receiu'd Forces prepar'd and Ensignes were displaid And ships were Rigd and nothing was delaid That might aduance their enterprise begun So deepest sea 's with smoothest silence run 398. They tooke the Sea and landed at the last At Orwell Hauen a deadly gulfe to me And thither their Confederats did hast Both Lords and Commons seemed to agree As winds and waues consent when wracks shall be All turne their faces to the rising sunne Because my date was out and I vndone 399 But when the voyce of Eagle-winged fame Had spread abroad the cause of their repayre And seemed still to iustifie the same By due succession of my sonne and heire My hope to feare my feare turn'd to despaire And my despaire on these two grounds was laid My Peeres werefalse my Partizans dismaid 400 Then did I flee from London where I lay Because they seemed partially affected And in my flight did often weepe and say To what hard haps poore Prince art thou subiected What gloomy starres haue thus thy state infected That they should hate who ought to loue theerather A haplesse King a husband and a father 401 Most mighty Monarchs haue beene oft distrest Whom yet their wiues haue lou'd with tender care And many in their matches curst are blest Yet in their issue but my cause is rare In all of them my fortunes fatall are They wrong me most that should protect me rather A haplesse King a husband and a father 402 Some say that Kings are Gods vpon the earth And marriage quasi merry-age some surmise God giue vs ioy they say at childrens birth What God am I whom traitrous men despise And marre-age from my marriage doth arise There reape I care where most content should gather A haplesse King a husband and a father 403 And thus I fled my Queene pursu's aâ—â—aine So runnes the hare for life the hound for prey Few follow'd me but thousands were her traine So flies swarme thickest in the Sunne-shine day At last at Oxford did she make some stay With all her troopes and did deliberate What course to take with me and with the State 404 There did her Tutor Tarleton thinke it fit Of their chiefe drift remonstrance for to make Who being of good discourse and pregnant wit To broach the matter first did vndertake He preach'd his text was this My head doth ake Whereon dilating he did seeme to proue That Subiects might a King their head remoue 405 And in that compasse he concluded me And so concluded I should be depos'd A dangerous and detested heresie By some infernall fury first compos'd In hell where long the Monster lay inclos'd Till impious spirits swolne with insolence To curbe all christian Princes brought it thence 406 Why should such diu'lish principles be broach'd By them that seenme to bring Gods Embassie Why should the Pulpit be so much reproach'd As to be made a place to tell a lie To serue a turne to such impietie But they that onely their owne ends affect Nor God nor man nor heauen nor hell respect 407 No worthy minde will charge me to diselose With cursed Cham my fathers secret shame Though my free muse doe somewhat touch at those Of holy Church whose actions full of blame Haue sold themselues not function with defame Not ist a wonder though these blinded times Did hatch both monstrous men monstrous crimes 408 William whose sword did seat him in his throne Brought with him Odo Bishop of Bayone Whose pride whose lust whose irreligion Whose symmonie to buy the See of Rome Incenst his brother to iust wrath by whome Th'aspring Priest in prison was restrain'd And not releas'd as long as William raign'd 409 And had the head-strong man beene still held in Rufus thy raigne had beene more easie farre For hauing head he labour'd still to win All discontented spirits that alwaies are Apt to take fire vnto a ciuill warre And the corrupted humours drawne to head In Prince and State great inflammations bred 410 When second Henry wore the Diadem How did ambitious Becket toyle the State Who made the Pope to interdict the Realme Who with the French King did confederate who vnder hand nurst man and wiues debate Who drew the sonne to armes against the sire 'T was Becket that most kindled all the fire 411 What bitter storme had almost wrackt the State By Clergies practise whilst King Iohn did raigne Six yeares the Realme stood excommunicate And vnder interdiction did remaine People and Peeres drawne from their soueraigne Lewis of France broughtin to weare the Crowne If by his forces Iohn were shoulder'd downe 412 Who almost sinking with so rough a blast Finding himselfe vnable to withstand To saue his Crowne was forced at the last For to resigne vnto the Pope this Land And by a rent to farme it at his hand Then all was well the Clergies turne was seru'd Lewis was curst and Iohn had well deseru'd 413 Doe Kingdomes then serue but for tennis-bals For holy Church to racket vp and downe Must Scepters be dispos'd by Bishops Pulls Or shall a Prince make forfeit of his Crowne If a poore Prelate chance to fret and frowne If they can carry it so I like their wit But sure I am 't is not by holy writ 414 When Strawe his base rebellious troopes did gather And drew the Commons to a dangerous head One Ball a Priest or one of Baals Priests rather By close seditious Libels which they spred By times and old said sawes he much misled The vulgar sort and made their madnesse more Which in it selfe did rage too much before 415 When Lancaster King Richard did depose His chiefe Assistant Thomas Arundell Primate of England did absolue all those That ioyn'd in that foule action to expell Their rightfull King and did in substance tell The very tale that Tarleton earst had tould So oft this Realme by them was bought and sold. 416 Whilst Humfrey Duke of Gloucester rul'd the Sate Henry the sixt then being vnder age What bloudy tumults with intestine hate Were here vntimely rais'd by Beawfords rage Which was so fell that nothing could asswage His rank'rous spleene nor would he stint the strife Till by foule practise Gloucester lost his life 417 Richard the third that did vsurpe the Crowne And swomme through bloud to get the kingly place Had he not Shaw a Clerke of great renoune Before that time he in the peoples Grace Who at Paules Crosse did bastard Edwards race Defam'd the dead forg'd wrested soothed sinne Ventur'd his soule a tyrants loue to win 418 But stay I handle with too hard a touch The Churches wounds that now are fairely heal'd then were the hudwinckt times then were they such In those darke dayes now is the truth reueal'd Now are those former errors all repeal'd And now the Sunne illumines all our clyme Most learned Fathers answere ye the time 419 Be as you should be Lamps to giue vs light And shining Starres to grace the Firmament Though you doe
King Edward the 2 surnamed Carnaruen was crouned att westminster at the 22 yere of his age the 24 of febru 1â—03 he Raigned 19 yere 6 monethes was deposed the 25 of Ianuvarius 1326 he was slayne in the Castle of barkley in the 43 yere of his age THE DEPLORABLE LIFE AND DEATH of EDWARD the Second KING of ENGLAND Together with the Downefall of the two Vnfortunate Fauorits GAVESTONE and SPENCER Storied in an Excellent Poëm LONDON Printed for Roger Michell 1628. THE DEPLORABLE Life and Death of Edward the Second KING of ENGLAND 1 I Sing thy sad disaster fatall King Carnarvan Edward second of that name Thy Minions pride thy State ill managing Thy Peeres reuolt the sequell of the same Thy Life thy Death I sing thy sinne thy shame And how thou were depriued of thy Crowne In highest Fortune cast by Fortune downe 2 Did I say Fortune nay by Folly rather By vnrespect vnto the rules of State For let a Prince assure himselfe to gather As he hath planted either Loue or Hate Contempt or Duty not the workes of Fate Much lesse of Fortune but of due respects Two causes which must needes produce effects 3 As if a Prince doe lay his platforme right And then with courage prosecutes the same His ends proue happy but by ouer-sight He that is weake wholy subuerts the frame Of his owne building and doth idly blame Fortune which wise men make to wait on them But for a way-ward Mistrisse fooles condemne 4 In which Discourse if I shall hap to touch Those faults that in our time are frequent growne Let not the gauld offender winch or grudge For I intend a priuate wrong to none Onely I would haue those same errours knowne By which the State did then to ruine runne That warn'd by theirs our age like sins might shun 5 Nor doe I meane to bound my selfe so much As onely for to tye me to those times The causes courses consequents I 'le touch Of latter ages and of their designes And if detractions breath doth blast my lines Be it for me I haue for my defence The priuy coate of harmlesse innocence 6 And thou great King that now dost weild our State Building on that which former times did square Oh let it not be thought to derogate From thy perfections admirable rare If I some errors of these times declare Sure neuer State was so precisely good But faults haue scap'd which could not be withstood 7 For men are not like God compleat Diuine Whom neither passions mooue nor