life but a blob but a blossom When death strikes with a dart what auaileth a King or a Kingdom â—mus in â—a de morâ— That Platonist Socrates did afirme that a mans bodie liuing Was but a graue to the soule which to felicitie lasting Should by deserts demigrade most diuine speach of an heathen For by the faith in Christ we come to the kingdome of heauen â—ilie As radiant rud-y Phoebe exhales his vapory moysture Vnto the firme Element with his ardent hote sun-y lusture So the God omnipotent our soules with sinnes heuie loden Freely by mercy benigne extolles to the kingdom of heauen â—ilie Death bringes euery thing to decay For like as a fresh flower Springs for a time redolent but can not possibil endure So doth a king for a while reigne with great dignitie present Whose great glorie decaies whose prowde pompe dures but a moment Like as a man doth in yeares wax ould so should he be wiser And as he groweth in age so should his life be the beter Thinke this world to be vaine and thinke this life to be mortal And to the King of Kings let vs yeald out selues to be loyal Who to redeeme our soules ordained his only begotten Only beloued sonne to be sent downe freely from heauen And to be here crucifi'd as a sinlesse man for a sinner To mitigate Gods wrath t' appease his infinit anger Who by the death that he di'd hath cleans'd vs freely from euill For that he conquered hath sinne death and also the Diuel Whiles we do liue let vs al liue wel Time stailes away leapes Similies Like as a cloud vanisheth For as euery steppe that a mans steppes Is but a steppe to the graue so plodding age pedetentim Stouping creepes on a pase Age is to death as a pilgrim Which for a time dothabroad wander but in end he returnes home Similie So for a time we do liue but in end death will be the bridegroome â—tence â—ilie No body can stay time Time staies for no body Time swift Flyeth away on apase as a bird that flyes from a mans sight Therefore Princely Regents both vice and tyrranny forgoe â—k ch 8. 〈◊〉 36. For what auaileth a King what auaileth an Emperor also If that he lose his soule to liue here fortunat alway As patient Iob said each mortall King to thy selfe say 〈◊〉 ch 1 ver Naked I came to the world fro the world hence naked I shall go Formed of earth was I first to the earth yet againe shall I turne to â—lesiastes 1. That sapient Salomon naught here but vanitie could finde With manyfould miseries with great vexation of minde What man aliue can afourd as gods word plainly doth expresse â—t 6.27 â—rouerbe One cubit vnto his height by carking eares that ar endlesse Let not a man be to bolde though God be mercifull and staies For when he strikes his stroke is a stroke importabil alwaies And then he plagues when he strikes For where th' almighty Iehoua Rightfuly plagues for ofense what auaileth a mans cataplasma For with a slouthfull pase gods anger goes to reuengement But when he comes he rewards eternall paines for a torment Here I wil end O Queen O Lord our only creator Our Lord Emmanuel our Christ and sole mediator Adde to thy life many yeares as he did to the King Ezechias 2. of Kings ch 20. ver 6. Safely defend thee from harme as he safely preserued Elias And that he graunt to thy Grace after this life as a chosen Vessel of his purify'd ioyes in Celestiall heauen Ioyfuly there to remaine with Iesus Christ the Redeemer Imparadiz'd as a Saint with Saints in glory for euer As two Greeke letters in Grecian Alphabet Alpha First letter plaste is but placed last is Omega So wil I continuall first and last praise thee for euer If that I could Poetize as I would thy glory to further Your Graces Subiect in faith loue duty to commaund THE FIRST BOOKE OF The preseruation of King Henry the vij when he was but Earle of Richmond O Father Omnipotent our Lord and only Redeemer Which on a throne deifi'd there sits and shines as a Iasper And as a Sardine stone incompast round with a Raine-bow The first part of the Reuelation of Saint Iohn in effect verbatim Like to the bright Emeraud with thy grace my spirit endow From which throne lightnings voices with lowde flashy thunders Duly proceed Where fowre and twenty colaudabil Elders Seated in as many seats all cloth'd with a white lily garment Crown'd with Crownes of gould on their heads stately refulgent Seauen Lampes of fire ar there eternaly burning Gods very godly spirits on God there faithful atending Neare to the throne is a sea of glasse which shin'd as a Crystal There fowre beasts ful of eyes ar about that stately Tribunal First was like a Lyon next seemed a calfe to resembel Third had a face of a man fourth beast was form'd as an eagel Euery beast of them six wings had them to belonging And ful of eyes ar within day and night ioyfuly singing Three times holy be God th' almightie that euer is holy Holy before which was which is which shal be God only And when those fowre beasts gaue praise to the Lord God Iesus Which on that