Palador Caer-Septon now called Shaftsburie at whose building it was said an â—â—agle prophecied or rather one named Aquila of the fame of that place and of the recouerie of the I le of the Brytaines bringing backe with them the bones of Cadwallader from Rome And from Eneons line the South-wales King From Theodor c. This Eneon was slaine by the Rebels of Gwentsland he was a noble and worthie Gentleman who in his life did many noble acts and was father to Theodor or Tudor Maur of whom discended the Princes of South-wales From her great Grandam faire Guenelliam Guenelliam the daughter of Rees ap Griffeth ap Theodor Prince of South-wales maried Edniuet Vahan auncestor to Owen Tudor By true descent from Liolin the great This is tho Lewhelin called Liolinus Magnus Prince of North-wales Nor that word Croggen nick-name of disgrace In the voyage that Henry the second made against the Welchmen as his Souldiers passed Offas ditch at Croggen Castel they were ouerthrowne by the Welchmen which word Croggen hath since beene vsed to the Welchmens disgrace which was at first begun with their honour And old Caer-Merdin Merlins famous towne Caer-Merdin or Merlins Towne so called of Merlius beeing found there This was Ambrose Merlin whose prophecies wee haue There was another of that name called Merlin Siluestris borne in Scotland surnamed Calidonius of the Forrest Calidon where he prophecied And kept our natiue language now thus long The Welchmen bee those ancient Britaines which when the Picts Danes and Saxons inuaded heere were first driuen into those parts where they haue kept their language euer since the first without commixtion with any other language Finis To my worthy and deerly esteemed friend Maister Iames Huish SIR your own naturall inclination to vertue your loue to the Muses assure me of your kinde acceptance of my dedication It is seated by custome from which wee are now bolde to assume authoritie to beare the names of our friends vpon the fronts of our bookes as Gentlemen vse to set their Armes ouer their gates Some say this vse began by the Heroes braue spirits of the old world which were desirous to be thought to patronize learning and men in requitall honour the names of those braue Princes But I think some after put the names of great men in their bookes for that men should say there was some thing good only because indeed their names stood there But for mine owne part not to dissemble I find no such vertue in any of their great titles to do so much for any thing of mine and so let them passe Take knowledge by this I loue you and in good faith worthie of all loue I thinke you which I pray you may supply the place of further complement Yours euer M. Drayton Elinor Cobham to Duke Humfrey The Argument Elinor Cobham daughter to the Lord Cobham of Sterborough and wife to Humfrey Plantaginet duke of Glocester the sonne of Henry the fourth King of England surnamed Bullingbrooke This noble Duke for his great wisdome and iustice called the good was by King Henry the fift brother to this Duke at his death appointed Protector of the land during the nonage of Henry the sixt this Elinor Duches of Glocester a prowd and ambicious woman knowing that if young Henry died without issue the Duke her husband was the neerest of the bloud conspired with one Bullingbrooke otherwise called Onely a great Magitian Hun a priest and Iourdane witch of Eye by sorcerie to make away the King and by coniuration to know who should succeed Of this being iustly conuicted shee was adiudged to do penance three seuerall times openly in London and then to perpetuall banishment in the I le of Man from whence she writeth this Epistle ME thinks not knowing who these lines should send Thou straight turn'st ouer to the latter end Where thou my name no sooner hast espi'd But in disdaine my letters cast aside Why if thou wilt I will my selfe denie Nay I 'le affirme and sweare I am not I Orifin that thy shame thou doost perceiue I le leaue that name that name my selfe shall leaue And yet me thinkes amazd thou shouldst not stand Nor seeme so much appauled at my hand For my misfortunes haue invrde thine eie Long before this to sights of misery No no reade on t is I the very same All thou canst reade is but to reade my shame Be not dismaide nor let my name affright The worst it can is but t' offend thy sight It cannot wound nor doe thee deadly harme It is no dreadfull spell nor magique charme If shee that sent it loue duke Humfrey so I st possible her name should be his foe Yes I am Elnor I am verie shee Who brought for dower a virgins hed to thee Though enuious Beuford slaunderd me before To be duke Humfreis wanton Paramore And though indeede I can it not denie To Magique once I did my selfe apply I wonne thee not as there be many thinke With poisning Philters and bewitching drinke Nor on thy person did I euer proue Those wicked portions so procuring loue I cannot boast to be rich Hollands heire Nor of the bloud and greatnes of Bauire Yet Elnor brought no forraine armies in To fetch her backe as did thy Iacomin Nor clamorous husbands followed me that fled Exclayming Humfrey to defile his bed Nor wast thou forcde the slaunder to suppresse To send me backe as an adulteresse Brabant nor Burgoyne claimed me by force Nor su'd to Rome to hasten my deuorce Nor Belgias pompe defac'd with Belgias fire The iust reward of her vniust desire Nor Bedford spouse your noble sister Anne That princely-issued great Burgunnian Should stand with me to moue a womans strife To yeelde the place to the Protectors wife If Cobhams name my birth can dignifie Or Sterborough renowne my familie Where 's Greenewich now thy Elnors Court of late Where she with Humfrey held a princely state That pleasant Kent when I abroad should ride That to my pleasure laid forth all her pride The Thames by water when I tooke the ayre Danc'd with my Barge in lanching from the staire The ankoring ships that when I pass'd the road Were wont to hang their chequered tops abroad How could it be those that were wont to stand To see my pompe so goddesse-like on land Should after see me mayld vp in a sheete Doe shamefull penance three times in the streetâ— Rung with a bell a Taper in my hand Bare-foote to trudge before a Beedles wand That little babes not hauing vse of tongue Stood pointing at me as I came along Where 's Humfreys power where was his great command Wast thou not Lord-protector of the Land Or for thy iustice who can thee deny The title of the good Duke Humfrey Hast thou not at thy life and in thy looke The seale of Gaunt the hand of Bulling brooke What blood extract from famous Edwards line Can boast it selfe to be so pure as
hart euer since Reuenge lay couerd smotherd vp in griefe Like fire in some fat minerall of the earth Finding the least vent giues it selfe a birth 22 That being Earle Marshall great vpon the coast With bells and bon-fires welcomes her ashore And by his office gath'ring vp an hoast Shewes the old malice in his breast he bore Nor of his helpe abash'd at all to boast The Clergies power in readinesse before Vpon their friends a great taxation laide To raise munition for the present aide 23 And to confusion all their power expose On the rent bosome of this I le where long Warre did it selfe so stedfastly inclose warre from our owne lewd desolutenesse sprong Whom no inuasion euer yet could lose So old the malice and so great the wrong Vrg'd with the force that forraigne fire doth bring A greater spoile and horror menacing 24 This inuouation by an altred state Lent this new action such a violent hand That it thus boldly dare insinuate On the cold faintnesse of the feebled Land And being arm'd with all the power of fate Finding a way so openly to stand To their intendments which endeuoured well Might get that height from whence at first they fel. 25 When all their strength in order strictly set All helps and doubts by warres best counsailes waid What well might further what their course might let And their reliefes conueniently had laid A meane reseru'd securitie to get Whereon at worst their fortune might be stayd And furnish'd fully as themselues desir'd Of all this action needefully requir'd 26 And at Saint Edmonds doe a while repose To rest themselues and their new welcom'd force Better to learne the manner of their foes To th' end not vainely to direct their course And seeing daily how the Armie growes To take a full view both of foote and horse With such discretion managing the war Truly to shew them what indeede they are 27 When now the King of these proceedings heard And of the troopes that to them daily runne And little strength at London yet preparde Where he expected fauour to haue wonne He now commits the Cittie to the guard Of his approu'd most-trusted Stapleton To Iohn of Eltham his faire sonne the Tower Himselfe to Wales to raise a speedy power 28 Yet whilst his name doth any hope admit Proclaimes in forfait both of goods and life All that enioyde a subiects benefit Should lend their power against his sonne and wife And doth all slaughters generally acquite Were done vpon the moouers of this strife And who could bring in Mortimers prowd head Should freely take th'reuenewes of the dead 29 Which strait encountred by the Queenes Edict who making knowne the iustnes of her cause That she proceeded in a course so strict T'vphold their antient liberties and lawes Nor that she did this punishment inflict For priuate hate or popular applause Onely the Spensers to account to bring Whose wicked counsells had abusde the King 30 Which ballasing the multitude that stood As a light barke that 's tosst twixt winde and tide Turnd in the mixture of th'opposed flood when yet opinion not their course could guide And wau'ring thus in their inconstant moode Till by the weakenes of th'emperiall side Suffers the seisure of it selfe at last which to the Queene all free aduantage cast 31 When friendlesse Edward followed by his foes whom danger dooth to recreant flight debase As poore in hope as he is rich in woes Depriu'd all princely ornament and grace whose force th'more weakened further that he goes His safety now suspecting eu'ry place No helpe at home no succour seene abroade His minde small rest his body lesse abode 32 One scarce to him his sad discourse hath done Of Henaults power and what the Queene intends But whilst he speakes another hath begunne A third dooth take it where the second ends when now abroade there 's other rumours runne Some of new foes some of reuolting friends These scarcely past when more reports are spred Of many that rebell of many fled 33 What plagues doth Edward for himselfe prepare Forsaken king O whither doost thou she Men change their clime but sildome change their care Thou fli'st thy foes but follow'st misery The euill fates in number many are That to thy footsteps doe themselues apply And still thy conscience prickt with inward griefe Thy selfe pursues thy selfe both robd and thiefe 34 Accepting succour offerd next at hand At last for Wales commits him to the seas And seeing Lundy that so faire dooth stand Puts in for succour neede would faine haue ease This little modell of his banisht land Which for a while his fancie seemes to please Faine would he be king of a little I le Although his Empire bounded in a mile 35 And ready now to strike his prosp'rous saile As vnder lee past danger of the flood A suddaine storme of mixed â—leet and haile Not suffers him to rule this peece of wood What doth thy labour what thy toyle auaile When thou art still with greater powers with-stood Edward thy hopes all vainely do delude By Gods and men incessantly pursude 36 In this blacke tempest long turmoild and tost Quite from their course well they know not where Mongst rockes and sands in danger to be lost without in perrill and within in feare At length perceiuing they are neere the coast And that the place more plainely doth appeare Knowes by the mountaines insolently tall That part of Wales that we Glamorgan call 37 To Neath a Castell fortifi'd and strong Commanding entrance with his banish'd crew The Earle of Gloster worker of much wrong The Chancelor Baldocke that much euill knew Reding his Marshall is the rest among Heere hid from eyes but not from enuies view where for a while committing them to dwell We must prepare more dreadfull things to tell 38 You lighter Muses leaue me and be gone Your weake complaints are matters much too slight More horred plagues are heere approching on Yee ghastly spirits that haunt the gloomie night Lend me your shreeks t' expresse the depth of moane with ghastly howling all approach my sight And round about with funerall tapers stand To giue a sad light to my sadder hand 39 Each line shall leade to some dire point of wo And eu'ry cadence as a torturde cry Now must my teares in such aboundance flow That they surround the circle of mine eye And whilst these great calamities I show All loose affections stand you idely by Once more our cleere Muse dips her wing in gore The dreerest tale that pen did ere deplore 40 New sorts of vengeance threatned to the earth The raging Ocean past the bounds to rise Strange apparitions and prodigious birth Vnheard of sicknesse and mortalities More inaccustom'd and vnlook'd for dearth New sorts of Meteors gazing from the skies As what before had small or nothing bin And onely now our miseries begin 41 And whilst these discordes and dissentions breede The land layd naked to all offered ill The
