From all disturbs to be so long kept free And with such glory to discharge that place And therefore if by such a power thou be Stopt of thy course reckon it no disgrace Sith shee alone being priuiledg'd from hie Hath thys large Patent of eternite 52 This charge the Goddesse gaue when ready straight The subtill messenger accompayned With all her crew of crafts that on her wayt Hastes to effect what shee was counsailed And out shee pours of her mimens conceit Vpon such searching spirits as trauailed In penetrating hidden secrecies Who soone these meanes of misery deuise 53 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde Into theyr mothers close-lockt Treasury They mineralls combustible doe finde Which in stopt concaues placed cunningly They fire and fire imprisoned against kind Teares out away thrusts out his enemy Barking with such a horror as if wroth With man that wrongs himselfe and nature both 54 And this beginning had this cursed frame Which Yorke hath now planted against his King Presuming by his power and by the same His purpose vnto good effect to bring When diuers of the grauest Counsell came Sent from the King to vnderstand what thing Had thrust him into these proceedings bad And what he sought and what intent he had 55 Who with words mildly-sharp gently-seuere Wrought on those wounds that must bee toucht with heed Applying rather salues of hope then feare Least corasiues should desperat mischiefes breed And what my Lord sayd they should moue you here In thys vnseemely manner to proceed Whose worth being such as all the Land admires Hath sayrer wayes then these to your desires 56 Will you whose meanes whose many friends whose grace Can work the world in peace vnto your wil Take such a course as shall your blood deface And make by handling bad a good cause ill How many harts hazard you in thys case That in all quiet plots would ayde you still Hauing in Court a Partie far more strong Then you conceiue prest to redresse your wrong 57 Fy fy forsake thys hatefull course my Lord Downe with these Armes that will but wound your cause What peace may do hazard not with the sword Fly from the force that from your force with-drawes And yeeld and we will mediat such accord As shall dispence with rigor and the lawes And interpose thys solemne fayth of our Betwixt your fault and the offended power 58 Which ingins of protests and proffers kinde Vrg'd out of seeming greese and shewes of loue So shooke the whole foundation of his minde As it dyd all his resolution moue And present seem'd vnto theyr course inclind So that the King would Sommerset remoue The man whose most intollerable pride Trode downe his worth and all good mens beside 59 Which they there vow'd should presently be done For what will not pence-louers willing grant Where dangerous euents depend thereon And men vnfurnisht and the state in want And if with words the conquest will be won The cost is small and who holds breath so scant As then to spare tho' against his dignity Better discend then end in maiestie 60 And here-vpon the Duke dissolues his force Submits him to the King on publique vow The rather to presuming on thys course For that his sonne the Earle of March was now With mightier powers abroad which would enforce His peace which els the King would not allow For seeing not all of him in him he hath His death would but gyue life to greater wrath 61 Yet comming to the King in former place Hys foe the Duke of Sommerset he finds Whom openly reproching to hys face Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kinds The Duke returnes lyke speeches of dysgrace And fiery words bewrayd theyr flaming minds But yet the tryall was for them deferd Till fitter tyme allow'd it to be heard 62 At Westminster a Counsell gathered Deliberats what course the cause should end Of th' apprehended Duke of Yorke whose head Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend Law fiercely vrgd his deed and found him dead Frends fayld to speake where they could not defend Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood As prodigall of lyse nyggard of blood 63 And as if angry with the Lawes of death And why should you sayd he vrge things so far You that invr'd with mercinary breath And hyred tongue so peremptory are Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth As if you dyd with poore affliction war And pray on frailty folly hath betrayd Bringing the lawes to wound neuer to ayd 64 Dispence sometyme with sterne seueritie Make not the lawes still traps to apprehend Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie Mercy may mend whom malice made offend Death giues no thanks but checks authority And lyfe doth onely maiestie commend Reuenge dyes not rigor begets new wrath And blood hath neuer glory mercy hath 65 And for my part and my part should be chiefe I am most willing to restore his state And rather had I win him with reliefe Then loose him with despight and get more hate Pitty drawes loue bloodshed as natures griefe Compassion followes the vnfortunate And loosing him in him I loose my power We rule who liue the dead are none of our 66 And should our rigor lessen then the same Which we with greater glory should retaine No let hym lyue his lyfe must giue vs fame The chyld of mercy newly borne againe As often burials is Phisitions shame So many deaths argues a Kings hard raigne Why should we say the law must haue her vigor The law kills him but quits not vs of rigor 67 You to get more preferment by your wit Others to gaine the spoyles of misery Labour with all your power to follow it Shewing vs feares to draw on cruelty You vrge th' offence not tell vs what is fit Abusing wrong-informed maiestic As if our power were onely but to slay And that to sane were a most dangerous way 68 Thus out of pitty spake that holy King Whom mylde affections led to hope the best When Sommerset began to vrge the thing With words of hotter temper thys exprest Deare soueraigne Lord the cause in managing Is more then yours t' imports the publique rest We all haue part it touches all our good And lyfe's ill spard that 's spar'd to cost more blood 69 Compassion here is cruolty my Lord Pitty will cut our throats for sauing so What benefit shall we haue by the sword If mischiefe shall escape to draw on mo Why should we gyue what Law cannot afford To ' be ' accessaries to our proper wo Wisdom must iudge twixt men apt to amend And minds incurable borne to offend 70 It is no priuat cause I doe protest That moues me thus to prosecute his deede Would God his blood and myne had well releast The dangers that his pryde is lyke to breed Although at me he seemes to haue addrest His spight t is not his end he hath decreed I am not he alone hee doth pursue But thorow me
whom they seeke to foile Then follow leagues destruction ruine spoile 35 Whether it were that they which had the charge Suffred the king to take a youthfull vaine That they their priuate better might inlarge Or whether he himselfe would farther straine Thinking his yeares sufficient to discharge The gouernment presumd to take the raigne We will not saie but now his eare he lendes To youthfull counsell and his lusts attends 36 And courts were neuer barren yet of those Which could with subtle traine and apt aduise Worke on the Princes weakenes and dispose Of feeble frailtie easiest to intice And such no doubt about this king arose Whose flattery the daungerous nurse of vice Got hand vpon his youth to pleasures bent Which lead by them did others discontent 37 For now his vnckles grew much to mislike These ill proceedings were it that they saw That others fauor'd did aspiring seeke Their nephew from their counsels to withdraw Seeing his nature flexible and mecke Because they onely would keepe all in awe Or that indeed they found the king and state Abusde by such as now in office sate 38 Or rather else they all were in the fault Th' ambitious vnckles th' indiscreet young king The greedy counsell and the Minions naught And all togither did this tempest bring Besides the times withall iniustice fraught Concurr'd in this confusd disordering That we may truly say this spoild the state Youthfull Counsell priuate gaine partiall hate 39 And sure the king plainly discouereth Apparant cause his vnckles to suspect For John of Gaunt was said to seeke his death By secret meanes which came not to effect The Duke of Gloster like wise practiseth In open world that all men might detect And leagues his Nobles and in greatest strength Rises in armes against him too at length 40 Vnder pretence from him to take away Such as they said the states oppressors weare To whom the Realme was now become a pray The chiefe of whom they nam'd was Robert Vere Then Duke of Ireland bearing greatest sway About the king who held him only dere Him they would haue remou'd and diuers more Or else would neuer lay downe armes they swore 41 The king was forst in that next Parliment To grant them what he durst not well refuse For thither arm'd they came and fully bent To suffer no repulse nor no excuse And here they did accomplish their intent Where iustice did her sword not ballance vse For euen that sacred place they violate And there arest the Iudges as they sate 42 Which soone with many others had their end Cruelly slaine without the course of right And still these warres that publique good pretend Worke most iniustice being done for spight For the agrieued euermore doe bend Against those whom they see of greatest might Who though themselues are wrong'd often forst Yet for they can doe most are thought the worst 43 And yet I doe not seeme herein to excuse The Iustices and Minions of the king Which might their office and their grace abuse But onely blame the course of managing For great men too well grac'd much rigor vse Presuming fauorites mischiefe euer bring So that concluding I may boldly speake Minions too great argue a king too weake 44 Now that so much