throne sate who for euer liu'd who redeem'd vs Those reuerent Elders their Crownes commendably threw downe And fell flatly before that Lord that sate on a Tribune Worshiped him that liu'd and liues with glory for euer For thou glory deseru'st that made all things by thy power Vnto whom Archangels and Angels greatly reioycing With Cherubins Seraphins are there eternaly singing Thou father only my God which art wast shalt be for euer Gen. ch 1. ver 1.2 c. Who the terestriall Orbe which staies it selfe by the Center Quadruply partiting fire ayre earth watery substance Out of an vgly Chaos did'st frame and store with abundance Of seuerall creatures and made man last as an image Like to thy selfe vpright to behold this globe with a visage Gen. ch 1. v. â— â—7 Placed him in Paradice in a sacred garden in Eden Where by the fondnes of Eue they lost those ioyes then of heauen Thou Lord only for aye whose power and glory supernall Genesis ca. 2. vers 2. This star-y spang'd Element and this whole world vniuersal Made as a mightie Monarche n six daies only the seauenth Day he reseru'd to be kept as a sacred day as a Saboth Which God by Moyses did apoint and consecrat holy And that day to be kept by the cou'nant from labor only Thou he the same very God three persons one God in essence Exod. ca. 20. ver 8.9.10 Raise vp aloft to thy selfe my weake spirit hale to thy presence Leauy the lines that I write let thy law still be my load-starre Still to direct mee my course here trewly to write that I differ No not a word
this answer he gaue that he was content to deliuer Henry that Earle not a sheepe to the wolfe but a sonne to the father Similie And in a letter he wrote how th' Earle was much had in honor Both for his owne wisdome valiaunce and witty behaui'our They then seiz'd of a prey which they had greatly desired Thankfuly tooke their leaue and from thence quickly departed Vnto the towne of Saint Malo bord'ring neare to the sea shore Minding thence to depart when ships were made ready Wherefore Th' Earle when he knew that he should be return'd home for very sorrow Since that he was so betrai'd he fell sore sicke of an ague Imagining that he should as soone as he landed in England Be stratagiz'd but see who can Gods dignity withstand Gods diuine prouidence and sacred dignity supreame Ruleth al humane cause though humane causes ar extreame Sentence Marke gods omnipotence whose workes ar wonderus extant Still to be seene who preseru'd this venturus Earle at an instant Sau'd as a strange miracle by the faithfull loue of a stranger For many times men ar helpt and sau'd by the meanes of another Like as a Physition doth seeke mans health to recouer So wil a friend for a friend in trubbels stand a defender Vulcan against Troy was but Troians friend was Apollo And Venus indiferent Pallas not mortaly Iuno Malliced Aeneas as alyed wholy to Turnus Yet was he by Venus helpe preseru'd from her enmitie grieuus Vndubitate Pylades was a friend to woful Orestes To Damon Pythias Patrocles friended Achilles Diuers examples Virg. Alcyde ayded Hylas Aeneas friend was Acbates Eurialus Nisus Diomedes friended Vlisses And to be chiefe memoriz'd that firme and trusty Zopirus * Who cut his owne eares off Babilon to procure Darius Darius stout King in his hand faire Pomegranat hauing Plâ—tarch in Apo One of his especial friends askt him merrily iesting What things especiall if he might haue that that he wished Would he request for his owne As there were graines to be counted So many friendly Zopyres as a wise King wisely did answer For what more pretius then a friend that friendeth another Pluta in Apo As fire and heate both cannot be parted asonder So loue and friendship cannot be without one another For when on Iohn Chewlet that was for a Courtier only Counted a stout man at armes who lou'd this gratius Henry Heard that he was very sick and from thence like to be conueigh'd Grafton fol. 738. Edw. 4. Shortly to King Edward he therewith wofuly dismaid Posted amaine to the Court and present stept to the Kings Grace Heauily perplexed who looking sad with a pale face Stood as amased afore this Duke with a stearne heuy count'nance And not a word did speake as a man that wanted his vttrance Therewithal astonied to behold so feareful an obiect Like as a Prince vigilant he did some treachery suspect Yet when he considered this Knights state chearefuly thus spake Shew me the cause good Iohn that thou so monefuly dost looke Therewithal he to the Duke reuerent with an humbel obeysance Boldly declar'd what he meant and spake with a treatibel vttrance Sentence Pardon I craue Soueraigne if I speake Truth verily neuer Shameth his owne master What auailes then fondly to flatter Heare then a truth O Duke for like as Cynthia shining Inueloped with a clowde obscures her selfe from ilustring Similie Semblably truth for a time obscur'd many times lieth hidden Truth yet in end wil apeare truth neuer permaneth