the Court a Kings behest Turne him to plow the cart for him is best For though thou canst by cunning art compell Nature a time to leaue her wonted place She will returne in spight of heauen or hell No Alcumist Dame Nature can displace Except that God doth giue abundant grace The Caske will haue a taste for euermore With that where with it seasoned was before Why did I then my courtlesse court maintaine With Hob and Iohn Ralph Royster and his mate Whose greedie iawes aye gaping after gaine Did pole and pill and bred such sterne debate Men much vnmeet to maintaine mine estate Why did I them so neere mine elbow place Because my selfe by birth was borne but bace Like will to like the Mule doth claw her mate With horned beasts the Ienite cannot iest Those bauling Hounds the haughtie Hart doth hate With Beares the Beare in safetie counts her best So I amongst my like did looke for rest Their deeds by me were alwaies well allow'd By them likwise my doings were auow'd But as you see the Husbandman with care From new sowne fields the rauening rookes to driue So did the Gentrie of my Realme prepare My countrie Court and me for to depriue But Gentlemen were then too weake to striue With me and mine for which they did prepare A new found snach which did my feet insnare In surgelesse seas of quiet rest when I Seuen yeares had sail'd a perrie did arise The blasts whereof abrig'd my libertie For whil'st I did with busie braine deuise Them to destroy which did my Court despise The boistrous blasts of hatred blew a gale My cables crakt my Barke was bong'd with bale For they I meane the Gentrie of my land Both me and mine theirs and themselues had sold Subiects to Rome from whence a mightie band They had conuey'd to make my courage cold Into my Realme they could not be controld But when they were arriu'd they quickly brought Both me and mine and all the rest to nought Alectus then the Chiefetaine of the rest Spoiling my friends he forst me to the field The day was come we both in fight were prest His trustlesse traine did seeme to me to yeeld But all the fields with great ambushments fill'd I could not flee Alectus had the day With his owne sword for breath he made me bray As due desert did force my ship to flote So vices vile me drencht in waues of woes O false suspect why did'st thou make me dote Fearing my fall my friends I deem'd my foes Fearing the worst the best I did depose And was deposde let other learne hereby The crooked Crab will alwaies walke awry And let them know which do not lothe to learne That Kings in Court be combred most with care The Pilots charge who sitteth at the stearne Doth make him watch when other do prepare Themselues to sleepe so Kings distressed are With doubtfull dread and many other things The sheepheards life is better then the Kings By Thomas Blener Hasset HOW QVEENE HELENA OF BRITAINE MARried CONSTANTIVS the Emperour and much aduanced the Christian faith through the whole world An. Dom. 289. MEns due deserts each Reader may recite For men of men do make a goodly show But womens workes can neuer come to light No mortall man their famous facts may know No writer will a little time bestow The worthy workes of women to repeat Though their renowne and due deserts be great For Iby birth to Coel daughter deere King Lucy was my good Grand-mothers sonne My father dead I rull'd his kingdome heere And afterward the World so wide I wonne I Empresse was of all vnder the Sunne I liued long I di'd with perfect blisse Yet writers will repeate no word of this But now at last I haue obtained leaue My spotlesse life to paint in perfect white Though writers would all honor from me reaue Of all renowne they would depriue me quite Yet true report my deeds shall burnish bright And rub the rust which did me much disgrace And set my name in her deserued place From Roman rule who Britaine did redeeme Who planted first Gods word in Britaine land Who did so much virginitie esteeme Who did the force of forren foes withstand Who all the world subdu'd without a band Of Martiall men who did these noble acts I Helena haue done these famous facts And now haue heere the storie of my state The Britaine Queene inheritage me crown'd Euen then when Romans had so great debate Amongst themselues for Caracallas wound An Emperour who highly was renown'd As then at Rome whose death vndoubtedly Diminisht much the Roman Emperie The Romans then were stor'd with ciuill strife And many Realmes against them did rebell Their trouble turn'd me to a quiet life My Commonweale did prosper passing well When all the world agreed like diuels in hell Then I and mine becalm'd from hatreds blast In happie hauen harboured wee at last Then I a maid of tender youthfull yeares Report did say of beautie fresh and faire Refusde the sute of many noble Peeres Which daily did vnto my court repaire What thought there were vnto my crowne no heire Yet I who did regard my Commons good Refusde to linke my selfe with forren blood On forren coasts on kingdomes to incroch With wrath of wrackfull warres I did despise And fearing aye the ruth of rude reproch With carking care I daily did deuise How I with peace might make my kingdome rise And how by law of God and man I might Giue Caesar his and vnto God his right No God of heauen no Christ my people knew Wherefore to Rome for learned men I sent King Lucies lawes decay'd I did renew Then preaching made my people so repent Their former faults that all incontinent Were baptised and so within a space The faith of Christ they firmely did embrace That nothing seemed currant in their sight But that which holie writers would allow And that they would imbrace with all their might To shed their bloud the same for to auow They did not feare at Verolane euen now Amidst the force of fiery flashing flame Albon the Protomartyr prou'd the same As carefull merchant men do much reioice When from those Iles Molocchi they haue brought Their fraighted ships for then they haue great choice Of Merchandize which trafficke long hath sought To finde the ware which trial true hath taught Wil get most gaine which being got they giue And cast their care how they thereby may liue So I whom both Sir Neptunes surging Seas And Eoles windes euen God himselfe aboue Did fauour much my labouring minde to please Giuing those things were best for my behoue Gods word I meane which all my men did loue The Pearles which Christ commanded to be bought Must here be found and no where els be sought Then they and I made haste post hast to leade Our sinful liues as Scripture did allow We knowing God him lou'd with feare and dreade Deuotion made vs crouch
