influence As hauing their first life best motion thence 65 If then the mouer of this glorious round Hath wisely fitted each thing so to pleasure May he not seeme his order to confound That barrs himselfe from this same earthlie treasure And to delight doth limit sparing measure Is 't euer like he would haue made things thus But that they should be fully vs'd by vs 66 And that I may not run about the Field But keepe my selfe in compasse of the Ring I will omit the rich and fruitfull yeild Of pleasure pointing onely at the Spring The tast whereof such perfect blisse doth bring As I doe thinke none other Heauen there is Heauen pardon me if that I thinke amisse 67 This is sweete Ned the Paradice of loue The ioy of life and life of our conceite The Heauenly fire infused from aboue On which the Muses and the Graces waite The bodies health soules hope and Natures baite The quintessence of pure essentiall sweete The point where all the lines of pleasure meete 68 Sweete loue that hast sweete beauty for thy obiect Wise loue that dost conuert both soules and hearts Great loue to whom the greatest King is subiect Pure loue that sublimates our earthly parts And makes them ayery by ingenious arts Oh let my Ned my Prince my Ioue possesse The ioyes I would but cannot well expresse 69 And thou sweete Ned experience but the pleasure Trye what it is to loue and bee reputed And I will pawne my life my greatest treasure With one sweete night thou wilt be so delighted That thou wilt wish the world were still benighted Then say deare Prince when thou the same dost proue No Heauen but ioy nor any ioy but loue 70 Oh see the fruites of ill abused wits What hurt is wrought by arm'd impiety Thrice wretched soules that ill with art commit And surfet with the sweete satiery Of Graces giuen them by the Deity Were all such mindes brought vp to Plough and Cart Learning should haue their due they their desert 71 I see the rule holds true the best of all Being corrupted turnes vnto the worst And so those damned spirits before their fall Most blessed chang'd from what they were at first Are now most wretched vile and most accurst Looke what degree of goodnesse things retaine Whilst they are good being ill they so remaine 72 With such and many more more wanton gloses Whereat thy virgin Muse will blush for shame VVith vnchast words and Pander-like supposes This Gauestone so brought me out of frame That I neglected Father Friends and Fame And to those pleasures onely was respectiue That to my Fancy seemed most delectiue 73 We see how soone our sweetest Buds are blasted How soone our fairest colours loose their flourish How easly are the seedes of virtue wasted And noysome weedes of vice how much we nourish VVhich doth the soule of her chiefe wealth impouerish Youth apt to stray is easly led awry VVe fall by Nature what needes flattery 74 And yet it hath too much to worke vpon The vnexperience of our yonger yeares The heare of bloud which easly drawes vs on Vngrounded hopes and fond surmised feares The courses intertain'd by like compeares Our owne desert our Parents louing care This Diuell doth vse as traps vnto his snare 75 And soone it will the least aduantage finde Whereby it may creepe into mens conceite Obseruing first to what they were inclinde Whiâ—h once perceiu'd it fits the humour straight Still keeping fashion but still wanting weight In complements most seemingly precise And that faire Maske blinds vnsuspecting eyes 76 But like as those diseases faster grow VVhose mouing causes our complexions feede So farre more dangerous is this priuate Foe That doth attire himselfe in friendships weede Then he that shewes his hate by open deede For Armes or Lawes or Friends may fence the one Th' other God himselfe must shield or none 77 So Synon did the Troian State confound So gilded Tombes are full of rotten earth So Crocadils although they weepe they wound So Panthers circumuent with their sweet breath Sy Syrens though they sing their tunes are death And yet as Fish bite most at hony bates Euen so are men most caught with sweet deceites 78 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 falshoods many ornaments must weare Least all her foule deformities appeare VVhich Art can flourish ouer fit for Court VVhile simple Truth to Deserts doth resort 79 And this is that waste Sea of misery In which the greatest Monarchs most are drown'd That they are seldome free from flattery Pretences being colourably found To sooth that humor that doth most abound And so the Prince runnes on from ill to worse And still 's perswaded best of his bad course 80 Whereby the danger on himselfe doth fall The gaine vnto the Fauorite accrewes For grieued Subiects being wrong'd withall Forgetting Duty impiously pursues Meanes of reuenge whence danger oft insues Meane while the man that fed the humour so Fals off perhaps and scapes the comming blow 81 Therefore let Kings preferre them that are plaine Aud make such great as do not greatnesse feare Such serue their Lords for loue and not for gaine Th' are iewels of the heart not of the eare They will discouer dangers that are neere When oyled Tongues will still make all secure And carelesse greatnesse euer stands vnsure 82 But why should I giue rules sith I kept none Why should I teach and neuer could obay Only for this why I was ouer-throwne Others may looke least they be cast away And they that make this vse thrice happy they Because by others wrackes themselues may read How to preuent their owne mishaps with heed 83 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 fruite that is from Tree vntimely blowne But that tooke roote which Gauestone had sowne And sprouted so that it did seed at last So worthlesse seedes we see do grow too fast 84 For at the first I was asham'd of sinne But sinne did say my greatest sinne was shame Then by degrees did I delight therein And from delight did I desire the same And my desires so prosp'rously did frame That now I could with Gauestone coniue So doth the Bramble with the Thistle thriue 85 Which when mine aged Father did perceiue With many teares the messengers of moane He did bewaile himselfe that he should leaue His Crowne to me and me to Gauestone I in my Sonne saith he am ouerthrowne My blisse my bane my peace procures my strife First Edward dies in Second Edwards life 86 To bee a Father was mine onely ioy And now my griefe it is to be a Father Why should my solace turne to mine annoy Why planted I hearts-ease and Rue must gather As I did sow I should haue reaped
