The last part of the Mirour for magistrates wherein may be seene by examples passed in this realme, vvith howe greenous [sic] plagues, vyces are punished in great princes & magistrats, and hovv frayle and vnstable vvorldly prosperity is founde, where fortune seemeth most highly to fauour. — Mirrour for magistrates. Part 3.

The last part of the Mirour for magistrates wherein may be seene by examples passed in this realme, vvith howe greenous [sic] plagues, vyces are punished in great princes & magistrats, and hovv frayle and vnstable vvorldly prosperity is founde, where fortune seemeth most highly to fauour. — Mirrour for magistrates. Part 3.

Table of contents

Title page

Loue and Liue. TO ALL THE NOBIlitie, and all other in office, God graunte wisedome and all thinges nedefull for the preseruation of their Estates. Amen.

A TABLE OF THE Contentes of this Booke.

❧A BRIEFE MEMOriall of sundry vnfortunate Englishmen. VVILLIAM BALDVVIN to the Reader

❧THE FALL OF SIR Robert Tresilian chief Iustice of England, and other his fellowes, for misconstruinge the Lawes and expoundinge them to serue the Prynces affections. Anno. 1388.

§

HOVV THE TWO ROGERS, surnamed Mortimers, for their sundrye Vyces, ended theire lyues vnfortunatelye, the one Anno. 1329. the other. Anno. 1387.

§

HOVVE SIR THOMAS of VVoodstocke, Duke of Glocestre, Vncle to King Rychard the second, was vnlawfully murdered. Anno. 1397.

§

HOVV THE LORDE Mowbray promoted by Kynge Rychard the seconde, to the State of a Duke, was by him Banished the Realme, in the yeare of Christe. 1398. and after died myserably in exile.

§

HOWE KINGE RICHARDE the second was for his euil gouernaunce deposed from his seate, in the yeare 1399. & miserably murthered in prison the yeare folowing.

§

HOVV OVVEN GLENdour seduced by false Prophecies, tooke vpon him to be Prince of VVales, & was by Henry Prince of England chased to the Mountaynes, where he most miserably starued for hunger. Anno. 1401.

§

❧HOVV HENRYE Percy Earle of Northumberlande, was for his couetous, and trayterous attempt put to death at Yorke. Anno. 1407.

§

HOVVE RICHARD Plātagenet Earle of Cambridge entending the Kinges destruction, was put to death at Southampton. Anno. Domini. 1415.

§

HOVVE THOMAS MONtague Earle of Salisburie, in the middest of his glorie, was chaunceablye slayne at Orliaunce with a peece of Ordinaunce the third of Nouember. Anno 1428.

§

HOW KING IAMES THE first for breaking his othes and bonds was by Gods sufferaunce miserably murdered of his owne Subiectes. Anno. 1437.

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HOVV DAME ELIANOR Cobham Duchesse of Glocester▪ for practising of witchcraft and Sorcery, suffred open penance, and after was banished the realme into the yle of Man.

§

HOVV HVMFREY PLANtagenet Duke of Glocester Protector of England, during the minoritie of his Nephue kinge Henrye the sixt, (commonlye called the good Duke) by practise of enemies was brought to confusion.

§

HOWE VVILLIAM DELApoole Duke of Suffolke was worthelye banished for abusing his kinge, and procuringe the death of Duke Humfrey of Glocester, protector of England. Anno. 1450.

§

HOW IACKE CADE NAminge himselfe Mortimer, trayterously rebellinge agaynst his Kinge in Iune. Anno. 1450. was for his treasons, and cruell doinges worthely punished.

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THE TRAGEDY OF EDmond Duke of Somerset, slayne in the first battayle at Saynct Albanes, the. 23. day of May, in the. 32. yeare of Henry the sixt. Anno. 1454. *⁎*

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HOW RICHARD PLANtagenet Duke of Yorke was slayne through his ouer rash boldnesse, and his Sonne Earle of Rutland an Infant cruelly murdered Anno. 1460.

§

Howe the Lorde Clifforde for his extreame crueltie, came to a cruel, straunge, & sodaine death. Anno. 1461.

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THE INFAMOVS ENDE of the Lord Tiptoft, Earle of VVorcestre, for executing his princes crueltie. Anno. 1470.

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HOW SIR RICHARD Neuill Earle of Warwicke, and his Brother Iohn, Lord Marquise Montacute, through their to mutch boldnesse were slayne at Barnet, the 14. of Aprill. Anno. 1471. *⁎*

§

HOW KINGE HENRY the sixt a vertuous Prince, was after many other miseries, cruelly murthered in the Tower of London the. 22. of May. Anno. 1471. *⁎*

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HOW GEORGE PLANtagenet thirde Sonne of the Duke of Yorke, was by his Brother. K. Edward wrongfully imprysoned, and by hys Brother Richarde miserably murdered the. 11. of Ianuary. Anno. 1448.

§

HOVV KINGE EDVVARDE the fourth throughe his surfeting and vntēperate life sodainly dyed in the midst of his prosperity, the ninth of April Anuo. 1485

§

HOVV SIR ANTHONY WOD vile Lord Riuers and Scales, gouernour of Prince Edvvard was with his nephu Lord Richard Gray, and other causelesse imprisoned and cruelly murdered. An. 1483

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HOW THE LORD HAstings was Betrayed by trustinge to mutch to his euill Counsaylour Catesby, and Vilanously murdered in the Tower of London by Richard Duke of Glocester, the. 13. of Iune Anno. 1483.

§

THE INDVCTION,

The Complaynt of Henry Duke of Buckingham.

§

How Collingbourn was cruelly executed, for making a foolish Ryme.

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HOW RICHARD PLANtagenet Duke of Glocester, murdered his Brothers Children vsurpinge the Crowne, and in the.iij. yeare of his Raygne, was most worthely depriued of life, & Kingdome in Bosworth Playne, by Henry Earle of Richmond, after called Kinge Henry the seuenth, the.22. of August. 1485.

§

THE WILFVL FAL OF blacke Smith, and the foolishe ende of the Lord Awdeley in Iune. Anno. 1496. *⁎*

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HOVVE SHORES WIFE Kinge Edwarde the fowerthes Concubine, was by king Richard despoyled of al her goodes, and forced to doe open pennaunce.

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❧THE LAST part of the Mirour for Magistrates, wherein may be seene by examples passed in this Realme, vvith how gree [...]ous plagues, vyces are punished in great Princes & Magistrats, and hovv frayle and vnstable vvorldly prosperity is founde, where Fortune seemeth most highly to Fauour.

Newly corrected and enlarged

Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.

IMPRINTED at London in Fleetstreete, neere vnto Sainct Dunstanes Church, by Thomas Marsh. 1578.

Cum Priuilegio.

Loue and Liue. TO ALL THE NOBIlitie, and all other in office, God graunte wisedome and all thinges nedefull for the preseruation of their Estates. Amen.

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PLato among many of his notable sentences concernyng the gouernement of a common weale hath this: well is that Realme gouerned, in which the ambicious, desire not to beare office. Whereby you may perceiue (right honourable) what offices are, where they be duely executed: not gainfull spoyles for the gredy to hunt for, but painefull toyles for the heady to bee charged with. You may perceiue also by this sentence, there is nothing more necessary in a common weale, then that Magistrates be diligent and trusty in their charges.

¶And sure in whatsoeuer Realme such prouision is made, ye officers be forced to do their duties: there is it as hard a matter to get an officer, as it is in other places to repulse & shift of those that with flattery, brybes, and other shiftes, sue & preace for offices. For the ambitious (that is to saye prollers for power or gayne) seeke not for offices to helpe other, for whych cause officers are ordained: but with the vndoing of other, to enrich themselues. And therfore [...]ar them once of this bayt, & force them to do their dueties, then will they geue more to be rid from their charges, than they did at yt first to come by e [...]ē: For they seeke onely their priuate profite. And therfore, where [Page] the ambitious seeke no office: there no doubt, offices are duely ministred. And whe [...]e offices are duely ministred, it cannot be chosen, but the people are good, whereof must nedes follow a good common weale. For if the magistrates be good, the people cannot be ill. Thus the goodnes or badnes of any Realme lieth in the goodnes or badnes of the Rulers. And therfore not without great cause do the holy Appostles so earnestly charg vs to pray for the magistra [...]es: For in dede the wealth & quiet of euery common weale, the disorder also and miseries of the same, come specially thorough them. I neede not go eyther to the Romaines or Greekes for the profe hereof, neither yet to ye Iewes, or other nations: whose common weales haue alway florished whyle their magistrates were good, and decayed and ra [...] to ruyne, when vici [...]us men had the gouernement.

Out countrey stories (if we reade and marke them) wil show vs examples enow, would God we had not sene mo thā enow. I purpose not to stand herevpon the particulars, because they be in parte setforth in the tragedies folowing. Yet by ye waye this I note (wishing all other to doe the like) namely, that as good gouernours haue neuer lacked their deserued praises: so haue not the bad escaped infamy, besides such plagues as are horrible to heare of. For God (ye ordeiner of offices) although he suffer them for punishment of the people to be often occupied of such, as are rather spoilers and Iudasses, than toilers or Iustices (whom the scriptures cal Hypocrits) yet suffereth he them not to scape vnpunished, because they dishonour him. For it is Gods own office, yea his chief office which they beare and abuse. For as Iustice is the chief vertue, so is ye ministration thereof, the chiefest office: and therfore hath God established it with the chiefest name, honouring and calling Kinges and all officers vnder them by his owne name: Gods. Ye be al Gods, as many as haue in your charge any ministration of iustice. What a foule shame were it for any nowe to take vpon them the name and office of God, and in their doings to shew [Page] themselues deuils? God cannot of Iustice, but plague suche shamelesse presumption and hipocrisie, and that with shamful death, diseases, or infamye. Howe he hath plagued euil rulers from time to time, in other nations, you may see gathred in Bochas boke intituled The fall of Princes, trāslated into English by Lydgate a Monke of y• Abbey of Bury in Suff. How he hath delt with some of our countrymen your auncestours, for sundry vices not yet left, this boke named, A Mirrour for Magistrates, shall in parte pla [...]inye set forth before your eyes which boke I humbly offer vnto your honours, beseching you to accept it fauorably. For here, as in a mirror or lokīg glasse you shal se if any vice be foūd, how the like hath ben punished in other heretofore, wherby admonished, I trust it will bee a good occasiō to moue mē to ye soner amēdmēt. This is ye chief end why this booke is setforth, which God graūt it may talke according to the maner of the makers. The worke was beg [...] ̄ & part of it printed in quene Maries time, but staid by such as thē were chief in office, neuertheles, through ye meanes of the right honorable Hēry Lord Stafford, ye first part was licēced, & imprinted ye first yeare of ye raign of this our most noble and vertuous Quene, & dedicated to your honours with this preface, Since wt time, although I wāted such help as before, yet the said good Lord Stafford hath not ceased to cal vpō me, to publish so much therof as I had gottē at other mēs hands, so yt through his Lordships earnest meanes, I haue now also setforth another part, conteining as much as I could obtaine at ye hands of my frends: Which in ye name of al the authours, I hūbly dedicate vnto your honours, instātly wishing, yt it may so like & de [...]te your minds, y• your chereful receiuīg thereof▪ may encourage worthy wi [...]s to enterprise & performe ye test. Which assone as I may procure. I entēd through Gods leaue & your fauorable allowance, to publish with all expedicion.

In the meane whyle my Lordes and Gods, (for so It may cal you) I moste humbly besech your honours fauorably to accept [Page] this rude worke, and diligentlye to reade and consider it. And although you shal find in it, that some haue for their vertue bin enuied and brought vnto misery: yet cease not you to be vertuous, but do your office to the vttermost. Embrace vertue and suppresse the contrary, both in your selues and other, so shall God whose officers you are, eyther so maintaine you that no malice shall preuaile, or if it do, it shall be for your good, & to your eternall glory both here and in heauen which I beseech God you may both seeke and attaine, Amen.

Yours most humble VV. B.

A TABLE OF THE Contentes of this Booke.

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1. Robert Tresiliā chief Iustice of Englād hāged at Tyburn & his fellows Iustices banished for miscōstruīg ye lawes. Fol. 1

2. The infortunate ende of the two Mortimers. Fol. 4

3. Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester, murdred in prisō Fol. 8.

4. Thomas Mo [...]bray Duke of Northfolk banished and died in exile. Fol. 12.

5. King Richard ye secōd deposed & miserably murdred Fol. 16

6. Owen Glendour Prince of Wales, was chased to y• moū taynes, where he miserably died for lacke of foode. Fol. 19

7. Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland taken in battaile and put to death. Fol. 25.

8. Richarde Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge put to death at Southampton. Fol. 28

9. Thomas Montague Earle of Salisburye, chaunceablye slaine at Orliaunce with a peece of ordinaunce. Fol. 30

10. Iames the first King of Scotts [...]ruelly murdred by hys owne subiects. Fol. 36.

11. Humphrey Plantagenet Duke of Glocester Protector of England by practyse of Enemies was broughte to confusion. Fol. 40.

12. Lord William Delapole Duke of Suffolke, worthelye banished and beheaded. Fol. 56

13. Iack [...] Ca [...]e worthely punished for rebellion. Fol. 60.

14. Edmonde Duke of Somerset, slaine in the firste battayle at S. Albanes. Fol. 65.

15. Richard Plantagenet D. Of Yorke, slaine through his ouer rashe boldnesse, and hys youngest sonne the Earle of Rutland being a child cruelly murdred. Fol. 77.

16. The Lord Clifford for his abhominable cruelly came to a sodaine death. Fol. 80

17. The infamous end of the Lorde Tiptofte Earle of Worcester. Fol. 82.

[Page]18. Richard Neuil Earle of Warwicke, & his brother Iohn Marquise Montacute slaine at Barnet field. Fol. 86.

19. The vertuous kinge Henry the sixt cruelly murdred in the Tower of London. Fol. 89.

20. George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence, Brother to K. Edware the fourth, cruelly drowned in a Vessell of Mal [...] sye, Fol. 93.

21. A lamentacion vpon the death of King Edvvarde the 4. Fol. 100.

22. Sir Anthony Woduile Lord Riuers, with his Nephewe Lord Richarde Graye and others, causles imprisoned and cruelly beheaded at Pomfret. Fol. 102

23. The Lord Hastings betrayed by his counsailour Ca [...]es [...]y, and murdred in the tower of London. Fol. 114.

24. Mayster Sackuils Induction. Fol. 129.

The Tragedy of H. duke Buckingham. Fol. 138.

25. Collingbourne cruelly executed for making a fosish rime Fol. 153.

26. King Bichard the third slaine at Bosworth. Fol. 159.

27 The fall of the blacke Smith, and fatall end of the Lorde Awdeley. Fol. 166.

28. The complaint of Shores wife, one of the Concubins of King Edward the fourth. Fol. 176.

❧A BRIEFE MEMOriall of sundry vnfortunate Englishmen. VVILLIAM BALDVVIN to the Reader

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WHEN the Printer had purposed with himself to Print Lidgates translation of Bochas, of the fal of Princes, hauinge made priuy thereto, many both honourable and Worshippefull: hee was coūsayled by dyuers of them to procure a continuance of the Storye from whereas Bochas left, vnto this presēt time, chiefly of such as Fortune had abused here in this Island: which might bee as a Myrrour for men of all estates and degrees aswell Nobles as other, to behold the slippery deceiptes of the wauering Lady, & the due reward of all kinde of vices. Which aduice liked him so well, that he required mee to take paynes therein: but because it was a matter passing my wit & skill, and more thancklesse than gaynefull to enterprise. I refused vtterly alone to vndertake it without the helpe of sutch, as in wit were apt, in learninge allowed, and in iudgemente and estimation able to wield and discharge the weight of sutch a burden, thinkinge so to shift my handes. But hee earnest and diligent in hys affayres, procure me an Athlas [Page] to laye the burden vppon my shoulders, which I would not haue undertaken, but that shortly after diuers learned men (whose many giftes nede few prayses) consented to take vpon them part of the trauaile. And when certayne of them to the numof seuen, were through a generall assent at an appoyncted time and place, gathered together to deuise thereuppon: I resorted vnto them, bringinge with mee the booke of Bochas translated by Dan Lidgate, for the better obseruation of his order: which although wee did not mislyke, yet would it not conueniently serue, seing that both Bochas, & Lidgate were dead, neither were there any alyue that had medled wt like argumēt, to whom the vnfortunate might make their moane. To make therfore a state meete for the matter, they al agreed that I shoulde vsurpe Bochas rome, and the wretched Princes complaine vnto me: and toke vpon themselues, euery man for his part to be sundry personages, and in their behalfes to bewaile vnto me their sundry chaunces, heauy destenies, and wofull misfortunes. This done, wee opened sutch Bookes of Chronicles as wee had there present, and Maister Ferrers after hee had founde where Bochas left, which was about the ende of Kinge Edward the thirdes raigne, to begin the matter, sayd thus.

I maruayle (ꝙ hee) what Bochas meaneth to forget among his myserable Princes, such as were of our Nation, whose number is as great as theyr [Page] Aduentures wonderfull. For to let passe all, both Britaynes, Danes, and Saxons, and to come to the last Conquest, what a sort are they, and some also in the time of Bochas himselfe, or not much before. As for example William Rufus the second kinge of Englande after the Cōquest, eyther by malice or misaduenture slayne hunting in the new forest, by Walter Tirrell with ye shot of an arrow. Robert Duke of Normandy eldest sonne to William Conquerour depriued of his inheritaunce of England, by Henry his youngest brother hauing both his eyes put out, and after, myserably imprisoned in Cardiffe Castel, whereas hee died. The most Lamentable case of William, Rychard, and Mary, children of the sayde Henry the first called Beauclerke, drowned vpon y• Sea by the negligence of drunken Mariners, and Kynge Rychard the fyrst slaine with a quarel in his chiefe prosperity. The most vnnaturall murther of Artur Duke of Britayne right Heyre of Englande, by king Ihon his vncle, wt the death of Isabell his Sister by Famyne. The myserable ende of the sayd king Ihon their vncle by Surfet, or as some write poysoned by a Monke of the Abbey of Swinsted in Lyncolneshrye. Are not their Histories ruful, and of rare Example? But as it should appeare, Bochas being an Italian, minded most the Romayne, and Italike Story, or els perhaps hee wanted the knowledge of ours. It were therefore a goodly and notable [Page] matter, to search and discourse our whole story from the first beginninge of the inhabiting of the Isle. But seeinge the Printers mynde is to haue vs supply where Lidgate left, we wil [...] leaue that great labour to other yt may intende it, and (as one being bold fyrst to breake the Ise) I will begin at y• reigne of Rychard ye secōd, a time as troublesome to ye people, as vnlucky to y• Prince. And for asmutch frende Baldwin, as it shall be your charge to penne orderly the whole processe: I will so far as my memory, and iudgement serueth, somewhat further you in the truth of the story. And therefore omittinge the ruffle made by Iacke Straw & his Lewd meiney, with the murder of many notable mē which thereby happened, (for Iacke as yee knowe was but a poore Prince) I wil begin with a notable example, which within a while after ensued. And although the person (at whom I beginne) was no kinge nor Prince: yet sithens he had a Princely office, I wil take vpon mee the miserable person of Syr Robert Tresilian chiefe Iustice of Englande, and of other his fellowes learned in ye Law yt were plagued wt him: thereby to warne all of theyr callinge & profession, to be ware of wronge Iudgementes, miscō struinge of Lawes, or wrestinge the same to serue the Prynces turne, which rightfully brought them to a myserable ende, which they may iustly lament in maner ensuinge. *⁎*

❧THE FALL OF SIR Robert Tresilian chief Iustice of England, and other his fellowes, for misconstruinge the Lawes and expoundinge them to serue the Prynces affections. Anno. 1388.

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IN the rufull Regester of mischifee, and mishap,

Baldwin we besech thee with our names to begin,

Whom vnfrendly Fortune did trayne vnto a trap,

Whē we our state estéem'd most stable to haue bin:

So lightly léese they all, which all do weene to winne:

Learne by vs yee Lawyers, and Iudges of the Lande,

Vpright and vncorrupt in dome alway to stand.

And print yee this president to remayne for euer,

Enroll and recorde it in tables made of Brasse,

Engraue it in Marble that may bee razed neuer,

Where Iudges of the Lawe may sée as in a Glasse,

What guerdon is for guile, and what our wages was,

Who for filthy lucre, corrupt with meede and awe,

Wittingly and wretchedly did wrest the sence of Lawe.

A chaunge more new or straunge, when was there euer séene,

Then Iudges from the Bench to come downe to the Barre,

And counsaylours that were, most nigh to King and Quéene

Exiled their countrey, from Court and counsayle farre,

But such is Fortunes play that can both make and marre,

Exaltinge to most highe, that was before most lowe,

And turning tayle agayne, the lofty downe to throwe.

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And such as late afore, could stoutly speake and pleade

Both in Court, and Countrey, carelesse of the triall,

Stand muet as Mammers without aduice, or reade

All to seeke of shiftinge, by trauerse or deniall

Which haue seene the day, when for a golden Riall

By finesse and cunning, could haue made blacke seeme whit

And most extorted wronge, to haue appeared righte.

Whilst thus on bench aboue, wee had the highest place,

Our reasons were to strong, for any to confute,

But when at barre beneath, we came to pleade our case

Our wittes were in the wane, our pleadinge very brute,

Hard it is for Prisoners, with Iudges to dispute

When many against one, and none for one shall speake.

Who weenes himselfe most wyse, shall haply be to weake.

To you therefore that sit, these fewe wordes will I say,

That no man sits so sure, but may be brought to stand,

Wherefore whilst you haue place, & beare the swing, & sway

By fauour without rygor, let poincts of Law bee skand:

Pitty the poore Prysoner that holdeth vp his hand,

Ne lade him not with Law, who least of Law hath knowne,

Remember ere yee dye, the case may bee your owne.

Beholde mee vnfortunate Foreman of thys Flocke,

Tresilian, sometime chiefe Iustice of this Lande.

A Gentleman by byrth, no stayne was in my Stocke,

Locketon, H [...]lt, and Belknay, with other of my bande,

Which the Lawe and Iustice had wholly in our hande,

Vnder the second Rychard a Prince of great estates

To whom and vs also, blinde Fortune gaue the mate.

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In the common Lawes oure skill was so profounde,

Oure credit and aucthority such, and so estéemed,

That what that we concluded was taken for a grounde,

Allowed was for Lawe, what so to vs best seemed.

Lyfe, Death, Landes, goods, and all by vs was deemed.

Whereby with easy payne, great gaine we did in fet,

And euery thinge was fishe, that came vnto our net.

At Sessions and Sises, we bare the stroke and sway,

In pantents and commission, of Quorum alway chiefe:

So that to whether side, soeuer we did way,

Were it by right or wronge, it past without represe,

The true man we let hang, somwhiles to saue a Thiefe,

Of Golde and of Siluer, our handes were neuer empty,

Offices, F [...]rmes, and Fees, fell to vs in great plenty.

But what thinge may suffice vnto the greedy man?

The more he hath in hold, the more he doth desire,

Happy and twyce happy is hee, that wisely can

Content himselfe with that, which reason doth require,

And moyleth for no more, then for his needefull hyre:

But greedinesse of minde doth seeldome keepe the syse,

To whom enough and more, at no time doth suffise.

For like as Dropsy pacients drinke and still be drye,

Whose vnstaunched Thirst no Liquor can Alaye,

And drincke they nere so mutch, yet Thirst they by and by,

So Catchers, and Snatchers toyle both night and day,

Not néedy but gréedy, still prollinge for their Praye,

O endelesse Thirst of Gold▪ corrupter of all Lawes,

What mischiefe is on mould whereof thou art not cause.

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Thou madest vs forget the fayth we did professe,

When Sergeants we were sworne to serue the cōmon Law,

Makyng a solempne oth in no paynt to dygresse.

From approued Principles in sentence nor in sawe:

But we vnhappy wyghts without al dread and awe,

Of the Iudge eternall, more high to be promoted.

To Mammon more then God, all wholly were deuoted.

The Lawes we did interprete and statutes of the Land,

Not truely by the Text, but newly by a gloase:

And wordes y• were most plaine, when they by vs were scand,

Wee turned by construction like a Welshmans hoase,

Whereby many a one both life and Land did loose:

Yet this we made our meane to mount a loft on Mules,

And seruing times and turues, peruerted Lawes and rules.

Thus clyming and contending alway to the toppe.

From hie, vato higher, and than to be most hye,

The honny dew of Fortune so fast on vs did droppe,

That of King Richards counsayle we came to be most nye:

Whose fauoure to attayne, we were full fine and slye

Alway to his auayle, where any sense might sound,

That way (were it all wrong) [...]he Lawes we did expound.

So workinge Lawe like waxe, the subiect was not sure

Of Life, Land, nor goods, but at the Princes will,

Which caused his kingdome the shorter time to dure,

For clayminge power absolute both to saue and spill,

The Prince thereby presumed his people for to pill:

And set his lustes for Lawe, and will had reasons place,

No more but hange and draw, there was no better grace.

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The King thus outleaping, the limits of his lawe,

Not raygning but raginge, as wyll did him entice,

Wyse and worthy persons from Court did daylye drawe,

Sage counsell see at naught, proud vaunters were in price,

And roysters bare the rule, which wasted al in vyce,

Of ryot and excesse, grew scarcitie and lacke,

Of [...]acking came taxing, and so went wealth to wracke.

The Barons of the Land, not bearing this abuse,

Conspiring with the commons assembled by assent,

And seing no reason nor trea [...]ye could induce

The king in any thing his rigour to relent,

Maugre his princely mynde: they cald a Parliament

Francke and free for all men, vnchecked to debate

Aswell for weale publique, as for the Princes state.

In which high assemblye, great thinges were proponed.

Touching the Princes state, his regally and crowne,

By reason that Richard, which much was to be moned,

Without regard at all, of honour or renowne,

Misled by ill aduise, had turnde al vpside downe:

For sure [...]ie of whose state, them thought it did behooue.

His counsailours corrupt, by order to remoue.

Among whom, Robert Veer, called Duke of Ireland,

With Mighel Delapoole, of Suffolke new made Earle.

Tharchbyshop of Yorke was also of our hand:

With Brembre of London a ful vncurteous churle)

Some learned in the law in exile they did hurle:

But I iudge Tresilian, because I was the chiefe,

Was dam [...]ned to the Gallowes to dye there as a thiefe.

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Lo the fyne of falshoode, the stipend of corruption,

The [...]ickle f [...]e of fraud, the fruites it doth procure,

Ye iudges now liuing, let out iust punition

Teach you to shake of brybes, and kepe your h [...]ndes al pure,

Riches and promocion be vayne thinges, and vnsure:

The fauour of a Prince is an vntrustie staye,

But Iustice hath a fee, that shal remayne alwaye.

What gloryis more greater in sight of God or man.

Then by pathes of Iustice in Iudgement to procede?

So duelye and truely the lawes alway to skan,

That Iustice may take place without reward or meede,

Set apart all flattery and vayne worldly dreede:

Set God before your eyes the righteous Iudge supreme,

Remember wel your reckening at the day extreame.

Abandon all affray, be soothfast in your sawes,

Be constant and carelesse of mortall mens displeasure.

With eyes shut, & hands closde, you should pronoūce ye lawes

Way not this worldly mucke, thincke there is a treasure

More worth then Gold or stone, a thousand times in valure,

Reposed for all such as righteousnes ensue,

Wherof you cannot fayle, the promise made is true.

If Iudges in our dayes would ponder wel in mynde,

The fatall fall of vs, for wresting lawe and right,

Such statutes as touch lyfe, should not be thus definde

By sences constrained, against true meaning quite,

Aswel they might affirme the blacke for to be whyte.

Wherfore we wish they would, our act and end compare,

And waying wel the case, they wyl (we trust) beware.

Finis.

G. F.

§

§

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WHen finished was this Tragedy, which semed not vnfyt for the persons touched in y• same. Another which in the meane tyme had stayde vppon syr Roger Mortimer Earle of March, and heyre apparaunt of Englande, whose miserable end (as it should appeare) was somwhat before the others: sayd as foloweth. Although it be not greatlye appertinent to our purposed matter, yet in my iudgement, I thincke it would do wel to obserue the tymes of these great infortunes, and as they be more auncient in tyme, so to place their seuerall plaintes: For I fynde that before these (of whō maister Ferrers here hath spoken) there were two earles of ye name of Mortimer, the one in the tyme of king Edward the third out of our date: another in Richard the secondes time, slayne in Ireland, a yeare before the fal of these Iustices: whose hystorie syth it is notable, and thexample fruitful, it were not good to ouerpasse. And therfore by your lycence and fauours, I wyl take vpon me the personage of the earle Mortimer called Roger, who full of bloudye woundes mangled, with a pale countenaunce, and grieslye looke, may make his moane to Baldwin, in this wise.

HOVV THE TWO ROGERS, surnamed Mortimers, for their sundrye Vyces, ended theire lyues vnfortunatelye, the one Anno. 1329. the other. Anno. 1387.

[Page]

AMong the ryders on the rolling wheele,

Which lost their holdes, Baldwyn forget not mee

Whose fatall thred, vntimelye death dyd reele

Ere it were twisted, by the Sisters threee,

All folke be [...]rayle, theyr blisses brittle bee:

For proofe whereof, although none other were,

Suffice may I, Sir Roger Mortimer.

Not he that was in Edwardes dayes the third,

Whom Fortune brought from boote to extreme bale,

With loue of whom, the Queene so much was stird,

As for his sake from honour she did scale,

And whilest Fortune, blew on this pleasaunt gale,

Heauing him high on her triumphall Arch,

By meane of her hee was made Earle of March.

Whence pryde out sprang, as doth appeare by manye,

Whom soden hap, aduaunceth in excesse,

Among thousandes, scarse shal you fynde anye,

Which in high wealth that humor can suppresse,

As in this earle, playne proofe did wel expresse:

For whereas hee too loftye was before,

His new degree hath made him now much more.

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For now alone he ruleth as him lust,

Respecting none saue only the Queene mother,

Which moued malice to foulder out the rust,

Which deepe in hate, before did lye and smother.

The Peeres, the People, aswel the one as other.

Against him made so haynous a complaint,

That for a traytour, they did the Earle attaynt.

Than al such crimes as hidden lay before,

They skower a fresh, and somwhat to them adde,

For hydden hate hath eloquence in store,

Whan Fortune biddes small faultes to make more bad,

Fyue haynous crymes against him soone were had,

Causing the king to yeld vnto the Scot,

Townes that this father, but late afore had got.

And therewithall the Charter called Ragman,

Yeuen to the Scots for brybes and priuie gayne,

That by his meanes sir Edward of Carnaruan

In Berckley Castel, most cruelly was slayne:

That with his princes mother he had layne,

And last of all by pyllage at his pleasure,

Had spoyld the kyng and commons of their treasure.

For these thinges lo, which erst were out of mynde,

Dampned he was, and honged at the last,

In whom dame Fortune fully shewed her kynde,

For whome she heaues, she hurleth downe as fast:

It men to come, would learne by other past,

My coosius fall might cause them set asyde,

High clymim, brybing, adultery and pryde,

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The fynal cause, why I this processe tell,

Is that I may be knowen from this other,

My like in name, vnlike me though he fel.

Which was I wene my graund sire or his brother:

To count my kin, Dame Philip was my mother,

Eldest daughter and heire of Lyonell,

Of King Edward the third the second sequele.

My Father hight sir Edmund Mortimer,

Cald Earle of March, whence I was after Earle,

By true discent these two my parentes were,

Of whih the one of knighthood bare ferl

Of Ladies all, the other was the pearle:

After whose Death I onely stoode in plight,

To be next heyre vnto the crowne by right.

Touching the case of my cousin Roger,

(Whose ruful end euen now I did relate)

Was found in tyme an vndue atteindre

Against the law, by those that bare him hate:

For where by lawe ech man of free estate,

Should be heard speake before his iudgement passe,

That common grace to him denyed was.

Wherfore by doome in Court of Parliament,

His atteindre appering erroneous,

The King, the Lordes, and Cammons of assent,

His lawlesse death vnlawful did discusse,

And both to bloud and good restored vs:

A president worthy, in record left,

Lordes lygnes to saue, by lawles meanes bereft.

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Whyle Fortune thus did frendly me reteyne,

Rychard the king, that second was by name,

Hauing none heire after him to reigne:

Made me his mate in earnest and in game:

The Lordes themselues so wel allowd the same,

That through my titles [...]ulye comming downe,

I was made heire apparaunt to the crowne.

Who then but I was euery where esteemed?

Wel was the man that vnderstoode my [...]ert,

Whom I allowed, as Lordes the People deemed,

And me to serue was euery mannes entent,

With all that wyt or cunning could inuent:

To me as prince attended great and small,

In hope a day would come to pay for all.

But seeldome ioye continueth trouble voyde,

In greatest charge cares greatest do ensue,

The most possest, are euer most anoyed,

In largest seas sor [...] tempestes lightly brue,

The freshest colours, soonest chaunge their hue,

In thickest place is made the diepest wounde,

True proofe whereof, my selfe to soone haue found,

For whiles Fortune so luld me in her lap,

And gaue me giftes more than I did require,

The double Dame behynde me set a trap,

To dash me downe and laye all in the myre:

The Irish Kernes agaynst mee did conspyre,

My Landes of Vlster vniustly to bereaue,

Which my mother for heritage did me leaue.

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And whyles I there to set all thinges in staye,

(Omit my toyles and troubles thytherwarde)

Among mine owne, with my retinue laye,

The wylder sort, whom I did least regard,

And therfore the rechlesse mannes reward:

When least I thought, set on me in such number,

That fro my corps, the lyfe they set asunder.

Nought might auayle my courage nor my force,

Nor helpe of frendes. which were alas to few:

The cruel folke assaulted so my horse,

That all my helpes in pieces they to hew,

Our bloud distaind the ground as drops of dewe.

Nought might preuayle to flye or yet to yelde,

For whom they take they murther in che fielde.

No law of Armes they know, nor none wil learne:

They make not warre (as other do) a play,

The Lord, the Boy, the Gallowglasse, the Kerne,

Yeeld or not yelde, whom so they take they slaye,

They saue no prisoners, for raunsome, nor for paye:

Their booty chiefe, they coumpt a deadmans heade

Their end of warre's to see their enemie dead.

Amongest these men, or rather sauage beasts

I lost my lyfe, by cruel murther slayne,

And therfore Baldwin note thou well my gestes,

And warne all princes rashnes to refrayne,

Bid them beware their enemies when they fayne,

Nor yet presume to make their match amisse,

Had I not so done, I had not come to this,

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At naught I set a sort of naked men,

And much the lesse, seeming to flye away,

One man me thought was good ynough for ten,

Making small account of number more or lesse,

Madnesse it is, in warre to goo by gesse,

At vnwares assaulted by our fone,

Which were in number fourtie to vs one.

See here the slay of pompe and highe estate,

The feeble hold of this vncerteyn lyfe,

For I but young, proclaymed Prince but late,

Hauing fayre fruict by my belooued wyfe:

Lost all at once by stroake of bloudy knife:

Whereby assurde, let men themselues assure,

That wealth, and lyfe are doubtful to endure.

FINIS.

T. Ch.

§

§

AFter this Tragedye ended, Mays [...]er Ferrers sayde, seeinge it is beste to place eche person in his order, Baldwin take you the Chronicles & marke them as they come: for there are many worthye to bee noted, thoughe not treated of. First the Lorde Murrey a Scottish man, who tooke his deathes wound through a stroake lent him by the Earle of Notingham, whom he chalenged at the Tylt: But to omit him and also the fatte Pryor of Typtre, pressed to death [Page] with thronge of People vppon London Bridge at the Queenes entrye, I wyll come to the Duke of Glocester the kinges vncle, a man mynding the common wealth, and yet at length miserably made away, in whose person if ye wil geeue eare, ye shal heare what I thinke meete to be sayd.

HOVVE SIR THOMAS of VVoodstocke, Duke of Glocestre, Vncle to King Rychard the second, was vnlawfully murdered. Anno. 1397.

[Page]

WHo stablisht is in State, seeming most sure,

And so far from daunger of Fortunnes blast,

As by the compas [...] o [...] mannes coniecture,

No brasen pylter may be fyxt more fast:

Yet wanting the stay of prudent forecast,

Whan froward Fortune list for to frowne,

May in a moment turne vpside downe.

In proofe whereof, O Baldwin, take payne,

Turne thine care to Thomas of Woodstocke,

Prest in presence on Fortune to complaine,

In the forlorne hope of English flocke:

Who by discent was of the royall stocke,

Sonne to king Edward, third of that name,

And second to none in glorye and fame.

This noble father to maynteyn my state,

With Buckingham Earledome did me i [...]dowe:

Both Nature and Fortune to me were grate,

Denying mee nothing which they might allow:

Their sundrye graces in me did so flowe,

As beautye, strength, high fauour, and fame,

Who may of God more wish then the same?

[Page]

Brothers we were to the number of seuen,

I beeing the sixt, and youngest but one:

A more royall race was not vnder heauen,

More sto [...]t or more stately, of stomacke & person,

Princes al peerelesse in ech condition,

Namelye syr Edward, called the blacke Prince,

When had England the like before or euer since?

But what of all this, any man to assure,

In state vncarefull of Fortunes variaunce?

Syth daylye and hourelye wee see it in vre,

That where most cause is of affiaunce,

Euen there is found most weake assuraunce:

Let none trust Fortune, but folow reason,

For often wee see in trust is treason.

This prouerbe in proofe ouer true I tryed,

Fynding high treason in place of high trust,

And most false fayth where I most affyed:

Beinge by them that should haue bene iust.

Trayterouslye entrapt, ere I could mistrust,

Ah wretched world, what is it to trust thee?

Let them that wil learne now harken to mee.

After king Edward the thirdes decease,

Succeeded my Nephewe Richard to raigne,

Who for his glory and honours encrease,

Wich princely wages did me entertaine,

Against the Frenchmen to be his Chieftayne:

So passing the Seas with royall puissaunce,

With God and S. George I inuaded Fraunce.

[Page]

Wastinge the country with sword and with fyre,

Ouer turning townes, high Castles and towers,

Like Mars God of warre, enflamed with ire,

I forced the Frenchmen t'abandon their bowers?

Where euer we matcht, I wan at all howers,

In such wise visiting both Cittie ad village,

That alway my souldiers were laden with pyllage.

With honour and tryumph was my returne,

Was none more ioyous than young king Richard

Who minding more highlye my state to adourne,

With Glocestre Dukedome did me reward:

And after in mariage I was prefarde,

To a daughter of Bohun an Earle honourable:

By whom I was of England high Constable.

Thus hoysted high on Fortunes whyrling wheele,

As one on a stage attending a playe,

Seeth not on which syde the scaffold doth reele,

Til timber and poales and al flye awaye.

So fared it by me. for day by daye,

As honour encreased I looked stil higher,

Not seing the daunger of my fond desier.

For Fortunes floud thus running with ful streame,

And I a Duke descended of great kinges,

Constable of England, chiefe officer in the realme,

Abused with assuraunce in these vayne thinges,

I went without feete, and flew without winges:

Presuming so faire vpon my high estate,

That dread set apart my Prince I would mate.

[Page]

For whereas all kinges haue counsel of their choyse,

To whom they referre the rule of their Land,

With certein familiers in whom to reioyce,

For pleasure or profite, as the case shall stand,

I not hearing this, would needes take in hand,

Maugre his will, those persons to disgrace,

And such as I thought [...]tie to settle in their place.

But as an old Booke sayth, who so wil assay,

About the Cats necke to hang on any Bell,

Had first neede to cut the Cats clawes awaye

Least if the Cat be curst, and not camed well,

She happly with her nayles may clawe him to the fell,

So putting on the Bel about the Cats necke,

By being too busie I caught a cruel checke.

Reade wel the sentence of the Rat of renowne,

Which Pierce the Plowman describes in his Dreame,

And who so hath wy [...] the sence to expoune,

Shal fynde, that to brydle the Prince of a Realme,

Is euen (as who sayth) to stryue with the streame:

Note this all subiectes and construe it well,

And busie not your Braynes about the Cats bel.

But in that ye be Lieges learne to obay,

Submitting your willes to your Princes Lawes,

It sitteth not a subiect to haue his owne waye,

Remember this prouer be of the Cats clawes:

For Princes like Lyons haue long and large pawes

That reach at Randon, and whom they once twitch,

They claw to the boane before the skinne itch.

[Page]

But to my purpose, I being once bent,

Towardes the atchieving of my attemptate.

Foure bold Barons were of myne assent,

By oath and aliaunce fastlye confederate,

First Henry of Derby an Earle of estate,

Richard of Arundel, and Thomas of Warwicke,

With Mowbray the Marshal, a man most warlike.

At Ratecote bridge assembled our band,

The commons in clusters came to vs that day,

To daunt Robert Veer, then Duke of Ireland,

By whom King Richard was ruled alway,

We put him to flight and brake his array,

Then Maugre the king his leaue or assent,

By Constables power we cald a Parliament.

Where not in Roabes, but with Baslardes bright,

We came for to parle of the Publique weale,

Confirming our quarel with maine and with might,

With swordes and no wordes we tryed our appeale,

In steede of reason declaring our zeale,

And whom so we knew with the king in good grace,

We playnly depriued of power and of place.

Some with short processe were bannisht the Land,

Some executed with capitall payne,

VVherof who so lis [...], the whole to vnderstand,

In the Parliament rolle it appeareth playne,

And further how stoutly we did the king straine,

The rule of his realme wholy to resigne,

To the order of those, whom we did assigne.

[Page]

But note the sequele of such presumption,

Af [...]er we had these Myracles thus wrought,

The kinge inflamed with indignation,

By Subiectes thus in bondage to bee brought,

Suppress [...]ge the Ire of his inward thought:

Studied nought els but how that he might,

Be highly reuenged of this high dispight.

Agreeued was also this later offence,

With former cause of [...] to renewe,

For once at Wyndsor I brought to his presence,

The Maior of London with all his retinewe,,

To aske accoumpt of the Realmes reuenew:

And the Souldiers of Brest by me were made bold

To clayme their wages, when the towne was solde.

These griefes remembred with all the remnaunt,

Fulfyld his hart with hate out of measure,

Yet openly in shew made he no semblaunt,

By word or by deede to beare displeasure:

But Frendship fayned, in proofe is found vnsure.

And who so trusteth a foe reconcilde,

Is for the most part alwayes beguilde.

For as fier ill quencht will vp [...]at a start,

And sores not wel salued do breake out of new,

So hatred hidden in an ireful hart,

Where it hath not had long season to brew,

Vpon euery occasion doth easely renew:

Not fayling at last, if it be not let,

To pay large vsurie besides the due de [...],

[Page]

Euen so it fared by this frendship fayned,

Outwardly sound and inwardly rotten:

For when the kings fauour in seeming was gayned:

All olde displeasures forgeeuen and forgotten,

Euen than at a soden the shaft was shotten,

Which pearced my hart voyd of mistrust,

Alas that a Prince should be so vniust.

For lyinge at Plashey my selfe to repose,

With long sickness [...] diseased very sore:

The King espying me apart from those,

With whom I was confedered before,

Thought it not meete to tract the time more

But glad 'to take me at such aduauntage,

Came to salute mee with frendly visage.

Who hauing a Band bound to his bent,

By colour of kindnesse to visite his Eame,

Tooke tyme to accomplish his cruel entent:

And in a small vessel downe by the streame,

Conueid me to Calais out of the realme,

Where without processe or doome of my peares,

Not nature but murder abridged my yeares.

This act was odious to God and to man,

Yet rigour to cloake to ha [...]it of reason,

By craftye compasse deuise they can,

Articles nine of right haynous treason:

But doome after death is sure out of season,

For who euer saw so straunge a president,

As execution to goe before iudgement.

[Page]

Thus hate harboured in depth of mynde,

By sought occasion burst out of new.

And c [...]u [...]l [...]ye abused the lawe of kinde,

When that the Nephue the vncle slew,

Alas King Richard, sore maist thou rue-

Which by this fact preparedst a playne waye,

Of thy hard destenye to hasten the daye.

For bloud axeth bloud as guerdon due,

And vengeaunce for vengeaunce is iust rewarde:

O righteous God thy iudgementes are true,

For looke what measure to others we awarde,

The same for vs againe is preparde:

Take heede ye princes by examples past,

Bloud wil haue bloud eyther first or last.

FINIS.

G. F.

§

§

WHen maister Ferrers had ended this fruictfull Tragedye, because no mā was readye with an other, hauing perused the storie which came next, sayde: because you shall not saye (my maysters) but that I will somewhat doe my parte. I wyll vnder your correction, declare the tragedye of Thomas Mowbrey, Duke of Northfolke, the chiefe worker of the Duke of Glocesters destruction: who to admonish all counsaylours to b [...]ware of Flattring Princes or falsely enuying or accusing their Peregalles, may lamēt his vyces in maner folowinge.

HOVV THE LORDE Mowbray promoted by Kynge Rychard the seconde, to the State of a Duke, was by him Banished the Realme, in the yeare of Christe. 1398. and after died myserably in exile.

[Page]

THough sorrowe and shame abash me to reherce,

My lothsome lyfe and death of due deserued,

Yet that the paynes thereof may other pearce,

To leaue the like, least they be likewise serued,

Ah Baldwin marke, aud see how that I swerued:

Dissemblinge, enuy, and Flattery, bane that bee

Of al their Hosts, haue shewed their power on mee.

A blame not fortune though she did her part,

And true it is, she can do little harme,

She guideth goods, she hampreth not the hart,

A minde well [...]ent, is safe from euery charme:

Vice, onely vice, with her stout strengthlesse arme,

Doth cause the heart from good to ill encline,

Whych I alas, do finde to true by myne.

For where by birth I came of noble race,

The Mowbreys heyre, a famouse house and olde,

Fortune I thanke, gaue me so good a grace,

That of my Prince I had what so I wolde:

Yet neyther was, to other greatly holde,

For I through flattery abusd his wanton youth,

And his fond trust augmented my vntruth.

[Page]

Hee made mee first the Earle of Notingham,

And Marshall of England, in which estate

The Pieres and people ioyntly to mee came,

With sore complaint, against them that of late

Made officers, had brought the kinge in hate,

By makinge sale of Iustice, right, and Lawe,

And liuinge naught: without all dreade or awe.

I gaue them ayde these euils to redresse,

And went to London with an army strong,

And caused the king, against his will oppresse

By cruell death, all such as led him wrong:

The Lord chiefe Iustice suffered these among,

So did the Steward of his houshold head,

The Chauncellor scapt, for he aforehand fled.

These wicked men thus from the king remoued,

Who best vs pleased succeeded in their place:

For which both Kinge, and Commons mutch vs loued,

But chiefly I with all stoode high in grace,

The Kinge ensued my rede in euery case,

Whence selfe loue bred: for glory maketh proude,

And pryde ay looketh alone to bee allowde.

Wherefore to th'ende I might alone enioy

The Kinges fauour, I made his lust my lawe:

And where of late I laboured to destroy,

Sutch flatteringe folke, as thereto stode in awe,

Now learned I amonge the rest to clawe:

For pride is sutch, if it be kindly caught,

As stroyeth good, and stirreth vp euery naught.

[Page]

Pryde prouoketh to flatter for the pray,

To poll, and oppresse for maintenaunce of the same,

To malice such as match vnethes it may:

And to be briefe, pride doth the hart enflame,

To fyre what mischiefe any fraud may frame,

And euer at length the euils by it wrought

Confound the worker and bring him vnto nought.

Behold in me due proofe of euery part,

For pryde prickt me first my prince to flatter

So much, that who so euer pleased his hart,

Were it neuer so euil, I thought it a lawfll matter,

Which caused the Lordes afresh against him clatter:

Because of Holdes beyond the sea that [...]e solde.

And seene his souldiers of their wages polde.

Though all these ills were done by myne assent,

Yet such was lucke that ech man deemed no:

For see the Duke of Glocestre for me sent,

With other Lordes whose hartes did bleede for woe,

To see the Realme so fast to ruine goe:

In fault whereof, they sayd the two Dukes were,

The one of Yorke, the other of Lancaster.

On whose remoue from place about the king

We all agreed, and sware a solem [...]ne oth,

And whilst the rest prouided for this thing,

I flatterer I, to wyn the prayse of troth:

Wretch that I was brake fayth and promise both:

For I bewrayed the King, their whole intent,

For which vnwares they all were tane and shent.

[Page]

Thus was the warder of the Common weale,

The Duke of Glocester giltlesse made away,

With other moe, more wretch I so to deale,

Who through vntruth their trust did ill betraye:

Yet by this meanes obteyned I my praye,

Of king and Dukes I found for this such fauour,

As made me Duke of Northfolke for my labour.

But see how pryde and enuye ioyntly runne,

Because my Prince did more then me preferre,

Syr Henry Bolenbroke the Eldest sonne

Of Iohn of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster,

Proude I that would alone be blazing sterre,

Enuied this Duke, for nought saue that the shyne

Of his desertes, did glister more then mine.

To thend therfore his light should be the lesse,

I slylye sought al shiftes to put it out,

But as the poyze that would the palmetree presse,

Doth cause the bowes sprede larger round about,

So spite and enuye causeth glory sproute,

And aye the more the toppe is ouer trode,

The deeper doth the sound roote spreade abrode.

For when this Henrye Duke of Hereford sawe,

What spoy [...]e the King made of the noble blood,

And that without al Iustice, cause, or lawe:

To suffer him so, be thought not sure nor good,

Wherefore to me twofaced in one hood,

As touching this he fully brake his mynde

As to his frend that should remedye fynde.

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But I, although I knewe my Prince did ill,

So that my heart abhorred sore the same,

Yet mischiefe so through malice led my will,

To bringe this Duke from honour vnto shame,

And toward my selfe, my Soueraygne to enflame:

That I bewraye [...] his Words vnto the King,

Not as a reade, but as a most haynous thing.

Thus where my duty bounde me to haue tolde

My Prince his fault, and wild him to refrayne,

Through flattery loe, I did his ill vpholde,

VVhich turnd at length both him and mee to payne:

VVo, wo to Kinges whose counsaylours do fayne,

VVo, wo to Realmes where sutch are put in trust,

As leaue the lawe, to serue the Princes lust.

And wo to him that by his flatteringe rede,

Maynteyns a Prince in any kinde of vice:

VVo worth him eke for enuy, pryde or mede,

That misreportes any honest enterprise,

Because I beast, in all these poynctes was nice,

The plagues of all together on me light,

And due for ill: All doers doth acquite.

For when the Duke was charged with my plaint,

Hee flat denied that any part was true,

And claymde by Armes, to aunswere his attaint,

And I by vse, that Warly feates well knewe,

To his desire incontinently drewe:

VVherewith the Kinge did seeme right well content,

As one that past not mutch with whom it went.

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At time and place appoyncted wee appeard,

At all poynctes Armed to proue our Quarelles Iust,

And whan our Freendes on ech part had vs cheard,

And that the Harolds had vs do our lust:

With speare in rest we toke a course to iust.

But ere our horses had runne halfe theyr way,

A shoute was made the K [...]ng commaunded staye.

And for to auoyde the sheddinge of our bloud,

VVith shame, and death which one must needes haue had,

The Kinge through counsayle of the Lordes thought good

To banishe both, wich iudgement strait was rad:

No maruayle than though both were wroth and sad

But chiefly I, that was Exild for aye,

My Enmy straungd but for ten yeares daye.

The date expird, whan by this doubtfull dome,

I should depart to liue in banisht hand,

On payne of death to England not to come,

I went my way: the Kinge sea [...]d in his hand

Myne Offices, my Honours, Good, and Land,

To paye the due as openly hee tould,

Of mighty summes, which I had from him pold.

See Baldwin see, the salary of sinne,

Marke with what meede, vile vices are regarded

Through Pride, and Enuy loose both kith, and kinne,

And for my flatteringe plaint so well rewarded,

Exile, and slaunder are iust to mee awarded:

My Wyfe, and Heire lacke Laudes, and lawfull Right,

And mee theyr Lord made Dame Dianais Knight.

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If these mishaps at home bee not enough,

Adioyne to them my Sorrowes in Exile:

I went to Almayne first, a Land right rough,

In which I founde sutch churlishe Folke, and vile,

As made mee lothe my life ech otherwhile:

There lo, I learnd what it is to bee a gest

A broade, and what to liue at home in rest.

For they esteeme no one man more than ech,

They vse as well the Lackey as the Lorde,

And like their maners churlishe in their spech,

Their lodging hard, theyr bourd to bee abhord,

Their pleityd Garments herewith well accord,

All Iagde, and Frounst, with diuers coulours deckt,

They sweare, they curse, and drincke till they be flekt.

They hate all such, as these their maners hate,

VVhich reason would, no Wiseman should allowe,

VVith these I dwelt, lamentinge myne estate,

Till at the length they had got knowledge, howe

I was exilde, because I did auowe

A false complaint, agaynst my trusty freende,

VVhich made them thinke, mee worse then any feende.

That what for shame, and what for other griefe,

I parted thence, and went to Venice towne,

VVhereas I found, more pleasure and reliefe,

VVhich was not longe: for now the great renowne,

Of Bolenbroke whom I, would haue put downe,

VVas waxt so great in Britayne, and in Fraunce,

That Venice through, ech man did him Auaunce.

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Loo! thus his Glory grewe great, by my dispite,

And I thereby increased in defame:

So enuy euer, her hatred doth acquite

VVith Trouble, Anguishe, Sorrowe, and selfe Shame,

VVhereby her Foes do shine in higher Fame:

Lyke Water waues, which clense the Muddy stone,

And soyle themselues by beatinge thereupon.

Or eare I had soiourned there a yeare,

Straunge tidings came, he was to England gone,

Had ta [...]e the Kinge, and that which touched him neare,

Emprisoned him with other of his Fone,

And made him yeelde him vp his Crowne, and Throne:

VVhen I these thinges for true by search had tryed,

Griefe griped me so, I pined a way and died.

Note here the ende of pryde, see Flatteries fyne,

Marke the rewarde of enuy, and false complaynt,

And warne all people from them to decline,

Least likely fault do finde the like attaynte.

Let this my lyfe, to them be a restraynt,

By others harmes who listeth take no hede:

Shall by his owne, learne other better rede.

FINIS.