was granted as was sought A reconcilement made although not ment Appeasd them all in shew but not in thought Whilst euery one seem'd outwardlie content Though hereby king nor peeres nor people got More loue more strength or easier gouerment But euery day things now succeeded worse For good from kings must not be drawne by force 45 And this it lo continued till by chance The Queene which was the emperours daughter dy'de When as the king t' establish peace with Fraunce And better for home quiet to prouide Sought by contracting marriage to aduance His owne affaires against his vnckles pride Tooke the young daughter of king Charles to wife Which after in the end raisd greater strife 46 For now his vnckle Gloster much repin'd Against this french aliance and this peace Hauing himselfe a working stirring mind Which neuer was content the warres should cease Whether he did dishonourable finde Those articles that did our boundes decrease And therfore storm'd because the crown had wrōg Or that he fear'd the king would grow too strong 47 Or whatsoeuer mou'd him this is sure Hereby he wrought his ruine in the end And was a fatall cause that did procure The swift approching mischiefes that attend For lo the king no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T' attach the Duke when he thought least of it 48 And fortune now to further this intent The great Earle of S. Paule doth hither bring From Charles of Fraunce vnto the young Q. sent To see both her and to salute the king To whom he shewes his vnckles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his subiects sought to fulleuare And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 49 To whom the suttle Earle forthwith replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such ielousies And rid you of such mutiners as thease By cutting off that which might greater rise And now at first preuenting this disease And that before he shall your wrath disclose For who threates first means of reuenge doth lose 50 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guilty by your lawes Easier you shall with him your quarrell try Dead then aliue who hath the better cause For in the murmuring vulgar vsually This publique course of yours compassion drawes Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat 51 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes bloudshed much How iust-socuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse That so shall you obseruing formall right Be still thought as vniust and win more spight 52 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard So shall you hereby scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world to afterward What need you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compard And therefore if you will be rul'd by me Strangled or poison'd secret let him be 53 And then araigne the chiefe of those you find Were of his faction secretly compact Whom you maie wisely order in such kind That you maie such confessions then exact As both you maie appease the peoples mind And by their death much aggrauate the fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 54 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest waies Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easelie
to any course obeies For euerie Prince seeing his daunger neere By anie meanes his quiet peace assaies And still the greatest wronges that euer were Haue then bin wrought when kings were put in fear 55 And long it was not ere he apprehendes The Duke who close to Calice was conuei'd And th' Earles of Arundell and Warwike sendes Both in close prisons strongly to be laid And soone the Duke his life vnquiet endes Strangled in secret ere it was bewraide And Arundell was put to publike death But Warwike by great meanes he banisheth 56 And for his person he procures a guard A thousand Archers daily to attend Which now vpon the act he had prepard As th' argument his actions to defend But yet the world had now conceiu'd so hard That all this nought auaild him in the end In vaine with terror is he fortified That is not guarded with firme loue beside 57 Now storme his vnckles albeit in vaine For that no remedy they could deuise They might their sorrowes inwardly complaine But outwardly they needs must temporise The king was great and they should nothing gaine T' attempt reuenge or offer once to rise This league with Fraunce had made him now so strong That they must needs as yet indure this wrong 58 For like a Lion that escapes his bounds Hauing bin long restraind his vse to straie Raunges the restles woods staies on no ground Riottes with bloudshed wantons on his praie Seckes not for need but in his pride to wound Glorying to see his strength and what he may So this vnbridled king freed of his feares In libertie himselfe thus wildly beares 59 For standing on himselfe he sees his might Out of the compasse of respectiue awe And now beginnes to violate all right While no restraining feare at hand he saw Now he exactes of all wasts in delight Riots in pleasure and neglects the law He thinkes his crowne is licensd to do ill That lesse should list that may do what it will 60 Thus b'ing transported in this sensuall course No frend to warne no counsell to withstand He still proceedeth on from bad to worse Sooth'd in all actions that he tooke in hand By such as all impiety did nurse Commending euer what he did commaund Vnhappy kings that neuer may be taught To know themselues or to discerne their fault 61 And whilst all sylent grieue at what is donne The Duke of Herford then of courage bold And worthily great Iohn of Gaunts first sonne Vtters the passion which he could not hold In sad discourse vpon this course begun Which he to Mowbray Duke of Norfolke told To th' end he being great about the king Might doe some good by better counselling 62 The faithles Duke that presentlie takes hold Of such aduantage to insinuate Hastes to the king peruerting what was told And what came of good minde he makes it hate The king that might not now be so controld Or censur'd in his course much frets thereat Sendes for the Duke who doth such wordes deny And craues the combate of his enemy 63 Which straight was granted and the daie assign'd When both in order of the field appeare To right each other as th' euent should find And now both euen at point of combate were When lo the king changd sodenly his mind Casts downe his warder and so staies them there As better now aduisd what waie to take Which might for his assured safety make 64 For now considering as it likely might The victorie should hap on Herfords side A man most valiant and of noble sprite Belou'd of all and euer worthy tride How much he might be grac'd in publique sight By such an act as might aduance his pride And so become more popular by this Which he feares too much he already is 65 And therefore he resolues to banish both Though th' one in chiefest fauour with him stood A man he dearely lou'd and might be loth To leaue him that had done him so much good Yet hauing cause to do as now he doth To mitigate the enuie of his bloud Thought best to loose a friend to rid a foe And such a one as now he doubted so 66 And therefore to perpetuall exile hee Mowbray condemnes Herford but for ten yeares Thinking for that the wrong of this decree Compard with greater rigour lesse appeares It might of all the better liked be But yet such murmuring of the fact he heares That he is faine foure of the ten forgiue And iudg'd him sixe yeares in exile to liue 67 At whose departure hence out of the land O how the open multitude reueale The wondrous loue they bare him vnderhand Which now in this hote passion of their zeale They plainely shewde that all might vnderstand How deare he was vnto the common weale They feard not to exclaime against the king As one that sought all good mens ruining 68 Vnto the shore with teares with sighes with mone They him conduct cursing the bounds that staie Their willing feete that would haue further gone Had not the fearefull Ocean stopt their way Why Neptune hast thou made vs stand alone Deuided from the world for this say they Hemd in to be a spoile to tyranny Leauing affliction hence no way to flie 69 Are we lockt vp poore soules here t' abide Within the watery prison of thy waues As in a fold where subiect to the pride And lust of rulers we remaine as slaues Here in the reach of might where none can hide From th' eie of wrath but onely in their graues Happy confiners you of other landes That shift your soile and oft scape tyrants hands 70 Ah must we leaue him here that here were fit We should retaine the pillar of our state Whose vertues well deserue to gouerne it And not this wanton young effeminate Why should not he in regall honour sit That best knowes how a realme to ordinate Yet one daie ô we hope thou shalt bring backe Deare Bullingbrooke the iustice that we lacke 71 Thus muttred lo the malecontented sort That loue kings best before they haue them still And neuer can the present state comport But would as oft change as they change their will For this good Duke had wonne them in this sort By suckring them and pittying of their ill That they supposed straight it was one thing To be both a good man and a good king 72 When as the grauer sort that saw the course And knew that Princes maie not be controlde Likt wel to suffer this for feare of worse Since many great one kingdome cannot hold For now they saw intestine strife of force The apt-deuided state intangle would If he should stay whom they would make their head By whom the vulgar body might be lead 73 They saw likewise that Princes oft are faine To buy their quiet with the price of wrong And better t were that now a few complaine Then all should morne aswell the weake as strong Seeing how little Realmes by change doe
