ENGLANDS HEROICALL Epistles By Michaell Drayton AT LONDON Printed by I. R. for N. Ling and are to be sold at his shop at the VVest doore of Poules 1597. To the Reader SEing these Epistles are now at length made publique it is imagined that I ought to bee accountable to the world of my priuate meaning chiefely for mine own discharge least being mistaken I fall in hazard of a iust vniuersall reprehension for Itae nugae seria ducent In mala derisum semel exceptumque sinistre Three poynts are especially therefore to bee explaned First why I entitle this worke Englands heroicall Epistles then why I obserue not the persons dignitie in the dedication lastlie why I haue annexed notes to euery Epistles end For the first the title I hope carrieth reason in it selfe for that the most and greatest persons berein were English or else that theyr loues were obtained in England And though heroicall be properly vnderstood of demi-gods as of Hercules and Aeneas whose Parents were said to be the one celestiall the other mortall yet is it also transferred to them who for the greatnes of minde come neere to Gods For to be borne of a celestiall Incubus is nothing els but to haue a great and mightie spirit farre aboue the earthly weakenes of men in which sence Ouid whose imitator I partly professe to be dooth also vse heroicall For the second seeing none to whom I haue dedicated any two Epistles but haue their states ouer-matched by them who are made to speake in the Epistles how euer the order is in dedication yet in respect of theyr degrees in my deuotion the cause before recited I hope they suffer no disparagement seeing euery one is the first in theyr particuler interest hauing in some sort sorted the complection of the Epistles to the character of theyr iudgements to whom I dedicate them excepting onely the blamefulnes of the persons passion in those poynts wherein the passion is blameful Lastly such manifest difference beeing betwixt euery one of thē where or howsoeuer they be marshaled how can I be iustly appeached of vnaduisement For the third because the worke might in truth be iudged brainish if nothing but amorous humor were handled therein I haue inter-wouen matters historicall which vnexplaned might defraud the minde of much content as for example in Queene Margarits Epistle to VVilliam de la Pole My Daizie flower which once perfum'd the ayre Margarite in french signifies a Dazie which for the allusion to her name this Queene did giue for her deuise and this as others more haue seemed to mee not vnwoorthy the explaning Now though no doubt I had need to excuse other things beside yet these most especially the rest Iouer-passe to eschue tedious recitall or to speake as malicious enuie may for that in truth I ouer-see them If they bee as harmelesly taken as I meant them it shall suffise to haue onely tonched the cause of the title of the dedications and of the notes whereby emboldned to publish the residue these not beeing accounted in mens opinions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall not lastly be afraid to beleeue acknowledge thee a gentle Reader M. D. To M. Michaell Drayton HOw can he write that broken hath his pen Hath rent his paper throwne his Inke away Detests the world and company of men Because they grow more hatefull day by day Yet with these broken reliques mated minde And what a iustly-greeued-thought can say I giue the world to know I nere could finde A worke more like to liue a longer day Goe verse an obiect for the proudest eye Disdaine those which disdaine to reade thee ouer Tell them they know not how they should descry The secret passions of a witty louer For they are such as none but those shall know VVhom beauty schooles to hold the blind Boyes bow Once I had vow'd ô who can all voweskeepe Hence-forth to smother my vnlucky Muse Yet for thy sake she started out of sleepe Yet now she dyes Then doe as kinsfolke vse Close vp the eyes of my now-dying-stile As I haue op'ned thy sweet babes ere-while E. Sc. Gent. Duris decus omen ¶ To the excellent Lady Lucie Countesse of Bedford MAdam after all the admired wits of this excellent age which haue laboured in the sad complaintes of faire and vnfortunate Rosamond and by the excellence of inuention haue sounded the depth of her sundry passions I present to your Ladiship this Epistle of hers to King Henry whom I may rather call her louer then beloued Heere must your Ladiship behold variablenes in resolution woes constantly grounded laments abruptly broken off much confidence no certainty wordes begetting teares teares confounding matter large complaints in little papers and many deformed cares in one vniformed Epistell I striue not to affect singularity yet would faine flie imitation and prostrate mine owne wants to other mens perfections Your iudiciall eye must modell forth what my penne hath layd together much would shee say to a King much would I say to a Countesse but that the method of my Epistle must conclude the modestie of hers which I wish may recommend my euer vowed seruice to your