liue To fault is then their murdrous fact that first defect doth giue He had not faulted or I falne hadst thou hild faith to mee Ah little feele we in regard of Plagues prepar'd for thee Thus sayd he and for thus he sayd I for the ruth of this Did vow that who so once were mine I would be onely his Well Madame quoth the Gentleman be this so or a shift I see to frustrate my demaund is honestly your drift Then so or not so or what so you shall inferre of this It matters not Perkin is yours and be you onely his For sooth to say weare all saide false it were indeed a hell To haue a Loues-Coryuall and as none could brooke it well So none should aske and none should yeeld to alter loue begun Therefore sweet Ladie I conclude such il is well vndun Mine amorous sute hath here an end and would you might preuaile With Perken too that proudly striues to beare too high a sayle So may you if perhaps you haue for him so apta tayle As this you tould to me for mee although more hardly trew As this which I shall tell that doth include a morall view Of matter worth the note for him the rather tould by you Then heare it for our leisure and the order of my Q CHAP. XXXVII SVppose for so must be suppos'd that Birdes and Beasts did speake The Cuckooe sometimes lou'd the Owle and so with her did breake Then flew the Owle by day so did the Cuckooe all the yeare So did the Swallow and the Batte but howe it hapned heare The Cuâ—kooe by the Swallow then the Swallow was his Page Did send the Owle a sucking Mouse a tydie for the age The Bat the Bat then seru'd the Owle preferd the Bringer and The Present to her Mistres sight that in her Tod did stand My maister to your Owleship quoth the Swallow sends by me This Modicum desiring you to take the same in gree The Owle that neuer till that day had tasted flesh of Mouse Had quickly lopte a Limbe or two and feasteth in her house The Swallow with a cut see of her then disgorged wheat When talking of the daintie flesh and elswhat as they eate The Bat then waiting at the boorde fetcht sighes a two or three The Owle did aske the cause And doe you aske the cause quoth she Why thus I sigh when thus in sight my kindred murthred be My selfe was sometimes such and such am still saue now I fly With that she freshly wept and thus proceeded by and by A fresh quoth she now comes to minde mine Auncestors ill hap WhoÌ„ pride made praies to Kestrels Kites Cats Weasels BaeÌ„ trap My Grandsier for wheare Nature failes in strength she adds in wit Was full of Science But insooth he misapplied it The Weasell Prince of Vermen though besides a vertuous Beast By shrewdnes of my Grandsiers wit his Holes with hoords increaste And seem'd to conn him thankes whoÌ„ none besides had cause to thank For Princes Fauors often make the fauored too cranke Not only Mice but Lobsters Cats and noble Vermen paide In comming Coram Nobis for some crime against them laide But God it is a world to see when purposes be sped How Princes hauing fatted Such are with their fatnes fed The Weasel seru'd my Grandsier so and euery Vermen laught To see himselfe in Snare that had in Snares so many caught Now also liue some wylie Beasts and fatly do they feede Mongst Beasts of chace birds of game with lesse then needfull heed My Graundsier dead my Father was in fauour nerthelesse Nor did his Father more than he for high Promotion presse And though I say it long time he deserued fauors well For quayling Foe men and at home such Vermen as rebell And for the same the Weasell did him mightily preferre But Honors made him haughtie and his haughtines to erre I will be plaine he waxt too prowd and plotted higher drifts Than fitted him or fadged well for who haue thriu'd by shifts Nor will I say because his sonne he wrong'd the Weasell but The Weasell died and that that did succeede to shifts he put For which his Fathers Fortune did oretake him at the last Such fickelnesse in earthly pompe which flowing ebs as fast This double warning might haue iâ—kt vnto my wit but I Did follow Kinde Nay more I did importune Dis to fly And he did giue me these blacke wings resembling him that gaue the A proper Gift and hardly got to shame me now I haue them But know yee Dis some Pluto him or Limbos God doe call Or aptlier said in Hell of diuels the Chiefe and Principall And somwhat now of him and how I changed say I shall I hapned on a Cranny whilst my Mouse-daies lasted which I entring wandred crooked Nookes and pathes as darke as pitch Theare hauing lost my selfe I sought the open aire in vaine Both wanting foode light and life well neare through travels paine The Moole by chaunce did crosse my way and as ye know her smell Supplies her want of sight and serues her purpose full as well I heard a tracting sownd and skar'd my haire did stand vpright Nor could I see or fly but feare and blesse me from a Spright She had me hild me questions of my being theare the cause And in meane while peruseth me with fauorable clawes I was about to pleade for life when she preuents me thus Ha Cosen Mouse what Fortune giues this meeting heere to vs. Feare not my Sonne I call thee Sonne because I loue thee much Doe hold thy selfe as merry heere as in a Pantlers hutch What know'st not me or see'st thou not with that she leadeth me Into an higher roome wheare her to be mine Eame I see I did my dutie and my heart was lightned when mine eie Encountered a friend whereas I made account to die Before me sets Shee Viands and my stomacke seru'd me well And hauing fed my Grandsiers and my Fathers ends I tell For She enquires for them ere I acquaint her what befell The reuerent Moole then sighing said ah let no Vermine thinke That Fortune euer fauors or that friends will neuer shrinke I did fore-smell their lostie flight would cost them once a fall And therefore Cosen see thou be forewarned therewithall Heere seest thou me I tell thee though I prise not Gentry now Thine Eame and of the elder house that long agoe did vow My selfe a Recluse from the world and celled vnder ground Least that the gould the precious stones and pleasures here be found Might happen to corrupt my minde for blindnes did I pray And so contemplatiuely heere I with contentment stay Admitte the Weasell graceth thee the more he doth the more The other Vermen will maligne and enuy thee therefore Himselfe perhaps will listen to thy ruine for thy store Or thou thy selfe to mount thy selfe maiest runne thy selfe a shore That Vermen that hath reason and his owne Defects
each wheare for All Whereforeto Paris at the time flockt Caueliers ful tall With Princes braue and Ladies faire of euery Realme about And hence with moe Charles Brandon in fine Chiualrie most stout Whose bodie fitted to his mind whose mind was puesant and Whose puesance yeelded not to Mars this Mars in France did laÌ„d With whoÌ„ incouÌ„tred valiaÌ„t knights but none might him withstaÌ„d The English-French Queene standing theare admir'd for beautie rare Behild the Tryumphs in the which high Feates performed ware But Brandon yet no Duke he was the Knight aboue the rest That in her eye nor did she erre acquited him the best For whether that he trots or turnes or bounds his barded Steede Did runne at Tylt at Randon or did cast a Speare with heede Or fight at Barriers he in all did most her fancie feede Weake on a Couch her King lay theare whoÌ„ though she loued well Yeat likte she Brandon and the same lou'd her ere this befell For chastly had they fancied long before she came to Fraunce Or that from meane estate to Duke Henry did him aduaunce The dayes of Triumph weare expir'd and English Peeres with praise Come home and Lewes King of France decea'st within few daies Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke then with honour furnisht hence Was sent to France for to returne the widow Queene from thence Who had been wed scarce thâ—ice three weekes vnto a sickly King To her a fayre young Queene therefore smal time might solace bring Yet lesse did timethaÌ„ braue Duke Charles asswage fair Maries griefe He chats she cheers he courts she coyes he wowes she yeelds in briefe No windes thought she assist those Sayles that seeke no certain Shore Nor find they constant liues that but they liue respect no more Let each ones life ayme some one end as if it be to marrie Then see heare loue and soone conclude it betters not to tarrie To cast too many doubts thought she weare oft to erre no lesse Than to be rash And thus no doubt the gentle Queene did gesse That seeing This or That at first or last had likelyhood A man so much a manly Man weare dastardly withstood Then Kisses reuel'd on their Lips to eithers equall good And least King Henry should dissent they secretly did wead And then sollicet his good will and of their wishes spead The periut'd valiaÌ„t Scotch-King Iames slayn at braue Flodons Slaughter Had also left in widowhood Englands fayre elder Daughter She also weds a Scottish Earle vnlicenc'st of her Brother And was to her Sons Daughters Sonne now sixt Iames great-Grandmother A Scruple after twentie yeares did enter Henries mind For wedding of Queene Katherin a Ladie fayre and kind Spaynes Daughter then the Emperours Aunt and for her vertuous life Well worthie Henry But for she had beene his Brothers wife And also of their coiture surmise directed Lawes He seem'd in conscience toucht and sought to rid him of the Cause Then was the matter of Deuorse through Christendome disputed The Match of all adiudged voyd and so the Queene non-suted She after teares to him from whom she was to be deuorste Did humbly say and am I not my Lord to be remorste That twentie yeeres haue bene your Wife borne your Children and Haue lou'd and liu'd obediently and vnsuspected stand I am ah too too sweetly err'd I was poore Soule the same Whom once you did preferre nor now of me you neede to shame The blossomes of my beautie was your Bootie nor my fauour Now alters so to alter so from me your late behauour But Conscience is the colour of this quarrell well I wot I also haue a conscience that in this accuseth not But as the same perhaps might say that me succeedes say I That for the pleasure of a Prince goe many things awry Which her Fore-doomes seem'd to effect in her that her succeeded In Queene Anne Bullyn who for she in Lutherâ—sme proceeded Was hated of the Papists and enui'd because preferr'd And through the Kings too light beleefe for Kinges haue sometimes err'd She lost her head and might haue sayd some thought ere she did dye That for the pleasure of the Prince goe many things awry So dyde the gracious Mother of our now most glorious Queene Whose zeale in reuerent Fox his works autenticall is seene The Kings foure other Queenes for why he dide a Sexamus Shall passe though Iane did beare a Sonne to him a King to vs Edward the Sixt and of the same we shall deliuer thus CHAP. XXXV SVCH as was Loue in Figure of Ascanius wheÌ„ the same In kisses slie did sheade himselfe into the Tyrian Dame Or such as was sweete Hyacint Apollos louely Boy Or Iupiters Ganymaedes rapt vp to heauen from Troy Or rather like young Salomon in sentencing betwixt Two mothers claiming one same Child was young Edward the Sixt. Now Rome fell sicke in England but how long she lay in traunce We list not write alonly death to her did neuer chaunce For old Rome neuer lackt that durst their liues for her bestoe Not new Rome that to Hell for her dare soules and bodies goe Then true Religion might be sayd with vs in Primatiue The Preachers and the people both then practiuely did thriue Our decent Church-Rites still in print not practise worthie those Whose reuerent heads collected them froÌ„ whence true wisedoÌ„ groes Not mangled then of Nouesses and curious Doults which now Would haue they know not what would reform they know not how Omitting or admitting as their owne Conceits allow Did then put forth her Braunches and weare fruitfull in the bood And weare our Church-Lords now for zeale as Church-lawes now for good Soone might like vnion be now by indifferencie withstood For giue to vulgar Heads the head and looke for all confused At once they publish and repeale al els saue Order vsed And as Kytts Campe ill-form'd good forme at their reforming Tree Sonnes ost by aime consorting voice their Fathers hang'd should be So wheare the Multitude preuaile they censure ere they see But might I be so bould to speake to them should speake to mee A good example would doe good in Church-men seeing thay In saying â—â—oth are lesse beleeu'd not doing as the say I know our Churchmen know that Faith is dead where lack good works Yeat know I not what pollicie in Almes vnpreached lurks Some teach wel that these concurre but few doe vrge the Theame Of charitie affeard perhaps our More should vrge their Beame But feare not Fathers preach at full Loue good workes Remorse More will your bad Examples let than shall your words inforce To preach by halfes is to be worse than those tongue-holly Iauells That cite good words but shift off works and Discipline by Cauells Oft haue ye handled pithily not preached without neede What good to giue what hurt to take froÌ„ those that Soules do feede But so obscurely hath beene blancht of good workes elsewheare done As many boasting only