THE POETICALL ESSAYES OF SAM DANYEL Newly corrected and augmented AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus AT LONDON Printed by P. Short for Simon Waterson 1599. The Argumentes of these Essayes following THe ciuill wars betweene the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke Musophilus or a defence of learning The Epistle of Octauia to Antonius The Tragedy of Cleopatra corrected The complaint of Rosamond To the Right honorable Sir Charles Blunt Knight Lord Mountioy and Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter and his most worthy Lord. I Do not plant thy great respected name Here in this front to th' end thou shouldst protect These my endeuors from contempt or blame Which none but their own forces must effect Nor do I seeke to win thy more respect Most learned Lord by these Essaies of mine Since that cleere iudgement that did first elect To fauor me will alwaies keepe me thine Nor do I this more honor to assigne Vnto thy worth that is not more hereby Since th' offrings made vnto the powers deuine Enrich not them but shew mens pietie But this I do to th' end if destinie Shall any monument reserue of me Those times should see my loue how willing I That liu'd by thee would haue thee lius with me S. D. THE CIVIL WARS OF ENGLAND BEtween the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus SAM DANIELL AT LONDON Printed by P. S. for Symon Waterson 1599. THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE What times forgoe Richard the seconds raigne The fatall causes of this ciuile warre His Vnckles pride his greedte Minions gaine Glosters reuolt and death dcliuered are Herford accusd exild calld backe againe Pretends t' amend what others Rule did marre The King from Ireland hastes but did no good Whilst strange prodigious signes foretoken bloud 1 I Sing the ciuil warrs tumultuous broyles And bloudy factions of a mighty land VVhose people hauty proud with forain spoyles Vpon themselues turne back their conquering hand VVhilst Kin their Kin brother the brother foyles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against bowes the Crowne against the crowne vvhil'st all pretending right all right throwen downe 2 What furie ô what madnes held you so Deare people to too prodigall of bloud To wast so much and warre without a foe Whilst France to see your spoyles at pleasure stood How much might you haue purchasd with lesse wo Thaue done you honor and your Nephewes good Yours might haue beene what euer lies betweene The Perenei and Alps Aquitayne and Rbeine 3 And yet ô God wee haue no cause to plaine Since hereby came the quiet calme we ioye The blisse of thee ELIZA happie gaine For all our losse for that no other waye The heauens could find then vnite againe The fatall seu'red families that they Might bring forth thee that in thy peace might grow That glory which no age could euer show 4 O sacred Goddesse I no muse but thee Invoke in this great worke I now entend Do thou inspire my thoughts infuse in mee A power to bring the same to happie end Raise vp a worke for latter times to see That may thy glorie and my paines commend Strengthen thy subiect strang thinges to rehearse And giue peace to my life life to my verse 5 And thou Charles Mountioy borne the worldes That hast receiu'd into thy quiet shore delight Me tempest-driuen fortune-tossed wight Tir'd with expecting and could hope no more And cheerest on my better yeares to write A sadder Subiect then I tooke before Receiue the worke I consecrate to thee Borne of that rest which thou dost giue to mee 6 And MEMORIE preseruresse of thinges done Come thou vnfold the wounds the wracke the wast Reucale to me how all the strife begunne Twixt Lancaster and Yorke in ages past How causes counsels and euents did runne So long as these vnhappie times did last Vnintermixt with fictions fantasies I versifie the troth not poetize 7 And to the end we maie with better ease Iudge the true progresse here bigin to showe What weare the times fore going nere to thease That these we maie with better profit knowe Tell how the world fell into this disease And how so great distemperature did growe So shall we see by what degrees it came How thinges grown full do sone grow out of frame 8 Ten kings had now raignd of the Norman race With variable fortune turning chaunce All in two hundreth sixtie one yeares space When Edward third of name and first of Fraunce Possest the crowne in fortunes highest grace And did to greatest state his state aduaunce When England might the largest limits see That euer any king attaind but hee 9 For most of all the rest toyld in vnrest What with wrong titles what with inward broyl Hardlie a true establishment possest Of what they sought with such exceeding toyle For why their power within it self opprest Scarce could breake forth to greatnes al that while Such wo the childhood of this state did passe Before it could attaine to what it wasse 10 For first the Norman conquering all by might By might was forst to keepe what hee had got Altring the lawes chaunging the forme of Right And placing barbarous Customes he had brought Maistring the mighty humbling the poorer wight With grieuous taxes tyranie had sought Scarce laide th' assured groundes to build vpon The chaunge so hatefull in such course begon 11 William his sonne tracing the selfesame wayes The great outworne with war or slaine in peace Onely vpon depressed weakenes prayes And treades down what was likeliest to increase Those that were left being left to wofull daies Had onely powre to wish for some release Whilst giuing beastes what did to men pertaine Tooke for a beast himselfe was after slaine 12 Henrie his brother raignes when he had donne Who Roberts title better to reiect The Norman Duke the Conquerours first sonne Lightens in shew rather then in effect Those greeuances his fatall race begunne Reformes the lawes which soone he did neglect Whose sons being drownd for whō he did prepare Leaues crowne strif to Maud his daughters care 13 Whom Stephen his Nephew falsifying his oath Preuents assailes the Realm obtaines the crown Raising such tumults as torment them both Whil'st both held nothing certainlie their owne Th' afflicted Realme deuided in their troth And partiall faith most miserable growne Endures the while till peace and Stephens death Conclude some hope of quiet to take breath 14 The sonne of Maud from Saxon bloud deriu'd By mothers line succeeds th'vnrightfull king Henrie the second in whose raigne reuiu'd Th' oppressed state and first began to spring And ô if he had not beene too long liu'd T' haue seene th'affliction that his age did bring By his vngodly sonnes then happie man For they against him warr'd for whom hewan 15 All Ireland Scotland th'Iles of Orcades Poytiers Guienna Brittany hee got And leades forth
sorrow from it selfe to thease Recouers strength at home so feeble brought Giues courage to the strong to weaker ease Ads to the state what England neuer sought Who him succeed the forraine bloud out growne Are home born kings by speech and birth our owne 16 Lo hitherto the new borne state in teares Was in her raw and wayling infancie During a hundred two and twentie yeares Vnder the hand of straungers tyranny And now some better strength and youth appeares Which promises a glad recouery For hard beginnings haue the greatest states What with their owne or neighbourers debates 17 Euen like to Rheine which in his birth opprest Strangled almost with rocks and mightie hils Workes out a way to come to better rest Wars with the mountaines striues against their wils Bringes forth his streames in vnitie possest Into the quiet bed he proudlie fils Carrying that greatnes which he cannot keepe Vnto his death and buriall in the deepe 18 So did the worldes proud Mistres Rome at first Striue with a hard beginning warr'd with need Forcing her strong Confiners to the worst And in her bloud her greatnes first did breed So Spaine at home with Moores ere forth it burst Did practize long and in it selfe did bleed So did our state begin with her owne woundes To try her strength ere it enlarg'd her boundes 19 But now comes Richard to succeed his fire Who much the glorie of our armes increast His fathers limits bound not his desire He spreeds the English Ensignes in the East And whilst his vertues would haue raisd him hyer Treason and malice his great actions ceast A faithles brother and a fatall king Cut off his growth of glory in the spring 20 Which wicked brother contrarie to course False John vsurpes his Nephew Arthurs right Gets to the crowne by craft by wrong by force Rules it with lust oppression rigor might Murders the lawfull heire without remorse Wherefore procuring all the worldes despight A Tyrant loth'd a homicide conuented Poysoned he dies disgrac'd and vnlamented 21 Henrie his sonne is chosen king though young And Lewes of Fraunce elected first beguilde After the mightie had debated long Doubtfull to choose a straunger or a child With him the Barons in these times grown strōg Warre for their auncient lawes so long exild He graunts the Charter that pretended ease And kept his owne yet did his owne appease 22 Edward his sonne a martiall king succeedes Iust prudent graue religious fortunate Whose happy ordred raigne most fertile breeds Plentie of mightie spirits to strength his state And worthy mindes to manage worthy deeds Th' experience of those times ingenerate For euer great imployment for the great Quickens the bloud and honour doth beget 23 And had not his mis-lead lasciuious sonne Edward the second intermitted so The course of glorie happilie begunne Which brought him and his fauorites to woe That happy current without stop had runne Vnto the full of his sonne Edwards flo But who hath often seene in such a state Father and sonne like good like fortunate 24 But now this great succeeder all repaires And rebrings-backe that discontinued good He buildes vp strength and greatnes for his heires Out of the vertues that adornd his bloud He makes his subiects