honour Michaell Drayton The Epistle of Rosamond to King Henrie the second * The Argument Henrie the second of that name King of England the sonne of Geffrey Plantaginet Earle of Aniou Maude the Empresse hauing by long sute and princely gifts wonne to his vnlawfull desire faire Rosamond the daughter of the Lord VValter Clyfford and to auoyde the danger of Ellinor his iealious Queene had caused a Labyrinth to be made within his pallace at VVoodstocke in the center whereof hee had lodged his beautious paramore VVhilst the King is absent in his warres in Normandy this poore distressed Lady inclosed in this solitarie place tucht with remorse of conscience writes vnto the King of her distresse and miserable estate vrging him by all meanes and perswasions to cleere himselfe of this infamie and her of the griefe of minde by taking away her wretched lyfe IF yet thine eyes great Henry may endure These tainted lynes drawne with a hand impure VVhich faine would blush but feare keeps blushes back And therefore suted in dispayring blacke This in loues name ô that these lypps might craue But that sweete name vile I prophaned haue Punish my fault or pittie mine estate Reade it for loue if not for loue for hate If with my shame thine eyes thou faine would'st feede Heere let them surfeit on my shame to reede This scribled paper which I send to thee If noted rightly dooth resemble mee As this pure ground wheron these letters stand So pure was I ere stayned by thy hand Ere I was blotted with this foule offence So cleere and spotlesse was mine innocence Now like these marks which taint this hatefull scroule Such the black sinnes which spotte my leprous soule O Henry why by losse thus shouldst thou winne To get by conquest to enrich with sinne VVhy on my name
witchcraft and burned for the same and that Piers had bewitched the King Albania Gascoyne Cambria Ireland Albania Scotland so called of Albanact the seconde sonne of Brutus and Cambria Wales so called of Camber the third sonne the foure 〈◊〉 and Countries brought in subiection by Edward Longshanks When of our Princely iewells and our dowers We but enioy the least of what is ours A complaynt of the prodigalitie of King Edward giuing vnto Gaueston the iewells treasure which was left him by the auncient Kings of England and enriching him with the goodly Manor of Wallingforde assigned as parcell of the dower to the Queenes of this famous Ile And ioynd with the braue issue of our blood Alie our kingdome to theyr crauand brood Edward the second gaue to Piers Gaueston in marriage the daughter of Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester begot of the Kinges sister Ioane of Acres married to the said Earle of Gloster Should giue away all that his Father wonne To backe a stranger King Edward offered his right in Fraunce to Charles his brother in law and his right in Scotland to Robert Bruse to bee ayded against the Barrons in the quarrell of Piers Gaueston And did great Edward on his death-bed giue Edward Longshanks on his death-bed at Carlile commaunded young Edward his sonne on his blessing not to call backe Gaueston which for the misguiding of the Princes youth was before banished by the whole counsell of the land That after all this fearefull massaker The fall of Beuchamp Lasey Lancaster Thomas Earle of Lancaster Guy Earle of VVarwicke Henry Earle of Lincolne who had taken theyr oathes before the deceassed King at his death to withstand his sonne Edward if he should call Gaueston from exile beeing a thing which hee much feared now seeing Edward to violate his Fathers commaundement rise in Armes against the King which was the cause of the ciuile war and the ruine of so many Princes And gloried I in Gauestons great fall That nowe a Spenser should succeed in all The two Hugh Spensers the Father the sonne after the death of Gaueston became the great fauorites of the King the sonne being created by him Lord Chamberlaine and the Father Earle of Winchester And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquitaine Edward Longshanks did homage for those Citties and territories to the French King which Edward the second neglecting moued the French King by the subbornation of Mortimer to ceaze those Countries into his hands By auncient Wigmors honourable Crest Wigmore in the marches of Wales was the ancient house of the Mortimers that noble and couragious familie That still so long as Borrough beares that name The Queene remembreth the great ouerthrowe giuen to the Barrons by Andrew Herckley Earle of Carlill at Borrough bridge after the battaile at Burton And Torlton now whose counsells should direct Thys was Adam Torlton bishop of Herford that great polititian who so highly fauoured the faction of the Queene and Mortimer whose euill counsell afterward wrought the destruction of the King Mortimer to Queene Isabell. AS thy saluts my sorrowes doe adiourne So backe to thee their interest I returne Though not in so great bountie I confesse As thy heroicke princely lines expresse For how should comfort issue from the breath