high glorious frame That frame whence God all earthly deeds descries That God that guerdons sin with death and shame Shall witnesse yea and will reuenge the same That you haue bin most cruell to your king Whose death his doome his doome your deaths will bring 550 Vnmanly men remember what I was And thinke withall what you your selues might be I was a king a powerfull king I was You see my fall and can your selues be free But you haue friends why you were friends to me And yet you see how much your loue is chang'd So others loues from you may be estrang'd 551 But you are young and full of able strength And am not I what boots my strength or youth Both now seeme firme but both shall faile at length Old age cold ache and both sad griefe ensueth But you are wise the more should be your ruth Of mine estate whose rack may teach you this That hateful chance may clowde your greatest blisse 552 You are not no you are not beasts by birth Nor yet am I made of a sencelesse stone We all were fram'd and all shall turne to earth You should haue feeling soules for I haue one Then seeme at least relenting to my moane I pittie craue and crauing let me haue it Because one day your selues may need to craue it 553 But these dead motiues could not worke at all In their sad steely hearts the least remorse They rather added wormwood to my gall And exercise of ills did make them worse So violent streames hold on their wonted course And being flesh't in crueltie before Vse made the habit perfect more and more 554 And least one torment should be left vntri'de They shut me in a vault and laid by me Dead carkasses of men that lately died That their foule stinck my fatall bane might be These were the obiects that mine eyes did see These smells I smelt with these I did conuerse And vnto these these words I did rehearse 555 Oh happy soules whose bodies here I see For you haue plaid your parts and are at rest Yet some way haplesse ye may seeme to be That with your bodyes I am thus distrest Perhaps you 'd grieue if that you knew at least That by your meanes your King is thus tormented Grieue not deare soules for I am well contented 556 'T is not your bodies senselesse as they are That doe inflictt these torments on your King But the fierce agents of proud Mortimer From them my plagues proceed as from their spring And oh iust heauen let them their tribute bring Backe to the Ocean whence they first did flow And in their passage still more greater grow 557 But what poore soule haue you deseru'd so ill That being dead you must want buriall Nothing but this I must my fates fulfill And still be plagu'd with woes vnnaturall My wretchednesse must still transcend in all The liuing and the dead must doe me spight And you poore soules for me must want your right 558 But you are happy free from sense of wrong Here be your bodies but your soules are well Death doe not you forbeare your stroke too long That with these happy soules my soule may dwell And soule be glad to goe here is thy hell And eu'n in this th' art happy that t is heere Oh better so then it should be else where 559 What seest thou now but obiects of disgrace What dost thou heare but scornes and termes of spight What dost thou touch that is not vile and base What dost thou smell but stench both day and night What dost thou tast that may procure delight Thy sight thy hearing touching tast and smell All crie for heauen for here is now their hell 560 This darksome vault the house of Acheron These wicked men like friends do torture me These verie Snakes resemble Phlegeion Mine acted sinnes like fearefull Iuries be And he that would a whole infernall see Let him obserue those torments I indure And he shall finde them hells true portraiture 561 The earthit selfe is wearie of my paine And like a tender mother moanes for me From me thou cam'st returne to me againe Within my wombe I le keepe thee safe quoth shee And from these vile abusers set thee free Neuer shall these fell Tyrants wrong thee more He that paies death dischargeth euerie score 562 These bodies that thou seest thy brothers were Subiect to many wants and thousands woes They now are clear'd from care and free'd from feare And from the pressing of insulting foes And now they liue in loue and sweet repose Thy selfe canst witnesse that they feele no woe And as they rest eu'n thou shalt rest thee so 563 Their eies that whilst they liu'd oft tided teares Thou seest how sweetly they enioy their rest Those harsh vnpleasing sounds that deaft their eares Are turn'd to Angels tunes amongst the blest Their soules that were with pensiue thoughts possest Now in their makers bosome without end Enioy that peace whereto thy soule doth bend 564 And thou hadst need of peace poore wretched soule If euer any soule had neede of peace God being in armes against thee doth inrowle All nature in his list which doth not cease To fight against thee and doth still encrease Thy wretchednesse forbeare rebellious dust To war with him who is