and creepe and bow Our hearts our heads we sauage were but now Yet by and by such was the good successe In fiery flames the truth we did professe Then flitting Fame the truth to testifie Against my wil at Rome made such report That Constatinus thence did hither hie And being come vnto my Britaine Court With louers lookes he striu'd to scale the Fort Of my good will but when it would not bee He sighing thus addrest his talke to me O Queene quoth he thy deeds deserue great fame The goodly gifts that God hath giu'n to thee Be such as I cannot thee greatly blame Though thou without desert disdainest me Who for thy sake doth lothe all crueltie But for thy loue with Mars his cruell knife I could command thy Realme and reaue thy life But out alas whil'st breath doth lend me life My heart shall hate to thrall thy happie state What though thou dost refuse to be my wife Thy hatred tho shall neuer cause me hate But whil'st I liue I will thee loue let Fate And Fortune fell powre on me all their spight To die for thee shall greatly me delight Then I repli'd O Duke without desert Thou dost me loue a little Ilands Queene I know thou to the Emperour heire art Thy valiant acts I diuers waies haue seene I like thy deeds most noble which haue been And thee I loue yet priuate pleasures lust May neuer make me throw my Realme to dust If thou quoth he wilt daine my Queene to be Thy Britaines shall to Rome no tribute yeeld You if you please to Rome may go with me Your mightie mate the world so wide may wield Or if you please I heere with you will bilde My biding place and in this little land I will remaine yours heere at your command His comely grace his friendly promise plight His famous actes his Noble royall race Some other things which heere I could recite The Romans heart within my brest did place And when my wit had weighed well the case Then for the chiefe of all my Realme I sent And thus I spake to know the whole intent My louing Lords and you my subiects see This Roman heire whom I indeed do loue He will restore your ancient libertie If I will bend my hest to his behoue Which benefits they chiefely do me moue To loue at last a man by whom you may Receiue a Shield to keepe you from decay Perhaps you thinke I loue because I see His comely shape and seemely sanguine face You be deceiu'd no outward brauery No personage no gallant courtly grace What though he be by birth of royall race I recke it not but this I do regard My Commonweale by him may be preseru'd For if he will from tribute set you free And end the worke which I haue well begonne That Christs Gospell preached still may bee God may by him send vnto me a sonne To you a King what wealth then haue you wonne What great renowne what honor will insue Speake you your minds these things me thinke be true O Queene quoth they the Lord preserue thy grace Do thou the thing that seemes to thee the best We do allow the match in euery case If by that meanes we may haue quiet rest With what great good shal this our Realme be blest Do thou therefore O noble Queene we pray The thing which best may keepe vs from decay The Roman Duke he nothing would deny But granted more then I could aske or craue So that there was proclaimed by and by A famous feast a banquet passing braue There to the Duke the Britaine crowne I gaue With sacred spousall rights as man and wife We wedded liu'd in loue for terme of life And whil'st we ment to rule this little I le A greater good vnlooked for befell Death did destroy his Sire with hateful hand For which we both at Rome must now go dwell And so we did things prospered passing well My Feere was made the Emperour Lord and king Of all and I the Queene of euery thing His mightie Mace did rule the Monarchie My wit did rule some writers say his Mace And to increase with ioy our merrie glie I brought him forth a babe of Royall race The boy he had an amiable face O Rome thou maist reioyce for this was he Which did at Rome erect Diuinitie Whil'st thus in blisse I did at Rome remaine A Britaine still my mind her care did cast For which I caus'd my husband to ordaine That euermore those ancient Lawes should last Which heretofore amongst them there I past And that to Rome no Britaine borne for aye Should taxe or toll or tenth or tribute pay Though there at Rome an Empresse life I led And had at hand what I could wish or craue Yet still me thought I was not wel bestead Because I was so farre from Britaine braue Which when my louing Lord did once perceiue He set a stay in all the Emperie To Britaine then he did returne with me We raign'd of yeeres thrice seuen with good successe Then Dolor and Debilitie did driue My louing Lord with fainting feeblenesse For vitall life with braying breath to striue He felt how death of life would him depriue He cal'd his Lords his child and me his wife And thus he spake euen as he left his life The haughtie Pines of loftie Libanus From earth to earth in tract of time returne So I whose spreading praise were maruellous Must now returne my flesh to filthie slime On Fortunes wheele I may no longer clime Therefore my Lords although my glasse be runne Yet take remorse on Constantine my sonne My Monarch Court my Kingdomes all O stately Rome farewell to them and thee Farewell my Lords which see my finall fall Farewell my child my wife more deare to mee Then all the world we must depart I see And must we needs depart O Fortune fie We must depart adue farewell I die Wherewith he sigh'd and senselesse did remaine Then I his death as women do did waile But when I view'd that weeping was but vaine I was content to beare that bitter bale As one who found no meanes for her auaile His corps at Yorke in Princely Tombe I laid When funerall sacred solemne rites were paid And when report his death about had blowne Maxentius then the triple crowne to weare Did challenge all the Empire as his owne And for a time that mightie Mace did beare Which when my sonne my Constantine did heare The youthfull Lad indeuour'd by and by To claime his right by Mars his crueltie I then his tender youthfull yeares to guide Went with my sonne to see his good successe He being Campt by fruitfull Tybers side To spoile his foe he did himselfe addresse He knew that God did giue all happinesse Therefore to God euen then the youth did pray With mightie hand to keepe him from decay Behold how God doth godly men defend And marke how he doth beate Vsurpers downe Maxentius now