T. CH.

§

§

THis tragical example was of al the company wel liked, howbeit a doubt was foūd therin, & that by means of the diuersity of ye Chronicles [Page] for whereas Hall (whose Chronicle in this woorke was chiefelye folowed) maketh Mowbr [...]y appellant, and Bolenbroke defendant. Fabian reporteth the matter quite contrarye, and that by recorde of the Parliament rolle, wherein it is plain that Bolenbroke was appellant & Morobrey defendant wherfore whatsoeuer shalbe sayde in the persō of Mowbrey (who being a most noble prince had to much wrong to be so causeles defamed after his death) imagine the same to be spoken agaynste his accuser. Which matter syth it is more harde to decide, than nedefull to our yurpose, which mynde only to disswade frō vices & exalt vertue, we refer to such as may come by the Recordes of the Parliament, contented in the meane while with Mayster Halles iudgement, which maketh best for our foreshewed purpose.

This doubt thus let passe. I would sayd M, Ferrers, saye somwhat for K. Rich. the 2. after whose depriuing, his brother & diuers other made a maske mynding by K. Henries destructiō to haue restored him, which maskers matter so runneth in this yt I doubt which ought to goe before, but seeing no mā is ready to say ought in their behalfe, I wyll geue (who so listeth) leasure to think thereon, & in ye meane time to further your enrerprise. I will in K. Richards behalfe recount such part of his storye, as I thinke most necessary. And therfore imagin Baldwin y• you see y• corps of this Prince al to be māgled, wt bloudy woundes, lyinge pale and wanne, naked [Page] vpon a Beere in Paules Church, the People standing round about him, and making his complaint in maner as foloweth.

HOWE KINGE RICHARDE the second was for his euil gouernaunce deposed from his seate, in the yeare 1399. & miserably murthered in prison the yeare folowing.

HApyye is the Prince, that hath in wealth the grace

Vertue to folow and vyces to keepe vnder,

But woe to him whose wyl hath wisdomes place:

For who so renteth right and law asunder,

On him at length all the world shall wonder,

Boast of high byrth, sword, scepter, ne mace.

Can warrant King or Keyser fro the case,

Shame sueth sinne, as rayne do drops of thunder,

Let kinges therfore the Lawes of God embrace,

That vayne delightes cause them not to blunder

Beholde my hap, see how the seely route

On me do gaze, and ech to other say:

See where he lyeth, but late that was so stoute,

Loe how the power, the Pride, and rich aray,

Of mighty Princes lightly fade away.

The King which earst kept all the realme in doubt,

Dead and least dread, to graue is caryed out,

What would be Kinges made of but earth and clay:

Behold the woundes his body all about,

Whe liuing here, thought neuer to decay.

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Mee thinke I heare the people thus deuise

Wherefore Baldwin, sith thou wilt now declare

How Princes fell, to make the liuinge wise,

My lawlesse life, in no poynct see thou spare,

But paint it out, that rulers may beware,

Good counsayle, Lawe, or vertue to dispise:

For Realmes haue rulers, and rulers haue a sise,

Which if they breake, thus mutch to say I dare,

That eythers griefes, the other shall agrise

Till one be lost, the other brought to care.

I was a Kinge, who ruled all by Lust

Without respect of Iustice, Right, or Lawe,

In false Flatterers reposinge all my trust,

Embracinge sutch as could my vices clawe:

Fro counsell sage I did alwayes withdrawe,

As pleasure prickt, so nedes obay I must:

Hauinge delite to feede and serue the gust,

Of God or man I stood no wise awe,

Mee liked least to Torney or to Iust.

To Venus games my Fansy did more drawe.

Which to mayntayne, I gathered heapes of golde

By Fines, Fiftenes, and loanes by way of prest,

Blanke Charters, Othes, and shiftes not knowen of olde,

For which the people, my doinges did detest.

I also sould the noble towne of Brest,

My fault wherein, because mine vncle tolde,

(For Princes actes, may no wise he controld)

His lyfe I tooke, vntried without Quest,

And all sutch Lordes as did his cause vphold,

Wyth long exile, or cruell death opprest.

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None ayde I lackt, in any wicked deede,

For gayinge Gulles, whom I promoted had.

Would further all in hoope of higher [...]eede,

There can no Kinge, ymagin ought so bad,

But shall fynde some, to do the same most glad:

For sicknesse seldome doth so swiftly breede,

As humours ill, do growe the griefe to feede.

Thus Kinges estatas, bee worst of all bestad.

A [...]usde to wealth, abandoned at neede,

And nearest harme when they be least adrad.

My lyfe and death the truth of this hath tryed:

For whyle I sought in Ireland with my foes,

Myne vncle Edward, whom I left to guide

My Realme at home, rebelliously arose,

Traytors to helpe, which plied my depose:

And cald fro Fraunce, Earle Bolenkroke whom I

Exiled had, for ten yeares there to lye:

VVho tyrantlike did execute all those,

That in mine ayde durst looke but once awry,

Of which sort sooneafter some their liues did lose.

For comming backe this soden stur to staye,

My Steward false to whom I trusted most:

(VVhiles I in Wales at Flint my castle, laye,

Both to refresh and multiply myne Oste)

There in any Hall, mindinge to fly the Coast,

His Staffe did breake, which was my household stay

Bad ech make shift and rode himselfe away.

See Princes, see, the strength whereof wee boast,

VVhom most wee trust, at neede do vs Betray:

No better stay, then in a rotten Post.

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My Steward false, thus being fled and gone,

My seruantes slye shrancke of on euery syde,

Then caught I was, end led vnto my soen,

Who for their Prince no Pallaice did prouide,

But prison strong, where Henry puft with pryde,

Causde we resigne, abandonig my throane,

And so forsaken and left as post alone,

These holow frendes, [...]y Henrye sone espyed,

Became suspect, and faith was geeuen to none,

Which caused them from fayth agayn to slyde.

Conspiring streight their new Prince to put downe,

Which to performe a solempne othe they swore,

To tender me my sce [...]ter and my crowne,

Wherof themselues, depriued me before,

But [...]ate medcines can helpe no festred sore:

When swelling flouds haue ouerflowen the towne,

To late it is to saue them that shal drowne,

Tyl sayles he spred a shyppe may keepe the shore,

No anchor hold can keepe the vessel downe,

When winde and streame hath set the seas in rore.

For though the P [...]eres set Henrye in such state,

Yet could they not dispiace him thence agayne:

And where with ease my pride they did abate.

They [...]ere to weake to set me vp agayne,

Thinges hardly mend, but may be mard amayne.

And when a man is fallen by froward fate,

Stil mischiefes [...]ight one on anothers pace:

And meanes w [...]l ment al mishaps to restraine

Waxe wretched moanes, whereby his ioyes a bate.

Due proofe whereof, in this appeared playne.

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For whan the kinge did know that for my cause,

His Lordes in Maske, would murder him by [...]ight,

To da [...]h al doubtes, he tooke no further pause:

But Pi [...]rs of Exto [...] a cruel cutt throate knight,

To P [...]fret Castel sent with great dispite,

Who reft my lyfe by force against al Lawes,

Thus lawlesse lyfe to lawlesse death ay drawes.

Wherfore [...] kinges be rulde, and rule by right.

And so I end concluding with this clause:

That God though sate, at last wil surely smyte.

FINIS.

G. F.

§

§

WHen Maister Ferrers had ended this so woful a Tragedye, and to all Princes a right worthy instruction: hauing passed through a miseable time full of piteous Tragedies, we paused a while. And seeing ye reign of Henry the fowerth ensued, a Prince more ware and Prosperous in his doinges, although not vntroubled with warres, both of outfoorth and inward enemies: we began to search what Peer [...]s were fallen therein, where of the nomber was not small. And yet because their examples were not much to be noted for our purpose, we passed ouer all the Maske [...]s of whom king Richardes brother was chiefe: which were al slaine and put to Death for their trayterous attempt. And fynding Owen [Page] Glendour, a great Prince in Wales, next in succesion of ill Fortune with the stout Percies his confederates, I thought it not meete to ouerpasse, so great persons with silence, and therefore sayd thus to the sylent company: What my maisters is euery man at once in a browne study? hath no mā affectiō to any of these stories? you minde so much some other belike, that these do not moue you: and to say the truth, there is no special cause why they should. Howe be it Owen Glendour, because he was one of Fortunes owne darlingrs, and affected to bee Monark of Wales, although to his owne mischiefe and destruction, rather then he should be forgottē, I wil pray Maister Phaer who of late hath placed hymselfe in that country, & haply hath met with his ghost in the forest of Kylgarran that he wil say somwhat in his person: which Owen comming out of the wylde Mountaines of Wales like the image of Death in al pointes (his harte onely excepted) as a ghost forpined with extreame famine, cold and hunger, may lamente his great misfortune in sutch maner as you maister Phaer are able most aptly to vtter and set forth.

HOVV OVVEN GLENdour seduced by false Prophecies, tooke vpon him to be Prince of VVales, & was by Henry Prince of England chased to the Mountaynes, where he most miserably starued for hunger. Anno. 1401.

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I Pray thee Baldwin sith thou dost entend,

To shewe the fall of sutch as climbe to hye,

Remember mee, whose miserable ende

May teach all men Ambition to flye,

Oh false Fortune, Fortune vengeaunce on thee I crye:

VVhich offeringe a Sop of sweete receyt,

Haste made me byte the Hooke in steede of Bayt.

A Brytton borne, and of the Tropan bloud,

But ill brought vp, whereby full well I finde,

That neyther byrth nor Linage make vs good:

Though it be true that Cat will after kinde,

Fleshe gendreth fleshe, but not the Soule or Minde,

They gender not, but fouly do degender,

When men to vice, from vertue they surrender.

Eche thinge by nature, tendeth to the same

Whereof it came, and is disposed like:

Downe sincks the mould, vp mountes the fiery flame,

With Horne the Hart, with Hoofe the Horse doth strike,

The Wolfe doth spoyle, the suttle Foxe doth pike,

And to conclude, no fishe, fleshe, foule, or plant

Of their true dame, the property doth want.

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But as for men, syth seuerally they haue

A minde whose maners are by learninge made,

Good bringinge vp, al onely doth them saue,

In honest actes, which with their Parentes fade,

So that true gentry standeth in the trade

Of vertues life, not in the fleshly lyne:

For bloud is brute, but Gentry is deuine.

Experience, doth cause me thus to say,

And that the rather for my countrey men,

Which vaunt & boast themselues aboue the day,

If they may straine their stocke fro worthy men:

VVhich let be true, are they the better then?

Nay farre the worse, if so they bee not good,

For why they stayne the beuty of ther blood.

How would we mocke the burden bearinge Mule,

If hee would brag he were an horses Sunne,

To presse his pride (might nothing els him rule)

His boastes to proue, no more but did him run:

The horse for swiftnes hath his glory wonne,

The Mule coulde neuer the more aspyer,

Though hee should proue that Pegas was his Sier.

Ech man crake of that which was his owne,

Our Parentes vertues are theirs, and no w [...]it ours,

Who therefore wil of noble byrth be knowen,

Ought shine in vertue like his Auncestours,

Gentry consisteth not in Landes, and Towers:

Hee is a churle though all the World were his,

Yea Arthurs heyre, if that hee lyue amisse.

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For vertuous lyfe a Gentleman doth make,

Of her possessour all be he poore as Iob,

Yea thoughe no name of elders he can take:

For proofe take Merlin fathered by an Hob.

But who so sets his minde to spoyle and rob,

Although he come by due discent from Brute,

He is a chorle, vngentle, vile, and brute,

Well, thus did I for want of better witte,

Because my parents naughtely brought me vp:

For Gentlemen (they sayd) was nought so fitte,

As to attast by bould attemptes the cup,

Of conquestes wyne, wherof I thought to sup:

And therefore bent my selfe to rob and ryue,

And whome I could of Laudes, and goods depriue.

For Henry the fourth did then vsurpe the Crowne,

Despoyled the Kinge, with Mortimer the heyre:

For which his subiectes sought to put him d [...]wne,

And I while Fortune offered mee so fayre,

Did what I might, his honour to appayre:

And tooke on mee to bee the Prince of Wales,

Entiste thereto by prophecies, and tales.

For which, sutch Idle, as wayte vpon the spoyle,

From euery part of VVales vnto mee drew,

For loytering youth vntaught in any toyle,

Are ready aye all mischiefe to ensue:

Through helpe of these so great my glory grewe,

That I defyed my Kynge through lofty harte,

And made sharpe VVarre on all that tooke his parte,

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See lacke, I took Lord Raynold Gray of Rythen,

And him enforst my Daughter to espouse,

And so vnraunsomed I held him still, and sythen,

In Wigmore lande through battayle rigorous,

I caught the right heire of the crowned house:

The Earle of March sit Edmond Morti [...]er,

And in a Dungeon kept him prisoner.

Than all the Marches longinge onto Wales,

By Seuerne West I did inuade and burne:

Destroyed the Townes, in Mountaynes, and in Vales,

And rich in Spoyles had homeward saulfe returne:

VVas none so hold durst once against me spurne,

Thus prosperously doth Fortune forwarde call,

Those whom shee mindes to geue the sorest fall.

VVhan Fame had brought these tidings to the King,

(Although the Scottes than vexed him right sore)

A mighty army agaynst mee he did bring:

VVhereof the French Kinge beinge warned afore,

VVho mortall hate against Kinge Henry bore,

To greue our For he quickly to mee sent,

Twelue Thousand Frenchmen, Armed to Warre, and bent.

A part of them led by the Earle of Marche

Lord Iames of Burbon, a Valiaunt tried Knight,

VVich held by Windes to Wales ward forth to march,

Tooke Land at Plimmouth priuely an a night:

And whan hee had done all that he burst or might,

After that a meyney of his men were [...]ayne,

Hee stale to Ship, and sayled home agayne.

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Twelue thousand moe in Milford did ariue,

And came to me then lyinge at Denbigh,

VVith armed Welshmen Thousandes double fyue,

VVith whom wee went to Worcester well nigh,

And there Encampt vs on a mount on high,

To abide the kinge who shortly after came

And pitched his field, on a hill hard by the same.

There eight dayes longe our Hoastes lay face, to face,

And neyther durst others power assayle:

But they so stopt the passages the space,

That victayles coulde not come to our auayle,

VVhere through constraynde our heartes began to fayle:

So that the Frenchmen shranke away by night,

And I with mine to the Mountaynes tooke our flight:

The Kinge pursued greatly to his cost,

From Hilles to Woods, from Woods to Valleis playne:

And by the way his men and stuffe bee lost.

And whan hee sawe, hee gayned nought but payne,

Hee blewe retreate, and gat him home agayne:

Then with my power I boldly came abrode,

Taken in my Countrey for a very God.

Immediatly after fell a Iolly Iarre

B [...]twene the Kinge, and Percies worthy blouds,

VVhich grew at last vnto a deadly Warre:

For like as drops Engender mighty Flouds,

And litle seedes sprut forth great Leaues, and buds,

Euen so small striues, if they bee suffered run,

Brede wrath and warre, and death or they bee don.

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The Kinge would haue the Raunsome of sutch Scots,

As these the Percies tane had in the fielde:

But see how st [...]ongly lacre knits her knots,

The Kinge will haue, the Percies will not yeeld,

Desire of gooos some craues, but graunteth seeld:

Oh cursed goods desire of you hath wrought

All wickednes, that hath, or can bee thought.

The Percies deemed it meeter for the King,

To haue redeemed their Coosin Mortimer,

VVho in his Quarell all his power did bring,

To fight with mee, that tooke him Prysoner,

Than of their pray to rob his Souldier:

And therefore willed him see some meane were [...]ound,

To quite forth him, whom I kept vily bound.

Bycause the Kinge misliked their request,

They came themselues and did accord with mee,

Complayninge how the Kingdome was opprest

By Henries rule, wherefore wee did agree

To put him downe, and part the realme in three:

The North part theirs, Wales wholly to bee mine,

The rest, to rest to Th'earle of Marches Line.

And for to set vs hereon more agog,

A Prophet came (a vengeaunce take them al)

Affirminge Henry to bee Gog magog,

VVhom Merlin doth a Mould warp euer call,

Accurst of God that must bee brought in thrall

By a Wolfe, a Dragon, and a Lion strong,

VVhich should deuide, his Kingdome them among.

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This crafty dreamer made vs three sutch beastes,

To thinke wee were the foresayd beastes in deede.

And for that cause our Badges, and our Creastes,

VVee searched out which scarsely well agreed:

Howbeit the Haroldes redy at sutch a neede,

Drewe downe sutch Issues from olde Auncesters,

As proued these Ensignes to bee surely oures.

Yee crafty Welshemen, wherefore do yee mocke,

The noble men thus with your fayned rimes?

Yee Noble men why flye yee not the Flocke,

Of sutch as haue seduced so many times?

False Prophesies are Plagues for diuers crimes,

VVhich God doth let the deuilish sort deuise,

To trouble sutch as are not godly Wise.

And that appeared by vs three beastes in deede,

Through false perswasion highly borne in hand,

That in our feate wee could not chuse but speede,

To kill the Kinge, and to enioy his Land:

For which exployt wee bound our selues in band,

To stand contented ech man with his parte,

So fully, folly assured our foolish harte.

But sutch they say as fishe before the Net,

Shall seldome surfet of the Pray they take,

Of thinges to come the haps bee s [...] vnset,

That none but Fooles may warrant of them make:

The full assured, successe doth oft forsake.

For Fortune findeth none so fyt to flout,

As suresby Sots, which cast no kinde of doubt.

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How sayest thou Henry Hotspur, do I ly?

For thou right manly gauest the Kinge a Fielde,

And there wast slayne because thou wouldst not flye,

Syr Thomas Percy thine Vncle forst to yeelde,

Did cast his head a wonder seene but seelde,

From Shrewsbury towne, to the tope of London Bridge,

Lo! thus fond hope, did both their liues Abridge.

VVhan Kinge Henry this Victory had wonne,

Destroyed the Percies, put their power to slight,

Hee did appoinct Prince Henry his eldest Sonne:

VVith all his power to meete mee if hee might:

But I discomfit, through my Partners fight,

Had not the heart to meete him face, to face,

But fled away, and hee pursued the Chase.

Now Baldwin marke, for I, calde Prince of Wales,

And made beleeue, I should bee hee in deede,

VVas made to fly amonge the Hilles, and Dales,

VVhere all my men forsooke mee at my neede.

VVho trusteth Loyterers seeld hath lucky speede:

And whan the Captaynes Courage doth him fayle,

His Souldiers hearts a litle thinge may quayle.

And so Prince Henry chased mee, that lo!

I founde no place wherein I might abyde!

For as the Dogges pursue the sely Doe,

The Brache behinde, the Houndes on euery side,

So traste they me amonge the Mountaynes wyde:

VVhereby I founde, I was the heartlesse Hare,

And not the beast Colprophet did declare.

[Page]

And at the last: like as the little roche,

M [...]st eyther be eat, or leap vpon the shore

VVhen as the hungery pickerell doth approche,

And there finde death which it escapt before:

So double death assaulted mee so sore

That eyther I must vnto myne Enmy yeelde,

Or starue for hunger, in the barrayne feelde.

Here shame, and payne a while were at a strife

Payne bad mee yeeld, shame bad mee rather fast,

The one badad spare, the other bad spend my life,

But shame (shame haue it) ouercame at last,

Than hunger stronge, that doth the stonewale brast,

Forst mee to feede on Barke of trees, and Wood,

And last of all, to g [...]aw my flesh and bloud.

This was mine ende to horrible to beare,

Yet good enough for him that did so ill,

VVhereby O Baldwin warne men to forbeare,

The vayne desires, when w [...] doth yeld to will:

Bi [...] Princes flye Colprophetes lyinge skill,

And not presume to climbe aboue their states,

For they bee faultes that foyle men, not their fates.

FINIS.

Th. Ph.

§

§

[Page]

WHan mayster Phaer had ended the Tragedy of thys hunger staruen Prynce of Wales, it was well liked of all the company that a Saxō would speake so mutch for a B [...]ytton, then sodenly one found a doubt worth the mouinge and yt cōcerning this title, Thearle of March: for as it appereth, there were three men of three diuers nations together in one time entituled by that honour: first sir Edmund Mortimer, whom Owē kept in Prison, an Englishman: the second y• Lord George of Dunbar a valiaunt Scot, banished out of his countrey, & well esteemed of Henry the .iiij: the third Lord Iames of Bourbon a Frenchman, sent by the French king to helpe Owen Glendour. These three men had this title all at once, which caused him to aske how it was true that euery one of these coulde be Earle of Marche: whereto was aunswered, that euery countrey hath Marches belonging vnto them, & those so large, that they were Earldomes, & the Lords thereof intituled thereby: so ye lord Edmūd Mortimer was Earle of Marche in England, lorde Iames of Burbō of y• Marches of Fraunce, and Lord George of Dunbar Earle of the Marches in Scotland. For otherwise neyther could haue interest in others title. This dout thus dissolued, maister Ferrers sayd: if no mā haue affection to the Percies, let vs passe the times both of Henry the fourth, and the fift, and come to Henry ye [Page] sixt, in whose time Fortune (as she doth in the mynority of Princes) bare a great stroke among ye nobles. And yet in Henry the fourths time are examples which I would wish Baldwin yt you shoulde not forget, as the conspiracy made by the Byshop of Yorcke, and the Lord Mowbray, sonne of him whom you late treated of: pricked forward by the Earle of Northumberland, father to sir Henry Hotspur, who fled himselfe, but his partners were apprehended & put to death, with Baynton and Blinkinsops, which could not se their duty to their king but tooke parte wyth Percy that banished Rebell. As he was proceedinge, hee was desired to stay by one which had pondered the story of the Percies, who briefly sayde. To the ende Baldwin that you may knowe what to saye of the Percies, whose story is not all out of memory (and it is an notable story) I wyll take vpon me the person of the Lord Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland, father of Syr Henry Hotspur, in whose behalfe this may be sayde as followeth. *⁎*

❧HOVV HENRYE Percy Earle of Northumberlande, was for his couetous, and trayterous attempt put to death at Yorke. Anno. 1407.

[Page]

O Moral Senec, true finde I thy sayinge,

That neither kin, riches, strength or fauour

Ace free from Fortune, but are aye decayinge:

No worldly wealth is ought saue doubtful labour

Mans life in Earth is like vnto a Tabour.

Which now to myrth doth mildly men prouoke

And straight to Warre with a more sturdy stroke.

All this full true I Percy finde by proofe,

Which whilom was Earle of Northumberland:

And therefore Baldwin for my Piers behoofe,

To note mens falles sith thou hast tane in hande,

I would thou should my state well vnderstand:

For fewe Kinges were more than I redoubted,

Whom double Fortune lifted vp and louted

As for my kinne their noblenesse is knowen,

My valiaunt actes were folly for to prayse,

Where through ye Scots so oft were ouerthrowen.

That who but I was doubted in my dayes:

And that king Richard found at all assayes,

For neuer Scots rebelled in his raygne,

But through my force were eyther caught or slaine.

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A Brother I had was Earle of Worcester,

Alwayes in Office, and Fauour with the King:

And [...] my W [...]fe Da [...]e Elinor Mortimer,

A Sonne I had, which so the Scots did sting,

That being yonge, and but a very spring,

Hen [...]y Ho [...]spur they gaue him unto name,

And though I say it, hee did deserue the same.

We three triumphied in Kinge Richards tyme,

Til [...] Fortune ought both him and vs a spite:

But chiefely mee, whom clearely from any crime,

My Kinge did banishe from his fauour quite,

Proclayminge mee a tra [...]terous Knight:

VVhere through false slaunder forced mee to bee,

That which before, I did most deadly flee.

Let men beware how they true folke defame,

Or threaten on them the blame of vices nought,

For Infamy breedeth wrath, wreke followeth shame:

Eke open slaunder oftentimes hath brought

That to effect, that erst was neuer thought,

To bee misdeemed, men suffer in a sort:

But noue can beare the griefe of misreporte.

Because my Kinge did shame mee wrongfully

I hated him, and so became his foe:

And while hee did at Warre in Ireland lye,

I did conspire to turne his Weaie to woe:

And through the Duke of Yorcke and other moe,

All Royall power from him wee quickly toke,

And gaue the same to Henry Bolenbroke.

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Neither did wee this onely for this cause,

But to say truth, force draue vs to the same:

For hee despisinge God and all his lawes,

Slewe whom hee woulde, made sinne a very game,

And seeinge neyther age nor counsayle could him tame,

VVee thought it well done for the Kingdomes sake,

To leaue his rule, that did all rule forsake.

But when sir Henry had attaynd his place,

Hee straight became in all poynctes worse than hee,

Destroyed the Piers and slewe Kinge Richardes grace,

Against his othe made to the Lordes and mee:

And seeking Quarels howe to disagree,

Hee shamelesly required mee and my Sonne,

To yelde him Scots, which wee in Fielde had wonne.

My Nephew also Edmonde Mortimer

The very heyre apparaunt to the Crowne,

VVhom Owen Glendour helde as prisoner,

Vilely bound in Dungeon deepe cast downe,

Hee would not Raunsome but did selly frowne,

Against my Brother and mee which for him spake,

And him Proclaymed Traytour for our sake,

This foule despite did cause vs to conspire,

To put him downe as wee did Richard erst,

And that wee might this matter set on fire,

From Owens Iayle, our Coosin wee remeerst,

And vnto Glendour all our griefes reherst:

VVho made a bond with Mortimer, and mee,

To priue the Kinge, and part the Realme in three.

[Page]

But when king Henry heard of this deuise,

Toward Owen Glendour he sped him very quicke,

My [...]ding by force to stop hur enterpryse:

And as the deuil would, than fel I sicke,

Howbeit my brother and sonne more pollitike

Than prosperous, with an host from Scotland brought,

Encountred him at Shrewesbury where they fought.

The one was tane and [...]yld, the other slaine.

And shortly after was Owen put to flight:

By meanes whereof, I forced was to fayne,

That I knew nothing of the former fight.

Fraud oft auayles more than doth sturdy might:

For by my fayning I brought him in belife,

I knew not that wherein my part was chiefe.

And while the kyng thus toke me for his frend,

I sought all meanes my former wrong to wreake,

Which that I might bring to the soner end,

To the bishop of Yorke I did the matter breake,

And to th'earle Marshall likewise did I speake.

Whose father was through Henryes cause exiled,

The bishops brother with trayterous death defiled.

These strayt assented to do what they could,

So did the Lord Hastings and Lord Faucōbridge:

Which altogether promised they would,

Set all their power, the kinges dayes to abridge,

But see the spite, before the byrdes were flydge

The Kinge had word and seasoned on the nest,

Whereby alas, my frendes were all opprest.

[Page]

The bloudye Tyraunt brought them all to end

Excepted me, which into Scotland skapt,

To George of Dunbar therle of March, my frend,

Who in my cause all that he could ey scrapt,

And when I had for greater succour gapte,

Both at the Frenchmen and the Fleminges hande,

And could get none, I tooke such as I fand.

And with the helpe of George my very frend,

I did inuade Northumberland ful bold,

Where as the folke drew to me styl on end,

Bent to death my partie to vphold:

Through helpe of these ful many a fort and hold,

The whiche the king right manfully had mand,

I easely wonne and seased in my hand.

Not so content (for vengeaunce draue me on)

I entred Yorkeshire there to wast and spoyle,

But ere I had farre in the countrye gone,

The sheriffe thereof, Rafe Rokesby did assoyle,

My troubled hoast of much part of our toyle,

For he assaulting freshly tooke through power,

Me and Lord Bar [...]olph both at Bramham more.

And thence conueyed vs to the towne of Yorke,

Vntil he knew what was the kinges entent,

There loe Lord Bardolphe kynder then the Storke

Did loose his head, which was to London sent,

With whom for Frendship mine in like case went,

This was my hap my fortune or my faute,

This lyfe I led, and thus I came to naught.

[Page]

Wherfore good Baldwin wil the Piere [...] take heede,

Of slaunder, malice, and conspiracye,

Of couetise, whence all the rest procede:

For couetise ioynt with contuniacye,

Doth cause al mischiefe in mens hartes to breede:

And therfore this to Esperance my worde,

Who causeth Bloudshed shal not escape the Sword.

FINIS.

§

§

BY that this was ended, I had found oute the storye of Richard Earle of Cambridge: [...]because it conteyned matter in it, though not very notable, yet for the better vnderstandinge of the rest, I thought it meete to touche it, and therfore sayd as foloweth: You haue sayde wel of the Percies and fauourablye, for in deede as it should appeare, the chiefe cause of their conspiracye against K. Henry, was for Edmund Mortimer their consins sake, whom the king very maliciouslye proclaymed to haue yelded himselfe to Owen coulourably, when as in deede hee was taken forciblye against his wyl, and very cruelly ordered in Prison And seeing we are in hand with Mortimers matter, I will take vppon me the person of Rycharde Plantagenet earle of Cambridge, who for his sake lykewise dyed. And therefore I let passe Edmōd Holland Earle of Kent, whom Henry the fowerth [Page] made Admiral to skowre the Seas, because yt Britaines were abrode: which Earle (as many things happen in warre) was slayne with an arrow at yt Assaulte of Briack: shortly after whose death this king dyed, and his sonne Henrye the fyft of that name succeeded in his place. In the beginning of this Henry the fyftes raigne dyed this Rychard, and with him Hēry the L. Scrope & other, in whose behalfe, this maye be sayde.

HOVVE RICHARD Plātagenet Earle of Cambridge entending the Kinges destruction, was put to death at Southampton. Anno. Domini. 1415.

[Page]

HAst maketh wast, hath commonly bene sayde,

And secrete mischiefe seeld hath lucky speede,

A murdering minde with proper poyze is wayd,

Al this most true I fynde it, as my creede,

And therfore Baldwin wa [...]ne al states take hede

How they conspyre any other to entrappe,

Least mischiefement light in the meaners lappe.

For I Lord Richard heire Plantagenet,

Was Earle of Cambridge and right fortunate,

If I had had the grace my witte to set,

To haue content mee with myne owne estate:

But O false honours, breeders of debate,

The loue of you our lewde hartes do allure,

To leese our selues by seeking you vnsure.

Because my brother Edmond Mortimer,

Whose eldest sister was my wedded wife,

I meane that Edmund that was prisoner,

In Wales so long through Owens busie stryte,

Because I say that after Edmondes lyfe,

His rightes and tytles must by law be myne,

For he [...]e had, nor could encrease his lygne.

[Page]

Because the right of Realme and Crowne was ours,

I searched meanes to helpe him thereunto,

And where the Henries held it by their powers,

I sought a shift their tenures to vndoe,

Which being force, sith force or sleight must doe:

I voyde of might, because their power was strong,

Ser priuy sleight against their open wrong.

But sith the Death of most part of my kyn

Did dash my hope, through out the fathers dayes

I let it slip, and thought it best begyn,

Whan as the sonne should dred least such assayes,

For force through speede, sleight speedeth through delayes,

And seeld doth treason time so fitlye fynde,

As when all daungers most bee out of mynde.

Wherfore while Henrye of that name the fift,

Preparde his army to go conquer Fraunce,

Lord Scrope and I thought to attempt a drift,

To put him downe my brother to aduaunce,

But were it Gods wyll, my lucke, or his good chaunce,

The king wist wholly where about we went,

The night before to shipward he him bent.

Then were we streight as traytours apprehended,

Our purpose spyed, the cause thereof was hid,

And therfore loe a false cause we pretended,

Where through my brother was fro daunger ryd:

We sayd for hyre of French kings coyne, we did

Behight to kyl the king: and thus with shame

We staynd our selues, to saue our frend fro blame.

[Page]

When wee had thus confest so foule a treason,

That we deserued, we suffered by the law,

Se Baldwin see, and note as it is reason,

How wicked deedes to woful endes do draw,

Al force doth fayle no craft is worth a straw,

To attayne thinges lost, and therfore let them goe.

For might ruleth right, and wil though truth say no.

FINIS.

§

§

WHan stout Richarde had stoutly sayde his mynde, belike sayd one, this Rychard was but a little man, or els little fauoured of writers, for our Chronicles speake very litle of him But seeing we become now to king Henries voyage into Fraunce, we cannot lacke valiaunte men to speake of, for among so many as were led & sent by the king out of this Realme thither, it cannot be chosen but some, & that a great somme, were slaine among them: wherfore to speake of thē al, I thinke not needeful. And therefore to let passe Edwarde Duke of Yorke, and the Earle of Suffolke, slayne both at the Battayle of Agincourte, as were also many other. Let vs end the tyme of Henry the fift, and come to his sonne Henry the syxte: whose Nonage broughte Fraunce and Normandye [...]oute of Bondage, and was the cause that so few of our noble men dyed aged.

[Page] Of whom to let passe the number, I wil take vpō mee the Personne of Thomas Montague Earle of Salisburie, whose name was not so good at home (and yet he was called the good Earle) as it was dreadful abroade: who exclaminge vppon the mutability of Fortune, may iustlye say in maner as folqweth.

HOVVE THOMAS MONtague Earle of Salisburie, in the middest of his glorie, was chaunceablye slayne at Orliaunce with a peece of Ordinaunce the third of Nouember. Anno 1428.

[Page]

WHat fooles be we to trust vnto our strength,

Our wyt, our courage, or our noble fame,

Which time it selfe must needes deuour at length,

Though froward fortune could not foyle the same

But seeing this Goddesse guydeth all the game,

Which stil to chaunge doth set her only lust,

Why toyle we so for thinges so hard to trust,

A goodly thing it is surely good report,

Which noble hartes, do seeke by course of kinde:

But seene the date so doubtful and so short,

The way so rough whereby wee do it fynde,

I cannot chose but prayse the Princely mynde

That preaseth for it, though we fynde opprest,

By foule defame those that deserue it best.

Concerning whom marke Baldwin what I say

I meane the vertuous hyndred of their brute,

Among which nomber recken wel I may,

My valiaunt father Iohn Lord Montacute,

Who lost his lyfe I iudge through iust pursute:

I say the cause and not the casuall speede,

Is to be wayde in euery kinde of deede.

[Page]

This rule obserued, how many shall we fynde,

For vertues sake with infamie opprest:

How many againe through helpe of Fortune blynde:

For ill attemptes atchieued with honour blest:

Successe is worst ofttimes when cause is best:

Therfore say I: God send them sory haps

That iudge the causes by their after claps.

The end in deede is iudge of euery thing,

Which is the cause or latter point of time:

The first true verdict at the first may bring,

The last is slow, or slipper as the slyme,

Oft chaunging names of innocence and crime:

Duke Thomas death was Iustice two yeares long,

And euer since, sore tyranny and wrong.

Wherfore I pray thee Baldwin way the cause,

And praise my father as he doth deserue,

Because Earle Henry, King against al lawes,

Endeuoured king Rychard for to starue

In Iayle, whereby the regal crowne might swarue,

Out of the ligne to which it than was due,

(Whereby God knowes what euil myght ensue)

My Lord Iohn Holland Duke of Excester,

Which was deare cosin to this wretched king,

Did moue my father and the Earle of Glocester,

With other Lordes to ponder wel the thing:

Who seeing the mischiefe that began to spring,

Did all consent this Henry to depose,

And to restore king Richard to the rose.

[Page]

And while they did deuise a pretie trayne,

Whereby to bring their purpose better about,

Which was in Maske this Henry to haue slayne,

The Duke of Awmerle blew their counsel out:

Yet was their purpose good there is no doubt.

What cause can bee more worthy for a knight,

Than saue his king, and helpe true heires to right?

For this with them my father was destroyed,

And buryed in the Dunghil of defame,

Thus euil chaunce their glory did auoyde,

Whereas their cause doth clayme eternal fame:

When deedes therfore vnluckely do frame,

Men ought not iudge the authours to be nought,

For right through might is often ouerraught.

And God doth suffer that it should be so,

But why, my wit is feeble to decise,

Except it be to heape of wrath and woe

On wicked heades that iniuries deuise:

The cause why mischiefes many times aryse,

And light on them yt would mens wronges redresse,

Is for the tancour that they beare I gesse.

God hates rigour though it further right,

For sinne is synne, how euer it be vsed:

And therfore suffereth shame and death to light,

To punish vyce, though it be wel abused,

Who furthereth right is not thereby excused.

If through the same be do some other wrong,

To euery vice due guerdon doth belong.

[Page]

What preache I now I am a man of warre,

And that my body I dare say doth professe,

Of cured woundes beset with manye a skarre,

My broken Iaw vnhealde can say no lesse,

O Fortune, Fortune, cause of al distresse:

My father had great cause thy fraud to curse,

But much more I, abused ten times worse.

Thou neuer flattredst him in al thy lyfe,

But me thou dandledst like thy darling deare,

Thy giftes I found in euery corner ryfe,

Where euer I went I met thy smyling cheare:

Which was not for a day, or for a yeare,

But through the raigne of three right worthy kinges

I found the forward in al kinde of thinges.

The while King Henrye conquered in Fraunce,

I sued the warres, and stil found victory,

In al assaultes so happy was my chaunce,

Holdes yeld or wonne did make my enemies sorye:

Dame Prudence eke augmented so my glory,

That in al treaties euer I was one,

When waighty matters were agreed vpon.

But whan this king this mighty conquerour.

Through death vnrype was both his realmes bereft

His seelye infant did receiue his power,

Poore little babe ful young in Cradle left,

Where crowne and Scepter [...]urt him with the heft.

Whose worthy Vncles had the gouernaunce,

The one at home the other abroade in Fraunce.

[Page]

And I which was in peace and warre wel skylled,

With both these rulers greatly was esteemed:

Bare rule at home as often as they wylled,

And fought in France when they it needeful deemed,

And euery where so good my seruice seemed.

That English men to me great loue did beare,

Our foes the French, my force fulfilled with feare.

I alwayes thought it fitly for a Prince,

And such as haue the regiment of Realmes,

His subiectes hartes with myldenesse to connince,

With Iustice mixt, auoyding all extreames,

For like as Phoebus with his cheareful beames,

Doth freshly force the fragrant flowers to florish,

So rulers myldnesse subiectes loue do norish.

This found I true: for through my myeld behauiour

Their hartes I had with me to lyue and dye,

And in their speach bewrayer of their fauour,

They cald me stil good Earle of Salisburie,

The Lordes confest the commons did not lye:

For vertuous lyfe, free hart, and lowly minde,

With high and low shal alwayes fauour fynde.

Which vertues chiefe become a man of warre,

Whereof in Fraunce I found experience,

For in assaultes due mildenes passeth farre

Al rygour, for [...]e, and sturdy violence,

For men wil stoutly sticke to their defence,

When cruel Captaynes couet after syoyle,

And so enforst, oft giue their foes the foyle.

[Page]

But when they know they shalbe frendly vsed,

They hazard not their heades but rather yeilde,

For this my offers neuer were refused

Of any towne, or surely very sield,

But force and furies fit be for the fielde,

And there in deede I vsed so the same,

My foes would flye if they but heard my name.

For whan Lord Steward & Earle Vantadore,

Had cruellye besieged Crauant towne,

Which he had wonne, and kept long time before,

Which lyeth in Awxer on the ryuer Youne:

To rayse the siege the regent sent me downe:

Whereas I vsed all rigour that I might,

I kylled all that were not saued by flight.

When therle of Bedforde then in Fraunce Lord Regent,

Knew in what sort I had remoued the siege,

In Brye and Champaigne he made me Vicegerent,

And Lieutenaunt for him and for my liege:

Which caused me to goe to Brye, and there besiege

Montagui [...]lon with twentie weekes assaut,

Which at the last was yelded me for naught.

And for the Duke of Bretaines brother Arthur,

Both Earle of Rychmond and of Yuery,

Against his oth from vs had made departure,

To Charles the Dolphin our chiefe enemie,

I wi [...]h the Regent went to Normandie:

To take his towne of Yuery which of spight,

Did to vs dayly al the harme they might.

[Page]

They at the first compounded by a daye

To yeld, if rescues did not come before,

And while in hope to fight we at it laye,

The Dolphin gathered men two thousand skore,

With Earles, Lordes, and Captaynes ioly store,

Of which the Duke of Alanson was guyde,

And sent them downe to see if we would byde.

But they left vs and downe to Vernoyle went,

And made their vaunt they had our armye slayne,

And through that lye the towne from vs they hent,

Which shortly after turned to their payne:

For there both armies met vpon the playne:

And we eight thousand whom they flew, not slew before,

Did kil of them ten thousand men and more.

When wee had taken Vernoyle thus agayne,

To driue the Dolphin vtterly out of Fraunce,

The Regent sent me to Aniow and to Mayne,

Where I besieged the warlike towne of Mauns

There Lord of Toysers Baldwines valiaunce

Did wel appeare, which would not yeld the towne,

Tyl al the Towers and walles were battred downe.

But here now Baldwin take it in good part,

Though that I brought this Baldwin there to yeld,

The Lyon fierce for all his noble hart,

Being ouermatched, is forst to flye the field,

If Mars himselfe there had bene with his shield,

And in my stormes had stoutly me with stoed,

He should haue yeld, or els haue shed my bloud.

[Page]

This worthy knight both hardy stout and wyse,

Wrought wel his feate, as time and place require,

When Fortune fayles, it is the best aduise

To stryke the sayle least all lye in the myre,

This haue I sayde to thend thou take no ire:

For though no cause be found, so nature frames,

Men haue a zeale to such as beare their names.

But to returne, in Mayne wan I at length,

Such townes and Fortes as might eyther helpe or hurt,

I manned Mayon, and Suzans towne of strength,

Fore Barnard, Thanceaur, and S. Cales the curt,

With Lile, sues, Bolton, standing in the durt:

Eke Guerland, Suze, Loupeland, and Mountsure,

With Malicorne, these wanne I and kept ful sure.

Besides all this I tooke nere fourtie holdes,

But those I razed euen with the ground,

And for these deedes, as seely sheepe in foldes,

Do shrinke for feare at euery little sound,

So fled my foes before my face ful round:

Was none so hardy that durst abyde my fight,

So Mars and Fortune furthered me their knight.

I tel no lye so gastful grew my name,

That it alone discomfited an hoast,

The Scots and Frenchmen wel confesse the same,

Els wil the towne which they like Cowardes lost,

For whan they sieged Beauron with great boast:

Being fourty thousand Brytaynes, French and Scots,

Fiue hundred men did vanquish them like sots.

[Page]For while the Frenchmen freshlye assaulted stil,

Our English men came boldly foorth at night,

Cryinge S. George, Salisburye, kyl, kyl, kyl,

And offced freshlye with their foes to fight,

And they as frenchly tooke themselues to flight,

Supposing surely that I had beene there,

See how my name did pu [...]them al in feare.

Thus was the Dolphins power discomfited,

Fowre thousand slaine, their Campe tane as it stoode,

Whereby our Towne and souldiers proficed,

For there were vitailes plenteous and good,

This while was I in England by the Roode,

To appease a strife that was right foule befall,

Betwene Duke Humfrey and the Cardinal.

The Duke of Excester shortly after dyed,

Which of the King at home had gouernaunce.

Whose roume the Earle of Warwicke then supplyed,

And I tooke his and sped me into Fraunce,

And hauing zeale to conquere Orliaunce,

With much a do I gat the Regentes ayde,

And marched thyther, and siege about it layde.

But in the way I tooke the towne of Yane,

Where murthered were for stoutnesse many a man:

But Baugencey I tooke with little payne.

For which to shew them fauour I began:

This caused the townes of Mewne and Iargeman,

That stoode on Loyer: to profer me the keyes,

Ere I came nere them, welny by two dayes.

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See here how Fortune forward can allure,

What Baytes she layeth to bring men to their endes

Who hauing hap like this, but hopeth sure,

To bring to [...]ale what euer hee entendes?

But sone is sower the sweete that fortune sendes:

Whan hope and hap, whan health and wealth is hiest

Then woe and wracke, disease, and neede be nyest.

For while I, suing this so good successe,

Layde siege to Orliaunce on the Riuer side,

The Bastard (Cuckold Cawnies sonne I gesse,

Tho thought the Dukes) who had the towne in guyde

Came fiercely foorth, when hee his time espyed,

To rayse the siege but was bet backe agayne,

And hard pursued both to his losse and payne.

For there we wan the Bulworke on the Bridge,

With a mighty tower standing fast thereby.

Ah cursed tower that didst my dayes abridge,

Would God thou hadst bene furder eyther I:

For in this tower a chamber standes on hye,

From which a man may view through all the towne

By certain wyndowes iron grated downe.

Where on a daye, now Baldwin note myne ende,

I stoode in viewing where the towne was weake,

And as I busilye talked with my frend,

Shot fro the towne, which al the Grate did breake,

A pellet came and droue a mighty fleake

Against my face, and care away my cheeke,

For payne whereof I dyed within a weeke.

[Page]

See Baldwin see the vncertayne glorye,

How sodaine mischiefe dasheth all to dust,

And warne al Princes by my broken storye,

The bappiest Fortune chieflye to mistrust,

Was neuer man that alway had his lust:

Than sac [...]b be fooles, in fancy more then mad,

Which hope to haue that neuer any had.

FINIS.

§

§

THis straunge aduenture of the good earle draue vs al into a dumpe, inwardly lamē ting his woful destenye, out of which wee were awaked after this sort.

To what ende (said one) muse wee so much on the matter. This Earle is neither the fyrste nor laste whom fortune hath foundred in the height of their prosperity. For al through the raigne of this vnfortunate kinge Henrye, wee shal fynde many which haue been likewise serued, whose chances sith they be martial, & therfore honorable, may the better bee omitted. And therefore we will let go the Lordes Molines, and Poyninges, slayne both at the siege of Orleaunce, shortly after the death of this Earle. Also the valiaunt Earle of Arundel destroied with a bowlet at the assault of Gerborye, whose stories neuerthelesse are worth the hearing. And to quickē [Page] vp your spirites, I wil take vpon me a tragical person in deede, I meane kinge Iamy slayne by his seruauntes in his priuy Chamber: who although he be a Scot, yet seeing he was brought vp in England, where hee learned the language, his example also so notable, it were not meete it should be forgotten. And therefore marke Baldwyn what I thinke hee may say. *⁎*

HOW KING IAMES THE first for breaking his othes and bonds was by Gods sufferaunce miserably murdered of his owne Subiectes. Anno. 1437.

[Page]

IF for examples sake thou wrote thy Booke,

I chardge thee Baldwin thou forget mee not,

Whom fortune alwayes frowardly forsooke.

Sutch was my lucke, my merite or my lot.

I am that Iames King Roberts Sonne the Scot,

That was in England Prisoner all his youth,

Through mine vncle Walters trayterous vntruth.

For whan my Father through disease and age,

Vnwieldy was to gouerne well his Land,

Bycause his Brother Walter seemed sage,

Hee put the rule thereof into his hand.

Than had my Father, you shall vnderstand,

Of lawfull Barnes, mee and one onely other,

Nempt Dauy Rothsay, who was mine elder Brother.

This Dauy was Prince of Scotland and so take,

Till his aduoutry caused men complayne:

VVhich that hee might by monishment forsake,

My Father prayed myne Vncle take the payne.

To threaten him his vices to refrayne.

But hee false Traytour butcherly murderinge wretch,

To get the Crowne began to fetch a fetch,

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And fynding now a proffer to his praye,

Deuised meanes my brother to deuour,

And for that cause conuayed him day by day

From place to place, from Castel vnto tower,

To Faulkland fort, where like a tormentour

He starued him, and put to death a wyfe,

Whom through a Reede he suckt to saue his lyfe.

O wretched death, fye cruell tyrannye,

A Prince in prison lost for fault of foode:

Was neuer enmie wrought such vilany,

A trusty brother destroy his brothers blood,

VVo worth so frendlye, fye on double hood,

Ah wretched father see thy soone is lost,

Sterued by thy brother whom thou trustedst most.

Of whom when some began to fynde the fraud,

And yet the traytour made himselfe so cleare,

That he should seeme to haue deserued laud,

So woful did he for his Prince appeare,

My doubtful father louing me ful deare.

To auoyde all daunger that might after chaunce,

Sent mee away but nyne yeares old to Fraunce.

But windes and weather were so contrary,

That we were driuen to thenglish coast,

Which Realme with Scotland at that time did varye,

So that they tooke me as prisoner not as hoast:

For which my father fearing I was lost,

Conceiued shortlye such an inward thought,

As to the graue immediatly him brought,

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Than had myne vncle all the regiment

At home, and I in England prisoner lay.

For to himselfe he thought it detriment,

For my release any raunsome for to pay,

For as hee thought he had possest his pray:

And therfore wisht I might in duraunce dure,

Til I had dyed, so should his raigne be sure.

But good king Henrye seeing I was a childe,

And heir by right vnto a realme and crowne,

Did bring mee vp not (like my brother) wyloe,

But vertuouslye in feates of high renowne?

In I beral artes, in instrumental sowne:

By meane whereof when I was after king,

I did my realme to ciuel order bring.

For ere I had been prisoner eightene yeare,

In which short space two noble Princes dyed,

Whereof the first in prudence had no peere,

The other in warre most valiaunt throughly tryed,

Whose roume his sonne babe Henry eke supplied:

The peeres of England which did gouerne all,

Did of their goodnesse helpe me out of thrall.

They maryed me to a cosin of their king,

The Duke of Somersets daughter rich and fayre,

Relcast my raunsome saue a trifling thing:

And after I had done homage to the heyre,

And sworne my frendship neuer should appayre,

They brought me kingly furnisht to my land,

Which I receiued at myne vncles hand.

[Page]

Whereof my Lordes and commons were ful glad,

So was mine vncle chieflye as he sayed,

Who in his mouth no other matter had,

Saue punish such as hab my brother trayed:

The fault whereof apparauntly he layed,

To good Duke Murdo, his elder brothers sonne,

Whose father dyed long ere this was done.

My cursed vncle slyer than the snake,

Which would by craft vnto the crowne aspire,

Because be saw this Murdo was a stake,

That stayed vp the top of his desire.

(For his elder brother was Duke Murdoes syre)

He thought it best to haue him made away,

So was he sure (I gone) to haue his praye.

And by his craftes the traytour brought to passe,

That I destroyed Duke Murdo and his kin,

Poore innocentes, my louing frendes alas.

O Kinges and Princes what plight stand we in,

A trusted traytour shal you quickly win,

To put to death your kin and frendes most iust,

Take heede therfore, take heede whose reede ye trust.

And at the last to bring me hole in hate,

With God and man at home and eke abrode,

He counsaild me for suraunce of my state:

To helpe the Frenchmen, then nigh ouertrode

By Englishmen: and more to lay on lede,

With power and force al England comu [...]de,

Against the oth and homage that I made.

[Page]

And though at fyrst my conscience dyd grudge,

To breake the boundes of frendship knit by oth

Yet after proafe (see mischiefe) I did iudge,

Iemadnesse for a king to keepe his troth,

And semblably with al the world it goth:

Synnes oft assayed are thought to be no sinne,

So soyleth sinne the soule it sinketh in.

But as diseases common cause of death,

Bring daunger most, when least they pricke and smart,

Which is a signe they haue expulst the breath

Of liuely heate which doth defend the hart:

Euen so such sinnes as felt are on no part

Haue conquered grace, and by their wicked bre,

So kild the soule that it can haue no cure.

And grace agate, vyce stil succedeth vyce,

And al to hast the vengeaunce for the furst,

I areade therfore al people to be wise,

And stop the bracke when it beginnes to burst,

Attast no poyson (vice is veuim worst,

It mates the mynde) beware eke of to much,

Al kyl through muchnesse, some with onely touch.

When I had learnde to set my oth at nought,

And through much vse the sence of sinne exiled.

Against King Henry what I could I wrought,

My fayth my oth vniustly fowle defiled,

And while slye Fortune at my doinges smyled,

The wrath of God which I had wel deserued,

Fel on my necke, for thus loe was I serued.

[Page]

Ere I had raygned fully fiftene yeare,

While tyme I lay at Pertho at my place

With the Quene my wyfe and children me to cheare

My murdrynge vncle with the double face,

That longed for my kyngdome and my mace,

To slay me there suborned Robert Grame,

With whom his nephue, Robert stuart came.

And when their tyme fit for their purpose found,

Into my priuy chamber they astart,

Wherwith their swoordes they gaue me many a wound,

And slue al such as stuck vnto my part

There loe my wife did shew her louing hart,

Who to defend me felied one or twayne.

And was sore wounded ere I could be slayne.

See Baldwin, Baldwin, the vnhappy endes,

Of such as passe not for theyr lauful oth

Of those that causeles leaue their fayth or frendes

And murdre kinsfolkes through their foes vntroth,

Warne, warne al princes, al like sinnes to loth,

And chiefly such as in my realme be borne

For god hates highly all that are forsworns

FINIS

§

§

[Page]

WHen this was sayde (quod one of the companye) let passe these Scottish matters, and returne we to our English storyes whiche minister matter enoughe of tragedy, without seking or trauaylinge to forreine countryes. Therfore returne we to the rest of ye Tragical trobles and broyles which hapned in this realm? during the minority of king Henry the vi. & the sundry falls and ouerthrowes of great princes & other noble persōs happening therby. Wel sayd (ꝙ M. Fer.) and as it happeneth. I haue here ready penned ii. notable tragedies, the one of Hamfrey Duke of Glocestre, the other of the Duches Elienor his wife which as (me semeth) be two of ye most memorable matters fortuning in y• time But whether of thē is fyrst to be placed in the order of our boke, I somewhat stande in doute. For albeit the sayde Dukes death happened before the deceasse of the Duches, yet was her fall first, which fynally was cause of ouerthrow to both▪ why shoulde you doubte then (quod the rest of ye company) for seyng ye cause doth alwaies go before theffect and sequel of any thing: it is good reason you should begin wt her first. And therfore we pray you lette vs heare fyrst what she hath to say, for al thys whyle we haue not hard the complaint of any Lady or other woman.

HOVV DAME ELIANOR Cobham Duchesse of Glocester▪ for practising of witchcraft and Sorcery, suffred open penance, and after was banished the realme into the yle of Man.