Oracle had showen Doo offer vp strange bloud they bid and so auert our ire Busiris prone before to bloud had now his hearts desire No sooner Stranger toucht the shoare but them the barbarous King To frie in flames before his Gods for Sactifice doth bring Yea custome added worse to ill his Subiect and his friend When Strangers misse supplie the flames his murthers had no end Howbeit with these Butcheries the drought did still remaine For in Busiris was the bloud that should redeeme the raine The Gods did meane which they not minde that lewd Busiris he An Alien borne that Stranger was who dead no drought should be A Noble man of Iunos kin Busiris late had slaine For losse of whome the craftie Queene did often sorrowes faine Cease Madame saieth Hercules not long the time shall be But I his tyrannie shall end else it giue end to me Her sorrowes did not tith her ioy when he had giuen consent To vndertake that deathfull taske for death was it she ment Now Hercules in Aegypt meetes Busiris and his Crew When sodainelie with maine assault on him the Giant flew Supposing to haue dealt with him as he had done before With other Strangers Hercules alonely and no more To take his part with skathfull stroakes bestird his Club so well In battering of the Tyrants bones that strengthlesse downe he fell Then did he kill and chase away his lewd and cruell traine Till hearing of no further foe he commeth backe againe And taketh vp the wretched King that cryeth out for ayde And on the Altar where himselfe had Strangers often layde Himselfe was made a Sacrifice and as his blood did staine The Altar euen at that same time there fell a ioyfull raine With ended drought and Tyrants death a common ioy befell And all in Memphis entertaine the vnknowen Champion well From thence returning back to Thaebes he there a while did dwell KIng Creons Daughter Megara at Thaebes he did espouse To coūtenāce their wedding feast did wāt nor knights nor prowse Which triumphs ended whē the knights should thence depart away Pirithous to his wedding bids them all and names the day Wherein to meete at Thessalie to which did all consent And at the time concluded of at Thessalie conuent Amidst their cheere the solemne feast the Centaures did disqueat Whom by no meanes the Nobles there to patience might intreat For they an hundred Gyants strong with drinking whitled well Amongst their cups from words to blowes and worser dealings fell And too outragious at the last fierce Eurytis their Guide Vnreuerently they rauish thence Hippodame the Bride But Hercules not brooking it to arme himselfe begunne And all alone in rescue of the rapted Bride did runne By this time did Ixeons Seede stand still in battell ray When he but one against them all began a bloodie fray Ech arrow that with ayming hand from sturdy Bow he sent Did answere by the death of one the Sender his intent Whilest Hercules with deadly bow had store of Centaures slaine And wanting arrowes with their blood his valiant Club did staine The Bridegroome and the other knights came to the ceasing fight When all were soyld excepting twelue that sau'd their liues by flight Alonely Lycus yeelded him a prisoner and liues And liuing vnto Hercules much after-sorrow giues But Nessus that escaped then in time him worser grieues CHAP. VI. THe glory of this high attempt and sauing of the Bride They all ascribe to Hercules and whilst they heere abide To exercise his Piracies as Pluto King of Hell Such was the lewdnes of his life and place where he did dwell That hee and it were titled so lay houering neere the shore And saw the folke of Cicilie their Gods with rights adore This rouing King with armed Guardes of his disordered Crew Did come a land to make their Pray but for to outward view They faine deuotion none suspect the ill that did ensue Anon a wreathing Garlands sweet hard at her mothers side King Pluto sawe Proserpine and liking whom he spide Concluding with his companie how to conuay her thence Betwixt his boistrous armes he tooke the faire and fearefull wench And doo what the Cicilians might he setteth her aboord And to his giltie Sailes the Aire did gentle Gales afoord A number eyes in Cicilie for her did weepe in vaine For her her Mother Ceres and her Loues mate did complaine Her selfe sweet Lady of her moane did finde no meane God wot Though Dis to please did say and giue what might be said or got Imbarked then with him his Harpe did wofull Orpheus take And to Molessa Plutos Realme with speedie Sailes did make Where he vnknowne at gate of Hell did harp such Musick sweete As lumpish Cerberus could not but shake his monstrous feete His foule and warpt ill-fauoured face ore-hung with cole-black haires His horslike teeth his lolling lips his Doglike hanging eares His hooked nose his skowling eyes his filthie knotted Beard And what not in his vgly shape but presently appeard More milder than his common moode and lesser to be feard This hellish Porter deeming that such musick would delight His weeping Mistris did conuay the Harper to her sight Where Pluto swore by dreadfull Stix if Orpheus did by play But make her laugh what so he askt he should receiue for pay Anon such Heauenly Harmonie on skilfull Harpe he plaid That she her husbands musick knew and ioyfull was she made Now Orpheus did a watch-word giue and she to laugh began And for reward to haue from thence his wife he asked than Although it gawled Plutoes soule his sweet-heart to forgo Yeat for to quit him of his oath he yeelds it shall be so With this condition that before they fully passed Hell He should not backwards looke on her what chance so ere befell Now as they passe through blinde by-waies he fearing least perchance She erre or lag returnes a looke and who should marke that glance But Cerberus that purposely for such aduantage waites Who still detaining her did shut her Husband out the gates When Ceres heard of this mischance she Cicill leaues anon And knowing all the Knights of Greece to Thessalie were gone She thether goes in hope of helpe where presently she meetes With Thaeseus and Pirithous whose salutings she regrectes They wondring what the noble Queene of Cicill there should make Become inquisitiue thereof to whom sad Ceres spake First of Proserpine her greefe and then of Plutoes guile For her she weepes on him she railes and mooueth them meane while The mother of false Dis his rape had more behinde vnsaid When Aegeus and Ixions Sonnes did ioyntly offer aide About the desert parts of Greece there is a valley lowe To which the roaring waters fall that from the Mountaines flowe So Rockes doe ouershadow it that scarce a man may vewe The open ayre no Sun shines there Amidst this darksome Mewe Doth stand a Citie to the same belongs one onely Gate But one at once
wretch in miserie alwaies Cease further prate said Hercules in troth it greeueth much To see a King in this Distresse but since thy life is such As neither in aduersitie nor prosperous estate Thou canst afford one iot of good I purpose to rebate Thy wicked dayes by worthy death prepare therefore to dye When Cacus sawe he must perforce so harde a combate trye He by inchanted flames againe endeuored to flye But Hercules deluded once by that deuise before Had learned now for being so deceiued any more And casting feare aside did leape into the flaming Caue And theare by Arte did conquer Arte. The Gyant then to saue Himselfe did take his Axe in hand wheare Hercules and he Couragiously bestirre themselues vntill they did agree To trye it out in open ayre So doubtfull was their fight That Lookers on could not discerne to whether best should light The frighted Ladies did their best to helpe their fighting friend But Hercules had victorie and Cacus had his end CHAP. XII FOr Gyants of Cremona slayne and Cacus ridded so The Latine Princes prayse on him and presents did bestoe Wheare Rome is now Pallantia then Euander hee did frame A temple and to Hercules did dedicate the same And he intreated thereunto in Italie did stay To honor whome did Princes come from farre and euerie waye King Faunus had affaires abroad when from Laurentum came His wife Marica Facua some this louely Queene doe name From liking did shee fall in loue with Hercules and he More readie to haue made demaunde then like to disagree Conceauing her by circumstance so coupled by contract That had King Faunus neuer liu'd Latinus had not lackt Yeat home came Faunus fathering his late Corriuals act But whether gotten lawfully or thus in loue forbod Latinus Brute his Gran-dames Syer was sonne vnto a God WHilst that in loue of this same Queene and lande of all besides The vanquisher of Vulcans sonne in Italie abides Of Calabries a mightie host King Picus he prouides And in reueng of Cacus swore his Slayer should be slaine But he ere long that so did sweare vnsweared it againe When chased home into his holdes theare sparred vp in gates The valiant Thebane all in vaine a following fight awaites Who for dispatch did fayne himselfe a Legate to the King And him the Porters as the same before their Tyrant bring Then shaking off his ciuil robes his shining Armes appeare And renting downe 〈◊〉 â—roâ— sparre both Prince and people feare Some ran to Armor other some did fight with him their last Both court and Cittie in the end did lay vpon him fast Theare Picus worthely did winne of valiantnesse a name Yeat Hercules more valiantly by death did Picus tame And to attend their King his ghoste he sendeth flocke by flocke His furie was as fier to Ferne his foes as waues to Rocke Nor did his Lyons Spoyle giue place to darting or to knocke Meane tyme his men assault without whil'st he assayles within Wheare fighting to beate downe the Gates he so the Goale did win Within the King his ransackt Court he Iole espyes Whose teares then mounting froÌ„ her hart dismount theÌ„ froÌ„ her eyes King Picus now a lifeles corse was Father of this Mayde In vaine therefore did Hercules her pensiuenesse disswayde Nor could he but lament her fate and loue so sweete a face Whose person also did containe the type of female grace At first she was so farre from loue she rather seem'd to hate Yeat could she not so giue the Checke but that she tooke the Mate Then eithers loue was eithers life poore Deianira she Was out of commons yea of thought an