soules thereby to darkesome Stygian lake Which kill the corps that mightie Ioue did make HOW KING MORGAN OF ALBANY was slaine at Glamorgan in Wales The yeare before Christ 766. I Wot not well what reason I may vse To quit my selfe from lasting infamie Wherefore I must perforce my selfe accuse I was in fault I cannot it denie Remorce of conscience prickes my heart so nie And me torments with pangs of pinching paine I can no longer me from speech refraine I am that Morgan sonne of Gonerell Th' vngratefull daughter of her father Leire Which from his kingdome did him once expell As by the British stories may appeare Ragan and she conspir'd both sisters were But were subdu'd againe and causde to yeeld Their fathers Crowne Cordila wan the field I need not heere the stories all recite It were too long but yet I briefly shall The cause Cordila ought her sisters spite Was they procur'd her and their fathers thrall Yet t' was her chance at length t' out liue them all Both sisters elder and her father graue And eke at length the kingdome all to haue That time was I of Albany the King Call'd Scotland now and eke my cousin then Of Cornwall and of Wales whom I did bring To warre against Cordila and her men We said we would our title winne agen And that because our fathers had it yore We ment to get it ours againe therefore I must confesse I was the cause of warre I was not pleasde with that was lotted mee Euen so our minds ambitious often are And blinded that we cannot reason see We thinke no men but Gods on earth we bee Yet worse are we then beasts which know their kind For we haue nought but mischiefe oft in mind We thinke if so we may our willes attaine By right or wrong by might or malice we Could neuer liue like Fortune for to gaine Or if on foes we once reuenged bee If that our foe-mens fall we chance to see O then we ioy we lift our selues to skie And on the poore we crucifige crie I deem'd if that I might once put her downe The Kingdomes all were Conidags and mine And I could easly after win the crowne If also I his state might vndermine I thought indeed to haue it all in fine By force or fraud I did intend alone To sit as King vpon the Britaine throne To speake in few we waged warre so long Gainst her at last we put her vnto flight We warriers for our Aunt were far too strong Pursude and tooke depriu'd her of her right We thought it ours what so we wan by might Eke so play tyrants Traitors all do watch To get by spoile and count their owne they catch Not so contented were we with the pray But fearing lest she should recouer aide I sent in hast to prison her away And all recourse of messengers denaid Thus when she saw her Maiestie decaid And that her griefes and sorowes daily grew In prison at the length her selfe she slew O caytife vile that did constraine a Queene That Iustice ment her kingdome to forsake Nay traytor I her cause of death haue been That would my selfe by bloodshed ruler make How could reuenge on me but vengeance take Before the seat of God her blood did call For vengeance still and so procur'd my fall Lo heere Gods iustice see my treason see Behold and see to raigne was my delight And marke and make a mirrour heere of me Which afterward was seru'd by iustice right We wan the crowne betweene vs both in fight And then because I was the elder sonne Of th' elder Queene I claimed all we wonne So were my dealings nought in peace and warre But by my force and fortunes vsde in fight I past that time the Britaines all by farre I was of person fortitude and might Both comely tall strong seemely eke in sight Whereby I won mens fauour glorie wealth And puft with pride at length forgate my selfe I said it was my right the crowne to haue But Conidagus stoutly it deni'd Wherefore I went to Wales my right to craue With all mine armie and to haue it tri'd Where long we fought it stoutly on each side Till at the last vnto my wofull paine I was depriu'd of kingdome quite and slaine And for to keepe in memorie for aye That there vnfaithfull Morgan lost his life The place is call'd Glamorgan to this daye There was I pierst to death with fatall knife There was the end of all my hatefull strife So Morgan where he thought to win the crowne Was at Glamorgan traytor striken downe Thus maist thou tell how proud ambition proues What hap haue tyrants what we Traytours haue What end he hath that cruell dealing loues What subiects get that Diademe do craue T is better then to winne thine owne to saue For so orethwartly trade of Fortune goes When win thou would'st then art thou sure to lose HOW KING IAGO DIED OF THE LETHARGIE about the yeare before Christ 612. HAue I oreslept my selfe or am I wake Or had'st thou late oreslept thy selfe that wrote Could'st thou not for the Letharge paines to take And with the rest his sleepie life to note Was I amongst the wicked wights forgote Well then awaked sith we are both twaine To write my sleepie sinfull life take paine I am that Iago once of Britaine King That ruled all this noble British Ile No fame of me the writers old do bring Because my life and gouernment was vile Yet Higgins heere take paines for me a while Enregester my mirrour to remaine That Princes may my vices vile refraine At first a while I ruled well the land I vsed iustice right tooke regall place No wight but found iust iudgement at my hand And truth durst shew without rebuke her face I gaue my selfe to all good gifts of grace My subiects liu'd in rest within my raigne No cause of Prince compel'd them to complaine But as in calme a storme we nothing feare When as the seas are milde and smooth as glasse And as in peace no thought of warres we beare Which least suppose of mischiefes come to passe Euen so my still and rightfull raigning was The calme a tempest boads the shine a raine Long peace a warre and pleasure pinching paine For rest and peace and wealth abounding thoe Made me forget my Iustice late well vsde Forsaking vertues vices gan to floe And formernoble acts I quite refusde My gifts my treasures wealth and will misusde Began all goodnes quite at length disdaine And did my facts with filthie vices staine Misgouern'd both my Kingdome and my life I gaue my selfe to ease to sleepe and sinne And I had clawbackes euen at Court full rife Which sought by outrage golden gaines to winne For * Kings no sooner well or worse beginne But euen at hand the good or bad take paine For vertues sake or meede the Prince to traine As vices grew encreasing more and more So vertues fled and bad their