both great and iust 565 Oh would to God that I had di'de ere this Then had my sinnes bin fewer then they are Then had my soule long since repos'd in blisse Which now is wandring still in wayes of care Lifes griefe exceeds lifes good without compare Each day doth bring a fresh supply of sorrow Most wretched now yet shall be more to morrow 566 My carefull mother might haue helped me When I lay sprawling in her tender wombe If she had made her burdened belly be My fruitlesse birth-bed and my fatall tombe Sure had she knowne her sonnes accursed doome Shee neuer would haue wrong'd her selfe so much To beare a wretch saue whom was neuer such 567 My tender nurse is guiltie of these paines Shee might haue put some poyson in my pappe Or let me fall and so dasht out my braines When she full oft did daunce me on her lap A thousand waies had freed me from mishap But he whom heauen ordaines to liue distrest Death will delay to set that wretch at rest 568 For Death's the wearie Pilgrims rest and Ioy This world of woes a hard and flintie way Our birth the path that leads to our annoy Our friends are fellow passengers to day And gone to morrow honor is a stay That either stopps or leads vs all amisse Pleasures are theeues that interrupt our blisse 569 And in our passage as the way doth lie We meete with seuerall Inns wherein we rest Some at the Crowne were lodg'd and so was I Some at the Castle that is now my nest Some at the horne there married folks do feast Though men haue diuerse Inns yet all men haue One home to which they goe
But make their might to serue their will in all Leaue them to God who ruines and erects Sets vp a Dauid and puls downe a Saul He prospers Houses rise he frownes they fall 'T is not discents nor swords nor force nor fate But God supports and God supplants a State 22 Nine Kings had ruled since the Conquest here Whom I succeeded in a rightfull line My father all domesticke tumults cleare Did Warre and win in fruitfull Palestine This Northerne Sun euen to the East did shine The French were fearefull hearing but his name French Scots and Turkes eternised his fame 23 No Realme but did resound first Edwards praise No praise was euer won with more deserts And no deserts though great could counter-paise Much lesse out Ballance his Heroicke parts Mars taught him Armes the Muses taught him Arts Whereby so great he grew that might there be A Ioue on earth that earthly Ioue was he 24 A King may leaue his name vnto his Sonne But to his Sonne no King can leaue his Nature In outward forme and shape they may seeme one His Posture Speech both Countenance and Feature May make the Son be thought the selfe-same Creature I know in Face Sonnes may be like the Sires But Faces like haue oft vnlike desires 25 For why our bodies made of Humane seede Resemble them whose matter was their making Yea so farre forth as often times we read Of many griefes hereditary taking First roote from Parents loynes and not forsaking Their issues issue vntill many ages To wofull masters most vnwelcome Pages 26 But minds not cast in any mortall mould Infus'd from Heauen not tide vnto succession Are freely left for so the Maker would Vnto his wife and prouident discretion Likesoftned waxe apt to receiue impression But when the forme is once imprinted in 'T is hardly lost what Nature first did win 27 'T is somewhat to be borne of Noble seede An honest belly beares a hopefull sonne But yet we see good Parents often breed A wild and naked issue which doe runne Most thriftles courses till their liues be done As was the Sire the son himselfe will fashion Is probable but yet no demonstration 28 Which is but truely instanced in mee For I was farre vnlike my worthy Sire A sowre Crab from sweetest Apple-Tree A cloudy smoake from Sun-bright shining fire And that small good which nature did inspire By soothing tongues too soone was turn'd to ill So smallest Frost vntimely fruite doth kill 29 For when men did perceiue my youthfull itch To vaine delight and saw my minde affected But to the flight where pleasure made the pitch How all my Noble studies were neglected My youth with ease my ease with lust infected Straight some sow'd pillowes vnder-neath my sin And prais'd that most that I delighted in 30 Amongst the rest one Pierce of Gauestone French by his Birth and French by his behauiour One that indeed was second vnto none In winding in himselfe to great mens fauour That by their hazard he might be the safer When he did spie the marke whereat I meant Sraight found the meanes to giue my bow more bent 31 Wee liu'd together euen from prime of yeares Whereby our ioynt affections were combin'd The mutuall consort of our infant pheares Doth keepe a long possession of the minde And many deepe impressions leaues behind Wouldst thou haue loue last euen to the tombe Then let it take beginning at the Wombe 32 So hunts the Hound and so the Hawke doth flye As at first entrance they are made and man'd And so those springing humours seldome dye That in our first conceite ingraued stand Though childish loue seeme to be built on sand Yet euery one euen in himselfe may proue He likes it still that he at first did loue 33 Princes that doe intend your Heires such good As shall inable them for to succeede And no way to disparrage their high blood Oh let it be your most respectiue heed To sow their tender yeares with vertues seede For so the well or ill manured field As it is til'd doth Corne or Cockle yeild 34 In ure their youth vnto their Peeres commerce From whence some seeds of liking first will grow Which euen the soule it selfe in time will pierce And prooue a constant zeale from whence will flow All dutious offices that men may shew And then designes of Princes happiest proue When their great Peeres