The moste true reporte of Iames Fitz Morrice death, and others the like offe[n]ders: with a brief discourse of rebellion, dedicated to the ribht [sic] worshipfull my louying freende M. Drewe Drewrie, brother to the honourable sir Willyam Drewrie, lorde Iustice of Irelande. Written by Thomas Churchyard Gent

The moste true reporte of Iames Fitz Morrice death, and others the like offe[n]ders: with a brief discourse of rebellion, dedicated to the ribht [sic] worshipfull my louying freende M. Drewe Drewrie, brother to the honourable sir Willyam Drewrie, lorde Iustice of Irelande. Written by Thomas Churchyard Gent

Table of contents

Title page

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EMong all the cruell and combrous chaunces of this worlde wherin busie heddes, and wicked wittes are occupied (to the bodie and soules destructiō) is no onething so perillous, as the pestilent plague and smotheryng smoke that ciuill dissentiō bryngeth. Whiche is bredd in the bowells of rebellion, noursed vp in vile and naughtie Nature, and brought to a full perfection, by the pride or conceite of hatefull persones, and vnnaturall practises. And surely no matter more to bee lamented, then to see one member corrupte an other, and the foote or inferiour partes (whose forse is small, and feeblenesse greate) strine with the hedde, or deuie to dooe their duetie, and beare that thei are able. For in a maner it is a monsterous vewe to beholde, some branches of a tree yelde but bitter berries, and all the reste of the bowes to beare moste sweete and acceptable fruite. And a more odious sight it is to see a ciuill manne, become a sauage beast, vertue and valliauncie, conuerted to villanous vice and trecherie: The subuersion of kyngdomes, and corrupter [Page] of all Common weales, whiche ruste and canker once takyng roote, destroyes not onely pure and fine mettall, but maintaineth grosse and foule infection, the mother of mischeef and disorder, whereby cleane life and good maners is forgotten, and leaude behauiour is moste in mynde, and embrased.

In the daies of oure Forefathers many hundreth yeres agoe menne were so noblie bent and disposed (and honoured their Countrey so dearely) that no hazarde nor attempte was refused, that might aduaunce the publike state, or enlarge the boundes and liberties of the same. And some one to ridde their countrey of Plague, or noysome afflictions, haue offered their liues, and sought death as willingly as life and worldely felicitie, is emong the greatest nomber desired, the courage of Marcus Curssius, and many others of manly minde beares witnesse to that matter. Yea, some to ridde good and peaceable people, that wisheth quietnesse, from wicked warre (and the pride of a tyrant) haue aduentured to worke wonders: and bryng to passe thynges, beyonde the common compasse of mannes pollicie. Lette the boldnesse of Musius Sceuola stande for an argumente sufficient [Page] in the proofe of this cause. And so sonderie, yea, a multitude of renowmed personages (their order of life and death reuiued) brynges recorde enough of their noble deedes, and vertuous dispositions. But as those worthies did weare awaie, and the season became old (through continuaunce of tyme) so newe fashions and maners wared ripe in a little while after, and were so well liked for their sodaine chaunge, and alteration of spirite, that the olde fidelitie and value of mens estimation, beeyng waied in the ballaunce of newe found fancies, beganne to lose weight, and wanted many graines of goodnesse (that our Elders honoured) it hath suttellie been solde, and finely laied vp, yet vsed ouer often and tasted to muche, and yet the custome is not so good, that it maie breede a Lawe in mannes Nature, nor make men leaue the vsage of olde vertue, for the cumiyng trade of finenesse newe vice, that euery daie changeth condition, and lookes neither to GOD, the worlde, nor well doyng, but passeth to sonderie practises in some kinde of sorte, againste heauen and yearth, and so is carred cleane from all hope of repentaunce, rounyng headlong into a heape of hazardes.

[Page] The newe treasons, daungerous deuises, deuelishe attemptes, and rebellious rages of diuers wretched people (that for the reuenge of a little wrong, settes abroche many broiles) argues a marueilous decaie in the myndes of men, that hath been giuen to doe good, and expresseth plainely that our auncestours noblenesse is out of memorie, and the worlde is wonderfully enclined to followe badde customes, and curious knackes of crueltie, murtheryng freendes that neuer offended, and fauouryng foes that daiely seekes mischeef. The bloode of that honeste gentleman Harry Dauells, cries out vppon those filthie practises, and the murthers without mercie committed of late, doeth manifestly declare, the villanous exchaunge of this inconstaunte worlde, whiche nouseleth bloodie hartes in tyrannie, and bringes forthe the curssed fruit of Caine, that God did not leaue vnpunished.

