'ambitious descant giue a ground 65 That euen himselfe forc't of necessitie Must be the Orator of his owne Cause For hauing viewd them all and could espie None proff'ring once to speake all in a pause On this friend lookes with an inuiting eye And then on that as if he woo'd applause Holding the cloth of State still in his hand The signe which he would haue them vnderstand 66 But se'ing none moue with an imperiall port Gath'ring his spirits he ryses from his seat Doth with such powre of wordes his Cause support As seemes all others Causes to defeat And sure who workes his Greatnesse in that sort Must haue more powres then those that are borne great Such Reuolutions are not wrought but when Those spirits doe worke which must be more then men 67 He argues first his Right so long with-held By th'vsurpation of the Lancasters The Right of a direct Line alwayes held The sacred course of Blood our Ancestors Our Lawes our reuerent Customes haue vp-held With holy hands Whence when disorder crres What horrors what confusion do we see Vntill it be reduc't
spoyles Vpon themselues turn-backe their conquering hand Whil'st Kin their Kin Brother the Brother foyles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against Bowes the Crowne against the Crowne Whil'st all pretending right all right 's throwne downe 2 What furie ô what madnes held thee so Deare England too too prodigall of blood To waste so much and warre without a foe Whilst Fraunce to see thy spoyles at pleasure stood How much might'st thou haue purchast with lesse woe T' haue done thee honour and thy people good Thine might haue beene what-euer lies betweene The Alps 〈◊〉 vs the Pyrenei and Rhene 3 Yet now what reason haue we to complaine Since hereby came the calme we did inioy The blisse of thee Eliza happie gaine For all our losse when-as no other way The Heauens could finde but to vnite againe The 〈◊〉 sev'red Families that they Might bring foorth thee that in thy peace might growe That glorie which few Times could euer showe 4 Come sacred Virtue I no Muse but thee 〈◊〉 in this great labour I intend Doo thou inspire my thoughts infuse in mee A power to bring the same to happie end Rayse vp a worke for later times to see That may thy glorie and my paynes commend Make me these tumults rightly to rehearse And giue peace to my life life to my verse 5 And thou Charles 〈◊〉 who didst once afford Rest for my fortunes on thy quiet shore And cheer'dst mee on these measures to record In grauer tones then I had vs'd before Beholde my gratitude makes good my word Ingag'd to thee although thou be no more That I who 〈◊〉 haue liv'd by thee Doo giue thee now a roome to liue with me 6 And MEMORIE preserv'resse of things done Come thou vnfold the woundes the wracke the waste Reueale to me now all the strife be gunne Twixt Lancaster and Yorke in ages past How causes counsels and euents did runne So long as these vnhappie times did last 〈◊〉 with fictions fantasies I versifie the troth not Poetize 7 And to the ende wee may with better ease Discerne the true discourse vouchsafe to showe What were the times foregoing neere to these That these we may with better profit knowe Tell how the world sell into this disease And how so great distemperature did growe So shall we see by what degrees it came How things at full do soone wex out of frame 8 Ten Kings had from the Norman Conqueror raign'd With intermixt and variable fate When England to her greatest height attain'd Of powre dominion glorie wealth and State After it had with much a doo sustain'd The violence of Princes with debate For titles and the often mutinies Of Nobles for their ancient liberties 9 For first the Norman conquering all by might By might was forc't to keepe what he had got Mixing our Customes and the forme of Right With foraine Constitutions he had brought Maistering the mightie humbling the poorer wight By all seuerest meanes that could be wrought And making the succession doubtfull rent This new-got State and left it turbulent 10 VVilliam his sonne tracing his fathers wayes The great men spent in peace or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fight Vpon depressed weaknes 〈◊〉 preyes And makes his force maintaine his doubtfull right His elder brothers clayme vexing his dayes His actions and 〈◊〉 still incite And giuing Beastes what did to Men pertaine Tooke for a Beast himselfe in th' end was slaine 11 His brother Henrie next commands the State Who Roberts title better to reiect Seekes to repacifie the peoples hate And with faire shewes rather then in effect Allayes those grieuances that heauie sate Reformes the lawes which soone hee did neglect And reft of 〈◊〉 for whom he did prepare Leaues crowne