THE FIRST parte of the Mirour for Magistrates containing the falles of the first infortunate Princes of this lande From the comming of Brute to the incarnation of our sauiour and redemer Iesu Christe Ad Romanos 13.2 Quisquis se opponit potestati Dei ordinationi resistit Imprinted at London by Thomas Marshe Anno. 1574. Cum Priuilegio The contentes of the Booke 1. ALbanact the yongest sonne of Brutus telles of the finding of this land his fathers life and his owne infortunate fall Fol. 4. 2. Humber the kinge of Hunnes shewes how he mindinge to conquere this land was drowned c. Fol. 15 3 Locrinus the eldest sonne of Brutus declares his slaughter to hauehappened for his euil life Fol. 17 4 Elstride the concubine of Locrinus miserably drowned by Guendoline his wife declares hir presumptiō leude life and infortunate fall Fol. 21 5 Sabrine the base childe of Locrinus telles how she was pitifully drowned by his wyfe Guendoline in reueng of her fathers adulterye Fol. 28 6 Madan shevves hovve for his euil life hee vvas slaine of wolues Fol. 32. 7 Manlius declares how he minding to kill his brother for the kingdome was by him slaine Fol. 34 8 Mempricius giuen all to lust pleasure and the sinne of Sodomy telles how he was deuoured of wolues Fol. 36 9 Bladud resiteth how hee practizing by curious artes to flye fel and brake his necke Fol. 40 10 Cordila shewes howe by despaire when she was in prison she slew hir selfe Fol. 47. 11 Morgan telles how he wadging warre with his cosin Conidagus was slaine at the place yet called Glamorgan Fol. 54. 12 Forrex declares hovve hee mindinge to kill his brother which ruled with him that he might thereby raigne alone was by him slaine Fol. 57. 13 Porrex recites how for the slaughter of his brother he was slaine by his owne mother and hir may dens as he laye sleeping Fol. 60. 14 Kimarus shewes how for his euil life he was deuoured by wilde beasts Fol. 63. 15 Morindus a bastarde declares howe he was exalted to the kingdome waxed cruell and at last was deuoured by amonster Fol. 65 16 Nennius a worthy Britaine the very patern of a valiant noble and faithfull subiect encountringe with Iulius Caesar at his first comminge into this Islande was by him death wounded yet nathelesse hee gate Caesars sworde put him to flight slewe therewith Labienus a Tribune of the Romaynes endured fighte till his countrymen wan the battaile dyed xv dayes after And nowe encourageth all good subiectes to defende their countrey from the power of forraine and vsurping enemies Fol. 68. Loue and liue TO THE NOBILITIE and all other in office God graunt the increase of wysedome with all thinges necessarie for preseruacion of their estates Amen AMongst the wise right Honorable whose sentēces for the moste parte tende either to teache the attaining of vertue or eschuing of vice Plotinus that wonderfull and excellent Phylosopher hath these wordes The propertie of Temperaunce is to couet nothing which maye hee repented not to exceade the bandes of measure and to keepe desire vnder the yooke of Reason VVhiche saying if it were so well knowen as is needefull so well imbraced as hee wyshed or so surely fixed in minde as it is printed in his woorkes then certis manye Christians might by the instruction of an Ethnicke Phylosopher shunne great and daungerous perils For to couet without consideration to passe the measure of his degree and to lette will runne at randon is the onely destruction of all estates Else howe were it possible so many learned politike wise renoumed valiauntand victorious personages might euer haue come to such vtter decaye VVill you that I rehearse Alexander the great Caesar Pompey Cyrus Hannibal c. Al which by desire of glorie felte the rewarde of their immoderate and insatiable lustes for if Alexander had ben content with Macedonie or not ben pufte vp with pride after his triumphes hee had neuer ben so miserably poysoned If Caesar and Pōpey had ben satisfied with their victories and had not fell to ciuill discention the one had not ben slaine in the Senate with daggers the other abrode by his frendes procurement If Cyrus had ben pleased with all Persia and Media and not thirsted for bloud he had neuer com to so infortunat a fall If Hanniball had not so much delited in glory of warfare his countrey had neither fel in ruine nor he ben miserably forced to poyson him selfe But you wil say desire of fame glorie renowne and immortalitie to