You maie read of some noble warriours, that after thei were banished their countrey, through the furie of the people, and mutabilitie of Fortune: yet thei behaued them selues so worthely, when thei looked backwarde to the bodie and bowelles of the natiue soile thei were borne in, thei refrained their handes frō [Page] dooyng violence, and kepte their hartes and their heddes from woorkyng of iniuries, especially towardes their Prince and Countrey, whiche modeste and gentilnesse (when it was well considered of) wan them a greater credite then thei had before, and brought them home againe, and in a good likyng of the Commons euer after. But as you maye read in many good aucthours, the goodnesse of suche menne that honoured their countrey: So maie you see the lightnesse of some people, ledde so farre beyonde the boundes of obedience, and loue of their Prince, that thei leaue no shamelesse matter vnsought, nor no mischeef vnministered, where thei ought to bee profitable members of the state, and preseruatours of the common weale.

It is assuredly more thē miraculous (and as wee might properly saie, a thing paste all reason) to see a manne forsake his Countrie, and cutte hymself in peeces, by abandonyng the same, and then to runne a gaddyng after euery shadowe, and giue hym self ouer to the leadyng and gouernemente of a straunger, who can not inwardlie esteeme hym, because he hath betraied the bodie whereof he was a member, and deceiued his owneself by sowyng [Page] dissention, where duetie commaundeth concorde, and he of duetie ought to bee a subiecte, a matter that if menne would wisely waye (and throughly looke into) might kepe them from witlesse wanderyng abroad, and preserue them at home in more quietnesse of mynde.

Well, now beholde what brusteth out of rebellion, and chaunge of good conditions, and regarde how God prepareth instrumentes, to put them doune that Sathan hath aduanced, and you shall finde that the almightie fighteth the battaile, when the pollicie and power of man faileth, or waxeth feble. You maie remember, that markes this worlde, how Shaen Oneall was strong in the feelde, and yet wanted force and cunnyng, to keepe his hedde on his shoulders. And an other called Roorioege who delighted in rebellion, was lefte headlesse ere he was ware, and all by the prouidence and iuste Iudgemente of the Almightie, who holdes the bridle in his owne hande, and tourneth bothe horse and man, the verie same waie he hath appoincted for their destruction. And where one rebell by sufferaunce escapeth the scourge, a thousande lighteth in the lashe, and feles the whip [Page] of Gods wrathe and displeasure.

And maie not this laste example bee rehearsed, for a testimonie of Gods veugaunce when he listeth to strike: yes vndoubtedlie, it maie hee recited, because Fitz Morrice was thought wise, valiaunt, strong, learned, experimented in Marshall affaires, and a greate trauailer to sturre vp troubles, which fell vpon his owne hedde, when neither wisedome could preuent it, nor his rebellious power could withstande Gods doyng and ordinaunce, and who so deepely noteth the manner of his death (and daungerous deastenie that drewe hym to his ende) shall see the infinite Maiestie of God shine, in the purpose and determinations of men, especially when thei goe about good thynges, whereby God is knowen and glorified, and the worlde in those purposes is dispatched of troublesome rebelles.

I praie you was not this a deuine worke, when men of his owne nation and acquaintaunce, were moued in courage, either to cō quere Fitz Morrice, or suffer death in the attempte. And after this resolution, wente so manfully aboute their businesse, that all was brought to suche passe (though with losse of [Page] life to the executioners therof) as better could not be deuised, nor be brought to effecte. The acte was noble: the hazard greate: The manheade not little. And the matter shall remain regestered in the booke of Fame, whiles any Borrowe, Borcke, or Toune, can sett forthe good seruice, or shewe any notable exploite.

Now the maner of his death is looked for, but first the lādyng of hym self and his whole companie should be spoken of, whiche was so simple and so farre paste his hope, as neither it dooeth merite remembraunce, nor carries any pece of credite with it, recite it who pleaseth. For albeit he made muche adoe, to bring to passe muche matter, little was performed to the purpose, in the answeryng of his owne exspectation, for in deede diuerse thynges whe [...] contrary to that he desired: And albeeit some strength by fortification he sought, yet weakely and barely he beganne, and foolishely ended his life. Though animated with worse in condition then hym self, he tooke in hande a greate aduenture, and dallied a while on the hazarde of happe, and the aduaunture of tyme: the one doubtfull, and the other subiecte to chaunce, yet neither Fortunes daungerous dealyng, nor tymes mutabilitie could daunte his outragious desire, nor at any season [Page] make hym shunne the daunger he was in. But busiyng his braines and senses, about needelesse sleightes, and subtile seditions, he fell in the handes of his enemies, who charged vppon hym moste valliauntly, and with muche adoe ouercame him (because he stoutly made defence) and stroke of his hedde, whē least he looked for suche a desteuie, and shorte dispatch of this world. Some reportes there are bruted abroade (to affirme it for trothe I can not) that one Borcke a gentilman for a pardon graunted by the Lorde Iustice, for the losse of a hande made promesse with the same pardoned hande, to purchace the Princes fauour, and so to kil Fitz Morrice, But how soeuer the matter went, or the brethren called Borcks agreed in that poinet. Foricertaine Fitz Morrice loste his life, beyng hurt by the Borckes, and shotte into the hedde by a good and perfite Hargabozier, and had his hedde striken of, although those that came against him, were muche lesse in nomber then hym self: A thyng to bee noted, and a matter wherein often, right and trothe euer hath shined, and gotten greate glorie, whiche is a signe that victorie restes not in a multitude, but dependeth rather in Iustice, and equitie [Page] of the quarrell and cause.

