example of faire vertuous acts Then by the shew of foul vngodly facts 7 Would God our times had had some sacred wight Whose words as happy as our swords had bin To haue prepar'd for vs Tropheis aright Of vnde caying frames t' haue rested in Triumphant Arks of perdurable might O holy lines that such aduantage win Vpon the Sieth of Time in spight of yeares How blessed they who gaine what neuer weares 8 For what is it to do if what we do Shall perish neere as soone as it is donne What is that glory wee attaine vnto With all our toyle if lost as soone as wonne A small requitall for so great adoo Is this poore present breath a smoake soone gone Or these dumb stones erected for our sake Which formless heapes few stormy changes make 9 Tell great ELIZA since her dayes are grac't With those bright ornaments to vs deni'd That sherepaire what darknesse hath defac't And get our ruyn'd deedes reedifi'd She in whose all-directing eye is plac't A powre the highest powers of wit to guide Shee may command the worke and ouer-see The holy frame that might eternall bee 10 For would Shee be content that Time should make A 〈◊〉 prey vpon her glorious Raigne That Darkenesse and the Night should ouertake So cleare a Brightnesse shining without staine Ah! no She fosters some no doubt that wake For her eternitie with pleasing paine And if shee for her selfe prepare this good Let her not so neglect those of her Blood 11 This that great Monarch Henrie seem'd to craue When weighing what a holy motiue here Vertue propos'd and fit for him to haue Whom all times ought of dutie hold most deare I sigh't and wisht that some would take t'ingraue With curious hand so proud a worke to reare To grace the present and to blesse times past That might for euer to our glorie last 12 So should our well-taught times haue learn'd alike How faire shin'd Virtue and how foul Vice stood When now my selfe am driuen to mislike Those deedes of worth I dare not vow for good I cannot mone who lose nor prayse who seeke By mightie Actions here t' aduance their Blood I must say Who wrought most least honor had How euer good the Cause the deedes were bad 13 And onely tell the worst of euerie Raigne And not the intermedled good report I leaue what glorie Virtue did attaine At th'euer-memorable Agincort I leaue to tell what wit what power did gaine Th'assieged Roan Caen Dreux or in what sort How Maiestie with terror did aduance Her conquering foote on all subdued Fraunce 14 All this I passe and that magnanimous King Mirror of vertue miracle of worth Whose mighty Actions with wise managing Forc't prouder boasting Climes to serue the North. The best of all the best the earth can bring Scarce equals him in what his Raigne brought foorth Being of a minde as forward to aspire As fit to gouerne what he did desire 15 His comely body was a goodly seate Where Virtue dwelt most faire as lodg'd most pure A body strong where vse of strength did get A stronger state to do and to endure His life he makes th' example to beget Like spirit in those he did to good inure And gaue to 〈◊〉 such life and liuelihood As if hee Greatnes sought but to do good 16 Hee as the Chiefe and all-directing head Did with his subiects as his members liue And them to goodnesse forced not but led Winning not much to haue but much to giue Deeming the powre of his his powr did spread As borne to blesse the world and not to grieue Adorn'd with others spoyles not subiects store No King exacting lesse none winning more 17 Hee after that corrupted faith had bred An ill inur'd obedience for Command And languishing luxutiousnes had spred Weyward vnaptnesse ouer all the Land Those long vnordred 〈◊〉 so marshalled Vnder such formall discipline to stand That euen his soule seem'd onely to direct So great a body such exployts t' effect 18 He brings abrode distracted Discontent Disperst ill humors into actions hie And to vnite them all in one consent Plac't the faire marke of glorie in their eye That Malice had no leasure to dissent Nor Enuie time to practise treacherie The present actions do diuert the thought Of madnesse past while mindes were so well wrought 19 Here now were Pride Oppression Vsurie The canker-eating mischiefes of the State Call'd foorth to prey vpon the enemie Whil'st the home-burth'ned better lightned sate Exactors did not with a greedy eye Examine states or priuate riches rate The silent Courts warr'd not with busie words Nor wrested law gaue the contentious swords 20 Now nothing 〈◊〉 th'attentiue 〈◊〉 But stratagems 〈◊〉 surprises fightes How to giue lawes to them that conquered were How to articulate with yeelding wightes The weake with mercie and the proud with feare How to retaine to giue deserts their rights Were now the Artes and nothing else was thought But how to win and maintaine what was got 21 Nor here were any priuately possest Or held alone imprisoned Maiestie Proudly debarring entraunce 〈◊〉 the rest As if the prey were theirs by victorie Here no detractor woundes who merits best Nor