[Page]

IF a poore lady damned in exyle

Amongst princes may bee allowed place

Then gentle Baldwin stay thy pen awhyls

And of pure pitty ponder wel my case,

How I a Duches, destitute of grace

Haue found by proofe, as many haue & shal

The prouerbe true, that pryde wil haue a fall

A noble Prince extract of royal blood

Humfrey sometyme Protector of this land

Of Glocester Duke, for vertu cald (the good)

When I but base beneath his state did stande

Vouchsafte with me to ioyne in wedlockes vande

Hauing in Court no name of high degree

But Elinor Cobham as parents left to mee

And though by hyrth of noble race I was,

Of Barons bloud, yet was I thought vnfitte,

So high to matche, yet so it came to passe,

Whyther by grace, good fortune, or by witte

Dame Venus Iures so in myne eyes did sitte,

As this great Prince with out respect of state

Did worthy me to be his wedded mate [...]

[Page]

His wyfe I was, and he my true husband

Though for a whyle he had the company

Of lady Iaquet the Duchesse of holland

Beyng an heyre of ample patrimony

But that fel out, to be no matrimony

For after war, long sute in law and strife

She proued was the Duke of Brabants wife.

Thus of a Damsel a Duchesse I became,

My state and place aduaunced next the Queene

Wherby me thought I felt no ground, but swam

For in the Court myne equall was not seene

And so possest with pleasure of the splene

The sparkes of pride so kyndled in my brest

As I in court, would shyne aboue the rest

Such gyftes of nature god in me hath graft

Of shape and stature, with other graces moo

That by the shot of Cupids fiery shafte

Which to the hart of this greate prince did goe

This mighty Duke, with loue was linked so

As he abasyng the height of his degree,

Sette his hole hatte, to loue and honour mee

Grudge who so would, to him I was most deere

Aboue all Ladyes aduaunced in degree

(The Quene except) no Princesse was my peere

But gaue me place, and lords with cap and knee

Dyd all honour and reuerence vnto me

Thus hoysted high vpon the rollinge wheele

I sate so sure, me thought I could not reele.

[Page]

And weening least that fortune hath a turne,

I lookt aloft, and would not looke alow,

The brondes of pryde so in my breast did burne

As the hot sparkes, burst forth in open showe,

And more and more the fyre began to glowe,

Without quenching, and dayly did encrease,

Til fortunes blastes with shame did make it ceasse.

For (as tis sayde) Pryde passeth on afore,

And shame followes, for iust rewarde & meede

Wold god ladyes, both now and euermore

Of my hard hap, which shlal the story reede

Wold beare in mynde, and trust it▪ as their Crede▪

That pryde of harte, is a most hateful vice,

And lowlines, a pearle of passing pryce.

Namely in Quenes, and Ladies of estate

Within whose myndes, al mekenes should abound

Since high disdayne, doth alwayes purchace hate.

Beyng a vyce, that most part doth redound

To their reproch, in whom the same is found.

And seeldome gets good fauour or good fame

Bat is at last, knit vp with worldly shame.

The proofe whereof I founde most true indede,

That pryde afore, hath shame to wayte behynde.

Let no man doubt, in whom this vice doth brede,

But shame for pryde by iustice is assynde,

Which I wel founde, for truely in my mynde

Was neuer none, whom pryde did more enflame,

Nor neuer none, receiued greatter shame.

[Page]

For not content to be a Duchesse greate,

I longed sore to beare the name of Queene

Aspyring stil vnto an higher seate,

And with that hope my selfe did euerweene

Sins there was none, which that tyme was betweene

Henry the king, and my good Duke his Eame

Heyre to the crowne and kingdome of this Realme.

So neare to be, was cause of my vayn hope

And long awayte when this fayre hap would fal.

My studies all were tending to that scope,

Alas, the whyle to councel I did call

Such as would seme, by skill coniectural

Of art Magicke and wicked Sorcery

To deeme and dyuine the princes desteny

Among which sort of those that bare most fame

There was a Beldame called the wytch of Ey,

Old mother Madge her neyghbours did hir name

Which wrought wonders in countryes by heresaye

Both feendes and fayries her charmyng would obay

And dead corpsis from graue she could vprere

Suche an Inchauntresse, as that tyme had no peere

Two pryestes also, the one [...]ight Bolenbroke

The other Suthwell, great Clerkes in coniuration

These twoo Chapleins, were they that vndertooke

To cast and calke, the kinges constellation

And then to iudge by depe dyuination.

Of thinges to come, and who should next succede

To Englandes crowne, al this was true in deede.

[Page]

And further sure they neuer did proceede

Though I confesse, that this attempt was ill,

But for my part, for any thing in dede

Wrought, or els thought, by any kynd of skill.

God is my iudge I neuer had the will

By any Inchauntment sorcery or charme

Or other wyse, to worke my princes harme.

Yet netheles, when this case came to light,

By secrete spyes to Cayphas our Cardinal

Who long in hart had borne a priuy spyght,

To my good Duke his nephew naturall

Glad of the chance, so fitly forth to fall

His long hid hate, with iustice to color

Vsed this case with most extream rigor.

And caused me with my complyces all,

To be cyted by processe peremptory,

Before Iudges, in place Iudiciall

Whereas Cayphas, sytting in his glory

Would not allow my answer disatory

Ne Doctor or Proctor, to allege the lawes.

But forced me to pleade in myne owne cause.

The kynges councel were called to the case

My husband than) shut out for the season

In whose absence I found but little grace

For Lawiers turned our offence to treason

And so with rigor, without ruth or reason

Sentence was gyuen that I for the same

Should do penance, and suffer open shame.

[Page]

Nay the lyke shame had neuer wight I weene

Duchesse, Lady, ne Damsel of degree,

As I that was, a Princesse next the Quene,

Wyfe to a Prince, and none so great as hee,

A Kinges vncle, Protector of his countrey,

With Taper burning, shrouded in a sheete

Three dayes a row, to passe the open streate.

Barelegd, and bare foote, to al the worldes wonder

Ye, and as though such shame did not suffise

With more despyte, then to part a sunder,

Me and my Duke, which Traytors did deuyse

By Statute law, in most vnlawful wise,

Fyrst sending me, with shame into exile.

Then murdryng him, by trechery and gyle.

Ye and besydes, this cruel banishment

Far from al frendes, to comfort me in care

And husbandes death: there was by Parliment

Ordaynd for me, a messe of courser fare.

For they to bring me to beggers state most bars

By the same acte, from me did then withdraw.

Such right of dower, as widowes haue by law.

Death (as tis sayd) doth set al thinges at rest,

Which fel not so in myne vnhappy case,

For sins my death, myne enmies made a Iest

In minstrels ryme myne honour to deface.

And then to bring my name in more disgrace

A song was made in manner of a laye

Which old wyues sing of me vnto this day.

[Page]

Yet with these spytes, theyr malice did not end

For shortly after, my sorrowes to renew

My Loyal Lord, which neuer did offende

Was cald in hast, the cause he little knew

To a Parliament, without Sommons due

Whereas his death, was cruelly contryued

And I his wyfe of earthly ioyes depryued.

For al the while my Duke had life & breath

So long I stoode, in hope of my restore

But when I hard of his most causeles death

Then the best salue for my recureles sore

Was to dispayre of cure for euermore,

And as I could, my careful hart to cure.

With pacience, most paynful to indure.

O Traitors fel, which in your hartes could fynde!

Like frendes of hel, the guiltles to betraye

But ye chefely, his kinsemen moste vnkynde

Which gaue consent to make him so away,

That vnto God, with al my hart I pray,

Vengeance may light on him that caused all,

Beaufort I meane, that cursed Cardinall.

Which Bastard preest of the house of Lancaster

Sonne to Duke Iohn, surnamed Iohn of Gaunt

Was first create, Byshop of Winchester,

For no learning, wher of he myght wel vaunt

Ne for vertue, which he did neuer haunt

But for his gold & Summes that were not small

Payd to the pope, was made a Cardinall.

[Page]

Proude Lucifer, which from the heauens on hye

Downe to the pit of Hel below was cast,

And beyagous an Auugell bright in sky

For his high pryde, in Hel is chayned fast

In depe darknes, that euermore shall last

More hault of hart was not before his fal

Then was this proud and pompes Cardinall

Whose lyfe good Baldwine paint out in his pickle,

And [...]ase this Baal & Belligod most blinde,

An Hipocryte, all faythles false and fickle,

A wicked wretch, a kinseman most vnkynde,

A Deuil incarnate, all deuilishly enclynde

And to discharge my conscience all at ones

The Deuil him gnaw both body, blood and bones

The spyteful Preest would needes make me a Witch,

As would to god I had bene for his sake.

I would haue clawd him where he did notitche,

I would haue played the Lady of the Lake

And as Merlia was, cloasoe him in a Brake,

Yea a Meridian to Lul him by daylight

And a night mare to ryde on him by night.

The s [...]ery feends with feuers hut and freuzye

The Ayeryhegges with stench and carren sauours

The watry ghostes with gowtes, and with dropsie

The earthy Goblius, wt Aches at all houres

Faryes & Faicies, with al infernal powers

I would haue stird from the darke dongeon

Of hell Centre, as depe as Demagorgon.

[Page]

Or had I now the skil of dame Erichto

Whose dreadful charmes, as Lucane doth expresse

All feendes did feare, so farforth as Prince Pluto

Was at her cal for dread of more distresse

Then would I send of helhounds more and lesse,

A legion at least, at him to crye and yel.

And with that chy [...]me, herrie him downe to hell

Which neede not, for sure I thinke that hee

Who here in earth leades Epicurus lyfe,

As farre from god as possible may be

With whom all sinne and vices are most ryfe

Vsing at wil both widow mayd and wyfe

But that some Deuil his body doth possesse

His life is such, as men can iudge no lesse

And god forgeue my wrath and wreakful mynde

Such is my hate to that most wicked wretch

Dye when he shal, in hart I could wel fynd

Out of the graue his corps againe to fetch

And racke his lymmes as long as they would stretch

And take delyte to listen euery daye

How he could sing a masse of welawaye

The yle of Man was the appointed place

To penance mee for euer in exile

Thither in hast they poasted me apace,

And doubtinge skape, they pind me in a Pyle

Close by my selfe in rare, alas the whyle

There felt I fyrst pore prisoners hungry fare,

Much want, thinges skant, and stone walls hard and bare

[Page]

The change was strange, from silke and cloth of Gold

To rugged fryze my carcas for to cloathe,

From princes fare, and dayntyes hot and cold,

To rotten fish, and meates that one would loathe

The dyet aud dressing were mutch a lyke boath

Bedding and lodging were all alike fyne,

Such Down it was, as serued wel for swyne.

Neither do I myne owne case thus complayne

Which I confesse came partly by deserte

The onely cause which doubleth al my payne

And which most nere goeth now vnto my harte.

Is that my fault, dyd finally reuerte

To him that was least gilty of the same

Whose death it was, though I abode the shame.

Whose fatal fall, when I do call to mynde,

And how by me his mischiefe fyrst began

So oft I cry on fortune most vnkinde

And my mishap most vitterly do banne,

That euer I to such a noble man,

Who from my cryme was innocent and cleare,

Shoulde be a cause to buy his loue so deare

Oh to my hart how greuous is the wounde

Calling to mynd this dismal deadly case

I would I had bene doluen under ground.

When he first saw, or loked on my face,

Or tooke delight in any kynd of grace

Seming in mee, that him did stirre or moue

To fancy me, or set his hart to loue.

[Page]

Farewel Grenewych my Palace of delyght,

Where I was wont to see the Cristal streames,

Of royall Thames most pleasant to my syght

And farewel Kent, right famous in all realmes

A thousand tymes I mynd you in my dreames

And when I wake most grefe it is to me

That neuer more agayne I shall, see you

In the night tyme when I should take my rest

I weepe, I wayle, I weat my bed with teares

And when dead sleape my spirites hath opprest

Troubled with dreames, I fantazy vay [...]e feares

Myne husbands voyce then ringeth at myne eares

Crying for help, O iaue me from the death

These villaynes here do seeke to stop my breath.

Ye and somtymes me thinkes his drery ghost

Appeares in sight, and shewes me in what wyse,

Those fel tryantes, with tormentes had emboost

His wynd and breath, to abuse peoples eyes

So as no doubt or question should aryse

Amonges rude folke which little vnderstande,

But that his death came onely by gods hand

I playne in vayne, where eares be none to heare

But roaring Seas, & blustring of the wynd

And of redresse am near a whit the neere

But with wast woordes to feede my mournful mynde,

Wishing ful oft, the Parcas had vntwynde

My vital stringes, or Atropos with knife,

Had cut the lyne of my most wretched lyfe.

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Oh that Neptune, and Eolus also,

Thene God of Seas, the other of weather

Ere myne Arriual, into that yle of woe

Had suncke the ship wher in I sayled thether

(The shipmen saued) so as I togeather

With my good Duke, mought haue bene dead afore

Fortune had wroken her wrath on vs so sore.

Or els that God when my first passage was

Into exile along Saynt Albanes towne

Had neuer let me further for to passe,

But in the Streat with death had strucke me downe

Then had I sped of my desyred downe

That my pore corps mought there haue lien with his

Both in one graue, & so haue gone to blysse.

But I alas, the greatter is my greefe

Am past that hope to haue my sepulture

Nere vnto hym, which was to me most leefe

But in an yle, land country most obscure.

To pyne in payne, whilst my poore life will dure

And beyng dead, all honorles to lye

In simple graue, as other poore that dye.

My tale is tolde, and tyme it is to ceasse

Of troubles past, al which haue had their ende

My graue I trust, shal purchasse me good peace

In such a world, where no wight doth contend

For highest place, whereto all flesh shal wend

And so I end, vsyng on word for all,

As I Began, that pryde wil haue a fell

FINIS.

quod G. F.

§

§

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SVerly (sayd one of the companye) thys Lady hath don much to moue the hearers to pitye her, & hath very wel knyt vp the ende of her tragedy according to y• beginning but I meruayle much where she learned al this Poetry touched in her tale, for in her dayes, learninge was not common, but a rare thinge, namely in women, yes (quod Maister Ferrers) that might she very wel learn of ye Duke her Husbande, who was a Prince so exellently learned, as the like of his degree was no where to be founde, And not onelye so, but was also a Patron to Poetes & orators muche lyke as Mecenas was in the tyme of Augustus Cesar This Duke was foundor of the Diuinite Schole in Oxforde, whereas he caused Aristoles workes to be translated out of Greeke into Latin, and caused many other things to be done for aduauncemēt of lernīg, hauīg alwaies lerned mē near about him no meruaile therfore though ye Duchesse broughte som pece away. Me thīk (quod another (she passeth bounds of a Ladies modesty, to inuey so cruelly agaynst the Cardinall Beaufort. Not a whit (quod another) hauing such cause as she had, & somewhat ye must beare with womens passions. Therefore leaue we her to eternall rest, & letre vs heare what Maister Ferrers wil say for the Duke her husband [Page] whose case was the more lamentable, in that hee suffered without cause. And surely thoughe the Cardinal against nature was the Dukes mortall Foe, yet the chiefe causers of his confusyon, was ye Quene, and William Delapoole E [...]le of Suffolke and afterwards Duke, whose counsel was chefely followed in the contryuing of this noble mans destruction, She through ambicion to haue soueraynty and rule and he through, flattery to purchace honour and promotion, which as he in shorte time obtayned: so in as short tyme he lost agayne, & his life withal by the iust iudgement of God, receiuing such measure as he before mette to this good Prince. This drift of his turned to the vtter euerthrow of the king himselfe, the Quene his wife, & Edward their son a most goodly prince, & to the subuersion of the hole house Of Lancaster, as you may see at large in the Chronicles: but now let vs heare what the Duke will saye.

HOVV HVMFREY PLANtagenet Duke of Glocester Protector of England, during the minoritie of his Nephue kinge Henrye the sixt, (commonlye called the good Duke) by practise of enemies was brought to confusion.

[Page]

AS highest hilles with tempestes bene most touched

And tops of trees, most subiect vnto wynde,

And as great towers with stone strongly rowched.

Haue heauy falles when they be vnder minde,

Euen so by proofe, in worldly thinges we fynde,

That such a clyme the top of high degree

From perril of failing neuer can be free.

To proue this true (good Baldwin) harken hyther,

See and behold me vnhappie Humfrey,

Englands Protector and Duke of Glocester

Who in the time of the sixt king Henrie,

Ruled this Realme yeares mothen twentie:

Note wel the cause of my decay and fall,

And make a mirrour for Magistrates all.

In their most weale, to beware of vnhap,

And not to sleepe in slom bring sickernesse,

VVhilst Fortune false doth lul them in her lap

Drowned in dreames of brittle blessednesse,

But then to feare her freakes and sicklenesse,

Accompting stil the higher they ascend:

More nigh to be to Daunger in the end.

[Page]

And that vayne trust in bloud or royall race.

Aouse them not with carelesse assuraunce

To trust Fortune, but waying wel my case,

When she most smyleth to haue in remembraunce

my soden fall, who in al apparaunce:

Hauing most stayes, which man in state mainteine,

Haue found the same vntrustie and most vayne.

Better then I, none may the same affirme,

Who trusting all in height of high estate,

Led by the eares with false flatteries chyrme,

Which neuer Prince could banishe from his gate,

Did little thinke on such a sodein mate,

Not heeding, lesse dreeding, al vnaware,

By foes least feared, was trapt into a snare.

If noble byrth or high authoritie

Nomber of Frendes, kindred, or alliaunce,

If wisedome, learning, or worldly pollicye

Mought haue beene stayers to Fortunes variaunce,

None stoode more strong, in worldly countenaunce,

For al these helpes had I to auayle mee,

And yet in fyne, al the same did fayle mee.

Of King Henry the fourth, fourth sonne I was

Brother to Henry, the fyft of that name,

And vncle to Henry the sixt, but alas,

What cause had I to presume on the same?

Or for vayne glorye, aduauncing my fame

My selfe to cal in recordes, and wrytinges,

The sonne, brother, and vncle vnto kinges.

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This was my boast, which lastly was my bane,

Yet not this boast, was it that brought mee downe

The verye use, which made my weale to wane

So neere of Kin that I was to the Crowne,

That was the Rocke that made my Ship to drowne.

A rule there is not faylinge, but most sure

Kingdome, no kyn doth know, ne can indure.

For after my Brother the fyft Henry

Wan by Conquest the Royall Realme of Fraunce,

And of two Kingdomes made one Monarchy

Before his death, for better obeysaunce.

To his younge Sonne, not ripe to gouernaunce

Protector of England I was by Testament,

And Ihon my Brother, in Fraunce made Regent.

To whom if God had lent a longer life,

Our house to haue kept from stormes of inward strife

Or it had beene the Lorde Almighties will

Plantagenettes name in State had standen still

But deadly discord which Kingdomes great doth spill

Bred by desire of high Dominacion,

Brought our whole house to playde desolation.

It is for trowth in an History Founde

That Henry Plantagenet fyrst of our name

Who called was, Kinge Henry the seconde

Sonne of Dame Mawde, the Empresse of High Fame

Would oft report, that his Auncient Grandame

Though seeminge in Shape, a Woman naturall,

Was a Feende of the Kinde that (Succubae) some call.

[Page]

VVhich olde fable, so longe time tolde before

When this Kinges sonnes against him did rebell:

Hee cald to minde, and beinge greeued sore.

Loe! now (quoth hee) I see and proue full well

The Story true, which folke of old did tell

That from the deuill descended all our race,

And now my children, do verefy the case.

VVhereof to leaue a longe memoriall,

In minde of man euermore to rest

A Picture hee made and hong it in his Hall,

Of a Pellicane sittinge on his Nest.

VVyth foure yonge Byrdes, three peckinge at his brest

VVyth bloudy Beakes, and further did deuise

The yongest Byrde, to pecke the fathers eyes.

Meaninge hereby, his rebell children three

Henry, and Richard who bet him on the brest:

Ieffrey only, from that offence was free)

Henry died of Englandes, Crowne possest:

Richard liued his father to molest,

Iohn the yongest peckt still his fathers eye

VVhose deedes vnkinde, the sooner made hym dye.

This kinge (some wryte) in his sicknesse last

Sayde, as it were by way of Prophecy

How that the Deuill, a Darnell grayne had cast

Amonge his Kin to encrease enmity,

Which should remayne in their Posterity,

Till mischiefe, and murder had spent them all

Not leauinge one to pisse agaynst the wall.

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And yet from him in order did succede

In England here of crowned kinges fourtene

Of that surname, and of that lyne and seede,

With Dukes and Earles, and many a noble Queene,

The number such as al the world would weene

So many ympes could neuer so be spent,

But some heire Male, should be of that discent.

Which to be true if any stand in doubt,

Because I meane not further to digresse,

Let him peruse the stories throughout

Of English kinges, whom practise did oppresse,

And he shal fynde the cause of their distresse

From first to last, vnkindly to beginne,

Alwayes by those that next were of the kynne.

Was not Richard, of whom I spake before,

A rebel playne vntil his father dyed,

And Iohn likewise an Enmie euermore

To Richard againe, and for a rebel tryed?

After whose death, it cannot be denyed,

Against all right this Iohn most cruellye

His brothers children caused for to dye.

Arthur and Isabell (I meane) that were

Geffreyes children, then Duke of Britaine

Henries third sonne, by one degree more neere,

Then was this Iohn, as stories shew most playne,

Which two children were famisht or els slayne,

By Iohn their Eame cald Saunzterre by name,

Of whose fowle act, al countries speake great shame.

[Page]

Edward, and Richard, second both by name

Kinges of this land, fel downe by fatall fate

What was the cause, that princes of such fame,

Did leese at last their honour, life, and state?

Nothing at all, but discord and debate,

Which when it haps in kindred or in bloud,

Erynnis rage was neuer halfe so wood.

Be sure therfore ye kinges and princes all

That concorde in kingdomes is chiefe assuraunce,

And that your families do neuer fall,

But where discord doth leade the doubtful daunce

With busie brawles and turnes of variaunce,

Where mallice is Minstrel, the pype ill report,

The Maske mischiefe, and so endes the sport,

But now to come to my purpose againe,

Whilst I [...]my charge applied in England,

My brother in Fraunce long time did remaine,

Cardinal Beauford tooke proudly in hand,

In causes publique against me to stand,

Who of great mallice so much as he might

Sought in al thinges to do mee dispight.

Which proude prelate to me was bastard Eame,

Sonne to Duke Iohn of Gaunt as they did fayne,

Who beeing made high Chauncellour of the Realme,

Not like a Priest, but like a prince did reigne,

Nothing wanting which might his pride mainteine,

Bishop besides of VVinchester he was,

And Cardinall of Rome which Angels brought to passe.

[Page]

Not Gods Aungels, but Angels of old Gold,

Lyfe him aloft in whom no cause there was

By iust desert, so high to be extold,

(Ryches except) where by this Golden asse,

At home and abroade al matters brought to passe,

Namely at Rome, hauing no meane but that

To purchase there his crimzin Cardinal hat.

Which thing the king my father him forbad

Playnly saying, that he could not abide,

Within his realme a subiect to be had

His Princes peere, yet such was this mans pride,

That he forthwith after my father dyed,

(The King then young) obteyned of the Pope,

That honour high, which erst he could not hope.

Whose proude attemptes because that I with stoode,

My bounden dutie the better to acquite,

This holy father waxed welnere wood,

Of meere malice deuising day and night,

To worke to me dishonour and dispite,

Whereby there fel betweene vs such a Iarre,

As in this land was like a ciuil warre.

My brother Iohn which lay this while in Fraunce,

Heardof this hurle, and past the seas in hast,

By whose traueil this troublesome distaunce,

Ceassed a while, but nethelesse in wast:

For rooted hate wil hardly be displast

Out of hyghe hartes, and namely where debate,

Happeneth amongst great persons of estate,

[Page]

For like as a match deth lye and smolder,

Long time before it commeth to the trayne.

But yet when fyre hath caught in the poulder,

No arte is able, the flames to restrayne:

Euen so the sparkes of enuye and disdayne,

Out of the smoke burst foorth in such a flame,

That Fraunce and England yet may rue the same.

So when of two realmes the regiment royal,

Betwene brothers was parced equallye,

One placed in Fraunce for affayres Martiall,

And I at home for ciuil pollicie:

To serue the state, we both did so applie,

As honour and fame to both did encrease,

To him for the warre, to me for the peace.

Whence enuye sprang, and specially because

This proude prelate could not abyde a Peere,

Within the land to rule the state by lawes,

Wherfore lifting my lyfe and actes most neere,

He neuer ceast, vntil as you shal beare,

By practise foule of him and his allies,

My death was wrought in most vnworthy wise.

And fyrst he sought my doinges to defame,

By rumours false, which hee and his did sowe

Letters and hylles to my reproch and shame

He did deuise, and al about bestow,

Whereby my troch in doubt should dayly agow,

In England fyrst and afterward in Fraunce,

Mouing al meanes to bring me to mischaunce.

[Page]

One quarel was, that where by common law

Murder and theft beene punisht all alike,

So as manslears, which bloudy blades do drawe,

Suffer no more, then he that doth but pike,

Me thought the same no order politike,

In setting paynes to make no difference,

Betweene the lesser and greater offence.

I beeing seene somwhat in ciuil law,

The rules thereof reputed muche better,

Wherfore to keepe, offenders more in awe,

Like as the fault was smaller or greater,

So set I paynes more easier or bitter,

Waying the qualitie of euerye offence,

And so according pronounced sentence,

Amongst my other Delicta Iuuentutis,

Whilst rage of youth my reason did subdue,

I must confesse as the very truth is,

Driuen by desire, fond fancies to ensue,

A thing I did, whereof great trouble grew,

Abusing one to my no small rebuke,

VVhich wife was than to Iohn of Brabant Duke.

Called she was Lady Iaquet the fayre,

Delightful in loue like Helene of Troye:

To the Duke of Bauier sole daughter and heire,

Her did I marrye to my great annoy

Yet for a tyme, this dame I did enioye,

VVith her whole landes, witholding them by force,

Til, Martin the Pope, betwene vs made diuorce.

[Page]

Yet all these blastes not hable were to moue

The anchor strong, whereby my ship did stay,

Some other shift to seeke him did behoue,

Whereto ere long il fortune made the way,

Which fynally was cause of my decay

And cruel death, contriued by my foes,

Which fel out thus, as now I shal disclose.

Elianor my wife, my Dutches only deare,

I know not how but as the nature is

Of women al, aye carious to enquiere

Of thinges to came (though I confesse in this

Her fault not small) and that shee did an isse,

By wytches skill, which sorcery some call,

Would know of thinges which after should befall.

And for that cause made her selfe acquainted

With mother Madge, called the wytch of Eye,

And with a Clerke that after was attaited,

Bolenbroke he hight, that learned was that way,

With other moe, which famous were that daye,

Aswel in Science, called Mathematicall,

As also in magicke and skil supernatural

These cunning folkes she set on worke to know,

The time how long the king should liue and raigne,

Same by the Starres, and some by deuils below,

Some by witchcraft sought knowledge to attayne,

VVith like fancies, friuolous fond and vayne,

Whereof though I knew least of any man,

Yet by that meane my mischiefe first began.

[Page]

Yet besides this there was a greater thing,

How she in waxe by counsel of the witch,

An Image made, crowned like a king,

VVith sword in hand, in shape and likenesse syche

As was the kinge, which dayly they did pytch

Against a fyre, that as the waxe did melt,

So should his lyfe consume away vnfelt.

My Dutchesse thus, accused of this cryme,

As she that should such practise first beginne,

My part was then to yeld vnto the time,

Geeuing her leaue, to deale alone therein

And since the cause concerned deadly synne,

Which to the clergie onely doth perteine,

To deale therein I plainly did refrayne.

And suffered them her person to ascite

Into their Courtes, to aunswere and appeare,

Which to my hart was sure the greatest spight,

That cauld be wrought, and touched me most neare,

To see my wife, and lady leefe and deare,

To my reproche, and plaine before my face,

Entreated se, as one of sorte most base.

The clergie then examining her cause,

Conuinced her, as guiltie in the same,

And sentence gaue according to their lawes,

That she and they whom I before did name

Should suffer death, or els some open shame:

Of which penaunce my wife by sentence had

To suffer shame of both the two, more bad.

[Page]

And fyrst she must by dayes together three,

Through London streetes passe a, along in sight

Bare legde and barefoote, that al the world might see,

Bearing in hand a burning taper bright,

And not content, with this extreeme despight,

To worke mee wo, in al they may or can,

Exilde she was into the Ile of Man.

This haynous crime and open worldly shame,

With such rigour shewed vnto my wife,

Was a fyne fetch further thinges to frame,

And nothing els, but a preparatiue

First from office, and fynally from lyfe,

Me to depriue, and so passing further,

What law could not, to execute by murther.

Which by slye driftes, and wyndlaces aloofe,

They brought about, perswading first the Queene,

That in effect it was the kinges reproofe,

And hers also, to be exempted cleane,

From princely rule, or that it should be seene

A king of yeares, stil gouerned to bee

Lyke a Pupil, that nothing could forsee.

The daunger more considering the king

Was without childe, I being his next heire,

To rule the realme, as Prince in euery thing

Without restraint, and al the sway to beare

With Peoples loue, whereby it was to feare

That my hault hart, vnbrideled in desire,

Time would preuent, and to the crowne aspire,

[Page]

These with such like, were put into her head,

Who of her selfe, was thereto sone enclinde,

Other there were, that this it humour fed,

To neither part, which had good wil or minde,

The Duke of Yorke, our cousin most vnkinde,

Who keeping close a tytle to the crowne,

Lancasters house did labour to pul oowne.

The stay whereof he tooke to stand in mee,

Seeing the king of courage nothing stout,

Neither of wit great peril to foresee,

So for purpose, if he could bring about

Mee to displace, then did he little doubt

To gayne the Goale, for which he droue the ball,

The crowne I meane to catch ere it should fall

This hope made him against me to conspyre

With those which foes were to ech other [...]ate,

The Queene old weene, to win her whole desire

Which was to rule, the king and al the state

If I were ryd, whom therfore shee did hate:

Forecasting not, when that was brought to passe,

How weake of frendes, the King her husband was.

The Dukes two, of Excester, and Buckingham,

With the Marquise Dorset therein did agree,

But namely the Marquise of Suffolke William,

Contriuer chiefe of this conspiracie,

With other mo, that sate stil and did see,

Their mortal foes on me to whet their knives,

Which turnde at last to losse of all their lyues.

[Page]

But vayne desire of soueraintie and rule,

Which otherwise (Ambition) hath to name,

So stirde the Queene that wilful as a Mule,

Headlong she runnes, from smoke into the flame,

Driuing a drife, which after did so frame,

As shee, the King, with all their lyne and race,

Depriued were of honour, lyfe, and place.

So for purpose she thought it very good,

With former foes, in frendship to confeder,

The Duke of Yorke, and other of his bloud,

With Neuils all, knyt were then together.

And Delapoole, frend afore to neither:

The Cardinal also, came within this list,

As Herode and Pylate, to iudge Iesu Christ.

This cursed league▪ to late discouered was

By Bayardes blinde, that lincked in the line,

The Queene and Cardinal brought it so to passe,

With Marquise Suffolke maister of this myne,

Whose il aduise, was counted very fyne,

With other moe which fynely could disguise,

With false visours my mischiefe to deuise,

Concluding thus they point without delay

Parliament to hold, in some vnhaunted place,

Far from London, out of the common way,

Where fewor none should vnderstand the case,

But whom the Queene and Cardinal did embrace,

And so for place they chose Saint Edmondesburye

Synce when (some say) England was neuer merye.

[Page]

Somens was sent, this companie to call,

Which made me mose, that in so great a case,

I should no whyt of counsel be at all,

Who yet had rule, and next the king in place,

Me thought nothing, my state could more disgrace,

Then to beare name, and in effect to bee.

A Cypher in Alg [...]m, as al men mought see.

And though iust cause I had for to suspect,

The tyme and place appointed by my foes,

And that my frendes most plainlye did detect,

The subtil traine, and practise of al those,

VVhich against mee, great treasons did suppose,

Yet trust of truth with a conscience cleare,

Gaue me good hart, in that place to appeare.

Vpon which trust with more hast then good speede,

Forward I went to that vnluckye place,

Dutie to show, and no whit was in dreade

Of any trayne, but bold to shew my face,

As a true man yet so fel out the case,

That after traueyle, seeking for repose,

An armed hand, my lodging did enclose.

The Vicount Beaumount, who for the time supplied,

The office of high Conestable of the Land

Was with the Queene and Cardinall allied,

By whose support, he stoutlye tooke in hand,

My lodginge to enter with an armed hand

And for high treason, my person did arest,

And layed me that night, where him seemed hest

[Page]

Then shaking and quaking, for dread of a Dreame,

Halfe waked al naked in bed as I say,

What tyme strake the chime of mine hower extreame,

Opprest was my rest with mortal affray,

My foes did vnclose, I know not which way

My chamber dores, and boldly they in brake,

And had me fast before I could awake.

Thou lookest now, that of my secret murther,

I should at large the maner how declare,

I pray thee Baldwin, aske of me no further,

For speaking playne, it came so at vnware,

As I my selfe, which caught was in the snare,

Scarcely am able the circumstaunce to shew,

Which was kept close, and knowen but vnto few.

But be thou sure by violence it was,

And [...]o whit bred by sickenesse or disease,

That felt it well before my life did passe,

For when these wolues, my bodie once did cease,

Vsed I was, but smally to myne ease:

With tormentes strong, which went so nerethe quicke,

As made me dye before that I was sicke.

A Palsey (they sayd) my vital sprites opprest,

Bred by excesse of melancholie blacke,

This for excuse to lay, them seemed best,

Least my true frendes the cause might further racke,

And so perhaps discouer the whoole packe,

Of the conspyrers, whom they might wel suspect,

For causes great, which after tooke effect.

[Page]

Dead was I found, by such as best did know,

The maner how the same was brought to passe.

And than my corps, was set out for a show,

By view whereof, nothing perceiued was:

Whereby the world may see as in a glasse,

The vnsure state, of them that stand most hye,

Which than bread least, when daunger is most nye.

And also see, what daunger they lyu [...] in,

Which next their king are to succede in place:

Since kinges most parte, be Ielous of their kynne,

Whom I aduise, fore warned by my case,

To beare low sayle, and not to much embrace,

The peoples loue: for as Senec sayth trulye:

O (quam) funestus est fauor populi.

FINIS.

G. F.

§

§

THe good Duke hauing ended his wof [...]ll tragedye, after much talke had concerning discention among these that be magistrates, good Lord (quoth one) what mischief and destruction doth priuye grudge and mallice, rayse among all sortes of people, both hye and low? but especiallye among Magistrat [...]s b [...]ng ye head and guyde of the Common wealth: for what mischiefe did the discention betweene these two persons [Page] (being both of high estate) bring afterward to both the realmes: yea and the vtter ruine of most part of them that were the chiefe workers of this Dukes death, you saye troth (quoth I) and now for that, it I may craue your pacience awhile, you shal heare what I haue noted in y• Duke of Suffolkes doinges, one of the chiefe procurours of Duke Humfreyes destruction, who by the prouidence of God came shortly after in such hatred of ye people, that the king himselfe could not saue him frō a straunge and notable death. For beeing banisht the realme for the terme of fyue yeares, to apprase the continual rumours and inward grudges, that not onely the commons, but most part of the nobilitie of England, bare towardes him for the death of the sayde Duke, he saylinge towardes Fraunce was met with a shippe of Deuonshire, and beheaded forthwith the fyrst day of Maye, Anno 1450. And the dead corps throwen vp at Douer vpon the sandes, which may lament his death after this maner.

HOWE VVILLIAM DELApoole Duke of Suffolke was worthelye banished for abusing his kinge, and procuringe the death of Duke Humfrey of Glocester, protector of England. Anno. 1450.

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HEauye is the hap whereto all men be bound,

I meane the death, which no estate may flye:

But to be banisht, beheaded and than dround,

In sincke of shame from top of honours hye,

Was neuer man, so seru'd I thinke but I,

Wherfore good Baldwin amongst the rest by right,

I clayme of thee my woful case to wryte.

My onely lyfe in all ponintes may suffice,

To shew how base al baytes of Fortune be,

Which thawe lyke Ise, through heate of enuies eyes:

Or vicious deedes which much possessed mee:

Good hap with vice, long tyme cannot agree,

Which bring best Fortunes to the basest fall,

And happiest hap, to enuy to be thrall.

Called I was William Delapoole,

Of Suffolke Duke in Queene Margarets dayes,

That found the meane Duke Humfreyes bloud to coole,

Whose worthy acts deserue eternal prayse,

Whereby I note that Fortune cannot rayse

Any one al oft, without some others wracke,

Fluds drowne no fieldes, before they fynde a bracke.

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But as the waters which do breake the walles

Do lose their course, they had within the shore,

And daylye rotting stincke within their stalles,

For faule of mouing which they found before:

Euen so the state that ouer high is bore,

Doth loose the lyfe of Peoples loue it had,

And rotts it selfe vntil it fall to bad.

For while I was but Earle, ech man was glad,

To saye and do the best by me they might:

And Fortune euer since I was a lad,

Did smyle vpon me with a cherefull sight,

For whan my king had dubbed me a knight,

And sent me foorth to serue at warre in Fraunce,

My luckye speede myne honour did enhaunce.

Where, to omit the many feates I wrought

Vnder others guyde, I doe remember one,

Which with my souldiers valiauntly was fought,

None other Capitayne saue my selfe alone,

I meane not now the apprinze of Pucel Ione

In which attempt my trauayle was not small,

Though the Duke of Bourbon had the prayse of al.

But the siege of Awmarle is the feate I prayse,

A strōg built town, with castles, walles, & vaultes,

With men and weapon armde at all assayes:

To which I gaue nigh fyue times fiue assaultes,

Til at the last they yelded it for naughts,

Yet Lord Ramburs like a valiaunt knight,

Defended it as long as ere he might

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But what preuayled it these Townes to win,

VVhich shortly after must be lost agayne?

VVhereby I see there is more glory in

The keepinge thinges than is in their attayne:

To get and keepe not, is but losse of payne.

Therefore ought men prouide to saue their winninges

In all attemptes, els lose they their beginninges.

Because we could not keepe the Townes wee won,

For they were more than we might easely wyeld

One yeare vndid what wee in ten had don:

For enuy at home, and treason abroade, did yelde

Kinge Charles his realme of Fraunce, made barrain field:

For bloudy warres had wasted all encrease,

VVhich causde the Pope helpe pouerty sue for peace.

So that in Tourayn, at the towne of Toures

Duke Charles, and other for their Prince appered,

So did Lord Rosse, and I than Earle, for oures:

And whan we shewed wherein ech other dered,

VVe sought out meanes al Quarels to haue clered,

VVherein the Lordes of Germany, of Spayne,

Of Hungary, and Denmarke, tooke exceedinge payne.

But sith wee coulde no finall peace induce,

For neyther would the others couenaūtes here,

For Eighteene monethes wee did conclude a truce:

And while as frendes wee lay together there,

Because my Warrant did mee therein beare,

To make a perfite peace, and through accord,

I sought a mariage for my Soueraygne Lord.

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And for the French Kinges Daughters were to small,

A fancied most Dame Margaret his Niece,

A louely Lady, Bewtifull, and Tall,

Faire spoken, pleasaunt, a very Princely piece,

In Wit, and learninge, matchlesse hence to Greece,

Duke Rayners Daughter of Antow, Kinge by stile

Of Naples, Ierusalem, and of Scycill Ile.

But ere I could the graunt of her attayne:

All that our Kinge had of her fathers landes,

As Mountes the City, the county whole of Mayne,

And most of A [...]iow Duc [...]y in our handes,

I did release him by assured handes.

And as for Dowry with her none I sought,

I thought no peace could be to derely bought.

But whan this mariage throughly was agreed

Although my kinge were glad of sutch a make

His Vncle Humfrey abhorred it in deede,

Because thereby his precontract he brake,

Made with the heyre of the Earle of Arminacke,

A noble Mayde with store of goods endowed,

VVhich more than this with losse, the Duke allowed.

But loue, and bewty in the kinge so wrought,

That neither profit, or promise hee regarded,

But set his vncles counsayle still at nought:

And for my gaynes, I highly was awarded.

Thus vertue starues, but lust foode must bee larded,

For I made Marquise, went to Fraunce agayne,

And brought this Bryde vnto my Soueraygne.

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At whom because Duke Humfrey ay repined.

Calling their mariage aduoutrie (as it was)

The Queene did moue me, erst thereto enclyned,

To helpe to bring him to his Requiem masse,

Which sith it could for no crime come to passe:

His lyfe and doinges were so right and cleare,

Through priuy murther we brought him to his Beere.

Thus righteousnesse brought Humfrey to rebuke,

Because he should no wickednesse allow,

But for my doinges I was made a Duke.

So Fortune can both bend and smoth her brow

On whom she list, not passing why or how.

O Lord how high, how soone she did me rayse,

How fast she fildime both with prayes and prayse.

The Lordes and Commons both of like assent,

Be sought my soueraigne kneeling on their knees,

To recorde my doinges in the Parliament,

As deedes deseruing euerlasting fees,

In which attempt they did no labour leese,

For they set not my prayse so fast in flame,

As hee was redy to reward the same.

But note the end, my deedes so worthy deemed

Of King, of Lordes, and Commons altogether,

Were shortlye after treasons false esteemed,

And all men curst Queene Margets comming hyther,

For Charles the French king in his feaces not lither,

Whan we had rendered Rayner, Maunts, and Mayne,

Found meanes to wynne al Normandy againe.

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This made the Peopie curse the mariage,

Esteeming it the cause of euery losse:

Wherfore at mee with open mouth they rage,

Affirming me to haue brought the realme to mosse [...]

Whan King and Queene saw things thus go a crosse

To quiet al a Parliament they called,

And caused mee in Prison to be thralled.

And shortlye after brought me foorth abroade,

VVhich made the commons more than double wood

And some with weapons would haue layd on loade,

If their graund Captaine Blewberd in his moode,

Had not in time with wisedome bene withstode:

But though that he and more were executed,

The people stil their worst against me bruted.

And so applied the Parliament with Bylles,

Of haynous wronges and open trayterous crimes,

The king and Queene were forst against their willes

Fro place to place to adiourne it diuers times.

For Princes power is like the sandy slymes,

VVhich must perforce geeue place vnto the waue,

Or sue the windye sourges when they raue.

Their lyfe was not more deare to them than I,

VVhich made them search al shiftes to saue me stil,

But aye my foes such faultes did on me trye,

That to preserue me from a worser ill,

The king was fayue ful sore against his wyl:

For fyue yeares space to send me in exile,

In hope to haue restorde me in a while.

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But marke howe vengeaunce wayteth vpon vice,

To shun this storme, in saylinge towardes Fraunce,

A Pirates Barke, that was of little price,

Encount [...]ed mee vppon the Seas by chaunce,

VVhose Captayne there tooke mee as in a traunce,

Let pass my shippes, with all their frait, and loade,

And led mee backe agayne to Douer roade.

VVere, vnto me recountinge all my faultes,

As murdringe of Duke Humfrey in his Bed,

And how I, had brought all the Realme to naughtes,

Causing the Kinge vnlawfully to wed,

The [...]e was no grace, but I must loose my head,

VVherefore he made me to shriue me in his boate,

And on the brinke, my Necke in two he smoate.

This was myne ende: which was by reason due

To me, and sutch as others deaths procure.

Therefore be bold to write, for it is true,

That who so doth sutch practise put in vre,

Of due reward at last shalbe most sure,

For God is iust, whose stroke delayed longe,

Doth light at last, with payne more sharpe and stronge.

FINIS.

VV. B.

§

§

VVHan this was sayd: euery man reiosed to heare of a wicked person so righteously punished: for though fortune in many points be iniurious to Princes, yet in this & sutch lyk [...] shee is most righteous: and only deserueth the name of [Page] a goddesse, whan she prouideth meanes to punish & destroy tyrantes. And when we had a while considered the driftes of the Kinge & Queene to haue saued this duke: & yet they could not: It is worth ye labour (sayd one) to way the workes, & iudgemēts of God: which seinge they are knowen most euidently by comparing contraries, I will touch the story of Iacke Cade in order next following.

Whom Kinge Henry with all his puissaunce was no more able for a while to destroy (yet was he hys rebellious enemy) thā he was to preserue the Duke of Suffolke his derest frend: by which two examples doth appeare how notably God disposeth all thinges, and that no force stretcheth father, than it pleaseth him to suffer. For this Cade beinge an Irisheman, but of meane parentage, of no ability, & lesse power, accompanied with a fewe naked Kentish mē, caused the king with his army at al points appointed, to leaue the fielde, and suffer him to doe whatsoeuer he lusted for a tyme, but in the ende he was slaine at Hothfield in Suffer, and caried thēce to London in a Cart, & there quartered. In whose behalfe, seeinge hee is one of Fortunes Whelpes, I will trouble you a while to heare the processe of his enterprise, which hee may declare in maner followinge.

HOW IACKE CADE NAminge himselfe Mortimer, trayterously rebellinge agaynst his Kinge in Iune. Anno. 1450. was for his treasons, and cruell doinges worthely punished.

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SHall I call it Fortune or my frowardfolly,

That lifte mee vp, and layd mee downe belowe?

Or was it Courage, that made me so Ioly.

Or strēgth of stars, wt make men high to growe?

What euer it were this one poynct suer I know,

Which shalbe meete for euery man to marke.

Our lust and willes, our euils chiefly warke.

It may be well that planets do encline,

And our complexions moue our mindes to ill,

But sutch is reason, that they bringe to fine

No worke vnayded of our lust, and will:

For Heauen, and Earth are subiect both to skill.

The skyll of God ruleth all it is so stronge,

Man may by skill guyde thinges that to him longe.

Though lust be sturdy, and will enclinde to nought,

This forst by mixture that by Heauens course,

Yet through the skill, God hath in reason wrought

And geuen man, no lust nor will to course,

But may be stayed, or swaged of the sourse,

So that it shall in nothing force the mynde:

To worke our wo, or leaue the proper kynde.

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But though this skill bee geuen to euery man

To rule the will, and kepe the minde aloft,

For [...]acke of grace full fewe vse it can.

These wordly pleasures tickle vs so oft:

Skull is not weake, but will strong, flesh is soft

And yeldes it selfe to pleasure that it loue to.

And [...]ales the mynde to that it most reproueth.

Now if this hap whereby we yelde our mynde

To lust, and will, be Fortune as we name her,

Than is she iustly called false, and blinde,

And no reproch can be to mutch to blame her:

Yet is the shame our owne when so we shame her,

For s [...]er this hap if it be rightly known,

Commeth of our selues, and so the blame our own.

For who so liueth in the Schole of skill,

And med [...]eth not with any worlds affaires,

Forsaketh Pompes, and honours, that do spill

The mindes recourse to Graces quiet st [...]yres,

His state no Fortune by no meane a [...]payres:

For Fortune is the folly, and plague of those

VVhich to the World their wretched willes dispose.

Amonge which Fooles (marke Baldwyn) I am one,

That would not stay my selfe in mine estate.

I thought to rule, but would obay to none,

Wherefore I thought to be my Princes mate,

And by some meane his power to abate,

And for that ends, Mortimer would be nam'de,

Heyre apparant, of England once proclaym'de.

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This shift I vsed the people to perswade

To leaue their Prince, and on my syde to sticke.

Whereas in deede, my fathers name was Cade.

Whose noble stocke was neuer worth a sticke.

But touching wit I was both rype and quicke.

Had strength of Luns, large stature, comely face,

Which made men wene my lignage were not base.

And seeing stoutnesse stucke by men in Kent,

Whose valiaunt hartes refuse none enterprise,

With false perswasions straite to them I went,

And saye they suffred too great iniuries:

By meane where of I caused them to ryse,

And Battaile wise to come to Blackheath playne,

And thence their griefes vnto the king complayne.

Who being deafe (as men say) on that eare

For we desired release of subsedies,

Refused roughly our requestes to heare,

And came against vs as our enemies:

But we to tary sought our subtilities,

Remoued our campe, and backe to Senocke went,

After whom the Staffordes with their power wa [...]

See here how Fortune setting vs aflote,

Brought to our nets a Porcion of our pray.

For why the Sea ordes with their armie hote,

Assailed vs at Senocke where we laye:

From whence aliue they parted not awaye,

Which w [...]an the kinges retinue vnderstoode,

They all affirmde my quarel to be good.

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Which caused the King and Queene whom all did hate,

To rayse their Campe, and sodenly depart:

And that they might the Peoples grudge abate,

To imprison some ful sore against their hart.

Lord Saye was one, whom I made after smart,

For after Staffordes and their hoast was slayne,

To Blackheath field I marched backe agayne.

And where the King would nothing heare before,

Now was he glad to send to know my minde:

And I thereby enflamed much the more,

Refused his grauntes so folly made me blynde.

For this be flew, and left Lord Scales behinde,

To helpe the towne and strengthen London tower,

Towardes which I marched forward with my power.

And found there al thinges at myne owne desire.

I entred London did there what I list,

The Treasorer, Lord Saye, I did conspyre

To haue condempned: whereof whan I mist,

(For hee by law my malice did resist)

By force I tooke him i [...] Guildhal fro the heape,

And headed him before the Crosse in Cheape.

His Sonne in lawe Iames Cromer shriue of Kent

I caught at Myle end, whereas then he laye:

Beheaded him and on a poale I sent,

His head to London where his fathers laye.

With these two heades I made a prety play,

For pight on poales I bore them through the streete,

And for my sport made ech kisse other sweete.

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Than brake I Prisons set forth whom I would,

And vsed the city as it had bin myne:

Tooke from the Marchauntes, money, ware, and gold.

From some by force, from other some by syne.

This at the length did cause them to repyne,

So that Lord Scal [...]s, consentinge with the Mayre,

Forbad vs to their City to repayre.

For all this while mine hoast in Southwarke lay,

VVho whan they knew out passage was denied,

Came boldely to the bridge and made a fray.

For in wee would the townes men vs defied:

But whan with strokes wee had the matter tried,

VVee wan the Bridge and set mutch part on sier,

This dane to Southwarke bock we did retier.

The morow after came the Chancellour,

VVith generall pardon for my men, halfe gone,

VVhich heard and read, the rest within an houre,

Shranke all away ech man to shift for one.

And whan I sawe they left mee post alone,

I did disguise me like a knight of the post,

And into Sussex rode away in poste.

And there I lurked till that cursed coyne,

That restlesse Begle sought, and found mee out,

For straight the Kinge by promise did emoyne,

A thousand marke to whosoeuer mought

Apprehend my corse, which made them seeke about:

Amonge the which one Alexander Iden,

Found out the Hole wherein the Foxe was hidden.

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But ere hee tooke me, I put him to his Trumps,

For yeeld I would not while my handes would holde,

But hope of money made him stur his stumps,

And to assault mee valiauntly, and bolde.

For two longe Howres, our Combat was not colde

Till at the last he lent me sutch a stroke,

That down I fell, and neuer after spoke.

Than was my Carkasse caried like a Hog.

To Southwarkes Borough where it lay a night,

The next day drawen to Newgate like a dog,

All men reioysinge at the rufull sight:

Than were on Poales my perboyls Quarters pight,

And set a loft for Vermin to deuour,

Meete graue for Rebels that resist the power.

Full litle knowe wee Wretches what wee do,

VVhen wee presume our Princes to resist.

VVee Warre with God, against his glory to,

That placeth in his office whom hee list:

Therefore was neuer Traytour yet, but mist

The Marke hee shot, and came to shamefull ende,

Nor neuer shall tyll God bee forst to bende.

God hath ordayne the power, all Princes bee

Hys Lieutenantes, nor deputies in realmes,

Agaynst their Foes therefore fighteth hee,

And his Enemies driues them to extreames,

Their wyse deuises, proue but Doltish dreames.

No Subiect ought for any kinde of cause,

To force the Prince. but yelde him to the lawes.

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Wherfore Baldwin warne men to folow reason.

Subdue their wylles and be not Fortunes slaues,

A shameful end doth euer follow treason,

There is no trust in Rebels, rascall knaues,

In Fortune lesse, which worketh as the waues:

From whose assaultes who listeth to stand free,

Must know his state, and so contented bee.

FINIS.

§

§

BY saint Mary (said one) if Iacke were as wel learned, as you haue made hys oration, whatsoeuer hee was by byrth, I warrante him a Gentilman by his learning. How notablye & philosopher like hath he described fortune, & the causes of worldlye cumbraunce? how lyke a diuine hath he determined the office both of Magistrates and subiects For in deede Magistrates be Gods deputies, and it is Gods office which they beare: and it is hee whiche ordeyneth thereto such as himselfe listeth, good whan he fauoureth the People, and euil when hee wyl punish them. And therfore whosoeuer rebelleth against any ruler, eyther good or bad, rebelleth agaynst God, and shal neuer see good end of hys attempt: for God cannot but mainteyn his deputie. Yet this I note by the way concerning rebelles & rebellions. Although the deuil rayse them, yet God alwayes vseth them to his glorye, as a part of hys iustice. For whan kinges & chiefe rulers, suffer their [Page] vnder officers to misuse their subiects, and wil not heare nor remedy their peoples wrongs (whā they complayne) then suffereth God the Rebell to rage, and to execute that parte of his Iustice, which the parcial prince would not.

For the Lord Saye a very corrupt officer, and one whome notwithstanding the kinge always maynteyned. was destroyed by this Iacke, as was also the Bishop of Salisburye (a proud and couetous Prelate) by other of the Rebelles. And therefore whatsoeuer prince desireth to lyue quietly without rebellion must doe his subiectes right in al thinges and punish suche Officers as oppresse, his People: thus shal they be sure from all Rebellion. And for ye clerer opening hereof, it were wel done to set forth this Lord Sayes tragedye. What neede that (said another) seeing ye like example is seene in the Duke of Suffolke, whose doings are declared sufficientlye alreadye. Nay let vs goe forward for we haue a great many behinde that may not be omitted, & the tyme as you see passeth away. As for this lord Saye, whome Cade so cruellye killed, and spitefullye vsed after his Death (I dare saye) shalbee knowen thereby he was to all that reade or heare this storye. For God would neuer haue suffered hym to haue beene so vsed, except he had first deserued it.

