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
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
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
and that 's the graue 570 Yet whilst we trauell fortune like the weather Doth alter faire or foule so doth our way If faire then friends like foules do flocke together If fowle each man doth shift a seuerall way Only our virtues or our vices stay And goe with vs whose endlesse memorie Doth make vs liue or die eternally 571 This is the fraight that men cannot vnload No not by death therefore mortalitie Worke for thy selfe whilst heere thou mak'st abode For on the present hath dependencie Thy fortunes endlesse blisse or miserie And death 's the Conuoy to conduct vs home Come death to me that I to rest may come 572 Perhaps thou fear'st me being great and high Oh death man were a thing intollerable Were he not mortall but eu'n kings must die No priuiledge doth against death enable Both fat and leane are dishes for his table The difference this the poore one hath his graue The great one he his Monument must haue 573 Our fates may be conceiu'd but not controul'd Before our dated time we cannot die Our daies are numbred and our minuts tould But life and death are destin'd from on high And when that God that rules th' imperiall skie Shall find it fit then thou shalt goe in peace Meane while with patience looke for thy release 574 Thus vnto care I pay his due complaint And ioyn'd with all my tributarie teares Such my lament for griefe finds no restraint As they at last did come vnto their eares That by the Castle past which caus'd such feares In their selfe guiltie soules that vs'd me so As they resolu'd by death to end my woe 575 To which effect came letters from the Court Written by Tarlton at the Queenes command In such a Clowdie and ambiguous sort That diuerse waies one might them vnderstand By pointing them that if they should be scand He and his Letters might be free from blame And they delinquent that abus'd the same 576 The words were these kill Edward doe not feare T is good which being comma'd diuerslie As please the reader double since may beare Oh Art thou art the worlds chiefe treasurie But being imploy'd to practise villanie What Monstrous births from thy fowle wombe do spring So Grammar heere is made to kill a king 577 Which to effect they first remoued me From forth the Vault where I before did lie And made a shew as if they seem'd to be Compassionated for my misery And would hereafter grant immunitie For such vnworthy vsage so we see The Sun shines hot before the shower will be 578 But being ouerwatch'd and wearied too Nature was much desirous of some rest Which gaue them oportunitie to do What they desir'd for being with sleepe opprest They Clapt a massie table on my brest And with great weight so kept me downe withall That breath I could not much lesse crie and call 579 And then into my fundament they thrust A litle horne as I did groueling lie And that my violent death might shun mistrust Through the same horne a red hot Spit whereby They made my gutts and bowells for to frie And so continu'd till at last they found That I was dead yet seem'd to haue no wound 580 And heere I pitch the pillars of my paine Now Ne plus ultra shall my posie be And thou which hast discrib'd my tragick raigne Let this at least giue some content to thee That from disastrous fortunes none are free Now take the worke out of the Loomes againe And tell the world that all the world is vaine FINIS Henry 4. Hen. 4.
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
wrath doth ouer-looke The wicked actions of obdurate men The Court of Heauen doth keepe a tallying booke VVherein is enter'd all our sinnes and when Our score is full let 's looke for payment then And oh what Prince what Common-wealth can stand When God doth scourge it with a rigorous hand 176 And let vs make this vse of their new wracke Forbeare to sinne for feare of punishment God is not sencelesse though he seeme to slacke He respits vs in hope we will repent But vse growes more the longer debts are lent And God forbeares and winkes at our abuse That we might haue lesse colour for excuse 177 I could not choose when I had yoak't my Teame But make this Furrow to inrich my field And now returne to my intended Theame And Edward wishes that his Raigne might yeild Fit presidents for Princes how to weild That weighty Prouince which they do sustaine And thus continues his Discourse againe 178 When my chiefe friends did see how things mischanced And those mischances did impute to sinne My sinne to him whom I had so aduanced To banish him they then againe beginne And made my selfe to haue a hand therein Their force my feare compeld me thereunto T is hard when Princes are inforst to doe 179 It is the chiefest good of Kingly raigne That it is free from base compelling feare And t is againe the Kingdomes chiefest baine Not to admit wise Counsell to the eare Away with aw hold Admonition deere Feares ne're should meete with Kingly eyes But one the backs of flying enemyes 180 But the faier liuely picture of aduice