and strife to Maude his daughters care 12 Whom Stephen his nephew falsifying his Oath Preuents assay les the Realme obtaines the Crowne Such tumults ray sing as torment them both Whil'st both held nothing certainely their owne Th' afflicted State diuided in their troth And partiall faith most miserable growne Endures the while till peace and Stephens death Gaue some calme leasure to recouer breath 13 When Henrie sonne to Maude the Empresse raignes And England into forme and greatnes brought Addes Ireland to this Scepter and obtaines Large Prouinces in Fraunce much treasure gote And from exactions here at home abstaynes And had not his 〈◊〉 children sought 〈◊〉 his age with tumults he had beene The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that this State had seene 14 Him Richard followes in the gouernment Who much the glory of our Armes increast And all his fathers mighty 〈◊〉 spent In that deuoutfull 〈◊〉 of the East Whereto whiles he 〈◊〉 forces wholly bent 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 opprest A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a fatall King Cut-off his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 glory in the spring 15 Which wicked brother contrary to course False Iohn vsurpes his Nephew Arthurs right Gets to the Crowne by craft by wrong by force Rules it with lust oppression rigour might Murders the lawfull heire without remorse Wherefore procuring all the worlds despight A Tyrant loath'd a homicide conuented Poysoned he dyes disgrac't and vnlamented 16 Henrie his sonne is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though young And Lewes of France elected first beguil'd After the mighty had debated long Doubtfull to choose a straunger or a child With him the 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 growne strong Warre for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so long exil'd He graunts the 〈◊〉 that pretended ease Yet kept his owne and did his State appease 17 Edward his 〈◊〉 a Martiall 〈◊〉 succeedes Iust prudent graue religious 〈◊〉 Whose happy ordered Raigne most fertile breedes Plenty of mighty spirits to strength his State And worthy mindes to manage worthy deedes Th' experience of those times ingenerate For euer great imployment for the great Quickens the blood and honour doth beget 18 And had 〈◊〉 his mis-led lasciuious Sonne Edward the second intermitted so The course of glory happily begunne Which brought him and his fauorites to woe That happy current without stop had runne Vnto the full of his sonne Edwards flowe But who hath often seene in such a State Father and Sonne like good like fortunate 19 But now this great Succeeder all repaires And reinduc't that discontinued good He builds vp strength greatnes for his heires Out of the virtues that adornd his blood He makes his Subiects Lords of more then theirs And sets their bounds farre wider then they stood His powre and fortune had 〈◊〉 wrought Could but the State haue kept what he had got 20 And had his heire surviu'd him in due course What limits England hadst thou found what barre What world could haue resisted so great force O more then men two thunderbolts of warre Why did not Time your ioyned worth diuorce T' haue made your seueral glories greater farre Too prodigall was Nature thus to doe To spend in one Age what should serue for two 21 But now the Scepter in this glorious State
That others should his Rule preiudicate Charg'd Herford therewithall who re-accus'd Norfolke for words of treason he had vs'd 61 Norfolke denies them peremptorily Herford recharg'd and supplicates the king To haue the combate of his enemie That by his sword hee might approue the thing Norfolke desires the same as earnestly And both with equall courage menacing Reuenge of wrong that none knew which was free For times of faction times of slaunder bee 62 The combate granted and the day assign'd They both in order of the field appeare Most richly furnisht in all Martiall kinde And at the point of intercombate were When lo the king chang'd sodainely his minde Casts downe his warder to arrest them there As being aduis'd a better way to take Which might for his more certaine safetie make 63 For now considering as it likely might The victorie should hap on Herfords side A man most valiant and of noble sprite Belov'd of all and euer worthy tri'd How much he might be grac't in publique sight By suchan act as might aduance his pride And so become more popular by this Which he feares too much he already is 64 And therefore he resolues to banish both Though th' one in chiefest fauour with him stood A man he dearely lov'd and might be loth To leaue him that had done him so much good Yet