THE LEGEND OF HVMPHREY DVKE OF GLOCESTER By Chr Middleton LONDON Printed by E. A. for Nicholas Ling and are to be solde at his shop at the west doore of S. Paules Church 1600. TO THE RIGHT VVOORshipfull Sir Iaruis Clifton Knight SIR the ancient ememy to learning ignorance hath left off his old liuerye russet Ierkins leather hose to deceiue the world like Esops Asse in a Lions skin thrusts in him selfe sometimes like a Gentleman sometime like a souldiour sometimes like a Lawyer and like Catterpillers at the springe bites off blossomes of Trees and corruptes the buddes of flowers And although the young fruites of my labours grewe not by the banks of Hellicon nor were euer watred at Aganippies welles yet simple as they are loath I was a greate while to turne them abroad into the world without armour against this enemy and almost in dispaire I was by a Gentleman your Woorships wel-willer and my very good freind perswaded to shrowde these simple lynes vnder your shadow who being your selfe dayly conuersant in the histories of ancient times are alwayes willing ready to countenance support the poore remnants of depressed learning that are left for our times would like the seauen folde shield of Aiax retort such dartes to them that throw them whereupon I am bolde to presume vpon your Wor. fauour for my defence which I doubt not but to find and when more leasure giues liberty to my penne I will indeuour painfully to requite this curtesie which so impudently I now craue Your Wo in all duty to command Chr. Middleton Ad Christopherum Middletonum Hexastichon Illustri Humphredi genio tua musa parentās Vera refert generosa canit memoranda reuoluit Virtuti et laudi statuam dans dat simul ips◠Non opus est vestrae musae tum carmine nostro Nec opis est nostroe radijs inuoluere Phoebum Quid satis ornatam mus am phalerare iuuabit Rob Allott To his friend Master Chr. M. his Booke LIke as a man on some aduenture bound His honest friendes their kindnes to expresse T' incourage him of whome the maine is own'd Some venture more and some aduenture lesse That if the voyage happily be good They his good fortune freely may pertake If otherwise it perrish in the flood Yet like good freinds theirs perish'd for his sake On thy returne I put this little forth My chaunce with thine indifferently to proue Which though I knowe not fitting with thy worth Accept it yet since it proceedes from loue And if thy fortune prosper I may see I haue some share though most returne to thee Mich Drayton To the Author c. OFT haue I seene in some seign'd Historie Of loftie Knights or lowly shepheards writ Whereas Inuention runnes at libertie Arte iudgement reading spirit show'n and wit Yet in a Legend like Duke Humphreys knowne Where wittes inuiron'd in with veritie Sildome haue seen more art or iudgment showne More reading spirit wit and Poetrie But Orpheus with his harpe melodicall In Canzonets and heauens azure frame For heau'ns historie most hermonicall In Spheres sweet musicke sings yet of thy name Thē heu'ns him I wrong thei 'l giue thee merit For iudgement wit for reading art spirit Another of the same To Duke Humphreyes attendants YEE dayly wayters on Duke Humphreys table And hourly walkers by D. Humphreys shrine If that for meager famine yee be able Right to peruse a wel-pend wittye line Wait walk no more on 's table by his shrine But with D. Humphreys Legēd Gentles dine Iohn Weeuer The Legend of Humphrey Duke of Glocester 1 YE powers Diuine directors of our wits Send some small current from those siluer springs By whose faire banks the heauen-borne muses sits And to the bubling streames sweet Ditties singes Following whose course my meanor Muse may see How she shall write this famous History 2 Doe not direct her in those muddy streames Where now swims many wits whose worth affoords Sinfull foule subiects detestable theames Set foorth in worse and more detested words Whose sound euen sinfull men refuse to heare As obiectes farre vnfit for any eare 3 But in a better vaine direct my verse Obscure not her intent with such a blot Since she indeuours truely to rehearse A story of times past now neere forgot Grace her with words then of no meaner worth Then was the man whose story she sets foorth 4 So shall his name by your assistance rays'd From darke obliuion shew it selfe againe As one deseruing better to be prays'd Then some whose liues recorded now remaine For meaner vertues mightily renown'd Whilst his great