conclude by Combacy to winne or loose the Game Within a little Island neare round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trie their Force by fighting hand to hand They spur their Horses breake their Speares beat at Barriars long And then dismounting did renew a Battell braue and strong Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus said we both I see shall end Eâ—e Empire shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or part With it their Knights crie out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of Fight And so the Champions did embrace forgetting malice quite Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And Brother-like they liue and loue till by a deu'lish traine Earle Edricus a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne Did murther Edmund and his head supposing to haue wonne The fauour of Canutus so presenting sayd O King For loue of thee I thus haue done Amazed at the thing Canutus sayd and for that thou hast headed him for me Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall be The Earle was headed and his head poold vp for all to see Of England Danske Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord Harold Hardi-knought his sonnes each th' other did succeede Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raigns to Englâ—sh-men did grieuous thraldoÌ„ breede But after Hardt-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the state of England euersince CHAP. XXII OF foresaid Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwins guile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout francke and milde was hee And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did set his Kingdome free By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issuelesse he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire howbeit by consent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this maiden-wife he sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp to spring Did laughing say the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd His meaning was the Stumblers feete And haddest thou so pleas'd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traitrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am guiltlesse of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke His sonne Harold by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary winds in Normandie ariues Where Goodwins sonne did take an oth Duke VVilliam vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should go The Crowne of England claimed by Adoption and by blood But Harold after Edwards death not to his promise stood And for he was in wealth in friends in blood and Armor strong And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong But arming him against the Duke so vrged vnto wroth Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe contrary to his oth Whil'st VVilliam therfore works for war King Harold had not rest For Harold Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his puissant Bands But Harold him assailes And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes And with the Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all When for deuision of the spoyle did much contention fall Betwixt the King and English-men and many a noble Knight Not onely murmur and maligne but did forsake him quight Such malice growing VVilliam with his Normanes taking land Found hot hot spur Harold prest in Armes his puissance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild See valiant War-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agentes of our Enemies they hencefoorth cannot call Supplies for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe Then Conquer these would Conquer you and dread no further Foe They are no stouter than the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes or victory er while Not Saxoâ—â—e could once containe or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerate take courage by discent And by their burialles not abode their force and flight preuent Ye haue in hand your Countries cause a Conquest they pretend Which were ye not the same ye be euen Cowards would defend I graunt that part of vs are fled and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth Mal-content I prize the minde aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yeat troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which neretheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuaile But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yeat wot I neuer Traytour did his Treasons Sâ—ipend mis. Shrinke who wil shrinke let Armor's wayte presse downe the burdned earth My Foes with wondring eyes shal see I ouer prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a like affected bee Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from sâ—â—uitude to free Are Armed both in shew and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home brought Spoyles of Victorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spendes As Harold hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lie within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Souldiers one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor be ye Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pikes to hewe your honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by law Ye come I say in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye Since Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead ye Or Turchus Sonne of Troylus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Seede of Pryams sonne Exployt this businesse Rollons do that which ye wish be done Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more Fot Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away â—efore vs are our armed Foes behind vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour and for ease But that Aduantage
the other Succeeded but in life and death moretragicke than his brother IN Scotland Fraunce Ireland and VVales he warred wearied lesse Than by the Pope and English Priests wronged without redresse Nor was saue from their Soueraignes death their malice out of date Yeat Iohn faine they hut they felt Iohn did trouble Church and state When for as Gaylers with Conuicts so Popes deale with a faulter Their sin-salue like the setting loose from Shackles to the haulter When Masse and all the Sacraments were Strangers many a day And that so farreforth as it in the triple Myter lay Euen God himselfe was barred hence and that prostrate before His Vassall Bishop Langtons feete the King did grace implore When Peter pence were graunted and the English Crowne to hold By rent and Homage of the Pope and that for sums of gold The French Kings son was cursed hēce who els had wore y e Crowne And that the reconciled King did seeme on surest ground Then he whil'st he in progresse did at Swinshed Abbey lye Was poysned by a Monke that baend himselfe that Iohn might dye The Monke more solemnely inter'd and song for than the King Was cause that diuers diuersly did consture of the thing Some charg'd the Popes of Auarice for that when Rings offend They sell them peace of pride for that to them euen Monarks bend Of meere incharitie for that to wreake their priuate spight Gainst Kingdomes Kingdomes they incense and worser do acquite Euen subiects to allegiance