other had her fee. WIth this so faire and portly wench he sayled into Thrace And heares how Diomedes did tyrannize in that place No Straunger scapes vnraunsomed but Raunsome wanting then He casteth them as prouender to Horses eating men A Garde of Tyrants like himselfe attending on him still Who richly did maintaine themselues by such their doings ill The Scourge of such was moued not to be remoued now By Iole whose louing teares such labours disalow With Diomedes and his Garde in Forrest did he meete Who with their common Stratagem the Stranger thinke to greete Hands of commaunded Hercules for Horse I am no hay All Straungers Raunsom once for all my comming is to pay Which sayd himselfe against them all began a noble fray The sturdie Thracians mightie men did hardly loose their ground But than the King a mightier man not any wheare was found These all at once assayle and strike and thunder on his Sheeld But number fitted to his force vnwonted so to yeeld For with his club he skuffles then amongst their Curets so That speedie death was sweeter dole then to suruiue his blo Well mounted comes the King himselfe whom he dismounts anon But reseued to his Horse againe away he would be gon Lesse hasâ—e he sayd I Harts out-runne noâ— shalt thou me out-ride Out stripping so the man-feade horse he topled ore his side The Monstrous King that resculesse to flying people cride Who lying all to frusâ—hed thus the sonne of Ioue did bring His cruell Iades that soone deuoure their more than cruell King The Thracians all submit themselues and ioye their Tyrants death And thinke some God had left the Heauens to succour men on earth From such as what they would they will and what they will they can And what they can they dare and doe and doing none withstan Nor thought they better of the man then did his deedes approue That neuer was a Conqueror vnto his owne behoue But to establish vertuous men and Tyrants to remoue This common Soldiour of the world with Iole did land In Lycia and the earth in peace discharged theare his band Sweete busses not sharpe battels then did alter man and minde Till he as others sorrowe in securitie did finde From Assur went the Empire then when Tonos he had time To court his Trulles Arbaces so espying place to clyme Secure in Tomyris her flight was valiant Cyrus slaine From Capua not from Cannas grewe braue Hanibal his baine The same to whose victorious Sword a second world was sought That Macedon in court not Campe to traytrous end was brought A louer not a Soldiour went Achilles to his graue And Caesar not in steele but silke to Rome his farewel gaue Euen so this second vnto none superior vnto all To whome did sooner Causes cease then Conquests not befall This monster-Master Hercules this Tyrant-Tamer hee Whose high Exploytes did leaue the earth from spoyl spoylers free In pleasures did he perish now that did in perils thriue A greeuous Taske I vndertake his dying to reuiue CHAP. XIII WHen Deianira vnderstood her busbands back returne She thought it strange that he froÌ„ her so strangely did soiorne Explorers sent to search the cause returne was made that he Did loyter in a Strangers Loue and Iole was she That euer hanged at his lips and hugged
Lady Flood of Floods the Ryuer Thamis it Did seeme to Brute against the foe and with himselfe to fit Vpon whose fruitful bancks therefore whose bounds are chiefly said The want-les Counties Essex Kent Surrie and wealthie Glayde Of Hartfordshire for Citties store participating ayde Did Brute build vp his Troy-nouant inclosing it with wall Which Lud did after beautifie and Luds-towne it did call That now is London euermore to rightfull Princes trewe Yea Prince and people still to it as to their Storehouse drewe For plentie and for populous the like we no wheare vewe Howbe-it many neighbour townes as much ere now could say But place for people people place and all for sinne decay When Brute should dye thus to his Sonnes hee did the Isle conuay To Camber Wales to Albnact he Albanie did leaue To Locrine Brutaine whom his Queene of life did thus bereaue THe furious Hun that drowning theare to Humber left his name The King did vanquish and for spoyle vnto his Nauie came Where Humbars Daughter Parragon for beautie such a Dame As Loue himselfe could not but loue did Locrine so inflame That Guendoleyne the Cornish Duke his daughter Locrins Queene Grewe in contempt and Coryn dead his Change of Choyse was seene To Cornwall goes the wrothfull Queene to seaze her Fathers Land Frō whence she brought to worke reuenge of warriours stout a band And bids her husband battell and in battell is he slaine And for their Sonne in Nonage was she to his vse did raine The Lady Estrild Locrins Loue and Sabrin wondrous faire Her husbands and his Leimans impe she meaning not to spare Did bring vnto the water that the wenches name doth beare There binding both and bobbing them then trembling at her yre She sayd if Scythia could haue hild the wandring King thy Syre Then Brittish waters had not been to him deserued bayne But Estrild snout-fayre Estrild she was sparde forsooth to traine With whorish tricks a vicious King But neither of you twaine Thou stately Drab nor this thy Brat a bastard as thy selfe Shall liue in triumph of my wrong first mother and her Elfe Shall fish in Flood for Humbars soule and bring him newes to hell That Locrins wife on Locrins whore reuenged her so well They lifting vp their lillie hands from out their louely eyes Powre teares like Pearles wash those Cheekes where naught saue beautie lyes And seeking to excuse themselues mercie to obtaine With speeches good and praiers faire they speake and pray in vaine Queene Guendoleyne so bids and they into the Flood are cast Whereas amongst the drenching waues the Ladies breath their last As this his Grandame such appear'd Mempricius Madans sonne Whose brother Manlius traytrously by him to death was donne And since of noble Brute his line prodigious things I tell I skipping to the Tenth from him will shewe what then befell ABout a thirtie yeares and fiue did Leir rule this Land When doting on his Daughters three with them he fell in hand To tell how much they loued him The Eldest did esteeme Her life inferior to her loue so did the second deeme The yongest sayd her loue was such as did a childe behoue And that how much himselfe was worth so much she him did loue The formost two did please him well the yongest did not so Vpon the Prince of Albanie the First he did bestoe The Middle on the Cornish Prince their Dowrie was his Throne At his decease Cordellas part was very small or none Yeat for her forme and vertuous life a noble Gallian King Did her vn-dowed for his Queene into his Countrie bring Her Sisters sicke of Fathers health their husbands by consent Did ioyne in Armes from Leir so by force the Scepter went Yeat for they promise pentious large he rather was content In Albanie the quondam King at eldest Daughters Court Was setled scarce when she repines and lessens still his Port. His secōd Daughter thē he thought would shewe her selfe more kind To whom he going for a while did franke allowance finde Ere long abridging almost all she keepeth him so loe That of two bads for betters choyse he backe againe did goe But Gonorill at his returne not onely did attempt Her fathers death but openly did hold him in contempt His aged eyes powre out their teares when holding vp his hands He sayd O God who so thou art that my good hap withstands Prolong not life deferre not death my selfe I ouer-liue When those that owe to me their liues to me my death would giue Thou Towne whose walles rose of my welth stand euermore to tell Thy Founders fall and warne that none do fall as Leir fell Bid none affie in Friends for say his Children wrought his wracke Yea those that were to him most deare did lothe and let him lacke Cordella well Cordella sayd she loued as a Child But sweeter words we seeke than sooth and so are men beguild She onely rests vntryed yet but what may I expect From her to whom I nothing gaue when these doe me reiect Then dye nay trye the rule maye fayle and nature may ascend Nor are they euer surest friends on whom we most doe spend He ships himselfe to Gallia then but maketh knowne before Vnto Cordella his estate who rueth him so poore And kept his theare ariuall close till she prouided had To furnish him in euery want Of him her King was glad And nobly entertayned him the Queene with teares among Her duetie done conferreth with her father of his wrong Such duetie bountie kindnes and increasing loue he found In that his Daughter and her Lord that sorrowes more abound For his vnkindly vsing her then for the others crime And King-like thus in Agamps Court did Leir dwell till time The noble King his Sonne-in-lawe transports an Armie greate Of forcie Gawles possessing him of dispossessed Seate To whom Cordella did succeede not raigning long in queate Not how her Nephewes warre on her and one of thē slew th' other Shall followe but I will disclose a most tyrannous mother CHAP. XV. GOrbodugs double Issue now when eighteene Kings were past Hild ioyntly Empyre in this land till Porrex at the last Not tyed so by brotherhood but that he did disdaine A fellowe King for neuer can one Kingdome brooke of twaine Did leuie secrete bands for dread whereof did Ferrex flye And out of Gallia bringeth Warre in which himselfe did dye Then Porrex only raigned heere and ruled all in peace Till Iden mother Queene to both her furie did increase So fearcely as she seekes reuenge euen in the highest degree Why liueth this quoth she a King in graue why lyeth he Dye Iden dye nay dye thou wretch that me a wretch hast made His ghost whose life stood in thy light commaundeth me of ayde Nor want I Ferrex will to ayde for why the Gods I see Deferre reuenge nor with a Deuill the Deuils disagree The heauens me thinks with thūderbolts should presse his soule to hell
I might be ouer-seene He was victorious making one amongst the Worthies neene But with his pardon if I vouch his world of Kingdomes wonne I am no Poet and for lacke of pardon were vndonne His Scottish Irish Almaine French and Saxone Battelles got Yeeld fame sufficient these seeme true the rest I credite not But Bruton is my taske and to my taske I will retire Twelue times the Saxon Princes here against him did conspire And Arthur in twelue Battles great went vanquishor away Howbeit Saxon forces still amongst the Brutons stay This King to entertaine discourse and so to vnderstand What Accidents in after-times should happen in this Land He with the Brutish Prophet then of Sequelles fell in hand Of sixe long after-Kings the man not borne of humane seede Did Prophesie and many things that came to passe in deede Now Arthur chiefe of Chiualrie had set his Crowne at stay And to his Nephew Mordred did commit thereof the sway When with his Knights the wonders of the world for Martiall deeds Beyond the Scas in forren fights he luckely proceedes Till faithlesse Mordred cal'd him backe that forward went with fame For at his Vncles Diadem he traiterously did aime Twise Arthur wonne of him the field and thirdly slewe his Foe When deadly wounded he himselfe victorious died so INterred then with publique plaints and issules ensewes A drouping of the Brittish state the Saxon still subdewes Howbeit worthy Kings succeed but destiny withstood The auncient Scepter to iniure in Brutes succeeding blood Vnlou'd Careticus was he that lost the Goale at length Whenceforth in vaine to win their losse the Brutons vse their streÌ„gth Yea God that as it pleaseth him doth place or dispossesse When foes nor foiles nor any force their courage might suppresse Seem'd partiall in the Saxon Cause and with a Plague did crosse The Brutons that