hauing cause to do as now he doth To mitigate the enuie of his blood Thought best to lose a friend to rid a foe And such a one as now he doubted so 65 And therefore to perpetuall exile hee Mowbray condemnes Herford but for ten yeares Thinking for that the wrong of this decree Compar'd with greater rigour 〈◊〉 appeares It might of all the better liked bee But yet such murmuring of the fact he heares That he is faine foure of the ten for giue And iudg'd him sixe yeares in exile to liue 66 At whose departure hence out of the Land How did the open multitude reueale The wondrous loue they bare him vnder-hand Which now in this hote passion of their zeale They plainely shew'd that all might vnderstand How deare he was vnto the common weale They feard not to exclaime against the King As one that sought all good mens ruining 67 Vnto the shore with teares with sighes with mone They him conduct cursing the bounds that stay Their willing feete that would haue further gone Had not the fearefull Ocean stopt their way Why Neptune Hast thou made vs stand alone Diuided from the world for this say they Hemd-in to be a spoyle to tyrannie Leauing affliction hence no way to flie 68 Are we lockt vp poore soules heere to abide Within the waterie prison of thy waues As in a fold where subiect to the pride And lust of Rulers we remain 〈◊〉 as slaues Here in the reach of might where none can hide From th' eye of wrath but onely in their Graues Happie confiners you of other landes That shift your soyle and oft scape tyrants hands 69 And must we leaue him here whom here were fit We should retaine the pillar of our State Whose vertues well deserue to gouerne it And not this wanton young effeminate Why should not he in Regall honour sit That best knowes how a Realme to ordinate But one day yet we hope thou shalt bring backe Deare Bullingbrooke the Iustice that we lacke 70 Thus muttred loe the malecontented sort That loue Kings best before they haue them still And neuer can the present State comport But would as often change as they change will For this good Duke had wonne them in this sort By succ'ring them and pittying of their ill That they supposed streight it was one thing To be both a good Man and a good King 71 When-as the grauer fort that saw the course And knew that Princes may not be controld Lik't well to suffer this for feare of worse Since many great one Kingdome cannot hold For now they saw intestine strife of force The apt-diuided State intangle would If he should stay whom they would make their head By whom the vulgar body might be led 72 They saw likewise that Princes oft are faine To buy their quiet with the price of wrong And better 't were that now a few complaine Then all should mourne aswell the weake as strong Seeing still how little Realmes by chaunge do gaine And therefore learned by obseruing long T' admire times past follow the present will Wish for good Princes but t' indure the ill 73 For when it nought auailes what folly then To striue against the current of the time Who will throwe downe himselfe for other men That make a ladder by his fall to clime Or who would seeke t' imbroyle his Country when He might haue rest suffering but others crime Since wise men euer haue preferred farre Th'vniustest peace before the iustest warre 74 Thus they considered that in quiet sate Rich or content or else vnfit to striue Peace-louer wealth hating a troublous State Doth willing reasons for their rest contriue But if that all were thus considerate How should in Court the great the fauour'd thriue Factions must be and these varieties And some must fall that other-some may rise 75 But long the Duke remain'd not in exile Before that Iohn of Gaunt his father dies Vpon whose state the king seis'd now this while Disposing of it as his enemies This open wrong no longer could beguile The world that saw these great indignities Which so exasperates the mindes of all That they resolv'd him home againe to call 76 For now they saw t' was malice in the King Transported in his ill-conceiued thought That made him so to prosecute the thing Against all law and in a course so naught And this aduantage to the Duke did bring More fit occasions whereupon he wrought For to a man so strong and of such might He giues him more that takes away his right 77 The King in this meane time I know not how Was drawne into some actions foorth the Land T' appease the Irish that reuolted now And there attending what he had in hand Neglects those parts from whence worse dangers growe As ignorant how his affayres did stands Whether the plot was wrought it should be so Or that his fate did draw him on to go 78 Most sure it is that hee committed here An ignorant and idle ouersight Not looking to the Dukes proceedings there Being in the Court of Fraunce where best he 〈◊〉 Where both the King and all 〈◊〉 were T' haue stopt his course being within their right But now he was exil'd he thought him sure And free from farther doubting liv'd secure 79 So blindes the sharpest counsels of the wise This ouershadowing Prouidence on hie And dazleth all their clearest sighted eyes That they see not how nakedly they lie There where they little thinke the storme doth rise And ouercasts their cleare securitie When man hath stopt all wayes saue onely that Which as least doubted Ruine enters at 80 And