which al mē wel nighe of nature are inclined especially those which excel or haue any singuler gift of Fortune or of the body moued them to such daungerous great and hardy enterprises which I must ne des confesse as an infallible veritie but for so much as the aboue named vertue by Plotinus his iudgemēt hath such excellent properties it is so fit in a Magistrate that I surely deme those Princes aboue specified considering their factes estates fortunes fame and exploytes had neuer come to suche ende but for wante of temperance Yet sithe there are three other Cardinall vertues whiche are requisite in him that should be in authoritie that is to saye Prudence Iustice and Fortitude which so wōderfully adorne and beautifie all estates if Temperaunce bee with them adioyned that they moue the very enemies with admi ration to praise thē some peraduenture as affection leades will commende one some another Yea and though Aristotle prince of Phylosophers name Prudence The mother of vertues And Cicero define hir the knowledge of thinges which ought to be desired and followed and also of them which ought to be 〈◊〉 and eschewed yet shall you finde that for wante of Temperaunce those whiche were counted the wisest that euer were fel into wonderfull reproche and infamie Yea and though Iustice that incomparable vertue as the auncient Ciuilians define hir be a perpetuall and constant will which geueth to euery man his right Yet if she be not constant which is the gift of fortitude nor equal in discerning right from wrong wherin is prudence nor vse proportion in iudgement and sentence which pertaineth to temperaunce shee can neuer be called equitie or iustice but fraude deceate in iustice and iniurie And to speake of 〈◊〉 which Cicero definith A consyderate vndertaking of perils and enduring of labours If hee whom we suppose stoute valiaūt and of good courage want Prudence Iustice or Temperaunce he is not counted bolde manly and constant but made beastly and desperate I will also sith I haue gone so farre with the vertues and the place so vrgeth lastly set downe the difinition of Temperaunce according to Cicero his opinion Temperaūce saith he is of reason in lust and other euil assaultes of the minde a sure and moderate dominion and rule This noble vertue hath three partes that is cōtinence clemēcie and modestie which well and wisely obserued and kept if grace be to
alone I studied still in euery kinde of thing To serue my prince and vnderfange his fone To vse his subiectes frendly euerichone And for them all aduentures such to take As might them all my persone fauoure make But when I once attained had the 〈◊〉 I waxed cruell tyranous and fell I had no longer mynde of my 〈◊〉 I vsde my selfe to ill the truthe to tell O bace degree in happy case fult well Which art not puste with pryde vainglory hate But art beneath content to byde thy fate For I aloft when once my heate was in Not raignd by reason ruled all by might Ne prudence rekte right strength or meane a 〈◊〉 But with my frendes in anger all would fight I 〈◊〉 kilde stewe who euer were in sight Without respect remorce reproufe regarde And like a mad man in my fury farde I deemde my might and fortitude was suche That I was able therby conquire all Highe kingdomes seate encreaste my poÌ„pe so much My pryde me thought impossible to fall But God confoundes our proude deuices all And bringes that thing wherein we moste do truste To our destruction by his iudgement iuste For when three yeares I ruled had this 〈◊〉 Without all rule as was my rulesse lyfe The rumour ran abroade within a whyle And chiefly in the Norweste country ryfe A monster came from 〈◊〉 seas brought griefe To all my subiectes in those coastes did dwell Deuouring man and 〈◊〉 a monster fell Which wheÌ„ I knew for trought I straight preparde In warlike wyse my selfe to try the case My haste therto a courage bolde declarde For I alone would enter in the place At whom with speare on horse I fetchte my race But on his scales it enter could no more Then might a bulrushe on a brasen dore Againe I prousde yet nought at all preuailde To breake my speare and not to pearce his side With that the roaring monster me assailde So terrifide my horse I could not ride Wherwith I lighted and with sworde I tryde By strokes and tbrustes to finde some open in But of my fight he neuer past a pin And when I weried was and spent with fighte That kept my selfe with heede