had els at least rebated from their losse For Cadwane and Cadwallyn and Cadwallader the last But not the least for valorous of Brittish Princes past Brought out of VVales such knightly wars as made their foes agast The Plague worse spoyler then the Wars left Cambre almost waste Which to auoid the remnant Brutes into their Ships did haste Cadwallader in leauing thus his natiue Shore he fixt His eyes from whence his bodie should and with his sighes he mixt His royall teares which giuing place he speaketh thus betwixt Sweet Brutaine for I yet must vse that sweet and ceasing name Adew thy King bids thee adew whose flight no weapons frame But God coÌ„maunds his wrath commandes al counter-maund is vaine Els for thy loue to die in thee were life to thy Remaine Thus tymes haue turnes thus Fortune still is flying to and fro What was not is what is shall cease some come and others goe So Brutaine thou of Nation and of name endurest change Now balking vs whome thou hast bread and brooking people strange Yeat if I shoot not past mine aime a world of time from me Part of our blood in highest pompe shall Englands glorie be And chieflie when vnto a first succeeds a second She. But leauing speeches ominous Cadwallader is woe That seeing death determines griefe he dies not on his foe Ah Fortune fayleth mightie ones and meaner doth aduance The mightiest Empier Rome hath change then Brutaine brooke thy chance Let it suffice thou wert before and after Rome in fame And to indure what God intends were sinne to count a shame Nor vaunt ye Saxons of our flight but if ye needs will vaunt Then vaunt of this that God displac'd whom you could neuer daunt This said the teares coÌ„trould his tong sailes wrought land froÌ„ sight When saue a Remnant small the Isle was rid of Brutons quight THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XX. THe Brutons thus departed hence Seauen Kingdomes here begonne Where diuerslie in diuers broyles the Saxons lost and wonne King Edel and King Adelbright in Diria iointly raigne In loyall concorde during life these Kingly friends remaine When A delbright should leaue his life to Edel thus he sayes By those same bondes of happie loue that held vs friends alwaies By our by-parted Crowne of which the Moyetie is mine By God to whome my soule must passe and so in time may thine I pray thee nay I coniure thee to nourish as thine owne Thy Neece my Daughter Argentile till she to age be growne And then as thou receiuest it resigne to her my Throne A promise had for this Bequest the Testator he dies But all that Edel vndertooke he afterward denies Yeat well he fosters for a time the Damsiell that was growne The fairest Lady vnder Heauen whose beautie being knowne A many Princes seeke her loue but none might her obtaine For grippell â—del to himselfe her Kingdome sought to gaine And for that cause from sight of such he did his Ward restraine By chance one Curan Sonne vnto a Prince in Danske did see The Maid with whom he fell in loue as much as one might bee Vnhappie Youth what should he doe his Saint was kept in Mewe Nor he nor any Noble-man admitted to her vewe One while in Melancholy fits he pines himselfe away Anon he thought by force of Armes to win her if he may And still against the Kings restraint did secretly inuay At length the high Controller Loue whom none may disobay Imbased him from Lordlines vnto a Kitchin Drudge That so at least of life or death she might become his Iudge Accesse so had to see and speake he did his loue bewray And tells his bearth her answer was she husbandles would stay Meane while the King did beat his braines his booty to atchieue Nor caring what became of her so he by her might thriue At last his resolution was some Pessant should her wiue And which was working to his wish he did obserue with ioye How Curan whom he thought a drudge scapt many an amorous toy The King perceiuing such his vaine promotes his Vassall still Least that the baseuesse of the man should let perhaps his will Assured therefore of his loue but not suspecting who The Louer was the King himselfe in his behalfe did wowe The Lady resolute from Loue vnkindly takes that he Should barre the Noble and vnto so base a Match agree And therefore shifting out of doores departed thence by stealth Preferring pouertie before a dangerous life in wealth When Curan heard of her escape the anguish in his hart Was more then much and after her from Court he did depart Forgetfull of himselfe his bearth his Country friends and all And onely minding whom he mist the Foundresse of his thrall Nor meanes he after to frequent or Court or stately Townes But solitarily to liue amongst the Country grownes A brace of yeeres he liued thus well pleased so to liue And Shepherd-like to feede a flocke himselfe did wholly giue So wasting loue by worke and want grewe almost to the Waene But then began a second Loue the worser of the twaene A
by grieuous Draught as Beasts to plough their Land Of whom the English as of Gods or Feends in terror stand The Husband durst not vse his Wife if liked of a Dane Nor House nor Goods nor ought he had for who resists was slaine That frankes and feedeth daintily This pines and fareth ill And of his sweat that hath the sweete and is imperious still Each house maintained such a Dane that so they might preuent Conspiracies if any were and grope how mindes were bent Lord Dane the same was called then to them a pleasing name Now odiously Lur-dane say we when idle Mates we blame When Swaine the DaciaÌ„ King did hear his Danes were murther dso With bitter vowes he shipt his men for Englands ouerthroe And landing spar'd no shrine nor Saint nor Sex nor any State Not wanting Aiders English-men that held their King in hate Especially false Edricus the Admirall deceiues His King and Countrey oftentimes and Bribes of Swaine receiues And Egelred his cowardisse incouraged the Foe Till Swaine at length for Masses great was bribed hence to goe But making short returne the Peeres of England that disdaine Th'indignities of such a King that did so feebly raigne Submit them Subiects vnto Swaine and Egelred did flie Vnto the Father of his Queene the Duke of Normandie And Swaine possessed of the land did shortly after die His sonne Canutus present here had Seazon of the Crowne Till Egelred returning back by Armor puts him downe Who scarcely giueth breathing time but that he back resailes From Denmarke and by force by friends and fortune here preuailes For in this Warre King Egelred did sicken and decease And then the broiles Canutus king did for a time decrease Till Edmund sonne of Egelred did interrupt that peace COnferring Armes to Edmonds age when Egelred did lie On death-bed to his sonne he said not quite forlorne am I Whose life hath had so much of griefe thus gratiously to dye Ad more thy vertues glad my death yeat two things greeue among To leaue my Kingdom so in Warres and thee for Warres too young So may these troubles weare to none as thou doest waxe I pray And so possesse thy Fathers Seate that all approoue thy sway Not to be made a King my Sonne is so to make thee proude For Mildenes fitteth maiestie high mindes are disaloude See me thy Father now a King and by and by but earth Nor thinke that euerie King hath hap to die a happie death Let nature for perfection molde a Paragon each way Yeat death at last on finest lumps of liuing flesh will pray For nature neuer framed it that neuer shall decay The brauest are as blossomes and the longest Liuer dies And dead the louelest Creature as the lothsom'st Carrion lies Then thinke not but that kings are men and as the rest miscarrie Saue that their fame or infamie continually doth tarry Deeme past Examples Sentences and which did fayle in me Make vse of those not now in vse for now will cease to be Attempt not things beyond thy reach ioyne fortune to thy will Least Phoebus Chaire doe else surcharge rash Phaeton his skill If Fortune helpe whom thou would'st hurt fret not at it the more When Aiax stormed then from him the Prize Vlysses bore Try friends by touch a feeble friend may prooue thy stroÌ„gest Foe Great Pompeâ—s head to Caesars hand it was betrayed so Admit thou hadst Pactolion waues to land thee Golde at will Know Craesus did to â—yrus kneele and thou maist speed as ill Abandon lust if not for sinne yeat to auoyd the shame So Hogges of Ithacus his men the Latian Witch did frame Be not too moody in thy wrath but pause though fist be bent Oft Philips Sonne did rashly strike and leisurely repent Content thee with vnthreatned Meane and play not Aesops Dogge The Golde that gentle Bacchus gaue did greedy Mydas clogge Be valiant not too venterous but fight to sight againe Euen Hercules did hold it ods for one to striue with twaine Be not ambitiously a King nor grudgingly decline One God did root out Cis his stock and rayse vp Iesses line Iest nor with edge tooles suffer Saints let mightie Fooles be mad Note Seneca by Neroes doome for Precepts pennance had Haue care to whom of whoÌ„ what to speak though speech be trew That Misse made Poeâ—â—us contrary his Rauens Swan-like hew He frameth torments to himselfe that feeds a Tyrants vaine Perillus was by Phalaris adiudg'd to self-taught paine Prayse not the beautie of thy Wife though she of forme be sped For Gyges moued so did graft on Candaules his head Shunne Ielousie that heart-breake loue if Cat will goe to kind Be sure that Io hath a meanes that Argus shall be blind Commit not Treasure with thy Child to greedy minded men Thou leauest Polidor a spoyle to Polymnestor then Occurrants giue occasions still of like in which be sure To serue thy God to saue thy selfe and well to all procure Be vertuous and assure thy selfe thou canst not then but thriue In onely vertue it is sayd that men themselues suruiue As for the vicious such they are as is the heedlesse Flye That killes it selfe and hurts his sight that hath her in his eye Farewell my Sonne England farewell thy neuer happy Prince Doth take his leaue an happy leaue if taken so long since And Edmond burying not with me thy vertues nor my speech I blesse thee in his blessed Name whome I of blesse beseech Said Egelred and shortly gaue a quiet gaspe or twaine And being dead his noble Sonne succeeded him in Raigne THis like himselfe euen Knight-like and an English-man indeede Did quickeÌ„ Englands quailing Prowes Mars-like did proceed A brauer Captaine than was he not any band might haue And yeat a Mars did match this Mars Canutus was as braue These wonders of that age for Armes and Dirii of those dayes Did often battell equally to eithers losse and praies Now after many bloody Fieldes when none might estimate The better or the worser part a Knight that saw the state Then present and by likelyhoods presaged what might fall Said hearing it the differing Kings and Souldiers almost all We euer warre and neuer winne Edmund hath Fortitude Canutus Fortune neither thus of other is subdude Death feares not vs nor for their liues our Contraries doe care It followes then that all must die wheare all so despret are If all be slayne then who shall serue our Princes that suruiue Or fence out Forrens better one then none of both should thriue To thriue therefore were not a-misse that seeing one of twaine Will Owner all that onely they the quarrell doe maintaine Or if Combattensie not please the Land is rich and large And they Copernicers may liue and vs of death discharge If Combat nor Partition be then will his Warre reuiue Till one suruiuing all of vs wants one with whome to striue This sayd the Kings did marke and make a profit of the same And did