sworne against their Lords to fight Of Treason for that to intrap such as from them discent With othes and al things they dispence Some bid vs thus preuent Their sinnes and sleights doe not as they not deale with them for why Who doth must liue their Vassal or their Victorie must die A merrie mate amongst the rest of cloysterers thus told THis cloystring and fat feeding of Religious is not old Quoth he Not long since was a man that did his deuoire giue To kill the passions of his flesh and did in penance liue And though beloued of the King he liued by his sweat Affirming men that would not worke vnworthy for to eate He told the erring their amisse and taught them to amend He counselled the comfortlesse and all his daies did spend In prayer and in pouertie Amongst his doings well High-waies he mended doing which this Accident befell A dosen Theeues to haue beene hang'd were lead this Hermite by To whom he went exhotting them as Christian-men to dye So penitent they were and he so pitifull good man As to the King for pardon of the Prisoners he ran Which got he gaue it them But this Prouiso did he add That they should euer worke as he They graunt poore soules glad He got them gownes of countrey gray and hoods for raine and cold And hempen girdles which besides themselues might burthens hold Pick axe and Spade and hard to worke the Couent sell together With Roabes Ropes eu'rie toole for eu'rie worke wheather So did they toyle as thereabout no Causie was vnwrought Wherefore new labours for his men the holie Hermite sought But at departure prayed them to fast to watch and pray And liue remote from worldly men and goeth so his way The holy Theeues for now in them had custome wrought contēt Could much of Scripture and indeede did hartely repent But when the countrey folke did heare of these same men deuout Religiously they haunt their Celles and lastly brought about That frō the woods to Buildings braue they wound the Hermits crew Who was from found-out worke returnde and their Aposta knew He going to their stately place did finde in euery dish Fat beefe and brewis and great store of daintie fowle and fish Who seeing their saturitie and practising to winne His Puples thence Excesse he sayd doth worke accesse to sinne Who fareth finest doth but feeed and ouer-feedeth oft Who sleepeth softest doth but sleepe and sometimes ouer soft Who clads him trimmest is but clad the fairest is but faire And all but liue yea if so long yeat not with lesser care Than formes backs boanes bellies that more hōely cherisht are Learne freedome and felicitie Hawkes flying where they list Be kindlier and more sound than Hawkes best tended on the fist Thus preacht he promist abstinence and bids them come away No hast but good well weare they and so wel as they would stay The godly Hermit when all meanes in vaine he did perceiue Departing sayd I found you knaues and knaues I doe you leaue Hence sayd this merrie fellowe if the merriment be trew That Cloystring Friers cloathing and a Couents number grew This heard a simple Northerne-man no friend to Monke or Frier Or preaching Lymmer for his speach disclosed thus his yre AFowle ill on their weazens for the Carles garre syke a dinne That more we member of their iapes than mend vs of our sinne At Ewle we wonten gambole daunce to carrole and to sing To haue gud spiced Sewe and Roste and plum-pies for a King At Fasts-eue pan puffes Gang tide gaites did alie Masses bring At Paske begun our Morrise and ere Penticost our May Tho Roben hood liell Iohn Frier Tucke and Marian deftly play And Lard and Ladie gang till Kirke with Lads and Lasses gay Fra Masse and Eensong sa gud cheere and glee on ery Greene As saue our wakes twixt Eames and Sibbes like gam was neuer seene At Baptis-day with Ale and cakes bout bon-fires neighbors stood At Martelmasse wa turnd a crabbe thilke told of Roben hood Till after long time myrke whē blest were windowes dares lights And pails were fild hathes were swept gainst Fairie-elues sprits Rock plow Mōdaies gams sal gāg with saint-feasts kirk-sights Iis tell yee Clearkes earst racked not of purpoe ne of pall Ylke yeoman fed moe poore tume wambes than Gentiles now in Hall Yea ledge they nere sa hally Writ thilke tide was greater wrang Than heretoforne tho words had sooth na writing now so strāg Iis na Wizard yet I drad it will be warse ere lang Belyue doone lyther Kirk-men reaue the crop and we the tythe And mykell bukish ben they gif they tache our lakines blithe Some egge vs sla the Prince and shewe a Bullocke fra the Pape Whilke gif it guds the sawle Iis sure the cragge gangs till the rape Syke votion gyles the people sa but sylde gud Princes scape Sa teend our King his life and song is Requiem for the Monke Gud King God rest thy sawle but Feēds reaue him bath sawle trōke Such talke was long on foote and still was quittance tale for tale Dunstone quod one made Edgar earst an English Monarke quale For matter of lesse moment euen for wedding of a Nunne Whom in her Cell the King espi'de lou'de wooed and thus wonne THe same quod he that rules this Land the same intreateth thee Thou maist sweet Wench vnto thy selfe deriue a Queene
did expect like deaths as had their brother And as they feare did he affect which for the troubles then Was vneffected now behou'd to winne him loue of men Yeat casts he how he might conuay to him his Neeces right Soone compassing his Wifes dispatch whose life stood in his light Then plyes he his amazed Neece to his inâ—â—â—tious bead Of her abhor'd Shee in conceite by faith fore-plighted spead This marrage motion gawles her more than any former griefe Her selfe Friends Realme Conspiracie all it toucht in breefe And therefore death late feared now she fantaseth in cheefe Meane while did Henry land incampe fight and subdewe his Foe And marrying her long ciuill warres in England ended so CHAP. XXXV SEauenth Henries forraine busenes had succesfull honor heere Three schol'd Dâ—dalien Icarists whose mounting cost them deere Did interrupt the peace The first a Priests bace Puple he By his Complottors was pretenst'e Duke Clarence sonne to bee A many of our natiue Peeres some forraine Princes too Submissiuly behight him aide in all that they might doo The Lad was lofty for himselfe he harrollized well At full he could his lessons and a formale lie would tell For him was fought a bloody field the Victory the Kinges Lambert the forged Yorkest and the Priest that fram'd his winges Weare taken For minority the Icarus was quit The Dedalâ—s for cleargie tites was but intowr'd for it Thus scapte the Priest The mother Queene to her that now was Queene Found harder sentence for a crime more venale as I weene Shee that did forward Henry with her friends her purse her wit That had conspir'd conceil'd concur'd for him the Crowne to git And had him now her sonne in law vnchauncy Queene fore-went Her whole reuenewes and her age as if in durance spent Because against her heart good Soule for bootles to withstand See yeelded all her daughters to the late Vsurpers hand Whereby the Vnion might haue quaild and for it might she must Indure such law strict law to her of mallice not vniust THan good old Queene Elizabeth our next young Phaeton Had gentlier Iudgement He till then froÌ„ Realm to Realm had gone And now in Ireland hoping no such honor was at Corke Saluted by some Rebels theare for Richard Duke of