Lords of more then theirs And sets their bounds farre wider then they stood Could greatnes haue but kept what he had gote It was enough he did and what he wrought 25 And had his heire surviu'd him in due course What limits England hadst thou found what barre What world could haue resisted so great force O more then men two thunderbolts of warre Why did not time your ioined worth diuorse T' haue made your seuerall glories greater farre Too prodigall was nature thus to doe To spend in one age what should serue for two 26 But now the scepter in this glorious state Supported with strong powre and victorie Was left vnto a child ordain'd by fate To stay the course of what might grow too hie Here was a stop that greatnes did abate When powre vpon so weake a base did lie For lest great fortune should presume too farre Such oppositions interposed are 27 Neuer this Iland better peopled stood Neuer more men of might and mindes addrest Neuer more Princes of the royall bloud If not too many for the publique rest Nor euer was more treasure wealth and good Then when this Richard first the crowne possest Second of name a name in two accurst And well we might haue mist all but the first 28 In this mans raigne began this fatall strife The bloudy argument where of we treate That dearely cost so many ' a Prince his life That spoild the weake euen consum'd the great That wherein all calamitie was rife That memory euen grieues her to repeate And would that time would now this knowledge lose But that t is good to learne by others woes 29 Edward the third being dead had left this child Sonne of his worthy sonne deceasd of late The crowne and Scepter of this Realme to wield Appointing the protectors of his state Two of his sonnes to be his better shield Supposing vnckles free from guile or hate Would order all things for his better good In the respect and honour of their bloud 30 Of these John Duke of Lancaster was one Too great a subiect growne for such a state The title of a king and what h 'had done In great exploits his mind did eleuate Aboue proportion kingdomes stand vpon Which made him push at what his issue gate The other Edmond Langley whose milde sprite Affected quiet and a safe delight 31 With these did interpose his proud vnrest Thomas of woodstocke one most violent Impatient of command of peace of rest Whose brow would shew that which his hart had ment His open malice and repugnant brest Procur'd much mischiefe by his discontent And these had all the charge of king and state Till by himselfe he might it ordinate 32 And in the first yeares of this gouernement Things past as first the warres in Fraunce proceede Though not with that same fortune and euent Being now not followed with such carefull heed Our people here at home growne discontent Through great exactions insurrections breed Priuate respectes hindred the common weale And idle ease doth on the mighty steale 33 Too many kings breed factions in the court The head too weake the members grown too great O this is that which kingdomes doth transport This plague the heauens do for iniustice threat When children rule who euer in this sort Confound the state their auncestors did get For the ambitious once inur'd to raigne Can neuer brooke a priuate state againe 34 And kingdomes euer suffer this distresse For one or manie guide the infant king Which one or manie tasting this excesse Of greatnes and command can neuer bring Their thoughts againe t' obay or to be lesse From hence these insolencies euer spring Contempt of others
gaine And therefore learned by obseruing long T' admire times past follow the present will Wish for good Princes but t' indure the ill 74 For when it nought awailes what folly then To striue against the current of the time Who will throw downe himselfe for other men That make a ladder by his fall to clime Or who would seeke t'imbroile his country when He might haue rest suffering but others crime Since wisemen euer haue preferred farre Th' vniustest peace before the iustest warre 75 Thus they considered that in quiet fate Rich or content or else vnfit to striue Peace louer-wealth hating a troublous state Doth willing reasons for their rest contriue But if that all were thus considerate How should in court the great the fauour'd thriue Factions must be and these varieties And some must fall that other some may rise 76 But long the Duke remaind not in exile Before that Iohn of Gaunt his father dies Vpon whose state the king seasd now this while Disposing of it as his enemies This open wrong no longer could beguile The world that saw these great indignities Which so exasperates the mindes of all That they resolu'd him home againe to call 77 For now they saw t was malice in the king Transported in his il-conceiued thought That made him so to prosecute the thing Against all law and in a course so naught And this aduantage to the Duke did bring Fitter occasions whereupon he wrought For to a man so strong and of such might He giues him more that takes away his right 78 The king in this meane time I know not how Was drawne into some actions forth the land T' appease the Irish that reuolted now And there attending what he had in hand Neglects those parts from whence worse daungers grow As ignorant how his affaires did stand Whether the plot was wrought it should be so Or that his fate did draw him on to go 79 Certaine it is that he committed here An ignorant and idle ouersight Not looking to the Dukes proceedings there Being in the court of Fraunce where best he might Where both the king and all assured were T' haue stopt his course being within their right But being now exild he thought him sure And free from farther doubting liu'd secure 80 So blindes the sharpest counsels of the wise This ouershadowing prouidence on hie And dazeleth the clearest sighted eies That they see not how nakedly they lie There where they little thinke the storme doth rise And ouercasts their cleare security When man hath stopt al waies saue only that That least suspected ruine enters at 81 And now was all disorder in th' excesse And whatsoeuer doth a change portend As idle luxury and wantonnes Proteus-like varying pride vaine without end Wrong-worker Riot motiue to oppresse Endles exactions which the idle spend Consuming vsury and credits crackt Cald on this purging warre that many lackt 82 Then ill perswading want in martiall minds And wronged patience long opprest with might Loosenes in all which no religion bindes Commaunding force the measure made of right Gaue suell to this fire that easie findes The way t' inflame the whole indangerd quite These were the publique breeders of this warre By which stil greatest states confounded are 83 For now this peace with Fraunce had shue in here The ouergrowing humours warres doe spend For where t' cuacuate no employments were Widerth ' vnwildy burthen doth distend Men wholy vsd to warre peace could not beare As knowing no course else whereto to bend For brought vp in the broiles of these two Realmes They thought best fishing still in troubled streames 84 Like to a riuer that is stopt his course Doth violate his bankes breakes his owne bed Destroies his bounds and ouer-runs by force The neighbour fields irregularly spread Euen so this sodaine stop of warre doth nurse Home broiles within it selfe from others lead So dangerous the change hereof is tride Ere mindes come soft or otherwise imploid 85 And all this makes for thee ô Bullingbrooke To worke a waie vnto thy Soueraintie This care the heauens fate and fortune tooke To bring thee to thy scepter easily Vpon the fals that hap which him forsooke Who crownd a king a king yet must not die Thou wert ordaind by prouidence to raise A quarrell lasting longer then thy daies 86 For now this absent king out of his land Where though he shew'd great sprite and valor then Being attended with a worthy band of valiant Peeres and most couragious men Gaue time to them at home that had in hand Th' vngodly worke and knew the season when Who faile not to aduise the Duke with speed Solliciting to what he soone agreed 87 For presently vpon so good report He doth with cunning traine and pollicy Conuay himselfe out of the French kings court Vnder pretence to go to Brittanie And with his followers that to him resort Landed in England Welcom'd ioyfully Of th' altring vulgar apt for changes still As headlong caried with a present will 88 And com'd to quiet shore but not to rest The first night of his ioyfull landing here A fearefull vision doth his thoughts molest Seeming to see in wofull forme appeare A naked goodly woman all distrest Which with ful-weeping eies and rent-white haire Wringing her hands as one that grieud and praid With sighes commixt with words it seem'd shee said 89 O whither dost thou tend my vnkind sonne What mischiefe dost thou go about to bring To her whose Genius thou here lookst vpon Thy mother countrey whence thy selfe didst spring O whither dost thou in ambition run To change due course by foule disordering What bloudshed ô what broyles dost thou cōmence To last for many wofull ages hence 90 Stay here thy foote thy yet vnguilty foote That canst not stay when thou art farther in Retire thee yet vnstaind whilst it doth boote The end is spoile of what thou dost begin Iniustice neuer yet tooke lasting roote Nor held that long impiety did win The babes vnborne shall ô be borne to bleed In this thy quarrell if thou doe proceede 91 Thus said shee ceast when he in troubled thought Grieu'd at this tale and sigh'd and this replies Deare Country ô I haue not hither brought These Armes to spoile but for thy liberties Tho sinne be on their head that this haue wrought Who wrongd me first and thee doe tyrannise I am thy Champion and I seeke my right Prouokt I am to this by others spight 92 This this pretence faith shee th' ambitious finde To smooth iniustice and to flatter wrong Thou dost not know what then will be thy mind When thou shalt see thy selfe aduanc'd and strong When thou hast shak'd off that which others binde Thou soone forgettest what thou learnedst long Men doe not know what then themselues will be When as more then themselues themselues they see 93 And here withall turning about he wakes Lab'ring in sprite troubled with this strange sight And musd a while waking aduisement