conclude by Combacy to winne or loose the Game Within a little Island neare round which the Armies stand The Kingly Champions trie their Force by fighting hand to hand They spur their Horses breake their Speares beat at Barriars long And then dismounting did renew a Battell braue and strong Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends and did offend They breathing King Canutus said we both I see shall end Eâ—e Empire shall begin to one then be it at thy choyce To fight or part With it their Knights crie out with common voyce Deuide most valiant Kings deuide enough ye haue of Fight And so the Champions did embrace forgetting malice quite Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine And Brother-like they liue and loue till by a deu'lish traine Earle Edricus a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne Did murther Edmund and his head supposing to haue wonne The fauour of Canutus so presenting sayd O King For loue of thee I thus haue done Amazed at the thing Canutus sayd and for that thou hast headed him for me Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall be The Earle was headed and his head poold vp for all to see Of England Danske Norway then Canut was perfect Lord And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord Harold Hardi-knought his sonnes each th' other did succeede Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reede Saue by their Raigns to Englâ—sh-men did grieuous thraldoÌ„ breede But after Hardt-knought his death the Danes were chased hence Not intermedling with the state of England euersince CHAP. XXII OF foresaid Egelred his Sonnes Alured and his brother Was Edward King for Goodwins guile had made away that other Religious chaste wise fortunate stout francke and milde was hee And from all Taxes wrongs and Foes did set his Kingdome free By ouer-ruling of his Lords intreating long the same Least dying Issuelesse he leaue succession out of frame He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire howbeit by consent In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent The Father of this maiden-wife he sitting by the King And seeing one that stumbled but not falling vp to spring Did laughing say the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd His meaning was the Stumblers feete And haddest thou so pleas'd So had my Brother quoth the King bin easing vnto me The traitrous Earle tooke bread and sayd so this digested be As I am guiltlesse of his death these words he scarcely spoke But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke His sonne Harold by Hardi-knoghts late daughter him suruiues He crossed by contrary winds in Normandie ariues Where Goodwins sonne did take an oth Duke VVilliam vrging so To keepe vnto the Duke his vse when Edward hence should go The Crowne of England claimed by Adoption and by blood But Harold after Edwards death not to his promise stood And for he was in wealth in friends in blood and Armor strong And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong But arming him against the Duke so vrged vnto wroth Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe contrary to his oth Whil'st VVilliam therfore works for war King Harold had not rest For Harold Hare-foote King of Danes and Norwaies much opprest The English with his puissant Bands But Harold him assailes And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes And with the Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all When for deuision of the spoyle did much contention fall Betwixt the King and English-men and many a noble Knight Not onely murmur and maligne but did forsake him quight Such malice growing VVilliam with his Normanes taking land Found hot hot spur Harold prest in Armes his puissance to withstand And either Battell Marshalled as either Captaine wild The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild See valiant War-friends yonder be the first the last and all The Agentes of our Enemies they hencefoorth cannot call Supplies for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe Then Conquer these would Conquer you and dread no further Foe They are no stouter than the Brutes whom we did hence exile Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes or victory er while Not Saxoâ—â—e could once containe or scarce the world beside Our Fathers who did sway by sword where listed them to bide Then doe not ye degenerate take courage by discent And by their burialles not abode their force and flight preuent Ye haue in hand your Countries cause a Conquest they pretend Which were ye not the same ye be euen Cowards would defend I graunt that part of vs are fled and linked to the Foe And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth Mal-content I prize the minde aboue the man like zeale hath like euent Yeat troth it is no well or ill this Iland euer had But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad Not Caesar Hengest Swayn or now which neretheles shall fayle The Normane Bastard Albion true did could or can preuaile But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is Yeat wot I neuer Traytour did his Treasons Sâ—ipend mis. Shrinke who wil shrinke let Armor's wayte presse downe the burdned earth My Foes with wondring eyes shal see I ouer prize my death But since ye all for all I hope a like affected bee Your Wiues your Children liues and Land from sâ—â—uitude to free Are Armed both in shew and zeale then gloriously contend To winne and weare the home brought Spoyles of Victorie the end Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spendes As Harold hartned thus his men so did the Normane his And looking wishly on the earth Duke William speaketh this To liue vpon or lie within this is my Ground or Graue My louing Souldiers one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue Nor be ye Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout Ye come amidst the English Pikes to hewe your honors out Ye come to winne the same by Launce that is your owne by law Ye come I say in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye Since Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead ye Or Turchus Sonne of Troylus in Scythian Fazo bread ye Then worthy your Progenitors ye Seede of Pryams sonne Exployt this businesse Rollons do that which ye wish be done Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more Fot Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning as it may From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away â—efore vs are our armed Foes behind vs are the Seas On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour and for ease But that Aduantage
Vpstarts and all Were ouercome So Spencers both from heauen to hell did fal Put to a fowle and shamefull death with others that misled The King in Out-rages more great than earst in England bred Prolers Blood-thirstie Parasites Make-shifts Bawdes did thriue Nor was an ancient English Peere vnbanisht or aliue For forraine and domesticke Swords Plague Famine and Exile Did more than tythe yea tythe the Tythe of men within this I le Of Baldricks Hoodes Tabrides and Furres from Knights disgraded tore Attaintures of Nobilitie and Armes reuersed store So many Spurres hewen off the heeles and Swords broke ouer head Were through a King so light and lewd a Councell neuer read The King in prison and depos'd tyrannised he dide By Trecheries of Mortimer that ruld the Roste that tide Whilst Edward in Minoritie his Fathers throne supplide CHAP. XXVIII THIS third of that same Name as yet in Nonage for a time Although a King was vnder-kept by some that ouer-clime Queene mother proude Mortimer familiar more than should Did and vndid more than they might not lesse than as they would Till Edward better counselled hong Mortimer the death Of many a Peere who Earle of March and haughtie for his birth Was Lord of nine skore dubbed Knights his other traynes except For greater pompe than did his Prince this Lord of VVigmore kept But more he had bene happie though lesse hautie in his Halls More honour in humilitie than safetie in walls Proud Climers proue not monuments saue onely in their falls The senselesse pride of Fooles therefore whome reuerently we ride Should lessen at the least because that earth their earth shall hide The Countrie purg'd of Fleecers and of Flatterers the Court The King became a Mars for Armes a Iupiter for Port Th Olympâ—ds the Pythea and the prowesse of the Earth Did seeme euen now and not but now to haue in him their birth East South and North gaue ayme farrc off admiring so the West As if that Mars discarding them had set our Realme his Rest. Philip Valois Dauid Bruz of power and courage more Than any French or Scottish Kings since or of long before Confedrate with three other Kings and Princes farre and neere Warre all at once on Edward but did buy their warring deere Dauid debelled left his land but lastly did returne And whilst our King did war in France much did he spoyle burne And proud of mightie Troopes of men of vnresisted prayes And Edwards absence prosperously he on aduantage playes Vntill not sending hence for helpe the Queene did muster Knights And with the Foe though tripled-wise victoriously she fights The Scots for most did perish and their King was Prisner taine And Scotland wholly for a pray to England did remaine Meane while was Paris scarcely left to rescue Philips Goale Whom Edward ferrits so from hold to hold as Fox from hoale That Melancholie he deceast and valiant Iohn his sonne Was crowned King of France and then the wars afresh begonne But after many fieldes vnto the Foes continuall wracke The French King captiuated to the English Monarke backe His Victor sayles the Prince of VVales Edward surnamed blacke The flower of Chiualrie the feare of France and scourge of Spaine Wheare Peter dispossest of Crowne was crownde by him againe Fower yeeres the French eleuen yeres was the Scotch K. prisners heere Whose the Dolphines ransomes were as great as good their cheere PRince Edw. Iohn of Gaunt all their Fathers sonnes might boaste Of famous Sier and he of sonnes matchlesse in any Coaste Howbeit King and Prince at last misled by counsell ill Through Taxes lost a many hearts that bore them earst good will Thence finding Fortune contrary to that she was before Yeat either dying seaz'd of French and Scottish Conquests store Yea Callice late and Barwick yet of their Exployts is lest Though Sonne before the Sier and both of liues long since bereft When Barwick was besieged and stood brauely at defence Sir Alexander Seiton theare chiefe Captaine had pretence To linger forth the Siege till Scots should draw the English thence In rescue of Northumberland and therefore sent his sonne A Pledge of treated Truce and when the guile-got Truce was done And Barwick not releeued nor resigned as it ought Two sonnes of Seiton were before the walls besieged brought They ready for the Iybbet and their Father for his Graue For eyther he must yeeld the Towne or them he might not saue In griefe he then his Countries cause and Childrens case reuolues But partiall vnto either he on neither Choyce resolues To be a loyall Subiect and a louing Father too Behooued him but both to bee was not in him to doo Nature and honour wrought at once but Nature ouer-wrought And but his Ladie it preuents to yeeld the Towne he thought O what pretend you Sir quoth she is Barwick woorth no more Than error of such loue I ioy that I such Children bore Whom cruell Edward honoureth with such a cause of death For that especiall cause for which we all receaue our breath Euen for their Countries cause they dye whose liues for it be dewe Why see their faces constantly she did their faces viewe The same my Seiton seeme so farre from dreading any woe As if they skornde that Barwicke should redeeme them from the Foe Full deere they were to me vnborne at birth and borne and now And Mother like I moane their death and yet their death allow Moe Sonnes and such you may beget your honour if you staine Defected honour neuer more is to be got againe Preuent not then your selfe your Sonnes and me so great a blis Adiew dye sweet Sonnes your soules in heauen shall liue for this With such perswasions did she win her husband from the walls And Edward executes their Sonnes and to assault he falls So long that Barwicke yeelds at length and still vs master calls THese were the dayes when English armes had eu'rie where request And Edw. knights throughout the world had prick praise for best Not Knights alone but Prelates too Queenes whereof were twain The quondam in esse Queenes by Armour honour gain By Warre the Queene that was did cease her husbands tragicke Rayn And by the Queene then being was the Scotch King Prisnet tayne It followes then that as the Pawnce doth circkle with the Sonne So to the vice or vertue of the Prince are people wonne O that our Muse might euermore on such a Subiect ronne But Vulcan forgeth other Tooles and sharpneth deadlier swords For little els then ciuill warres our following Penne affords French Expeditions badly thriue whereof we cease to speake Not forraine but Domestick warres grew strong to make vs weake Melpomen here might racke her wits Sylla Marius hate Pharsalian Fields were gentle Frayes regarding this debate The second Richard sonne vnto the blacke Prince Edward dead Was crownde an Infant and from him the Stratagem was bread The bace attempts of Ball