[Page] Therefore let him go and wyth him the Bishop, and all other slayne in that rebellion which was raysed by some sly drift of the Duke of Yorke, who shortly after by opē War, manifested his title to ye crowne, and therefore gathered an army in Wales, & marched towardes London: And preuentinge ye kinge, goinge northward to prepare an army, in the waye at Sayncte Albanes: Who for want of a sufficient power to take the field, was forced with sutch smal power as he had about him, to defend the Lanes, & backsydes of the towne, and to send out the Duke of Buckingham for a treaty, which the Duke of Yorke beinge head of the contrary faction, woulde not allow without fyrst hauinge the Duke of Somerset and other at his will, duringe which treaty Richard Neuill Earle of Warwike, the stout maintayner of yorckes title entred the Towne by force, fought a Battayle in the high streat, where of the Kinges part were slayne the sayd Duke of Somerset called Edmond Beauford, Henry Percy the second of that surname, Earle of Northumberlande, Humfrey, Earle of Stafford, Sonne and Heyre to Humfrey Duke of Buckingham, Ihon Lord Clifford, Babthorp the Kinges attorney, and his Son and heyre, besides a great number of Knightes, Esquiers, Gentlemen, & yeomen of ye kinges houshold & of other Lordes seruauntes, on whō al the slaughter, [Page] and bochery fell, beinge all for the more part vnarmed. But because the Duke of Somerset was the chiefe of the Kinges parte passinge ouer the rest, let vs only heare him speake for all.

THE TRAGEDY OF EDmond Duke of Somerset, slayne in the first battayle at Saynct Albanes, the. 23. day of May, in the. 32. yeare of Henry the sixt. Anno. 1454. *⁎*

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SOme I suppose are borne vnfortunate,

Els good endeuours coulde not so ill succeede,

VVhat shall I call it? ill fortune or fate,

That some attempts haue neuer happy speede,

But trauayle thanklesse, al bootlesse their heede:

VVhere other vnlike in workinge, or in skill,

Wynne what they will, and wield the world at will.

Of the first sorte, myselfe I count for one,

To all mishap, I we [...]ne predestinate,

Beleeue mee Baldwin, there bee few or none,

To whom Fortune was euer more ingrate.

Make thou therefore my life a Caueat,

That who so with force wyll worke agaynst kinde,

Sayleth (as who sayth) agaynst the stremt, and winde.

For I of Somerset which Duke Edmond hight,

Extract by discent from Lancaster lyne,

VVere it by folly, or Fortunes despight,

Or by ill aspect of some croked signe,

Of myne attempts could neuer see good fine:

VVhat so I began did seldome well ende:

God from sutch Fortune, all good men defend.

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Where I sought to saue, most part I did spill,

For good hap with mee was alway at Warre.

The Linage of Yorke whom I bare so ill,

By my spight became bright, and shone like a Starre,

Thus some whiles men make, when fayne they would marre.

The more yee lop Trees, the greater they grow.

The more yee stop Streames, the higher they flow.

Maugre my spighte, his glory grew the more,

And mine, as the Moone in the wane, waxt leste

For hauinge the place which he had before,

Gouernour of Fraunce, needes I must confesse,

That lost was Normandy yet nethelesse,

Alwayes I wrought that wit might well contriue,

But what bootes it, against the Streame to striue?

Borne was I neyther to Warre ne to peace,

Mars was maligne, and enemy to my trade:

My Birth I beleue was in Ioues decrease,

When Cancer in course, beinge retrograde,

Swarued from Sol, vnto Saturnus shade,

Where aspectes were good, opposites did marre,

So grew mine vnhap both in peace, and warre.

A straunge Natiuity in calculation,

As my liues course, did after well declare,

Wherof in briefe to make relation,

That other by mee may learne to beware,

Ouerlight credence was cause of my care.

And want of foresight in geuinge assent,

Humfrey to damme that Duke most innocent.

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Humfrey meane I that was the protectour,

Duke of Glocester of the royall bloud,

So long as he was Englandes directour,

Kinge Henries title to the Crowne was good,

This worthy Prince, as a Piller longe stoad:

Or like a strong prop set vnder a vyne,

In state to vpholde all Lancasters lyne.

O headlesse trust, vnware of harme to come,

O mad malice where wit obeyeth will,

VVas there euer any, whom folly did so nome:

Of all forecast, rigth, reason, wit, and skill,

As mee blinde Bayard consentinge to spill

My Coosyns bloud, my refuge, and my stay,

To my destruction, makinge open way?

So long as he in England bare the sway,

So long Rebelles no Quarelles durst begin,

But when the poste, was pulled once away,

Which stoode to vpholde the kinge, and his kin,

The Duke of Yorke, than stoutly hee stept in,

And chalenged the Crowne, by color of right,

Beginninge with Lawe, and endinge with might.

And spred great brutes in England vp and downe,

That he of England was the heire true,

And how Henry had vsurped the Crowne

Against all right, by practise most vntrue:

The people than, embrasinge titles newe,

Irkesome of present, and longing for chaunge,

Assenced soone, because they loue to raunge.

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True is the text which wee in Scripture reade,

Vae terrae illi cuius rex est puer.

Wo to that land whereof a child is head,

Whether childe or childishe, the case is one sure,

Where Kinges be younge, we dayly see in bre,

The people awlesse, by weaknesse of their head,

Leade their liues lawlesse, hauinge none to dread.

And no lesse true is this text agayne,

Beata terra cuius rex est nobilis.

Blest is the Land, where a stout Kinge doth rayne.

Wherein good peace ech man possesseth his,

For dread of whom, no man dare do amis,

Whose Prince is prest alwayes, and Sword in hand,

At home and abroade, all enemies to withstand.

In case the sonne had proued sutch a one,

Hardy and stoute as his fathers afore,

Sure had he sitten in the Royall throne,

Dreadlesse, and carelesse of common vpror.

But Henries weakenesse appeered more, and more,

Which boldnesse gaue, to the contrary band,

To spoyle him at last both of life, and land.

His humble heart was nothinge vnknowen,

To the gaye gallants, of Yorkes retinue,

Any lowe ground, is highly ouerflowen,

And shored houses cannot long continue,

Ioyntes cannot knit whereas is no Synowe.

And so a Prince, not dread aswell as loued,

By hold Traytours may bee soone remoued.

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Well mought I see, had I not wanted brayne,

The worke begon to vndermine the state,

When the chiefe link was loosed fro the chayne,

And that some durst vpon bloud royall grate,

How tickle hold I had of myne estate?

When the chiefe post lay flat vppon the flore,

Mought not I thinke my staffe then next the dore?

So mought also, dame Margaret the Queene,

By whose malice this mischife first began,

Did she (trow yee) her selfe not ouerwene

Death to procure to that most worthy man?

Which she and hers afterward mought well ban,

On whom did hange, as I before haue sayde,

Her Husbandes life, his honour and his ayde.

For whilst he liued which was one stable stay,

Yorke and his Impes were kept as vnder Yoke,

But when the Piller remoued was away,

Then durst out flame, that late before was Smoke,

The close Traytoure, then cast of his Cloake,

And from the dark came forth in open light,

VVith titles blinde which he set forth for right.

But this to achieue, first it him behoued,

The Kinge and his kin a sunder for to set:

Who once perforce, or practice ill remoued,

Then had they auoyded the principall le,

VVhith kept the sought pray so longe from the Net:

The next poynct after, was themselues to place

Next to the Prince, and other to abase.

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I was the first whom they put out of place,

No cause pretendinge, but the common weale,

The crowne on England was the very case,

VVhy to the Commons they burned so in zeale,

My faultes were Cloakes their practise to conceale,

In counsayle hearinge consider the entent,

For by pretence of truth, treason oft is ment.

So their pretence was onely to remoue,

Counsayle corrupt from place about the Kinge,

But O yee Princes, you it doth behoue,

This case to construe, as no fayned thinge,

That neuer traytour did subdue his kinge,

But for his plat▪ ere he would further wade,

Agaynst his frendes, the Quarel first hee made.

And if hap he could so bringe about,

Them to subdue, and haue them at his will,

Then would he waxe so arrogant, and stout,

That no reason, his outrage might fulfill,

But to proceede vppon his purpose still,

Till Kinge, and Counsayle brought were in one case:

Sutch is their folly, to rebels that geue place.

So for the fishe, when cast forth was the Net,

The next poynct was in driuinge out the plat,

Commons to cause, in rage to fume, and fret,

And to rebell, I cannot tell for what,

Requiringe redresse of this, and of that:

Who if they speede, the stander at receit,

Grasp will the Pray, for which he doth awayt.

[Page]

Then by surmise of some thinge pretended,

Sutch to displace as they may well suspect,

Like to withstand their mischiefe entended,

And in their roumes their banders to elect,

The aduerse party proudly to reiect

And then with reportes the simple to abuse,

And when these helpes fayle, open force to vse.

So this Dukes traynes were couert, and not seene.

Who little ment, that which hee most pretended,

Like to a Serpent lurkinge vnder greene,

To the weale publike seemed wholly vended:

Zelous he was, and would haue all thinges mended,

But by that mendment nothinge els he ment,

But to be Kinge, to that marke was his bent.

For had be bin playne, as hee ment in deede,

Henry to depose from the royall place,

His hast had bin waste, and murch worse his speede,

The Kinge then standinge in his peoples grace,

This Duke therefore setforth a goodly face,

As one that ment no quarrel for the Crowne,

Sutch as bare rule, he onely would put downe.

But all for nought, so longe as I bare stroke,

Serued these driftes, and proued all but vayne,

The best helpe then, was people to prouoke,

To make Commotion, and Vprores a mayne:

Which to appease, the Kinge himselfe was fayne,

From blacke Heath in Kent, to send me to the Tower,

Sutch was the sorce of Rebelles in that Hower.

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The tempest yet therewith was not ceassed,

For Yorke was bent his purpose to pursue,

Who seeinge how soone I was releassed,

And ill successe of sufferaunce to ensue:

Then like Iudas, vnto his Lord vntrue,

Thynkinge time lost any lenger to defarre,

By Warwickes ayde proclaymed open warre.

S. Albanes towne, where both our Hoastes did meete,

To crye a fielde was not an equall place,

For we were forst to fight within a streete,

With fewe agaynst many, sutch was the case,

There I and Warwicke fronted face to face,

At an Inne doore, the Castell was the signe,

Where with a Sworde was cut my fatall lyne.

Oft was I warned to come in Castle none,

But little thought of any Common signe,

I did Imagine a Castell built with stone,

For of no Iune, I could the same deuine,

In Prophetes skill my wits were neuer fine,

A foole is hee that sutch vayne dreames doth dred,

But more Foole hee, that will by them beiled.

My life I lost in that vnlucky place,

VVith many Lordes that leaned to my part,

The Earle Percy had no better grace,

Couragious Clifford could not eschewe the dart,

Buckinghams Heyre was at this mortall mart,

Babthorp the Attorney for all his skill in Lawe,

In this poynct of pleadinge appeared very rawe.

[Page]

So thus poore Prince disarmed of his bandes,

His frendes all slayne, wantinge good assistence,

VVas made a Pray vnto his enemies handes,

Priued of power and Princely reuerence,

And as a Pupill boyde of all experience,

Innocent playne, and simple witted,

Was as a Lambe vnto the Wolfe committed.

A Parliament than was called with speede,

A Parliament, nay a playne conspiracy,

VVhen agaynst right it was decreed,

That after the death of the sixt Henry,

The Duke of Yorke should haue the regally,

And in his life, the charge, and protection,

Of Kinge and Realme at the Dukes direction.

And thus was Yorke declared Protectour,

Protectour sayd I, nay Proditor playne.

A rancke Rebell the Princes directour,

A vassall to leade his Lord, and Souerayne,

VVhat honest hart would not conceiue disdayne,

To see the foote surmount aboue the head,

A Monster is in spight of nature bred.

Some haply heere, will moue a farther dout,

And for Yorkes part alledge an elder right,

O braynlesse head, that so runne in and out,

VVhan length of time a state hath firmely pight,

And good accord hath putall strife to flight,

VVere it not better sutch titles stil to sleepe,

Than all a Realme, about the tryall weepe?

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From the female, came Yorke, and all his leede,

And wee Lancastrians, from the Heyre Male,

Of whom thre Kinges in order did succeede,

By iust discent: this is no fayned tale.

Who would haue thought that any storme or gale

Our ship could shake hauinge sutch Anker hold,

None I thincke sure, vnlesse that God so would.

After this burle the Kinge was fayne to flee,

Northward in post, for succour, and releefe,

O blessed God how straunge it was to see!

A rightfull Prince pursued as a Theefe!

To thee O England, what can be more repreefe?

Then to pursue thy Prince with armed hand,

VVhat greater shame, may bee to any Land?

Traytours did triumph, true men lay in the dust,

Reuiage, and Robbiage, toysted euery where,

VVill, stoode for skill, and Law obeyed lust,

Might, trode downe right, of Kinge there was no feare,

The title was tryed onely by Shield, and Speare:

All which vnhaps, that they were not foreseene,

Suffolke was in fault, who ruled Kinge. and Queene.

Some here perhaps, do looke I should accuse

My selfe of sleight, or subtilty vniust,

VVherein I should my Princes Eares abuse

Agaynst the Duke, to bringe him in mystrust,

Some part whereof, though needes confesse I must,

My fault onely, consisted in consent

To my Foes driftes, which I could not preuent.

[Page]

If I at first whan Brandes began to smoke,

The Sparkes to quench by any way had sought,

Neuer had England felt this mortall stroke,

Which now to late lamentinge helpeth nought

Two poynctes of Wit to dearely haue I bought,

The first that better is timely to foresee,

Then after ouer late, a Counsaylour to bee.

The second is, not easely to assent,

To any aduice, agaynst thy faythfull frend,

But of the Speaker ponder the intent,

The meaninge ful, the poinct, and finall ende:

A Sainct in showe, in proofe is found a Fende,

The subtile man, the simple to abuse,

Mutch pleasaunt Speach, and Eloquence doth vse.

And so was I, and other mo abused

By Suffolkes sleights, who sought to please the Queene,

Forecast we lackt, which cannot be excused

Of thinges to come, as soone was after seene:

Which glosinge tongue, he made vs fooles to weene,

That Humfrey did to Englandes crowne aspyre,

Which to preuent his death they did conspyre.

What should I more of mine vnhaps declare,

Whereof my death at last hath ma [...]e an ende?

Not I alone was cause of all this care,

Some besydes mee there were that did offende.

None I accuse, nor yet my selfe defend,

Faultes I confesse, as no man liues without,

My chiefe fault, was folly, out of dout.

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Folly was chiefe, the noughty tyme was next,

VVhich made my Fortune subiect to the chiefe:

If England then with strife had not bin vext.

Glory might haue growen whereas ensued griefe,

Yet one thinge is, my comfort, and reliefe,

Constant I was in my Princes Quarell,

To dye or lyue, and spared for no parel.

What though Fortune enuious was my foe,

A noble hart ought not the soner yeild,

Nor shrincke a backe for any weale or woe,

But for his Prince ly bleeding in the field:

If priuy spight at any time mee belde,

The price is payde: and greeuous is my guerdon,

As for the rest God (I trust) will pardon.

FINIS.

G. F.

§

§

AFter this Tragedy ended, one sayd seeinge this Duke hath so vehemently exclaymed agaynst the Duke of Yorkes practises, it were well done to heare what hee can say for himselfe. For after ye first battayle at S. Albanes when he toke K Henry prisoner, he was made protector, which so mutch greeued Queene Margaret, & her complices, y• priuy grutches, & open dissembling neuer ceased til ye Duke, & his allyes were fayne to sly both field, & Realme, he into Ireiand, & they to Calaies. Whence they came agayne with an Army, whereof Richard Neuill Earle of Salisbury was leader, & marched towarde Couentry (where the [Page] Kynge was, and had gathered an army to subdue them, & encountred them at Northampton on ye. 10. day of Iuly in yt yeare of grace. 1460. sought with them, lost the field, and was taken himselfe, and many of his freendes slayne, as Humfrey Stafforde Duke of Buckingham, Ihon Talbot the second of that name Earle of Shrewesbury, Ihon Vicounte Beaumont, Thomas Lord Egremont, Syr William Lucy, and diuers other. But ouerpassinge all these and many mo because they were honourably slayne in the field, let vs come to him who was the chiefe cause thereof, that is to say, Richard Plantagenet Duke of York slayne in the battel at Wakefield on Christmas euē, and Edmond Earle of Ruflande his yong sonne, who was there murthered by the Lorde Clifforde as he woulde haue fled into the towne to haue saued himselfe.

Therefore imagine that you see a tall mans body full of fresh woundes but lacking a head, holdinge by the hande a goodly childe, whose breast was so wounded that his heart might bee seene, hys louely face and eyes disfigured with droppinge teares, his Hayre through horor standinge vpright, his mercy crauinge handes, al to be mangled, and all his body embrued with his owne blould, out of the Wesand pipe of which headles body came a shreking voyce sayinge as followeth.

HOW RICHARD PLANtagenet Duke of Yorke was slayne through his ouer rash boldnesse, and his Sonne Earle of Rutland an Infant cruelly murdered Anno. 1460.

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TRust Fortune (quoth he) in whom was neuer trust,

O Beastes most brute, that haue no better grace,

All rest, renowne, and deedes lye in the dust,

Of all the sort that sue her slipper trace,

How now? Why dost thou Baldwin hide thy face?

Thou needest not feare, although Imisse my head,

See this poore Boy, whom by the hand I lead.

The cause why I thus lead him in my hand,

With bloud, and teares halinge his body staynd,

Is that thou mayest the better vnderstand,

How hardly Fortune hath for vs ordaynde

In whom her loue and hate be whole contaynde.

Rychard I am Plantagenet by name,

Whilom of Yorke the Duke of worthy fame.

For Richard Earle of Cambridge, eldest sonne

Of Duke Edmond, thirde sonne of King Edward,

Engendred me whereof the course did runne,

Of Mortimers to be the Issue gard:

For when Edmond ber brother dyed Warde,

She was sole heyre by due discent of line,

VVhereby her Rightes, and Titles all were mine.

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But marke me now I pray the Baldwin marke,

And see how force oft ouerbeareth right,

Way how vsurpers tyrannously warke,

To keepe by murther that they get by might,

And note what troubles and daungers do alight,

On such as seeke to repossesse their owne,

And how by might, oft right is ouerthrowne.

Duke Henry of Hereforde called Bolenbrooke.

Of whom Duke Mowbray told the now of late,

Whan traytour like he had king Richard tooke:

Kild him in prison, vsurped his estate,

Without al right, or title, sauing hate

Of others rule, or loue to rule alone,

These two excepted tytle had hee none.

The Crowne by right came to Edmond Mortimer

Whose Father Roger was king Richardes heire,

Which caused Henry, and them of Lancaster,

To seeke all shiftes our houses to appayre,

For sure he was to sit beside the chayre,

Were wee of power to clayme our lawful right,

And therfore thought good, to extirpe vs quight.

His cursed sonne ensued the fathers trade,

And kept my cosin guiltlesse in sure hold,

For whom my father ful often did perswade,

With his allies and consins that they would.

Their Kinsmans right mainteyn and vphold.

And to depose by pollicy or power.

The heyre of him that was an vsurper.

[Page]

Whereof when Henry of that name the fift,

Had heard, and knew of this conspiracye,

He from sir Edmond al the blame to shift,

Sayd that my Father was the French kings aly,

And hyred by him to worke this trecherye,

For which at Hampton as it came to passe,

His lyfe he lost, and there veheaded was.

Thus was the name of Mortimer extinct,

Whose right and title descended vnto me,

Being forst to lyue, within a precinct

For feare I would to other countries flee

And so beeing at myne owne libertee,

Might haplye moue sedicion or strife,

For guilty hartes, can leade no quiet lyfe.

Yet at the last in Henries dayes the sixt,

I was restored to my fathers landes,

Made duke of Yorke: where through my mind I fixt,

To get the Crowne and kingdome in my handes,

For ayde wherein I knit assured bandes

With Neuils stocke, whose daughter was my make

Whereby great frendes I had my part to take.

O Lord what hap had I by mariage,

Fowre fayre Sonnes my yong wife to me bore,

Valiaunt men and prudent for their age,

Such brothers she had and nephewes stil in store

As none of the kin had any time before:

The Earle of Salisburie, & his sonne of Warwicke,

Were knights peerelesse, frō Barbary to Barwick.

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Through helpe of whom, & Fortunes frendly grace,

I first began to claime my lawful right,

And my chiefe foes with stoutnesse to deface.

I raysed power at al pointes prest to fight:

Of whom the chiefe that chiefly bare me spight,

Was Somerset the Duke, whom to annoy

Al my hole force, I dayly did employ.

And maugre him so choyse lo was my chaunce,

Yea though the Queene was wholy on hys syde,

I twise vare rule in Normandy and Fraunce,

And last lieutenant in Ireland I did byde,

Ful often driuen of force my head to hyde,

Yet through the loue, my doinges there did breede,

I had their helpe at al times in my neede.

This doutye Duke most deare to King and Queene,

With armed hoaste, I thrise met in the field,

The first vnfought through treaty made betweene,

The second ioynde wherein the King did yelde,

The Duke was slayne, the Queene her partie helde

Farre in the North, where ouermatcht with power

My life I lost, in an vnlucky howre.

Before this last were other battailes three,

The first the Earle of Salisburie alone,

Fought on Bloreheath, and got the victorie,

I at the next was present in persone

With my chiefe kin, whereas by one and one,

Our souldiers false, withdrew away by night,

Vnto our foes and wee put all to flight.

[Page]

This Boy and I in Ireland did vs saue,

Mine eldest sonne with Warwicke and his father,

To Calais got, whence by the read I gaue

They came againe to London, and did gather,

Another hoast, whereof I spake no rather:

And met our foes slew many a Lord and knight,

And tooke the King and draue the Queene to flight.

This doue I came to England all in haste,

New claime to make vnto the realme and crowne,

And in the house while Parliament did last,

In the Kinges seate, I boldly sate me downe,

Clayming the place, whereat the Lordes did frown,

But what for that, I did so wel proceede,

That al at last to my demaund agreed.

But sith Henry had raigned than so long,

They would be should continue til he dyed.

And to thend to make my title strong,

Apparant heire of England they me cryed,

But sith the Queene and others this denied,

I sped me straight Northward whereas she lay,

Meaning by force to cause her to obay.

She thereof warned, prepared a strong power.

And ere my men were altogether redye

To Sandale came, where in a dismal houre

I like a Beast, so rash was, and so heddy

To trie Fortune, which alwaies is vnsteddy

With thousands fiue, of souldiers to assayle

The double number, in campe to their auayle.

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And so was slayne at first: and whyle my pore infant

Scarse twelue yere olde, sought way himselfe to saue,

That cruel Clifford that fel bloudy tyrant,

While the pore chyld with tears did mercy craue,

With dagger sharp his hart a sunder claue.

This don he came to the campe where I lay dead,

Dispoyld my corps, and cut away my head.

And set a crowne of paper theruppon

Which for a sport he sent vnto the Quene

And she for spyte commaunded it anon.

To be had to Yorke and set vp to be sene.

In some such place as theuis & Traitors bene,

This mocke I had of fortune for rewarde,

After long hope that she wold me regard

Wherfore Baldwin see that thou set her forth

With her slipper pranks so as they may be known,

And warne all princes wel to way the worth

Of thinges, for which the side of war be sowen

The gaine no surer but as of dice throwen

No worldly good can counterpeyze the pryse

Of halfe the paynes that may therof aryse.

Better it were to lose a peece of right,

Then limmes and life in wrestling for the same,

It is not force, of frendship nor of might,

But god aboue that kingdomes set in frame

Not wit, but chance doth weild the winners game,

Wherfore if we our follies would refrayne,

Tyme woulde redresse all wronges we voyde of payne.

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Wherfore warne Lordes no wise to wade in warre

For any cause, saue their countries defence,

Their troublous titles are vnworthy farre

The bloud, the life, the spoile of innocence,

Of scendes, of foes, behold my long expence,

And neuer the neare: best than to tary time,

Low by the ground, than ouer high to clyme.

FINIS.

§

§

WIth that maister Ferrers shoke me by the sleeue saying: why how now man do you forget your selfe? belike you mynde oure matters very much. So I do in deede (said I) for I dreame of them. And whan I had rehearsed my dreame, we had long talke concerning the nature of dreames, which to stint, and to bringe vs to oure matter agayne, thus sayde one of them: I am glad it was your chaunce to dreame of Duke Richarde for it had bene pitty to haue ouerpassed him.

And as concerning this Lorde Clifforde which so cruelly killed his sonne, I purpose to geeue you notes: Who (as he wel deserued) came shortlye after to a sodaine death, and yet too good for a cruell tyraunt. For on Palmesonday next folowing, being the 29. Daye of March, in the yeare of Christe, a Thousand foure hundreth threescore and one, this Lord Clifford with Henry Percy the thirde Earle of Northumberlande, the Earle of Westmerlande, [Page] the Lorde Dacres, the Lorde Welles & other were slayne at Towton in Yorkeshyre. Wherfore as you thought you sawe & heard the headlesse Duke speake thorowe his necke, so nowe suppose you see this Lord Clifford al armed saue his head, with his Breast plate all gore bloud running from his throate, wherein an headlesse Arrowe sticketh, through which wound, he ratleth out this Rhime.

Howe the Lorde Clifforde for his extreame crueltie, came to a cruel, straunge, & sodaine death. Anno. 1461.

OPen confession asketh open Penaunce,

Yet wisdome would a man his fault should hide:

But sith pardon commeth by repentaunce,

Playnesse is best when truth is plainly tryde,

Open or hid, al faultes at length be spyed.

For couer fyer neuer so close within,

Yet out it will and so will secret synne.

As for my selfe, my faultes be out so playne,

Bruted and knowne abroade in euery place,

That though I would I cannot them reteyne,

Al care is bootelesse in a curelesse case,

To learne by others some haue had the grace,

Wherfore Baldwin, write thou my wretched fall,

The brief wherof I briefly vtter shal.

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Clifford I am that slue Duke Richards childe,

The louely babe that craued lyfe with teares:

Wherby my fame, most fouly I defiled

Pore sely Lambes the Lyon neuer teares,

The feble mouse may ly among great beares

But wrath of man his rancoure to requyt,

Forgets al reason, ruth and mercy quyte.

I meane such wrath as works parental wreke

Surnamed a vertu (as these reuengers say)

But little know those people what they speak

Which kyndle vs, our ennemis kin [...]o slay,

To punishe sinne is good, it is no nay.

They wreke not sinne, but merit wreke for sinne,

The fathers faultes that wreake vpon the kinne.

Because my father Lord Iohn Clifforde died

Slayne at S. Albanes, in his princes ayde,

Against the Duke my hart for malice fried,

So that I could from wreke no way be stayde

But to auenge my fathers death assayd

Al means I might the Duke of Yorke tannoy:

And all his kyn and frendes to kil and stroy.

This caused me with bloudy dagger woūd

His giltles sonne that neuer agaynst me stord:

The fathers corps dead lying on the ground,

The necke I cut asunder with my sword

The bleding head I pight by way of borde,

Vpon a speare, with a white paper crowne

And in great scorne I sent it to Yorke towne.

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But cruel deedes can neuer scape the scourge

Of open shame, or of some bloudy death,

Repentance selfe that other sinnes may pourge,

Doth fly from this, so sore the soule it slayeth,

Despayre dissolues the tyrants blustring breath:

For vengeance due doth sodaynly alight,

On cruel deedes the mischiefe to requite,

This find I true, for as I lay in stale

Agaynst Coward Duke Richards eldest sonne

My death I caught not far from Dintingale

For as I would my gorget haue vndone

To vent out heate traueiling in the sonne

An headles arrowe percyd my throte boule

Which parted straight my body from the soule.

Was this a chance? no sure Gods iust award

Wherin his iustice playnly doth appeare:

An headles arrow payd me my reward,

For headding Richard lying on his bere,

And as I would his child in no wyse heare,

So sodayne death bereft my tongue the power

To aske mercy at my last dying houre.

Wherfore Baldwin perswade the bloudy sort.

To leaue their wrath, and rigour to refrayne:

Tel cruel iudges horror is the port

To which they sayle to suffer endles payne

Hel haseth tyrants down to death amayne.

Was neuer yet nor shalbe cruel dede

Vnquy [...]ed lefe but had as cruel meede.

FINIS

§

§

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WHan this tragedy was ended, O Lord said another, how horrible a thing is diuision in a Realme, to how manye mischieues is it the mother, what vice is not thereby kindled, what vertue left vnquenched?

For what was the cause of the Duke of Yorkes death and of the cruelty shewed to his young sonne by this mercilesse man, saue the variaunce betwene King Henry and the house of Yorke: which at length besides millions of the Commons, brought to destruction most part of the nobility. For Edward the Dukes eldest sonne immediatly after Richarde his father was slayne, through helpe of the Neuils gaue the kinge a battaile at Towton in Yorkeshire, whereat besydes this Clifford, were slayne y• Earles of Northumberlande, and Westmerland, with the Lordes Dacres and Welles, besydes mo then 3000. men, the winning of which fyeld brought Edward to the Crowne, and the losse draue K. Henry and his wyfe into Scotland. But as fewe raignes beginne without bloud, so King Edwarde to keepe the cōmon course, caused Thomas Courtney earle of Deuonshyre, and Iohn Veer Earle of Oxenford, and Awbrey Veer eldest sonne to y• said Earle, with diuers other of King Henries parte, to bee attainted and put to death. And shortly after did execution vppon the Duke of Somerset, and the Lordes Hungerford, & Rosse, whom hee tooke prisoners at Exham fyelde. For thyther [Page] came those Lordes with king Henry out of Scotland, with an armye of Scots, and sought a Battayle, which they lost, wherein most part of theym were slaine. And because these are al noble men I wil leaue them to Baldwins discrecion.

But seeinge the Earle of Worcester was the chiefe instrument, whom king Edward vsed aswel in these mens matters, as in like bloudye affayres, because he should not be forgotten, ye shal heare what may bee noted by his ende.

THE INFAMOVS ENDE of the Lord Tiptoft, Earle of VVorcestre, for executing his princes crueltie. Anno. 1470.

THe glorious man, is not so loath to Wurke,

As the infamous glad to lye vnknowen:

Which maketh me Baldwin disalow thy lurke,

Where Princes faultes so openly be blowen,

I speake not this alonelye for mine owne

Which were my Princes (if that they were anye)

But for my Pieres, in number very many.

Or might report vprightly vse her tongue,

It would lesse greeue vs to augment the matter.

But sure I am thou shalt be forst among,

To frayne the truth, the liuing for to flatter:

And other whiles in pointes vnknowen to smatter.

For time neuer was, nor neuer I thinke shalbe

That truth vnshent, should speake in al things free.

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This doth appere (I dare say) by my storye,

Which diuers wryters diuersly declare,

But story wryters ought for neither glory,

Feare, nor fauor, truth of things to spare,

But stil it fares as alwayes it did fare,

Affections, feare, or doubtes that dayly brue,

Do cause that stories alwayes be not true.

Vnfruiteful Fabian followed the face

Of time and dedes, but let the causes slip,

Which Hall hath added some with better grace,

For feare I thinke lest trouble might him trip:

For this or that (sayth he) he felt the whip.

This story wryters leaue the causes out,

Or shew them so as they were in some dout.

But seyng causes are the chefest thinges

That should be noted of the story wryters,

That men may learne what endes al causes bringes,

They be vnworthy the name of Chroniclers

That leaue them cleane out of their registers,

Or doubtfully report them for the fruite

Of reading storyes standeth in the suite.

Wherfore Baldwin either speake thou vpryght

Of our affaiers, or touch them not at all

As for my selfe I way al thinges so lyght,

That naught I passe, how men report my fall

The truth wherof yet playnly shewe I shal

That thou mayst wryte and other therby reede,

What thinges I did wherof they should take heede.

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Thou hast heard of Tiptoftes Earles of Worcester,

I am that Lorde that lyued in Edwardes dayes

The fowerth, and was his frend and counsailour,

And Butcher too, as common rumor sayes.

But Peoples voyce is neither shame nor prayse,

For whom they would aliue deuour to daye,

To morow dead they wil worship what they may.

But though the peoples verdite go by chaunce,

Yet was their cause to call mee as they did,

For I enforst by meane of Gouernaunce,

Did execute what ere my king did bid,

From blame therein my selfe I cannot ryd:

But fye vpon the wretched state that must,

Defame it selfe to serue the Princes lust.

The chiefest cryme wherewith men dome charge,

Is death of the Earle of Desmundes noble sonnes,

Of which the kinges charge doth me cleare discharge

By strait commaundement and iniunctions:

Theffect whereof so rigourouslye runnes

That either I must procure to see them dead,

Or for contempt as traytour loose my head.

What would mine enemies doe in such a case,

Obey the king or proper death procure?

They may wel say their fancy for a face,

But life is sweete and loue hard to recure,

They would haue done as I did I am sure:

For seeldom wil a wealthy man atease,

For others cause his Prince in ought displease.

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[...]

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[...]

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How much lesse I which was lieutenaunt than

In the Irish Isle, preferred by the king:

But who for loue or dread of any man

Consentes to accomplish any wicked thing,

Although chiefe fault thereof from other spring,

Shal not escape Gods vengeaunce for his deede:

Who scuseth none that dare do il for dreede.

This in my king and mee may wel appeare,

Which for our faultes did not escape the scourge:

For whan we thought our state most sure and cleare,

The wynde of Warwicke blew vp such a sourge,

As from the realme and crowne, the king did vrge,

And me also from office, frendes and wyfe,

From good report, from honest death and life.

The Earle of Warwicke, through mallice and grudge,

Which to King Edward causelesse he did beare,

Out of his Realme by force did make him trudge,

And set King Henrie againe vpon his chaire,

And than al such as Edwardes louers were

As traytaurs tane, were greuously opprest,

But chiefelye I, because I loued him best.

And si [...]h my goods, and liuinges were not smal,

Some greedy gulles did beare the world in hand

For ten yeares space that I was cause of all

Murder, and mischiefe, done within the land,

For this did such as did not vnderstand

Mine enmies drift, thinke all reportes were true:

And so to hate me worse then any Iewe.

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For seeldome shal a ruler loose his lyfe,

Before false rumours openly be spred,

Whereby this prouerbe is as true as ryfe,

That rulers rumors hunt about a head,

Frowne Fortune once all good report is fled,

For present shew doth make the mainy blinde,

And such as see dare not disclose their mynde.

Through this was I king Edwards butcher named

And bare the shame of all his cruel deedes:

I cleare me not I worthely was blamed,

Though force was such I must obaye him needes,

With hiest rulers seldome wel it speedes,

For they be euer nearest to the nyp,

And fault who shal, for al feele they the whyp.

For whan I was by Parliament attainted,

King Edwardes euils al were counted mine.

No truth auayled so lies were fast and painted,

Which made the People at my life repine,

Crying Crucifige kil that Butchers lyne,

That whan I should haue gone to Blockham feast

I could not passe, so sore they on me prest.

And had not bene the officers so strong,

I thinke they would haue swalowed me alyue,

Howbeit hardly haled from the throng,

I was in the Fleete fast shrowded by the Shriue,

Thus one dayes lyfe their mallice did me giue:

Which when they knew, for spite the next day after,

They kept them calme, so suffred I the slaughter

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Now tel me Baldwin what fault doest thou fynde

In me, that iustly should such death deserue?

None sure, except desire of honour blinde,

VVhich made me seeke in offices to serve:

VVhat minde so good that honours make not swerue?

So mayst thou see it onely was mystate

That caused my Death and brought me so in hate.

Warne therfore al men wisely to beware,

What offices they enterprise to beare:

The highest alway most maligned are,

Of Peoples grudge, and princes hate in feare,

For Princes faultes his faultors al men teare.

Which to auoyde, let none such office take,

Saue he that can for right his Prince forsake.

FINIS.

§

§

THis Typtoftes Tragedye was not so sone [...]inished, but one of the company had prouided for another, of a notable person Lorde Tiptoftes chiefe Enemie, concerning whom hee said: Lord God what trust is there in worldly chaū ces? what stay in any prosperity? for see the Earle of Warwicke which caused the earle of Worcester to be apprehended, attainted, and put to death, triumphing with his old imprisoned & new vnprisonned Prince K. Hēry, was by & by after & his brother with him, slayne at Barnet field by king Edward whom he had before time damaged diuers wayes. [Page] As first by his frendes at Banbury fielde, where to reuēge the death of his cosin Henry Neuil sir Iohn Coniers, and Iohn Clappā his seruaūtes slew 5. thousande welshmē and beheaded their captaynes, the Earle of Pembroke, & sir Richarde Harbert his brother after they were yelded prisoners, of whom sir Richard Harbert was the tallest gentlemā both of his person & hands that euer I read or hearde of. At which time also, Robin of Ridsdale, a rebell of therle of Warwicks raysing, toke the earle Riuers K. Edwards wiues father, and his sonne Iohn, at his mannour of Grafton, & caryed them to Northhampton, and there without cause or proces beheaded them: Whiche spites to requite, king Edwarde caused the Lorde Stafford of Southwike, one of Warwickes chiefe [...]indes, to be taken at Brente march, and headed at Bridgewater.

This caused yt Earle shortlye to rayse his power, to encounter the kinge which came against him with an armye, beside Warwicke at Wol [...]ey, where he wan the field, toke the king prisoner, and kept him a while in Yorkeshyre in Middleham castle: whence (as som say) he released him again, but other think he corrupted his kepers & so escaped. Then throughe the Lords ye matter was taken vp betweene them & they broughte to talke together, but because they could not agre, y• earle araised a new army, wherof he made Captaine the Lord Welles sonne, whyche broile king Edward minding to appease by pollicy [Page] fouly distained his honour committing periury for he sente for the Lorde Welles and his brother Syr Thomas Dymocke, vndersafe conduite promising them vpon his fayth to keepe them harmelesse: But after, because yt Lord Welles sonne would not dissolue his army, beheaded theim both & went wt hys power into Lincolnshyre & there fought with Sir Robert Welles, and slew ten thousand of his souldiers (yet ran they a way so fast, that casting of their clothes for yt more speede, caused it to be called Lose coate fielde (and toke sir Robert and other, and put them to death in the same place.

This misfortune forced the Earle of Warwicke to sayle into Fraunce where he was entertayned of y• kinge a while, and at last with such pore helpe as he procured there of Duke Rainer, and other, he came into England agayne, and encreased sutch a power in kinge Henries name, that as the Lorde Tiptofte sayd in his tragedy, kinge Edward vnable to abide him, was fayne to flie ouer the washes in Lincolnshyre to get a ship to sayle out of his kingdom to his brother in lawe the Duke of Burgoine: So was king Henry restored againe to yt kingdome. Al these despites, and troubles the Earle wroughte agaynst kinge Edward. But Hēry was so infortunate that ere halfe a yeare was expyred, kinge Edward came backe agayne, and emprisoned him, & gaue ye Earle a fielde, wherein he slewe both him, and his brother. I haue recounted thus much before hand for ye better [Page] opening of the story, which if it should haue bin spoken in his Tragedy would rather haue made a volume than a Pamphlete. For I entend onely to say in ye Tragedy, what I haue noted in the Earle of Warwickes person, wishinge that these other noble men, whō I haue by the way touched, should not be forgotten.

And therefore imagin that you see this Earle lyinge wt his brother in Poules Church in his Coate armure, with sutch a Face, and Countenaunce as hee beareth in Portrayture ouer ye dore in Poules at the goinge downe to Iesus Chapple from the South end of the Quier stayres, and sayinge as followeth.

HOW SIR RICHARD Neuill Earle of Warwicke, and his Brother Iohn, Lord Marquise Montacute, through their to mutch boldnesse were slayne at Barnet, the 14. of Aprill. Anno. 1471. *⁎*

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AMonge the heauy heape of happy Knightes

VVhom Fortune stald vpon her staylesse stage,

Oft hoyst on high, oft pight in wretched plightes,

Behold me Baldwin, A per se of my age,

Lord Richard Neuill, Earle by mariage

Of Warwicke Duchy, of Sarum by discent,

VVhich erlt my father through his mariage hent.

VVouldste thou beholde false Fortune in her kinde

Note well my selfe so shalt thou see her naked:

Full fayre before, but tootoo foule behinde,

Most drowsie still whan most she seemes awaked:

My fame, and shame her shift full oft hath shaked,

By enterchaunge alowe, and vp aloft,

The Lylard like that chaungeth hew full oft.

For while the Duke of Yorke in life remayn'de

Mine vncle deace, I was his happy hand:

In all attempts my purpose I attayn'de,

Though Kinge, and Queene, and most Lordes of the Land

VVith all their power did often me withstand:

For God gaue Fortune, and my good behauiour

Did from their Prince steale me the peoples fauour.

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So that through me in fieldes right manly fought:

By force myne vncle tooke king Henry twyse,

As for my cosin Edwarde I so wrought.

VVhen both our syers wer slain through rash aduice

That he at chie [...]de his fathers enterpryse:

For into Scotland king and Quene we chased,

By meane wherof the kingdome he embraced.

Which after he had enioyed in quyet peace,

(For shortly after was king Henry take,

And put in prison his power to encrease,

I went to Fraunce and match him with a make

The French kings daughter, whom he did forsake:

For while with payne I brought this sute to passe,

He to a widow rashly wedded was.

This made the French king shreudly to mistrust,

That all my treaties had but ill pretence,

And when I saw my king so bent to lust,

That with his fayth he past not to dispence,

Which is a Princes honours chiefe defence:

I could not rest til I had found a meane.

To mend his misse, or els to marre him cleane.

Wherfore I me allied with his brother George,

Encensing him his brother to maligne

Through many a tale I did agaynst him forge:

So that through power that we from Calais bringe

And found at home we fcayd so the kynge,

That he did flye to Freseland warde amayn,

Wherby king Henry had the crown agayne.

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Than put we therle of Worcester to death

King Edwardes frend a man lo fowle defamed

And in the whyle came Edward into breath.

For with the Duke of Burgoyne so he framed

That with the power that he to him had named,

Vnloked for he came to England streight

And got to Yorke and tooke the towne by sleight.

And after through the sufferance of my brother,

Which like a beast occasion fouly lost,

He came to London safe with many other

And tooke the towne to good king Henryes cost:

Who was through him from post to piller tost,

Til Therle of Oxeford, I and other more,

Assembled power his fredome to restore.

VVher of king Edward warned came with spede,

And camped with his hoast in Barnet towne

Where we right fearce encountered him in deede

On Easter day right early on the downe:

There many a man was slayne and striken downe

One either side and neyther part did gayne

Til that I and my brother both were slayne.

For we to hart our ouermatched men,

Forsake out stedes, and in the thickest thronge,

Ran preacing forth on f [...]te, and fought so then

That downe we draue them wer they neuer so strōg

But ere this lucke had lasted very long:

With number and force we were so fouly cloyed,

And rescue fayld, that quite we were distroyed,

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Now tell me Baldwin hast thou hard or read

Of any man that did as I haue done?

That in his tyme so many armyes l [...]d,

And victory at euery voyage won?

Hast thou euer hard of subiect vnder sonne,

That pl [...]ast and beast his souerayne so oft,

By enterchaunge now low and then aloft:

Perchaunce thou thinkst my doinges were not such

As I and other do affirme they were.

And in thy mynd I se thou musest much

What meanes I vsde, that should me so preferre:

Wherin because I wil thou shalt not erre

The truth of al I wil at large recite,

The short is this: I was no hypocrite.

I neuer did nor sayd saue what I ment,

The common weale was stil my chefest care

To priuate gayn or glory was I neuer bent,

I neuer past vpon delicious fate.

Of nedeful foode my bord was neuer bare,

N [...] creditour did curse me day by day

I vsed playnenesse, euer pitch and pay.

I heard poore souldiers and pore workmen whyne

Because their dutyes were not truely payd.

Agayne I saw how people did repyne

At those through whom their payments wer delayde

And profe did oft assure (as scripture sayd)

That god doth wreke the wretched peoples greues.

I saw the polles cut of from polling theues.

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This made mee alway iustly for to deale,

VVhich whan the people plainely vnderstoode,

Because they saw me minde the common weale.

They still endeuoured how to do me good,

Ready to spend their substaunce, life, and bloud,

In any cause whereto I did them moue:

For suer they were it was for their behoue.

And so it was. For whan the Realme decayed

By sutch as good Kinge Henry sore abused,

To mend the state I gaue his Enemies ayd:

But whan Kinge Edward sinfull pra [...]ks still vsed,

And would not mend, I likewise him refused:

And holpe vp Henry, better of the twayne,

And in his Quarrell (iust I thinke) was slayne.

And therefore Baldwin teach by proofe of mee,

That sutch as couet peoples loue to get,

Must see their workes, and wordes in all agree:

Lyue liberally, and keepe them out of det,

On common weale let all their care be set:

For vpright dealinge, debts payd, poore sustayned,

Is meane whereby all harts are throughly gayned.

FINIS.

§

§

AS soone as y• Earle had ended this admonition, sure (said one) I thinke the Earle of Warwick although hee were a glorious man hath sayde no more of himselfe than what is true. For if hee had not had notable good [Page] vertues, or vertuous qualities, and vsed lawdable meanes in his trade of life, the people would neuer haue loued him, as they did: But God be wt him, & send his soule rest, for sure his body neuer had any. And although he dyed, yet ciuill warres ceased not. For immediatly after his deth came Queene Margaret with a power out of Fraunce, bringing with her, her yongue sone Prince Edward: & with sutch frendes as she founde here, gaue Kinge Edward a battell at Thewkesbury, where both shee, and her sonne were taken prysoners, with Edmond Duke of Somerset her chief captayne: whose sonne Lord Ihon, and the Earle of Deuonshire were slayne in fight, and the Duke himselfe with diuers other immediatly beheaded. Whose infortunes are worthy to be remembred, chiefly Prince Edwards, whom the King for speaking truth, cruelly stroke with his Gaunt [...]et, & his Brethren cruelly murthered. But seeinge yt time so farre spent, I will passe them ouer, and with them Fawconbridge that ioly Rou [...]r beheaded at Southampton: whose commotiō made in Kent, was cause of sely Henries destruction. And seing king Henry himself was cause of the destruction of many noble princes, beinge of all other most vnfortunate hymselfe, I will declare what I haue noted in hys vnlucky lyfe: Who wounded in Pryson with a Dagger, may lament his wretchednesse in manner followinge. *⁎*

HOW KINGE HENRY the sixt a vertuous Prince, was after many other miseries, cruelly murthered in the Tower of London the. 22. of May. Anno. 1471. *⁎*

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IF euer wofull wight had cause so rue his state,

Or by his rufull plight to mooue men moane his fate.

My pitious plaint may preass [...]. my mishap to rehearce,

Whereof ye least most lightly hard, y• hardest hart may pearce.

What heart so hard can heare of Innocence opprest,

By fraude in worldly goods, but mealte to in the brest?

When guiltlesse men be spo [...], imprisonned for their owne,

Who waileth not their wretched case to whō y• case is knowē.

The Lyon licks the sores of sely wounded Sheepe,

The dead mans Corse cause the Crocodile to weepe,

The Waues that waste the Rocks refresh the rotten Réedes.

Sutch ruth yt wrack of Innocence in cruel creatures bredes.

VVhat heart is then so hard but wil for pity bleede.

To heare so cruell lucke so cleare a life succeede?

To see a sel [...] Soule with wo, and sorrow so [...]st,

A Kinge depriu'de, in Prison pent, to death wt daggers doust

VVould God the day of Birth bad brought mee to my bere,

Then had I neuer felt the chaunge of Fortunes cheere,

Would God the Graue had gript me in her greedy Woūde,

Whā crown in cradel made me kīg wt Oyle of holy Thoūbe.

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Would God the rufull Toumbe had bene my royall Trone,

So should no kingly charge haue made me make my moane:

O that my Soule had slowen to Heauen with the Ioye,

Whan one [...]ort cried, God saue y• king another, Viue le Roy.

So had I not bene washt in Waues of worldly wo,

My minde to q [...]iet bent, had not bene tossed so:

My Frendes had be [...]e a liue, my Subiectes not oprest,

But Death, or cruell Desteny, denied mee this rest.

Alas what should we count the cause of Wretches cares,

The Starres do stirre them vp, Astronomy declares:

Our humours sayth the Leach, the double true deuines

Toth'will of God, or ill of man, the doubtfull cause assignes.

Sutch doltish heades as dreame that al things driue by haps.

Count lacke of former care for cause of after claps.

Attributinge to man a power fro God be rest,

Abusinge vs, & robbinge him through their most wicked theft,

But God doth guide the World, and euery hap by skill,

Our Wit, and willinge power are payzed by his will:

What wit most wisely wardee, and will most deadly vrkes,

Though all our power would presse it downe, doth dashe our warest wurkes.

Than Desteny, our sinne, Gods will or els his wreake

Do worke our wretched woes, for humours be to weake:

Except we t [...]ke them so, as they prouoke to sinne,

For through our lust by humours fed al vicious déedes begin.

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So sinne and they be one, both working like effect,

And cause the wrath of God to wreake the soule infect.

Thus wrath and wreake deuine, mans sins and humors ill

Concurre in one, though in a sort, ech doth a course fulfyll.

If likewyse such as say the welkin Fortune warks,

Take Fortune for our fate and sterres therof the markes,

Then desteny with fate and Goddes wil all be one:

But if they meane it otherwyse, skath causers skies be none

Thus of our heauy haps chiefe causes be but twayn,

Whereon the rest depend, and vnder put remayne.

The chiefe, the will deuine, cald desteny & fate,

The other sin through humors holp, which God doth highlye hate

The first appoynteth payne for good mens exercise,

The second doth deserue due punishment for vice:

This witnesseth the wrath, and that the loue of God

The good for loue, yt bad for sinne, God beateth with his rod.

Although my sundry synnes do place me with the worst,

My haps yet cause me hope to be among the first:

The eye that searcheth al and seeth euery thought,

Is iudge how sore I hated sinne, and after vertue soughte.

That solace of my soule my chiefest pleasure was,

Of worldly pomp, of fame, or game, I did not passe:

My kingdomes nor my crowne I prysed not a crum,

In heauen were my riches heapt, to which I soughte to com,

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Yet were my sorrowes sutch as neuer man had like,

So diuers stormes at once, so often did mee strike:

But why, God knowes, not I, except it were for this

To shewe by paterne of a Prince, how brittle honour is.

Our kingdomes are but cares, our state deuoyde of slaye,

Our riches ready snares, to hasten our decaye:

Our pleasures, priuy pricks, our vices to prouoke,

Our pōpe, a pumpe, our fame, a flame, our powre, a smouldrīg smoke.

I speake not but by proofe, and that may many rue,

My life doth cry it out, my death doth try it true:

VVhereof I will in briefe, rehearse the heauy hap,

That Baldwī in his woful warp, my wretchednes may wrap

In Windsore borne I was: and bare my fathers name,

VVho won by warre all Fraunce to his eternall fame:

And left to me the crowne, to be receiu'de in peace

Through mariage made wt Charles his heyre vpon his lifes decease,

VVhich shortly did enfue, yet dyed my father furst,

And both the Realmes were mine ere I a yeare were nurst:

VVhich as they fell to soone, so faded they as fast

For Charles, and Edward got them both or forty yeres were past.

This Charles was eldest sonne of Charles my father in law,

To whom as heire of Fraūce, the Frenchmen did them draw:

But Edward was the heyre of Richard Duke of Yorke,

The heyre of Roger Mortimer: slaine by the kerne of Korke.

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Before I came to age Charles had recouered Fraunce,

And kild my men of Warre, so lucky was his chaunce:

And through a mad cōtract I made with Raynerds daughter

I gaue and lost all Normandy, the cause of many a slaughter.

First of mine vncle Humfrey, abhorringe sore this act,

Because I there by brake a better precontract:

Than of the flattering Duke that first the mariage made,

The iust rewarde of such as dare their Princes ill perswade.

And I poore seely wretch abode the brunt of all,

My mariage lust so sweete, was mixt with bitter Gall.

My Wyfe was wise and good, had she bin rightly sought,

But our vnlawful getting it, may make a good thing nought.

Wherefore warne men beware, how they iust promise breake

Least proofe of paynful plagues do cause them waile ye wreake

Aduise well ere they graunt, but what they graūt performe,

For God wil plague al doublenes although we fele no worm.

I falsly borne in hande, beleeued I did well,

But all thinges be not true that learned men do tell:

My clergy sayd a Prince was to no promise bound,

Whose words to be no Gospell tho I to my griefe haue foūd

For after mariage ioynd Queene Margaret and me,

For one mishap afore, I dayly met with three,

Of Normandy, and Fraūce, Charles got away my Crowne,

The duke of Yorke & other sought at home to put me downe.

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Bellona rang the bel at home and al abrode,

With whose mishaps amayne fell Fortune did me lode:

In Fraunce I lost my forces, at home the foughten fielde,

My kynred slayne, my frendes opprest, my selfe enforst to yeld

Duke Richard tooke me twise, and forst me to resine

My crowne and titles due vnto my fathers line:

And kept me as a warde did al thinges as him list,

Til yt my wife through bloudy sword had rane me frō his fist.

But though we slewe the Duke my sorrowes did not slake,

But like to Hyders heade stil more and more awake:

For Edward through the ayde of VVarwicke & his brother

From one field draue me to the Scots, & toke me in another

Then went my frends to wracke, for Edward ware y• crown

For which for nine yeares space his prison held me down:

Yet thence through Warwickes worke I was again releast,

And Edward driuen fro y• realme to seke his frends by East.

But what preuaileth payne or prouidence of man,

To helpe him to good hap, whom desteny doth ban?

VVho moyleth to remoue the rocke out of the mud,

Shall mier himselfe and hardly scape the swelling of the find

This al my frendes haue found, and I haue felt it so

Ordaynde to be the touch of wretchednes and woe,

For ere I had a yeare possest my seat agayne,

I lost both it and liberty, my helpers al were slaine.

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For Edward first by stealth, and sith by gathered strength,

Arriude and got to Yorke, and London at the length:

Tooke me and tyed me vp, yet warwicke was so stout,

He came with power to Barnet field, in hope to helpe me out

And there alas was slayne, with many a worthy knight.

O Lord that euer such lucke should hap in helping right:

Last came my wife and sonne, that long lay in exile,

Defied the king, and fought a field, I may dewaile the while.

For there mayne onely sonne, not thirtene yeare of age

Was tane, and murdred streight by Edward in his rage:

And shortlye I my selfe to stint al further strife,

Stabbe with his brothers bloudy blade in prison lost my life

Lo here the heauy [...]aps, which hapned me by heape,

See here the pleasaunt fruictes, that many Princes reape,

The paynfull plagues of those yt breake their lawful bandes.