workes in ruyne are nye drown'd 5 What time this land disquieted with broyles Wearied with wars and spent for want of rest Sawe her adioyning neighbours free fromth'spoyles Wherewith her selfe her selfe had disposest Of peace and plenty which men most desire And in their steeds brought famine sword and fire 6 Labouring now to restore her great decayes Like to a sea-beate Barke new com'd to shoare Seekes for a quiet harbour where they may Mend and repayre what they had lost before So fares it with this land that thus distrest Was almost left vn-peopled vnpossest 7 But that the fortunes of a blessed King Embalm'd and cur'd the woundes it had fustain'd As when the sonne accompaning the spring Brings life to the dead earth in which remain'd No hope of summer for in killing frost Were all her powers decayd her vertues lost 8 Henry the first-borne to his countryes good After he had relieu'd this ruin'd state Fighting against the French that had withstood The right his Auncestors had wone of late Cropt in his chiefest time dyes this faire King Preuenting th'haruest of so sweet a spring 9 And in his Kingdome now growne great againe Almost too mighty for to be controwlde By a young King that did retayne the name Of his dead Father yet scarse twelue months olde Too heauy was God knowes for such a hand The Scepter that did sway this head-strong land 10 But yet supported by his vncles care Humfrey Glosters Duke for so they call him To ryper yeares sprung vp our kingdomes heyre Protected from all harmes that might befall him During his nonage by the carefull heed Of watchfull Gloster borne for this good deed 11 Whose holy life good workes and vertuous deedes I leaue as subiects fit for greater wits For greater are the vertues that proceedes From Kings then meaner men and better fits A loftier stile whose wit and iudgement ripe Then an vnlearned Shepheards oaten Pipe 12 O were my penne but able to set downe Great Glosters vertues as indeed they were How would the world bewitch'd with his renowne In immitation striue for to come neere His worthy deedes whereof who were possest Themselues might iustly thinke were haply blest 13 Looke as the starres when as the worlds great light Rowses him from his mleancholie bed Drawing the duskie Curtaines of the night Wherein the
earth lay sadly mantelled Pluckes in their pale heads as asham'd and sorry He should so farre exceede themselues in glory 14 So did the world wherein this worthy was Admire the more then common gifts he had Wondring how such a worke should come to passe And with aboundant mellancholie sad Frets out their liues in enuy and dispaire For with his life no life could ere compare 15 And had he not been royall in his birth Yet had his matchlesse learning and his wit From meanor rootes as fayre a branch brought foorth For King-borne blouds to shrowd them vnder it For Wit and Learning are two Angels wings By which meane men soares vp to mighty things 16 Ah woe the while our age neglects that same Would our great men would immitate his course Then should their vertues adde vnto their name More noblenesse and after death inforce A new liues date whose lymits should extend Beyond all ages after time shall end 17 His youth not vainely spent in idle sports Such as be-witches young mens fantasies But seriously attending the resorts Of learned Councellors men of great degrees Made him an Atlas abler to sustaine The heauy burden of his Cousens Raigne 18 By how much straighter springs the new-set Pine By so much hope men of a fayre encrease But way-ward plants that crookedly decline That they should prooue good trees all men surcease The hope they haue of any further good And lets them dye regardlesse in the wood 19 So when the impes that springs from Royall stockes Keepes a straight passage through their vertuous youth O how that shew all mens desires prouokes That should increase still to a fairer growth Vntill it prooue a goodly broad-spred tree To shade poore shrubs from wrongs and iniury 20 So had mens hopes in him their full effect His godly youth sprung to a vertuous age Whose matchfull care was spent in the respect Of Countries welfare and he did ingage His substance and himselfe to doe much good To th' poore and such as most in daunger stood 21 And happy was the King whose infancy Was guided by so good a mans direction Whose care was not his owne commodity Nor for to satisfie priuate affection But to performe the charge he had