now was all disorder in th' excesse And whatsoeuer doth a change portend As idle luxurie and wantonnesse Proteus-like varying Pride vaine without ende Wrong-worker Riot motiue to oppresse Endless Exactions which the idle spend Consuming Vsurie and credits crackt Call'd-on this purging Warre that many lackt 81 Then Ill-perswading want in Martiall mindes And wronged patience long opprest with might Loosenes in all which no religion bindes Commaunding force the measure made of Right Gaue fuell to this fire that easie findes The way t' inflame the whole indangerd quite These were the publique breeders of this Warre By which still greatest States confo unded 〈◊〉 82 For now this peace with Fraunce had shut in here The ouergrowing humours Warres do spend For where t'euacuate no imployments were Wider th'vnwieldy burthen doth distend Men wholly vs'd to warre peace could not beare As knowing no other course whereto to bend For brought vp in the broyles of these two Reames They thought best fishing still in troubled streames 83 Like to a Riuer that is stopt his course Doth violate his bankes breakes his owne bed Destroyes his bounds and ouer-runs by force The neighbour-fieldes irregularly spred Euen so this sodaine stop of Warre doth nurse Home broyles within it selfe from others led So dangerous the change hereof is tri'd Ere mindes ' come soft or otherwise imploid 84 But all this makes for thee ô Bulling brooke To worke a way vnto thy Soueraintie This care the Heauens Fate and Fortune tooke To bring thee to thy 〈◊〉 easily Vpon thee fall's that hap which him forsooke Who crownd a King a King yet must not die Thou wert ordaind by Prouidence to rayse A quarrell lasting longer then thy dayes 85 For now this absent Lord out of his Land Where though he shew'd great sprite and valor then Being attended with a worthy band Of valiant Peeres and most couragious men Gaue time to them at home that had in hand Th'vngodly worke and knew the season when Who faile not to aduise the Duke with speed Solliciting to what hee soone agreed 86 Who presently vpon so good report Relying on his friends fidelitie Conueyes himselfe out of the French Kings Court Vnder pretence to go to Britannie And with his followers that to him resort Landed in England Welcom'd ioyfully Of th'altring vulgar apt for changes still As headlong carried with a present will 87 And com'n to quiet shore but not to rest The first night of his ioyfull landing here A fearefull vision doth his thoughts molest Seeming to see in reuerent forme appeare A faire and goodly woman all distrest Which with full-weeping eyes and rented haire Wringing her hands as one that griev'd and prayd With sighes commixt with words vnto him said 88 O whither dost thou tend my vnkinde Sonne What mischiefe dost thou go-about to bring To her whose Genius thou here lookst vpon Thy Mother-countrey whence thy selfe didst spring Whither thus dost thou in ambition run To change due course by foule disordering What bloodshed what turmoyles dost thou commence To last for many wofull ages hence 89 Stay here thy foote thy yet vnguilty foote That canst not stay when thou art farther in Retire thee yet vnstain'd whil'st it doth boote The end is spoyle of what thou dost begin Iniustice neuer yet tooke lasting roote Nor held that long Impietie did win The babes vnborne shall ô be borne to bleed In this thy quarrell if thou do proceede 90 This said she ceast when he in troubled thought Griev'd at this tale and sigh't and thus replies Deare Countrey ô I haue not hither brought These Armes to spoyle but for thy liberties The sinne be on their head that this haue wrought Who wrongd me first and thee do tyrannise I am thy Champion and I seeke my right Prouok't I am to this by others spight 91 This this pretence saith shee th' ambitious finde To smooth iniustice and to flatter wrong Thou dost not know what then will be thy minde When thou shalt see thy selfe aduanc't and strong When thou hast shak't off that which others binde Thou soone forgettest what thou learnedst long Men do not know what then