Their mede which may & wil not saue their frends fro bloudy handes.

God graunt my woful haps, tao greuous to rehearse,

May teach al states to know how diepely daungers pearce:

How frayle al honours are, how brittle worldly blisse,

That warned through my fearful fate they feare to do amisse

FINIS.

§

§

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THis tragedy ended, another sayd: either you or Kinge Henry are a good Philosopher so narrowly to argue ye causes of misfortunes? but there is nothinge to experience which taught, or might teach the kinge this lesson.

But to proceede in our matter: I fynde mention here shortly after ye death of this king, of a Duke of Excester founde deade in the sea betwene Douer & Calais, but what hee was, or by what aduenture he died, maister Fabian hath not shewed, and maister Hall hath ouerskipped him: so that excepte we be frendlier vnto him, he is like to be double drowned, both in sea, and in the gulfe of forgetfulnes. About this matter was much talke, but because one tooke vpon him to seeke out that story, that charge was committed to him.

And to be occupied in ye meane while I haue foūde the story of one drowned likewise, and that so notable, though priuily, that all the world knew of it wherefore I sayd: because night approcheth, and y• we will loose no time, yee shall heare what I haue noted concerning the Duke of Clarence, king Edwards brother, who al to be washed in Wyne, may bewayle his infortune after this maner. *⁎*

HOW GEORGE PLANtagenet thirde Sonne of the Duke of Yorke, was by his Brother. K. Edward wrongfully imprysoned, and by hys Brother Richarde miserably murdered the. 11. of Ianuary. Anno. 1448.

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THe Foule is fowle men say, that files the Nest,

Which makes me loth to speake, now might I chuse,

But seeinge time vnburdend hath her brest,

And Fame blowne vp the blast of all abuse,

My silence rather might my life accuse

Than shroude our shame, though fayne I would it so

For truth will out, although the world say no.

Wherefore Baldwin with tearis I the beseech

To pause a while vpon my heauy plaint,

And though vnneth I vtter speedy speach,

No fault of wit nor folly makes mee faint:

No heady drincks hane geuen my tongue attaynt

Through Quaffiuge craft, yet Wine my Wits confound

Not which I drancke, but wherein I was dround.

VVhat Prince I am although I neede not shew,

Because my wyne bewrayes mee by the smell,

For neuer creature was loust in Bacchus dew

To death, but I through Fortunes rigour fell:

Yet that thou mayst my story better tell,

I will declare as briefely as I may,

My wealth, my wo, and causers of decay.

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The famous house surnam'de Plantagenet,

VVhereat Dame Fortune frowardly did frowne,

VVhile Bolenbroke vniustly sought to set:

His Lord King Richard quite beside the Crowne,

Though many a day it wanted due renowne,

God so preferd by prouidence, and grace,

That lawfull Heires did neuer fayle the Race.

For Lionell Kinge Edwards second child,

Both Eame, and Heyre to Richard issulesse,

Begot a Daughter Philip, whom vndefylde

The Earle of March espous'de, and God did blesse

VVith fruit assin'de the Kingdome to possesse:

I meane Sir Roger Mortimer, whose Heyre

The Earle of Cambridge maried Anne the Fayre.

This Earle of Cambridge Richard clepte by name,

VVas sonne to Edmond Langley Duke of Yorke:

VVhich Edmond was fift brother to the same,

Duke Lionell that al this Line doth Korke:

Of which two houses ioyned in a Forke,

My Father Richard Prince Plantagenet

True Duke of Yorke, was lawfull Heyre beget.

VVho tooke to Wyse as yee shall vnderstand

A Mayden of a Noble house, and olde,

Raulfe Neutis Daughter, Earle of Westmerland:

VVhose Sonne Earle Richard was a Baron bolde,

And had the right of Salisbury in hold,

Through mariage made with good Earle Thomas Hayre,

VVhose earned prayses neuer shall appayre.

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The Duke my father had by this his wyfe

Fower sonnes, of whom the eldest Edward hight,

The second Edmond who in youth did lose his life,

At Wakefield slayne by Clyfford cruell Knight,

I George am third of Clarence Duke by right,

The fowerth borne to the mischiefe of vs all,

VVas Duke of Glocester whom men did Richard call.

VVhan as our Syre in sute of right was slayne,

(VVhose life, and death himselfe declared earst)

My brother Edward, the Quarell styrd agayne,

And wan the Crowne as Warwicke hath rehearst:

The pride whereof so deepe his stomacke pearst

That litle passinge on them that brought him in,

Forgat his frendes, and set at naught his kin.

VVhich made the Earle of Warwicke to maligne,

His dealinge ingrate, and to attempt away,

From prison to enlarge Henry the sely Kinge,

Him to restore to Kingdome if he may,

And knowinge me, to be the chiefest stay

My Brother had, he did me vndermine

To his ill practise the sooner to encline.

VVhereto I was prepared longe before,

Because the king to me was so vnkinde:

No canker sure, soft flesh doth fret so sore,

As vnkinde dealinge doth a louinge mynde.

Loues strongest bandes vnkindnes doth vnbynde,

It moueth loue to malice, zeale to h [...]te,

Chiefe frendes to foes, and brethren to debate.

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And though the Earle of Warwicke subtile sire,

[...] I bare a grudge against my brother,

Yet towarde his feate to set me more on fire,

He kindled vp one firebrand with another:

For knowinge Fancy was the forcinge rother

VVhich stirreth youth to any kinde of strife,

Hee offred me his daughter to my Wife.

VVhere through, and with his crafty filed tongue,

He stale my heart that earst vnsteady was:

For I was witlesse, wanton, fond, and yongue,

VVhole bent to pleasure, brittle as the glasse:

I cannot lye, In vino veritas.

I did esteeme the bewty of my Bride

Aboue my selfe, and all the world beside.

These fond affections ioynd with lacke of skill,

(Which trap the heart, and blinde the eyes of youth,

And prickt the minde to practise any ill)

So tickled me that voyde of kindely truth:

(Which if it want all wretchednesse ensueth)

I stinted not to persecute my brother,

Till time he left his kingdome to another.

Thus carnall loue did quench the loue of kinde,

Tyll lust were lost through fancy fully fed:

But whan at length I came vnto my minde

I saw how lewdly lightnesse had me led,

To seeke with payne the perill of my hed:

For had Kinge Henry once bene setled, sure,

I was assuer'd my dayes could not endure.

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And therfor, though I bound my selfe with oth

To help king Henry all that euer I might,

Yet at the treaty of my Brethren both,

VVhich reason graunted to require but right,

I left his part whereby be perisht quite:

And reconcil'de me to my Brethren twayne,

And so came Edward to the Crowne agayne.

This made my Father in law to treat, and fume,

To stamp, and stare, and cal'de me false forsworne,

And at the length with all his power presume,

To help Kinge Henry vtterly foriorne.

Our frendly Profers still he tooke in scorne,

Refused peace, and came to Barnet field,

And there was ki [...]'de because he would not yeeld.

Hys Brother also there with him was slayne,

VVhereby decay'de the Keyes of Chiualry.

For neuer liued the matches of them twayne,

In Manhood, Power, and Martiall pollicy,

In vertous thewes, and frendly constancy,

That w [...]uld to God if it had bene his will

They might haue tourn'de to vs, and liued still.

But what shalbe, shalbe: there is no choyse,

Thinges needes must driue as desteny decreeth,

For which ought in all out haps reioyse,

Because the eye eterne, all thing foreseeth

VVhich to no ill at any tyme agreeth,

For ils, to ill to vs, bee good to it,

So farre his skils exceede our reach of Wit.

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The wounded man which must abide the smart,

Of stitchinge vp, or searinge of his sore,

As thinge to had, reproues the Surgeons art

VVhich notwithstandinge doth his health restore,

The childe likewise to Science plied sore,

Countes knowledge ill, his Teacher to be woode,

Yet Surgery, and Sciences be good.

But as the Pacients griefe, and Scholers payne,

Cause them dreame bad sutch thinges as sure be best,

So want of Wisedome causeth vs complayne,

Of euery hap, whereby wee seeme opprest:

The poore do pine for Pelfe, the rich for rest,

And whan as losse or sicknesse vs assayle,

VVe curse our Fate, our Fortune wee bewayle.

Yet for our good, God worketh euery thinge:

For through the death of these two noble Peeres

My Brother liued, and raygned a quiet Kinge,

VVho had they liued perchaunce in course of Yeares

VVould haue deliuered Henry fro the Breres,

Or holy his Sonne t'enioy the carefull crowne,

VVhereby our Ligne should haue bene quite put downe.

A carefull Crowne it may be iustly named,

Not for the cares which thereto bene annext,

To see the Subiect well and duely framed,

VVith which good care few Kinges are greatly vext

But for the dread wherewith they are perplext,

Of loosinge Lordship, Liberty, or Lyfe:

VVhich wofull wracks in Kingdoms happen rife.

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The which to shun while some to sore haue sought.

They haue not sparde all persons to suspect:

And to destroy sutch as they guilty thought,

Though no apparaunce proued them infect,

Take me for one of this wronge punisht sect,

Imprisoned first, accused without cause,

And done to death no processe had by lawes.

VVherein I note how vengeaunce doth acquite

Like ill, for ill, how vices vertue quell:

For as my mariage loue did mee excite

Agaynst the Kinge my Brother to rebell,

So loue to haue his children prosper well,

Prouoked him against both lawe, and right,

To murther me, his Brother, and his Knight.

For by his Queene two Prince like Sonnes he had,

Borne to bee punisht for their Parentes sinne:

Whose Fortunes kalked made the father sad,

Sutch wofull haps were found to be therein:

VVhich to auouch, writ in a rotten Skin,

A prophesy was found which sayd a G.

Of Edwards children should destruction be.

Hee to bee G. because my name was George,

My brother thought, and therefore did me hate,

But wo bee to that wicked heades that forge

Sutch doubtfull dreames to breede vnkynde debate:

For God, a Gleue, a Gibbet, Grate, or Gate,

A Gray, a Griffeth, or a Gregory,

As well as George are written with a G.

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Sutch doubtfull riddles are no prophecies.

For prophecies, in writinge though obscure,

Are playne in sence, the darke be very lies:

VVhat God foresheweth is euident, and pure,

Truth is no Harold, nor no Sophist sure:

Shee noteth not mens Names, their Shieldes, nor Creasts,

Though she compare them vnto Byrds, and Beasts.

But whom she doth foreshewe shall rayne by force,

She tearms a Wolfe, a Dragon, or a Beare:

A wilfull Prince a raynlesse raging horse.

A Bore, a Lyon: a Coward mutch in feare

A Hare, or Hart: a crafty, pricked Eare:

A Letcherous, a Bull, a Goate, a Foale:

An vndermyner, a Moldwarpe, or a Mole.

By knowen beasts thus truth doth playne declare

VVhat men they be of whom she speakes before.

And who so can mens properties compare

And make what beast they do resemble more,

Shall soone discerne who is the griesly bore.

For God by beasts expresseth mens condicions,

And not their Badges, Harroldes, Supersticions.

And learned Merlyne, whom God gaue the spirite,

To know, and vtter Princes Actes to come,

Like to the Iewishe Prophets, did recite

In shade of Beasts their doinges all, and some,

Expressinge playne by maners of the downe,

That Kinges, and Lords sutch properties should haue

As haue the beasts, whose name hee to them gaue.

[...]

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Hee knew my Brother Richard was the Bore,

VVhose Tuskes should teare my Brothers Boyes, and Me,

And gaue mee warninge thereof longe before.

But Wit, nor warninge can in no degree

Let thinges to hap, which are ordayn'de to bee.

VVitnesse the paynted Lyonesse, which slue

A Prince imprisoned, Lions to eshew.

Hee told me eke my yoke fellow should dye,

(VVherein would God bee had bin no deuine)

And after her death I should wooe earnestly

A Spouse, whereat my Brother would repine:

And find the meanes she should be none of mine.

For which sutch malice should amonge vs rise,

As saue my death no treaty should decise.

And as hee sayd so all thinges came to passe:

For whan K. Henry and his Sonne were slayne,

And euery broyle so throughly quenched was,

That the Kinge my Brother quietly did raygne,

I, reconsiled to his loue agayne,

In prosperous health did leade a quiet life,

For fiue yeares space with honours laden rife.

And to augment the fulnesse of my blisse,

Two louely children by my Wyfe I had:

But froward hap, whose manner euer is,

In chiefest ioy, to make the happy sad,

Bemixt my sweete with bitternes to bad:

For while I swim in ioyes on euery side,

My louinge Wyfe, my chiefest Iewell dyed.

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Whose lacke whan sol [...] I had bewayled a yeare,

The Duke of Burgoyns wife dame Margaret

My louinge sister willinge me to cheare,

To mary agayne did kindly me intreate:

And wisht me matched with a mayden neate,

A step daughter of hers, Duke Charles Heyre,

A noble damsell, yonge, discreate, and Fayre.

To whose desire because I did encline,

The Kinge my brother doubtinge my degree

Through Prophecies, agaynst vs did repine:

And at no hand would to our wils agree,

For which sutch rancour pearst both him, and mee,

That face to we fell at flat defiaunce,

But were appeased by frendes of our aliaunce.

Howbeit my mariage vtterly was dasht:

VVherein because my seruaunt sayd his minde,

A meane was sought whereby he mought he lasht.

And for they could no crime against him finde,

They forg'de a fault, the peoples eyes to blinde,

And tolde he should by sorceryes pretend,

To bringe the Kinge vnto a speedy end.

Of all which poynctes, he was as innocent,

As is the babe that lacketh kindly breath:

And yet condemned by the Kinges assent,

Most cruelly put to a shamefull death.

This fyerd my heart, as foulder doth the heath:

So that I could not but exclame, and cry,

Agaynst so great, and open Iniury.

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For this I was commaundedd to the Tower,

The Kinge my Brother was so cruel harted:

And whan my Brother Richard saw the hower

VVas come, for which his heart so sore had smarted,

Hee thought it best take the time before it parted.

For he endeuoured to attayne the Crowne,

From which my life must needes haue held him downe.

For though the Kinge within a while had dyed,

As needes hee must, hee Surfayted so oft,

I must haue had his Children in my guide

So Richard should beside the Crowne haue coft:

This made him ply, the while the Waxe was soft,

To finde a meane to bringe mee to an ende,

For Realme Rape spareth neyther Kin, nor freende.

And whan hee saw how reason can asswage

Through length of time my Brother Edwards yre.

VVith forged Tales hee set him new i [...] rage,

Till at the last they did my death conspire,

And though my truth fore troubled their desire,

For all the worlde did know mine Innocence,

Yet they agreed to charge me with offence.

And couertly, within the Tower they cal'de

A Quest, to geue sutch verdite as they should:

VVho what with feare, and what with fauour thral'de,

Durst not proudunce, but as my Brethren would.

And though my false accusers neuer could

Proue ought they sayd, I guiltlesse was condemned:

Sutch verdites passe where Iustice is contemned.

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This feate atchieued yet could they not for shame

Bereue my lyfe by any common way,

But like a Wolfe the Tiraunt Richard came,

(My Brother, nay Butcher I may rightly say)

Vnto the Tower, commaundinge all away,

Saue sutch as were prouided for the Feate,

VVho, in this wise did straungely mee entreate.

His purpose was with a prepared stringe

To strangle mee: but I [...]estird mee so,

That by no force they could mee thereto bringe,

VVhich caused him that purpose to forgo.

How beit they bound whether I would or no.

And in a But of Malmesy standinge by,

New christened me because I should not cry.

Thus dround I was yet for no due desert,

Except the zeale of Iustice be a crime:

False Prophecies Bewitcht Kinge Edwards hart.

My Brother Richard to the Crowne would clime.

Note these three causes in thy rufull rime:

And boldly say they did procure my fall,

And Death of Deaths most straunge, and hard of all.

And warne Princes Prophecies to eschue,

That are to darke, and doubtfull to be knowen

VVhat God hath sayd, that cannot but ensue,

Though all the World would haue it ouer throwen.

VVhen men suppose by fetches of their owne

To fly their fate, they further on the the same,

Like Blasts of Winde, which oft reuiue the flame.

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VVill Princes therefore not to thincke by murther,

They may auoyde what Prophecies behight,

But by their meanes their mischiefes they may further,

And cause Gods vengeaunce heauier to alight:

VVo worth the wretch that striues with Gods foresight.

They are not wise, but wickedly do arre,

VVhich thinke ill deedes, due destenies may barre.

For if we thincke that Prophecies be true,

Wee must beleeue it cannot but betide,

VVhich God in them foresheweth shall ensue:

For his decrees vnchaunged do abide,

VVhich to be true my brethren both haue fried.

VVhose wicked warks, warne Princes to detest,

That others harmes may kepe them better blest.

FINIS.

§

§

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BY that this tragedye was ended, nighte was so nere come that we could not conueniētly tary together any longer, & therfore sayd mayster Ferrers: It is best my maisters to stay here. For we be now come to ye end of Edward the fourths raygne. For the last whō we fynde vnfortunate therin, was ye Duke of Clarence: in whose behalfe I commende mutche that which hath bene noted.

Let vs therfore for this tyme leaue with him, and some other day when your leasure will beste serue let vs mete here altogether agayne, And you shall see that in the meane season I wil not onlye deuyse vppon this my selfe, but cause diuers other of my acquaintaunce whiche can do verye well to helpe vs forwarde with the rest. To this euery manne gladly agreed, how beit (sayd another) seyng wee shal end at Edwardes the fourth end, let him selfe make an end of onr days labour with the same oration which maister Skelton made in his name, the true copy wherof as hee wrote the same I haue here readye to be red

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[...]

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[...]

HOVV KINGE EDVVARDE the fourth throughe his surfeting and vntēperate life sodainly dyed in the midst of his prosperity, the ninth of April Anuo. 1485

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MIseremini mei ye that be my frends,

This world hath formed me down to fall:

How may I endure when that euery thing endes?

VVhat creature is borne to be eternall?

Now there is no more but pray for me all.

Thus say I Edward that late was your king,

And yeres xxii. bare Scepter ryall,

Some vnto pleasure and some to no lyking:

Mercy I aske of my misdoing,

VVhat auayleth it frendes to be my foe?

Sith I cannot resist, nor amend your complayning,

Et ecce nunc in puluere dormio.

I siepe now in mould as it is naturall,

As earth vnto earth hath his reuerture:

VVhat ordaynd God in the world uniuersall,

VVithout recourse to the earth by nature,

VVho to liue euer may himselfe assure?

VVhat is it to trust to mutability,

Sith that in this world nothing may endure?

For now am I gone that was late in prosperity.

To presume therupon it is but vanity,

Not certayn but as a chery fayre ful of wo,

Rayned not I of late in great felicity,

Et ecce nunc in puluere dormio

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VVhere was in my lyfe such a one as I,

VVhile Lady Fortune with me had continuance:

Graunted not she me to haue victory,

In England to raygn and to contribute Fraunce,

She toke me by the hand and led me adaunce,

And with her sugred lips on me she smyled,

But what for dissembled countenaunce,

I could not be ware til I was beguiled.

Now from this world she hath me exiled,

VVhan I was lothest hense for to go,

And am in age who sayth but a child,

Et ecce nunc in puluere dormio.

I had enough I held me not content,

VVithout remembraunce that I should dye:

And moreouer to encroch ready was I bent,

I knew not how long I should it occupy,

I made the tower strong I wist not why,

I knew not to whom I purchased Tater sall.

I mended Douer on the mountayne hye.

And London I prouoked to fortify the wall,

I made Notingham a place full royall.

Windsore, Eltam, and many other mo,

Yet at the last I went from them all.

Et ecce nunc in puluere dormio.

Where is now my conquest and victory?

Where is my riches and royal aray?

Wher be my coursers and my horses hye?

VVher is my mirth, my solace, and my play?

As vanity to nought els is withred away:

O Lady Bes long for me may you call,

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For I am departed vntil, domes day:

But loue you that Lord that is souerayn of all.

Where be my Castels and buildings royal?

But Wyndsore alone now haue I no moe,

And of Eton the prayers perpetuall,

Et ecce nunc in puluere dormio.

VVhy should a man be proude or presume hye,

Saynt Barnarde therof nobly doth treate,

Saying a man is but a sacke of stercory,

And shal return into wormes meate:

Why what became of Alexander the great?

Or els of strong Sampson, who can tell,

Were not wormes ordaynd their flesh to freate?

And of Salamon that was of wit the wel,

Absolon profered his heere for to sel,

Yet for his bewty wormes eate him also

And I but late in honours did excell,

Et ecce nunc in puluere dormio.

I haue playd my pageant, now am I past,

Ye wote wel all I was of no greate elde.

Thus al thinges concluded shal be at the last

VVhen death approcheth then lost is the stelde:

Then seyng this world me no longer vphelde,

For naught would conserue me here in this place,

In manus tuas domine my spirit vp I yelde,

Humbly beseching thee O God of thy grace

O you curteous commons your hartes embrace

Beningly now to pray for me also.

For right wel ye know your king I was.

Et ecce nunc in puluere dormio

FINIS.

§

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WHan this was red euery man for the time tooke his leaue of other, and departed (for then it waxed darke) appoyntinge a newe day of metīg which being com we met altogether agayn. And when we hadde saluted one an other, then one toke the booke and began to reade the story of kyng Edward the fyft (for there we left) and when he came to the apprehending of the Lord Riuers: stay there I pray you (sayd I) for here is his complaynt. For the better vnderstanding wherof you must ymagine that he was accōpanied with the Lord Richard Gray, Hawt, and Clapham, whose infortunes he be waileth after this maner.

HOVV SIR ANTHONY WOD vile Lord Riuers and Scales, gouernour of Prince Edvvard was with his nephu Lord Richard Gray, and other causelesse imprisoned and cruelly murdered. An. 1483

AS sely suters letted by delayes

To shew theyr prince the meaning of the mynd

That long haue bought their brokers ye as & naies

And neuer the nyer: do dayly wayt to fynde

The princes grace from wayghty affayrs vntwynde:

Which tyme attayned by attending al the yeare,

The weried prince wil then no suters heare:

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My cause was such not many dayes a goe,

For after brute had blazed al abroade

That one Baldwin by help of other moe,

Of fame or shame fallen princes would vnloade,

Out from our graues we stert without abode,

And pre [...]ced forth among the ruful rout

That sought to haue their doings voulted out.

But when I had long tended for my turne

To tel my tale as dyuers other did:

In hope I should no lenger while soiourne

But from my sutes haue spedely bene rid,

VVhan course and place both orderly had hid

Me shew my mynd, & I prepard to say

The hearers paused arose and went their way.

These doubtful doings draue me to my dumps,

Vncertayne what shoulde moue them so to do:

I feared lest affections lothly lumps,

Or inward grudge, had moued them therto.

Whose wicked stinges al storyes truth vndo.

Oft causing good to be reported ill,

Or dround in suds of Laethes muddy swill.

For hitherto sly wryters wily wits

VVhich haue engrossed princes chiefe affayrs,

Haue bene like horses snaffled with the bittes

Of fancy, feare, or doubtes ful dipe dispayres,

Whose rains enchayned to the chefest chayrs,

Haue so bene strayned of those that ba [...]e the stroke

That truth was forst to chew or els to choke.

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This caused such as lothed lowd to lye,

To passe with silence sundry prynces liues,

Lesse fault it is to leaue then lead awrye:

And better draund then euer bound in gyues,

For fatal fraud this world so fondly dryues.

That what soeuer wryters braynes may brue

Be it neuer so false, at length is cane for true.

What harme may hap by helpe of lying pens,

How written lies may lewdly be maintaynde,

The lothly rytes, the deuilish idoll dens:

VVith giltles bloud of vertuous men beslainde,

Is such a profe as all good hartes haue plainde.

The taly grounds of storyes throughly [...]ryes,

The death of Martirs vengeance on it cryes.

Far better therfore not to wryte at all,

Then stayne the truth for any manner cause,

For this they meane to let my story fall:

(Thought I and ere my tyme my volume clause,

But after I knew it onely was a pause

Made purposely, most for the readers ease

Assure thee Baldwin, highly it did me please.

For freshest wits I know wil sone be weary,

In reading long what euer booke it be,

Except it be vayn matter straunge or mery,

Wel saust with lyes and glared al with glee

With which because no graue truth may agree,

The closest stile for storyes is the metest,

In rufull moads the shortest fourme is swetest,

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And sith the playntes already by thee pende,

Are briefe enough, the number also small,

The tediousnes I thinke doth none offend,

Saue such as haue no lust to learn at all,

Regard none such: no matter what they brall.

VVarne thou the wary lest they hap to stumble,

As for the carelesse, care not what they mumble.

My lyfe is such as (if thou note it wel)

May cause the wise, and welthy to beware.

For their sakes therfore playnly wil I tel,

How false and combrous worldy honours are,

How can [...]cred foes, bring carles folke to care

How tyrantes suffered and not queld in tyme

Do cut their throtes that suffer them to clyme.

Neither wil I hyde the chefest poynt of all

Which wisest rulers least of all regarde.

That was and wil because of many a fall,

This cannot be to earnestly declarde▪

Because it is so seeld and slackly heard.

The abuse and scorning of Gods ordinaunces,

Is chefest cause of care and woful chaunces.

Gods holy orders highly are abused,

Whan men do chaunge their ends for straunge respectes:

They scorned are, when they be clean refused

For that they cannot serue out fond affectes,

The one our shame the other our sinne detectes.

It is a shame for Christians to abuse them,

But deadly sinne for scorners to refuse them

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I meane not this al onely of degrees,

Ordaynd by God for peoples preseruation,

But of his law, good orders, and decrees,

Prouyded his creatures conseruation

And specially the state of procreation

VVherin we▪ here the number of them encrease

Which shal in heauen enioy eternal peace.

The onely end why God ordained this,

Was for the encreasing of that blessed number

For whom he hath prepard eternal blisse,

They that refuse it for the care or cumber

Being apt therto are in a sinful slumber:

No fonde respect, no vayne deuysed vowes

Can quit or bar what God in charge allowes.

It is not good for man to liue alone

Sayd God: and therfore made he him a make:

Sole life sayd Chryst is graunted few or none,

All seede sheders are bounde like wife to take:

Yet not for lust, for landes or riches sake,

But to beget and foster so their fruite

That heauen and earth be stored with the suit.

But as this state is damnable refused

Of Many apt aud able thereunto,

So is it likewyse wickedly abused

Of al that vse it as they should not doe:

Wher̄in are gylty al the gredye who

For gayne, for frendship, land, or honours wed,

And these pollute the vndefyled bed.

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And therfore God through Iustice cannot cease

To plague these faultes with sundry sorts of whips:

As disagrement, healths or wealths decrease.

Or lothing sore the neuer liked lips,

Disdayne also with rigour sometyme nyps

Presuming mates vnequally that match:

Some bitter leauen sowers the musty batch.

We worldly folke accompt him very wyse

That hath the wit most welthily to wed.

By al means therfore alwayse we deuyse

To see out issue rich in spousals sped.

VVe buy and sell rich orphanes: babes scant bred

Must mary ere they know what mariage meanes.

Boyes marry old trots, old fooles wed yong queans

We call this wedding which in any wyse

Can be no mariage but pollucion playne.

A new found trade of humain marchandise,

The deuils net a filthy fleshly gayne:

Of kynd and nature an vnnatural stayne:

A foule abuse of gods most holy order

And yet alloud almost in euery border.

Would god I wer the last yt shal haue cause

Agaynst this creping cankar to complayne,

That mē wold so regard their makers laws

That al wold leaue ye lewdnes of their brain

That holy orders holy might remayne.

That our respects in weddīg shuld not choke

The end & fruit of gods most holy yoke.

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The sage king Solon after that he saw,

What mischifs folow missought mariages,

To barre al baits, established this law.

No frend nor father shal geue heritages,

Coyne, cattel, stuffe, or other cariages,

VVith any mayd for dowry or wedding sale

By any meane on pain of banning bale.

Had this good lawe in Englād bene in force,

My father had not so cruelly bene slayne.

My brother had not causeles lost his corps.

Our mariage had not bred vs such disdain,

My self had lackt great part of greuous pain

We wedded wyues for dignitye and lands

And left our liues in enmies bloudy handes.

My father highte Sir Richard. Wooduile he

Espousde the Duches of Bedforde, & by her

Had issue males my brother Iohn, and mee

Called Anthony kinge Edward did preferre

Vs farre aboue the state wherin we were.

For he espoused our sister Elizabeth

Whom Sir Iohn Gray made widow by his death:

How glad were we think you of this aliance

So nerely coupled with so noble a king,

Who durst with any of vs bene at defiance.

Thus made of might the mightiest to wring

But sie what cares do highest honors bring,

What carelesnes our selus or frēds to know

Whot spyte and enuy both of high & lowe.

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Because the kinge had made our sister Quene

It was his honoure to preferre hir kin.

And sith the rediest way, as wysest weene,

Was first by wedding welthy heirs to win,

It pleased the prince in like meane to begyn

To me he gaue the rych lord Scales his heire,

A vertuous mayd in myne eye very fayre.

He ioyned to my brother Iohn, the olde

Duches of Norfolke notable of fame:

My nephue Thomas (who had in his holde

The honor and right of Marquis Dorcets name)

Espoused Cicelie a right welthy dame

Lord Bonuiles heyre: by whom he was possest

In all the rytes wher through that house was blest

The honours that my father atteind were diuers

First Chamberlayne, then constable he was,

I do omit the gaynfullest Earle Riuers,

Thus glistred we in glory cleare as glasse

Such miracles can princes bring to passe

Amonge their lieges whom they mynd to heaue

To honors false, who al their gestes deceiue

Honors are like that cruel king of Thrace,

With new com gestes that fed his hungry horses

Or lyke the tyrant Busiris whose grace

Offred his gods al straungers strangled corses.

To forreiners so hard false honors force is

That all her bourdens, strangers either geastes.

She spoyles to feede her Gods and gredy beastes

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Her Gods be those whom God by law or lot.

Or kynd by byrth, doth place in highest rowmes

Her beastes be such as gredely haue got

Office or charge to guyde the sely gromes.

These officers in law or charge are bromes,

That swepe away the swete from symple wretches,

And spoyle the enryched by their crafty fetches.

These plucke downe those whom princes set aloft,

By wrestyng lawes, and false conspiracies

Yey kynges themselues by these are spoyled oft,

When wilful princes carlesly despyse

To heare thoppressed peoples heauy cryes.

Nor wil correct their pollinge theues then god,

Doth make those reues the retchles princes rod.

The second Richard is a profe of this

Whom crafty Lawyers by their lawes deposed.

An other patern good king Henry is

Whose right by them haue diuersly bene glosed,

Good whyle he grew, [...]ad when he was vnrosed,

And as the foadred these and diuers other

With like deceit they vsed the kyng my brother.

While he preuayled they sayd he owed the crown,

Al lawes and rightes agreed with the same

But when by dryftes he semed to be downe.

Al lawes and right extremely did him blame

Nought saue vsurpinge traylour was his name.

So constantly the Iudges construe lawes,

That all agre stil with the stronger cause.

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These as I sayd, and other like in charge

Are honors horses whom she fedes with gests,

For al whom princes franckly do inlarge

VVith dignityes these barke at in their breastes:

Their spight, their might, their falshode neuer rests.

Till they deuour them: sparing neither bloud,

Ne limme, ne life, and al to get their good.

The Earle of warwicke was a praunsing courser

The hauty hart of his could beare no mate:

Our welth through him waxt many a tyme y• worser

So cankardly he had our kin in hate.

He troubled oft the kings vnstedy state

And that because he would not be his warde

To wed and worke as he should list a ward.

He spyted vs because we were preferd

By mariage to dignities so great,

But craftely his mallice be deferd

Till traiterously be found meanes to entreat

Our brother of Clarence to assist his feate:

VVhom when he had by mariage to him bounde,

Then wrought he straight our linage to confound.

Through slaunderous brutes he brued many a broyle

Throughout the realme, against the king my brother

And raysed traiterours rebels thirsting spoyle

To murder men: of whom among all other

One Ro [...]in of Riddesdale many a soule did smother

His rascall table at my father wroth

Tooke sier and sonne, and quicke beheaded both.

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This haynous act although the king betested,

Yet was he faine to pardon for the route

Of rebelles all the realme so sore infested,

That every way assayld he stode in doubt:

And though he were of courage bighe and stout,

Yet he assayd by fayre meane to asswage

His enemyes ire, reueyld by rebels rage.

But VVarwicke was not pacifyed thus,

His constant rancoure causeles was extreme

No meane could serue my quarel to discus,

Til he had driuen the king out of the realme.

Neither would he then be awaked from his dreame.

For when my brother was come and placed agayne,

He stinted not til he was stoutly slayne.

Than grew the king and Realme to quiet rest,

Our stocke and frends stil flying higher and higher,

The Quene with children fruitefully was blest

I gouernd them, it was the kinges desire.

This set their vncles furiously on fyer,

That we the Quenes bloud wer assignde to gouerne

The prince, not they, y• kings own bloud & brethern.

This caused the Duke of Clarence so to chafe

That with the king hee braynles fel at bate:

The counsayle warely for to kepe him safe

From raysing tumultes as he did of late,

Imprisoned him: wher through his brothers hate

He was condemnde, and murdred in such sort

As he himselfe hath truely made report,

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Was none abhorred these mischiefs more then I

Yet could I not be therwith discontented,

Considering that his rancour touched me ny,

Els would my conscience neuer haue consented.

To wish him harme, could be haue bene contented.

But feare of hurt, for sauegard of our state

Doth cause more mischiefe then desert or hate.

Such is the state that many wish to beare,

That either we must with others bloud be staynd

Or leade our lyues continually in feare,

You mounting myndes behold here what is gaynd

By combrous honour painfully attaynd:

A damned soule for murdring them that hate you,

Or doubtful lyfe in daunger lest they mate you,

The cause (I thinke) why some of high degree

Do deadly hate all sekers to assend,

Is this: The cloyne contented cannot be

With any state til tyme he apprehend

The highest top: for therto clymers tende.

Which seldome is attaind without the wracke

Of those betwene, that stay and bare him backe.

To saue themselues they therfore are compeld

To hate such clymers, and with wit and power

To compas means where through they may be queld

Ere they assend their honours to deuour.

This causde the Duke of Clarence frowne and lowre

At me and other, whom the king promoted

To dignityes: wherin he madly doted.

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For seeinge we were his dere allied frendes,

Our furderaunce should rather haue made him glad

Than Enmy like to wyshe our wofull endes.

VVee were the nearest Kinsfolke that he had.

VVee ioyed with him his sorrow made vs sad:

But he esteemed so mutch his paynted sheath

That he disdayn'de the loue of all beneath.

But see how sharply God reuengeth sinne:

As hee maligned mee, and many other

His faythfull Frendes, and kindest of his kin,

So Richard Duke of Glocester, his very Brother,

Maligned him, and beastly did him Smouther.

A Deuilish deede, a most vnkindly part,

Yet iust reuenge for his vnnaturall hart.

Although this Brother Queller, Tyrant fell

Enuied our State, as mutch, and more than he:

Yet did his cloakinge Flattery so excell

To all our Frendes ward, chiefly vnto me,

That he appeard, our trusty stay to bee:

For outwardly he wrought, our State to furder,

VVhere inwardly he minde nought saue murder.

Thus in appearaunce who but I was blest?

The chiefest honours heaped on my head:

Beloued of all, enioying quiet rest,

The froward Prince by me alone was led,

A Noble Impe, to all good vertues bred:

The Kinge my Liege without my counsayle knowne,

Agreed nought: though wisest were his owne.

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But quiet blisse in no state lasteth longe

Assayled still by mischiefe many wayes:

Whose spoylinge battry glowinge hote, and stronge,

No flowinge wealth, no force nor Wisedome staies

Her smoakelesse Poulder beaten Souldiers staies.

By open force, foule mischiefe oft preuayls,

By secert sleight, she seeld her purpose fayls.

The Kinge was bent to mutch to foolish pleasure,

In banquetinge he had so great delight:

This made him grow in grosnesse out of measure,

Which, as it kindleth carnall appetite,

So quencheth it the liuelynesse of the spirite.

Whereof ensue sutch Sicknesse, and diseases

As none can cure saue death that all displeases.

Through this fault furdered by his Brothers fraud

(Now God forgeue mee if I Iudge amisse)

Or through that beast his ribald or his Baud

That larded still these sinfull lusts of his,

He sodaynly forsooke all worldly blisse.

That loathed leach, that neuer welcome death,

Through Spasmous humours stopped vp his breath.

That tyme lay I at Ludloe, Wales his border,

For with the Prince the Kinge had sent me thyther

To stay the Robberies, Spoyle, and foule disorder,

Of diuers Outlawes gathered there together:

Whole bandinge tend [...]d no man wist well whither

VVhan these by wisdome safly were suppressed,

Came woful newes, our Soueraigne was deceassed.

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The griefe whereof when reason was asswaged,

Because the Prince remayned in my guide,

For his defence great store of men I waged,

Doubtinge the stormes which at sutch tyme betide.

But while I there thus warely did prouide,

Commaundement came to send them home agayne

And bringe the Kinge thence with his houshold trayn [...].

This charge sent from the Counsayle, and the Queene,

Though mutch agaynst my minde I beast obayed:

The deuill himselfe wrought all the drift I weene,

Because he would haue Innocentes betrayed:

For ere the Kinge were halfe his way conueyed,

A sort of Traytours falsely him betrapt

A caught afore, and close in Prison clapt.

The Duke of Glocester that incarnate deuill

Confedred with the Duke of Buckingham,

With the Lord Hastings, hasty both to euill

To meete the Kinge in mourninge habite came,

(A cruell Wolfe though clothed like a Lambe)

And at Northampton, where as than I bayted

They tooke their Inne as they one mee had wayted.

The Kinge that night at Stonystratford lay,

A towne to small to harbour all his Trayne:

This was the cause why he was gone away

VVhile I with other did behinde remayne.

But will you see how falsely frends can fayne?

Not Sinon sly, whose fraude best Fame rebukes,

VVas halfe so subtle as these double Dukes.

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First to myne Inne, commeth in my brother false

Embraceth mee: well met good Brother Scales,

And weepes withall: the other me enhalse

VVhich welcome Coosin, now welcome out of Wales

O happy day, for now all stormy gales

Of strife, and Rancour vtterly are swaged,

And wee our own to liue, or dye vnwaged,

This proferd seruice, Saust wich Salutacions

Immoderate, might cause mee to suspect:

For commonly in all Dissimulations

Th'exces of glaueringe doth the guile derect:

Reason refuseth falsehoode to dyrect,

The will therefore for feare of beinge spyde,

Exceedeth meane, because it wanteth guyde.

This is the cause why sutch as fayne to weepe

Do howle outright, or waylinge cry ah,

Teringe them selues, & strayninge Sighes most deepe.

VVhy sutch Dissemblers as would seeme to laugh

Breath not tibhee, but bray out, hah, hah hah.

VVhy Beggers fayninge Brauery are the proud'st?

VVhy Cowards bragginge boldnesse wrangle loud'st?

For commonly all that do counterfayte

In any thinge, exceede the naturall meane,

And that for feare of faylinge in their feate.

But these Conspirers couched all so cleane,

Through close demeanour, that their wiles did weane

My heart from doubtes, so many a false deuice

They forged fresh, to hyde their enterprise.

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They Supt with me propoundinge freendly talke

Of our Affairs, still geuinge mee the prayse.

And euer amonge the Cups to mee ward walke:

I drincke to you good Cuz, ech Traytour sayes,

Our banquet done when they should go their wayes

They tooke their leaue, oft withinge mee good Night

As haertely as any Creature might.

A noble heart they say is Lyon lyke,

It cannot couche, dissemble, crouch, nor fayne,

How Villanous were these, and how vnlike?

Of noble Stocke the most Ignoble stayne.

Their Woluish hearts. their Trayterous Foxly brayne

Eyther proue them base, of rascall race engendred

Or from hault Lynage Bastardlike degendred.

Sutch polling heads as prayse for prudent pollicy

False Practises. I wishe were pact on Poales.

I meane the Bastard saw broode, which can molify

All kinde of causes in their crafty nolles.

These vndermine all vertue, blynde as molles,

They bloster wronge, they racke, and straiue the right

And prayse for Law, both Malice, Fraud, and Might.

These quench the worthy Flames of noble kinde,

Prouokinge best borne to the basest vices,

Through crafts they make the bouldest Courage blinde,

Dislikinge highly valiant enterprises:

And praysinge vily, villanous deuices.

These make the Bore a Hog, the Bull an Oxe,

The Swan a Goose, the Lyon a Wolfe, or Foxe.

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The Lawyer Catesby and his crafty feers

A rout that neuer did good in any Realme,

Are they that had transformed these noble Peers:

They turn'de their bloud to melancholicke fleume.

Their courage hault to cowardise extreame

Their Force, and Manhoode, into Fraud, and Malice,

Their Wit to wiles: stout Hector into Paris.

These Glauerers gone, my selfe to rest I layde,

And doubtinge nothinge, soundly fell a sleepe:

But sodainly my seruants sore afraide

A waked me: and drawinge sighes full deepe,

Alas (quoth one) my Lord we are hetraide.

How so (quoth I) the Dukes are gone their waies,

They haue barred the Gates, and borne away the Keyes.

VVhile he thus spake, there came into my mynde

This fearefull dreame, whereout I waked was:

I sawe a Riuer stopt with stormes of winde

VVhere through a Swan, a Bull, & Bore did passe.

Fraunchinge the fish, and fry, with teath of brasse,

The Riuer dried vp saue a litle streame

VVhich at the last did water all the Realme.

Me thought this streame did drowne the cruell Bore,

In little space, it grew so deepe, and brode:

But he had kil'de the Bull, and Swan before.

Besides all this I sawe an oughly Tode

Crall toward me, on which me thought I trode:

But what became of her, or what of me

My sodayne wakinge would not let me see.

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These dreames considered with this sodayne newes

So diuers from their doings ouer night,

Did cause me not a litle for to muse,

I blest me, and ryse in all the hast I might,

By this, Aurora spred abroade the light.

Which fro the endes of Phoebus beams she tooke

Who than the Bulls chiefe Gallery forsooke.

VVhen I had opened the window to looke out

There might I see the streates ech where beset,

My Inne on ech side compassed about

With armed watchmen, all escapes to let

Thus had these Neroes caught me in their Net.

But to what ende, I could not throughly gesse,

Sutch was my playnnesse, sutch their doublenesse.

My Conscience was so clere I could not doubt

Their deadly drift, which lesse apparant lay,

Because they caus'de their men retourne the rout

That yode toward Stonistratford as they say,

Because the Dukes will first be there to day:

For this (thought I) they hinder me in ieast,

For guiltlesse mindes do easely deeme the best.

By this the Dukes were come into mine Inne

For they were lodged in another by,

I got me to them thinking it a sinne

VVithin my Chamber cowardly to lye.

And merely I asked my brother why

He vsed me so? he sterne in euill sadnesse

Cried out: I arrest the Traytour for thy badnesse,

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How so (quoth I) whence riseth your suspition?

Thou art a Traitour (quoth he) I the arrest

Arrest (quoth I) why? where is your Commission?

He drew his Weapon, so did all the rest

Cryinge: yelde thee Traytour. I so sore distrest

Made no resistaunce: but was sent to warde:

None saue their seruauntes assigned to my garde.

This done they sped them to the Kinge in poste,

And after their humble reuerence to him done,

They traiterously began to rule the roste,

They picked a quarel to my sister sonne

Lord Richard Gray: the Kinge would not be wonne

To agree to them, yet they agaynst all reason,

Arrested him they sayd for haynous Treason.

Sir Thomas Vaughan, and Sir Richard Haule

Two worthy Knightes were likewise apprehended,

These all were guilty in one kinde of fault,

They would not like the practise then pretended:

And seeinge the Kinge was herewith sore offended,

Backe to Northampton they brought him agayne

And thence discharged most part of his Trayne.

There lo! Duke Richard made himselfe Protector

Of Kinge, and Realme by open Proclamation,

Though neyther Kinge nor Queene were his Elector,

Thus he presumed by lawlesse vsurpation.

But will you see his deepe dissimulation?

Hee sent me a dish of Deinties from his Borde

That day, and with it this false frendly word.

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Commend me to him all things shalbe well,

I am his frend, bid him be of good cheare:

These newes I prayed the Messenger go tell

My Nephue Richard, whom I loued full deare.

But what he ment by well, now shall you heare:

He thought it well to haue vs quickly murdered,

Which not longe after thorowly he furdered.

For strait from thence we closely were conuayed

From Iayle to Iayle Northward we wist not whither:

Where after we had a while in sunder strayed,

At last we met at Pomfret all together.

Syr Richard Ratcliffe had vs welbome thyther,

Who openly, all law, and right contemned

Beheaded vs before we were condemned.

My Coosin Richard could not be content

To leaue his life, because he wist not why.

Good Gentleman that neuer harme had ment,

Therefore hee asked wherefore hee should dye:

The Priest his ghostly Father did replye

With weepinge eyes: I know one wofull cause,

The Realme hath neyther righteous Lordes, nor lawes.

Sir Thomas Vaughan chasinge cryed still:

This Tyraunt Glocester is the gracelesse G.

That will his Brothers Children beastly kill.

And least the people through his talke might see

The mischiefs toward, and thereto not agree

Our Tormentour that false periured Knight

Bad stop our mouthes, with wordes of high dispight.

[Page]

Thus dyed we guiltlesse processe heard we none,

No cause alleagde, no Iudge, nor yet accuser,

No quest empaneld passed vs vppon.

That murdrer Ratcliffe, Law, and Rights refuser,

Did all to flatter Richard his abuser.

Vnhappy both that euer they were borne,

Through guiltlesse bloud that haue their soules forlorne.

In part I graunt, I well deserued this,

Because I caused not speedy execution

Be done on Richard for that murder of his,

VVhen first he wrought Kinge Henries close confusion.

Not for his Brothers hatefull persecution.

These cruell murders paynefull death deserued

VVhich had be suffred, many had bin preserued.

VVarne therefore all that charge, or office beare

To see all murdrers speedely executed:

And spare them not for fauour or for feare:

By guiltlesse bloud the earth remaynes polluted.

For lacke of Iustice kingdomes are transmuted.

They that saue murdrers from deserued payne,

Shall through those murdrers, miserably be slayne.

FINIS.

§

§

[Page]

WHā I had read this, they liked it very wel, one wished yt the combat which hee fought with the Bastard of Burgoyne, and the Honour which he wan wt both speare & Axe should not be forgotten. Another moued a question about a great matter, and yt is the variaunce of the Chronicles about the Lord Thomas Graye Marquise Dorcet: whō Fabian euery wher calleth ye queenes brother: sir Thomas Moore and Hal, call him the Queenes sonne as hee was in very deede. Fabian saith he was gouernour of yt Prince, and had ye conueiaunce of him frō Ludlo towards Londō. The other (whom we follow) say he was than at London wt the Queene prouiding for the kinges coronation, and toke Sanctuary with her as sone as hee heard of the apprehending of his vncle. This disagreing of wryters is a great hindraunce of ye truth, and no smal combraunce to such as be diligent readers, besides the harme that may happen in succession of heritages. It were therefore a worthye and good deede for the nobility, to cause all the recordes to be sought, and a true and perfect Chronicle there out to be written Vnto which we refer ye deciding of this & of all other like controuersies, geuinge this to vnderstand in the meane time, that no man shall thincke his title eyther better or worse by any thing that is written in any part of this treatise. For the onely thing which is purposed herein, is by example of others miseries, to disswade al men frō al sinnes [Page] and vices. If by the way we touch any thinge concerninge titles, we follow therein Halles Chronicle. And were wee seeme to swarue from hys reasons and causes of diuers doinges, there wee gather vppon cōiecture sutch things as seeme most probable, or at the least most conuenient for the furderaunce of our purpose. Whan the reader would haue proceeded in the Chronicle which straighte intreateth of the villanous destruction of the Lord Hastings, I willed him to surceas, because I had there hys Tragedy very learnedly penned. For the better vnderstandinge whereof, you must imagine yt you see him newly crept out of his graue, and speakinge to mee as followeth.

HOW THE LORD HAstings was Betrayed by trustinge to mutch to his euill Counsaylour Catesby, and Vilanously murdered in the Tower of London by Richard Duke of Glocester, the. 13. of Iune Anno. 1483.

I Am that Hastinge whose to h [...]sty death.

They blame that know wherefore I lost my breath,

VVyth others fearinge least my headlesse name

Bée wrong'de, by parciall Bruite of flatteringe Fame.

Hearinge O Baldwin that thou mean'st to penne,

The Lyues, and Fals of English Noblemen.

My selfe here present, do Present to thee

My Life, my Fall, and Forced destenye.

[Page]

Ne feare to stayne thy credite by my tale.

In Laethes floud, longe since, in Stigian vale.

Selfe loue I drown'd, what time hath fined for true,

And ceasseth not, (though stale) still to renue:

Recount I will: whereof take this for proofe.

That blase I will my prayse, and my reproofe.

Wee naked ghosts are but the very man

Nor of our selues more than we ought, we scan.

The Heauens high, and Earthly vale belowe,

Yet ring his Fame, whose deedes so great did grow.

Edward the fourth ye know vnnamed I meane.

Whose noble nature so to mee did leane,

That I his staffe was, I his onely ioy,

And euen what Pandare was to him of Troy.

Which moued him first, to create mee Chamberlayne,

To serue his sweetes, to my most sower payne.

VVherein, to iustly praysed for secretnesse

(For now my guilt with shrikinge I confesse)

To him to true, to vntrue to the Queene,

Sutch hate I wan, as lasted long betweene

Our families: Shores wife was my Nice cheat,

The holy hore, and eke the wily peat.

I Fed his lust with louely Peeces so,

That Gods sharp wrath I purchast, my iust wo.

See here of Nobles newe the diuers sourse.

Some vertue rayseth, some clime by sluttish sorts.

The first, though onely of themselues begon,

Yet circle wise into themselues do ron.

[Page]VVithin themselues their force vnited so,

Both endlesse is, and stronger gainst their foe.

For, when endth hit that neuer hath begon?

Or how may that, that hath no ende, be vndone?

Th'other as by wicked meanes they grue,

And raygned by flattery, or violence: so soone rue.

First tomblinge step fro honours old, is vice.

VVhich once stept downe, some Linger, none arise

To former type: But they catch vertues spray,

VVhich rayseth them that climbe by lawfull way.

Beware to rise by seruinge Princely lust.

Surely to stand, one meane is risinge iust.

VVhich learne by mee, whom let it helpe to excuse,

That ruthfull now my selfe I do accuse

And that my Prince I euer pleased with sutch,

As harmed none, and him contented mutch.

In vice some fauour, or lesse hate let win,

That I ne wryed to worser ende my sin.

But vsed my fauour to the safety of sutch,

As fury of later Warre to liue did grutch.

For as on durt (though durty) shineth the Sunn:

So, euen amids my vice, my vertue shoane.

My selfe I spared with any his cheate to stayne,

For loue or reuerence so I could refrayne.

Gisippus Wyfe erst Titus would desire

With frendships breach. I quencht that brutish fire.

Manly hit is, to loth the pleasinge lust.

Small vaunt to flye, that of constreint thou must.

[Page]

These faults except, if so my life thou skan,

Lo! none I hurt but furdred euery man.

My Chamber England was, my staffe the law:

VVhere by saunce rigour, all I held in awe.

So louinge to all, so beloued of all,

As, (what ensued vpon my bloudy fall

Though I ne felt) yet surely this I thincke.

Full many a tricklinge teare their mouths did drincke.

Disdayne not Princes easie accesse, meeke cheare.

We know then Aungels statelier port yee beare

Of God himselfe: to massy a charge for sprits.

But then, my Lords, consider, he delights

To vayle his grace to vs poore earthly wants,

To simplest Shrubs, and to the Dunghill plants.

Expresse him then, in might ,and mercies meane.

So shall yee winne, as now yee rule the realme.

But all to longe I feare do delaye

The many meanes, whereby I did be wray

My Zealous will, to earne my Princes grace.

Least thou differ, to thincke me kinde percase.

As nought may last, so Fortunes chaunginge cheare

VVith poutinge lookes gan lower on my sire,

Aud on her Wheele, aduaunst high in his roume

The Warwicke Earle, Mase of Christendome.

Besides the temptinge prowesse of the foe,

My Princes Brother did him then forgo.

The cause was liked, I was his linked allye.

Yet nor the cause, nor Brothers treachery,

[Page]Nor Enmies force, nor bande of mingled bloud:

Made Hastings beare his Prince other minde then good.

But tane, and scaped from Warwicks gripinge Pawes.

With mee hee fled through fortunes frowardst Flawes.

To London come, at large we might haue seemed,

Had not we then the Realme a prison deemed.

Ech Bushe, a Barre, ech Spray, a Banner splayed,

Ech House, a Fort, out Passage to haue stayed.

To Linne we leape, where while we awayte the Tide,

My secrete frendes in secret I supplide,

In Mouth to mayntayne Henry sixt their King,

By deede to deuoyre, Edward to bringe in.

The restlesse, to barre the empty Bay,

With waltringe Waues roames wamblinge forth. Away

The mery Mainer hales. The bragginge Boy,

To Masts high top vp hies. In signe of Ioy

The waueringe Flag is vaunst. The surginge Seas

Their swellinge ceasse: to calmest euen peace

Sinkth downe their pride. With dronkēnesse gaynst all care

The Seamen armed, a wayt their noble Fare.

On bord we come. The Massy Anchors wayde,

One English Ship, two Hulkes of Holland, ayde

In sutch a pinch. So small tho was the Trayne,

Sutch his constraynt, that now, that one with payne

Commaund he might, who late might many moe:

The ghastly Greekes erst brought to Tenedo.

So nought is ours that we by hap may lose,

What nearest seemes, is farthest of in woes.

[Page]

As banished wights, such ioyes we mought haue made.

Easo of aye threatning death that late we dradde.

But once our countries sight (not care) exempt,

No harbour shewing, that myght our feare relent,

No couert ca [...]e, no shrub to shrowde our liues.

No hollow wood, no flight that oft depriues.