deed namde Ragman of renown By which the kings of Scotland had deuisde Their fealty vnto the English crowne With other Reliques that were highly prizde As that which forc'd the greatest part to frowne Th'blacke Crosse of Scotland men did omenous deeme Being a Relique of so hie esteeme 8 To colour which and to confirme the peace They make a marrige twixt the Scot and vs To giue more strength vnto this strange release Which vnto all men seemd so dangerous Whilst Roberts raigne and after his decease The league might euer be continued thus Dauid the Prince the Lady Iane should take which twixt the Realms a lasting bond shuld make 9 When th' Earle of Kent that being one of those Which in their actions had a powerfull hand Perceiuing them of matters to dispose To the subiection of so great a land Finding the inconuenience that growes Vnder the guidance of their wilfull hand To shake their power whilst he strangely doth cast His fatall end too violently doth haste 10 Which giuing out his brother yet to liue Long now supposed the deceased King Vnto his nephew might that scandall giue As into question might his title bring Ill this report beganne and worse it thriue Being so foule and dangerous a thing Which being the motiue of intestine strife The time not long ere it bereft his life 11 Whilst Edward takes what late their power did giue Whose non-age craues their bountifull protection Which know to rule whilst he must learne to liue From their experience taking his direction Which more and more their doubtfull hopes reuiue When borne to raigne yet crownd by their election Th' allegiance duely dooth to him belong Now makes their faction absolutely strong 12 Prouiding for protection of the king Men of most power and noblest of the Pecres That no distaste vnto the realme might bring For ripened iudgement or well seasoned yeeres With comelines all matters managing Yet whilst they row t is Mortimer that steeres wel might we think the man were worse than blind That wanted sea-roome and could rule the wind 13 To smoothe the path wherein this course was gone Which as a test might to their actions stand And giue more full possession of their owne In being receiued from a soucraine band Into their bosomes absolutely throwne Both for the good and safety of the land When their proceedings colourd with this care To the worlds eye so faire an out-side bare 14 All complement that appertainde to state By giuing greatnes eu'ry honored rite To feed those eies that did their houres avvaite And by all meanes to nourish their delight That entertaining loue they welcome hate And vvith free bounty equally inuite A Princes wealth in spending still doth spred Like to a brooke with many fountaines fed 15 To Nottingham the Norths emperious eye Which as a Pharus guardes the goodly soile And armd by Nature danger to defie There to repose him safely after toile Where treason least aduantage might espie Closely conuaies this great in-valued spoile That by residing from the publique sight He might more freely relish his delight 16 Nine score in checke attending in their court Whom honored Knighthood knitts in mutuall bands Men most select of speciall worth and sort Much might they doe that haue so many hands Who payes not tribute to this lordly port This hie-rearde Castell eu'ry way commands Thus like those Giants gainst great heauen they rise Which darted Rockes at the emperiall skies 17 It seemes in him Fame meanes hir power to show And twixt her wings to beare him through the skies He might more easly see the things below Hauing aboue them mounted him so hie Vnto whose will they meckely seeme to bow Vnder whose greatnes meaner powers doe â—e All things concurre with faire succeslefull chance To raise that man whom Fortune will aduance 18 Heere all along the flower enameld vales The siluer Trent on pearly sandâ— dooth slide And to the medowes telling wanton tales Her Cristall limbs lasciuiously in pride As rauished with the enamored gales with often turnings casts from side to side As loath she were the sweete soyle to for sake And cast her selfe into the German lake 19 Neare whom faire Sherwood wildely bent to roue Twines her loose armes about the flattering Towers By the milde shadowes of her scattered groue Lends winter shelter and giues ' summer bowers As with the flood in curtesie it stroue And by repulsing the sharpe Northerne showers Courts the prowd Castell who by turning to her Smiles to behold th'lasciuious wod-nymph wo hir 20 Who being retirde so strictly to this place To this faire sted the Princes person drawes When Fortune seemes their greatnes to embrace That as a working and especiall cause Effects each formall ceremonious grace As by her iust and necessary lawes That in the towne retaines his kingly seate With Marches Court the Castle is repleate 21 Occasiond where in counsels to debate And by the king conueniently is met So soueraigne and magnificent in state As might all eies vpon his greatnesse set Prizing his honour at that costly rate As to the same due reuerence might beget which as the obiect sundry passions wrought Stirring strange forms in many a wandring thoght 22 Could blind ambition find the meanest stay His disproportiond and vaine course to guide Tassure some safety in that slippery way Where the most worldly prouident doe slide Feeling the steep fall threatning sure decay Besotted in the wantonnesse of pride The minde assuming absoluter powres Might checke the fraile mortality of ours 23 But still in pleasure sitting with excesse His sauory junkett tasted with delight Ne're can that glutton appetite suppresse Where eu'ry dish inuites a licorish sight Nor hauing much is his desire the lesle Till tempted past the compasse of his might The pampered stomacke more than well suffizde Casts vp the surfet lately gurmundizde 24 And when som brook from th'ouer moistned ground By swelling waters prowdly ouer slowd Stoppeth his â—â—rrent shouldrrth downe his mownd And from his course dooth quite himselfe vnloade The bordring meddowes eu'ry where surrownd Dispersing his owne riches all abroade Spending the store he was maintained by Leaues his first channell desolate and dry 25 When now those few that many teares had spent And long had wept on murthered Edwards graue Muttring in corners grieud and discontent And finding some a willing care that gaue Stiâ— as they durst bewraying what they meant Tending his pride and greatnes to depraue Vrging withall what some might iustly do If things thus borne were rightly lookt into 26 Some giue it out that March by blood to rise Had cut off Kent the man might next succeed And his late treasons falsly did surmise As a meere colour to this lawlesse deede That his ambition onely did deuise In time the royall family to weede When in account there was but only one That kept him off from stepping to the throne 27 And those much busied in the former times Then credulous
our father won before Nor leaue our sonne a sword to conquer more Thus but in vaine we fondly do resist Where power can doe euen all things as it list And with vniust men to debate of lawes Is to giue power to hurt a rightfull cause Whilst Parlements must still redresse their wrongs And we must starue for what to vs belongs Our wealth but fuell to their fond excesse And we must fast to feast their wantonnesse Think'st thou our wrongs then insufficient are To moue our brother to religious warre And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquytaine And if not that yet hath he broke the truce Thus all accurre to put backe all excuse The sisters wrong ioynde with the brothers right Me thinks might vrge him in this cause to fight Be all those people sencelesse of our harmes Which for our Country ought haue manag'd armes Is the braue Normans courage now forgot Or the bold Brittaines lost the vse of shot The big-bonde Almaines and stowt Brabanders Their warlike Pikes and sharpe-edg'd Semiters Or do the Pickards let their Crosse-bowes lie Once like the Centaurs of old Thessalie Or if a valiant Leader be their lacke Where thou art present who should driue them back I doe coniure thee by what is most deere By that great name of famous Mortimer By antient Wigmors honourable crâ—st The tombes where all thy famous grand-sires rest Or if than these what more may thee approue Euen by those vowes of thy vnfained loue That thy great hopes may moue the Christian King By forraigne armes some comfort yet to bring To curbe the power of traitors that rebell Against the right of princely Isabell Vaine witlesle woman why should I desire To adde more heate to thy immortall fire To vrge thee by the violence of hate To shake the pillars of thine owne estate When whatsoeuer we intend to doe To our misfortune euer sorts vnto And nothing else remaines for vs beside But teares and coffins onely to prouide When still so long as Burrough beares that name Time shall not blot out our deserued shame And whilst cleere Trent her wonted course shall keep For our sad fall her christall drops shall weepe All see our ruine on our backes is throwne And to our selues our sorrowes are our owne And Torlton now whose counsell should direct The first of all is slaundred with suspect For dang'rous things dissembled seldome are Which many eyes attend with busie care What should I say My griefes do still renew And but begin when I should bid adiew Few be my words but manifold my woe And still I stay the more I shiue to goe As accents issue forth griefes enter in And where I end me thinks I but begin Till then faire time some greater good affords Take my loues paiment in these ayrie words ¶ Notes of the Chronicle Historie O how I feard that sleepte drinke I sent Might yet want power to further thine intent MOrtimer being in the Tower and ordaining a feast in honor of his birth-day as he pretended and inuiting there-vnto Sir Stephen Segraue Constable of the Tower with the rest of the officers belonging to the same he gaue them a sleepie drinke prouided him by the Queene by which meanes he got liberue for his escape I steale to Thames as though to take the aire And aske the gentle streame as it doth glide Mortimer being got out of the Tower swamme the riuer of Thames into Kent whereof she hauing intelligence doubteth of his strength to escape by reason of his long imprisonment being almost the space of three yeares Did Bulloyne once a festiuall prepare For England Almaine Cicile and Niuarrâ— Edward Cà rnaruan the first Prince of Wales of the English blood married Isabell daughter of Philip the Faire at Bulloine in the presence of the Kings of Almaine Nauarre and Cicile with the chiefe Nobilitie of France and England which marriage was there solemnized with exceeding pompe and magnificence And in my place vpon his regall throne To set that girle-boy wanton Gaueston Noting the effeminacie and luxurious wantonnesse of Gaueston the Kings Minion his behauiour and attire euer so womanlike to please the eye of his lasciuious Prince That a fowle Witches bastard should thereby It was vrged by the Queene the Nobility in the disgrace of Piers Gauestone that his mother was conuicted of witchcraft and burned for the same and that Piers had bewitched the King Albania Gascoine Cambria Ireland Albania Scotland so called of Albanact the second son of Brutus and Cambria Wales so called of Camber the third sonne the foure Realmes and Countries brought in subiection by Edward Longshanks When of our princely Iewells and our dowers We but enioy the least of what is ours A complaint of the prodigalitie of King Edward giuing vnto Gauestone the jewels and treasure which was left him by the ancient Kings of England and enriching him with the goodly Manor of Wallingford assigned as parcell of the dower to the Queenes of this famous â—le And ioyn'd with the braue issue of our blood Alie our kingdome to their crauand brood Edward the second gaue to Piers Gaueston in marriage the daughtet of Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester begot of the Kings sister lone of Acres married to the said Earle of Glocester Should giue away all that his father won To backe a stranger King Edward offered his right in France to Charles his brother in law and his right in Scotland to Robert Bruse to be aided against the Barrons in the quarrell of Piers Gaueston And did great Edward on his death-bed giue Edward Longshankes on his death-bed at Carlile commanded yong Edward his sonne on his blessing not to call backe Gaueston which for the mis-guiding of the Princes youth was before banished by the whole counsell of the Land That after all this fearefull massaker The fall of Beuchamp Lasy Lancaster Thomas Earle of Lancaster Guy Earle of Warwicke and Henry Earle of Lincolne who had taken their oaths before the deceased King at his death to withstand his sonne Edward if he should call Gaueston froÌ„ exile being a thing which he much feared now seeing Edward to violate his fathers commandement rise in armes against the King which was the cause of the ciuill warre and the ruine of so many Princes And gloried I in Gauestons great fall That now a Spenser should succeede in all The two Hugh Spensers the father the son after the death of Gaueston became the great fauorites of the king the son being created by him lord Chamberlain the father Earl of Winchester And if they were yet Edward doth detaine Homage for Pontiu Guyne and Aquitaine Edward Longshankes did homage for those Citties and Territories to the French King which Edward the second neglecting moued the French King by the subornation of Mortimer to sease those Countries into his hands By antient Wigmors honourable Crest Wigmore in the marches of Wales was the antient
not rules a Nation Onely the surfet of a vaine opinion What giues content giues what exceedes dominion When first mine eares were pierced with the fame Of Iane proclaimed by a Princesse name A suddaine fright my trembling heart appalls The feare of conscience entreth yron walls Thrice happy for our fathers had it beene If what we fearde they wisely had fore-seene And kept a meane gate in an humble path To haue escapde the heauens impetuous wrath The true-bred Eagle strongly beares the winde And not each bird that 's neere vnto their kinde That like a King doth from the clowdes command The fearefull fowle that moues but neere the Land Though Mary be from mighty Kings descended My blood not from Plantaginet pretended My gransire Brandon did our house aduance By princely Mary Dowager of France The fruit of that faire stocke which did combine And Yorkes sweete branch with Lancasters entwine And in one stalke did happily vnite The pure vermilion Rose with purer white I the vntimely slip of that rich stem Whose golden bud brings forth a Diadem But oh forgiue me Lord it is not I Nor do I boast of this but learne to die Whilst we were as our selues conioyned then Nature to nature now an alien The purest blood polluted is in blood Neerenes contemn'd if soueraignty withstood A Diadem once dazeling the eye The day too darke to see affinitie And where the arme is stretch'd to reach a Crowne Friendship is broke the deerest thing throwne downe For what great Henry most stroue to auoide The heauens haue built where earth would haue destroide And seating Edward on his regall throne He giues to Mary all that was his owne By death assuring what by life is theirs The lawfull claime of Henries lawfull heâ—res By mortall lawes the bound may be diuorc'd But heauens decree by no meanes can be forc'd That rules the case when men haue all decreed Who tooke him hence fore-saw who should succeed For we in vaine relie on humaine lawes WheÌ„ heauen stands forth to plead the righteous cause Thus rule the heauens in their continuall course That yeeldes to fate that doth not yeelde to force Mans wit doth build for time but to deuoure But vertue 's free from time and fortunes powre Then my kinde Lord sweete Gilford be not grieu'd The soule is heauenly and from heauen relieu'd And as we once haue plighted troth together Now let vs make exchange of mindes to either To thy faire breast take my resolued minde Armde against blacke dispaire and all her kinde And to my bosome breathe that soule of thine There to be made as perfect as is mine So shall our faith as firmely be approued As I of thee or thou of me beloued This life no life were thou not deere to mee Nor this no death were I not woe for thee Thou my deere husband and my Lord before But truely learne to die thou shalt be more Now liue by prayer on heauen fixe all thy thought And surely finde what e're by zeale is sought For each good motion that the soule awakes A heauenly figure sees from whence it takes That sweete resemblance which by power of kinde Formes like it selfe an image in the minde And in our faith the operations bee Of that diuinenesse which through that we see Which neuer erres but accidentally By our fraile fleshes imbecillitie By each