errors blinde Who is not limitted with any time Nor tyde to meanes nor into place confinde But free in all no counter-check doth finde But worketh all in all and nothing ill To contradict the least part of his will 8 Whereas our humane actions are all mixt Men liue in motion so do their designes Nothing is simply good or firmely fixt All haue defects nature it selfe declines Darknesse oft clouds the clearest Sunne that shines Our purest streames are not without their mud And we mistake what oft we take for good 9 Besides Kings needs must see with others eies From whence mistaking cannot choose but spring And when th' offence from errors doth arise Why should men cast the enuy on the King And not on those that mis-informe the thing This is the gall most banes the Kingly Throne That of his faults the least part is his owne 10 For he himselfe is blamelesse oft God knowes Except it be because he doth not know The noted scandals that arise from those On whom he doth his fauours most bestow Which they abusing discontents may grow Against the Prince though not deseruing them So apr we are euen goodnesse to condemne 11 Nor must we with a coale straight marke or brand A Prince or State because of some defect Who can be free from Sulley if 't so stand But that same Prince or State deserues respect Whose actions doth in generall effect And ayme at good for in particulets None can be so compleate but often erres 12 And much are they deceiu'd that thinke to finde A State without a blemish or a stayne Conceite may cast Ideas in the minde And forge strange formes not practis'd in the braine But States consist of men and men retaine This natiue badge which vnto all doth cleaue That is to be deceiu'd and to deceiue 13 The warlike Trumpet sounding to the fight Commands the hearing more then doth the reed Each eye is fixed on the Eagles flight When little Wrens deserue not any heed The greatest men shall haue the greatest meed Marke who so list and they shall finde it tride That all mens eares to Princes tongues are tide 14 Then let the World attend King Edwards words The second Edward matter fit for moane Whose smiles gaue life whose frownes did wound like swords Whilst hee did sit vpon the Kingly Throne Not minded now nor mean'd by any one So time cuts downe we see with fatall blow Aswell proud Oakes as humble shrubs below 15 Imagine with your selues you see him come From forth the deepe darke cauerns of the earth Starued and pin'd nothing but skin and bone In Princely plenty suffering want and dearth As naked as an infant at his birth So pinching need doth pluck what pride doth plant And wastfull ryot is repayd with want 16 And thus poore Prince begins his Tragicke plaint Am I the same that was first Edwards sonne By nature borne to liue without restraint Were there for me so many Trophies won By Long-shankes and such great atchiuements done I am the same and he so great did leaue me As none I thought of greatnesse could bereaue me 17 But now I finde by proofe that one there is And well it is that there is such a one Who is not hood-winckt vnto our amisse And he can pull vs from our Kingly Throne For all our Guards our Forts our Walls of Stone Know King how great and powerfull thou be The King of Kings still ruleth ouer thee 18 I know that nature apt to ouer-weene May easly straine a Princes thoughts too high I know it is and euermore hath beene A common course to flatter Maiesty Greatnesse is apt to swim in Surcudrie Yet though like hils we ouer-looke low grounds All vertuous Kings confesse they haue their bounds 19 And therefore though we haue Prerogatiues Yet there are certaine limits to the same Which hinders Kings to be Superlatiues To sway as Gods Lieutenants this faire frame And those Aspirers merit Death and shame That do repine against those Supreame powers Whom God hath made his vnderlings not ours 20 And yet although their State be free from force That giues not Lawlesse liberty in all Kings must obserue a iust and rightfull course God is their King by whom they stand or fall And euery Act vnto account will call Their oath their vertue and their owne renowne Are Dyamantine chaines to tye a Crowne 21 And such as are not moou'd with these respects
Beast This pleasing Syren so my soule did winne That he was deere to me aboue the rest Looke what he sayd was Gospell at the least Looke what he did I made my President So soone we learne what we too late repent 44 This Angel-Diuell thus shrin'd in my heart This Dragon hauing got the golden Fruite My very Soule to him I did impart Nor was I euer deafe vnto his suite He acted all I was a silent mute My being seem'd to be in him alone Pluntaginet was turn'd to Gauestone 45 And hauing seized me into his hands For feare belike that he should be disseaz'd He thought to tye me still in straighter bands By praysing that where-with my minde was pleas'd Affirming that our liues were to be eas'd Of many cumbers which the curious wise Had layd on men the more to Tyrannize 46 For what are Lawes but seruile obseruations Of this or that what pleas'd the makers minde The selfe-conceited sowne imaginations Of working braines which did in freedome finde Our humane State which they forsooth would binde To what they like what likes not was forbidden So Horse and Mule with hit and spur are ridden 47 Which well inuented Scar-crowes though they serue For mud-borne men to keepe them in some awe Yet Princes are not borne so to obserue The strickt precisenes of th'incombring Law Which their high State to base contempt doth draw Kings made those Lawes Kings may break them now That pleas'd them then and this now pleaseth you 48 No no sweet Prince saith he there is no Law Can bind a King but onely his desire And that full well th' Assirian Monarch saw Who had before them borne consuming fire Emblem of Regall power which all admire But none must touch for feare of following harmes For fire we know consumes as well as warmes 49 The Spiders web holds fast the silly Flye The Hornet breakes it like a mighty Lord That King of Kings when he could not vntye The Gordian knot deuides it with his Sword That act of his fit matter doth afford For President were I as thou shalt be I 'de rule the Law it should not gouerne me 50 Except it were the golden Law of Nature Sweete Nature sweetest mother of vs all Which hath infus'd thus much to euery Creature To loue the Honey and to loath the Gall To serue delight not to be sorrowes thrall For pleasure doth with Nature so agree As Bees with Hiue as Honey with the Bee 51 For in the Prologue of our Infant play Euen in our Cradle we do crie and yell For Nurses brest why so for food y 'ould say T is true and food say I doth please vs well As hunger seemes to be a second Hell So that in truth the motiue of our crie Is to be fed and to be pleas'd thereby 52 As in our Prologue so in our next act I meane in childish yeares who doth not see That euery thought of ours and word and fact Do ayme at sport at pastime and at glee VVhich daily cares and mighty studies be Witnesse the checke the rods the blowes we take The many blowes and all for pleasures sake 53 But when our Youth doth step vpon the Stage The sweetest part that any man can play Then pleasing loue and hope loues pleasing pay And courage hopes attendant night and day And Fortune seldome saying courage may VVith full sail'd course doth carry vs amaine To seeke the course where full content doth raigne 54 Not staying here still Nature driues vs on To new delights but of a diuets kind For middle age to armes will needes begon With honors sweet to feed his hungry minde And what is honor but a pleasing winde Remember what the famous Grecian saies The sweetest musicke is a mans owne praise 55 Next elder age and filuer seeming haires By Nature run full chase still after pleasure For oh the solace of the wayning yeares To view their ruddocks and their heapes of treasure To weigh and tell their gold at euery leasure For great it is speak they that rather choose Gold should loose them then they their gold should loose 56 The Epilogue of all our former time More hunts for ioy then any of the rest Decrepite age doth pray before the prime VVith fearefull eies and knockes vpon the brest And giues his Almes to them that are distrest And what 's his end that he might Heauen obtaine And what is Heauen pleasure voide of paine 57 And as the minde hath motions to effect So haue we meanes to satisfie the mind Our little world is made with much respect Our mother Nature hath beene wise and kind By whom we haue apt Orgaines assign'd To execute what so our thoughts intend And all our thoughts ayme at some pleasing end 58 Is not the Head the Store-house of conceite Plotting the meanes to compasse our delight Our Eyes attendants that do daily waite Vpon such obiects as may please our sight VVitnesse the Cherry-cheeke and Brow milke-white Witnesse no other witnesse but my wish How Sight and Soule both like and longs for this 59 What minde what man what man of any minde That is not touch'd and mou'd with musickes sound Whose deepe