of ill Cursed and odious let such traitors be That howsoeuer to effect their will Regardlesse of all wrong against all right Dares to take armes against their King to fight So long too long with small or no regard I in that sanctuary did remaine Vntill at length for certaine truth I heard That princely Edward with a martiall traine At Rauensprugh neare Humber head was landed With many a gallant warlikly attended Which how it ioyd my soule no tongue can tell Then vnto God I did deuoutly pray To cast all Edwards foes as low as hell And giue to him a safe victorious day That he in triumph with hearts ioy might see His litle sonne presented him by me Whether my prayers were effectuall Or Edwards valor which the world renown'd But all his foes got such a heauie fall That he with victory againe was crown'd And many slaine the rest that reattempted Rebellious factions they such faults repented Warwicke and others of that traiterous faction Being slaine and ouerthrowne a iust reward For them that dealt in such rebellious action Their peacocks plumes were pluckt their brauerie mard Victorious Edward by the helpe of heauen Reign'd after this of yeares iust eleuen But then ô then for seldome good things last Fates enuious of earthly creatures good With swiftest speed and with a heedlesse haste Cruell in action glut themselues in bloud Of any one that cometh next to hand All men perforce within their furie stand But Atropos the cruelst of the three That spins and winds and cuts our threed of life As one inchanted seeing did not see When she did cut the threed that bred such strife For by his too soone death my woes began And tragicke fall of many a mightie man My forepast sorrowes might be termed ioyes And all my griefes were ioyes compard to this King Edward dide with him dide all my ioyes And I was banisht from all earthly blisse To the sad tortures of an earthly hell The least of all my woes no tongue can tell Seuen royall children to this King I bare Edward the fift by treason murthered Richard his brother had a deadly share For they were both together smothered Fiue daughters by this King I also had Wose fortunes some were good and others bad When palefac'd death had seiz'd vpon my King My Lord my loue the hope of all my ioy And by that stroake had blemisht euery thing That might preserue and keepe me from annoy The Nobles droopt the common people mournd And all my hopes to sad despaire were turnd Some sparke of future good I hop'd to see Since to the Crowne my sonne by due descent Was heire apparent but what state so free But trust in treason brings to hard euent Vsurping Richard such a plot laid downe To work their deaths and gain himself the Crown Such fearfull thoughts my senses so did fright That some mishap I feared would befall To the yong King sad visions in the night So troubled me I could not sleepe at all Deuouring beasts but most of all the Boare My tender child me thought with tusks did goare From Ludlow towards London the yong King Did go to haue his right the royall Crowne Litle suspecting trechery would spring Nor that his vnkle Gloc'ster would put downe The lawfull King the sonne of his owne brother But tyrannie regards ne one ne other To heape more sorrowes on my wounded heart My brother the Lord Riuers was arrested Sir Richard Gray and Vaughan bare a part As guiltie of the fact which they detested Whilst in Northampton in their Inne they stayed Vnwares alas they guiltlesse were betrayed The keyes of all the doores were safely kept By those that sought to worke their ouerthrow Whilst they nothing misdoubting soundly slept Litle suspecting vndeserued woe Would light on thē that to their Prince were loyal But truth by treason tript nere comes to triall Gloc'ster and Buckingham hauing effected Their bloudy plots gainst such as were my friends A warrant was with speed by them directed To bring those prisoners to vntimely ends And from Northampton vnto Ponfret they Like lambes to slaughter led were sent away Sir Richard Ratcliffe hauing the commission To him directed that by such a day He should be carefull with all expedition Those innocents most bloudily to slay He acted it without due course of lawes Or asking why or what should be the cause The cruell Dukes then poasted with all speed To Stony stratford where the King then lay The King alas not knowing of this deed Said Where 's my vnkle what doth cause him stay Gloc'ster replide my kinred traitors were As by due proofe his Maiestie should heare Saying they had conspir'd to rule the State To ouerthrow the Nobles of the land To rule the King and giue him the checke mate All the Nobilitie in great feare did stand Of them that had of late bene too much grac'd And now high time they should be all displac'd And that the Lord Gray brother to the King And with the King in presence at that time Might well be charged with the selfe same thing Thus did they plot the fall of me and mine The King replide that iustly he