takes Of what had past in sleepe and silent night Yet hereof no important reck'ning makes But as a dreame that vanisht with the light The day designes and what he had in hand Left it to his diuerted thoughts vnskand 94 Doubtfull at first he warie doth proceed Seemes not t' affect that which he did effect Or els perhaps seemes as he ment indeed Sought but his owne and did no more expect Then fortune thou art guilty of his deed That didst his state aboue his hopes erect And thou must beare some blame of his great sin That left'st him worse then when he did begin 95 Thou didst conspire with pride and with the time To make so easie an assent to wrong That he that had no thought so hie to clime With fauoring comfort still allur'd along Was with occasion thrust into the crime Seeing others weakenes and his part so-strong And ô in such a case who is it will Do good and feare that maie liue free with ill 96 We will not say nor thinke O Lancaster But that thou then didst meane as thou didst swere Vpon th' Euangelists at Doncaster In th' eie of heauen and that assembly there That thou but as an vpright orderer Sought'st to reforme th' abused kingdome here And get thy right and what was thine before And this was all thou would'st attempt no more 97 Though we might say thinke that this pretence Was but a shadow to th' intended act Because th' euent doth argue the offence And plainely seemes to manifest the fact For that hereby thou mightst win confidence With those whom els thy course might hap distract And all suspition of thy drift remoue Since easily men credit whom they loue 98 But God forbid we should so nerely pry Into the low deepe buried sinnes long past T' examine and conferre iniquity Whereof faith would no memory should last That our times might not haue t' exemplifie With aged staines but with our owne shame cast Might thinke our blot the first not done before That new-made sins might make vs blush the more 99 And let vnwresting charity beleeue That then thy oth with thy intent agreed And others faith thy faith did first deceiue Thy after fortune forc'd thee to this deed And let no man this idle censure giue Because th' euent proues so t was so decreed For ô what counsels sort to other end Then that which frailty did at first intend 100 Whilst those that are but outward lookers on That cannot sound these misteries of state Deemes things were so contriu'd as they are done Holding that policie that was but fate Wondring how strange t was wrought how close begun And thinke all actions else did tend to that When ô how short they come or cast too fare Making the happy wiser then they are 101 But by degrees he venters now on blood And sacrifiz'd vnto the peoples loue The death of those that chiefe in enuy stood As th' Officers who first these dangers proue The treasorer and those that they thought good Bushy and Greene by death he must remoue These were the men the people thought did cause Those great exactions and abusd the lawes 102 This done his cause was preacht with learned skil And th' Archbishop of Canterbury shew'd A pardon sent from Rome to all that will Take part with him and quit the faith they ow'd To Richard as a Prince vnfit and ill On whom the crowne was fatally bestow'd And easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught With what the mouth of grauity had taught 103 O that this powre from euerlasting giuen The great alliance made twixt God and vs Th' intelligence that earth doth hold with heauen Sacred religion ô that thou must thus Be made to smooth our waies vniust vneuen Brought from aboue earth-quarrels to discusse Must men beguile our soules to winne our wils And make our zeale the furtherer of ils 104 But the ambitious to aduance their might Dispence with heauen and what religion would The armed will finde right or else make right If this meanes wrought not yet another should And this and other now doe all incite To strength the faction that the Duke doth hold Who easily obtained what he sought His vertues and his loue so greatly wrought 105 The king still busied in this Irish warre Which by his valour there did well succeede Had newes how here his Lords reuolted are And how the Duke of Herford doth proceed In these affaires he feares are growne too farre Hastes his returne from thence with greatest speed But was by tempests windes and seas debarr'd As if they likewise had against him warr'd 106 But at the length though late in wales he landes Where thorowly inform'd of Henries force And well aduertisd how his owne case stands Which to his griefe he sees tendes to the worse He leauest ' Aumarle at Milford all those bands He brought from Ireland taking thence his course To Conwaie all disguisd with fourteene more Toth ' Earle of Salisburie thither sent before 107 Thinking the Earle had raisd some forces there Whom there he findes for saken all alone The people in those partes which leuied were B'ing closely shronke away dispersd and gone The king had stayed too long and they in feare Resolued euery man to shift for one At this amasd such fortune he laments Foresees his fall whereto each thing consents 108 In this disturb'd tumultuous broken state Whilst yet th' euent stood doubtfull what should be Whilst nought but headlong running to debate And glittering troupes and armor men might see Fury and feare compassion wrath and hate Confusd through all the land no Corner free The strong all mad to strife to ruine bent The weaker waild the aged they lament 109 And blame their many yeares that liue so long To see the horrour of these miseries Why had not we said they dyde with the strong In forraine fields in honourable wise In iust exploits and lawfull without wrong And by the valiant hand of enemies And not thus now reserued in our age To home confusion and disordered rage 110 Vnto the Temples flocke the weake deuout Sad wailing women there to vow and pray For husbands brothers or their sonnes gone out To bloudshed whom nor tears nor loue could stay Here graue religious fathers which much doubt The sad euents these broyles procure them may As Prophets warne exclaime disswade these crimes By the examples fresh of other times 111 And ô what doe you now prepare said they Another conquest by these fatall waies What must your own hands make your selues a pray To desolation which these tumults raise What Dane what Norman shall prepare his way To triumph on the spoile of your decaies That which nor France nor all the world could doe In vnion shall your discord bring you to 112 Conspire against vs neighbour nations all That enuy at the height whereto w' are growne Coniure the barbarous North and let them call Straunge fury from far distant shores
at his proud feet lies And spurnes the waues that in rebellious bands Assault his Empire and against him rise Vnder whose craggy gouernment there was A niggard narrow way for men to passe 50 And here in hidden cliffes concealed lay A troope of armed men to intercept The vnsuspecting king that had no way To free his foote that into danger stept The dreadfull Ocean on th' one side lay The hard-incroching mountaine th' other kept Before him he beheld his hatefull foes Behind him traiterous enemies inclose 51 Enuiron'd thus the Earle begins to cheere His all-amased Lord by him betraide Bids him take courage ther 's no cause offeare These troopes but there to guard him safe were laid To whom the king what needs so many here This is against your oth my Lord he said But now he fees in what distresse hee stood To striue was vaine t' intreat would do no good 52 And therefore on with carefull hart he goes Complaines but to himself sighes grieues freats At Rutland dines though feedes but on his woes The griefe of mind hindred the minde of meats For sorrow shame and feare skorne of his foes The thought of what hee was and what now threats Then what he should and now what he hath done Musters confused passions all in one 53 To Flint from thence vnto a restles bed That miserable night he comes conuayd Poorely prouided poorely followed Vncourted vnrespected vnobayd Where if vncertaine sleepe but hoouered Ouer the drooping cares that heauy weigh'd Millions of figures fantasie presents Vnto that sorrow wakened griefe augments 54 His new misfortune makes deluding sleepe Say t was not so false dreames the truth deny Where with he starts feeles waking cares do creepe Vpon his soule and giues his dreame the lie Then sleepes againe and then againe as deepe Deceits of darknes mocke his misery So hard belieu'd was sorrow in her youth That he thinks truth was dreames dreames were truth 55 The morning light presents vnto his view Walking vpon a turret of the place The truth of what he fees is prou'd too true A hundred thousand men before his face Carne marching on the shore which thither drew And more to aggrauate his fowle disgrace Those he had wrongd or done to them dispight As if they him obrayd came first in sight 56 There might he see that false for sworne vile crue Those shameles agents of vnlawfull lust His Pandars Parasites people vntrue To God and man vnworthy any trust Pressing vnto that fortune that was nue And with vnblushing faces formost thrust As those that liue in sun-shine of delights And flie the winter when affliction lights 57 There he beheld how humbly diligent New adulation was to be at hand How ready Falshood stept how nimbly went Basepick thanke Flattery and preuents command He saw the great obay the graue consent And all with this new-raisd Aspirer stand Which when he saw and in his