inferre consuming warre The Brutons vnder Rome secure as men that did relye On others were disabled now by Martiall meanes to trye The fame of fight but Captaineles confusedly they deale And giue a wretched instant of an headles Common-weale And whom so many Romaine Péeres Grand-Captaines of such might Of whom Nine Emperours themselues in persons here did sight Could hardly foyle were fronted now euen of a barbrous Foe And at the poynt a wondrous chaunge their Countrie to forgoe Such fruite hath ease such pollicie did serue the Romaines turne Who wayning Martiall mynds themselues the quietler here soiurne The Brutons thus dispoyâ—d of Aâ—mes and courage in effect Of Prince of Captaines and aduise their busines to direct Dispatch their Legate to the Land Deminatiue in name To Brutaine where the Legate thus his Ambassie did frame The back-slide of our helples friends the down-fall of our state Our lacke of Prince of people and our wealth not now as late The sauage dealing of our Foes consuming ours and vs Is cause right mightie King that we approach thy present thus Not for we are in blood allyed or that whil'st Fortune smil'd Your Auncestors had rule from vs not for the Dames defil'd At Cullin who withstanding lust for it did loose their liues That els to Conon and his Knights had liued noble wiues We are imboldned in our suite though all of these might moue But for our former Wants O King and for thyne owne behoue Great Brutaine doth submit it selfe thy Subiect if thou please Or els dispose it at thy will prouided we haue ease Against such foes as would not saue our liues to haue our Land Whom to conclude except thou helpe we neuer may withstand The King Aldroen pittying much the Cause of his Allies Arm'd thence his brother Constantine a Captaine stout and wise He chacing hence the Scottes and Pichtes with glorie wore the Crowne And through his vertue stayed vp a Kingdome sinking downe WIthin a while did Vortiger the Duke of Cornwalle rayne When Constans sonne of Constantine he traytrously had slayne The Scottes did ruffle then a-new nor did the King affye In Brutons for they hated him and reason had they why And Saxon Fléetes from Germanie in Armor here ariue Through whose support y e King in warres against the Scottes did thriue The Foe by Hengest foyled thus he and his Brother git The chiefest credit with the King but fewe gainsaying it Necessitie of Soldiours here so well for them did fit And Hengests Daughter intertayn'd King Vortiger so well That to misliking of his wife and liking her he fell And sotted thus in forren loue did wed the Saxon Wench Which wrought vnto the Saxons weale but to the Brutes offence For whatsoere the Quéene did aske the King would not denye Untill his Subiects rann to Armes and made the Saxons flye And putting downe the Father then did set vp Vortimer Who poysoned by his Stepdame they restored Vortiger With this condition that he should no Saxons intertayne But Hengest hearing from the Quéene that Vortimer was slayne And Vortiger his Sonne-in-lawe re-kinged did resayle With Saxon forces though with fraude not force he did preuayle For thus by pollicie he did the Brutons circumuent He craued Parlie as a man that were to quietnes bent The place appoynted Parlants him in simple meaning meet Farre from their Armie all vnarm'd whom Saxon Traytors greet With deadly wounds by hidden kniues and held the King with them Confounding so the Brittish Oste. Nor cease they to contemne Both Christian rightes and ciuell Rule subuerting either twaine And what they would of Vortiger through fearfull threats they gaine And plant themselues in Southfolke Kent and elswhere at their will And ruffling runne throughout the Land oppressing Brutons still The King and Brutons flead to Wales and Feend-got Marlyn theare Bewrayed more then I beléeue or credit seemes to beare As shewing how the Castell worke rear'd dayly fell by night By shaking of two Dragons great that vnderneath it fight With other wonders tedious if not trothles to resight Aurelius Ambrose brother to King Constans murdred late From either Bruton hauing ayde wonne so the Kingly state And ere that Hengest or his sonne stout Octa he subdew'd First to reuenge his Brothers death he Vortiger pursew'd In vaine the Welsh wild Mountaines fence the flyer from his Foe Or Gerneth Castell when as flames throughout the buildings goe In midst whereof the wretched King did end his daies in woe THe Brutons thus had peace a-while till Vortigerus Sonne And Guillamour the Irish King in newe Conflicts begonne Whom whil'st that Vter valiantly in Wales to wracke did bring His brother Ambrose did decease and Vter then was King What Vter did by Marlyns Arte in compassing his will Upon the Wife of Garolus transfigured by skill Into the likenes of her Lord on whom he got a sonne Renowmed Arthur or to name the Acts by Vter donne Were much and néedles onely note he was a valiant Prince But such as was his noble Sonne was not before or since Yet blazing Arthur as haue some I might be ouer-seene He was Uictorious making one amongst the Worthiest méene But with his pardon if I vouch his world of Kingdomes wonne I am no Poet and for lacke of pardone were vndone His Scottish Irish Almaine French and Saxone Battelles got Yéeld fame sufficient these seeme true the rest I credite not But Brutone is my taske and to my taske I will retier Twelue tymes the Saxone Princes here against him did conspier And Arthur in twelue Battelles great went Uanquishor away Howbeit Saxone forces still amongst the Brutons stay This King to intertaine discourse and so to vnderstand What Accedents in after-tymes should happen in this Land He with the Brittish Prophet then of Sequelles fell in hand Of Syx long after Kings the man not borne of humaine seede Did Prophesie and many things that came to passe in déede Now Arthur chiefe of Cheualrie had set his Crowne at stay And to his Nephewe Mordred did commit thereof the sway When with his Knights the wonder of the world for Martiall déedes Beyond the Seas in forren fights he luckely procéedes Till faithlesse Mordred calde him backe that forward goes with fame For at his Uncles Dyademe he traytrously did ame Twise Arthur wonne of him the field and thirdly slewe his Foe When deadly wounded he himselfe victorious dyed foe INterred then with publique playnts and issules ensewes A drouping of the Brittish state the Saxon still subdewes Howbeit worthie Kings succéeded but Destinie withsâ—ood The aunciant Scepter to inure in Bruts succéeding blood Unlou'd Careticus was he that lost the Goale at length Whenceforth in vayne to winne their losse y e Brutons vse their strength Yea God that as it pleaseth him doth place or dispossesse When foes nor foyles nor any force their courage might suppresse Séem'd partiall in the Saxon Cause and with a Plague did crosse The Brutons that had els at least