wealths abound Content your selues in peace to spend your daies By vertues good aloft your names to raise HOW KING PORREX WHICH SLEW HIS brother was slaine by his owne mother and her maidens about the yeare before Christ 491. CAn cursed Caine that caitiue scuse himselfe That slew his brother Abel innocent Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe His deare Osiris downe to Lymbo sent King Dardan then to do the like may trie They slew their brethren each and so did I. The witch Medaea rent in pieces small Absirtus limbes her brother did not she She threw him in the way dismembred all That so her fathers iourney stai'd might be Orodes slew his brother Mithridate And so did I my brother in debate Learchus slew his brother for the Crowne So did Cambrses fearing much the dreame Antiochus of infamous renowne His brother slew to rule alone the Realme Ardieus did the like for Kingdomes sake So I my brothers life away did take Mempricius Iewde of life likewise did kill His brother Manlius for the same intent These Princes vile were brother slayers ill For kingdomes sake vnnaturally bent But reade the stories thou shalt find it plaine The bloodie wretches all were after slaine Euen so I Porrex eke which slew my brother And ruled once the Britaine land with him Vnkindly kil'd was by my cruell mother Which with her maideus chopt me euery limme As I lay sleeping on my bed at rest Into my chamber full and whole they prest Appointed well they were with weapons sharpe And boldly laid on me with all their might Oft quite and cleane they thrust me through the hart And on my corps each where their weapons light They chopt me small I say as flesh to pot And threw me out my limbes yet trembling hot Can I complaine of this reuenge she raught Sith I procur'd the slaughter of her sonne Can I excuse my selfe deuoid of faut Which my deare Prince and brother had fordonne No t is too true that * who so slayes a King Incurres reproch and slaughter blood doth bring The traytors to their Prince haue alwaies bin As slayers of their parents vipers brood The killers of their brothers friends and kin In like degree well nigh of treason stood But what by this win they saue death defame Distaine their blood and shroud themselues with shame Example take you Princes of this land Beware of discord shun ambitious pride By right take ye the scepter in your hand Let not your sword with soueraignes blood be dide The mightie Ioue that raignes eternall aye Cuts off the Kings that enter in that waye Vsurpers may perswade themselues a while There is no God no lawes of sacred crowne No wrong they do no murther seemeth vile Nor no respect of Princely high renowne But if they could consider well the case They would not so aspire to Princes place They would example take by Lucifer That was cast downe the father first of pride And all his impes how high so ere they were Vsurping Realmes and Kingdomes far and wide From light to darke from throne to thrall they fell From bale to blisse and downe from heauen to hell Sufficient heere is said to warne the wise For he by prudence oft forecasts the doubt The foole is bent all warnings to despise He runneth headlong with the rascall rout Then if thou cast to liue at rest a subiect good Touch not the Prince crowne scepter nor his blood HOW KING PINNAR WAS SLAINE IN BATtaile by Mulmucius Donwallo about the yeare before Christ 441. MIght oftentimes right ouerrunnes too fast Right after comes and hopes to haue his owne And when he ouertakes might at the last Then is the truth of all the quarrell knowne Men neuer reape no other then was sowne If good be gaine the better comes the crop The grape growes on the vine and not the hop Of this now spoken this would I inferre Men may by might a kingdome long withhold Not due to them but they far better were To yeeld vnto the right what reason would Good mettals bides the touch which tries the gold When copper counted counterfeit in cast Is deem'd but drosse and called in at last I am that Pinnar who when Brutus blood Extincted was in bloodie Porrex raigne Amongst the Princes in contention stood Who in the Britaine throne by right should raigne Mongst whom by might a part I did obtaine That part of Albion call'd Logria hight I did long time vsurpe against all right Stater who stept into the Scottish throne And Rudacke that vsurpt the Cambrian crowne Their minds to mine did frame and ioyn'd in one To keepe the Cornish Prince stout Cloten downe Twixt whom and vs in fighting for renowne Faire Ladie Albion Europes wondred Ile Rob'd of her beautie was alas the while Duke Cloten though a man of worthie praise Who claim'd the crowne as due to him by right Could not preuaile till death did end his daies His sonne Mulmucius that vndaunted Knight Pursu'd his fathers claime with all his might And meeting vs in many a bloodie field At length in manly fight did make vs yeeld He Lion-like himselfe with his tall troope Of nimble Cornish met vs on the way And to his conquering arme did cause vs stoope The price of treason I with blood did pay My wrong deem'd right appear'd in my decay Who so by violence scales the throne of State Seldome sits sure but falles by violent fate HOW KING STATER OF SCOTLAND was slaine by Mulmucius Donwallo about the yeare before Christ 441. DEsist not in histories truly to tell The fall of vsurpers the mirrours of pride Recite of our treasons and how that we fell Intruders vntrustie the Realme for to guide Of wit and of reason recklesse and wide That tooke so vpon vs to rule all the land No Princes presum'd yet with scepter in hand How stately I Stater of Scotland the King Did beare me full stoutly when I had the crowne And what a great armie of Scots I did bring Against Lord Donwallo of noble renowne I deemed dame Fortune would neuer so frowne Who made me a Prince that kingdome my pray Of late but a subiect and simple of sway But heere now behold how steadie the state Of climbers aloft is aboue their degree And how they do fall from fortune to fate Example are such as my fellow and me The fruit giues a taste of the sap of the tree The seed of the herbe the grape of the vine The worke wrayes the man seeme he neuer so fine For when I had leuied an armie to fight I ioyned with Pinnar my power to preuaile And Rudacke of Wales came eke with his might Mulmucius Donwallo the King to assaile Our purpose the Prince by prowes did quaile Which came out of Corne wall vs vanquisht in field Our souldiers were slaughterd or forced to yeeld O fortune I blame thee my selfe more vn wise Thou gau'st me a kingdome with life I it lost My souldiers