for thee the hope that to our House doth rest Now all are tryed we can trust if now we faile we fall Thy death is in the same request as is thy Fathers thrall And which I would it were the worst the Foe doth thirst my life To end his Triumph in the deaths of Husband Sonne and Wife Though thy great-Grandsier Grandsier thy Father wonne wore The King-ring which thy Father hild yeares thirtie eight and more Though by the cappitall Remote of Lancaster withstood Yeat fayle prescription and discents now lacke they but our blood Then learne against thou proue a man ah hardly hope I so The Line Lancastrian naturally doth labour of that Foe The Queene concluding thus in teares did then to Armor goe Fierce was the Field and either part did valiantly offend But Edward ouercomming when the Battell was at end The Queene was carried Captiue thence And Edwards men did bring Her Sonne the Prince sole sonne and heire vnto the captiue King Before the Victor whose demaunds receiuing answers stout He thrusts the manly Boy from him whom Glocester about The King Churle that he was did stab So tragicke was the spight Betwixt those Linages that oft each others so requite His death was more than death vnto his Parents but not long His Father moned vndispatcht alike for death and wrong By foresaid Duke of Glocester of whom succeedes our song THus won the Yorkestes ancient Raigne sixe bloodie Fields did seate Edward the Fourth in Englands Throne possest a while in queate He wonne his Subiects loue and loue was debt to his desarts But as must ours so lastly his vn-bodied Soule departs He left his Kingdome to his Sonne his Sonne to be protected By Richard Duke of Glocester Who pietie reiected Grew treble-wise tyrannicall malicious to the blood Of his deceased brothers Queene And what so Yorkest stood Betwixt the Scepter and himselfe aliue he pricked dead A Foe to all Lancastrians as the same by nature bread This common Deaths-man of those Kinnes and euery Nobles fall Whom he but gest Coriuall or might crosse him near so small This stoope-Frog Aesops Storke alike tyrannous vnto all To giltie giltlesse friend or foe was not secure one day But Either dyes as eithers death might fit him any way Yea euen whilst his Brother rulde when all Lancastrians and His Brothers twaine his Nephewes twaine Neeces three did stand Betwixt himselfe and home euen then by blood he hunted Raine For when his owne and ruthles hands King Henries heire had â—â—ayue Then Henries selfe Henrie the sixt a giltles King in bands He stabd his brother Clarence dide through him by other hands But now Protector as doe Wolues the Lambes protected he And fared as if fearing that one wickedder might be Queene mother and her kindred hild the Orphant King a while Her Kinne hee murdred and from her he got the King by gile Whom though vncrowned tituled fist Edward rest his mother He made be murdred with the Duke of Yorke the yonger brother When neither Yorkest his Allies and of Lancastrians none Were left to let it who should let but he might leape the Throne He wore indeede the wrested Palme But yeat to better bad By murder of his wife he sought new marriage to be had With that Elizabeth that was the Eldest daughter to Edward the fourth But all in vaine the King his Neece did wowe For Henrie Earle of Richmonds friends such doings did vndoe Which Henry and Elizabeth by secrete Agents were Contracted he of Lancaster and she of Yorke the heire Of which letigious Famelies heer mapped be the Lines Euen till the Heire of these two Heires both Stockes in one combines CHAP. XXXIII HEnrie as if by myracle preseru'd by Forraines long From hence-ment Treasons did arriue to right his Natiues wrong And chiefly to Lord Stanlie and some other Succors as Did wish and worke for better dayes thâ— Riuall welcome was Now Richard heard that Richmond was assisted and a shore And like vnkenneld Cerberus the crooked Tyrant swore And all complexions act at once confusedly in him He studieth striketh threates intreates and looketh mildly grim Mistrustfully he trusteth and he dreadingly did dare And fortie passions in a trice in him consort and square But when by his conuented force his foes increased more He hastned Battell finding his Coriuall apt therefore When Richmond orderly in all had battelled his ayde Inringed by his Complices their chearefull Leader sayde Now is the time and place sweete Frends and we the Persons be That must giue England breath or els vnbreath for her must we No Tyrannie is fabled and no Tyrant was in deede Worse thaÌ„ our Foe whose workes wil act my words if wel he speede For ill to ills Superlatiue are easely intist But intertaine amendment as the Gergesites did Christ. Be valiant then he biddeth so that would not be out-bid For courage yeat shall honor him though bace that better did I am right heire Lancastrian he in Yorkes destroyed right Vsurpeth But through Either ours for neither Claime I fight But for our Countries long-lackt weale for Englands peace I warre Wherein he speed vs vnto whom I all Euents refarre Meane while had furious Richard set his Armies in array And then with lookes euen like himselfe this or the like did say Why Lads shall yonder Welshman with his Straglers ouer-match Disdaine ye not such Riualles and deferre yee their dispatch Shall Tuder from Plantagenet the Crowne by craking snatch Know Richards very thoughts he toucht the Diademe he wore Be mettall of this mettall Then beleeue I loue it more Than that for other law than Life to super sead my Clame And lesser must not be his Plea that counter-pleads the same The weapons ouer-tooke his words blowes they brauely change When like a Lion thirsting bloud did moody Richard range And made large slaughters where he went till Richmond he espied Whom singling after doubtfull Swords the valerous Tyrant died THus ended Englands warre and woe vsurping Richard dead When Henry and Elizabeth vniting titles wed Of which two Heires th' vndoubted Heire of either Line did cum The Epilogue vnto these wounds digested in this sum Fourth Henry first Lancastrian King put second Richard downe Fourth Edward of the House of Yorke re-seazd sixt Henries Crowne Lad-Princes twaine were stabd in Field of either Linage one Foure Kings did perish Sundry times now-Kings anon were none Sixe three of either faction helde successiuely the Throne But from the second Richard to seuenth Henry we pretend Eight Kings this Faction to begin continue and to end The Princes Earles Barons and Knights this quarrell did deuour Exceede the tale of Gentry best and bacest at this houre So plagueth ciuill Warre so from Robe to Ragge dooth scoure Then luckiest of the Planets weare Predominants say we When by this Bedmatch either Heire that Bloud-mart did agree When Seuenth begot the Eight and Eight the First and Last for like Our now Pandora
A Supersedeas for her loue was euery new-come frend And being now in much request and waxing proud of fauour By artificiall pryde she chang'd her naturall behauour Her face was Maskt her locks were â—url'd her bodie pent with buske And which was needles she more sweet her rayment sented Muske By all she did might seeme to be vnlike her selfe she me 〈…〉 Yeat worst of all to sanctum-Sinne too aptly is she bent Erickmon when that followed her vnpitied not vâ—pearst Reform'd his wits his sute and hope of her not now as earst And scornd her mind that scornd his loue to her so firmly geason For whyâ—shee offred double wrong to wrong and scorne a reason Thus whilst he hopt he hild her least so altereth the caâ—e With such as she Ah such it is to build on such a face This sayd he and for this he sayd I for the ruth of this Did vowe that who so once were mine I would be onely his Why this concern'd not him nor shewd a maÌ„ distraught quoth he Nay heare the rest of his vnrest it followeth thus quoth shee Then sheading teares he to the Tree so spoken to would say Was not Gynetta false that did Erickmon so betray But hath my Mistresse cause to change what cause thinke you should moueâ— I fram'd me hers she fayn'd her mine my loue is euer loue May y e faire face proue one foule botch those shining eies proue bleard That sweete breath stench like proofe to all that faire or sweete appeard In her that wrongs her true-loue let her loathed euer lust Begge may she and vnpittied pine rot perish on the dust And dead be damned that vnto her true-loue is vniust Yee men say all Amen or if amend your selues ye must Curse not this Mad-man sayd but sweare that women be vntrew Their loue is but a Mummerie or as an Aprils dew Got with a toy gon with a toy gifts flattrie gawdes or wine Will make her checke flie to game lesse faire perhaps than thine More amorous than men and men conuay their loue lesse fine If such they are as such they are and will be whilst they be Why am I then so true of loue because not borne a she Witlackst thou then fond Foole I sigh to say true ayme you giue Wheare grew that lacke fond Foole I sigh to say wheare now I liue Whence grew that lacke fond Foole I sigh to say froÌ„ ioyes remou'd When grew that lacke fond Foole I sigh to say when first I lou'd And doest thou loue ah too too well I wot I loue indeede Why doest thou loue with lucke too ill I loue for louers meede Whome dosst thou loue ah too too well I wot a louely She. What time in loue with lucke too ill in loue too long for me Wit lackst thou then that wilfully doest erre and nourish it Wit doe I lacke not wilfully then blame not will but wit How shall I doe my Heart is lost and I am left in woe Met any man a poore tame Heart the Heart good Folke I owe Strucken maimed all of gore and drouping doth it goe A Lasse once fauour'd or at least did seeme to fauour it And fosterd vp my frollicke Heart with many a pleasing bit She lodg'd him neere her Bower whence he loued not to gad But waxed cranke for why no Heart a sweeter Layer had But whether that some other Deere estranged her or not Or that of course her game is Change my Heart lackt brouse I wot Despysd displeasde and quite disgrac'st my Heart euen to this day Dislodged wandring woe begon I wot not wheare doth stray But see ah see I see how Loue casts off Desire his Hound A fell fleet Dogge that hunts my Heart by