Kings oppresse the mightier ones the weake Each trifling cause sufficing here their loue and leagues to breake One seazeth of his Neighbours Realme and is disseaz'd ere-long For Empire some for Enuie some and some to right their wrong Contend vnto their common losse and some like Monsters rain As Sigâ—ert who for tyrannie did banishment sustaine He wandred vnbewailed long a man whom men exempt From house and helpe pursuing him with capitall contempt Forlorne therefore with drouping lims and dropping eies in vaine He frendles walks the fruitles Woods and foodles did complaine A Swineheard meeting him by chaunce and pitying his estate Imploy'd the Westerne King vnknowne on his affaires to wait Nor did the needie King disdaine such roome for such reliefe An vnder-Swineheardship did serue he sought not to be chiefe But when by speech and circumstance his Maister vnderstood His seruant was the somtimes King blood cries quoth he for blood My giltles Master in thy pompe thou Tyrant diddest slay Nor vnreuenged of his death thou shalt escape away With that he tooke a Libbat vp and beateth out his braines And dead so odious Tyrants be not one for him complaines NOt all so ill yeat cause of worse vnto the English state Was Osbert of Northumberland his loue did winne him hate Enamored on Lord Buerns wife as tired in the Chace He left the Hounds and with a fewe dismounts at Buerns Place Her husband absent heartely his Lady entertaines The King and feasts him Royally not sparing cost or paines But he that fed on Fansies food and hungred whil'st he eates Thought Venus sparer in her loues then Ceres in her meates The Trayne and table voyded then he taking her apart Directs her by his tongue and teares vnto his louing heart Delay he sayth breedeth doubts but sharpe deniall death Or do not long surcharge my blisse or soone discharge my breath For if my praiers adde no edge vnto thy begged doome The vintage of my thriftlesse loâ—e is blasted in the bloome Be fauorable to my fire for thy sweete sake be bolde I durst attempt euen Hell if hell so sweete a thing might holde Doe thinke her coie or think her chaste my Censure I suspend Some Women yeeld not at the first yeat yeeld they in the ende She gaue repulses to his lust and he replies of Loue Not all the Writs Diana had might Cupids Plaint remoue She countermaunding his demaund he ceased Courting now And did with her by violence what vertues disalow And then departed leauing her in selfe-conceit disgraste More trespassed then some would thinke and yeat perhaps as chaste Home came her Lord whose browes had buds and found his wife in tears And foolish thing she told a troth for which reueÌ„ge he swears But so the man did proue a beast he better might haue hid it Some such are mistically domme yeat domly doe forbid it His Wiues escapes done secretly if by the man detected Shewes hilled buÌ„ps supposed buÌ„ps meerehornes not hornes suspected At Denmarke in his Cosins Court he telleth of his wrong And gaines against his soueraigne Lord of Danes an Armie strong Hungar and Hubba and himselfe Conductors of this Hoast Did with their forren forces land and spoyle the Northerne Coaste The vicious valiant Osbret that had vanquished ere then The King and Kingdome of the Scots though wanting armes men Thought skorne his foes should beard him so bar him vp in walles And therefore issuing out of Yorke vpon the Danes he falles A Bloodie Bargaine then begonne no fight might fearcer be And of the Danish part were slaine for euery English three But manhood lost and number wonne the Danes they got the fielde And Osbret dyed valiantly that not to liue would yeeld MEane while the Danes with fresh supplies ariue at euerie Shore And warre almost in euery shire infesting England sore With whome couragious Etheldred contended long in vaine By them was he King Ella and the holy Edmund slaine Nothing was done but all vndone till King Alured hee In daunger of his Royall selfe did set his subiects free For euery day in euery place the Danes did so increase That he nor any English King enioy one day of peace Nor mightier men at Armes than they might any wheare be found Who in their diuers Wars els-where did diuers Realmes confound For as the Gothes the Vandales Hunnes and Saxons earst did range So now the Danes did plague the world as sent by interchange This Westerne and victorious king and greatest Monarke heere Perceiuing of this spoyled Isle a toward Ruine neere Disguised like a Minstrill poore did haunt the Danish Tents And with his feats and melodie the Enemie presents And of their sloth their gluttonie and Counsels priuie so He tooke aduantage giuing them a sodaine ouerthrow And sâ—ayeth Hubba Hungar and the Cause of their repayr And putteth all to sword and Seas that vnbaptized wair Yeat to Northumberland return'd fearce Gurmond with the Danes Meane time did king Alured die the Hatchet of their Tranes But Adelstane one king betwixt not onely clear'd the Land Of Danes but of all England had sole Empire in his hand Thus of this long dismembred Realme was he the onely King In which till Egelred his raigne did prosper euerie thing He raigning much of England then the Lordly Danes did hold Exacting Tributes euery yeare and selling Peace for Gold And which no doubt did hatch those Plagues the King a wicked one Did enter by his Brothers blood extorting thus his Throne King Edgar that subdu'd the Scots and slaughtered the Danes And of the VVelch had tribute Wolffs of whom it more remaines That as it were in Triumph-wise Eight Vnder kings did roe Him Sterns-man on the Riuer Dee with diuers honors moe This Edgar by a former wife had Edward by an other This Egelred a Sonne vnto a kind and cruell Mother For as she labors to preferre her owne by well and ill So to destroy her Son-in-law she wanted meanes not wil. And meanes did hit King Edward hunts and hunting lost his Traine Whom man-les at her Castle Corfe the Queene did entertaine He hauing seene to whom he came in curtesie to see Made haste away in Quest of them that still a hunting be And when he mounted should depart to him his Stepdame drinkes Whom pledging him an Hierling stab'd life-les downe he sinkes Thus Egelred obtain'd the Crowne but for his crâ—wing so His Subiects grudge and he became a Preface to their woe For when this proud and vitious king was neither lou'd of his Nor liued safely for the Danes his secret Edict is That sodainely in one selfe hower throughout the Land should passe charge A common Massaker of Danes which so performed was Hartfordia VVelwyn VVealth-wyn then for promptnesse in that Beginning other Townes as it themselues from Danes inlarge CHAP. XXI THis common muâ— her of the Danes was common mirth to all The English whom they did oppresse with slaueries not small Compelling meÌ„
Vpstarts and all Were ouercome So Spencers both from heauen to hell did fal Put to a fowle and shamefull death with others that misled The King in Out-rages more great than earst in England bred Prolers Blood-thirstie Parasites Make-shifts Bawdes did thriue Nor was an ancient English Peere vnbanisht or aliue For forraine and domesticke Swords Plague Famine and Exile Did more than tythe yea tythe the Tythe of men within this I le Of Baldricks Hoodes Tabrides and Furres from Knights disgraded tore Attaintures of Nobilitie and Armes reuersed store So many Spurres hewen off the heeles and Swords broke ouer head Were through a King so light and lewd a Councell neuer read The King in prison and depos'd tyrannised he dide By Trecheries of Mortimer that ruld the Roste that tide Whilst Edward in Minoritie his Fathers throne supplide CHAP. XXVIII THIS third of that same Name as yet in Nonage for a time Although a King was vnder-kept by some that ouer-clime Queene mother proude Mortimer familiar more than should Did and vndid more than they might not lesse than as they would Till Edward better counselled hong Mortimer the death Of many a Peere who Earle of March and haughtie for his birth Was Lord of nine skore dubbed Knights his other traynes except For greater pompe than did his Prince this Lord of VVigmore kept But more he had bene happie though lesse hautie in his Halls More honour in humilitie than safetie in walls Proud Climers proue not monuments saue onely in their falls The senselesse pride of Fooles therefore whome reuerently we ride Should lessen at the least because that earth their earth shall hide The Countrie purg'd of Fleecers and of Flatterers the Court The King became a Mars for Armes a Iupiter for Port Th Olympâ—ds the Pythea and the prowesse of the Earth Did seeme euen now and not but now to haue in him their birth East South and North gaue ayme farrc off admiring so the West As if that Mars discarding them had set our Realme his Rest. Philip Valois Dauid Bruz of power and courage more Than any French or Scottish Kings since or of long before Confedrate with three other Kings and Princes farre and neere Warre all at once on Edward but did buy their warring deere Dauid debelled left his land but lastly did returne And whilst our King did war in France much did he spoyle burne And proud of mightie Troopes of men of vnresisted prayes And Edwards absence prosperously he on aduantage playes Vntill not sending hence for helpe the Queene did muster Knights And with the Foe though tripled-wise victoriously she fights The Scots for most did perish and their King was Prisner taine And Scotland wholly for a pray to England did remaine Meane while was Paris scarcely left to rescue Philips Goale Whom Edward ferrits so from hold to hold as Fox from hoale That Melancholie he deceast and valiant Iohn his sonne Was crowned King of France and then the wars afresh begonne But after many fieldes vnto the Foes continuall wracke The French King captiuated to the English Monarke backe His Victor sayles the Prince of VVales Edward surnamed blacke The flower of Chiualrie the feare of France and scourge of Spaine Wheare Peter dispossest of Crowne was crownde by him againe Fower yeeres the French eleuen yeres was the Scotch K. prisners heere Whose the Dolphines ransomes were as great as good their cheere PRince Edw. Iohn of Gaunt all their Fathers sonnes might boaste Of famous Sier and he of sonnes matchlesse in any Coaste Howbeit King and Prince at last misled by counsell ill Through Taxes lost a many hearts that bore them earst good will Thence finding Fortune contrary to that she was before Yeat either dying seaz'd of French and Scottish Conquests store Yea Callice late and Barwick yet of their Exployts is lest Though Sonne before the Sier and both of liues long since bereft When Barwick was besieged and stood brauely at defence Sir Alexander Seiton theare chiefe Captaine had pretence To linger forth the Siege till Scots should draw the English thence In rescue of Northumberland and therefore sent his sonne A Pledge of treated Truce and when the guile-got Truce was done And Barwick not releeued nor resigned as it ought Two sonnes of Seiton were before the walls besieged brought They ready for the Iybbet and their Father for his Graue For eyther he must yeeld the Towne or them he might not saue In griefe he then his Countries cause and Childrens case reuolues But partiall vnto either he on neither Choyce resolues To be a loyall Subiect and a louing Father too Behooued him but both to bee was not in him to doo Nature and honour wrought at once but Nature ouer-wrought And but his Ladie it preuents to yeeld the Towne he thought O what pretend you Sir quoth she is Barwick woorth no more Than error of such loue I ioy that I such Children bore Whom cruell Edward honoureth with such a cause of death For that especiall cause for which we all receaue our breath Euen for their Countries cause they dye whose liues for it be dewe Why see their faces constantly she did their faces viewe The same my Seiton seeme so farre from dreading any woe As if they skornde that Barwicke should redeeme them from the Foe Full deere they were to me vnborne at birth and borne and now And Mother like I moane their death and yet their death allow Moe Sonnes and such you may beget your honour if you staine Defected honour neuer more is to be got againe Preuent not then your selfe your Sonnes and me so great a blis Adiew dye sweet Sonnes your soules in heauen shall liue for this With such perswasions did she win her husband from the walls And Edward executes their Sonnes and to assault he falls So long that Barwicke yeelds at length and still vs master calls THese were the dayes when English armes had eu'rie where request And Edw. knights throughout the world had prick praise for best Not Knights alone but Prelates too Queenes whereof were twain The quondam in esse Queenes by Armour honour gain By Warre the Queene that was did cease her husbands tragicke Rayn And by the Queene then being was the Scotch King Prisnet tayne It followes then that as the Pawnce doth circkle with the Sonne So to the vice or vertue of the Prince are people wonne O that our Muse might euermore on such a Subiect ronne But Vulcan forgeth other Tooles and sharpneth deadlier swords For little els then ciuill warres our following Penne affords French Expeditions badly thriue whereof we cease to speake Not forraine but Domestick warres grew strong to make vs weake Melpomen here might racke her wits Sylla Marius hate Pharsalian Fields were gentle Frayes regarding this debate The second Richard sonne vnto the blacke Prince Edward dead Was crownde an Infant and from him the Stratagem was bread The bace attempts of Ball
chap. 10. pag. 45 The Storie of Iupiter and Calisto chap. 11. pag. 49 Of Cacus his secret Thefts and Tyrannies and how he was lastly discouered and slaine by Hercules pag. 53 Of the honour done to Hercules in Italie and of Queene Marica on whom he was supposed to beget Latinus Grandfather to Brute chap. 12. pag. 55 How Hercules vanquished King Picus and fell in loue with Iole p. 56 How Hercules ouercame the Tyrant Diomedes and gaue him to be eaten of his owne horses and how in Lycia hee betooke himselfe to ease and effeminacie pag 57 Of the tragicall end of Hercules and Deianira chap. 13 pag. 59 The occasion and circumstances of the third and last warre at Troy The destruction thereof and banishment of Aeneas pag. 61 Brute his petigree from either Parent his Exile from Italie and ariuall in this Isle then called Albion pag. 62 The third Booke HOw Brute named and manured this Iland built Troy-nouant or London and at his death deuided the Isse between his three Sonnes chap. 14. pag. 63 How Locrine ouercame Humbar and his Hunnes fell in loue with Estrild and of Queene Guendoleine her reuenge on him Estrild and Sabrin pag. 64 Of King Leir and his three Daughters pag. 65 Of Porrex and Ferrex and how Queene Iden murthered her sonne Porrex chap. 15. pag. 67 How and when the Scots and Pichts first entred Brutaine and of their Originals pag. 68 Of Belinus and Brennus their Contention Attonement renowmed Acts and death of Brennus chap. 16. pag. 69 Of the kindnes shewed by King Elidurus to his deposed Brother Archigallo pag. 76 How Iulius Caesar after two Repulses made the Brutaines tributarie to the Romaines chap. 17. pag. 77 The Fable of the old man the boy and the Asse pag. 80 The Birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. chap. 18. pag. 81 How Guiderius his brother Aruiragus ouercame the Romaines how Aruiragus was reconciled to the Romaines and married the Emperours Daughter pag. 81 How Queene Uoada vanquished the Romanes and of hers and her Daughters deaths pag. 82 Of the first Christian King in Brutaine how the Crowne thereof became Emperiall and of the Marriage and Holiday in Hell pag 85 Of the extreame distresse and thraldome that the Brutaines were brought vnto by the Scots and Pichts and how they were relieued by the King of little Britaine chap. 19. pag. 87 How King Vortiger intertained Hengistus and his Saxons how they droue Uortiger and the Brutaines into Wales and planted themselues in Britaine pag. 88 Of King Arthur and his Chiualrie pag. 90 How after the death of King Arthur the Saxons altogether subdued and expelled the Brutaines and of Cadwallader their last King pag. 91 The fourth Booke THe Storie of Curan and Argentile chap. 20. pag. 93 Of King Sigibert his tyrannie miserable end chap. 21. pa. 98 Of the amorous King Osbret slaine by the Danes who vnder Hungar and Hubba did warre and win much of England pag. 99 Of the politick and couragious Kings Alured and Adelstone and how they vanquished and chased the Danes pag. 100 How Egelred by treason of his mother became king and how all the Danes were murthered in one night pag. 101 Of the extreame thraldome wherein the English liued vnder the Danes How Swayne king of Denmarke and Canutus his sonne wholly subdued England to themselues chap. 22. pag. 102 Of the precepts that King Egelred on his death-bed gaue to his son Edmond Irneside pag. 103 Of the noble warre betwixt Edmond Irneside and Canutus of their Combat Attonement and friendly partition of England betwixt them c. pag. 105 Of the holy king Edward his vertuous and valiant gouernment Of the treacherous Earle Goodwin and of his End How king Harold was slaine and England Conquered by William Duke of Normandy chap. 22. pag. 107 Of the holy king Edward and of his sayings pag. 111 The fift Booke HOw king William Conqueror altered the lawes and gouernmet in England Of Edgar Athelstone and of his mother and Sisters entertainement in Scotland And of the restoring of the English royall blood chap. 23. pag. 113 Of King Henrie the second of Thomas Becket and of his death pag. 114 Of King Richard the first his Victories his imprisonment in Austrich his reuenge therfore and of his death chap. 24. pag. 117 Of King Iohn and how he was poysoned by a Monke pag. 118 A Tale of the beginning of Friers and Cloysterers pag. 119 Of a blunt Northerne man his speeches pag. 120 How king Edgar wowed the Nunne and of his pennance therefore pag. 121 Of the warres betwixt King Henrie the third and his Barons chap. 25. pag. 123 Of the vertuous and victorious Prince king Edward the first and of his counsell giuen to his Sonne c. pag. 124 Of king Edward the second his euill gouernment Of good Thomas Earle of Lancaster of his conference with an Hermit pa. 125 How lecherous Turgesius the Norwegane hauing conquered Ireland was by certaine young Gentlemen in the habites of Ladies slaine and Ireland so recouered chap. 26. pag. 126 Of amorous king Dermot and his Paramour the Queene of Meth in Ireland and of Ireland conquered to England pag. 129 Of the Hermits speeches to Earle Thomas of Lancaster chap. 27. pag. 131 How King Edward the second for his euill gouernement was deposed and his Parasites put to death chap. 28. 136 Of King Edward the third his Victories and noble Gouernement pag. 137 Of the magnanimitie of a Scottish Lady Sir Alexander Seitons wife at the besieging of Barwicke pag. 138 Of the troublesome Raigne of king Richard the second and how he was deposed by Henry surnamed Henry of Bolingbroke Duke of Hertford and Lancaster c. pag. 140 The sixt Booke OF king Henry the fourth of the Rebellions in his time and of Richard the seconds death chap. 29. pag. 142 Of the victorious Prince king Henry the fift Of Queene Katherine and Owen Tuder pag. 143 Of the wowing and wedding of Vulcan and Venus and of the strife betwixt Venus and Phoebus chap. 30. pag. 146 How Pan wowed and was deceiued chap. 31. pag. 152 Of Mercurie his successes loue pag. 154 Of Mars his Censure of loue and women and of Iupiters Sentence and sayings pag. 156. and 157 Of the troublesome Raigne of King Henrie the sixt how he was lastly deposed And of King Edward the fourth chap. 32. pa. 158 Of King Richard the third and of his Tyrannies pag. 160 How Henry Earle of Richmond ouercame and slew King Richard the third chap. 33. pag. 161 Of the vniting of the two hous 〈…〉 Lancaster and Yorke by intermariage pag. 163. The Seauenth Booke OF the great difficulties ouerpassed by Henrie the Seauenth heire of the Line of Lancaster or euer he attained to the Crowne chap. 34. pag. 164 Of the like great difficulties ouerpassed by his wife Queene Elizabeth heire of the Line of Yorke or euer the same two houses by their intermariage were vnited pag. 166 Of