shameless brow cheeres-on impietie Vertue who all her toyle with zeale had spent Not here all vnrewarded sighing went 22 But here the equally-respecting eye Of Powre looking alike on like deserts Blessing the good made others good thereby More mightie by the multitude of hearts The fielde of glorie vnto all doth lie Open alike honour to all imparts So that the onely fashion in request Was to be good or good-like as the rest 23 So much ô thou Example dost effect Being farre a better Maister then Command That how to do by doing dost direct And teachest others action by thy hand Who followes not the course that kings elect When Princes worke who then wil idle stand And when that dooing good is onely thought Worthy reward who will be bad for nought 24 And had not th' Earle of Cambridge with vaine speed Vntimely practiz'd for an others right With hope to aduance those of his proper seed On whome the Rule seem'd destined to light The Land had seene none of her owne to bleed During this Raigne nor no aggreeued sight None the least blacknesse inter clouded had So faire a day nor any eye lookt sad 25 But now when Fraunce perceiued from afarre The gathering tempest growing-on from hence Ready to fall threatning their State to marre They labour all meanes to prouide defence And practising how to preuent this warre And shut-out such calamities from thence Do foster here some discord lately growne To hold Ambition busied with her owne 26 Finding those humors which they saw were fit Soone to be wrought and easie to befed Swolne full with enuie that the Crowne should sit There where it did as if established And whom it toucht in Blood to grieue at it They with such hopes and helps
good And wisht that some would so his 〈◊〉 esteeme Asridde him of these feares wherein he stood And there-with eyes a Knight that then was by Who soone could learne his lesson by his eye 58 The man he knew was one that willingly For one good looke would hazard soule and all An instrument for any villanie That needed no commission more at all A great ease to the King that should hereby Not neede in this a course of iustice call Nor seeme to wil the act 〈◊〉 for though what 's wrought Were his owne deed he 〈◊〉 should so be thought 59 So foule a thing 〈◊〉 thou Iniustice art That tort'rest both the dooer and distrest For when a man hath done a wicked part How doth he 〈◊〉 t' excuse to make the best To shift the fault 〈◊〉 then his charg'd hart And glad to finde the least surmise of rest And if he could make his seeme others sin What great repose what case he findes therein 60 This Knight but yet why should I call him Knight To giue impietie this reuerent stile Title of honour worth and vertues right Should not be giuen to a wretch so vile But pardon me if I do not aright It is because I will not here defile My vnstaind verse with his opprobrious name And grace him so to place him in the same 61 This caitife goes and with him takes eight more As desperate as himselfe impiously bold Such villaines as he knew would not abhorre To execute what wicked act he would And hastes him downe to Pomfret where before The restless King conuaide was laid in hold There would he do the deed he thought should bring To him great grace and fauour with his King 62 Whether the soule receiues intelligence By her neere Genius of the bodies end And so impartes a sadnesse to the sense Fore-going ruine whereto it doth tend Or whether Nature else hath conference With profound sleepe and so doth warning send By prophetizing dreames what hurt is neere And giues the heauie careful hart to feare 63 How-euer so it is the now sad King Tost here and there his quiet to confound Feeles a straunge waight of sorrowes gathering Vpon his trembling hart and sees no ground Feeles sodaine terror bring cold shiuering Listes not to eate still muses sleepes vnsound His senses droope his steady eyes vnquicke And much he ayles and yet he is not sicke 64 The morning of that day which was his last After a wearie rest rysing to paine Out at a little grate his eyes he cast Vpon those bordering hils and open Plaine And viewes the towne and sees how people past Where others libertie makes him complaine The more his owne and grieues his soule the more Conferring captiue-Crownes with freedome poore 65 O happie man sayth hee that lo I see Grazing his cattle in those pleasant fieldes If he but knew his good how blessed hee That feeles not 〈◊〉 affliction Greatnes yeeldes Other then what hee is he would not bee Nor change his state with him that Scepters wieldes Thine thine is that true life That is to liue To rest secure and not rise vp to grieue 66 Thou sitst at home safe by thy quiet fire And hear'st of others harmes but feelest none And there thou telst of Kings and who aspire Who fall who rise who triumphs who do mone Perhaps thou talkst of mee and dost inquire Of my restraint why here I liue alone And pittiest this my miserable fall For pittie must haue part enuie not all 67 Thrice happy you that looke as