impressions worke in brutish kinde As Dolphins else Arion had beene drown'd The sauage Beasts that would not Orpheus wound The sencelesse stones whom Phoebus Harp did moue Do witnesse all how all doe Musicke loue 60 The bubling murmur of a sliding Spring That seemes to runne with sweet yet sullen mind By which the winged Quiers in Consort sing With faire fac't Eunuches Cherpres of their kind Whose Notes are answered with a soft still wind Whilst some desired Dame cheares all with kisses Who would not hold that place a Heauen of blisses 61 As Head and Eyes and eares so are our Hands Flesh hookes to draw and gather all vnto vs That with our pleasure and our profit stands Thrusting a side what euer may vndoe vs For which imployments are alotted to vs Two Hands two Feete the agents of our wills To follow rest and flye from restlesse ills 62 So likewise in the structure of this Frame VVhat is not made for pleasure with much art So likewise in the guidance of the same VVhat is denide vs that may please the Heart Most sencelesse man what man so ere thou art That in the very fulnesse of such store By wilfull wants wilt make thy selfe most poore 63 In heate of Summer when the burning Sunne Doth crust the earth are there not shady bowers Are there not riuers that doe mildly runne And now and then some cooling dewie showers To keepe the beauty of the blooming flowers Wherewith our mother earth 's so fairely delight That she allures her Children to delight 64 I will not speake of euery dayes delight They are so various full of rareties But are there not sweet pleasures for the night Maskes Reuels Banquets mirthfull Comedies Night Songs eu'n Natures dearest prodigies Which worke in men with powerfull
rights were bar'd And six yeares space no publick prayers were heard 486 Then did the King lease forth the Realme to Rome Then did the Peeres of France betray the Crowne Oh Heauens great King how fearefull is thy doome How many mighty plagues canst thou poure downe Vpon a Nation when thou please to frowne Arthur it was the wrong done thee of late That made the Heauen so to afflict our State 487 Oh 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 deceast the same in Henry rested Yet that the world should see how God detested Such wrongfull meanes acts so vniustly done The fathers whip is made to scourge the sonne 488 For still the ciuill fury wound the State During the time of Henryes pupil age And still the Peereswolne with intestine hate Against their harmelesse Prince being vnder age Combine themselues with France and when that rage Was spent the Barons warre broke forth againe So full of tumults was third Henryes raigne 489 He dead my father Longshanks then did raigne And in due course succeeded next his sire Then all afflictions did begin to wayne And England did to peace and wealth aspire Nor did the streame of blisse flow euer higher Then when first Edward mannaged the State Prudent in peace in warres most fortunate 490 That noble Prince to me my breath did giue Whom I succeeded in a rightfull liue You all haue sworne alleagiance whilst I liue And will you now enforce me to resigne Will you againe with wicked hands vntwyne That sacred chaine whereon depends our good And drowne this Island once againe in bloud 491 Oh if you doe disorder thus the Crowne And turne the lawfull course anotherr way If you vniustly wring from me my owne You spinne a thread to worke your owne decay And my Prophetick soule doth truely say The time will come when this vniust designe Shall draw downe wrath on this vnhappy clyme 492 And from my flock two branches shall arise From whom shall grow such great disunion As many thousand liues shall not suffice To reunite them both againe in one England shall waste more deare bloud of her owne Against her selfe then would suffice t' obtaine All France and conquer Germany and Spaine 493 But when that men are bent to do 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 opppos'd my selfe 't was vaine They were resolu'd and my peruersnesse might Make them perhaps to doe my sonne lesse right 494 Which when I heard thinke how my soule did warre Within it selfe which way I should decline Deare was my sonne my selfe was dearer farre Through my eclipse must I procure his shine Cannot he raigne vnlesse I now resigne My father di'de ere I could get the Crowne I liue and now my sonne must put me downe 495 My sonne alas poore Prince it is not he For many wolues maske in that Lambes attire Proud Mortimer 't is thou vncrownest me Luxurious Queene this is thy foule desire And moody Tarleton bellowes of this fire 'T is thou that art the marrow of this sinne My sonne doth serue but for the outward skin 496 You are the wheeles that make this clock to strike My fatall houre the last of all my good For this is not the hight of your dislike Death is the fruit when treason is the bud Such practises doe alwaies end in blood When others stumble Kings fall headlong downe There is no meane betwixt a graue and Crowne 497 For this is certaine sinne doth alwaies finde Within it selfe sufficient cause to feare 'T is dangerous to trust a guilty minde The Creditor remou'd the debt 's thought cleare Men hate whom they haue wrong'd and hating feare And fearing will not cease till they haue prou'd All meanes by which the cause may be remou'd 498 Therefore would I might leade a priuate life In some sequestred place which none might see Where I might see to reconcile the strife That sinne hath made betwixt my God and me Or if the ransome of my Crowne were free My life from slaughter little would I grieue For none so wretched but desires to liue 499 And yet why should I lose or life or Crowne Are liues or Crownes so light and easie losses 'T is vaine to aske why fortune lists to frowne Or to enquire the causes of our crosses When ships on sea stormes winds and billowes tosses It boots not aske why winds and stormes should rise For powerful heauens respects not humane whies 500 The stately Steed that champs the steelie bit And proudly seemes to menace friend and foe Doth sling and some and boundeth oft and yet Poore beast perforce he is inforc't to goe Euen so far'd I and since it must be so As good the same should seeme to come from me 'T was best to will what ' gainst my will must be 501 And so I made a solemne resignation Of all my right and title to me sonne And herewithall an earnest protestation Which was with sighes and weeping teares begun How much I grieu'd that I had so misdone As to procure thereby my peoples hate And so be thought vnworthy of the state 502 Which since I was I willingly would giue Vnto my sonne my State and Maiesttie Desiring them to giue me leaue to liue And not too much tread on my miserie For I had once their faith and fealtie Which though I now discharg'd and set them free Though not obey yet should they pittie me 503 The Crowne had often made my head to ake And I prai'd God my sonne felt not the same Whom they should no lesse value for my sake Since by his virtue he might salue my shame And well I hop'd my president would tame All youthfull humours which are easily led Vnto those courses which confusion bred 504 And heere though griefe my sences did orewhelme And I seem'd dead yet that no barre might be Sir Thomas Trussell Knight for all the Realme Did then renonce obedience vnto me And of all faith and seruice set them free My Steward brake his staffe my stare before Was now discharg'd and I was King no more 505 Marke what pretences wrong can make of right How loath men seeme 'gainst iustice to offend Oh sacred virtue thou art full of might When eu'n thy foes thy title will pretend As if thy onely shadow could amend All wrongfull acts but now it 's growne a vse Thou must be made a cloake to hide abuse 506 But when I had thus parted with my Crowne I did bewaile the waining of my State Poore Prince said I how low art thou cast downe From that high heau'n which thou enioyd'st of late Thou hast no prospect but an iron grate Thy costly hangings ragged walles of stone And all thy solace solitarie moane 507 Now of a Cushion thou must make a Crowne And play the