harmelesse soules that crost those Seas himselfe in fetters lay Yée might haue said and truly said that then did end the fraie So manie were his high exploits whereof such wonder bread That for the same the Heathen folke doe deifie him dead Which since they are so manifold I many ouerpasse And though Amphitruo blush to heare how he deceiued was And that Alcmena pinch my tongue possest with bashfull shame Yea though that Iupiter himself my lauish tongue shall blame Yet since that iealous Iuno knowes alreadie of the same I dare not tell how Iupiter so cunninglie beguild his loue Alcmena that by him she traueld great with child Of Hercules whose famous acts I orderlie shall tell Whereof the first but not the least in Cradle-time be fell CHAP. IIII. QUéene Iuno not a little wroth against her husbands crime By whom shee was a Cockqueane made did therefore at the time In which Alcmena cride for helpe to bryng her fruite to light Thrée nights and dayes inchaunt her throwes and of a Diuelish spight Intended both the Ladies death and that wherewith shée went Till Galinthis vnwitching her did Iunos spells preuent Howbeit cankered Iuno still pursuing her intent Two poisned Serpents got by charmes into the chamber brought Where Hercules in cradle laie and thinking to haue wrought A Tragedie did let them lose who smelling out their praie skaerd Hercules his brother that in selfe same cradle lay But Hercules as Children vse with little whelpes to play Did dallie childishlie with them and no whit did dismay Untill at last his tender flesh did feele their smarting stings And then displeasd betwixt his handes the Snakes to death hée wrings Amphrituo an the Thebans all of this same wonder tell And yeeres permitting Hercules did with Euristeus dwell This King by spightfull Iunos meanes did set him taske on task But Hercules perfourmed more then both of them could aske Yea yet a good Lad for Actiuenes the world did lack his like To Wrestle Ride Run Caste or Shoote to Swim Shift or Strike As witnes his inuention first those solemne actiue Plaios That were on Mount Olimpus tride where he had pricke and praise For which his Nouell and himselfe in those not hauing Péeres The Graecians by th' Olimpides kept reckoning of their yéeres KIng Atlas daughters in the Isles of Hesperae did holde A manie Sheepe and Poets faine their fléeces were of Golde For rarenes then of Shéepe and Wooll in figures so they saw Euristeus pricks his Pople on this nouile Prize to gaine The Greekes applie their sweating Oares and sailing doe persist Until they reach the wished shoare where readie to resist their entrance to the closed Isles an armed Giant stayd Whose grim aspectes at first approch made Hercules afraide Now buckle they and boysterous bloes they giue and take among A cruell sight But Hercules had victorie ere long The Giant slaine Philoctes tooke the vanquisher in hand An harder taske had Hercules then pausing now to stand Most dreadfull was their doubtfull fight both lay about them round Philoctes held the harder fight by kéeping higher ground The Sonne of Ioue perceauing well that prowesse not auail'd Did faine to faint the other thought that he in deed had quaild And left th'aduantage of his ground and fearcely smites his Foe But Hercules whose pollecie was to contriue it so Renuing fight most eagerlye so strikes and strikes againe That to enduer the doubled force his valiant Foe had paine Who yealding to his Uictors will did finde in him such grace As Hercules did thenceforth vse his friendship in each place Hesperides the goodly Nimphes their Kéepers chaunce lament But Hercules did comfort them and cure their discontent And shipping thē of Rammes Ewes a parcel thence he went IN coasting back by new-built Troy he sawe a moneful sort of people clustering round about their yet vnconquered Port. He musing much and striking Saile did boldlie aske wherefore They made such dole Laomidon then standing on the Shoare Did tell the cause the cause was thus Laomedon ere than To reare the statelie walles of Troy a costly worke beganne And wanting pay to finish vp the worke he had begonne Of Neptunes and of Phoebus Priests the Goddes of Sea and Sonne He borowed money promising repaiment of the same by certaine time which therevnto he did expresly name The walles are built the time is come the Priests their money craue Laomedon forswares the debt and naughtie language gaue Forthwith the Sea the Deuill then did many wonders showe Began to swell and much of Troy with violence ouerfloe And therevpon the swealtie Sun the wastfull Sea retierd So vehementlie did shine vpon the Oesie plasshes myerd That thereof noisome vapours rose and of those vapours spread Such plagues as scarce the liuing might giue burial to the dad Repentant then their wrethed king to holy Delphos goes Where at the Oracle he knew his wrongs to cause suc wees And how the Godds of Sun and Seas offended doe require Each month a Uirgin to appease a seaish Monsters ire Wherefore to saue their common weale the Troyans did agrée One Uirgin as her Lot did light should pay that monthlie fée Now after manie murdred Maids for monthlie at one day The fearefull Monster at the Port expects his wonted pray The lot fell to Hesione the daughter of the king whom to the Port to be deuourd with teares the Troyans bring When Hercules thus vnderstood the hard occasion why The guiltles Ladie should haue died he purposing to trie his valiantnes for what was it that Hercules would flie Did aske the king what gift should gro to him that should both free His daughter and his kingdome of that monthly blooddie fee. The king whom now at doubted hope of profered helpe made glad made promise of two milk-white Steedes as chiefest gemmes he had Braue Hercules whose ventrous heart did only hunt for fame Accepts th'assumpsit and prepares the fiend like fish to tame Anone the dreadfull Diuell driues the Sea before his brest and spitting mightie waues abrode disgorgde from monstrous chest Liftst vp his vglie head aboue the toubled waues to catch The trembling Ladie for which pray his yaning iawes did watch But he whose strength exceeded sense with yron Club in fist Did bootelesse long with brusing wait the boistrous Whale resist The greater strokes the fiercer was the Monsters awlesse fight So that the Greekes and Troyans all misdoubt their dreadlesse knight Still Hercules did lay on load and hild the fight so long That in the end the Sea retired and left the fish among The bared sandes and so for want of water not of strength Good fortune honours Hercules with victorie at length Now when the king his Troyans and the Grecians had behild The substance of the vglie Shape euen dreadfull being kild they bring the Champion to the towne with triumphes giftes praise And who but hee belou'd in Troy whiles that in Troy he staies Alone the king a
their sight the threatned Citie of the Foe his Tents did Affer pight And girts it with a sodaine Siedge The Giant then did shake his hideous head and vow'd reuenge yea sharpe reuenge to take But issuing out his Citie gates hee found the Foe so hot That notwithstanding such his bragges the worst Antaeus got For Hercules did canuase so his carkas that at length hée did retire himselfe and men as trustlesse of his strength His Libions slaine and hée not sound Antaeus Truse did craue For graunt whereof vnto his Foes meane time he victuals gaue And whilst the Month of Truse did last the Giant brused sore Did heale his wounds and to his part sollicites aiders more Meane while the Greeke to Mauritan did passe vnknowne of all and there in king Antaeus aide he found supplies not small And for he looked souldier-like they brought him to the king who offered payâ— not so quoth he I meane another thing Discharge these Bands or els I will discharge thee of thy breath That all alone to thée and thine opposâ— me to the death When Atlas knew him Hercules that conquered of late The Iland which his daughters held and brought to latest fate His Giant that