might sweare His brother Gray was innocent and cleare And with those words teares trickled from his eies But though that sight was pitifull to see It nought reclaimd them from their cruelties What sadder signe of griefe could euer be Then that a King whose word should be a law With teares should plead as though he stood in aw My father and my brethren murthered In this might well be seene the future hap Of ill presaged fortune furthered By those two bloudie Dukes that sought to wrap In sad despaire and death me and my friends And bring vs quickly to vntimely ends When I had heard of this vnlookt for lot This vndeserued crueltie inflicted Vpon my brother who without all spot Had cleare remaind and could not be conuicted Of any one conceiued thought of ill Against his King in heart in mind or will Vnto the Sanctuary then I fled My friends and children I did take with me To scape their hands that sought our blouds to shed Cleare out of hope that euer I should see My son receiue the Crowne my feare prou'd true Which shortly after I had cause to rue The litle King was brought vnto the Tower As surest place of safetie for his person Accursed be that day and fatall hower That ere he entred there for his subuersion Was by the Dukes in cruell fashion wrought When least of death alas he had a thought And to cut off Edwards posteritie From sitting in their Fathers regall seate My yonger sonne with me in Sanctuarie They plotted how they might by false deceit Take him from me that to augment my paine Euen at one instant they might both be slaine Which to effect the Cardinall was sent To deale with me to get my second sonne Into their hands which deed I now repent I thought
FORTVNES FASHION Pourtrayed in the troubles of the Ladie Elizabeth Gray wife to EDWARD the fourth Written by Tho. Sampson ANCHORA SPEI LONDON Printed for William Iones and are to be sold at his shop at White-crosse streete end by the Church 1613. TO HIS MANY WAIES INDEERED FRIEND Mr. Henry Pilkington of Gadsby in the Countie of Leicester Gentleman SIR this Tragicall history being no fiction but a true relation of the many troubles of a distressed Queene I offer to your patronage for two especiall causes the one for the long continued loue betweene vs the other for that I know your name is a sufficient protection for it and me against the many find-faults that this age is pestered with who themselues being not able or too idle to do any thing worth the reading yet are composed of such a snarling substance that nothing can escape their eye or eare without a scoffe how euer it displeaseth such I care not if it content you I haue my desire not doubting but when you are wearied with more serious studies you will at some times peruse this And so I leaue you to liue happily Your assured friend THO. SAMPSON The Argument for the better vnderstanding of the Readers WHen Henry the sixt king of that name in England was by the Earle of Warwicke and others thought vnmeete to gouerne the kingdome and Edward the fourth claimed the Crowne in a battell neare to Saint Albans Henry the sixt was taken prisoner in the 39 yeare of his reigne Anno Dom. 1461. All king Henries forces were slaine or put to flight amongst whom was slain on king Henries part one Sir Iohn Gray husband of this Lady Elizabeth Gray of whose troubles this historie now discourseth This Lady was after maried to king Edward the fourth she was daughter to the Lady Iaquet daughter to Peter Earle of Saint Paul neece to the Lord Lewis of Leutzenbrugh which Lady Iaquet was first married to Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France and afterward she was married to Sir Richard Woodvile Lord Riuers by whom she had this Lady Elizabeth and others When king Edward was setled in his kingdome and had imprisoned Henry the sixt in the Tower of London the Earle of Warwicke was sent into France to intreate a marriage betweene King Edward the fourth and the Lady Bona daughter to Lewis Duke of Sauoy and sister to the Lady Carlot then wife to the French King in whose Court this Lady Bona then was which motion was well liked of by the French King and all things sorted to the Earle of Warwicks desire But in the meane time while these things were working in France King Edward going to his Mannor of Grafton in the countie of Northampton in the time of the Kings remaining there this Lady Gray was an humble suter to the King that she might haue her Ioynter giuen her which because her husband was slaine on King Henries part was since his death detained from her King Edward liked her so well that after many amorous discourses she was married to him at Grafton where first he fancied her The Kings mother and many of the Nobilitie did dislike of this mariage because she was a widow and his subiect This King was married to this Lady Gray before the Earle of Warwicke was returned from France which some say who will talke much and know little was the cause of the warres afterwards