do serue because thay loue 35 Besides there is a secret trust repos'd In those whom long assurance hath combin'd And when we know how humours are dispos'd We frame our Counsells fitter to the minde Vnsounded natures sharpest iudgements blind And those we intertaine with difference Of whom we haue but small experience 36 So that to win a trust to plant a loue To gaine a setled seruice of the Peeres This is the way which wisest Princes proue To glew them close euen in their infant yeares And here my Fathers error much appeares Who did ingraft mee into Gauestone By co-uniting both our loues in one 37 Hee was in face a Cupid or more faire A Mercury in speech or else as much In Actiue vigor he was Mars his heire In wit Ioue-bred Minerua was not such But all those guilts will not abide the touch Except with inward vertues of the mind Beauty and Speech Strength Wit are all refin'd 38 Why then should Nature set so faire a glosse Vpon a minde that sinne doth see deforme Why should she gild and polish such base drosse As if she did the Soules perfection scorne And onely would impiety adorne Or else seduce those mindes from iudging right Who doe conforme their censure to their sight 39 But oft we see a sweete and milde aspect A comely presence pleasing vnto all A Face that seemes all vertue to affect Doth hide a heart of stone a minde of gall A crabbed will a soule to sinne most thrall And therefore he in iudgement shoots awry That daily takes his leuell from the eye 40 Because the glorious inside of the minde Hath no dependance on the outward forme In which if erring nature proue vnkinde And disproportions do the shape deforme She commonly endeauours to reforme The bodies errors with the minds supply So richest lems in earths base intrailes lye 41 The face is false the looke is but a lyer The habit and the heart doe much dissent For good pretences cloake a bad desire Faire complements do guide a false intent Who doth relye on them may chance repent Which was my case and caus'd my ouer-throw And I did prize the substance by the show 42 If I may vse that word without controule If euer any Metempsuchosis was I thinke the last Assirian Monarchs soule By due discent to Gauestone did passe For he a right Sadanapalus was Drown'd in delights if one may terme them so That hatch in lust and breath their last in woe 43 This highest Scholler in the Schoole of sinne This Centaur halfe a Man and halfe a
rather My hopefull Haruest proues but Thistles weedes And for the bloud I gaue my heart now bleeds 87 For oh how neere a touch doth Nature giue How searching are the sufferings of our bloud How much the Fathers soule doth ioy or grieue When he doth see his issue bad or good It 's hard of any to be vnderstood Except of those whose feelings bowels find What deepe impressions doe proceed from kind 88 Wise was the Prince who playing with his Sonne And teaching him to ride vpon a Reede To whom a great Ambassador did come And seem'd to blush at his so childish deede Doe not quoth he to iudgement yet proceed I onely craue a respit of thy doome Till thou thy selfe art Father of a Sonne 89 Inferring that there is a secret loue Which vntouch't hearts can hardly comprehend Would God the same reciprocall might proue Oh that kinde Nature would sometimes ascend Fathers too oft in indulgence offend But Sonnes more oft in duty proue defectiue These way ward times are growne so vnrespectiue 90 Nature so wrought that Cressus sonne cried out Who from his birth before had not spoke word When he did see a Souldier goe about To kill the King his Father with a sword Could Nature then such presidents afford Was she so powerfull then now weakned so That Sonnes themselues now work their Fathers woe 91 But foolish man why doe I blame my Sonne Whose yet vnknowing yeares by ill aduise Being led away a dangerous course doth runne For youths hot bloud forgets cold ages yee And whilst his hand is in doth throw the Dice At all that pleasure sets and thinkes to gaine If with the bye he can discharge the maine 92 Sweete Ned I blame not thee but Gauestone For he it is that sitteth at the Helme And steeres the Sterne at pleasure thou art blowne Nor will he leaue till he doth ouer-whelme In deepest gulfe thy selfe and all thy Realme For stirring spirits do troubl'd streames desire And then thriue best when all are set on fire 93 Obserue those wasted States that do decline How apt they are for innouation How much they doe 'gainst publick good repine And hopefully expect an alteration That whilst things are vnsetl'd out of fashion They may close vp the wounds they had before And by that meanes their priuate wants restore 94 Therefore let those that haue a grounded State And may liue well ioyne close in any wise Against all such as seeke to innouate If not in duty yet in good aduise To keep such downe as hope perhaps to rise Vpon their ruines whose reuenewes may Cut short their liues sure proue the spoilers pray 95 And with these linkes such spirits as would rise But are by former great ones still supprest And such do dangerous Stratagems deuise Not will their egar hopes afford them rest But mount they must who euer be deprest And little do they force the States confusion May they thereby to greatnesse make intrusion 96 And to this end they are obsequious still They sooth they fawne they seeme officious They fit themselues to their great mouers will Be 't good or bad iust or iniurious They serue euen turnes base and luxurious But I 'le prouide a wholesome Methridate So to preuent these poisons of the State 97 And firmely setled in this resolution By strict command was Gauestone exil'd I begg'd of him to stop th' execution But then my Father shak'd his head and smil'd Oh Ned quoth he how much art thou beguil'd