in hand Protect the King for th'quiet of the land 22 Then was not iustice collour'd with deceipt Kept downe by might wrought vnto great mens wils Nor was her Schooles peis'd down with golden waights And shee that should correct colour mens ills But who did well by him were well regarded And wicked men with their deserts rewarded 23 Then Ruffling pride as light as vanity Rouz'd from her soft secure luxurious bed Banisht from hence liu'd in obscurity As on exilde from whence she first was bred And what sinnes else were great were all defac't And in their steeds religious vertues plac't 24 But see to what a ftaylty we are borne When as our best estate is sooh'st declyn'd Fayre dayes haue end and their delights out-worne Succeeeds darke nights cold stormes blustring wind Few men there were that had or ere shal haue Fortune continue constant to their graue 25 As stormes of hayle fal's on the rypen'd corne All vnexpected to the husbandman And shakes the full-fraught eares that had out-worne Colde heate drought wet and what soeuer can Decay the earths increase and now did stand Expecting but the gladsome Reapers hand 26 So fares it with this Duke whose young dayes spent In vertuous studies and true holines Sets downe himselfe now with a full intent To spend his weary age in quietnesse Thinking his holy life should this haue found Peace tending on his body to the ground 27 But ô sad times where nought but misery Stands ready to make pray on each estate Sometime she tends them from their infancy Vntill she sees their whole life ruinate Other men lets she grow to th' top of all Intending so to worke their greater fall 28 So Pompey in the midst of victory All vnexpected hapned on his end And Caesar in his greatest maiesty Vntimely murthred by his neerest friend Such are mens best estates more wretched they In greatest pompe most subiect to decay 29 And did the troubles of this world but tend On wicked men it were a iuster doome But soonest doe their iniuries extend To holy liues that hindering too soone The course of vertue fore it grew too great They may themselues establish in her seate 30 And had it not been so with this great man In what a glorious current had he runne Euen from the Royall spring where he began Downe to the Sea of honour nor there doone Had turn'd the strong tydes by his vertues force And made them striue to follow on his course 31 Why doth my labouring Muse so far proceede Exemplyfying of his worthy life And numbring his good gifts because indeed She 's loath to enter into such a strife As she must doe comparing but the ruth Of his sad age with th'onor of his youth 23 These were the younger sort but grauer men Whose plots and drifts sorts not to their effect With false surmizes slyly settles them To draw the Kings minde into some neglect Of the Dukes rule and by that enterprise Intise his youth to follow their aduise 33 And since the worlds first age what age was seen Wherein some fury rowz'd from th'deepest hell Possest not mens conceipts and still hath been Ready to plot and practise any ill Nor euer shall there be an age so cleare But in her smooth face shall some faults appeare 34 For as the brightest flame hath darkest smoake Bodyes their shadowes clearest springs theyr mud Whose enuious quallityes oft times prouoke Them to be ill who else would still be good Mud spoiles the spring smoake oft obscures the flame And vitious men enxies at vertues name 35 And which is more admir'd euen twixt two friends Rises sad discord I and such as were Link'd in the bonds of blood whose deedes should tend To mutuall friendship and should eleaue as neere As twin-borne bretheren whil'st they are intoombe Within the compasse of their mothers wombe 36 Great Henry Bewfoord Bishop of Winchester Neerely ally'd both to the Duke and King A man ambitious haughty not sincere And hollily affected seekes to bring By bad deuises vnderneath his hand The King the Nobles th'commons of the land 37 And hauing now inricht himselfe with store Of what was needfull for his great attempt As money friends authority and power Of men that nothing could his will preuent His great intendments what so ere they were But Glosters fore-sight in his dayly care 38 Kindles the first fire of that wofull age Whose flames coupling themselues with new allyes Which many after times could not aswage But still fresh fewell brought it new supplyes Till this poore country spent with ciuill iarres Want brings at length a weake end to their warres 39 Now Lyon-like he forrages the land And being Lord Chaunc'ler practizes his will Keeps lawes