temptation ouer-apt to slide Except our spirit becomes our bodies guide For as these Towers our bodies do inclose Their prisons so vnto our soules suppose Our bodies stopping that celestiall light As these do hinder our exterior sight Whereon death seasing doth discharge the debt And vs at blessed liberty doth set Then draw thy forces all vnto thy heart The strongest fortresse of this earthly part And on these three let thy assurance lie On faith repentance and humilitie By which to heauen ascending by degrees Persist in prayer vpon your bended knees Whereon if you assuredly be staide You neede in perill not to be distnaide Which still shall keepe you that you shall not fall For any perill that you can appall The key of heauen thus willâ— you you shall beare And grace you guiding giue you entrance there And you of those celestiall ioyes possesse Which mortal tongue 's vnable to expresse Then thanke the heauen preparing vs this roome Crowning our heads with glorious martiredome Before the blacke and dismall daies beginne The daies of all idolatry and sinne Not suffering vs to see that wicked age When persecution vehemently shall rage When tyranny nâ—w tortures shall inuent Inflicting vengeance on the innocent Yet heauen forbids that Maries wombe shall bring Englands faire Scepter to a forraigne King But vnto faire Elizabeth shall leaue it Which broken hurt and wounded shall receiue it And on her temples hauing placde the Crowne Roote out the dregs Idolatry hath sowne And Syons glory shall againe restore Laid ruine waste and desolate before And from blacke sinders and rude heapes of stones Shall gather vp the Martires sacred bones And shall extirpe the power of Rome againe And cast aside the heauie yoke of Spaine Farewell sweete Gilford know our end is neere Heauen is our home we are but strangers heere Let vs make haste to goe vnto the blest Which from these weary worldly labours rest And with these lines my deerest Lord I greete thee Vntill in heauen thy Iane againe shall meet thee ¶ Notes of the Chronicle Historie They which begâ—t vs did beget this siâ—ne SHewing the ambition of the two Dukes their Fathers whose pride was the cause of the vtter ouerthrow of their children At Durham Pallace where sweete Hymen sang The buildings c. The Lord Gilford Dudley fourth sonne to Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland married the Lady Iane Grey daughter to the Duke of Suffolke at Durham house in the Strand When first mine eares were pierced with the fame Of Iane proclaimed by a princes name Presently vpon the death of King Edward the Lady Iane was taken as Queene conueyed by water to the Tower of London for her safetie and after proclaimed in diuers parts of the realme as so ordained by king Edwards Letters-pattents and his will My Grandsire Brandon did our house aduaunce By princely Mary dowager of Fraunce Henry Gray duke of Suffolk married Frauncis the eldest daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke by the French Queene by which Frauncis he had this Lady Iane this Mary the French Queene was daughter to king Henry the seuenth by Elizabeth his Queene which happie mariage conioyned the two noble families of Lancaster and Yorke For what great Henry most stroue to auoyde Noting the distrust that King Henry the eight euer had in the Princesse Mary his daughter fearing she should alter the state of Religion in the land by matching with a stranger confessing the right that King Henries issue had to the Crowne And vnto faire Elizabeth shall leaue it A prophecie of Queene Maries barrennesse and of the happie and
none not pitti'd now of any And for opposde by men of greatest might The King my danger that had wisely waide That did pursue me with such deadly spight Me into Ireland secretly conuaide Vntill he might my peace againe procure And his owne safety better might assure As one whose house remedilesly burning Seeing his goods now heapt together lost His griefe no whit disburthen'd by his mourning Taking some one thing that he loueth most To some remote place doth with that retire Leauing the rest to 'th mercie of the fire Yet he so much that still did me esteeme That euer stroue to couer my disgrace To make my absence otherwise to seeme And to the world to beare a fairer Face Lest my exile suggested by their hate Might ouerthrow my liuelihoode and estate By their neere councell that were him about His Deputy of Ireland doth me make And causde it each-where to be giuen out My iourney thither instantly to take To stop their mouthes that gladly would embrace Any report might tend to my disgrace There liu'd I in that honourable sort As to my high place purchased renowne vvith no lesse bountie managing a court Then hourely crau'd th'reuenues of a Crowne To me his loue such soueraigntie did bring That though he raignde I absolutely King Few weekes there went but some the channell crosst With some such present Princes holde in price Some jewell that him infinitely cost Or sumptuous roabe of excellent deuise When they that sawe what he vpon me cast Found that his treasure long time could not last And since the floud me followed in this wise His fulnes I as amply entertaine It might shew folly to be found precise That to refuse which fell as did the raine Such as no age before did euer winne And since his being yet hath neuer bin When now th'abated Baronry that found The cunning vsde for couering of my flight That me but shifted to a surer ground On which so vainely they bestow'd their might Perceiu'd farre off where greater perill rose Then they could finde how rightly to dispose Like those that striue to stop some violent sourse vvhose plenty Nature planted not for boundes Climes aboue all the opposers of his course Or let at large the neighboring plaine surrounds That in it selfe s'enated is bless'd That will the more be more it depress'd And fearing now the force I had abroade vvho knew the way the Irish harts to winne Fitter by farre at home to be bestow'd And to the State more safety found therein vvhere though my riots they could not preuent Yet might suruey the giddy course I went Whereof they scarsly entertain'd the thought And did thereto but seemingly descend But that his loue immediately it caught Nor cares he by it what they doe intend Plot what they could so he therby might gaine him That with delight which still did entertaine him O how thy presence maiestie commands That so seuerely humbleth euery eie vvhose onely selfe actes more than many handes In thee such vertue secretly doth lie Hauing about thee the high power of fate Art both emperious ouer loue and hate He that occasion neuer did neglect That aught vnto my happinesse might winne My buisnes did so carefully effect That euer was so fortunate therein As he to passe doth prouidently bring Before deemde so impossible a thing And Messengers immediately are sent Me into England instantly to call Authorizde by the generall consent Although not likde of inwardly of all Yet t was sufficient that it freedome gaue me But to be there where he desirde to haue me My sailes now swelling with a prosperous winde The boisterous seas do homage to mine eies That much aboue their vsuall course are kinde All lowring clouds abandoning the skies Nothing discern'd that any whit might feare me Fortune herselfe sittes at the helme to steare me What time the King his progresse then did take That part of Wales pretending now to see For which he forward instantly did make vvhich was indeede there but to meete with me with all the fauour that he could deuise To giue me honour in the publique eies Where for my landing long he did prouide That â—ought might want intending my delight And at each place as leasurely we ride Did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with some pleasing sight And vnto Lâ—ndon to the pompous Court Bring me in the magnificentest sort Which prou'd but spurres to my vntamde desire Giuing the 〈◊〉 to my 〈…〉 ious will â—ho let me forth vnto my full caâ—â—re On places slippeâ—y and my manage ill Small my forefight and ouermuch my haste That me alas infortunately cast The Princes eare that hauing at command That who would aught haue me must entertaine And yet before it passde my gripple hand Got the greatst share vnto my priuate gaine Nor carde I what from any I did wring Many thereby too much impouerishing And daily begging of Monopolies Taking the lands belonging to the Crowne 〈◊〉 â—ence transporting those commodities 〈◊〉 England vsefull comming of her owne And basely selling offices ere then The due reward of best deseruing men And being irrecouerably prowd Held all things vile that suted not my vaine Nothing might passe my iudgement not allow'd A great opinion to my wit to gaine Giuing vile termes and nicke-names of disgrace To men that sate in honourable place By which brake out that execrable rage That long before had boiled in their blood And for reuenge they boldly them ingage When lastly for their libertie they stood And in this quarrell open Armes they take Or to marre all or better it to make They durst affirme my mother was a witch And for the fact condemned burnt to be And I her sonne and rightly of her pitch She had bequeath'd her damned Art to me Vrging it an inseperable thing That I by Magicke wrought vpon the King And into France did charge me to conuay A goodly table that was massie gold A relique kept at Windsor many a day â—â—at to King Arthur did belong of old Vpon whose margent as they did surmise Merlin ingraued many prophecies And by appealing to the sea of Rome A Legat thence procuring to the land With malediction by the Churches doome On any one that on my part should stand The King suspending should he not consent And ratifie the generall intent Which they did but to prosperously effect Being so strong to counterprize his force The Clergy still being ready to direct Them the best way in all their restlesse course That at the last they strongly him procure By solemne oth me euer to abiure Th' vncertaine biding of each earthly thing Set out most liuely in my starre-crost state That doth remaine in Fortunes mannaging Appearing in my variable fate On me that frown'd and flattered me so oft Casting me downe and setting me aloft To Flanders then my present course I cast Which being the near'st lay fittest for my ease Safest the way the sooner it was past All not my friends that were abroad at
the subuersion of so many foes The murther of the miserable King And that which came as Epilogue to all Lastly his fearefull and so violent fall 67 Which to their hope giues time for further breath As the first pawse in this their great affaire That yet awhile deferr'd this threatning death Trusting this breach by leysure to repaire And heere a while this furie limetteth Whilst in this manner things so strangely fare Horror beyond the wonted bounds doth swell As the next Canto dreadfully shal tell The end of the first Canto ⧠The second Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument At Burton-bridge the puissant armies meâ— The forme and order of the doubtfull fight Whereas the King the victory doth get And the prowd Barrons lastly forcde to flight How they againe towardes Burrough forward set Where then the Lords are vanquished outright Lastly the lawes doe execute their power On those the sword before did not deuoure 1 THis chance of warre that dreadfully had swept So large a share from their full-reckned might Which their prowd hopes so carefully had kept Whilst yet their state stoode equally vpright That could at first so closely intercept That should haue seru'd them for a glorious fight Musters supplies of footemen and of horse To giue a new strength to their ruinde force 2 Th'inueterate griefe so deepe and firmely rooted Yet slightly curde by this short strengthelesse peace To assay t'remoue since it but vainely booted That did with each distemprature increase And being by euery offerd cause promooted Th' effect too firmely setled to surcease When each euasion sunday passions brought Strange formes of feare in euery troubled thought 3 And put in action for this publique cause Whilst euery one a party firmely stoode Taxt by the letter of the censuring lawes In the sharpe tainder of his honoured blood And he that 's free'st entangled by some clause Which to this mischiefe giues continuall food For where confusion gets so strongly hold Till all consumde can hardly be controlde 4 Where now by night euen when pale leaden sleepe Vpon their eie-lids heauily did dwell And step by step on euery sence did creepe Mischiefe that blacke inhabitant of hell Which neuer failes continuall watch to keepe Fearefull to thinke a horred thing to tell Entred the place where now these warlike Lordes Lay maild in armour girt with irefull swords 5 Mischiefe with sharpe sight and a meager looke And alwaies prying where she may do ill In which the fiend continuall pleasure tooke Her starued body Plenty could not fill Searching in euery corner euery nooke With winged feete too swift to worke her will Hung full of deadly instruments she went Of euery sort to hurt where ere she meant 6 And with a viall fild with banefull wrath Brought from Cocytus by this cursed spright Which in her blacke hand readily she hath And drops the poison vpon euery wight For to each one she knew the readie path Now in the midst and dead-time of the night Whose enuious force inuadeth euery Peere Striking with furie and impulsiue feare 7 The weeping morning breaking in the East When with a troubled and affrighted mind Each whom this venom lately did infest The strong effect soone inwardly do find And lately troubled by vnquiet rest To sad destruction euery one inclind Rumours of spoile through euery eare doth flye And fury sits in eu'ry threatning eye 8 This doone in haste vnto King Edward hies Which now growne proude vpon his faire successe The time in feasts and wantonnesse implies With crowned cups his sorrowes to redresse That on his fortune wholy now relies And in the bosome of his Courtly presse Vaunting the glory of this late wonne day Whilst the sick Land with sorrow pines away 9 Thether she comes and in a Minions shape Shee creepeth neere the person of the King Warm'd with the verdure of the swelling grape In which she poyson secretly doth wring Not the least drop vntaynted doth escape To which intent she all her store did bring Whose rich commixtuâ—e making it more strong Fills his hote veines with arrogance and wrong 10 And hauing both such courage and such might As to so great a businesse did belong Neuer considering their pretended right Should be inducement to a trebled wrong When misty error so deludes their sight Which still betwixt them and cleere reason hong By which opinion falsly was abusde As left all out of order all confusde 11 Now our Minerua tells of dreadfull Armes Inforc'd to sing of worse then ciuill warres Of Ambuscades stratagems alarmes Vnkind discentions fearfull massacars Of gloomy magiques and benumming charmes Fresh-bleeding wounds and neuer-healed skarrs And for the sock wherein she vsde to tread Marching in greaues a helmet on her head 12 Whilst hate and griefe their weakned sence delude The Barrons draw their forces to a head Whome Edward spur'd with vengeance still pursude By Lancaster and noble Herford led This long proceeding lastly to conclude Whilst now to meet both Armies freshly sped To Burton both incamping for the day With expectation for a glorious pray 13 Vpon the East from Needwoods bushy side There riseth vp an easie clyming hill At whose faire foote the siluer Trent doth glide With a deep murmure permanent and still With liberall storâ— of many Brooks supplide Th'â—nâ—atiate Meades continually doe fill Vpon whose streame a bridge of wondrous streÌ„gth Doth stretch it selfe in forty arches length 14 Vppon this Mount the Kings pauillion fixt And in the towne the foe intrench'd in sight When now the flood is risen so betwixt That yet a while prolong'd th'unturall fight With tributarie waters intermixt To stay the furie dooing all it might Things which presage both good and ill there bee Which heauen fore-shewes but mortals cannot see 15 The heauen euen mourning o're our heads doth sit As greeu'd to see the time so out of course Looking on them who neuer looke at it And in meere pittie melting with remorce Longer from teares that cannot stay a whit Whose confluence on euery lower sourse From the swolne fluxure of the clowdes doth shake A ranke Impostume vpon euery lake 16 O warlike Nation hold thy conquering hand Euen sencelesse things admonish thee to pawse That Mother soyle on whom thou yet doost stand That would restraine thee by all naturall lawes Canst thou vnkinde inuiolate that band When even the earth is angry with the cause Yet stay thy foote in mischiefes vglie gate Ill comes too soone repentance still too late 17 And can the clowdes weepe ouer thy decay And not one drop fall from thy droughtie eyes See'st thou the snare and wilt not shun the way Nor yet be warn'd by passed miseries T' is yet but early in this fatall day Let late experience learne thee to be wise Mischiefe foreseene may easly be preuented But hap'd vnhelp'd though nere enough lamented 18 Cannot the Scot of your late slaughter boast And are you yet scarce healed of the sore I' st not enough you