defended them and captiuated then His friend Philoctes he twixt feare and fiercenesse waxed wanne And looke how fast the ratling haile vpon an house doth fall So fast they lay on Hercules that holdeth wag gainst all and as the Smith with Hammer beats his forged Mettall so he â—ubs his Club about their pates and fleas them on a roe And whilst not daring to looke downe by heaps on him they flie Some stumbling on the bodies dead are smoldred so and die Some sliding in the slipperie blood wherewith the place did swimme were strangled so some others whilst disorderedly at him They freat and soyne are crowded on by those that hindmost be and with their weapons spoile themselues and fellowes two or three Some others with the wounding points of broken weapons die and others daring with their Foe their bootles force to trie were in a moment slaine by him and thus in little space Without Resistants Hercules had Lordship of the place And maugre swords or studied Starres brought Atlas to the Seas whereas Philoctes did in time his pensiuenes appease And to his friend comemnds the Foe for bountie which at last himselfe did finde and when as time his griefe had ouerpast The same that for Astrologie the Skies Support was said In such his Science Hercules a perfect Artist made The Month of Truse by this had end and Hercules returnes To Affer that incamped at the Lybian walles soiournes A second battell then begonne Antaeus like a Baer Besâ—â—es himselfe amongst his Foes whilst Hercules did faer as roughlie with contrarie blooes till none to fight did daer But humblie all submitting them selues subdued by his might He gaue them grace and staied ther to doe them law and right Meane time Anteus lately fled returnes from Mauritain And with a mightie Troupe of Moores renewed fight againe And all the Fieldes with Carcases of mangled men were filde And nombers failed to the Moores that Hercules then kild But when Anteus saw his men to lessen more and more Resoluing or to win the Spurres or lose him selfe therefore He makes a blodie path vntill the Thaebane he espide And finding him bestowe on me thy blowes the Giant cried That am both able to enduer and to repay the same A Flie is not an Eagles praie nor Mouse a Lions game My death might countenance thy deedes if that it so would be But make account that I anon will triumph ouer thee In saying which hee smites his Foe perfourming wondrous might And bodie vnto bodie they with equal dammage fight But Hercules disdaining that so long Antaeus standes with him in combat griping him betwixt his angrie handes Did crush his Carkasse in the aire that life did leaue him so And thus did reape a Monarchie and rid a mightie Foe Then Hercules Antaeus dead with ease he ouercame all Libea with the Prouinces Kingdomes of the same And maketh Affer King of al that beares the doers name IN expedition of which warre when Hercules would dwell no longer time but purposed to bid his friends farewâ—ll A warlike Wench an Amazon salutes him by his name And said knowe Hercules if it thou knowest not by fame how that the Scythian Ladies late eâ—peld their natiue Land by King of Egipt haue contriu'd amongst themselues a bande And with the same haue conquered all Asia Egipt and all Capadocia Now that for we Uictors vnderstand the Africanes are our Allies and minding to procéed In further conquests tendring them thus is therefore decréed That you two Champions shall elect and they will also send two Ladies that for victorie shall with your Knights contend And if your Champions vanquish ours then we wil tribute pay And if that ours doe vanquish yours then you shall vs obay But hope not so more profite giues our bountie then our blowes And vninforced tribute may procure you friendlie Foes Then Hercules admiring much the Chalengers did yeeld two aduerse Knights the morrow next shoulde méet them in the field And mounted well on Corsers twaine next light by dawne of day Into the Liestes came Hercules and Theseus Mid the way vpon a brace of milke white Séedes the two Viragoes méete the Knights and each the other did with ciuill Congies gréete Then either parte retiring backe began to make their race And coutching well their valiant Speares did run a wondrous pace With Menalippe Hercules the sight did vndertake And Theseus with Hippolite did his Encounter make They méeting either part both horse and load to ground were cast Whereat the Africanes did muse and Scythians weare agast Unhorsed thus disdainfully each Knight defendant tooke it And either Ladie so disgrac'd as scornefullie did brooke it Then settle they to handy Armes the which was long and fierce And with their cutting weapons did both Helms and Harnes pierce But Hercules though neuer matcht so hardlie in his life Disarmes at length his Scithian Task and ended was their strife But Theseus with his Combattesse in doubtfull battell fights Till blushing at the Maidens blowes he checks his mending sprits And laid so hardlie to her charge not able to sustaine his fresh-got force that he also the second Prize did gaine Antiope a third vnto those warlike Sisters twaine Beholding how sinisterly the double fight had past Makes sorrow whilst the Africanes reioise for it as fast The Scythians to the Africanes did Homage then and pray their Ladies might be raunsomed Which sute did Theseus stay For he through Lance his Foe through loue went Uanquisher away And ther-fore when th' Athenian Knight and Amazon were matcht in mariage Menelippe then from Durance was dispacht And Hercules then which to him no greater Prize could be had Quéene Antiope her Bealt and Armour for his fâ—e And sets the Dames of Thermodon
to trayne With whorish tricks a vicious King but neither of you twayne Thou stately Drabb nor this thy Brat a bastard as thy selfe Shall liue in triumph of my wrong first mother and her Elfe Shall â—ish in Flood for Humbars soule and bring him newes to hell That Locrins wife on Locrins Whore reuenged her so well They lifting vp their lillie hands from out their louely eyes Powre teares like Pearles and washe those Chéekes where naught saue beautie lyes And seeking to excuse themselues and mercie to obtaine With spéeches good and prayers faire they speake and pray in vaine Quéene Guendoleyne so bids and they into the Flood are cast Whereas amongst the drenching waues the Ladies breath their last As this his Grandame such appear'd Mempricius Madans sonne Whose brother Manlius traytrously by him to death was done And since of noble Brute his lyne prodigious things I tell I skipping to the Tenth from him will shewe what befell ABout a thirtie yeres and fiue did Leit rule this Land When doting on his Daughters thrée with them he fell in hand To tell how much they loued him the Eldest did estéeme Her life inferior to her loue so did the Second déeme The Youngest sayd her loue was such as did a childe behoue And that how much himself was worth so much she him did loue The formost two did please him well the youngest did not so Upon the Prince of Albanie the First he did bestoe The Middle on the Cornish Prince their Dowrie was his Throne At his decease Cordellas parte was very small or none Yet for her forme and vertuous life a noble Gallian King Did her vn-dowed for his Quéene into his Countrie bring Her Sisters sicke of Fathers health their Husbands by consent Did ioyne in Armes from Leir so by force the Scepter went Yet for they promise pentions large he rather