Yorke Fourth Edwards second son Those Stiles to him were strange but thay Did feofe them on the bace-borne Muffe and him as King obay The Yorkesh Faction though they knew the error let not slip Occasion that they now might haue Lancastrians on the hip Margret fourth Edwards sisters heart for ioy hereof did skip Shee had him soone to Burgone and informes him cuery thing That might concerne Yorks pettegree or apted for a King Maliciously repining still at Lancasters successe And often would thus or thus-like her heart with tongue expresse God hath forgot our house of Yorke nay Yorke it selfe forgot To my late Brother Richards soule cleaue euermore this blot He made away our friends to make a way vnto our Foe To Lancaster proud Lancaster I thence these teares doc floe Had he stock't vp that hated stocke had he raâ—'st out that Race Python had ceast and he had bene Apollo in that cace That Henry was Lancastrian and that Henry was aliue And where he liu'd that he should not liue if we would thrâ—â— He knew ywis yeat knew he not his death how to contriue The Duke of Brutaine is no God then how the diuell y'ste That both my brothers laboring him for whome they 〈◊〉 Their Sinons weare too simple and their bribes but petite geere WheÌ„ had they bought him with their souls they had not bought him deere The heire of Lancaster fie how it loathes to sound that name Enioyes the Crowne nay worse enioyes to wife a Yorkesh Dame Worser the name Plantâ—genet is buryed in the same And worst of all their Title such as law bids vs disclame Who would haue lookt such change to chaunce oh howe I feed like will As Aeâ—as daughter Aesons house with tragedies to fill Who can endure to see their friends decline their Foes ascend I see it and for seeing so doe wish my life had end When that her darling had his looer she left him to his wings Who flead not to worse company or at lesse game than Kings He lighteth in the French Kings Court wheare honord as the same From whom he falsely would contriue a Crowne by forged name He had Supplies and English ayds and Irish troupes also With which he lands in England where King Henry met the Foe On either part the Battell was right bloodie but at length The King subdues and Perkeâ— flead the land dispoyld of strength Then as the French the Scotch King did repute of him whereby He wyu'd a Lady passing fayre and of the Kings Allie The Earle of Huntlies daughter of the scotch-blood-royall bread Shee both before and after that her low-pris'd Mate was dead When well she knew his parentage and felt his ebbed state In onely sorrow did abound in loue no whit abate Howbeit in the English Court prefer'd to high estate Theare for she was of comely parts and vncompeered face Shee often brauely courted yeelds no Courtier labor'd grace To one among'st the rest that most admierd her aunswers chaste She sayd besides the sinne and that I so might liue disgrac'ste A Presedent of wrong and woe did make me long since vow Chastly to liue the Loue of him whom Fates should me allow I knew quoth she a Knight a Knight he was in each respecte I knew a Ladie fayre she was but fouly to be chect They loued long if that to loue and leaue may loue be sayd Till lastly she conceyued loue wheare loue should be denayd Then he whose Sowles Soule goddiz'd her perceiuing her vntruth Became vnlike himselfe and mou'd saue her each one to ruth At last he runs'distraught about and what his moods conceited He did confusedly he wept askt answerd and intreated Ah many a time for though his words lackt methode yeat they moued He had these speeches arguments how earnestly he loued CHAP. XXXVI MY Mistresse is a Paragon the fayrest fayre aliue Atrides and Aeacides for faire lesse faire did striue Her colour fresh as Damaske Rose her breath as Violet Her bodie white as Iuorie as smooth as polisht Iet As soft as Downe were she down Ioue might come down kisse A Loue so fresh so sweet so white so smooth so soft as this The Cleonâ—an Lions spoyles for her I would redresse I would the Lernan Hydras heads with sword and fire suppresse My force the Erymantheon Bore should brauely ouermatch The swift-foote golden horned Stag I running would orâ—catch My bow the Birds of Stymphalus from wastfull prayes should chace Of her proud Baldricke would I spoyle the Amazon at Thrace Augeas washed Stables should my seauenth Labour end I with the Bull of Calidon victorious would contend On horse-deuoured Diomede like honour should be wonne 〈◊〉 Spanish Robber
Princely her Allowance and more stately as is sayde Than had she been in Scotland nor was Libertie denayde Of Hauking Hunting and Disports that had she been content Her merriest and securest daies a Prisoner she spent Scotland though labourd of our Queene would not receiue her and Such Treacher though imprison'd here prou'd she to either Land That death awaited her at Home and had we let her goe She was the Leagues shot-Anchor might our Queene and State o'rethroe Percie and Neuell auncient Earles This yet in Spanish paye Though bacely ill too well for him his Countrie would betray That other headed both her Wreckes wee touch but by the way With that succeeding County who concurring with his brother Once pardon'd still conspyred and Lawes Progresse so to smother Dispatcht himselfe Paget and moe like guiltie as those other Whose faultes falls had Rome Spayne their Father her their Mother Omit we Noâ—folks House from first of Howards made a Prince Though fauor'd of the Commons haue defected euer since As Absolom vs'd Curtesie but as Ambitious smoake Last Thomas Duke of Norfolkâ— so did his aspyring cloke WhoÌ„ promis'd faith once fre'ed but that promise soone he broke Him for Confedrate with those Earles rebelling Proofes did touch And with this Scottish Queene that he Intelligence had much Her Marriage that he closely sought and her Escape pretended And in her Right had fadg'd their wrong her Highnes Raine had ended Of Rising neer to London and to take it Plots they layde From Netherland the Spanish King had promised them ayde From Scotland into Spaeyne should be the Infant-King betrayde Ireland meane-while with aduerse Armes should also be ore-layde And hereof to and fro the Pope weare Letters still conuayde All which and more directly prou'd he piâ—ied lost his head Nor ought his death from being such did stand his Sonne in steade So hardly finde we Great-men in their Greatnes satisfide Or for their Greatnes not to be of other Men enuide But what is All to those haue All when but in Trifles crost Disgrace or Greese or Grudge vn-queare no lesse than all weare lost Conclude we then all Riches Forme Pompe Worlds-Applause but Winde Conclude we then to Monarchize is to coÌ„mand the minde Throckmorton yeat more priuie and more practising than those With her Mendoza Papists here forren and Land-leapt Foes Did Mischiefes that imported more our practiz'd State disclose But when of Parry Babington and their Attempts I thinke With whome this Scottish Lady in their bloody hopes did linke All foresaid Practises seeme then Epitomies to it Whereto these folliall Traytors did themselues and Senses fit Our Centinels almost too late the Larum bell did ring Yeat hardly then to arme her selfe our Generall they bring The Queene of Scots froÌ„ Ours almost her Crowne life had priz'de Eare to preuent the same she would by audience be aduis'de When gentle Durance might