themselues will bee When-as more then themselues themselues they see 92 And here with all turning about he wakes Lab'ring in spirit troubled with this strange sight And mus'd a while waking aduisement takes Of what had past in sleepe and silent night Yet hereof no important reck'ning makes But as a dreame that vanisht with the light The day designes and what he had in hand Left it to his diuerted thoughts vnscand 93 Doubtfull at first he warie doth proceed Seemes not affect that which he did effect 〈◊〉 else perhaps seemes as he meant indeed Sought but his owne and did no more expect Then Fortune thou art guiltie of his deed That didst his state aboue his hopes erect And thou must beare some blame of his great sinne That 〈◊〉 him worse then when he did beginne 94 Thou didst conspire with Pride and with the Time To make so easie an ascent to wrong That he who had no thought so hie to clime With sauouring comfort still allur'd along Was with occasion thrust into the crime Seeing others weakenes and his part so strong And who is there in such a case that will Do good and feare that may liue free with ill 95 We will not say nor thinke O Lancaster But that thou then didst meane as thou didst sweare Vpon th'Euangelists at Doncaster In th' eye of heauen and that assembly theare That thou but as an vpright orderer Sought'st to reforme th' abused Kingdome here And get thy right and what was thine before And this was all thou would'st attempt no more 96 Though we might say and thinke that this pretence Was but a shadow to the intended act Because th' euent doth argue the offence And plainely seemes to manifest the fact For that hereby thou mightst win confidence With those whom else thy course might hap distract And all suspicion of thy drift remoue Since easily men credit whom they loue 97 But God forbid wee should so neerly pry Into the lowe-deepe-buried sinnes long past T' examine and conferre iniquitie Whereof faith would no memorie should last That our times might not haue t'exemplifie With aged staines but with our owne shame cast Might thinke our blot the first not done before That new-made sinnes might make vs blush the more 98 And let vn wresting Charitie beleeue That then thy oath with thy intent agreed And others faith thy faith did first deceiue Thy after-fortune forc't thee to this deed And let no man 〈◊〉 idle censure giue Because th' euent proues so 't was so decreed For ost our counsels sort to other end Then that which frailtie did at first intend 99 Whil'st those that are but outward lookers on Who sildome sound these mysteries of State Deeme things were so contriv'd as they are done And hold that policie which was but fate Imagining all former acts did
doe is done 108 And nothing now but to confirme him king Remaines which must not long remaine to do The present heate doth strait dispatch the thing With all those solemne rites that long thereto So that what Yorke with all his trauay ling Force and intrusion could not get vnto Is now thus freely layd vpon his sonne Who must make faire what 〈◊〉 was begunne 109 Whos 's end attayn'd had it here made an end Of foule destruction and had stay'd the bloud Which Towton Exham Tewksbury did spend With desp'rate hands and deeper wounds with stood And that none other Crowne brought to contend With that of his had made his seeme lesse good How had this long-afflicted Land been blest Our sighes had ended and my Muse had rest 110 Which now but little past halfe her long way Stands trembling at the horrors that succeed Weary with these embroylements faine would stay Her 〈◊〉 course vnwilling to proceed And faine to see that glorious holy-day Of Vnion which this discord reagreed Knowes not as yet what to resolue vpon Whether to leaue-off here or else go-on The end of the seauenth Booke THE EIGHTTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT King Edward Powre against King Henry led And hath at Towton-field the victory From whence King Henry into Scotland fled Where he attempts his States recouery Steales into England is discouered Brought Prisoner to the Towre disgracefully And Edward whiles great Warwick doth assay A Match in France marries the Lady Grey 1 ON yet sad Verse though those bright 〈◊〉 from whence Thou hadst thy light are set for euermore And that these times do not like grace dispense To our indeuours as those did before Yet on since She whose beames do reincense This sacred fire seemes as reseru'd in store To raise this Worke and here to haue my last Who had the first of all my labours past 2 On with her blessed fauour and relate With what new bloud-shed this new chosen Lord Made his first entry to th' afflicted State Past his first Act of publique