❧The tragicall Historie of Charles and Iulia.
WHen glorious Greekes by cōquest got,
had spoyled Phrigian feeldes:
And vaunting home with victorie,
vpon theyr shining Sheeldes.
When flashing flames of flakie fire,
had Pryames pride opprest:
And Troyan Towers by gréedy Greekes,
of pride were dispossest.
The pricke of prayse, the stagge of Fame,
that hight Aeneas he:
(Whome Poets fayne Anchises sonne,
and Venus Boy to be.)
Preparde his Ship to séeke the soyle,
which he by fate should finde:
Yet béeing galde with gripes of gréefe,
he thus lamentes in minde.
O frowning frowarde Fortune fell,
that kingdomes doost subuart:
Whose whyrling whéele of fickle force,
dooth hate the hawtie hart.
Thou bendst thy browes with lowring lookes,
to heare of mens good happe:
He suppes the sauce of sower reléefe,
that lulles him in thy lappe.
[Page]Thy fawning face, thy fléering smyles,
thy traynes intyste our trust:
To thinke no feates of forrayne force,
could drowne our déedes in dust.
Our Ilon braue was once the flower,
and chéefe of Asia soyle:
But lawlesse lust of Paris lyfe,
hath brought thy spitefull spoyle.
O Letcher lewde we may lament,
O Helen we may rewe:
For Paris prankes, and thine vntrueth,
our sorrowes doo ensewe.
O would the Woolues with gaping iawes,
as soone as thou wast borne:
With tearing téeth and clasping clawes,
had thee in péeces forne.
Then Troyan Towers had safely stoode,
and Infantes life preseru'de:
Then hautie Hectors head had not,
with traytors knife bene caru'de.
Dephobus, Trouetus, Polites,
with Fame had yet remaynd:
Nor Polixenas blood the graue,
of Achillus had bene staynd.
Then Pirhus had not wrought his wyll,
with Priams aged bones:
[Page]To blotte with blood and ashes fine,
hye Ioue his Alter stones.
Thy Princely Pallace finely framde,
and glazde with glittering golde:
Had scapt the scathe of furious foes,
which force of fire did folde.
Our Armors had not bene berayd,
with blood of gushing vaines:
Nor strouting streams had smeard ye stréets,
with heapes of dead mens braines.
Our Temples and our sturdy gates,
had not with toyle bene torne:
Ne should the Soyle which suckt vp blood,
haue made such sprouting Corne.
These gréefes and grones had we escapt,
had Paris lost his life:
As Sages sad by learned lore
dyd will, to stint our strife.
But Pryam oh, I rew thy case,
and Troy I thée lament:
Whose ripe renowne and rife report,
was through the world Isprent.
By chippes of chaunce thou chosen wast,
to fiftie chyldren Syre:
And yet ere death decréed thy doome,
they dyd theyr endes aspyre.
[Page]Thy sonnes thus slaine, thy selfe alas,
wast halde by hoarie haire:
To sacred Temple, where thy corpes
was crasde with spytefull speare.
Thy Quéene, and daughter Cassandra.
as Captiues bothe were tane:
And for the gayne of gréedy golde,
thy séely sonne was slayne.
O wretched King, whose banefull Boye,
hath thus destroyde vs all:
And on our Regions, Realmes, & Townes,
hath forste this fatall fall.
O Tenedos, that lent our losse,
whose sturdie Oakes were squarde:
To worke our wrong by wicked wyles,
which guilefull Greekes preparde.
Whose hautie Horse procurde our harmes,
that dyd no daunger doubt:
Tyll outwarde showe of Sacrifice,
had brought our bane about.
Yea, through thy grones did grow our gréefe
whose shade did shroude theyr sight:
That when we thought theyr Nauies gone,
they straight returnd with might.
Cassandras sawes, we small estéemde,
who Prophecied our shame:
[Page]And sayde, the cause of all our care,
should be a Grecian Dame.
When Paris went to Greece shée sayde.
O Brother doo retyre:
You lyttle knowe you goe to fetche,
great flames of flashing fire.
Laacons woordes eke warnde our woe,
his Speare gainst Horse he thrust:
And sayde, you Troyans take good héede,
howe you this tymber trust.
Much canckred crafte contriu'de there is,
within this wylie worke:
For in the compasse of this Caue,
the guilefull Greekes doo lurke.
O that the ground had bene my graue,
when vytall breath I tooke:
Or that before this dolefull day,
my life had me forsooke.
Then should not I haue séene our Towers,
consumde with firie flames:
Nor Infantes slaine at Mothers breasts,
with spoyle of modest Danies.
Then should not I haue séene the blood,
lyke Riuers redde to ronne:
Nor wretched Fathers loose theyr lyues,
each by his murdred sonne.
[Page]The hoarie heads with syluer haires,
were pearst with Grecians dartes:
That flowing floods of luke warme blood,
did gushe from out theyr harts.
There might be séene, bothe head and armes,
with many a lustie lym:
Béeing borne aboue the bloody brookes,
in swelling streames to swym.
I saw, I saw, that gréeu'd mée most,
my Coosin Hectors corse:
Whose bloody corpes amyd the stréetes,
dyd moue me to remorse.
To aged Pryam béeing alyue,
his body then I gaue:
That he might haue the right renowne,
and honour of his graue.
What heart so harde but must lament,
to view this great annoy:
Alas, I can no longer staye,
I must depart from Troy:
O Troy adiew, I wayle thy woes,
I mourne thy heauy plight:
Thou wast not wun by manly force,
but by Vlysses slight.
My Countrey, Kinsmen, and my fréendes,
though teares like Seas doo swell:
[Page]Yet dead, or lyuing, nowe at last,
I byd you all farewell.
Farewell, thou fertile Phrigian soyle,
where Troy sometime did stande:
Thy walles are waste, thy wealth is worne.
adiew my natiue Lande.
WHen sighes & sobs had sokte his heart,
and teares were wasted well:
With mouing minde he séekes the soyle,
which fates to him did tell.
To sea warde then with Sonne and Syre,
he frames with iorney faste:
With Countrey goodes, and Reliques braue▪
he hyes in all the haste.
His Nauie ready laye at roade,
the Troyans to conuay:
In dreadfull doubt, and daungers déepe,
they tooke theyr wearie way.
Charibdis gulfe, and Scillas sandes,
with safetie they did passe
Yet seuen yéeres space the foming floods,
theyr let of harbor was.
As houering thus in hope they lay,
at last Aeneas spyes:
[Page]A Hauen for to shrowde their Ship,
from hoarie Hyems eyes:
And lyghting nowe on luckie lande,
he found it Carthage newe:
Whose Princely Portes so finely framde,
dyd glad his eyes to viewe.
Where daintie Dido was addrest,
the Prince to entertayne:
Beséeching of this Troyan Knight,
with her for to remayne.
He waying not of her good wyll,
preparde him selfe with spéede:
To looke this Lande, the which by lot,
the fates for him decréede.
Whē sturdy stormes, and striuing streames,
when tossing tydes were spent:
At last on Lauyne coast he landes,
though Iunos browes were bent.
And in Italia he remaynes,
Lauinia was his Wife:
Of whome he got a worthy sonne,
and then departed lyfe.
Which Iulius Siluius had to name,
that Alba Longa built:
Of whome Siluius Brutus came,
that Fathers lyfe hath spylt.
[Page]For which mischaunce he banisht was,
and in this Ile aryu'de:
Wherein he got three worthy sonnes,
or death his lyfe depryu'de.
Yet or the Sisters dyd agrée,
his twist for to vntwine:
Hee made deuision of this Lande,
and then was layde in Shrine.
To Locrins lot, the East parte fell,
the other Albanact had:
And Camber gouernde worthy Wales,
whereof he was full glad.
These Princes each possest theyr place,
and dyd this Lande defend:
Tyll Atropos with caruing knife,
her Sisters web dyd ende.
Then Cambria was two Lordships large,
two Lords possest the same:
Of whome, as Stories make recorde,
they were of worthy fame.
In Anglesie the one dyd raigne,
syr Gaulfride stoute he hight:
The other Owen had to name,
in Flint he rulde by right.
This Gaulfride had one sonne calde Charles,
a Lad of lusty lym:
[Page]And Owen had a Daughter déere,
in beautie lyke to him.
This Charles Dame Nature had bedeckt,
with goodly giftes of grace:
That all the Arte which she could vse,
she planted in his face.
His flowing tongue Apollo taught,
such sugred speach to frame:
(His stature was so séemely set)
as none can tell the same.
Full twentie yéeres he was of age,
his Beard began to growe:
Then tyme in him by rare aspectes,
great wisdome séemd to showe.
Her name was gentle Iulia,
whose blazing beautie bright:
Like splendaunt Phoebus rayes did shine,
in euerie peoples sight.
I know Apelles could not paint,
her séemely shape and showe:
Though euerie Painter should with him,
theyr perfect skyll bestowe.
Dame Nature séeing her picture braue,
dyd heaue her prayse so hye:
That in the same shée breathed life:
when shée dyd it espye.
[Page]Her curled crine dyd farre surpasse,
the glorious glistering golde:
My skill is scant, my wit dooth want,
her fauour to vnfolde.
In yéeres she was ninetéene I reade,
yet was her gestures graue:
And modest was she in her talke,
but fewe her vertues haue.
Why should I stand to paynt her prayse,
I want the Muses ayde:
Ne haue I clym'de Parnassus clyffe,
by ceaselesse toyle assayde.
I neuer yet did washe my wittes,
at wise Libethres Well:
Nor scalde the roughe and ragged rocke,
where learned Ladies dwell.
Wherefore come Clio, mée assist,
good Ladies lend your skyll:
That I may showe those Loouers lyues,
with this my barraine quyll.
A Fountaine fayre there is in Flint,
a Riuer rare to sée:
Where auncient Brittaines dyd suppose,
some power diuine to bée.
And daylie yet they doo adore,
this auncient sacred Spring:
[Page]Whose Vertues of a troth are rare,
and doo much profite bring.
And calde it is Saint Winefredes Well,
for whome theyr yéerely Feast:
With reuerence they yet obserue,
from greatest to the least.
The Lame, the Blinde, the Lunatike,
the Deafe, and eke the Dome:
Vnto this cléere celestiall spring,
for succour styll doo come.
Amongst the route, young Charles dooth ride,
this pleasaunt plat to viewe:
And to suruay each seemely shape,
among this comely crewe.
On th'other side Dame Iulia comes,
her offringes to bestowe:
That vnto VVinefred she maye,
her due obeysaunce showe.
To Temple nowe these gallaunts goe,
with Iulia and her trayne:
Where solempne Seruice they did heare,
and so returnde agayne.
Then vnto dauncing they doo fall,
as auncient custome is:
They spende theyr tyme in pleasaunt sport,
no want of ioye they mysse.
[Page]But Charles amyd the thickest throng,
dooth lende his launcing lookes:
To féede his eyes with beauties baytes,
yet fearde no force of hookes.
Theyr beautie he in ballaunce bindes,
and wayes them all alyke:
He thought no dynt of Cupids darte,
her sturdie heart could strike.
At last his eyes he firmely fixt,
on Iulias shape beside:
Whose fauour freshe, and face so fayre,
Dame Nature had bedyde.
He found such sparkes within her face,
as dyd inflame his heart:
Which boylde his brest, with burning brāds,
and bred his smoking smart.
For crabbed Cupid by his craft,
dyd hyde himselfe vnseene:
And gorde the breast of Charles vnwares,
which made his woundes full greene.
Syr Charles who lyu'de at lybertie,
as captiue nowe is caught:
And where he wyst not how to wooe,
now Looue his tongue hath taught.
He knewe her not that bred his bane,
or wrapt his wittes in woe:
[Page]His sences now were rockt a sléepe,
her Looue had lulde him soe.
Yet bashfull shame, (the foe of Looue,)
withholdes his tongue to speake:
And faynting feare, had wrought his force,
his minde he durst not breake.
Three thinges there be that hinder Looue,
that's Absence, Feare, and Shame:
And where that these be resident,
there thinges can neuer frame.
Yet he requests with dilligence.
a Tenaunt of her Syre:
What hight her name, who was her Kinne,
that kindled thus his fyre.
Meane space fayre Iulia lookes about,
her wandring eyes doo gaze:
Tyll shée by Fortune found the face,
which made her minde to maze.
On Charles by chaūce, her eyes made choyse,
whose feature shée dyd finde:
(Aboue each showe of humaine shape)
the best to please her minde.
Shée deemed his beames of beauty bright,
dyd passe each wight as farre:
As Titans glystering rayes excelles,
the clearenes of a Starre.
[Page]By doome diuine it was decréede,
he should enioye her hart:
Yet knew not shée what wight it was,
that dyd procure her smart.
Thus bothe by lot in looue were lynckt,
there Passions were alike:
One direfull darte by Cupids crafte,
theyr stroke of strife dyd strike:
They straungers were to each vnknown,
bothe languishe for reléefe:
And feare dyd force them to be faint,
to shewe theyr gripes of gréefe.
Yet shée demaundes what Knight it was,
whose Princely port dyd shine:
Who aunswered her, he was the chéefe,
and heyre of Gaulfrides line.
Which was the Earle of Anglesie,
these woordes dyd glad her hart:
And yet the priuie prickes of looue,
encreast her ceaselesse smart.
On Venus then shée dooth exclaime,
and of her cruell chylde:
Because that through his shiuering shafte,
her pleasures were exylde.
Yet dooth shee thanke Dame Venus grace,
that shée in hart dyd serue:
[Page]A worthy Wight, whose vertues rare,
dyd well her looue deserue.
Wherefore O Lady, graunt (quoth he)
that for my loyall hart:
I may rewarded be with looue,
to cease my secrete smart.
Thus bothe attentiue were to view,
to marke each others eye:
If by the sight, some signes might séeme,
the flames for to descrie.
At last theyr dauncing finisht was,
they leaue theyr lyked sport:
And to a Garden gay and gréene,
they all foorthwith resort.
Wherein an Arbor they are set,
each one to his degrée:
First Charles, then Iulia next to him,
as duetie wyld to bée.
The common crewe with merrie notes,
of syluer sounde doo sing:
That with the Eccho of theyr voice,
they make the Garden ring.
But Charles thus placed in this plat,
with ioye his tongue is tyde:
And shiftes of shame, doo shrowde his spéeche,
which should haue looue descryde.
[Page]He fréendly grypes her tender hand,
his hart dooth leape for ioye:
And chaunge of h [...]we bewrayes the flames,
that dyd his minde annoye.
For as a glasse presentes each showe,
and makes the Picture playne:
Euen so the eyes and face bewrayes,
what dooth in minde remayne.
When cullor vades and comes againe,
when wandring eyes doo raunge:
These are the certayne signes of Looue,
or of some Passion straunge.