not salue that Daunger did remaine Which God and Nature tolerate slea rather than be slaine To which our Parliament aduis'd our Queene but long in vaine So far was she from foing her that sought her life and Rayne CHAP. LVI NOw thirtie sixe our greatest Peeres and States had power to heare And to determine and as found her to condemne or cleare By Statute passed in our Queene her seuen and twentith yeare These noble Tryers iustly then examining the Cause With reuerent Note of her who heard and spoke to euery Clause Did after diuers Daies so spent adiudge by Verdict trew Her guiltie of most trayterous Conspiracies not fewe And then from Fotheringhaye themselues to Parliament with-drew Of this Infection that our Peers and People had and would Remediles impoyson if not medeine it we should By some Decision of the Lymme whence all the bayne did floe Our publike Weales Phisitions much did argue to and froe Did neuer English Parliament fully conuented then Consist of Noblier Learneder Wiser and Worthier men By these it was debated how this common Foe might liue Without her death whom God to vs a common Blisse doth giue Much was it labord wished much some Course herein might holde But to resolue of any none had reason to be bolde Her still obdurate Malice to her Maiestie was cleere If she preuaild Religion was assurd an Altring heere Our Nobles Crocodile at home and hence our Foe-hop't Head Then must our Queene Religion Realme or She for them be dead Wherefore from Either House were sent the chiefest Men to craue Her Highnes that the passed Doome might Execution haue Whereof She askt to be aduisde and earnest her to saue Dismissed them with louing words and biddeth them expect Her Answer shortly nor did She the sending it neglect Though contrarie to it that all did hopingly affect For she perplexed in that case did lastly them direct To studie Meanes how Both might liue the Perill ouer-past Which much amaz'd yeat solemnly they handell it at last Mercie to her Malice in her might happily preuent Was sayd but not resolu'd for oft she Mercie vnder-went When rose the Earles and other times yeat neuer did repent But of our Queene to be destroyd had made her Testament A straiter Garde Bonds Hostages were also nam'd in vaine For should she prize our Queene who then durst her or theÌ„ detaine Or what were these to recompence the Losse we should sustaine For Loyaltie to take her Oth was thought to purpose small Such Othes she oft had falsifide nor thought it Sinne at all To breake them to an Heretike our Queene so Papists call To banish her were to possesse our Foes of their desier For vs to rid away the Smoake and runne into the Fier To set her free to make a Head for them against our Queene In few no safetie for vs but in her Death was seene So wholly by the Parlament concluded was and so Reported to her Maiestie still pitying her Foe In more sententious learned and delibrate sort than I Can set it downe past all toucht heer So did her Maiestie In answering earst and now to them her Aunswer Aunswer-lesse Sweet Adumbrations of her Zeale Mercie and Wit expresse But with her Oracle that bod them do and doe it not Play'd they as Alexander did with King Gordians Knot OF Spayâ—s huge Nauy toucht before great Rumor now was spread And that th'Inuaders meant to make this Scottish Queene a head For which continued doubt of her in English hearts was shead Not in the Vulgats only but some Nobles of this Land Who had not knowing it our Queene then got into their hand The Writ of Execution that her Heading did purport The which was executed soone and in a solemne sort This nature-frended Ladie had she bin as wise as witrie Who by the Massacres in France had learnt to leaue off Pittie Made there too apt for bloody Acts the Pope for it too blame To take her death too much deseru'd her selfe did meekly frame She bids commend her to her Sonne and will him to
Vnwilling though by what Presage I wot not Dauid seem'd Of Ammens going but what Fate ordain'd hath none redeem'd Go did he wheare full merily he frollicked that tyde When by his Ostes Attendants there of sudden Wounds he dyde Which after Bar quet did their Lord for onely him prouide More skar'd than hurt the other Sonnes of Dauid flead with speede Yeat eare their home-returne the King had notice of the deede And feared much their safetie till them he saw and then Was such confused sorrow more was neuer seene among'st Men. To Geshur Absolom escapes three yeares an Exile thear Till Dauids kinde relenting heart to Ioah did appeare By meanes of whome recalled home he lastly purchast Grace Yea well-appay'd was Dauid if weare Absolom in place Lou'd neuer Father more a Sonne than him his Father lon'd Prou'd neuer Sonne vngratefull more than he vngratfull prou'd For hauing stolne the Peoples hearts by affable Pretexts He faines his vowes at Hebren but the Diadem affects And by collected Forces theare distressed Dauid more Than S 〈…〉 le the Cananites or all hap't after or before Enforcing him to flie the Land But dwell we not of this God neuer fauor'd such Attempts or euer sayled His. When Dauid seem'd in common Sence already on the hip Was Absolom himselfe ore-throne whom God made ouer-slip What wisely false Achitophel had counseld him to doe Whose Counsell not receau'd he hong himselfe and worthie too Ambitious Absolom now foyl'd as on his Mule he flead Was carried vnderneath an Oke wheare caught-vp by the head EueÌ„ by those bewtious Locks of which him such praise is read He sighte and cause he had and said or say he might that All Which so vniustly seeke to clime most iustly so doe fall But whatsoeare he thought or spake this holds autenticall We thinke no greater blisse than such to be as be we would When blessed none but such as be the same that be they should Had one Man all that all Men haue he nothing had vulesse He also had a Soule that All as nothing did possesse Natures Mynion Eyes Admier and now in-ayred Earth For hanging Ioabs ruthles speare had vented vitall breath Although the King his counter-maunde should haue contraried so Effected had his Fathers heart no Substance else but woe So kinde and ouer-kinde was he in mouing such a Foe But thus of this and thus to him this following Crosse did groe CHAP. LX. TO epilogue our Tragedie now Adoniah acts With whome olde Dauid to depose euen â—oabs-selfe compacts Yeadiuers Captaines did reuolt and with the Sonne rebell Which not a little greeu'd the King that lou'd the young-man well Who next his brother did for forme and soly now excell Remayn'd but Salomon and he and he the elder Sonne Too forward yeat to practise Rule eare Dauids Raigne was donne But what God meaneth is Amen The Scepter was behight To Salomon and Nathan mou'd the King to doâ— him right Who aged caus'd his Diadem to roâ—alize the head Of Salomon annoynted now which heard the Rebel flead So haue we seene not yeares farre-past long-Plottings ouerthrone Euen in a trise to day a Queene to morrow lesse than none Such was her Fate but not her Fault that stoode for Maries Throne Nor cite I this A Noueltie like Pul-backs many an one Repentant Adâ—niâ—â— now vnto the Altar flies 〈…〉 thereof which one that it espies 〈◊〉 vnto Salomon that sent to fetch him Thence Which wâ—uld not be till swore the King to pardon his offence Whom◠〈◊〉 we now so pardoned or rather in suspence â—or though a Kings Competitor in one