things thus But that they should bee fully vs'd by vs 76 And that I may not runne about the field But keepe my selfe in Compasse of the Ring I will omit the rich and fruitfull yeeld Of pleasure pointing onely at the Spring The taste whereof such perfect joy doth bring As I doe thinke no other Heau'n there Is Heau'n pardon me If I doe thinke amisse 77 That is sweet Ned the Paradise of Loue The joy of Life and life of our conceit The heau'nly Fire infused from aboue On which the Muses and the Graces wayt The Bodies health Harts hope and Natures bayt The quintissence of pure essentiall sweet The point where all the lines of Pleasures meet 78 Sweet loue that hast sweet beauty for thine obiect Kind loue that knits in One two seuerall hearts Great loue to whom the greatest King is subiect Pure loue that sublimates our Earthly parts And makes them ayerie by Ingenious Arts. O let my Ned my Prince my Ioue possesse The joyes I would but cannot well expresse 79 And thou deare Ned experience but the pleasure Try what it is to Loue and bee requited And I will pawne my life my greatest treasure With one sweet night thou wilt be so delighted That thou wilt wish the world were still benighted Then say sweet Prince when thou the same dost proue No heau'n but joy Nor any joy but loue 80 O see the fruits of an Ill-gouern'd wit VVhen the sharpe Edge thereof is turn'd awry VVhen the best graces make men apt and fit To blazon and to tricke Impietie To lay faire Colours on foule Sinne whereby Th' Abused sence deluded with false shewes On a most loathsome witch Inamoâ—'d growes 81 Wee need no Tutors to bee taught to sinne Wee sucke that lâ—sson from our mothers brest Nature is easily drawne to trade therein For that 's the trafficke that doth please vs best Sinne is a bold a most intruding guest And will not bee kept out doe what wee can There 's such an vnion betwixt Sinne and Man 82 What need Inuitement why should Art bee vs'd To draw that on which wee too much desire VVhy should our ablest Graces bee abus'd To powre more oyle vpon a flaming Fire But mounting Spirits that faine would soare vp higher Regard not what they doe nor what they say So they to their owne ends may make their way 83 And then indeed they are most dangerous When they are arm'd with Learning wit and skil Wholesome Ingredients proue most mischieuous Being apply'd onely to strengthen Ill For then they worke too much vpon the will And that full well such damned Doctors know Which makes them vse their Art cunning so 84 It is a certaine truth The best of all Beeing Corrupted turnes vnto the worst And so those hellish Spirits before theyr fall Most blessed chang'd from what they were at first Are now most vile and wretched most accurst Looke what degree of Goodnes things retaine Whilst they are good being Ill they so remaine 85 But to proceed By these and like discourses Whereat thy mayden muse may blush for shame This Gaveston imbark'd mee in such Courses As caus'd my Fathers griefe mine owne defame Whilst I went on not sensible of shame Nor of my Fathers griefe not heau'ns just doome Nor any future danger that might Come 86 O see how soone our sweetest buds are blasted How soone our fairest colours loose their flourish How easily are the Seeds of vertue wasted And noysome weeds of vice how much we nourish Which do the Soule of her chief wealth impouerish Youth apt to stray is easily led awry VVe fall by Nature what need Flatterie 87 And yet it hath too much to worke vpon The vnexperience of our younger yeares The heat of bloud the furie of affection Vngrounded hopes and vaine surmized feares The courses entertain'd by like compeeres Our selfeâ—conceit our Parents watchfull Eye Nay eu'n desert make all for flatterie 88 And soone it will the least aduantage find Whereby it may creepe into mens conceit Obseruing first to what they are inclin'd Which once perceiu'd It fits the humour streight Still keeping fashion but still wanting weight In complements most seemingly precise And that 's th' abused maske to blind weake eyes 89 But like â—s those diseases faster grow Whose mouing causes our Complexions â—eed So farre more dangerous is this priuate foe That doth attire himselfe in friendships weed Then he that shewes his hate by open deed For Armes or Lawes or Friends may fence the one The other God himselfe must shield or none 90 So Simon did the Troian State confound So guilded Tombes are full of rotten Earth So Crocodiles although they weepe they wound So Panthers circumuent with their sweet breath So Syrens though they sing their tunes are death And yet as fish bite most at hony-baytes Eu'n so are men most caught with sweet deceites 91 Therefore be pleas'd to heare a plaine discourse Suspect the tongue that 's still tun'd to the eare Faire truth is not for nakednesse the worse But falshood many Ornaments must weare Least all her foule deformities appeare Which Art can flourish ouer fit for Court Whilst simple truth to deserts doth resort 92 And this is that vast Sea of miserie In which the greatest Monarks most are drown'd That they are seldome free from flatterie Pretences being colourably found To sooth that humour that doth most abound And so the Prince runs on from ill to worse But still perswaded best of his bad course 93 VVhereby the danger on himselfe doth fall The gaine vnto the