rather My hopefull Haruest proues but Thistles weedes And for the bloud I gaue my heart now bleeds 87 For oh how neere a touch doth Nature giue How searching are the sufferings of our bloud How much the Fathers soule doth ioy or grieue When he doth see his issue bad or good It 's hard of any to be vnderstood Except of those whose feelings bowels find What deepe impressions doe proceed from kind 88 Wise was the Prince who playing with his Sonne And teaching him to ride vpon a Reede To whom a great Ambassador did come And seem'd to blush at his so childish deede Doe not quoth he to iudgement yet proceed I onely craue a respit of thy doome Till thou thy selfe art Father of a Sonne 89 Inferring that there is a secret loue Which vntouch't hearts can hardly comprehend Would God the same reciprocall might proue Oh that kinde Nature would sometimes ascend Fathers too oft in indulgence offend But Sonnes more oft in duty proue defectiue These way ward times are growne so vnrespectiue 90 Nature so wrought that Cressus sonne cried 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 now work their Fathers woe 91 But foolish man why doe I blame my Sonne Whose yet vnknowing yeares by ill aduise Being led away a dangerous course doth runne For youths hot bloud forgets cold ages yee And whilst his hand is in doth throw the Dice At all that pleasure sets and thinkes to gaine If with the bye he can discharge the maine 92 Sweete Ned I blame not thee but Gauestone For he it is that sitteth at the Helme And steeres the Sterne at pleasure thou art blowne Nor will he leaue till he doth ouer-whelme In deepest gulfe thy selfe and all thy Realme For stirring spirits do troubl'd streames desire And then thriue best when all are set on fire 93 Obserue those wasted States that do decline How apt they are for innouation How much they doe 'gainst publick good repine And hopefully expect an alteration That whilst things are vnsetl'd out of fashion They may close vp the wounds they had before And by that meanes their priuate wants restore 94 Therefore let those that haue a grounded State And may liue well ioyne close in any wise Against all such as seeke to innouate If not in duty yet in good aduise To keep such downe as hope perhaps to rise Vpon their ruines whose reuenewes may Cut short their liues sure proue the spoilers pray 95 And with these linkes such spirits as would rise But are by former great ones still supprest And such do dangerous Stratagems deuise Not will their egar hopes afford them rest But mount they must who euer be deprest And little do they force the States confusion May they thereby to greatnesse make intrusion 96 And to this end they are obsequious still They sooth they fawne they seeme officious They fit themselues to their great mouers will Be 't good or bad iust or iniurious They serue euen turnes base and luxurious But I 'le prouide a wholesome Methridate So to preuent these poisons of the State 97 And firmely setled in this resolution By strict command was Gauestone exil'd I begg'd of him to stop th' execution But then my Father shak'd his head and smil'd Oh Ned quoth he how much art thou beguil'd To foster that which will thy downefall be And warme the Snake that will inuenome thee 98 I wish my selfe an Eccho at that word That I might then haue boldly answer'd thee For neuer was there sharpest edged sword That wounded more then that same wounded me But go he must that was the Kings decree And when he went then dy'd my bloudlesse heart So doth the body from my soule depart 99 The former times haue held it good aduise That some offender should abiure the Land But 't is a course both dangerous and vnwise And with no rules of Regiment can stand For if the matter be with iudgement scand It will appeare to men considerate That abiuration hurts both Prince and State 100 I do not meane of men that are not mist For who respects the humming of a Gnat Such Attomes may wander where they list Their muddy pates can neither frame the plat Nor feeble hands worke danger to the State Let men of note be mark'd and wary heed Be had of them that may disturbance breed 101 And 't is not safe to banish such a one As may finde meanes to worke his owne returne So Bullingbrooke stept in to Richards throne And he had leasure afterwards to mourne His foolish fault such Med'cines may adiourne The present paine a while but makes the sore To raue more selly then it did before 102 Mild drugs may stirre the humors that abound But will not quite expell the growing ill The roote and body both remaining sound Although the Tree be lopt yet thriues it still But when thou hast the Axe to vse at will Strike at the roote and fell it to the ground Rather then pare the boughes and branches round 103 For 't is lost labour to beginne with them They needes must wither if the other die And do not feare though vulgar breath condemne Thy carriage in such courses whose weake eie Lookes at the present only and thereby Values the rest do thou make good thy end The common sort will euer be thy friend 104 Wise Longshankes yet in this thou wert vnwise If thou hadst tooke the head of Gauestone Those subsequent disasters that did rise From him had beene preuented euery one Thy Sonne had not beene shouldred from his Throne Thy Peeres not slaine nor Realmes to ruine brought But so God workes till all his will be wrought 105 My Gauestone thus driuen into Exile My selfe committed like a Captiue thrall For so my Father kept me short a while VVith bitter curses I did ban them all I dranke my teares and fed vpon my gall I chaf'd and fround yet could I not preuaile Needs must wil be faine would doth often faile 106 Then were my colours turn'd to mournfull blacke I did put on the liuery then of care Like to the hopelesse Sea-man in a wracke That sees the greedy waues deuoure his share No otherwise did thoughtfull Edward fare When sad remembrance in my soule did plant His lot my losse his woe my pleasures want 107 The chiefest Cordiall of my grieuedsoule The one and onely period of my paine Was this that Death admitting no controule Would end my Fathers wrath his Life his Raigne And then thought I Ned will haue Pierce againe When Englands Crowne shall make a Ioue of me Then Gaueston my Ganimed shal be 108 As I did hope so had my hopes successe For shortly after did my Noble Sire VVhilst he prepar'd the Scots for to suppresse Loe now quoth I I haue
my selfe to enuy open lay To disaduantage wanting their aduise Whom long imployment had made deeply wise 131 Besides I did the publique State some wrong So to cast off those grounded Polliticians VVho knew to gouerne by commaunding long Had seene and well obseru'd mens dispositions And so could tell when where how impositions Where to be rais'd how to auoide offence How to gaine men and ends with faire pretence 132 VVho likewise knew how other Kingdomes stood The concordances of each Neighbouring state How Realmes best correspond for eithers good How to make Leagues how to negotiate VVhen to breake off and when to incorporate How farre remote and neere confiners too Are to be weigh'd as they haue meanes to doe 133 T is not the practice of a day or twaine T is not the Schooles or Sophisters debate T is not the foame of euery working braine T is not the start into a neighbouring state That workes men fit to beare a Kingdomes weight VVhen men are fully made imploy them then For 't is an arte of artes to gouerne men 134 Therefore I hold it for a certaine ground VVhich new made Princes must not violate Except they will the Common-wealth confound Not to discard those men that knew the State VVhose long experience ingenerate A true and perfect method to commaund Both for the Princes good and for the Land 135 Besides this fault scaree setled in my State I straight recal'd exiled Gauestone VVho by my many fauours grew so great That I did seeme to him to liue alone I Alexander hee Stephestion Oh no I wrong them to vsurpe their names Our loues were like but farre vnlike their fames 136 Heere I did violate my Fathers will And all respect of duty did despise To wrong the dead is sacriligious ill A clog which endlesse on the conscience lies And at the latest gaspe for vengance cries And lo the feares and doubts lurkes close within That restlesse soule that 's guilty of such sinne 137 VVhen all his ioynts are rack't with dying paine VVith cold dead sweat all couer'd ouer quite What thorney thoughts will then distract his braine How shall he dare t' approach his fathers fight Whose dying words he lately set so light He 'le feare his friends suspect his wife est-soone And sighing thinke they 'le do as I haue done 108 It is too common to betray the trust That by testators is in friends repos'd But marke Gods iudgement how seuere how iust How to the nature of the sinne dispos'd Euen I my selfe was by my sonne depos'd I that infring'd my fathers dying hest Was in my life by my owne sonne distrest 139 Mee that a Siere did wrong a sonne did wrong I that did shew my selfe degenerate As I had sowne so did I reape ere long Such sinne it is our faith to violate Oh deepest doome of all fore-seeing fate How wisely are thy fearefull iudgements fitted To punish sinne as snne was first committed 140 The Giants heap'd vp Hils to climbe the Skie I honors heap'd that Gauestone might clime They did contend with Ioue and fell thereby He with my Peeres and perish'd in his prime They thriu'd at first but fell in after time His Prologue sweet but sad was his last act So fairest glasse men say is soonest crackt 141 These were the honors that he did attaine The Earle of Cornwell and the Lord of Man Chiefe Secretary Lord great Chamberlaine And for his wife the Glousters sister wan Aspiring men see how great Monarchs can Aduance their States whom they do please to afauour Who serues the King doth seldome leese his labour 142 Though Poëts fictions seeme to sauour much Of idle errors yet they haue their sence King Midas turn'd to gold all he did touch The Morrall thus the fauour of the