vnknowne O my renowned Duke wilt thou now falsify promisse Firmely betroth'd to this Earle What a fault is this what a blemmish O that I were buried Shal I liue to know thy dishonor Truly my minde O Duke is vext with an infinit honor Similie For that I greatly do grieue that this stout Earle to the slaughter Should as a lambe be betrai'd and there to be slaine of a Butcher This wil bring thy renowne O Prince which euery mans mouth Extols vp to the clowdes to decay For plainely to tell trouth If so be my Soueraigne thou wilt so shamefuly suffer Henry this Earle to depart thou stain'st thy glory for euer Thy former valiance and fame that shine to the worlds end Shall as a smoake pas away Shal a Prince such craftines intend Similie Peace good Iohn quoth the Duke peace peace I pray thee beleeue mee For these Embasadors do protest and say that he shal be Grafton fol. â—38 Edw. 4. Spows'd to the Kings daughter which their King faithfuly promist And to be next to the King plaste in authority chiefest Well said Iohn to the Duke in whom shall shame be reputed If that he dye by the way or in English Realme be beheaded For that I dare venture my life that it is but a practice This sily soule to deceiue this sicke Earles life to relinquish If that he shal be beguil'd in such sort let me no longer Liue to repaire to thy Court if he should dye dye had I rather Laertius lib. 4 chap. 2. When Dionise the tyrant would needes haue Plato beheaded Zenocrates answer'd not afore that mine be depriued But many say that a King that knowes not how to disembel Knowes not at all to rule such sleights be deuis'd by the Diuell If that I may be so bould to speake but a word in his absence O my benigne Soueraigne lend eare and giue to me credence For why This Earle of a truth lyes sick and likely to perish Similie If fro thy Realme he depart what Prince will trust to thy promise Nothing more perilus then a compound poysonus honny No body more trecherus then a foe that seemes to be friendly With tunes harmonicall sweete singing merrily Meremaides Similie Falsly betray Mariners So these men sent as aforesaid Smoothly deceiue your Grace with faire speach and mony giuen Vnder a cloake of loue lies concea'ld craftines hidden Sentences O fond discrecion on faire wordes wholly relying Experiment best is where wordes and deedes are agreeing Craft hath a godly pretence but a murderus end Similie For a fowler Merrily playes on a pipe when he craftily taketh a plouer Iscariot Iudas that false and wicked Apostel Falsely betrai'd with a kisse and sould our Lord for a trifel Laomedons falshood Priamus father and son of Ilus Caused his owne bludy death and losse of Troy city famus 1 Macha ch 11 Was not Alexander by craft of King Ptolemaeus His false fath'r in law depriu'd of his Empery famus Bluddy Polymnestor which of gould was so desirus Beastly did obtruncate Priamus sonne young Polidorus Virg. More to recite what auailes Therefor I humbly beseech your Grace O Duke to remember Grafton fol. 739. Edw 4. This disconsolate Earle that lyes neare dead of a feauer Send that he may be retain'd Let not thy glory be blemmisht Keepe faith inuiolate let a prince performe what he promist Thus this
his soule to the ioyes that ar euer abiding Therewithal he faynting in a swoune grewe straight to be speachlesse Gasping breath who did yeald with a pale face and body senselesse Whose soule imparadiz'd I belieue is with the Creator Our Lord Emmanuell our Christ and sole mediator Who when he had regaliz'd 3. yeares and credibly twenty Tomb'd in a faire monument at Windsore lies in an abbey How that he dy'd many men did doubt For he dy'd on a suddayn Sundry by surfet afirm'd which no body knew to be certayn But many thought that he was put away by the vile priuy treason Of tyranus Richard by the meanes of some sory poyson As Sir Thomas More in his owne book skilfuly penned Thought by the speach that he learn'd that he was sure priuily poysned And not a thing vnlyke For he spared no body whose life Might dominire as a King whose life might work him a mischiefe He was a vile Machauile and still tooke time at a vauntage To work such stratagemes his lew'd mind gaue him a courage Similie As wax is molify'd and clay made hard by the sun-shine So to the word of God good mens hearts daily wil enclyne But lewd are hardned by the word Such obstinat error Permaneth in reprobates whose end is damnable horror Description of Edward the fowerth This valiaunt Edward was a Prince of a beawtiful aspect Whose face shyn'd with a faire sanguine complexion indeckt Whose yelo burnished haire did shyne like glorius amber Similies Whose gray eyes twinkling like starres did cheerefuly glister Comelines of person very tall of bodily stature Exquisit euery part was featured and of a nature Merciful and liberal whose stout hart bouldly by wisedom And politick valiaunce of right did atayn to the kingdom He was a Prince patient in