fit To their desires it is mongst them thought meete Shee should doe open pennance in the streete 91 And after that perform'd be banisht hence Into the Isle of Man and there should liue A guiltlesse exile for a small offence Or none at all and who so ere did giue That vniust sentence hath ere this his doome Amongst th'condemn'd where comfort nere shall come 92 All this her husband saw but could not mend Saw his Sun-setting in a dusky cloude That did presage a darke and lowring end Of his olde dayes and he disdain'd to shroud His head in meaner shades whose vsurp'd power Might driue away that imminent foule shower 93 Yet hopes he that the King will not forget What his deserts had wonne and what he was Or at the least his honour would not let His deare friends and his neere allyance passe Through such a hell of vndeserued woes That nere deseru'd the penalties of lawes 94 And thus he mooues it whilst the flouds of griese Did Nilus-like oreflow the Di'mond shoare Of his wet eyes whose hope was not reliefe Of their sad case but rather wisht for more Aboundant sorrow by which they might be Drown'd in darke pitchy gulfes and nere more see 95 Men rather fast to death then they will take A poysoned nutriment a sicke mans heart Desires death rather then his health should make Way for a worse disease whose bitter smart Would worke his greater griefe euen they doe so Wish blindnesse before sight to see more woe 96 If pitty quoth he sit in Princes hearts As it should doe or mercy haue her seate By iudgements side to mittigate the smart Of punishment too heauy and too great Let these two gentle Gods looke then on mee That aske their help with teares in misery 97 Hatefull oppression hath vsurpt great King Thy place and wrung out of thy Royall hand The swoord of Iustice and stands mennacing Of cruell punishments vnto this land Whose guiltlesse eyes were nere open'd to see Since thou wert King the face of tyranny 98 T is not thy fault for thou art iust and kinde Witnes my selfe that doe complaine of wrongs I am opprest great King and yet I finde That thou art guiltlesse and dost what belongs Vnto a guiltlesse soule wish all were right But wishing helps not wrongs nor resists might 99 Remooue the Pillars on whose base doth stand A mighty building and all comes to thrall Take out the staffe from an olde mans weake hand And then his aged body must needs fall Take steeridge from a ship or do not guide it And on some Rocke the silly barke will split 100 The base whereon my aged frame hath stood The staffe whereon I stay'd my trembling arme The rudder that did guide me and with good And wholsome counsell kept my age from harme Is gone what then may I suspect to haue But so daine fall to an vntimely graue 101 Where would I were in peace for heere is none And lesse I feare will be which makes my minde Thinke happy are our Fathers that are gone Where sure they shall a better kingdome finde Truely said Ouid that no man should say His life was blest before his latest day 102 Against my wife God knowes a guiltlesse soule Is past a heauy iudgement vndeseru'd Which yet thy Royall power may controule And by that meanes their liues may be preseru'd That liues to doe thee good who were they gone I prophecie thy quiet raigne were done 103 Pitty speakes to thee for her guiltlesse case And mercy sayes the doome is all too great Iudgement it selfe would be content to cease If but thy sacred tongue vouchsafe t' intreate For t is most fit say they we should dispence With those that haue committed no offence 104 For lawes were made to punish euill men And cherish vp the good such as liue well This being so true as t is why doe they then Make equall iustice gainst her selfe rebell Keep it in order King for all men say That things brought out of course will soone decay 105 The King heauy to heare this sad discourse Descends his royall throane whereon he sate Takes vp his vncle and to make restraint Of his increasing griefe gins to intreate Him with good words and his desire is He could but doe that good which he doth wish 106 My Noble Aunte quoth he suffers these ills Without my priuity and they haue got Such strong Commissions for to worke their wils Vnder out seales that rightly can I not Recall the worke nor will they licence me To pardon her pretended traytory 107 Good vncle