Of one condemn'd and long lodg'd vp in death From murthers rage thou didst me once repriue Now in exile my hopes thou doost reuiue Twice all was taken twice thou all didst giue And thus twice dead thou mak'st me twice to liue This double life of mine your onely due You gaue to mee I giue it backe to you Nere my escape had I aduentur'd thus As did the skye-attempting Daedalus And yet to giue more safetie to my flight Haue made a night of day a day of night Nor had I backt the proude aspyring wall vvhich held without my hopes within my fall Leauing the cordes to tell where I had gone For gazing eyes with feare to looke vpon But that thy beautie by a power diuine Breath'd a new life into this spirit of mine Drawne by the sunne of thy celestiall eyes vvith fiery wings made passage through the skyes The heauens did seeme the charge of me to take And sea and land be friend mee for thy sake Thames stopt hen tide to make me way to goe As thou had'st charg'd her that it should be so The hollow murmuring winds their due time kept As they had rock'd the world whilst all things slept One billow bore me and another draue mee This stroue to helpe me and that stroue to saue mee The brisling Reedes mou'd with the ayre did chide mee As they would tell me that they moant to hide mee The pale-fac'd night beheld thy heauie cheere And would not let one little starre appeare But ouer all her smoakie mantle hurl'd And in thick vapours muffled vp the world And the pure ayre became so calme and still As it had beene obedient to my will And euery thing disposd vnto my rest As when one Seas the Alcion buildes her nest And those rough waues which late with furie rusht Slide smoothlie on and suddainly are husht Nor Neptune lets his surges out so long As Nature is in bringing forth her yong Nor let the Spensers glory in my chaunce That thus I liue an exile now in Fraunce That I from England banished should be But England rather banished from me More were her want Fraunce our great blood shold beare Then Englands losse should be to Mortimer My Grandsire was the first since Authurs raigne That the Round-table lastly did ordaine To whose great Court at Kenelworth did come The peerlesse knighthood of all Christendome VVhose princely order honoured England more Then all the conquests shee atchiu'd before Neuer durst Scot set foote on English ground Nor on his backe did English beare a wound vvhilst VVigmore flourisht in our princely hopes And whilst our Ensigne march'd with Edwards troupes VVhilst famous Longshanks bones in Fortunes scorne As sacred reliques to the fielde were borne Nor euer did the valiant English doubt VVhilst our braue battailes guarded them about Nor did our wiues and wofull mothers mourne The English blood that stained Banocksburn VVhilst with his Minions sporting in his Tent VVhole dayes and nights in banquetting were spent Vntill the Scots which vnder safeguard stoode Made lauish hauock of the English blood And battered helmes lay scattered on the shore vvhere they in conquest had beene borne before A thousand kingdoms will we seeke from farre As many Nations wast with ciuill warre vvhere the disheuel'd gastly Sea-nymphe sings Or well-rigd shyps shall stretch theyr swelling wings And dragge theyr Ankors through the sandie foame About the world in euery Clime to roame And those vnchristned Countries call our owne vvhere scarce the name of England hath been knowne And in the Dead-sea sinck our houses fame From whose sterne waues we first deriu'd our Name Before foule black-mouth'd infamie shall sing That
virginitie He had indeede but shall I tell thee what Beleeue mee Brandon he had scarcely that Good feeble King he could not doe much harme But age must needes haue some-thing that is warme Small drops God knowes doe quench that heatles fire vvhen all the strength is onely in desire And I could tell if modestie might tell There's some-what else that pleaseth Louers well To rest his cheeke vpon my softer cheeke vvas all he had and more he did not seeke So might the little babie clip the nurse And it content shee neuer a whit the worse Then thinke thys Brandon if that make thee frowne For mayden-head hee on my head set a Crowne vvho would exchange a kingdome for a kisse Hard were the hart that would not yeeld him this And time yet halfe so swiftly doth not passe Not full fiue months yet elder then I was VVhen thou to Fraunce conducted was by fame vvith many Knights which from all Countries came Installed at S. Dennis in my throne vvhere Lewes held my coronation vvhere the proude Dolphin for thy valure sake Chose thee at tilt his princely part to take vvhen as the staues vpon thy caske did light Grieued there-with I turn'd away my sight And spake aloude when I my selfe forgot 〈◊〉 my sweet Charles my Brandon hurt him not But when I fear'd the King perceiued this Good silly man I pleasd him with a kisse And to extoll his valiant sonne began That Europe neuer bred a brauer man And when poore King he simply praysed thee Of all the rest I ask'd which thou should'st be Thus I