conclude by Combacy to winne or loose the Game Within a little Island neare round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trie their Force by fighting hand to hand They spur their Horses breake their Speares beat at Barriars long And then dismounting did renew a Battell braue and strong Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus said we both I see shall end Eâ—e Empire shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or part With it their Knights crie out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of Fight And so the Champions did embrace forgetting malice quite Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And Brother-like they liue and loue till by a deu'lish traine Earle Edricus a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne Did murther Edmund and his head supposing to haue wonne The fauour of Canutus so presenting sayd O King For loue of thee I thus haue done Amazed at the thing Canutus sayd and for that thou hast headed him for me Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall be The Earle was headed and his head poold vp for all to see Of England Danske Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord Harold Hardi-knought his sonnes each th' other did succeede Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raigns to Englâ—sh-men did grieuous thraldoÌ„ breede But after Hardt-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the state of England euersince CHAP. XXII OF foresaid Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwins guile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout francke and milde was hee And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did set his Kingdome free By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issuelesse he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire howbeit by consent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this maiden-wife he sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp to spring Did laughing say the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd His meaning was the Stumblers feete And haddest thou so pleas'd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traitrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am guiltlesse of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke His sonne Harold by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary winds in Normandie ariues Where Goodwins sonne did take an oth Duke VVilliam vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should go The Crowne of England claimed by Adoption and by blood But Harold after Edwards death not to his promise stood And for he was in wealth in friends in blood and Armor strong And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong But arming him against the Duke so vrged vnto wroth Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe contrary to his oth Whil'st VVilliam therfore works for war King Harold had not rest For Harold Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his puissant Bands But Harold him assailes And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes And with the Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all When for deuision of the spoyle did much contention fall Betwixt the King and English-men and many a noble Knight Not onely murmur and maligne but did forsake him quight Such malice growing VVilliam with his Normanes taking land Found hot hot spur Harold prest in Armes his puissance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild See valiant War-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agentes of our Enemies they hencefoorth cannot call Supplies for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe Then Conquer these would Conquer you and dread no further Foe They are no stouter than the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes or victory er while Not Saxoâ—â—e could once containe or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerate take courage by discent And by their burialles not abode their force and flight preuent Ye haue in hand your Countries cause a Conquest they pretend Which were ye not the same ye be euen Cowards would defend I graunt that part of vs are fled and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth Mal-content I prize the minde aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yeat troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which neretheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuaile But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yeat wot I neuer Traytour did his Treasons Sâ—ipend mis. Shrinke who wil shrinke let Armor's wayte presse downe the burdned earth My Foes with wondring eyes shal see I ouer prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a like affected bee Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from sâ—â—uitude to free Are Armed both in shew and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home brought Spoyles of Victorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spendes As Harold hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lie within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Souldiers one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor be ye Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pikes to hewe your honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by law Ye come I say in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye Since Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead ye Or Turchus Sonne of Troylus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Seede of Pryams sonne Exployt this businesse Rollons do that which ye wish be done Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more Fot Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away â—efore vs are our armed Foes behind vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour and for ease But that Aduantage
shall returne their Disaduantage thus If ye obserue no shore is left the which may shelter vs And so hold out amidst the Rough whil'st they hale in for Lee Whereas whil'st men securely sayle not seldome shipwracks bee What should I cite your passed Acts or tediously incence To present Armes your faces shewe your hearts conceiue offence Yea euen your courages deuine a Conquest not to faile Hope then your Duke doth prophecie and in that hope preuaile A People braue a terren Heauen both Obiects wroth your warres Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's and mount your fame to Starres Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne exâ—rude vs from our right He dyes to liue a famous life that doth for Conquest fight By this the furious Battels ioyne a bloody day to eyther And long they fight the victory inclining vnto neyther At length the English had the ods who keeping close aray Vnto the Duchie Forces gaue no entraunce any way Who fayning feare and Martially retyring as opprest The English so became secure and follow on disperst To which aduantage furiously the Normanes did returne And got a bloody victorie In vayne the English spurne Amidst the Pikes against the pricke King Harold then was slayne From whom began the Normanes sole but soone conioyned rayne For second Henry Mawd her Sonne freed Englands blood agayne Since when and euer may they so that Of-spring ruled vs Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne the Genalogue is thus King Edmund Irn-side Issue had Edward the Out-law he Had Margaret Mawd by Malcolme theÌ„ the King of Scots had she Mawd to the Conqueror his Sonne first Henry Mawd did beiâ—e This second Mawd the Angeos wife had second Henry heire EDward King Harolds Preregnant of the same Change foretold Who present and succeeding times thus dying did vnfold It is a world to note quoth he the wayes that men adore And how Hypocrisie hath bred of Godlike Deuils store That speake to seeme that seeme to shift that shift to spoyle by guile That smooth sooth yeat deceiue with Scriptum est meane while But let them heaue their hands to Heauen they haue their hier in Hell That seeme deuout to cloake deceit and say but doe not well The Rich are retchles in their willes their liking is for law The Poore repine and Goods not theirs by idle shiftings claw The Lords and Landed ouer-rent and cunningly the same The Parasite doth ouer-reach and beares away the game One riseth by anothers fall and some doe clime so fast That in the Clowdes they doe forget what Climates they haue past But Eagle-winged mindes that fly to nestle in the Sunne Their lofty heads haue leaden heeles and end where they begun It is a common point on which the aged grossely ronne Once to haue dared sayd and seene more then was euer done The Youth are foolish-hardie or lesse hardie then they ought Effeminate phantasticall in few not few are nought At Cyprus not the wanton Saint nor yeat her wylie Sonne Did want her Orgies nor at Rome did Vesta lacke her Nonne The Lampsacens gaue Pryapus his filthie Rites and Create To Ioue his Bulles and Siâ—ilie to Ceres tithed Wheat The Thracians with their Bacchanales did Lybers Temple fill And Italie did blood of Babes on Saturnes Altars spill And fatall wreathes of Myrâ—ill boughes were sacred vnto Dys In fewe there was no Pagane God his Sacrifice did mis. But English-men nay Christian men not onely seeme prophane But Man to Man as Beast to Beast holds ciuill dueties vayne Yea Pulpits some like Pedlers packs yeeld forth as men affect And what a Synode shall conclude a Sowter will correct The rude thus boasting Litrature one Schisme begets another And grossely though a Sehisâ—â—e yeat hath cach Schismatike his Soother Meane while the learned want their Meed none with profit heares The tedious Doult whose artles tongue doth preach to weary eares Here could I enter in a Field of matter more than much But gesse that all is out of frame and long time hath bin such And what shall be let time disclose This onely will I touch A Greene Tree cut from withered Stock deuided Furlongs three From proper Roote it shall reioyne and after fruitfull bee Thus sayd the King And thus doe some expound that Prophesee The Tree this Land the Stock and Roote the thralled English line King Harâ—ld and the VVilliams twaine the Furlongs some define Henry the Normane that begot on Mawde his English Queene Mawde second Henries Mother was the Trees Returne to greene King Stephen first though not so firme did in this Turne proceede But second Henrie perfectly restalled VVodens Seede THE FIFTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XXIII ASsisted by the former Bowne persist my Muse and tell How by the Normane Conquest here an other world befell New lawes not Labyrinths as now through wrested Quirkes came in New Lords also at whom for most our auncient Crests begin The English sinke the Normanes swimme all topsie turute was Vntill the Conquerour had brought his whole command to pas Then was one Edgar sonne vnto the out-law Edward he To holy Edward had been heire had not King Harold be And VVilliam pleading too by sword admits no milder law So Edgar in his soonest flight his safest issue saw Who with his mother daughter to the King of Hungarie And Sisters did attempt into his Grandsiers Realme to flie Thus Englands hope with Englands heir in one same Barke did sayl When desprate from their villanage was English blood of baile 〈◊〉 God that to the hopeles is not helples if he please Did driue the storm-beate English ship into the Scottish seas Wheare cast a shore King Malcolme soone had notice of the wracke And did become a gracious Lord vnto their present lacke And Agatha a Votarisse tooke Margaret to Queene Protects her brother euen by Armes against King Williams teene Vntill by warre and wise conuay he so to passe did bring That Edgar reconciled was vnto the English King In credit though withheld his Crowne and thus at least did good His flight Scotch-queen'd his Sister she regraded Englands blood For let we Edgar gainst the haer preserued as exprest And either VVilliam luckie Knight at armes interred rest And set first VVilliams yongest sonne first Henry on the Throne Through him the royall English and the Normane bloods grew one On Mawd Scotch Malcomes daughter by the foresaid Margaret he Had Mawd that solie did suruiue her drowned brothers three Her Empresse to the Emperour then newly being ded Did Geffrey Plantaganet the Earle of Anioy wed And she vnto Plantaganet did second Henry beire Of England Angeo Gascoyne and of Normandie the heire Yeat Stephen first VVilliams daughters son whoÌ„ th' Earle of Bloys did marrie Did with the Empresse and her son now King now Captiue varrie But lastly tyred and inter'd all England by his death Was quietly second Henries who was lawfulst heire by birth With Hengests blood our droupen Muse it
frō me What lets since none may loue thee more vnles perhaps this Cell Too strict a place wherein thy selfe euē Beauties selfe shouldst dwell Let nature hide her barren formes and imperfections thus And in such Puritanes as thou commend her skill to vs. Thou wrongest Nature molding thee to molde by thee as faer Thou wrōgest mē that would beget the fruit which thou sholdst baer Thou wrong'st thy Countrie of increase thou wrōg'st me in like sort Thou wrong'st thy Kin of kindred thou wrong'st thy selfe of sport Shouldst thou but dreame what marriage were thou would'st not liue a maid One heart of two two Soules to one by wedlock is cōuaid An husbands open kissings and his secret coyings nay The very Soule of Loue more sweet then thou or I can say The ioy of babes which thou should'st beare the Seruice at thy becke The sweet consorted common weale of houshold at thy checke Would make thee seeme a Goddesse who because thou art not such Offendest God in hiding of thy Tallent Too too much Thou dotest on Virginitie permitted not impos'd On any saue on such as for no such thy selfe thou knoest Els what should meane this penning vp such vowing these Vailes Since Vessels onely are of worth that beare in stormes their sailes The Scedsters of thine Essence had they been as thou would'st be Thou hadst not been Then gratifie the same thy selfe and me And leaue these superstitious walles Thou profitst not hereby Nor are we male and female borne that fruitlesse we should dye Then loue me for beleeue me so will proue a Iubilie Her red disperst in shadowed white did adde to either more To her of beautie and to him Loue greater than before She claimes the places priuiledge and faintly cites a Tex She pleades her birth too bace and playes the No-I of her Sex And fighteth as she would be foyld But prized Durstone makes It Sacrilege and for to wife the Recluse Edgar takes In twelue yeeres would be not annoynt or crowne him King more Enioynes him seuen yeeres pennance and to edifie and store Great Monasteries fortie ere Indulgence could be got Thus Edgar for his Cloyster cheere did pay this costly shot CHAP. XXV IOhns murther bred such murmure But third Henry Iohn his sonne Assisted chiefly by the Pope his fathers Scepter wonne Who interdited Lewis till hee curst him into France And left to Henry prosperous raigne till hapned this mischance A Parliament at Oxenford did derogate so much From his prerogatiue as that the Quarrell grew to such That ciuill warres betwixt the King and Barronage began Not ending but with tragicke ends of many a worthy man Brother to brother sire to sonne and friend to friend was foe Al labouring which they should vphold their Countries ouerthrow Now was the King a Captiue and the Barrons by and by His Conquest and the ciuill strife too fast begot supply My heart vnapts mine hand to write the troth of it too trew Euen warres Idea more then tongue or eye can say or view But to conclude which still concludes the King he did subdue And shewes himselfe a gentle foe thus hauing wonne his peace And after liu'd in honour and did happily decease Whose death then warring with renowme in Syria being knowne To Edward he resailed and possest his fathers Throne THe hansell of his Scepter was the Welchmen did rebell Of whom to Edward though with losse the Victorie befell Then on the French he warred and a Winner did resayle And for that Baltoll whom he made the King of Scots did faile His Homage thence from Albanacke to England due and done Against the Scots he grieuous but a glorious warre begun Not Barwicke though for number bold vntill it flowed blood Nor any Scottish armes or hold though infinite and good Might stay his awing prowesse till he had their King his thrall And in that Land by Conquest made himselfe the Lord of all Then taking Scottish othes which they did breake and he reuenge With those Exploits he French attempts as gloriously did menge Yea Paganes French Cambries Scots remembring but his name Cannot forget their skarres he made though enuious of his Fame Matchles for Chiualrie and yeat his Iustice matcht the same Not partiall for the Prince his Sonne a rash vnbridled youth Whom he imprison'd hearing of his outrages the truth And vnto whom he dying spake words worth report and ruth My life quoth he a warfare right in body and in soule Resignes my robed carkasse to be rotted in the moule If well I did well shall I doe if ill as ill and worse And therefore Ned worke as I will vpon my blesse or curse When thou becom'st an earthly God mens liues to ouersee Forget not that Eternall God that ouerlooketh thee The least part of a King is his all owing him and none Lesse priuate than a Prince the weale or woe of euery one He and his People make but one a bodie weake or strong As doth the head the lims or lims the head assist or wrong Deriue thy lawes from wisest heads to be vpholden still Not adding or abstracting as conceited Tier-braines will Be cheerefull and in worke nor word be neither proud nor hot No sincere loue but seruile feare or neither so is got Encourage good Men by thy loue reforme the bad by lawe Reserue an care for either Plea and borrow least of awe Oppresse not rich men seeking so to please the poore for neither Is to be doomed but as right or wrong is found in either To loyter well deserued gifts is not to giue but sell When to requite ingratitude were to doe euill well And which saue for the ill-mist ill might els haue bene forgot Be choyce but chuse for wiuelesse haue each stranger place shot Their heire their home cost which saue the last indeed are not Reforme thee euen to day vnapt to day lesse apt to morrow Youth aptly offers vertues such as yeares vnaptly borrowe For he that plies the lappes and lippes of Ladies all his prime And falles to Armes when age failes Armes then also looseth time As if a Beare in Moone-shine should attempt the Moone to clime Well haue I driuen out my date and well thy dayes shall runne If thou proue not my Glories graue nor I plange in my Sonne The ouer-weening of thy wits doth make thy Foes to smile Thy Friends to weepe and Clawbacks thee with soothings to beguile Yea those thy Purses Parasites vnworthie thine Estate Doe loue thee for themselues nor will they leaue thee but too late I blesse thee if thou banish them and curse thee if they bide My blisse and curse be at thy choyce And so he shortly dide FOrth with a second Edward sonne to Edward wore the Crowne He to promote his Flatterers did put his Nobles downe So Robert Bruze then King of Scots found ingresse for his Armes Recouering Scottish forces and did spoyle our men by swarmes Barwicke in fine and all