same Land may liue â—eat take he heed the sleightest cause a cause of death doth giue Which hapned him eare hapned this inserted by the way Dauid decea'ste in Salomon was sole and sou'raigne Sway When 〈◊〉 to prolong his life did at the Altar stay Euen he that in so many Brunts for Dauid did preuaile That saue for Adoniah now Allegiance neare did faile That saue for sheaded blood of twaine could none impeach of wrong Euen this grand Captaine of the Hosts a luckie Knight so long Hand-fasting now the Altar clames that Priuiledge in vaine For thence he would not and the King commaunds he thâ—are be slaine Which Warrant did Banaiah serue And so this Worthie died For Abner and Amasas blood like-Worthies and as-tried With Adoniah now remaines we act and ende our Sceanes To whoÌ„ might seeme small good was meant what il soere he meanes Wheare crowned Might crossed Right so neere together dwel Behooues that Forrest-flying Feare whereof the Fox did tell Our factious Lancaster and Yorke thereof could witnes well Abisag Dauids Hebe that in comfort of his Age Attended him at Bed and Boarde when naturall heate did swage Howbeit still a Virgin and the goodliest Wench aliue Enamours Adoniah at the least with her to Wiue He drifteth not detayned but for Salomons consent Of which he moued Bethsabe for which she Sutor went To Salomon that thearewithall was onely not content But also tooke occasion hence of more perhaps than meant â—â—naâ—ah by the Kings Commaund did Adontah slea For Cryme perhaps perhaps because a Crowne might come in Plea For Salâ—mon diuinely wise could Subtellizings sound That much the Maâ—d knew Dauids mind that Many she had bound Whilst gratious earst with Benefits her Kinred strong he found That â—oaâ— and Abiatâ—ar weare on his Brothers side That his aspiring sleepes nor must be slept the King espide Or else-what Adoniah was dispatched out of hand So sped his Suâ—e so was confirm'd to Salomon the Land If Others otherwise not I as others vnderstand Nor better Meede for Merits could these Dauidists alleadge Yeat did their Father eate the Grapes that set their Teeth on edge Then charitable godly-wise and continent weare fit Should Parents be So prosper they Theirs and whom Theirs begiâ— Of Scotland quieted by our Queene and France by her kept French Is toucht Of Belgike long selfe-vaind rests how the blood doth steÌ„ch CHAP. LXI THe Inquisition threatned wrought in â—etherlanders feare And Signes of altring Regment in their ancient State appeare As ful-fead Children with their Foode by Peace this People play Till in world-matchles Wealth did them Securitie betray They hearing what King Philip meant against their State did minde What in the Fables Morall of the Stock and Storke we finde For in the Ladie Regent and her Brother Philips Corse Their hearts presaÌ„g'd like diffâ—ence 〈◊〉 twixt Rigor and Remorse Arm'd was the Duke of Alâ—â— who by warres by wiles by 〈◊〉 Shuld coÌ„quer circuÌ„uent coÌ„sume those Lands their Lords the Good These to haue his sufficed not the Spanish King vnlesse He Monarchize their Land their Lawes and Liberties depresse The other Part their Consciences and Priuiledges pleades Nor other cause than only thus to Armor Either leades For There else-Where and euer Spayne when Spayne wold Scepters lurch Concludes for Spayne though euer Spayne begins for holy-Church No Armie was as yet
frō me What lets since none may loue thee more vnles perhaps this Cell Too strict a place wherein thy selfe euē Beauties selfe shouldst dwell Let nature hide her barren formes and imperfections thus And in such Puritanes as thou commend her skill to vs. Thou wrongest Nature molding thee to molde by thee as faer Thou wrōgest mē that would beget the fruit which thou sholdst baer Thou wrong'st thy Countrie of increase thou wrōg'st me in like sort Thou wrong'st thy Kin of kindred thou wrong'st thy selfe of sport Shouldst thou but dreame what marriage were thou would'st not liue a maid One heart of two two Soules to one by wedlock is cōuaid An husbands open kissings and his secret coyings nay The very Soule of Loue more sweet then thou or I can say The ioy of babes which thou should'st beare the Seruice at thy becke The sweet consorted common weale of houshold at thy checke Would make thee seeme a Goddesse who because thou art not such Offendest God in hiding of thy Tallent Too too much Thou dotest on Virginitie permitted not impos'd On any saue on such as for no such thy selfe thou knoest Els what should meane this penning vp such vowing these Vailes Since Vessels onely are of worth that beare in stormes their sailes The Scedsters of thine Essence had they been as thou would'st be Thou hadst not been Then gratifie the same thy selfe and me And leaue these superstitious walles Thou profitst not hereby Nor are we male and female borne that fruitlesse we should dye Then loue me for beleeue me so will proue a Iubilie Her red disperst in shadowed white did adde to either more To her of beautie and to him Loue greater than before She claimes the places priuiledge and faintly cites a Tex She pleades her birth too bace and playes the No-I of her Sex And fighteth as she would be foyld But prized Durstone makes It Sacrilege and for to wife the Recluse Edgar takes In twelue yeeres would be not annoynt or crowne him King more Enioynes him seuen yeeres pennance and to edifie and store Great Monasteries fortie ere Indulgence could be got Thus Edgar for his Cloyster cheere did pay this costly shot CHAP. XXV IOhns murther bred such murmure But third Henry Iohn his sonne Assisted chiefly by the Pope his fathers Scepter wonne Who interdited Lewis till hee curst him into France And left to Henry prosperous raigne till hapned this mischance A Parliament at Oxenford did derogate so much From his prerogatiue as that the Quarrell grew to such That ciuill warres betwixt the King and Barronage began Not ending but with tragicke ends of many a worthy man Brother to brother sire to sonne and friend to friend was foe Al labouring which they should vphold their Countries ouerthrow Now was the King a Captiue and the Barrons by and by His Conquest and the ciuill strife too fast begot supply My heart vnapts mine hand to write the troth of it too trew Euen warres Idea more then tongue or eye can say or view But to conclude which still concludes the King he did subdue And shewes himselfe a gentle foe thus hauing wonne his peace And after liu'd in honour and did happily decease Whose death then warring with renowme in Syria being knowne To Edward he resailed and possest his fathers Throne THe hansell of his Scepter was the Welchmen did rebell Of whom to Edward though with losse the Victorie befell Then on the French he warred and a Winner did resayle And for that Baltoll whom he made the King of Scots did faile His Homage thence from Albanacke to England due and done Against the Scots he grieuous but a glorious warre begun Not Barwicke though for number bold vntill it flowed blood Nor any Scottish armes or hold though infinite and good Might stay his awing prowesse till he had their King his thrall And in that Land by Conquest made himselfe the Lord of all Then taking Scottish othes which they did breake and he reuenge With those Exploits he French attempts as gloriously did menge Yea Paganes French Cambries Scots remembring but his name Cannot forget their skarres he made though