He fayne would speake, but feare bad staye,
and shame retaynd her tongue:
And thus with prickes of Cupids flames,
they bothe alyke were stong.
Tyll Looue at last surpassed shame,
and forced feare to flye:
The blazing brandes that burnd within,
burst out with flames on hye.
Then Charles declarde what grypes of gréefe
dyd holde his heauy hart:
What flames of Fancie burnd his breast,
through dint of Cupids dart.
O Iulia, would to God (quoth he)
you knewe my priuie payne:
[Page]What secrete sighes and soking sobs,
I for your sake sustayne.
Your heauenly hewe hath wun my wyll,
and pearst my heart so deepe:
That lest you deygne to graunt me grace,
my wayling minde must weepe.
For when I saw your seemely sight,
there flewe from out your eyes,
A spitefull sparke into my heart,
whereof great flames did ryse.
That least you graunt me wished grace,
to ease my groning gréefe:
The greedy ground wyll be my graue,
for want of your reléefe.
O Lady deere in you remaynes,
to saue or else to spyll:
My life or death, my weale and woe,
dependes vpon your wyll.
With Mercie heale my moning minde,
sith beautie dooth abound:
Let Pittie be the plaster pure,
to cure my inwarde wound.
Else cruell care, with caruing knife,
my vytall twist vntwine:
And dreadfull death dispatch my dayes,
to shrowde my shape in shrine.
[Page]Here with the trickling teares dyd trayne,
a long his cherry cheekes:
And sobs to silence him prouokte,
his tongue to talke mysteekes.
When she had heard this trembling tale,
she would haue fayne replyde:
But faultring tongue was glewd so fast,
that it to roofe was tyde.
At last as one from slouthfull sléepe,
which newly dooth awake:
Recouering of her former force,
with trembling tongue she spake,
O woorthy Syr, whome lucky lot,
through destinies decrée:
Assigned haue vnto this place,
to thrall my heart so free.
Is loyall Looue do burne your breast,
as you by speach professe:
Much more the kindled coales doo blaze,
in me whose force is lesse.
O that Dame Fortune dyd agrée,
if that it pleasde your minde:
That lasting lynkes of loyall Looue,
dyd knit the knot of kinde.
Though death should deale his dyrefull dint,
and daunt me with his Dart:
[Page]No pinching prickes of pyning payne,
should styrre my minde to start.
Eche gréef were gaine, ech soure were swéet,
eche payne shall pleasure séeme:
All deadly dolors for your sake,
I déepe delyght would déeme▪
And least you thinke I falsely fayne,
my heart and hand I giue:
To rest your owne in weale or woe,
whyle I on earth doo liue.
You Loouers well may iudge what ioyes,
inflamde his moning minds:
When calme content prouok [...] her will,
the Brydely bandes to binde.
He cryes, O Fortune stay thy whéele,
I haue my hoped hyre:
My will hath wun his onely wishe,
thou fedst me with desyre.
Heerwith theyr solemne sacred oathes,
confirmes theyr faithfull hartes:
And hearts and handes doo knyt the knot,
which nought but death departs.
Bothe Iuno then, and Himen heyghe,
to wytnesse they doo call:
Howe fréely they dyd ioyne the bande,
which thrust them bothe in thrall.
[Page]By this tyme Phoebus lost his lyght,
and Westwarde dyd decline:
And Vesper nowe the euening Starre,
beginneth for to shine.
O Charles (quoth shee) we must depart,
which grindes my groning gréefe:
Tyll tracte of tyme doo yéelde the lot,
to lende vs lyke reléefe.
(Quoth he) O Iulia poynt the tyme,
that we may meete agayne:
And if I breake the fixed howre,
let mée the blame sustayne.
Nought else but death, shall kéepe my corps,
from out they seemely sight:
Or if I dye, my wandring Ghost,
shall come to thée by night.
Sayde Iulia then, when Phoebus hath,
thrée tymes his lyght renewde:
Let not your absence cause my cares,
least pleasures be subdewde.
O Iulia déere, if I (quoth he)
doo swarue from your desyre:
Let mighty Ioue consume my corpes,
with flashing flames of fyre.
With clasping armes they then embrace,
theyr kisses shewe theyr kinde:
[Page]A hundreth tymes theyr lyppes doo meete,
to glad each others minde.
Then floods of teares do flowe full fast,
theyr parting was a payne:
Yet hope was hony to theyr harts,
that they should méete againe.
And thus they had each others hart,
which dyd them bothe content:
He hyeth then to Anglesie,
and homeward straight she went.
Where being come, they bothe lament,
the force of Cupids fist:
Whose haplesse hand dyd shoote the shafte,
to wound them ere they wist.
He cryes, O Cupid crafty elfe,
the worker of my woe:
What haue I done, that moues thy minde,
on me thy force to show.
And she exclaymes on Venus vyle,
which lapt her heart in Looue:
And bound her in such bandes of bale,
from which she could not mooue.
Theyr eyes do now forget to sléepe,
through care and dyrefull dread:
They wallowe styll theyr wearie bones,
vpon theyr restlesse bead.
[Page]Nowe doo they déeme each day a month,
and euerie month a yeare:
Tyll each of them by plighted vowe,
in poynted place appeare.
Each pleasure nowe procureth payne,
all Musicke séemeth mone:
All wealth is woe, theyr heauy harts,
are gnawde with gripes of grone.
The wished tyme they styll attend,
to view each others sight:
That they might spend theyr tyme in sport,
and lyue in déepe delight.
Thrée tymes hath Phoebus now repay'de,
his wasted hornes a new:
The wished day is nowe attaynd,
they should each other view.
Then Charles with chéerefull hart is prest,
when Phoebus force was spent:
To hye with haste, least Parents should,
perceyue his close intent.
Nowe Sol was setled in the West,
and Luna gan to shine:
When Charles pretendes to view her face,
whome he in heart dyd shrine.
By trauayle he attaynes the place,
(when Nox was wasted well:)
[Page]Where first he found the harmefull heate,
which forst his heart to swell.
But when Aurora in the East,
had cléerde the morning tyde:
Then Iulia longing for this lyght,
to Wynefride shee hyde.
By fayning of due Sacrifice,
they bothe with ioye embrace:
That each of them through frée consent,
had wun this wished place.
What ioyes they had, let Loouers iudge,
when bothe at suddayne sight:
Possest the fruites of theyr desires,
vnto theyr déepe delyght.
Euen as the Vine enuyroneth,
the pole which makes them grow:
So they embrace each others necke,
with armes as white as snow.
When sugred toyes of Loouers guise,
betwéene them ende dyd take▪
Then Charles to Iulia framde his tale,
and thus to her he spake.
O Iulia, would my soyle were set,
within thy natiue lande:
That I each night might shape my course.
to kisse thy tender hande.
[Page]So might I homewarde hye with haste,
ere morning lent his lyght:
So might we bothe frequent our ioyes,
vnséene of any wight.
But séeing the stronde withholdes our harts,
béeing lynckt by lots of looue:
Let vs to winne our wished wylles,
some priuie practise prooue.
To binde vs bothe in Bridely bandes,
this is the méetest way:
That we by some deuise allure,
some Préest with hoped pray.
Him to corrupt with heapes of Coyne,
yet close it must be wrought:
That rype report run not abroade,
ere it to passe be brought.
But when by Lawe we lynked are,
if then our Parents knowe:
They waying want of remedy,
wyll graunt it shall be soe.
And though my Parents and my fréendes,
disdaine my secrete déede:
In stéede of theyr good wyll, I shall,
obtayne a greater méede.
My Fathers wealth, and eke my kinne,
I doo accoumpt them small:
[Page]So I enioy thy hydden heart,
I reape reward for all.
Wherfore let not our Fathers wrath,
or care for worldly wealth:
Once moue thy stedfast minde from me,
whereon dependes my health.
For why, ere Luna lose her lyght,
by onely course of kinde:
I wyll prouide a priuie Préest,
our bandes of blisse to binde.
Therefore declare if my deuise,
content your worthy wyll:
Or that you know a better way,
our ioyes for to fulfyll.
When as he thus had tolde his minde,
shée spake with trembling voyce:
O Syr (quoth shée) my wits are weake,
I put it to your choyce.
The great good wyll I beare to you,
my hews bewrayes the same:
And though that Women weaker be,
my heate excéedes your flame.
Where Femine doo prefixe theyr Looue,
no measure they obserue:
They fasten then theyr faith so sure,
that they doo neuer swarue.
[Page]Assure your selfe what I haue sayde,
my déedes shall playne expresse:
For tyme shall trie that trusty trueth,
shall not from words degresse.
For why, the giftes of Natures grace,
which I in you doo finde:
Your Verues, and your forme so fine,
haue wun my inwarde minde.
No marueyle tis that I am caught,
in Cupids suttle snare:
Sith that the Wight that holdes my heart,
in beauty is so rare.
My Looue is such, that least through lot,
we lyncked are by Lawe:
Fell Atropos wyll cut the threde,
which Lachesis dooth drawe.
Sith I haue vowde to be thine owne,
thy purpose do dispatch:
For none beares breath, but onely thou,
with whome I wish to match.
Ere that a month therefore be past,
I wyll attentiue bee:
According vnto promise plight,
your quicke returne to see.
My Iulia deere doubt not (sayth he)
full soone I wyll retyre:
[Page]For to content your fréendly minde,
with fruites of your desire.
And in meane space as Loouers vse,
on hope we styll wyll féede:
Tyll poynted tyme be fully runne,
whereon we haue decréede.
By this tyme Phoebus sturdy stéedes,
doo lodge in Occident:
When these two Loouers nowe must leaue,
the sport which thus they spent.
With heauy cheere they then embrace,
theyr clasped armes they close:
What heauy sighes and sobbes they spent,
my pen cannot disclose.
With gréedy grypes he culles her corpes,
full lothe for to depart:
Farewell my Iulia déere (quoth he)
I leaue with thée my hart.
Syr Charles (quoth shée) although my corps,
be hyd from out your sight:
I yéelde also my heart to you,
your goodnesse to requight.
And thus they bothe prepare to packe,
he spares no spurres to spéede:
Shée backward throwes her lingring lookes,
her fancyde eyes to feede.
[Page]But when shée lost his sight at last,
her teares gan gushe a mayne:
Her heauy heart was then opprest,
with pynching prickes of payne.
Shée curst the tyme that Nature first,
dyd lende her lucklesse lyfe:
Shee wisht her Nurse, had reft her breath,
by dint of bloody knyfe.
Shee curst her mouth that tooke the foode,
which dyd her corpes sustayne:
And wisht some poyson in her pappe,
that might haue bene her bayne.
At last retaynd by reasons rule,
her selfe shée homeward sped:
Where being come, shée wylles her mayde,
for to prepare her bed.
Whereon shee thought to take her rest,
and fall to quiet sleepe:
But carking care, and groning gréefe,
prouokte her eyes to wéepe.
That downe the teares lyke drops doo raine,
on bed whereas shée laye:
And to her selfe in whyspering sort:
at last shée gan to saye.
If I should marie secretly,
ere Parents knowe the same?
[Page]What should I purchase to my selfe,
but onely lasting shame?
What? should I match my selfe with him,
whome thrise I neuer sawe?
Tush Iulia, tush thou art to rashe,
therefore thy minde withdrawe,
Least it be sayde, thou art a Chylde,
that lyu'ste deuoyde of awe?
Shall I my Mothers curse deserue?
whereat I ought to quake?
Shall I lose Parents, Kithe and Kin?
all for one Straungers sake?
Or shall I put my honestie,
into a Straungers hand:
Who would perhaps misuse me then,
when as I were in band?
To whome then might I make my mone,
or gape for hope of grace?
Who would assist me hauing wrong,
or pleade my carefull case?
No, no, my wyll shall cease to wade,
to worke my Parentes woe:
My hasty head shall leaue his hope,
to frame my ruine soe.
This sayd, she pausde, & straight wayes dooth,
her tatling tongue reprooue:
[Page]For spytting out such woordes of spight,
gainst him whome she did looue.
Should I (quoth shée) vngratefull séeme,
to such a woorthy Knight?
Who on the gayne of my good wyll,
dooth fixe his whole delight?
Within whose faithfull heart so true,
dooth lodge such loyall looue?
Whose Vertue rare, and séemely shape,
the stonyst heart might mooue?
Should I then haue a flinty heart,
lyke to my Countreyes name?
Or should I to a courteous Knight,
be found a thanklesse Dame?
No, no, in wealth, or else in woe,
in myrth, or else in mone:
In pleasure, or in pinching paine,
tyll death I am his owne.
Tyll whose returne (I liue in teares,)
expecting wished ioyes:
When Mariage locke, shall linck our hearts,
to driue out darke annoyes.
When teares & swelling sighes were slakte,
Morpheus dooth appeare:
Syr Somnus with his sléeping slights,
dooth close her eyes so cleare.
[Page]Her minde is then deuoyde of care,
(For sleepe dooth ease the hart:
Whome greedy gripes of groning greefe,
dooth sinke in Seas of sinart.)
At last Aurora with his lyght,
the cloudy Skies dooth cleare:
And blazing Tytan with his beames,
in East dooth strayght appeare.
Then dooth shée ryse from carefull coutche,
shée takes her Booke in hand:
Wherein shée reades her priuate Prayers,
as dyd with custome stand.
But still her rowling eye dooth raunge,
in thousands thriftlesse thoughts:
To think on Charles, dooth chaūge her chéere,
thereby her gréefe is wrought.
But leaue we Iulia nowe a tyme,
for why my quaking quyll:
Shall nowe reuert, to paynt his greefe,
whome cutting cares dyd kyll.
When he had past her Fathers Port,
and parted was her sight:
In ryding he espyes a Hyll,
whereat he dyd alight.
Such dollors deepe dyd him distresse,
such suddaine sorrowes swell.
[Page]As mazde his mynde, that flat on ground,
in pytteous plightes he fell.
And thus with cryes he cleaues the clowdes,
Oh gentle Death (quoth hee:)
Come shut these wyndowes of my mynde,
this lothsome lyght to see.
O Heauens, where are your thunder boltes,
and flakes of flashing fire:
For to consume my carefull coarse,
which burnes in hote desire.
O Earth▪ doo gape with mighty mawe,
and swallowe vp my coarse:
Some hasty hande, dispatch my dayes,
and rew me with remorse.
As thus he powrde his pittious plaints,
his was [...]lesse woes to wéepe:
His sooking sighes, and wearyed teares,
prouokte his eyes to sleepe.
Dame Venus then to him appeares,
thus sleeping as he laye:
And thus shée spake (O Charles quoth shée)
awake with spéede I saye.
Why doost thou so with troublous thoughts,
and stormes of sturdy strife:
Torment thy selfe for her, which shall
remayne thy wedded Wife?