each wheare for All Whereforeto Paris at the time flockt Caueliers ful tall With Princes braue and Ladies faire of euery Realme about And hence with moe Charles Brandon in fine Chiualrie most stout Whose bodie fitted to his mind whose mind was puesant and Whose puesance yeelded not to Mars this Mars in France did laÌ„d With whoÌ„ incouÌ„tred valiaÌ„t knights but none might him withstaÌ„d The English-French Queene standing theare admir'd for beautie rare Behild the Tryumphs in the which high Feates performed ware But Brandon yet no Duke he was the Knight aboue the rest That in her eye nor did she erre acquited him the best For whether that he trots or turnes or bounds his barded Steede Did runne at Tylt at Randon or did cast a Speare with heede Or fight at Barriers he in all did most her fancie feede Weake on a Couch her King lay theare whoÌ„ though she loued well Yeat likte she Brandon and the same lou'd her ere this befell For chastly had they fancied long before she came to Fraunce Or that from meane estate to Duke Henry did him aduaunce The dayes of Triumph weare expir'd and English Peeres with praise Come home and Lewes King of France decea'st within few daies Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke then with honour furnisht hence Was sent to France for to returne the widow Queene from thence Who had been wed scarce thâ—ice three weekes vnto a sickly King To her a fayre young Queene therefore smal time might solace bring Yet lesse did timethaÌ„ braue Duke Charles asswage fair Maries griefe He chats she cheers he courts she coyes he wowes she yeelds in briefe No windes thought she assist those Sayles that seeke no certain Shore Nor find they constant liues that but they liue respect no more Let each ones life ayme some one end as if it be to marrie Then see heare loue and soone conclude it betters not to tarrie To cast too many doubts thought she weare oft to erre no lesse Than to be rash And thus no doubt the gentle Queene did gesse That seeing This or That at first or last had likelyhood A man so much a manly Man weare dastardly withstood Then Kisses reuel'd on their Lips to eithers equall good And least King Henry should dissent they secretly did wead And then sollicet his good will and of their wishes spead The periut'd valiaÌ„t scotch-Scotch-King Iames slayn at braue Flodons Slaughter Had also left in widowhood Englands fayre elder Daughter She also weds a Scottish Earle vnlicenc'st of her Brother And was to her Sons Daughters Sonne now sixt Iames great-Grandmother A Scruple after twentie yeares did enter Henries mind For wedding of Queene Katherin a Ladie fayre and kind Spaynes Daughter then the Emperours Aunt and for her vertuous life Well worthie Henry But for she had beene his Brothers wife And also of their coiture surmise directed Lawes He seem'd in conscience toucht and sought to rid him of the Cause Then was the matter of Deuorse through Christendome disputed The Match of all adiudged voyd and so the Queene non-suted She after teares to him from whom she was to be deuorste Did humbly say and am I not my Lord to be remorste That twentie yeeres haue bene your Wife borne your Children and Haue lou'd and liu'd obediently and vnsuspected stand I am ah too too sweetly err'd I was poore Soule the same Whom once you did preferre nor now of me you neede to shame The blossomes of my beautie was your Bootie nor my fauour Now alters so to alter so from me your late behauour But Conscience is the colour of this quarrell well I wot I also haue a conscience that in this accuseth not But as the same perhaps might say that me succeedes say I That for the pleasure of a Prince goe many things awry Which her Fore-doomes seem'd to effect in her that her succeeded In Queene Anne Bullyn who for she in Lutherâ—sme proceeded Was hated of the Papists and enui'd because preferr'd And through the Kings too light beleefe for Kinges haue sometimes err'd She lost her head and might haue sayd some thought ere she did dye That for the pleasure of the Prince goe many things awry So dyde the gracious Mother of our now most glorious Queene Whose zeale in reuerent Fox his works autenticall is seene The Kings foure other Queenes for why he dide a Sexamus Shall passe though Iane did beare a Sonne to him a King to vs Edward the Sixt and of the same we shall deliuer thus CHAP. XXXV SVCH as was Loue in Figure of Ascanius wheÌ„ the same In kisses slie did sheade himselfe into the Tyrian Dame Or such as was sweete Hyacint Apollos louely Boy Or Iupiters Ganymaedes rapt vp to heauen from Troy Or rather like young Salomon in sentencing betwixt Two mothers claiming one same Child was young Edward the Sixt. Now Rome fell sicke in England but how long she lay in traunce We list not write alonly death to her did neuer chaunce For old Rome neuer lackt that durst their liues for her bestoe Not new Rome that to Hell for her dare soules and bodies goe Then true Religion might be sayd with vs in Primatiue The Preachers and the people both then practiuely did thriue Our decent Church-Rites still in print not practise worthie those Whose reuerent heads collected them froÌ„ whence true wisedoÌ„ groes Not mangled then of Nouesses and curious Doults which now Would haue they know not what would reform they know not how Omitting or admitting as their owne Conceits allow Did then put forth her Braunches and weare fruitfull in the bood And weare our Church-Lords now for zeale as Church-lawes now for good Soone might like vnion be now by indifferencie withstood For giue to vulgar Heads the head and looke for all confused At once they publish and repeale al els saue Order vsed And as Kytts Campe ill-form'd good forme at their reforming Tree Sonnes ost by aime consorting voice their Fathers hang'd should be So wheare the Multitude preuaile they censure ere they see But might I be so bould to speake to them should speake to mee A good example would doe good in Church-men seeing thay In saying â—â—oth are lesse beleeu'd not doing as the say I know our Churchmen know that Faith is dead where lack good works Yeat know I not what pollicie in Almes vnpreached lurks Some teach wel that these concurre but few doe vrge the Theame Of charitie affeard perhaps our More should vrge their Beame But feare not Fathers preach at full Loue good workes Remorse More will your bad Examples let than shall your words inforce To preach by halfes is to be worse than those tongue-holly Iauells That cite good words but shift off works and Discipline by Cauells Oft haue ye handled pithily not preached without neede What good to giue what hurt to take froÌ„ those that Soules do feede But so obscurely hath beene blancht of good workes elsewheare done As many boasting only
a great Rebellion in England occasioned by a Priest Of Queene Elizabeth wife to Edward the Fourth chap. 35. pag. 168 Of Perken Warbeck and his rebellious Complottors Of the malicious Duchesse of Burgoine Of the great Constancie of a chast Ladie wise vnto the same Perkin pag. 169 Of a Scottish Knight distraught through his Ladies disloyaltie Of his mad passions and speeches of his Death and of her euill ending chap. 36. pag. 171 A Tale of the Bat and the Moole c. chap. 37. pag. 179 Of the Cuckooe and the Owle part of the former Tale. pag. 185 Of Perken Warbecks End Of a Third rebellion pag. 187 Of Empson and Sutton aliàs Dudley pag. 188 The Eight Booke OF King Henry the Eight Of his Sister Mary the French Queen and Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk chap. 38. pag. 190 Of Queene Katherine Dowager c. pag. 191 Of King Edward the sixt his vertuous Raigne c. chap. 39. pag. 192 Of Edward Seimer and Lord Protector Duke of Somerset chap. 40 pag. 195 Of Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland pag. 195 Of the Lord Gilford Dudley and Lady Iane his wife pag. 196 Of Queene Mary chap. 41. pag. 198 Of fayre Rosamund and King Henrie the second pag. 199 Of a Ladie who by patience and quiet policie reclaimed her Lord from wantonnes chap. 42. pag. 202 A Catalogue or Epitomie of all the most valiant and famous Kings of this Land and of their Acts from Brute to her now Maiesties most blessed Raigne chap. 42. pag. 206 An obseruation touching the letter H. pag. 208 The ninth Booke A Fiction alluded to our now most gratious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth her Persecutors Persecution and her passage thereout chap. 44. pag. 212 More of her Maiesties Troubles wonderful deliuerie pa. 212. c. Of the vntimely Ends of most our English Dukes since the Conquest by way of Caueat to Parasites Rebels and Conspirators chap. 45. pag. 214 The Tale of Narcissus and Eccho chap. 46. pag. 216 A Fiction of their Authoritie from Hell Their present corrupting of Mankind and wherein pag. 218 Of the Chat passed betwixt two old Widowes concerning new Fangles now vsed by women chap. 47. pag. 220 More of their Chat. chap. 47. pag. 222 Of Spaynes ambitious affecting Kingdomes chap. 48 What the Spanyards in Councell cōcluded touching English Papists at their pretended Inuasion of England and of the small securitie wherein Spayne standeth pag. 225. c. The ouerthrow of the Spanish Armada that anno Dom. 1588. threatned the Conquest of England chap. 49. pag. 227 How Sathan by the only sinne of Pride hath euer preuailed cap. 50. pag. 229 The Legend of S. Christofer Of the Popes Drifts and Infirmities pag. 230. and 231 Of the Spanish Inquisition chap. 51. pag. 232 Of the beginning of Iesuists An admonition to such of them as bee our Natiues Of chiefe poynts wherein the Papists dissent from vs in Opinion pag. 233. and 234 Of the Combat betwixt the Flesh and the Spirit chap. 52. pag. 235 How our Religion is autenticall Of the chiefe poynts wherein we dissent from the Papists pag. 236. c. A Commendation of our prosent Gouernment With a remembrance of somewhat that in some Persons faulteth cap. 53. p. 239 Of the Hypocrites of our time pag. 240. c. The Tenth Booke HOw the King of Spayne and Pope first quarrelled vs receiued armed abetted our Rebels and Fugitiues Of the Popes arrogant Bull and of the Scottish Queene c. pag. 242. c. Of the Scottish Queene he Pretexts and intemperate affecting the Crowne of England Her many and most daungerous Conspiracies with a Catalogue of most her trayterous Complottors c. chap. 55. pag. 245. c. Of her lawfull and orderly Triall Of the most deliberate and mercifull handling of her cause c. chap. 56. pag. 248. c. Of her Death c. pag. 250. c. Of what Councell the ciuill warres in France had Originall chap. 57 The beginning of the same ciuill warres By whom and against whom pag. 253. c. How the Spanyard in those Tumults drifted for France The Popes incharitable acting therein Of our Queene her charitable and necessarie succours to the oppressed French and the Progresse of those ciuill warres c. chap. 58. pag. 255 The tragicall historie of King Dauids Children applied c. chap. 59 pag. 256 More of the same Historie chap. 60. pag. 263. c. Of the warres in the Low Countries c. chap. 61. pag. 265. c. The Eleuenth Booke OF Sir Iohn Mandeuil and faire Elenors loue his Prowesse for her sake performed and his departure to trauell strange Countries pag. 296. c. Of Sir Hugh Willough by his Voyage and death Of Chancelor performing the same Voyage pag. 273 Of Discoueries by Chancelor his stately Intertainment and succesfull dispatch of affayres in Russia pag. 274 More of Mandeuil and Elenor and of his Letter sent vnto her c. pag. 275. c. A description of Russia Somewhat of their Manners Religion and Policie c. chap. 65. pag. 278 More of Chancelors laudable Actions and of his death pag. 279 Of Elenor her speeches to one Stafford in answer of Mandeuils Letter c. chap. 66. pag. 281 Of Burrough his Discoueries c. chap. 67. pag. 283 Of Ienkinson his Discoueries and succesfull imployments pag. 284 More of the same pag. 285 Of Mandeuil offered a great Marriage in Aegypt Of Women and Marriage and a Censure of Either chap. 68. pag. 286 More of Ienkinson labouring our affaires in Persia c. chap. 69. pag. 289 The Twelfth Booke OF the meanes whereby Elenor thereof before ignorant had notice that Mandeuil was her Knight beloued cap. 70. p. 292 Of East South Southeast Discouerers and Discoueries c. chap. 71. pag. 295. c. A Woman simply deliuering the Soothe concerning her owne Sexe c. chap. 72. pag. 297 Of the Seuenteene Kingdomes in Tymes by-passed whereof her Maiestie is now sole Monarch c. chap. 73. pag. 300. c. Old Rome discribed in her Ruines chap. 74. pag. 302 Of Romes politicke Gouernement from the Originals vnto Constantines Donation c. pag. 304 Of the Gouernors and Gouernment of Rome since the Papacie chap. 75. pag. 305 Of the free-States in Italie pag. 306. c. A new Reuiuer of an olde Merriment of one crossed in his amorous drifting chap. 76 pag. 307. c. Of Mandeuil and Stafford met at Rome c. pag. 309. c. The residue of the former Merriment chap. 77 pag. 312 Mandeuil and Elenor met and of their loues Euent c. pa. 304 c Aeneidos in Prose pag. 317. c. FINIS ALBIONS ENGLAND THE FIRST BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. I. I Tell of things done long agoe of many things in few And chiefly of this Clyme of ours the Accidents pursue Thou high Director of the same assist mine artlesse pen To write the gests of Brutons stout and actes of English
woe It cannot weepe nor wring the hands but say that she did so And saieth so vncredited or if then thought of corse Thus thus because not passionate to paper failes remorse O that my griefes my sighes and teares might muster to thy viewe Thē woes not words thē paine not pē should vouch my writing true Yeat fare thou well whose fare-well brings such fare-ill vnto me Thy fare-well lacks a welcome home and welcome shalt thou be These lines subscribed with her name when Doracles did viewe He was so far from liking them that loathing did ensue And least that hope should ease her heart or he not seeme vnkinde In written Tables he to her returned thus his minde The Bees of Hybla beare besides sweet hony smarting stings And beautie doth not want a baite that to repentance brings Cōtent thee Daphles Mooles take mads but mē know Mooles to catch And euer wakes the Dawlian bird to ward the sloe-wormes watch I haue perus'd I wot not what a scrole forsooth of loue As if to Dirus in his Tent should Cupid cast his gloue A challenge proper to such Sottes as you would make of me But I disdaine to talke of Loue much more in Loue to be Nor thinke a Queene in case of Loue shall tie me to consent But holde the contrarie more true and it no consequent For persons must in passions iumpe els Loue it proueth lame Nor thinke I of a Womans graunt but as a Woers game Your Sex withstands not place and speach for be she baese or hie A Womans eye doth guide her wit and not her wit her eye Then senceles is he hauing speach that bids not for the best Euen Carters Malkings will disdaine when Gentrie will disgest The better match the brauer Mart and willinger is sought And willing sute hath best euent so Vulcan Venus cought I argue not of her estate but set my Rest on this That opportunitie can win the coyest She that is Then he that rubs her gamesome vaine and tempers toyes with Arte Brings loue that swimmeth at her eyes to diue into her hart But since the best at best is bad a Shrow or els a Sheepe Iust none at all are best of all and I from all will keepe Admit I come and come I then because I come to thee No when I come my comming is contrarie sights to see My leasure serues me not to loue till fish as haggards flie Till Sea shall flame till Sunne shall freese tyll mortall men not die And Rriuers climing vp their bankes shall leaue their channels dry When these shall be and I not be then may I chance to Loue And then the strangest change will be that I a Louer proue Let Beuers hide not busses hurt my lips for lips vnfit Let skarred limbes not carefull Loues to honor honor get I skorne a face effeminate but hate his bastarde minde That borne a man prepostrously by Arte doth alter kinde With fingers Ladie-like with lockes with lookes and gauds in print With fashions barbing formeles beards and robes that brooke no lint With Speare in wrest like painted Mars frō thought of battaile free With gate and grace and euery gaude so womanly to see As not in nature but in name their manhood seemes to bee Yea sooner then that maiden heares bud on his Boyish chinne The furie of the fierie God doth in the foole beginne And yeat to winne whō would be wonne these woo with lesser speed Then might be wun a towne of warre the croppe not worth the seede But let them trauaile till they tire and then be ridde for Iaides If Gamesters faire if Souldiers milde or Louers true of Maides Who loue in sporte or leaue in spight or if they stoupe to luer Their kindnes must haue kindely vse faultes onely make them suer Did fancie no did furie yea hang vp the Thracian Maide The wonders seuen should then be eyght could loue thee so perswade But loue or hate fare ill or well I force not of thy fare My welcome which thou doest pretend shall proue a thankelesse care When Daphles heard him so vnkind she held her selfe accurst And little lacked of so well but that her heart did burst And wheare she read the churlish scrole she fell into a sowne But brought againe vpon a bed her selfe she casteth downe Not rising more and so her loue and life together end Or if I so may gesse in death her soule did liue his friend The Queene enterr'd and Obbit kept as she in charge did giue A Knight was shipt to Calidon wheare Doracles did liue To offer him as her bequest the Argiue Throne and Crowne Not that we force or feare quoth he thy fauour or thy frowne We moue this peace or make thee Prince but Daphles swore vs so Who louing more then thou couldst hate nor liu'd nor died thy Foe And is she dead quoth Doracles that liued to my wrong I gladly doe accept these newes expected-for of long The Lord and Legate were imbarkt and Ship ran vnder saile Vntill into the Argiue Strond the Mariners did haile To Daphles by adoption theare inthronized a King He diuers yeares good fortune had successiue in each thing All friends no Foes all wealth no want still peace and neuer strife And what might seeme an earthly Heauen to Doracles was rife A Subiect but a Noble man did ritchly feast the King And after meat presented him with many a sight and thing Theare was a chamber in the which portraied to the quick The Picture of Queene Daphles was and deepely did it prick The King his conscience and he thought her like did not remaine So whome her person could not pearce her Picture now did paine A Kissing Cupid breathing loue into her breast did hide Her wandring eies whilst to her heart his hand a Death did guide Non moerens morior for the Mott inchased was beside Her curtesie and his contempt he calleth then to minde And of her beautie in himselfe he did a Chaos finde Recalling eke his late degree and reckning his desart He could not think or faintly thought his loue to sterne her heart And to the Maker of the feast did such his thoughtes impart And doubtes your Grace the Feaster said if Daphles lou'd or no I wish I hope I wish no harme she had not loued so Or you not loathed as you did then she had liued yet To what her latest speach did tend I neuer shall forget My selfe with diuers noble men whose teares bewraid our care Was present when her dying tongue of you did thus declare My hap quoth she is simpley bad that cannot haue nor hope Was euer wretch I wretch except held to so skant a scope I see him roue at other markes and I vnmarkt to be I finde my fault but followe it whilest death doth followe me Ah death my Lords dispaire is death and death must ransome blisse Such Ransome pleaseth Doracles and Daphles Pliant is Not bootlesse then since breathles strait