To foster that which will thy downefall be And warme the Snake that will inuenome thee 98 I wish my selfe an Eccho at that word That I might then haue boldly answer'd thee For neuer was there sharpest edged sword That wounded more then that same wounded me But go he must that was the Kings decree And when he went then dy'd my bloudlesse heart So doth the body from my soule depart 99 The former times haue held it good aduise That some offender should abiure the Land But 't is a course both dangerous and vnwise And with no rules of Regiment can stand For if the matter be with iudgement scand It will appeare to men considerate That abiuration hurts both Prince and State 100 I do not meane of men that are not mist For who respects the humming of a Gnat Such Attomes may wander where they list Their muddy pates can neither frame the plat Nor feeble hands worke danger to the State Let men of note be mark'd and wary heed Be had of them that may disturbance breed 101 And 't is not safe to banish such a one As may finde meanes to worke his owne returne So Bullingbrooke stept in to Richards throne And he had leasure afterwards to mourne His foolish fault such Med'cines may adiourne The present paine a while but makes the sore To raue more selly then it did before 102 Mild drugs may stirre the humors that abound But will not quite expell the growing ill The roote and body both remaining sound Although the Tree be lopt yet thriues it still But when thou hast the Axe to vse at will Strike at the roote and fell it to the ground Rather then pare the boughes and branches round 103 For 't is lost labour to beginne with them They needes must wither if the other die And do not feare though vulgar breath condemne Thy carriage in such courses whose weake eie Lookes at the present only and thereby Values the rest do thou make good thy end The common sort will euer be thy friend 104 Wise Longshankes yet in this thou wert vnwise If thou hadst tooke the head of Gauestone Those subsequent disasters that did rise From him had beene preuented euery one Thy Sonne had not beene shouldred from his Throne Thy Peeres not slaine nor Realmes to ruine brought But so God workes till all his will be wrought 105 My Gauestone thus driuen into Exile My selfe committed like a Captiue thrall For so my Father kept me short a while VVith bitter curses I did ban them all I dranke my teares and fed vpon my gall I chaf'd and fround yet could I not preuaile Needs must wil be faine would doth often faile 106 Then were my colours turn'd to mournfull blacke I did put on the liuery then of care Like to the hopelesse Sea-man in a wracke That sees the greedy waues deuoure 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 107 The chiefest Cordiall of my grieuedsoule The one and onely 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 againe When Englands Crowne shall make a Ioue of me Then Gaueston my Ganimed shal be 108 As I did hope so had my hopes successe For shortly after did my Noble Sire VVhilst he prepar'd the Scots for to suppresse Loe now quoth I I haue
wrath doth ouer-looke The wicked actions of obdurate men The Court of Heauen doth keepe a tallying booke VVherein is enter'd all our sinnes and when Our score is full let 's looke for payment then And oh what Prince what Common-wealth can stand When God doth scourge it with a rigorous hand 176 And let vs make this vse of their new wracke Forbeare to sinne for feare of punishment God is not sencelesse though he seeme to slacke He respits vs in hope we will repent But vse growes more the longer debts are lent And God forbeares and winkes at our abuse That we might haue lesse colour for excuse 177 I could not choose when I had yoak't my Teame But make this Furrow to inrich my field And now returne to my intended Theame And Edward wishes that his Raigne might yeild Fit presidents for Princes how to weild That weighty Prouince which they do sustaine And thus continues his Discourse againe 178 When my chiefe friends did see how things mischanced And those mischances did impute to sinne My sinne to him whom I had so aduanced To banish him they then againe beginne And made my selfe to haue a hand therein Their force my feare compeld me thereunto T is hard when Princes are inforst to doe 179 It is the chiefest good of Kingly raigne That it is free from base compelling feare And t is againe the Kingdomes chiefest baine Not to admit wise Counsell to the eare Away with aw hold Admonition deere Feares ne're should meete with Kingly eyes But one the backs of flying enemyes 180 But the faier liuely picture of aduice should still be placed ny the Princes sight Thrice happy Kings that are both stout and wise Your scorne controwle but set not counsell light No feare but vertue moues you to doe right Y' are Kings indeed and may securely rest Whilst feares are pitch't within a weaker brest 181 Te solum Vereor is a Princely word Speaking to him that is Lord Parramount And supreame Princes so should beare the sword As but to him they neede giue no account Which they shall doe if as they do surmount In greatnesse so in goodnesse they excell T is certaine he rules all that gouerns well 182 And none doth so but the selfe gouernor That his owne priuat passion can command Which makes a slaue euen of an Emperor If once they growe to get the vpper hand And soone deepe searching spirits will vnderstand And finde a Prince that 's weake and ride him soe That he must pace as they will haue him goe 183 Whereof my selfe may be a president Who was soeuer aw'd by my great Peeres That Gaueston was doom'd to banishment And now my soule full fraight with greefes and feares Was in her motion restles with these pheres But not so fixed now goe he should now should not