[Page]The noysome night is néerely spent,
stand vp therfore with spéede:
For why, to hye the home in haste,
the tyme requireth néede.
This faynting feare that frayes thy heart,
denyes thou art a man:
And yet thy shape dooth shewe full well,
the arte that Nature can.
Vngyrde thy minde of inwarde gréefe,
let wisedome welde thy wyll:
Thy looue is thine (doo not dismay)
and so shee shall be styll.
With that he starteth vp amazde,
releast of inwarde payne:
And hopte assuredly of helpe,
through this his vision vayne.
And beeing perfectly awakte,
he tooke his prime prospect:
Vnto the coast where shée was lodgd,
that dyd his heart protect.
O luckie Land, O Flint (quoth he)
thrise happy be the howre:
That I to fixe my féebel féete,
in thée dyd finde the powre.
Thou harborest her that hath my heart,
and shall tyll death agrée:
[Page]To shryne mée in my shyuering shéete,
what so betyde of mée.
With that a clowde of smoking sighes,
he sendes to her amayne:
To signifie her loyall looue,
dyd so procure his payne.
Then to his man he calles for Horse▪
he hyes him home apace:
That he may wynne his Fathers Court,
ere Phoebus showe his face.
And by that tyme he had aspyrde,
vnto his hasted home:
Bright Lucifer the morning Star,
about the Skies dooth rome.
He wylles his man to make his bed,
whome he dooth chardge full straight:
Not to disclose his secrete walkes,
which was a thing of waight.
And there in bedde he dooth deuise,
where he a Préest may finde:
That may procure his wished wyll,
and ease his carefull minde.
At last, supprest with sluggish sléepe,
he takes a nappe or twayne:
And then he starts from stately bed,
to cloathe him selfe agayne.
[Page]And ere he had him selfe addrest,
the Sunne dooth South declyne,
The clocke strykes twelue, the boord is layd,
and it is dynner tyme.
It were too long for to expresse,
the chaunge of costly cates:
For seru'de they were as dooth become,
the stay of noble States.
Let it suffise that they were set,
and into talke they fell:
Of this and that, I knowe not what,
nor dyd not marke it well.
But well I wot, Charles lyked not,
to heare theyr tedious talke:
For all that whyle his wandring wittes,
a thousande wayes dooth walke.
He sate so sadly in his dumpes,
with armes enclosde to breast:
That men might think some cause there was
that bread his great vnrest.
His Father and his Mother bothe,
doo fixe theyr eyes on him:
They muzd what clowds had clipst his mirth
or made his ioyes so dym.
And thus his Father gan to speake,
my Sonne, I maruayle much:
[Page]What mooues thy minde to myrthlesse chéere
or makes thy gestures such?
Hath lynkes of Looue, by Cupids crafte,
inchaynde thy heart by chaunce?
Hath Venus vayne inuolu'de thy minde,
in her delyghts to daunce?
Hath fancie fettered thee so faste,
that thou canst not reioyce?
Then tell me who, and what shée is,
whereon thou makste thy choyce.
His Mother eke, whose tender care,
was ouer him not small:
Desyres him tell, what chyppe of chaunce,
by sorie happe dooth fall.
That ere the wound be waxen stale,
shee may a salue prepare:
To heale the harmes that holdes his heart,
and for to cure his care.
Theyr woordes doo much amaze his minde,
the blood dooth stayne his face:
A signe of séemely shamefastnesse,
and token of good grace.
And thus to them with reuerence due,
he dooth replye agayne:
My Parentes bothe, you gesse amysse,
your iudgementes are but vayne.
[Page]No shiuering shafte of Cupids crafte,
nor force of Fancies fume:
Hath any force to crushe my coarse,
my pleasures to consume.
I coumpt but vyle of Venus vaunts,
her beauty is but blacke:
It cannot dym my christall sight,
nor pluck my pleasures backe.
I haue my health I thanke the Heauens,
with cares ne am I clad:
My minde is stuft with inwarde myrth,
although I seeme so sad.
And then he throwes a forced smyle,
to dryue their mindes from dout:
Least they might else surmyse the trueth,
which made him séeme so stout.
By that they thus had spent the tyme,
the dynner came to ende:
All ryse with course of courtesie,
with shortnesse to extende.
The Lordes and Ladyes doo delyght,
at Chesse to spende the tyme:
And some reuolue the auncient bookes,
was writ in Brittish ryme.
Some Dice, some Carde, some Hunt, some Hawke,
as best content their minde:
[Page]And euery one to passe the tyme,
some pleasaunt play doo finde.
But Charles enchaynd by thrystles thoughts
the day in care consumes:
And wisheth Nox for to approch,
that sléepe may ease his sumes.
Which béeing come, his former woes,
withholdes his eyes from rest:
He turnes and tosseth too and fro,
to ease his carefull brest.
At last Aurora lendes her lyght,
and Titan dooth display:
His gladsome beames to each mans eyes,
that couets for the day.
Syr Charles that longed for the lyght,
from carefull couch dooth ryse:
And then howe he might finde a Préest,
he dooth all meanes deuyse.
By happe it came into his minde,
of one whome he dyd knowe:
Which was his fréende, and vnto whome,
he straight for helpe dyd goe.
Requesting him to yeelde supplie,
for to releeue his case:
Because in him dyd onely rest,
his hope of wished grace.
[Page]Protesting then if he would graunt,
to comfort him in neede:
He would requight his great good wyll,
with fruites of treble méede.
In you (quoth he) remaynes my helpe,
and lengthning of my lyfe:
And you alone can ease my gréefe,
and stint my inwarde stryfe.
Wherefore as I may rest your fréend,
in after tyme to come:
So lende reléefe to ayde my lacke,
then shall you heare the some.
The Préest replyed with reuerence dew,
good Syr, what lyes in me:
My lyfe and death is ready prest,
at your commaund to be.
If I may pleasure you in ought,
expresse the same with speede:
And héere I vowe in what I can,
I wyll support your néede.
And if it doo concerne such things,
as must be needes conceald:
Though death should daūger me with doubt,
it shall not be reueald.
Wherefore detract no longer tyme,
heere is bothe heart and hand:
[Page]In weale or woe, I wyll not sticke,
your helper for to stand.
Charles lyked well his faythfull heart,
and thought him selfe thryse blest:
That Fortune stoode so much his fréend,
to graunt him wished rest.
With thousand thankes for his good wyll,
which he had not deseru'de:
Protesting then his kindnesse great,
his lothed lyfe preseru'de.
Wherefore (quoth he) with lystning eare,
attende vnto my tale:
So shalt thou heare my lyngering ioyes,
which bréedes my bytter bale.
It was my lot to lyght in place,
where Ladyes dyd resort:
Amongst the which I spyed out one,
of most surpassing port.
Whome Natures arte so finely framde,
with such excelling glée:
As would intrappe the stoutest heart,
her featured forme to sée.
The shyning shape that Venus shewde,
on toppe of Ida Mount:
Was nothing to her Princely port,
of whome I make account.
[Page]In whome such vertue dooth remayne,
to matche her heauenly face:
As makes me iudge shée dooth excell,
Pandora for her grace.
Whose seemely showe, with manners milde
when I had marked well:
Withdrewe the fréedome of my minde,
to bondage straight I fell.
The bandes of beauty which shée bare,
with woordes of curteous talke:
Within the walles of her good wyll,
inclosde mée for to walke.
Wherin I sought to pleade my case,
but shame my tongue dyd stay:
Yet burning Looue quight vanquisht shame,
and forced feare away.
So that my teares dyd tell my troth,
when woords might wade no more:
What should I say, I wun her wyll,
the salue of all my sore.
Shée plighted faith, I gaue my troth,
to rest her owne in lyfe:
Now nought remaynes but Mariage state,
to make vs man and wife.
Wherfore déere fréend, here is contaynd
the sum of my request:
[Page](Sith with your function it dooth stand,)
that you would doo your best.
To linke vs bothe in outwarde lawe,
which inwardly remaine:
One heart within two bodies now,
so shall you ease our paine.
Syr, sayde the Préest, though your request,
may well procure my blame:
If lucklesse lot, should giue such cause,
your Parents know the same.
Yet for the comfort of your heart,
as for my promise sake:
I wyll fulfill your hearts desire,
your secrete bandes to make.
But if shée be no equall match,
nor fit for your degrée:
I would be lothe to worke your wyll,
for why, we dayly see:
That where vnequals coupled are,
is great debate and strife:
And séedes of such dissencion stroyes,
the graftes of quiet lyfe.
My freend (quoth Charles) you néede not dout.
shée is of noble state:
Her Parentes and her Kinne descende,
(the trueth for to relate.)
[Page]From out the best of Brittish blood,
and Owen is her Syre:
In Flint he rules, and raygnes as Earle,
whome I alone desyre.
If shee be such as you declare,
Syr Charles I am content:
To ioygne you bothe in Nuptiall bandes,
if each of you assent.
Wherefore let dreade of froward happe,
no whyt dismay your minde:
What I haue sayde I wyll performe,
though death were me assignde.
I néede not héere expresse what méede,
the Préest dyd then obtayne:
His ritch rewards might well suffise,
for to requight his payne.
They bothe depart when this was done,
each to his seuerall home:
But Charles béeing clad with calme content,
in pleasaunt thoughts dooth rome.
And nothing else dooth vexe his minde,
but tediousnesse of tyme:
(For euerie day dooth seeme a yeere,
when looue remaynes in pryme.)
He blames the sonne of ceaselesse sloth,
that lendes so long his lyght:
[Page]And would the Moone were wasted cleane,
that dooth prolong the night.
O Titan, Titan, (he exclaymes,)
when wylt thou runne thy race:
I lothe the bryghtnesse of thy beames,
which doo annoy my face.
Nowe dooth he wish some suddaine traunce,
each ioynt for to benome:
And by some Charme to lose his sprites,
tyll fixed day doo come.
Somtyme he hopes of luckie happe,
then daunger byds him doubt:
And thus twixt hope and faynting feare,
his tyme he weareth out.
Such is the trape of Venus thralles,
where lothsome Looue remaines:
To hope the best, and feare the worst,
(loe, such is Loouers games.)
Betweene his hope and furious feare,
his pleasaunt chéere decayes:
His sprites are duld with carefull thoughtes▪
his fleshe consumes away.
His countenance declares his gréefe,
his strength beginnes to waste:
His ioynts waxe stiffe, his lymmes are sore,
such turmoyles he dooth taste▪
[Page]His comely carcasse waxeth faynt,
with gréefes and dayly grones:
His seemely shape is nowe become,
a heape of shackling bones.
The heart whome cutting cares dooth crushe,
and thyrling thoughts dooth thrall:
Is subiect vnto sicknesse sore,
but Feuers moste of all.
For care dooth waste the heart of man,
and bringes the body lowe:
As they that feele the force thereof,
full perfectly doo knowe.
So Charles his gréefe to Feuer growes,
his fittes procures his paine:
The percing prickes of Agues panges,
tormentes him euerie vaine.
Whereby he forced is to tell,
his dollors déepe disease:
That thereby he might finde redresse,
his sicknesse for to rase.
Nowe lyes he tossing on his bed,
sometyme with cares opprest:
And sometymes shakte with Feuers fits,
which makes him sore distrest.
His Parents mourne his present state,
they seeke for Phisickes arte:
[Page]They spare no charges to suppresse,
the terror of his smarte.
No Potions, Oyntments, Salues, or cures,
no Simples, nor Compounds:
Nor Medicines made, by Phisickes skyll,
his furious fittes confounds.
His Father tendring of his state,
bewayles his carefull case:
And sayth, my Sonne I doo perceyue,
your sorrowes by your face.
I wist of late you were not well,
when I your face dyd view:
Your minde that tyme declarde your gréefe,
by suddaine chaunge of hew.
You are attatcht with lothsome looue,
and subiect to his lawe:
Whose furious force subdueth those,
whose yéeres are gréene and rawe.
Declare therefore what so shee be,
thou shalt haue my consent:
And doo not thus with troublous thoughts,
thy carefull heart torment.
His Mother lykewise dooth lament,
her sore diseased sonne:
Her trickling teares along the bed,
lyke rushing Riuers ronne.
[Page]Shée dooth desire to knowe his gréefe,
but all theyr talke is vaine:
Theyr wasted woordes doo more encrease,
his dollor and his payne.
(For many woords dooth greeue the sicke,
which peeuish are by kinde:
As small occasions soone prouoke,
an vncontented minde.)
Therefore Syr Charles requests his Syre,
and Mother in lyke case:
(Least that his presence moue theyr gréefe)
for to depart the place.
Perswading them they vexe his minde,
with theyr continuall mone:
And that he should obtayne some sléepe,
if that they once were gone.
His wofull Parents leaue him then,
as lothe him to molest:
Whome ceaselesse smart of sicknesse sharpe,
had nowe so sore opprest.
When they were gone, he sighes, he sobs,
and rayles on Fortune blinde:
Dispayring least that sicknesse should,
his poynted knot vntwinde.
Nowe dooth he wishe that Iulia knew,
his sicknesse and his payne:
[Page]So would shée not misdoubt his looue,
nor thinke that he did fayne.
For sicknesse seldome couenaunt kéepes,
mens honestie to saue:
He pulles a man from myrth and ioy,
and rowles him to his graue.
Thus Charles amid his noysome nyppes,
dooth welter all in woe:
And dooth desire the winged Time,
with lyngering steppes to goe.
That he might haue his former health,
his plighted vowe to saue:
Before the time prefixed paste,
his full concourse should haue.
But Time regardes no state of man,
he slily slippes by stealth:
And tedious is to patients greeu'de,
yet seemes but short in health.
The yéere dooth waste, his course runs on,
Dame Phoebae dooth againe:
Remoue her former wasted hornes,
and shines full bright and plaine.
Nowe Iulia dooth with watching eye,
for Charles returne attende:
Perswaded that this wished tyme,
should former sorrowes ende.
[Page]Now shée prouides such néedefull thinges,
as dooth to her pertaine:
And thus each day shée stoode in hope,
of his returne againe.
But when shée sawe that trustlesse hope,
dyd naught at all preuayle:
Then shee misdoubts that Charles his fraude
hath caus'de his faith to fayle.
A thousand thoughts doo thrall her minde,
some times shee hopes the best:
Then blames him straight, with breach of faith,
and calles him guilefull guest.
Some times shée thinkes some other Dame,
had wun his wyll to chaunge:
Againe, shée déemes some other let,
dooth hinder him to raunge.
But when shée sawe the poynted tyme,
to be so farre I spent:
And that her hope was frustrate now,
contrarie to consent.
Shée writes to him these folowing wordes,
and willes him to beware:
Least VVynefrides plague for his vntroth,
dooth breede his ceaseles care.