was of him And that his armor layd a-part in silke he courts it trim The daughter of th'Aetolian King did little lesse then raue And can the churle quoth she preferre in loue a captiue Slaue Before his wife whome late he faynd inferiour vnto none Ah Hercules thou art a man thy manhood thus is knowne Fye may a forren Strumpets armes so fasten on his necke As he the Rector of the Earth must bowe if she doth becke Oh how vnlike to Hercules is Hercules in this But leauing men to natures fault in her the lewdnes is No man so chaste but such as she may worke to doe amis Thus whilst her ouerplus of loue to Ielousie did growe She simply minds the spightfull gift that Nessus did bestowe And for he dying spake the words she held it as her Creede That it could winne him to her selfe of which now hauing neede She vseth part and sent a Shirt so boyled as she bad To Hercules and Hercules was of the Present glad Confessing her his onely Wife And whilst he did repent His breach of Loue on Oeta Mount to sacrifice he went Philoctes Paeans valiant Sonne and Lychas he that brought The poysned Shirt were present theare but of no treason thought Not Deianiras selfe good Soule till tryall made it playne When as his body and the fire gaue moysture to the bayne His stoutnes hid such torments long as els could none abyde Yea till the baine his Bowels and his very Marrow fryde But when his torments had no meane the Altar downe he throes And from his martred body rents the gory smoking cloathes And striuing to strip off the Shirt he teareth flesh from bone And left his breaking Synoees bare his Intrailes euery one Did boyle and burst shew themselues wheare lumps of flesh did lack And still the murdrous Shirt did cleue vnto his mangled backe Espying Deianiras Squire that quaking stoode he sayde And art thou wretch the Instrument of my destruction mayde Whome swinging then about his head he slinged downe the hill And so did silly Lychas dye that purposed no il Then running downe from hill to Playne from Playne to hill againe He rents vp Rockes and mightie Hils in error of his paine Till sadly leaning on his Club he sighing vowes that none Should be the death of Hercules but Hercules alone And to his friend Philoctes tooke his Arrowes and his Bow And gladly to the hallowed fyer as to his bed did go Wheare lying downe and taking leaue with reared hands to skye The Earths Protector so in peace amidst the flames did dye Philoctes neere o'rgone with greefe his Ashes did conuaye To Italy inshrined in his Temple there to stay And wofull Deianira heares of Hercules decay His Ghoste she voucheth and the Gods to witnes that her minde Was giltles of a traitrous thought nor thinke me so vnkinde Sweet Husband as to haue the will to ouerliue thee heer But that my Ghoste before thy Ghoste it selfe of guile shall cleer And now I come ah now I come forgiue ye gods the deed She sayd eâ—and pearsing so her breast a breathles Corse did bleed AS Greekes lament their Champions losse so did the Phrygians ioy And Priamus did fortifie his stately Cittie Troy Twise Hercules had rased it and thirdly was it reard By Pryam strong in wealth and walles through Asia lou'd and feard He cald to mynde Laomedon whome Hercules had slayne His Sister too Hesione that Captiue did remayne In Salamis with Telamon and well he was apayde In that the Doer of the same liu'd not the Greekes to ayde His Sister therefore not restorde his Legates asking it By stealing of the Spartane Queene did Paris crye them quit Twelue hundred fiftie fiue war-Shippes with meÌ„ Armor frought By seauentie Kings kingly Peeres froÌ„ Greece to Troy were brought To winne her thence King Priamus besides his Empire greate Had ayders Princes thirtie three lesse Lords I not repeate Not Sagitar that in this Warre did many a valiant feate Tenne yeres tenne monthes twise sixe daies the siege they did abide Eight hundred sixtie thousand Greekes by Troian weapons dyde Sixe hundred fiftie sixe thousands of Troians fighting men Besides the slaughtred at the sacke by Grecians perisht then And if that Hector Troilus and Paris so we name Fell fortie Kings omitting more of little lesser fame Mislike and ciuill quarrels when the Grecians homewards drewe Did well neere waste the remnant Kings that Phrigia did subdewe Thus secure Troy was ouer-set when Troy was ouer stoute And ouer rich was ouer-runne and tardie lookt about The Greekish Ships with Phrigian Spoyles through Xant and Simoes roe For now Antenor had betrayde Palladium to the foe And with Palladium Priamus Aeneas sought to hide From Pyrrhus Polyxena she for whom Achilles dyde Wherefore vpon Achilles Tombe her selfe was after slayne What tyme old Hecuba discryde yong Polydor his bayne For which Aeneas banished did hoyst his sayles to winde And after many perils rule in Italie did finde AENeas dead Ascanius raign'd Ascanius dead his brother Posthumus Syluius did succeede Lauinia was his mother Her Syer Latinus Faunus his and Picus him begot And Saturne him From mother thus Posthumus lacked not The noblest bloud On Fathers side his petigree was thus Ioue had Dardanus and the same begot Erictheus He Troys Troys Assaracus he Capys and the same Anchises he Aeneas had of him Posthumus came And he was Father vnto Brute and thus the Brutons bring Their petigree from Iupiter of Pagane Gods the King And adde they may that Brute his Syer of Venus sonne did spring Thrise fiue degrees from Noe was Brute and fower times sixe was he From Adam and from Iaphets house doth fetch his petigree Posthumus Syluius perishing in Chace amongst the brakes Mistooke for Game by Brute his Sonne Brute Italie forsakes And to associate his Exile a many Troyans mo At all aduentures put to Seas vncertein where to go To whom did Fortune Fortune-like become a friend and foe Till Brute with no lesse payne and praise then had his Grandsier late Achiued Latium landâ—ng here suppressed so the state Of all the Fiend-breed Albinests huge Gyants fearce and strong Or race of Albion Neptuns Sonne els some deriue them wrong That of this Isle vn-Scotted yet he Empire had ere long THE THIRD BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XIIII NOw of the Conquerour this Isle had Brutaine vnto name And with his Troians Brute began manurage of the same For rased Troy to reare a Troy fit place hee searched then And viewes the mounting Northerne partes These fit quoth he for men That trust asmuch to flight as fight our Bulwarks are our brests The next Arriuals heere perchaunce will gladlier build their nests A Troians courage is to him a Fortres of defence And leauing so wheare Scottes be now he South-ward maketh thence Whereas the earth more plentie gaue and ayre more temprature And nothing wanted that by wealth or pleasure might allure And more the
perish fewe disperse and all were out of harte Yea Brenn himselfe discouraged did change in euery parte He looking after and vpon the scattered and the slayne Did seeme a second Cadmus saue lesse patient of his payne And shaming to be seene to weepe deuoured sightles teares And in these words his heartie greefes did number to their Eares Sweet Soldiours leaue me to my selfe it likes me that ye leaue me More takes your tarriance frō my health than can these plagues bereaue me Each of these Masse of Corpses dead hath bin a death to me Deliuer then mine Eyes of you too many deathes I see Suruiue and tell the Westerne World what we exployted haue How that to Rome amidst her Roofe the mayden Sacke we gaue Tell of our Battels Booties and our Buildings lastly tell An honor to our Ouerthrowe that we at Delphos fell By wounds deuine no humane Armes But God who so thou be Lesse is thy courage than Commaund els would'st thou cope with me As Pluto with Alcides did and Mars sometimes with men Do me like honor and these Graues shall lightly greeue me then But thou full little darest so Nay I doe dare too much That with my so vnhallowed tongue thy Deitie dare touch Ah see these Slaughters and reserue aliue this small Remayne Let lastly me and only me eike number to the slayne But bootlesse on a ruthles God I see my prayers spent As haughtely doest thou reuenge as humbly I repent Well God of Delphos since our teares this Incense nor these Graues Appease thine yre persist to plague this flesh that henceforth craues No pitie to the Hebrewe God of power exceeding thyne Men say appeale I and bequeath the Soules of me and myne Accept my simple Legacie O Godhood most deuyne Sayd Brenn. And with a selfe-wrought wound did perish and his men Departing wonne and left the name to Gallo-Grecia then The righteous Gorboman might add fresh Subiect to our Muse But skipping to his Fathers Sonnes of them it thus ensewes FIue yeeres had Archigallo raign'd when hated doing wrong He was depriued of his Realme and liued vagrant long And fearing all that frended none kept close the Woods among Theare Elidurus hunting found his wretched Brother and They gasing each in others face with sighes and weepings stand A King as Elidurus is once was I thinkes his Brother A wretch as Archigallo is I may be thinkes the other The lowlie King alights anon and when they had imbrac'd Then Archigallo secretly in Ebranks Towne was plac'd In which the King commaunding so the Nobles did conuent To whom did Elidurus thus informe of his intent If Fortune had bin crosse my Lords to me or any feare Of Armor were approching vs I should perchaunce appeare Faint and false-hearted in my charge but euer lackt the one Nor hath the other likelihood for quietler ruleth none Yeat Kings may thinke their heads too weake their Dyademes to sustaine For endles cares concurre with Crownes a bitter sweete is Raine Howbeit Subiects falsely iudge their Princes blessed are When both of peace and perils they containe the common care And yeat for this they grudgingly from Pounds a Penny spare Not these my Lords make me disclaime in it which all pursue But Iustice bidds my Brothers right I should commend to you This one Request includes I knowe exceeding dangers twaine To me if for a priuate life I change a publique Rayne To you if whom ye haue depriu'd ye shall restore againe But for I haue done right no wrong though Iustice wants not foes And though vnto a Magistrate disgrading bringeth woes Yeat gainst the bad a conscience good may safe it selfe oppoes Nor be ye fearefull of reuenge that did no more than right Euen Archigallo will confesse his sinne and cleare your spight Whose restitution were he wrongd at least shall you acquite You hassard lesse re-kinging him then I vn-king'd to bee And Danger ouer-dares if it from Iustice disagree Then good my Lords doe right his wrong at least-wise doe him right Whose smarte no doubt hath wrought in him a reconciled spright Iust Gorboman his brotherhood succeeding in their Line Then Archigallo should be King to him let me resine So much the King did vrge this Text that Archigallo rayn'd And Elidurus willingly in priuate life remaynde The one restored for his late depriuing nothing mou'd The other wonders tell I now dis-crowned yeat belou'd Tenne yeares did Archigallo raigne beloued well and dyed And Elidurus once againe the Kingly Throne supplyed Vntill his Brothers secondly depose him of his raine But they deceasing thirdly he was crowned King againe And so vntill his Dying day with honor did remaine A many Kings whose good or bad no Wrighter hath displaide Did follow Lud and Hely for their stately buildings made Rest chiefly famous Nor forget King Bledgrabed I shall Whom Brutons did their Glee-god for his skill in Musicke call The next whose dayes gaue famous deedes Cassiuelan is sayde Whom Caius Iulius Caesar did with Armour thus inuade CHAP. XVII THis Conquerour of Gallia found his Victorie prolong'd By Brittish Succours and for it pretending to bee wrong'd Did send for Tribute threatning els to bring the Brutons Warre The latter going forward first the Albinests to barre A common foe concurre as friends and now was come the Spring When Caesar out of War-wonne France victorious Trowpes did bring But easlier wonne the Grecians land at Pargama by much Than got the Latines footing heere their Contraries were such Yee might haue seene of Hectors race then thousand Hectors heere With pollicie on either part the Romanes buying deere The bloodie Shore the water yeat lesse deerer than the land To them whom valiantlie to proofe the Ilanders withstand Ofte battell they the Brutons still victorious and in vaine Their foes were valiant onelie heere was Caesars force in waine And as our men vnto his men were as tempesteous Thunder So did his ankred Shippes on Seas by Tempest dash in sunder But twice quoth Caesar Fortune thou wert opposite to mine But thirdlie heere to Caesars selfe thou wontles dost decline Conuaying then his wearie men into his wasted Shippes To Gallia there to Winter them he miscontented slippes Of this same Victorie did spring securitie and strife The Scottes and Pichtes did sunder hence the Brutons ouer-rise In Largesse making frollike Cheere a quarrell then aroes Betwixt the King and Luds false Sonne and they dis-ioyne as foes That Caesar slippes Aduantage such were error to suppoes Euen of the Brutons some there were recalling backe the Foe And Winter past with doubled power he backe againe did roe The Romaines more the Brutons they farre fewer than before Offend defend fight for fence from to winne and warde the Shore But Caesar landed and ensew'd continuall cruell fight Thrice put the fierce Cassiuelanes the Caesarines to flight And still the King incouraging in euerie wing appeares So giuing needlesse spurres to fight his Souldiours brooke not feares Nor little did the Cornish
erst wonne and more then all was lost Yeat of more multeous Armies we than Scotland were at cost No Land deuided in it selfe can stand was found too true To worser then the wars abroad the home-bred Quarrels grewe Grange gotten Pierce of Gauelstone and Spensers two like sort Meane Gentlemen created Earles of chiefe accoumpt and port Enuying all equalitie contrine of many a Peere The wrested death those fewe that liue liu'd mal-contented heere Good Thomas Earle of Lancaster on whom the rest relye The chiefe and grauest of the Peeres did ouer-warred flye Into the woods whereas himselfe and state he did bewray Vnto an Hermite vnto whom he sighing thus did say Happie are you sequestred thus from so I may deuine Our common wracke of common weale for how it doth decline Through wilde and wanton Guydes in part I feele in part I aime By Presidents too like and fire too likely heere to flame Heare if you haue not heard what fire our leisure fits the same CHAP. XXV THe Spartanes was for rapted Queene to Ilions ouerthrowe The Monarke of Assyria chang'd Latine Kings also For Tarquins lust yea how with vs a double chaunge did groe WheÌ„ Brittish Vortiger did doat vpoÌ„ the Saxons daughter And Buerne for his forced wife froÌ„ Denmarke brought vs slaughter I ouerpasse Who knoweth not Ireland our neighbour Ile Where Noe his Neece ere Noe his flood inhabited a while The first manured Westerne Ile by Cham and Iaphets race Who ioyntly entring sundry times each other did displace Till Greece-bred Gathelus his brood from Biscay did ariue Attempting Irelands Conquest and a Conquest did archiue Fiue kings at once did rule that I le in ciuill strife that droopes When fierce Turgesius landed with his misbeleeuing Troopes This proud Norwegan Rouer so by aides and armes did thriue As he became sole Monarke of the Irish Kingdomes fiue Erecting Paganisme and did eiect the Christian lawe And thirtie yeeres tyrannizing did keepe that I le in awe Nor any hope of after helpe the hartlesse Irish sawe Alone the wylie King of Meth a Prothew plying fauor Stood in the Tyrants grace that much affected his behauor For what he sayd that other soothde so ecco'ing his vayne As not an Irish els but he a pettie King did raigne Turgesius friends that Vice-roy for his daughters loue the rather And therefore for his Leiman askt the Damsell of her Father Ill wot I what they knowe that loue well wot I that I know That that browne Girle of mine lackes worth to be beloued so I haue a many Neeces farre more fairer then is she Yeat thinke I fairest of those faires vnworthie you quoth he But she and they are yours my Lord such Beauties as they be This Preface likâ—e the Tyrant well that longed for the play Not well contented that so long the Actors were away Oft iterating his demaund impatient of delay Now haue I quoth the King of Meth conuented to your bed My Neeces and my daughter loath to loose her Maidenhead But doubt not Sir coy Wenches close their longings in their palmes And all their painted Stormes at length conuert to perfect Calmes Alonely if their beauties like as likelier haue we none You may conclude them women and the Goale therefore your owne To morrow seuered from your Traine vnlesse some speciall few Expect them in your chamber where I leaue the game to you Yeat when your eye hath serude your heart of her that likes you best Remember they are mine Alies vntoucht dismisse the rest Sweete also was this Scene and now vnto an Act we groe The Irish Princesse and with her a fifteene others moe With haÌ„ging Glybbes that hid their necks as tynsel shadowing snoe Whose faces very Stoickes would Narcissus-like admire Such Semeles as might consume I oues selfe with glorious fire And from the Smith of heauens wife allure the amorous haunt And reintise the Club-God Dys and all his diuelles to daunt And make the Sunne-God swifter than himselfe such Daphnes chaced And Loue to fall in loue with them his Psichis quite disgraced These rarer then the onely Fowle of Spice-burnt Ashes bread And sweeter than the Flower that with Phoebus turneth head Resembling her from gaze of whome transformde Acteon fled From Meth came to Tergesius Court as Presents for his bed In secret was their comming and their chambering the same And now the lustfull Chuffe was come to single out his game His Pages onely and a youth or twaine attending him Wheare Banquet Bed Perfumes and all were delicately trim He giues them curteous welcome and did finde them merry talke Meane while the Harbengers of lust his amorous eyes did walke More clogd with change of Beauties than King Midas once with gold Now This now That and one by one he did them all behold This seemed faire and That as faire and letting either passe A Third he thought a proper Girle a Fourth a pleasant Lasse Louely the Fift liuely the Sixt the Seuenth a goodly Wench The Eight of sweete Complection to the Ninth he altreth thence That mildly seem'd maiesticall Tenth modest looke and tongue Th' Eleuenth could sweetly intertain the Twelfe was fresh yonge The Next a gay Brownetta Next and Next admirde among And â—ury feature so intycte his intricate affection As liking all alike he lou'd confounded in election Sweete harts quoth he or Iupiter fetcht hence full many a Thefte Or hether brought he Thefts that here their Leiman Children lefte Heere wandring Cadmus should haue sought his missed Sister wheare Faire Leda hatcht her Cignets whilst nor Cocke nor Henne did feare How many view I fairer than Europa or the rest And Girle-boyes fauouring Ganimâ—de heere with his Lord a Guest And Ganimâ—des we are quoth one and thou a Prophet trew And hidden Skeines from vnderneath their forged garments drew Where with the Tyrant and his Bawds with safe escape they slew Of which yong Irish Gentlemen and Methean Ladies act The Isle was filled in a trise nor any Irish slackt To prosecute their freedome and thâ—amased Norgaines fall Which was performed and the King of Meth extold of all Those Rouers whose Originals and others not a fewe As Switzers Normaines Lumbardes Danes from Scandinauia grew A mightie Isle an other world in Scythian Pontus Clyme Thus wrackt left Ireland free vnto our second Henries time When farre vnlike the Methes that earst their Countrie did re 〈…〉 ore An Amorous Queene thereof did cause new Conquests and vprore Dermot the King of Leynister whom all besides did spight Did loue belou'd the Queene of Meth to whom he thus did wright THy King sweete Queene the hindrance of our harts-ease is away And I in heart at home with thee at hand in person stay Now is the time Time is a God to worke our loue good lucke Long since I cheapned it nor is my comming now to hucke But since our fire is equall let vs equally assist To finish what we fancy say Maligners what they