behold From whence by coynesse of their chaste disdaines Subiection is imperiously controld Their earthly weaknesse euermore explaines Exalting whom they please not whom they should When their owne fall showes how they â—ondlyer'd Procur'd by those vnworthily prefer'd 62 Merit goes vnregarded and vngrac'd When by his fauters ignorance held in And Parasites in wise mens roomes are plac'd Onely to sooth the great ones in their sin From such whose gifts and knowledge is debac'd There 's many strange enormities begin Forging great wits into most factious tooles When mightiest men oft proue the mightiest fooles 63 But why so vainely doe I time bestow The fowle abuse of th'wretched world to childe Whose blinded iudgement eu'ry howre doth show What follie weake mortalitie doth guide Wise was the man that laugh'd at all thy woe My subiect still more sorrow doth prouide And this late peace more matter still doth breede To hasten that which quickly must succeede The end of the fourth Canto ⧠The fifth Booke of the Barrons warres The Argument Th' imprisoned King his gouernement for sakes And to the Peeres his weakenesse so excused Who him ere long from Leisters keeping takes That with much woe his soueraigne Lord refused His torturers of him a mockery makes And basely and reproachfully abused By secret waies to Berckley being led And cruelly in prison murthered 1 THe wretched King vnnaturally betrayd By lewd coruption of his natiue Land From thence with speede to Kennelworth conuayd By th' Earle of Leister with a mightie band Some few his fauorers quickely ouer-wayd And now a present Parlement in hand To ratifie the generall intent His resignation of the gouernment 2 Falne through the frailtie of intemperate will That with his fortunes it so weakely farde To vndergoe that vnexpected ill For his deserued punishment preparde The measure of that wretchednesse to fill To him alotted as a iust reward Armes all with malice either lesse or more To strike at him that strooke at all before 3 And being a thing the commons daily craue To which the great are resolutely bent Such forward helpes on eu'ry side to haue T' effect their strong and forcible intent Which now that speede vnto their action gaue That ratifi'd by generall consent Still hastned on to execute the thing Which for one ill two worse should shortly bring 4 Bishops Earles Abbots and the Barrons all Each in due order as becomes the state Set by the Heraults in that goodly hall The Burgesses for places corporate Whom this great busnes at this time doth call For the Cinque-ports the Barrons conuocate And other Knights for the whole body sent Both on the South and on the North of Trent 5 From his impris'ning chamber clad in blacke Before th' assembly sadly he is brought A dolefull hearse vpon a dead mans backe whose heauy lookes might tell his heauier thought In which there doth no part of sorrow lacke Nor fained action needes to grieue be taught His funerall solemniz'd in his cheere His eyes the mourners and his legs the Beere 6 Torleton as one select to this intent The best experienc'd in this great affaire A man graue subtile stowt and eloquent First with faire speech th' assembly doth prepare Then with a voyce austere and eminent Doth his abuse effectually declare As winnes each sad eye with a reuerent feare With due attention drawing eu'ry eare 7 The great exactions raised by the King With whose full plenty he is Mineons fed Himselfe and subiects so impou'rishing And that deere blood he lauishly had shed Which desolation to the land should bring And the chiefe cause by his lewd riots bred The losse in warre sustained through his blame The during scandall to the English name 8 Proceeding forward to the future good That their dissignements happily intend And with what vpright policie it stoode No after hopes their for tunes to amend The resignation to his proper blood That might the action lawfully defend The present neede that willd it strictly so Whose imposition they might not sorslowe 9 Pardon me Art that striuing to be short To this intent a speech deliuering And that at full I doe not heere report Matters that tuch deposing of the King My faithfull Muse O doe not thou exhort The after times to so abhorr'd a thing To shew the reasons forcibly were laide Out of thy feelings what hee might haue saide 10 The strong deliu'ry of whose vehement speech Borne with a dauntlesse and contracted brow That with such steme seueritie did teach His reasons more authentique to allow Which the more easly made the dang'rous breach By the remembrance of a generall vow To which they heere must openly contest When Edward comes to consumate the rest 11 His faire cheeke couerd in pale sheets of shame And as a dumbe shew in a swowne began Where passion dooth such sundry habites frame As eu'ry sence a right Tragedian Truely to shew from whence his sorrow came Beyond the compasse of a common man where Nature seemes a practiser in Art Teaching Dispaire to act a liuely part 12 Ah Pitty dost thou liue or wert thou not Mortalls by such sights haue to flint bin turned Or what men haue beene hath their seed forgot Or was it neuer knowne that any mourned In what so strangely are we ouershot Against our owne selfe hath our frailtie spurned Or teares hence forth abandon humane eies And neuer-more to pitâ—y miseries 13 He takes the Crowne yet scornefully vnto him With slight regarde as scarcely thinking on it As though not sencelesse that it should forgoe him And sildome casts a scornefull eie vpon it would seeme to leaue it and would haue it woe him Then snatching it as loath to haue forgone it Yet puts it from him yet he will not so would faine retaine what faine he would forgoe 14 In this confused conflict of the minde Teares drowning sighes and sighs confounding teares Yet whenas neither libertie could finde Oppressed with the multitude of â—eares Stands as a man affrighted from his kinde Griefe becomes senslesse when too much it beares whilst speech sileÌ„ce striues which place shuld take From his ful bosome thus his sorrowee brake 15 If that my title rightfully be planted Vpon a true indubitate succession Confirmd by nations as by nature granted That freely hath deliuerd me possession Impute to heauen sufficiencie t' haue wanted which must deny it power or you oppression which into question by due course may bring The grieued wrongs of an annointed King 16 That halowed vnction by a sacred hand which once was powrde on this emperious head which wrought th'iudument of a strict command And round about me the rich verdure spred Either my right in greater stead must stand Or why in vaine was it so idely shed whose prophanation and vnreueret tuch Iust heauen hath often punisht alwayes much 17 When from the bright beames of our soueraine due Descends the strength of your enated right And prosperously deriues it selfe to you As from
be for her sake as respecting only her honour more then his natiue Country and his owne fortunes And to withstand a tyrants lewd desire Beheld his Towers and Castles set on fire Knitting vp her Epistle with a great and constant resolution Though Dunmow giue no refuge heere at all Dunmow can giue my body buriall Finis ¶ To the vertuous Lady the Lady Anne Harrington wife to the honorable Gentleman sir Iohn Harrington Knight MY singuler good Lady your many vertues knowne in generall to all and your gracious fauors to my vnworthy selfe haue confirmed that in me which before I knew you I onlie saw by the light of other mens iudgements Honour seated in your breast findes her selfe adorned as in a rich Pallace making that excellent which makes her admirable which like the Sunne from thence begetteth most pretious things of this earthly world onely by the vertue of his rayes not the nature of the mould Worth is best discerned by the worthy deiected minds want that pure fire which should giue vigor to vertue I referre to your great thoughts the vnpartiall Iudges of true affection the vnfained zeale I haue euer borne to your honourable seruice and so rest your Ladiships humbly to commaund Mich Drayton Queene Isabell to Mortimer The Argument Queene Isabel the wife of Edward the second called Edward Carnaruan beeing the daughter of Philip de Beau King of France forsaken by the King her husband who delighted onely in the company of Piers Gaueston his minion and fauorite and after his death seduced by the euil counsel of the Spencers This Queene thus left by her husband euen in the glory of her youth drew into her especiall fauour Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore a man of a mightie and inuincible spirit This Lord Mortimer rising in armes against the King with Thomas Earle of Lancaster and the Barons was taken ere he could gather his power by the King committed to the tower of London During his imprisonment he ordained a feast in honor of his birth-day to which he inuited Sir Stephen Segraue Lieutenant of the Tower and the rest of the officers where by meanes of a drinke prepared by the Queene he cast them all into a heauie sleepe and with Ladders of coards being ready prepared for the purpose he escapeth and flieth into Fraunce whither she sendeth this Epistie complaining her owne misfortunes and greatly reioycing at his safe escape THough such sweet comfort comes not now from her As Englands Queene hath sent to Mortimer Yet what that wants which might my power approue If lines can bring this shall supply with loue Me thinks affliction should not fright me so Noâ— should resume these sundry shapes of woe But when I faine would finde the cause of this Thy absence shewes me where the errour is Oft when I thinke of thy departing hence Sad sorrow then possesseth eu'ry sence But finding thy deere blood preseru'd thereby And in thy life my long-wisht liberty With that sweet thought my selff I only please Amidst my griefe which sometimes giues me case Thus doe extreamest ills a ioy possesse And one woe makes another woe seeme lesse That blessed night that milde-aspected howre Wherein thou madst escape out of the Tower Shall consecrated euermore remaine What gentle Planet in that houre did raigne And shall be happy in the birth of men Which was chiefe lord of the Ascendant then O how I feard that sleepy iuyce I sent Might yet want power to further thine intent Or that some vnseene mysterie might luâ—ke Which wanting order kindly should not worke Oft did I wish those dreadfull poysned lees That closde the euer-waking Dragons eies Or I had had those sence-berâ—auing stalkes That grow in shady Proserpines darke walkes Or those blacke weedes on Lethe bankes below Or Lunary that doth on Latmus flow Oft did I feare this moist and soggy clime Or that the earth waxt barren now with time Should not haue hearbes to help me in this case Such as do thriue on Indiaes parched face That morrow when the blessed Sunne did rise And shut the liddes of all heauens lesser eies Forth from my pallace by a secret staire I steale to Thames as though to take the ayre And aske the gentle floud as it doth glide Or thou didst passe or perish by the tide If thou didst perish I desire the streame To lay thee softly on her siluer teame And bring thee to me to the quiet shore That with hir tears thou mightst haue some tears more When sodainely doth rise a rougher gale With that me thinkes the troubled waues looke pale And sighing with that little gust that blowes With this remembrance seeme to knit their browes Euen as this so daine passion doth affright me The cheerfull Sunne breaks from a cloude to light me Then doth the bottome euident appeere As it would shew me that thou wast not there Whenas the water flowing where I stand Doth seeme to tell me Thou art safe on land Did Bulloyne once a festiuall prepare For England Almaine Cicile and Nauarre When France enuied those buildings only blest Gracde with the Orgies of my Bridall feast That English Edward should refuse my bed For that incestuous shamelesse Ganimed And in my place vpon his regall throne To set that gerle-boy wanton Gaueston Betwixt the feature of my face and his My glasse assures me no such difference is That a foule witches bastard should thereby Be thought more worthy of his loue than I. What doth auaile vs to be Princes heires When we can boast our birth is onely theirs When base dissembling flatterers shall deceiue vs Of all our famous auncestors did leaue vs And of our princely iewels and our dowres We but enjoy the least of what is ours when minions heads must weare our monarks crowns To raise vp dunghills with our famous townes When beggars-brats are wrapt in rich perfumes Their buzzard wings impt with our Eagles plumes And matcht with the braue issue of our blood Alle the kingdome to their crauand brood Did Longshankes purchase with his conquering hand Albania Gascoyne Cambria Ireland That yoong Carnarnan his vnhappy sonne Should giue away all that his father wonne To backe a stranger prowdly bearing downe The brake alies and branches of the crowne And did great Edward on his death-bed giue This charge to them which afterwards should liue That that prowde Gascoyne banished the land No more should treade vpon the English sand And haue these great Lords in the quarrell stood And sealde his last will with their decrest blood That after all this fearefull massacre The fall of Beauchamp Lacy Lancaster Another faithlesse fauòrite should arise To cloude the sunne of our Nobilities And gloried I in Gauestons great fall That now a Spenser should succeede in all And that his ashes should another breed Which in his place and Empire should succeede That wanting one a kingdomes wealth to spend Of what that left this now shall make an end To waste all that