Prince His gracious touch may guild without offence His greatest wants and make him for to sore A lofty pitch that did but creepe before 143 Not all the painefull passages one spends In serious contemplation of deepe artes Nor any one imployment so commends The Agent though a man of rarest parts As when the Prince but one sweete smile imparts One looke of loue one eye-glance of delight Hath power to change dark clouds to Suns most bright 144 The eyes of Kings are more then simple eies They are the Starres that do predominate Th' affaires of men and in their influence lies The good or bad of euery ones estate Th' are the primum-mobile of fate They whirle about their fortunes as they list And as they fauour we are curst or blest 145 A Kings smooth brow is the true dwelling place Of honour weakh dependancy respect And in this wrinckled fore-head liues disgrace Death exile want a generall neglect A world of ills let that poore wretch expect Be it all Riuers to the Sea must runne And euery light receiue light from the Sunne 146 Let them be great whom Kings resolue to grace It is a priuiledge that is their owne To raise such as they please to wealth or place Is truely proper to the Princely throwne And hath not beene denide to any one Lewes of France did say he spent his Raigne In making and in marring men againe 147 Some by the Schoole some by the Lawes do mount Some by the Sword and some by Nauigation As streames haue had though not the selfe same fount Shali only Kings admit a limitation How high for what desert or of what Nation They shall aduance it were a wretched thing On this condition to become a King 148 To make new Creatures is the Princes due And without murmur let him haue his owne The danger only is to him that 's new For enuy euer waites on such a one Both from those men that are not so well growne And from great Houses to who straight will feare Least such new stars should thrust him from the sphaere 149 For those which once haue got the highest staire Will keep them downe that mount with too much hast T is best some say to rise but soft and faire If thou wilt gaine thy iournies end at last Tire not thy meanes by posting ouer-fast Stirre like a Diall vnperceiu'd to mooue So shalt thou gather strength and purchase loue 150 And therefore they that sound a family Must gather wealth and vnder their estates Make great pretences of humility Allie themselues with strong confederates Serue great mens turnes so to auoide their hates For Cerberus with hony sops was pleas'd And malice must with mildnesse be appeas'd 151 Then let it be his work that next succeeds To raise himselfe vnto a greater height Who by imployments or by Martiall deeds Or by vnlading some of that rich fraight Which he hath stor'd perhaps with the conceipt Which he much better then the first may do Whose meanes he hath and adds his owne thereto 152 Nor shall he finde such eager opposition Time hauing worne out all his fathers foes Or els perhaps alter'd their disposition By gifts by fauours
by obsequious shewes Or els perchaunce for feare of future blowes And so some few discents from higher to higher The newnesse of the house will varnish faire 153 Where sodaine greatnesse ruin'd Gaueston Whom I too much prefer'd before my Peeres Who did possesse me more then any one From whence grew many jelousies and feares Close discontentments which at first appeares Of little moment worthlesse of respect But prov'd such skars as we did least expect 154 It is the praise and blessing of the sonne To make his heate and light both generall Princes are sonnes and both must freely runne In open course and be not seuerall Vnto some few but common vnto all The poorest he that breaths this song may sing Wee all haue interest in the Aire and King 155 And this too much did spread abroad my passion Who like pure water should haue had no taste This error did my gouernment dis-fashion That Gaueston vnworthily was grac't And made too great a monster huge and vaste Who in his growth was vnproportionall Became offensiue to himselfe and all 156 My Seale my Court my Realme was rul'd by him That neither knew to rule nor to obay I car'd not though my Peeres did sinke or swim Nor what my other Counsellors did say For he did stearne my compasse night and day Whilst I being sunke in sinne and drown'd in lust Had almost wrack't the Realme with such a gust 157 The Court which in my Fathers life time seem'd A Senate house of siluer-headed Sages Might now a pompous Theater be deem'd Pester'd with Panders Players and with Pages Of my ensuing fall too true presages And yet in shew it seemed fairer farre So Comets glifter more then any starre 158 But oh the quiet of that happy land Where aged Nestors beare the chiefest sway Where strength of mind rules more then force of hand Where old men bid and yong men doe abey Where Ages winter guideth youths sweete May But when the foote or hand commands the head The body then is many wayes misled 159 Let siluer haires and long experienc'd age Be sole directors of each enterprise Let youth be as an Actor on the Stage To execute what staider heads deuise For youth is actiue age discreete and wise Youth is more daring but precipitate Age more judiciall and considerate 160 Yet should not States-men be too aged men Fer euery yeare their spirits much decay They earthy grow and melancholy then Heauy and dull their edge being worne away Wayward and teachy wrangling all the day Full of Morosity and which is worse Extremely giuen to gripe and fill the purse 161 Besides we see some men are ripe betimes Like sommer fruit some pleasing to the tast And if those spirits in whom such vertue shines May be with greatnesse and imployments grac't They come to full maturity at last Men of exceeding worth they being growne Both for their countries good and for their owne 162 But to my selfe who did neglect my Peeres And onely did deuote my selfe to pleasure Lou'd I why loue it selfe loues youthful yeares Spent I why Kings should not be slaues to treasure Heard I not Subjects suits I had no leysure Did I forbeare my Peeres conuerse What then loue is not tide to sort himselfe with men 163 When they did say that Scottish Bruce did burne My Northerne borders and did wast the same Then sighing I to Gauestone would turne And say sweet Peeres my selfe feeles fancies flame I saw I loue I dye for such a dame Cupid I feare a Bruce to me will proue My hold's by him my heart is fier'd with loue 164 With thsee and many more fantasticke toyes I shifted off my Councell when they came I haue not time enough to spend in ioyes Why should I spare one minute from the same Let them that list by wars go hunt for same I force it not giue me these pleasing warres Where blowes are giu'n but neuer cause no skarrer 165 But when the field is to a field-bed turn'd When eyes like sharpest Launces pierce yet please When amorous hearts with equall flames are burn'd When Foes sinke downe our furies to appease And lips on lips redouble blowes of ease When braue assaults are not by Death contrould In such a band who would not be inroul'd 166 The Roman monster Heliogabilus And Persian Xerxes neuer fortunate Might well be thought to liue againe with vs We priz'd our pleasures at so high a rate Which was our sad and still successelesse fate In peace our fault procured our dâ—caies In warres our Fortunes made vs run-awayes 167 The lucklesse battailes fought whilst I did Raigne With Robert Bruce that Noble English Scot Sad monuments vnto the World remaine That vicious life with Monarchies thriue not For sinne and shame are ti'd with Gordians knot And those designes do proue successelesse quite That are contriu'd by men drown'd in delight 168 Marke but the Maps of all antiquity True Registers vnfalsefi'd records The race of time which we call History And 't will be found that euery age affords Plenty of proofe to fortifie my words Each leafe each time do pregnant witnesse beare Who riot most to ruine are most neere 169 When sinne did ouer-flow the Deluge came Th' Assirians then did loose their Monarchy When their last king did liue most out offrame And was ore-whelm'd with sensuality The Persians then did wrecke their Empery When wealth and ease and lust did most abound Which also did the Romaine State confound 170 The Danes did first set footing in this Land Because Lord Buerâ—â— wife was rauish't here The Saxons forces got the vpper hand When Vortiger held Hengests daughter deere And still our Realme to ruine hath bin neere When ripned sin hath gather'd strongest head So stalled Steeres are to the Shambels led 171 Thus Edward sayd and this our age hath seene Like instance of a neere confining State Neuer was France more deadly sicke of sinne Neuer was goodnesse growne more our of date Neuer did Princes more preposterate Their priuate liues and publique regiment And as they liu'd so died impenitent 172 Neuer Religion seru'd for more pretences Neuer were Nobles more ambitious Neuer like inundations of offences Neuer were Church-men lesse religious Neuer were Commons more seditious Such plotting counter-plotting pollicies Such Massacres such Barbarous cruelties 173 Such impious courses such impunity Neuer was seene lesse blushing and more shame Neuer had sinne so great imunity Neuer was euer all so out of frame As in these latter times till the fiery flame Of ciuill fury and of Forraine foe Did make poore France the Stage of tragicke woe 174 And without doubt had not the Man of men The mighty Atlas of that sinking State Bin rais'd by God to giue new life euen then That famous Kingdome of so ancient date By home ambition and by Forraine hate Had breath'd her last being sin-sicke vnto death And much a doe there was to giue her breath 175 For still the eye of