with him dissembled for thy sake Open confession now a mends must make VVhilst this old King vpon a pallet lyes And onely holds a combat vvith mine eyes Mine eyes from his by thy sight stolne away vvhich might too well theyr Mistres thoughts bewray But vvhen I savv thy proude vnconquered Launce To beare the prize from all the flower of Fraunce To see vvhat pleasure did my soule imbrace Might easily be discerned in my face Looke as the devv vpon a Damaske-Rose Hovv through that cleerest pearle his blushing showes And when the soft ayre breathes vppon his top From those svveet leaues falls easily drop by drop Thus by my cheeke downe rayning from mine eyes One teare for ioy anothers roome supplies Before myne eye like Touch thy shape did proue Mine eye condemn'd my too too partiall loue But since by others I the same doe try My loue condemns my too too partiall eye The precious stone most beautifull and rare vvhen vvith it selfe vve onely doe compare vvee deeme all other of that kinde to be As excellent as that we onely see But vvhen vve iudge of that with others by Too credulous wee doe condemne our eye vvhich then appeares more orient and more bright As from their dimnes borrowing greater light Alansoon a fine timbered man and tall Yet wants the shape thou art adorn'd withall Vandom good carridge and a pleasing eye Yet wants my Suffolks Lyons maiestie Couragious Burbon a sweet manlie face But yet he wants my Brandons courtly grace Proude Longauile our Court iudg'd had no peere A man scarce made was thought whilst thou wast heere Countie S. Paule brau'st man at Armes in Fraunce vvould yeeld himselfe a Squire to beare thy Launce Galleas and Bounarme matchlesse for theyr might Vnder thy towring blade haue couch'd in fight If with our loue my Brother angry be Ile say for his sake I first loued thee And but to frame my liking to his minde Neuer to thee had I beene halfe so kind Should not the sister like as doth the brother The one of vs should be vnlike the other VVorthy my loue the vulgar iudge no man Except a Yorkist or Lancastrian Nor thinke that my affection should be set But in the line of great Plantaginet I passe not what the idle Commons say I pray thee Charles make hast and come away To thee what's England if I be not there Or what to mee is Fraunce if thou not here Thy absence makes me angry for a while But at thy presence I must needsly smile VVhen last of mee his leaue my Brandon tooke Hee sware an oath and made my lyps the booke Hee would make hast which now thou doost denie Thou art for sworne ô wilfull periurie Sooner would I with greater sinnes dispence Then by intreatie pardon thys offence But yet I thinke if I should come to shriue thee Great were the fault that I should not forgiue thee Yet wert thou here I should reuenged be But it should be with too much louing thee The vtmost date expired of my stay When I from Douer did depart away KIng Henry the 8. with the Queene and Nobles in the 6. yeare of his raigne in the month of September brought this Lady to Douer where she tooke shipping sor Fraunce Think'st thou my loue was faithfull vnto thee When young Castile to England sued for me It was agreed and concluded twixt Hen. the 7 and Phillip King of Castile Sonne to Maximilian the Emperour that Charles eldest Sonne of the said Phillip should marry the Lady Mary Daughter to King Henry when they came to age which agreement was afterward in the 8. yeare of Hen. the 8. annihilated When he in tryumph of his victory Vnder a rich embrodred Canapy Entred proud Turnay which did trembling stand c. Henry the 8. after the long seege of Turnay which was deliuered to him vpon composition entred the Citty in tryumph vnder a Canapy of cloth of gold borne by foure of the cheefe and most noble Cittizens the King himselfe mounted vppon a gallant Courser barded with the Arms of England Fraunce and Ireland When Charles of Castile there to banquet came With him his Sister that ambitious Dame Sauoys proud Dutches. The King beeing at Turnay there came to him the Prince of Castile and the Lady Margarit Dutches of Sauoy his Sister to whom King Hen. gaue great entertainment Sauoys proud Dutches knowing how long she By her loue sought to winne my loue from 〈◊〉 At this time there was speech of a marriage to be concluded betweene Charles Brandon then L. Lisle the Dutches of Sauoy the L. Lisle being highly fauored and exceedingly beloued of the Dutches. When in King Henryes Tent of cloth of gold The King caused a ritch Tent of cloth of gold to be erected where he feasted the Prince of Castile and the Dutches and entertayned them with sumptuous maskes and banquets during their aboade When Maximilian to those warres adrest Wore Englands Crosse on his imperiall brest The Emperour Maximilian with all his Souldiours which serued vnder King Henry wore the crosse of Saint George with the Rose on their breasts And in our Army let his Eagle flye The blacke Eagle is the badge imperiall which heere is vsed for the displaying of his ensigne or standard And had his pay from Henries treasurie Henry the 8 at his warres in Fraunce retayned the Emperour and all his Souldiours