from the shore And haue no venture in the wracke you see No int'rest no occasion to deplore Other mens trauailes while your selues sit free How much doth your sweet rest make vs the more To see our miserie and what we bee Whose blinded Greatnes euer in turmoyle Still seeking happy life makes life a toyle 68 Great Dioclesian and more great therefore For yeelding-vp that whereto pride aspires Reckning thy Gardens in Illiria more Then all the Empire all what th' earth admires Thou well didst teach that he is neuer poore That little hath but he that much desires Finding more true delight in that small ground Then in possessing all the earth was found 69 Are Kings that freedome giue themselues not free As meaner men to take what they may giue What are they of so fatall a degree That they cannot descend from that and liue Vnlesse they still be Kings can they not bee Nor may they their authority suruiue Will not my yeelded Crowne redeeme my breath Still am I fear'd is there no way but death 70 Scarce this word Death from sorrow did proceed When in rusht one and tels him such a knight Is new arriv'd and comes from Court in speed What newes sayd he with him that traytrous wight What more remouing yet alas what need Are we not farre ynough sent out of sight Or is this place here not sufficient strong To guard vs in or must we haue more wrong 71 By this the bloody troope were at the dore When-as a sodaine and a strange dismay 〈◊〉 them straine who should go in before One offers and in offring makes a stay An other forward sets and doth no more A third the like and none durst make the way So much the horror of so vile a deed In vilest mindes deterres them to proceed 72 At length as to some great aduentrous fight This Brauo cheeres these dastards all hee can And valiantly their courage doth incite And all against one weake vnarmed man A great exployte and fit for such a knight Wherein so much renowne his valor wan But see how men that verie Presence feare Which once they knew Authority did beare 73 Then on thrusts one and he would formost be To shead anothers blood but lost his owne For entring in as soone as he did see The face of Maiestie to him well knowne Like Marius Souldier at Minternum hee Stood still amaz'd his courage ouer-throwne The King seeing this starting frō where he sate Out from his trembling hand his weapon gate 74 Thus euen his foes who came to bring him death Bring him a weapon that before had none That yet he might not idly lose his breath But die reueng'd in action not alone And this good chaunce that thus much fauoureth He slackes not for he presently speedes one And Lion-like vpon the rest he flyes And here falles one and there another lies 75 And vp and down he trauerses his ground Now wardes a felling blowe now strikes againe Then nimbly shiftes a thrust then lends a wound Now backe he giues then rushes-on amaine His quicke and ready hand doth so confound These shamefull beastes that foure of them lie slaine And all had perisht happily and well But for one act that ô I grieue to tell 76 This coward Knight seeing with shame and feare His men thus slaine and doubting his owne end Leapes vp into a chaire that lo was there The-whiles the King
and more Besieg'd the Hold that could not long defend Consuming so al that resisting store Of those prouisions Nature daign'd to lend As that the walles 〈◊〉 thin permit the Minde To looke out thorow and his frailty finde 85 For now as if those vapors vanisht were Which heat of boyling bloud and health did breed To clowd the iudgement things do plaine appeare In their owne colours as they are indeede When-as th'illightned soule discouers cleere Th'abusing shewes of Sense and notes with heed How poore a thing is pride when all as slaues Differ but in their fetters not their Graues 86 And lying on his last afflicted bed Pale Death and Conscience both before him stand Th' one holding out a Booke wherein he read In bloudy lines the deedes of his owne hand The other shewes a glasse which figured Anougly forme of foule corrupted Sand Both bringing horror in the hiest degree With what he was and what he soone should be 87 Which seeing all trembling and confus'd with feare He lay a while amaz'd with this affright Atlast commands some that attending were To fetch the Crowne and set it in his sight On which with fixed eye and heauy cheere Casting a looke O God sayth he what right I had to thee I now in griefe conceiue Thee which with blood I held with horror leaue 88 And herewithall the soule rapt with the thought Of mischiefes past did so attentiue wey These present terrors whil'st as if forgot The dull oppressed body senselesse lay That he as breathlesse quite quite dead is thought When lo the sonne comes in and takes-away This fatall Crowne from thence and out he goes As if impatient longer time to lose 89 To whom call'd backe for this presumptuous deed The King return'd from out his extasie Began O sonne what needst thou make such speed To be before-hand with thy