should still be placed ny the Princes sight Thrice happy Kings that are both stout and wise Your scorne controwle but set not counsell light No feare but vertue moues you to doe right Y' are Kings indeed and may securely rest Whilst feares are pitch't within a weaker brest 181 Te solum Vereor is a Princely word Speaking to him that is Lord Parramount And supreame Princes so should beare the sword As but to him they neede giue no account Which they shall doe if as they do surmount In greatnesse so in goodnesse they excell T is certaine he rules all that gouerns well 182 And none doth so but the selfe gouernor That his owne priuat passion can command Which makes a slaue euen of an Emperor If once they growe to get the vpper hand And soone deepe searching spirits will vnderstand And finde a Prince that 's weake and ride him soe That he must pace as they will haue him goe 183 Whereof my selfe may be a president Who was soeuer aw'd by my great Peeres That Gaueston was doom'd to banishment And now my soule full fraight with greefes and feares Was in her motion restles with these pheres But not so fixed now goe he should now should not So woman-like I would and straight I would not 184 Yet ere he went as goe he must and did Deere Prince saith he wherein haue I misdone That I am banished thus doth Edward bid His poore but yet his owne poore Pierce to shunne His gratious fight must I from England runne He bidds I must farewell yet thinke of mee my body goes my soule doth stay with thee 185 What were theis words but each to mee a wound Whereat my very life-blood gushed out I would haue spoke but words with teares were drownd While giddy passion hurld by braine about Confusedly I spake oh do not doubt Theis damned Peeres it is not long on mee though body stayes yet goes my soule with thee 156 Mourne not sweete Prince said hee oh doe not mourne Let neuer teares disgrace those gracefull eyes Is 't not enough that I am thus forelorne Must cares from mee as clowdes from sea arise My deere deere Liege let it at least suffice That still you haue the better part of mee My body they command my soule is free 187 Cease cease my Pierce thy tong doth wound my hart I grieue to see because I see thy griefe Farewell and yet me thinkes we should not part And yet we must well this be thy reliefe Thou bear'st a field of gold a King in chiefe But be thou Irelands Gouernor then for me Would thou mightst stay or I might go with thee 188 At parting thus with wanton griefe we playd He went to Sea and I to sorrow went And yet my lustfull heat was not allay'd My treasure that to Gauestone was sent And was in triumphs mongst the Irish spent Who seem'd now greater then he did before So Vines being cut increase and thriue the more 189 And here my Peeres did in true iudgment faile So to remoue not take him quite away Who once returning needes must seeke to quaile The aduerse part that labour'd his decay Dead dogs can neither barke nor bite men say But anger'd curres more fiercely still returne And wronged minds with greater fire burne 190 Better it is still to dissemble hate Then first to enter into discontent And leaue him great whom thou hast edg'd of late VVho hauing meanes and sharpned in intent May easily worke some dangerous euent Either strike not or else be sure strike so That thou thy selfe need feare no future blow 191 Besides they did the more exasperate By opposition my enraged Ire And for my Gaueston whom they did hate they did inflame mee with a greater fire His absence setting edge one my desire For Princes kept from what they doe affect do hurrey to their ends without respect 192 What euer stops the currant of the streame Is swept away with furious violence Force being effectlesse 'gainst a stronger meane But if one will with labour and expence Diuert the course and turne the Channell thence 'T is possible that he in time preuailes For Arte doth compasse when resistance failes 193 Philosophers doe hold and truely too That lightning oft the sheath vntouch'd the blade Consumes the reason why it doth so do Is by the one there 's small resistance made Being full of pores th' other hard t' inuade Doth set it selfe against that heauenly shot Which quite consumes because it pierceth not 194 I cannot fit the awfull wrath of Kings More properly then to this wondrous fire Which once inflames consumes resisting things Breakes vp the bounds that limits their desire And by depressing downe still mounts vp higher VVhereas strong passion borne with patience Spends on it selfe and dies without offence 195 My peeres soone saw which way the hare did run And therefore gaue consent to his repeale Not Caesar when Phasalia field he wonn Did triumph more then I when they did seale And did subscribe the ruine of our weale Then all was well whilst all did well agree But all prou'd Ill for all and worst for mee 196 For Gaueston after hee did returne Of all my former fauours once possest His full filld fortunes held my peeres in scorne Nor could he any equall well disgest Oh foolish man to swell aboue the rest When bubbles fullest blowne doe soonest