was content In Albanie the quondam King at eldest Daughters Court Was setled scarce when she repynes and lessens still his Porte His second Daughter then he thought would shewe her selfe more kinde To whom he going for a while did franke allowance finde Ere long abridging almost all she keepeth him so loe That of two badds for betters choyce he backe againe did goe But Gonorill at his returne not onely did attempt Her fathers death but openly did hold him in contempt His aged eyes powre out their teares when holding vp his hands He sayd O God who so thou art that my good happ withstands Prolong not life deferre not death my selfe I ouer-liue When those that owe to me their liues to me my death would giue Thou Towne whose walles roofe of my wealth stand euermore to tell Thy Founders Fall and warne that none doe fail as Leir fell Bid none affie in Friends for say his Children wrought his wracke Yea those that were to him most deare did loath and let him lacke Cordella well Cordella sayd she loued as a Childe But sweeter words we seeke then sooth and so are men begilde She onely rests vntryed yet but what may I expect From her to whom I nothing gaue when these doe me reiect Then dye nay trye the rule may fayle and Nature may assend Nor are they euer surest friends on whom we most doe spend He shippes himself to Gallia then vut maketh knowne before Unto Cordella his estate who rueth him so poore And kept his there ariuall close till she prouided had To furnish him in euery want Of him her King was glad And nobly intertayned him the Queene with teares among Her duetie done conferreth with her father of his wrong Such duetie bountie kindnes and increasing loue he found In that his Daughter and her Lord that sorrowes more abound For his vnkindly vsing her then for the others cryme And King-like thus in Agamps Court did Leir dwell till tyme The noble King his Sonne-in-law transports an Armie greate Of forcie Gawles possessing him of dispossessed Seate To whom Cordeilla did succeede not raigning long in queate Not how her Nephewes warre with her and one of them slew th'other Shall followe but I will disclose a most tyrannous mother CHAP. XV. GOrbodugs double Issue now when eighteene Kings were past Hild ioyntly Empier in this Land till Porrex at the last Not tyed so by brotherhood but that he did disdaine A fellowe King for neuer can one Kingdome brooke of twaine Did leuie secrete bands for dread whereof did Ferrex flye And out of Gallia bringeth Warre in which himselfe did dye Then Porrex only raigned here and ruled all in peace Till Iden mother Quéene to both her furie did increase So fearcely as she seekes reuenge euen in the highest degrée Why liueth this quoth she a King in graue why lyeth he Dye Iden dye nay dye thou wretch that me a wretch hast mayde His goste whose life stoode in thy light commaundeth me of ayde Nor want I Ferrex will to ayde for why the Gods I see Deferre reuenge nor with a Deuill the Deuilles disagree The heauens me thinks with thunderbolts should presse his soule to hell Or Earth giue passage that at feast with men he might not dwell But I my selfe euen I my selfe their flacknesse will supplye And mothers name and Nature both to such a Sonne denye Dead night was come when Iden found the King her sonne a sléepe And all was still not then as now did Gards their Princes kéepe Admit they had who would haue feard such mischiefe in a mother She whispring softly sleepe thy last yea sleepe as doth thy brother Did gash his throte who starting vp when strength spéech were gone Lifts vp his faynting hands and knewe the Tyrantisse anone And maketh signes as who would say ah mother thou hast done a déede as neuer mother earst did practise on her Sonne But name of Sonne nor signes did serue him stil w t wounds she plyes Nor more then Monster did it please that simply so he dyes But that his bodie peecemeale tore about the Lodging flyes And thus from noble Brute his lyne the Scepter then did passe When of his bloud for to succéede no heire suruiuing was FOwer Dukes at once in ciuell broyles seiunctly after raine Néere when the Scottes whom some accuse by Ante-dates to gaine Did settle in the Northerne Isles These people bring their lyne from Cecrops and that Pharo he that euer did declyne from Moses seeking Hebers house from AEgypt to conuay His daughter Scota Gathelus their Duke brought thence away When Pharos sinne to Iacobs Séede did nere that Land decay And Cecrops sonne brought then froÌ„ thence as Scottes inforce the same The Stone that Iacob slept vpon when Angles went and came Of it was made their fatall Chaire of which they beare in hand That wheresoere the same is found the Scottes shall brooke that land At Westminster that Monument doth now decaying stand In Lusitania Gathelus did first his Kingdome found And of his race of Scota Scottes when Spanish Scottes abound Ariue in Ireland and in
my blisse or soone discharge my breath For if my prayers add no edge vnto thy begged doome The Uintage of my thristles loue is blasted in the bloome Be fauour able to my fier for thy swéet sake be bold I durst attempt euen Hell if hell so swéet a thing might hold Well thinke her coye or thinke her chaste my Censure I suspend Most women yeeld not at the first yet yeeld they in the end She gaue repulses to his lust and he Replies of Loue Not all the Wrights Diana had might Cupids Plaint remoue She countermaunding his demaund he ceased Courting now And did with her by vyolence what vertues disalowe And then departed leauing her in selfe-conceit disgraste More trespassed then some would thinke and yet perhaps as chaste Home came her Lord whose Browes had buds and found his wife in teares And foolish thing she told a troth for which reuenge he sweares But so the Man did proue a Beast he better might haue hid it Some such are mistically domme yet dombly doe forbid it His wifes Escapes done secretly if by the man detected Shewes hilled būpes supposed būpes mere hornes not hornes suspected At Denmarke in his Cosens Court he telleth of his wrong And gaines against his soueraigne Lord of Danes an Armie strong Hungar and Hubba and himself Conductors of this Oste Did with their forren Forces land and spoyle the Northerne Coste The vicious valiant Osbret that had vanquished ere then The King and Kingdome of the Scottes though wanting Armes men Thought skorne his Foes should beard him so barre him vp in walles And therefore issuing out of Yorke vpon the Danes he falles A bloodie Bargane then begonne no fight might fearcer bee And of the Danish parte were slayne for euery English three But manhood lost and number wonne the Danes they got the feelde And Osbret dyed valiantly that not to liue would yeelde MEane while the Danes with fresh Supplies ariue at euery Shore And warre almost in euery Shire infesting England sore With whom couragious Etheldred contended long in vayne By them was he King Ella and the holly Edmond slayne Nothing was done but all vndone till King Alured hée In daunger of his royall selfe did set his Subiects frée For euery day in euery place the Danes did so increase That he nor any English King enioye one day of peace Nor mightier men at Armes then they might any where be found Who in their diuers Warres 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 here Perceiuing of this spoyled Isle a toward Rewen nere Disguised like a Minstrell poore did haunt the Danish Tentes And with his feates