enuious of his Fame Matchles for Chiualrie and yeat his Iustice matcht the same Not partiall for the Prince his Sonne a rash vnbridled youth Whom he imprison'd hearing of his outrages the truth And vnto whom he dying spake words worth report and ruth My life quoth he a warfare right in body and in soule Resignes my robed carkasse to be rotted in the moule If well I did well shall I doe if ill as ill and worse And therefore Ned worke as I will vpon my blesse or curse When thou becom'st an earthly God mens liues to ouersee Forget not that Eternall God that ouerlooketh thee The least part of a King is his all owing him and none Lesse priuate than a Prince the weale or woe of euery one He and his People make but one a bodie weake or strong As doth the head the lims or lims the head assist or wrong Deriue thy lawes from wisest heads to be vpholden still Not adding or abstracting as conceited Tier-braines will Be cheerefull and in worke nor word be neither proud nor hot No sincere loue but seruile feare or neither so is got Encourage good Men by thy loue reforme the bad by lawe Reserue an care for either Plea and borrow least of awe Oppresse not rich men seeking so to please the poore for neither Is to be doomed but as right or wrong is found in either To loyter well deserued gifts is not to giue but sell When to requite ingratitude were to doe euill well And which saue for the ill-mist ill might els haue bene forgot Be choyce but chuse for wiuelesse haue each stranger place shot Their heire their home cost which saue the last indeed are not Reforme thee euen to day vnapt to day lesse apt to morrow Youth aptly offers vertues such as yeares vnaptly borrowe For he that plies the lappes and lippes of Ladies all his prime And falles to Armes when age failes Armes then also looseth time As if a Beare in Moone-shine should attempt the Moone to clime Well haue I driuen out my date and well thy dayes shall runne If thou proue not my Glories graue nor I plange in my Sonne The ouer-weening of thy wits doth make thy Foes to smile Thy Friends to weepe and Clawbacks thee with soothings to beguile Yea those thy Purses Parasites vnworthie thine Estate Doe loue thee for themselues nor will they leaue thee but too late I blesse thee if thou banish them and curse thee if they bide My blisse and curse be at thy choyce And so he shortly dide FOrth with a second Edward sonne to Edward wore the Crowne He to promote his Flatterers did put his Nobles downe So Robert Bruze then King of Scots found ingresse for his Armes Recouering Scottish forces and did spoyle our men by swarmes Barwicke in fine and all
her Homager may England Scotland call Which ouer-passe not now possest in this Accompt we shall Of either Land the Marches and much more for most now Ours The warlike Picts possessing Here built Castles Towns Towers 〈…〉 tes Scots and Romaines then our Lords oft daunting with their Powers Tâ—â—â—â—stly ciuil Strife Scots disskingdom'd theÌ„ froÌ„ Hence Whom Orkney Ilands as is sayd haue harbour'd euer sence The Brâ—â—aines by these Picts of long opprest with thraldome sore To be deliu'red of such Foes did Saxon Aides implore So playing as did Aesops Horse that angrie with the Hart To be reueng'd did craue in ayde of Man to take his part Till when the Horse was neuer back't nor bitted Either now He hauing suffered would haue helpt but then he knew not how The Brataines hauing called so the Saxons to their aide Could not be rid of them to whom they had themselues betraide But by the same were they at length debelled into VVailes Each of whose Kings of long time Three in Englands Monarch failes The Saxons getting Brutaine thus which they did England name At once of them in seuerall Parts Seauen Kings did rule the same All which by VVesterne Adelstane in Monarchie was got Which since saue Iron-sids the Danes once DeuideÌ„t chang'd not Fiue Irish KingdoÌ„s likewise add now drown'd in Englands Crowne The Seauenteenth was the Isle of Man in Ours now also downe Our Mandeuil here cited of Earle Mandeuil exact In Stephens Raigne so famous Man in Scots Possession sack't And with the Spoyle of al that Isle thence and his Brother pack't Consent of times Names and Records affirme may seeme no lesse But Monteacute Count Salsburie it wonne and did possesse Of Percies after Stanlies next and still gesse I holds Man From honorable long Descents and from they first began All loyall hospitalious lou'd still powre-full and I pray That in that Noble house those Termes may neuer-more decay This Man was diuers hundred yeares a Kingdome and not small Rul'd Hebrides the Orcades to Thul the Islands all And chances there and Changes worth the note did oft befall As how the naturall Incolants the Iselanders subdew Them Norses â—rish them them Scots and English them in few Beauchamp the Earle of VVarwick first and last and but a while Was King of VVight Sixt Henries Gift that Honor and that I le VVhich added Eighteene Kingdoms al possest ieke Englands Stile These now thus couched all in One saue Parcell Scots withhold Of Penthland and some barren Isles subdu'd to Man of old Since hath one Monarch ruled vs hath rendered secure VVhereas Pluralitie of Kings did euer Losse procure Twise ioyn'd our Ilanders in one when twise did Caesar faile Disioyning He Picts Saxons Danes and Normaines did preuaile The Spanyard in Conceit deuoures our Countrie in no hope But of Disiunctiues who thinks he lesse loue their Prince than Pope Let France admonish England turn'd Religion turnes not Spayne From thirsting France Neutralitie brought late-lost Calice Baine And Spanish't-French liue Peasants-like that French did Princes raign Our Elders illy did they well for so should not be done Much lesse to causeles Armes against their Prince ought Subiects ron So badly brook't this Spanyards fam'd Espousall with their Queene That euen at VVestminsters Law-Barres were harnest Pleaders seene Fear'd with the trooped Bands y t wold that Banes with swords forbid Of which were pittied those that dide the Rest winkt-at and hid Their meaning had it Praise had not the Manner bin in fault The Manner now doth hold may none in selfe-same Meaning hault But arm'd be euery hand and heart hence Englishly to beate Spayn that our Bodies wold inthral Rome that our Soules doth threat Yeat which hath blinded bridled and beguil'd them many a day Their Inquisition wish I from the Spanyards rid away What good remaines to wish the Pope this that had none bin borne From him to steale his ill-got Coyne from vs to ship our Corne. The best things brought from Rome to vs conuert troe I to ill But new Rome left of old Rome now abreuiat we will CHAP. LXXIV WHen Stafford and his double Charge to Italie were come In health and rich for hence brought they in Coine no little Some With Iewels of rare estimate and else-what of great worth For Mandeuil they seeke and him at last did listen forth That in Constantinople yet he was a Marchant saide And thither Staffords Letter was to him with speed conuaide Purporting only that himselfe at Rome his comming staide Meane while in Rome the Mistris once of all the world they view Such wonders couch't in Ruins as vnseene might seeme vntrew Once was it compast as is read with fiftie miles of wall Now some to twentie some to lesse in that accompt doe fall It hauing Towers so many as the yeare hath dayes in all From fortie