breake And trees are euer at the top most weake 197 Content doth seate it selfe in lowest dales Out of the dint of winde and stormie showres These sitts and sings Melodious Nightingales There runes fresh cooling streames there spring sweete flowres There heat and could are fenc'd by shady bowres There hath he wealth at will but this wee knowe the grasse is short that one the hill doth grow 198 Oh Gaueston whie dost thou then aspire To be so great when greatnesse stands one yee If thou shouldst slip as now thy place is hier Then will thy fall be greater in a trice Hee 's downe that stands on Pynacles be wise Stand low Stand fast but oh I speake in vaine For men will mount though suer to stoope againe 199 How Gauestone the third time Banished Did liue in Duch-land where he found no rest How he return'd how I was famished Did feede on him as on some dainty Feast How ill my Peeres his presence did disgest I doe but touch at now my Muse vnfold How till his fall he bare him proud and bold 200 Suppose him spleene-full melancholly sad And me in mine affections passionate Thinke him reuenge-full thinke me doting mad Thinke how I lou'd and thinke how he did hate And thinke him then thus â—o expostulate Grieu'd with precedent fear'd with future wrong Thus did this Syren tune his balefull song 201 Oh King no King but shaddow of a King Nay doe not frowne but heare me what I say I speake in zeale though fatally I sing Thou op'st a gap vnto thine owne decay By suffering thy proud Peeres to beare the sway For looke how much the shadowes heigth doth grow So much the Sunne declines and goes more low 202 Thy waxing is their waine thy ebbe their tyde When they are strongest thou art weake and faint Turne euery stone to quell their growing pride It fits not Kings to brooke the least restraint Disgrace exile streight durance or attaint Close practises to bring them into hate These are the meanes to re-assure thy State 203 Now thou art King in shewe but not in deede These petty pawnes doe checke and mate thee to All is reuers'd that is by thee decreed They doe inioyne thee what thou hast to doe And what they will thou art compeld vnto But though thy pleasure bend another way Yet things must passe as they are pleas'd to sway 204 They haue allies to strengthen their designes They backe themselues with their Confederates Their seeming zeale the vulgar vndermines The wiser sort for feare insinuates And so they gaine assurance of all states Some by the glosse of faire deportment and Some by a hard and ouer-awing hand 205 Besides they raise men that are popular And by their meanes the peoples hearts they steale Themselues seemes iust their courses regular They make pretences for a Common-weale Of reformation of religious zeale And by these colours which they do pretend They bring their complots to a sinfull end 206 But more then this the wealth of all thy Land Is in their hand or else at their dispose VVhereby they haue an absolute command Of many liues which are maintain'd by those Great bounties that from their aboundance flowes For they must needes remaine at their deuotion VVho haue from them their being and their motion 207 These are the close consumptions of thy State VVhich by these antidots thou must restore Be seru'd by such as thou hast rais'd of late Aduance new Creatures of no note before And such will still depend on thee therefore For wanting meanes except thou grace them still They must remaine obliged to thy will 208 Let them be staring spirits of aire and fire Apt but to make and to maintaine a faction Ambitious actiue hungry to aspire Not foil'd with feare but apt for actiue action True to their ends but false in faith and faction And such being grac'd and fauour'd by the time VVill in despite of spightfull enuy clime 209 VVhos 's growth thy Peeres will malice and detest And seeke to stop which they not brooking well VVill nourish mutuall hatred in their brest And rankrous enuy in their soules will swell From whence reuenge and greedy thrift to quell The aduerse party cannot but proceede And so confusion to them all indeede 210 Meane while thou vnder-hand must feede the flame And secretly giue heart to either side And which is weakest leaue them to the same VVhereby thou shalt confound the aduerse pride And if they doubting chance to be espide Make it an open quarrell and be sure To cut them off that may most hurt procure 211 This lecture was by Tarquin well exprest When with his wand he did behead those flowers That any way did ouer-grow the rest As who should say be jealous of great powers And cut them downe whose State neere equals ours For that same Throne is but a slippery seare That suffers any to be ouer-great 212 Make paenall Lawes to cut off their retainers Wrest from their hands all publique great command Grace them in shew but not to make them gainers Keepe them aloofe let them not vnderstand The passages of State at any hand Doe not commit thy forces to their trust Least hauing mindes th 'aue meanes to be vniust 213 Where ere they liue though they be farre remou'd Yet let them be suruei'd with carefull eye Such as are neere to them and deerely lou'd To whom their inward thoughts most open lye Winne them by gifts and by close pollicy To serue thy turne with true intelligence Of any thing that may procure offence 214 If they command doe thou not fauour then Let all aduancements be deriu'd from thee So shalt thou weane from them the hearts of men And they will onely thy dependants be For there men serue while they preferment see Lastly what Stratagem thou dost intend Let shewes of vertue colour still thy end 215 These are the baites to fish for wisest Peeres The longlings may be caught with easier meanes Let Syren pleasures bane their youthfull yeares Let lust expence and riotous extreames To which their age by course of nature leanes Let followers change of beauties pompous pride Infect their mindes and racke their States beside 216 Yet if thou see a likely growing plant Whose spreading branches may in time proue great Lodge him at home let him imployment want And fruitlesse wither in his natiue seate For ease and rest will chill his actiue heate And lull'd in pleasure of a safe delight Relinquish mounting thoughts of honors quite 217 But if his temper fore so high a pitch And that his working vertues must haue vent Ingage him in some action by the which His Haruest may be Death or discontent Yet make a shew to grace his hardiment And thrust him so with highest honor on To such attempts as Death still waite vpon 218 Which if he misse as Heauen may blesse him so Yet will the managing of such designes Afford fit matter for his ouer throw If that
far thy hand is stretched out To powre downe vengance on this damned rout 285 But to reuert from whence I did digresse Besides this common confluence of ill Those warres I vndertooke God did not blesse But euermore they were successlesse still Because I fail'd both in aduise and skill Which being manag'd without due respect How could their ends but sort to such effect 286 Most true it is a power of fearefull Harts That by a Princely Lyon is but led Shall in the field exploit more glorious parts Then armed Lions with a Hart their head For wars do thriue as they are mannaged And in the streame of Action sound aduise Preuailes as much as doth bold enterprise 287 A Ship well mann'd well victual'd tackled well Without a skilfull pilot steere the same Doth in that warrie world in danger dwell Looke what the Pilot is to that huge frame To armed troopes the Chiefetaine is the same Who wanting either courage or foresight Ruines himselfe and all his Armie quite 288 In managing of Ciuill home designes If any Councell be not wisely fitted There yet remaines some space in after-times To execute what was before omitted Or to correct what was before committed But in the fields when Armies ioyne in shocke One only error brings all to the block 289 And hence as I conceiue it doth proceede That excellent Commanders are so rare Because they must be very wise indeede To take the least aduantages that are And very valiant to attempt and dare And oh how seldome meere in one these twaine A Lions heart ioyn'd with a foxes braine 290 Troy only stories forth one Hectors fame One Alexander name of great did merit One Hanniball from Carthage onely came And but one Pirrhus Empire did inherit So sauing are the