So woman-like I would and straight I would not 184 Yet ere he went as goe he must and did Deere Prince saith he wherein haue I misdone That I am banished thus doth Edward bid His poore but yet his owne poore Pierce to shunne His gratious fight must I from England runne He bidds I must farewell yet thinke of mee my body goes my soule doth stay with thee 185 What were theis words but each to mee a wound Whereat my very life-blood gushed out I would haue spoke but words with teares were drownd While giddy passion hurld by braine about Confusedly I spake oh do not doubt Theis damned Peeres it is not long on mee though body stayes yet goes my soule with thee 156 Mourne not sweete Prince said hee oh doe not mourne Let neuer teares disgrace those gracefull eyes Is 't not enough that I am thus forelorne Must cares from mee as clowdes from sea arise My deere deere Liege let it at least suffice That still you haue the better part of mee My body they command my soule is free 187 Cease cease my Pierce thy tong doth wound my hart I grieue to see because I see thy griefe Farewell and yet me thinkes we should not part And yet we must well this be thy reliefe Thou bear'st a field of gold a King in chiefe But be thou Irelands Gouernor then for me Would thou mightst stay or I might go with thee 188 At parting thus with wanton griefe we playd He went to Sea and I to sorrow went And yet my lustfull heat was not allay'd My treasure that to Gauestone was sent And was in triumphs mongst the Irish spent Who seem'd now greater then he did before So Vines being cut increase and thriue the more 189 And here my Peeres did in true iudgment faile So to remoue not take him quite away Who once returning needes must seeke to quaile The aduerse part that labour'd his decay Dead dogs can neither barke nor bite men say But anger'd curres more fiercely still returne And wronged minds with greater fire burne 190 Better it is still to dissemble hate Then first to enter into discontent And leaue him great whom thou hast edg'd of late VVho hauing meanes and sharpned in intent May easily worke some dangerous euent Either strike not or else be sure strike so That thou thy selfe need feare no future blow 191 Besides they did the more exasperate By opposition my enraged Ire And for my Gaueston whom they did hate they did inflame mee with a greater fire His absence setting edge one my desire For Princes kept from what they doe affect do hurrey to their ends without respect 192 What euer stops the currant of the streame Is swept away with furious violence Force being effectlesse 'gainst a stronger meane But if one will with labour and expence Diuert the course and turne the Channell thence 'T is possible that he in time preuailes For Arte doth compasse when resistance failes 193 Philosophers doe hold and truely too That lightning oft the sheath vntouch'd the blade Consumes the reason why it doth so do Is by the one there 's small resistance made Being full of pores th' other hard t' inuade Doth set it selfe against that heauenly shot Which quite consumes because it pierceth not 194 I cannot fit the awfull wrath of Kings More properly then to this wondrous fire Which once inflames consumes resisting things Breakes vp the bounds that limits their desire And by depressing downe still mounts vp higher VVhereas strong passion borne with patience Spends on it selfe and dies without offence 195 My peeres soone saw which way the hare did run And therefore gaue consent to his repeale Not Caesar when Phasalia field he wonn Did triumph more then I when they did seale And did subscribe the ruine of our weale Then all was well whilst all did well agree But all prou'd Ill for all and worst for mee 196 For Gaueston after hee did returne Of all my former fauours once possest His full filld fortunes held my peeres in scorne Nor could he any equall well disgest Oh foolish man to swell aboue the rest When bubbles fullest blowne doe soonest
armes they got them by and by They moued warre the Spencers to remoue Hate armed them and I was arm'd by loue 354 They leui'd men I likewise men did leuie Both raised all the forces we could make A tyrants hand they say was too too heuy A traytors head I said became a stake They vow'd redresse I vow'd reuenge to take We met and meeting fought and fighting found No hurt more grieues than doth a selfe-wrought wound 355 Oh English Peeres relinquish impious Armes Build not your weightiest actions vpon Sand T is not the collout of-pretended harmes Nor seeming zeale vnto your natiue land Nor reformation though you beare in hand The people so of some abuse of lawes That can make lawfull your vnlawfull cause 356 These haue and euer haue bin those smoth oyles With which foule treason seekes to paint her face That shee might seeme faire pleasing full of similes So to win loue and gaine the peoples grace Who sillie Gudgions euer bite apace Vntill the fatall hooke be swallow'd downe Which by ambition Angles for a Crowne 357 Who euer practiz'd against Prince or State But alwayes did pretend the common good Therby to draw into Contempt or hate The course of gouernment as then it stood This hath bin still the marrow life and bloud Of such attempts but heare the rule stands fast What 's thought on first is executed last 358 For when that once their priuat turne is seru'd The cares of common wealth is lai'd a side That did but whet the knife with which they caru'd For their owne good that Vizor did but hide Some secret ends not fit to be descride Vntill accomplish'd which once brought to passe The publicke state stands as before it was 359 And for to Angle men crimes must be made Against the Prince if he be without touch If that no iust exceptions can be had Then must the imputation rest