great prosperity pleasant And not at all arogant in great aduersity constant Not timorus wauering to steadfast friend very faithfull To fra'dulent enemyes seâ—ere implacabel hatefull Fortunat in warfare but somewhat gi-uen in excesse To womanish daliaunce as his hystorie plainly doth expresse This stout king Edward many times would say that he lov'd well Three speciall paragons in seu'ral gifts who did excell First was wily by kind but an other seem'd to be godly Shores wife was meriest as a woman void of al enuy The iust and lawfull title that Richard Duke of Yorke father to king Edward made to the Crowne of England RIchard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke rightly the garland Sought by law to regaine his right to the Crowne then of England And he preferred a byll to the nobil common asembly Grafton fo 757. et 758. Held at Westminster Where after merciful Henry Namely the sixth his death they all there iointly together Graunted by parliament Gaue this Realme to the Duke his right heires in the remainder But this stout Richards stout lucklesse mynd was vnabel For to prolong so long but in end was slaine in a battell Neare to the towne Wakefield and left here these many children Edward George Richard all three well knowne to be brethren And yet he sware many times by solemne othes Stow. fol. 944. fol. 972. that he neuer Would any treason atempt or against him raise any power His three sonnes whom I nam'd were like three Martial Hectors All of a stoutnes alike on anothers glory detractors This foresaid Richard to the foresaid fortunat Edward Was father vndubitate sonne and heire namely to Richard Stout Earle of Cambridge Who maried Dame Anne sole heire and daughter of Edmund Mortimer Earle of March Richards neece namely the second So that he was by the lawes right lawfull heire to the Kingdome Which Edward did ataine by force and partly by wisdome Henry the fourth did vsurpe and put downe wrongfuly Richard Second King by name at Pomfort slaine by the coward Sir Pierce of Exton who strake him downe as a butcher Striketh an ox on his heade Wo worth so shameful a monster This trecherus bludy Duke did bring eight tal men in harnesse Grafton fol. 412. Henry 4. Each man a bill in his hand like thieues to murder his Highnesse Who with a bill that he got by force did manfuly withstand Those Machauile hypocrites for he kild foure men with his owne hand Till that he was struck downe by the Knight who leapt in a chay-er Like crauenus coward to repose him selfe from a daunger The Second booke of the tyranny and vsurpation of king Richard and how king Henry the seauenth when he was Earle of Richmond was preserued in his time A praier I He that here doth a peale to the sacred seate of a Kingly Kingly tribunall throne of a King celestial only Only the King of Kings the triumphant Lord God imortall Three persons one God deifi'd with glory coequall Humbly before thee my God that King Lord God of heauen Wholly my selfe prostrate giue eare O Lord to me listen Ephe. 2.5 8. Sanctify me by thy grace and iustify me by thy mercy For by the grace of God comes our saluation only Graunt that I may paraphrase stout Henries glory to publish And to promulgat abroad King Richards tyrrany diuelish I He that only before in Romane rythmery verses Did modulate with a thinne oten pype fortunat Henries Flight that he made to the Duke with his vncle there in a safety Both to remaine for a time till time should prooue to be friendly Which was a worke of thanks But now now murtherus horror And Machauile stratagemes I record of a lewde malefactor That did vsurpe as a king that killed his owne very brethren Murdered his Nephues wife and many â—â—ores or a sudden Mournefuly Muse manifest the detested deedes of a tyrrant Monster of all mankinde whose sinnes to the world ar aparant With salt watery teares this wofull tragedy pensill Teares from a sabel penne of direfull Ebony distill I to the clowdes seeke not to mount like Icarus in sky Ouid. poeticè Nor like proud Phaëton with a minde presume to be lofty Witty Thales maiden that saw him looke vp on heauen And in a ditch to decline he is wel seru'd quoth the maiden For that he looked aloft when he should haue lookt on his owne feete Looke not aloft sily Muse but shew thy selfe to be discreet Here I do meane to declare O Queene how shamefuly Richard That Duke of Gloster but a younger brother of Edward Lately the King did ataine to the Crowne and dignity regal Trewly my minde doth abhorre that I should here make the recitall What Machauile policies what shifts what crafty deuises What tyranus stratagemes he deuis'd to crucifie Princes First of al here to beginne he stab'd and kill'd with a dagger Grafton fol. 713. Edw 4. Henry the sixt when he was safe kept as a prisoner in Tower For that he considered King Henries life was an hind'rance Both to the King and him by the which they wanted asurance Therefore he did this fact