trust no friend Not one I knewe that wisht me ill nor any workt me well To lose lacke liue time frends in yncke an hell an hell an hell Then happie we quoth Robin Hood in merry Sherwood that dwell Thus sayd the Out lawe But no more of him I list to tell Grammarian-like in order wordes significant to speake Logitian-like to reason pro and contra am I weake Rhetoricall I am not with a fluant tongue to ster Arithmatieke in numbring hath substracted me from her Geometrie her Plattes Bownes and Proportions passe my strayne Not Musick with her Concords or her Discords breakes my braine Nor yeat Astronomie whose Globes doth Heauen and earth containe Let faire Mnemosine her broode their thrise three selues explaine Expect not here Anatomies of Lands Seas Hell and Skyes Such length bredth depth height I balke nor would I be so wise Least knowing all thing els I should not knowe my selfe precise The Skyes containe the fierie Lights Clowdes moysture the ayre Windes Birds Vapors men Beasts the vpper Earth doth beare Her Bowels Wormes and Mettals Seas to Fishes properare Whom this Astrologie and this Cosmographie mislike Beneath the Earth beyond the Moone further then farre must seeke Signes workings Planets Iunctures and the eleuated Ponle With thousand toyes and tearmes wherein our curious Artists roule Be strangers to my Cell yeat loe as sound a minde and heart As theirs that calculate their times eate sleepe and wake by arte What was the world before the world or God ere he was God Why this he did or doth not that his bidden or forbod I dare not thinke or arrogate such Misteries deuine Faith with her Fruites significant suffice these wittes of mine To loue God and our neighouer as our selfe is all in fine One Law and Gospell was and is and eithers drist is thus To shewe vs how the law doth kill and Gospell quicken vs Which Corasiue ahd Lenatiue of Simples made compound Doe rather cure he kindly heales that alsh feeles his wonnd This is my rest if more I knewe I should but know too much Or build in my eonceited brayne too high aboue my touch Or else against the hare in all proue toyous euen such As be too many blockish Clerkes and bookish Clownes extaceme In all things saue in honesty that haue no zeale but seeme As for the Court it is you knowe become a skittish Coult Of wise men hardlier mannaged than of the glorious doult Vice rides on horse backe vertue doth from out the saddell boult Theare all deformities in forme in some one man wee see More garded than regarded franke not to continue free When as the Marchants booke the Map of al his wealth shal be The Muses bacely begge or bibbe or both and must for why They finde as bad Bestoe as is their Portage beggerly Yea now by melancholie walkes and thred bare coates we gesse At Clyents and at Poetes none worke more and profite lesse None make too more vnmade of more the good of other men For those inrich our Gownests these eternize with their pen. Yeat soothly nodds to Poets now weare largisse and but lost Since for the nodant they obserue no pen-note worth the cost For pallace Hermites liue secure obscure in roufes imbost Some few there be much honored well worthy of so much Once wanting wealthie then and now in either fortune such But many a bace stoute blood theare is more lordly than be Lords Who wheare himself once coucht bowde nor cap or beck affords But should we sinne God sheild wee should in smallest sinnes offend What smaller sinne then skoffe such fooles so skornefull to no end The Souldiers qaue nor pay nor pray but if I may be bolde Themselues be prayed vpon by some that doe it vncontroulde And whilst the same on shore or sâ—as be ouer set or pine Or Cuppes on Cushions full secure we victorie define We cast what may bee done but keep the helps meane time awaye And diet thriftly our friends to giue our foes a pray The Citizens like ponned Pikes the lessers feede the greate The rich for meate seeke stomackes the poore for stomackes meate And euery wheare no Gospell is more gospelled than this To him that hath is giuen from him that hath not taken is Court Citie Countrie Campe and I at ods thus euen bee I intermeddle not with them they intercept not mee For still I tether thence mine eyes so heere my heart is free Beleeue mee Sir such is this world this crosse-blisse world of ours That Vertue hardly hides her selfe in poore and desart Bowres And such be best that seeme not best Content exceeds a Crowne They may be richer but more sweete my pennie than their powne For wrest they cark they build they sport they get they worlds together At first or last they die froÌ„ al passe they wot not whether Then comes their pelfe in plea themselues not praysed at a feather And then for so the Princes of great Alexander did Greedie of his they striue and let the dead-man stinke vnhid Or he that had a Countrie hath perhaps a Coffen now Perhaps lesse Cost a Sheete and corse perhaps his heires allow The toombe himselfe aliue had build els toombles might he lye As saue for fashion tearelesse And it matters not for why Testators and Executors so giue and so receaue As doubtfull whethers ioy or griefe is more to take or leaue For as do hogges their troughes to hounds so these giue and get place Death not the Dier giues bequests and therefore but Graue-grace Nor all die testate if they doe yet wieles may wills preuent Or what by rigor was misgot in ryote is mispent Then Churles why are they Churles vnto themselues and others too The good that commeth of their goods is good themselues shall doo But men doe walke in shadoes and disquiet themselues in vaine To gather Riches ignorant to whom they shall remaine The world thus brooding Vanities and I obseruing it Here in the world not of the world such as you see me sit The Earle did well allow his words and would haue liu'd his life Durst he haue stayd for whom pursute in euerie place was rife He reconuenting armes therefore and taken Prisner so Died to his Countries friends a friend and to her foes a foe NOr might y e Queene Kings own Son escape the SpeÌ„cers pride But fearing fled to France and there as banished abide Til thence supplanted safetie at Henaude they prouide Iohn brother to the Earle a Knight of Chiualrie the chiefe With little but a luckie band was shipte for their reliefe No sooner had the Zealand ships conuaide their men ashoare But English Succors daylie did increase their Standerds more Yeat first the Queene Prince Edward and the Nobles humbly crauc Theirs and their Countries enemies but no redresse might haue And then Sir Iohn of Henaude shewde himselfe a warrior braue The King his wicked Councellors his big
remoued So did I loue and so I left so many a skorne and skoffe Care cost disgrace and losse of time were and may be cut off And women so lesse stand aloofe when men can so be wise So lesser sute hath lucklier speede than to be too precise Not women but our wilfulnesse doth worke our owne vnrest Though Beautie Loue and they lacke fault we may abuse the best SO helpe me Iupiter quoth Mars in Loue so may Ispeede As Mercurie and Pan doe erre in poynts of Loue indeede Precisians and plaine Plodders such is This and so is That In Loue doe swallow Cammels whilest they nicely straine a Gnat. Why what be Women Women geld the latter sillabell Then are they nothing more then Woe their names remaine doth tell Their yea or no euen when they sweare they loue or loue vs not Beleeue who list soone be they gone as sodainly are got What neede we creepe the Crosse to giue vnto a begging Saint Tush tush a Flye for booke-Loue none be fortunate that faint Not paper pursse or kerchiefe Plea lets Fancie sooner loase Then at the Shrine to watch the Saint She is not coy but cloase Pollitians know to cheapen what to offer when to skoase The Clowne no doubt that potted Pan lackt Art to glose and flatter And yeat nor Pan nor Mercurie went roundlier to the Matter He found right Methode for there is a Methode time and place Which Fooles obseruing do cōmence ere Wisemē haue their grace Though dastard Hawkes doe sore aloft and dare not seaze vpon Or Bussards-like doe sit aloofe vntill the game be gon Kinde killing Hawkes but wag the wing and worke tolsowse anon Once Loue surreuerence made my selfe vale Bonnet So submis My ceremoniall wooing was as common wooing is With rufull lookes sighes sweete Pigs-nye and Fooleries more than few I courted her so much more stout by how much more I sew Till aptly singled as it hapt I say not what did hap But Loue that late did load my Head did load her willing Lap. Nor this Lad Loue of that same Loue is guiltie any whit For why nine Moones did wexe and waine betweene his birth it Alas poore Boy before he was Loue was a common game The first-made Man the Rib-reft Man in Eden shewd the same For when his sudden eyes admir'd the boan-flesht faire Conuart Deriued from his Side his tongue directed by his hart Foorthwith pronounced Woman but a moment earst vnknoen So deare as flesh of his owne flesh and bone of his owne boen Quit then ye Gods this Lad and let your search of Loue alone Who will in power be felt of all in person found of none Or rather is not reall but some Fansie if not then Fantasticall in Women but essentially in Men. If Loue be such in Women But mistake me not for whie I note them but fantasticall in fault of Destinie Deferre were then to erre When all is done that doe we may Labor we sorrowing all the night and sewing all the day The female faultie Custome yeelds lesse merit greatest pay And ventrous more then vertuous meanes doth beare the bell away Now touching Venus worthie such a Pheere not such a Foe Vulcan me thinkes obserueth well slight proofe in yea and noe The Court therefore is well aduis'd to Sentence not to groe The Gods that did ere while but aime at Vulcans wiues sonnes Father Saw Venus blush and held that aime autentical the rather End Gods and Goddesses quoth Ioue to argue to and fro Like good and bad is either Sex Nay more behold than so I viewd erewhile the Destenies and thence I thus did know Zimois when Troy must perish shall send downe her Floods a Fleete And world it were our Father ruld when Create thought him vnmeet But long time hence farre Starres thence that World shall world an I le Enuyrond with the Ocean waues then famous in short while Through often Triumphes ouer Foes and Traffike euery wheare Howbeit thrice orerunne and once a Conquest shall be theare * Those Changes notwithstanding they a People shall remaine Vnchased thence and of that Streene shall Fiue at length re-raigne Dread terrene Gods the Fift of those a terrene God desse She Euen at the firie Trigon shall your chiefe Ascendant be Right Phoebe-like Phoebe may like a Compeere like to her Retriue her named Name to time the tryall we refer This sayd he bids adiorne the Court and willed Mercurie Thencefoorth not to conuent the Gods for such a Foolerie As Loue the idle Bodies worke and Surfet of the Eie And thus the Queene and Tuder chat But thought of nothing lesse Then that from them Ioues noted fiue fated to such successe Should spring as sprong and part springs yet But cease we to digresse And shew we how her Sonne did long and lucklesse Raigne possesse CHAP. XXXII IT rests fifth Henries Sonne that made the Henries more by one Did in his Infancie possesse his Conquering Fathers Throne And happely was rulde a Child rulde an happie man Till with his Parrasites his Peeres and hee with them began A bloodie quarrell offering so vnto the Yorkests spright For to reclaime in bold attempts their discontinued right Richard Plantagenet the Duke of Yorke by VVarwicks ayde Did get the Gaole not long enioy'd for he in Armes decayde Subdued by King Henries Queene when as by frends and force He had in Parlament obtaynde in euery clause his corse For mounted thear the Kingly Throne that Yorkish Heros sayd Here should I speake and shall I hope and so his Claime conuayd From Clarence his Progenitor with reasons such among As he Protector of the Realme King Henries heires were wrung From all Reuersion hearts and eares did so applaud his tung Edward his Sonne then Earle of March the Duke his Father slaine Wonne by the Earle of VVarwicks ayde in double battell Raigne King Henry fled to Scotland and the Queene and Prince their Sonne From France sollicet Succors which vnto their losse they wonne Henry was taken they and their Confedrates were subdu'd Yeat still the Queene escaped and she armour still pursu'd But VVarwicke pleased all attempts did faile to Edwards Foes Displeased Edward fayled and declined Henry rose He crowned Either and the same discrowned them againe Admyrd of all belou'd of all howbeit lastly slaine By Edward whilst he did vphold vnchancie Henries Raigne So VVarwicke perisht Henry so refalne from Kings estate Was reimprison'd and his Queene did land her aydes too late But landing when of Barnet field she heard the luckles fate Albeit Knights Lancastrians store did flocke in her defence She stoode a second Niobe bereft of speech and sence And whilst the Duke of Somerset an ouer-hardie Knight Did brauely marshall out her force to ouer-matched fight Hers and King Henries Sonne the Prince of VVales a proper Lad In comforting his mother did continue her more sad Ah Sonne quoth she through oft mishaps mishaps I can disgest I feare for thee
for thee the hope that to our House doth rest Now all are tryed we can trust if now we faile we fall Thy death is in the same request as is thy Fathers thrall And which I would it were the worst the Foe doth thirst my life To end his Triumph in the deaths of Husband Sonne and Wife Though thy great-Grandsier Grandsier thy Father wonne wore The King-ring which thy Father hild yeares thirtie eight and more Though by the cappitall Remote of Lancaster withstood Yeat fayle prescription and discents now lacke they but our blood Then learne against thou proue a man ah hardly hope I so The Line Lancastrian naturally doth labour of that Foe The Queene concluding thus in teares did then to Armor goe Fierce was the Field and either part did valiantly offend But Edward ouercomming when the Battell was at end The Queene was carried Captiue thence And Edwards men did bring Her Sonne the Prince sole sonne and heire vnto the captiue King Before the Victor whose demaunds receiuing answers stout He thrusts the manly Boy from him whom Glocester about The King Churle that he was did stab So tragicke was the spight Betwixt those Linages that oft each others so requite His death was more than death vnto his Parents but not long His Father moned vndispatcht alike for death and wrong By foresaid Duke of Glocester of whom succeedes our song THus won the Yorkestes ancient Raigne sixe bloodie Fields did seate Edward the Fourth in Englands Throne possest a while in queate He wonne his Subiects loue and loue was debt to his desarts But as must ours so lastly his vn-bodied Soule departs He left his Kingdome to his Sonne his Sonne to be protected By Richard Duke of Glocester Who pietie reiected Grew treble-wise tyrannicall malicious to the blood Of his deceased brothers Queene And what so Yorkest stood Betwixt the Scepter and himselfe aliue he pricked dead A Foe to all Lancastrians as the same by nature bread This common Deaths-man of those Kinnes and euery Nobles fall Whom he but gest Coriuall or might crosse him near so small This stoope-Frog Aesops Storke alike tyrannous vnto all To giltie giltlesse friend or foe was not secure one day But Either dyes as eithers death might fit him any way Yea euen whilst his Brother rulde when all Lancastrians and His Brothers twaine his Nephewes twaine Neeces three did stand Betwixt himselfe and home euen then by blood he hunted Raine For when his owne and ruthles hands King Henries heire had â—â—ayue Then Henries selfe Henrie the sixt a giltles King in bands He stabd his brother Clarence dide through him by other hands But now Protector as doe Wolues the Lambes protected he And fared as if fearing that one wickedder might be Queene mother and her kindred hild the Orphant King a while Her Kinne hee murdred and from her he got the King by gile Whom though vncrowned tituled fist Edward rest his mother He made be murdred with the Duke of Yorke the yonger brother When neither Yorkest his Allies and of Lancastrians none Were left to let it who should let but he might leape the Throne He wore indeede the wrested Palme But yeat to better bad By murder of his wife he sought new marriage to be had With that Elizabeth that was the Eldest daughter to Edward the fourth But all in vaine the King his Neece did wowe For Henrie Earle of Richmonds friends such doings did vndoe Which Henry and Elizabeth by secrete Agents were Contracted he of Lancaster and she of Yorke the heire Of which letigious Famelies heer mapped be the Lines Euen till the Heire of these two Heires both Stockes in one combines CHAP. XXXIII HEnrie as if by myracle preseru'd by Forraines long From hence-ment Treasons did arriue to right his Natiues wrong And chiefly to Lord Stanlie and some other Succors as Did wish and worke for better dayes thâ— Riuall welcome was Now Richard heard that Richmond was assisted and a shore And like vnkenneld Cerberus the crooked Tyrant swore And all complexions act at once confusedly in him He studieth striketh threates intreates and looketh mildly grim Mistrustfully he trusteth and he dreadingly did dare And fortie passions in a trice in him consort and square But when by his conuented force his foes increased more He hastned Battell finding his Coriuall apt therefore When Richmond orderly in all had battelled his ayde Inringed by his Complices their chearefull Leader sayde Now is the time and place sweete Frends and we the Persons be That must giue England breath or els vnbreath for her must we No Tyrannie is fabled and no Tyrant was in deede Worse thaÌ„ our Foe whose workes wil act my words if wel he speede For ill to ills Superlatiue are easely intist But intertaine amendment as the Gergesites did Christ. Be valiant then he biddeth so that would not be out-bid For courage yeat shall honor him though bace that better did I am right heire Lancastrian he in Yorkes destroyed right Vsurpeth But through Either ours for neither Claime I fight But for our Countries long-lackt weale for Englands peace I warre Wherein he speed vs vnto whom I all Euents refarre Meane while had furious Richard set his Armies in array And then with lookes euen like himselfe this or the like did say Why Lads shall yonder Welshman with his Straglers ouer-match Disdaine ye not such Riualles and deferre yee their dispatch Shall Tuder from Plantagenet the Crowne by craking snatch Know Richards very thoughts he toucht the Diademe he wore Be mettall of this mettall Then beleeue I loue it more Than that for other law than Life to super sead my Clame And lesser must not be his Plea that counter-pleads the same The weapons ouer-tooke his words blowes they brauely change When like a Lion thirsting bloud did moody Richard range And made large slaughters where he went till Richmond he espied Whom singling after doubtfull Swords the valerous Tyrant died THus ended Englands warre and woe vsurping Richard dead When Henry and Elizabeth vniting titles wed Of which two Heires th' vndoubted Heire of either Line did cum The Epilogue vnto these wounds digested in this sum Fourth Henry first Lancastrian King put second Richard downe Fourth Edward of the House of Yorke re-seazd sixt Henries Crowne Lad-Princes twaine were stabd in Field of either Linage one Foure Kings did perish Sundry times now-Kings anon were none Sixe three of either faction helde successiuely the Throne But from the second Richard to seuenth Henry we pretend Eight Kings this Faction to begin continue and to end The Princes Earles Barons and Knights this quarrell did deuour Exceede the tale of Gentry best and bacest at this houre So plagueth ciuill Warre so from Robe to Ragge dooth scoure Then luckiest of the Planets weare Predominants say we When by this Bedmatch either Heire that Bloud-mart did agree When Seuenth begot the Eight and Eight the First and Last for like Our now Pandora