the remembrance of the thing To make the people more abhorre their King Nor shall a Spenser be he ne're so great Possesse our Wigmore our renowned seate To raze the antient Trophies of our race With our deserts their monuments to grace Nor shall he leade our valiant marchers forth To make the Spensers famous in the North Nor be the Gardants of the British pales Defending England and preseruing Wales At first our troubles easily reculde But now growne head-strong hardly to be rulde With grauest counsell all must be directed Where plainest shewes are openly suspected For where mis-hap our errour dooth assault There doth it eassiest make vs see our fault Then sweet represse all fond and wilfull spleene Two things to be a woman and a Queene Keepe close the cindars lest the fire should burne It is not this which yet must serue our turne And if I doe not much mistake the thing The next supply shall greater comfort bring Till when I leaue my Princesse for a while Liue thou in rest though I liue in exile Notes of the Chronicle Historie Of one condemnd and long lodgde vp in death ROger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore had stoode publikely condemned for his insurrection with Thomas erle of Lancaster and Bohune earle of Herford by the space of three months and as the report went the day of his execution was determined to haue bin shortly after which he preuented by his escape Twice all was taken twice thou all didst giue At what time the two Mortimers this Roger lord of Wigmore and his vncle Roger Mortimer the elder were apprehended in the west the Queene by meanes of Torlton Bishop of Hereford and Becke Bishop of Duresme and Patriarke of Ierusalem being then both mighty in the state vpon the submission of the Mortimers somewhat pacified the king and now secondly shee wrought meanes for his escape Leauing the cordes to tell where I had gone With strong ladders made of cords prouided him for the purpose he escaped out of the Tower which when the same were found fastned to the walles in such a desperate attempt they bred astonishment to the beholders Nor let the Spensers glory in my dâ—awe The two Hugh Spensers the father and the sonne then being so highly fauored of the King knew that their greatest safety came by his exile whose high and turbulent spirit could neuer brooke any corriuall in greatnes My grandsire was the first since Arthurs raigne That the Round-table rectifide againe Roger Mortimer called the great Lord Mortimer Grandfather to this Roger which was afterward the first Earle of March reeâ—ected againe the Round-table at Kenelwoorth after the ancient order of king Arthurs table with the retinue of a hudred knights and a hundred ladies in his house for the entertaining of such aduentures as came thither from all parts of Christendome Whilest famous Longshanks bones in Fortunes scorne Edward Longshanks willed at his death that his body should be boyled the flesh from the bones and that the bones should bee borne to the wars in Scotland which he was perswaded vnto by aprophecie which told that the English should still be fortunate in conquest so long as his bones were caried in the field The English blood that stained Banocksburne In the great voyage Edward the second made against the Scots at the battell at Striueling neere vnto the riuer of Banocksburne in Scotland where there was in the English campe such banketâ—ing and excesse such riot and misorder that the Scots who in the meane time laboured for aduauntage gaue to the English a great ouerthrow And in the Dead-sea sincke our horses fame From whose c. Mortimer so called of Mare mortuum and in French Mort mer in English the Dead-sea which is said to be where Sodom â—nd Go morra once were before they were destroyed by fire froÌ„ Heauen And for that hatefull sacrilegious sin Which by the Pope he stand◠〈…〉 ursed in Gaustelinus and Lucas two Cardinals sent into England from Pope Clement to appease the auncient hate betweene the King and Thomas Earle of Lancaster to whose Embassie the king seemed to yeeld but after their departure hee went backe from his promises for which he was accursed at Rome Of those industrious Roman Colonies A Colony is a sort or number of people that come to inhabite a place before not inhabited whereby he seemes here to prophecie of the subuersion of the land the Pope ioyning with the power of other Princes against Edward for the breach of his promise Charles by inuasiue Armes againe shall take Charles the French King mooued by the wrong done vnto his sister seiseth the Prouinces which belonged to the King of England into his hands stirred the rather thereto by Mortimer who solicited her cause in France as is expressed before in the other Epistle in the glosse vpon this poynt And those great Lords now after their attaints Canonized among the English Saints After the death of Thomas Earle of Lancaster at Pomfret the people imagined great myracles to be done by his reliques as they did of the body of Bohune earle of Hereford slaine at Borough bridge Finis ⧠To my worthy and honored friend Sir Walter Aston Knight of the Bath SIR though without suspition of flatterie I might in more ample and free tearmes intimate my affection vnto you yet hauing so sensible a taste of your generous and noble aisposition which without this habite of ceremony can estimate my loue I will rather affect bre 〈…〉 though it should seeme my fault than by my tedious complement to trouble mine owne opinion setled in your iudgement and discretion I make you the Patron of this Epistle of the Blacke-Prince which I pray you accept till more easie houres may offer vppe from mee some thing more worthy of your view and my trauell Yours truely deuoted Mich Drayton ¶ Edward the Blacke-Prince to Alice Countesse of Salisbury The Argument Alice Countesse of Salisbury remaining at Roxborough castle in the North in the absence of the earle her husband who was by the Kings commaund sent ouer into Flaunders and there deceased ere his returne This Lady being besieged in her castle by the Scots Edward the Blacke-Prince being sent by the King his father to relieue the north parts with an Armie and to remooue the siege of Roxborough there fell in loue with the Countesse when after she returned to London hee sought by diuers and sundry meanes to winne her to his youthfull pleasures as by forcing the Earle of Kent her father and her mother vnnaturally to become his Agents in his vaine desire where after a long and assured triall of her inuincible constancie hee taketh her to his wife to which end he only frameth this Epistle REceiue these papers from thy wofull Lord With farre more woes than they with wordes are storde Which if thine eie with rashnes do reproue Thei 'le say they came from that imperious loue In euery letter thou maist vnderstand Which loue
matchlesse Gentleman was the first cherisher of my Muse which had beene by his death left a poore Orphan to the world had he not before bequeathed it to that Lady whom he so deerely liued Vouchsafe then my deere Lord to accept this epistle which I dedicate as zealously as I hope you will patronize willingly vntill some more acceptable seruice may be witnesse of my loue to your honour Your Lordships euer Michaell Drayton Queene Isabell to Richard the second The Argument Queene Isabel the daughter of Charles king of France being the second wife of Richard the second the son of Edward the Blacke Prince the eldest sonne of King Edward the third After the saide Richard her husband was deposed from his crowne and kingly dignitie by Henry duke of Herford the eldest son of Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster the fourth sonne of Edward the third this Ladie being then very yong was sent backe againe into Fraunce without dowre at what time the deposed King her husband was sent from the Tower of London as a prisoner vnto Pomfret Castle Whether this poore Lady bewailing her husbands misfortunes writeth this Epistle from France AS dooth the yeerely Auger of the spring In deapth of woe thus I my sorrow sing Words tunde with sighes teares falling oft among A dolefull burthen to a heauy song Words issue forth to finde my griefe some way Teares ouertake them and doe bid them stay Thus whilst one striues to keepe the other backe Both once too forward now are both too slacke If fatall Pomfret hath in former time Nurrisht the griefe of that vnnaturall clime Thether I send my sorrowes to be sed But where first boâ—ne where fitter to be bred They vnto France be aliens and vnknowne England from her doth challenge these her owne They say all mischiefe commeth from the North It is too true my fall doth set it forth But why should I thus limite Griefe a place When all the world is filld with our disgrace And we in bounds thus striuing to containe it The more resists the more we doe restraine it Oh how euen yet I hate these wretched eies And in my glasse oft call them faithlesse spies Preparde for Richard that vnwares did looke Vpon that traitor Henry Bulingbrooke But that excesse of ioy my sence bereau'd So much my sight had neuer bin deceau'd Oh how vnlike to my lou'd Lord was hee Whom rashly I sweet Richard tooke for thee I might haue seene the Couâ—sers selfe did lacke That Princely rider should bestride his backe He that since Nature her great worke began Shee made to be the mirrour of a man That when she meant to forme some matchlesse lim Still for a patterne tooke some part of him And iealous of her cunning brake the mould In his proportion done the best she could Oh let that day be guiltie of all sinne That is to come or heeretofore hath bin Wherein great Norffolkes forward course was staide To prooue the treasons he to Hersord laide When with sterne furie both these Dukes enragde Their warlike gloues at Couentry engag'd When first thou didst repeale thy former grant Seal'd to braue Mowbray as thy Combatant From his vnnumbred howres let time deuide it Lest in his minutes he should hap to hide it Yet on his brow continually to beare it That when it comes all other daies may feare it And all ill-boding Planets by consent That day may hold their dreadfull parlement Be it in heauens decrees enroled thus Blacke dismall fatall inauspitious Prowd Herford then in height of all his pride Vnder great Mowbraies valiant hand had dide Nor should not thus from banishment retire The fatall brand to set our Troy on fire O why did Charles relieue his needy state A vagabond and stragling runnagate And in this Court with grace did entertaine This vagrant exile this abiected Caine Who with a thousand mothers curses went Mark'd with the brand often yeeres banishment When thou to Ireland took'st thy last farewell Millions of knees vpon the pauements fell And euery where th' applauding ecchoes ring The ioyfull showts that did salute a King Thy parting hence what pompe did not adorne At thy returne who laugh'd thee not to scorne Who to my Lord a looke vouchsafde to lend Then all too few on Herford to attend Princes like sunnes be euermore in sight All see the clowdes betwixt them and their light Yet they which lighten all downe from the skies See not the clowdes offending others eyes And deeme their noone-tide is desir'd of all When all expect cleere changes by their fall What colour seemes to shadow Herfords claime When law and right his fathers hopes doth maime Affirm'd by church-men which should beare no hate That Iohn of Gaunt was illegiâ—timate Whom his reputed mothers tongue did spot By a base Flemish Boore to be begot Whom Edwards Eglets mortally did shun Daring with them to gaze against the Sun Where lawfull right and conquest doth allow A triple crowne on Richards princely brow Three kingly Lions beares his bloody field No bastards marke doth blot his conquering shield Neuer durst he attempt our haplesse shore Nor set his foote on fatall Rauensporâ— Nor durst his slugging Hulkes approch the strand Nor stoope a top as signall to the land Had not the Percyes promisde aide to bring Against their oath vnto their lawfull King Against their faith vnto our crownes true heire Their valiant kinsman Edmond Mortimer When I to England came a world of eyes Like starres attended on my faire arise At my decline like angry Planets frowne And all are set before my going downe The smooth fac'd ayre did on my comming smile But with rough stormes are driuen to exile But Bullingbrooke deuisâ—e we thus should part Fearing two sorrowes should possesse one heart To make affliction stronger doth denie That one poore comfort left our miserie He had before diuorc'd thy crowne and thee Which might suffice and not to widdow mee But that to proue the vtmost of his hate To make our fall the greater by our state Oh would Aumerle had suncke when he betraid The complot which that holy Abbot laid When he infring'd the oth which he first tooke For thy reuenge on peâ—iurde Bullingbrooke And beene the ransome of our friends deere blood Vntimely lost and for the earth too good And we vntimely mourne our hard estate They gone too soone and we remaine too late And though with teares I from my Lord depart This curse on Horford fall to ease my heart If the fowle breach of a chaste nuptiall bed May bring a curse my curse light on his head If murthers guilt with blood may deepely staine Greene Scroope and Bushie die his fault in graine If periury may heauens pure gates debar Damn'd be the oth he made at Dancaster If the deposing of a lawfull King The curse condemne him if no other thing If these disioynde for vengeance cannot call Let them vnited strongly curse him all And for the Percyes heauen may