The mighty his pray, no sanctuary left

For exiled prince, that shroudes ech slaue for theft:

In prison pent whose woody walles to passe

Of no lesse peril then the dying was:

With the Ocean moated battred with the waues,

(As chaind at dares the wretched galley slaues,

At mercy sit of sea and enmies shot,

And shonne with death that they wit flight may not)

But grenish waues, and heauy lowring skies

Al comfort els forclose our exiled eyes:

Loe loe from highest top the slauish boy

Sent vp, with sight of lande our hartes to ioy:

Descries at hand whole fleete of Easterlings

As then whot enmies of the British Kinges.

The mouse may somtyme helpe the Lion in neede

The bittle Bee once spile the Aegles breede.

O princes seke no foes. In your distresse,

The earth, the seas, conspyre your heauinesse.

Our foe descried by flyght we shon in hast

And lade with Canuas now the bending mast

The ship was rackt to try her sayling then.

As Squirels clime the troupes of trusty men.

[Page]The [...]eresman seekes a redier course to runne,

The Souldier stirs, the Gunner hies to Gunne.

The Fleammings sweate, the English Ship disdayns

To wayte behinde to beare the Fleammings Trayns.

Forth flyeth the Barke, as from the violent Goonne

The Pellet pearseth all Stayes, and stops eftsoone.

And swift she Swyndgth, as oft in Sunny day,

The Dolphin fleetes in Seas, in mery May.

As we for liues, so Th'easterlinges for gayne,

Thwack on the Sayles, and after make amayne.

Though heuy they were,and of burthen great:

A Kynge to mayster yet, what Swyne nold sweat?

So mid the vale the Brehound seinge start

The fearefull Hare, pursueth Before she flerteth.

And where she turn'th her there to beare.

The one pray pricketh, the other safties feare.

So were we chased, so fled we afore our Foes.

Bet flight then fight in so vneuen close.

I end. Some thincke perhaps, to long he staieth

In perill present shewinge his fixed faith.

This ventred I, this dread I did sustaine,

To try my truth, my lyfe I did disdayne.

But, loe! like tryall agaynst his ciuill foe,

Fayths worst is tryall, which is reserued to woe.

I passe our scape, and sharpe returninge home,

VVhere wee were welcom'd by our wonted fone.

To Battayle mayne discends the Empyres right,

At Barnet ioyne the Hoastes in bloudy fight.

[Page]

There ioyn'd Battayles ranged in sutch array,

As mought for terrour, Alexander fray.

What should I stay to tell the longe discourse?

VVho wan the Palme? who bare away the worse?

Suffiseth to say by my reserued band,

Our enemies fled, we had the vpper hand.

My iron army held hee steady place,

My Prince to shield, his feared foe to chase.

The like successe befell mee in Tewkesbury field.

My furious force, there fors'de perforce to yeeld

My Princes foe: and render to my Kinge

Her onely sonne, least he more bate might bringe.

Thus hast thou a mirrour of a Subiectes minde,

Sutch as perhaps is rare agayue to finde:

The caruinge cuts, that cleaue the trusty steele,

My fayth, and du allegiaunce, could not feele.

But out alas, what praise may I recount,

That is not stain'de with spot, that doth surmount

My greatest vaunt? bloudy for Warre to feete

A Tiger was I, all for peace vnmeete,

A souldiers hands must oft be dyed with goare,

Least starke with rest, they fi [...]ewd waxe and hoare.

Peace could I winne by Warre, but peace not vse.

Few dayes enioy he, who Warlike peace doth chuse.

VVhen Crofts a Knight presented Henries Heire

To this our Prince, in furious moode enquere

Of him he gan, what folly or phrensy vayne,

VVith Arms forst him to inuade his Realme?

[Page]Whom auusweringe that hee claym'd his fathers right:

With Gauntlet smit, commaunded from his sight:

Clarence, Glocester, Dorcet, and I Hastinge slue.

The guilt whereof we shortly all did rue.

Clarence, as Cirus, drown'd in bloud like Wine,

Dorcet I furthered to his speedy pyne.

Of mee, my selfe am speakinge president,

Nor easier fate the bristled Boare is lent.

Our blouds haue payd the vengeaunce of our guilt,

His fryed bones, shall broyle for bloud hee hath spilt.

O waltsome murther, that attaynteth our fame,

O horrible Traytours wantinge worthy name.

VVho as mischieuously of all men deserue,

As they merite well, who do mens liues preserue.

If those, therefore we recken heauenly wights,

These may we well deeme Feendes, and damned Sprits.

And while on Earth they walke, disguised deuils,

Sworne foes of vertue, factours for all euils.

VVhose bloudy hands torment their goared harts,

Through bloudsheds horrour, in soundest sleepe hee starrs.

O happy World were the Lions men,

All Lions should at least be spared then.

No suerty now, no lasting leage is bloud.

A meacocke is he, who dreadth to see bloud shed.

Old is the Practise of sutch bloudy strife,

VVhile ij. weare Armies .ij. the Issues of first Wyfe,

VVith armed hart and hand, the one bloudy brother,

VVith cruell chase pursueth, and murdreth th'other.

[Page]

Which who abhorreth not? yet who ceaseth to sue?

The bloudye Caynes their bloudye syre renue.

The horror yet is like in common fraies.

For in ech murther, brother brother slayes.

Traitours to nature, countrey kin and kinde.

Whom no band serueth in brothers loue to bynde.

O simple age, when slaunder slaughter was.

The tonges smal euil, how doth this mischiefe passe?

Hopest thou to cloake thy couert mischiefe wrought?

Thy conscience, Caytif, shal proclaime thy thought.

A vision, Chaucer sheweth, discloasde thy crime.

The Foxe descrie the crowes and chattring pyen,

And shal thy fellow felons, not bewray

The guiltlesse death, whom guiltye handes do slaye?

Vnpunished scaped for hayuous crime some one,

But vnaduenged, in mynde or bodye none.

Vengeaunce on minde, the freating furies take,

The sinful corps, like earthquake agues shake.

Their frowning lokes, their troubled minds bewray,

In hast they runne, and mids their race they staye,

As gidded Roe. Amids their speach they whist,

At mea [...]e they muse. No where they may persist

But some feare netleth them. Ay hang they so.

So neuer wanteth the wicked murtherer wo.

An infant rent with Lions ramping pawes?

Why slaunder I Lions? They feare the sacred lawes

Of royal bloud. Ay me more brute than beast.

With enfants sydes, (Licaons pye) to feast.

[Page]O tyraunt Tygers, O insaciate wolues,

O English curtesie, monstrous mawes and gulfes.

Onely because our Prince displeasde we sawe

With him, we slue him straight before al lawe,

Before our Prince commaunded once his death,

Our bloudy swordes on him we did vnsheath.

Preuenting law, and euen our Princes hest,

We hid our weapons in the younglings brest.

Whom not desire of reigne did driue to field,

But mothers pride, who longd the Realme to weld.

But straight my death shal shew my worthy meede,

If first to one other murther I procede.

While Edward liued, dissembled discord lurked:

In double hartes yet so his reuerence worked.

But when succeding [...]ender feeble age,

Gaue open gap to tyraunts rushing rage:

I holpe the Bore, and Burke, to captiuate

Lord Riuers, Gray, sir Thomas Vaughan & Haw [...]e.

If land would helpe the sea, wel earnde that ground

Hir selfe, to be with conquering waues surround.

Their speedy death by priuy dome procured,

At Pomfret: tho my life short while endured.

My selfe I slue, when them I damned to death,

At once my throate I riued, and reft them breath.

For that selfe daye, before or neare the hower

That withred Atropos nipt the springing flower

With violent hand, of their forth running life:

My head and body, in Tower twinde like knife.

[Page]

By this my patterne al ye percs beware.

Oft hangth he himselfe who others weenth to snare

Spare to be ech others butcher. Feare the Kite,

Who soareth aloft, (while frog and mouse do fight

In ciuil combat, grappling voyde of [...]eare

Of forreine foe) at once al both to beare.

Which playner by my pitied plaint to see,

A while a new your listning lend to me.

Too true it is two sundrye assemblies kept,

At Crosbies place, and Baynardes castle set.

The Dukes at Crosbies, but at Baynardes wee.

The one to crowne a king the other to bee.

Suspicious is secession of foule feendes,

When eithers drift to thocers mischiefe tendes,

I feared the end, my Cates [...]ies being there

Discharged al doubts. Him held I most entyre.

Whose great preferment by my meanes, I thought

Some spurre, to paye the thankefulnesse be ought.

The trust he ought me, made me trust him so,

That priuie he was both to my weale and wo.

My hartes one halfe, my chest of confidence,

Myne only trust, my ioye dwelt in his presence.

I loued him Baldwin, as the apple of mine eye.

I loathed my life when Catesby would me dye.

Flye from thy chanel Thames forsake thy streames,

Leaue the Adamant Iron. Phoebus lay thy beames:

Cease heauenly Sphears at last your weary warke.

Betray your charge, retourne to Chaos darke.

[Page]At least, some ruthlesse Tiger hang her whelp,

My Catesby so with some excuse to help.

And mee to comfort, that I alone, ne seeme

Of all dame natures workes left in extreeme.

A Golden trasure is the tryed frend.

But who may Gold from Counterfayts defend?

Trust not to soone, nor yet to soone mistrust.

Wich th'one thy selfe, with th'other thy freend thou hurt'st.

Who twyneth betwixt, and steareth the golden meane,

Nor rashly loueth, nor mistrusteth in vayne.

In frendship soueraigne it is as Mithridate

Thy frend to loue as one whom thou mayst hate.

Of tickle credit ne had ben the mischiefe,

What needed Virbius miracle doubled life?

Credulity surnamed first the Aegean Seas.

Mistrust, doth treason in the trustiest rayse.

Suspecious Romulus, stayn'd his Walls first reard

With Brothers bloud, whom for light leape he feard.

So not in Brotherhoode ielousie may be borne,

The Ielons Cuckold weares the Infamous Horne.

A beast may Preach by triall, not fore sight.

Could I haue shond light credit, nere had light

The dreaded death, vpon my guilty head.

But fooles aye wont to learne by after read.

Had Catesby kept vnstaynd the truth he plight,

Yet had yet enioyed mee, and I yet the light

All Derbies doubts I cleared with his name.

I knew, no harme could hap mee without his blame.

[Page]

But see the fruictes of tickle light beleefe.

The ambicious Dukes corrupt the Traytour thefe,

To groape mee, if allured I would assent,

To bin a Partner of their cursed entent.

Whereto, when as by no meanes frēdship vail'de,

By Tyraunt force behold they mee assail'de.

And summond shortly a Cousaile in the Tower,

Of Iune the fifteenth, at apointed hower.

Alas, are counsels wryed to catch the good?

No place is now exempt from sheading bloud,

Sith counsels, that were carefull to preserue

The guiltlesse good, are meanes to make thē starue.

What may not mischiefe of Madman abuse?

Religious Cloake some one to vice doth chuse,

And maketh God Protectour of his Crime.

O monstrous world, well ought we wish thy fyne.

The fatall Skies, roll on the blackest day,

VVhen doubled bloudshed, my bloud must repay.

Others none forceth. To me sir Thomas Haward

As Spurre is buckled, to prouoke me froward.

Derbie who feared the parted sittings yore.

Whether, mutch more be knew by experience hoare,

Or better minded, clearlyer truth could see:

At Midnight darke this message sends to mee.

Hastings away, in sleepe the Gods foreshow

By dreadfull dreame, fell fates vnto vs two.

Me thought a Boare with Tuske so rased our Throate,

That both our Shoulders of the bloud did Smoake.

[Page]Aryse to horse, straight homeward let vs hye.

And sith our foe we cannot match, O flye.

Of Chaun [...]eclere you learne dreames sooth to know

Thence wisemen cōster, more then y• cock doth crow.

While thus he spake, I held within myne arme

Shores Wyfe, the tender peece, to kepe me warme.

Fye on Adultery, fye on Lecherous lust.

Marke in me yée Nobles al, Gods Iudgements iust.

A Pandare, M [...]rtherer, and Adulterer thus,

Onely sutch death I dye, as I ne blushe.

Now least my dame mought think appall'd my hart

VVyth Eger moode vp in my Bed I start.

And, is thy Lord (quoth I) a Sorcerer?

A wise man now become? a dreame reader?

What though so Chaūteclere crowed? I reck it not?

On my part pleadeth as well Dame Partelot.

Vniudge hangth yet the case betwixt them tway.

Ne was his dreame cause of his hap I say.

Shal dreaminge douts from prince my seruing slack?

Nay, then mought Hastings life and liuinge lack.

He parteth. I sléepe, my minde surcharged wt sinne,

As Phoebus beames by misty Cloud kept in,

Ne could misgeue, ne dreame of my mishap.

As blocke, I tumbled to myne Enemies trap.

Security causlesse through my fayned frende,

Rest mee foresight of my approchinge ende.

So Catesby clawed mee, as when the Cat doth play.

Dalyinge with Mouse whom straight she meanes to slay.

[Page]

The morow come, the latest light to mee,

On Palfray mounted, to the Tower I hye.

Accompanied with that Haward my mortall Foe,

To slaughter led, thou God didst suffer so.

(O deepe Dissemblers, honouringe with your cheare,

VVhom in hid heart yee trayterously teare)

Neuer had Realme so open Signes of wracke.

As I had shewed me of my heauy hap.

The vision first of Stanley late descryed.

Then mirth so extreme, that neare for ioy I dyed.

Were hit, that Swanlike I foresong my death,

Or mery minde foresaw the losse of breath

That longe it coueyted, from this earths annoy,

But euen as siker as th'ende of woe is ioye,

And glorious light to obscure night doth tend:

So extreame mirth, in extreame moane doth end.

For why, extreames are haps rackt out of course.

By violent Might far swinged forth perforce.

Which as they are pearcingst while they violentst moue,

For that they are neare to cause that doth them shoue:

So soonest fall from that their highest extreame,

To th'other contrary that doth want of meane.

So lawghed hee erst, who lawghed out his breath.

So lawghed I, whan I lawghd my selfe to death.

The pleasingst meanes boade not the suckiest ends.

Not aye, found treasure to like pleasure tends.

Mirth meanes not mirth all time, thryse happy hire

Of wit, to shun the excesse that all desire.

[Page]But this I passe. I hie to other like.

My palfrey in the playnest paued streete,

Thrise howed his bones, thrise kneeled on the flower

Thrise sh [...]nd (as Balams asse) the dreaded tower.

What? should I [...]hinke he had sence of after haps?

As beastes foreshow the drought or rayny drops,

As humours in them want or els abound,

By influence from the heauens, or change of groūd?

Or do we interprete by successe ech signe?

And as we fancye of ech hap deuine?

And make that cause, that kinne is to theffect?

Not hauing ought of consequence respect?

Bucephalus kneeling onely to his Lord,

Shewed onely he was, monarche of the world.

Why may not then the steede foreshew by fall,

What casual hap the sic [...]er bappen shall?

Darius horse by brayinge brought a realme.

And what letteth, why he ne is (as ye asse) Gods mean

By speaking signe, to shew his hap to come,

Who is deafe hearer of his speaking domme?

But forward yet. In tower streete I stayd,

Where (could I haue seene) [...]oe Haward al bewrayd

For as I commond with a priest I met:

Away my Lord quoth he▪ your time is ne yet

To take a priest Lo, Synon might be seene,

Had not the Troians hares foolish forthright eyen,

But since the time was come that I should dye,

Some grace it was to dye with wimpled eye.

[Page]

Ne was this all. For euen at Towerwharfe,

Neare to those Walles within the which I starse,

Where erst, in sorrow soust, and deepe destresse,

I emparted all my pyninge pensifnesse

With Hastings: (so my purseuant men call)

Euen there, the same to meete it did me fall.

Who gan to me most dolefully renew,

The wofull conference had erst in that Lieu.

Hastings (quoth I) accordinge now they fare,

At Pomfret this day dyinge, who caus'de that care.

My selfe haue all the world at my will,

VVith pleasures cloyed, engorged with the fill.

God graunt it so quoth [...]e, why doubtest thou tho

Quoth I? and all in chafe, to him gan shewe

In ample wise, our drift with tedious tale.

And entred so the Tower to my bale.

What should we think of signes? They are but haps

How may they then, be signes of afterclaps?

Doth euery chaunce forshew or cause some other?

Or endinge at it selfe, extendth no furder?

As th'ouerflowinge floude some mount doth choake,

But to his ayde some other floud it yoake:

So, if with signes thy sinnes once ioyne, beware.

Els whereto chaunces tend▪ doe neuer care.

Had not my sinne deserued my death as wreake,

What might my myrth haue hurt? or horses becke?

Or Hawardes bitter scoffe? or Hastings talke?

What meane then foole Astrologers to talke?

[Page] That twinckilng sterres fling down the fixed fate?

And all is guyded by the sterry state?

Perdye a certayne charge assignd they haue

To shyne, and tymes deuyde, not fate to graue.

But graunt they somwhat geue it at one instant

Of euery babe the byrth in heauen so skand,

That they that restles roll, and neuer staye,

Should in his lyfe beare yet so violent swaye:

That, not his actions onely next to byrth,

But all his life and death be swayed therwith?

How may one mocion make so sundry affectes?

Or one impression tend to such respectes?

Some rule there is yet. Els, why were deferd

Til now, these plagues, so lōg ere now deserude?

If for they are trifles, they ne seme of care:

But toyes with god the stateliest scepters are.

Yet in them to playne doth appeare foreset,

The certayne rule and fatal limittes set,

Yet thinke we not, this sure forsetting fate.

But gods fast prouidence for ech princely state.

And hath he erst restraind his prouidence?

Or is he nigard of his fre dispence?

Or is he vncertayne foreset driftes to dryue?

That not dame Chaunce but he al goodes may giue?

A beathen God they hold whom fortune kepe,

To deale them haps while god they wene a sleepe

Mocke Gods they are and many Gods induce,

Who fortune fayne to father their abuse.

[Page]

How so it be, it mought haue warned me

But, wha I could not that in me see ye,

Who runne in race, the honour like to win

Whose fairest forme nought may deforme but sin

Alas, when most I did defye all dread,

By single heare deaths sword ho [...]g ouer my head,

For berke the end aud listen now my fall.

This is the last, and this the fruit of all.

To connsayle chamber come, a while we stayd

For him without whom nought was done or sayde.

At last he came, and courteously excused,

That he so long our patience had abused.

And pleasauntly began to paint his cheare,

And said. My lord of Elye, would we had here

Some of the Strawberies, wherof you haue store.

The last delighted me so as nothing more.

Would, what so you wish, I mought aswel commaund,

My Lord (quoth he) as those. And out of hand.

His seruaunt sendth to Ely place for them.

Out goeth from vs the restlesse deuil agaiue.

Belike (I thinke) scarse yet perswaded ful,

To worke the mischiefe that did mad is scul.

At last determind, of his bloudy thought

And force ordaynde, to worke the wyle he sought:

Frowning he enters, with so chaunged cheare,

As for mylde may had chopped foule Ianuere.

And lowring on me with the goggle eye,

The whetted tuske, and furrwed forehead hye,

[Page]His Crooked shoulder bristellike set vp,

With frothy Iawes, whose foame he chawde and supd,

VVith angry lookes that flamed as the fy [...]r:

Thus gan at last to grunt the grymest syre.

What meryte they, whomme, the kingdomes stay,

Contryued haue counsayle traiterously to slay?

Abash d [...]ll sate. I thought I mought be bold,

For conscience clearnesse and aquaintance old,

Their hire is playne quoth I. Be death the least

To who so seketh your grace so to molest

VVithouten stay: the Quene & the whore Shores wyfe,

By witchcraft (quoth he) seke to wast my life.

Loe here the wythered and bewytched arme,

That thus is spent by those two Sorceresse charme.

And baced his arme and shewed his swynish skinne.

Such cloaks they vse, that seke to clowd their sinne.

But out alas, it serueth not for the rayne.

To al the house the colour was to playne

Nature had giuen him many a maymed marke

And it amonges to note her monstruous warke.

My doubtfull harte distracted this replye.

For thoue I cared not. Thother nipt so nye

That whyst I cold not: [...]t forthwith brake forth.

If so it be, of death they are doubtlesse worth.

If, traitour quoth he? playst thou with yfs and ands?

Ile on thy body auowe it with these hands.

And ther withal he mightlye bounced the borde.

In rush [...] his byl men one himselfe bestird.

[Page]

Laying at Lord Stanley, whose brain be had surely cleft

Had he not downe beneat be the table crept.

But Elye, Yorke, and I were taken straight.

Imprisoned they: I should no longer wait,

But charged was to shriue me, and shift with hast.

My Lorde must dine, and now midday was past.

The Bores first dish, not the bores head should be.

But Hastinges head the boarish beast would see.

Why stay I his dinner? vnto the chappel ioyneth

A greenish hil, that body and soule oft twineth.

There on a blocke my head was striken of.

As Baptistes head, for Herode bloudy gnoffe.

Thus liued I Baldwin, thus dyed I, thus I fel.

This is the summe, which al at large to tel

Would volumes fil. whence yet these lessons note

Ye noble Lordes, to learne and ken by rote.

By fylthy rising feare your names to stayne.

If not for vertues loue, for dread of payne.

Whom so the mindes vnquiet state vpbeaues,

Be it for loue or feare: when fancye reaues

Reason her right, by mocking of the wyt:

If once the cause of this affection flit,

Reason preuayling on the vnbrideled thought:

Downa falth he who by fancye clymbe aloft.

So hath the ryser fowle no stay from fal,

No not of those that raisde him first of al.

His suretie stands in mainteining the cause

That heaued him first, which reft by reasons sawes,

[Page]Not onely falth be to his former state,

But liueth for euer in his princes hate.

And marke my Lordes, God for adultery sleath

Though ye it thinke too sweete a sinne for death.

Serue trulye your Prince and feare not rebels might,

On Princes balues the mightie God doth fight.

O much more then forsweare a forrein foe,

Who seeketh your realme and countrei to vndo.

Murther detest, haue handes vnstaind with bloud.

Aye with your succour do protect the good.

Chace treason where trust should be wed to your frend

Your hart and power, to your liues last end.

Flie tickle credite, shunne alike distrust.

To true it is, and credite it you must:

The Ialous nature wanteth no stormy strife,

The simple soule aye leadeth a sower life.

Beware of flatterers, frendes in outward show.

Best is of such to make your open foe.

What al men seeke, that al men seeke to fayne.

Some such to bee, some such to seeme, them payne.

Marke Gods iust iudgemēts, punishing sinne by sinn

And slipperie state wherein aloft we swimme.

The prouerbe, al day vp if we ne fall,

Agreeth wel to vs hie heaued worldlinges al.

From common sort vpraisde, in honours weede

We shine: while fortune false (whom none erst feede

To stand with staye and forsweare ticklenesse:

Sowseth vs in myre of durtie brittlenesse.

[Page]

And learne ye princes by my wronged sprite,

Not to misconster what is ment aright,

The whinged wordes to oft preuent the wyt,

VVhen silence cesseth afore the lips to sit.

Alas, what may the wordes yeld worthy death?

The wordes worst is, the speakers stinking breath.

VVordes are but winde, why cost they then so much

The guiltye kycke, when they to smartly touche.

Forth irreturnable flyeth the spoken word,

Be hit in scoffe, in earnest, or in bourd.

VVithout retourne, and vnreceiued, hit hangs.

And at the takers mercie, or rigour stands.

VVhich if he sowerly wrest with wrathful cheare,

The shiuering word turnes to the speakers feare.

If frendly curtesie do the word expound,

To the speakers comfort swetely it doth redound.

Euen as the vapour which the fier repels,

Turnes not to earth. but in myd aer dwels.

VVhere while it hangth, if Boreas frosty flawes

VVith rigour rattle it: not to rayne it thawes,

But thunder, lightninges, ratling bayle or snowe

Sendes downe to earth, whence first it rose below,

But if fayre Phoebus with his countenaunce swete

Resolue it, downe the dew, or Manna sleete.

(The Manna dew, that in the easterne landes,

Excelth the labour of the bees small handes.)

Els for her Memnon gray Auroras teares,

On the earth it stilleth, the partener of her feares.

[Page]Or sendeth sweete showers to glad their mother earth.

Whence first they tooke their first inconstant birth.

To so great griefes, il taken wordes do grow.

Of wordes wel taken, such delightes do flow.

This learned, thus be here at length an end,

What since ensued, to thee I wil commend.

Now farewel Baldwin, shield my torne name,

From sclaunderous trompe of blasting blacke defame.

But ere I part, hereof thou record beare.

I claime no parte of vertues reckned here.

My vice my selfe, but God my vertues take.

So hence depart I, as I entred naked.

Thus ended Hastinges both his life and tale,

Contayning al his worldly blisse and bale.

Happye he liued, to happie but for sinne,

Happie hee dyed whom right his death did bring.

Thus euer happie. For there is no meane

Twixt blisseful liues and mortal deathes extreame.

Yet feared not his foes to staine his name.

And by these sclaunders to procure his shame.

In rousty armure as in extreame shift,

They clad themselues, to cloake their diuelish drift.

And forthwith for substancial citezens sent,

Declaring to them, Hastinges forged entent

Was to haue slaine the Duke: and to haue seised.

The kinges young person, slaying whom he had pleasde.

But God of Iustice had withturnd that fate,

Which where it ought, tight on his proper pate.

[Page]

Then practised they by proclamation spred,

Nought to forget, that nought defame him dead.

Which was so curious, and so clerkely pend,

So long withal: that when some did attend

His death so young: they saw that long before

The shroude was shaped, then babe to dye was bore.

So wonteth God to blinde the worldly wise,

That not to see, that al the world espies.

One hearing it cried out. A goodly cast,

And wel contriued, fowle cast away for hast.

Whereto another gan in scoffe replie,

First pend it was by enspiring prophecie.

So can God reape vp secret mischiefes wrought,

To the confusion of the workers thought.

My Lords, the tub, that dround the Clarence Duke,

Dround not his death, nor yet his deathes rebuke.

Your politique secretes gard with trusty loyalty.

So shal they lurke in most assured secrecie.

By Hastinges death, and after fame ye learne,

The earth for murther cryeth out vengeance sterne.

Flye from his faultes, and spare to hurt his fame.

The eager houndes forbeare their slayne game.

Dead, dead, auaunt Curres frō the conquered chase.

Il mought he liue who loueth the dead to race.

Thus liued this Lorde, thus died he, thus he slept.

Mids forward race when first [...]o rest be stept,

Enuious death that bounceth aswel with mace

At Keysars courtes, as at the poorest gates:

[Page]Wheu Nature seemde to slow by this sloape meane,

Conueighed him sooner to his liues extreame.

Happie in preuenting woes that after happd,

Ind slomber sweete his liuing lights he lappd.

Whose hastye death, if it do anye greeue:

Know hee, he lyued to dye, and dyed to lyue.

Vntimelye neuer comes the liues last mette.

In cradle death may rightly clayme his det.

Straight after birth due is the fatal beere.

By deathes permission the aged linger here.

Enen in the swathebandes out commission goeth

To loose thy breath, that yet but youngly bloweth.

Happy, thrise happie, who so loosth his breath,

That life he gayneth by his godly death.

As Hastinges here. Whom time and truth agree,

To engraue by fame in strong eternitie.

Who spareth not speaking, with daunger of his bloud?

Yet loe this noble Lord did thinke it good

To cleare the innocent not to spare to speake,

Although his shoulders with his bloud should reake.

Worthy to liue, who liued not for himselfe

But prised his fame more then this worldly pelfe.

Whose name and line, if any yet preserue,

We wish they liue like honour to deserue.

Whether thou seeke by martiall prowesse prayse,

Or Pallas pollicy high thy name to raise,

Or trusty seruice honour to attaine:

Hastinges foreled. Tracke here his bloudy trayne.

FINIS.

Maister D.

§

§

[Page]

WHen I had read this, one sayd the admonition geuen in the history was profitable for the auoyding of the vices conteyned in ye sayde historie, and for the imitating of the vertues in the same mentioned and commended. Then sayd the reader: The next here whome I fynde miserable, are king Edwardes two sonnes, cruelly murdred in the Tower of London: Haue you theyr tragedy? No surely (saide I) The Lord Vaulx vndertoke to penne it, but what hee hath done therein I am not certayne, & therfore I let it passe, til I knowe further.

I haue heare the Duke of Buckingham, kinge Richards chiefe instrument, written by maister Thomas Sackuile. Reade it we praye you, sayde they: with a good wil (quoth I) But first you shal heare his preface or induction. Hath hee made a preface (saide one) what meaneth he therby, seing none other hath vsed the like order? I wil tel you the cause thereof (saide I) which is this: After that hee vnderstoode that some of the counsail would not suffer the booke to be printed in suche order as we had agreed and determined, he purposed to haue gotten at my hands, all the tragedies that were before the Duke of Buckinghams, which he would haue preserued in one volume. And from y• time backwarde euen to the time of William the Conquerour, hee determined to continue and perfecte all the storye [Page] himselfe, in such order as Lydgate (folowing Bochas had already vsed. And therefore to make a meete Induction into the matter, hee deuised this po [...]sie: which in my iudgement is so well penned, that I woulde not haue anye Verse thereof, left out of our volume. Nowe that you knowe the cause and meaning of his doing, you shall heare also what hee hath done His Induction beginneth thus.

THE INDVCTION,

THe wrathful winter proching on apace,

With blustring blastes had al ybard the treen,

And old Saturnus with his frosty face,

With chilling cold had pearst the tender greene:

The mantles rent, wherein enwrapped beene

The gladsome groaues that now lay ouerthrowne,

The tapets torne and euery tree downe blowne.

The soyle that earst so seemely was to seene

Was al despoyled of her beauties hewe:

And soote fresh flowers (wherewith the Somers queene

Had clad the earth) now Boreas blastes downe blewe.

And smal foules flocking in their songes did rue

The winters wrath, wherewith ech thing defast

In woful wise bewayld the Somer past.

[Page]

Hawthorne had lost his motley lyuerye,

The naked twigs were shiuering all for cold:

And dropping downe the teares abundauntly,

Ech thing (me thought) with weeping eye me told

The cruel season, bidding me withhold

My selfe within for I was gotten out

Into the fieldes whereas I walkt about.

When lo the night with mistie mantles spred

Gan darke the day, and dim the azure skies,

And Venus in her message Hermes sped

To bloudy Mars, to wil him not to rise,

While she her selfe approacht in speedy wise:

And Virgo hyding her disdainful brest

With Thetis now had layd her downe to rest.

VVhiles Scorpio dreading Sagittarius dart,

VVhose bow prest bent in fight, the string had slipt,

Downe siyd into the Occean flud apart,

The Beare that in the Irish seas had dipt

His griesly feete, with speede from thence he whipt:

For Thetis hasting from the Virgins bed.

Pursued the Beare, that ere she came was fled.

And Pha [...]ton now nere reaching to his race

VVith glistring beames, gold streaming where they bent,

VVas prest to enter in his resting place.

Erithius that in the cart first went

Had euen nowe attaind his iourneis stent.

And fast declining hid awaye his head,

VVhile Titan coucht him in his purple bed.

[Page]

And pale Cinthea with her burowed light

Beginning to supplie her brothers place,

Was past the Noone steede sixe degrees in sight

When sparkling starres amid the heauens face

With twinckling light shone on the earth apace,

That while they brought about the nights chare,

The darke had dimde the day ere I was ware.

And sorrowing I to see the Sommer flowers,

The liuely greene, the lusty lease forlorne,

The sturdye trees so shattred with the showers,

The [...]eloes so fade that florisht so beforne,

It taught me wel al earthly thinges be borne

To dye the death, for nought long time may last,

The Sommers beautie yeldes to winters blast.

Then looking vpward to the heauens leames

With nights stars thicke powdred euery where,

Which earst so glistred with the golden streames

That chearful Phoebus spred downe from his Sphere,

Beholding darke oppressing day so neare:

The sodaine sight reduced to my minde,

The sundrie chaunges that in earth we finde.

That musing on this worldly wealth in thought,

VVhich comes aud goes more faster then we see

The flickring flame that with the fyre is wrought▪

My busie minde presented vnto mee

Such fal of Pieres as in the realme had be:

That oft I wisht some would their woes descriue,

To warne the rest whom Fortune left aliue.

[Page]

And strait foorth stalking with redoubled pace

For that I saw the night drew on so fast,

In blacke al clad there fel before my face

A piteous might, whom wo had al forewast,

Forth on her eyes the christal teares foorth brast.

And sighing sore her handes she wrong and fold,

Tare al her hayre, that ruth was to behold.

Her body smal forewichred and forespent,

As is the stalke that Sommers drought opprest,

Her wealked face with woful teares besprent,

Her colour pale, (as it seemed her best)

In woe and plaint reposed was her rest.

And as the stone that drops of water weares,

So dented were her cheekes with fall of tearess.

Her eyes swollen with flowing streames a flote,

Where with her lookes throwne vp ful piteouslye,

Her forcelesse handes together oft she smote,

VVith doleful shrikes, that eckoed in the skie:

VVhose plaint such sighes did strait accompanie,

That in my doome was neuer man did se

A wight but halfe so wo begone as shee.

I stoode agast beholding all her plight,

Twene dread and dolour so distreinde in hart,

That while my heares vpstarted with the sight,

The teares out streamde for sorow of her smart:

But when I saw no ende that could appart

The deadly dewle, which she so sore did make,

VVith doleful voyce then thus to her I spake.

[Page]

Vnwrap thy woes what euer wight thou bee

And stint in time to spil thy selfe with plaint,

Tel what thou art, and whence: for wel I see

Thou canst not dure with sorow thus attaint.

And with that word of sorow al forfaint

She looked vp, and prostrate as she lay

VVith piteous sound [...]o thus she gan to say.

Alas, I wretch whom thus thou seest distre [...]ned

VVith wasting woes, that neuer shal aslake,

Sorrow I am, in endlesse tormentes payned,

Among the furies in the infernal lake:

VVhere Plu [...]o God of Hel so griesly blacke

Doth hold his throne, and Laetheus deadly tast

Doth rieue remembraunce of ech thing forepast.

VVhence come I am, the drery destenie

And lucklesse lot for to bemoane al those

VVhom Fortune in this maze of miserie

Of wretched chaunce most wofull myrrours chose

That thou seest how lightly they did lose

Their pom [...]e, their power, and that they thought most sure,

Thou maiest sone deeme no earthly ioy may dure.

VVhose ruful vnice no soner had outbrayed

Those woful wordes, wherewith she sorowed so,

But out alas she shrikt and neuer stayed,

Fel downe, and all to basht her selfe for wo.

The cold pale dread my lims gan ouer goe,

And I so sorowed at her sorowes eft,

That what with griefe and feare my wits were reft.

[Page]

I stretcht my selfe, and strait my hart reuiues,

That dread and dolour erst did so appale,

Like him that with the feruent feuer siriues

When sicknesse seekes his castle health to skale:

With gathred sprites so forst I feare to auale.

And rearing her with anguish al foredone,

My spirites returnde▪ and then I thus begone.

O Sorow alas sith sorow is thy name,

And that to thee this dreere doth wel pertaine.

In vayne it were to seeke to cease the same:

But as a man himselfe with sorow slaine,

So I alas do comfort thee in payne,

That here in sorow art forsoncke so diepe

That at thy sight I can but sighe and weepe.

I had no sooner spoken of a stike

But that the storme so rumbled in her breast,

As E [...]lus could neuer roare the like,

And showers downe rayned from her eyes so fast.

That al bedreint the place, til at the last

VVell eased they the dolour of her minde.

As rage of rayne doth swage the stormie winde.

For forth she paced in her feareful tale:

Come, come, (quoth shee) and see what I shall showe,

Come heare the playning and the bitter bale

Of worthy men, by Fortune ouerthrow.

Come thou and see them rewing al in rowe.

They were but shades that earst in mynde thou rold.

Come, come with me, thyne eyes shal them behold.

[Page]

What could these wordes but make me more agast?

To heare her tel whereon I musde while ere,

So was I mazde therewith: til at the last,

Musing vpon her wordes, and what they were,

Al sodenlye wel lessened was my feare:

For to my minde retourned how she teld

Both what she was, and where her won she held.

Whereby I knew that shee a Goddesse was,

And therewithal resorted to my minde

My thought, that late presented me the glas

Of brittle state, of cares that here we finde.

Of thousand woes, to seely men assinde:

And how she now bid me come and beholde

To see with eye that earst in thought I rolde.

Flat downe I fel, and with al reuerence

Adored her, perceiuing now that shee

A Goddesse sent by godlye prouidence,

In earthly shape thus showd her selfe to me,

To wayle and rue this worlds certaintye:

And while I honourd thus her Godheads might,

With playning voyce these wordes to me she shright

I shal the guide first to the grieslye lake,

And thence vnto the blisful place of rest.

Where thou shalt see and heare ye plaint they make.

That whilom here bare swinge among the best.

This shalt thou see, but great is the vnrest

That thou must byde before thou canst attaine

Vnto the dreadful place where these remaine.

[Page]

And with these wordes as I vpraysed stode,

And gan to folow her, that straight forth paste,

Ere I was ware, into a desert woode

We now were come: where hand in hand embraste,

She led the way, and through the thicke so traste,

As but I had bene guided by her might,

It was no way for any mortal wight.

But loe, while thus amid the desert darke,

We passed on with steps and pace vnmeete:

A rumbling roare confusde with howle and harke

Of Dogs, shoke al the ground vnder our feete,

And stroke the din within our eares so diepe,

As halfe distraught vnto the ground I fel,

Besought returne, and not to visite Hel.

But she forthwith vplifting me a pace

Remoued my dread, and with a stedfast mynde

Bid me come on, for here now was the place,

The place where we our trauaile end should finde.

Wherewith I rose, and to the place assinde

Astoinde I stalke, when straight we approached nere

The dreadful place, that you wil dread to here.

An hydeous hole al vaste, withouten shape,

Of endlesse depth, orewhelmde with ragged stone,

With ouglye mouth, and grieslye iawes doth gape,

And to our sight confounds it selfe in one.

Here entred wee, and yeding forth, anone

An horrible lothly lake we might discerne

As blacke as pitch, that cleped is Auern:

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A deadly gulfe where nought but rubbish grows,

With fowle blacke swelth in thickned lumps yt lies,

VVhich vp in thayre such stinking vapors throwes

That ouer there, may flie no foule but dyes,

Choakt with the pestlent sauours that arise.

Hyther we come, whence foorth we stil did pace.

In dreadful feare amid the dreadful place.

And first within the porch and iawes of Hel

Sate diepe Remorse of conscience, al besprent

With teares: And to her selfe oft would she tell

Her wretchednesse, and cursing neuer stent

To sob and sighe: but euer thus lament,

VVith thoughtful care, as she that al in vayne

Would weare and wast continually in paine.

Ier eyes vnstedfast rolling here and there,

Whurld on ech place, as place yt vengeance brought,

So was her minde continually in feare,

Tossed and tormented with tedious thought

Of those detested crimes which she had wrought:

VVith dreadful cheare and lookes throwne to y• skie

VVishing for death, and yet she could not dye.

Next saw we Dread al trembling how she shooke,

VVith foote vncertaine profered here and there,

Benumbd of speach, and with a gastly looke

Searcht euery place al pale and dead for feare,

His cap horne vp with staring of his heare,

S [...]oynd and amazde at his owne shade for dread,

And fearing greater daungers then was neede.

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And next within the entry of this lake

Sate fell Reuenge gnashinge her teeth for ire,

Deuisinge meanes how shee may vengeaunce take,

Neuer in rest till she haue her desire:

But frets within so farforth with the fier

Of wreakinge flames, that now determine shse,

To dye by death, or vengde by death to bee.

When fell Reuenge with bloudy foule pretence

Had showd her selfe as next in order set,

With tremblinge Limmes wee softly parted thence,

Till in our eyes another sight wee met:

When fro my hart a sigh forthwith I fet

Rewing alas vpon the wofull plight

Of Misery, that next appeard in sight.

His face was leaue, and somedeale pyned away,

And eke his hande consumed to the bone,

But what his body was I cannot say,

For on his Carkas rayment had he none

Saue Clouts, and Patches peeced one by one.

With staffe in hand, and Scrip on shoulder cast,

His chiefe defence against the Winters blast.

His foode for most, was wild fruictes of the Tree,

Vnlesse sometime some Crūmes fel to his share:

Which in his Wallet longe God wot kept hee,

As on the which full dayntely would fare

His drincke the runninge streame: his Cup, the bare

Of his Palme clos' [...]e, his Bed, the hard cold ground.

To this Poore life was Mysery ybound.

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Whose wretched state when wee had well beheld

With tender ruth on him, and on his seres,

In thoughtfull cares, forth then our pace wee held.

And by and by, another shape apperes

Of greedy care, still brushinge vp the breres,

His K [...]ckles knobbe, his Flesh deepe dented in.

With tawed hands, and hard ytanned Skin.

The morrow gray no sooner hath begon

To spreade his light euen peepinge in our eyes,

VVhen he is vp, and to his worke yr [...]n,

But let the nights blacke misty Mantles rise,

And with foule darke neuer so mutch disguise

The Fayre bright day, yet ceasseth he no while,

But hath his candels to prolonge his toyle.

By him lay heauy sleepe the Coosin of death

Flat on the ground, and still as any stone,

A very Corps, saue yealdinge forth a breath,

Small kepe toke he whom Fortune frowned on

Or whom she lifted vp into the Troue

Of high renowne, but as a lyuinge death,

So dead aliue, of life hee drew the breath.

The bodies rest, the quiet of the heart,

The trauayles ease, the still nights feare was hee,

And of our life in earth the better part,

Reuer of sight, and yet in whom wee see

Things oft that tyde, and oft that neuer bee.

VVithout respect esteeminge equally

Kinge Cresus pompe, and Irus Pouerty.

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And next in order sad Olde age wee founde

His Beard all hoare, his eyes hollow, and blind.

VVith droupinge cheare still poringe on the ground,

As on the place where nature him assind

To rest, when that the sisters had vntwind

His vitall thred, and ended with their Knife

The fleetinge course of fast declyninge lyfe.

There heard wee him with broke, and hollow playnt

Rewe wich himselfe his ende approchinge fast,

And all for nought his wretched minde torment.

VVyth sweete remembraunce of his pleasures past,

And fresh delightes of lusty youth forewaste.

Recountinge which, how would hee soo and shrike:

And to be yonge agayne of Ioue beseeke.

But and the cruell fates so fixed bee

That time forepast cannot retourne agayne,

This one request of Ioue yet prayed hee:

That in sutch withred plight, and wretched payne,

As elde (accompanied with his lothsome trayne)

Had brought on him, all were it woe, and griefe.

Hee might a while yet linger forth his lief.

And not so soone descend into the pit:

VVhere death, when hee the mortall corps hath slayne,

VVith retchlesse hand in graue doth couer it,

Thereafter neuer to enioy agayne

The gladsome light, but in the ground plaine,

In depth of darknesse wast, and weare to uought,

As he had neuer into the wor [...]d diu brought.

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But who had seene him sobbinge, how he stoode

Vnto himselfe, and how he would beemone

His youth forepast, as thought it wrought him good

To talke of youth, all were his youth foregone,

He would haue mused, and maruayled mutch whereon

This wretched age should life desire so fayne,

And knowes full well life doth but lenghth his payne.

Crokebackt hee was, toothshaken, and blere Eyed,

Went on three feete, and somtime crept on foure,

With olde lame Bones, that ratled by his syde,

His scalpe all pild, and he with eld forlore:

His withred fist still knockinge at deathes doore,

Fumblinge, and driuelinge as hee drawes his breath,

For briefe the shape, and Messenger of death.

And fast by him pale malady was plaste,

Sore sicke in Bed, her coulour all foregone,

Bereft of Stomacke, Sauour, and of Taste.

Ne could the Brooke no meate but Broths alone,

Her Breath corrupt, her Keepers euery one

Abborringe her, her Sicknesse past recure,

Detestinge Phisicke, and all Phisicks Cure.

But oh the dolefull sight that than wee see,

Wee tourn'de our look, and on the other side

A griefly shape of Famine mought wee see,

With greedy lookes, and gapinge mouth that cryed,

And roarde for meate, as she should there haue dyed,

Her body ruinne, and bare as any Bone,

Whereto was left nought but the case alone.

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And that alas was gnawen on euery where,

All full of Holes, that I ne mought refraine

From teares to see how shee her armes could teare

And with her teeth gnash on the bones in vayne:

When all for nought shee fayne would so sustayne

Her staruen Corps, that rather seemde a shade,

Then any substaunce of a creature made.

Great was her force whom Stonewall could not stay,

Her tearinge nayles snatchinge at all shee sawe:

With gapinge Iawes that by ne meanes ymay

Bee satisfyed from hunger of her Mawe,

But eates herselfe as shee that hath no Lawe:

Gnawinge alas her Carkas all in vayne,

Where you may countech Sinow, Bone, and Vaine.

On her while wee thus firmely fixt our Eyes,

That bled for ruth of sutch a drery sight,

Loe! sodainly shee shright in so huge wise,

As made Hell gates to shiuer with the might.

VVherewith a Dart wee sawe how it did light.

Right on her brest, and therewithall pale death

Enthrillinge it to reue her of her breath.

And by and by a dumme dead Corps wee sawe,

Heauy and cold, the shape of death a right,

That dauntes all earthly creatures to his lawe:

Agaynst whose Force in vayne it is to fight

Ne Peeres, ne Princes, nor no Mortall Wight,

No Townes, ne Realmes, Cities, ne strongest Tower,

But all perforce must yelde vnto his Power.

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His dart anon out of his corps he toke,

And in his hand (a dreadful sight to see)

With great triumphe eftsones the same he shoke,

That most of al my feares affrayed mee:

His body dight with nought but Bones perdye

The naked shape of man there sawe I plaine,

All saue the Flesh, the Sinow, and the Vayne.

Lastly stoode Warre in glitteringe armes yelad.

VVyth Vysage grim, Sterne lookes, and Blackly hewed

In his right Hand a naked Sword hee had,

That to the Hilts was all with bloud embrued:

And in his left (that Kinge, and Kingdomes rewed)

Famine, and Fyer hee helde, and therewithall

Hee razed Townes, and threw downe Towers, and all.

Citties hee Sackt, and Realmes that whilome flowred,

In Honour, Glory, and rule aboue the best,

Hee ouer whelm'de, and all their Fame deuoured,

Consum'de, destroy'de, wasted, and neuer ceast,

Till hee their wealth, their name and all opprest.

His Face forehewed with Wo [...]noes, and by his syde,

There hunge his Targe with gashes deepe, and wide.

In mids of which, depaynted there wee founde

Deadly debate, all full of snaky heare,

That with a bloudy fillet was ybo [...]ude,

Out breathinge nought but discord euery where.

And round about were portrayde here and there

The hugy Hoastes, Darius and his power,

His Kinges, Princes, his Peeres, and and all his flower.

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Whom great Macedo vanquisht there in sight,

VVith deepe slaughter, despoylinge all his pride,

Pearst through his Realmes, and daunted all his might.

Duke Hanniball beheld I there beside,

In Cannas fielde, victor how hee did ride,

And wofull Romaynes that in vayne withstoode

And Consull Paulvs couered all in bloode.

Yet sawe I more the fight at Trasimene.

And Treberie fielde, and eke whan Hanniball

And worthy Scipio last in arms were seene

Before Carthago gate, to try for all

The Worlds Empyre, to whom it should befall.

There saw I Pompey, and Caesar clad in Arms,

Their Hoasts allyed, and all their ciuili harms.

VVyth Conquerers handes forbathde in their owne bloud,

And Caesar weepinge ouer Pompeis head.

Yet saw I Scilla, and Marius where they stoode,

Their great cruelty, and the deepe blou [...]shest

Of freendes: Cyrus I sawe, and his Hoast dead,

And how the Queene with great despight hath flonge

His head in bloude of them shee ouercome.

Xerxes the Percian Kinge yet sawe I there

VVyth his Huge Hoast that drancke the Riuers drye,

Dismounted Hilles, and made the Vales vprere,

His Hoast, and all yet sawe I slayne peroye.

Thebes I sawe all razde how it did lye

In heapes of Stones, and Tyrus put to Spoyle.

VVyth Walles, and Towers flat Euened with the Soyle.

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But Troy alas (mee thought) aboue thē all,

It made myne eyes in very teares consume:

When I behelde the wofull werd befall,

That by the wrathfull will of God was come:

And Ioues vnmoued sentence and foredoome

On Priam Kinge, and on his towne so bent.

I could not lin, but I must there lament.

And that the more sith desteny was so sterne

As force perforce, there might no force auayle,

But shee must fall: and by her fall wee learne,

That Citties, Towers, Wealth, World, and all shall quayle.

No Manhoode, Might, nor nothinge mought preuayle,

All were there Prest, full many a Prince, and Peere

And many a Knight that solde his death full deere.

Nor worthy Hector worthiest of them all,

Her Hope, her Ioy, his Force is now for naught.

O Troy, Troy, there is no boote but bale,

The hugy Horse within thy Wales is brought:

Thy Turrets fall, thy Knights that whilome fought

In Arms amid the Field, are slayne in Bed,

Thy Gods defilde, and all thy honour dead.

The flames vprisinge, and cruelly they creepe

From Wale to Roofe, till all to Cinders waste,

Some fire the Houses where the Wretches sleepe,

Some rush in heere, some run in there as fast.

In euery where, or Sworde, or Fyre they caste.

The Wales are torne, the Towers wh [...]rld to the ground,

There is no mischiefe, but may there bee found.

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Cassandra yet there sawe I how they baled

From Pallas House, with sparcled tresse vndone,

Her Wrists fast bound, and with Greeks Rout empaled:

And Priam eke in vayne how hee did ronne

To Arms, whom Pyrrhus with dispight hath done

To cruell Death, and Bath'de him in the Bayne

Of his Sonnes bloud before the Aulter slayne.

But how can I descriue the dolefull sight,

That in the shield so liuely fayre did shyne?

Sith in this world I thinke was neuer wight

Could haue set forth the halfe, not halfe so fine.

I can no more but tel how there is seene

Faire Ilium fall, in burninge red gledes downe,

And from the soyle great Troy Neptunus Towne.

Here from when scarce I could my eyes withdrawe

That filde with teares as doth the springinge Well,

Wee passed on so farre forth till wee sawe

Rude Acheron, a lothsome Lake to tell

That Boyles and Bubs vp swelth as blacke as Hell.

Where griefly Charon at their fixed tyde

Still ferries Ghosts vnto the farder side.

The aged God no sooner Sorrow spied,

But hasting strait vnto the banke apace

With hollow call vnto the Rout hee cried,

To swarue apart and geue the Goddesse place,

Strait it was done, when to the shoare we pace,

Where hand in hand as we than linked fast,

Within the Boote wee are together plaste.

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And forth wee launch, full Fraughted to the Brincke,

Whan with the vnwonted waight, the rusty Keele

Began to cracke as if the same should sinke.

Wee hoyse vp Mast and Sayle, that in a while

Wee fet the shore, were scarcely wee had while

For to ariue, but that wee hearde anone

A three sound barke confounded all in one.

Wee had not longe forth past, but that wee sawe,

Blacke Cerberus the hideous Hound of Hell,

VVyth Bristles reard, and with a three mouthed Iawe,

Fore dinninge the Ayre with his horrible yelle.

Out of the deepe darke Caue where hee did dwell,

The Goddesse straite hee knewe, and by and by

Hee peast, and couched, whils that wee passed by.

Thence come wee to the horrour, and the Hell,

The large great Kingdomes, and the dreadfull raygne

Of Pluto in his Trone where hee did dwell,

The wide waste places, and the hugy Playne:

The Waylinges, shrikes, and sundry forces of payne,

The Sighes, the Sobs, the deepe, and deadly groane,

Earth, Ayre, and all resoundinge playne, and moane.

Here pewed the Babes, and heere the Maydes Vnwed

With folded hands their sory chaunce bewayl'd,

Here wept the guiltlesse slayne, and Louers dead,

That slew themselues when nothinge els auayl'd,

A thousand sortes of Sorrowes here that wayl'd

With Sighes, and Teares, Sobs, Shrikes, and all yfere,

That (oh alas) it was a Hell to heare.

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Wee stayed vs strait, and wyth a rufull feare,

Behelde this heauy sight, while from mine eyes,

The vapored teares downe stilled here, and there,

And Sorrow eke in farre more wofull wise.

Tooke on with plaint, vpheauinge to the Skies

Her wretched hands, that with her cry the Rout

Gan all in heapes to swarme vs rounde about.

Loe! here (quoth Sorrowe) Princes of Renowne,

That whilom late on top of Fortunes wheele

Nowe layde full low, like wretches whurled downe,

Euen with one frowne that stayede but with a smile,

And nowe beholde the thinge that thou erewhile,

Saw only in thought, and what thou now shalt heare

Recompt the same to Kezar, Kinge, and Peere.

Then first came Henry Duke of Buckingham,

His Cloake of blacke, al pilde, and quite forworne,

Wringinge his hands, and Fortune oft doth blame,

Which of a Duke hath made him now her scorne,

With gastly lookes as one in maner lorne,

Oft spred his Armes, stretcht hands hee ioynes as fast,

VVyth rufull cheare, and vapored eyes vpcast.

His Cloake hee rent, his manly breast hee beat,

His heare all Torne about the place it lay,

My heart so molte to see his greefe so great,

As feelingly mee thought it dropt away:

His eyes they whurlde about withouten slaye,

VVi [...]h stormy Sighes the place did so complayne▪

As if his heart at ech had burst in twayne.

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Thrise hee began to tell his dolefull Tale,

And thrise the Sighes did swallow vp his Voyce,

At ech of which hee shriked so withall

As though the Heauens riued with the noyse:

Till at the last recoueringe his Voyce,

Suppinge the teares that all his brest beraynde

On cruell Fortune weepinge thus hee playnde.

FINIS.

The Complaynt of Henry Duke of Buckingham.

WHo trusts to mutch to honours highest throne

And warely watch not slye Dame Fortunes snare:

Or who in court will beare the swinge alone,

And wisely weigh not bow to wield the care,

Beholde hee mee, and by my death beware:

VVhom flatteringe Fortune falsely so begil'de

That lo shee slewe, where erst full smoth shee smyl'de.

And Sackui [...]e sith in purpose now thou hast

The wofull fall of Princes to descriue,

VVhom Fortune both vplift and eke downe cast,

To shewe thereby the vnsuerty in this life,

Marke well my fall, which I shall shew beliue.