¶The Letter of Iulia to Charles.
THough lyngering long I trusted to thy loue,
in hope thy deeds shold firm thy wasted words
Yet now I deeme thy wauering mind doth moue,
I beat the bush, an other gets the byrds.
The plighted tyme thou dydst appoint to meete▪
is now expirde, and thou hast broke thy vowe:
Ne hast thou sent, by writinges me to greete,
whereby the lesse, I doo thy deedes alowe.
The mighty Gods vouchsafe that Wynefride.
doo not requite thy falsehood with desart:
For stayning so her Temple with a deede,
whose false effect, dooth merite treble smart,
Yet nay the lesse though thou be false of faith:
my hart shall styll remaine thine owne for aye,
Hap weale or woe, hap life or direfull death:
I will no whit from fixed promise straye.
And so adiew, the Gods doo thee forgiue,
though thou by fraude hast bred my harts anoy:
Yet doo I vowe, while I on earth doo liue,
to pray the powers to graunt thee lasting ioy.
Thy sorowfull Ladie Iulia.
[Page]THis done, shée closde it vp with spéede,
and secretly shée sendes:
A messenger to Anglesie,
who straight his voyadge bendes.
Who being come to Gaulfrides Court,
to Charles he doth present:
(Who lay full sicke vpon his bed)
this Letter which shée sent.
When as he knewe the same to come,
from Iulia his (so déere)
He felt his Feuer fits to faint,
through newe reuiued chéere.
When he had read her Letter through,
which dyd his tariaunce blame:
He calde for pen and ynke to write,
an aunswer to the same.
Wherein he showes his cause of stay,
and that he meanes lykewise:
To firme his vowe, when to his state
of health he shall arise.
¶The replie of Charles to Iulia her Letter.
WIth treble thankes I greete thee heere againe,
whose willīg hart doth wish my lastīg welth
Soregreu'd in minde, that chance doth me retain,
and heauy hap doth so withholde my health.
[Page]Wherby the cause of thy conceite doth ryse,
though no desart may driue thy minde to dout:
Yet my distresse apparaunt to thine eyes,
shall driue the cause of such suspicion out.
The trust that thou reposedst in my looue,
shall not be voyde, nor frustrate in effect:
For why, my deeds shall plighted promise prooue
if mighty God my lyngering life protect.
Thou beatest the bush, and shalt the birds obtain,
none other wight shall haue my hart in holde:
Though time be past, yet time will come again,
for to fulfill the vowed tale I tolde.
I am no Paris, nor of Theseus broode,
ne yet am like to Iason most vniust:
But Pyramus to spende my dearest blood,
or I to Thisbe would be false of trust.
I trust that Wynefride wyll no hate conceiue,
sith by the powers my let alone proceedes:
Let her the guilty from their ioyes bereaue,
and not the faultlesse suffer for their deedes.
It is not I, but Fortunes froward fate,
that filde my hart with fits of Feuers force:
That if thou shouldst but view my present state,
thou wouldst pronounce, I am som sēceles corse.
But if the Gods vouchsafe my health to render,
I wyll fulfill my former faythed vowe:
[Page]Then shalt thou know how I thy loue do tender,
though false suspect retaines thy sences now.
And thus adiew in hope of health at hand,
tyme shall at last, inchayne our bodies fast:
Though absence thus do cause our greefes to stād,
yet lyngering ioye will dubble be at last.
Thine owne for euer, Charles.
THis Letter made, the messenger
of Iulia he dooth lende:
Desiring him vnto his Dame,
with hart him to commende.
Who straight to Flint dooth hye apace,
his message to discharge:
Who being gone, Charles féeles his fittes,
of Feuers to enlarge.
This night he takes no rest at all,
such greefe his entrayles teare:
His heauy heart thus long opprest,
with wastfull woe dooth weare.
The messenger by this came home,
whome Iulia longd to vewe:
Saluting her with Charles his lynes,
which dooth her ioyes renewe.
She shut the doore, least some should spie,
the Letter which was sent:
[Page]Which done, she hasted it to reade,
and straight the seale she rent.
With fingers fine as white as snowe,
she rippes, and reades the same
With watchfull eyes, as houering Hawke,
dooth praye vpon her game.
But when she findes howe Agues fittes,
hath shakte his hart so sore:
And howe his corpes consumed is,
with sicknesse more and more.
The brynish teares dooth wet her cheekes,
her sight to reade they stoppe:
The Christall streames in trickling wise,
lyke siluer dewe dooth droppe.
But when the spring of watrie droppes,
was dried vp through want:
To reade his déepe lamenting lynes,
her tender hart dooth pant.
Perusing them▪ shée sighes and sobbes,
to ponder his estate:
Her Isie cares and brandes of looue,
doo bréede in breast debate.
Alas (shée sayde) what dooth it néede,
to adde vnto my smart:
The least of these my cutting cares,
may kyll a womans hart.
[Page]I thought that I had past the pykes,
and feelde of fighting grones:
But nowe I sée I haue to runne,
a campe of ceaseles mones.
And where I thought that mariage Rytes,
should yeeld me gaine for gréefe:
I see the dartes of Death at hand,
which bréedes my sorrowes chéefe.
My fréende in paine (oh furious fates)
nowe fie on Fortunes whéele:
Sith I a wretche and simple soule,
her pinching paines shall féele.
But sith what destinies decrée,
of force must be fulfilde:
My patient minde shall beare each brunt [...],
as Princely powers haue wilde.
And thus as shee lamenting was,
her gréefe, and carefull case:
Her sorrowes now began to swadge,
shée wypte her watrie face.
And foorth shee comes with fayned chéere,
in countenaunce full glad:
Although the thoughts of Charles his gréefe,
dyd make her heart full sad.
Thus carefully shée driues the tyme,
with secrete sorrowes painde:
[Page]Now this, now that tormentes her minde,
as Fancies humors raynde.
But ere seuen nightes space were spent,
shée longes to knowe againe:
Of Charles his state, and how his gréefe
of Agues doo remaine.
Shee tooke her pen as ready prest,
to him againe to write:
For whome in panges of endles paine,
shée languisht day and night.
But ere shée had fulfilde her minde,
in wryting of her byll:
Such carefull newes dooth cut it off,
as made her want her wyll.
Wherefore perpend her wauering state,
howe Fortunes whéele doth raunge:
But first peruse her carefull lynes,
then marke their storie straunge.
¶Iulia her Letter to Charles.
I Haue receyued your dolefull lynes,
which vnto me you sent:
Which greeuous newes when I perusde,
dyd much my minde torment.
Within your Letter lapped was,
a frosen clod of care:
[Page]Which freesde my hart with chylling colde,
to reade your sicknesse rare.
And though I doubted your deceyt,
to lyke an other Dame:
Yet pardon me. Looue hath no lawe,
for Fancie moude the same.
For heapes of care, in those abounds,
which coupled are with feare:
And ielous Looue doubtes more then needes,
as trueth can witnesse beare.
But sith my Fortune is so harde,
I would some other wight:
Had reapt your looue, so should you not,
with Feuers fittes be fright.
Or else I would I might sustaine,
the halfe of all your greefe:
So should I ease you of some cares,
and heale my sorrowes cheefe.
But if that death by direfull dint,
should lose your lew of life:
Or sisters three should cutte your twist,
by fatall sharpned knife.
My gastlie goast shall follow fast,
to the Elisian feeldes:
Vnto the sight of seemely Saintes,
which endlesse pleasure yeeldes.
[Page]Yea, though it were in Charons boate,
downe Stigian streame to slide:
My sprite shalbe thy walking mate,
what so of me betide.
And when the ground shalbe my graue,
I wyll haue graued thereon.
This mornefull vearse, in dolefull wise,
vpon my marble stone.
Vnder this stone dooth Iulia lye.
to Charles a faithfull freende:
VVho vvillinglie to shewe her trueth,
her carefull life did ende.
The Ladies that heereafter liue,
shall knowe by Iulias looue:
Howe faithfull shee to Charles remaind,
and neuer did remooue.
WHen shée thus farre had past her pen,
in came Alecto fell:
Some grym Maegaera, stoong with lyes,
a fearefull tale to tell.
He rushing came into the Hall,
and sayde that Gaulfrides sonne,
Had yéelded vp his mortall lyfe,
his finall race was runne▪
[Page]He dyd not onely say the same,
but sware by sollem oath:
The brute thereof once throughly spread,
it was beléeu'de for troth.
The cause wherefore this lye was spread,
was this as I haue read:
That Charles into a traunce did fall,
and was reputed dead.
His face was colde, his breath was gone,
no lyfe in him appeares:
They wrong his ioyntes, they bowde his breast,
they thumpe him on the eares.
They poure warme licquor down his throte
his iawes they open wide:
And so reduced him to lyfe,
through that he did abide.
And yet the rumor rashly ranne,
his life was past all cure:
So swiftly lying Fame dooth flie,
as tatling tongues procure.
Hereof arose this lothsome lye,
but (oh) you Ladies mourne:
For now vnto a dolefull tale,
my style I must retourne.
For now as Iulia was applyed,
to pen her inwarde paine:
[Page]In came her Maide with gasly lookes,
and cryed out amaine.
O Madame (quoth shée) heauy newes,
I haue to you to showe:
To thinke whereon, my faynting heart
dooth melt through wastfull woe.
What newes (quoth Iulia) lyfting vp
her sight (from paper straight)
Hast thou to shewe, expresse the same,
and let me heare them straight.
The Maide replyed, Sir Gaulfrides sonne,
that Charles hath to name:
By death is now departed lyfe,
as bruted is by fame.
This pearst her hart with deadly smart,
this agrauates her paine:
Nowe doth shée lothe her lyngering life,
and doth the same disdaine.
Her quiuering quyll, from quaking hand,
in faynting sort doth fall:
Shée floong away bothe incke and pen,
and paper therewithall.
And foorthwith dooth commaund her Maide,
for to auoyde the place:
Who being gone, shée scryketh out,
in most lamentfull case▪
[Page]Shée rentes her haire, shée beates her breast,
her blood from face is gone:
Her hollowe lookes declarde her gréefe,
that made her minde to mone.
Shée dooth deuise which way to dye,
for life shée lotheth styll:
Dispayre byds her make no delay,
but séeke her selfe to spyll.
Yet faynting feare of femine hart,
dooth fray her from the fact:
And dreade of Gods, wylles her withholde,
from such a wicked act.
At last shée dooth exclame one fate,
and Fortunes waywarde whéele:
That forced her in stéede of ioye,
such nypping cares to feele.
O Heauens (quoth shée) what lowring lot,
of most vnluckie happe:
Hath moou'd such furie to my chaunce,
to trayne me in this trappe?
O mightie God, vouchsafe (quoth shée)
thine eares for to encline:
Let dreadfull Death thy messenger,
shut vp my corpes in shrine.
Let me not liue, sith he is gone,
that should my life support:
[Page]For Death is swéete, and Life is sowre,
where care is chéefe comfort.
It were too long to write her plaintes,
and carefull scriching cryes:
Or to expresse what floods of teares,
dyd flowe from out her eyes.
But straight amyd these passions straunge,
from Chamber shée dooth part:
And walkes the féeldes adioyning néere,
for to refreshe her hart.
Where being come, in mornefull wise
shée dooth her gréefe relate:
That hyls and dales, with woods and groues
may knowe her ruthfull state.
Her wasted wordes, like Eccho dooth,
amyd the Trées resound:
And with her teares like morning dew,
shée wets the grassie ground.
And thus shée walkes, tyll Phoebus lampe,
had lost his loouely lyght:
Then to her Chamber shée returnes,
to waste the wearie night.
Vpon her Princely bed foorthwith,
shée throwes her carefull corse:
Where blacke dispayre assaylde her straight,
with fittes of treble force.
[Page]A thousand meanes shée doth deuise,
to sheare her lyne of life:
Some times with coarde, some times with drinks,
some times with caruing knife.
At last shée staide her staggering minde,
with purpose full decréede:
Ere Sol aboue the Horizon,
dyd cast his glauncing gleede.
To VVynefrides Temple for to goe,
her prayers for to make:
And ere that shee came home againe,
her lyfe there to forsake.
Euen there shée dyd determine sure,
where first shée found the flame:
The water of her wicked déedes,
should quickly quench the same.
As Phillis ended vp her dayes,
with twyne of silken corde:
So would shée leaue her lothsome life,
which shée so much abhorde.
Thus raging in these restlesse thoughts,
tyll lyghtsome morning tyde:
Shée straight vpstart, and goes about,
her offerings to prouide.
With Incense and such néedefull thinges,
to VVynefride shee hyes:
[Page]To execute her fancied fact,
which she did late deuise.
The way was short, not past a myle,
she hasted thether straight:
And into Church she roundly goes,
her matters were of waight.
She knéeling downe in humble wise,
within that wonted place:
Where all such sate as did discende,
of worthy Owens race.
Her prayers done, she gins to pawse,
vpon her lewde pretence:
And howe the same to Parents hers,
might breede a fowle offence.
Besides the blotte of blacke defame,
that on her kinne should lyght:
With losse of honour to her selfe,
and Ladies fowle despight.
Considering this, her minde dooth chaunge,
vnto an other way:
And nowe she findes an other pathe,
to frame her owne decay.
And thus perplext with thousand thoughts,
to VVynefride she cryes:
O Virgin thou, whose flyttering fame,
dooth pearce the azurde Skies.
[Page]Whose glorie glaunceth like the gleames,
of golden Tytans rayes:
Whose Dyans deedes deserue the pricke.
of sempiternall prayse.
Bowe downe thy eares to thy handmaide,
that dooth not life desire:
But that the sisters three vouchsafe,
my death for to conspire.
My twist they haue drawne foorth too long,
which should haue taken ende:
when direfull destinies decreede,
to spoyle me of my freende.
But sith the fates so furiously,
haue refte him from my sight:
In whome consisted all my hope,
of solace and delight.
Should I desire to feede my corpes,
with faynting breath perdie:
And he ingrupled in his graue,
on whome my life dooth lie?
How should I waste my wearie time,
in ioye or wonted mirth:
VVhen wrauling woorms do crase his corps,
within the massy earth?
O would I were some sencelesse beast,
deuoyde of reasons kinde:
[Page]So should I feele no fittes of paine,
for to torment my minde.
I would Diana would decree,
to graunt me Acteons state:
So Sorrowes Houndes should hale my hart,
out of this dire debate.
Vouchsafe O Ioue that guidst the Sphaeres,
to reaue from me my life:
That I may ende this carefull course,
which breedes my guiltlesse strife.
And graunt the gasping earth that gapes,
for all thinges that she gaue:
May lodge my coarse that faine would rest,
within her swallowing caue.