Heauens of such a spirit That no one climate hath produced many And many one hath scarce been blest of any 291 The Theban state no greatnesse did attaine But only in Epaminondas time Who being dead it did grow weake againe He was the sunne that lightned all the clime His setting was their fall his rise their prime Before most glorious after of no fame Such powerfull vertue from their Chiefetaine came 292 Therefore let Princes labour to attaine The art of warre by all the meanes they can Because it doth inable him to reigne And makes him greater then a priuate man That often hath the Supreme title wan Of sole Commander which who doth possesse Is scarce a Prince and yet but litle lesse 293 To haue such troopes of Souldiers at command To haue such store of wealth as men affect To haue such potent meanes by sea and land To execute what er'e they would affect To be obseru'd with dutie and respect By forren States and haue dependancie Are shadowes at the least of Soueraigntie 294 And he that oft hath tasted that delight Wherewith such powerfull greatnesse doth bewitch Me thinks can hardlie humble so his spight As not to thinke himselfe aboue the pitch Of 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 295 Therefore in truth I do not Iump with those Who thinke the Prince a conduct in the field Should both himselfe and common wealth repose Vpon some Chiefetaine whilst himselfe doth wield The home affaires which more assurance yeeld In shew I grant but weighing euerything Such seeming safeties certaine danger bring 296 For if ambition seize vpon the soule As 't is a passion apt to entertaine And once possest no iust respects controule I would aduise the Prince that then doth raigne To doubte th' euent 't is worser to complaine Then be complain'd of And who doth not know How many Kings haue been vncrownedse 297 This was the Rocke that wrack't great Olerones line And brought the Crowne of France to Martells care For Childerick was forced to resigne To Pepin Martells sonne his kingly place And so likewise Hugh Capet did displace The line of Pepin and aduanc't his owne Because in warre his worth was greater growne 298 A Subiect may in shape a Prince excell A Subiect may more then his Soueraigne know Either in arts or in discoursing well He may be stronger to vnhorse his foe And it no danger to the Scepter so But if in armes the subiect growes too great The Prince may chaunce be set besides his seat 299 Therfore the Prince whose forces and whose armes By other then himselfe commanded bin Must for preuention 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 300 But is there then no Ciment for to ioyne The Prince and powerfull Peere so close so fast As th' one shall not suspect nor th' other clime Or is the state of things so strangly past That men cannot be good with greatnesse grac'd Must Princes feare the noblest virtues still Or must a Subiect vse such virtue ill 301 Oh no such minds the glosse of virtue beares But no essentiall part of her pertake A kingly nature cannot nourish feares And virtuous soules loue good for goodnes sake And only that their actionsayme do make Where such as borrow virtues for a time Are dangerous men and verie apt to clime 303 Especially if their designements bend To compasse that which we dependance call If all their actions Ieuell at this end Tender themselues vnto the Generall Oh the 'yle be easl'y drawne to throw at all When they haue got the day into their hand By hauing often conduct and command 303 The Antidote for Princes to preserue Their State vndanger'd from such poysonous pares Is onely Iustice which who doth obserue In all designes to men of all estates And is not swai'd with feares loue hopes or hates Or any passion but goes clearely on That Prince is wise and doth secure his Throne 304 Let all the politicks that breath this day Rack their conceipts vntill they breake their braine They neuer shall inuent a better way Whereby a Prince may with assurance raigne Than to be truely iust and to retaine An euen proportion Arithmeticall Which giueth equall iustice vnto all 305 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 t' aspire This distributes to all deserued hire Whereby the Subiect hauing his iust due Remaines contented and contented true 306 And you great Starres whose power is influence May worke so much be not irregular Moue fairely in your orbs without offence Be Nobles truely and not titular But soft my muse how apt art thou to erre From thy first path returne and make it plaine That armes are safest for a soueraigne 307 Not onely to preuent aspiring harmes Would I haue Kings Comanders of their owne But chiefely would I haue them practise Armes That
armes they got them by and by They moued warre the Spencers to remoue Hate armed them and I was arm'd by loue 354 They leui'd men I likewise men did leuie Both raised all the forces we could make A tyrants hand they say was too too heuy A traytors head I said became a stake They vow'd redresse I vow'd reuenge to take We met and meeting fought and fighting found No hurt more grieues than doth a selfe-wrought wound 355 Oh English Peeres relinquish impious Armes Build not your weightiest actions vpon Sand T is not the collout of-pretended harmes Nor seeming zeale vnto your natiue land Nor reformation though you beare in hand The people so of some abuse of lawes That can make lawfull your vnlawfull cause 356 These haue and euer haue bin those smoth oyles With which foule treason seekes to paint her face That shee might seeme faire pleasing full of similes So to win loue and gaine the peoples grace Who sillie Gudgions euer bite apace Vntill the fatall hooke be swallow'd downe Which by ambition Angles for a Crowne 357 Who euer practiz'd against Prince or State But alwayes did pretend the common good Therby to draw into Contempt or hate The course of gouernment as then it stood This hath bin still the marrow life and bloud Of such attempts but heare the rule stands fast What 's thought on first is executed last 358 For when that once their priuat turne is seru'd The cares of common wealth is lai'd a side That did but whet the knife with which they caru'd For their owne good that Vizor did but hide Some secret ends not fit to be descride Vntill accomplish'd which once brought to passe The publicke state stands as before it was 359 And for to Angle men crimes must be made Against the Prince if he be without touch If that no iust exceptions can be had Then must the imputation rest on such As being neere the Prince are vsed much For this is certaine they that stand on hie Are fairest marks for fowlest obloquie 360 But though the Arrow seemeth at them aym'd Yet through their sides it wounds the Princes brest Whose reputation cannot be but maym'd By their reproach whom they do fauour best And they that kill the birds would spoyle the nest But what 's intended must be closely wrought And that pretended which was neuer thought 361 Why should vaine man still doubt his actions thus With outward whitelime which are pitch'd within Eu'n wicked kings must be endur'd by vs. What ere the cause be Treason is a sinne Rebellious armes cannot true honour win The Sword is not the Subiects his defence In all extreames is prayer and patience 362 Therefore deere spirits die not your siluer armes Into a Sanguine with your mothers blood Let not vnciuell hands cause ciuill harmes For priuat greefe confound no publicke good Not all the water in the Ocean flood Can wash the sinne from you and your allies For treason liues although the traitor dies 363 Sweet Trent how were thy Christ all waters stain'd With English blood that was at Burton shed Let Burrow-bridge a Golgotha be nam'd A field of Death wherein lay buried So many people and all natiues bred Had those deere liues gainst Frenchmen beene imployed We had not greeu'd though they had liu'd or di'de 364 At last the doubtfull victorie prou'd mine The Barons lost the day and lost their liues Their heads went off whose hearts did so repine Against their Prince for Treason seldome thriues That great all-seeing God whose knowledge Diues Into the deepest secret of the soule Vniust contempts in Iustice doth controle 365 Great Lancaster then whom no greater Earle This greatest Ile of Europe had before Good Lancaster in goodnesse such a pearle That him the vulgar sort did long adore Had then his head strooke off and many more Euen of the greatest felt the selfe same stroke So lightning spares the shrub and teares the Oake 366 The sword was sharpe and wounded euery where Many great men of noble qualitie In seuerall Cities were beheaded there For beinst Actors in that trecherie Which alwaies proues a mournfull Tragedy For though I know the sword is due to such Yet should a Prince forbeare to strike too much 367 For often executions in a state especiallie of men of fashion First stir vp pitie then dislike then hate Then close Complaint then Combination Then followes practise for some alteration And that indangers all if not withstood Although vnprosperous yet it spills much blood 368. And