on such As being neere the Prince are vsed much For this is certaine they that stand on hie Are fairest marks for fowlest obloquie 360 But though the Arrow seemeth at them aym'd Yet through their sides it wounds the Princes brest Whose reputation cannot be but maym'd By their reproach whom they do fauour best And they that kill the birds would spoyle the nest But what 's intended must be closely wrought And that pretended which was neuer thought 361 Why should vaine man still doubt his actions thus With outward whitelime which are pitch'd within Eu'n wicked kings must be endur'd by vs. What ere the cause be Treason is a sinne Rebellious armes cannot true honour win The Sword is not the Subiects his defence In all extreames is prayer and patience 362 Therefore deere spirits die not your siluer armes Into a Sanguine with your mothers blood Let not vnciuell hands cause ciuill harmes For priuat greefe confound no publicke good Not all the water in the Ocean flood Can wash the sinne from you and your allies For treason liues although the traitor dies 363 Sweet Trent how were thy Christ all waters stain'd With English blood that was at Burton shed Let Burrow-bridge a Golgotha be nam'd A field of Death wherein lay buried So many people and all natiues bred Had those deere liues gainst Frenchmen beene imployed We had not greeu'd though they had liu'd or di'de 364 At last the doubtfull victorie prou'd mine The Barons lost the day and lost their liues Their heads went off whose hearts did so repine Against their Prince for Treason seldome thriues That great all-seeing God whose knowledge Diues Into the deepest secret of the soule Vniust contempts in Iustice doth controle 365 Great Lancaster then whom no greater Earle This greatest Ile of Europe had before Good Lancaster in goodnesse such a pearle That him the vulgar sort did long adore Had then his head strooke off and many more Euen of the greatest felt the selfe same stroke So lightning spares the shrub and teares the Oake 366 The sword was sharpe and wounded euery where Many great men of noble qualitie In seuerall Cities were beheaded there For beinst Actors in that trecherie Which alwaies proues a mournfull Tragedy For though I know the sword is due to such Yet should a Prince forbeare to strike too much 367 For often executions in a state especiallie of men of fashion First stir vp pitie then dislike then hate Then close Complaint then Combination Then followes practise for some alteration And that indangers all if not withstood Although vnprosperous yet it spills much blood 368. And the same Throne that 's often wet with blood Is very slippry apt to catch a fall Yeelding no howres rest nor pleasures good Sleeping on thornes and feeding vpon gall Still thinking meditating ill of all Haunted with restles feares whilst day doth last And then at night with fearfull dreamesagast 369 Our Stories do report third Richard so And without doubt he did too much let blood Alwaies mistrustfull both of friend and foe Readie to strike them that but neere him stood Fearfull to all such was his furious moode And fearing all as one that knew too well How manie soules did wish his soule in hell 370 Oh that a Prince might see a Tyrants minde What Monsters what Chimeraes therein are What horrors in his soule he still doth finde How much himselfe is with himselfe at war Euer diuided full of thought and Care With Pistolls Poniards poysons he conceipts And thinks each one for his destruction waits 371 Besides indeed it is no policie Except it be in a meere Turkish state To make the Crowne a Common butcherie To gouern all by feare which breedeth hate In noble minds and doth exasperate A freeborne people where the Turkish race Feare best commands being seruile poore base 372 Princes rewards should fall like gentle raine Which coming softly doth the longer last That their sweet relish might still fresh remaine Their executions should be done in hast Like sudden furious stormes that soone are past Because when once the violence is done Th' offence thereof may be forgot and gone 373 One limbe of the great bodie that did band It selfe against me in these factious fraies Was Mortimer who yet vpon command Came in before the fight then straight waies Sent to the Tower to spend his wearie dayes In wretched bands restrain'd from libertie But walls of stone kept not out destinie 374 Which either finds or maks it selfe away For Mortimer thus sent vnto the Tower To free himselfe still labors night and day And by a sleepy potion which had power To make men slumber till a certaine howre He found the meanes his keeper being fast To make escape and got to France at last 375 This was not done without my Queenes consent Whose head and hand were working in the same Litle thought I that that way the hare went But Steeuen Segraue only I did blame Wretched mankind how bould we are to frame Hopes to our selues how blind to see our ill That least