answering tells me Woe is there And when mine armes would gladly thee enfold I clip the pillow and the place is cold Which when my waking eyes precisely view T is a true token that it is too true As many minutes as in the howres there be So many howres each minute seemes to me Each howre a day morne noone-tide and a set Each day a yeare with miseries complet A winter spring-time summer and a fall All seasons varying but vnseasoned all In endelesse woe my thrid of life thus weares By minutes howres daies months lingring yeares They praise the summer that enioy the South Pomfret is closed in the Norths cold mouth There pleasant summer dwelleth all the yeere Frost-starued-winter dooth inhabite heere A place wherein dispaire may fitly dwell Sorrow best suting with a cloudy Cell When Herford had his iudgement of exile Saw I the peoples murmuring the while Th' vncertaine Commons toucht with inward care As though his sorrowes mutually they bare Fond women and scarse speaking children mourne Bewaile his parting wishing his returne Then being forcde t' abridge his banisht yeeres When they bedewd his footsteps with their teares Yet by example could not learne to know To what his greatnes by this loue might grow Whilst Henry boasts of our atchiuements done Bearing the trophies our great fathers wonne And all the storie of our famous warre Now grace the Annales of great Lancaster Seauen goodly siens in their spring did flourish Which one selfe root brought forth one stock did noâ—ish Edward the top-branch of that golden tree Nature in him her vtmost power did see Who from the bud still blossomed so faire As all might iudge what fruite it meant to beare But I his graft of eu'ry weede ore-growne And from the kind as refuse forth am throwne From our braue Grandsire both in one degree Yet after Edward Iohn the yongst of three Might Princely Wales beget an impe so base That to Gaunts issue should giue soueraigne place That leading Kings from France returned home As those great Caesars brought their spoiles to Rome Whose name obtained by his fatall hand Was euer fearefull to that conquered land His fame increasing purchasde in those warres Can scarcely now be bounded with the starres With him is valour quite to heauen fled Or else in me is it extinguished Who for his vertue and his conquests sake Posteritie a demy god shall make And iudge this vile abiect spirit of mine Could not proceede from temper so diuine What earthly humor or what vulgar eie Can looke so lowe as on our misery When Bullingbrooke is mounted to our throne And makes that his which we but calld our owne Into our counsells he himselfe intrudes And who but Henry with the multitudes His power disgrades his dreadfull frowne disgraceth He throwes them downe whome our aduancement placeth As my disable and vnworthy hand Neuer had power belonging to command He treades our sacred tables in the dust And proues our acts of Parlament vniust As though he hated that it should be saide That such a law by Richard once was made Whilst I deprest before his greatnes lie Vnder the weight of hate and infamie My backe a footstoole Bullingbrooke to raise My loosenes mockt and hatefull by his praise Out-liu'd mine honour buried my estate And nothing left me but the peoples hate Sweet Queene I le take all counsell thou canst giue So that thou bidst me neither hope nor liue Succour that comes when ill hath done his worst But sharpens griefe to make vs more accurst Comfort is now vnpleasing to mine eare Past cure past care my Bed become my Beere Since now misfortune humbleth vs so long Till heauen be growne vnmindfull of our wrong Yet they forbid my wrongs shall euer die But still remembred to posteritie And let the crowne be fatall that he weares And euer wet with woefull mothers teares Thy curse on Percie angry heauens preuent Who haue not one curse left on him vnspent To scourge the world now borrowing of my store As rich of woe as I a King am poore Then cease deere Queene my sorrowes to bewaile My wounds too great for pittie now to heale Age stealeth on whilst thou complainest thus My griefes be mortall and infectious Yet better fortunes thy faire youth may trie That follow thee which still from me doth flie ¶ Notes of the Chronicle Historie Thiâ— tongue which first denounc'd my regall state RIchard the second at the resignation of the crowne to the duke of Herford in the Tower of London deliuering the same with his owne hand there confessed his disabilitie to gouerne vtterly denouncing all kingly authoritie And left'st great Burbon for thy love to me Before the Princesse Isabell was maried to the king Lewes duke of Burbon sued to have had her in marriage which was thought he had obtained if this motion had not fallen out in the meane time This Duke of Burbon sued againe to have received her at her comming into France after the imprisonment of king Richard but King Charles her Father then crost him as before and gave her to Charles sonne to the Duke of Orleans When Herford had his judgement of exile When the combate should have beene at Couentrie betwixt Henrie Duke of Herford and Thomas Duke of Norfolke where Herford was adiudged to banishment for ten yeares the commons exceedingly lamented so greatly was he ever favored of the people Then being forc'd t' abridge his banisht yeeres When the Duke came to take his leave of the King beeing then at Eltham the King to please the Commons rather then for any love he bare to Herford repleaded foure yeares of his banishment Whilest Henry boasts of our atchieuements done Henry the eldest Sonne to Iohn Duke of Lancaster at the first Earle of Darby then created Duke of Herford after the death of the Duke Iohn his father was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford Earle of Darby Leicester and Lincolne and after he had obtained the Crowne was called by the name of Bullingbrooke which is a towne in Lincolneshire as vsually all the Kings of England bare the name of the places where they were borne Seauen goodly syens in their spring did flourish Edward the third had seuen sonnes Edward Prince of Wales after called the blacke Prince William of Hatfield the second Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth Edmund of Langley Duke of York the fifth Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Gloster the sixth William of Winsore the seuenth Edward the top-branch of that golden tree Truly boasting himselfe to be the eldest Sonne of Edward the blacke Prince Yet after Edward Iohn the yongst of three As disabling Henry Bullingbrooke being but the son of the fourth brother William and Lionell being both before Iohn of Gaunt That leading Kings from France returned home Edward the blacke Prince taking Iohn king of France prisoner at the battel of Poicters brought him into England where at the Sauoy he died
Whose name atchieued by his fatall hand Called the Blacke Prince not so much of his complexion as of the famous battell he fought as is shewed before in the glosse vpon the Epistle of Edward to the Countesse of Salisbury And prooues our Actes of Parlement vniust In the text parlement after Richards resignation of the crown Henry caused to be annihilated all the lawes made in the Parliament called the wicked Parliament held in the twenty yeere of king Richards raigne Finis To sir Iohn Swinerton Knight and one of the Aidermen of the Citie of London VOrthy Sir so much mistrust I my owne abilitie to doe the least right to your vertues that I could gladly wish any thing that is truely mine were woorthy to beare your name so much reucrend Sir I esteeme you and so ample interest haue you in my loue To some honourable friends haue I deaicated these Poemes with whom I ranke you may I escape prejumption Like not this Britaine the worse though after some former Impressions he be lastly to 〈…〉 crated in this like an honest man that would part 〈…〉 his owne woorth before he would presume his 〈…〉 ronage with whom you shall euer commaund my 〈◊〉 and haue my best wishes That loue you truely Mich Drayton Queene Katharine to Owen Tudor The Argument After the death of that victorious Henry the fift Queene Katharine the Dowager of England and France daughter to Charles the French King holding her estate with Henry her sonne then the fixt of that name falleth in loue with Owen Tuder a Welchman a braue and gallant Gentleman of the Wardrobe to the yong King her son yet grently fearing if her loue shoulde be discouered the Nobilitie woulde crosse her purposed marriage or fearing that if her faire and princely promises should not assure his good successe this high and great attempt might perhappes daunt the forwardnesse of his modest and shamefast youth wherefore to breake the ice to her intent she writeth vnto him this Epistle following IVdge not a Princesse worth impeacht hereby That loue thus triumphs ouer maiestie Nor thinke lesse vertue in this royall hand Which now intreates that wonted to command For in this sort though humbly now it wooe The day hath beene thou wouldst haue kneeld vnto Not thinke that this submission of my state Proceedes from frailtie rather iudge it fate Alcides ne're more fit for warres sterne shocke Then when for loue sate spinning at the rocke Neuer lesse cloudes did Phoebus glory dim Then in a clownes shape when he couered him Ioues great commaund was neuer more obeyd Than when a Satyres anticke parts he playd He was thy king that sued for loue to mee Shee is thy Queene that sues for loue to thee When Henry was what 's Tuders now was his Whilst yet thou arte what 's Henries Tuders is My loue to Owen him my Henry giueth My loue to Henry in my Owen liueth Henry woode me whilst warres did yet increase I wooe my Tuder in sweet calmes of peace To force affection he did conquest proue I fight with gentle arguments of loue Incampt at Melans in warres hote alarmes First saw I Henry clad in princely armes At pleasant Windsore first these eies of mine My Tuder iudgde for wit and shape diuine Henry abroade with pâ—issance and with force Tuder at home with courtship and discourse He then thou now I hardly can iudge whether Did like me best Plantaginet or Tether A march a measure battell or a daunce A courtly rapier or a conquering launce His princely bed hath strengthned my renowne And on my temples set a double crowne Which glorious wreathe as Henries lawfull heire Henry the sixt vpon his brow doth beare At Troy in Champaine he did first enioy My Brydall rites to England brought from Troy In England now that honour thou shalt haue Which once in Champaine famous Henry gaue I seeke not wealth three kingdomes in my power If these suffice not where shall be my dower Sad discontent may euer follow her Which doth base pelfe before true loue prefer If titles still could our affections tie What is so great but Maiestie might buy As I seeke thee so Kings do me desire To what they would thou easily mai'st aspire That sacred fire once warmde my heart before The fuell fit the flame is now the more And meanes to quench it I in vaine do proue We may hide treasure but not hide our loue And since it is thy fortune thus to gaine it It were too late nor will I now restraine it Nor these great titles vainely will I bring Wife daughter mother sister to a King Of grandsire father husband sonne and brother More thou alone to me then all the other Nor feare my Tudor that this loue of mine Should wrong the Gaunt-borne great Lancastrian line Nor stir the English blood the Sunne and Moone T'repine at Lorame Burbon A lansoon Nor do I thinke there is such different ods They should alone be numbred with the Gods Of Cadmus earthly issue reckoning vs And they from Ioue Mars Neptune Eolus Of great Latonas of-spring onely they And we the brats of wofull Niobe Our famous grandsires as their owne bestride That horse of fame that God begotten steede Whose bounding hoofe plow'd that Boetian spring Where those sweete maides of memory do sing Not onely Henries Queene but boast as well To be the childe of Charles and Isabell Nor do I know from whence their grief should grow They by this match should be disparag'd so When Iohn and Longshankes issue both affied And to the Kings of Wales in wedlocke tied Shewing the greatnesse of your blood thereby Your race and royall consanguinity And Wales as well as haughty England boasts Of Camilot and all her Penticosts A nephewes roome in great Pendragons race At Arthurs Table held a princely place If by the often conquest of your land They boast the spoiles of their victorious hand If these our antient Chronicles be true They altogether are not free from you When bloodie Rufus sought your vtter sacke Twice entring Wales yet twice was beatenbacke When famous Cambria wash'd her in the flood Made by th' effusion of the English blood And oft returnde with glorious victory From Worster Herford Chester Shrowesbury Whose power in euery conquest so preuailes As once expulsde the English out of Wales Although my beautie made my Countries peace And at my Bridall former broyles did cease Yet more then power had not his person beene I had not come to England as a Queene Nor tooke I Henry to supply my wont Because in France that time my choice was scant When he had robde all Christendome of men And Englands flower remainde amongst vs then Gloster whose counsells Nestor-like assist Couragious Bedford that great martiallist Clarence for vertue honoured of his foes And Yorke whose fame yet daily greater growes Warwicke the pride of Neuels haughty race Great Salebury so fearde in euery place That valiant Poole whom no atchieuement
smother Breaking for griefe ennying one another When the prowd Barke for ioy thy steps to feele Scornd the salt waues shuld kisse her furrowing keele And trick'd in all her flags her selfe she braues Capring for ioy vpon the siluer waues When like a Bull from the Phenician strand Ioue with Europa tripping from the land Vpon the bosome of the maine doth scud And with his swannish breast cleauing the floud Tow'rd the faire fields vpon the other side Beareth Agenors ioy Phâ—â—icias pride All heauenly beauties ioyne themselues in one To shew their glory in thine eye alone Which when it turneth that celestiall ball A thousand sweet starres rise a thousand fall Who iustly saith mine banishment to bee When onely France for my recourse is free To view the plaines where I haue seene so oft Englands victorious engines raisde aloft When this shall be my comfort in my way To see the place where I may boldly say Heere mighty Bedford forth the vaward led Heere Talbot charg'd and heere the Frenchmen fled Heere with our Archers valiant Scales did lie Heere stood the Tents of famous Willoughbie Heere Mountacute rangde his conquering band Heere forth we march'd and heere we made a stand What should we stand to mourne and grieue all day For that which time doth easily take away What fortune hurts let patience onely heale No wisedome with extreamities to deale To know our selues to come of humane birth These sad afflictions crosse vs heere on earth A taxe imposde by heauens eternall law To keepe our rude rebellious will in awe In vaine we prize that at so deere a rate Whose best assurance is a fickle state And needelesse we examine our intent When with preuention we cannot preuent When we ourselues fore-seeing cannot shun That which before with destinie doth run Henry hath power and may my life depose Mine honour mine that none hath power to lose Then be as cheerefull beauteous royall Queene As in the Court of France we erst haue beene As when arriu'd in Porchesters faire road Where for our comming Henry made aboad When in mine armes I brought thee safe to land And gaue my loue to Henries royall hand The happy howres we passed with the King At faire South-hampton long in banquetting With such content as lodg'd in Henries breast When he to London brought thee from the West Through golden Cheape when he in pompe did ride To Westminster to entertaine his Bride Notes of the Chronicle Historie Our Falcons kinde cannot the cage indure HE alludes in these verses to the Falcon which was the antient deuice of the Poles comparing the greatnesse and hawtinesse of his