sorrow waid Thus out of griefe vnto himselfe he said 58 O faithlesse Cosen here behold I stand Spectator of that act my selfe haue plaid That act of rule which now vpon thy hand This wauering mutability hath laid But Cosen know the faith of this false land Stands sworne to me that faith they haue betraid Is mine t is mine the rule thou dost me wrong T' vsurpe the gouernment I held so long 59 And when thou hast but tride what I haue found Thou maist repent t' haue bought cōmand so deare When thou shalt find on what vnquiet ground Greatnes doth stand that stands so high in feare Where infinite occasions do confound The peace of minde the good thou look'st for here O fatall is th' ascent vnto a crowne From whence men come not downe but must tall downe 60 O you that cherish fat iniquity Inriching sinne with store and vice with gaine By my disgrace see what you get thereby To raise the bad to make the good complaine These vipers spoile the wombe wherein they lie And haue but impudence a grace to gaine But bodies and bold browes no mindes within But minde of ill that knowes but how to sin 61 And for the good which now do take thy part Thou maiste reioyce for th' others I am glad To thinke they may in time likewise subuart The expectation which of thee men had When thou shalt find how difficult an art It is to rule and please the good and bad And seele the grieuance of this fatall sort Which still are borne for court are made in court 62 More griefe had said when lo the Duke he saw Entring the Castle come to parle there Which makes him presently from thence withdraw Into a fitter place some other where His fortune now inforst an yeelding awe To meete him who before in humble feare Would haue beene glad t' haue staid and to prepare The grace of audience with attendant care 63 The Duke when come in presence of his king Whether the sight of maiestie did breed Remorse of wrong which reuerence did bring Or whether but to formalize his deed He kneeles him downe euen at his entering Rose kneeles againe for craft will still exceed When as the king approcht put off his hood And welcomd him though wishd him little good 64 To whom the Duke thus said my Lord I know That both vnlookt for and vnsent vnto I haue presumed to come hither now But this your wrong and rigor draue me to And being come I purpose now to shew You better how to rule and what to doe You haue had time too much to worke our ill But now redresse is planted in our will 65 As you shall please deare cosin said the king You haue me in your powre I am content And I am pleasd if my disgrace may bring Good to my countrey which I euer ment But yet God grant your course held in this thing Cause not succeeding ages to repent And so they left the Duke had hast to go It was no place to end the matter so 66 Straight towards London in this heate of pride The Duke sets forward as they had decreed With whom the Captiue King constraind must ride Most meanely mounted on a simple steed Degraded of all grace and case beside Thereby neglect of all respect to breed For th' ouer-spreading pompe of prouder might Must darken weaknes and debase his sight 67 Approaching nere the Citty he was met With all the sumptuous shewes ioy could deuise Where new-desire to please did not forget To passe the vsuall pompe of former guise Striuing applause as out of prison let Runnes on beyond all boundes to nouelties And voice and hands and knees and all do now A straung deformed forme of welcome show 68 And manifold confusion running greeces Shootes cries claps hands thrusts striues and presses nero Houses impou'risht were t' inrich the streetes And streetes left naked that vnhappy were Plac'd from the sight where ioy with wonder meets Where all of all degrees striue to appeare Where diuers-speaking
states of the redeemed Earth Might thee admire and glorise thy birth 127 Thence might thy valor haue brought in despight Eternall Tropheis to Elizas name And laid downe at her sacred feete the right Of all thy deedes and glory of the same All that which by her powre and by thy might Thou hadst attaind to her immortall fame Had made thee wondred here admir'd a farre The Mercury of peace the Mars of warre 128 And thou my Lord the glorie of my muse Pure-spirited Mountiâ—â— th' ornament of men Hadst had a large and mighty field to vse Thy holie giftes and learned counsels then Whole landes and Prouinces should not excuse Thy trusty faith nor yet sufficient beene For those great vertues to haue ordered And in a calme obedience gouerned 129 Nor had I then at solitary brooke Sate framing bloudy accents of these times Nor told of woundes that grieued eies might looke Vpon the horror of their fathers crimes But rather a more glorious subiect tooke To register in euerlasting rimes The sacred glories of ELIZABETH T' haue kept the wonder of her worth from death 136 And like wise builded for your great designes O you two worthies bewties of our state Immortall tombes of vnconsuming lines To keepe your holic deedes inuiolate You in whose actions yet the image shines Of ancient honor neere worne out of date You that haue vertue into fashion brought In these neglected times respected nought 131 But whither am I carried with the thought Of what might haue beene had not this beene so O sacred Fury how was I thus brought To speake of glory that must tell of wo These acted mischiefes cannot be vnwrought Though men be pleasd to wish it were not so And therefore leaue sad Muse th' imagin'd good For we must now returne againe to bloud THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henry the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded doe rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Promfret Castle sent Is murthered there The Percies making head Against the king receiue the punishment And in the end a tedious troublous raigne A grieuous death concludes with care and paine I Tow risen is that head by which did spring The birth of two strong heads two crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchased thing What fild the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 Striuing at first to build a strong conceit Of his weake cause in apt-abused mindes He deckes his deed with colours of deceit And ornaments of right which now he findes Succession conquest and election straight Suggested are and prou'd in all three kindes More then inough he findes that findes his might Hath force ' to make all that he will haue right 3 All these he hath when one good would suffize The worlds applause and liking to procure But who his owne cause makes doth still deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise The doubtfull can no vsuall plots indure These selfe-accusing titles all he had Seeking to make one good of maine bad 4 Like foolish he that feares and saine would stop An inundation working on apace Runs to the breach heapes mighty matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Loades with huge waights the outside and the top But leaues the inner parts in feeble case Thinking for that the outward forme seemes strong T is sure inough and may continue long 5 But when the vnder working waues come on Searching the secrets of vnsenced waies The full maine Ocean following hard vpon Beares downe that idle frame skorning such staies Prostrates that frustrate paines as if not done And proudly on his silly labors plaies Whilst he perceiues his error and doth finde His ill proceeding contrary to kind 6 So fares it with our indirect diffeignes And wrong-contriued labors at the last Whilst working time or Iustice vndermines The feeble ground-worke craft thought laid so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioynd plots so fairely ouercast Turnes vp those strong pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouerthrowes 7 But wel he thought his powre made al seem plain And now t' his coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous fort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this error feedes Is furnisht with a stately-glorious traine Wherein the former kings he far exceeds And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what and how t was done to what is wrought 8 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne and who his part did take New officers new counsellours he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their desart Seeking all meanes t' oppresse the aduerse part 9 All Counsellers vnto the former king All th' officers and iudges of the state He to disgrace or els to death did bring Lead by his owne or by the peoples hate Who euermore by nature mallicing Their might whom not their vertues but their fate Exalted hath who when kings do what 's naught Because t is in their powre t is thought their faut 10 And plac'd for these such as were popular Belou'd of him and in the peoples grace Learned graue Shirley he makes Chauncellor One of great spirit worthy his worthy race And Clifford he ordaines Lord Treasuror A man whose vertues well deseru'd that place Others to other roomes whom people hold So much more lou'd how much they loathd the old 17 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guilty thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor els could wel be wrought Law Iustice bloud the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drist shadowed 12 Here maine of the greatest of the land Accusd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleere their cause most resolutely stoute The king perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought about Desistes to vrge their death in anie wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 13 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernment To striue with bloud when lenity must gaine The mighty wight and please the discontent New kings do feare when old courts farther straine Establisht states to all things will consent He must dispence with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 14 Yet not to seeme but to haue something done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the