Let me for Courtlie garmentes gay,
possesse a winding sheete:
And let my cyndred moulde in earth,
be troden downe with feete.
O let my dolefull Dirge be song,
in steede of Mariage feast:
And for my costlie spowsall Cowtch,
lay me in graue to reast.
And where that Hymaen should vs knitte,
in Iunos bandes for aye:
Alecto and Maegaera bothe,
let them in presence staye.
[Page]And where Lucina should obtaine,
a place by roome of right:
Their Tisiphone shall remaine,
with lookes of fowle despight.
O graunt the same you heauens I craue,
my prayers heare with speede:
For I by death wyll lose my life,
sith fates haue so decreede.
WHen she had vttered foorth her plaints,
then homewarde straight she went:
Withhelde by some celestiall power,
from former fowle intent.
To Chamber backe she dooth returne,
ere any rose from rest:
And round about her Chamber runnes,
with carefull thoughts opprest.
And when the householde ready were,
she willes her Mayde goe call
One of her Fathers men foorthwith,
whome she must speake withall.
To whom she saith, you know where dwels
the Ioyner not farre hence:
Request him for to come to me,
for I must néedes comence
With him about a certayne thing,
The seruaunt goes straight way:
[Page]And brought the Ioyner vnto her,
that dyd his comming stay.
Who being come, to him she sayth,
my fréende I you request:
Such cunning as you haue to shewe,
and doo for me your best.
For I would haue a Chest so made,
that neyther ayre nor showre:
No rayne nor waters flood it should,
in any place deuowre.
But being shut, to kéepe all foorth,
by meanes of pitche and tarre:
This would I haue you doo with spéede,
no tyme for to defarre.
And I wyll recompence your paines,
vnto the vtmost part:
That your requitall shall excéede,
the full of your desart.
The Ioyner aunsweres her againe,
with reuerence due likewise:
O Madame mine, my skyll herein,
your purpose shall suffise.
I wyll so frame your Chest, that rayne,
nor waters washing wane:
Nor mistes of foggie ayre shall come,
in this contriued caue.
[Page]So sone as homewarde I returne,
to worke thereon I meane:
So that or thrée dayes be expyrde,
it shall be finisht cleane.
And so he tooke his leaue of her,
and homewarde dooth returne:
And she being galde with former gréefes,
beginnes a freshe to mourne.
The ceaselesse teares along her chéekes,
a printed pathe haue made:
Her inwarde cares hath forced quite,
her outwarde hew to vade.
Tormented thus with grislie greefe,
her Chamber she dooth kéepe:
And solytarilie she sittes,
her wayling woes to wéepe.
And when that wearinesse constraines,
abroade her to soiorne:
Her woes doo make her walkes but short,
she makes a quick returne.
But when before her Parentes face,
she dooth appearaunce make:
She noynts her face with fine perfumes,
her sorrowing signes to breake.
But least I should too tedious séeme,
the Ioyner comes at last:
[Page]With pitched Chest, most closely framde,
the water for to cast.
And Iulia payes him doubble hyre,
his paines for to requight:
He takes the same with treble thankes,
and so departes her sight.
But when that Phoebe spread her light,
within the Welkin hye:
Her Mayde and she conuayes the same,
(when none coulde it espie)
Vnto the shore, the Sea being néere,
this secretly was wrought:
As for the Maide, of her deceyt,
God knowes but lyttle thought.
But she pretendes a farther fetch,
when midnight flood drawes neere:
A desperate déede, she hath decréede,
as you foorthwith shall heare.
When man and beast, and each thing else,
theyr naturall rest dooth take:
When as her Maide with all the house,
Sir Somnus fléepes doo shake.
When whistling windes doo cease to blowe,
when waters rage are styll:
When wauering leaues, on shaking Trées,
doo stay and cease to spyll.
[Page]When twinkling Starres amyd the skies,
most glysteringly doo shine:
And euerie thing declares the night,
hath wun his middle time.
Then desperate Iulia dooth aryse,
and ventreth foorth of doore:
Where she her cursed Coffin found,
harde by the salt Sea shore.
But oh, drawe néere you Virgins all,
you Ladies héere beholde:
A trustie Dame, the faythfulst hart,
yframde of womans moulde.
She stoode vpright within the Chest,
which waues yet moued not:
And casting oft her eyes to lande.
she thus lamentes her lot.
O God that gouernst heauen and hell,
the Sea and the drie lande:
Vouchsafe for to receyue my soule,
into thy gratious hande.
Which soule I first to thee bequeathe,
that long hath lodgde in moude:
And durtie drosse of clottered clay,
my body to the floode.
And sith the soule of my deere freende,
hath runne his mortall race:
[Page]I hope our shapeles ghostes in Skies,
with ioye shall bothe embrace.
And for the solemne sacred oath,
that we on earth haue made:
Though direfull death by destinie,
hath causde our promise fade.
Yet doo I trust amyd the heauens,
we shall the same fulfill:
Where ioyntly we may bothe enioy,
thy Princelie presence still.
You Parentes, and my freendes adiew,
I byd you bothe farewell:
Bewayle not you, nor weepe my want,
that needes no passing bell.
Keepe not my funerals with wayles,
nor moist my death with teares:
For why, my coarse shall want no wet,
seeing Seas such moisture beares.
Though Fishes shall feede on my fleshe,
my Dirge shall Syrens sing:
The freendlie fishe that Dolphin hight,
me to my graue shall bring.
BY this her barge on wallowing waues,
dooth swym in ruthfull wise:
And she aloofe in Seas alas,
to heauen dooth lyft her eyes.
[Page]Desiring God in mercie great,
for to beholde her case:
When as the byllowes against her boate,
dooth bounce and beate apace.
The waters driue her to the déepe,
and floods sometime flash in:
Whose Isie colde to her full straunge,
dooth wet her tender skin.
But she alas dooth lye along,
within this hollowe wombe:
And fastened sure the vpper part,
of her vntymelie Tombe▪
At last syr Boreas with his breath,
dooth driue her Ship from shore:
Which swifter slides vpon the Seas,
then Boate by force of Ore.
Her body thus inclosde therein,
in quiuering sort dooth quake:
Lyke as the wauering Aspen leafe,
by Notus blaste dooth shake.
And when Titonia dooth appeare,
to driue away the night:
Her tossed Bardge in midst of Seas,
is séene in open sight.
This day to Flint was day of doome,
this blacke day had no lyght.
[Page]This troublous tyme encreast their cares,
and made their day like night.
This was beginner of their gréefes,
and ender of their ioyes:
This day dyd holde their heauy harts,
in heapes of déepe annoyes.
But when that Iulias Maide began,
from sluggishe sléepe to rise:
And coulde not finde her Misteresse there,
great feare dooth her supprise.
She runneth vp and downe the house,
enquiring of each wight:
If they did not her Misterisse sée,
since morning lent his lyght.
But when no worde of her she hearde,
she rent and tare her haire:
And to her Parentes ranne foorthwith,
these ruthfull newes to beare.
She tolde them of the pitched Chest,
that she to shore had brought:
And howe that of her meaning then,
no whit at all she thought.
These newes dyd so amaze their mindes,
theyr colour ginnes to vade:
Such quaking feare within theyr hartes,
these tydinges true haue made.
[Page]Their lothsome lookes declares their greefe,
and dooth expresse their paine:
His gréefe was such as could not wéepe,
she spent her teares amaine.
Theyr household folks, and neighbors by,
bewayles theyr heauy happe:
And doo lament theyr lucklesse losse,
at such a suddaine clappe.
They all foorthwith in mornefull wise,
to sea warde doo repayre:
Whose yelling cryes and scriching soundes,
dooth fill the emptie ayre.
The wambling waues, the crooked créekes,
theyr sorrowing cries resounde:
The belowing breath yt breaks theyr brests,
dooth make the bankes rebounde.
The Mother when she sawe the print,
of Chest engrau'de in sandes:
Dyd fall downe straight into a sowne,
and stretched foorth her handes.
And when she was reuokte againe,
vnto her former state:
With faynting voyce, she thus gan speake,
why hindred you my fate?
Why suffred you not me to rest,
héere dead vpon this shore:
[Page]That washing waues might carie me,
to her that is my store?
But Fortune pittying of theyr playntes,
sendes Mercurie with spéede:
To Neptune God of swelling Seas,
to staye his force with spéede.
For she would sende a luckie Shippe,
of Albanie to saue:
The séelie Maide that thus was toste,
within her carefull caue.
This Hulke from forraine landes did come,
yfraught with traffikes trade:
And towarde Albanie with haste,
his spéedie passadge made.
The Seas were calme, ye winds blowe still,
the lustie Mariners sing:
To thinke vpon theyr pleasant gale,
they made the Seas to ring.
Thus Neptune was theyr trusty fréende,
and Phoebus spread his light:
Which on the smoothe and waters calme,
dooth glyster fayre and bright.
The Sunne dooth shine vpon the sayles,
ystufte with wished blast:
And as they thus dyd cutte the tyde,
they spide the Chest at last.
[Page]Wherein Dame Iulia was enclosde,
and musde what it should bée▪
The Maisters Mate dyd launche a Cocke,
and quicklie went to see.
What bootie it was that they from bourde,
aloofe in Seas espied:
He rowes apace tyll he oretooke,
it tombling with the tyde.
With grapling hookes, he foorthwith hales,
this newe found praye to Ship:
The Marriners helpe, through hope therof,
on hatches fast they skip.
But when they had disclosde the same,
and founde therein a Maide:
Of Princely fauour, fresh and fayre,
theyr hartes were sore afraide.
They mused how this chaunce should come,
and tooke her carkase weake:
Whose legges could not support her corpes,
nor yet her tongue could speake.
But being reuiu'de with vitall drinkes,
her ioynts retaine theyr strength:
Her dazeled eyes receyued theyr sight,
her tongue dyd speake at length.
Then they demaunded of her straight,
what chaunce had brought her thether:
[Page]Or who committed her to Seas,
to féele bothe winde and weather.
Whose séemely sight dyd so surpasse,
and rather dyd deserue:
Amyd the troupe of Courtly traines,
some Princely péere to serue.
Then she with heauy chéere (God knowes)
began for to relate:
The whole discourse of all her gréefe,
and of her frowarde fate.
Desiring them of pittie pure,
to graunt her small request:
And of two thinges to graunt her one,
which may procure her rest.
Eyther to throwe her into Seas,
or carie her, where she
May leade a sole Religious life,
from cares to set her frée.
Declaring then that when at first,
she closde her selfe in Chest:
She thought the waters from her woes,
would bring her dayes to rest.
But sith that Fortune so was found,
to be her fréendly foe:
Some forraine coast should her retaine,
to extenuate her woe.
[Page]They dyd recomfort her againe,
and bade her not dismay:
For that they were no Pyrates prest,
her body to betray.
Ne were they any letchers lewde,
of brutishe sauadge kinde:
To spoyle her chaste Uirginitie,
or marre her Maydens minde.
But bad her thanke the heauenly powers,
that had ordayned so:
That they amyd the surging waues,
her Chest by chaunce dyd knowe.
For they would so prouide for her,
that she should haue a place:
To spende her tyme in matelesse myrth,
and runne a quiet race.
This sayde, they hoysted vp theyr sayles,
and forwarde fast did hye:
No frowarde windes dyd let theyr course,
theyr wished lande to spye.
But puffing sayles, with gladsome gales,
in wished wise dyd swell:
And swiftlyer dyd theyr Ship slide foorth,
then any tongue can tell.
The caruing kéele dooth cutte the waues,
the maynsayle, topsayle, and
[Page]The Myssen spréete sayle further course,
alofte the flagge dooth stand.
The Pylote markes his compasse well,
and Carde with tentiue eye:
The Maisters mate dooth guide the Sterne,
or Rudder rightfullie.
The Mariners on the Hatches close,
to dice doo fall apace:
In token of a pleasaunt gale,
to further foorth theyr race.
Thus sundring of the byllowes small,
(the coast being fayre and cleare)
At last the toppes of haughty hylles,
within theyr sight appeare.
They passe the mayne Sea at the length,
and straight one dooth adresse
To sounde, and cryes alowde (my mates)
two fadomes quarter lesse.
Approching néerer to the lande,
each one his tackling plyes:
They stryke down sayles, the Bark rode on,
with stealing steppes likewise.
At Hauen mouth they doo discharge,
a fayre tryumphant peale:
That to the Towne they plainly may,
theyr voyage safe reueale.
[Page]The Cannons, Culuerings, Sakers, and
the Fawcons breathed fyre:
The Demy péeces, Bassyliskes,
fowle stynking flames dyd spyre.
The thundring shot dyd rore in th'Ayre,
and Eccho lyke dooth sound:
The banckes and craggie créekes lyke case,
doo make the noyse redound.
The flaunting Flagge dooth florish foorth,
that stoode aloft on Mast:
The Anckors crookt with cables strong,
out of the Ship are cast.
And when they entred were on land,
within the Hauen Towne:
Th'inhabitaunts doo welcome them,
with myrth and hye renowne.
Each one makes merry with his fréend,
they passe the tyme in ioye.
But Iulia hath no fréendly mate,
to comfort her annoye.
You Maydens all, and Ladies bothe,
marke Iulias heauy state:
And take ensample by her looue,
which sorrowes could not bate,
Though once she had the world at wyll,
if she had kept her soe:
[Page]Yet Looue and Fortune many tymes,
doo bréede men mickle woe.
And though she passing panges dyd féele,
and all for Charles his sake:
She dooth no whit repent her gréefes,
which she for him dyd take.
But to be bréefe, within this Towne,
was kept a Monasterie:
Where were a sort of nusled Nunnes,
that lyu'de there solemnlie.
Wherein by sute she dooth obtayne,
a Vestal Uirgins trade:
And there Religiously to lyue,
tyll vitall breath dyd vade.
But now my wearied pen must passe,
from Iulias lyfe a whyle:
(Who in Albania solie lyues,)
to Charles Ile frame my stile.
Who by this tyme recouered health,
and left his sicklie bead:
And heard not yet of Iulias chaunce,
that thought him to be dead.
Nowe he pretendes to lincke with her,
his former vowe to saue:
Prouiding him such néedefull thinges,
as his affayres dooth craue.
[Page]And sent foorthwith a Messenger,
his fréende the Préest to pray:
To come to him, as promise was,
who came without delay▪
They onely two, theyr voyage framde,
this Mariage knot to tye:
Which they before, by solemne oath,
had sworne, but secretly.
Charles rode on towards Flint apace,
and thought him selfe well blest:
That tyme was come for him to match,
with her he lyked best.
The néerer vnto Flint he came,
the greater was his ioye:
But when as he was thether come,
he felt as great annoye.
He déemde this tyme would make amends,
for all his former woes:
But it dyd more encrease his cares,
then pen can well disclose.