Fauoriâ—e accrewes For wronged Subjects being grieu'd withall Forgetting duty impiously pursues Meanes oâ— reuenge whence danger oft insues Meane while the man that fed the humour so Falls off perhaps and sâ—apes the comming blow 94 Therefore let Kings prefer them that are plaine And make those great that doe not greatnes feare Such serue their Lords for loue and not for gaine The' are Iewels of the heart not of the eare They will discouer dangers that are neare VVhen oyled tongues will still make all secure And carelesse greatnesse euer stands vnsure 95 But why should I giue rules when I kept none Why should I teach and neuer could obey Onely for this where I was ouerthrowne Others may Looke least they bee cast away And they that make this vse thrice happie they Because by others wracks themselues may reade How to preuent theyr owne mishaps with heed 96 Sooth'd thus in sinne all goodnesse was forgotten My Fathers words of no esteeme were growne And I that scarce seem'd ripe was straight found rotten Like fruit that is froÌ„ tree vntimely blown But that tooke root which Gaveston had sowen And sprouted so that It did seed at last So worthlesse weeds we see do grow too fast 97 For at the first I was asham'd of Sinne But sinne did say my greatest sinne was shame Then by degrees I did delight therein And from Delight I did desire the same And my
had leisure afterwards to mourne His foolish fault Such med'cines may adjourne The present paine a while But makes the sore To ake more felly then It did before 120 Mild drugs may stirre the humours that abound But will not quite expell the growing Ill The Root and Body both remaining sound Although the tree be lopt It thriues It still And when thou hast the Axe to vse at will Strike at the Root and fell it to the ground Rather then pare the boughes branches round 121 For 't is lost labour to begin with them They needs must wither if the other dye And doe not feare though vulgar breath condemn Thy Cariage in such courses whose weake Eye Lookes at the present only And thereby Values the rest Doe thou make good thy end The common sort will euer be thy friend 122 Wise Long-shankes yet in this thou wert not wise If thou hadst tooke the head of Gaveston Those subsequent disasters that did rise From him had bin preuented euery-one Thy Sonne had not bin shouldred from his throne Thy people slaine nor Realme to ruine brought But so God workes till all his will be wrought 123 And the whole List of Nature serues his will Our selues are Instruments vnto his ends Our most reserued drifts hee vseth still To worke those purposes which hee Intends Though our deuices ayme at other ends He is the Masterâ— wheele and makes vs strike No otherwise then hee himselfe doth like 124 My Gaveston thus driu'n into exile My selfe Committed like a Captiue thrall For so my Father kept mee short a while With bitter Curses I did banne them all I dranke my Teares and fed vpon my Gall. I chaf'd and storm'd yet could I not preuaile Needs must will be faine would doth often faile 125 Then were my Colours turn'd to mournfull blacke And I put on the Liuerie of Care Like to the hopelesse Sea-man in a wracke That sees the greedy waâ—es deuour his share No otherwise did thoughtfull Edward fare When sad remembrance in my soule did plant His lot my losse His woe my pleasures want 126 The chiefest Cordiall of my grieued Soule The one and only Period of my paine Was this That Death admitting no Controule Would end my Fathers wrath his Life his Raigne And then thought I Ned will haue Pierce again When Englands Crowne shall make a Ioue of me Then Gaveston my Ganimed shall bee 127 As I did hope so had my hopes successe For shortly after dy'd my noble Sire Whil'st he prepar'd the Scoâ—s for to suppresse Low now quoth I I haue my hearts desire Long-shankes is dead His water Ayre and fire Are turn'd to Earth and earthy might he bee That on the Earth did keepe a Crown from me 128 Yet in that sad dismayfull houre of dying No griefe did him more feelingly possesse Then that his vicious Sonne all vertue flying Should ruine that by ryot and excesse Which he had built with so great carefulnesse And therefore for to weane me from such Sins These well tun'd Notes this dying Swan begins 129 My Sonne quoth he for in that name of zeale My words may proue of more effectuall power Why should'st thou so with thy sicke Father deale As to torment him in his parting houre Whose life hath had his portion full of sower And yet to make my measure fuller still My Sonne doth daily adde vnto my ill 130 I know what 't is eu'n some-times by extreames To keepe the Crowne vpright vpon the head I know the troubled sleeps and fearefull dreames That houer still about a Princely bed The worme of greatnesse Iealousie is bred Out of it selfe yet this I know withall Our powerfull sway doth sweeten all our gall 131 But for thy selfe and for my heart-breake griefe That out of thy sin-ship-wrack'd youth doth grow No Circumstance yeelds colour of reliefe The cause excuselesse Limitlesse the woe That doth from thy full Sea of follies flow For foulest faults proceed from powerfull Ill. And Subiects sort themselues to Princes still 132 Thou do'st not onely by thy vicious liuing Bereaue thy Soule of blisse which vertue wins But also by the ill-example giuing Thou do'st incite weake mindes