miles was water brought in Pipes oâ— Arches thether Were vaulted walkes through euery Streete gainst Sunne and rainy weather The sumptious Bathes with Pallaces thereto of rare delight The roomesome Ponds where very Ships some Festiuals did fight The Trophie Arches where to life Triumphants were purtraide The Statures huge of Porphyrie and costlier matters made The Theaters Pyramides the Hill of halfe a mile Raisde but of tribute Pot-sheards so to boast their Power long while The Obelisks of one whole Stone neere fortie yards or more Huge Pillers caru'd in Masonrie with Prowse of Knights before The stately Bridges sometimes Eight now fewer Tyber crosse The Thirtie goodly Gates of which is now of number losse The huge Colosses Conduites and else-what that shew'd a State Beyond beleefe of ruin'd Rome in part repair'd of late They wonder at how the world could yeeld such Pomp debate Though some the seauen inclosed Hils did ancient Rome containe Lye waste or Vine-yards more doth yeat of Maiestie remaine Euen in the Rubble of the old than in the now renew'd Though Rome retaines a Statelines nor fairer Pyles are view'd The round Pantheon once the House of all the Heathen Gods Stands yet a Temple but lesse deckt for rich by too much ods On Auentine the down-fals are of Temples store to see On Tarpie of the Capitol were wont their Guild to bee On Palantine of Pallaces on Caelius signes of Playes Quirinall Exquell Viminall of Bathes shew braue decayes These Hils with Vatican and old Ianiculum ore-past Shew we how Rome did rule was rul'd and ruin'd at the last FRom Ianus called Noe of some â—aphet of some Noes Sonne And Iaphets sonne of others Rule in Tuscan first begonne Raign'd in sixe hundreth twentie yeares of Latines Twentie one Son of the Eight of which was Brute first Soueraign of our Throne The last of these Numitor was whome Romulus did kill And building Rome slew Remus there to lord-it at his will * This Citie then Receptacle for all how vile skils not Of Italie by one and one the Sixteene State-Lands got Tarquinius raign'd the Seauenth in Rome
Kings oppresse the mightier ones the weake Each trifling cause sufficing here their loue and leagues to breake One seazeth of his Neighbours Realme and is disseaz'd ere-long For Empire some for Enuie some and some to right their wrong Contend vnto their common losse and some like Monsters rain As Sigâ—ert who for tyrannie did banishment sustaine He wandred vnbewailed long a man whom men exempt From house and helpe pursuing him with capitall contempt Forlorne therefore with drouping lims and dropping eies in vaine He frendles walks the fruitles Woods and foodles did complaine A Swineheard meeting him by chaunce and pitying his estate Imploy'd the Westerne King vnknowne on his affaires to wait Nor did the needie King disdaine such roome for such reliefe An vnder-Swineheardship did serue he sought not to be chiefe But when by speech and circumstance his Maister vnderstood His seruant was the somtimes King blood cries quoth he for blood My giltles Master in thy pompe thou Tyrant diddest slay Nor vnreuenged of his death thou shalt escape away With that he tooke a Libbat vp and beateth out his braines And dead so odious Tyrants be not one for him complaines NOt all so ill yeat cause of worse vnto the English state Was Osbert of Northumberland his loue did winne him hate Enamored on Lord Buerns wife as tired in the Chace He left the Hounds and with a fewe dismounts at Buerns Place Her husband absent heartely his Lady entertaines The King and feasts him Royally not sparing cost or paines But he that fed on Fansies food and hungred whil'st he eates Thought Venus sparer in her loues then Ceres in her meates The Trayne and table voyded then he taking her apart Directs her by his tongue and teares vnto his louing heart Delay he sayth breedeth doubts but sharpe deniall death Or do not long surcharge my blisse or soone discharge my breath For if my praiers adde no edge vnto thy begged doome The vintage of my thriftlesse loâ—e is blasted in the bloome Be fauorable to my fire for thy sweete sake be bolde I durst attempt euen Hell if hell so sweete a thing might holde Doe thinke her coie or think her chaste my Censure I suspend Some Women yeeld not at the first yeat yeeld they in the ende She gaue repulses to his lust and he replies of Loue Not all the Writs Diana had might Cupids Plaint remoue She countermaunding his demaund he ceased Courting now And did with her by violence what vertues disalow And then departed leauing her in selfe-conceit disgraste More trespassed then some would thinke and yeat perhaps as chaste Home came her Lord whose browes had buds and found his wife in tears And foolish thing she told a troth for which reueÌ„ge he swears But so the man did proue a beast he better might haue hid it Some such are mistically domme yeat domly doe forbid it His Wiues escapes done secretly if by the man detected Shewes hilled buÌ„ps supposed buÌ„ps meerehornes not hornes suspected At Denmarke in his Cosins Court he telleth of his wrong And gaines against his soueraigne Lord of Danes an Armie strong Hungar and Hubba and himselfe Conductors of this Hoast Did with their forren forces land and spoyle the Northerne Coaste The vicious valiant Osbret that had vanquished ere then The King and Kingdome of the Scots though wanting armes men Thought skorne his foes should beard him so bar him vp in walles And therefore issuing out of Yorke vpon the Danes he falles A Bloodie Bargaine then begonne no fight might fearcer be And of the Danish part were slaine for euery English three But manhood lost and number wonne the Danes they got the fielde And Osbret dyed valiantly that not to liue would yeeld MEane while the Danes with fresh supplies ariue at euerie Shore And warre almost in euery shire infesting England sore With whome couragious Etheldred contended long in vaine By them was he King Ella and the holy Edmund slaine Nothing was done but all vndone till King Alured hee In daunger of his Royall selfe did set his subiects free For euery day in euery place the Danes did so increase That he nor any English King enioy one day of peace Nor mightier men at Armes than they might any wheare be found Who in their diuers Wars els-where did diuers Realmes confound For as the Gothes the Vandales Hunnes and Saxons earst did range So now the Danes did plague the world as sent by interchange This Westerne and victorious king and greatest Monarke heere Perceiuing of this spoyled Isle a toward Ruine neere Disguised like a Minstrill poore did haunt the Danish Tents And with his feats and melodie the Enemie presents And of their sloth their gluttonie and Counsels priuie so He tooke aduantage giuing them a sodaine ouerthrow And sâ—ayeth Hubba Hungar and the Cause of their repayr And putteth all to sword and Seas that vnbaptized wair Yeat to Northumberland return'd fearce Gurmond with the Danes Meane time did king Alured die the Hatchet of their Tranes But Adelstane one king betwixt not onely clear'd the Land Of Danes but of all England had sole Empire in his hand Thus of this long dismembred Realme was he the onely King In which till Egelred his raigne did prosper euerie thing He raigning much of England then the Lordly Danes did hold Exacting Tributes euery yeare and selling Peace for Gold And which no doubt did hatch those Plagues the King