the same Throne that 's often wet with blood Is very slippry apt to catch a fall Yeelding no howres rest nor pleasures good Sleeping on thornes and feeding vpon gall Still thinking meditating ill of all Haunted with restles feares whilst day doth last And then at night with fearfull dreamesagast 369 Our Stories do report third Richard so And without doubt he did too much let blood Alwaies mistrustfull both of friend and foe Readie to strike them that but neere him stood Fearfull to all such was his furious moode And fearing all as one that knew too well How manie soules did wish his soule in hell 370 Oh that a Prince might see a Tyrants minde What Monsters what Chimeraes therein are What horrors in his soule he still doth finde How much himselfe is with himselfe at war Euer diuided full of thought and Care With Pistolls Poniards poysons he conceipts And thinks each one for his destruction waits 371 Besides indeed it is no policie Except it be in a meere Turkish state To make the Crowne a Common butcherie To gouern all by feare which breedeth hate In noble minds and doth exasperate A freeborne people where the Turkish race Feare best commands being seruile poore base 372 Princes rewards should fall like gentle raine Which coming softly doth the longer last That their sweet relish might still fresh remaine Their executions should be done in hast Like sudden furious stormes that soone are past Because when once the violence is done Th' offence thereof may be forgot and gone 373 One limbe of the great bodie that did band It selfe against me in these factious fraies Was Mortimer who yet vpon command Came in before the fight then straight waies Sent to the Tower to spend his wearie dayes In wretched bands restrain'd from libertie But walls of stone kept not out destinie 374 Which either finds or maks it selfe away For Mortimer thus sent vnto the Tower To free himselfe still labors night and day And by a sleepy potion which had power To make men slumber till a certaine howre He found the meanes his keeper being fast To make escape and got to France at last 375 This was not done without my Queenes consent Whose head and hand were working in the same Litle thought I that that way the hare went But Steeuen Segraue only I did blame Wretched mankind how bould we are to frame Hopes to our selues how blind to see our ill That least
teach and we beleiue aright Yet mindes vnsetled sooner will be bent When they shall see your words and workes consent And therefore let your liues your faith expresse And preone by practise what you doe professe 420 Whilst I and my Queene and Tarleton plaild The Pageant thus the Current went so swift That I thought fit vntill the fury stai'd In some close priuate place a while to shift And for the Land seem'd crosse vnto my drift I did resolue by sea to seeke some clime Where I might harbour till some happier time 421 And so I left the land and tooke the seas But sea and land conspir'd vnto my taking For neither plaints nor prayers could appease The windes and waues which far'd as they were making Sharpe war betwixt themselues whilst I stood quaking For feare least I the subiect of their strife Should end their warre by ending of my life 422 And yet thrice happy had poore Edward beene If death had ended then his wearie dayes But cast on shoare in Wales I liu'd vnseene In pathes in woods in vnfrequented waies With those few friends which whilom I did raise Balduck and Redding young Spencer and no more Who in my fall their ruine did deplore 423 Of all the swarmes that follow'd kingly raigne Of all the friends that fawn'd on awfull pride Loe only this poore remnant did remaine A true loue knot with sad affliction tide Who suffering and who sorrowes were t' abide For wretched men compassionate each other And kinde compassion is afflictions mother 424 Oh see what quick sands honour treads vpon How Icie is the way that greatnes goes A mightie Monarch late attended on With supple hammes smooth browes submissiue shewes For many followers he hath many foes False fawning friends from falling fortunes runne As Persians vse to curse the setting Sunne 425 When Ioue had made the chiefe of all his Creatures Whom we call man a litle world indeede The gods did praise his well proportiond features Each in their functions seruing others neede But prying Momus taking better heed Obseru'd at last one error in his Art Because he made no windowes in his heart 426 Oh that the glorious Architect of man Had made transparent glasses in the brest What place should be for Politicians then How should dissembling growe in such request And Matchiauillian Atheisme prosper best But temporising is the way to clime There is no musick without keeping time 427 I shall not doe amisse if I do sing Those heauy Anthemes our sad consort made Whilst they did warble with their wretched king As we did sorrowing sit in silent shade The sudden downfall reeling greatnes had Balducke quoth I out of Philosophie Extract some medicine for our miserie 428 Deere Prince quoth he whom late our eies beheld In greatest glorie that the world could see Whilst thou with awfull maiestie didst wield The publicke State let it no wonder be If some few Stars proue opposite to thee Since in their fauour none so firmly stood But they haue giuen griefe as well as good 429 Do but obserue the fauorite of Chance Her chiefest Mynion highest in her Grace Philips great sonne whom shee did so aduance Who did subdue the East in litle space Vnto whose Armes th' amazed world gaue place Whose actions are the subiâ—ct of all stories He poyson'd dies amids the world of Glories 330 I list not wade in telling tragick tales Sufficeth this all greatnes is vnsure Stormes rage more fiercely on the hills then dales Shrubs better then high Cedars winds indure Those Collours soonest staine that are most pure Oh let him graspe the Clouds and span the skies That can assure himselfe felicities 431 In all that this same massie world doth hold There is a certaine mixture to be found Either of drie or moist or hot or cold Of which if any one too much abound The bodie oft afflicted proues vnsound But being kept in iust proportion They do maintaine a happy vnion 432 So fares it in our fortune and our State Nothing is simply sweet or simply sower Our wealth is mixt with woe our loue with hare Our hope with feare and weaknes with our power Bright moones breed mists the fairest morne a showre And as there is an Autumne and a spring So change by course is seene in euerie thing 433 The winde that 's now at South will change to Nore The greenest Groues will turne to witherd hay The Seas both ebbe and flow at euery shore The Moone doth wax and waine yet not decay Day drawes on night and night drawes on the day Our selues once babes now men then old straight none Do plainly proue a change in euery one 434 Wise Politicians and deepe sighted sages That haue discourst of Common wealths with care Both of our time and of precedent ages Obserue in them a birth when first they are A grouth which oft extendeth verie far A state wherein they stand so change withall And then at last a dismall fatall fall 435 Rome had her being first from Romulus Her growth from Consulls that were Annuall Her State most flourish'd in Octauius Many conuersions these most principall From kings to Consulls last Emperiall And who sees not she is novv ruined And in her Ruines now lies buried 436 The greatest and best grounded Monarchie Hath had a period and an ouer throw There is no constant perpetuitie The streame of things is carried to and fro And doth in euer-running Channells goe If then great Empires are to changes bending We weaker States are warned from their ending 437 Ruines of kingdomes and their fatall harmes From one of these same causes do arise From Ciuill furie and from sorren Armes Or from some plague doom'd from the angrie skies Or worne by wasting time dissolued dies For as the fruit once ripe falls from the tree So common wealths by age subuerted be 438 If these be rocks that shipwrack Monarchies Are priuate States exempted from the same Where liues the man hath such immunities 'T is hard to scape vnscorch'd in common flame Or parts to stand when ruin'd is the frame Those publike harmes that Empires do decay In priuate states do beare a greater sway 439 Fiue hundred yeeres some that are curious wise Would haue the period of a publike State And they appoint for priuat families Some six or seauen discents the vtmost date I dare not so precisely calculate But without doubt there is a fixed time In which all states haue both their set and prime 440 Let these be motiues oh deiected great one To calme the tempest of thy stormie care And though I must confesse it well may fret one The past and present fortunes to compare Yet since in all things changes common are Think eb'd estats may grow and thinke withall What happs to one to euerie one may fall 441 Thus Baldocke chas'd and Reading thus began But first his eyes dewd downe a weeping raine Oh thou once glorious now eclipsed sunne Now thou art clouded yet