Sorcerie some call Would know of things which after should befall And for that cause made her selfe acquainted With mother Madge called the witch of Eye And with a Clerke that after was attainted Bolenbroke he hight that learned was that way With other moe which famous were that day As well in Science called Mathematicall As also in Magicke skill supernaturall These cunning folkes she set on worke to know The time how long the King should liue and raigne Some by the Starres and some by feends below Some by witchcraft sought knowledge to attaine With like fancies friuolous fond and vaine Whereof though I knew least of any man Yet by that meane my mischiefe first began Yet besides this there was a greater thing How she in waxe by counsell of the witch An Image made crowned like a King With sword in hand in shape and likenesse sich As was the King which daily they did pitch Against a fire that as the waxe did melt So should his life consume away vnfelt My Duchesse thus accused of this crime As she that should such practise first begin My part was then to yeeld vnto the time Giuing her leaue to deale alone therein And since the cause concerned deadly sinne Which to the Clergie only doth pertaine To deale therein I plainly did refraine And suffered them her person to ascite Into their Courts to answere and appeare Which to my heart was sure the greatest spite That could be wrought and touched me most neare To see my wife and Ladie leefe and deare To my reproch and plaine before my face Entreated so as one of sort most base The Clergie then examining her cause Conuinced her as guiltie in the same And sentence gaue according to their lawes That she and they whom I before did name Should suffer death or else some open shame Of which penance my wife by sentence had To suffer shame of both the two more bad And first she must by daies together three Through London streets passe all along in sight Bareleg'd and barefoot that all the world might see Bearing in hand a burning taper bright And not content with this extreame despight To worke me woe in all they may or can Exil'd she was into the I le of Man This heinous crime and open worldly shame With such rigour shewed vnto my wife Was a fine fetch further things to frame And nothing else but a preparatiue First from office and finally from life Me to depriue and so passing further What law could not to execute by murther Which by slie drifts and windlaces aloofe They brought about perswading first the Queene That in effect it was the Kings reproofe And hers also to be exempted cleane From princely rule or that it should be seene A King of yeares still gouerned to bee Like a pupill that nothing could foresee The danger more considering the King Was without child I being his next heire To rule the Realme as Prince in euery thing Without restraint and all the sway to beare With peoples loue whereby it was to feare That my haut heart vnbridled in desire Time would preuent and to the Crowne aspire These with such like were put into her head Who of herselfe was thereto soone enclin'd Other there were that this ill humour fed To neither part that had good will or mind The Duke of Yorke our cosin most vnkind Who keeping close a title to the Crowne Lancasters house did labour to pull downe The stay whereof he tooke to stand in me Seeing the King of courage nothing stout Neither of wit great perill to foresee So for purpose if he could bring about Me to displace then did he little doubt To gaine the Goale for which he droue the ball The Crowne I meane to catch ere it should fall This hope made him against me to conspire With those which foes were to each other late The Queene did weene to win her whole desire Which was to rule the King and all the State If I were rid whom therefore she did hate Forecasting not when that was brought to passe How weake of friends the King her husband was The Dukes two of Excester and Buckingham With the Marquise Dorset therein did agree But namely the Marquise of Suffolke William Contriuer chiefe of this conspiracie With other moe that sate still and did see Their mortall foes on me to whet their kniues Which turn'd at last to losse of all their liues But vaine desire of soueraingtie and rule Which otherwise Ambition hath no name So stir'd the Queene that wilfull as a Mule Headlong she runnes from smoke into the flame Driuing a drift which after did so frame As she the King with all their line and race Depriued were of honor life and place So for purpose she thought it very good With former foes in friendship to confeder The Duke of Yorke and other of his blood With Neuils all knit were then all together And Delapoole friend afore to neither The Cardinall also came within this list As Herode and Pilate to iudge Iesus Christ This cursed league too late discouered was By Bayards blind that linked in the line The Queene and Cardinall brought it so to passe With Marquise Suffolke master of this mine Whose ill aduice was counted very fine With other moe which finely could disguise With false visours my mischiefe to deuise Concluding thus they point without delay Parliament to hold in some vnhaunted place Far from London out of the common way Where few or none should vnderstand the case But whom the Queene and Cardinall did embrace And so for place they chose Saint Edmundsburie Since when some say England was neuer merrie Summons was sent this company to call Which made me muse that in so great a case I should no whit of counsell be at all Who yet had rule and next the King in place Me thought nothing my state could more disgrace Then to beare name and in effect to be A Cypher in Algrim as all men might see And though iust cause I had for to suspect The time and place appointed by my foes And that my friends most plainly did detect The subtill traine and practise of all those Which against me great treasons did suppose Yet trust of truth with a conscience cleare Gaue me good heart in that place to appeare Vpon which trust with more haste then good speed Forward I went to that vnluckie place Dutie to shew and no whit was in dread Of any traine but bold to shew my face As a true man yet so fell out the case That after trauell seeking for repose An armed band my lodging did enclose The Vicount Beaumount who for the time supplied The office of high Constable of the Land Was with the Queene and Cardinall allied By whose support he stoutly tooke in hand My lodging to enter with an armed band And for high treason my person did arrest And laid me that night where him seemed best Then shaking and quaking for dread