and melodie the Enemie presents And of their sloth their gluttonie and Councels priuie so He tooke aduantage giuing them a sudden ouerthroe And slayeth Hubba Hungar and the Cause of their repaer And putteth all to Sword and Seas that vnbaptised waer Yet to Northumberland return'd fearce Gurmond with the Danes Meane tyme did King Alured dye the Hatchet of their Tranes But Adelstane one King betwixt not only clear'd the Land Of Danes but of all England had sole Empier in his hand Thus of this long dismembred Realme was he the only King In which till Egelred his raigne did prosper euery 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 subdew'd the Scottes and slaughtered the Danes And of the Welsh had Tribute Wolffes of whom it more remanes That as it were in Triumph-wise Eight Under-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 kinde and cruell Mother For as she labors to preferre her owne by well and ill So to destroy her Sonne-in-law she wanted meanes not will And meanes did hit King Edward hunts and hunting lost his Trayne Whom Man-les at her Castell Corfe the Quéene did intertayne He hauing seene to whom he came in curtesie to see Made haste away in Quest of them that still a Hunting bee And mounted when he should departe to him his Stepdame drinkes Whom pledging him an Hierling stab'd and lifeles downe he sinkes Thus Egelred obtaynd the Crowne but for his crowning so His Subiects grudge and he became the Preface to their woe For when this proude and vicious King was neither lou'd of his Nor liued safely for the Danes his secret Edict is That suddenly in one selfe hower throughout the Land should passe A common slaughter of the Danes which so performed was And Welwyn called Wealth-wyn then for promptnes in that charge Beginning other Townes as it themselues from Danes inlarge CHAP. XXI THis common Massacre of Danes was common mirth to all The English whom they did oppresse with slaueries not small Compelling men by greeuous Draught as Beastes to plough their Land Of whom the English as of Gods or Feends in terror stand The Husband durst not vse his Wife if liked of a Dane Nor House nor Goods nor aught he had for who resistes was slane That prankes and feedeth daintely this pynes and fareth ill And of his Sweat that hath the sweete and is imperious still Each house maintayned such a Dane that so they might preuent Conspiracies if any were and grope how mynds were bent Lord Dane the same was called then to them a pleasing name Now odiously Lur-dane say we when ydell Mates we blame When Swayne the Dacian King did heare his Danes were murdred so With bitter vowes he shipt his men for Englands ouerthroe And landing spaerd no Shrine nor Sainct nor Sex nor any State Not wanting Ayders English-men that held their King in hate Especially false Edricus the Admirall deceiues His King and Countrie oftentymes and Bribes of Swayne receiues And Egelred his cowardisse incouraged the Foe Till Swayne at length by Masses great was bribed hence to goe But making short returne the Péeres of England that disdayne Th'indignities of such a King that did féebly rayne Submit them Subiects vnto Swayne and Egelred did flye Unto the father of his Quéene the Duke of Normandie And Swayne possessed of the Land did shortly after dye His sonne Canutus present here had Seazen of the Crowne Till Egelred returning backe by Armor puts him downe Who scarcely giueth breathing tyme but that he backe resayles From Denmarke and by force by friends and Fortune here preuayles For in this Warre King Egelred did sicken and decease And then the broyles Canutus King did for a tyme decrease Till Edmund sonne of Egelred did interrupt that peace COnferring Armes to Edmunds age when Egelred did lye On Death-bed to
Deities of the Armour Ornaments and al what soeuer the Reliques of AEneas left behind him at his departure from Carthage would effectually estraunge the outrage of her passions and extinct in her y e very remembraunce of AEneas Thys Counsell either for that at the first she beléeued it possible or for that opportunitie so offered it selfe to practise the thing she did purpose Elisa entertayning opened the same to Anna her Syster who simply vnsuspitious of the sequell prouided secretely as was gyuen her in charge a pyle of dry Faggots crowned with Garlands for the dysmall Sacrifice which and Elisa her selfe in a readynes AEneas his Armour béeing her eyes Obiect became in thys wise her tongues Subiect Wyth this quoth she eying the Armour y e craking Troian bosted to haue buckled w t the gallant Diomedes not seldome to haue offended the defenclesse Grecians and after many loned blowes at the sacking of Troy valiantly to haue boordded his thence-bent Nauie thys Armour profitable to my preiudice there defensiue to him to bee héere offensiue to me were it vnnecessarie to thys Sacrifice shoulde neuerthelesse burne for the same trespasse Thys Cuppe thys Phrigian Cuppe too guilty of too many Tyrian draughts Assystaunts in forming me audatiously amorous shall now occupy these cerimonial flames as the then Accessarie to a contrarie fire These Bracelets and these Earinges by too often and offentious handes fastned and loosed with begged and graunted kysses among and nowe lesse precious by the Gyuer hys practise shall also adde Cynders to the repentant payment of mine ouer-rated pleasure Lastly are remayning onely two Reliques of that Recreant this Sword and Elisa her selfe But what diddest thou AEneas leaue this and thyne Armor in Carthage as if in Italie thou shouldest encounter an other Elisa inconsiderat that thou art albeit such feareles Conflicts best beséeme such effeminate Captaines yet no Clymat can affoorde thée one so foolish and therefore in no Country expecte such Fortune The Storme ah from thence are these teares sheltring vs twayne lately in one Caue was no doubt ominous to these euills for then shoulde I haue remembred that like as Shelters are chiefely sought for in Stormes so men labour our fauours onely in extremities but their lustes satisfyed or wants supplyed as of Shelters in Sunne-shyne they estimat our bountie leauing thenceforth euen to séeme such as in troth they neuer were but what is naturall is of necessitie onely let it be graunted he is a Man and it foloweth necessarilye he is deceitful Fly Traytor AEneas flye vnfollowed and vnfriended of Elisa euer may the windes bee contrarie to thy Course and the Seas not promise thée one howres safety euer be thy Shippe drowning and thy selfe neuer but dying often resayle in a moment whence thou wert sayling a moneth let no blaste from the Ayre or Billowe in the Sea stirre but to thy preiudice and when no horror and mishap hath fayled thee with thy dead bodie to the vttermost plagued perrish also may thy Soule vnpardoned But least mine incharitie prooue lesse pardonable then his Iniurie I that will not lyue to heare it so hartily disclame to haue it so pardon therefore ye Gods me desiring it and him deseruing it Troth is it this one Sacrifice shall giue ende to myne infinite sorrowes but not alas with these burninges rather found guiltie of new beginninges but with my harts blood the latest Ceremonie wanting to thys Exquisie Scarcely had these words passed her mouth when with AEneas hys Sworde sh◠pierced her Brest so performing on her selfe a Tragedie sought for and to hers a terror vnlooked for WHilst Dido so named of this her death or as haue some not lesse probable