doth deliberate And finding how the certaine right did stand With full consent this man did ordinate The heyre apparent to the crowne and land Then iudge if this the king might nerely touch Although his might were smal his right being much 91 With these the Percyes them confederate And as three heades they league in one intent And instituting a Triumuirate Do part the land in triple gouerment Deuiding thus among themselues the state The Percyes should rule all the North from Trent And Glendowr Wales the Earle of March should bee Lord of the South from Trent and thus they gree 92 Then those two helpes which still such actors find Pretence of common good the kings disgrace Doth fit their course and draw the vulgar mind To further them and aide them in this cafe The king they accusd for cruell and vnkind That did the state and crowne and all deface A periurde man that held all faith in skorne Whose trusted othes had others made for sworne 93 Besides the odious detestable act Of that late murdered king they aggrauate Making it his that so had will'd the fact That he the doers did remunerate And then such taxes daily doth exact That were against the orders of the state And with all these or worse they him assaild Who late of others with the like preuaild 94 Thus doth contentious proud mortality Afflict each other and it selfe torment And thus o thou mind-tortring misery Restles ambition borne in discontent Turn st and retossest with iniquity The vnconstant courses frailty did inuent And fowlst faire order and defilst the earth Fostring vp warre father of bloud and dearth 95 Great seemd the cause and greatly to did ad The peoples loue thereto these crimes rehearst That manie gathered to the troupes they had And many more do flocke from costs disperst But when the king had heard these newes so bad Th'vnlookt for dangerous toyle more nearly perst For bēt t'wards Wales t' appease those tumults there H 'is for'st diuert his course and them forbeare 96 Not to giue time vnto th' increasing rage And gathering fury forth he hastes with speed Left more delay or giuing longer age To th' euill growne it might the cure exceed All his best men at armes and leaders sage All he prepard he could and all did need For to a mighty worke thou goest ô king To such a field that power to power shall bring 97 There shall young Hotespur with a fury lead Meete with thy forward sonne as fierce as he There warlike Worster long experienced In forraine armes shall come t' incounter thee There Dowglas to thy Stafford shall make head There Vernon for thy valiant Blunt shal be There shalt thou find a doubtfull bloudy day Though sicknesse keepe Northumberland away 98 Who yet reseru'd though after quit for this Another tempest on thy head to raise As if still wrong reuenging Nemesis Did meane t' afflict all thy continuall dayes And yet this field he happely might misse For thy great good and therefore well he staies What might his force haue done being ioynd thereto When that already gaue so much to do 99 The swift approch and vnexspected speed The king had made vpon this new-raisd force In th'vnconfirmed troupes much feare did breed Vntimely hindring their intended course The ioyning with the Welsh they had decreed Was hereby stopt which made their part the worse Northumberland with forces from the North Expected to be there was not set forth 100 And yet vndaunted Hotspur seeing the king So nere approch'd leauing the worke in hand With forward speed his forces marshalling Sets forth his farther comming to withstand And with a cheerfull voice incouraging By his great spirit his well imboldned band Bringes a strong host of firme resolued might And plac'd his troupes before the king in sight 101 This day saith he ô faithfull valiaunt frendes What euer it doth giue shall glorie giue This day with honor frees our state or endes Our misery with fame that still shall liue And do but thinke how well this day he spendes That spendes his bloud his countrey to relieue Our holie cause our freedome and our right Sufficient are to moue good mindes to fight 102 Besides th' assured hope of victory That wee may euen promise on our side Against this weake-constrained companie Whom force feare not will and loue doth guide Against a prince whose soule impiety The heauens do hate the earth cannot abide Our number being no lesse our courage more What need we doubt if we but worke therefore 103 This said and thus resolu'd euen bent to charge Vpon the king who well their order viewd And carefull noted all the forme at large Of their proceeding and their multitude And deeming better if he could discharge The day with safetie and some peace conclude Great proffers sendes of pardon and of grace If they would yeeld and quietnes imbrace 104 But this refusd the king with wrath incensd Rage against fury doth with speed prepare And ô faith he though I could haue dispensd With this daies bloud which I haue sought to spare That greater glory might haue recompensd The forward worth of these that so much dare That we might honor had by th' ouerthrown That th' wounds we make might not haue bin our own 105 Yet since that other mens iniquity Calles on the sword of wrath against my will And that themselues exact this cruelty And I constrained am this bloud to spill Then on my maisters on couragiously True-harted subiects against traitors ill And spare not them who seeke to spoile vs all Whose fowle confused end soone see you shall 106 Straight moues with equall motion equall rage The like incensed armies vnto blood One to defend another side to wage Foule ciuill war both vowes their quarrell good Ah too much heare to bloud doth now inrage Both who the deed prouokes and who withstood That valor here is vice here manhood sin The forward st hands doth ô least honor win 107 But now begin these fury-mouing soundes The notes of wrath that musicke brought from hell The ratling drums which trumpets voice cōfounds The cryes th' incouragements the shouting shrell That all about the beaten ayre reboundes Thundring confused murmurs horrible To rob all sence except the sence to fight Well handes may worke the mind hath lost his sight 108 O war begot in pride and luxury The child of wrath and of dissention Horrible good mischiefe necessarie The fowle reformer of confusion Vniust-iust scourge of our iniquitie Cruell recurer of corruption O that these sin-sicke states in need should stand To be let bloud with such a boystrous hand 109 And ô how well thou hadst bene spar'd this day Had not wrong counsaild Percy bene peruers Whose yong vndanger'd hand now rash makes way Vpon the sharpest fronts of the most fierce Where now an equall fury thrusts to stay And rebeat-backe that force and his disperse Then these assaile then those chace backe
commaund of vice whereto the rest Of many mighty foueraignes subiectés be And numbred might haue beene among the best Of other men if not of that degree A right good man but yet an euill king Vnfit for what he had in managing 55 Mild meeke of spirit by nature patient No thought t' increase or scarse to keepe his owne Apter for pardoning then for punishment Seeking his bounty not his powre t' haue knowne Far from reuenge soone won soone made content As fitter for a cloyster then a crowne Whose holy minde so much addicted is On th' world to come that he neglecteth this 56 With such a weake good feeble godly king Hath Richard Duke of Yorke his cause to trie Who by th' experience of long managing The warres of Fraunce with supreame dignitie And by his owne great worth with furthering The common good against the enemie Had wrought that zeale and loue attend his might And made his spirit equall vnto his right 57 For now the Duke of Bedford beeing dead He is ordaind the Regent to succeed In Fraunce for fiue yeares where he trauailed Whith ready hand and with as carefull heed To seeke to turne backe fortune that now fled And hold vp falling power in time of need And gote and lost and reattaines againe That which againe was lost for all his paine 58 His time expird he should for fiue yeares more Haue had his charge prolong'd but Sommerset That still had enuide his commaund before That place and honor for himselfe did get Which ans that matter to th' alreadie store Of kindled hate which such a fire doth set Vnto the touch of that confounding flame As both their blouds could neuer quench the same 59 And now the weaknes of that feeble head That doth neglect all care but his soules care So easie meanes of practise ministred Vnto th' ambitious members to prepare Their owne desires to what their humors lead That all good Actions coldly followed are And seurall-tending hopes do wholy bend To other now then to the publique end 60 And to draw on more speedy misery The king vnto a fatall match is led With Rayners daughter king of Sicilie Whom with vnlucky starres he married For by the meanes of this affinitie Was lost all that his Father conquered Euen as if Fraunce had some Erynnis sent T' auenge their wrongs done by the insolent 61 This marriage was the Duke of Suffolks deed With great rewardes won to effect the same Which made him that he tooke so little heed Vnto his countries good or his owne shame Being a match could stand vs in no steed For strength for wealth for reputation fame But cunningly contriued for their gaine To cost vs more then Aniou Mauns and Maine 62 And yet as if he had accomplished Some mighty benefit vnto the land He gote his trauailes to be registred In Parliment for euermore to stand A witnes to approue all what he did To th' end that if hereafter it were scand Autoritie might yet be on his side As doing nought but what was ratifide 63 Imagining th' allowance of that place Would make that good the which he knew