And paint it forth that all Estates may knowe:

Haue they the warninge, and bemine the woe,

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For Noble bloud made mee both Prince, and Peere

Yea Pearles too, had season purchast place,

And God with gifts endowed mee largely heare.

But what auayles his giftes where fayles his grace?

My Mothers sire Spronge of a Kingly Race

And cald was Edmond Duke of Somerset,

Bereft of lyfe ere time by nature set.

Whose faythfull heart to Henry sixt so wrought

That neuer bee him in weale, or woe forsooke,

Till lastly hee at T [...]wkesbury field was cought

Where with an Axe his violent death hee tooke:

Hee neuer could Kinge Edwards party brooke,

Till by his death hee voucht that Quarrell good,

In which his Sire, and Graundsire spilt their bloud.

And sutch was erst my Fathers cruell chaunce,

Of Stafford Earle by name that Humfrey hight

Who euer Prest did Henryes part Auaunce,

And neuer ceast till at Saynct Albones fight

Hee lost his lyfe, as than did many a Knight:

Where eke my Graundsire, Duke of Buckingham

VVas wounded sore, and hardly scapt vntane.

But what may boote to stay the Sisters three?

When Atropos perforce will cut the Thred:

The dolefull day was come when you might see

Northampton Field, with Armed men Orespred,

Where Fate would algates haue my Graundsire dead:

So rushinge forth amids the fiercest fight,

Hee liued, and died there in his Maisters right.

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In place of whom as it befell my lot,

Like on a stage, so stept I in straiteway,

Enioyinge there but wofully God wot,

As hee that had a slender part to play:

To teach thereby, in earth no state may stay,

But as our partes abridge or lengtht our age

So passe wee all while others fill the stage.

For of my selfe the drery fate to plaine.

I was sometime a Prince withouten peere,

VVhen Edward fift began his rufull raygne,

Ay mee, than I began that hatefull yeare,

To compasse that which I haue bought so deare:

I bare the swinge, I and that wretched wight,

The Duke of Glocester that Richard hight.

For when the fates had reft that Royall Prince

Edward the fourth, chiefe mirrour of that name,

The Duke, and I fast ioyned euer since,

In faythfull loue, our secret driftes to frame:

VVhat hee thought best, to mee so seem'de the same,

My selfe not bent so mutch for to aspire,

As to fulfill that greedy Dukes desire.

VVhose restlesse minde sore thirstinge after rule,

VVhen that hee sawe his nephewes both to bene

Through tender yeares as yet vnfit to rule,

And rather ruled by their Mothers Kin,

There sought hee first his mischiefe to begin,

To plucke from them their Mothers frends assinde,

For well he wist they would withstand his mynde.

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To follow which hee ran so headlonge swift,

Wyth eigre thirst of his desired draught,

To seeke their deaths that sought to dash his drift,

Of whom the chiefe the Queenes allies he thought,

That bent thereto with mounts of mischiefe fraught

Hee knew their liues would be so sore his let,

That in their deaths his onely help hee set.

And I most cursed caitife that I was,

Seeinge the state vnsted fast howe it stoode,

His chiefe complice to bringe the same to passe,

Vnhappy wretch consented to their blood:

Yea Kinges, and Peeres that swim in worldly good,

In seekinge bloud the ende aduert you playne,

And see if bloud ey aske not bloud agayne.

Consider Cyrus in your cruell thought,

A makelesse Prince in riches, and in might,

And weigh in minde the bloudy deedes hee wrought,

In sheadinge which hee set his whole delight:

But see the guerdon lotted to this wight,

Hee whose huge power no man might ouerthrowe,

Tomyris Queene with great dispite hath slowe.

His head dismembred from his mangled corps,

Her selfe shee cast into a vessell fraught

VVyth clottred bloud of them that felt her force.

And with these words a iust rewarde she taught:

Drinke now thy fill of thy desired draught.

Loe! Marke the fine that did this Prince be fall:

Marke not this one, but marke the ende of all.

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Beholde Cambises, and his Fatall day,

Where murders mischiefe mirrour like is left:

While bee his Brother Mergus cast to slay,

A dreadfull thinge his wits were him bereft.

A Sword hee caught where with hee pearced eft

His body gored, which be of lyfe benooms:

So iust is God in all his dredfulll dooms.

O bloudy Brutus rightly didst thou rewe,

And thou Cassius iustly came thy fall,

That with the Sword wherewith thou Caesar slewe

Murdrest thy selfe, and reft thy life withall.

A mirrour let him be vnto you all

That murderers be, of murder to your meede:

For murder crieth out Vengeaunce on your seede.

Loe! Bessius he that arm'de with murderers Knife,

And traytours heart against his royal King,

With bloudy hands bereft his maisters Lyfe,

Aduert the fine his foule offence did bring:

And loathinge murder as most lothly thing

Beholde in him the iust deserued fall,

That euer hath, and shall betide them all.

VVhat booted him his false vsurped raygne?

VVhereto by murder he did so ascend?

VVhen like a wretch led in an yron chayne

Hee was presented by his chiefest frend

Vnto the Foes of him whom he had slayne:

That euen they should venge so fowle a gilt,

That rather sought to haue his bloud yspilt:

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Take bede ye Princes and ye prelates al

Ofs this outrage, which though it sleepe a while

And not disclosde, as it doth seeld be fal,

Yet God that suffereth silence to beguile

Such giltes, wherewith both earth and ayre ye file,

At last discries them to your foule deface,

You see thexamples set before your face.

And diepely graue within your stony hartes,

The drery dewle that mighty Macedo,

With feares vnfolded wrapt in deadly smartes,

When he the Death of Clitus sorowed so,

Whom earst he murdered with the deadly blow

Raught in his rage vpon his frend so deare,

For which behold lo how his pangues appeare,

The launced speare he writhes out of the wound,

From which the purple bloud spins in his face:

His heynous gilt when he returned found,

He throwes himselfe vpon the corps alas.

And in his armes how oft doth he embrace

His murdred frend: and kissing him in vayne,

Forth flowe the fluds of salt repentaunt rayne.

His frendes amazde at such a murder done,

In feareful flockes begin to shrinke away.

And he thereat with heapes of griefe for done.

Hateth him selfe, wishing his later daye.

Now he likewise perceiued in like staye,

As is the wilde beast in the desert bred,

Both dreading others and himselfe abred.

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Hee calles for death, and loathinge lenger life,

Bent to his Bane, refuseth kindely Foode:

And plung'de in depth of death, and dolours strife,

Had queld him selfe, had not his freendes withstoode.

Loe! he that thus hath shed the guiltlesse bloud,

Though hee were Kinge, and Kezar ouer all

Yet chose he death to guerdon death withall.

This Prince whose Peere was neuer vnder sunne

Whose glisteringe Fame the Earth did ouerglyde,

Which with his power welnigh the World had won,

His bloudy handes himselfe could not abyde,

But fully bent with famine to haue died:

The worthy Prince deemed in his regarde,

That death for death could be but iust rewarde:

Yet wee that were so drowned in the depth

Of deepe desire to drinke the guiltlesse bloud,

Like to the Wolfe, with greedy lookes that [...]epth

Into the Snare, to feede on deadly Foode,

So wee delighted in the State wee stoode,

Blinded so farre in all our blinded Trayne

That blinde wee sawe not our destruction playne.

Wee spared none whose life could ought for let

Our wicked purpose to his passe to come.

Fower worthy Kinghtes wee Headed at Pomfret

Guiltlesse (God wote) withouten lawe or dome.

My heart euen bleedes to tell you all and some,

And how Lord Hastings when hee feared least,

Dispiteously was murdred, and opprest.

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These rocks vpraught, that threatned most our wrecke

VVee seem'de to sayle mutch surer in the Streame:

And fortune faringe as shee were at becke

Lay'de in our lap the rule of all the Realme.

The Nephewes strait depos'de were by the Eame.

And wee aduaunst to that wee bought full deere,

Hee Crowned Kinge, and I his chiefest Peere.

Thus hauinge wonne our longe desired Pray,

To make him Kinge that [...]ee might make mee chiefe,

Downe throwe wee strait his sely Nephewes tway,

From Princes Pompe, to wofull Prisoners lyfe:

In hope that nowe stint was all furder strife.

Sith hee was Kinge, and I chiefe stroke did beare.

Who ioyed but wee, yet who more cause to feare?

The guiltlesse bloud which wee vniustly shed,

The Royall Babes deuested from their Trons,

And wee like Traytours raigninge in their sted,

These heauy Burdens passed vs vpon,

Tormentinge vs so by our selues alone,

Mutch like the Felon that pursued by night,

Starts at ech Bush, as his Foe were in sight.

Nowe doubtinge State, now dreadinge losse of lyfe,

In feare of wracke at euery blast of Winde,

Now start in Dreames through dread of murdrers knyfe,

As though euen then reuengement were assinde.

With restlesse thought so is the guilty minde

Turmoylde, and neuer feeleth ease, or stay,

But liues in feare of that which followes aye.

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Well gaue that Iudge his dome vpon the death

Of Titus Glelius that in Bed was slayne:

Whan euery wight the cruell murder leyth

To his two Sonnes that in his Chamber layne,

That Iudge that by the proofe perceiueth playne,

That they were founde fast sleepinge in their Bed,

Hath deem'de them guiltlesse of this bloud yshed.

He thought it could not be, that they which brake

The lawes of God and man in sutch outrage

Could so forthwith themselues to sleepe betake:

He rather thought the horrour, and the rage

Of sutch an haynous gilt, could neuer swage.

Nor neuer suffer them to sleepe, or rest,

Or dreadles breath one breath out of their brest.

So gnawes the greife of conscience euermore

And in the heart it is so deepely graue,

That they may neyther sleepe nor rest therefore,

Ne thinke one thought, but on the dread they haue.

Still to the death for tossed with the waue

Of restlesse woe, in terrour, and dispeire.

They leade a life continually in feare.

Lyke to the Deare that striken with the Dart,

With drawes himselfe into some secrete place,

And feelinge greene the wounde about his hart,

Startlesse with pangs till hee fall on the grasse,

And in great feare lies gaspinge there a space,

Forth brayinge Sigbes as though ech pange had brought

The present death which hee doth dread so oft:

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So wee diepe wovnded with the bloudy thought,

And gnawing worme that grieued our consciens so,

Neuer tooke ease, but as our hart outhrought

The stayned sighes in witnesse of our woe,

Such restlesse cares our fault did wel beknowe:

Wherewith of our deserued fal the feares

In euery place rang death within our eares.

And as il grayne is neuer wel ykept,

So fared it by vs within a while:

That which so long with such vnrest we reapt,

In dread and daunger by al wit and wyle,

Loe see the fyne, when once it felt the wheele

Of s [...]ipper fortune, stay it mought no stowne,

The wheele whurls vp, but strait it whurleth down.

For hauing rule and riches in our hand,

Who durst gainsay the thing that we auerde?

Will was wisedome, our lust for lawe did stand,

In sort so straunge that who was not afeard

When he the sound but of king Richard heard?

So hateful waxt the hearing of his name

That you may deeme the residue of the same.

But what auaild the terrour and the feare,

Wherewith he kept his lieges vnder awe?

It rather wan him hatred euery where.

And fayned faces forst by feare of lawe:

That but while Fortune doth with fauour blaw

Flatter through feare: for in their harte lurkes aye

A secrete hate that hopeth for a daye.

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Recordeth Dionysius the Kynge,

That with his Rigour so his Realme opprest,

As that he thought by cruel feare to bringe

His Subiects vnder, as him liked best:

But loe! the dread where with himselfe was strest,

And you shall see the fine of forced feare,

Most myrrour like in this proude Prince appeare.

All were his Head with Crowne of Golde ysprad,

And in his Hand the Royall Scepter set:

And hee with Princely Purple richly clad,

Yet was his heart with wretched cares orefret:

And in wardly with deadly feare beset,

Of those whom hee by Rigour kept in awe,

And sore opprest with might of Tyraunts Lawe.

Agaynst whose feare, no heapes of Golde, and glie,

No strength of gard, nor all his hired power,

Ne proude high Towers that preaced to the Skie,

His cruell heart of safty could assure:

But dreadinge them whom hee should deeme most sure,

Himselfe his Beard with burninge Brand would ceare,

Of death deseru'de so vexed him the feare.

This might suffise to represent the fine

Of Tyraunts force, their feares, and their vnrest,

But heare this one, although my heart repine

To let the sound once sincke within my brest:

Of fell Phereus, that aboue the rest,

Sutch lothsome cruelty on his people wrought▪

As (oh alas) I tremble with the thought.

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Some hee encased in the Coates of Bears,

Amonge Wilde beasts deuoured so to bee:

And some for Pray vnto the Hunters Speares,

Like Sauage Beasts withouten ruth to dye.

Sometime to encrease his horrible cruelty,

The quicke with face to face engraued hee,

Ech others death that ech mought liuinge see.

Loe! what more cruell horrour mought bee found,

To purchase feare, if feare could stay his raygne?

It [...]ooted not, it rather strake the wounde

Of feare in him to feare the like agayne.

And so he did full oft, and not in vayne:

And in his life his cares could witnesse well▪

But most of all his wretched ende doth tell.

His owne deare Wyfe whom as his life hee loued,

Hee durst not trust, nor proch vnto her Bed,

But causinge first his Slaue with naked Sworde

To go before, himselfe with tremblinge dread

Strayt followeth fast, and whurlinge in his head

His rollinge eyen, hee searcheth heere, and there

The deepe daunger that hee so sore did feare.

For not in vayne it ran still in his Breast,

Some wretched hap should hale him to his ende.

And therefore alway by his pillow prest

Had hee a Sword, and with that Sword bee wende,

In vayne (God wote) all perils to defende.

For loe! his Wife foreyrked of his Raygne,

Sleepinge in Bed this cruell Wre [...]ch hath Slayne.

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VVhat should I more now seeke to say in this

Or one iote farder linger foorth my Tale?

VVyth cruell Nero, or with Phalaris,

Caligula, Domitian, and all

The cruell Rout? or of their wretched fall?

I can no more, but in my name aduert

All earthly powers beware of Tyrants heart.

And as our State endured but a throw,

So best in vs the stay of sutch a State

M [...]y best appeare to hange on ouer throw,

And better teach Tyraunts deserued hate

Than any Tyraunts death tofore, or late.

So cruell seem'd [...] this Richard third to mee,

That loe! my selfe now loath'de his crueltee.

For when alas, I sawe the Tyraunt Kinge

Content not onely from his Nephues twayne

To riue Worlds blisse, but also al Worlds beinge,

Saunce earthly guilt ycausinge both be sl [...]yne,

My hart agrief'de that sutch a wretch should raygne,

VVhose bloudy brest so saluaged out of kinde,

That Phalaris had neuer so bloudy a minde.

Ne could I brooke him once within my breast,

But with the thought my Teeth would gnashe wtal:

For toough I earst were his by sworne behest,

Yet when I sawe mischiefe on mischiefe fall,

So deepe in bloud to murther Prince, and all

Ay then thought I, alas, and weale away,

And to my selfe thus mourninge would I say.

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If neyther Loue, Kinred, ne knot of Bloude,

His owne alleageaunce to his Prince of due,

Nor yet the State of trust wherein hee stoode,

The Worlds defame, nor nought could forme him true

Those guiltlesse Babes, could they no [...] make him rue?

Nor could their youth, nor innocence withall

Moue him from reuiage them their life, and all?

Alas it could not moue him any iote,

Ne make him once to rue or wet his eye,

Stird him no more than that that stirreth not:

But as the rocke or stone that wil not plye,

S [...] was his hart made hard with crueltye,

To murther them, alas I weepe in thought,

To thincke on that which this fell wreth hath wrought.

That now when he had done the thing he sought,

And as he would, complisht and compast all,

And sawe and knewe the treason he had wrought

To God and man, to stay his Prince and all,

Then seemde he first to doubt and dread vs all,

And me in chief, whose death all meanes he might

He sought to worke by malice and by might.

Such heapes of harmes vpharbard in his brest

With enuious hart my honour to deface,

And knowing he that I [...]tch woted best

His wretched dr [...]ts, and all his wretched case,

If euer sprang within me sparke of grace,

Must needes abhorre him and his hateful race:

Now more and more can cast me out of grace.

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Which sodaine chaunge when I by secret chaunce

Had wel perceiued by proofe of enuious frowne,

And saw the lot that did me to aduaunce

Him to a king that sought to cast me downe,

To late it was to linger any stowne:

Sith present choise lay cast before myne eye,

To worke his death, or I my selfe to dye.

And as the knight in field among his foes,

Beset with swordes, must slaye or there be slayne:

So I alas lapd in a thousand woes,

Beholding death on euery syde so playne,

I rather chose by some slye secret traine

To worke his death, and I to liue thereby,

Than he to liue and I of force to dye.

With heauy choise so hastned me to choose,

That I in part agrieued at his disdaine,

In part to wreake the doleful death of those

Two render Babes, his seely Nephues twayne,

By him alas commaunded to be slayne,

With painted chea [...]e humblye before his face,

Straight toke my leaue & rode to Brecknocke place

And there as close and couert as I might,

My purpose [...] practise to his passe to bring,

In secret driftes I lingered day and night:

Al how I might depose this cruel king,

That seemde to all so much a desy [...]rd thing,

As thereto trusting I emprisde the same:

But too much trusting brought me to my bane.

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For while I now had Fortune at my becke

Mistrusting I no earthly thing at all,

Vnwares alas least looking for a checke,

She mated me in tourning of a ball:

When least I feared, the nearest was my fall.

And when whole hoastes were prest to str [...]y my foen.

She chaungde her cheare, and left me post alone.

I had vpraisde a mighty hand of men,

And marched foorth in order of array.

Leading my power amid the forest Dene,

Against the tyraunt banner to displaye:

But lo my Souldiers cowardly shranke awaye,

For such is Fortune when she list to frowne,

Who seemes most sure, him sonest whurls she down

O let no Prince put trust in commontie,

Nor hope in faith of giddie peoples minde,

But let al noble men take heede by mee,

That by the proofe to wel the payne do fynde:

Lo, where is truth or trust? or what could binde

The vayne people, but they wil swerue and swaye,

As chaunce bringes chaunge, to driue & draw yt way.

Rome thou that once aduaunced vp so hye,

Thy stay, patron, and flower of excellence,

Hast now throwne him to depth of miserie,

Exiled him that was thy whole defence,

Ne comprest it not an horrible offence,

To reeuen him of honour and of fame,

That wan it thee when thou hadst lost the same.

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Behold Camillus, he that earst reuiued

The state of Rome, that dyinge he did fynde,

Of his owne state is now alas depriued,

Banisht by them whom be did thus det bynde:

That cruel folke vnthankeful and vnkinde,

Declared wel their false inconstancie,

And fortune eke her mutabilitie.

And thou Scipio, a mirrour maiest thou he

To al nobles, that they learne not to late,

How they once trust the vnstable commontie.

That thou recuredst the torne dismembred state,

Euen when the conqueror was at the gate,

A [...]t now exilde, as though thou not deserued

To rest in her, whom thou hadst so preserued.

Ingrateful Rome hast shewed thy crueltie,

No him, by whom thou liuest yet in fame.

But nor thy deede, nor his desert shal dye,

But his owne word [...]s shal witnesse aye the same:

For lo his graue doth thee most iustlye blame.

And with disdaine in Marble sayes to thee:

Vnkinde countrey my bones shalt thou not see.

What more vnworthye than this his exile?

More iust than this the woful plaint he wrote?

Or who could shew a playner proofe the while,

Of most false faith, than they thus forgot

His great desertes? that so deserued not?

His cinders yet lo [...], doth he them denye,

That him denied amongst them for to dye.

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Melciades, O happy hadst thou bee,

And well rewarded of thy Country men,

If in the Field when thou hadst forst to flye

By thy prowesse, three hundred thousand men,

Content they had bin to Exile thee then:

And not to cast thee into Prison so,

Laden with Gyues to ende thy life in woe.

Alas how hard, and Steely hearts had they

That not contented there to haue thee dye,

VVyth fettred Gyues in Prison where thou lay,

Increast so farre in hatefull Cruelty,

That burial to thy Corps, they eke deny:

Ne will they graunt the same, till thy Sonne haue

Put on thy Gyues, to purchase thee a Graue.

Loe! Hanniball as longe as fixed fate,

And brittle Fortune had ordayned so,

Who euermore aduaunst his Countrey state

Then thou that liuedst for her, and for no moe?

But when the stormy Waues began to growe,

VVithout respect of thy deserts ere while,

Art by thy Countrey throwen into Exile.

Vnfrendly Fortune shall I thee now blame?

Or shall I fault the sates that so ordayne?

Or art thou Ioue the causer of the same?

Or cruelty her selfe doth shee constrayne?

Or on whom els alas shall I complayne?

O trustlesse world I can accusen none,

But fickle fayth of Commonty alone.

[Page]

The Polipus nor the Chamelion straunge,

That tourne themselues to euery hue they see

Are hot so ful of vayne and fickle chaunge

As is this false vnstedfast commontie.

Loe I alas with mine aduersitie

Haue tried it true, for they are fled and gone

And of an hoast, there is not left me one.

That I alas in this calamitie

Alone was left, and to my selfe mought plaine

This treason, and this wretched cowardye,

And eke with teares be weepen and complaine

My hateful hap, still looking to be slaine.

Wandring in woe, and to the Gods on hye

Cleaping for vengeaunce of this treachery.

And as the Turtle that hath lost her mate,

Whom griping sorow doth so sore attaint,

With doleful voyce and souud that she doth make

Mourning her losse filles al the groue with plaint,

So I alas forsaken and forfaint,

With restlesse foote the wood rome vp and downe,

Which of my dole al shiuering doth resowne.

And being thus alone and al forsake,

Amid the chick, forewandred in despaire,

As one dismaid ne wist what way to take,

Vntil at last gan to my minde repayre,

A man of mine called Humfrey Bauastaier:

Wherewith me feeling much recomforted,

In hope of succour to his house I fled.

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Who beeing one whom erst I had vp brought

Eeuen from his youth aud loued and liked best,

To gentry state aduauncing him from nought,

And had in secret trust aboue the rest.

Of special trust now beeing thus distrest

Ful secretely to him I me conueyed

Not doubting there but I should fynde some ayde,

But out alas on cruel trecherie,

When that this caytife once an inkling hard,

How that King Richard had proclaimde that hee

Which me descried should haue for his rewarde

A thousand poundes and farther be prefarde,

His truth so turnde to treason, al distainde

That fayth quite fled, and I by trust was trainde.

For by this wretch I beeing strait betraied,

To one Iohn Mitton shyriffe of Shropshire then,

Al sodenlye was taken and couayed

To Salisburie, with rout of harnest men,

Vnto King Richard there encamped then:

Fast by the cittie with a mighty hoast

Withouten dome where head and life I lost:

And with these wordes as if the axe euen there

Dismembred had his head and corps apart,

Dead fel he downe and wee in woful feare

Stoode mazed when he would to life reuert:

But deadly griefe stil grew about his hart,

That stil he Iry, somtime reuiued with payne,

And with a sighe becomming dead againe,

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Midnight was come, when euery vital thing

With sweete sound sleepe their weary lims did rest,

The beastes were stil, the little birdes that sing▪

Now sweetely slept besides their mothers brest:

The old and al were shrouded in their nest.

The waters calme, the cruel seas did cease,

The woods, the fieldes, & al thinges held their peace

The golden stars were whirld amid their race,

And on the earth old laugh with twinckling light,

When ech thing nestled in his resting place,

Forgat dayes payne with pleasure of the night:

The hare had not the greedy boundes in sight,

The fearful Deare of death stoode not in doubt,

The Partridge drept not of the Falcons foote.

The ouglye Beare now minded not the stake,

Nor how the cruel mastiues do him teare,

The stag lay stil vnroused from the brake,

The fomye bore fearde not the hunters speate:

Al thing was stil in desert bush and breare.

With quiet hart now from their trauayles rest.

Soundly they slept in midst of al their rest.

When Buckingham amid this plaint opprest,

VVith surging sorowes and with pinching paines

In sort thus sowned, and with a sigh [...]e ceast,

To tellen forth the trecherie and traines,

Of Banastar, which him so sore distreines.

That from a sighe he falles into a sound,

And from a sound lyeth raging on the ground.

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So twitching were the panges that he assaied,

And he so sore with ruful rage distraught.

To thinke vpon the wretch that him betraied

VVhom earst he made a Gentleman of nought

That more and more agreeued was his thought,

He stormes out sighes, and with redoubled sore,

Stroke with the furies rageth more and more.

Who so hath seene the Bull chased with daries,

And with deepe wounds foregalde and gored so,

Til he oppressed with the deadly smartes,

F [...]l in arage and runne vpon his foe,

Let him I say behold the raging woe

Of Buckingham that in these gripes of griefe

Rageth gainst him that hath betraied his life.

With bloud red eyen he stareth here and there,

Frothing at mouth, with face as pale as clout:

When loe my lims were trembling all for feare,

And I amazde stoode stil in dreadn ad doubt,

While I mought see him throwe his armes about:

And gainst the groūd himselfe plundge wt such force

As if the life sorth with should leaue the corps.

With smoake of sighes sometime I might beholde

The place al dimde, like to the morning mist:

And straite againe the teares how they downe rolde

Alongste his cheekes, as if the riuers hist:

Whose flowinge streames ne were no sooner whist,

But to the starres such dreadful shoutes he sent,

As if the crone of mighty Ioue should rent,

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And I the while with sprites welny bereft,

Beheld the plight and pangues that did him straine.

And how the bloud his deadly colour left,

And st [...]aight returnd with flaming red againe:

When sodenlye amio his raging payne,

He gaue a sighe and with that sigh he saied,

Oh Banastar, and straight againe he staied.

Dead laye his corps as dead as any stone,

Til swelling sighes storming within his brest

Vpraisde his head, that downeward fel anone,

With lookes vpcast, and sighes that neuer ceast:

Forth streamde the teares recordes of his vnrest,

When he wich shrikes thus groueling on the groūd

Ybraied these wordes with shril and doleful sound.

Heauen and earth and ye eternal lampes

That in the heauens wrapt, wil vs to rest,

Thou bright Phoebe, that clearest the nights damps

Witnesse the plaintes that in these panges opprest

I woful wretch vnlade out of my breast▪

And let me yeelde my last wordes ere I part,

You, you, I call to record of my smart.

And thou Alecto feede mee with thy foode

Let fal thy serpentes from thy snakie hayre,

For such reliefe wel sittes mee in this moode,

To ferde my plain [...] with horror and with feare,

While rage afresh thy venomde worme a [...]eare.

And thou Sibilla when thou seest me faint,

Addresse thy selfe the guide of my complaint.

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And thou O Ioue, that with thy diepe fordome

Doest rule the earth▪ and raigne aboue the skies,

That wreakest wronges, & geuest the dreadful dome

Against the wretch that doth thy name dispise,

Receiue these words and wreake them in such wise,

As heauen and earth may witnesse and beholde,

Thy heapes of wrath vpon this wretch vnfolde.

Thou Banaster gainst thee I clepe and call

Vnto the Gods, that they iust vengeaunce take

O [...] thee, thy bloud, thy stayned stocke and all:

O Ioue to thee aboue the rest I make

My humble plaint, guide me that what I speake,

May be thy wyl vpon thys wretch to fall,

On thee Banastar, wretch of wretches all.

O would to God the cruel dismal day,

That gaue me light fyrst to beholde thy face,

With fowle Eclipse had reft my sight away:

The vnhappie houre, the time, and eke the day:

The Sunne and Moone, the sterres, and al that was

In their aspectes helping in ought to thee,

The earth and ayre, and all accursed bee.

And thou caytife, that like a monster swarued,

From kinde and kindenesse, hast they maister lorne,

Whom neither truth, nor trust wherein thou serued,

Ne his desertes, could moue, nor thy fayth sworne,

How shall I curse, but wish that thou vnborne

Had bene, or that the earth had rent in twaye,

And swallowed thee in Cradle as thou laye.

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To this did I euen from thy tender youth

VVitsaue to bring the vp, did I herefore

Beleeue the oath of thy vndoubted troth?

Aduaunce thee vp, and trust thee euermore?

By trusting thee that I should dye therfore?

O wretch, and worse than wretch, what shal I say?

But cleape and curse gainst thee and thine for aye.

Hated be thou, disdainde of euery wight,

And pointed at where euer that thou goe.

A trayterous wretch, vnworthy of the light,

Be thou estemed: and to encrease thy woe,

The sound be hatefel of thy name also:

And in this sort with shame and sharpe reproach,

Leade thou thy life til greater griefe approach.

Dole and dispayre, let chose be thy delight,

VVrappes in woes that cannot be vnfolde,

To wayle the day, and weepe the weary night,

VVith raynie eien and sighes cannot be told,

And let no wight thy woe seeke to withhold:

But count thee worthy (wretch) of sorowes store,

That suffring much, oughtest stil to suffer more.

Deserue thou death, yea be thou deemde to dye

A shameful death to end thy shameful life:

A sight longed for, iopful to euery eye,

VVhen thou shalt be arraigned as a thiefe,

Standing at Barre and pleading for thy life,

VVith trembling tongue in dread and dolours rage,

Lade with white lockes, and fourskore yeares of age.

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Yet shal not death deliuer thee so sone

Out of thy woes, so happye shalt thou not bee:

But to the eternal Ioue this is my boone,

That thou maiest liue thine eldest sonne to see,

Reft of his wyts, and in a fowle Bores Stye

To end his dayes in rage and death distrest,

A worthy tombe where one of thine should rest.

Yet after this, yet pray I more thou may

Thy second sonne see drowned in a dyke,

And in such sort to clo [...]se his later daye,

As hearde or seene erst hath not beene the like:

Ystrangled in a puddle not halfe so diepe

As halfe a foote, that such hard losse of lyfe,

So cruelly chaunst, may be the greater griefe.

And not yet shal thy huge sorowes ceasse,

Ioue shall not so withhold his wrath fro thee,

But that thy plagues may more and more encrease,

Thou shalt stil liue that thou thy selfe shalt see

Thy deare daughter stroken with leprosye:

That shee that earst was al thy whole delight,

That now maist loathe to haue her come in sight.

And after that let shame and sorowes grief

Feede foorth thy yeares continuallye in woe,

That thou maist liue in death, and dye in life,

And in this sort forewaild and weried so,

At length thy ghost to part thy body fro:

This pray I Ioue, and with this later breath,

Vengeaunce I aske vpon my cruel death.

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This sayd he flong his rechles armes abroade,

And groueling flat vpon the ground he lay,

Which with his teeth he al to gnasht and gnawde:

Deepe groanes he fet, as he that would away,

But loe in vayne he did the death assaye:

Although I thinke was neuer man that knew,

Such deadly paynes, where death did not ensue.

So stroue he thus awhile as with the death,

Now pale as lead and cold as any stone.

Now stil as calme, now storming forth a breath.

Of smoakie sighes, as breath and al were gone:

But euery thing hath end: so he anone

Came to himselfe when with a sigh outbrayed,

With woful cheare, these woful wordes he sayd.

Ah, where am I, what thing, or whence is this?

Who reft my wits? or how do I thus lye?

My lims do quake, my thought agasted is,

Why sigh I so? or whereunto do I

Thus grawle on the ground? and by and by

Vpraisde he stoode, and with a sighe hath staide,

When to himselfe returned thus he sayde.

Suffiseth now this plaint and this regreete,

Whereof my hart his boccome hath vnfraught:

And of my death let Pieres and princes weete

The Worlds vntrust, that they there by be taught.

And in her wealth, sith that such chaunge is wrought,

Hope not too much, but in the midst of al

Thinke on my death, and what may them befall.

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So long as Fortune would permit the same,

I liued in rule and riches with the best:

And past my time in honour and in fame.

That of Mishap no feare was in my breast:

But false Fortune when I suspected least,

Did tourne the wheele, and wich a doleful fall

Hath me bereft of honour life and all.

Loe what auayles in ryches flouds that flowes?

Though she so smylde as al the world were his?

Euen kinges and Kesars biden Fortunes throwes,

And simple sore must beare it as it is.

Take heede by me that blithde in baleful blisse:

My rule, my ryches, royal bloud and al,

When Fortune fround, the feller made my fall.

For hard mishaps that happens vnto such,

Whose wretched state erst neuer fell no chaunge,

Agrieue them not in any part so much,

As their distresse to whom it is so straunge,

That al their liues nay passed pleasures raunge:

Their soden woe that aye wield wealth at will,

Algates their hartes more pearcinglye must thril.

For of my byrth, my bloud was of the best,

First borne an Earle, then Duke by due discent:

To swing the sway in Court among the rest,

Dame Fortune me her rule most largely lent:

And kinde courage so my corps had blent,

That loe on whom but me did she most smyle?

And whom but me loe, did she most beguile?

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Now hast thou hard the whole of my mishap

My chaunce, my chaunge, the cause of al my care:

In wealth and woe, how fortune [...]id me wrap,

With world at wil to winne me to her snare,

Bid kinges, bid Kesars, did al states beware,

And tel them this from mee that tryed it true.

Who recklesse rules, right soone may hap to rue.

FINIS.

T. S.

§

§

HOw like you this my maisters (quoth I) very wel sayd one: the tragedy excelleth: ye inuention also of the Induction, and yt descriptions, are notable. But whereas he fayneth to talke with the Princes in Hel, that I am sure wyl be misliked, because it is most certaine, that some of their soules be in heauen. And although he herein, do folow allowed Poets, in their description of hel, yet it sauoreth so much of Purgatorie, whiche the Papistes haue digged thereout, that the ignoraunt may thereby bee deceiued. Not a whit I warrant you sayd one: for hee meaneth not by his hel y• place either of damned soules, or of suche as lye for their fees, but rather the graue, wherin ye dead bodies of al sortes of people do rest til time of the resurrectiō. And in this sence is Hell taken often in the Scriptures, and in the writinges of learned Christians, & so wold haue it taken. Tush (quoth another) what stand we hereupon? it is a Poesy and no deuinitye, [Page] and it is lawful for Poetes to fayne what they lyst so it be appertinent to the matter: And therfore let it passe euen in such sort as you haue read it. Wyth a good wil (quoth I) But whereas you say a Poet may sayne what he list: in dede me thinke it should be so, & ought to be wel taken of the hearers: But it hath not at al times bene so allowed: ye say troth quoth the Reader: For here foloweth in the storye that after the death of this duke, one called Colling bourne, was cruellye put to death for makinge of a tyme. I haue his tragedie here (said I) For the better perceiuing whereof, you must imagin that you see him a m [...]cilous wel sauoured man, holdinge in his hand his owne hart, new lie ripped out of his breast, & smoaking out the lyuely spirite: & with hys hand, beckning too and fro, as it were to warne vs to auoyd: and with his faynt tongue, & voyce saying as couragiouslye as he may these wordes that follow.

How Collingbourn was cruelly executed, for making a foolish Ryme.

BEware, take heede, take heede, beware, beware

You Poetes you, that purpose to rehearce

By any arte what tyrauntes doinges are,

Erinnis rage is growen so fel and fearce

That vicious actes may not be toucht in verse,

The Muses freedome, graunted them of elde,

Is bard, [...]lie reasons treasons hie are helde.

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Be rough in ryme, and then they say you rayle,

As luuenal was, but that makes no matter:

With Ieremie you shalbe had to iayle,

Or forst with Martial, Caesars faultes to flatter,

Clarkes must be taught to clawe and not to clatter:

Free Hellicon, and francke Parnassus hylls.

Are hellye haunts, and rancke pernicious ills.

Touch couertlye in fermes, and then you taunt

Though praysed Poetes, alway did the like,

Controll vs not, els traytour vile auaunt,

What passe we what the learned do mislike?

Our sinnes we see, wherein to swarme we seeke.

We passe not what the people say or thinke,

Their shittle hate maketh none but cowardes shrinke.

We know (say they) the course of Fortunes wheele,

How constantly it whirleth stil about,

Arrearing now, while elder headlong reele.

How al the ryders alway hang in doubt.

But what for that we count him but a loute

That sticks to mount, and basely like a beast

Liues temperately for feare of Blockham feast.

Indeede we would of al bee deemed Gods

What euer we doe: and therfore partelye hate

Rude preachers that dare threaten vs plagues and rods,

And blase the blots whereby we staine our state:

But nought we passe what any such do prate.

Of course and office they must say their pleasure,

And wee of course must heare and mend at leysure.

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But when these pelcing Poetes in their rimes

Shal taunt, or least, or pai [...] our wicked workes,

And cause the people know and curse our crimes,

This ougly fault, no tyraunt liues but vrkes.

Wherfore we loath such [...]aunters worse than Turkes,

Whose meaning is to make vs know our misse,

And so to mend, but they but doate in this.

We know our faultes as wel as any other,

We also doubt the daungers for them due,

Yet stil we trust so right to guyde the [...]other,

That scape we shal the sourges that ensue.

We thinke we know mo shiftes than other knew.

In vaine therfore for vs are counsailes writ:

We know our faultes and wil not mend a whit.

These are the fea [...]es of the vnhappye sort,

That preace for honours, wealth, and pleasure vaine.

Ceasse therfore Baldwin, ceasse I thee exhort,

Withdraw thy pen, for nothing shalt thou gaine

Saue hate, with losse of paper, ynke and paine.

Few hate their faultes, al bate of them to heare

And fautiest, from fault would seme most cleare.

Thy entent I know is honest, plaine, and good,

To warne the wise, to fray the fond fro ill:

But wicked worldlings are so witlesse wood.

That to the worst they all thinges construe stil.

With rigour oft they recompence good wyll:

They racke the wordes til time their sinowes burst,

In doubtful sences, strayning stil the worst.

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A painful proofe taught me the truth of this,

Through tyrauntes rage, and Fortunes cruel tourne:

They murdred me, for meetring thinges amisse.

For wotst thou what? I am that Colling bourne

Which made the ryme, whereof I wel may mourne.

The Cat, the Rat, and Louel our Dog,

Do rule al England vnder a Hog,

Whereof the meaning was so plaine and true,

That euery foole perceiued it at furst:

Most liked it, for most that most thinges knewe,

In hugger mugger, muttred what they durst.

The tyraunt prince of most was held accurst,

Both for his owne and for his counsels faultes,

Of whom was three the naughtiest of al naughts.

Catesbye was one whome I called a Cat,

A craftie lawyer catching all be could.

The second Ratcliffe, whom I named a Rat,

A cruel beast to gnaw on whom [...]e should.

Lord Louel barckt and bye whom Richard would,

Whom I therfore did rightly terme our Dog,

Wherewith to ryme, I cald the king a Hog.

Til he the crowne had caught he gaue the Bore,

In which estate would God he had deceased,

Then had the realme not ruined so sore.

His Nephues raigne should not so sone haue ceassed,

The noble bloud had not bene so decreased.

His Rat, his Cat, and Bloudhound had not noyed

Such liegemen true, as after they destroyed.

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Their lawlesse actes, good subiectes did lament,

And so did I, and therfore made the rimes

To show my wit how wel I could inuent,

To warne withal the carelesse of their crimes,

I thought the freedome of the auncient times

Stoode stil in force. Ridentem dicere verum

Quis veta [...]? Nay nay, Veritas est pessimarerum.

Belike no tyrauntes were in Horace dayes,

And therefore Poets freely blamed vice,

VVitnesse their Satyres sharpe, and tragicke plaies,

VVith chiefest Princes chieflye had in price.

They name no man they mixe their gall with spice,

No more doe I▪ I name no man out right,

But riddle wise, I meane them as I might.

VVhen brute had brought this to their guiltie eares,

VVhose right surnames were noted in the ryme,

They al conspyred like most greedy [...]eares,

To charge me straight with this most greuous crime:

And dampned me the Galow tree to clime,

And then strangled, in quarters to be cut,

VVhich shoud on high ouer London Gates be put.

This iudgement geeuen so vehement and so sore

Made me exclaime against their tyrannye.

VVhere with encenst, to make my payne the more,

They practised a shameful vylanie:

They cut me downe aliue and cruelly,

Ript vp my paunch and bulke to make me smart,

And lingered long ere they tooke out my hart.

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Here tyraunt Richard plaied the eager Hog,

His grashing tuskes my tender gristles shore:

His bloud bound Louel playde the rauening Dog,

His muluish teeth, my guiltlesse carkasse tore:

His Rat, and Cat, did what they might, and more,

Cat Cates [...]y clawed my guts to make me smart,

The Rat Ra [...]cliffe gnawed mee to the hart.

If Iewes had kild the iustest king aliue,

If Turkes had burnt vp Churches, Gods, and al,

What greater payne could cruel hartes contriue,

Than that I suffred, for this trespasse small?

I was no Prince nor Pier, but yet my fal

Is worthy to be thought vpon for this,

To see how cankard tyrantes mallice is.

To teach also al subiecte to take heede

They meddle not with magistrates affaires,

But pray to God to mend them if they neede:

To warne also al Poetee that he strayers,

To keepe them close in rompasse of their chayres,

And whan they touch that they would wish amended,

To sause them so, that sewe nede be offended.

And so to mixe their sharpe rebukes with mirth,

That they may pearce, not causing any paine,

Saue such as foloweth euerye kindely birth,

Requi [...]ed straight, with gladnesse of the gayne.

A Poet must be pleasaune, not to plaine,

Faultes to control, ne yet to flatter vice

But sound and sweete, in al thinges ware and wise.

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The Grekes no paint a Poetes office whole

In Pegasus, their fayned horse with winges,

Whom shaped so Medusaes bloud did foale,

Who with his fe [...]ee strake out the Muses springes

Fro flintie rockes to Hellicon that clinges.

And then flew vp into the starrie skie,

And there abides among the Gods [...] hye,

For hee that shal a perfect Poet be,

Must first be bred out of Medusaes bloud:

He must be chast and vertuous as was shee,

Who to her power the Occean God withstoode,

To thend also hiss doome be iust and goad,

Ie must (as shee) looke rightlye wi [...]h one eye

Truth to regard [...] write nothing awrie,

In courage eke he must bee like a horse,

He may not feare to register the right.

VVhat though some frowne, thereof be may not force,

No bit nor reine his tender iawes may twight.

He must be armde with strength of wit and sprite.

To dash the rockes, darke causes and obscure,

Til he attaine the springes of truth most pure.

His hooues also must pliaunt be and strong,

To riue the rockes of lust and errors blinde,

In brainlesse heades, that alway wander wrong:

T [...]ese must he brise with reasons plaine and kinde,

Til springes of grace do gush out of the minde,

For [...]il affections from the fond be driuen,

In vayne is truth told, or good counsel geeuen.

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Like Pegasus a Poet must haue winges,

To flie to heauen or where him liketh best:

He must haue knowledge of eternal thinges,

Almighty Ioue must harbour in his breast,

With worldly cares he may not be opprest,

The winges of wit and skil must heaue him hier.

With great delight to satisfye desier.

He must also be lustye, free, and swift

To trauail far to view the trades of men.

Great knowledge often is gotten by the shift:

Thinges that impart he must be quicke to pen,

Reprouing vices sharpely now and then.

He must be swift when touched tyrauntes chafe,

To gallop thence to keepe his carkas safe.

If I had wel these qualities considered,

Especially that which I touched last,

With speedy flight my feete should haue deliuered

My feeble bodye from a most boystrous blast,

They should haue caught me ere I had bene cast,

But too much trust vnto a tyrauntes grace,

I neuer shroake, nor chaunged port or place.

I thought the Poets auncient liberties

For pleas had bene allowed at the barre,

I had forgot how new found tyrannies

VVith truth and freedome were at open warre,

That lust was lawe, that might did make and mar,

That among tyrauntes this is, and euer was

Sic volo, sic iubeo, stet pro ratione voluntas.

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VVhere lust is lawe it booteth not to pleade,

No Priuiledge nor liberties auayle.

But with the learn'de whom Lawe, and Wisedome leade,

Although through rashnesse Poets [...]ap to rayle,

A plea of dotage may all Quarels quayle:

Their olde licence their Writinges to expounde,

Doth quit them clere from faults by Momus found.

This freedome olde ought not to be debard

From any wight that speaketh ought, or writeth.

The authors meaninge should of right bee herd,

Hee knoweth best to what ende hee enditeth:

Woros sometime beare more then the heart behiteth.

Admit therefore the authors exposicion,

If playne for truth: if forst, for his submission.

In case of sclaunder the lawes require no more

Saue to amende that seemed not well sayde:

Or to vnsay the slaunders sayd afore,

And aske forgeuenesse for the hasty brayde:

To Heretickes no grater payne is layde

Then to recant their errours or retract:

And worse than these can bee no writers acte.

Yes (quoth the Cat) thy raylinge wordes bee treason,

And treason is farre worse then Heresy.

Then must it follow by this auckwarde reason,

That Kinges bee more than God in maiesty,

And soules be lesse then bodies in degree.

For Heretikes both soules and God offend,

Traytours but seeke to bring mans life to end.

[Page]

I speake not this to abase the haynous fault,

Of trayterous Acts abhorde by God, and man,

But to make playne their iudgement to bee naught

That Heresie for lesser sinne do ban,

I curse them both as deepe as any can,

And alway did: yet through my foolish rime,

They stayned mee with that most hatefull crime.

I neuer ment the Kinge, or counsayle harme,

Vnlesse to wishe them safety were offence,

Agaynst their power I neuer lifted Arme,

Neyther Pen, nor Tongue for any ill Pretence.

The Rime I made, though Rude, was sound in Sence,

For they therein whom I so fondly named,

So ruled all that they were fowle defamed.

This was no Treason but the very troth,

They ruled all, none could deny the same:

What was the cause then, why they were so wroth?

What? is it treason in a riminge frame

To clip, to stretch, to adde, or chaunge a name?

And this reserued, there is no rime nor reason.

That any craft can clout to seeme a treason.

For where I ment the Kinge by name of Hog,

I onely alluded to his Badge the Bore:

To Louels name I added more our Dog,

Because most Dogs haue borne that name of yore:

These Metaphors I vse with other more,

As Cat, and Rat, the halfe names of the rest,

To hyde the Sence which they so wrongly wrest.

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I maye you nowe what treason finde you heere

Enough: you rubbed the guil [...]y on the Gaule,

Both Sence, and names do note them very neere.

I graunt that was the chiefe cause of my faule,

Yet can you finde therein no treason at all:

There is no worde agaynst the Prince, or State,

No harme to them whom all the Realme did hate.

But sith the guilty alwaies are suspicious,

And dread the ruine that must sue by reason,

They cannot chose but count their counsayle vicious

That note their faults, and therefore call it treason:

All grace, and goodnesse with the lewde is geason.

This is the cause why they good thinges do wrest

Where as the good take ill thinges to the best.

And therefore Baldwin boldly to the good

Rebuke their fault, so shalt thou purchase thankes

As for the bad, thou shalt but moue their moode,

Thoughe pleasauntly thou touch their naughty prankes:

Warne Poets all, no wise to passe the bankes

Of Hellicon, but keepe within the bound:

So shall their Freedome, vnto no harme redound.

FINIS.

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[...]

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[...]

§

§

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GOds blessinge on his heart that made this sayd one) specially for reuiuinge our auncient Liberties. And I praye God it may take such place with the Magistrates, yt they may ratify our olde freedome, Amen sayd another, for that shalbee a meane both to stay and vphold themselues from fallinge: and also to preserue many kinde true, zealous, & well meaninge mindes from slaughter, and infamy. If Kinge Richard, and his Counsaylours had allowed, or at the least but wynked at some sutch wits, what great commodities might they haue takē thereby. First, they should haue knowen what the people misliked, and grudged at, (which no one of their flatterers either wold or durst haue tolde them) and so mought haue foūd meane, either by amendement (which is best) or by some other pollicy to haue staied ye peoples grudge: the forerunner commenly of Rulers destructions. Vox populi, vox dei, in this case is not so Famous a prouer [...]e as true: The experience of al times do approue it. They should also haue bin warned of their owne sinnes, which call continually for Gods veng [...]aūce, which neuer fayleth to fall one their neckes sodaynly and horribly, vnles it be staied with harty repentaunce. These weighty commodities mought they haue taken by Collingborns vayne ryme. But as all things worke to the best in thē that be good, so best things heape vp mischiefe in the wicked, & al [Page] to hastē their vtter destruction. For after this poore wretches lamentable persecution, (the common rewarde of best endeuours straite followed the fatal destruction both of this Tyraūt, and of his tormentours. Which I wishe might bee so set foorth that they might be a warninge foreuer, to all in authority to beware how they vsurpe, or abuse their offices. I haue heere (quoth I) Kinge Richards tragedy. Reade it wee praye you (quoth they) wyth a good Will (quoth I) For better vnderstanding whereof, Imagine that you see him tormented with Diues in the deepe Pit of Hell, and thence howlinge thys which followeth.

HOW RICHARD PLANtagenet Duke of Glocester, murdered his Brothers Children vsurpinge the Crowne, and in the.iij. yeare of his Raygne, was most worthely depriued of life, & Kingdome in Bosworth Playne, by Henry Earle of Richmond, after called Kinge Henry the seuenth, the.22. of August. 1485.

WHat heart so hard, but doth abhorre to heare

The rufull raygne of mee the third Richard?

Kinge vnkindly cald though I y• Crown did weare.

Who entred by rigour, but right did not regard,

By tyranny proceedinge in killinge Kinge Edward,

Fift of that name, right Heyre vnto the Crowne,

With Richard his Brother, Princes of Renowne,

[Page]

Of trust they were committed vnto my Gouernaunce,

But trust turned to treason to truly it was tried,

Both agayust Nature, Duety, and Allegiaunce,

For through my procurement most shamefully they dyed

Desire of a Kingdome forgetteth all Kinred,

As after by discourse it shalbe shewed here,

Howe cruelly these Innocents in Prison murdred were.

The Lords, and Commons all with one assent,

Protectour made mee both of Land, and Kinge,

But I therewith alas was not content:

For mindinge mischiefe I ment another thinge,

Which to confusion in short time did mee bringe,

For I desirous to Rule, and Raigne alone,

Sought Crowne, and Kingdome, yet title had I none.

To all Peeres, and Princes, a President I may bee.

The like to beware how they do enterprise,

And learne their wretched falles by my Facte to foresee,

Which ruful stand bewaylinge my chaunce before their eyes,

As one cleane bereft of all felicities:

For right through might, I cruelly defaced,

But might, helped right, and mee agayne displaced.

Alas that euer Prince should thus his honour stayne

With the bloud of Innocents most shamefull to bee tolde

For theese two Noble Imps I caused to bee slayne,

Of yeares not full ripe as yet to rule, and raygne.

For which I was abhorred both of yongue, and olde,

But as the deede was Odious in Sight of God, and man,

So shame, and Destruction in the ende I wan.

[Page]

Both God, Nature, Duty, Allegiaunce all forgot,

This vile, and haynous Acte vnnaturally conspired:

Which Horrible deede done, alas, alas, God wot

Sutch Terrours mee tormented, and so my Sprites fired,

As vnto surch a murder, and shamefull deede required,

Sutch broyle dayly felt I, breedinge in my brest,

Whereby more, and more, increased myne vnrest.

My Brothers Children were right Heyres to the Crowne

VVhom Nature rather bound to defend than destroy,

But I not regardinge their Right, nor my Renowne

My whole care, and study to this ende did employ,

The Crowne to obtayne, and them both to put downe:

VVherein I God offended, prouokinge iust his ire,

For this my attempt, and most wicked desire.

To cursed Cain compare my carefull case,

VVhich did vniustly slay his Brother iust Abell,

And did not I in rage make run that rufull race

My Brother Duke of Clarence, whose death I shame to tell

For that so straunge it was, as it was horrible?

For sure hee drenched was, and yet no Water neare,

VVhych straunge is to bee tolde to all that shall it heare.

The But hee was not whereat I did shoote,

But yet hee stoode betweene the Marke, and mee,

For had hee liued, for mee it was no boote

To attempt the thinge that by no meanes could bee,

For I third was then of my Brethren three:

But yet I thought the Elder beinge gone,

Then needes must I beare the stroke alone.

[Page]

Desire of Rule made mee alas to rewe,

My fatall fall I could it not foresee,

Puft vp in Pride, to Hauty then I grewe,

That none my Peere I thought now could bee,

Disdayninge sutch as were of high degree:

Thus dayly rysinge, and pullinge other downe,

At last I shot how to win the Crowne.

And dayly deuisinge which was the best way

And meane how I might my Nephues both deuour

I secretely then sent without further delay

To Brackinbury then Lieutenaunt of the Tower,

Requestinge him by letters to helpe vnto his power,

For to accomplishe this my desyre, and will,

And that hee would secretly my Brothers Children kill.

Hee aunswered playnely with a flat nay,

Sayinge that to dye hee would not do that deede:

But findinge then a proffer to my pray,

Well worth a freende (quoth I) yet in time of neede.

Iames Tyrrill hight his name, whom with all speede,

I sent agayne to Brackinbury, as you heard before,

Commaundinge him deliuer the Keyes of euery Dore.

The Keyes hee rendered but Partaker would not bee

Of that flagitious Fact. O happy man I say!

As you haue heard before, hee rather chose to dye

Then on those seely Lambes his violent handes to lay.

His Conscience him pricked, his Prince to betray:

O constant minde! that wouldest not condiscend

Thee may I prayse, and my selfe discommend.

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VVhat though heee refused, yet bee sure you may,

That other were as ready to take in hand that thinge,

VVhich watched, and wayted as duly for their Pray,

As euer did the Cat for the Mouse takinge,

And how they might their purpose best to passe bringe:

VVhere Tyrrell hee thought good to haue no bloud shed,

Becast them to kill by Smotheringe in their Bed.

The Wolues at hande were ready to deuour

The seely Lambes in Bed whereas they laye

Abidinge deat [...], and lookinge for the Hower,

For well they wist, they could not scape away,

Ah woe is mee, that did them thus betray,

In assigninge this vile deede to bee done,

By Myles Forrest, and wicked Ihon Dighton.

VVho priuely into their Chamber stale,

In secret wise somewhat before Midnight,

And gan the Bed together Tug, and hale,

Be wrappinge them alas in wofull plight,

Keepinge them downe, by force, by power, and might,

With Halinge, Tugginge, Turmoylinge, Turnde, & Tost,

Till they of force were Forced yeelde the Ghost.

VVhych when I heard, my hart I felt was eased

Of grudge, of greefe, of inward deadly payne,

But with this deede the Nobles were displeased,

And sayd: O God, shall such a Tyraunt raygne,

That hath so cruelly his Brothers Children slayne?