parsee each-wheare found Sweet Cynthea rate the eger Curte and so thy foe preuent For loe a farre my chased Heart imboste and almost spent Thankes gentle Goddesse now the Lad pursues a bootles chace My Heart recouers Couert wheare the Hound cannot hold pace Now tappas closely silly Heart vnrowse not and so liue The Huntsmans-self is blinde the Hound at Losse doth ouer-giue But list alas Loues Beagles be vncoupeld Beautie praites And driues my Heart from out the thicks and at Receiâ— awaites Vaine-hope and either now falls in and now my Heart must dye Now haue they him at Bay and now in vayâ—e he fights to flye Auaunt Desire ha Curre auaunt the Bore so rase thy hyde Vnto the fall of my poore Heart see see how Loue doth ryde Hearke how he blowes his death ah see he now the Say doth take Of my poore Heart that neuer more for Loue shall pastime make Thus liu'd he till he left his life and for the ruth of this I vow'd that who so once were mine I would be only his Yeat sayd her Sutor he not she was punisht as may seeme Yes yes quoth she a Conscience prickt is deeply plagu'd I deeme Then Scotland warr'd on England and in that same waâ—re did end The Knight that had coryued so the Ladie lost each frend Oft saw I her in teares and oft I heard her to complayne For faith erst lost for losse now sound deuiding â—â—ghs in twayne There be that say if truely sayd vnbodied Soules haue walkt And of the Ghosts of these two Knights the like abroad was talkt Her eares had this and shee the heart that dared not her eyes For thether whence the brute did grow she feareles faultie hies Her Followers stood aloofe when she alone approaching sayd Beloued both what meanes this fight they seem'd as if they srayd Ah pardon me sweet First-belou'd my guile I graunt was great So is my griefe My latter Loue refraine let me intreate But whilst she spoke of deadly wounds they both did seeme to fall And after vanisht leauing her perplext in feare not small Who thenceforth fared as the Knight that did for her distraught Stil haunted of the Ghosts haunts y e place where they had faught Vntill of her despayring life her selfe the Period wraught Thus liu'd she till she left her life and for the ruth of this I vow'd that who so once were mine I would be onely his Tush this was but a Phantasie quoth he of subtill Feends Deluding her simplicitie in figure of her frends I heare not that they said or did aught taching her vntruth But foolish was her feare the like I censure of your ruth And shall I tell what they did tell and say what they did doe I will for so perhaps you will surcease quoth she to wowe The Ghost resembling him to whom she had disloyall bin Sayd I and This and thou be thus and shal be doom'd for sin For dotage in my loue for his deceitfull lust wetwaine Of freesh-sore wounds do hourely faint hurt heale heale hurt againe Nor can I vtter halfe we see and feare and suffer still Of endles Torments onely thou art Auctresse of such ill Who loue belou'd beleeue no life but wheare their loue doth
coequall Maiestie Doe we beleeue of whom the Sonne did for Beleeuers die The only Ransome that redeemes from Sathans Tyrannie Euen Christ the Way the Truth the Life not crooked glozed fraile But right for Rule in Promise firme in Guerdon near to faile Who to reproue the bad approue the good and to assure The Wau'ring and against the Diuell our safetie to procure Did giltles die that we lost Soules might liue naught els did make That he his Deitie adiorn'd did humaine Nature take Nor glorifide disclaimes he vs vnles we him forsake And what is fruitles Faith but such Apostasie and what Ensues Apostasie but to be doomed Dam'd for that No Doctrine or Traditions we hold currant saue the same That Gospell or th'Apostles Acts or Pennes include or name Baptisme incorporating vs in Christ and vs in one Christs misticall last Supper whear in Signe his death is knowne Be Sacraments except which twaine doe we accept of none By only Christ our Aduocate we to the Father pray Nor thinke we Saints deceased can our Sutes to him conuay Howbeit still most reuerently of Saints we think and say Vnnecessarie Burthens on our Christian Freedome laide Contrarie these that but beleefe and vertuous life perswaide Yea only Faith doth iustifie say we of Gods free grace By Christ not Faith is idle but doth Charitie imbrace Who may but will not helpe doth hurt we know and curious thay That dribling Almes by Arte disband wel-Meant froÌ„ wel-Dons pay And he that questions Ones distresse and doth not helpe indeuour Than he that sees and nothing sayes or cares is lesse Deceiuour Then hope we health when sinne is felt repentantly in heart Adde then new life and we to God God doth to vs conuart Thus Peter vsde his Keyes not thus play Popes S. Peters part For Cleargie-men and Laye our Church hath godly Discipline Lawes worthie better than sometimes are those the Lawes define Our Princes in their Policies and Lawes doe we obay Though God his Cause they seek to crosse yeat we for theÌ„ do pray In patience not peruerse Attempts for better times we stay Not as denide but as deuout we doe and should abstaine From Meates euen meete the proude Flesh froÌ„ sins excesse to waine Which shuld we skaÌ„t yet be dronk with lust or like were vaine Saue also publique Policie doth publique Sparing craue In Fasts or differences of Meates no other keepe we haue Almes deedes and workes of Charitie we practiuely professe And follow Saints as they did Christ leaue whear they traÌ„sgresse Such and so much as sayd are we forgiue vs God if lesse For godly though Religion Prince and Policie they are Yeat things that of themselues be good abuse brings out of square And sundrie Faults in sundrie Folks we sometimes must forbare Howbeit with best gouernd States our State may now compare CHAP. LIII A Wise man liuing like a Drone an old-Man not deuout Youth disobedient Rich-men that are Charitie without A shameles Woman vitious Lords a Poore-man proudly stout Contentious Christians Pastors that their Function doe neglect A wicked King no Discipline no Lawes men to direct Are Twelue the foulest Faults that do all Common-wealths infect In most of all which Twelue erres not or much in any one Our State respecting this of some Lawes not abused none Our God-blest Queene Palladium of our happie publique Weale For worth so farre beyond all words we one only touch in zeale No Realme than ours hath wiser Lawes for euery Right Wrong Nor is through Meed or Meanes the Weake betraied to the StroÌ„g Though of vn-Quaifed Iudges some is sung another song But who the Person not the Cause respecteth hath forgot The Creator of Persons who and Iustice differ not A Councell watchfull for the State Our Benches euery wheare Supplide with Iudges learned iust and such as God doe feare Winke here and there at Auerice Incharitie and Pride And better Cleargie than is ours not Europe hath beside Say me who can whether Extreame hath harm'd Religion more That old of theirs too prodigall or This of ours too poore Then Giuing gaue too slack a Raine now-Gleaning curbs too sore By Slauerie and by Symonie now Church-Preferment comes Like Nabal and to Helies Sonnes get Church-men vp their croÌ„mes Too much too little or a meane sort out alike we see House-keeping nor Humilitie in any of the Three Be hospitalious Churchmen Lay cease sacrilegious sinne Your Soules-sore but their Stores-salue whence eueÌ„ whiningly they winne By pinching from the Pulpet and their Purses with this note Scarse will their Studies stipend them their wiues and Children cote And verely it is a fault and maimed Learnings Foe That Church-Possessions should amongst the Laye be shared so And verely it is a fault if so the Cleargie liue As theirs to take be thought no Sinne nor Meede to them giue Almightie euerlasting God which only work'st great wonders Amend such Pastors and vnite thy Flock that Sathan sunders No one thing quailes Religion more than foundring Presbytrie Each Sâ—ot impugning Order saieth and doth his Fantasie Our Booke of Common prayer though most sound Diuinitie They will not reade nor can they preach yeat vp the Pulpet towre Thear making tedious Preachments of no edifying powre O learned Seers whose good liues and Doctrine doe agree Not barren is our Land of such heer-hence vn-meant are ye To you in Reuerence and Reward may nothing wanting be T' is only wisht your work from Dolts your Hiues from Drones were free T' is wisht in These in Fugitiues in Papists and more bad Whom to perswade to reason were with reason to be mad In Calophantick Puritaines amisse amendment had THese Hypocrites for these three Gifts to their Lauerna pray Iust to be thought all to beguile That none their Guiles bewray Their Arte is fayning good they want and hiding bad they haue Their Practise is selfe-praise of praise all others to depraue On Loue say some waites Ielosie but Ielosie wants loue When curiously it ouer-plus doth idle Quarrels moue Best Puritaines are so ore-zeal'd But should I terme the rest Inhospitalious Mutinous and Hypocrites the best Insociable Maleparte foxing their priuate good Exiling hence wel-neere al Troth meete Sports Neighbourhood Learnings Foes contemptuously by them be Lawes withstood Self-pleasers Skorners Harlots Drones against the Haire in all Of their extreame whence Atheisme breeds be warning Hackets fall If euer England will in ought preuent her owne Mishap Against these Skommes no terme too grosse let England shut the gap Their giddie heds gaue colour first that Spayne gainst FlauÌ„ders arm'd And theÌ„ their CouÌ„tries Foes they helpt most their CouÌ„try harm'd If Hypocrites why Puritaines we terme be ask't in breefe T' is but an Ironized Tearme good-Fellow so spells Theefe Well-working single-hearted Men in silence such be some Will not apply but saintish not in Deede but by the Dromme To Vnion that our stablisht Lawes for publike Prayer ties Not all is wondred and offends
let goe for dead Thus off and on they dialogue best part of all that daye He could not win her to consent nor would he take a naye For long a goe the Calendar of Women-Saints was filde Fewe not to Opportunitie importunated yeild Thinks this our Northerne wilie Ladde hartie and hardie too Who neuer would giue-out nor more than thus yeelds she to doe That is to bead he swearing but to kisse and her imbrace Then merrily for Huntington they mend their former pace Alighted theare for Supper he bespeakes the dantiest Cheere And either in one Gallerie had Chambers somewhat neere Betwixt their Chambers placed was a Southerne Gentleman That by officious Signes twix't them to sound their Match began Her extraordinary Forme on worke the rather sets His heart and Senses such an hand of vs such Bewtie gets Resolu'd at last of what was meant and how therein to deale This Smel-feast from the bidden Guest did thus the Banquer steale He gaue it out that all might heare he earely would away His Man fayn'd feare to ouer-sleepe and would not downe him laye But when that all besides betooke themselues to sleepe and rest One while he walkes the Gallerie another while he drest His rustie Sword which badly did the Northern-man disgest In vaine he chaâ—te in vaine he wisht the Seruing-man were gon Nor durst he out to boord his Loue for much it stood vpon Their Credits to be cautilous The Southern-man this while Got to the Gentle-womans bed and did no force beguile Her Expectation Swore you not quoth she and he did smile But had he bin the Man forsworne if God forgaue the Sin She pardon'd him the quo advi that he had trespast in And for that Nights work swore to sweare no Man froÌ„ like I win This Chaer thus chaer'd as closely as he went returnes he backe Vnto his proper Bed nor long he sleepes ere thence he packe No