of so preuenting Hiarbas minacing her marriage was thus passionate did thus perrish AEneas after weary Sea-faring much sorrowe many people and places séene and sayled from arryuing in Sicilie was ioyfully entertayned of his auncient friend Kyng Acestes and there as the yéere before at Drepaum did solemnize an Anniuersarie at the Tombe of hys father Anchises The Masteries feates and actiue pastymes tryed heere by the Troian and Cicilian youth with land sea Skirmidges by running ryding leaping shooting wrestling and such like with Bacing on foote and on horsback this last a sport lately vsed of our English youthes but nowe peuishly perhaps vnpollitickly I am sure discontinued Or how y e Women of Troy wher of manie were also imbarcked from thence tyred with the perils of the Sea and intised with the pleasures of Sicilie to preuent further sayling fired their Shyps not without great losse rescued Or howe AEneas buylding there the Cittie Acesta peopled the same with his women and impotent Troians Or of the drowning and Reuise of Palinurus manie Occurrants hapning héere at Cuma Caieta and els-where I omit as lesse pertinent then the hastning of AEneas into Italie Wherefore shypping him from Sicilie I nowe lande him in Latium in which part of Italie raigned and was Resident in his Cittie Laurentum the King Latinus to whom AEneas addressed a hundred Knights one of them delyuering this Ambasie Ignoraunt are we not most gracious King for in that Tytle art thou famous and in that tryall may we prooue fortunate of thy Consanguinitie with the Troians by noble discentes from Dardanus our auncient Progenitor neyther canst thou but know that Troy is sacked and her people for the most part slaughtered onely know if alreadie thou knowst it not that AEneas our Duke with a few hys Folowers hetherto reserued to more infortunes after more then seauen yéeres sayling are lastly and luckilie I hope arryued in thy Countrey Howbeit of many vnpeopled places for pleasure and fertility moste worthy manuring haue we abandoned the quiet possession yea many the greatest Princes of Europe and Affrick haue voluntarily desired our Taryance denyed onely infinite Seas haue we sayled and more sorrowes sustayned to séeke this Clyme from whence we Troians deryue our Originalles and whether our Gods haue dyrected vs by their Oracles Thys thy Country in respect of the bignes may easilie affoorde rome for a newe Troy to be builded A plot more spacious wee doo not aske A smaller sute thou canst not graunt if with our present extremities thou also peise our purposed loyalties Neuer were we thy foes euer wil we cōtinue thy friends Seated we must be and héere we would be We dare not disobey the Gods commaunding it nor would we discontent thée in demaunding it graciously therefore conceaue of our Petition and gratefully receiue from AEneas these worthlesse Presents Hauing thus sayd he in the name of AEneas presented the King with a most ritch Mantell or Robe with an inualuable Crowne of Golde enchased with precious Stones and with the late royall Scepter of King Priamus with a standing Cuppe and other Treasure which Latinus chéerefully receiuing returned the Troians thys aunswere Had not the Gods commanded your hether repaire which I gainsay not or were we not of Allyance
wherin I disclame not Or my Kingdome not rome-some enough to receiue you as it is Or had ye not brought pretious and peaceable Presents as ye haue yet to dismisse Wayfarers vnrested and vnreléeued were contrary to the Gods of Hospitalitie and which they defend that I should therin offende Latinus his honour Ouer fast hee sitteth that securely sitteth for as hee that is timerous hath too little prouidence so he that is feareles hath too much presumption yea lesse gréeuous are expected then vnlooked for euilles I speake not this as I feare to fall but as I fore-sée I may fal for the vnpearching of others should be for preachings to vs. Priuie am I vnto your distresse applying the like possibility for me so to decline for who is priuiledged from becomming such and who is such that would not haue succour My déere Fréendes and Alies sorrie I am that ye haue so yll cause to estrang your selues from home but gladde that I am in so good case to entertaine you héere Let AEneas seate him and prosper ye in Italie my land well may abide it and my selfe brooke it Yea more for the Oracle of my mynde consorts no doubt with those of our GODS Lauinia my sole Daughter and heyre forbidden a Natiues and behighted a Straungers Marriage hath founde a Husband and I a Sonne-in-lawe at the leaste I wyshe it would be and hope it wyll be Make my thanks to AEneas for his Presents and be you Masters of your Petitions The Troians sumptuously feasted euery maÌ„ on a gyueÌ„ Corser brauely ritchly mounted dismissed returned Latinus his aunswere and Present deliuered AEneas neuertheles as farre from béeing secure as ioyous of such Tydings knowing the good spéede of a Straunger to be an Eye-sore to the people and therefore not careles suspitious of it that might causeles succéede strongly inmured his Men in a new-built Fortresse In the meane-while their Arriuall and Entertaynement with Latinus occupied and for the most-part offended all Italie Enuiously stormed Amata the Quéene that Lauina her Daughter and Darling should be wedded to a Straunger an Exile as she termed him and therefore when she could not disswade the King by flattery she insensed his Nobles and Subiectes to resist it forcibly On the otherside Turnus Prince of the Rutules in person excéeding all for comlines and in Armes equall to anie for his courage to whom Lauinia was before promised in Marriage as Mal-content as any for being thus circumuented by AEneas therefore helde a Counsell in hys sumptuous Cittie Ardea scituate in the territory of Latium how to intercept the Troians by wyles expell them by warres weaken them by wants disapoynt AEneas and possesse himselfe of Lauinia Often sent he Messengers and sometimes Menaces to aduertise Latinus that he was promised he should and to assure him he purposed he would enioy her or anger him But by howe much more Latinus was religiously vnremoouable in his Resolution for AEneas by so much the more did Turnus giue loose raynes to hys headye anger Howbeit sufficient matter wanted for his mallice to worke vpon vntill by euill happe his chollor tooke aduauntage of his colour Ascanius with diuers Troian Gentlemen his Fréends and others his Attendants Hunting in a Forrest not farre from their Fortresse by chance did incounter strike and chace a fayre and well spread Stagge which y e Chyldren of one Tyrrhus the Kinges Raunger and Steward of his Grounds a Man of no meane account amongst the Latines had from a Fawne nourished so intreated that no Beast might be more tamer This Sâ—aâ—ge thus stroken and followed of the Troians and taking the readiest way to the house of Tyrrhus with bléeding hawnches entring the Hall was first espied of Syluia or Ilia a yong Gentlewoman in whose lappe he sléeping had often layd his head and at whose handes he had many a time taken Brouse béene kemed and trimmed She séeing the Stag in such plight almost swouned ere she could wéepe and wept ere she might speake and spoake ere shee was heard and was heard ere shee was pittied and pittied ere she was comforted and comforted onely in promise of Reuenge At the winding of an Horne came flocking thether in a tryse the Heards-men