well you know I haue giuen ouer All gouernment and haue discharg'd my soule Of worldly cares and cannot well recouer That right againe and if I should controule What they haue done t'wold sure stir vp their wrath To execute my ruyne and your death 108 Gloster with this amaz'd that he should heare His Kingly Cousin giue him no reliefe What he would gladly speake he doth for-beare His mouth is lockt and the grim porter griefe Keeps in the sad words that he faine would speake Controules his tongue makes her powers too weake 109 Thus the King sorry he cannot releeue him Comforts his griefe with teares and so they part The woes that Gloster hath doe no lesse grieue him Then the good Duke and cleaues as neere his heart True friends haue seeling of each others woe And when ones heart is sad all theirs is so 110 The Duke lookt vp and saw the King was gone And the roome empty time and place affoords A fit occasion for a man to moane And quiet silence licenses his words To talke to woode and stones and empty ayre For to his plaints no man would lend his eare 111 For want quoth he of witnes I must make You sencelesse things recorders of my woe Friends and acquaintance flye and will not seeke Redresse for wrongs the lawes are altered so That men which of all creatures should liue best Are of all law and iustice dispossest 112 Would you quoth he could vtter what I say That the remembrance of my teares might last To vn-borne ages and when you decay You could tell your succession what hath past In these ill times then would I tell a tale Of so much ruth that flint and steele should waile 113 I prophecy a time shall shortly be And well is me I shall not see the day When all too late with sorrow they shall see What t is to doe iniustice and to sway The swoord awry for next to tyranny Comes warres dissentions ciuill mutiny 114 Once did Astrea leaue the world before Because the world grew weary to doe well Once gone againe I feare shee 'l nere come more Nor set her helping hand for to refell These growing mischiefes but let them increase Till men haue quite forgot the name of peace 115 When as the Sunne forsakes his cristal spheare How darke and vgly is the gloomy skye And in his place ther 's
can misse Men are not measured now as they deserue But as the bad conceipts of tyrants is From whose vnrighteous doome faire heau'ns defend Thy holy life that hopes the better end 141 With that Sir Thomas Stanley her sad guide Breakes off their intermissiue pittious teares Lady quoth he the due obseruant tyde Hath fil'd the hollow vast and empty shoares Of this our hauen and his swift foote course Bends backe vnto the sea his matchlesse force 142 Full loath God knowes am I to be the man Appointed to dissolue so strong a bond As linkes true loue yet will I what I can Labour to keep it still except commaund That ouer-rules good meaning make a way To bring it to a sodainer decay 143 Call but to minde Sir Thomas sayes the Duke What t is to part true friends and thou shalt see T is such a sinne as gentle kinde rebuke Forsakes and sayes t is worthier to be Reserued for punishment we cannot giue Eternall fire whose furies euer liue 144 Yet I confesse I doe thee wrong good knight Thou art commaunded to conuey her hence And being a subiect must obey the might Of mighty mens commaunds though the offence To God and all good men for all men say Kings were made to commaund subiects t' obey 145 Yet vse her well to quallifie the deed Smooth oyles desolues hard stones faire words inforce Pitty in flinty hearts there will proceede From thy kinde vsage reasons of remorse To mooue the heauens to forgiue this sinne And to remooue the plagues tho' art falling in 146 With that they parted for they might not stand On longer tearmes nor would their sorrows let Their wordes dilate their griefes but doth commaund Their dutious tongues to silence and they set Milde quiet patience before theyr eyes And to her shrine doe solemne sacrifice 147 Now where 's the dolefull muses that should play In tragick sceanes the parting of these two Will none assist me then well may I say It is indeede a story of such woe As if but tongues and pennes should striue t' expresse Their paines would make the sorrow but seeme lesse 148 Then as we wonder at the countlesse starres Numberlesse sands the infinite increase Of men birds beastes and all things that inferres An admiration so let our tongues cease To talke of what we cannot comprehend As