betweene the King and the Earle But the Earles hatred against the King was for another cause as in the Chronicles you may reade What troubles and griefe happened to this Queene in the time of her husband the Kings life and after his death you may imagine You see her newly risen out of her graue and in the extremity of her griefe speaking as followeth The troubles of the Ladie Elizabeth Gray wife to Edward the fourth SOmetime I was vnhappie was that time Wherein I liu'd and neuer tasted ioyes That did not wither ere they were in prime Honors are such vncertaine fading toyes I was king Edwards wife a wofull Queene As in this history may plaine be seene O had my loue in my first choice remaind How happie had I bene from griefe how free Of wofull haps I neuer had complaind But that must needs be that the fates decree The Cottage seated in the dale below Stands safe when highest towers do ouerthrow My youth was blest in loue with equall choice The matter fit prepared for loues fier In which while I consum'd nere did my voice Nor thoughts consent to wish my fortunes higher Thus in the valley whil'st my loue did rest My loue though lowly none more highly blest But fatall powers with vnreuersd decree Whom hecatombs of prayers may not perswade To adde one minute to the blisse they see Or spare one day what but a day was made Their course is fixt and cannot be preuented They best abide their might that are contented Whose power in me distressed erst was knowne When Edward fourth of name obtaind the Crowne And put sixt Henry from his regall throne Raising himselfe by casting others downe Greedy Ambition endlesse in desiring On others ruine foundeth her aspiring There first began the groundworke of my woe There lost I him that had my prime of loue And then the prime of sorrowes I did know In prime of ioy which did more sorrowes moue The daintiest palate with exactest skill Distasts the relish of the bitter pill There was my husband slaine on Henries part Then was I left a widow desolate Yet once againe loue chose another dart Whose golden head I thought would raise my fate King Edwards loue I meane but what ensude The Crowne I gain'd I euer after rewde To Witchwood forrest when this King did go For his delight to hunt the fearfull Deere He went to Grafton thence my second woe Did spring it was my hap then to be there Attendant on my mother in which space I was an humble Suter to his Grace That he would please to pitie my estate That I might haue my Ioynter giuen me Seeing my hopes were then so ruinate That I was like to taste of miserie Such was my case except it were relieued At my complaint he very much was grieued And mou'd with pitie did commiserate My cause my selfe he seem'd to fancie then With gracious words lamenting my estate Bad me take comfort ô the wiles of men He courted me and I at last did yeeld My honor sau'd that he should win the field A King to woo his subiect in such sort As no dishonor by his loue might rise Blame me not then if to that princely port I was contented to be led as prize Where honor grac'd with regall maiestie Was Pilot to my ship in ieopardie Though long he sude I granted at the last To be his wife such shew of honest loue His princely heart did seeme to haue embrac'd I was content the nuptiall sports to proue No wanton lust did harbour in my thought
Although too deare I haue my pleasure bought When it was bruted that the King affected And would without the liking of his Lords Espouse me seeing that he not respected Their discontent nor smooth intreating words But like a loyall and a royall King Would still make good his vowes in euery thing Then they deuisde against me to obiect My widowhood ô that was chiefly it Wherewith they thought me fouly to detect Alledging it was rare and farre vnfit A King should fancie such a one as I That was a widow and in pouertie But all in vaine they sought him to disswade He gaue his word and constantly did stand Vnto the oathes betwixt vs firmly made With interchange of hearts and gift of hand He did desire our marriage day to see And I did wish that time as much as he When the Kings mother thought it was in vaine To vse perswasions to her sonne the King A precontract she spared not to faine That he had made his honor so to bring Into reproch supposing that the way From marriage a while to cause him stay But then the King those cauils did disproue And we at Grafton married were with speed And there with holy rites did seale our loue Which God and man allow as sacred deed There were we ioyn'd in holy mariage state Which during life should be inuiolate Whether the King did keepe his plighted faith To me as marriage strictly doth require Or if it be that he it broken hath Which I to know or proue do not desire I liu'd and lou'd him in such duteous sort As let my life and actions make report Before the Earle made his returne from France Richard Neuil then Earle of Warwicke Being sent to treate a mariage for the