Shepheardes Plow-men and Hyndes thys Anticke of Groomes finding Almon the eldest Sonne of Tyrrhus and theyr young Mystres Syluia gréeuously passionate and their olde fellowe the Stagge bloody and braying his last question no farther what should be done but were furiously inquisitiue after the dooers In thys meane-time by euill hap Ascanius hys Companie drawing by Parsie after the Stagge which they knewe not for tame were entred the viewe of this Schoole of inraged Clownes who all at once and suddainly with such weapons as they had or founde néerest at hand as Staues Shéep-hookes Dung-forks Flayles Plow-staues Ares Hedging-Betels yea Lybbattes newelie snatched from burning and what not fearcely assayled with downe ryght blowes the amazed Troians who not hauing leysure to aske questions couragiously entertayne the vnknowne Quarrell And so long and daungerously for eyther part continued this confusion of blowes and effusion of bloode that by nowe it was bruted at the Fortresse and at Laurâ—ntum and was anon increased by rescue from either Faction neither had this Skufling an ende vntill night was begunne at what time the Latines Rutules and Troians left the wylde Medlye howbeit not discontinuing their malice Of chiefe account amongst the Latines were slayne lusty Almon and aged Galesus a man of an honest and wealthye condition whilst hee vnseasonably amongste blowes deliuered vnregarded perswasions of Peace The wounded Corses of these twayne did Turnus cause to be conuayed to the viewe of Latinus as Arguments of their common dammage him selfe with an enuious hart and an enuectiue tongue amplefying the same to the vttermost not vnasisted therein by the yrefull Quéene Amata or vn-furthered by the hurly burlie of the impatient people all labouring the King to denounce Armour against the Troians Latinus in this tumult of hys Subiects and trauell of hys Senses assuring himselfe that AEneas was y e man prophesied to the Marriage of Lauinia and succession of Latium Disswaded but might not Perswade wyth the heady multitude In fewe with such efficacie did she dead Corses inuite it the Quéene intreate it Turnus affect it and the People followe it that lastly though against his mind the King did suffer the Laurentines to reare on their Walles absolute Tokens of imynent Warres Thus founde Turnus that which hee longed for and AEneas no lesse then he looked for and eyther sollyciting succours were not long vnfurnished of hardy Souldiers yea in respecte of their multuous Armies the Warres lately ceased at Troy might now haue béene sayd reuiued in Jtalie But as in hys Wandringes so in his warres my purpose is breuity eyther which the Lawriat Trumpetor of his glory hath so effectually sownded that many might amplifie I could itterat but not any can amende it neuertheles in
remembring of this Hystorie I haue also vsed other Authorities YT followeth After long Warres valiantly on eyther part performed Manie greate Kinges Princes and Parsonages perrished when lastly the Rutiles begunne to be repentant of their wrong and the Troians wearie of the Warres AEneas and Turnus méeting had these wordes And first AEneas Often Truces haue we had Turnus for the burial of our deade neuer Intreaties of peace for the welfare of those aliue onely once as I haue béene euer diddest thou séeme thou diddest but séeme prouident that no moe should miscarie offering me Combate which I accepting haue in vaine expected but since thy minde chaunged I wote not by what meanes haue chaunged y e lyues of I wote not how many But now euen now when for the palpable leasâ—ng thou shouldest not speake like Turnus shouldest thou deny the better of the warres to abide with AEneas and yet I still be AEneas though playing vpon that Aduauntage with Turnus euen nowe I say my selfe doo request thée of that Combate whereby further Blood-sheds may happily bee concluded Beléeue me wert thou a Begger and I a Monark yet so much doo I emulate not enuie thy glory I woulde hazarde all in a Combate requested of so valerous a Competitor But least perhaps I ouer-breath thy tyckled Conceite with more selfe-lyking then is expedient knowe Man Turnus know Nature Beath Arte Education nor whatsoeuer are in any thing more beneficiall to Turnus then that iustly be may enuie as much or more in AEneas To thys aunswered the Rutule thus Whether thou speakest this AEneas as insulting ouer my infortune or as insolent of thine owne felicitie or emulous as thou sayst and I beléeue it of my glory trust mee onely if thus in thy better successe to abandon thy selfe to such offered disaduauntage be not indiscretion neuer hearde I wherein to derogate from thy pollicie but say it indiscretion yet by Iupiter AEneas it is honourable indiscretion Not to encounter so heroicall for in thée I enuie not that Epitithon a Combattant is as contrary to my thought as contenting to my very Soule and as contenting to my Soule as if AEneas were already conquered and Turnus Conqueror either which I deuine at y e leastwise I am determined to aduenture be prouided therefore AEneas of courage for thou prouokest no Cowarde but euen Turnus that would haue asked no lesse had hée not doubted AEneas not to haue dared to aunswere so much Thus and with these Conditions that further warres should finish that the Espousall of Lauinia and Succession of Latium should bee the Prize to the Uictor A Combat to be tryed by these twayne body against body was vpon Othes taken and other Circumstaunces ratefyed Nowe were they Armed Mounted and did Encounter their Coursers were breathles the Ryders Dysmounted and buckled on Foote both offended eyther defended and nayther faynted Lastly not with vnrequited blowes was Turnus Disarmed the Uanquished pleading for life and the Uictor not purposing his death had he not espied on his Shoulders the sometimes Badrike of his once especiall Fréende Pallas King Euander his Sonne whom Turnus in Battell ouercomming had put to Sword then AEneas saying onely in this Spoyle thou shalt not tryumphe and onely for his sake am I vnintreatable shoffed his Sworde through hys Breaste Turnus so ending the World and AEneas the Warres Then was he peaceably wedded to Lauinia shortly after possessed of Latium After which about thrée yéeres he dying left his Kingdome to Ascanius and Lauinia with Childe She at her time and at the house of the before remembred Tyrrhus was deliuered of Syluius Posthumuâ— so called of hys béeing borne amongst y e Wooddes after the death of his Father To him because in right it was the Inheritance of Syluius from his Mother dyd Ascanius voluntarilie resigne the Kingdome of Latium and of him for his honourable Regyment were all the after Latine Kinges called Syluij Finally he Hunting and mistaken amongst the Thickets for a Stagge was slayne with an Arrowe by his Sunne Brutus This Brutus for sorrow and his safety accompanied with manie lusty Gentlemen and others of AEneas his Troians Ofsprings imbarking themselues after long Sayling aryued in this Iland then called Albion whose Cyantlike Inhabitants in respect of their monstrous making and inciuill Manners sayd to haue béene engendred of Deuilles he ouercomming Manured theyr Countrey and after his owne name called it Brutaine And thus hauing begotten Brutus an Originall to our Brutons I conclude this abridged Hystorie of his Grand-Father AEneas William Warner Finis ¶ Imprinted at London by George Robinson for Thomas Cadman Anno. Do. 1586.