miserie Thou shalt haue time ynough if thou succeed To feele the stormes that beat on Dignitie And if thou 〈◊〉 but bee be any thing In 〈◊〉 then neuer be a King 90 Nay Father since your Fortune did attaine So high a Stand I meane not to descend Replyes the Prince as if what you did gaine I were of spirit vnable to defend Time will appease 〈◊〉 well who now complaine And ratifie our int'rest in the end What wrong hath not continuance quite out-worne Yeares make that right which neuer was so borne 91 If so God worke his pleasure sayd the King Yet thou must needs contend with all thy might Such euidence of vertuous deeds to bring That well may proue our wrong to be our right And let the goodnesse of the managing Raze out the blot of foul attaining quite That Discontent may all aduantage misse To wish it otherwise then now it is 92 And since my death my purpose doth preuent Touching this Holy warre I tooke in hand An action wherewithall my soule had ment T' appease my God and reconcile my Land To thee is left to finish my intent Who to be safe must neueridly stand But some great actions entertaine thou still To holde their mindes who else wil practise ill 93 Thou hast not that aduantage by my Raigne To ryotit as they whom long descent Hath purchas'tloue by custome but with paine Thou must contend to buy the worlds content What their birth gaue them thou hast yet to gaine By thine owne vertues and good gouernment So that vnlesse thy worth confirme the thing Thou neuer shalt be father to a King 94 Nor art thou borne in those calme dayes where Rest Hath brought asleepe sluggish Securitie But in tumultuous times where mindes addrest To factions are invr'd to mutinie A mischiefe not by force to be supprest Where rigor still begets more enmitie Hatred must be beguil'd with some new course Where States are stiffe and Princes doubt their force 95 This and much more Affliction would haue say'd Out of th' experience of a troublous Raigne For which his high desires had dearely pay'd The int'rest of an euer-toyling paine But that this all-subduing Power here stai'd His fault'ring tongue and paine r'inforc't againe Barr'd vp th' oppressed passages of breath To bring him quite vnder the state of Death 96 In whose possession I must leaue him now And now into the Ocean of new toyles Into the stormie Maine where tempestes growe Of greater ruines and of greater spoyles Setfoorth my course to hasten-on my vow Ov'rall the troublous Deepe of these turmoyles And if I may but liue t' attaine the shore Of my desired end I wish no more The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFT BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Henry the fift cuts off his enemie The Earle of Cambridge that conspir'd his death Henry the sixt married vnluckily His and his Countryes glorie ruineth Suffolke that made the match preferd too hie Going to exile a Pirat murthereth VVhat meanes the Duke of Yorke obseru'd to gaine The worlds good-will seeking the Crowne t' attaine 1 CLose smothered lay the lowe depressed fire Whose after-issuing flames confounded all The whil'st victorious Henry did conspire The wracke of Fraunce that at his feete did fall Whil'st ioyes of gotten spoyles and new desire Of greater gaine to greater deeds did call His conquering troupes that could no thoughts retaine Saue thoughts of glorie all that actiue Raigne 2 Whome here me thinks as if hee did appeare Out of the clowdy darkenes of the night I do behold approche with Martiall cheere And with a dreadful and yet louely sight Whose eye giues courage and whose brow hath feare Both representing terror and delight And stayes my course and off my purpose breakes And in vp brayding words thus fiercely speakes 3 Vngrateful times that impiously neglect That worth that neuer times againe shall shew What merites all our toyle no more respect Or else standes Idlenesse asham'd to knowe Those wondrous Actions that do so obiect Blame to the wanton sinne vnto the slowe Can England see the best that she can boast Lie thus vngrac't vndeckt and almost lost 4 Why do you seeke for fained Palladines Out of the smoke of idle vanitie Who may giue glory to the true designes Of 〈◊〉 chier Talbot Neuile Willoughby Why should not you striue to fill vp your lines With wonders of your owne with veritie T' inflame their ofspring with the loue of good And glorious true examples of their Blood 5 What euerlasting matter here is found Whence new immortall Iliads might proceed That those whose happie graces do abound In blessed accents here may haue to feed Good thoughts on no imaginarie ground Of hungry shadowes which no profite breed Whence musicke-like instant delight may growe Yet when men all do knowe they nothing knowe 6 And why dost thou in lamentable verse Nothing but blood-shed treasons sinne and shame The worst of times th' extreame of ills rehearse To rayse olde staynes and to renew dead blame As if the mindes of th' euill and 〈◊〉 Were not farre sooner trained from the same By good