Thus the worlde maie beholde the wonders that God woorketh: Good people maie be ware, how thei offende the prince, and their countrey. And rebelles are curbed, and made holde in heddes by this open rebuke. And to conclude, the opinion of thousandes is suche, that a rebell liues without loue, wāders with out witte, feightes in feare, dyes without honour, and lies without graue, as a prey to the wilde wolffe, and foode to the carren Crow, lest as a spectacle for many eyes to loke into, and shall reste as a perpetuall wonder to the wise, and matter of reproche for euery tonge to talke vppon. Now if better occasion had procured me to put penne to paper, you had not receiued this simple discourse at my hā des. Thus farewell good Reader, till my booke long promised bee Printed, that presently is commyng out, and hath changed the name of Chippes, and is called Churchyardes Choice.

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The moste true reporte of Iames Fitz Morrice death, and others the like offēders: with a brief discourse of Rebellion, dedicated to the ribht worshipfull my louyng freende M. Drewe Drewrie, brother to the honourable sir Willyam Drewrie, lorde Iustice of Irelande. Written by Thomas Churchyard Gent.

Imprinted at London by Edward VVhite, dwellyng at the little Northdore of S. Paules churche, at the signe of the Gunne.

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IF I had been forgetfull of a willyng promes made for a gifte, I thoughte too presente you withall (notwithstandyng tyme lappyng vpp many matters preuented me) yet your courtesies towardes my self, as generally to the worlde where you like, commaunded me to remember what I had spoken, in effect not perfourmed. And further, your iuste and honest life (wheron good credite & worship hath waited) a double occasion gaue me to present you some matter worthie to bee seen of many, because your eyes and iudgement not alone, but with noble companie (your honorable brother sir Willyam Drurie the cheef) haue pitied the miserie of mē [Page] y• lately by desarte are in disgrace, and namely the rebellion of those that thought theim selues, bothe wise and honourable. So for a welcome home from soile, where sedition hath been to often seen, I committe this my simple gifte to your protection and well likyng, and what is spok entherin, God & good men maie defende, though it wanted a sufficient patron to maintaine and manifest a troth, thus reioysyng in the continuaunce of your accustomed vertues, I trouble you no further, but desire you to read that followeth, and fauor and countenaunce the same, as our vpright iudgement shall leade you.

Yours in that he maie, at commaundemente Thomas Churchyard.

Information about this book

Title statement

The moste true reporte of Iames Fitz Morrice death, and others the like offe[n]ders: with a brief discourse of rebellion, dedicated to the ribht [sic] worshipfull my louying freende M. Drewe Drewrie, brother to the honourable sir Willyam Drewrie, lorde Iustice of Irelande. Written by Thomas Churchyard Gent

Churchyard, Thomas, 1520?-1604.

Edition statement

1579

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A18747

ID [STC]

STC 5244

ID [STC]

ESTC S105035

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99840765

ID [PROQUEST]

99840765

ID [VID]

5295

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A18747)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 5295)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 526:16)

Source

— The moste true reporte of Iames Fitz Morrice death, and others the like offe[n]ders: with a brief discourse of rebellion, dedicated to the ribht [sic] worshipfull my louying freende M. Drewe Drewrie, brother to the honourable sir Willyam Drewrie, lorde Iustice of Irelande. Written by Thomas Churchyard Gent, Churchyard, Thomas, 1520?-1604..

Extent

[16] p.

By [Felix Kingston for] Edward VVhite, dwellyng at the little northdore of S. Paules churche, at the signe of the Gunne,. Imprinted at London :: [1579?]. (Actual printer's name supplied and publication date conjectured by STC.) (Signatures: A.) (The last leaf is blank.) (Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

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