his daunger fro At laste almoste ashamde I wanted mighte And skill to worke the beastly monster wo I gate me nerer with my sworde him to And thought his flaÌ„ckes or vnderpartes to wounde If there from scales might any place be founde But frustrate of my purpose finding none And eke within his daunger entred quite The grizely beaste straight seasoned me vpon And let his talentes on my corps to light He gripte my shoulders not resiste I might And roaring with a greedy rauening looke At once in iawes my body whole he tooke The way was large and downe he drew me in A moÌ„strous paunche for rowmthe woÌ„drous 〈◊〉 But for I feite more softer there the skinne At once I drewe a dagger by my side I knew my life no longer could abide For rammishe stenche blood poyson slymy glere That in his body so aboundaunt were Wherefore I labouring to procure his death While first my dagger digde about his harte His force to caste me welnie drew my brethe But as he felt within his woundes to smarte I ioyde to feele the mighty monster starte That roarde belcht groande plungde cride And coste me by and downe from side to side Long so in panges he plundgde and panting lay And drewe his wynde so faste with such a powre That quite and cleane he drew my breath away We both were dead well nighe within an howre Lo thus one beastly monster did deuoure An other monster moodelesse to his payne At once the realme was rid of monsters twayne Here maist thou see of fortitude the hap Where prudeÌ„ce Iustice TeÌ„peraunce hath no place How sodainly we taken are in trap When we despise good vertues to embrace Intemperaunce doth all our deedes deface And lettes vs heedlesse headlong run so faste Wee seeke out owne destruction at the laste For he that hath of fortitude and might And therto hath a kingdome ioynde withall Except he also guyde him selfe aright His powre and strength preuaileth him but small He cannot scape at length an haplesse fall Or Gods reuenge example take by mee And let my death sufficient warning hee FINIS The Authour I Could not thus departe to take my reste For Morpheus bad me byde and heare the Iaste ê™ he behinde as yet is one the beste Do stay a whyle giue eare till he be paste And therewithall approtched one full faste The worthiest wight I euer erste did see These woordes he spake or like it seemed mee Nennius a worthy Britayne the very paterne of a valiaunt noble and faithful subiecte encountring with Iulius Caesar at his firste comming into this Islande was by him death wounded yet nathelesse he gate Caesars swoorde put him to flighte slewe therewith Labienus a Tribune of the Romaynes endured fight till his countrey men wan the battayle died fiftene dayes after And nowe encourageth all good subiectes to defende their countrey from the powre of foraine and vsurping enemies About the yeare before Christe 50. I May by right some later wryters blame Of stories olde as rude or negligente Or else I may them well vnlearned name Or heedelesse in those thinges about they wente Some tyme on mee as well they might haue spente As on suche traytours tyrauntes harlottes those Which to their countreyes were the deadliest foes Ne for my selfe I would not this resite Although I haue occasion good therto But sure me thinkes it is to greate dispite These men to others and their countries do For there are Britaynes nether one nor two Whose names in stories 〈◊〉 once appeare And yet their liues examples worthy were T is worthy praise I graunt to write the endes Of vicious men and teach the like beware For what hath of virtue that commends Such personrs lewde as nought of vertues care But for to leaue out those praise worthy are Is like as if a man had not the skill To praise the good but discommend the ill I craue no praise although my selfe deferude As great a laude as any Britaine yore But I would haue it tolde how well I serude My Prince and countrey faith to both I bore All noble hartes hereby with couradge more May both their forraine foes in fight withstande And of their enmyes haue the vpper hande Againe to shewe how valiaunt then we were You Britaynes good to moue your harts therby All other Nations lesse in fight to feare And for your country rather so to dye With valiaunt hauty couradge as did I Then liue in bondage seruice slauery thrall Of foraine powres which hate your manhode all Do giue mee leaue to speake but euen a while And marke and write this story I the tell By North from London more then fiftye myle There lyes the Isle of Ely knowne full well Wherein my father built a place to dwell