wondrous things whose numbers haue no end 149 This done the Duke repayres to th' Court againe Performes his office labours to forget These sorrows but alas the growing paine Of this deep festred wound will neuer let His thoughts or deeds or life haue any peace Till thoughts and deeds and life and all shall cease 150 Then sought the Nobles for to match their King In marriage with some Prince of his estate So that from him more royall seede might spring To weare the English Crowne and prop agate The Common wealth for subiects most desires A royall issue to succeed their syres 151 And he by priuate meanes without th'consent Of his Protector Gloster willing is To marry and withall was well content That William Duke of Suffolke one that was His vncles foe should betroth in his name One borne vnto smal wealth and to lesse fame 152 Margaret daughter to Reynard Naples King Inriched by this match who else was poore A king onely in name without the thing That makes men mighty and in steed of dowre They buy her of her Father with more store Of lands and goods then ere he had before 153 Looke as great Cynthia in her siluer Carre Rides in her Progresse round about her spheare Whose tendance is the fayre eye-dazling starres Trouping about her Chariot that with cleare And glorious shewes makes euery eye delight To gaze vpon the beauty of the night 154 Or as the spring comes to regreete the earth Clad and attended with the worlds delight So is the Queene in Maiesty brought foorth Tended with Princes that a fayrer sight This land of ours a long time had not seene And well't had been for them had that not been 155 And though the Duke vnwilling was to haue His Kingly Cousen marry with this Queene Yet since t' was done it was too late to craue Assistance to disioyne them that had been But labour lost a toyle vnto no end Wise men let faults ore-passe they cannot mend 156 And what his duety and his seruice ought her That he perform'd and euer was content To doe her good and his endeuour brought her More friends who else in greeuous discontent Had put on armes against her but that they Saw him content and for his sake they obey 157 But as most women else euen so was she Vnconstant and that wauering power did guide Her fickle thoughts that nothing could agree With her conceipt but new deuises pride And womens toyes who children-like affected Loues trifles whilst good things are quite neglected 158 Good Duke to what misfortune wert thou borne How was the heauens conioyned at thy birth Thy yonger times might better haue out-worne These troubles that thy latter yeares brought foorth But subtill fortune turn'd her fatall hand Against thine age not able to withstand 159 But whether t' were the fortune of the place Th'Duke-dome of Gloster that thus crost thy blisse I know not but I gesse for all the race Almost of Dukes that were instal'd in this Vnlucky Duke-dome made an end like thee By hard and vnexpected casualty 160 Thomas of Woodstocke and Hugh Spensers thrall May be great reasons to perswade this thing And thine and after thee an others fall That was once Duke there though he dyed a King Richard the third yet was his life so bad That he deseru'd a worse death then he had 161 Yet let thy soule forgiue this sinne of mine That puts thee in amongst a company Of wicked men whose liues were worse then thine Though death amongst you all dealt equally For he 's vnpartiall and with one selfe hand Cuts off both good and bad none can withstand 162 The Queene that now had lent her youthfull eares To the vaine pleasures of these foolish times To be imploy'd considered not the cares That troubles grauer heades whose wisedome climes To higher steps of iudgement and nere cease Striuing to keep their idle liues in peace 163 The droane should dye did not the toylesome Bee Worke to supply her need the silly snake Had staru'd in colde had he not bin set free From the congealed frost whose force did make Passage for death in his friends bosome warmed From frost and snow and killing winter armed 164 Yet see how these kinde fauours haue an end The Drone starues the poore Bee that got her meate The venom'd snake requites his carefull friend By stinging him that did procure the heate That preseru'd her so did the Queene requite The Dukes kinde deeds with mallice wrath and spite 165 For whilst he laboured in the common-wealth And sought their good by gouerning the King Incroaching danger comes on him by stealth And