a wicked one Did enter by his Brothers blood extorting thus his Throne King Edgar that subdu'd the Scots and slaughtered the Danes And of the VVelch had tribute Wolffs of whom it more remaines That as it were in Triumph-wise Eight Vnder kings did roe Him Sterns-man on the Riuer Dee with diuers honors moe This Edgar by a former wife had Edward by an other This Egelred a Sonne vnto a kind and cruell Mother For as she labors to preferre her owne by well and ill So to destroy her Son-in-law she wanted meanes not wil. And meanes did hit King Edward hunts and hunting lost his Traine Whom man-les at her Castle Corfe the Queene did entertaine He hauing seene to whom he came in curtesie to see Made haste away in Quest of them that still a hunting be And when he mounted should depart to him his Stepdame drinkes Whom pledging him an Hierling stab'd life-les downe he sinkes Thus Egelred obtain'd the Crowne but for his crâ—wing so His Subiects grudge and he became a Preface to their woe For when this proud and vitious king was neither lou'd of his Nor liued safely for the Danes his secret Edict is That sodainely in one selfe hower throughout the Land should passe charge A common Massaker of Danes which so performed was Hartfordia VVelwyn VVealth-wyn then for promptnesse in that Beginning other Townes as it themselues from Danes inlarge CHAP. XXI THis common muâ— her of the Danes was common mirth to all The English whom they did oppresse with slaueries not small Compelling meÌ„
by grieuous Draught as Beasts 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 ought he had for who resists was slaine That frankes and feedeth daintily This pines and fareth ill And of his sweat that hath the sweete and is imperious still Each house maintained such a Dane that so they might preuent Conspiracies if any were and grope how mindes were bent Lord Dane the same was called then to them a pleasing name Now odiously Lur-dane say we when idle Mates we blame When Swaine the DaciaÌ„ King did hear his Danes were murther dso With bitter vowes he shipt his men for Englands ouerthroe And landing spar'd no shrine nor Saint nor Sex nor any State Not wanting Aiders English-men that held their King in hate Especially false Edricus the Admirall deceiues His King and Countrey oftentimes and Bribes of Swaine receiues And Egelred his cowardisse incouraged the Foe Till Swaine at length for Masses great was bribed hence to goe But making short returne the Peeres of England that disdaine Th'indignities of such a King that did so feebly raigne Submit them Subiects vnto Swaine and Egelred did flie Vnto the Father of his Queene the Duke of Normandie And Swaine possessed of the land did shortly after die His sonne Canutus present here had Seazon of the Crowne Till Egelred returning back by Armor puts him downe Who scarcely giueth breathing time but that he back resailes From Denmarke and by force by friends and fortune here preuailes For in this Warre King Egelred did sicken and decease And then the broiles Canutus king did for a time decrease Till Edmund sonne of Egelred did interrupt that peace COnferring Armes to Edmonds age when Egelred did lie On death-bed to his sonne he said not quite forlorne am I Whose life hath had so much of griefe thus gratiously to dye Ad more thy vertues glad my death yeat two things greeue among To leaue my Kingdom so in Warres and thee for Warres too young So may these troubles weare to none as thou doest waxe I pray And so possesse thy Fathers Seate that all approoue thy sway Not to be made a King my Sonne is so to make thee proude For Mildenes fitteth maiestie high mindes are disaloude See me thy Father now a King and by and by but earth Nor thinke that euerie King hath hap to die a happie death Let nature for perfection molde a Paragon each way Yeat death at last on finest lumps of liuing flesh will pray For nature neuer framed it that neuer shall decay The brauest are as blossomes and the longest Liuer dies And dead the louelest Creature as the lothsom'st Carrion lies Then thinke not but that kings are men and as the rest miscarrie Saue that their fame or infamie continually doth tarry Deeme 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 Phoebus Chaire doe else surcharge rash Phaeton his skill If Fortune helpe whom thou would'st hurt fret not at it the more When Aiax stormed then from him the Prize Vlysses bore Try friends by touch a feeble friend may prooue thy stroÌ„gest Foe Great Pompeâ—s head to Caesars hand it was betrayed so Admit thou hadst Pactolion waues to land thee Golde at will Know Craesus did to â—yrus kneele and thou maist speed as ill Abandon lust if not for sinne yeat to auoyd the shame So Hogges of Ithacus his men the Latian Witch did frame Be not too moody in thy wrath but pause though fist be bent Oft Philips Sonne did rashly strike and leisurely repent Content thee with vnthreatned Meane and play not Aesops Dogge The Golde that gentle Bacchus gaue did greedy Mydas clogge Be valiant not too venterous but fight to sight againe Euen Hercules did hold it ods for one to striue with twaine Be not ambitiously a King nor grudgingly decline One God did root out Cis his stock and rayse vp Iesses line Iest nor with edge tooles suffer Saints let mightie Fooles be mad Note Seneca by Neroes doome for Precepts pennance had Haue care to whom of whoÌ„ what to speak though speech be trew That Misse made Poeâ—â—us contrary his Rauens Swan-like hew He frameth torments to himselfe that feeds a Tyrants vaine Perillus was by Phalaris adiudg'd to self-taught paine Prayse not the beautie of thy Wife though she of forme be sped For Gyges moued so did graft on Candaules his head Shunne Ielousie that heart-breake loue if Cat will goe to kind Be sure that Io hath a meanes that Argus shall be blind Commit not Treasure with thy Child to greedy minded men Thou leauest Polidor 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 onely vertue it is 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 happy Prince Doth take his leaue an happy leaue if taken so long since And Edmond burying not with me thy vertues nor my speech I blesse thee in his blessed Name whome I of blesse beseech Said Egelred and shortly gaue a quiet gaspe or twaine And being dead his noble Sonne succeeded him in Raigne THis like himselfe euen Knight-like and an English-man indeede Did quickeÌ„ Englands quailing Prowes Mars-like did proceed A brauer Captaine than was he not any band might haue And yeat a Mars did match this Mars Canutus was as braue These wonders of that age for Armes and Dirii of those dayes Did often battell equally to eithers losse and praies Now after many bloody Fieldes when none might estimate The better or the worser part a Knight that saw the state Then present and by likelyhoods presaged what might fall Said hearing it the differing Kings and Souldiers 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 care It followes then that all must die wheare 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 twaine Will Owner all that onely they the quarrell doe maintaine Or if Combattensie not please the Land is rich and large And they Copernicers may liue and vs of death discharge If Combat nor Partition be then will his Warre reuiue Till one suruiuing all of vs wants one with whome to striue This sayd the Kings did marke and make a profit of the same And did