his Sonne he sayd not quite forlorne am I Whose life hath had so much of gréefe thus graciously to dye Add more thy vertues glad my death yet two things gréeue among To leaue my Kingdome thus in Warres and thée for Warres so yong So may these troubles waer to none as thou doest wax I pray And so possesse thy fathers Seate that all approue thy Sway. Not to be made a King my Sonne is so to make thée proude For mildnes fitteth Maiestie high mynds are disaloude Sée me thy father now a King and by and by but earth Nor thinke that euery King hath happ to dye a happie death Let Nature for perfection mold a Paragon each way Yet Death at least on finest lumpes of liuing flesh will pray For Nature neuer framed it that neuer shall decay The brauest are as Blossomes and the longest Liuer dyes And dead the louelest Creature as the lothsomst Carrion lyes Then thinke not but that Kings are men and as the rest miscarrie Saue that their fame or infamie continually doth tarrie Déeme past Examples Sentences and which did fayle in me Make vse of those not now in vse for now will cease to be Attempt not things beyond thy reach ioyne Fortune to thy will Least Phaebus Chaire doe els surcharge rash Phaoton his skill If Fortune helpe whom thou would'st hurt freat not at it the more When Aiax stormed then from him the Prize Vlisses bore Trye friends by Touch a feeble friend may proue thy strongest Foe Great Pompeis head to Caesars hand it was betrayed so Admit thou hadst Pactolian waues to land thée Gold at will Knowe Craesus did to Cyrus knéele and thou maist spéede as ill Abandon lust if not for sinne yet to auoyde the shame So Hoggs of Ithacus his men the Latian Witch did frame Be not to modie in thy wrath but pause though Fist be bent Oft Phillips Sonne did rashly strike and leisurly repent Content thée with vnthreatned Meane and play not AEsops Dogg The Gold that gentell Bacchus gaue was gréedie Midas Clogg Be valiant not to venterous but fight to fight againe Euen Hercules did hold it ods for one to striue with twaine Be not ambiciously a King nor grudgingly decline One God did roote out Cis his stocke and raise vp Iesses line Iest not with edge tooles suffer Saincts let mightie Fooles be mad Note Seneca by Neros doome for Precepts pennance had Haue care to whom of whom and what to speake though spéech â—e trew That Misse made Phaebus contrary his Rauens Swan-like hew He frameth torments to himselfe that feedes a Tyrants vayne Perillus was by Phalaris adiudg'd to selfe-taught payne Praise not the beautie of thy wife though she of forme be sped For Gyges moued so did graft on Candaules his head Shunne Ielosie that hart-breake Loue if Cat will goe to kinde Be sure that Io hath a meane that Argus shalbe blinde Commit not Treasure with thy Childe to greedie mynded men Thou leauest Polydor a Spoyle to Polymnestor then Occurrants giue occasions still of like in which be sure To serue thy God to saue thy selfe and well to all procure Be vertuous and assure thy selfe thou canst not then but thriue In only Uertue is it sayd that men themselues suruiue As for the vicious such they are as is the heedlesse Flye That killes it selfe and hurts his sight that hath her in his Eye Farewell my Sonne England farewell thy neuer happie Prince Doth take his leaue an happie leaue if taken so long since And Edmund burying not with me thy vertues nor my speech I blesse thee in his blessed name whom I of blesse beseech Sayd Egelred and shortly gaue a quiet gaspe or twayne And being dead his noble Sonne succeeded him in Rayne THis like himselfe euen knightlike and an English-man in deede Did quicken Englands quayling Prowes and Mars-like did proceed A brauer Captaine then was he not any Band might haue And yet a Mars did match this Mars Canutus was as braue These Wonders of that age for Armes and Dirij of those daies Did often battell equally to eithers losse and praies Now after many bloodie Fieldes when none might estimate The better or the worser parte a Knight that sawe the state Then present and by likelihoodes presaged what might fall Sayd hearing it the diffring Kings and Soldiours almost all We euer warre and neuer winne Edmund hath Fortitude Canutus Fortune neither thus of other is subdude Death feares not vs nor for their liues our Contraries doe crare It followes then that all must dye where all so despret are If all be slayne then who shall serue our Princes that suruiue Or fence out Forrens better one then none of both should thriue To thriue therefore were not a-misse that seeing one of twayne Will Owner all that only they the quarrell doe maintayne Or if Combattansie not please the Land is rich and large And they Coperciners may liue and vs of death discharge If Combate nor Partition be then will this Warre reuiue Till one suruiuing all of vs wants one with whom to striue This sayd the Kings did marke and make a profite of the same And did conclude by Combacie to loose or winne the Game Within a little Island nere round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trye their force by fighting hand to hand They spurre their Horses breake their Speares and beate at Barriars long And then dismounting did renewe a Battell braue and strong Whil'st either King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus sayd we both I see shall end Ere Empier shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or parte With it their Knights crye out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of sight And so the Champions did imbrace forgetting Mallice quight Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And brother-like they liue and loue till by a deulish 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 headded him for mee Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall bee The Earle was headded and his head poolde vp for all to see Of England Danske and Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in his triple Regment all with vertue did accord Harolde and Hardi-knought his Sonnes each did succeede Of either which small certen Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raynes to English-men did gréeuous thraldome bréed But after Hardi-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the State of England euer sence CHAP. XXII OF forsayd Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwyns gile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout franke and milde was he And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did
set his Kingdome frée By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issules he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Quéene a Damsell faire howbeit by conscent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this Mayden-wife in sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp did spring He laughing sayd the brother there the brother well hath easd His meaning was the Stumblers Feete And haddest thou so pleasd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traytrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am giltles of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke Harolde his sonne by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary windes in Normandie ariues There Goodwyns Sonne did take an oth Duke William vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should goe The Crowne of England clayming by Adoption and by blood But Harolde 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 William therfore works for Warre King Harolde had not rest For Harolde Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his pusant Bands But Harolde him assayles And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuayles And with the Norgayne Prince he slewe 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 only murmor and malinge but did forsake him quight Such mallice growing William with his Normanes taking land Found hot-spurr Harolde prest in Armes his pusance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his chearfull speeches thus his men with courage fild Sée valiant Warr-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agents of our Enemies they henceforth 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 not stouter then the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger then the sturdie Danes our Uictorie erwhile Not Saxonie could once contayne or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by Sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerat take courage by discent And by their Buryalles 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 parte of vs are flead and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytors cléered so Yea pardon hath he to departe that slayeth Mal-content I prize the mynd aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yet troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the ill or well Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which nertheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuayle But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yet wot I neuer Traytor did his Treasons Stypend mis. Shrinke who will shrinke let Armors wayte presse downe the burdned Earth My Foes with wondring eyes shall see I ouer-prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a-like affected be Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from Seruitude to frée Are armed both in shewe and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home-brought Spoyles of Uictorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to dye a noble death that life for Fréedome spends As Harolde hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the Earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lye within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Soldiours one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor bâ—ye Normanes now to seeke in what ye should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pykes to hewe your Honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by lawe Ye come I say in rytious Warre reuenging Swords to drawe 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 Troyelus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Séede of Priams Sonne Exployt this busnesse Rollons doe that as ye wish be donne Thrée People haue as many tymes got and for-gâ—n this Shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more For Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Séede the Crowne shall neuer passe away Before vs are our armed Foes behinde vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holds 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 hael in for Lée Whereas whil'st men securely sayle not seldome Shipwrackes bée 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 fayle Hope then your Duke doth Prophesie and in that hope preuayle A People braue a terren Heauen hath Obiects wroth your Warres Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's and mounâ— your fame to Starres Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne extrude vs from our right He dyes to leaue a famous life that doth for Conquest sight By this the furious Battelles ioyne a bloodie day to either And long they fight the Uictorie inclyning vnto neither At length the English had the ods who kéeping close aray Unto the Duchie Forces gaue no entrance any way Then fayning feare and Martially retyring as opprest The English so became secure and followe on disperst To which aduantage furiously the Normanes did returne And got a bloodie victorie In vayne the English thâ—â—ne Amidst the Pykes against the pricke 〈◊〉 Harolde then was slayne From him began the Normanes sole but soone â—â—â—ioyned rayâ—e For second Henrie Mawde her Sonne fréed Englands blood agayne Since whence and euer may they so that Of-spring ruled vs Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne the Genalogue is thus King Edmund Irne side Issue had Edward the Our-law he Had Margret Mawde by Mancholyn the King of Scottes had she Mawde to the Conqueror his Sonne first Henrie Mawde did beire This second Mawde the Angeos wife had second Henrie heire EDward King Harolds Preregnant of this same Change foretold Who present and succéeding tymes thus dying did vnfold It is a World to note quoth he