sooner cleered was the Coast but that the bidden Guest Steales to her Chamber doore then lock't for now she means to rest A male-Content retireth he not dreaming what had bin But better Opportunitie hopes at their next-nights Inn. Next Morne they meete when blushingly but angrie not a whit Ha Sir quoth she I 'le trust againe your Oth so kept you it Well bite and whine quoth he who trusts a Woman so is saru'd First museth she then iests it out soone finding how was swaru'd But thus the Northern-man did faile that did no cost omit And thus the Southern-man preuail'd at charge no more then Wit The best is yet behind but ere be told the Storie out Amongst our Louers now at Rome heare how was brought about AT Rome is Mandeuil ariu'd Stafford and he are met To say their Greeting for the much were here too long a Let. Of Elenor her health and more suppose not Questions few For yet full little Mandeuil of her Ariuall knew Nor shall till of his Loyaltie and life be further View At Staffords Lodging had he seene as is th' Italian Guies Two portly Ladies Head and Face all vailed saue their Eies Twixt one of these and Stafford much of Kindnes to haue past Had he obseru'd and thereupon thus breakes with him at last I haue not seene the couer'd Dish that so your Diet fits But much I feare it surfet may quoth he your queasie wits Needes must I enter now the Lists to combate Dorcas Foe Euen Staffords reason that from Heauen to Hell is posting so I will not aske nor doe I care what bewtie wealth or wit Your here-found Mistres hath why you should home-left Loue forgit But this I know not Rome affords whome more you might affect Than her whome wronged here I see and more than seene suspect And wherein differs Man from Beast but in Affections checkt What is she married Then doe yee superlatiuely sinne Or Mayde I like not Maidens that so forwardly beginne Or Curtizen What doth she with a Vaile that is so vile As not to blush at shame but baer'd is wonted to beguile But Married Mayde or Curtizen or what you please her name I like not him makes loue to one and wrongs the very same I tell thee Stafford be she good or bad thou here doest courte Thee I pronounce too bad y t with fore-plighted Loue do'est spourte Let it suffice my Friendship hates Absurdities in thee Farre be it Trauelers should play the Spyder not the Bee I would thy courted Lady here and her Consorte heard this A needles wish next Roome weare both and ouer heard he is Then should they heare thee false to one a Choyser is not heere And fearing like suspect thy Loue of Precontracts not cleere Or falsed Matches finished in wrong of Others might By stil improsprous Presidents detetre from wronging Right To honest Eares might this suffice to interrupt herein Or spoke I vnto Harlots this at least from Lust should win Al Touch-sweet Tast-sweet Eye-sweet Eat-sweet Sent-sweet Soule-sweet is A vertuous Match but vitious Loue in al contraries this Suppose this firme and naked Loue and Friendship much to please His Auditorie seene and not and Sâ—afford to appease His Discontent pretends a soone Returne for England thence And so this Parlie ended and on either part Offence Stafford had said to Mandeuil that Elenor to trie Whether his Loue did not with time new Loues and Trauell die Required backe the Ring she gaue which if he could her send She would beleeue him loyall and requite it in the end That Ring in this Regarde did he commend to Stafford now And saue to her he giue the same to none exacts a Vowe The next third following day was fayn'd the time he wold froÌ„ thence Whome to accompanie on his way had Mandeuil pretence Wherfore they feast their Friends theÌ„ their Friends amoÌ„g'st the rest Vnknowne of him was Elenor with Mandekil a Guest Such Arte she vs'd and such Attier she wore and who would looke For her at Rome that present her not for herselfe he tooke Vpon her Finger he espide his Ring deliuer'd earst Yeat silently deuoures the Greefe that to his Soule had pear'st He and the rest inuited weare to sup abroad that Night Night Guests and Suppers ende are come when greeued though in Spright He to recouer backe his Ring did vse this clenly sleight In one had he a Mommerie deuised and a Maske And euery masking Mommer tooke a Lady to his taske He her with whome he had espyde his Ring and Dauncing donnâ— To looke as if for somewhat lost to ground-wards he begonne Was ask't what myste he whispers her that he had lost a Ring Which wanting in each Mommers Mouth was made a penall thing Faire Lady lend me this quoth he that on your finger is And giuing her a Tablet rich for Gage accept of this Her Courtesie his colour'd Want and Gage effected so That she the Pawne accepted did her loned Ring forgoe Now on the Boord weare cast the Dice her turne was
widowhood with an amorous desire of a second marriage howbeit to determine without him as I must were to bee deceiued of him as I may What counsell My selfe Anna ah my selfe to motion loue were immodestie and to be silent lesse tolerable than death I would a violent no voluntary wish that Elisa knew her selfe beloued of Aeneas Aeneas not knowing himselfe so loued of Elisa Her Sister with a cheereful countenance promising comfort performed the same in this answer Dum signes quoth she haue their speeches not any that obserueth your looks but easily aymeth at your loue greater is the wonder of your strickt chastitie than it would be a nouell to see you a Bigama That priuatly peeuish and curious This publiquely wishâ—d and commodious Or euer Carthage be perfected in the ayre Elisa may putrifie in the earth What Monument then leauest thou to thy Tyrians scarce warme in A 〈…〉 k than a Cities imperfect foundation Which being alreadie an eyeâ—ore to the wild and warlike Libians Barc 〈…〉 s Getulians and the rest of the Africans shall then bee v 〈…〉 erly extinct with the very name of the Foundres but in matching with so great and valiant a Prince as Aeneas thou shalt not onely liue with whom thou doest loue and by consorting thy Tyrians with his Troians strongly disappoynt the enuie of those Nations but for Nature hath not giuen thee such beautie to die barren being a wife become 〈◊〉 doubt a mother and by legitimate propagation so glad thy Subiects feareles of ciuill dissentions Who can then dislike that Elisa should so loue Burie Sister the thoughts of Sichaeus with his dead bones and prosperously prosecute and preuaile in thy sweete passions of Aeneas Plie him with all prouisions and amorous entertainements onely for his Shippe-works fayne delatory wants and by Winter be past he partly comming will feare not bee perfectly reclaymed This counsell of Anna though it heaped as it were Athos on Aetna yet was it praised and practised of Elisa for Counsell soothing the humor of the counselled howsoeuer vnprofitable is accounted plaâ—sible Henceforward the Queene to be admired not matched for her exquisite beautie and rather borrowing of Arte than scanting Nature as braue in apparell as beautifull in person and voted euen in her better part to the loue of Aeneas so sorted all her â—euices to his best liking that shortly himselfe laboured with her in one and the selfe-same paine of wished-for pleasure Omitting therefore the circumstances of their discourses feastings and all poeticall faynings onely proceede we in few to the Euent of these their amorous Beginnings A Hunting was generally appoynted the Queene Aeneas their Ladies and Knights brauely mounted the Standes were prewned the Toyles pitched the Hounds vncoupled the Gamerowsed a foote and followed when sodainely amidst the harborlesse Desart in the hotest pursute the Skye ouer-cast with black Clowdes showred downe such flâ—shes of Lightening vollies of Thunder Haylestones and Raine that glad was euery of the Tyrians and Troians dispersing themselues to shift for one Elisa and Aeneas in the meane while finding a Caue that sheltred them twaine Being there all alone vnknowen of and vnsought for of their Seruants Opportunity the chief Actresse in al atteÌ„pts gaue the Plaudiate in Loue his Comedie Imagine short wooing where either partie is willing their faithes plighted for a mariage to be solemnized with kind kisses among hee did what harmed not and she had what displeased not A young Aeneas should haue beene molded had he not bin marred as might seeme in the making WheÌ„ this sweet Caulme in the sharp storme was with the tempest thus ouerpassed then came they both out not such as they entred in were receiued of their Traines attending their pleasures not examining their pastimes and so hauing continued the Chace vntill night discontinued their sport they retyring to Carthage were sumptuously feasted of Elisa in her Pallace During these their Alcion dayes not generally liked of all one there was a noble Troian that had these speeches to Aeneas Shouldest thou beleeue farre be it from Aeneas so to beleeue that the Oracles of our Gods behighting vs the Conquest of Italie were superstitious theÌ„ beleeue also vndeceiued mayst thou so beleeue that our effeminate abode here is vaine and slanderous to attempt that former without an Oracle yea with the losse of our liues is honorable because we are TrotaÌ„s to entertaine this latter inuited and daungerlesse reprochful because we are Troians Ah Aeneas haue we shipped our Gods froÌ„ home to be witnesses of our wantonnesse here Beleeue me better had it bin we had died in Pâ—râ—gia men than to liue thus in Affrik like women Consider also the place whereinto we are now brought and then conceiue of the possibility of our here abode shal I tel thee were there not if in the meane while no other Accident crosse thy now blisse were there not I say an Elisa here to loue thee or were there not an Aeneas to be beloued of her no sooner shuld the first deceased of you be deliuered of life than the Suruiuors of vs Troians be denied this Lande And then if we should proue so vngratefull as to resist our Relieuors hauing number yet want we MunitioÌ„ for neither our Ships be tackled nor we armed but at the deliuerie and appointment of the Tyrians Learne therefore Aeneas after so long pleasure in loue at the last profitably and politickly to loue and whatsoeuer thy playe be in Affrich let hencefoorth the Maine bee Italie Mean-while commaund most humbly we desire to be so commaunded that thy shippes be secretly calked â—allowed ballaced tackled victualled and armed and then thy selfe also reformed wittingly or vnwillingly to Elisa leaue her her effeminate Citie with Resolution neuerthelesse ifthou so please at more leysure to loue her So effectually did Aeneas listen to this motion that giuing order for the repayring of his Fleete he promised a speedy and sodayne departure and his men not slipping opportunitie executed the same with as effectuall diligence It happened in this meane while the Queene to mount the high Turrets of her Pallace royall whear looking towards the Roade she perceiued how earnestly the Troâ—aâ—s laboured in trimming pauasning and furnishing their Nauie then assuring her selfe not deceiued that she should be deceiued and descending as it were maiestically madde meeting with Aeneas shee said Before Aâ—neas I beheld thy ship wracks and wants I beleeued some God arriued at Carthage yea when I knewe thee but a man my conceit honored thee with a Deâ—tie but now these thine inhumaine Treacheries not worthy the vnworthiest Titles argue so farre off from a Godhoode as thou shewest thy selfe lesse than a Man and worse than a Diuell What hath Carthage not worthie Aeneas I assure thee if any be so much no citie is more happy thaÌ„ Carthage But the Queene pleaseth not Aeneas oh that Aeneas had not pleased the Queene theÌ„ might I haue bettered my choise for honour or