to get Must see their works and words in all agree Liue liberally and keepe them out of det On Commonwealth let all their care be set For vpright dealing debts paid poore sustained Is meane whereby all hearts are throwly gained HOW KING HENRIE THE SIXT A VERTVOVS PRINCE WAS AFter many other miseries cruelly murdered in the Tower of London the 22. of May Anno 1471. IF euer wofull wight had cause to rue his state Or by his ruefull plight to moue men mone his fate My piteous plaint may prease my mishap to rehearse Wherof the least most lightly heard the hardest hart may pierce What heart so hard can heare of innocence opprest By fraud in worldly goods but melteth in the brest When guiltlesse men be spoil'd imprisoned for their owne Who waileth not their wretched case to whom the case is knowen The Lion lickes the sores of silly wounded sheepe The dead mans corps may cause the Crocodile to weepe The waues that waste the rockes refresh the rotten reeds Such ruth the wracke of innocence in cruell creatures breeds What heart is then so hard but will for pitie bleed To heare so cruell lucke so cleare a life succeed To see a silly soule with woe and sorrow sounst A King depriu'd in prison pent to death with daggers dounst Would God the day of birth had brought me to my bere Then had I neuer felt the change of Fortunes chere Would God the graue had gript me in her greedie wombe When crowne in cradle made me King with oile of holy thombe Would God the rufull tombe had been my royall throne So should no Kingly charge haue made me make my mone O that my soule had flowen to heauen with the ioy When one sort cried God saue the King another Viue le Roy. So had I not been washt in waues of worldly wo My minde to quiet bent had not been tossed so My frends had been aliue my subiects not opprest But death or cruell destiny denied me this rest Alas what should we count the cause of wretches cares The starres do stirre them vp Astronomy declares Our humors saith the leach the double true diuines To 'th will of God or ill of man the doubtfull cause assignes Such doltish heads as dreame that all things driue by haps Count lacke of former care for cause of after claps Attributing to man a power fro God bereft Abusing vs and robbing him through their most wicked theft But God doth guide the world and euery hap by skill Our wit and willing power are poized by his will What wit most wisely wards will most deadly vrkes Though all our power would presse it down doth dash our warest workes Then destiny our sinne Gods will or else his wreake Doe worke our wretched woes for humours be too weake Except we take them so as they prouoke to sinne For through our lust by humours fed all vicious deeds beginne So sinne and they be one both working like effect And cause the wrath of God to wreake the soule infect Thus wrath and wreake diuine mans sinnes and humours ill Concurre in one though in a sort ech doth a course fulfill If likewise such as say the welkin Fortune warkes Take Fortune for our fate and Starres thereof the markes Then destiny with fate and Gods will all be one But if they meane it otherwise skath causers skies be none Thus of our heauy haps chiefe causes be but twaine Whereon the rest depend and vnder put remaine The chiefe the will diuine cald destiny and fate The other sinne through humours holpe which God doth highly hate The first appointeth paine for good mens exercise The second doth deserue due punishment for vice This witnesseth the wrath and that the loue of God The good for loue the bad for sinne God beateth with his rod. Although my sundry sinnes doe place me with the worst My haps yet cause me hope to be among the first The eye that searcheth all and seeth euery thought Is Iudge how sore I hated sinne and after vertue sought The solace of my soule my chiefest pleasure was Of worldly pomp of fame or game I did not passe My Kingdomes nor my Crowne I prised not a crum In Heauen were my riches heapt to which I sought to come Yet were my sorowes such as neuer man had like So diuers stormes at once so often did me strike But why God knowes not I except it were for this To shew by paterne of a Prince how brittle honour is Our kingdomes are but cares our state deuoid of stay Our riches ready snares to hasten our decay Our pleasures priuy pricks our vices to prouoke Our pompe a pumpe our fame a flame our power a smouldring smoke I speake not but by proofe and that may many rue My life doth cry it out my death doth try it true Whereof I will in briefe rehearse the heauy hap That Baldwine in his woefull warpe my wretchednesse may wrap In Windsore borne I was and bare my fathers name Who wonne by warre all France to his eternall fame And left to me the crowne to be receiu'd in peace Through mariage made with Charles his heire vpon his lifes decease Which shortly did ensue yet died my father furst And both the Realmes were mine ere I a yeare were nurst Which as they fell too soone so faded they as fast For Charles and Edward got them both or forty yeares were past This Charles was eldest sonne of Charles my father in law To whom as heire of France the Frenchmen did them draw But Edward was the heire of Richard Duke of Yorke The heire of Roger Mortimer slaine by the kerne of Korke Before I came to age Charles had recouered France And kild my men of warre so happy was his chance And through a mad contract I made with Raynerds daughter I gaue and lost all Normandy the cause of many a slaughter First of mine vncle Humfrey abhorring sore this act Because I thereby brake a better precontract Then of the flattering Duke that first the mariage made The iust reward of such as dare their Princes ill perswade And I poore silly wretch abode the brunt of all My mariage lust so sweet was mixt with bitter gall My wife was wise and good had she ben rightly sought But our vnlawfull getting it may make a good thing nought Wherefore warne men beware how they iust promise breake Lest proofe of painfull plagues doe cause them waile the wreake Aduise well ere they grant but what they grant performe For God will plague all doublenes although we feele no worme I falsly borne in hand beleeued I did well But all things bee not true that learned men doe tell My clergie said a Prince was to no promise bound Whose words to be no gospell tho I to my griefe haue found For after mariage ioind Queene Margaret and me For one mishap afore I dayly met with three Of Normandy and France Charles got away my Crowne The Duke