vnto like sinnes For certainely the Subiect euer swims Iust with the streame so growing like to thee A generall Deluge of all sinne will bee 133 Much better had It bin Thou hadst not bin Then that thy being should so ruine all O wherefore was thy birth-day euer seene If by thy life The State It selfe doth fall To those foule sins which wrath from Heau'n doe call By whose just doome such states confounded are By forreine fury or domesticke warre 134 For when the seed of sin to ripenesse growes Then Iustice with a sythe doth mow It downe This this It is that Kingdomes ouerthrowes Layes wast the fields vnpeoples euery Towne Or if not so disorders yet the Crowne VVhich though It proue no generall desolation Yet many mischiefes grow by Innouation 135 When my heau'n-seeking soule shall leaue her Inn And this my flesh clos'd in a house of Clay Then will my shame suruiue me in thy sinne And babes vnborne will ban my birth and say His wretched life gaue life to our decay And had no other ill by him bin done He sinn'd too much in getting such a Sonne 136 Did I for this endure the dust and Sunne Dislodge at mid-night March in mid-dayes heate Were Turkish French VVelch Scottish Trophees woÌ„ Was all my care imploy'd to make thee great That sinne might dispossesse thee of thy Seat O then I see that greatnesse soone is gone VVhen God drawes not the plot man builds vpon 137 And my devining Solue doth sadlâ— see Thy Ruine in thy ryot Ah my Ned VVhen I am gone a King then shalt thou be But if thou still be with thy passions led Thou wilt not keepe the Crowne vpon thy head My Soule now parting from her earthly Cage Fore-tels thee so in her Propheticke rage 138 And those predictions seldome vse to faile VVhich she vnfolds in her last extasie Shee 's ready now to quit her fleshly jayle And now she tels thee with free libertie Thy Raigne thy life will end in miserie If still thou keep'st the wayes thou now art in And dost not leaue thy mind and meanes to sin 139 VVell Son I feele my faultering tongue doth faile Therefore this short Abridgement I doe make Feare God Loue goodnesse let the right preâ—aile Shun sodaine courses Parasites forsake Disfauour not thy Peeres their Councels take In thy designes Reuoke not Gaueston For he will proue the Canker of thy Throne 140 Pursue those Scottish warres I haue in hand And for because my Soule did make a vow Vnto my God to serue in Holy-Land From which This sicknesse Interdicts me now Though death disable me yet doe it thou Embowell me and thither beare my heart That in that worthy worke I may haue part 141 And you my Lords speaking vnto his Peeres Whose wealth and greatnes I haue
in France encountred with his Foe Graco these sweet Pr These thy Court-CoÌ„metâ— bee And pray for theÌ„ They 'l neuer prey on thee 252 Thus must thy twigges be lim'd thy nets display'd To catch these birds that soare vp to the Sunne And when these wise foundations once are layd 'T is almost ended what is well begun Then art thou King Indeed Then hast thou won Vnto thy selfe an absolute estate Till when The Lyon liues but in the Grate 253 Thus did this hellish Are cast the ball Or Discontent betwixt mee and my Peeres Whose wicked Councels flowing from the gall Fill'd them with furie mee with needlesse feares And set vs altogether by the Eares Whilst eyther side neglecting Common good Sought onely how to spill each others blood 254 Ill Councels seeme most faire at the first shew And promise much but in theyr managing Many vnthought of difficulties grow And in theyr end which crowneth euery thing They proue vnprosperous and doe ruine bring They haue an eaâ—â—e birth Dangers attend Their progresse And in wretchednes they end 255 It is a wise mans part soundly to weigh The Councels giu'n And to obserue with-all The giuers priuate ends because they may In their aduice vpon some passage fall That may perhaps proue prejudiciall Vnto th' Aduice They their owne true friends Ayming at nothing but their priuate ends 256 VVhich in this Councell giu'n by Gaveston VVas obvious for euery Eye to see VVho in his spleenfull heart still thought vpon His owne reuenge and so aduised mee To that which with his ends did best agree VVhich drew my Peeres to Arms who vow'd e'â—t long His head should answere for his cursed tongue 256 I wish'd the trees were turn'd to armed troopes And all the bowes were Pikes their hearts to wound All other birds the Princely Eagle stoops The Lyon Roares The Beasts shake at the sound VVhy should not I their daring pride Confound That saw cily vsurpe vpon my right But Lyons are no Lyons wanting might 258 My Peeres did strike whilst that the steele was hoâ— And Still came on to seize vpon their prey VVhat should we doe Complaine It booted not Goe leauie men Our men did disobey Sue for a Truce They would not grant a day Submit our selues and so some pitty craue Mee hurt they would not him they would not saue 259 That Prince Indeed is to be held most wise That by his vertues doth his State secure But hee 's not so that meanes to tyrannize And doth not secke by forces to assure His owne designes for let him be most sure A Prince that 's weake and yet doth gouerne ill Is subiect to a thousand dangers still 260 O Sacred Vertue what a powerfull guard Art thou What a strong Power of defence All hearts are won to reuerence and regard Thy