King With Lady Bona time brought forth this chance The King was married which some say did bring The fall and ruine of King Edwards seed The vulgar peoples saying is no creed How dares a subiect contradict his King Must subiects wils limit their Princes loue It 's more then vaine yea a presumptuous thing Inferiors should such bold commanders proue To tie Kings thoughts to fancie none but them That please their subiects ô aspiring men What though things sorted to the Earles desire And Lewis Duke of Sauoy was content To grant as much as Warwicke did require Must princely Edward suffer banishment Or be obedient to his subiects frowne Or hazard all the glorie of a Crowne It was not this that causd the Earle rebell Nor was it conscience of King Henries right Another cause some histories do tell Enraged Warwicke and did cause him fight Against his King yet Kings can giue no cause Sufficient motiues for the breach of lawes O neuer let succeeding ages heare Vnto the staine of his nobilitie The wauering faith that Warwicke then did beare Constant in nothing but vnconstancie First fauouring one then changed to the other Faithfull to none although he were his brother Yet will I giue him being dead his due For sure it is a sinne to wrong the dead Though to his King he was vnkind vntrue His valour was by vanitie misled Who so him pleasd to raise vnto the Crowne And when he list by force to cast them downe A valiant Knight and fortunate in warre Vlysses-like for prudent policie Yet this did all his other vertues marre And was a blot to his posteritie That right or wrong he car'd not how it was But as he would so things should come to passe O no another fire the world doth know Betwixt the King and Warwicke kindled was Which I by no meanes to the world will show It was too much if so it was alas That such a blot should blemish such a King That was so royall else in euery thing I le nere beleeue that euer Edwards mind Would passe the limits of true honors name Although in histories you there may find Some things set downe that might empaire his fame I was his wife he lou'd me as I thought I paid his loue with dutie as I ought The next yeare after that we married were At Westminster I then was crowned Queene Attended there by many a noble Peere In such rare sort as at such times are seene My father and my friends he did aduance To greater place but more vnhappie chance And in this yeare into the world I brought A daughter which combin'd King Edwards loue In double knot with mine for sure t is thought The pleasingst ioy that man and wife do proue When of their honest loues such fruite they see As farre beyond all other treasures be But oh what pleasure euer lasteth long Some enuious fate maligning that our blisse Should long continue with iniurious wrong Did ouerthrow our mirth and forc'd vs misse The path that would haue led vs on to ioy And made vs tread the maze of all annoy To sowre our sweet lo what mishap befell An insurrection in Northamptonshire Robin of Redsdale cursed impe of hell Who like some furie with his hel-bred fire Enrag'd the madnes of the rebels so They like distracted men to Grafton go Where by the force of boisterous cursed hand My father then Earle Riuers they did take My brother Sir Iohn Woodvile did withstand The rebels force but oh he was too weake Farre ouermatch'd was sonne and fathers force For without law or iustice or remorse They in Northampton each did lose his head Nor Iudge nor Iurie had them ouerthrowne With cruell rigor was their sentence read It nothing booted them to make their mone Thus an oblation to that furious faction Their blouds were made ô most detested action Malicious Warwicke in a shew of loue Wrapt his displeasure at his Soueraignes match And gained leaue for health fresh aire to proue When Serpent-like he time and meanes did watch To plucke King Edward from his throne inuested That so the seeds of ciuill warre detested And subtilly with faire alluring words Did draw the hearts of all he could perswade Not to obey but to resist with swords Their lawfull King against the oath they made And so misled the people to attempt That which with losse of liues they did repent See here the fickle minds the common sort Of people beare that not respecting right Nor iust succession onely by report And light beliefe of others bend their might Hazard their liues and lands pollute their fame With shamefull blot of traitors hatefull name I grant my state was meane yet not so base Iustly to be reputed odious Nor did I spring from such a seruile race As might moue VVarwicke to be trecherous Vnto his King for oft it hath bene seene As meane a Lady hath bene made a Queene But when vile rancor boyld in Warwicks brest He gladly tooke the simplest shew of cause To leuie armes and neuer would giue rest Vnto his thoughts vntill against all lawes He raisd an armie gainst King Edwards force And by ill fortune gaue the King the worse For in the night he sodainly