you are but yong the perfection of those stories and th'imperfection of these Finally the good will you beare to your country the commendation of vertue the detestation of vice the fall of ambition the horrible ende of traytours harlots tyraunts adulters enchaunters murderers and such like VVhen men said they consider these things they cannot how simple soeuer your Verse bee but thincke well of the matter At length with these perswasions and suche like I was contente good Reader to publishe them for thy behoufe and the publique weale of my countrye At which if thou enuye I minde not therefore to enuye my selfe and staye my penne but God willing thou shalt as fast as I can prepare them haue other Bookes from my handes which maye please thee againe and thus with all my harte I bidde the hartelye farewell Thy freinde I. H. The Authours induction AS Somer sweete with all hir pleasures paste And leaues began to leaue both braūche and tree VVhile winter colde approatched nere full fast Mee thought the time to sadnes moued mee On drouping daies not halfe such mirth haue wee As when the time of yeare and wether-s fayre So moue our mindes as mocions moue the ayre The wery nightes approatched on apace VVith darkesom shades which somewhat breedeth care The Sun had take more nere the earth his race In Libra than his greatest swinge hee bare For pardy then the dayes more colder are Then fades the greene fruite timely herbes are don And wynter gines to waste that sommer won I deemde some booke of mourning theame was beste To reade were with instructions mingled so As might againe refreshe my wittes oppreste VVith tediousnes not driue mee quyte therfro VVherfore I went the Printers straight vnto To seeke some worke of price I surely mente That might herein my carefull mynde contente At length by hap I found a booke so sad As time of yeare or wynter could require The Mirroure namde for Magistrates he had So finely pende as harte could well desire VVhich when I read so set my heart on fire Eftsones it mee constraind to take the payne Not leaue with once to reade it once againe And as againe I vewde this worke with heede And marked playne eache party tell his fall Mee thought in mynde I sawe those men in deede Eke howe they came in order pleading all Declaring well this life is but a thrall Sithe those on whom for Fortunes giftes we stare Ofte sooniste sinke in greatest seas of care For some of these were kinges of highe estate And some were Dukes and came of Regall race Some Princes Lordes and Iudges great that sate In councell still decreing euery case Some other Knightes that vices did imbrace Some Gentlemen some poore that looked hie Yet euery one had play de his tragoedye A Mirroure well it may be calde a glasse More cleare then any crystall vnder Sun In eache respecte the Tragoedies so passe Their names shall lyue that such a worke begun For why with such Decorum is it don That Momus spight which more then Argus eyes Can neuer watche to kepe it from the wise Examples there for all estates you finde For iudge I say what iustice he should vse The noble man to beare a noble mynde And not him selfe ambiciously abuse The Gentleman vngentlenes refuse The ryche and poore and euery one may see VVhich way to loue and lyue in his degree Me thinkes they might beware by others harme And eke eschue to clamer vp so hye Yet cursed pride doth all their wittes becharme They thinke of naught but prouerbes true do trie VVho hewes aloft the chips may hurte his eye VVho climes the tops of trees wher bowes ar smal Or hawty towres may quickly catch a fall This thing full well doth Phaëtons fall declare And Icarus aloft would flie and soare Eke Bladud once of Britayne rule that bare VVould clyme and flye but eache did fal therfore For Phaëton was with lightning all to tore And Icarus the meane that did not recke VVas drownde by fal did Bladud breake his neck The scriptures eake of such beare witnes can As Babilon for high presumption fell But let mee ende my tale that I began VVhen I had red these Tragoedies full vvell And paste the night vvith labours long to tell One night at laste I thought to leaue my vse And take some ease before I chaungde my muse VVherfore a vvay from reading I me gate My heauy head vvaxte dull for vvant of reste I