losse of many a good mans life And therefore Baldwine teach men to discerne VVhich prophesies be false and which be true And for a ground this lesson let them learne That all be false which are deuised new The age of things are iudged by the hue All riddles made by letters names or armes Are yong and false far worse then witches charmes I know thou musest at this lore of mine How I no studient should haue learned it And dost impute it to the fume of wine That stirres the tongue and sharpneth vp the wit But heark a friend did teach me euery whit A man of mine in all good knowledge rife For which he guiltlesse lost his learned life This man abode my seruant many a day And still in study set his whole delight Which taught me more then I could beare away Of euery arte and by his searching sight Of things to come he would foreshew as right As I rehearse the pageants that were past Such perfectnes God gaue him at the last He knew my brother Richard was the Bore Whose tusks should teare my brothers boies and me And gaue me warning therof long before But wit nor warning can in no degree Let things to hap which are ordaind to bee Witnesse the painted Lionesse which slue A Prince emprisoned Lions to eschewe He told me eke my yoke-fellow should dy Wherein would God he had been no diuine And she being dead I should woo earnestly A spouse wherat my brother would repine And find the means she should be none of mine For which such malice should among vs rise As saue my death no treaty should decise And as he said so all things came to passe For when King Henry and his sonne were slaine And euery broile so throughly quenched was That then my brother quietly did raigne I reconciled to his loue againe In prosperous health did lead a quiet life For fiue yeares space with honours laden rife And to augment the fulnesse of my blisse Two louely children by my wife I had But froward hap whose maner euer is In chiefest ioy to make the happie sad Bemixt my sweet with bitternes too bad For while I swam in ioyes on euery side My louing wife my chiefest Iewel dide Whose lack when sole I had bewail'd a yeare The Duke of Burgoines wife dame Margaret My louing sister willing me to cheere To wed againe did kindly me entreate And wish'd me matched with a maiden nete A step-daughter of hers Duke Charles his heire A noble damsell yong discreete and faire To whose desire because I did incline The King my brother doubting my degree Through Prophesies against vs did repine And at no hand would to our willes agree For which such rancour pierst both him and mee That face to face we fell at flat defiance But were appeas'd by friends of our alliance Howbeit my mariage vtterly was dasht VVherein because my seruant said his mind A meane was sought whereby he might be lasht And for they could no crime against him find They forg'd a sault the peoples eyes to blind And told he should by sorceries pretend To bring the King vnto a speedie end Of all which points he was as innocent As is the babe that lacketh kindly breath And yet condemned by the Kings assent Most cruelly put to a shamefull death This fir'd my heart as foulder doth the heath So that I could not but exclame and crie Against so great and open iniurie For this I was commanded to the Tower The King my brother was so cruell harted And when my brother Richard saw the hower Was come for which his hart so sore had smarted He thought it best take time before it parted For he endeuour'd to attaine the Crowne From which my life must needs haue held him downe For though the King within a while had died As needs he must he surfaited so oft I must haue had his children in my guide So Richard should beside the Crowne haue coft This made him ply the while the wax was soft To finde a meane to bring me to an end For realmrape spareth neither kin nor frend And when he saw how reason can asswage Through length of time my brother Edwards ire With forged tales he set him newe in rage Till at the last they did my death conspire And though my truth sore troubled their desire For all the world did know mine innocence Yet they agreed to charge me with offence And couertly within the Tower they calde A quest to giue such verdit as they should Who what with feare and what with fauour thrald Durst not pronounce but as my brethren would And though my false accusers neuer could Proue ought they said I guiltlesse was condemned Such verdits passe where iustice is contemned This feate atchieud yet could they not for shame Cause me be kild by any common way But like a wolfe the tyrant Richard came My brother nay my butcher I may say Vnto the Tower when all men were away Saue such as were prouided for the seate Who in this wise did strangely me entreate His purpose was with a prepared string To strangle me but I bestird me so That by no force they could me therto bring Which caused him that purpose to forgo Howbeit they bound me whether I would or no And in a But of Malmesey standing by New christned me because I should not cry Thus drownd I was yet for no due desert Except the zeale of Iustice be a crime False prophecies bewitcht King Edwards hart My brother Richard to the Crowne would clime Note these three causes in thy rufull rime And boldly say they did procure my fall And death of deaths most strange and hard of all And warne all Princes prophecies t' eschue That are too dark and doubtfull to be knowne What God hath said that cannot but ensue Though all the world would haue it ouerthrowne When men suppose by fetches of their owne To fly their fate they further on the same Like quenching blasts which oft reuiue the flame Will Princes therefore not to thinke by murder They may auoid what prophecies behight But by their meanes their mischiefes they may furder And cause Gods vengeance heauier to alight Woe worth the wretch that striues with Gods foresight They are not wise but wickedly doe erre Which thinke ill deedes due destinies may barre For if we thinke that prophecies be true We must beleeue it cannot but betide Which God in them foresheweth shall ensue For his decrees vnchanged doe abide Which to be true my brethren both haue tried Whose wicked workes warne Princes to detest That others harmes may keepe them better blest HOW KING EDWARD THE FOVRTH THROVGH HIS SVRFETING and vntemperate life suddenly died in the middest of his prosperitie the ninth of Aprill Anno 1483. MIseremini mei ye that be my friends This world hath form'd me downe to fall How may I endure when that euery thing ends What creature is borne to be eternall Now there