awfull worth Thou neyther giu'st offence Nor takest It Men are not without sence But they both see and tast and loue and nourish That Reall good by which themselues do flourish 261 What vnderstanding Soule that doth not know And knowing loue and louing will not spend The dearest bloud that in his veines doth flow To guard and giue vnto that Prince whose end To publike more then priuate good doth bend Hee shall be euer able to command At will his Subiects purse his heart his hand 262 Flight was our best defence and flye we did So silly Doues before proud Falcons flye Till Gaveston in Scarborow Castle hid My Peeres surpriz'd Whom War wicks Earle Sir Guy Beuchamp beheaded So my Pierce did dye A gloomie night conclude his faire morne And Fortunes darling ended Fortunes scorne 263 O what is honour but an exhalation A fierie meteor soone extinct and gone A breath of People and the Tongues relation That streight is ended when the voyce is done A morning dew dry'd vp with miidday Sun A ceasing sweet like Danaes golden showre That both began and ended in an houre 264 There breeds a little Beast by Nilus Streames VVhich being borne when Phebus first doth rise Growes Old when he reflects his hottest beames And when at night to VVesterne Seas he hies Then life begins to faile and streight It dyes Borne old and dead and all but in a day Such honour Is so soone it weares away 264 How much more happie is that sweet estate That neither creepes too low nor soares too high VVhich yields no matter to contempt or hate VVhich others not disdaine nor yet enuie VVhich neyther doâ—s nor takes an injurie But liuing to it selfe in sweet Content Is neither abiect nor yet insolent 266 He liues indeed and spends his course of time In truest pleasure that this life can yield He hath set houres to pray at Eu'n and Prime Hee walkes abroad into his quiet field And studies how his home affaires to wield His Soule and Body make one Common-wealth His Councels Care to keepe them both in health 267 Hee feares no poysons in his meates and drinkes Hee needs no guard to watch about his bed No teacher vndermines him what he thinkes No dangerous projects hammer in his head Hee sits and sees how things are managed And by obseruing what hath earst beene done He levels oft how future things will run 268 If he would liue with Kings and mightie men Hee doth converse with them in Historie If he would know the Heau'nly motions Then Hee takes his Globe he reades Astronomie His Mapps and Chartes doe teach Cosmography And whil'st in his safe Cell he studying stands In one short houre he sayles both Sea Lands 269 And tyr'd perhaps with the discouerie Of forreigne things He comes more nearer home Hee lookes into himselfe with carefull Eye That little world that is indeed his owne Hee trauailes-In which being truely knowne Affords enough for wonder and delight When he hath learn'd to know himselfe aright 270 How farre remou'd from this true Happinesse Are those high Climbers that grow over-great They alwayes eate the Bread of Carefulnesse And sad suspition vshers in their meat They sleepe on Thornes If any sleepe they get Being troubled both to deale and to discard Vngarded they doe feare and feare their Guard 271 O greatnes though thou seem'st faire gilded ouer Yet Inwardly thou art but wretchednes So haue I knowne a Costlie habit couer A Body full of Soares and filthinesse Thy very marrow is but rottennesse An Alpe to Clime An yee to stand vpon A very Hell of Hell's if had and gone 272 The Earle of Cornewall causer of the Warre Thus being dead they laid their weapons downe Protesting all They would not goe so farre As to be thought disloyall to the Crowne But they did seeke the Realmes and my Renowne Which was eclips'd in him whom they had slain But Englands Spheare would now grow faire againe 273 But still dark Clouds did shadow Englands Sphere And bitter stormes on gloomie Clouds dependant Vnfortunate and fatall euery yeere Whil'st haples Edward was chief Lord ascendant Malignant Starres on me
doth call the goers by The Panthers breath and Crocodiles false teares Haue truer hearts then faithlesse women beares 429 Let loosers speake for they will not bee let I lost my Crowne my Life I also lost My glorious rising had a gloomie set My Wife the Sea wherein my barke was tost The rocke wherein I suffred shipwracke most Shee Clitemnestra Agamemnon I Whom false Aegistus foully caus'd to dye 430 His part my Riuall Mortimer did play Whom ISABELL my Queene so well did loue That still in France shee meant with him to stay As One that would the selfe same fortunes proue And moue no otherwise then hee did moue Mean while The Cuckoe hatch'd in Edwards nest And in my Boate his Oare was liked best 431 They that inioy and joy in their owne Loues Whose vertuous soules no secret sinnes doe staine Who neuer did vnlawfull pleasures proue But truly louing are so lou'd againe Thrice happie they more true Contentment gaine Then those that haue the change choise of many And vsing all are neuer lou'd of any 432 For streames diuided runne a shallower Course Then they that only in one Channell runne A mind vnchast doth euer like them worse That are obtayn'd then those that are vnwonne Because It thinkes some pleasure is to Come Which yet it hath not found and neuer ill Did seeme so sweet but something wanted still 