layde me dovvne the night vvas vvaxed late For lacke of slepe myne eyes vvere sore oppreste Yet fansy still of all their deathes increaste Me thoughte nothing my minde from them could take So long as Somnus suffered me to vvake Then straight appeard in purple colour blacke Sweete Somnus reste which comfortes eche aliue By ease of mynde that weares away all wracke That noysome night from wery wittes doth driue Of labours long the pleasures wee atchiue VVherat I ioyde sithe after paynes were past I might receiue by Somnus easeat last But hee by whom I thought my selfe at rest Reuiued all my fancies fonde before I more desirous humbly did request Him shewe th' vnhappy princes were of yore For well I wiste that hee could tell mee more Sythe vnto diuers Somnus erste had tolde VVhat things were done in elder times of olde At length he foorth his seruaunt Morpheus calde And bad him shewe mee from the first to th' ende Such persons as in Britayne Fortune thralde VVhich straight vpon his calling did attende And thus he spake with countenaunce of frende Come on thy wayes and thou shalt see and here The Britaynes and their doings what they were And as he led me through the darkes a whyle At length we came into a goodly hall At th' ende wherof there seemde a duskish I le Out of the which he gan the Britaynes call Such only as from Fortunes hap did fall VVhich when he called thryce me seemde to heare The doores to cracke from whence they should apeare And thryce I shrinkte a syde and shunde the sight And three times thrice I wishte my selfe away Eke thrise from thence there flew a flashe of light Three times I sawe them cōming make their stay At laste they all approtchte in such aray VVith sundry shewes appearing vnto mee A straunger sighte then erste with eyes I see Men mighty bigge in playne and straunge atyre But some with woūdes and bloud were so disguisde You scarcely could with reasons ayde aspyre To knowe what warre suche cruell death deuysde But sithe I haue their formes beneath comprisde VVheras their stories seuerally I showe Your selfe therby their cause of death may knowe And eke their faces all and bodies were Destainde with woade and turkish berds they had On th'ouer lippes moutchatoes long of heyre And wylde they feemde as men dispeyring mad Their lookes did make my fearfull harte full sad And yet I could not for my life eschewe Their presence or their myndes I likewyse
vnwrought ill Why spare you Britaynes this my corps to kill With that the king good Lady fayre what iste Thou canst desire or aske but must obtaine Eke would to God with all my hart I wiste Best waye to ease thee of thy wofull paine But if thou wilt do here with mee remaine If not content conductours shalt thou haue To bring thee home and what thou els wilt craue As for my Queene as yet I none possesse Therefore thou rather maiste voutchsafe to take That place thy selfe then waite on her I gesse Whose beautye with thy face no match can make The Gods denye that I thy heste forsake I saue thy life eke God forbid that I Should euer cause so fayre a Ladye dye O King quoth I the Gods preserue thy grace The heauens requite thy mercy shewde to mee And all the starres direct thy regall race In happye course long length of yeares to see The earth with fertile fruites inriche so thee That thou maist still like Justice her dispose And euer more treade downe thy deadly foes The noble king commaunded to vnbinde Mine armes and let mee lewce and free at will And afterward such fauour did I finde That as his Queene I was 〈◊〉 still And I enioyde all pleasures at my 〈◊〉 So that they quite had quenched out my thrall And I forgate my former fortunes all Thus lo by fauoure I obtainde my suite So had my beauty set his brest on fire That I could make Locrinus euen as muite Or pleasaunt as my causes did require And when I knewe he could no way retyre I praide he would his fauour so extende As I might not be blamed in the ende For if quoth I you take me as your owne And eke my loue to you haue constant beene Then let your loue like wise againe be showne And wed me as you said your spouse and Queene If since in mee misliking you haue seene Then best depart betime before defame Begin to take from Elstride her good name No wauering hart said he Locrinus beares No sayned flatery shall thy fayth deface Thy beauty birth fame vertue age and yeares Constraine mee both thee and thy hestes imbrace I must