spirit to the nature of this bird This was the meane prowd Warwicke did inuent To my disgrace c. The Commons at this Parlement through Warwicks meanes accused Suffolke of treason and vrged the accusation so vehemently that the king was forced to exile him for fiue yeeres That onely I by yeelding vp of Maine Should be the losse of fertile Aquitaine The Duke of Suffolke being sent into France to conclude a peace chose Duke Rainers daughter the Lady Margaret whom he espoused for Henry the sixt deliuering for her to her father the Countries of Aniou and Maine and the Citty of Mauns Whereupon the Earle of Arminach whose daughter was before promised to the King seeing himselfe to bee deluded caused all the Englishmen to be expulsed Aquitino Gascoyne and Guyen With the base vulgar sort to win him same To be the heyre of good Duke Humfreys name This Richard that was called the great Earle of Warwicke when Duke Humfrey was dead grew into exceeding great fauour with the Commons With Salisburie his vile ambicious Sire In Yorks sterne breast kindling long hidden fire By Clarence title working to supplant The Eagle Ayrie of great Iohn of Gaunt Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke in the time of Henry the sixt claimed the Crowne being assisted by this Richard Neaâ—ll Earle of Salisburie and father to the great Earle of Warwicke who fauoured exceedingly the house of Yorke in open Parliament as heir to Lionell Duke of Clarence the third sonne of Edward the third making his title by Anne his Mother wife to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne to Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke which Anne was daughter to Roger Mortimer Earle of March which Roger was sonne heire to Edmund Mortimer that married the Ladie Philip daughter and heire to Lionell Duke of Clarence the third sonne of King Edward to whom the crowne after King Richard the seconds death linealy descended he dying without issue And not to the heires of the Duke of Lancaster that was yonger brother to the Duke of Clarence Hall cap. 1. Tit. Yor. Lanc. Vrg'd by these enuious Lords to spend their breath Calling reuenge on the Protectors death Humfrey Duke of Glocester Lord Protector in the 25. yeare of Henry the sixt by the meanes of the Queene and the Duke of Suffolke was arrested by the Lord Beumond at the Parliament holden at Berrie and the same night after murthered in his bed If they would know who robd him c. To this verse To know how Humfrey died and who shall raigne In these verses he iests at the Protectors wife who being accused conuicted of treason because with Iohn Hun a priest Roger Bullingbrooke a Negromancer Margery Iordan called the Witch of Eie she had consulted by sorcery to kil the king was adiudged to perpetuall prison in the I le of Man and to doe penance openly in three publique places in London For twentie yeares and haue I seru'd in Fraunce In the sixt yeare of Henry the sixt the Duke of Bedford being deceased then Lieutenant generall and Regent of Fraunce this Duke of Suffolke was promoted to that dignity hauing the Lord Talbot Lord Scales and the Lord Mountacute to assist him Against great Charles and bastard Orleance This was Charles the seauenth and after the death of Henry the fifth obtained the crowne of France and recouered againe much of that his father had lost Bastard Orleance was sonne to the Duke of Orleance begotten of the Lord Cawnies wife preferred highly to many notable offices because hee being a most valiant Captaine was continuall enemie to the Englishmen dayly infesting them with diuerse incursions And haue I seene Vernoyla's batfull fields Vernoyle is that noted place in Fraunce where the great battell was fought in the beginning of Henrie the sixt his raigne where the most of the French Chiualrie were ouercome by the Duke of Bedford And from Aumerle with-drew my warlike powers Aumerle is that strong defenced towne in France which the Duke of Suffolke got after 24. great assaults giuen vnto it And came my selfe in person first to Towers Th'Embassadours for truce to entertaine From Belgia Denmarke Hungary and Spaine Towers is a Cittie in France built by Brutus as hee came into Britaine where in the twentie and one yeare of the raigne of Henry the sixt was appoynted a great
Forth of my lap I powre aboundant blisse All good proceedes from my all-giuing hand By me man happy or vnhappy is For whom I sticke or whom I doe with stand And it is I am friendships onely band And vpon which all greedily take hold VVhich being broke loue suddainely growes cold Pawsing she frownes when suddainely withall A fearefull noise ariseth from the stood As when a tempest furiously doth fall within the thicke waste of some antient wood That in amazement euery mortall stoode As though her words such powerfulnesse did beare That euery thing her minaces did feare VVhen fame yet smiling mildely thus replies Alas quoth she what labor thou hast lost what wond'rous mists thou casts before our eyes Yet will the gaine not countervaile the cost what wouldst thou say if thou hadst cause to boast which sett'st thy state forth in such wond'rous sort VVhich but thy selfe none euer could reportâ— A thing constrained onely by euent Breeding in some a transitory terror A what men will that comes by accident And onely named to excuse their error What then is Fortune or who doth preferre her Or who to thee so foolish is to leane Which weake tradition onely doth maintain A toy whereon the doting world doth dreame Soothed by that vncertaine obseruation Of all attempts that being the extreame Fastneth thereby on weake imagination Yet notwithstanding all this vsurpation Vnto thy selfe art incidently loathing Most when thou woldst be that art rightly nothing That slightly by insinuating thus And vnder so allowable pretence Closely incroacheth on mans Genius In good and euill taking refidence And hauing got some small preheminence Vnto thy selfe a being that wouldst frame Findes in conclusion only but a name Those ignorant which made a god of Nature And Natures God diuinely neuer knew Were those to Fortune did direct a stature From whom thy worship ignorantly grew Which being adored foolishly by few Grounded thy looser and vncertaine lawes Vpon so weake and indigent a cause First stouth did beare thee in her sleepy cell And thee with ease dishonourably fed Deliuering thee with Cowardice to dwell Which with base thoughts continually thee bred By superstition idely being led A lewd imposture after did thee make Whom for a goddesse fooles doe onely take And as thy followers nothing doost forecast And as thou arte improuident as light And this the chiefest property thou hast That against vertue thou bendst all thy might With whom thou wagest a continuall fight The yeelding spirite in fetters thou doost binde But weake and slauish to the constant minde Such is thy froward and malignant kinde That thou doost all things crossely in despight Thou art inamored of a barbarous hinde Whome thou doost make thy onely fauorite None but the base in basenesse doth delight For wert thou heauenly thou in loue wouldst bee with that which neerest doth resemble thee But I alone the herauld am of heauen Whose spacious kingdome shetcheth farre and wide To euery coast as swift as lightning driuen And on the sunne-beames gloriously I ride Now mount I vp now downe againe I slide I register the worlds eternall howres That know the hid will of th' immortall powres Men to the starres me guiding them do clime That all dimensions perfectly expresse And I alone the vanquisher of time Bearing that sweere that cures deaths bitternesse That doe all labour plentifully blesse That all obstruse profundities impart Leading man through the tedious wayes of Arte. My pallace placed betwixt earth and skies Which many a Tower ambitiously vpheares Whereof the windowes are composde of eies The walles as strongly edifide of eares where euery thing in heauen and earth appeares Nothing so softly whispered in the round But through my pallace presently doth sound And vnder-foote floor'd all about with drummes The rafters trumpets admirably cleere Sounding alowde each name that thither comes The crannies tongues and talking euery where And all things past doe in remembrance beare The doores vnlocke with euery little breath And open wide with euery word man saith And throwout hung with armes conquer'd spoiles The postes whereon the goodly roofe doth stand Are Pillars grauen with Herculian toiles Th'atchieuements great of many a warrelike hand Both in the christen'd and in heathen land Done by those Nobles that are most renown'd Which there by me immortally are crown'd Here in the bodies likenes whilst it liues Appeare the thoughts proceeding from the minde To which the place a glorious habite giues When vnto me they freely are resignde To be preseru'd there by my power refinde That when the body by plae death doth perish Then doth this place the minds true Image cherish My beautie neuer Fades but as new borne As yeares increase so euer waxing yong My strength is not diminished nor worne What weakeneth all things makes me onely strong Nor am I subiect vnto worldly wrong The rape of time I carelesly defie Nor am I awde by all his tyrannie The brow of heauen my monuments containe which is the mighty register of Fame which there in firie characters remaine The gorgeous seeling of th' immortall frame The Constellations publishing my name where my memorialls euermore abide In those pure bodies highly glorifide F 〈…〉 hauing ended Fortune next beganne Further to vrge what she before had said when loe quoth she duke Robert is the man which as my prisners I in bondes do leade For whome thou comst against me heere to pleade Whome I alone deprined of his crowne Who can raise him that Fortune will haue downe A fitter instance Fame replying none Then is Duke Robert Fortune do thy worst Greater to man thy might was neuer showne Doing on him what euer Fortune durst And since thy turne allotted thee the first Proceede see which the Norman Duke shall haue Whether that Fame or Fortune and the graue Quoth Fortune then I found th'vnstedfast starre Whose lucklesse working limited his fate That mark'd his sad natiuitie with warre And brothers most vnnaturall debate Publique sedition and with priuate hate And on that good his father him begunne Grounded the wracke and downe fal of this sonne What bounteous nature franckly did bestow Wherein her best she strained her to trie Thereby himselfe I made him ouerthrow Aboue you both so powerfull am I His breast to all so openly did lie Iudg'd from his fashion differing so farre For peace too milde too mercifull for warre And yet the courage that he did inherit And from the greatnesse of his blood did take Though shrowded in so peaceable a spirit When now his wrong so roughly did awake Forthwith such furie violently brake As made the world impartially to see All humane actions managed by mee That till reuenge was wholly him bereâ—t Opposde against so absolute a powre And him to leane on nothing being left when danger most him threatned to deuoure Vnto the period of the vtmost howre Him flattering still with promise of my loue Did make him all extreamities to proue That whilst his
father with the Norman sword On fruitfull England prosprous entrance made I cast the proiect that this youthfull Lord In the meane time should Normandie inuade And with as prou'd and powerfull a blade Him I perswaded constantly by this To make his owne yet doubtfull to be his That Robert daily in disgrace might runne As still the Conqueror towards his end did grow who well in yeeres thus vexed by his sonne which now his will so openly did show His state deuised wisely to bestow For his owne safety that his daies to close He might himselfe more quietly repose And that lest time might coole his weakned blood This lucklesse warre by lingring I supplide That whilst Duke Robert iustly censured stood Vnder the weight of his vnnaturall pride In heate of all this Conqueror William dide Setting young Rufus on th'vnrightfull throne Leauing h 〈…〉 strugling for his owne Which in small time so many mischiefes bred As sundry plagues on Williams of-springs sent Attaining to so violent a head which pollicie not after could preuent when to destruction all things head-long went And in the end as consumating all Was Roberts irrecouerable fall When none could prosprous Nonmandie disswade From sending ensignes to the English field Brother opposde the brother to inuade Sword against sword shield menaced to shield whose equall worth to other scorne to yield One arme a front the others furious stroke Scepter with septer violently broke These sundry soiles in both of which was sowne By so approu'd and fortunate a hand The seede to both might prosprously haue growne By their 〈◊〉 in a mutuall band Now when these Princes opposite do stand what them should foster greater wounds them lent Then the prowd'st powre that Europe could haue sent Hauing my selfe wonne William in his life This conquered Realme to Rufus that did giue Getting by strength what he did leaue in strife Those to molest that after him should liue In this aduantage cunningly I driue T' afflict his issue with a generall ill Yet th' extreame in Robert to fulfill As when stowt Odo that with William held Daily prickt forward by prowd Lanfrancks spight Both powerfull Prelates rigorously compeld Rufus to leaue abetting Roberts right Drawing both Mortaines and Mongomeries might Mangling the I le with many a greeuous scarre Scarcely yet cured of the former warre That being set in so direct a way Strong friends at hand his enterprize to becke Ready before him when his entrance lay Of all supplide that he did lately lacke Him I perswade the remedy to slacke Stopping the course which he did lately runne All to vndoe that he had euer done Thus did I stirre vp that vnkindely rage That did so farre preuaile vpon his blood And at my pleasure did againe asswage When now this heate in sted might him haue stood Thus with his humour altred I my mood That first by Armes his vigor he might lose Which then laid down gaue strength vnto his foes That by concluding this vntimely peace I might thereby a lingring warre beginne That whil'st these tumults did a little cease Craft more aduantage cunningly might winne Thus let I treason secretly in Giuing deceitfull Pollicie the kay To the faire closet where his councells lay Thus reconciling outwardly a friend I drew an inward and a dangerous foe That all his wit ambitiously did lend To clothe his treasons in a vertuous show Which were contriued â—so currantly to goe That secret mallice strengthned more and more Lastly should proue more dangerous then before And now poore Fame my power to thee addrest And thee mine onely instrument I made That whilst these brothers at this passe do rest Him to the warres I wonne thee to perswade With those that now were going to inuade With great Duke Godfrey pressing for his bands From Pagans power t'regaine the holy lands His youthfull humour finely thus I feed The meane most fit to draw him forth abroad When now at home his presence most should neede In forraine lands to