433 For how can Sinne afford a full delight When 't is indeed a meere priuation As well may darknes bee the Cause of light And Heau'n to Hell bee turn'd by transformation As Wickednes yeeld perfect Contentation The vertuous Pleasures are Compleat sound And lawfull is at last delightfull found 434 But Lust is deafe and hath no Eare to heare The cunning Charmer charme he nere so well VVhich did too much in Isabell appeare VVho did resolue with Mortimer to dwell And both of them did labour to expell Mee from my Kingdome and to please the time They made my Sonne the colour of their Crime 435 And heere obserue the foule effects of Lust What Treasons Murders outrage from It springs How both to God and man it is vnjust How it defiles all States Confounds all things And at the last to vtter ruine brings How much more pure is that most holy fire Which God doth blesse men themselues desire 436 I neuer heard of any hee or shee Although themselues were lewd and vicious That euer wish'd theyr Off-spring for to bee Like to themselues but good and vertuous There 's some thing in the Soule that worketh vs T' affect the good wee had at our Creation VVhereof being lost wee wish a restauration 437 As Mortimer and Isabell my Queene Practis'd in France so heere they had their factions Of Earles and Barons Men of great esteeme Both wise and stout to manage any actions And the poore CoÌ„mons grinded with Exactions To Innouation were not easily led And nothing wanted but an able head 438 But hee that was chiefe workman of the frame VVhich drew the plot at home for all the rest VVho afterwards did build vpon the same A Bishop was Yet Church-men should be best But oftentimes Sinne lurkes within the brest VVhen sacred Titles and religious names Are but the Couers of vncomely shames 439 'T was * Tarlton whose great spleen and working braine Was the Producter of this Monster first Who for some priuate wrong hee did sustaine An inward hate and bosome treason nurst Against his Prince Which afterwards did burst Into those open flames from whence did grow As hatefull Ills as euer Age did show 440 May then Religion bee a Cloake for Sinne Can holiest Functions serue but for pretences Are Church-men Saints without Diu'ls within Dare men make God a colour for offences Knowing with what fierce wrath he recompences Eu'n simple Sinners that scarce know his will Then much more those whose knowledge serues for ill 441 Most reuerend Priesthood how art thou prophan'â— How comes thy glorious Lustre so obscure That eu'n thy very Title is defam'd The Cause is plaine Profesâ—ors are impure Their liues doe hurt more then their tongues doe cure For Lay-men thinke all lawfull that they doe And with that thought are easily drawn thereto 442 And so there growes a Confluence of all Sinne. For Sheepe will wander If the Shepheard stray Smal Boats must drown If great ships caÌ„not swiâ— If Doctors faile what shall poore Pupils say God helpe the blind If cleare Eyes misse the way Though Sinne doth euer draw with it a Curse Yet doth the Author make the sinne the worse 443 But to my selfe I doubted what to doe For weightie Causes challenge heedfull care I fear'd the French I fear'd my Subiects too I wanted Crownes the Sinnewes of the warre Those that I had I thought not good to spâ—râ— But freely sent them to the King of France For feare hee should his Sisters part aduance 444 Whereby from thence shee had no Ayde at all O what a pleasing Orator is Gold How well hee speakes that tels a golden tale And yet It loues not to bee heard but told Although It sweetly sounds to young and old Orpheus did make the stones strange wonders doe But this can moue both stones and Orpheus too 445 Philip Macedon did besiege a Hold Which some did tell him was not to bee wonne Hee answers If an Asse laden with Gold Can come vnto 't The worke is to bee done Such is the heate and lustre of this Sunne That It doth melt the hearts and blind the Eyes Both of the brainlesse vulgar and the wise 446 Which when my Queene and Mortimer perceiu'd They leauing France to Henault went for Ayd And there with honour they were well receiu'd Forces prepar'd and Ensignes were display'd And Ships were rigg'd and nothing was delay'd That might aduance their Enterprize begun So deepest Seas with smoothest silence runne 447 They tooke the Sea and landed at the last At * Orwell Hau'n a deadly Gulph to me And thither their Confederates did hast Both Lords and Commons seemed to agree As winds waues Consent wheÌ„ wrackes shal be All turn'd their faces to the rising Sun Because my date was done and I vndone 448 But when the voyce of Eagle-winged fame Did spread abroad the cause of their repaire And seemed still to justifie the same By due succession of my Sonne and heire My hope to feare My feare turn'd to dispaire And my dispaire on these two grounds was laid My Peeres were false my Partizans dismaid 449 Then did I flye from London where I lay Because they seemed partially affected And in my flight did often weepe and say To what hard haps art thou poore Prince subjected What gloomie Stars haue thus thy State infected That they should hate who ought to loue thee rather A haplesse King a Husband a father 450 Most mightie Monarkes haue bin oft distrest WhoÌ„ yet their wiues haue lou'd with tender Care And many in their matches curst are