of force giue thy requestes a place For as they do with reason good consent Euen so I graunt thee all thy whole inteut Then was the time appointed and the day In which I should be wedded to this kinge But in this case his counsaile causde a staye And sought out meanes at discord vs to bringe Eke Corinaeus claimde a former thing A precontract was made and full accorde Betweene his daughter and my soueraigne Lorde And yet the King did giue me comfort still He said he could not so forsake my loue Yet euermore would beare me all good will As both my beauty and desertes did moue But still the ende doth who is fauty proue His counsaile at the last did him constraine To marry her vnto my 〈◊〉 paine At which I coulde not but with hate repine It 〈◊〉 mee his mate that should haue beene To liue in bate a prince his concubine That euer had such hope to be his Queene The steppes of state are full of wo and teene For when wee thincke we haue atainde the throne Then straight our poÌ„pe pride is quite orethrone Lotwise I fell from hope of Princely crowne First when vnhappy Humber lost his life And next I laide my peacockes pride adowne When as I could not be Locrinus wife But oft they say the thirde doth ende the strife Which I haue proude therefore the sequel ve me The thirde payes home this prouerbe is to true This kinge could not refraine his former minde But vsde me still and I my doubtfull yeares Did linger on I knew no shift to finde But past the time full oft with mourning teares A concubine is neuer voyde of feares For if the wyfe her at aduauntage take In radge reuenge with death she seekes to make Likewise I wiste if once I sought to flye Or to entreate the kinge depart I might Then would he straight be discontent with mee Yea if I were pursued vpon the flight Or came deflourde into my parents sighte I should be taken kept perforce or slaine Or in my country liue in great disdaine In such a plight what might a woman doe Was euer Lady fayre in such a 〈◊〉 O wretched wight bewrapt in webbes of woe That still in dread wast tost from place to place And neuer foundest meane to ende thy race But still in doubt of death in carking care 〈◊〉 liue a life deuoyde of all welfare The king perceiuing well my chaunged cheare To case my hart withall deuisde deceats By secrete wayes I came deuoyde of feare In baultes by cunning Masons crafty feats Whereas wee safely from the Queene her threats Perdy the King and I so vsde our arte As after turnde vs both to paine and smarte By him I had my Sabrine small my childe And after that his wife her father loste I meane he dyed and she was straight exilde And I made Queene vnto my care and coste For she went downe to Cornevval straight in peste And caused all her fathers men to ryse With all the force and strengthe they might deuyse My king and hirs with me gainst hir preparde An army strong but when they came to fighte Dame Guendoline did war at length to harde And of our king vs both deposed quite For from hir campe an arrowe sharpe did lighte Upon his breste and made him leaue his breath Lo thus this king came by vntimely death Then I to late began in vayne to flye And taken was presented to the queene Who me behelde with cruell tigres eye O queene ê™ she that cause of warres haste bene And deadly hate the like was neuer seene Come on for these my bandes shall ridde thy life And take reuengement of our mortall strife I longed long to bring thee to this baye And thou likewyse hast sought to sucke my bloud Nowe arte thou taken in my spoyles a praye That causde my life full long in daunger stoode I wyll both teache thy selfe and others good To breake the bandes of faithfull wedlocke plight And giue thee that which thou deseruidste right O harlote whore why should I stay my handes O painted picture shall thy lookes thee saue Nay bynde hir faste both hande and foote in bandes And let hir some straunge kinde of tormentes haue What stroÌ„pet stues thinkste for thou seemist braue Dr for thy teares or sighes to scape my sight My selfe will rather banquishe thee by fight Thou rather shouldste my vitall breath depriue Then euer scape if none were here but wee But now I will not file my handes to striue Dr else to touche so vile a drabe as shee Come on at once and bring hir after mee With hande and feete as I commaunded bounde And let me see hir here as Humber drounde A thousand things beside she spake in rage While that a caytife