did expect like deaths as had their brother And as they feare did he affect which for the troubles then Was vneffected now behou'd to winne him loue of men Yeat casts he how he might conuay to him his Neeces right Soone compassing his Wifes dispatch whose life stood in his light Then plyes he his amazed Neece to his inâ—â—â—tious bead Of her abhor'd Shee in conceite by faith fore-plighted spead This marrage motion gawles her more than any former griefe Her selfe Friends Realme Conspiracie all it toucht in breefe And therefore death late feared now she fantaseth in cheefe Meane while did Henry land incampe fight and subdewe his Foe And marrying her long ciuill warres in England ended so CHAP. XXXV SEauenth Henries forraine busenes had succesfull honor heere Three schol'd Dâ—dalien Icarists whose mounting cost them deere Did interrupt the peace The first a Priests bace Puple he By his Complottors was pretenst'e Duke Clarence sonne to bee A many of our natiue Peeres some forraine Princes too Submissiuly behight him aide in all that they might doo The Lad was lofty for himselfe he harrollized well At full he could his lessons and a formale lie would tell For him was fought a bloody field the Victory the Kinges Lambert the forged Yorkest and the Priest that fram'd his winges Weare taken For minority the Icarus was quit The Dedalâ—s for cleargie tites was but intowr'd for it Thus scapte the Priest The mother Queene to her that now was Queene Found harder sentence for a crime more venale as I weene Shee that did forward Henry with her friends her purse her wit That had conspir'd conceil'd concur'd for him the Crowne to git And had him now her sonne in law vnchauncy Queene fore-went Her whole reuenewes and her age as if in durance spent Because against her heart good Soule for bootles to withstand See yeelded all her daughters to the late Vsurpers hand Whereby the Vnion might haue quaild and for it might she must Indure such law strict law to her of mallice not vniust THan good old Queene Elizabeth our next young Phaeton Had gentlier Iudgement He till then froÌ„ Realm to Realm had gone And now in Ireland hoping no such honor was at Corke Saluted by some Rebels theare for Richard Duke of Yorke Fourth Edwards second son Those Stiles to him were strange but thay Did feofe them on the bace-borne Muffe and him as King obay The Yorkesh Faction though they knew the error let not slip Occasion that they now might haue Lancastrians on the hip Margret fourth Edwards sisters heart for ioy hereof did skip Shee had him soone to Burgone and informes him cuery thing That might concerne Yorks pettegree or apted for a King Maliciously repining still at Lancasters successe And often would thus or thus-like her heart with tongue expresse God hath forgot our house of Yorke nay Yorke it selfe forgot To my late Brother Richards soule cleaue euermore this blot He made away our friends to make a way vnto our Foe To Lancaster proud Lancaster I thence these teares doc floe Had he stock't vp that hated stocke had he raâ—'st out that Race Python had ceast and he had bene Apollo in that cace That Henry was Lancastrian and that Henry was aliue And where he liu'd that he should not liue if we would thrâ—â— He knew ywis yeat knew he not his death how to contriue The Duke of Brutaine is no God then how the diuell y'ste That both my brothers laboring him for whome they 〈◊〉 Their Sinons weare too simple and their bribes but petite geere WheÌ„ had they bought him with their souls they had not bought him deere The heire of Lancaster fie how it loathes to sound that name Enioyes the Crowne nay worse enioyes to wife a Yorkesh Dame Worser the name Plantâ—genet is buryed in the same And worst of all their Title such as law bids vs disclame Who would haue lookt such change to chaunce oh howe I feed like will As Aeâ—as daughter Aesons house with tragedies to fill Who can endure to see their friends decline their Foes ascend I see it and for seeing so doe wish my life had end When that her darling had his looer she left him to his wings Who flead not to worse company or at lesse game than Kings He lighteth in the French Kings Court wheare honord as the same From whom he falsely would contriue a Crowne by forged name He had Supplies and English ayds and Irish troupes also With which he lands in England where King Henry met the Foe On either part the Battell was right bloodie but at length The King subdues and Perkeâ— flead the land dispoyld of strength Then as the French the Scotch King did repute of him whereby He wyu'd a Lady passing fayre and of the Kings Allie The Earle of Huntlies daughter of the scotch-blood-royall bread Shee both before and after that her low-pris'd Mate was dead When well she knew his parentage and felt his ebbed state In onely sorrow did abound in loue no whit abate Howbeit in the English Court prefer'd to high estate Theare for she was of comely parts and vncompeered face Shee often brauely courted yeelds no Courtier labor'd grace To one among'st the rest that most admierd her aunswers chaste She sayd besides the sinne and that I so might liue disgrac'ste A Presedent of wrong and woe did make me long since vow Chastly to liue the Loue of him whom Fates should me allow I knew quoth she a Knight a Knight he was in each respecte I knew a Ladie fayre she was but fouly to be chect They loued long if that to loue and leaue may loue be sayd Till lastly she conceyued loue wheare loue should be denayd Then he whose Sowles Soule goddiz'd her perceiuing her vntruth Became vnlike himselfe and mou'd saue her each one to ruth At last he runs'distraught about and what his moods conceited He did confusedly he wept askt answerd and intreated Ah many a time for though his words lackt methode yeat they moued He had these speeches arguments how earnestly he loued CHAP. XXXVI MY Mistresse is a Paragon the fayrest fayre aliue Atrides and Aeacides for faire lesse faire did striue Her colour fresh as Damaske Rose her breath as Violet Her bodie white as Iuorie as smooth as polisht Iet As soft as Downe were she down Ioue might come down kisse A Loue so fresh so sweet so white so smooth so soft as this The Cleonâ—an Lions spoyles for her I would redresse I would the Lernan Hydras heads with sword and fire suppresse My force the Erymantheon Bore should brauely ouermatch The swift-foote golden horned Stag I running would orâ—catch My bow the Birds of Stymphalus from wastfull prayes should chace Of her proud Baldricke would I spoyle the Amazon at Thrace Augeas washed Stables should my seauenth Labour end I with the Bull of Calidon victorious would contend On horse-deuoured Diomede like honour should be wonne 〈◊〉 Spanish Robber
Faith Faiths fruites selfe-aptly shonne When such a faith is but the faith of that faith-fruitles Deuill That cited Scripture vnto Christ applying good to euill Tell whether that the Leuite or Samaritane did better Tell wherein Diues liu'd and dide to Lazarus a Debter Vnknot sententious Salomon his Parable which is Full Cloudes will rayne vpon the Earth How thus is meant by this Rich meÌ„ by Cloudes poore men by Earth els Clerks expound amis Tell how some Cloudes but misell Rayne that is if so they giue A peny Almes or twaine a yeare they thinke they much releeue Som Clouds flash down their Shewres that is som set vp two or three And begger so themselues and theirs say such are foolish free Some Clouds hayle downe their Raine beate flat hurt helpe not y e ground That is vpbraid whoÌ„ they releeue hold theÌ„ seruile bound Some Cloudes giue Snow that lights and lies a moysture moystles so Doe those that say alas God helpe and nothing els bestoe Some Cloudes doe shewre into the Seas say such do giue to such Whom Almes make idle or belike to recompence as much Som Clouds with lightning thunder lowd winds drip down their raine That is giue sildom almes those proclam'd seene ere â—ayne Some Clouds retayne but forme of clouds with figure black as Coale That is looke bigge Examine long but Scriptum est their doale Some gracious Clouds shed temprate Shewres on thirstie earth indeed That is the Orphant Widow Thrall succour protect and feed Say also whatsoere wee giue to whosoere it bee Though giuen in sight of men if not because that men should see But with Deuotion as a worke from Faith that cannot seuer God for such cheerfull Almes wil be our bounteous Almner euer Say make not as it weare a Quest of quere ere Yee giue But giue yee Almes as men be poore not as poore men to liue Prouided common Beggers nor disordered Lossels who Men know prouided for or can but labour none will doe Than whom doe say for so is sooth no Creatures worse desatue Take you no Orators for them but that they hang or statue And thus for this Our Ouerture to it reduceth mee The Vncles ofthis Orphant King so long as they agree Vphild Religion King themselues and Realme in happie state Which then began to ruinate when they begun debate CHAP. XL. SOme say their falling out was through two haughtie womens strife The Admiralls Queene Bigama Lord Protectors wife These for what glorie enuies not one woman in an other Began a brawle that ended in the blood of either Brother T is thought the Earle of VVarwick threw close fewell to this fire And nourisht it to cut off them that so he might aspire For when the one had lost his head he forthwith tooke in hand To forge the Lord Protector false vnto the King and Land Who though he tryed by his Peeres of treason was acquited Yeat also of a Statute new he being then indighted Was hardly found a Felon and too stricktly sentenc'st so For meanest fault is high offence vrg'd of a mightie Foe The King thus lost his Vncles both to his no little woe Now VVarwick was become a Duke feared of high and lowe Full little thinking that himselfe the next to Blocke should goe The two Prince-loyall Semers erst made let vnto his lust But now remayned none whose faith or force he did mistrust The Orphant King fell sicke but here suspend what some suspect The new Duke of Northumberland meane while did all direct It was contriu'd King Edward from his Sisters gaue the Crowne Their Fathers Former Act and Will by wrested law put downe The Sisters Daughters Daughter of Eight Henry Ladie Iane Was publisht heire apparant and that right from Mary tane And from Elizabeth though both collatrally preceed her And when by ful Confedracie the Crowne-right was decreed her And Gylford Dudly fourth-borne Sonne vnto Northumberland Had married her and nothing seem'd the Plot-forme to withstand King Edward entred seauenteene yeares of age seauen of Raigne Departed to that endles rest his vertuous life did gaine The Councel then conuent But who wil think perhaps that one Should alter All to alter true Discents vnto a Throne â—ane Suffolks Daughter Gylfords wife One worthie such estate For righteous and religious life who nerethelesse should wate Her Intrest after others Two The younger of which twaine Did match yea Mate her vertues was proclamed Queene to raigne And in the tower of London hild Estate and princely Traine Meane while fled Mary doubting lesse her Scepters losse than life But sildome fayles a rightfull cause that comes to open strife The Commons knew our either Law prefer'd a Sisters Right Before a Cosens and fot it did many fadge to fight Northumberland with Armes pursu'd the Ladie Mary and Obseru'd directions from the Peeres who when they vnderstand Of Maries strength of flocking Friends on sudden came to pas That they proclamed Mary Queene and Iane her Prisner was And well was he that late did seeme a Foe might first salute The Queene and all vnto the Duke did their Amis impute For soothly more the Peeres did feare than fauour alway Who though he seem'd as forward now in Maries cause as thay Yeat was he taken and in-towr'd and lost his head for this A Warrior braue But than his Sier himselfe one Sonne of his Like rare Politians seldome liu'de who in three seuerall Raignes Successiuely did shew them such though losse did proue their gaines THe Duke thus dead Suffolke Lord Gray Lord Gylford Lady Iane Weare executed But we blanch the rest excepting twaine That is Lord Gylford and his wife yong and lesse worthy blame Because the Dukes their Fathers all the Councell all of name Yea and King Edwards Pattents seald for them not they did frame What so was done in this yeat they must perish for the same Who higher then this Couple late and who more wretched now Of more then much remayned nought nor law did life allow Vnhappie Youths not for they die but for the mutuall greefe Of him for her of her for him which tortur'd them in cheefe Come was the day the tragicke day wherein they both should die When Either passing to their end ech other did espie Shee in her lodging waiting death prepared her that day And he in being lead thereto he Lodging in his way Assending and dissending Signes then fly and fall apace And each bemones the other more than mindes their priuate cace Their Eâ—es that looked Loue ere while now looke their last adew And staine their faces faultles ere this dismall enter-vew Their Eares earst listning ioies are deafe vnles to sighes profound Their tongs earst talking ioies those looks sighes did now coÌ„found What parts soere of them had felt or tasted ioyes ere this Wheare senceles now of any ioy saue hope of heauenly blis Whilst Either thus for Earthly Pompe no longer time did looke He passeth
to the fatall Blocke she praying on her booke Wence hauing made a godly end he was return'd whilst Shee Prepard for like and of her Lord the senceles Tronke did see A sight more deathful than her death that should consort him straite And for the which her feareles eies did euery moment waite She vnabashed mounting now the Skaffold theare attends The fatall Stroke-and vnto God her better parte commends And as she liu'd a vertuous life so vertuously she ends CHAP. XLI OMitting Knights three Dukes three Lords also a Queene elect Then perisht thus and somewhat some of Edwards death suspect All which fell out a Stratagem in God his secre Dome That should induce a Tragedie to England meant by Rome For when these mighty Protestants through Ones Ambition fell Queene Mary seem'd to shut vp Heauen and set wide open Hell Whence swarmed papish Tyrants that false doctrine did erect Whilst that seduced Mary did Gods threatned cause neglect Blamelesse she was not for a Crowne that could her Foes ore-goe Nor all too blame for mightie States do and haue erred so To Whome the Scriptures weare obscur'd by Christs Italian Foe Her courage was not common yeat abused ouer much By Papists cheefly She her selfe too naturally such Heere hence she is reprooued of a moste tyrannous Raigne And of a thriftles Mariage with the trustles King of Spaine But when rich Brabants supreame Faire the Bakers daughter staide The King in dalliance and the Queene had newes that false he plaide T is thought his tarriance greeu'd told that one should counsel this Haue patience Madam so it was and wil be as it is Fourth Edward did the like yeat lou'd his Queene no whit the lesse Nor did the like vnpatient her that knew him to transgresse As guiltie of a Leash of Loues Shores wife and other twaine She knew as Streams if stopt surrownd so Kings wil shew they raign As did our second Henry whome his Queene oft crost in vain◠Which and one other Story if it please you that I tell I shall Yea doc quoth she Then thus quoth he it once befell NOt knowen of Rosamund his eie had stoed her in his heart Faire Maide quoth he beleeue me faire and all so faire thou art That weare I Henry Englāds King thou shouldst be Englāds Queene But so must fayle for Elenour already is betweene He bod me buy thy loue if so it might be bought with Golde If not he bod me sweare he loues in fayth he loues be bolde He bod me aske if so he came what should his welcome be And if perhaps he lated weare if he should lodge with thee Protesting secreasie thereof to all vnlesse to me With promise to performe at full each promise as I make it I promise Loue Wealth Secresie then promise thou to take it Content you Sir quoth Ro amund you aime your markes amis I am not for his Highnes nor for me his Highnes is And should he know I shame he should of this your Brokage bace He would acquaint you what it weare your Soueraigne to disgrace Whoso you be be still the same or better if you may Think not Lord Cliffords daughter will vn-maiden her for pay But know if Henryes selfe were heere himselfe should haue a nay Then know quoth he which being knowen well maist thou know I loue thee I am the King and for I am the rather let it moue thee In sooth sweet Wench thou saiest nay thou knowest not whereto For weare my wish at work lesse good wy wish than work would do What fearst thou shame no shame to be beloued of a King Or dread'st thou sinne The Pope for pay absolueth euery thing Or doubt'st thou iealous Elenour I will remoue that doubt At Woodstock shall she finde thy bower but neuer finde thee out Theare shalt thou passe a pleasant life commanding me and mine Then loue beloued Rosamund a King subiects him thine He kist She blusht and long it was ere loue from her he wroung For whilst vp played in her heart it paused on her toung Not Sibils Caue at Cuma nor the Labyrinth in Creat Was like the Bower of Rosamund for intricate and great The Pellicane theare neasts his Bird and sporteth oft with her Conducted by a Clew of thread els could he not but err Besides her Maydes a Knight of trust attended on her theare Who suffred for her Beautie long concealing it for feare At length at full and formally he courted her for grace But all in vaine nought booted him to haue both time and place Henry quoth she begonne and he shall end my thoughts vnchast Nor peach't she him nor he dismist did hold himselfe disgrac'st The Kings three Sonnes had notice of their Fathers Leiman now So had the Queene and the yof such coriuing disallowe Came I from France Queene Dowager quoth she to pay so deere For bringing him so great a wealth as to be Cuckquean'd heere Am I so old a woman he so young a wanton growen As that I may not please that pleas'd and still might with his owen What is the Drab or tempting Diuell or wherefore doteth he The French King once himselfe euen now for faire preferred me And hath he toyled vp his Game and settels he to loue her Nor Heauen nor hell shall crosse my course but that I will remoue her Like Phrogne seeking Philomel she seeketh for and found The Bower that lodg'd her Husbands Loue built partly vnder ground She entred but so intricate weare Turnings to and fro That welneere she had lost her selfe but could not finde her Foe Yeat out she got and backe she goes with her Attendants who Admire their furious Mistresse and mislike what she would doe With her Confedrates oft she went preuented of her will Howbeit lastly did preuaile For hap did hit so ill That whilst the Knight did issue out suspecting no assaut He was assailed from his giding Clewe they caught So wonne they vnto Rosamund Whom when the Queene did vew Most brauely clad in rich Attire her selfe more rich of hew The beautie and the brauenes of the Person and the place Amazed her and hers who stoode at gaze a certaine space No maruell quoth the Queene that oft the Court did mis the King Soone such an Hebe hither such a Iupiter might bring Now trust me weare she not a Whoore or anies Whoore but his She should be pardon'd But in faith I must not pardon this A Queane coriuall with a Queene Nay kept at Racke Manger A Husband to his honest bed through her become a Stranger Abide who list abye she shall how so I buy the daunger Faire Rosamund surprised thus eare thus she did suspect Fell on her humble Knees and did her fearefull hands erect She blush't out beauty whilst the tears did wash her pleasing face And begged Pardon meriting no lesse of common grace So farforth as it lay in me I did quoth she withstand But what may not so great a