with the sword Ingor'd his new-worne Crowne and how he gat Possession of affliction and restor'd His Right vnto a Royall miserie Maintained with as bloudy dignitie 3 Shew how our great Pharsalian Field was fought At Towton in the North the greatest day Of ruine that 〈◊〉 euer brought Vnto this Kingdom where two Crownes did sway The worke of slaughter two Kings Causes wrought Destruction to our People by the waie Of their affections and their loyalties As if one for these ills could not suffise 4 Where Lancaster and that couragious side That noble constant Part came furnished With such a Powre as might haue terrifi'd And ouer-run the earth had they been led The way of glory where they might haue tri'd For th' Empire of all Europe as those did The Macedonian led into the East Their number being double at the least 5 And where braue Yorke comes as compleatly mand With courage valour and with equall might Prepar'd to trie with a resolued hand The metall of his Crown and of his Right Attended with his fatall fier-brand Of Warre Warwicke that blazing starre of fight The Comet of destruction that portends Confusion and distresse what way he tends 6 What rage what madness England do we see That this braue people in such multitude Run to confound themselues and all to be Thus mad for Lords and for meere Seruitude What might haue been if Roman-like and free These gallant Spirits had nobler ends pursu'd And strayn'd to points of glory and renowme For good of the Republique and their owne 7 But here no Cato with a Senate stood For Common-wealth nor here were any sought T'emancipate the State for publique good But onely headlong for their faction wrought Here euery man runs-on to spend his bloud To get but what he had already got For whether Pompey or a Caesar wonne Their state was euer sure to be all one 8 And first before these fatall Armies met Had forward Warwicke lay'd the passage free At Ferry Brigges where the Lord Clifford set With an aduentrous gallant companie To guard that streight Yorkes farther march to let Began the Scene to this great Tragedie Made the first entrance on the Stage of blood Which now set wide for wounds all open stood 9 When Edward to exhort his men began With words where to both spirit and Maiestie His pers'nage gave for-that he was a man Besides a King whose Crowne sate gracefully Com'n is the day sayd he wherin who can Obtaine the best is Best this day must try Who hath the wrong and whence our ills haue beene And t is our swords must make vs honest men 10 For though our Cause by God and men allow'd Hath in it honor right and honestie Yet all as nothing is to be avow'd Vnless withall we haue the victorie For Iustice is we see a virtue proud And leanes to powre and leaues weake miserie And therefore seeing the case we now stand in We must resolue either to dy or winne 11 So that if any here doth finde his heart To fayle him for this noble worke or stands Irresolute this day let him depart And leaue his Armes behind for worthier hands I knowe e now will stay to doo their part Here to redeeme themselues 〈◊〉 children landes And haue the glory that thereby shall rise To free their Country from these miseries 12 But here what needed wordes to blowe the fire In flame already and inkindled so As when it was proclaym'd they might retire Who found vnwillingnes to vnder-goe That ventrous worke they all did so conspire To stand out Fortune that not one would goe To beare away a hand from bloud not one Defraud the Field of th' euill might be done 13 Where VVarwicke too producing in their sight An argument whereby he did conclude There was no hope of 〈◊〉 but by fight Doth sacrifize his horse to Fortitude And thereby did the least conceipt of flight Or any succour by escape exclude Se'ing in the streight of a necessitie The meanes to win is t' haue no meanes to flye 14 It was vpon the twi-light of that day That peacefull day when the Religious beare The Oliue-branches as they go to pray And we in lieu the blooming Palmes vse here When both the Armies ready in array Forth ' early sacrifize of blood appeare Prepar'd formischiefe ere they had full light To see to doo it and to doo it right 15 Th' aduantage of the time and of the winde Which both with Yorke seeme as retayn'd in pay Braue Faulconbridge takes hold-on and assign'd The Archers their flight-shafes to shoote away Which th' aduerse side with sleet and dimnesse blinde Mistaken in the distance of the way Answere with their sheafe-arrowes that came short Of their intended ayme and did no hurt 16 But gath'red by th'on-marching Enemy Returned were like clowdes of steele which powre Destruction downe and did new-night the sky As if the Day had fayl'd