When he was come to Wynefrides Church,
where as he longde to bée:
He lyghted downe where he was wont,
his Lady for to sée.
There dooth he meane for to abyde,
tyll Phoebus lost his lyght:
[Page]And that his sister Phoebe shynde,
who rules the clowdy night.
Then dooth he meane to send for her,
to finishe vp the oath:
That each of them to others made,
by former plighted troth.
He lytle thought that she was gone,
to leade a Nunlyke lyfe:
Or that in Albanie she was,
whome he should take to wife.
But as he walked in the yarde,
with countenaunce full glad:
One comes and dooth declare the chaunce,
his dolefull Iulia had.
And howe she layde the Chest at shore,
and closde her selfe therein:
And howe her death was sore bewaylde,
not onely by her kin.
But also by all those that dwelt,
within the course of Flint:
Whose looue of all to her was such,
theyr plaints they could not slint.
And how the flowing waters did,
orewhelme her Chest in Seas:
Whose body drenched so in floods,
dooth Parentes gréefe increase.
[Page]You Loouers that vnto your Dames,
are faithfull iust and true:
May note what sorrowes touched Charles.
and made his heart to rue.
The frosen sound of which colde wordes,
dyd sterue his heauy hart:
Whose trickling teares dyd stay his tongue,
for to expresse his smart.
His present hue bothe wan and pale,
declard his inward gréefe:
His ruddy collour now is gone,
he hopes of no reléefe.
His hollowe eyes and staring lookes,
his sighes and sobs extréeme:
Are witnesse of his wofull state,
as dyd full plainly séeme.
All myrth and pleasure now is gone,
conuerted soone to paine:
And where before he wisht to lyue,
now dooth he lyfe disdaine.
Now déepe dispayre hath wun the place,
where hope before was fixt:
Affections lewde, and fancies fonde,
amyd his thoughts are mixt.
In desperate wise he runnes about,
deuising euery way:
[Page]How he might ease his corpes of cares,
that thus in strife dooth stay.
One whyle he meanes to run to shore,
to pearce his tender hart:
Where as his Iulia shipping tooke,
from Flint for to depart.
An other whyle he thought in Church,
his owne decay to frame:
Where he at first infected was,
with Cupids firie flame.
Againe he thought to drowne him selfe,
within the salt Sea flood:
Whereas his Iulia cast her selfe,
when on the shore she stood.
That by that meanes his carkase might,
be buried in that graue:
Which she in stéede of Marble stone,
had chosen for her caue.
Or if the waters had by force,
cast vp her corpes on sande:
He thought that Fortune would conduct,
him to that plot of lande.
Thus tossed long with diuers thoughts,
these fancies passe away:
Then he beginnes to curse his lettes,
that dyd his promise stay.
[Page]He bannes his sicknesse which was cause,
of all his care and gréefe:
And wisheth medcines had bene bane,
which lent him late reléefe.
He cryes on fates that haue prolongd,
his lucklesse lyne of lyfe.
And dooth desire his twiste to cut,
by dyrefull caruing knife.
But when the force of furies rage,
by fancies flaming fire:
Was quighte extinct, and reasons rule,
had coolde his hote desire.
With wisedome then he wisely wayes,
his former fancies past:
And is decréede to stay bis minde,
by reasons rayne at last.
This way to leade a wandring lyfe,
the faithfull youth can chuse:
In forrayne landes to waste his dayes,
and mourne these noysome newes.
But chaunge of place cannot transforme,
nor alter any minde:
Though ayre and soyle he doo exchaunge,
his greefe dooth stay by kinde.
He thought if in his countrey he,
should longer tyme abyde:
[Page]The freshe remembraunce of his looue,
from him would neuer slyde.
And that by traueyling long he should,
shake from his troubled minde:
These cutting cares and ceaselesse gréefes,
which destenies assignde.
And being thus determined,
to take his vnknown flight:
He dooth returne vnto the Préest,
that lodgde at Inne that night.
There vnto him he telles his case,
and howe he dooth pretend:
For to forsake his countrey straight,
with Father and each fréend.
And that he wyll no more returne,
tyll Fortune send some chaunce:
To banish all his present cares,
and passed ioyes t'aduaunce.
The Presbiter with good aduise,
dooth counsayle him againe:
His fancies fonde, and raging thoughts,
by reason to refraine.
Perswading him that though he chaunge,
his countrey and his kin:
His minde shall maske in matelesse mone,
his sorrowes wyll not lin.
[Page]And sayth good Sir, leaue of your playnts,
let wisedome guide your wyll:
And let not youthfull fancies fonde,
oppresse dame Reasons skyll▪
Knowe this, that sorrow hurtfull is,
to them that take the same:
And nought auayles them that be dead,
but is to men great shame.
Your mourning can not call the dead,
to former state of lyfe:
Nor all the teares that you can shed,
cannot redeeme your wife.
Your peregrines, your sighes and sobs,
your trauayle and your paine:
May not reduce your Iulia,
vnto her lyfe againe.
You shew therefore great want of wit,
as euery man may see:
That doo so vainly goe about▪
to wyll that may not bée.
You knowe what destenies decrée,
we must of force obay:
And what the fates ordayne to yéelde,
with wylling minde alway.
Consider that a wise man ought,
with patient minde to beare:
[Page]What so the Princely powers decrée,
and neyther hope nor feare.
In vaine he séekes that goes about,
against the Heauens to striue:
Wherefore with reason rule your minde,
for Ladies are a lyue,
That are as comely as she was,
to whome you lent your looue:
Whose fauour you may eke obtaine,
if you your minde remooue.
Though Fortune now haue causd your losse,
in breeding of your care:
Yet tarying tyme, she wyll againe,
your former ioyes repayre.
For as the pleasures that she lendes,
doo not continue sure:
Euen so the trouble that she sendes,
can not alwayes endure.
Though she with frowning frosen face,
doo lowre on you a whyle:
Yet dooth her fauour come as fast,
when as she lyst to smyle.
A wise man in the mydst of cares,
with wit him selfe dooth arme:
So that no stormes of sturdy strife,
can ought procure his harme.
[Page]For as the Poet Homer faynes,
that Aten barefoote goes:
She can not touch no harde thing sure,
but lyghtly treades on those
That armed are with constancie,
and patiently abide:
Each sturdy storme that Fortune sendes,
at euerie tyme and tyde.
Whereby is meant calamitie,
whereof she Goddesse is:
Can not bereaue a wise mans heart,
from quiet patient blisse.
But such as are of simple minde,
effemynate and base:
Whose tender hearts can not abyde,
Dame Fortunes hye disgrace.
Wherefore good Sir, content your selfe,
with reason rule your minde:
Embrace Dame Patience in your breast,
so shall you comfort finde.
Bestowe your looue within your stronde,
where are such store of Dames:
As you may largely take your choyse,
and so quight quench your flames.
Consider if you doo forsake,
your Parents and your fréends:
[Page]And goe into a place vnknown,
then all your pleasures endes.
Ne dare I backe returne againe,
for feare of future happe:
Your Parents bothe wyll wayle your losse,
wherefore preuent the trappe.
That may intangle them in gréefe,
and shorten not theyr dayes:
That haue bene carefull for your lyfe,
in all your passed wayes.
Wherefore I craue, abolish wyll,
let wisedome you retayne:
Let Prudence eke by due foresight,
preuent all future payne.
And take my counsayle in good part,
that wylles you to be wise:
Nor let no gréefes nor sorrowes past,
your presents thought supprise.
When he had spent such wordes (as these)
Sir Charles dyd straight replie:
You haue but wasted thus much winde,
I lyke it not perdie.
Not all the world can me perswade,
my Iulia to forget:
So stedfastly vpon her looue,
my constant heart is set.
[Page]I can not blot out of my minde,
her fréendship and good wyll:
Which hytherto I haue retaynd,
and so I wyll doo styll.
Her feature I doo styll beholde,
within my carefull minde:
Though she by death departed is,
and I am left behinde.
Yet whyle I liue her monument,
within my minde shall rest:
Which was her true and trusty hart,
within her constant brest.
Should I goe séeke to lyue in myrth,
or yet to haue mine ease:
And she to lodge among the waues,
in mydst of surging Seas.
No no, no daungers shall preuayle,
to make my heart to shrinke:
Although it were in honest wise,
in saltishe Seas to sinke.
I would vpon my selfe reuenge,
her death were yet no shame:
But that the lawe of God and man,
dooth quite forbyd the same.
Yet doo I hope as Fortune brought,
me to bestowe good wyll:
[Page]So wyll she send some kinde of meanes,
by chaunce my lyfe to spyll.
But as the peryls of the Seas,
She dyd for me long take:
Euen so the daungers of the lande,
Ile suffer for her sake.
She reft of lyfe, dooth ryde on waues,
that héere and there dooth raunge:
And I in wandring sort wyll passe,
through Countries farre and straunge.
No daungers shall affright my minde,
yea, were it for to passe:
Euen downe to hell for her swéete sake,
where Orpheus sometyme was.
Therefore leaue off your wastfull wordes,
for what I haue decréede:
My purpose is not to delay,
but put in proofe with spéede.
When as the Préest perceiued him,
his follyes to pursue:
And that he could not him perswade,
he dooth his rashnesse rue.
And gan him selfe for to debate,
if he should backe retyre:
His Parents would suspect that he,
theyr sonnes death dyd conspyre.
[Page]He therefore thought it better way,
then to reuert againe:
To goe with him, though of his gréefes,
he tooke some part of paine.
And thus being bothe determined,
not backwarde to returne:
Sir Charles laments his looue, the Préest
his Countries losse dooth mourne.
But Charles (God knowes) had tryple cause,
for to lament in minde:
Who lost his looue, and left bothe kin,
and Countreyes sight behinde.
When they had ended all theyr plaints,
to Couche apace they hyde:
Where soking sorrowes, for to sléepe,
them vtterly denyde.
Yet Nox by course, dooth run her race,
theyr cares thoe dyd not cease:
But as the night dyd waxe away,
euen so theyr gréefes increase.
When Lucifer Dame Venus starre,
dooth glister in the Skie:
In Easterne coast, denoting plaine,
that Titans spowse is nie.
These woefull mates, arose foorthwith,
from out theyr restlesse bed:
[Page]And to the Ile that Brittons callde,
Ile Mona, bothe they fled.
Where they lyke faithfull fréends doo lyue,
but yet in mornefull wise:
As Orestes, and Pilades,
whose sorrowes, books comprise.
Thus Charles styll tost, with crushing cares,
which vext his secrete hart:
To wayle his wastlesse woes oft tymes,
would drawe him selfe a part.
And to the Sunne would thus complaine,
O Titan it may bee:
That thou this tyme by farre reacht lookes,
my Iulias corpes doost sée.
I would thou hadst such vttering woords,
as thou hast shining beames:
Then wouldst thou shew, if now her bardge,
doo floote on striuing streames.
Or if the same on shore be cast,
by meanes of tossing tyde:
O that thou would expresse to me,
where Iulia dooth abyde.
Where so her coarse dooth rest, I would▪
what daunger so befell:
Remayne with her, if thou to me,
her byding place wouldst tell.
[Page]But sith thou want'st the vse of spéeche,
to bring me to her sight:
Yet for my sake bestowe on her
(then wont) a fréendlyer light.
When obscure clowdes doo dym thy beames,
and darke thy shining rayes:
Let not her corpes yet want thy lyght,
that in the Seas decayes.
Thus vnto Fowles, to Trées and Beasts,
and stones he would complaine:
As though they wit and senses had,
his meaning to retaine.
The lande of Ladies bréed his gréefe,
and Musicke causde his mone:
Theyr sugred words, myrthes, siluer tunes,
in gréefe would make him grone.
The Préest also laments his lot,
as he alone dooth trace:
And often to his Countries soyle,
his staring eyes would gaze.
He wisheth styll her carkase there,
where as his hart dooth rest:
Such troubled thoughts he carries aye,
within his beating brest.
But fewe affection fonde can tame,
or Cupids force withstande:
[Page] For greefe and looue, are voyde of rest,
bothe bound in sorrowes bande.
If body might flie where the minde
is oftentimes retaind:
Full many would not vse that place,
where else they are constraind.
Thus though they vse t'acquaint themselues
with states, and of the best:
Yet could no pleasures purchase place,
within their carefull brest.
Incessaunt cares thus pyning them,
redoubling daylie woes:
They thought to seek theyr deaths foorthwith
amyd theyr blooddy foes.
They gin therefore t'enquire for warres,
Where often death is found,
Afore the tyme: where bloody blowes,
in boysterous sort abound.
That vsing feates of manly Mars,
they may cut of theyr care:
And rather shorten vp theyr lyues,
then lyue styll in dispayre.
When Lady Ver had thinly clothed,
Sir Tellus gay with gréene:
Since their arriuall there where now,
nine quarters they haue béene.
[Page]The men of Albanie that tyme,
were at a ciuill warre:
As Fortune sendeth sometymes lucke,
for Regions nie and farre.
The King was fayne to send for ayde,
to Mona, where he had:
Well furnisht men, whereof the Préest,
and Charles were verie glad.
The courtesie that Charles this whyle,
vsde in this Ilande Towne:
Dyd drawe the hearts of many men,
that were of hye renowne.
He therefore ioyfull at these newes,
dyd moue his sute as then:
To Chyrall of the Ile to haue,
the chardge of hundreth men.
Such fréendship he therein obtaynde,
that though a straunger borne:
Yet dyd they graunt to him his sute,
and thought thereof no scorne.
Thus Vertue makes a straunger oft,
full naturall to growe:
Within a forrayne countrey straunge,
where no man dooth him knowe.
The Gouernour of the Ile that tyme,
dyd héere report of right:
[Page]Of Charles his skyll in Martiall feates,
who was a valiant Knight.
Whose courage stoute (yet mylde and méeke)
with forwarde actiuenesse:
Declarde although his yeeres were rawe,
his prowesse and worthinesse.
For wisedome had bestowed on him,
her precious giftes at large:
Which rather furthred his request,
to haue a Chéeftaynes charge.
The Souldiers lyked so of him,
that they doo all agrée:
With franke consent, that he on them,
a Gouernour should bée.
He being chosen Captaine nowe,
to goe to Alban lande.
Selected him an expert man,
Lieutenaunt of his bande.
The Auncient bearer he dyd chuse,
his Ensigne to display:
The Sergeant Corporall to kéepe,
his Souldiers in aray.
A Trumpeter with mighty breath,
to sounde the feates of warre:
The Phife and Drumster with his stickes,
to make the Drum to iarre.
[Page]The Préest he also dooth appoynt,
in Office for to stand:
As fit for him to kéepe his booke,
as Clarke of all his band.
A gallant Galley was ordaind,
the Souldiers to transport:
Wherein they went, and quickly came,
to king of Albans Court.