default that might his health impaer And Damsell quoth she for it seemes this houshold is but three And for thy Parents Age that this shall chiefely rest on thee Doe me that good else would to God he hither come no more So tooke she horse and ere she went bestowed gould good store Full little thought the Countie that his Countesse had done so Who now return'd from farre affaires did to his sweet-Heart go No sooner set he foote within the late deformed Cote But that the formall change of things his woondring Eies did Note But when he knew those goods to be his proper goods though late Scarce taking leaue he home returnes the Matter to debate The Countesse was a bed and he with her his lodging tooke Sir welcome home quoth she this Night for you I did not looke Then did he question her of such his Stuffe bestowed so Forsooth quoth she because I did your Loue and Lodging knoe Your Loue to be a proper Wench your Lodging nothing lesse I hild it for your health the house more decently to dresse Well wot I notwithstanding her your Lordship loueth me And greater hope to hold you such by queat then brawles I see Then for my duetie your delight and to retaine your fauour All done I did and patiently expect your better Hauour Her Patience Witte Aunswere wrought his gentle teares to fall When kissing her a score of times Amend sweete wise I shall He said and did it And your Grace may Phillip so recall But he whoso he was that thus had dubled Tales to cease Queene Maries griefe for Phillips guile as well had hild his peace Her no perswading might disswade from peâ—siuenes of hart Vntill that his Vnkindnes in her Deaths-Scene acts it part But howsoere or whatsoere her cause of death might seeme Her death did many a good mans life from Tyrannie redeeme For as in Passion so was she in Papistrie extreame And were not the abodement bad at her to end our Theame Our Cattell vnto stronger draughts we should and would vnteame But to the Head land shall our Plough vnles we breake our Beame Yeat ere we eare to it for it shall be our Holly-day Of somwhat sayd and somwhat scapt rests thus much by the way CHAP. XLIIII BEFORE we toucht little els what Courses hapt at home But now in few at forren Acts of Natiue Kings we rome Of Briâ—tish and of English Kings more famous than the rest This sparing Catalogue ensewes whose deedes we thus digest * Aeâ—eas Off-spring famous Brute did set from Greekish thrall Sixe thousand Phrygâ—an Knights by him did Guyan Guffer fall He conquering this Ile his Name vnto his Conquest gaue And of his Cornish Cambries men couragious yet we haue * Torkes Builder Ebranke that subdu'de the â—imbrians and the Gawles And built the best of Scottish Townes next in our Nomber falls * When Brennus and Belynus had Eight spacious Kingdomes wonne Had slaine two Consulls sacked Rome and matchles Armes had done And built ten Cities best that be in Italie this day Those Kinglie Brothers as must all their debt to Nature pay * Gâ—rgâ—â—nus slew the Dactan King wonne Tribute and the same Gaue Spanish Exiles Ireland whence our Scottish Nation came * Câ—ssiâ—â—lane did twice beate backe from Brittish Seas and Shore The worthie Coesar that but then was victor euermore And thirdly had preuailed but for Luds reuolted Sonne When as braue Nennius hand to hand of Caesar honor wonne * Guydar and Aruiragus wonne of Claudius Caesar spoyle The former in a second Field did sâ—out Vaspasian foyle * When as the wandring Scots and Pichts King Marâ—us had subdude He gaue the Liuers dwellings lesse than where they since intru'de * Constantiâ—s wedding Coyls heyre was Monarke of the West Who with this Ilands Scepter of Romes Empire was possest * Great Constantine that worthely a Worthie might be said The Brittish Romaine Emperour throughout the world obayd He made his Siege Bizantium that retaines his name ere since And made but so vnwitting marde the Priest of Rome a Prince * Maximian as Emperiall and as valerous as any With Brittish armour did subdue both Kings and Kingdomes many * What speake we of great Arthur of his Chiualrie or Court Precelling all sole President of vertue prow's and port A King of many Kings his Knights in all Exploits were seene He was in deede a Worthie and the Worthiest of the Neene * Fiue Crownes King Malgo prized * And in Battells fiftie fiue Against the Misâ—reants valiantly did King Alured thriue â—ollo whose Seede should conquer vs he hence did brauely beate That maâ—ger Fraunce in Normandie his Scythian Troopes did seate * He that re-monarchiz'd our Ile King Athelstone did slay Sixe Kings twelue Dukes and countlesse tale of Heathen in one day The one of Nyne his Knight Sir Guy we touch but by the way Omitting other Kings and Knights too long in few to say Of Brittish race a many and of Saxon Princes some Whose blood by Normaine Mixture now is tripartite become Oâ— For perhaps from such Consort the Brutes casseerd will be Three blended blouds of Nations three hath giuen vs Natures three The Saxon prowesse Danâ—sh pompes and Normaine Pollicee And of the Romanes and the Picâ—ts we are no portion small Foure of which Nations Scythia bred we thriuing in them all * KIng VVilliam Englands Conquerour from Rollo sixt with pray Of twice fiue hundred Townes in Fraunce vn-â—o-met sayld away * Henry the second vpon whom the Scotch-King tendant was Which Scots their often ouerthrowes we henceforth ouerpasse Who to our Kings Lords Parramounts not warres but vprores bring Spoylde Frauncè wonne Ireland and deceast of Iuda chosen King * Next Lyon-harted Richard he wonne Cypris Siria and Ierusalem debelling quite the Sowldan from his Land He skalde the strong Aegyptian Oste and king'd his Sisters sonne And plagued Fraunce and Austrich for the wrongs they had him don * First Edward made the Turks Sauoies the French Flemings treÌ„ble * The third so nam'd to them and moe did Mars himselfe resemble Whose Knights in 2. Richards dayes so tickeld France and Spaine And parts Lugdinian that no King but Richard seem'd to raine Ten thousand were his housholde Scotch digests we here disdayne * The fourth and * fifth of Henries were as actious as the rest Especially the latter was the formost with the best * Not yeat Fourth Edwards honor from his Ancestors digrest On these doo vulgar Eares and Eyes so brimlie waite and gaze As they distaske our priuate Penne notorious Laudes to blaze Our Catalogue omitteth some for Artes and Iustice good Some natur'de well aduised ill some worthie Laethe flood Not one fore-cited but deserues at least an Homers Muse Although with Agamemnons Vaile Apelles shift I vse But colours to that Painter Art vnto that Poet none So good to paint and prayse at ful our following Crowns saue one Since Tuders Seede Henry the Seauenth ariued Englands
obedient Eares and Eyes The rather for knowne Humorists Sots noted Mal-Contents Here innouate and each one to a diuers Sect conuents Too much irreu'rent in and to the Church and Sacraments But leauing these retier we to ill-drifting Rome and Spayne WhoÌ„ doth our Queene next vnder God froÌ„ Europs Spoyle detayne THE TENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. LIV. IN Scotland France Netherland whilst Phillip and the Pope Did Swordes and ciuill Tumults broach of prizing them in hope Her Highnes through the highest Power inabled was to ayde Those Countries to defend her owne and Phillips to inuayde Of Scotland first and then of France and Belgike shall be saide When first of otheâ— things shall be this short Remembrance made It is a saying auncient not autenticall I win That who-so England will subdew with Ireland must begin Imagine Stukelies onely name includeth all that 's ill He forging worth and to our State Maleuolent in will Of bounteous Pensions was therefore possest in Spayne long while Vntill for it a Nature was in Stukelie to begile The King whom he had cozen'd long him purpos'd to exile Then for the Pope the Fugitiue a welcome Agent was For nothing ill might worke vs ill hath Spayne and Rome let pas Of him he had an Armie that for Irelands Conquest sayles When through a fight in Barharte that Expedition fayles But how had guiltles England then deseru'd such hostile Spight Her Rebell why relieued they why arm'd they him to fight Why did why doe I aske that know the Spanyard so ambitious The Remaine Prelate pompious and which more is auaticious Why did I say Pope Pius Bull and Gregories Calfe disqueate Our Sou'raigne and her Subiects that did neuer them mis-treate Vnles for Princes to giue Lawes to theirs be to offend Proud Spayne and Rome if so as so let God the Quarrell ende What else had England done wheÌ„ they did foster there with more Our Traytor Moereton sent from them to stirre an here-Vprote Which cost the North two northerne Earles and their Consorts full sore He whispring how that Bull had made Anathema our Queene Deptiu'd her all Authoritie discharg'd her Subiects cleene Blest all her Foes curst all her Friends left England Anies praye And all for damned that did ayde or her in ought obaye So arrogant malitious and mischieuous is that Bull That Belzebub the Prince of hell appeares in it at full Why sent they it by Felton to be bishoped at Paules Why fe'ed they Fitz-Morrice that in Ireland marshal'd Brawles Saunders that false seditious Priest that fortified theare Why march't hee with their Ensignes Why did they those charges beare They shooke our Hiue forst vs forth to sting theÌ„ when they fee'd False Desmond and the Rebell now that as the rest shall speede For God against all Traytors hath assured wrath decreede These Sturres and more in Ireland and a many Treasons heere Haue they abetted to the King of Catholikes full deere More than his paper Pellets too the Pope hath been at cost His Alchumie a dram to win a pound of Gold hath lost Was it for loue they did erect Receptacles for Ours Or so by schooled Treacheries to adde vnto their Powrs Their Iesuists our Iudasses act so remote from Loue As Faiths Relaps Rebellion and to Rege-cide they moue Story insatiate of the blood of Martyrs and a many Blood thirstie Priests bloodier than whom nor hath nor might be any Tutting their Naturall Princes death and Ruine of our State Doe they and then did nourish when twixt vs seem'd no debate That Spanish-Iewish Atheist and Lop-heauie-headed Leach Vnworthy a Physitions name fowle Lopas we impeach And Parret that aspyring Knight hence bryb'd for duties breach Hence haue been poysned of our Peeres whom Bribes could not ore-reach But what are these and more than these to it the Guizian Scot Fatall to Seas of blood and to her owne by earned lot Did with our Foes against our State and Soueraignes life complot Wherein King Phillip and the Pope especially weare hot Here but in Reuerence of her Sonne an happie Prince in all Religion Peace his Subiects Loue of Emperie not small Precelling his Progenitors a Iusticer vpright Yea ouer-long it weare we should Particulars resight How Nature Wit and Virtue decke his body words and minde Or if his Fames Deminatiue in any thing we finde It is but part of Maiestie through Puratizme declynde Yea if for him whom and deseru'd we haue so firme a frend It might I say be spoke not thus of Marie should we end Her Fauoures vnto Dauid Rize offensine to the King His Highnes Father but for him in Storie would we bring With hers and Bothuels double wrong to Eithers married Bead How they wrought Paricidie how the treacherous Couple wead How odious to their Owne with hard escape of liues they flead How since our Prisnor blood she sought much through her was head Yea all that BuchanaÌ„ doth wright should largely here be read Yeat not her Infancie should be vpbraided with the blood Of many thousand slaughtred Soules when periur'd Scots withstoode Her Marriage with Prince Edward which Eight Henrie swore theÌ„ to When they esteem'd vs Hereticks so Papists Oathes vn-doe But for th' aforesaid Reuerence touch we but Hers and Her That indirectly heer did her abortiue Clame prefer CHAP. LV. KIng Iames the fourth that fayld his faith and lost for it his life Had Iames the Fift by Margaret our Daughter and his Wife Fift Iames through Melancholy ends for Ours gainst him good chance And left this Marie whom the Scots an Infant wead to France Thus from Seuenth Henries Daughter she her Title did aduance But howsoere by blood or by our Lawes she here could clame T' is sure too soone and treacherously she did preferre the same And first and last vnto our Queene her selfe a Foe did frame Our Marie was no sooner dead but that her Gâ—izards arme And into Scotland Locusts-like in her Pretext did swarme Whilst she in France did vndertake our royall Armes and Stile Behoou'd therfore our Queene to stand vpon her Guard meane while Lord VVilliam Graie our English Mars not Martiall more than wise Did with an Armie hence pack theÌ„ce our daÌ„gerous Neighbour Guise Nor died few of Either part whilst Marie thus would rise Since when the League did oft her Right with wrong too much surmise Of CoÌ„quests Spayne of CoÌ„uerts Rome our Queene doth cheefly baâ—r Gainst her therefore they chiefely wrought Conspiracies and Warre And not for Maeries Title or her any virtuous Giftes Thinke that they her inleagued but from her to plot their Driftes Her selfe meane while false-Paradi'zd besybbing Aesops Croe Vain-glorious through the Foxes gloze did ende her song in woe Sufficeth what is said before to shew wherefore she flead Here was she taken whom if Scots had taken had been dead Put vnder Guarde and so was meete should one that quarreld Ours And not her selfe alone but had Abbettors forren Powrs Yeat
Pageant featly playd Meane while the Royals and the Peeres they Practise to betray Some in the bloodie Massacre at Paris made away But what offend I Christian Eares with horror of that deede From Sarazens nor Sauages did euer like proceede Let that black Marrage-Feast when were so many Thousands slaine Oâ— Saints at peace with God and men be neuer nam'd againe Let be a Law in euery Land to punish such as speake That ChristiaÌ„s should like Hel-houÌ„ds so with God Nature breake Farre be it that Posterities should heare that Charles the King For such â—oule Murthers bon-fiers bod and caused Bels to ring Yeat tell the Popes Procession and his Iubilee for this For Popes be impudent and bads their blessings neuer mis To haue them Fathers of those Acts no Newes at all it is But more than twise sixe yeares ere this the ciuill Warres begun When on the Lambes of Vassie did the Guizian Butchers run 〈◊〉 when the Edict had giuen Peace vnto the Church reform'd And odious to the Papists seem'd that Peace who therefore storm'd And then the Duke of Guize who earst had figur'd for the Crowne Hence calculating hopes did set his bad Designements downe Alonly quarrelling till then the Princes of the blood Who partly quail'd were yet vnkild and to their tackling stood So with the Papists band 's the Duke himselfe not for Deuotion But aduantagious seem'd that Meane for blood-Drifts Promotion This Faction thus had Heart and Head the Other yet vnborne Till to the Prince of Condie flockt the Hugenotz forlorne And tolde the sauage Butcheries at Vassie newly made By ruthles and seditious Guize on Thousands whilst they prayde Like skathed Sheepe escaped from blood-sucking Dogs they quake Imploring his Protection which he then did vndertake Thus through Necessitie this Part had also Heart and Head Euen after hundreds thousands such good Christians so were dead This knowne to him from euery Part the Persecuted flie So was the Prince of vertuous Troopes possessed by and by CHAP. LVIII NOt Spayne this while that held for France great Signories did sleepe But through the Fingers into It with lusting Eyes did peepe At least by nourishing those Broyles all got She hopes to keepe For It whose Scituation so Spayns scattred Realmes disioynes Her Teeth had watred long and now to weaken France her Loynes Gainst France she France doth streÌ„gtheÌ„ with the Soother of her gold And for that Purchace to the Diuell is fear'd her Soule is sold. Directions also came from Rome that setteth all on fier That by what Right or wrong so ere the Guize should still aspier To send the royall Bloods to Heauen or Hell it skils not how Were Pardons sent for Murthers Buls to clear Alleageance vow That on Damnation none perswade much lesse of Peace allow And not alone gainst France this League was halowed but gainst all That worke the Gospell to erect whereby the Pope might fall Was more than time troe we to goe should not the Church vs call But call did they and come did we and to their labors fall When weare their Townes demolished with Slaughters thear not small This busie Head of that bad League for yet the monstrous Beath Of Sextus Quintus and the Diuell the grand League had not breath This Guize bereft vs Calice and in France our Peeces all Then fell in hand with Scotland thence with vs in hand to fall This in his Neece the Scottish Queene her Claime did all he might To dispossesse Elizabeth our Queene of regall right This on the infant-Person of his naturall King had seazde And prosecuted now in France what Violence him pleasde The Popes sworne Butcher and proud Spayns fore-Runner to prepare Her waies for France England which their Owners cannot spare This with the blood of Innocents made Channels ouer-floe Against this Cham and his Beau-Peeres inuited English goe Els saue that God can all was feard Religion should haue quaild And Spanyards nestling ouer neere had easlier vs assaild For on the Theator of France the Tragedie was ment Of England too Wherefore our Queene her Interruptors sent How Ambrose Earle of VVarwick did in FraÌ„ce high Feates not few How bloodie Claudie Duke of Guize a common Souldier slew How Francis sonne of that Guize did ciuill Broyles renew The persecuting Francis Charles and Henries hence a-dew Which Kings as said to work themselues French Monarchs Atheists playd Or doting ouermuch on Rome their Realme selues betrayd The skarlet Borbone whom the Guize a painted French King made Salcedo fayling Monsiurs Death which did the League conspier The Prince of Orenge murthred through Farnesian Parmas hier Renoumed Condie poysned in his time the Leaguers feare How Pope-sent Saunders gainst our Queene in Ireland Armes did beare For Leaguers then in Pollicie preuented Lettes each-wheare By Armies or Armadas or their scattred Iesuists who Haue had small cause to brag that they with England had to doe The often sworne and for-sworne Peace that hapned in the while Queene-Mother Phillip Pope and Guise the French Kings did begile Queene-Mother for Ambition of imployment King of Spayne To make his Vsurpations sure yea France it selfe to gaine The Pope to keepe his pompe in plight Guise for the regall Ring How all though drifting dâ—ffringly at length to ende did bring The House Valoys of Capets Stocke which Stocke had quite decaide But that it pleaseth God the Crowne in Bâ—rbons House is staide How till the Barricados Feast when Guise vn-vizard was Vnder Religions Cloake the Routes in wasted France did pas And after then both Hugenote and Papist too if frend Vnto Valoys or Burbon sound like Enmitie or end Of Sauoy hoping France his Aydes and â—ll successe in all How Guise and Lorraine in the Pit for Henrâ—e dig'd did fall How Frier Iames Pope-blest and brib'd of Mayâ—e did Henrie kill How vnto Mayne pursewing Broyles it wrought not to his will The Massacres and Stratagems did in these Tumults chance How God in all his Warres did blesse Nauar now King of France And how next God that FraÌ„ce is French our Queene is Author cheef All These thus blanch't we leaue and shall of Belgick be as breefe But be it first remembred how euen for the Parents sinne God plagueth in Posteritie as came to passe I winne In second Henries of the Church reform'd a bloudie Foe Though otherwise a worthie Prince nor tache we him but so And Katherine de Medâ—â—â—s whose Athisme wrought much woe These had sowre Sonnes not one of which did die a naturall death All 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Males none extant on the Earth No maruell euen to Dauids Seede for Dauid sinne hap't such And though the holy Writ containes that Storie yeat to tuch This Purpose let vs heare it here Example vrgeth much CHAP. LIX OF holy Dauid and his House the Man approu'd to be By Gods owne Mouth to Gods owne heart the â—y Troubles see His Soule was euer godly firme though fraile in flesh as Man For who