gaine the mightie men when they be dead By all the spoile and blood that they haue shed The loftie towre where honor hath his seat Is high on rockes more slipper then the ice VVhere still the whirling winde doth roare and beat VVhere sudden qualmes and perils still arise And is beset with many sundrie vice So strange to men when first they come thereat They be amas'd and do they wot not what He that preuailes and to the towre can clime VVith toile and care must needs abridge his daies And he that slides may curse the houre and time He did attempt to giue so fond assaies And all his life to griefe and shame obaies Thus slide he downe or to the top ascend Assure himselfe repentance is the end Baldwine therefore do thou record my name For president to such as credit lies Or thirst to suck the sugred cup of fame Or do attempt against their Prince to rise And charge them all to keepe within their sise VVho doth assay to wrest beyond his strength Let him be sure he shall repent at length At my request admonish thou all men To spend the talent well which God hath lent He that hath one let him not toile for ten For one's too much vnlesse it be well spent I haue had proofe therefore I now repent Thrice happie are those men yea blest is hee VVho can contented serue in his degree M. Cauil HOW THE VALIANT KNIGHT SIR NICHOLAS Burdet Chiefe Butler of Normandie was slaine at Pontoise Anno Dom. 1441. IF erst in Kings affaires we counted were of trust To fight in waged warres as Captaines gainst the foes And might therefore aliue receiue the guerdon iust Which aye his Maiestie employ'd on those Why should we so keepe silence now and not disclose Our noble acts to those remaine aliue T' encourage them the like exploits t' atchiue For if when as we warr'd for Prince and publike weale We might to each for both haue time and place to speake Then why not now if we to both appeale Sith both well know our dealings were not weake We claime as right in truth our minds to breake The rather eke we thinke to speake we franchiz'd are Because we seru'd for peace and di'd in Princes warre VVhich granted so and held deserued due I may full well on stage supplie the place a while Till I haue plainly laid before your view That I haue cause as these to plaine of Fortunes guile VVhich smirking though at first she seeme to smooth and smile If Fortune be who deem'd themselues in skies to dwell She thirleth downe to dread the gulfes of gastly hell But heere I let a while the Ladie Fortune stay To tell what time I liu'd and what our warres were then The great exploits we did and where our armies lay Eke of the praise of some right honorable men VVhich things with eyes I saw call'd now to mind agen VVhat I performed present in the fight I will in order and my fall recite In youth I seru'd that roiall Henry fift the King Whose praise for martiall feats eternall fame reteines When he the Normanes stout did in subiection bring My selfe was vnder then his ensignes taking paines With loial hart I fought pursu'd my Prince his gaines There dealt I so that time my fame to raise French writers yet my name and manhood praise And erst as Burdets diuers warlike wights In Warwicke shire their lands in Arrow ar Were for good seruice done made worthy Knights Whose noble acts be yet recounted far Euen so my selfe well fram'd to peace or war Of these the heire by due discent I came Sir Nicholas Burdet Knight which had to name That time the noble Iohn of Bedford Duke bare sway And feared was in France for courage stout and fell He lou'd me for my fight and person though I say And with reuenues me rewarded yearely well I plaid the faithfull subiects part the truth to tell And was accounted loiall constant still Of stomack worship great and warlike skill But then O greefe to tell ere long this peerelesse King When he restored had his right vnto the Crowne The Duchie all of Normandy eke subiect bring The Frenchemen all and set Lieutenants in each towne High Regent made of France then Fortune gan to frowne He then departed life too soone alas Some men suppose his grace empoisond was Thou Fortune slie what meanst thou thus these prancks to play False Fortune blere ey'd blind vnsteady startling still What meanst thou turning thus thy flattering face away Inconstant where thou bearest most good will Is it thy nature then or i st thy wonted skill It cost thee nought they say it comes by kind As thou art bisme so are thine actions blind I nothing doubt then thou thy selfe shalt fall I trust to see the time when thou shalt be forgot For why thy pride and pompe and power must vanish all Thy name shall die for aye and perish quite I wot And when thou shalt be counted but a sot The noble wights which liu'd and dide in worthy fame In heauen and earth shall find an euerlasting name But words of course are these of Fortune had When vnto Princes haps chance good or ill God sends to euery sort these tempests sad VVhen from his word they swarue and heauenly will Men must endeuour then to please his goodnesse still And then come life or death come ioy come smart No Fortunes frowne can daunt the doughty hart The famous King so dead his son but nine months old Henry the sixt of England was proclaimed King And then the Frenchmen waxt more stout and bold His youth occasion gaue them to conspire the thing Which might them all from due subiection bring On which the Counsell cald a Parliament Of French that might the treasons high preuent VTherein the Duke of Bedford my good Lord and frend VVas Regent made the Prince his deputy in France The Duke of Glocester Protectour was to th' end To rule in cases such at home might hap to chance They chose to gard the Prince in honour to aduance Henry Benford Bishop of VVinchester And Thomas the noble Duke of Excester But here before those things could well be setled sure As great affaires of Kingdomes longer time doe take The Frenchmen did by treason force and coine procure Some townes which English were in France their faith forsake A long discourse it were of all recitall make But of my chance that time recite will I VVhich seru'd in warres my Prince in Normandy Before the Mount S. Michael as in siege I lay In confines of the Normans and the Britons land From townesmen famisht nigh we vitailes kept away And made them oft in danger of dis-Mounting stand But it being strong and also stoutly man'd Euen by our losses they gate heart of grasse And we declining saw what Fortune was Yet nerethelesse we thought by famine make them yeeld Eke they by fight or succours hopte the siege to