Of whome they were well entertaynd,
the Tents foorthwith prepard:
And strongly pitched, the Trenches delued,
the regall Campe to gard.
The lyght Horsemen, with Iack & Speare,
and steelly cappes foorth went:
To scoute abroade, the Launces straight,
to rescue them were sent.
In prison pathes, least enimies,
should passage haue that way:
Olde sturdy Stagers, wise in warres,
in secrete ambush lay.
Munitions, Rampyres, foorth were framde,
them from theyr foes to shéeld:
The brasen péeces caried were,
that fittest were for féeld.
The Rebels lykewise had prepard,
a power huge and tall:
[Page]The Varlets meant (but God would not)
to giue theyr Prince a fall.
The Wings, ye Fronts, the Battell mayne,
were ordred on each side:
The Ensignes noted how the one,
the others force defide.
The Hoastes now marcht in Battell ray,
tyll bothe sides were in view:
And eke in reache, then Trumpetters,
an eger Onset blew.
Round boysterous balles of sturdy stéele,
the Cannons breathes about:
The Curriers and Calliuers then,
theyr leaden pellets shoute.
The prauncing Coursers with this noyse,
to wrekefull wrath were mou'de:
The woorthy wights, on trampling Stéeds,
theyr passing prowesse prou'de.
Theyr Horsemen pearst, with Launce do lie,
of Helmets quite bereau'de:
Theyr Pikemen in like sort doo lye,
theyr wofull woundes receau'de.
The Pikemen, losing Burkonet,
and Speare lykewise ybroke:
With manly force of stubborne strength,
dooth stryke full many a stroke.
[Page]His Arming swoorde, then foorth he drawes,
him selfe for to defende:
Wherewith he maymes his enimies fearce,
that séeke his life to ende.
The wounded men to Cabbin hyes,
to staunche theyr wasting blood:
The maymed men, and dead men flote,
aloft in crimsone flood.
When thus a whyle the armies fought,
the Princesse partie wun:
By tracing ground, they got of them,
bothe winde and shining Sun.
Sir Phoebus blerde the Rebels eyes,
his glistering beames so shinde:
Their sight obscured was with smoake,
that flewe with blaste of winde.
Thus winde and sunne assyst the King,
and God would haue it so:
The Rebelles Campe, no order kept,
but scattered too and fro.
Some héere, some there, for succour fled,
some backwardes run apace:
The ventrous victors Prince his side,
with spéede pursues the chace.
Retyring nowe they are strooke downe,
the Trumpets gladly sounde:
[Page]Theyr backe retraite, with ioyfull tunes,
dooth Eccho lyke rebound.
Such euill happes prepared are,
for them that doo assay:
Against their regall Prince to ryse,
with swoorde in hand to slay.
If any Captaine there wun Fame,
then Charles did purchase prayse:
Who dyd excell each Souldier there,
in all his warlyke wayes.
He ventred more, his cares compeld,
he desperate was in déede:
And Fortune furthred his attempts,
and sent him fréendly spéede.
The victor King, when foes were foylde,
assigned Chéeftaines than:
To garde the Holdes that Rebels kept,
before the broyle began.
Each one was poynted to his place,
and Charles as Fortune lent:
Vnto the Towne, where Iulia liues,
with Garison was sent.
Though frowarde Fortune at the first,
dooth shewe her enuious guile:
Yet at the last she turnes her whéele,
and then dooth smoothly smile.
[Page]He nought surmisde such blisfull lot,
vnwares was him assygnde:
Or that he should his Iulia sée,
for whome he mournde in minde.
But Fortune loe, vnlooked for,
to Iulias sight him brought:
Whose carkase long agoe consumde,
amyd the Seas he thought.
Thus Charles with corage tooke his course,
and dooth his voyage bend:
With those his men vnto the Towne,
which he should now defend.
As soone as to the Towne he came,
he walkt the walles about:
To spie if any breach were there,
to enter in or out.
And walking thus when as the Sun,
had almost run his race:
He dyd espie a troupe of Dames,
that came with solemne pace.
Which were the Lady Prioresse,
with Nunnes that came behinde:
Who walking were about the walles,
to recreate theyr minde.
He marched forwarde towardes them,
and they to him lykewise:
[Page]And Charles vpon these modest Dames,
dooth fixe his gazing eyes.
Bothe gan each other to salute,
with such a modest chéere:
That what in wordes twixt them did want,
in gesture dyd appéere.
This holy route, by two in ranke,
dyd orderly passe by:
And as they went, Sir Charles on them,
dooth cast attentiue eye.
Among the which Dame Iulia was,
who had of him a sight:
And he againe surueyde her shape,
and tooke therein delyght.
Two sortes of folke the eye will first,
be sure for to beholde:
Eyther a freende thats well beloued,
or else an enimie olde.
Her feature better pleasde his minde,
as Nature wylde it soe:
Then all the beautie of the rest,
that were within the rowe.
And she againe dyd fancie him,
whome she in minde dyd gesse:
The featured forme of Charles his face,
in countenaunce to expresse.
[Page]Her wayling wéedes and vestall robes,
which she that tyme did weare:
Disguised her, that scarse her face,
could in his sight appeare.
His headpéece lykewise which he wore,
with cewrates clasped one:
His sléeues of Mayle, with other things,
made him to her vnknowne.
But though apparell seemed straunge,
and made them to surmise:
Yet they each other dyd suspect,
by onely view of eyes.
The minde sometimes wyll gesse and iudge,
that which the eye knowes not:
As theyr two mindes, each other knew,
the sight theyr formes forgot.
Thus bothe suspended in suspect,
away they bothe doo goe:
The one not knowing the others name,
as chaunce appointed so.
The doubtlesse Fame of bothe theyr deaths,
with straungenesse of attyre:
Made them to hang in ceaselesse doubts▪
and slacke for to enquyre.
By this the Starres in Firmament,
lyke twinckling sparckes aryse:
[Page]And night compels each one depart,
to rest their weary eyes.
Charles went to bed, but tooke small rest,
her shape renewde his thought:
And made his musing minde to maske,
where fancies fonde him brought.
The morning nowe appéereth bright,
Charles and the Preest with spéede:
Doo ryse, and to the Church to pray,
to goe they are decreede.
But Charles his minde was chéefly bent,
his fancied face to sée:
And to beholde his Iulia,
yet thought it was not shée.
When into Church they entred were,
they might beholde in sight:
A Table hang ouer the head,
of euerie Nun aright.
Wherein insculped were their names,
according to their place:
Thus after Charles had sayde his prayers,
he lyfted vp his face.
And gan to reade these written names,
there present to their sight:
Vntyll they came vnto the name,
that Charles dyd most delight.
[Page]At last within a Table fayre,
in Romaine letters fine:
Iulia Brittania written was,
there open to theyr eyne:
This name reuiu'de his dulled sprites,
this comforted his hart:
This brought his passed pleasaunt ioyes,
and ended present smart.
Now he recordes within his minde,
that Iulia is the Mayde:
Which he at his arriuall viewde,
whyle he theyr passage stayde.
Yet faynting feare dooth make him dout,
least one of them there were:
Among the Nunnes to him vnknowne,
that dyd this name eke beare.
Againe, he hopes that Fortune might,
conuay her to that place:
From gréedy iawes of fishfull floods,
thus doubted he the case.
That vertue is rare and seldome,
his stay eke verie straunge:
Whose state (tho it be good or yll)
Dame Fortune cannot chaunge.
He tooke his pen and ynke in hand,
and wrote vnder the same:
[Page]In his owne spéeche and Brittishe tongue,
his right and proper name.
So vnder Iulia Brittania there,
he Charles Brittania writte:
That she might reade the same, when she
came there againe to sit.
He also wrote where he abode,
and in what stréete or Inne:
The chardge also that he dyd holde,
he writ lykewise therein.
Now his affaires constraineth him,
for to depart away:
For to prouide the Townes defence,
as much as in him lay.
They thence depart with gladsome mindes,
in hope of future ioye:
These gladsome newes that he hath séene,
driues out all darke annoye.
Within a whyle the Prioresse,
with all her Nunnes drewe nye:
And into Churche they roundly came,
when Charles was gone perdye.
The Vestall Virgins, two and two,
towarde theyr seates resort:
And set them downe each in her seate,
as was theyr vsuall sort.
[Page] Iulia, lykewise approching néere,
by suddaine chaunce dyd sée:
In pendent Table ouer her place,
more written then should bée.
When morning prayers were finished,
no tyme before she found:
She read these lines, the view wherof,
dooth make her ioyes abound.
Her pleasures banished all care,
she knewe that Charles was hée:
Which she by tracing neere the walles,
before her face dyd sée.
The Prioresse when all is done,
dooth homeward hye againe:
The Sunne had compassed the South,
and shewes his heate amaine.
The dinner time was nowe at hand,
to dinner straight they went:
Charles all this whyle dyd long to heare.
howe he his writing spent.
When as the Prioresse dyned had,
then Iulia goes with spéede:
Desiring of her Mistrisse then,
to graunt her leaue in néede.
For she a Brother had that was,
but lately come to Towne:
[Page]Who was a Chéeftayne of a bande,
appoynted by the Crowne.
For to defende that Cittie there,
and that she sawe him not:
Those three yéeres space, the Prioresse,
her leaue dyd then alot.
Assygning one to goe with her,
a Vestall Virgin eke:
She takes her way with spéedy space,
with Charles foorthwith to speake.
They bothe vnto their Chamber came,
and found the Préest and hée:
Conferring closely twixt them selues,
who should that Iulia bée.
There Iulia viewed her Charles a space,
with fréendly gréeting showne:
His Head péece then was layde aside,
which made him better knowne.
His hart dyd giue him it was shée,
whome he in minde dyd looue:
Thus bothe as straungers stoode a space,
and could no whit remooue.
But when they dyd each other knowe,
theyr teares ran downe lyke rayne:
These sudden ioyes, that then they felt,
theyr speeche dyd quite restrayne.
[Page]He claspes her harde within his Armes,
his teares lyke Fountaines flowe:
And she her Armes about his necke,
dooth strongly close also.
The one the other so embraste,
She clang as close to him:
As Hero to Leander dyd,
when he to Sest dyd swim.
Vlisses and Penelope,
conceau'd no greater ioye:
When after spoyle he hasted home,
from ten yéeres siedge of Troye.
At length these words to her he spake,
O Iulia this thy sight:
Hath causde my passing pleasures great,
and put my cares to flight.
And art thou her whome I supposde,
by death to be destroyde?
Haue these mine eyes once more of thée,
theyr present ioyes enioyde?
Come Death nowe when thou wilt to me,
for I haue lyu'de to view:
Her onely sight, whome I alwayes,
haue found my fréend most trew.
Now doo I not desire to lyue,
but onely for thy sake:
[Page]That dydst the peryls of the Seas,
for me so vndertake.
And art thou she which fell report,
dyd brute the tyde had torne?
Art thou the wight that hast for me,
those passed peryls borne?
O Fortune now thou fauourest me,
though long tyme thou didst frowne:
Thou hast conducted vs bothe safe,
to cast our sorrowes downe.
Now may we knit that faithfull knot,
which we before had sworne:
Now I accoumpt me happy thrise,
that once was thought forlorne.
I neuer thought to view thy face,
but that the Dolphin fearce:
Should in the stéede of funerals,
haue made her corpes thy hearce.
But sith once more I haue thy sight,
ere thou doo part me froe:
Where I haue nought but Parents left,
I wyll my lyfe forgoe.
Now wyll we backe reuert with spéede,
to view our fréends againe:
Who for our losse haue long bewaylde,
in bitter greefe and paine.
[Page]When he made mencion of theyr fréends,
her teares she could not holde:
And vnto Charles with wéeping words,
this heauy tale she tolde.
¶O my déere Charles, how haue the heauens
thus raysed vp our ioyes:
That once were plunged in the pit,
of deadly déepe annoyes?
I neuer thought to view thy face,
when Fame dyd blaze thy death:
Or that we should performe the vow,
that we had sworne by faith.
The losse of thée did gréeue me more,
then any tongue can tell:
No fréende but thée I dyd accoumpt▪
as thou mayst finde right well.
My Parents thinke, theyr Daughter dead,
but Fortune suffred not:
And sith thou lyu'ste, I may accoumpt,
right luckie was my lot.
The daungers that I haue abode,
all onely for thy looue:
Not my report, but present state,
most perfectly can prooue.
Yet doo I coumpt them all but lyght,
ne dyd I meane whyle life:
[Page]Sith thou wast gone, whylst I dyd liue,
to be a wedded wife.
But for thy sake to spend my dayes,
within that sacred place:
Where I might waste my wearie tyme,
for to lament my case.
But sith the fates haue vs preseru'de,
contrarie to our thought:
I yéelde me nowe vnto thy wyll,
to vse thy minde in ought.
I knowe thou wilt not swerue frō boundes,
of Vertues sacred lore:
But wylt regarde my Maydens minde,
as thou hast done tofore.
Vntyll we knit the nuptiall knot,
which yeeldes vs lasting leaue:
To ioyne in fruites of Mariage Rytes,
tyll death doo vs bereaue.
If it be so your minde reuert,
contrarie to your vowe:
Then graunt that in the stéede of wife,
your seruaunt me t'allowe.
¶When shée these wordes had vttered,
his christall teares distylde:
From out the fountaine of his eyes,
which at that tyme were fylde.
[Page]He sayde, O Iulia leaue those words,
you doo me double wrong:
To thinke that I should now recant,
and loouing you so long.
Why should you so submit your selfe,
to me that am vnméete:
To matche with you in Mariage state,
you shewe your humble spréete.
I had a hart more harde then flint,
or any sturdy steele:
If I should scorne your looue that dyd,
for me such sorrowes féele.
If you had bene of basest blood,
that euer could be found:
Your Vertue would perswade my minde,
in Mariage to be bound.
I thinke my selfe well recompest,
for all my hurtfull harmes:
That Fortune once hath giuen me leaue.
to claspe thée in myne armes.
Wherfore reioyce, for ere long tyme,
we wyll depart this land:
To rew our Parents and our fréends,
with in our natiue strand.
Who wyll be glad of our returne,
and pardon our offence:
[Page]That haue thus long in vnknown land,
as exyles bene from thence.
Now Phoebus stéedes doo lodge in West,
and night with darksome shade:
Beginnes to ouerspreade the earth,
when Iulia and the Mayde,
Departed home, and Charles lykewise▪
to Coutch dooth now returne:
Where as he rests in gladsome glée,
that earst in cares dyd mourne.
When Eous dame Phoebus stéede,
discouered had the lyght:
And Sol amyd the Hemisphaere,
Dame Nox had banisht quight.