Which Brute once blowen in the Peoples Eares,

Their dolour was sutch, that they brast out in Teares.

[Page]

But what thinge may suffise vnto the greedy man,

The more bee bathes in bloud, the bloudier hee is alway:

By proofe I do this speake, which best declare it can,

Which onely was the cause of this Princes decaye.

The Wolfe was neuer greedier than I was of my Pray,

But who so vseth murther full well affirme I dare,

With murther shall be quit, ere hee thereof beware.

And marke the sequell of this begon mischiefr

Which shortly after was cause of my decay,

For high, and lowe conceyued sutch a griefe

And hate agaynst mee, which sought day by day,

All wayes, and meanes that possiblye they may,

On mee to bee reuenged for this sinne,

For cruell murderinge vnnaturally my kinne.

Not onely kin, but Kinge the truth to saye

VVhom vnkindly of Kingdome I bereft,

His life from him I also raught awaye,

With his Brathers, which to my charge was left.

Of ambicion behold the worke, and weft,

Prouokinge mee to do this haynous Treason,

And murther them against all right and reason.

After whose death thus wrought by violence,

The Lords not sykinge this vnnaturall deede,

Began on mee to haue greate diffidence,

Sutch brunninge hate gan in their hearts to breede,

VVhich made me doubt, and sore my daunger drede:

VVhich doubt, and dreade proued not in vayne,

By that ensued alas vnto my payne.

[Page]

For I supposinge all thinges were as I wished,

VVhen I had brought these seely Babes to bane,

But yet in that my purpose far I missed:

For as the Moone doth chaunge after the Wane,

So chaunged the hearts of sutch as I had tane

To bee most true, to Troubles did mee turne,

Sutch rage, and rancour in boylinge Breasts do burne.

And sodaynly a brute abroade was blowen,

That Buckingham the Duke both sterne, and stout,

In field was ready, with diuers to mee knowen,

To geue mee Battayle if I durst come out:

VVhich daunted mee, and put mee in great doubt,

For that I had no Army then prepared,

But after that I little for it cared.

But yet remembringe, that oft a little sparke

Suffered doth grow vnto a great flame,

I thought it wisedome wisely for to warke,

Mustered then men in euery place I came.

And marchinge forward dayly with the same,

Directly towardes the Towne of Salisbury,

VVhere I gat knowledge of the Dukes Army.

And as I passed ouer Salisbury downe,

The Rumour ran the Duke was fled, and gone,

His Hoast dispersed besides Shrewesbury Towne,

And hee dismayed was left there post alone,

Bewaylinge his chaunce, and makinge great mo [...]ne:

Towards whom I hasted withall expedition,

Makinge due search, and dilligent inquisition.

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But at the first I could not of him heare,

For hee was scaped by secret Bywayes,

Vnto the House of Humfrey Banastar,

Whom hee had mutch preferred in his Dayes,

And was good Lord to him in all assayes:

Which hee full euill requited in the ende,

When hee was driuen to seeke a trusty freende.

For it so happened to his mishap, alas,

When I no knowledge of the Duke could heare

A Proclamation by my Commaundement was

Published, and Cryed throughout euery Shyre,

That who so could tell where the Duke were,

A Thousand marke should haue for his payne.

What thinge so hard but Money can obtayne?

But were it for Money, Meede, or Dreede,

That Banastar thus Betrayed his Ghest,

Diuers haue diuersly deuined of this deede,

Some deeme the worst, and some Iudge the best,

The doubt not dissolued, nor playnely exprest,

But of the Dukes death hee doubtlesse was cause,

Which dyed without iudgement or order of Lawes.

Loe! this Noble Duke I brought thus vnto bane,

Whose doinges I doubted, and had in great dred,

At Banastars house I made him to bee tane,

And without iudgement bee shortned by the head,

By the Shriffe of Shropshire to Salisbury led.

In the Market place vpon the Scaffolde newe,

Where all the Beholders did mutch his death rewe.

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And after this done I brake vp the hoaste,

Great y applauded with this heauy hap,

And forthwith I sent to euery Sea coaste

To fore see all mischieues, and stop euery gap,

Before they should chaunce, or light in my lap,

Geuinge them in charge to haue good regarde,

The Sea coast to keept with good watch and warde,

Directinge my letters vnto euery Shriue,

VVith strait Commaundement vnder our name,

To suffer no man in their partes to ariue

Nor to passe forth out of the same,

As they tendered our fauour, and vodye would our blame,

Doinge therein their payne, and industry,

VVith diligent care, and vigilant Eye.

And thus settinge thinges in order as you heare:

To preuent mischieues that might then betide,

I thought my selfe sure, and out of all feare,

And for other thinges began to prouide:

To Notingham Castle strait did I ride,

VVhere I was not very longe space,

Straunge tydinges came which did me fore amaze.

Reported it was, and that for certaynty,

Th' Earle of Richmonde landed was in Wales

At Milforde Hauen with an huge Army,

Dismissinge his Nauy which were many Sayles:

VVhich at the first I thought flyinge Tales.

But in the ende did otherwise proue,

VVhich not a little did mee vexe, and moue.

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Thus fawninge Fortune gan on mee to frowne,

And cast on mee her scoruefull lowringe looke:

Then gan I feare the fall of my Renowne,

My heart it faynted, my Sinowes sore they shooke,

This heauy hap a scourge for sinne I tooke,

Yet did I not then vtterly dispayre,

Hopinge Storms past the whether should bee fayre.

And then with all speede possible I might,

I caused them muster throughout euery Shyre,

Determininge with the Earle speedely to fight,

Before that his power mutch encreased were,

By sutch as to him great fauour did beare:

VVhich were no smal number by true report made,

Dayly repayringe him for to ayde.

Directinge my letters to diuers Noble men,

VVith earnest request their power to prepare,

To Notingham Castle whereas I lay then.

To ayde and assist mee in this waighty affayre:

VVhere strayt to my presence did then repayre,

Thou Duke of Northfolke, his Eldest Sonne also,

Wyth th' Earle of Northumberland, and many other mo.

And thus beinge furnisht with men, and munition,

Forward wee marched in order of Battayle ray,

Makinge by Scouts euery way inquisition,

In what place the Earle with his Campe say:

Towards whom directly wee tooke then our way,

Euermore mindinge to seeke our most auayle,

In place conuenient to geue to him Battayle.

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So longe wee laboured, at last our Armies met

On Bosworth playne besides Lecester towne,

Where sure I thought the Garland for to get,

And purchase peace, or else to lose my Crowne.

But sickle Fortune alas on me did frowne,

For when I was Encamped in the Fielde,

Where most I trusted, I soonest was be guilde.

The Brand of mallice thus kindlinge in my brest

Of deadly hate which I to him did beare,

Pricked mee forwarde, and bad mee not desist,

But boldly fight, and take at all no feare,

To win the field, and the Earle to conquere:

Thus hopinge glory great to gayne, and get,

Mine Army then in order did I set.

Be tyde mee life or death I desperately ran,

And ioyned me in Battayle with this Earle so stoute,

But Fortune so him sauoured that hee the Battayle wan

With force and great power I was beset about.

Which when I did behold, in mids of the whole route

With deut of Sword I cast m [...]e on him to be reuenged,

Where in the midst of them my wretched life I ended.

My body was hurried, and Tugged like a Dog,

On horsebacke all naked, and bare as I was borne.

My head, hands, and feete, downe hanginge like a Hog,

Wyth Dirt, and bloud hesprent, my Corps all to torne,

Cursnge the day that euer I was borne,

With greeuous wounds bee mangled most horrible to see,

So sore they did abhorre this my vile cruelty.

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Loe! heere you may behold the due, and iust rewarde

Of tyranny, and treason which God doth most detest,

For if vnto my duety I had taken regarde,

I might haue liued still in honour with the best,

And had I not attempt the thinge that I ought leste.

But desire to rule alas did mee so blinde,

VVhich caused mee to do against nature, and kinde.

Ah crused Caytiue, why did I climbe so hye,

VVhich was the cause of th's my balefull thrall.

For still I thirsted for the Regall Dignity,

But hasty rysinge threatneth sodayne fall,

Content your selues with your Estates all,

And seeke not right by wronge to suppresse,

For God hath promist ech wronge to redresse.

See here the fine, and fall of mee,

And guerdon due for this my wretched deede,

VVhich to all Princes a mirrour now may bee

That shall this Tragicall Story after reede,

VVyshinge them all by mee to take heede,

And suffer right to rule as it is reasou,

For time tryeth out both truth, and also treason.

FINIS.

F. Seg.

§

§

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WHen I had read this, wee had muche talke aboute it. For it was thought not vehement enough for so violent a man as king Rychard had bene. The matter was wel enough liked of some, but the meetre was misliked almost of all.

And when diuers therfore woulde not allow it, what (quoth one) You know not whereupon you sticke: els you would not so much mislike this beecause of the vncertayne meetre. The cumelynesse called by the Rhetoricians Decorum, is specially to be obserued in al thinges. Seeing than that king Richard neuer kept measure in any of his doinges, seeing also he speaketh in Hel, wheras is no order: it were against the Decorum of his personage to vse eyther good meeter or order.

And therfore if his Oration were far worse, in my opinion it were more fytt for him. Mars and the Muses did neuer agree. Neither is to bee suffered that their myld sacred Arte should seeme to procede from so cruel and prophane a mouth as his: seinge they themselues do abhorre it.

And although we reade of Nero, that hee was excellent both in Musicke, & in versifyinge, yet do not I remember that euer I saw any song or Verse of his making: Minerau iustly prouiding that no monument should remaine of any such vniust vsurpaton. And therfore let this passe euen as it is which [Page] the writer I knowe both could and would amend in many places, saue for keepinge the Decorū whych hee purposely hath oblerued heerein.

In deede (quoth I) as you say: It is not meete yt so disorderly, and vnnaturall a man as Kynge Rychard was, should obserue any metrycall order in his talke: which notwithstandinge in many places of his Oration is very wel kept: it shal passe therefore euen as it is, though to good for so euill a person. Then they willed me to reade ye blacke Smith, With a good will (quoth I) but first you must Imagin that you see him standinge on a Ladder ouershrined wyth the Tybourne a meete Stage for all sutch Rebels, & Traytours: & there stoutly saying as followeth.

THE WILFVL FAL OF blacke Smith, and the foolishe ende of the Lord Awdeley in Iune. Anno. 1496. *⁎*

[Page]

WHo is more bould than is the blinde Beard?

Where is more craft than in the Clouted shoone?

Who catch more harme than sutch as nothinge feard?

Where is more guile then where mistrust is none?

No playsters helpe before the greefe bee knowen,

So seemes by mee who could no wisedome leare,

Vntill sutch time I bought my wit to deare.

VVho beinge Boystr [...]us, Stout, and braynlesse bolde,

Puft vp with Pride, with fierce, and Furies fret,

Incenst with Tales so rude and plainely tolde,

VVherein deceit with double knot was knit,

I trapped was as seely fishe in net,

VVho swift in swimminge, not doubtfull of desceit,

Is caught in Ginne whererein is layde no bayt.

Sutch force, and vertue hath this dolefull playnte,

Set forth with Sighes, and teares of Crocodile,

VVho seemes in si [...]ght as simple as a Sainct,

Hath layde a Baite the warelesse to beguile,

And as they weepe they worke desceit the while

VVhose rufull cheare the Rulers so relent,

To worke in hast that they at last repennt.

[Page]

Take heede therefore yee Rulers of the Lande,

Bee blinde in sight, and stop your other Eare,

In sentence slow, till skill the truth haue scande,

In all your doomes both loue, and hare forbeare,

So shall your iudgement Iust, and right appeare:

It was a southfast sentence longe agoe,

That hasty men shall neuer lacke mutch woe.

Is it not truth? Baldwin, what sayest thou?

Say on thy minde, I pray thee muse no more.

Mee thincke thou starest and lokest I wot not howe,

As though thou neuer sawest a man before:

By like thou musest why I teach this lore,

Else what I am that heere so boldly dare,

Amonge the Preasse of Princes to compare.

Though I bee bolde, I pray thee blame not mee,

Like as men sowe, sutch Corne needes must the reape,

And nature hath so planted in ech degree,

That Crabs like Crabs will kindly crall, and creepe:

The suttle Fore vnlike the seely sheepe:

It is accordinge to mine Education,

Frowarde to Preasse in Rout, and Congregation.

Behold my coate burnt with the Sparkes of Fyer,

My Leather Aporn filde with horse shooe Nayles,

Behold my Hammer, and my Pincers heere,

Beholde my lookes a marke that seldome fayles:

My Cheekes declare I was not [...]ed with Quayles,

My Face, my Clothes, my Tooles with all my fashion,

Declare full well a Prince of rude Creation.

[Page]

A Prince I sayd, a Prince I say againe,

Though not by birth by crafrie vsurpacion,

Who doubts but some men princehood do obtaine,

By open force and wrongful dominacion,

Yet while they rule are had in reputa [...]ion:

Euen so by mee the while I wrought my feate,

I was a prince at least in my conceit.

I dare the bolder take on me the name,

Because of him whom here I leade in hand,

Tychet Lord Awdley a Lord of byrth and fame,

Which with hys power and strength serude in my hand,

I was a Prince while that I was so [...] mand:

His butterflie stil vnderneath my shielde,

Displayed was from Welles, to Blackheath fielde.

But now behold he doth bewayle the same:

Thus after wits their rashnesse do depraue,

Behold dismaid he dare not speake for shame,

He lookes like one that late came from the graue,

Or one that came foorth of Trophonius caue,

For that in wy the had so little pith,

As hee a Lord to serue a traytout Smith.

Such is the courage of the noble hart,

Which doth despise the vile and baser sort,

He may not touch that sauours of the cart,

Him listeth not with ech Iacke [...]out to sport,

He lets him passe for payring of his port,

The iollye Egles carth not litle flees,

The courtly silkes match seeld with homely frees.

[Page]

But surely Baldwin if I were allowd

To say the truth, I could somwhat declare:

But clarkes wil say, this Smyth doth waxe to proud,

Thus in precepts of wisedome to compare,

But Smithes must speake that clarkes for feare ne dare

It is a thing that all men may lament,

When clarkes keepe close the truth least they be shent.

The Hostler, Barber, Myller, and the Smyth,

Heare of the sawes of such as wisedome ken,

And learne some wit although they want the pith,

The clarkes pretend and yet both now and then,

The greatest clarkes proue not the wisest men:

It is not right that men forbid should bee:

To speake the truth al were he bond or free.

And for because I haue vsed to fret and fome,

Not passing greatly whom I should displease,

I dare be bold awhile to play the mome,

Out of my sacke some others faultes to lease,

And let mine owne behinde my backe to peyse,

For' hee that hath his owne before his eye,

Shal not so quicke anothers fault espie

I say was neuer no such woful case,

As is when honour doth it selfe abuse:

The noble man that vertue doth embrace,

Represseth pride, and humblenesse doth vse,

By wisdome workes, and rashnesse doth refuse

His wanton wil and lust that bridle can,

In deede is gentle both to God and man.

[Page]

But where the nobles want both wit and grace,

Regard no reede, care not but for their lust,

Oppresse the Poore, set will in reasons place,

And in their words, and domes bee founde vniust,

Wealth goeth to wracke till all lye in the dust:

There Fortune frownes, and spite beginneth to growe,

Till high, and lowe, and all bee ouerthrow.

Then sith that vertue hath so good reward,

And after vice so duelye wayteth shame,

How hapth that Princes haue no more regard,

Their tender youth with vertue to enflame?

For lacke whereof the wit and will is lame,

Infect with folly, prone to lust, and pride,

Not knowinge howe them selues or theirs to guide.

VVhereby it happeneth to the wanton wight,

As to a Ship vpon the stormy Seas,

VVhich lackinge sterne to guide it selfe a right,

From Shore, to Shore the Winde, and Tide do teese,

Findinge no place to rest and take his ease,

Till at the last it sinke vpon the Sande:

So fare they all that haue not vertue cand.

The Plowman first his Lande doth dresse, and tourne,

And makes it apt or ere the Seede bee sowe,

VVhereby hee is full like to reape good Corne.

VVhere otherwise no seede but weede would growe:

By which ensample men may easely knowe,

VVhen youth haue wealth before they can well vse it

It is no wonder though they do abuse it.

[Page]

How can hee rule well in a common wealth,

VVhich knoweth not himselfe in rule to frayne?

How should hee rule himselfe in ghostly health,

VVhich neuer learnde one lesson for the same:

If sutch catch harme their Parentes are to blame:

For needes must they bee blynde, and blindly led.

Where no good lesson can bee taught or read.

Some thinke their youth discreet, and wisely taught,

That brag, and boast, and weare their Feather braue,

Can royst, and rout, both lowre, and looke a loft,

Can swere, and stare, and call their felowes Knaue,

Can pyll, and poll, and catch before they craue,

Can Carde, and Dyce, both Cog, and Foyst at fare,

Play on vnthrifty, till their Purse bee bare.

Some teach their youth to pipe, to singe, and daunce,

To Hauke, to Hunt, to choose and kill the game,

To wynde their horne, and with their horse to praunce,

To play at Tenis, set the Lute in frame,

Run at the Ringe and vse sutch other game:

Which feates although they bee not all vnfit,

Yet cannot they the marke of vertue hit.

For noble youth, there is nothinge so meete

As learninge is, to knowe the good from ill:

To knowe the Tongues, and perfectly endyte,

And of the lawes to haue a perfect skill,

Things to reforme as right, and iustice will:

For honour is ordeyned for no cause,

But see right mayntayned by the Lawes,

[Page]

It spites my heart to heare when Noble men

Cannot diclose their secrets to their frend,

In sauegarde sure with Paper, Inke, and Pen,

But first they must a secretary finde,

To whom they show the bottome of their minde:

And bee hee false, or true, a Blab, or close,

To him they must their counsayle needes disclose.

And where they rule that haue of Lawe no skill,

There is no boote, they needes must seeke for ayde:

Then ruled are they, and rule as others will:

As hee that on a Stage his part hath playde:

But hee was taught nought hath hee done, or sayde.

Sutch youth therefore s [...]eke Science of the Sage,

As thinke to Rule when that yee come to age.

Where youth is brought vp in feare, and Obedience,

Kept from ill company, brydeled of their lust,

Do serue God duely, and know their allegiauuce,

Learne godly wisedome which time nor age can rust:

There Prince, People, and Peeres needes prosper must,

For happy are the People, and blessed is that Land,

Where Truth, and Vertue haue got the ouer hand.

I speake this Baldwyn of this rufull Lorde,

Whom I perforce do heere present to thee,

Hee faynts so sore hee may not speake a worde,

I pleade his cause without rewarde, or Fee,

And am inforst to speake for him, and mee.

If in his youth hee had beene wisely tought,

Hee should not now his Wit so deere haue bought.

[Page]

For what is hee that hath but halfe a Wit,

But may well know that Rebelles cannot speede,

Marke well my Tale, and take good heede to it,

Recount it well and take it for good reede,

If it proue vutrue I will not trust my creede.

Was neuer Rebell before the World, nor since,

That could or shall preuayle against his Prince.

For ere the Subiect beginneth to rebell,

Within himselfe let him consider well,

Foresee the daunger, and beat well in his Brayne,

How hard it is his purpose to obtayne,

For if hee once bee entred to the Brears,

Hee hath a raginge Wolfe fast by the Ears.

And when hee is once entred to rule the beastly rout,

Although hee would hee can no way get out.

Hee may bee sure noue will to him resorte,

But sutch as are the vile, and rascall sorte.

All honest men as well the most as lest,

To tast of treason will vtterly detest.

Then let him way how longe hee can bee sure,

VVhere fayth, nor Frendship may no while endure:

Hee whom hee trusteth most, to gayne a groate

VVyll fall him from, and assay to cut his throate,

Amonge the Knaues, and slaues where vice is rooted,

There is no other Freendship to bee looked.

With Slashers, Slaues,' & Snuffers so falshoode is in price

The simple fayth is deadly sinne, and vertue counted vice.

And where the Quarrell is so vile, and bad,

[Page]

That hope of ayde then is there to bee had?

Thyncks hee that Men will run at this, or that,

To do a thinge they knowe not hew, or what?

Nor yet what daunger may thereof betide,

VVhere Wysedome woulde they should at home abide,

Rather then seeke, and knowe not what to finde.

Wysemen will first debate this in their minde:

Full sure they are if that they go to wrecke,

Without all grace they loose both head, and necke.

They loose their Lands, and Goods, their Childe, and Wyfe

With Sorrow, and Shame shall leade a wofull Lyfe,

If hee bee slayne in field hee dieth accurst,

Which of all wrecks wee should attempt the worst:

And hee that dieth defendinge his liege Lord,

Is blist, and blist againe by Gods owne Worde.

And where the Souldiers wages is vnpayde,

There is the Captayne slenderly obayde,

And where the Souldier is out of feare, and dreede,

Hee will bee lacke when that there is most neede,

And priuately hee seekes his ease, and leasure,

And will bee ruled but at his will, and pleasure.

And where some drawe forth, and other do draw backe,

There in the ende must needes hee woe, and wracke:

To hope for ayde of Lordes it is but vayne,

VVhose fore taught wit of treason knoweth the payne,

They knowe what power a Prince hath in his Land,

And what it is with Rebelles for to stand.

[Page]

They know by treason honour is defaced,

Their ofspring and their progenie disgraced,

They know to honour is not so worthy a thing,

As to be true and faithful to their king,

Aboue cognisaunce or armes, or pedigrew far,

An vnspotted cote is like a blazing star:

Therfore the rebel is accurst and mad,

That hopeth for that which rebel neuer had:

Who trusting stil to dales doth hang in hope,

Til at the last he hang fast by the rope,

For though such tales be told that hope might feede,

Such foolish hope hath stil vnhappie speede.

It is a custome that neuer wil be broken,

In broyles the bag of lies is euer open,

Such lying newes men daylye wil inuent,

As can the hearers fancy best content,

And as the newes do runne and neuer cease,

So more and more they dayly do encrease,

And as they encrease they multiplie as fast,

That ten is ten hundred, ten thousand at the last.

And though the rebel had once got the [...]elo,

Thinkes he thereby to make his prince to yeild?

A princes power within his owne region,

Is not so soone brought vnto confusion.

For Kinges by God are stronge, and stoutly harted,

That they of Subiects will not bee subuerted:

If Kinges would yeld, yet God would them restrain,

[Page]

Of whom the Prince hath grace, and power to raygne:

VVho straytly chargeth vs aboue all thinge,

That no man should resist agaynst his Kinge.

VVho that resisteth his dread Soueraygne Lorde,

Doth dampne his soule by Gods owne very worde.

A Christian Subiect should with honour due,

Obey his Soueraygne though hee were a Iewe:

VVhereby assured when Subiects do rebell,

Gods wrath is kindled, and threatneth fyre, and hell.

It is soone knowen when Gods wrath is kyndled,

How they shall speede with whom hee is offended:

If God gaue victory to whom hee liketh best,

Why looke they for it whom God doth most detest?

For treason is hatefull, and abhord in Gods sight,

Example of Iudas that most wicked Wight:

VVhich is the chiefe cause no treason preuayles,

For ill must hee speede, whom Gods wrath assayles:

Let Traytors, and Rebels looke to speede then,

VVhen Gods mighty power is subiect to men.

Mutch might bee sayde that goeth more neere the Pith,

But this suffiseth for a rurall Smith.

Baldwin when thou hearest my reason in this case,

Belike thou thinkest I was not very wyse,

And that I was accurst, or else lacked grace,

VVhich knowinge the ende of my fond Enterprise,

VVould thus presume agaynst my Prince to ryse:

But as there is a cause that moueth euery woe,

Somewhat there was whereof this sore did growe.

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And to be plaine and simple in this case,

The cause why I such matter tooke in hand,

Was nothing els but pryde and lacke of grace,

Vayne hope of helpe, and tales both false and fond:

By meanes whereof I did my prince withstand,

Denied the taxe assest by conuocation

To mainteine warre against the Scottish Nation.

Whereat the Cornish men did much repine,

For they of Gold and Siluer were ful bare,

And liued hardly digging in the Myne,

They said they had no money for to spare:

Began first to grudge, and then to sweare and stare,

Forgot their due obeysaunce, and rashly fel to rauing,

And said they would not beare suc polling and such shauing.

They first accusde the king as authour of their griefe,

And then the byshop Moreton. and sir Reinold Bray,

For they then were about the king most chiefe,

Because they thought the hole fault in them lay:

They did protest to ryd them out of the way.

Such thanke haue they that rule about a prince,

They beare the blame of other mens offence.

When I perceiued the commons in a rore,

Then I and Flamocke consulted both together,

To whom the people resorted more and more,

Lamenting and crying, helpe vs now or neuer,

Breake this yoake of bondage then are we free for euer:

Whereat we enflamed in hope to haue a fame,

To be their captaines tooke on vs the name.

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Then might you heare the people make a shout,

And crye, God saue the Captaines, & sende vs al good speede,

Then hee that fainted was counted but a lout,

The ruffians ran abroade to sowe sedicious seede:

To call for company then there was no neede

For euerye man laboured another to entice,

To be partaker of his wicked vice.

Then al such newes as made for our auaile,

Was brought to me, but such as sounded ill,

Was none so bold to speake or yet bewayle:

Euerich was so wedded vnto his wyll,

That foorth they cryed with bowes, sword and byll.

And what the ruffler spake, the lout toake for a verdite

For there the best was worst, the worst was best regarded.

For when men goe a madding, there stil the vyler part

Conspire together and wil haue al the swaye,

And bee it wel or il, they must haue al the port,

As they wil doe, the rest must needes obay,

They prattle and prate as doth the Popingaye:

They crye and commaund the rest to keepe tharray,

Whiles they may raunge and rob for spoyle and pray.

And when we had prepared euery thing,

We went to Tawnton with al our prouision,

And there we slue the Prouos [...] of Pentyn,

For that on the Subsedie hee sate in commission:

He was not wise, nor yet of great discretion,

That durst approach his enemies in their rage,

When wit nor reason could their yre asswage.

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From thence we went to Welles, where wee were receiued

Of this Lord Awdley, as of our chiefe captaine,

And so had the name, but yet he was deceiued,

For I in deede did rule the clubbish trayne,

My cartly knightes true honour did disdayne:

For like doth laue his like. it wil be none other,

A chorle wil loue a chorle, before he wil his brother.

From Wels to Winchester, and so to Blackheat [...] field,

And there we encamped looking for more ayde,

But when none came, we though our selues beguilde,

Such Cornish men as knew they were betraide,

From their felowes by night away they straide:

There might we learne how vayne it is to trust,

Our fayned frendes in quarels so vniust.

But we the sturdy captains yt thought our power was strōg,

Were bent to trye our Fortune what euer should be [...]ide

We were the bolder, for that the king so long

Deferred battaile: which so increast our pryde,

That sure we thought the king himselfe did byde

Within the cittie, therfore with courage hault,

We did determine the cittye to assault.

But he working contrary to our expectation,

Was fullye mynded to let vs runne our race,

Til wee were from our domestical habitation,

VVhere that of ayde or succour was no place,

And then to be plagued as it should please his grace,

But al doubtful plaintes▪ how euer they did sound,

To our best vayle we asway did expound.

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VVhen that the king saw tyme, with courage bolde

He sent a power to circu [...]nent vs al:

VVhere wee encloased as simple sheepe in fold,

VVhere slayne & myrdred as beasts in butchers stall,

The king himselfe, what euer thaunce might fall,

VVas strōgly encāped within S. Georges sield,

And there abode til that he hard vs yelde.

Then downe we kneled, and cryed to saue our lyfe,

It was to late our folly to bewayle,

There were we spoyled of armour, cote, and knife:

And we which thought with pride the city to assayle,

VVere led in prisoners naked as my nayle,

But of vs two thousand they had slaine before,

And wee of them three hundred and no more.

This my Lord and wee the captaines of the west

Tooke our Iane at Newgate fast in ferters tyde,

Where after triall we had but little rest,

My Lord throw London was drawne on a slyde,

To Tower hil where with an axe he dyed,

Clad in his cote armour painted al in paper,

Corne and reuersed inspight of his behauer.

And I with Thomas Flamocke, & other of our bent,

As traytours at Tybourne our iudgement did obay:

The people looked I should my fault lament,

To whom I holdly spake that for my fond assay,

I was sure of fame that neuer should decay:

VVhereby ye may perceiue bayn glory doth enflame

Aswel the meaner sort as men of greater name.

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But as the sickely patient, sometime hath desire

To cast the things that Phisicke hath denyed,

And hath both payne and sorow for his hyre,

The same to me right wel may be applied,

Which while I raught for fame on shame did slyde

And sekinge fame brought foorth my bitter bane.

As he that fyered temple of Diane.

I tel thee Baldwin, I muse right oft to see

How euery man for wealth and honour gapeth,

How euery man would climbe aboue the skie,

How euery, man chassured meane so hateth,

How froward Fortune oft their purpose mateth:

And if they hap their purpose to obtaint,

Their wealth is woe, their honour care and paine.

Wee see the seruaunt more happie then his Lord,

Wee see him liue when that his Lord is dead,

He sleepeth sound, is mery at his boorde,

No sorow in his hart doth vexe his head:

Happie then is he that pouertie can wed,

What gaine the mightye conquerours when they be dead

By all the spoile and bloud that they haue shed?

The terrible tower where honour hath his seate,

Is hye on rockes more slipper then the yse,

Where stil the whorling wynde doth roare and beate,

Where sodaine qualmes and peries stil aryse,

And is beset with many sundry vice,

So straunge to men when first they come thereat,

They be amased, and do they wot not what.

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He that preuailes and to the tower can clime,

With trouble and care must needes abridge his dayes,

And he that slydes may curse the hower and tyme,

He did attempt to geeue so fond assaies,

And al his life to sorow and shame obayes▪

Thus slide he downe or to the top ascend,

Assure himselfe repentaunce is the end.

Wherfore Baldwine do thou record my name

To bee ensample to such as credite lies,

Or thirst to sucke the sugred cup of fame,

Or do attempt against their prince to ryse,

And charge them al to keepe within their sise:

Who doth assay to wrest beyond his strength,

Let him be sure he shal repent at length,

And at my request admonish thou al men,

To spend wel the talent which God to them hath lent,

And he that hath but one, let him not toyle for ten,

For one is too much, vnlesse it bee wel spent:

I haue had the proofe, therfore I now repent,

And happie are those men, and blist and blist is hee,

As can be wel content to serue in his degree.

FINIS.

Maister Cauille.

§

§

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IT is pity (quoth one) that the metre is no better seeing ye matter is so good: you may do very wel to helpe it, and a little fyling would make it formal.

The authour himselfe (quoth I) coulde haue done that, but he would not, and hath desyred me that it maye passe in suche rude, sort as you haue hearde it: for hee obserueth therein a double decorum both of the Smith, and of himselfe: for he thinketh it not meete for the Smyth to speake nor for himselfe to wryte in any exacte kinde of meeter Welsayd another: the matter is notable to teache al people aswel officers as subiects to cōsyder their estates and to lyue in loue & obedience to the highest powers. what so euer they bee, whom God eyther by byrth, law, succession, or vniuersal election, doth or shall aucthorise in his owne rowme to execute his lawes and iustice, among any people or nation: for by all these meanes God placeth his deputies, and in my iudgemēt there is no meane so good either for the cōmon quiet of the people, or for gods free choise, as the natural order of enheritaunce by lyneal discent for so it is left in Gods hands, to create in the wombe what prince hee thinketh meetest for his purposes: the people also know their princes and therfore the more gladly and willinglie receiue and d [...]y them. And although same realmes more careful then wy [...]e, haue en [...]ayled their Crowne to their Male thinking it not meete for the fyminine sexe to beare the royal office: yet if they consyder all [Page] circumstaunces, and the chiefest vses of a prince in a realme, they shal see howe they are deceiued. For princes are Gods lieutenauntes or deputies, to see gods lawes executed among their subiects, not to rule accordinge to their owne lustes or deuises, but by the prescript of Gods lawes: so that the chiefest point of a princes office cōsisteth in obediēce to god and to his ordinaunces, & what should let but that a woman may be as obediente vnto God as a mā? The second point of a princes office is to prouide for the impotent, nedy, and helpelesse, as widowes, orphanes, lame, and decrepite persons: & seeing women are by nature tender harted, milde, and pitiful who may better than they discharge this dutie? Yea but a woman lacketh courage, boldnesse, and stomacke, to withstand the aduersarie, and so are her subiects an open spoile to their enemies. Debora, Iael, Iudith. Thomiris, and other do proue the contrarie. But graunt it were so: what harme were that seeing victorie consisteth not in wyt or for [...]e, but in Gods pleasure. I am sure that whatsoeuer prince doth his dutie in obaying God, and causing Iustice to be ministred according to Gods lawes, shal not onely lacke warre (be he man, woman or child) but also be a terrour to al other princes. And if God suffer any at any time to be assayled it is for ye destruction of the assayler, whether he be [...] forreine foe, & to the honour & profite of ye vertuous prince, in whose behalfe rather then he shal miscarye, God himselfe wil fight with enferuous, & earthquakes [Page] from the land and waters, and with stormes, and lighteninges from the ayre and skies. Moe warres haue bene sought throughe the wilfull & hauty courages of kinges and greater destructions hapned to realme thereby, than by any other meanes. And as for wisedome and pollicye, seeing it consisteth in folowing the counsel of many godly, learned, & long experienced heades, it were better to haue a Woman, who consideringe her owne weakenes and inabilitie, should be ruled thereby, than a man which presuming vpon his owne fond brayne, will heare no aduise saue his owne. You muse peraduenture wherfore I say this. The franticke heades whiche disable our Queene, because she is a woman, & our king because he is a straunger, to be our prynces & chief gouernours hath caused me to say thus much For what soeuer man, woman, or childe, is by the consent, of the whole realme established in the royal seate, so it haue not bene iniuriouslye procured by rigour of sword and open force, but quietly, by title, eyther of enheritaunce, succession, lawful bequeste, common consent, or election, is vndoubtedlye chosē by God to be his deputie: and whosoeuer resistethe any such, resisteth against God himselfe, and is a ranke traytour and rebel, and shalbe sure to prosper aswel as the Blacke Smyth and other suche haue done. Al resist that wilful breake any lawe, not being against Gods law, made by common conset for [Page] the wealth of the realme, and commaunded to bee kept by authoritye of the prince: or that deny to pay such duties, as by consent of the high court of Parliament, are appointe to the Prince for the defence and preseruation of the realme. You haue sayd very truly herein (quoth I) and I trust this terrible example of the Blacke Smyth, will put all men in mynde of their duties and teach them to be obediēt to al good lawes, and lawful contributions. The scriptures do forbid vs to rebel, or forciblie to withstand Princes, though they commaūd vniust thinges: yet in any case we may not do thē but receiue quietly at the princes hand whatsoeuer punishment God shal suffer to be layd vpon vs for oure refusal, God wil suffer none of his to be tēpted aboue their strength. But because these two persons last before rehearsed were thought not onelye obscure in matter, but also crabbed in the meeter (I haue here readye to supplie that which lacked in theym) Shores wife, an eloquent wench, which shal fynish out both in metre & matter, that which coulde not comlily be sayd in their persons Marke I pray you what shee sayth, & tel me how you lyke it.

HOVVE SHORES WIFE Kinge Edwarde the fowerthes Concubine, was by king Richard despoyled of al her goodes, and forced to doe open pennaunce.

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AMong the rest by Fortune ouerthrowen,

I am not least, that most may wayle her fate:

My fame and bruite abrode the world is blowen,

Who can forget a thing thus done so late?

My greae mischaunce, my fal and heauy state,

Is such a marke whereat ech tongue doth shoote,

That my good name is pluckt vp by the rohte.

This wandring world bewitched me with wyles,

And won my wits with wanton sugred ioyes,

In Fortunes frekes who trustes her when she smiles,

Shal fynde her false and ful of [...]ickle toyes,

Her triumphes al but fil our eares with noyes,

Her flattering giftes are pleasure mixt with payne.

Yea al her wordes are thunders threatning raine.

The fond desire that we in glorye set,

Doth thirle our hartes to hope in supper hap,

A blast of pompe is al the fruite we get,

And vnder that li [...] hid a soden clap,

An seeking rest vnwares wee fall in trap:

In groping flowers: with nettles stong we are,

In labouring long we reape the crop of care,

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Oh darke deceit with painted face for showe,

Oh poysoned bayte that makes vs eager stil,

Oh fayned frend deceiuing people so,

Oh world of the wee cannot speake to ill:

Yet fooles we are to bend so to thy skyl,

The plague and scourge, that thousands dayly feele,

Should warne the wise to shun thy whirling whele.

But who can stop the streame that runnes ful swift?

Or quench the fire that crept is in the strawe?

The thirstie drinkes, there is no other shift,

Perforce is such that nede obayes no lawe:

Thus bound we are in worldly yokes to drawe,

And cannot stay, nor turne againe in time,

Nor learne of those that sought to high to clime.

My selfe for profe so here I now appeare,

In womans weede with weeping watred eyes,

That bought her youth and her delightes full deare,

Whose loud reproach doth sound vnto the skies

And bids my corps out of the graue arise,

As o [...]e that may no longer hyde her face,

But needes must come and shew her piteous case.

The sheete of shame wherein I shrowded was

Did moue me oft to plame before this day,

And in myne eares did ryng the trumpe of brasse,

Which is defame, that dothech vice bewraye.

Yea though ful dead and low in earth I lay,

I heard the voyce of me what people said,

But then to speake alas I was afrayde.

[Page]

And now a time for mee I see preparde,

I heare the liues and falles of many wightes:

My tale therfore the [...]ter may be heard,

For at the torch the little candle lightes.

Where pageauntes u [...]e, smal thinges fil out the sights,

Wherfore geeue eare, good Baldwin do thy best,

My tragedye to place among the rest.

Because the truth shal witnesse wel with thee,

I wil rehearse in order as it fell,

My life, my death, my doleful destenie,

My wealth, my woe, my doing euery deale,

My bitter blisse, wherein I long did dwel:

A whole discourse by me Shores wife by name,

Now shalt thou heare as thou hadst seene the same.

Of noble bloud I cannot boast my birth,

For I was made out of the meanest molde,

Mine heritage but seuen foote of earth,

Fortune ne gaue to me the giftes of Gold:

But I could brag of nature if I would,

Who filde my face with fauour fresh and fayre,

Whose beauty shone like Phoebus in the ayre.

My sh [...]pe some sayd was seemely to ech sight,

My countenaunce did show a sober grace,

Myne eyes in lookes were neuer proued light,

My tongue in wordes was chast in euery case,

Myne eares were deafe and would no louers place,

Saue that (alas) a prince did blot my brow.

Loe, there the strong did make the weake to bow.

[Page]

The maiestie that kinges to people beare,

The stately port, the awful cheare they show,

Doth make the meane to shrinke & couch for fea [...]

Like as the hound, that doth his maister knowe:

What then, since I was made vnto the bow:

There is no cloake, can serue to hyde my fault,

For I agreed the fort he should assault.

The Eagles forte subdues ech bird that flies.

What mettal may resist the flaming fire?

Doth not the Sunne, dastll the clearest eyes,

And melt the yse, and make the frost retire?

Who can withstand a puissaunt kinges desire?

The stiffest stones are perced through with tooles,

The wisest are, with princes made but fooles.

If kinde had wrought my forme in common frames,

And set me forth in colours blacke and browne,

Or beautye had beene parchd in Phoebus flames,

Of shame fast wayes had pluct my fethers downe,

Then had I kept my fame and good renowne:

For natures giftes was cause of al my griefe.

A pleasaunt pray entiseth many a thiefe.

Thus wo to thee that wrought my peacockes pride,

By cloathing me with natures tapistrie,

Wo worth the hue wherein my face was dyde,

Which made me thinke I pleased euery eye:

Like as the sterres make men behold the skie,

So beauties show doth make the wise ful fond.

And bringes free hartes ful of to endiesse bond.

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But cleare from blame my frendes cannot be found

Before my time my youth they did abuse:

In mariage, a prentise was I bound,

Then that meere loue I knew not how to vse.

But wel away. that cannot me excuse,

The harme is mine though they deuised my care,

And I must smart and sit in slaunderous snare.

Yet geue me leaue to pleade my cause at large,

If that the horse de runne beyond his race,

Or any thing that keepers haue in charge,

Do breake their course, where rulers may take place:

Or meate be set before the hungries face,

Who is in fault thoffender yes or no,

Or they that are the cause of al this woe?

Note wel what strife this forced mariage makes,

What loathed liues do come where loue doth lacke.

What scratching breers do grow vpon such brakes,

What common weales by it are brought to wracke,

What beauye loade is put on pacientes backe,

What straunge delightes this br [...]unch of vice doth breede

And marke what graine springes out of such a seede.

Compel the hanke to sit that is vnmand,

Or make the hound vntaught to drawe the Deere,

Or bring the free against his wil in hand,

Or moue the sad a pleasaunt tale to heare,

Your time is lost and you are neuer the neere:

So loue ne learnes of force the knot to knit,

She serues but those that feele sweete fancies fit.

[Page]

The lesse defame redoundes to my dispraise,

I was entiste by traynes, and trapt by trust:

Though in my power remained yeas and nayes,

Vnto my frendes yet needes consent I must,

In euery thing, ye lawful or vniust.

They brake the bowes and shakt the tree by sleight,

And bent the wand y• mought haue grown ful streite.

VVhat helpe is this, the pale thus broken downe,

The deere must needes in daunger runne astray:

At me therfore why should the world so frowne,

My weakenesse made my youth a Princes pray.

Though wisedome should the course of nature stay,

Yet trye my case who list, and they shall proue,

The rypest wits are soonest thralles to loue.

VVhat nede I more to cleare my selfe to much?

A King me wan, and had me at his call:

His royal state his Princely grace was such,

The hope of will (that women seeke for all,)

The ease, the wealth, the gyfts which were not smal,

Besieged me so stronglye round about,

My power was weake I could not hold him out.

Duke Hannibal in al his conquest great,

Or Caesar yet, whose triumphes did excede,

Of al their spoyles which made them toyle and sweate,

VVere not so glad to haue so rich a meede,

As was this Prince when I to him agreed.

And yelded me a prisoner willinglye,

As one that knew no way away to flye.

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The Nightingale for al his merye voyce

Nor yet the Larke that yet delightes to sing,

Did neuer make the hearers so reioyce,

As I with wordes haue made this worthy king:

I neuer iarde, in tune was euery string,

I c [...]mpered so my tongue to please his eare,

That what I said was currant euery where.

I ioynde my talke, my iestures, and my grace

In wictie frames that long might last and stand,

So that I brought the King in such a case,

That to his death I was his chiefest hand,

I gouerned him that ruled al this land:

I bare the sword though he did weare the crowne,

I strake the stroke that threw the mightie downe:

If Iustice said that iudgement was but death,

VVith my sweete woordes I could the king perswade,

And make him pause and take therein a breath,

Til I with suite the fautors peace had made:

I knew what waye to vse him in his trade,

I had the arte to make the Lyon meeke.

There was no point wherein I was to seeke.

If I did frowne, who then did looke awrie:

If I did smyle, who would not laugh outright?

If I but spake, who durst my wordes denie?

If I pursued, who would forsake the flight?

I meant my power was knowen to euery wight,

On such a height good hap had built my bower,

As though my sweete should neuer haue turnd to sower.

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My husband then as one that knew his good,

Refusde to kepe a Princes Concubine,

Forese [...]ing the end and mischief as it stoode,

Against the King did neuer much repine,

He saw the grape whereof he dranke the wine,

Though inward thought his hart did stil torment.

Yet outwardlye he seemde he was content.

To purchase praise and win the peoples zeale,

Yea rather bent of kinde to do some good,

I euer did vphold the common weale,

I had delight to saue the guiltlesse bloud:

Ech suters cause when that I vnderstood,

I did prefer as it had beene mine owne,

And helpe them vp that might haue bene orethrowne.

My power was prest to right the pooremans wrong,

My handes were free to geeue where nede required,

To watch for grace I neuer thought it long,

To doe men good I nede not be desired.

Nor yet with giftes my hart was neuer hyred.

But when the Ball was at my foote to guide,

I plaied to those that Fortune did abide.

My want was wealth, my woe was ease at wil,

My robes was ri [...]h and bra [...]r than the Sunne:

My Fortune thou was far about my skil,

My state was great, my glasse did euer runne,

My fatal [...]reede so happely was sponne,

That then I sate in earthly pleasurs clad,

And for the time a goodesse place I had.

[Page]

But I had not so sone this life possest,

But my good hap began to slip asyde.

And Fortune then did me so sore molest,

That vnto plaintes was turned al my Pride,

It booted not to rowe against the tide:

Myne dares were weake my hart and strength did fayle,

The winde was rough I durst not beare a sayle,

VVhat steps of strife belong to high estate?

The climing vp is doubtful to endure,

The seate it selfe doth purchase priuie hate,

And honours fame is [...]ekle and vnsure,

And al she bringes, is flowers that be vnpure:

VVhich fal as fast as they do sprout and spring,

Ind cannot last they are so vayne a thing.

VVe count no care to catch that we do wish,

But what we win is long to vs vnknowne,

Tyl present payne be serued in our dish,

VVe scarce perceiue whereon our griefe hath growen:

VVhat graine proues wel that is so rashly sowen?

If that a meane did measure all out deedes,

Ind steede of corne we should not gather weedes.

The setled mynde is free from Fortunes power,

They neede not feare who looke not vp aloft,

But they that clyme are careful euery hower,

For when they fal they light not very soft:

Examples hath the wisest warned oft,

That where the trees the smallest braunches bere,

The stormes do blow and haue most rigour there.

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VVhere is it stronge but neere the Ground, and Roote?

VVhere is it weake but on the highest Sprayes?

VVhere may a man so surely set his Foote,

But on those Boowes that groweth lowe alwayes?

The little Twiges are but vnstedfast stayes,

If they breake not, they bend with euery blast,

VVho trusts to them shall neuer stand full fast.

The Winde is great vppon the highest Hilles,

The quiet lyfe is in the Dale bee lowe,

VVho treades on Ise shall slide against their wills,

They want not Cares that curious Artes would know.

VVho liues at ease, and can content him so,

Is perfect wise, and sets vs all to Schoole,

VVho hates this lore may well be calde a Foole.

VVhat greater griefe may come to any life,

Than after sweete to taste the bitter sower?

Or after Peace to fall at Warre, and strife,

Or after myrth to haue a cause to lower?

Vnder sutch Props false Fortune builds her Bower,

On sodayne chaunge her fliteringe Frames bee set,

VVhere is no way for to escape her Net.

The hasty smart that Fortune sendes in spite

Is hard to brooke where gladnesse wee embrace,

Shee threatens not, but sodainly doth smite,

VVhere Ioy is most, there doth shee Sorrow place.

But sure I thincke, this is to straunge a case,

For vs to feele sutch greefe amid our Game,

And know not why vntill wee taste the same.

[Page]

As earst I sayd, my blisse was turnd to bale,

I had good cause to weepe and wringe my hands,

And shewe sad cheere with Countenaunce full pale,

For I was brought in sorrows wofull bands:

A Pirry came and set my Ship on Sandes,

VVhat should I hide, or colour Care, and Noye?

Kinge Edward dyed in whom was all my Ioye.

And when the Earth receiued had his Corse,

And that in T [...]umbe, thys worthy Prince was layde,

The World on mee began to shewe his Force,

Of Troubles then my part I longe assayed:

For they of whom I neuer was afrayde,

Vndid mee most, and wrought mee sutch dispite,

That they bereft mee from my pleasure quite.

As longe as life remainde in Edward brest,

VVho was but I? who had sutch frends at call?

His body was no sooner put in Chest,

But well was hee that could procure my fall:

His Brother was mine Enemy most of all

Protectour then, whose vice did still abound,

From ill to worse till death did him confound.

Hee falsely fayned, that I of counsayle was

To poyson him which thinge I neuer ment,

But hee could set thereon a face of brasse,

To bringe to passe his lewde, and false entent,

To sntch mischiefe this Tyrants heart was bent:

To God ne man hee neuer stoode in awe,

For in his wrath hee made his will a lawe.

[Page]

Lord Hastings bloud for vengeaunce on him cryes,

And many moe, that were to longe to name:

But most of all and in most wofull wyse

I had good cause this wretched man to blame,

Before the World I s [...]ffered open shame,

VVhere people were as thicke as is the Sande,

I Penaunce tooke with Taper in my Hand.

Ech Eye did stare, and looke mee in the Face,

As I past by the Rumours on mee ran,

But Patience then had lent mee sutch a Grace,

My quiet Lookes were praysed of euery man:

The Shamefaste bloud brought mee sutch coulour then

That Thousands sayd, which sawe my Sober cheere,

It is great ruth to see this Woman heere.

But what preuaylde the peoples pitty there?

This raginge Wolfe would spare no guiltlesse bloud.

Oh wicked Wombe that sutch ill fruict did beare,

Oh cursed Earth that yeldeth forth sutch Mud,

The Hell consume all thiuges that did thee good,

The Heauens shut their Gates against thy Sprite,

The World tread downe thy Glory vnder Feete.

I aske of God a vengeaunce on thy Bones,

Thy stinkinge Corps corrups the Ayre I know:

Thy shamefull death no earthly Wight bemoanes,

For in thy Lyfe thy workes were hated so,

That euery man did wishe thy ouerthrowe:

VVherefore I may, though parciall now I am,

Curse euery cause whereof thy body came.

[Page]

VVo worth the man that fathered sutch a childe:

VVo worth the Hower wherein thou wast begate,

VVo worth the Brests that haue the world begilde,

To nourish thee that all the World did hate,

VVo worth the Gods that gaue thee sutch a face,

To liue so longe, that death deserude so ofte.

VVo worth the chaunce that set thee vp a loft.

Yee Princes all, and Rulers euerychone,

In punishment beware of hatreds ire.

Before yee scourge, take heede, looke well thereon:

In wrothes ill will if malice kindle fire,

Your heartes will burne in sutch a bote desire,

That in those flames the Smoake shall dimme your sight,

Yee shall forget to ioyne your Iustice right.

You should not iudge till thinges bee well discernde,

Your charge is still to maintayne vpright lawes,

In conscience rules yee should bee throughly learnde,

VVhere clemency bids wrath, and rashnesse pause,

And further sayth: Strike not without a cause,

And when yee smite do it for Iustice sake,

Then in good part ech man your Scourge will take.

If that sutch zeale had moued this Tyrauntes minde,

To make my plague a warrant for the rest,

I had small cause sutch fault in him to finde,

Sutch punishment is vsed for the best:

But by ill will. and power I was opprest.

Hee spoyled my goods, and left mee bare, and Poore,

And caused mee to begge from Doore, to Doore.

[Page]

VVhat fall was this, [...]o come from Princes Fare,

To watch for crummes amonge the blinde, and lame?

VVhen almes were delt I had an hungry share,

Because I knewe not how to aske for shame,

Till force & neede had brought me in sutch frame,

That starue I must, or learne to beg an Almes,

VVith booke in hande to say S. Dauids Psalmes.

VVhere I was wont the golden Chaynes to weare,

A paire of Beades about my Necke was wound,

A lynnen cloth was lapt about my heare,

A ragged Gount that trayled on the Ground,

A Dish that clapt, and gaue a heauy sound,

A stayinge staffe, and wallet therewithall,

I beare about as witnesse of my fall.

I had no house wherein to hide my head,

The open Streate my lodginge was perforce,

Full oft I went all hungry to my Bed,

My fleshe consumde, I looked like a corse,

Yet in that plight who had on mee remorse?

O God thou knowest my freendes forsooke mee than,

Not one holpe mee who suckred many a man.

They frownde on mee, that fawnd on mee before,

And fled from mee that fellowed mee full fast,

They hated mee, by whom I set mu [...]ch store,

They knew full well my fortune did not last,

In euery place I was condemnd and cast:

To plead my cause at Ba [...]it was no boote,

For euery man did treade me vnderfoote.

[Page]

Thus longe I liude all weary of myfe,

Till death app [...]ch [...], and [...] mee from that woe

Example take by mee both Mayde, and Wyfe,

Beware, takeheede, fall not to folly so,

A Mirrour make by my great ouerthrowe:

De [...]e this World, and all his wanton wayes,

Beware by mee that spent so ill her dayes.

FINIS.

Th. Churchyarde.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

The last part of the Mirour for magistrates wherein may be seene by examples passed in this realme, vvith howe greenous [sic] plagues, vyces are punished in great princes & magistrats, and hovv frayle and vnstable vvorldly prosperity is founde, where fortune seemeth most highly to fauour.Mirrour for magistrates. Part 3.

Edition statement

1578

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A02389

ID [STC]

STC 1252

ID [STC]

ESTC S100555

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99836392

ID [PROQUEST]

99836392

ID [VID]

660

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A02389)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 660)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1475-1640 ; 171:1, 1416:2c)

Source

— The last part of the Mirour for magistrates wherein may be seene by examples passed in this realme, vvith howe greenous [sic] plagues, vyces are punished in great princes & magistrats, and hovv frayle and vnstable vvorldly prosperity is founde, where fortune seemeth most highly to fauour., Mirrour for magistrates. Part 3., Baldwin, William, ca. 1518-1563?, Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375. De casibus virorum illustrium.. Newly corrected and enlarged..

Extent

[6], 183 [i.e. 171], [1] leaves

In Fleetstreete, neere vnto Sainct Dunstanes Church, by Thomas Marsh,. Imprinted at London :: 1578.. (Attributed to William Baldwin by STC (2nd ed.).) (In verse.) (A continuation of John Lydgate's "The fall of princes", which is a translation of Giovanni Boccaccio's "De casibus illustrium virorum".) (The first two parts of "A mirror for magistrates" were written by John Higgins and Thomas Blenerhasset respectively; this third part was in fact written before the others.) (At foot of title: Cum priuilegio.) (Signatures: *4, A4, B-F "G[et]H"6, I-Z 2A4.) (Numerous errors in foliation.) (The last leaf is blank.) (Gathering "G[et]H" is wrongly imposed.) (Identified as part of STC 13445a at reel 1416:2.) (Reproductions of the originals in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery and the Central Library (Bristol, Eng).) (Appears at reel 171 (Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery copy) and at reel 1416 (Central Library (Bristol, Eng.) copy).)

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