returne And was I forc'd t'abridge his banish'd yeares vvhen they bedew'd his footsteps with theyr teares Yet could not see mine owne insuing fall Not seeing that which sauing that saw all Neuer our treasure stuft with greater store Neuer our strength neuer our power was more Neuer more large bounds to our Emperie Neuer more counsaile wisedome policie Neuer did all so suddainly decline But iustice is the heauens the fault is mine Kings pallaces stand open to let in The soothing Traytor and the guide to sin Many we haue in tryumphs to attend vs But few are left in perrill to defend vs Amongst the most the worst we best can chuse Tis easie to desire but hard to vse Oh famous Gloster thou fore-saw'st my end The curse that did my lawlesse youth attend His death is newe and I in sinne am old vvho my destruction Prophet-like fore-told And like Laocan crying from his tower Foreshow'd the horse which hid the Grecian power Is this the thing for which we toyle and sweat For which the great doe kneele vnto the great Is thys the thing in seeking to attaine All payne is pleasure and all losse is gaine Is thys the iewell which we prize so hie At heauen at fame at life at libertie And vnto thys in striuing to aspire Are we made slaues vnto our fond desire Yet on steepe Icie banks heere still we dwell And if we slip our fall is into hell Sweet Queene Ile take all counsell thou canst giue So that thou bid me neither hope nor liue Counsell that comes when ill hath done his worst Blesseth our ill but makes our good accurst Comfort is now vnpleasing to mine eare Past cure past care my bed is now my Beere Since thus misfortune keepes vs heere so long Till heauen be growne vnmindfull of our wrong VVe may in warre some-time take truce with foes But in dispaire we cannot with our woes O let this name of Richard neuer die Yet still be fatall to posteritie And let a Richard from our line arise To be the scourge of many families And let the Crowne be fatall that he beares And wet with sad lamenting mothers teares Thy curse on Percy heauen doth now preuent vvho hath not one curse left on me vnspent To scourge the world now borrowing of my store As rich in plagues as I in wealth am pore Then cease deere Queene my sorrowes to bewaile My wounds too great for pittie now to heale Age stealeth on whilst thou complainest thus My griefes be mortall and infectious Yet better fortunes thy faire youth may trie That follow thee which still from me doth flie Notes of the Chronicle historie This tongue which first denounc'd my kingly state RIchard the second at the resignation of the Crowne to his Cosin Henry in the Tower of London at the deliuery of the same with his owne hand confessed himselfe to be vnable to gouerne denounced all kingly dignitie so that hee might onely haue his life And left'st great Burbon for thy loue to mee Who sued in marriage to be linck'd to thee Before the Princesse Isabell was married to Richard the second Lewes Duke of Burbon sued to haue had her in marriage which it was thought he had obtained if this motion had not 〈◊〉 out in the meane time this Duke of Burbon sued againe to haue receiued her at her comming into Fraunce after the imprisonment of King Richard but King Charles her Father then crost him as before and gaue her to Charles sonne to the Duke of Orleance Let Herford vaunt of our atchiuements done Henry the eldest sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster which at the first was Earle of Darbie then created Duke of Herford but after the death of Iohn of Gaunt his Father was Duke of Lancaster and Herford Earle of Darby Leicester and Lincolne and after he had obtained the Crowne was called by the name of Henry of Bullenbrooke which is a towne in Lincolne shiere as vsually all the Kings of England bare the name of the places where they were borne Of famous Cressy where his keene sword lopp'd The flowers of Fraunce which all had ouertopp'd Remembring the famous victory Edward the third their Grandfather obtained at Cressy where were almost slaine all the Nobilitie of Fraunce where the Frenchmen lost all their ancient glory And with their Flower-delices set the walke Where our c. Edward the third by the conquest of Fraunce ioyned the Lillies or Flower-delices which is the Armes of Fraunce with the Lyons the Armes of England which coate first came from Normandie by the Conquerer remaining in the right of his possession Seauen goodly syens from one stocke began Edward the third had seauen sonnes his eldest Edward Prince of Wales after called the blacke Prince William of Hatfielde his second Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke the fift Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Gloster the sixt and William of Windsore the seauenth My princely Father was the straightest stem Truely boasting himselfe to bee the eldest sonne of the eldest Brother which was Edward the blacke Prince Yet after Edward Iohn the young'st of three By this disabling