was naught And so would his negotiation grace As none would thinke it was his priuat faut Wherein though wit dealt wary in this case Yet in the end it selfe it ouer raught Striuing to hide he opened it the more His after care shewd craft had gone before 64 Deare didst thou buy ô king so faire a wife So rare a spirit so high a minde the while Whose portion was destruction dowry strife Whose bed was sorrow whose imbracing spoile Whose maintenance cost thee and thine their life And whose best comfort neuer was but toyle What Paris brought this booty of desire To set our mighty Ilium here on fire 65 I grieue that I am forst to say thus much To blame her that I yet must wonder at Whos 's so sweet beauty wit and worth were such As euerlasting admiration gat Yet doth my countries zeale so nerely touch That I am drawne to say I know not what And yet ô that my pen should euer giue Staine to that sex by whom her fame doth liue 66 For sure those vertues well deserud a crowne And had it not beene ours no doubt she might Haue matcht the worthiest that the world hath known And now sate faire with fame with glorie bright But comming in the way where sin was grown So foule and thicke it was her chance to light Amidst that grosse infection of those times And so came staind with blacke disgracefull crimes 67 And some the world must haue on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproach and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' only Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps t was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor helpe the same But liuing in the eie of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw on wo. 68 So much vnhappie doth the mightie stand That stand on other then their owne defence When as distruction is so neare at hand That if by weakenes folly negligence They do not comming miserie withstand They shall be thought th'authors of the offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as those that brought those plagues about 69 And so remaine for euer registred In that eternall booke of infamie When ô how many other causes lead As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oftly close smothered And well ment deedes fall out vnluckily Whilst the aggrieued stand not t'waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 70 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults that mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath beene A speciall meanes this commonwealth to marre And that thy way ward will was plainly seene In vaine ambition to presume too farre And that by thee the onely way was wrought The Duke of Gloster to his death was brought 71 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainly permit Others to looke to that they could not see During his life nor would aduenture it When his remoue quite made that passage free So by his fall thinking to stand alone Hardly could stand at all when he was gone 72 For this Duke as Protector many yeares Had rul'd the land during the kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if he still were in his pupillage With such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incensd with an ambitious rage She doth conspire to haue him made awaie As who the course of her maine will doth staie 73 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent That grieu'd likewise that any else beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therfore he such deepe aduise applide As forraine
destruction thus pursude O why should th' heauens vs include Within the compasse of their fall Who of themselues procured all Or do the Gods in close decree Occasion take how to extrude Man from the earth with crueltie Ah no the Gods are euer iust Our faults excuse their rigor must This is the period Fate set downe To Egypts fat prosperitie Which now vnto her greatest growne Must perish thus by course must die And some must be the causers why This reuolution must be wrought As borne to bring their state to nought To change the people and the crowne And purge the worlds iniquitie Which vice so farre bath ouer-growne As we so they that treate vs thus Must one day perish like to vs. ACTVS QVARTVS SELEVCVS RODON Sel. NEuer friend Rodon in a better howre Could I haue met thee thē eu'n now I do Hauing affliction in the greatest powre Vpon my soule and none to tell it to For t is some ease our sorrowes to reueale If they to whom we shall impart our woes Seeme but to feele a part of what we feele And meete vs with a sigh but at a cloze Rod. And neuer friend Seleucus found'st thou one That better could beare such a part with thee Who by his own knows others cares to mone And can in like accord of griefe agree And therefore tell th' oppression of thy hart Tell to an eare prepar'd and tun'd to care And I will likewise vnto thee impart As sad a tale as what thou shalt declare So shall we both our mournefull plaints combine I le waile thy state and thou shalt pitty mine Sel. Well then thou know'st how I haue liu'din grace With Cleopatra and esteem'din Court As one of Counsell and of chiefest place And euer held my credite in that sort Till now in this confusion of our state When thinking to haue vs'd a meane to climbe And fled the wretched flowne vnto the great Following the fortune of the present time Am come to be cast down and ruin'd cleene And in the course of mine own plot vndonne For hauing all the secrets of the Queene Reueald to Caesar to haue fauor wonne My trechery is quited with disgrace My falshood loath'd and not without great reason Though good for him yet Princes in this case Do hate the Traitor though they loue the treason For how could hee imagine I would be Faithfull to him being false vnto mine owne And false to such a bountious Queene as shee That had me rais'd and made mine honor knowne He saw t was not for zeale to him I bare But for base feare or mine owne state to settle Weakenesse is false and faith in Cowards rare Feare findes out shifts timiditie is subtle And therefore scorn'd of him scorn'd of mine own Hatefull to all that looke into my state Despis'd Seleucus now is onely grown The marke of infamy that 's pointed at Rod. T is much thou faist and ôo too much to feele And I do grieue and do lament thy fall But yet all this which thou doost heere reueale Compar'd with mine wil make thine seem but smal Although my fault be in the selfe-same kind Yet in degree far greater far more hatefull Mine sprong of mischiefe thine from feeble mind I staind with bloud thou onely but vngratefull For vnto me did Cleopatra giue The best and deerest treasure of her blood Louely Caesario whom she would should liue Free from the dangers wherein Egypt stood And vnto me with him this charge she gaue Here Rodon take conuay from out this Coast This precious Gem the chiefest that I haue The iewell of my soule I value most Guide him to INDIA lead him far from hence Safeguard him where secure he may remaine Till better fortune call him backe from thence And Egypts peace be reconcil'd againe For this is he that may our hopes bring backe The rising Sunne of our declining state These be the hands that may restore our wrack And raise the broken ruines made of late He may giue limits to the boundles pride Of fierce Octauius and abate his might Great Julius of-spring he may come to-guide The Empire of the world as his by right O how he seemes the modell of his Syre O how I gaze my Caesar in his face Such was his gate so did his lookes a spire Such was his threatning brow such was his grace High shouldred and his forehead euen as hie And ô if he had not beene borne so late He might haue rul'd the worlds great Monarchy And now haue beene the Champion of our state Then vnto him ô my deere Sonne she saies Soone of my youth flie hence ô flie be gone Reserue thy selfe ordain'd for better daies For much thou hast to ground thy hopes vpon Leaue me thy wofull Mother to endure The sury of this tempest heere alone Who cares not for her selfe so thou be sure Thou mayst reuenge when others can but mone Rodon will see thee safe Rodon will guide Thee and thy waies thou shalt not need to feare Rodon my faithfull seruant will prouide What shall be best for thee take thou no care And ô good Rodon looke well to his youth The waies are long and dangers eu'ry where I vrge it not that I do doubt thy truth Mothers will cast the worst and alwaies feare The absent danger greater still appeares Lesse fears he who is neere the thing he feares And ô I know not what presaging thought My sp'rit suggests of luckles bad euent But yet it may be t is but loue doth dote Or idle shadowes with my feares present But yet the memory of mine own fate Makes me feare his And yet why should I feare His fortune may recouer better state And he may come in pompe to gouerne heere But yet I doubt the Genius of our race By some malignant spirit comes ouer-throwne Our bloud must be extinct in my disgrace Egypt must haue no more Kings of their owne Then let him stay and let vs fall together Sith it is fore-decreed that we must fall Yet who knowes what may come let him go thither What Merchaunt in one Vessell venters all Let vs deuide our stars Go go my sonne Let not the fate of Egypt find thee heere Try if so be thy destinie can shunne The common wracke of vs by being there But who is he found euer yet defence Against the heauens or hid him any where Then what need I to send thee so far hence To seeke thy death that maystas well die here And here die with thy mother die in rest Not trauailing to what will come to thee Why should we leaue our bloud vnto the East When Egypt may a Tombe sufficient be O my deuided soule what shall I do Where on shall now my resolution rest What were I best resolue to yeeld vnto When both are bad how shall I know the best Stay I may hap so worke with Caesar now That he may yeeld him to restore thy right Go Caesar neuer will