had poore Edward bin If Death had ended then his weary dayes For cast on Shoare in Wales I liu'd vnseene In path-lesse woods and vnfrequented wayes With those few friends whom whilome I did raise Balduck Reading young Spencer and no more Who in my fall their ruine did deplore 473 Of all the swarmes that followed Kingly Raigne Of all the friends that faw'nd on awfull pride Loe onely this poore Remnant did remaine Whose â—ortunes glew'd to mine made theÌ„ t' abide A true-loue knot with sad affliction ty'd For wretched men Compâ—ssionate each other And kind Compassion is affections mother 474 O see what quick-sanâ—s Honour treads vpon How Icie is the way that Greatnes goes A mighty Monarch late Attended-on With supple hammes smooth browes submissiue showes For many followers now hath many foes For â—awâ—ing friends from falling fortunes runne As Persians vs'd to Curse the setting Sunne 475 When Ioue had made the chiefe of all his Creatures VVhich wee call Man A liâ—tle world indeed The Gods did praise his well proportion'd features Each in their functions seruing others need But prying Momus taking better heed Obseru'd at last one Errour in his Art Because hee made no windowes in mans heart 476 O that the glorious Architect of man Had made transparent Glasses in his brest VVhat place should bee for Politicians then How should dissembling grow in such request And machiauillian Athiesme prosper best But temporising is the way to Clime There is no musicke without keeping time 477 I shall not doe amisse If now I sing Those heauie Anthemes our sad Consort made VVhilst they did warble to their wretched King As wee did Sorrowing sit in silent shade The Sodaine downfall Reeling Greatnesse had Balduck quoth I ouâ— of Philosophie Distill some medicine for our Miserie 478 Deare Prince quoth he whom late our Eyes beheld In greatest Glory that the world could see VVhilst thou with awfull Maiestie did'st weild The publike State let It no wonder bee If some few Starres proue opposite to thee Since in their fauour none so firmely stood But they haue giu'n them griefe as well as good 479 Doe but obserue the Fauorite of Chance Her chiefest Minion highest in her Grace Philips great * Sonne whom she did so aduance Who did subdue the East in little space Vnto whose Armes th' Amazed world gaue place Whose Actions are the subiect of all Stories Hee poys'ned dyes amidst a world of glories 480 I list not wade in telling tragicke Tales Sufficeth this All greatnesse is vnsure Stormes rage more fiercely on the hils theÌ„ dales Shrubs better then high Cedars windes indure Those Colours soonest staine that are most pure O let him graspe the Clouds and span the sky That can assure himselfe felicitie 481 In all that this same massie world doth hold There is a certaine mixture to bee found Eyther of dry or moyst or hot or cold Of which If any One too much abound The body so affected proues vnsound But being kept in just proportion They doe maintaine a healthfull vnion 482 So fares It in our fortunes and our State Nothing is simply sweet or simply sower Our weale is mixt with woe our loue with hate Our hope with feare weaknes w th our power Bright Moones breed mists yâ— Sunshine morne a shower And as there is an Autumne a Spring So change by course is seene in euery thing 483 The wind that 's now at South will change to Nore The greenest grasse will turne to withered Hay The Seas both â—bbe and flow at euery shore The Moone doth wax and waine yet not decay Day drawes on night night drawes on the day Our selues once babes now men now old streight none Doe plainely proue a change in euery-one 484 Wise Politicians and deepe-sighted Sages That haue discourst of Common-wealths with Care Both of our time and of precedent Ages Obserue in them a birth when first they are A growth which oft extendeth very farre A sâ—ate wherein they stand and change withall And then at last A finall fatall fall 485 Rome had her being first from Romulus Her growth from Consuls that were annuall Her State most flourish'd in Octaâ—ius Many Conuersions Three most principall From Kings to Consuls Last Emperiall And O who sees not she is ruined And in her ruines now lyes buried 486 The greatest and best grounded Monarchie Hath had a Period and an overthrow There is no Constant perpetuitie The streame of things is carried to and fro And doth in euer-running Channels goe If then great Empires are to changes bending What weaker States are warranted froÌ„ ending 487 Ruines of Kingdomes and their fatall harmes From one of these same causes doe arise From Ciuill furie or from forreigne Armes Or from some plague doom'd froÌ„ the angry skyes Or worne by wasting time dissolued dyes For as the fruit once ripe falls from the Tree So Common-wealths by Age subuerted bee 488 If these be Rockes that shipwracke Monarchies Are priuate States exempted from the same Where liues the man hath such Immunities 'T is hard to scape vnscorch'd in Common flame Or parts to stand when ruin'd is the frame Those publike harmes that Empires doe decay In priuate states doe beare a greater sway 489 Fiue hundred yeeres some that are curious wise Would haue the Period of a publike State And they appoint for priuate families Some Six or Seu'n discents the vtmost date I dare not so precisely Calculate But without doubt there is a fixed Time