Henry Bullenbrooke beeing the sonne but of a fourth brother William Lionell being both before Iohn of Gaunt When that vsurping bastard sonne of Spayne Noting the courage of his Father which set Petro the King of Castile in his kingdome when hee was expulsed by his bastard brother A conquered King from Fraunce to England led The blacke Prince tooke King Iohn of Fraunce prysoner at the battaile of Poycters and brought him into England where hee dyed at the Sauoy And by a home-nurst begger ouer-borne By this reprouing his owne weakenes and cowardize who had suffered himselfe to be expulsed his kingdome by a subiect and one so much inferior to himselfe in greatnes And proues our acts of parliaments vniust In the first parliament that Henry called after Richard had resigned the Crowne hee anihilated all the lawes that were made in the parliament called the wicked parliament held in the 20. yeere of King Richards raigne Saw I the loue the Zeale the faith the care The Commons still c. When the Combat shoulde haue beene at Couentry betwixt Henry Duke of Herford and Mowbray Duke of Norfolke the Cōmons mourned exceedingly after they heard that Herford was adiuged by the King to be banished for tenne yeeres so greatlie was he alwaies fauoured of the people And was I forc'd to abridge his banish'd yeeres When Henry Duke of Herford came to Eltham to take his leaue of King Richard the King to please the Commons rather then for any loue he bare to Herford plucked backe foure yeeres of his banishment O famous Gloster thou fore-saw'st the end Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Gloster the Kings vnckle who had oftr reproued this youthfull Kings insolence was put to death at Callice by the commaundement of this Richard his vnnaturall
kinsman And let a Richard from our line arise A prophecie of Richard Crookebacke the Tyrant which after was the onely scourge and plague of both the houses of Yorke Lancaster and the death of many great Princes FINIS To the Right Honourable the Lord Henrie Howard LEarned and noble Lord custome and continuance haue sealed this priuiledge to Poetry that sometime the light subiect of a laboured Poem is graced with the title of a learned and iudiciall censor your Lordship sufficiently knoweth what I but put you in remembrance off your wisedome and experience know what hath beene most vsuall in the course of times your iudgement makes me doubtfull being what I am your honor giues me some comfort beeing what you are Counsell is not euer conuersant with seueritie and I know true vertue loueth what is neuer so little like herselfe howe vnseasoned so euer my rymes seeme to the worlde I am pleased if you peruse them with patience Thus wishing my lines may bee as acceptable as I desire I leaue them to your learned censor Michaell Drayton Queene Katherine to Owen Tudor * The Argument After the death of that victorious Henry the fift Queene Katherine the 〈◊〉 of England and Fraunce daughter to Charles the French King holding her estate with Henrie her sonne then the sixt of that name falleth in loue with Owen Tudor a VVlechman a braue and gallant Gentleman of the VVardrop to the young King her sonne yet greatly fearing if her loue should be discouered the Nobilitie would crosse her purposed marriage or fearing that if her faire and princely promises should not assure his good successe this high and great attempt might perhaps daunt the forwardnesse of his modest and shame fast youth wherfore to breake the Ice to her intent shee wryteth vnto him this Epistle following IV dge not a Princesse worth impeach'd hereby That loue thus tryumphs ouer maiestie Nor thinke lesse vertue in this royall hand vvhich now intreats that wonted to commaund For in this sort though humbly now it wooe The day hath beene thou would'st haue kneel'd vnto Nor thinke that this submission of my state Proceeds from frailtie rather iudge it fate Alcides nere more fit for loues sterne shock Then when for loue sate spinning at the Rock Neuer lesse clowdes did Phoebus glory dim Then in a Clownes shape when he couered him Ioues great commaund was neuer more obay'd Then when a Satyrs antick parts he play'd He was thy King that sued for loue to mee Shee is thy Queene that sues for loue to thee VVhen Henry was what's Tudors now was his vvhilst yet thou art what's Henries Tudors is My loue to Owen him my Henry giueth My loue to Henry in my Owen liueth Onely in Henry was my Tudor then Onely in Tudor Henry now agen Henry woo'd mee whilst warres did yet increase I wooe my Tudor now in calmest peace To win affection hee did conquest proue And I on conquest doe make warre with loue Great Henry soughtt ' accomplish his desire Armed with tempests thunder-boults of fire As once when Iunos treasons forced Ioue T'imbrace the beautious Semele his loue I to my loue as once the Ciprian Queene On Simois banks was with the Troyan seene Incampt at Melans in warres hote alarmes First saw I Henry clad in princely Armes At pleasant VVindsore there these eyes of mine Iudg'd Tudor first for wit and