Vnwilling though by what Presage I wot not Dauid seem'd Of Ammens going but what Fate ordain'd hath none redeem'd Go did he wheare full merily he frollicked that tyde When by his Ostes Attendants there of sudden Wounds he dyde Which after Bar quet did their Lord for onely him prouide More skar'd than hurt the other Sonnes of Dauid flead with speede Yeat eare their home-returne the King had notice of the deede And feared much their safetie till them he saw and then Was such confused sorrow more was neuer seene among'st Men. To Geshur Absolom escapes three yeares an Exile thear Till Dauids kinde relenting heart to Ioah did appeare By meanes of whome recalled home he lastly purchast Grace Yea well-appay'd was Dauid if weare Absolom in place Lou'd neuer Father more a Sonne than him his Father lon'd Prou'd neuer Sonne vngratefull more than he vngratfull prou'd For hauing stolne the Peoples hearts by affable Pretexts He faines his vowes at Hebren but the Diadem affects And by collected Forces theare distressed Dauid more Than S 〈…〉 le the Cananites or all hap't after or before Enforcing him to flie the Land But dwell we not of this God neuer fauor'd such Attempts or euer sayled His. When Dauid seem'd in common Sence already on the hip Was Absolom himselfe ore-throne whom God made ouer-slip What wisely false Achitophel had counseld him to doe Whose Counsell not receau'd he hong himselfe and worthie too Ambitious Absolom now foyl'd as on his Mule he flead Was carried vnderneath an Oke wheare caught-vp by the head EueÌ„ by those bewtious Locks of which him such praise is read He sighte and cause he had and said or say he might that All Which so vniustly seeke to clime most iustly so doe fall But whatsoeare he thought or spake this holds autenticall We thinke no greater blisse than such to be as be we would When blessed none but such as be the same that be they should Had one Man all that all Men haue he nothing had vulesse He also had a Soule that All as nothing did possesse Natures Mynion Eyes Admier and now in-ayred Earth For hanging Ioabs ruthles speare had vented vitall breath Although the King his counter-maunde should haue contraried so Effected had his Fathers heart no Substance else but woe So kinde and ouer-kinde was he in mouing such a Foe But thus of this and thus to him this following Crosse did groe CHAP. LX. TO epilogue our Tragedie now Adoniah acts With whome olde Dauid to depose euen â—oabs-selfe compacts Yeadiuers Captaines did reuolt and with the Sonne rebell Which not a little greeu'd the King that lou'd the young-man well Who next his brother did for forme and soly now excell Remayn'd but Salomon and he and he the elder Sonne Too forward yeat to practise Rule eare Dauids Raigne was donne But what God meaneth is Amen The Scepter was behight To Salomon and Nathan mou'd the King to doâ— him right Who aged caus'd his Diadem to roâ—alize the head Of Salomon annoynted now which heard the Rebel flead So haue we seene not yeares farre-past long-Plottings ouerthrone Euen in a trise to day a Queene to morrow lesse than none Such was her Fate but not her Fault that stoode for Maries Throne Nor cite I this A Noueltie like Pul-backs many an one Repentant Adâ—niâ—â— now vnto the Altar flies 〈…〉 thereof which one that it espies 〈◊〉 vnto Salomon that sent to fetch him Thence Which wâ—uld not be till swore the King to pardon his offence Whom◠〈◊〉 we now so pardoned or rather in suspence â—or though a Kings Competitor in one same Land may liue â—eat take he heed the sleightest cause a cause of death doth giue Which hapned him eare hapned this inserted by the way Dauid decea'ste in Salomon was sole and sou'raigne Sway When 〈◊〉 to prolong his life did at the Altar stay Euen he that in so many Brunts for Dauid did preuaile That saue for Adoniah now Allegiance neare did faile That saue for sheaded blood of twaine could none impeach of wrong Euen this grand Captaine of the Hosts a luckie Knight so long Hand-fasting now the Altar clames that Priuiledge in vaine For thence he would not and the King commaunds he thâ—are be slaine Which Warrant did Banaiah serue And so this Worthie died For Abner and Amasas blood like-Worthies and as-tried With Adoniah now remaines we act and ende our Sceanes To whoÌ„ might seeme small good was meant what il soere he meanes Wheare crowned Might crossed Right so neere together dwel Behooues that Forrest-flying Feare whereof the Fox did tell Our factious Lancaster and Yorke thereof could witnes well Abisag Dauids Hebe that in comfort of his Age Attended him at Bed and Boarde when naturall heate did swage Howbeit still a Virgin and the goodliest Wench aliue Enamours Adoniah at the least with her to Wiue He drifteth not detayned but for Salomons consent Of which he moued Bethsabe for which she Sutor went To Salomon that thearewithall was onely not content But also tooke occasion hence of more perhaps than meant â—â—naâ—ah by the Kings Commaund did Adontah slea For Cryme perhaps perhaps because a Crowne might come in Plea For Salâ—mon diuinely wise could Subtellizings sound That much the Maâ—d knew Dauids mind that Many she had bound Whilst gratious earst with Benefits her Kinred strong he found That â—oaâ— and Abiatâ—ar weare on his Brothers side That his aspiring sleepes nor must be slept the King espide Or else-what Adoniah was dispatched out of hand So sped his Suâ—e so was confirm'd to Salomon the Land If Others otherwise not I as others vnderstand Nor better Meede for Merits could these Dauidists alleadge Yeat did their Father eate the Grapes that set their Teeth on edge Then charitable godly-wise and continent weare fit Should Parents be So prosper they Theirs and whom Theirs begiâ— Of Scotland quieted by our Queene and France by her kept French Is toucht Of Belgike long selfe-vaind rests how the blood doth steÌ„ch CHAP. LXI THe Inquisition threatned wrought in â—etherlanders feare And Signes of altring Regment in their ancient State appeare As ful-fead Children with their Foode by Peace this People play Till in world-matchles Wealth did them Securitie betray They hearing what King Philip meant against their State did minde What in the Fables Morall of the Stock and Storke we finde For in the Ladie Regent and her Brother Philips Corse Their hearts presaÌ„g'd like diffâ—ence 〈◊〉 twixt Rigor and Remorse Arm'd was the Duke of Alâ—â— who by warres by wiles by 〈◊〉 Shuld coÌ„quer circuÌ„uent coÌ„sume those Lands their Lords the Good These to haue his sufficed not the Spanish King vnlesse He Monarchize their Land their Lawes and Liberties depresse The other Part their Consciences and Priuiledges pleades Nor other cause than only thus to Armor Either leades For There else-Where and euer Spayne when Spayne wold Scepters lurch Concludes for Spayne though euer Spayne begins for holy-Church No Armie was as yet
wheÌ„ for the Out-rage done Vpon Lucretia Kings did cease and Consuls then begonne WheÌ„ had two huÌ„dreth thirtie yeres bin Kings that much had won * In this estate of Consuls Two remoueable each yeere Rome flourished in Victories fiue hundreth yeares well neere No age can boast like valiant Men or Senatours so graue That Warre and Peace vnto the world at their Deuotion gaue Whose only naked Maiestie not Armour then could braue Like Monarchie none euer had or likely is shall haue * VVhen now the world was wholly Romes and Pompei ouercome Then Iulius Caesar did Vsurpe the Common-wealth of Rome Had Thirtie eight bin Emperours successiuely when as Did Constantine to Siluester Rome by Donation pas * This Constantine surnam'd the great Our heire and of our blood Baptiz'd of Siluester did hurt as hap't by doing good VVhen to Constantinople he remou'd th' imperiall Seate Rome prou'd too proude for Priests or pride of Priests for Rome too great Besides was little Policie in Partnership of Raigne For Rome and Greece one Empier earst was rul'd as if of Twaine VVho also chose their Caesars that their priuate Turnes did waite VVhence after at Bizantium Nine had held imperiall State Rome by the Gothe Alaracus was sackt in barbrous rate And here the Romaine Monarchie did palpably decline As doth her Prelacie and soone shall quite may we deuine But shall we yet digresse of Rome subiecting vs so long Then least as now your Eares our Pen your Memories should wrong Remembred be wheare stayde our search of Countries where left we Of Manaeuil and Elenir and wheare these Louers be CHAP. LXXV ANon as Constantine left Rome for Greece to Sylvester So cal'd of liuing in the Woods whence earst he durst not ster For consecrating after Popes they golden Rites prefer And hansling Rome with Heresies in factious Schismes did erre Scarse was it come vnto the Third when those that liu'd before But fewe escaping Martyrdome in Deserts meeke and poore Did wrangle for Saint Peters keyes and Primacie of all The christiaÌ„ Church which to their Sea though long at length did fal Hence Dispensations Iubilees Pardons and such rack't geere Weare had at Rome nothing naught worth theare had not payd for deere Yeat not till long the Emperours they dared to prouoke That now in choyce of Emperours did labor greatest stroke And Sâ—culers from church-Affayres in all did sequester But wrought that Seculers should all vnto the Church refer Effecting so that Emperours and Kings did kisse their feete Deposing and disposing them and theirs as they thought meete WheÌ„ now the blind seduced World was brought vnto their bent And more their busie heads could not ambitiously inuent Was Pope Pope sometimes Three Popes poysond Popes exild Popes strangeld cozen'd Popes a Pope deliuerd of a Childe Was neuer heard such Tyrants or of other Potentates So many did miscarrie through Ambition and Debates But be obseru'd in highest pitch of Pride in Cleargie-men God still hath wrought Religion Realmes and all haue ruin'd then So in her Roofe it far'd with Rome he whisel'd and did swarme From out the North Barbarians that gainst Italie did arme At sundrie times the Goth the Dane the Vandale and the Hunne With others foure times sacked Rome and oft the Land ore-runne Nor only so but there did raigne in spight of who sayd nay Whence Cisalpine is Lumbardie vnto this present day And Rome which since our Brennus none durst enterprise was made A Bootie to each barbrous Force that would the same inuade In vaine the Romaine Emperors their ancient Right defend For through seditious Popes the French begun where Those did end From Pharamonds to Pepins House they foyst the Crowne of France And to the Westerne Empier then did Charlemaine aduance From France to Italie againe to Germanie from thence Whereas the naked Title hath inured euer sence Thus erring Rome hath doth wil our christian World vnqueate May therefore Princes ioyne to race that Monster from his Seate What will ye see a glorious God of earth goe see the Pope Aspiring Lucifer who els Truth fals't reuersethe Cope Queanes like to Queenes There halfe-mile Streetes affoord no other Sort If Skarlet Hats meane while and Stoles haue not ingro'st the Sport Full fortie Thousand Curâ—izans there Ladies-like doe liue That to the Pope for wantoning no small Reuenew giue Their wiues they mew froÌ„ churchmeÌ„ there wheÌ„ce doth this By-word come More Priuiledged Harlots liue thaÌ„ honest wines at Rome Well by their Fruits ye may them know Thus is cast vp this Some WHilst were those Broyles in Italie did many there reiect Obedience to the Emperors who could not them protect So diuers Cities did themselues infranchize growing States And each of them Dominion to her Common-wealth delates Weare ouerlong although we should but briefely ouer-ronne The free Italian States of which the Spanyards part haue wonne As Naples Myllaine royall That and Duchie This both twaine So peopl'd fertile pleasant rich as neither shew their waine But should we speake of Venic's Pompe the Citie and the Scite Too little should we speake although too much we here should write But Gallants will you view the Courte of Venus and not so But Myrrors too of Courtesie to rich-built Genoa goe But farre from drifting Florence keep least Machiuels yee groe Ferrara Vrbine Mantua Placence and Parma are Braue Cities great for State and please those which to them repare I wot not what this spatious Land doth lacke that Man can wish Ayre teÌ„prate fertile Grounds vnmatch't for fruits beasts fowles fish Men valiant rich kinde courtly and faire Academies many For braue and bewtious women doe nor need they yeeld to any Now to our English Trinitie of Louers let 's returne That still in expectation of the Fourth at Rome soiourne Theare after Prayers Church-times Sights Stories sometimes read Amongst their merrie Tales was this how one inamour'd spead CHAP. LXXVI AFaire young wife of Lyncolne-Shire if say our Author truth In traueling to London-wards squir'd of a clownish youth Was by a Yorke-Shire Gentleman ore-taken together This Cocke of game and Henne as he supposed of that Feather Doe iourney on And liking her when words of course had past And nodding pricked on before her Seruing Creature fast He thus began Faire Mistresse since our Trauell lies one way If so you please one Inne one Boord and I for all will pay May serue vs both I also was about one Bead to say The Gentlewoman formally then modest blushing sayd For Inne add Boord as pleaseth you And so her Answer staide But would you add the Third quoth he more would it please in deede What that you pay for al quoth she nay so weare more than neede Tush that And yeat best Orators to Women knew he Gifts And therefore named Pay as if by chance to edge his drifts Was out quoth he at vn awares I also named Bead. You said you were about quoth she which still
disclayme to haue it so pardon therefore yee Gods 〈◊〉 desiring it him deseruing it Troth is it this one Sacrifice shall giue end to mine infinite sorrowes but not alas with these burnings rather found guiltie of new beginnings but with my hearts blood the latest Ceremonie wanting to this Exequse Scarcely had these words passed her mouth when with Aeneas his Sword she pearced her Brest so performing on herselfe a Tragedie sought for and to hers a terror vnlooked for WHilest Dido so named of this her death or as haue some not lesse probable of so preuenting Htarba menacing her marâ—â—age was thus passionate and did thus perish Aeneas after weary Sea-saring much sorrowe many people and places seene and sayled from arriuing in Sicisie was â—oyfully entertained of this auncient friend King Aceâ—â—es and there as the yeare before at Drapenum did solemnize and Anniuersaâ—ie at the Tombe of his father Anchises The Masteries feates and actiue pastimes tried here by the Troian and Sicilian youth with land and sea Skirmidges the running riding leaping shooting wrestling and such like with Bacing on foote and on horsback this last a sport lately vsed of our English youthes but now vnpolliuckly discontinued Or how the Women of Troy whereof many were also imbarked from thence tyred with the perils of the Sea and intised with the pleasures of Siciâ—ie to preuent further sayling fired their Ships not without great losse rescued Or how Aâ—neas building there the Citie A 〈…〉 peopled the same with his women and impotent Troâ—â—ns Or of the drowning and Reuise of Palinurus and many Occurrents hapning here at Cuma Caieta else-where I omit as lesse pertinent to our purpose then the hastning of Aeneas into Italie Wherefore shipping him from Sicilie I now land him in Latium in which part of Italie raigned and was Resident in his Citie Laurentum the King Latinus to whome Aeneas addressed an hundred Knights one of them deliuering this Ambassie Ignorant are we not most gratious King for in that Title art thou famous and in that triall may we proue fortunate of thy Consanguinitie with the Troians by noble descents from Dardanus our auncient Progenitor neither canst thou but know that Troy is sacked and her people for the most parte slaughtered onely know if already thou knowest it nâ—t that Aeneas our Duke with a few his Followers after more than seauen yeares sayling are lastly and lucki lie I hope arriued in thy Countrie Howbeit of many places for pleasure and ferulitie most worthy manuring haue wee abandoned the quiet possession yea many the greatest Princes of Europe and Affrica haue voluntarily desired our Tariance denied only infinit Seas haue wee sayled and more sorrowes sustained to seeke this Clime from whence wee Troians deriue our Originals and whither our Gods haue directed vs by their Oracles This thy Countrie in respect of the bignesse may easily affoord roome for a new Troy to be builded A plot more spacious we doe not aske A smaller suite thou canst not graunt if with our present extremities thou also peise our purposed loyalties Neuer were wee thy foes and euer will we continue thy friends Seated wee must be and here wee would be We dare not disobey the Gods commanding it nor would we discontent thee in demaunding it graciously therfore conceiue of our Petition and gratefully receiue from Aeneas these Presents Hauing thus sayd he in the name of Aeneas presented the King with a most rich Mantell or Robe with an inualuable Crowne of Golde enchased with precious Stones with the late royall Scepter of King Priamus and with other Treasure which Latinus cheerefully receiuing returned the Troians this answer Had not the Gods commaÌ„ded your hither repaire which I gainsay not were we not of consanguinitie wherein I disclaime not Or my Kingdome not roome-some enough to receiue you as it is Or had ye not brought precious and peaceable Presents as ye haue yeat to dismisse Wayfarers vnrested and vnreleeued were contrary to the Gods of Hospitalitie and which they defend that I should therein offend Latinus his honour Ouer fast he sitteth that securely siâ—â—eth for as he that is timorous hath 〈◊〉 little prouidence so he that is feareles hath too much presumption yea lesse grieuous are expected than vnlooked-for euils I speake not this as I feare to fall but as I fore-see I may fall for the vnpearching of others should be fore-preachings to vs. Priuie am I vnto your distresse applying the like possibility for me so to decline for who is priuiledged from becoÌ„ming such And who is such that would not haue succour Sorrie I am that ye haue so ill cause to estrange your selues from home but glad that I am in so good case to entertaine you here Let Ae 〈…〉 feare him and prosper yee in Italie my land well may abide it and my selfe brooke it Yea more for the Oracle of my minde consorts no doubt with those of our Gods Lauinia my sole daughter and heire forbidden a Natiues and behighted a Strangers Marriage hath found a Husbande and I a Sonne-in-lawe at the least I wish it would bee and hope it will bee Make my thankes to Aeâ—eas for his Presents and bee you Masters of your Petitions The Troians being then sumptuously feasted euery man on a giuen Courser brauely and richly mounted dismissed returned and Latinus his answere and Present deliuered Aeneas neuerthelesse as farre from being secure as ioyous of such Tidings knowing the good speede of a Stranger to be an Eye-sore to the people and therefore not careles suspitious of it that might causeles succeede strongly inmured his Men in a new-built Fortresse In the meane while their Arriuall and Entertainment with Latinus occupied and for the most part offended all Italie Enuiously stormed Amata Queene that Lauinia her Daughter and Darling should be wedded to a Stranger an Exile as she termed him and therefore when she could not disswade the King by flatterie shee incensed his Nobles and Subiects to resist it forcibly On the other side Turnus Prince of the Rutiles in person exceeding all for comelinesse and in Armes equall to any for his courage to whom Lauinia was before promised in Marriage as Malcontent as any for being thus circumueÌ„ted by Aeneas held a Counsell in his sumptuous Citie Ardea scituate in the territorie of Latium how to intercept the Troians by wiâ—es expell them by Warres weaken them by wants disappoynt Aeneas and possesse himselfe of Lauinta Often sent he Messengers and sometimes Menaces to aduertise Latinus that he was promised he should and to assâ—re him hee purposed hee would enioy her or anger him But by how much more Latinus was religiously vnremouable in his Resolution for Aeneas by so much the more did Turnus giue loose raines to his headie anger Howbeit sufficient matter wanted for his malice to worke vpon vntill by euill happe his choler tooke aduantage of this colour Ascanius with diuers Troian Gentlemen his Friends and others his Attendants hunting in a