In which all States haue both their Eu'n Prime 490 Let these be motiues O dejected greatâ—One To calme the Tempest of thy stormie Care And though I must confesse it well may fret-one Thy past and present fortunes to compare Yet since in all things changes common are Thinke Ebb'd estates may flow think withal What happ's to One to every-one may fall 491 Thus Balducke ceas'd and Reading thus begun But first his eyes dew'd downe a weeping raine O thou once glorious now Eclipsed Sun Now thou art clouded yet maist cleare againe With Courage therfore hopefull thoughts retaine For oft those winds yâ— draw the Clouds together By their disperse occasions fairer weather 492 But I intend no Comment on this Text Nor will I harrow that which he did sow What I apply to thy sad Soule perplext With those dismayes that from thy Fortunes flow Out of th' assured grounds of truth doth grow Then make good vse thereof and learne thereby This Soueraigne Salue for thy sad melodie 493 All things that boundlesse thought can once conceiue Sacred prophane of Elements compos'd Vnbodied Spirits or what else doth receiue A being when or where or how dispos'd Within one Triple Circle are inclos'd Being Eternall or perpetuall Or else indeed but meerely Temporall 494 That is Eternall which did not begin Nor euer ends and onely God is so Who hath for euer and from euer bin VVhoÌ„ no place circumscribes nor times forego Nor limits bound nor thoughts can fully
portraiture 645 The Earth it selfe is wearie of my paine And like a tender Mother moanes for mee From me thou cam'st returne to me againe Within my wombe I 'le keepe the safe quoth she And from these vile abuses set thee free Never shall these fell Tyrants wrong thee more Hee that payes death dischargeth euery score 646 These bodyes that thou seest thy Brothers were Subject to many wants and thousand woes They now are clear'd from Care and free'd from feare And from the pressures of Insulting foes And now they liue in joy and sweet repose Thy selfe can'st witnesse that they feele no woe And as they rest eu'n thou shalt rest thee so 647 Their eyes that whil'st they liu'd oft Tyded teares Thou seest how sweetly they Injoy their rest Those harsh vnpleasing sounds that wrong'd their Eares Are turn'd to Angels tunes among the blest Their Soules that were w th pensiue thoghts possest Now in their Makers bosome without end Injoy that peace whereto thy Soule doth bend 648 And thou hast need of peace poore wretched Soule If euer any Soule had need of Peace God being in Armes against thee doth enroule All Nature in his list which doth not cease To fight against thee and doth still Increase Thy wretchednesse forbeare rebellious dust To warre with him who is most great and just 649 O would to God that I had dy'd ere this Then had my sinnes bin feweâ— then they are Then had my Soule long since repos'd in blisse That now Is wandring still in wayes of Care Lifes griefe exceeds lifes good with-out CoÌ„pare Each day doth bring a fresh supply to Sorrow Most wretched now yet shal be more to morrow 650 My carefull mother might haue helped mee When I lay sprawling in her tender wombe If she had made her burd'ned Bellie bee My fruit-lesse birth-bed and my fatall Tombe Sure had she knowne her Sonnes accursed doome She never would haue wrong'd her selfe so much To beare a wretch saue whom was never such 651 My tender Nurse is guilty of these paines Shee might haue put some poyson in my pap Or let me fall and so dash'd out my braines When she full oft did dance me on her lap A thousand wayes had freed me from mishap But he whom Heau'n ordaines to liue distrest Death will delay to set that wretch at rest 652 For Death's the wearie Pilgrims rest and joy This world of woes a hard and flintie way Our birth the path that leades to our annoy Our friends are fellowâ—passengers to day And gone to morrow Honour Is a stay That eyther stops or leades vs else amisse Pleasures are Theeues that Intercept our blisse 653 And in the passage as the way doth lye Wee meet with seuerall Innes wherein we rest Some at the Crowne are lodg'd and so was I Some at the Castle So am I distrest Some at the Horne That married folkes doe feast Though men haue divers Innes yet all men haue One home to which they go that 's the graue 564 Yet whil'st we trauaile Fortune like the weather Doth alter faire or foule so doth our way If faire then Friends like foules do flocke together If foule Each man doth shift a severall way Onely our vertues or our vices stay And goe with vs whose endlesse memorie Doth make vs liue or dye Eternally 655 This Is the freight that men cannot vnload No not by death Therefore Mortalitie Worke for thy selfe whil'st here thou hast abode For on the present hath dependancie Eyther thy endlesse blisse or miserie And death 's the Convoy to conduct vs home Come death to me that I to rest may Come 656 Perhaps thou fearst me being great and hye O death Man were a thing Intollerable Were he not mortall But eu'n Kings must dye No priuiledge doth against death Inable Both fat and leane are dishes for his Table The diff'rence this The poore-one hath his graue The great-one hee his Monument must haue 657 Our fates may be concein'd but not Controul'd Before our dated time we cannot dye Our dayes are numbred and our minutes told Both life and death are destin'd