shape diuine Henry abroad with puissance and with force Tudor at home with courtship and discourse Hee then thou now I hardly can iudge whether Did like me best Plantaginet or Tether A march a measure battell or a daunce A courtly rapier or a conquering Launce His princely bed aduaunced my renowne And on my temples set a double Crowne vvhich glorious wreath as Henries lawfull heire Henry the sixt vpon his brow doth beare At Troy in Champayne he did first enioy My bridall-rites to England brought from Troy In England now that honour thou shalt haue vvhich once in Champayne famous Henry gaue I seeke not wealth three kingdoms in my power If these suffice not where shall be my dower Sad discontent may euer follow her vvhich doth base pelfe before true loue prefer If titles still could oure affections tie vvhat is so great but maiestie might buy As I seeke thee so Kings 〈◊〉 mee desire To what they craue thou easily may'st aspire That sacred fire once warm'd my hart before The fuell fit the flame is now the more And meanes to quench it I in vaine doe proue VVe may hide treasure but not hide our loue And since thy vertue this at first did gaine it vvill I by reason now seeke to restraine it Nor these great titles vainely will I bring VVife daughter mother sister to a King Of grandsire father husband sonne and brother More thou alone to mee then all the other Nor thinke so Tudor that this loue of mine Should wrong the Gaunt-borne great Lancastrian line Nor stirre the English blood the Sunne and Moone T'repine at Lorayne Burbon Alansoon Nor doe I thinke there is such different ods That they alone should counted be for Gods If Cadmus earthly issue reckoning vs And they from Ioue Mars Neptune Eolus Of great Latonas of-spring onely they And we the brats of wofull Niobe Our famous Grandsires as their owne bestrid That horse of fame that Ioue-begotten steed VVhose bounding hoofe plow'd that Boetian spring vvhere those sweet Maydes of memorie doe sing Not onely Henries Queene but boast aswell To be the childe of Charles and Isabell. Nor doe I know from whence their griefe should grow They by this match should be disparag'd so vvhen Iohn and Longshanks issue both affied And to the Kings of VVales in wedlocke tied Shewing the greatnes of your blood heereby Your race and royall consanguinitie And VVales as well as haughty England boasts Of Camilot and all her Penticosts A nephewes roome in great Pendragons race At Arthurs Table held a princely place If of the often conquests of our Land They reare the spoyles of their victorious hand If these our auncient Chronicles be true They altogether are not free from you VVhen bloody Rufus sought your vtter sack Twice entring VVales yet twice was beaten back VVhen famous Cambria wash'd her in the flood Made by th'effusion of the English blood And oft return'd with glorious victorie From VVorster Herford Chester Shrewsbury vvhose power in euery conquest so preuailes As once expuls'd the English out of VVales Although my beautie made my Countries peace And at my bridall bloody warres did cease Yet more then power had not his person beene I had not come to England as a Queene Nor tooke I Henry to supply my want Because in Fraunce that time my choise was scant vvhen Fraunce had robd all Christendome of men And Englands flower remain'd amongst vs then Glaster whose counsells Nestor like assist Couragious Bedford that great martiallist VVarwicke for vertue honour'd of his foes And Yorke whose fame yet daily greater growes
modesty then of such liberty Howbeit the Vestall Nuns had seats assigned them in the Roman Theater whereby it should appeare it was counted no impeachment to modestie though they offending therein were buried quicke a sharpe lawe for them who may say as Shores wife dooth When though abroad restraining vs to rome They very hardly keepe vs safe at home FINIS To the Right Worshipfull Henrie Goodere of Powlesworth Esquire SIR this Poeme of mine which I imparted to you at my beeing with you at your lodging at London in May last brought at length to perfection emboldened by your wonted fauours I aduenture to make you Patron of Thus Sir you see I haue aduentred to the worlde with what like or dislike I know nor if it please which I much doubt of I pray you then be pertaker of that which I shall esteeme not my least good if dislike it shall lessen some part of my griefe if it please you to alow but of my loue howsoeuer I pray you accept it as kindly as I offer it which though without many 〈◊〉 yet I assure you with much desire of your honour Thus vntill such time as I may in some more larger measure make knowne my loue to the happy generous family of the Gooderes to which I confesse my selfe to be beholding to for the most part of my education I wish you all happines Michaell Drayton Marie the French Queene to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke * The Argument Mary the daughter of that renowned Prince King Henry the seauenth beeing very young at her Fathers death after by ber Brother King Henry the eyght was