Then Charles repayred to the King,
desiring a discharge:
Of Captaines roome: the Prince dyd graunt,
rewarding him at large.
And franklie payde him for his paine,
appointing him t'assigne:
Whome he thought méete, as Captain ouer,
his Garrison to reygne.
Then he to Iulia backe returnes,
appointing out of hand:
His Lieutenant that had the charge,
for to conduct the band.
[Page]He also got for Iulia leaue,
of Prioresle with spéede:
To goe with him, who thought she was,
his Sister borne in deede.
Charles, of the Souldiers takes his leaue,
and of his fréendes also:
Who sorie are, that he from them,
in such a sort should goe.
And she of Ladie Prioresse,
dooth take her last adiew:
Her parture was bewayled sore,
of all the Vestall crew.
Thus Charles and Iulia with the Préest,
and Iulias Mayde went downe,
Vnto the Rhode, where then dyd ryde,
the Nauie of the Towne.
There Charles dooth hyre a Ship foorthwith,
him and the rest to frayght:
They enter in, they hoyse vp Sayles,
and take theyr passage straight.
The Ordinaunce are then dischargde,
the Trumpets sound amayne:
The Souldiers byds their Captaine then,
farewell, though to their payne.
The winde is calme, the tyde dooth serue,
the Fishes finely play:
[Page]A gentle gale of pleasaunt blaste,
dooth driue them swift away.
They styll continewed on theyr course,
good Fortune was theyr guide:
Vntyll theyr Ship in Cambria soyle,
at wished Rhode dooth ryde.
From thence with spéede, to Flint they hide,
where they no sooner came:
But tydinges of these luckie newes,
to Parents came by Fame.
Sir Gaulfride with his wife repayrde,
in haste theyr Sonne to méete:
And Owen with his Lady came,
theyr Iulia for to gréete.
When Charles and Iulia sawe theyr Sires,
and Mothers in lyke case:
They fell downe flat vpon theyr knées,
desiring them of grace.
And pardon for theyr great offence,
which looue, not they had wrought:
And that th'affection that they bare,
this trespasse past had brought.
Theyr Parents pearst with pittie then,
and melting into teares:
Forgaue them this so great offence,
of theyr vnbridled yéeres.
[Page]Each side agrées to Marrie them,
or they away depart:
That had by proofe a tryall true,
of eythers faithfull hart.
The wedding day appointed was,
to Owens Court they goe:
For to prouide the Nuptiall feast,
great charges they bestowe.
The fixed tyme is now at hand,
the gladsome Loouers ryse:
And put on them their wedding ray,
preparde in sumptuous wise.
The Mother deckes her Daughter then,
in Vesture ritche and fine:
Charles wantes no costly garments gay,
that may content the eyne.
Her Tresses trymde on shoulders hang,
ybound with syluer lace:
As custome was, and is this day,
in England in some place.
Her curled Crine, were frizled fine,
her fingers small beset:
With Rings most ritch, & Diamonds braue,
the best that they could get.
Her forehead fine, with Byllamont,
beset with Pearles she ware:
[Page]Her séemely haire, lyke golden wyre,
hung downe bothe fresh and fayre.
Her Partlet with the sléeues agreede,
wrought all with siluer fine:
The glistering spangs that hung thereby,
lyke twinkling Stars dyd shine.
Her Gowne was made of Veluet blacke,
with siluer fringe about:
Her Kyrtle on white Tynsell cut,
which through the cuts shines out.
Her Chayne fiue folde about her necke,
with precious stones bedight:
As Diamonds, Emralds, Saphires fine,
which glistred fayre and bright.
Her Tablet ritch, had also a
Quadrangle Diamond braue:
Besmearde within with Ciuet fine,
the best that man might haue.
A Chayne also about her waste,
in stéede of Bridely belt:
And thus bedect, she quite forgets,
the sorrowes that she felt.
To Church they goe, and Charles betwéene,
two Chinals on each side:
Two auncient Knights, of spotlesse fame,
to Church doo leade the Bride.
[Page]The true Looue knot that tyme was knit,
and fyrmde betwéene them two:
Which nought within the world can loose,
tyll death doo them vndoo.
Gaulfride and Owen with theyr wiues,
and all theyr noble trayne:
With spéede returne from out the Church,
and homewarde hye agayne.
To dinner nowe, they all doo goe,
where daynties doo abound:
They want no solempne siluer tunes,
that Musickes Arte can sound.
The Sunne dyd séeme to leape for ioye,
the Byrdes delyghted more:
In densed groues about the Court,
then they were wont before.
The feast being now solemnized,
Dame Nox dooth Tellus clad:
Which mantell made of pitchie clowdes,
and with her darksome shade:
The Supper being ended then,
they spend the tyme in play:
With Maskes, and other pastimes braue,
as fittest for that day.
A Princely bed ordayned was,
the Ladyes all a roe:
[Page]Brought Iulia to her spowsefull Coutche,
as custome is also.
Such Delycates prepared was,
as for that tyme was fit:
A Posset swéete, besprent with Spice,
for Iulia then they get.
She drinkes then to the Maydens all,
and byds them all adiew:
And sayth to them, thus long I haue,
remaynd a Virgin trew.
But nowe farewell Virginitie,
the flowre of Vertues prayse:
God graunt you to be Virgins pure,
vntyll your Mariage dayes:
The Ladyes then from Chamber went,
and Charles dooth come to bed:
Where vsuall sportes frequented were,
tyll fancie waxed dead.
And when the force of Venus fire,
was quenched for a space:
These Loouers then to lose no time,
each other doo embrace.
To kissing then, they kindly fall,
theyr mindes for to content:
But howe should I expresse theyr ioyes,
that lacke experiment.
[Page]Let it suffice what Nature wylde,
in such a kinde of case:
They bothe fulfilde, and God hath wylde,
for man to treade that trace.
You Loouers that haue tryed lyke trickes,
with them you looued best:
May iudge by your forepassed ioyes,
they tooke but lytle rest.
As for my part, I am but gréene,
my yéeres vnripe and rawe:
That neuer yet assayde the force,
of Cupids wanton lawe.
But let vs leaue these Loouers thus,
a myd theyr swéete delight:
That in the fruites of wedlocke bandes,
doo waste the wearie night.
The feast continewed long, wherat
men had no néede to fast:
But as each thing serues for a tyme,
so ende all thinges at last.
The feast being done, the couenaunts made,
such bandes that tyme were framde:
As touching landes and Mariage goodes,
that néedes not héere be namde.
Let it suffise, they had enough,
theyr state for to maintaine:
[Page]Which done, Sir Gaulfride with his wife,
returned home againe.
Sir Charles then with his Sire in lawe,
dooth meane in Flint to dwell:
And resting thus, with Iulia ▪
he lykes his tarying well.
He had not there soiorned long,
not past two monthes or more:
But that such heauy newes dyd come,
as made his hart full sore.
For Letters came, his aged Sire,
was now departing lyfe:
And verie sicke, his charge lay then,
to leaue his loouing wife.
Whome he alas, had thought to sée,
when he came backe againe:
But Fortune gaue him his farewell,
which put them bothe to paine.
Beholde her false and flattering face,
that fléeres with fayned chéere:
Whose whyrling whéele dooth turne eache howre,
as now it may appéere.
My Muse alas dooth fayle me now,
my senses serue me not:
My quaking quyll in quiuering hand,
dooth make my pen to blot.
[Page]My teares dooth so bedew my style,
that I ne scarce can wright:
My staring haire, vpon my head,
through feare dooth stand vpright.
Wherefore you furies me assist,
Alecto be mine ayde:
Maegaera grym, and Tisiphon,
come helpe me nowe dismayde.
These wofull Letters being read,
then Charles dooth haste anone:
He posting rydes, but ere he came,
his sorrowfull Sire was gone.
Who royally possest his graue,
with funerals most fit:
But Fortune nowe disposed was,
her poysoned spite to spit.
Charles dooth in Anglesie abyde,
in order to dispose:
His fathers goodes that lately dyed,
whereof the gréefes arose.
This Anglesie an Ilande is,
enuironde on each side:
With surging Seas, an arme wherof,
from Wales dooth it deuide,
Whereto they goe in passage Boates,
that at the floods dooth ryse:
[Page]And Ferie men transport them ouer,
as Passengers lykewise.
Iulia, mysliking that her Spowse,
dooth vse such long delay:
To Anglesie dooth meane to goe,
to knowe his cause of stay.
And also for to view the landes,
that there she dyd possesse:
Her comming thether was the cause,
of all her déepe distresse.
In purple Wagon she dooth ryde,
with all her comely rowe:
Vntyll she came vnto the flood,
that partes the Countries soe.
Then to a wherrie Boate she goes,
but marke what dyd ensew:
The waltring waues doo roughly ryse,
and boysterous tempestes blew.
The whyrling windes doo rayse the waues,
the floods in Boate doo flash:
And sturdy stormes of tempests straunge,
against theyr faces dash.
The Boate with sturdy stormes dooth stand,
in staggring state alas:
And neyther backe nor forward could,
from present perryll passe.
[Page]The waters styll encreasing thus,
the Boate was fylde to brim:
And Iulia then amyd her woes,
in washing waues dooth swim.
At last ouer laden with the weight,
of waters to the brinke:
The stely Iulia, more the rueth,
in surging deepe dooth sinke.
The wofull wights that striue with waues,
on God for mercie call:
Theyr pitteous plaints, and shriking cries,
dooth pearce the Ayre withall.
And Iulia whyle her Fardingale,
helde vp her carefull corse:
O Sauiour (cryes) on thy handmayde,
with mercie take remorse.
Lose me not whome thou hast redeemde,
with blood of thy deere hart:
O Charles take now my last farewell,
for now I must depart.
By this her cloathes being throwly wet,
dooth cause her carkase sinke:
Which makes my quaking hart to quayle,
when on her state I thinke▪
The churlish Channell drownd her corpes,
whose Vertue aye dyd shine:
[Page]The losse of her lamentfull was,
that had the Seas for shrine.
Yea whome the floods on maynest Seas,
dyd suffer for to scape:
A broken braunche, or arme thereof,
deuowres her seemely shape.
The ruethfull rumor of this chaunce,
was scattred héere and there:
(When harmes begin, they fall by heapes)
and came to Charles his eare.
Alas this chaunce might well be sparde,
for Charles already had:
A heauy hap, the death of Sire,
which made his hart full sad.
When as he heard this ripe report,
he lost his senses quight:
In madding moode, now héere, now there,
he runnes with troubled spright.
If that I had ten thousand pennes,
I could not write his paine:
Which for the losse of his déere looue,
he dyd that tyme sustaine.
Whose churlish chaunce so chose by fate,
dooth washe my chéekes with teares:
That such a vertuous worthy wight,
should thus cut off his yeares.
[Page]But to be bréefe, he foorthwith dooth,
a poysoned drinke prouide:
Of Hemlocke, Henbaine, and lyke hearbs,
none knewe, but one beside.
Then two dayes thence, with merry chéere,
he calles for Horse in haste:
And bade his fréendes and men to come,
to searche where she was cast.
With blowen Bealts, with Boats & Hooks,
with Drags and Ropes they goe:
To fishe for her, whose lothed losse,
dyd bréede this wastlesse woe.
But Charles vnto a Barge ascendes,
and byds the Boates man tell:
Where as his Iulias corpes dyd sinke,
when surging waues dyd swell.
The Boate man sayd, Sir Charles euē héere,
your Iulias body sunke:
With that he drewe him foorth a glasse,
and vp this poyson drunke.
All they had thought howe that it was,
a drinke to swage his thurst:
They nought supposde the force thereof,
would make his bowels burst.
With that he suddenly dooth leape,
into the waters déepe:
[Page]That men might knowe his constant hart,
from daunger could not créepe.
And there he sinkes, no helpe preuayles,
the fates decréede his tyme:
No dread he had, thus fancie fonde,
procurde his sinfull cryme.
The cause wherefore he drunke this drinke,
was least that nature should,
Prouoke him for to saue him selfe,
by swimming as he could.
Or if the swéetnesse of his lyfe,
should make him faynt through feare:
And so he should prolong his dayes,
those bytter brunts to beare.
The Storie sayth, that they were found,
embracing bothe togeather:
And nothing straunge, who once were sau'd,
in spight of winde and weather.
And no great marueyle can it be,
sith they in life liu'de so:
As neyther Seas nor landes preuaylde,
to part each other fro.
This shewes as well the force of looue,
as dyd the enuious state.
Of Etocles, and Polynices,
expresse the force of hate.
[Page]They bothe were buried in one Tumbe,
and had one solemne shrine:
Theyr Funerals dyd force the teares,
of many wéeping eyne.
And being closde within the vaulte,
bothe in one carefull caue:
This Epitathe which long remaynd,
was grauen on theyr graue.
In auncient Brittishe ryme it was,
with Letters all of golde:
That euery one that passed by,
might theyr estate beholde.
Vpon our Tumbe poure foorth your plaints,
you fréendes that passe this way:
And on our Graue, beholde the state,
of our vnstedfast stay.
TWo faithfull harts of noble blood,
sometimes we did expresse:
Though destenies haue thus decreede,
our endes without redresse.
And though amyd our greenest yeeres,
where lyfe hath hyest power:
The heau [...]nly powers decreede by death,
our corpes for to deuowre.
And that our stedfast looue alas,
hath [...] our owne decay:
O Passengers doo [...]
You Loouers that doo [...]
ere you goe by vou [...]saue:
With lyfted handes and moysted teares,
to wet our freendly graue.
We haue been Loouers as you be,
you shall be as we are:
We now haue past the panges of looue,
you yet must suffer care.
If you doo looue, we did the lyke,
and lyuing looued aye:
And now vnder this stone we lye,
closde vp in slymie claye.
Our pompe is past, our pride is gone,
so is our vaine delight:
We are returnd to that we were.
and so must euery wight.
Our carefull mindes that could not rest,
are now extinct by dust:
And as we two are gone before,
so follow needes ye [...] must.
Remember therefore as you looue,
heereafter you shall lyue:
Take heede least to affection fonde,
your minde you wholy giue.
[Page] [...] in beauties beames,
[...] and clay:
And knowe that flesh at last shall vade,
and beauties flowre decay.
Let Vertue be your guide in all,
so shall you looue aright:
And fixe no fancie on the face,
wherein is vaine delight.
THis long continewed on theyr graue,
tyll tyme dyd it deface:
And so lykewise dyd tract of tyme,
theyr carefull graue disgrace.
I would all Loouers so to looue,
as Iulia and her Pheare:
Yet would I wishe them not to be,
so desperate as they were.
That Looue may haue that Looue requires,
(excep't be sinne) God sende:
And let all Loouers pray, that Looue
may haue a better ende.
¶Thus endeth the Tragicall historie of Charles and Iulia.
FINIS.