rights were bar'd And six yeares space no publick prayers were heard 486 Then did the King lease forth the Realme to Rome Then did the Peeres of France betray the Crowne Oh Heauens great King how fearefull is thy doome How many mighty plagues canst thou poure downe Vpon a Nation when thou please to frowne Arthur it was the wrong done thee of late That made the Heauen so to afflict our State 487 Oh no although third Henry was the man In whom the lawfull title was inuested For Arthur dead the right was then in Iohn And Iohn deceast the same in Henry rested Yet that the world should see how God detested Such wrongfull meanes acts so vniustly done The fathers whip is made to scourge the sonne 488 For still the ciuill fury wound the State During the time of Henryes pupil age And still the Peereswolne with intestine hate Against their harmelesse Prince being vnder age Combine themselues with France and when that rage Was spent the Barons warre broke forth againe So full of tumults was third Henryes raigne 489 He dead my father Longshanks then did raigne And in due course succeeded next his sire Then all afflictions did begin to wayne And England did to peace and wealth aspire Nor did the streame of blisse flow euer higher Then when first Edward mannaged the State Prudent in peace in warres most fortunate 490 That noble Prince to me my breath did giue Whom I succeeded in a rightfull liue You all haue sworne alleagiance whilst I liue And will you now enforce me to resigne Will you againe with wicked hands vntwyne That sacred chaine whereon depends our good And drowne this Island once againe in bloud 491 Oh if you doe disorder thus the Crowne And turne the lawfull course anotherr way If you vniustly wring from me my owne You spinne a thread to worke your owne decay And my Prophetick soule doth truely say The time will come when this vniust designe Shall draw downe wrath on this vnhappy clyme 492 And from my flock two branches shall arise From whom shall grow such great disunion As many thousand liues shall not suffice To reunite them both againe in one England shall waste more deare bloud of her owne Against her selfe then would suffice t' obtaine All France and conquer Germany and Spaine 493 But when that men are bent to do amisse Then all perswasions are but spent in vaine The Parliament was resolute in this That I their King no longer should remaine Whereto if I opppos'd my selfe 't was vaine They were resolu'd and my peruersnesse might Make them perhaps to doe my sonne lesse right 494 Which when I heard thinke how my soule did warre Within it selfe which way I should decline Deare was my sonne my selfe was dearer farre Through my eclipse must I procure his shine Cannot he raigne vnlesse I now resigne My father di'de ere I could get the Crowne I liue and now my sonne must put me downe 495 My sonne alas poore Prince it is not he For many wolues maske in that Lambes attire Proud Mortimer 't is thou vncrownest me Luxurious Queene this is thy foule desire And moody Tarleton bellowes of this fire 'T is thou that art the marrow of this sinne My sonne doth serue but for the outward skin 496 You are the wheeles that make this clock to strike My fatall houre the last of all my good For this is not the hight of your dislike Death is the fruit when treason is the bud Such practises doe alwaies end in blood When others stumble Kings fall headlong downe There is no meane betwixt a graue and Crowne 497 For this is certaine sinne doth alwaies finde Within it selfe sufficient cause to feare 'T is dangerous to trust a guilty minde The Creditor remou'd the debt 's thought cleare Men hate whom they haue wrong'd and hating feare And fearing will not cease till they haue prou'd All meanes by which the cause may be remou'd 498 Therefore would I might leade a priuate life In some sequestred place which none might see Where I might see to reconcile the strife That sinne hath made betwixt my God and me Or if the ransome of my Crowne were free My life from slaughter little would I grieue For none so wretched but desires to liue 499 And yet why should I lose or life or Crowne Are liues or Crownes so light and easie losses 'T is vaine to aske why fortune lists to frowne Or to enquire the causes of our crosses When ships on sea stormes winds and billowes tosses It boots not aske why winds and stormes should rise For powerful heauens respects not humane whies 500 The stately Steed that champs the steelie bit And proudly seemes to menace friend and foe Doth sling and some and boundeth oft and yet Poore beast perforce he is inforc't to goe Euen so far'd I and since it must be so As good the same should seeme to come from me 'T was best to will what ' gainst my will must be 501 And so I made a solemne resignation Of all my right and title to me sonne And herewithall an earnest protestation Which was with sighes and weeping teares begun How much I grieu'd that I had so misdone As to procure thereby my peoples hate And so be thought vnworthy of the state 502 Which since I was I willingly would giue Vnto my sonne my State and Maiesttie Desiring them to giue me leaue to liue And not too much tread on my miserie For I had once their faith and fealtie Which though I now discharg'd and set them free Though not obey yet should they pittie me 503 The Crowne had often made my head to ake And I prai'd God my sonne felt not the same Whom they should no lesse value for my sake Since by his virtue he might salue my shame And well I hop'd my president would tame All youthfull humours which are easily led Vnto those courses which confusion bred 504 And heere though griefe my sences did orewhelme And I seem'd dead yet that no barre might be Sir Thomas Trussell Knight for all the Realme Did then renonce obedience vnto me And of all faith and seruice set them free My Steward brake his staffe my stare before Was now discharg'd and I was King no more 505 Marke what pretences wrong can make of right How loath men seeme 'gainst iustice to offend Oh sacred virtue thou art full of might When eu'n thy foes thy title will pretend As if thy onely shadow could amend All wrongfull acts but now it 's growne a vse Thou must be made a cloake to hide abuse 506 But when I had thus parted with my Crowne I did bewaile the waining of my State Poore Prince said I how low art thou cast downe From that high heau'n which thou enioyd'st of late Thou hast no prospect but an iron grate Thy costly hangings ragged walles of stone And all thy solace solitarie moane 507 Now of a Cushion thou must make a Crowne And play the