from on high And when that God that rules the Imperiall skye Shall find It fit then thou shalt goe in peace Meane while with patience looke for thy release 658 Thus vnto Care I pay'd his due Complaint And joynd withall my tributarie teares Such my laments for griefe finds no restraint As they at last did come vnto their Eares That by the Castle past which caus'd such feares In their selfe-guilty soules that vs'd me so As they resolu'd by death to end my woe 659 To which effect came Letters from the Court Written by Tarleton at the Queenes command In such a cloudie and ambiguous sort That diuers wayes one might them vnderstand By pointing them That if they should be scann'd Hee and his Letters might be free from blame And they Delinquents that abus'd the same 660 The words were these * Kill Edward doe not feare 'T is good which being Comma'd diuersly As pleas'd the Reader double sence may beare O Art Thou art the Earths chiefe treasurie But being Imploy'd to practise villanie What monstrous births from thy faire wombe do spring So Grâ—mmar here is made to kill a King 661 Which to effect They first remoued mee From forth the place where I before did lye And made a shew as if they seem'd to bee Compassionated for my miserie And would hereafter graunt Immunitie From such vnworthy vsage So we see The Sunne shines hot before the shower wil bee 662 But being ouer-watch'd and wearied too Nature was much desirous of some rest Which gaue them opportunitie to doe What they desir'd for being with sleepe opprest They clap great massie Beds vpon my brest And with their weight so kept me down withall That breath I could not much lesse Cry or Call 663 And then into my Fundament they thrust A little horne as I did groueling lye And that my violent death might shun mistrust Through that same horne a red hot Spit whereby They made my guts and bowels for to fry And so Continu'd till at last they found That I was dead yet seem'd to haue no wound 664 And here I pitch the Pillars of my paine Now Ne plus vltra shall my Poesie bee And thou which hast describ'd my tragicke raigne Let this at least giue some content to thee That from disastrous fortunes none are free Now take thy web out of the Loomes againe And tell the world that all the world Is vaine THE AVTHORS Noli peccare 1 FOrbeare to Sinne God hath thee still in sight Nothing is hid from his all seeing Eye Though thou putt'st on the Sables of the night Thou canst not cloud thy selfe from him thereby All time all place all Ends and all thy meanes He better sees then thou the Suns bright beames 2 Forbeare to Sinne The Angels grieue for thee When by thy Sinne thou grieu'st thy louing Lord. Those noble natures our Attendants bee To whom both day and night they doe afford Theyr dearest seruice O vnkind too much To cause their griefe whose loue to thee is such 3 Forbeare to Sinne For eu'n that damned Fiend That mou'd thee first and sooth'd thee in thy Sin When hee hath once attayn'd his cursed End And made thee Act his ill will straight begin To aggrauate thy guilt Hee 'l vrge thy shame Against thy selfe that vrg'd thee to the same 4 Forbeare to Sinne For out of Sinne doth breed A biting worme that gnawes the Sinner still Deuouring wolfe that on thy selfe doest feed Blacke Register that do'st record our Ill. And makes the Soule the booke where thou dost write Sad thoughts by day and fearefull dreames by night 5 Forbeare to Sinne Death standeth at the Doore Ready to Enter on thy house of Earth One day being spent The lesser is thy store Of time to come Man dyes from his first birth Who euer writes or speakes of any-One Still ends his tale with Mortuus est Hee 's gone 6 Forbeare to Sinne There is a day of Doome There are Records where thy sinnes are Inrol'd There is a just and fearefull Iudge from whom Lyes no appeale Who cannot bee control'd Whom teares-almes prayers may here to mercy moue But theÌ„ there is no place for peace or loue 7 Forbeare to Sinne Because there is a Hell Where cease-lesse ease-lesse Endlesse torments be Where Diu'ls all the damned Soules doe dwell Whom Millions of yeares shall neuer free Where to remaine Is grieuous past Conceit And whence not any hope to make retreat Therefore to End as I did first begin Let these respects make thee forbeare to Sin Quorum si singula duram Flectere non possunt possunt tamen Omnia Mentem FRAN. HVBERT Miles Timens Deum non habet quod timeat vlterius FINIS IACOBVS 1 Tacitus Sardanapalus A transmigration of the soule froÌ„ one body to another Onâ— of Pythagoras his dreames Alexander magnus Themisâ—ocles Rich. 2. ALEXANDER Epiroâ— SARDANAPALVS ROVVEN HENRY 4. the Great The death of GAVESTON IACOB I. Da obuluâ—â—â— Bellisario vâ—â—â—ator queâ—â— Inuidia noâ—â— culpa cacâ—â—â—â—â—it formâ—â— suaepetitionâ—â— IACOB I. Tho. Plantaginet Earle of Lancaster Richard 〈◊〉 Earle of Warwicke 〈…〉 Constable of the Tower ADAM DE ORLETON or TARLTON Bâ—shâ—p of Hereford By Narwich in Essex HENRY 4. RICH. 2. Bishop of Winchester ALEXANDER Quid gloriâ—â—vis potens iâ—â— molitiâ—â—udâ— HENRY 1. Speaker of the Parliament Henry Earle of Lecester kept him at Kenelworth Tho. Gurney Iob. Maltrevers Knights â—linius Edward umâ—â— occidere nolitâ— timere bâ—num est Deus videt Angelâ— tristaÌ„tur Diabolus accusat Conscientiaterret Mors minatur â—â—dicium instat â—nferni â—crâ—ciant