fasten his aboad Him in this order onely I bestow'd That William dying Robert being gone Henry might seate him on his brothers throne So sweete the sounds of these aduent'rous Armes And euery sence so strougly they do binde That he hath now no feeling of his harmes So farre away transported is his minde Declaring well the greatnesse of his kinde That him so high and forcibly doth beare As when most cause he least his ill doth feare Him hauing throwne into eternall thrall Wisely fore-casting how the same should bee When euery thing made fit vnto his fall Which none could hinder though the most fore-see For which I made an instrument of thee For where destruction sadly I pretend Mischiefe like lines all to their centre bend He gone and William yeelded vp the breath The younger Henry couetous of raigne Offered so fairely by his brothers death whilst Robert doth in Palestine remaine And now a Kingdome easily might gaine what by his power and science to perswade Himselfe a Monarch absolutely made Whilst this great Duke imbraced is by thee which thou as thine doost absolutely claime Finding meere shadowes onely missing mee And idle Castles in the ayre doth frame Lot such a mighty Monarchesse is Fame That what she giues so easie is to beare As none therefore needes violence to feare Vntill returning from those holy warres So highly honored with the Pagans flight From forraigne battells vnto ciuill â—arres And getting others for his owne to fight Inforc'd to vse the vtmost of his might with that rich sword in Pagan blood imbru'd Himselfe to saue by his owne friends pursu'd When wanting summes the sinewes of his force which his great courage quickly comes to finde Euen in the high speede of his forward course So skilfully I mannaged his minde That I a way out readily did finde To his destruction Henry to supply His future safetie happily to buy Him by all waies to amity to winne Not fully yet establish'd as he would Hauing thus farre already gotten in Setting himselfe substantially to hold By the francke offers of bewitching gold The yearely tribute from his Crowne to rise Which might all former iniuries suffice Which entertaind by confident beleefe By which to passe his purposes were brought Not yet suspitious of this secret theefe By which he soone and cunningly was caught Of which the least when princely Robert thought Euen in a moment did annoy him more Then all their powre could euer do before Which to this great Lord vtterly vnknowne Not vnderstanding easily could not flie Into his way that subtilly was throwne which to auoide Duke Robert look'd too hie Into good minds fraud doth the soonest prie whose pliant nature I securely chose To worke vvhat forme it pleasde me to dispose This fatall tribute cutting off the claime A lawfull Prince to Englands Empire laid His former right doth altogether maime As they agreed yeerely to be paid Thereon relying after being staid As from a fountaine plenteously did spring The
course eftsoone to bring about That which long since the wiser sort did doubt For whilst the King doth seriously attend His long-hop'd voyage to the Holy-land For which his subiects mighty summes did leud Euen whilst this buisnes onely was in hand All on the suddaine happily doth fall The death of Edward quickely altred all Should I assay his vertues to report To do the honor due vnto his name My meane endeuours should come farre too short And I thereby should greatly wrong the same But leaue it to some sacred Muse to tell Vpon whose life a Poets pen might dwell His princely body scarsly wrapt in lead Before his mournefull obsequies were done But that the Crowne was set on Edwards head With whom too soone my happy daies begunne After blacke night like brightnesse of the day All former sorrowes vanished away When now Carnaruan calls within a while Whom Edward Long-shanks hated to the death He whom the father lately did exile Is to the sonne as precious as his breath What th' old inscrib'd the yonger forth did blot Kings wils perform'd and dead mens words forgot When the winde wafts me to that happy place And soone did set me safely on that shore From whence I seemde but banish'd for a space That my returne might honored be the more Vnto this new King happily to leaue me Whose princely armes were ready to receiue me Who would haue seene how that kinde Roman dame Oâ—e-come with ioy did yeelde her latest breath Hersonne returning laden with such fame When thankfull Rome had mourned for his death Might heere behold her personated right When I approached to the Princes sight My Ioue now Lord of the Ascendant is In an aspect that promisde happy speede Whilst in that luckie influence of his Some praisde the course wherein I did proceede Yet it to some prodigiously appeares Telling the troubles of ensuing yeares When like to Midas all I touch'd was gold Powr'd as t' was once downe into Danaes lap For I obtained any thing I would Fortune had yet so lotted out my hap The chests of great men like to Oceans are To whom all floods by course do still repare The Isle of Man he first vnto me gaue To shew how high I in his grace did stand But fearing me sufficient not to haue I next receiued from his bounteous hand Faire Wallingford that antiently had beene The wealthy dower of many an English Queene The summes his father had beene leuying long By impositions for the warre abroad Other his princely benefits among At once on me he bounteously bestow'd When those which saw how much on me he cast Soone found his wealth sufficed not his waste He giues me then chiefe Secretaries place Thereby to traine me in affaires of state And those high roomes that I did hold to grace Me Earle of Cornwall franckly did create And that in Court he freely might pertake me Of England Lord high Chamberlaine did make me And that he would more strongly me alie To backe me gainst their insolent ambition Doth his faire Cosen vnto me affie A Lady of right vertuous condition which his deare sister prosperously bare To the Earle of Gloster blood-ennobled Clare O sacred bounty mother of content Fautresse and happy nourisher of Arts That giu'st successe to euery high intent The Conquerour of the most noblest harts High grace into mortalitie infused Pitty it is that e're thou wast abused When those that did my banishment procure Still in my bosome hated did abide And they before that could me not endure Are now much more impatient of my pride For emulation euer did attend Vpon the great and shall vnto th' end And into fauour closly working those That from meane places lifted vp by me And factious spirits being fittest to oppose Them that perhaps too powerfull else might be That euen gainst enuie raised by my hand Me must vphold to make themselues to stand And since the frame by fortune so contriu'd To giue protect to my ambitious waies Vrging thereby their hate to me deriu'd From those hie honours 〈◊〉 vpon me layes Drawing the King my courses to pertake Still to maintaine what he himselfe did make Thus doth my youth still exercise extreames My heed fond rashnes to forerunne my fall My wit meere folly and my hopes but dreames My councell serues my selfe but to inthrall That me abused with a vaine illusion When all I did intending my confusion And now the King to hasten his repaire Himselfe by marriage highly to aduance With Isabel a Princesse yong and faire As was her father Philip king of France When now the more to perfect my command Leaues vnto me protection of the land My power confirm'd so absolute withall That I dranke pleasure in a plenteous cup vvhen there was none me to account to call All to my hands so freely rendred vp That earth to me no greater blisse could bring Except to make me greater than a King When being now got as high as I could clime That the vaine world thus bountifully blest Franckly imbrace the benefite of time Fully t' enioy that freely I possest Strongly maintaining he was worse than mad Fondly to spare a Princes wealth that had Their counsells when continually I crosst As scorning their authoritie and blood And in those things concernd their honor 's most In those against them euer most I stoode And things most publique priuately extend To feede my riot that had neuer end When lastly Fortune like a treacherous foe That had so long attended on my fall In the plaine path wherein I was to goe Layes many a baite to traine me on withall Till by her skill she cunningly had brought me Vnto the place where at her will she caught me The mighty busines falling then in hand Triumphs ordain'd to welcome his returne Before the French in honour of the land vvith all my power I labourd to adiourne Till all their charge was lastly ouer throwne vvho likde t' haue seene no glory but mine owne Thus euery thing me forward still doth set Euen as an engine forcing by the slight One mischiefe thus a second doth beget And that doth leade th' other but to right Yet euery one himselfe employing wholy In their iust course to prosecute my folly Which when they found how still I did retaine Th' ambitious course wherein I first beganne And lastly felt that vnder my disdaine Into contempt continually they ranne Take armes at once to remedy their wrong vvhich their cold spirits had suffred but too long Me boldely charging to abuse the King A wastefull spender of his needefull treasure A secret thiefe of many a sacred thing And that I led him to vnlawfull pleasure That neuer did in any thing delight But what might please my sensuall appetite That as a scourge vpon the land was sent Whose hatefull life the cause had onely beene The State so vniuersally was rent Whose ill increasing euery day was seene I was reproached openly of many Who pitti'd
seas Such meanes in France they daily do procure That there my selfe I doubted to secure And though I chang'd my habite and my name Because I meant to liue vnknowne to any Yet swift report had so divulg'd my shame My hated life was publish'd to too many In euery streete that as I pas'd along I was the talke of euery common tongue And finding that which onely I did craue A secret meanes to send vnto the King To me certaine intelligence that gaue Of the state and course of euery thing Who labored now more euer then before Me into England safely to restore For which relying on my Soueraignes loue To whom my life had euer beene so deare Which I then now had ne're more cause to proue Striuing t' obtaine if any meane there were A dispensation for his former oth In their dispight that thereto seem'd most loth Where casting many a sundry course at length Being by marridge mightily alide And but too much presuming of my strength Resolu'd for England come what could beâ—ide And in a ship that for the iourney lay Thither my selfe did suddainely conuay And safely landed on the wished shore Vnto the Court me secretly betooke Of which the King had notice long before And for my comming euery day did looke Wisely that plotted when I should arriue All helpefull meanes my safetie to contriue Which soone being known whilst yet their blood was hote That to their strength now onely were to trust For what before was done preuailed not And for my sake the King did proue vniust Bringing thereby whilst trifling they did stand Wrong to themselues and danger to the land Now when the time did generally distaste Our lewd and inconsiderate neglect when those in Court that our high fauours plac'de Giue vs iust cause their dealings to suspect And they that view'd vs with the pleasedst eye Yet at our actions sometimes looke awric Wherefore the King inforced to prouide A present Armie trusting to his friends Repâ—irde to Yorke vntill he were supplide From whence for aide he into Scotland sends To warlike Balioll and to Wales from whence He might get power to frustrate their pretence But they his purpose wholy intercept Not now to seeke in any secret thing The marches that so vigilantly kept And yet renounce all malice to the King Only to chastice my abhorred sinne Who had the cause of all this trouble bin Thus Like a ship dismembred of the sailes Forc'd by the winde against the streamefull tide From place to place with euery billow hales And as it haps from shore to shore doth ride As that poore vessell rests my brittle stay Nearer the land still nearest cast away Corsiue of kingdoms home-begotten hate which in no limits euer yet wast bounded when didst thou seize euen on the greatest state By thee that was not vtterly confounded How many kingdome be there that doe rue thee Happy the world was till too well it knew thee Thus of our succour instantly bereft Hauing but now some little force at sea Lastly to trust to onely vs was left On which our hope infortunately lay Which he to hasten speedily doth make His former courses forced to forsake The present danger mannaging it so That did for aide importunately call Wherefore in Yorke as farthest from the foe Leaues me vnto the safegard of the wall Till his returne me further helpe might giue Whom more and more he studied to relecue From Bedford now the Armie setting on Th' appointed randy whore they gathered head When they had notice that the King was gone Vpon their way more hastily them sped Me t' afflict as purposed they were Whose presence else might force them to forbeare To Skarborough immediately I poste With the small force my fortune then did lend me A Fort best fitting standing on the coast And of all other likest to defend me And came the worst resistlesse were their might The sea should safely priuiledge my flight But they the Cittie lying round about Keepe euery passage with a watchfull spie That gaue them notice of my passing out With their light horse pursue me by and by Whereas vpon me suddainely they came E're I had time to fortifie the same Along the lands towards Oxford they conuey me Wondring my sight as birds do at the Owle And by the way continually they bray me As hungry woolues at passengers do howle Each one exulting that I now was caught That in the land such mischiefe euer wrought And being brought to Dedington at last Where the Eaâ—le of Pombrooke wild me to be staid To vnderstand 〈◊〉 further that I past Things to my charge that secretly were laid And to the King he speedily had sent T' acquaint him with the generall intent But the Earle of Warwicke lying but too neare The dog of Arden that I vsde to call That deadly hatred still to me did beare And that I euer doubted most of all Thither repairing with a powerfull band Ceazed vpon me with a violent hand And vnto Warwicke carrying me along Where he had long desired me to get With friends and tenants absolutely strong Whom all the puissant Barronry abet Since now occasion offered them such hold Hasten my death by all the meanes they could North from the Towne a mile or very neare An easie hill in publike view doth lie Blacklow then call'd of those that dwelled there Neare to the antient Hermitage of Guy Thither with arm'd bands strongly they me led Whereas I lastly forfaâ—ed my head My sundry passions hauing thus exprest In the sad tenor of my tragicke Tale Let me returne vnto the fields of rest Thither transported by a prosp'rous gale I leaue the world my destiny to view Bidding it thus for euermore a diew FINIS