giuen in marriage to Lewes King of Fraunce being a man old and decrepite This faire and beautifull Lady long before had placed her affection on Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke a braue and couragious young Gentleman and an especiall fauorite of the King her Brother and a man raised by him King Lewes the husband of this beautifull Queene lyued not long after bee was married and Charles Brandon hauing commission from the King to bring her backe to England but beeing delayed by some sinister meanes the French Queene writeth this Epistle to hasten the Duke forward on his intended voyage to Fraunce SVch health from heauen my selfe may wish to mee Such health fro Fraunce Queene Mary sends to thee Brandon how long mak'st thou excuse to stay And know'st how ill we women brooke delay If one poore Channell thus can part vs two Tell mee vnkinde what would an Ocean doe Leander had an Hellespont to swim Yet thys from Hero could not hinder him His Barke poore soule his brest his armes his oars But thou a shyp to land thee on our shores And opposite to famous Kent doth lie The pleasant fields of famous Pickardie vvhere our 〈◊〉 Callice walled in her sands In kenning of the cliffie Douer stands Heere is no Beldame nurse to pout or lower vvhen wantonning we reuell in my Tower Nor neede I top my Turret with a light To guide thee to mee as thou swimm'st by night Compar'd with mee wert thou but halfe so kind Thy sighes should stuffe thy sayles though wanting wind But thy breast is becalm'd thy sighes bee slack And mine too stiffe and blow thy broade sayles back But thou wilt say that I should blame the flood Because the winde so full against thee stood Nay blame it not it did so roughly blow For it did chyde thee for thou wast so slow For it came not to keepe thee in the Bay But came from mee to bid thee come away But that thou vainely lett'st occasion slide Thou might'st haue wasted hether with the tyde If when thou com'st I knit mine angry brow Blame me not Brandon thou hast broke thy vow Yet if I meant to frowne I might be dombe For this may make thee stand in doubt to come Nay come sweet Charles haue care thy ship to guide Come my sweet hart in faith I will not chide VVhen as my Brother and his louely Queene In sad attire for my depart were seene The vtmost date expired of my stay vvhen I from Douer did depart away Thou know'st what woe I suffred for thy sake How oft I fain'd of thee my leaue to take God and thou know'st with what a heauie hart I tooke my farewell when I should depart And being shypp'd gaue signall with my hand Vp to the Cliffe where I did see thee stand Nor could refraine in all the peoples view But cried to thee sweet Charles adiew adiew Looke how a little infant that hath lost The thing where-with it was delighted most vveary with seeking to some corner creepes And there poore soule it sits it downe and weepes And when the Nurse would faine content the mind Yet still it mourns for that it cannot finde Thus in my carefull Cabin did I lye vvhen as the shyp out of the roade did flie Think'st thou my loue was faythfull vnto thee vvhen young Castile to England su'd for mee Be iudge thy selfe if it were not of power vvhen I refusd an Empyre for my dower To Englands Court when once report did bring How thou in Fraunce didst reuell with thy King vvhen hee in tryumph of his victorie 〈◊〉 a rich imbrodered Canapie 〈◊〉 proude Tournay which did 〈◊〉 stand To beg for mercy at his conquering hand To heare of his enderements how I ioy'd But see this calme was suddainly destroy'd VVhen Charles of Castile there to banquet came vvith him his sister that ambitious Dame Sauoys proude Dutches knowing how long shee By her loue sought to winne my loue from mee Fearing my absence might thy vowes acquite To change thy Mary for a Margarite VVhen in King Henries Tent of cloth of gold Shee often did thee in her armes enfold vvhere you were feasted more diliciously Then Cleopatra did Marke Anthonie vvhere sports all day did entertaine your sight And then in Masks you pass'd away the night But thou wilt say It proper is vnto vs That we by nature all are iealious I must confesse t'is oft found in our sexe But who not loue not any thing suspects True loue doth looke with pale suspitions eye Take away loue if you take iealousie VVhen Henry Turwyn and proude Tournay wonne Little thought I the end when thys begunne VVhen Maximilian to those warrs adrest vvare Englands Crosse on his imperiall brest And in our Armie let his Eagle flie And had his pay from Henries treasurie Little thought I when first beganne these warrs My marriage day should end these bloody iarrs From which I vow I yet am free in thought But thys alone by VVoolseys wit was wrought To hys aduise the King gaue free consent That will I nill I I must be content My virgins right thy state could not aduaunce But now enriched with the dower of Fraunce Then but poore Suffolks Dutchesse had I beene Now the great Dowger the most Christian Queene But I perceiue where all thy griefe doth lie Lewes of Fraunce had my